Secondary self-assembly behaviors of PEO-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS triblock terpolymers in solution

A series of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x (x = 42, 84, 165) triblock terpolymers were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization and characterized by size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR. Their self-assemblies were conducted by a two-step hierarchical self-assembly method and a one-step dialysis method and the self-assembly behaviors were investigated. The morphologies, sizes, and size distributions of micelles produced by the self-assembly were determined by transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The secondary self-assembled structure of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS _x obtained by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly could be controlled by tuning the length of PS block, the core forming block. The micelles were uniform with diameters of 20–25 nm and their size distributions, except for that of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅, were narrow with particle size distribution indexes ranging from 0.014 to 0.246. The one-step dialysis of the triblock terpolymers produced vesicular micelles with distinct vesicle walls that exhibited similar thicknesses. The vesicles did not show significant aggregation. The size distribution of PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₄₂ vesicle was the narrowest with a particle size distribution index value of 0.135. The PEO₄₅-b-PtBA₅₃-b-PS₁₆₅ vesicles tended to overlap with each other.     

pH-responsive polymersome based on PMCP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PDPA as a drug delivery system to enhance cellular internalization and intracellular drug release

Choline phosphate (CP) as a novel zwitterion possesses specific and excellent properties compared with phosphorylcholine (PC), as well as its polymer, such as poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl choline phosphate) (PMCP), has been studied extensively due to its unique characteristics of rapid cellular internalization via the sepcial quadrupole interactions with the cell membrane. Recently, we reported a novel PMCP-based drug delivery system to enhance the cellular internalization where the drug was conjugated to the polymer via reversible acylhydrazone bond. Herein, to make full use of this feature of PMCP, we synthesized the diblock copolymer poly(2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl choline phosphate)-b-poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PMCP-b-PDPA), which could self-assemble into polymersomes with hydrophilic PMCP corona and hydrophobic membrane wall in mild conditions when the pH value is ≥ 6.4. It has been found that these polymersomes can be successfully used to load anticancer drug Dox with the loading content of about 11.30 wt%. After the polymersome is rapidly internalized by the cell with the aid of PMCP, the loaded drug can be burst-released in endosomes since PDPA segment is protonated at low pH environment, which renders PDPA to transfer from hydrophobic to hydrophilic, and the subsequent polymersomes collapse thoroughly. Ultimately, the “proton sponge” effect of PDPA chain can further accelerate the Dox to escape from endosome to cytoplasm to exert cytostatic effects. Meanwhile, the cell viability assays showed that the Dox-loaded polymersomes exhibited significant inhibitory effect on tumor cells, indicating its great potential as a targeted intracellular delivery system with high efficiency.     

RAFT polymerization of linear ABC triblock copolymer P<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>BA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PS-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-P2VP and regulation of its hierarchical self-assembly structure in solution

Linear ABC triblock copolymer PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ was successfully synthesized by RAFT polymerization. Block copolymer micelles were prepared by the two-step hierarchical self-assembly process. Size exclusion chromatography and ¹H NMR were used to characterize the structure of samples. Morphologies and size of micelles were determined by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the densely dispersed spherical micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were obtained in the first step of the hierarchical self-assembly process. In the second step, core-compartmentalized micelle strings with different lengths and distribution densities were obtained when the primary self-assembled solution was dialyzed in distilled water with pH ≈ 3. When distilled water with pH ≈ 3 was added drop-wise to this solution, uniformly dispersed spherical core-compartmentalized micelles of PtBA₁₅₄-b-PS₃₀₀-b-P2VP₂₄₀ were prepared. Thus, hierarchical self-assembly structure of linear ABC triblock copolymer was obtained successfully and the preparation of uniformly dispersed spherical micelles of triblock copolymers was realized simply by changing the secondary self-assembly methods.     

