Spectroelectrochemistry of conducting polypyrrole and poly(pyrrole–cyclodextrin) prepared in aqueous and nonaqueous solvents

Conducting polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) [poly(Py-β-DMCD)] films were prepared by electrode potential cycling on a gold electrode in aqueous and nonaqueous (acetonitrile) electrolyte solutions containing lithium perchlorate. The resulting products were characterized with cyclic voltammetry, in situ UV–Vis spectroscopy, and in situ conductivity measurements. For the electrosynthesis of poly(Py-β-DMCD), a (1:1) (mole–mole) (Py-β-DMCD) supramolecular cyclodextrin complex of pyrrole previously characterized with proton NMR spectroscopy was used as starting material. A different cyclic voltammetric behavior was observed for pyrrole and the poly(Py-β-DMCD) complex in aqueous and nonaqueous solutions during electrosynthesis. The results show that in both solutions in the presence of cyclodextrin, the oxidation potential of pyrrole monomers increases. However, the difference of oxidation potentials for films prepared in aqueous solution is larger than for the films prepared in nonaqueous solution. In situ conductivity measurements of the films show that films prepared in acetonitrile solution are more conductive than those synthesized in aqueous solutions. Maximum conductivity can be observed for PPy and poly(Py-β-DMCD) films prepared in nonaqueous solution in the range of 0.10 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V and 0.30 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V, respectively. In situ UV–Vis spectroelectrochemical data for both films prepared potentiodynamically by cycling the potentials from −0.40 < E _Ag/AgCl < 0.90 V in nonaqueous solutions are reported. This paper is dedicated to Prof. Alan Bond on the occasion of his 65th birthday in recognition of his numerous contributions toward electrochemistry.     

Synthesis of novel 3-deoxy-3-C-triazolylmethyl-allose derivatives and evaluation of their biological activity

Recently, monosaccharide-triazole conjugates have proved to possess a large variety of useful biological activities. This paper describes synthesis of a new series of 3-deoxy-3-C-triazolylmethyl-allose derivatives. These new compounds are obtained from acetonide-protected 3-deoxy-3-azidomethyl allose and commercial alkynes via Cu(I) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The obtained molecular scaffolds differ from those described earlier by the presence of a methylene linker (-CH₂-) between the C(3) of allose and the triazole moiety. It was demonstrated that acetonide-protected monosaccharide, 3-deoxy-3-C-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-allofuranose, inhibited α-L-fucosidase for 26% at 0.1 mM concentration, but a deprotected analog, 3-deoxy-3-C-(4-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl-β-d-allofuranose, showed 15% inhibition of β-glucosidase at 1 mM concentration.      

Development of cephalexin-loaded poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) colloidal nanospheres

This article considers the preparation and physicochemical characterization of a novel colloidal formulation of the β-lactam antibiotic cephalexin, loaded in poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) colloidal nanospheres. The drug was loaded by means of drug incorporation in the interior of poly(ethyl cyanoacrylate) particles during the polymerization of the respective monomer in aqueous medium. The obtained colloids were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It was found that the drug loading efficiency depends on the initial concentration of monomer and cephalexin in the polymerization medium. The average size of cephalexin-loaded particles was around 400 nm and did not depend significantly on the concentrations of drug and monomer. Drug-loaded particles with drug content as high as 21% (w/w) were prepared. The drug release kinetics was studied in physiological phosphate-buffered saline. It was found that a biexponential model could describe well the experimental release kinetics.      

