Curcumin,A Novel Natural Photoinitiator for the Copolymerization of Styrene and Methylmethacrylate

Curcumin (Cur), a natural colorant found in the roots of the Turmeric plant, has been reported for the first time as photoinitiator for the copolymerization of styrene (Sty) and methylmethacrylate (MMA). The kinetic data, inhibiting effect of benzoquinone and ESR studies indicate that the polymerization proceeds via a free radical mechanism. The system follows ideal kinetics (R_p α[Cur]^0.5[Sty]^0.97[MMA]¹). The reactivity ratios calculated by using the Finemann–Ross and Kelen‐Tudos models were r₁(MMA)=0.46 and r₂(Sty)=0.52. IR and NMR analysis confirmed the structure of the copolymer. NMR spectrum showing methoxy protons as three distinct groups of resonance between 2.2–3.75 δ and phenyl protons of styrene at 6.8–7.1 δ confirmed the random nature of the copolymer. The mechanism for formation of radicals and random copolymer of styrene and MMA [Sty‐co‐MMA] is also discussed.     

Hexavalent Chromium-Thioacetamide Redox System Initiated Polymerization of Acrylonitrile

Polymerization of acrylonitrile initiated by the Cr⁶⁺/thioacetamide redox system was studied in nitrogen atmosphere in the temperature range 35–45°C. The rate of polymerization and the rate of Cr⁶⁺ ion disappearance were measured. The effect of certain water-miscible organic solvents, neutral electrolytes, and complexing agents on the rate of polymerization was investigated. Chromic acid alone did not initiate the polymerization under deaerated and undeaerated conditions. Depending on the results obtained, a suitable kinetic scheme was proposed and various rate parameters were evaluated.     

The Synthesis of Poly(Dimethylsiloxane-b-Isobutylene-b-Dimethylsiloxane) and Poly-(Dimethylsiloxane-b-Isobutylene-b-Dimethylsiloxane) from Alcohol-Telechelic Polyisobutylenes

The purpose of these studies was to combine polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and polyisobutylene (PIB) sequences into novel triblock, PDMS-b-PIB-b-PDMS, and multiblock, (-PDMS-b-PIB-b-PDMS-)n, copolymers. The key toward syntheses was the definition of conditions for the initiation of living anionic polymerization of hexamethyl-cyclotrisiloxane (D₃) at the CH₂OLi termini of well-defined tele-chelic PIB sequences. Subsequent deactivation of living D₃ polymerization charges with Me₃ SiCl yielded the target triblock whereas stoichiometric amounts of Me₂ SiCl₂ gave the multiblock copolymer.     

Living Carbocationic Polymerization. VII. Living Polymerization of Isobutylene by Tertiary Alkyl (or Aryl) Methyl Ether/Boron Trichloride Complexes

Abstract

Colloidal palladium supported on a chelate resin containing iminodiacetic acid groups was prepared by refluxing the palladium chelate resin in methanol-water. Using the resin-supported colloidal palladium as a catalyst, cyclopentadiene was hydrogenated to cyclopentene in 97.1% selectivity at 100% conversion of cyclopentadiene under 1 atm of hydrogen in methanol at 30°C. Finely dispersed metal particles ranging from 10 to 60 Å in diameter were observed in the resin by electron microscopy. Both x-ray microanalysis for palladium and elution analysis of palladium ion with an aqueous solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt demonstrated the existence of large amounts of palladium ion complexes in the resin. The amount of palladium metal in the resin was estimated to be about 5% of the total palladium. Since the resin, after removal of most of the ionic palladium, exhibited almost the same catalytic activity as before, it was concluded that the finely dispersed metal particles are the active species in the catalyst.     

Nanocomposite blend gel polymer electrolyte for proton battery application

A proton-conducting nanocomposite gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) system, [35{(25 poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) + 75 poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP))?+?xSiO₂}?+?65{1 M NH₄SCN in ethylene carbonate (EC) + propylene carbonate (PC)}], where x?=?0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, has been reported. The free standing films of the gel electrolyte are obtained by solution cast technique. Films exhibit an amorphous and porous structure as observed from X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) studies indicate ion–filler–polymer interactions in the nanocomposite blend GPE. The room temperature ionic conductivity of the gel electrolyte has been measured with different silica concentrations. The maximum ionic conductivity at room temperature has been observed as 4.3?×?10^?3?S?cm^?1 with 2 wt.% of SiO₂ dispersion. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity shows a typical Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) behavior. The electrochemical potential window of the nanocomposite GPE film has been observed between ?1.6 V and 1.6 V. The optimized composition of the gel electrolyte has been used to fabricate a proton battery with Zn/ZnSO₄·7H₂O anode and PbO₂/V₂O₅ cathode. The open circuit voltage (OCV) of the battery has been obtained as 1.55 V. The highest energy density of the cell has been obtained as 6.11 Wh?kg^?1 for low current drain. The battery shows rechargeability up to 3 cycles and thereafter, its discharge capacity fades away substantially.     