Influence of mixed common solvent on the co-assembled morphology of PS-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PEO and CdS quantum dots

The hybrid structures of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) block copolymer and inorganic nanoparticles with good stability and biocompatibility have potential applications in drug delivery and bioimaging. Spherical co-assemblies of PS₁₂₀-b-PEO₃₁₈ and oleylamine-capped CdS quantum dots (QDs) are produced successfully in this work by adding water to a mixed common solvent, such as N,N-dimethylmethanamide (DMF)/chloroform, DMF/tetrahydrofuran (THF), or DMF/toluene. The energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum indicates that QDs are located at the interface between the core and shell of the spherical co-assemblies. The co-assembly process during water addition is traced by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and turbidity measurement. Spherical co-assemblies are formed through budding from bilayers of the block copolymer and QDs. The morphology of the co-assemblies is related to the miscibility of the QD-dispersing solvents with water and the morphology changes from a spherical to a vesicle-like structure with DMF/toluene. Increasing THF content in the mixed solvent causes morphological transitions from spherical co-assemblies to multi-branched cylinders and micelles where QDs are located in the central core. Increasing chloroform content yields vesicle-like structures with protruding rods on the surface. The mechanism of the morphological transitions is also discussed in detail.     

Nitration of 1,3-dihydro-2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridin-2-one derivatives

Nitration of 1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one and its N-methyl derivatives at 0–5°C and 60°C gives 5-nitro-and 5,6-dinitro-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones, respectively. The latter can also be obtained by nitration of 5-mononitro derivatives under similar conditions. The nitration of 6-chloro-and 6-bromo-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones and their N-methyl-substituted analogs leads to the formation of the corresponding 6-chloro(bromo)-5-nitro compounds. The same products are formed in the nitration of 5,6-dichloro-and 5,6-dibromo-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones. In this case, the process involves replacement of the halogen atom in position 5 of the pyridine fragment by nitro group. The nitration of 6-bromo-5-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one is accompanied by oxidation of the 5-methyl group to carboxy.     

Recyclization of 1,3-dialkyl-6-nitro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridine-2,5(3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-diones into imidazole derivatives

Treatment of 5-amino-1,3-dialkyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones with sodium nitrite in aqueous HCl gave 1,3-dialkyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine-2,5(3H,4H)-diones which were nitrated with potassium nitrate in sulfuric acid to 6-nitro derivatives, and the latter underwent recyclization into 4-amino-1,3-dialkyl-5-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-ones by the action of hydrazine hydrate.     

Reactions of 1,3-Dialkyl-5-amino-1,3-dihydro-2<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazo-[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridin-2-ones with acetylacetone and ethyl acetoacetate

1,3-Dialkyl-5-amino-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones reacted with acetylacetone to give the corresponding 4-(1,3-dialkyl-2-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-ylamino)pent-3-en-2-ones which underwent intramolecular cyclization to 1,3-dialkyl-5,7-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]-[1,8]naphthyridin-2-ones on heating in polyphosphoric acid or diphenyl ether. Analogous reaction of 1,3-dialkyl-5-amino-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones with ethyl acetoacetate led to the formation of ethyl 3-(1,3-dialkyl-2-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-ylamino)but-2-enoates whose cyclization afforded 1,3-dialkyl-8-hydroxy-7-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[5,4-b][1,8]naphthyridin-2-ones.     

New Synthesis of Pyrano[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]pyrazolo[3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridines

A new efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of highly biologically active pyrano-[4,3-d]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines on the basis of Smiles rearrangement of ethyl [(8-alkyl(aryl)-5-cyano-3,3-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-1H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyridin-6-yl)oxy]acetates. Intermediate acetohydrazides have also been isolated. The proposed procedure is advantageous due to the possibility of avoiding experimentally difficult chlorination stage.     