Synthesis of platinum colloids sterically stabilized by poly(N-vinylformamide) or poly(N-vinylalkylamide) and their stability towards salt

Colloidal dispersions of nanometer-sized platinum colloids were prepared by ethanol reduction of PtCl₆ ²⁻ in the presence of poly(N-vinylformamide) (PNVF), poly(N-vinylacetamide) (PNVA) or poly(N-vinylisobutyramide) (PNVIBA) and analyzed by UV-vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The dispersion stability of each colloid to the presence of added KCl was determined by a stirring and centrifugation procedure. The platinum colloid stabilized by PNVF (PNVF-Pt) was the most stable and its critical flocculation concentration was not observed up to the highest electrolyte concentration employed (4.0 M). The stability of the platinum colloids stabilized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) was also examined. The sequence of polymer-stabilized platinum colloids in increasing order of dispersion stability was found to be PNIPAAm-Pt < PNVIBA-Pt < PVP-Pt < PNVA-Pt < PNVF-Pt. Received: 25 August 1998 Accepted in revised form: 14 January 1999     

Phase behavior and interactions in blends of poly[(butylene adipate)-co-poly(butylene terephthalate)] copolyester with poly(4-vinyl phenol)

Miscibility with a linear T _g–composition relationship was proven for blend of poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) [P(BA-co-BT)] with poly(4-vinyl phenol) (PVPh). In comparison to the blends of PBA/PVPh and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT)/PVPh, the Kwei’s T _g model fitting on data for the P(BA-co-BT)/PVPh blend yields a q value between those for the PBA/PVPh and PBT/PVPh blends. The q values suggest that the interaction strength in the P(BA-co-BT)/PVPh blend is not as strong as that in the PBT/PVPh blend. Upon mixing the PVPh into the immiscible blend of PBA and PBT, the ternary PBA/PBT/PVPh blends only exhibits partial miscibility. Full-scale ternary miscibility in whole compositions is not possible owing to the significant ∆χ effect (χ _ij  – χ _ik ). The wavenumber shifts of the hydroxyl IR absorbance band indicates that the H-bonding strength is in decreasing order—PBT/PVPh > P(BA-co-BT)/PVPh > PBA/PVPh—and shows that the BA segment in the copolymer tends to defray interactions between P(BA-co-BT) and PVPh in blends.     

Sol-gel bioactive glass-ceramics Part I: Calcium phosphate silicate/wollastonite glass-ceramics

In this work we present experimental results about synthesis, structure evolution and in vitro bioactivity of new calcium phosphate silicate/wollastonite (CPS/W) glass-ceramics. The samples obtained were synthesized via polystep sol-gel process with different Ca/P+Si molar ratio (R). The structure of the materials obtained was studied by XRD, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM. XRD showed the presence of Ca₁₅(PO₄)₂(SiO₄)₆, β-CaSiO₃ and α-CaSiO₃ for the sample with R=1.89 after thermal treatment at 1200°C/2h. The XRD results are in good agreement with FTIR analysis. SEM denotes that apatite formation can be observed after soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF).      

Determination of europium by using the chemical oscillating system of Ce(IV)-KBrO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-acetone-oxalic acid-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>

A sensitive and convenient method for the determination of trace europium ions using an oscillating chemical reaction involving Ce(IV) - KBrO₃ - acetone - oxalic acid - H₂SO₄ was proposed. The results indicated that the changes in oscillating period (T) was linearly proportional to the negative logarithmic concentration of Eu³⁺ (-log C) in the range of 1.41 × 10⁻⁸ ˜ 1.41 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9982) with a detection limit of 1.04 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹. The recoveries were limited to the range of 99.5% to 100.8%. Under the same conditions, other rare earth ions did not interfere with the determination of Eu³⁺. In addition, a perturbation mechanism was also discussed briefly.      

Electrospinning of the hydrophilic poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and its copolymers with 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate

The goal was to electrospin 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate — based biocompatible polymers and prepare submicron fibres (nanofibers) for biomedicinal applications. Syntheses of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HEMA) and its copolymer with 2-ethoxyethyl methacrylate (EOEMA), and their characterization by viscometry and molecular weight are described. Their relation to electrospinning is discussed. Electrospinning of HEMA homopolymer from water-ethanol is successful for molecular weights 6.31 × 10⁵ and 1.80 × 10⁶ g/mol. Electrospinning of HEMA/EOEMA copolymers is feasible from ethanol.      