Radical Photopolymerization of Vinyl Monomers

Abstract

Photopolymerization is the initiation by light of a chain polymerization process. In the more general sense, photopolymerization implies the increase of molecular weight caused by light. Photopolymerization is not only useful for the detection and identification of photochemically produced free radicals; since photopolymerization reactions can be started or stopped at will by the simple expedient of turning on or off light, a means is provided for studying the nonsteady-state kinetics of polymerization [1]. Photopolymerization also allows for the subtle control of molecular weight and molecular weight distribution by varying the intensity of light. Photopolymerization can be confined to local regions since the light can be spatially controlled. Photopolymerization can be carried out at very low temperatures. Hence, chain-transfer processes leading to branched macromolecules will be absent. Photopolymerization at low temperature yields the low-energy stereospecific polymeric species, namely the syndiotactic configuration of the polymer [2]. Certain monomers can only be polymerized at low temperature, i.e., they have low ceiling temperatures; the photopolymerization offers this possibility [3]. Because photopolymerization need not be carried out at elevated temperatures, it has applications to biochemistry. One important application of the method is in disk electrophoresis [4]. Photopolymerization played an important role in the early development of polymer chemistry. One of the first procedures for polymerizing vinyl monomers was to expose the monomer to sunlight. Blyth and Hoffman [5] reported the polymerization of styrene by this method in 1845.     

Triton-B-Catalyzed,Efficient, One-Pot Synthesis of Dithiocarbazates Through Alcoholic Tosylates

A quick, efficient, one-pot synthesis of dithiocarbazates was accomplished in high yields by the reaction of various tosylates of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols with a variety of substituted hydrazines using the benzyl–trimethylammonium hydroxide (Triton-B)/CS₂ system. The reaction conditions are mild with simpler workup procedures than the reported methods.     

Alkylation of Ethanolamines: An Approach to a Novel Class of Functional Surfactants

Some monomeric and dimeric surfactants with functional head groups have been synthesized from di- and triethanolamine synthons. The treatment of alkyl bromide with triethanolamine resulted in simultaneous N-alkylation and O-alkylation products. However, with diethanolamine, N-alkylated products were obtained, which were further used to synthesize various double-tailed surfactants and gemini surfactants.     

An Efficient Method for Agrobacterium-Mediated Genetic Transformation and Plant Regeneration in Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.)

Cumin is an annual herbaceous medicinally important plant having diverse applications. An efficient and reproducible method of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation was herein established for the first time. A direct regeneration method without callus induction was optimised using embryos as explant material in Gamborg’s B5 medium supplemented with 0.5-μM 6-benzyladenine and 2.0-μM α-naphthalene acetic acid. About 1,020 embryos (a mean of 255 embryos per batch) were used for the optimisation of transformation conditions. These conditions were an Agrobacterium cell suspension of 0.6 OD₆₀₀, a co-cultivation time of 72 h, 300-μM acetosyringone and wounding of explants using a razor blade. Pre-cultured elongated embryos were treated using optimised conditions. About 720 embryos (a mean of 180 embryos per batch) were used for transformation and 95 % embryos showed transient β-glucuronidase expression after co-cultivation. Putative transformed embryos were cultured on B5 medium for shoot proliferation and 21 regenerated plants were obtained after selection and allowed to root. T₀ plantlets showed β-glucuronidase expression and gene integration was confirmed via PCR amplification of 0.96 and 1.28 kb fragments of the hygromycin-phosphotransferase II and β-glucuronidase genes, respectively. In this study, a transformation efficiency of 1.5 % was demonstrated and a total of 11 transgenic plants were obtained at the hardening stage, however, only four plants acclimatised during hardening. Gene copy number was analysed by Southern blot analysis of hardened plants and single-copy gene integration was observed. This is the first successful attempt of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of cumin.