Synthesis of New Cyclopenta[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]quinoline Derivatives

A series of new 11-(R-phenyl)-8,9-dihydro-7H-benzo[f]cyclopenta[b]quinolin-10(11H)-ones and 7,14-bis(R-phenyl)-2,3,9,10,11,14-hexahydrocyclopenta[2,3]quinolino[8,7-h]cyclopenta[b]quinoline-1,8(4H,7H)-diones were synthesized by three-component condensation of naphthalen-2-amine or naphthalene- 1,5-diamine with substituted benzaldehydes and cyclopentane-1,3-dione in one step through intermediate formation of unstable arylaminoketoenol.     

Synthesis of 1-(1,3-dialkyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-imidazo-[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridin-5-yl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acids

Nitration of 2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one gave its 5-nitro derivative which was subjected to alkylation with dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, and benzyl(dimethyl)phenylammonium chloride. The resulting 1,3-dimethyl-, 1,3-diethyl-, and 1,3-dibenzyl-5-nitro-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones were reduced to the corresponding 1,3-dialkyl-5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones, and the latter reacted with itaconic acid to produce 1-(1,3-dialkyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-yl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acids. 1-(2-Oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-5-yl)-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic acid was obtained by analogous reaction with 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]-pyridin-2-one.     

Synthesis of 13-alkylbenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>]isochromeno[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]indole-5,7,12(13<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-triones by reaction of 2-alkylamino-1,4-naphthoquinones with ninhydrin

Reactions of 2-alkylamino-1,4-naphthoquinones with 2,2-dihydroxy-1H-indene-1,3(2H)-dione afforded 13-alkylbenzo[f]isochromeno[4,3-b]indole-5,7,12(13H)-triones.     

Reactions of 2-(2-propynylsulfanyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thieno[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]pyrimidin-4(<Emphasis Type="Italic">3H</Emphasis>)-one with arylsulfenyl chlorides

2-(2-propynylsulfanyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one with arylsulfenyl chlorides in chloroform gave products of anti-Markownikoff Ad _E-addition. The use of nitromethane as solvent in the presence of lithium perchlorate additives favored intramolecular electrophilic cyclization into 1-arylsulfanyl-1,2,6,7,8,9-hexahydro-4H-benzo[4,5]thieno[3,2-e][1,3]thiazolo[3,2-a]-pyrimidin-5-one.     

Synthesis of sulfonamide derivatives of pyrido-[2,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]quinazolin-11-one and pyrido[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]quinazolin-6-one

Methods were developed of indirect introduction of sulfonamide group in the structures of pyrido-[2,1-b]quinazolin-11-one and pyrido[1,2-a]quinazolin-6-one underlain by cyclocondensation of 2-halo-5-(Rsulfamoyl) benzoyl chlorides with derivatives of 2-aminopyridine. The fact of thermal rearrangement of 8-(morpholin-4-ylsulfonyl)pyrido[1,2-a]quinazolin-6-one into isomeric 2-(morpholine-4-ylsulfonyl)pyrido[2,1-b]-quinazolin-11-one was experimentally registered.     

Synthesis and properties of cyanomethyl derivatives of imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyridine,imidazo[1,2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]pyrimidine,and imidazo[2,1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiazole

2-Cyanomethyl derivatives were obtained of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine, imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine, and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole, and their reactivity was investigated by an example of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine: It was subjected to nitration, bromination, azo coupling and nitrosation. Acylation of the methylene group effected by amino acids esters with a subsequent addition of the amino group to the cyano group resulted in the formation of 5-amino-4-imidazo[1,2-a]-pyridin-2-yl-1-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrol-3-one and 2-amino-1-ethyl-3-imidazol[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl-4(1H)-quinolinone.     

Synthesis of oxo derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolysulfonyl)hexahydrocycloalka[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]indoles

Hydroxymercuration-demercuration of N-p-tolysulfonyl-4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-3H-carbazoles and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles leads to the formation of the corresponding N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-2-ols and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-2-ols. The latter are oxidized to 2-oxo derivatives with potassium dichromate. The oxidation of 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-ol under analogous conditions gives 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolysulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-one.     