Comparison of structure,log<Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis> and P388 cytotoxicity of some phenyl and ferrocenyl cyclic chalcone analogues. Application of RP-TLC for log<Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis> determination of the ferrocenyl analogues

Cyclic chalcone analogues (2–5) and their ferrocenyl counterparts (6–10) were synthesized and their logP and P388 cyctotoxity were investigated. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR ¹H and ¹³NMR spectroscopy. Comparison of conjugation and stereochemistry of the respective derivatives showed similar characteristics compared to ones with some higher degree of conjugation in the ferrocenyl series. Comparison of logP of the ferrocenyl derivatives determined by a validated RP-TLC method showed the ferrocenyl derivatives to have higher logP _TLC. The results demonstrate that the differences in three dimensional shape, conjugation and lipophilicity do not have strong influence on the P388 cytotoxicity of the investigated phenyl (1−5) and ferrocenyl (6−10) enones.      

Synthesis and phase behavior of aqueous poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and random copolymers of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PNIPAM-HEMA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) (PNIPAM-AAm), and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PNIPAM-DMAA) with various volume fractions γ of NIPAM were synthesized by radical polymerization. The phase behavior of the polymers in water was investigated by means of optical transmittance and dynamic light scattering. With decreasing γ, the cloud point temperature T _cp for PNIPAM-HEMA decreased whereas the T _cp for both PNIPAM-AAm and PNIPAM-DMAA increased. Increase of hydrodynamic radius around T _cp, which resulted from the aggregation of the globules of each polymer, was observed from dynamic light scattering. The relationships between the reciprocal of T _cp of the polymer solutions and 1-γ were linear for the three copolymers in the experimental range of 0.65<γ<1. The results are discussed from the aspect of the interaction parameters of copolymer solutions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkylation of benzimidazoles with ketonic Mannich bases and the reduction of the resulting 1-(3-oxopropyl)benzimidazoles

Benzimidazole, benzimidazoles diversely substituted at position 2, and 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole have been alkylated at N ¹ with ketonic Mannich bases derived from acetophenones, acetylnaphthalenes, 2-acetylthiophene and 1-tetralone to afford a series of novel 1-(3-oxopropyl)benzimidazoles. The reduction of these transamination products with NaBH₄ in methanol produced the corresponding 1-(3-hydroxypropyl)benzimidazoles in excellent yields.      

Influence of chloride anions on the electrodeposition and electroactivity of the polymer matrix in polypyrrole,poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpyrrole) and polypyrrole derivatives functionalized by titanocene centers,in dry non-aqueous solutions

We report electrochemical studies on the influence of a small concentration of chloride ions on the electroactivity of the polymer matrix of polypyrrole (PPy), poly(N-methylpyrrole) [p(N-MePy)] and a poly(titanocene-propyl-pyrrole) derivative, p(Tc3Py) [Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄; Tc=CpCpTiCl₂; Cp=C₅H₅; Cp=C₅H₄] in acetonitrile (AN), tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The polymer films were obtained on Pt disc electrodes from AN solutions of the monomers containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF₆) as the supporting electrolyte and then transferred to the corresponding monomer-free solution. Studies in Cl^–-containing solutions have shown that the p(Tc3Py) matrix is very sensitive to the presence of Cl^– ions in all the above solvents, namely that it was subjected to electrochemical degradation at potentials above 0.1 V vs. a Ag/0.01 M Ag⁺ in AN reference electrode. Degradation of the p(Tc3Py) matrix was also observed in chloride-free DMF+TBAPF₆ solutions. Addition of chloride ions to the AN solution containing pyrrole, N-methylpyrrole or Tc3Py inhibits the deposition of the polymer films. On the other hand, we have found that PPy and p(N-MePy) matrices after their deposition in chloride-free AN solutions show much more stable redox responses in contact with chloride and/or DMF solutions. Possible mechanisms of these effects are discussed.Abbreviations AN acetonitrile - Cp cyclopentadienyl - DMF N,N-dimethylformamide - N-MePy N-methylpyrrole - p(N-MePy) poly(N-methylpyrrole) - PPy polypyrrole - p(Tc3Py) poly[Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄] - Py pyrrole - Tc titanocene=bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride, Cp₂TiCl₂, or its radical CpCpTiCl₂ (Cp=C₅H₄) - Tc3Py titanocene-propyl-pyrrole, Tc(CH₂)₃NC₄H₄ - THF tetrahydrofuran Contribution to the 3rd Baltic Conference on Electrochemistry, Gdansk-Sobieszewo, Poland, 23–26 April 2003Dedicated to the memory of Harry B. Mark, Jr. (28 February 1934–3 March 2003)     

