Application of Mie theory and fractal models to determine the optical and surface roughness of Ag–Cu thin films

Thin films of Ag/Cu were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering on (001)-oriented Si and glass substrates for various deposition times (4–24 min). These films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and a power law scaling was performed on the obtained micrographs to investigate the self-affine nature of the sample morphology, which is indicative of a fractal structure. We applied the Higuchi’s algorithm to the AFM data to determine the fractal dimension of each sample, and the Hurst exponents were computed. The deposition time dependences of these parameters and the grain size distributions estimated from the UV–visible spectra using the Mie theory, allowed us to describe a particle formation mechanism during the deposition process, in which the length of continuous paths of conductive particles increases as the deposition time is increased. In agreement with this explanation, the electrical resistance decreased with the increment of the deposition time.     

Hydrocarbon oxidation catalyzed by vanadium polyoxometalate supported on mesoporous MCM-41 under ultrasonic irradiation

Vanadium polyoxometalate (PVMo) supported on mesoporous MCM-41, MCM-41-NH(2), as efficient and heterogeneous catalysts, with large surface area, for hydrocarbon oxidation with hydrogen peroxide is reported. Oxidation of the alkenes and alkanes gave product selectivities, which are similar to those observed for corresponding homogeneous catalyst. PVMo-MCM was prepared by introduction of PVMo into the mesoporous molecule sieves of MCM-41 by impregnation and adsorption techniques. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis and cyclic voltametry (CV). Ultrasonic irradiation has a particular effect on MCM-41 structural uniformity and reduced the reaction times and improved the product yields. In addition, the solid catalysts could be recovered and reused several times without loss of its activity.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Properties of Novel Poly(Ester-Amide-Urethane)s

A diacid (TOBA) containing an ester group was synthesized by reaction of terephthaloyl chloride with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Reaction of the obtained diacid with thionyl chloride resulted in preparation of the related diacid chloride (TOBC). Nucleophilic substitution reaction of 4-aminophenol and also 5-amino-l-naphthol with the prepared diacid chloride afforded two aromatic diols containing ester and amide groups, respectively. Aromatic and semi-aromatic poly(ester-amide-urethane)s were prepared via addition polymerization of different diisocyanates with novel diols. The prepared polyurethanes showed improved thermal stability.     

Using a small molecule inhibitor of peptide: N-glycanase to probe its role in glycoprotein turnover

Peptide:N-glycanase (PNGase) is ostensibly the sole enzyme responsible for deglycosylation of unfolded N-linked glycoproteins dislocated from the ER to the cytosol. Here we show the pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, to be an active site-directed irreversible inhibitor of yeast and mammalian PNGase at concentrations below those used to inhibit caspases in vivo. Through chemical synthesis we determined that the P1 residue, electrophile position, and leaving group are important structural parameters for PNGase inhibition. We show that Z-VAD-fmk inhibits PNGase in living cells and that degradation of class I MHC heavy chains and TCRalpha, in an identical cellular setting, is markedly different. Remarkably, proteasome-mediated turnover of class I MHC heavy chains proceeds even when PNGase is completely inhibited, suggesting that the function of PNGase may be to facilitate more efficient proteasomal proteolysis of N-linked glycoproteins through glycan removal.     

Novel ferrocene modified poly(amide ether amide)s and investigation of physical and thermal properties

A new diamine containing ferrocene group with preformed ether and amide units was prepared via reaction of 1,1′-ferrocenedicarbonyl chloride with two moles of 2,6-bis(5-amino-1-naphthoxy)pyridine. Polycondensation reactions of the prepared diamine with different aromatic and aliphatic diacid chlorides in the presence of trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCl) resulted in preparation of novel ferrocene modified poly(amide ether amide)s. The monomer and polyamides were characterized and the effect of trimethylchlorosilane (TMSCl) as activating agent on the polymerization reaction was studied. The physical and thermal properties of the polyamides including inherent viscosity, solubility, thermal stability and behavior, flame-retardancy and crystallinity of the polymers were studied. The polymers showed good thermal stability and flame-retardancy, and also improved solubility in polar aprotic solvents.     