Crystallization Behaviors and Regime Kinetics Analysis of Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-lactide) Based Multiblock Thermoplastic Polyurethanes

Poly(L-lactide)-based (PLLA) poly(ester-urethane)s are particularly relevant and gain significant attention due to their environment-friendly degradability and elastomeric shape memory capability. The tensile properties, resilience and degradation are strongly affected by their crystallization. This work was to investigate crystallization behaviors of the poly(L-lactide)-poly(butylene adipate)-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PBAPLLA) based thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (PLAEUs) we synthesized previously. Dynamic scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) in combination with Avrami, Jezioney and Hoffman-Weeks models were used to analyze the impact of the PLLA block length on the crystallization temperature T_c, degree of crystallinity X_c, nucleation and spherulite growth mode and crystallization regime kinetics of the PLAEUs. The results indicate the low melting point poly(butylene adipate) (PBA) block resides in the amorphous domains while the PLLA block resides in both crystalline and amorphous phases. The X_c of the PLAEUs increase with the increased length of the PLLA block (i.e. higher content of PLLA block). The analyses with Avrami and Jezioney models show the PLAEU copolymers follow a disc-like spherulite growth. The covalently bonded PBA block decreases both nucleation velocity and spherulite growth rate in the isothermal crystallization. Such an impact is lessened as PLLA block length increases. The PLLA homopolymers demonstrate crystallization regime transition from II to III at a certain T_c of isothermal crystallization, while the crystallization regime kinetics of PLLA block in the PLAEUs are explained by a single regime III at low molecular weights of PLLA and the transition is restored as the PLLA block length increases (i.e. regime II to III).     

Synthesis of 3-aminopyrazolo[3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridine-4-carbonitriles

Annulation of 2-chloropyridine-3,4-dicarbonitriles with hydrazine hydrate and N,N-dimethylhydrazine afforded 3-aminopyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-4-carbonitriles and 3-amino-1-methylpyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine- 4-carbonitriles, respectively.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetra</Emphasis>-EDOT substituted 3D electrochromic polymers with lower band gaps

A couple of novel electrochromic materials poly(2,3,4,5-tetrakis(2,3-hydrothieno[3,4-b]dixin-5-yl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole) (P(t-EDOT-mPy)) and poly(5,5′,5′′,5′′′-(thiophene-2,3,4,5-tetrayl)tetrakis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxine)) (P(t-EDOT-Th)) are electrodeposited via multi-position polymerization of their tetra-EDOT substituted monomers t-EDOT-mPy and t-EDOT-Th, respectively. Compared with the linear 2D structured poly(thiophene) (E _g=2.2 eV) and poly(2,5-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)thiophene) (E _g=1.7 eV), P(t-EDOT-Th) (E _g=1.62 eV) has the lowest band gap. Hence, we speculate that the band gaps of the two polymers, having 3D structures, are decreased in contrast to non-substituted polymers or bi-EDOT substituted polymers, thiophene and 1-methyl-1H-pyrrole. The results indicated that P(t-EDOT-Th) thin films are more stable and show higher transmittance amid two polymers, which may find their utilization in organic optoelectronics.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of 5<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-Chromeno[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridine Derivatives

An environmentally friendly method has been developed for the preparation of 5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine derivatives in an aqueous medium under ultrasound irradiation.     

Self-assembly and electrochromic property of electroactive tetraaniline-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PEG diblock copolymer

A kind of amphiphilic rod-coil diblock copolymer consisting both of tetraaniline (TAni) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) blocks, TAni-b-PEG, was synthesized. The diblock copolymer shows excellent electrochromic properties, especially, in switching time and coloration efficiency compared with tetraaniline. TAni-b-PEG is able to self-assemble into spherical structure, which is attributed to the formation of conducting channels and increase of ion-exchange capacity of TAni-b-PEG, implying that a block copolymer with electrochromic block and high ionic conductive block simultaneously possesses improving electrochromic properties.