Thermochemical properties of the Fe-analogue of cryolite, Na3FeF6

Relative enthalpies for low-and high-temperature modifications of Na₃FeF₆ and for the Na₃FeF₆ melt have been measured by drop calorimetry in the temperature range 723–1318 K. Enthalpy of modification transition at 920 K, δ_trans H(Na₃FeF₆, 920 K) = (19 ± 3) kJ mol⁻¹ and enthalpy of fusion at the temperature of fusion 1255 K, δ_fusH(Na₃FeF₆, 1255 K) = (89 ± 3) kJ mol⁻¹ have been determined from the experimental data. Following heat capacities were obtained for the crystalline phases and for the melt, respectively: C _p(Na₃FeF₆, cr, α) = (294 ± 14) J (mol K)⁻¹, for 723 = T/K ≤ 920, C _p(Na₃FeF₆, cr, β) = (300 ± 11) J (mol K)⁻¹ for 920 ≤ T/K = 1233 and C _p(Na₃FeF₆, melt) = (275 ± 22) J (mol K)⁻¹ for 1258 ≤ T/K ≤ 1318. The obtained enthalpies indicate that melting of Na3FeF6 proceeds through a continuous series of temperature dependent equilibrium states, likely associated with the production of a solid solution.      

Inclusion complexes of amlodipine besylate and cyclodextrins

In this paper the procedure for the preparation of inclusion complexes of amlodipine besylate with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and 2-hydrohypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβ-CD) and their structural characterization was described. Molecular inclusion complexes of amlodipine besylate are prepared by the coprecipitation method and characterised by the application of spectroscopic methods FTIR, ¹H-NMR and XRD. The photosensitivity of amlodipine besylate in the inclusion complexes was also determined with respect to uncomplexed agent. DSC curves indicate the loss of the clear peak due to melting of amlodipine besylate at about 200°C, while on XR diffractograms certain reflections are lost belonging to amlodipine besylate in complexes. This indicates its inclusion in the vacancies of the host. The inclusion of amlodipine besylate with cyclodextrins increases the stability, i.e. decreases the photosensitivity of amlodipine besylate.      

Ternary ion-association complexes between the indium(III) - 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol anionic chelate and some tetrazolium cations

Complex formation and liquid-liquid extraction were studied in systems containing indium(III), 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR), tetrazolium salt (TZS), water and chloroform. Two different TZS were used: 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The optimum conditions for extraction of In(III) as a ternary complex, (TT⁺)[In(PAR)₂] or (MTT⁺)[In(PAR)₂], were found: pH, extraction time, concentration of PAR and concentration of TZS. The constants of extraction (K_ex), constants of association (β), constants of distribution (K_D) and recovery factors (R%) were determined. The apparent molar absorptivities in chloroform were calculated to be ɛ′₅₂₀=6.6×10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and ɛ′₅₁₅=7.1×10⁴ L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ for the systems with TTC (I) and MTT (II), respectively. Beer’s law was obeyed for In(III) concentrations up to 3.4 μg mL⁻¹ in both the cases. The limits of detection (LOD=0.07 μg mL⁻¹ I and LOD=0.12 μg mL⁻¹ II), limits of quantification (LOQ=0.24 μg mL⁻¹ I and LOQ=0.41 μg mL⁻¹ II) and Sandell’s sensitivities (SS) were estimated as well.      