Comparison of one-step and two-step methods of polyimidization and substitution effect in the synthesis of new poly(ester-imide)s with bulky pendent group

New naphthalene-ring containing ester diamines, as new monomers for the preparation of polyimides were synthesized via two successive reactions. Nucleophilic reaction of 3,5-dinitrobenzoylchloride with 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol in the presence of sodium hydroxide led to the preparation of 1- and 2-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyloxy)naphthalene, respectively. Next step was reduction of them by hydrazine hydrate/Pd-C to produce 1- and 2-(3,5-diaminobenzoyloxy)naphthalene. All the prepared compounds were characterized by common spectroscopic methods. These ester containing aromatic diamines with pendent naphthalene group were used to prepare soluble polyimide copolymers via two different methods: catalyzed one-step high-temperature polycondensation in m-cresol, and two-step polycondensation in NMP and subsequent chemical dehydration. The obtained poly(ester-imide)s were characterized and their properties were studied. One-step and two-step methods for the preparation of five-membered ring polyimides were compared. Polymers prepared through one-step method showed higher yield and inherent viscosities and therefore better physical properties.     

Soluble poly(amide imide)s containing oligoether spacers

A diimide-diacid with oligoether spacer was synthesized from the condensation reaction of trimellitic anhydride with 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane. Soluble poly(amide imide)s containing flexible groups were prepared through polycondensation reactions of diimide-diacid with different diamines via direct Yamazaki method. The poly(amide imide)s showed improved solubilty in polar aprotic solvents due to the presence of ether and alkyl flexible groups. According to the differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the glass transition temperatures of the polymers were in the range of 119-157 °C. According to thermogravimetric analysis, the temperatures for 10% weight losses were in the range of 348-387 °C that showed good thermal stabilities for these polymers.     

Naphthalene-ring containing diamine and resulting thermally stable polyamides

A new naphthalene-ring containing diamine, bis-[4-(5-amino-naphthalene-1-yloxy)-phenyl]-methanone was prepared from reaction of 5-amino-1-naphthol with 4,4′-dichlorobenzophenone in the presence of K₂CO₃. A series of novel polyamides were prepared by direct polycondensation of the diamine with various commercially available diacid chlorides including terephthaloyl chloride, isophthaloyl chloride, adipoyl chloride, and sebacoyl chloride. All the synthesized polyamides showed good solubility in amide type solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and N,N-dimethylformamide and they exhibited inherent viscosities in the range of 0.44-0.52 dL/g. According to the DMTA analysis, the glass transition temperatures of the polyamides were found to be 131-187 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polymers were stable up to 190 °C and the 10% weight loss temperatures were recorded in the range of 350-418 °C in air atmosphere.     

Optimization of temperature-controlled ionic liquid homogenous liquid phase microextraction followed by high performance liquid chromatography for analysis of diclofenac and mefenamic acid in urine sample

In this work, a temperature-controlled ionic liquid homogeneous liquid phase microextraction (TCIL-HLPME) technique followed by HPLC–UV was applied for preconcentration and determination of diclofenac (DIC) and mefenamic acid (MEF) in urine samples. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₄mim][PF₆]) was used as the optimum extraction solvent. Experimental design and response surface methodology was used for the optimization process. Firstly, a screening step, using Plackett-Burman design, was carried out to find the significant factors on the extraction efficiency and subsequently, a central composite design (CCD) was employed to find the optimum values of these parameters. The optimal conditions were obtained as extraction solvent volume of 105 µL; sample pH of 2.0, extraction time of 6 min, centrifugation time of 5 min; heating time of 2 min; heating temperature of 50 °C and 20 % of NaCl. Under optimized conditions, the preconcentration factors of 82 and 60 were obtained for DIC and MEF, respectively. The detections limits of 20 and 30 ng mL^?1 were achieved for DIC and MEF by the proposed method, respectively. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 40–1000 and 60–1000 ng mL^?1 for DIC and MEF, respectively. The intra- and inter-assay precisions (RSD %, n = 3) were in the range of 3.5–4.4 % and 7.3–8.0 % at the concentration level of 100 ng mL^?1, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied for the analysis of target analytes in some urine samples.