Nanosized centers for mercury(II) ions adsorption on a surface of modified silica

The present work investigates the adsorptive interactions of Hg(II) ions in aqueous medium with hydroxylated silica, aminopropylsilica and silica chemically modified by β-cyclodextrin. Batch adsorption studies were carried out with various agitation times and mercury(II) concentrations. The maximum adsorption was observed within 15–30 min of agitation. The kinetics of the interactions, tested with the model of Lagergren for pseudo-first and pseudo-second order equations, showed better agreement with first order kinetics (k₁ = 3.4 ± 0.2 to 5.9 ± 0.3 min⁻¹). The adsorption data gave good fits with Langmuir isotherms. The results have shown that β-cyclodextrin-containing adsorbent has the largest adsorption specificity to Hg(II): K _L = 4125 ± 205 mmol⁻¹. “β-cyclodextrin-NO3-” inclusion complexes with ratio 1: 1 and super molecules with composition C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅ ⊎ 3 Hg(NO₃)₂ are formed on the surface of β-cyclodextrin-containing silica.      

Miscibility in blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(vinylidene chloride-co-acrylonitrile)

Miscibility behavior of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [PHB]/poly(vinylidene chloride-co-acrylonitrile) [P(VDC-AN)] blends have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. Each blend showed a single T_g, and a large melting point depression of PHB. All the blends containing more than 40% PHB showed linear spherulitic growth behavior and the growth rate decreased with P(VDC-AN) content. The interaction parameter χ₁₂, obtained from melting point depression analysis, gave the value of −0.267 for the PHB/P(VDC-AN) blends. All results presented in this article lead to the conclusion that PHB/P(VDC-AN) blends are completely miscible in all proportions from a thermodynamic viewpoint. The miscibility in these blends is ascribed to the specific molecular interaction involving the carbonyl groups of PHB. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 35: 2645–2652, 1997     

<Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR spectra of water contained in solutions of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone) and its modification products in CDCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>

¹H NMR spectra in CDCl₃ of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone), epoxidized poly(N-vinyl-pyrrolidone), and products derived from the latter by modification with amino acids (glycine, β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and ε-aminocaproic acid) were examined. The ¹H NMR spectra of the modified polymers contain signals for water protons due to different centers of water sorption. These signals differ in chemical shift and integral intensity and indicate a changed spatial packing of the polymer as the result of its modification. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2377–2380, October, 2005.     

Electrical and optical properties of a single Sb2Se3 nanorod

In this paper we present the methods to chemically synthesize the Sb₂Se₃ nanorods and study the electrical and optical properties of a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod with an average size of 70 nm in diameter and a length of about 1 μm to 2 μm. The techniques we devised can immobilize and allocate a single nano-object on an electron beam (E-beam) patterned smart substrate. It can also overcome the limitation of the spatial resolution of conventional optical techniques (∼ 1 mm) to obtain optical spectroscopy in an individual nano-object less than 100 nm in size. We also demonstrate the techniques in using E-beam defined metallic coordination markers as electrodes to measure the conductance of a single Sb₂Se₃ nanorod.      

Synthesis and Crystal Structure Investigation of Trinitrotriamminerhodium(III) [Rh(NO2)3(NH3)3]

Synthesis of the complex [Rh(NO₂)₃(NH₃)₃] is described. The compound crystallizes as monoclinic colorless plates. Crystal data: a = 7.176(10), b = 10.407(2), c = 10.989(2) , = 93.27°, V = 819.3(2) ³, space group , Z = 4, d _calc = 2.367 g/cm³. The structure is molecular and built of neutral complexes having cis-facial configuration. The unit cell of the crystal contains two independent complexes.