Viscoelastic properties and morphology of dicyanate ester/epoxy co-polymers modified with polysiloxane and butadiene–acrylonitrile rubbers

Dynamic mechanical analysis was conducted on specimens prepared from cyanate ester (CE) and epoxy (EP) resins cured together at various mass compositions. Increase of amount of epoxy resin in composition was shown to have a disadvantageous effect on glass transition temperature (T _g). It was shown that post-curing procedure was needed to produce a polymer matrix with a single glass transition relaxation, but increase in post-cure temperature up to 250 °C resulted in slight reduction in T _g for epoxy/cyanate copolymers. TG results proved that the presence of epoxy resin reduces thermal stability of the cyanate/epoxy materials. The neat CE and EP/CE systems containing 30 wt% of epoxy resin were modified using epoxy-terminated butadiene–acrylonitrile rubber (ETBN) and polysiloxane core–shell elastomer (PS). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed the existence of second phase of ETBN and PS modifiers. Only in the case of EP/CE composition modified with ETBN, well-dispersed second phase domains were observed. Analysis of SEM images for other CE- and EP/CE-modified systems revealed the formation of spherical aggregates.     

Estimation of the breakthrough volume of selected steroids for C‐18 solid‐phase extraction sorbent using retention data from micro‐thin layer chromatography

SPE method is a very popular technique, and is commonly used for the prepurification, concentration, and isolation of different organic compounds from variable matrices. In this work, the optimization of SPE process was carried out. The breakthrough volume of solid sorbents based on octadecylsilane was determined and three methods were compared: (1) calculation one – the breakthrough volume was calculated using retention factor k determined with micro‐TLC method, frontal analysis – (2) breakthrough volume was determined as volume of whole elution peak, and (3) breakthrough volume was determined as the center of peak gravity. For calculation method, the k values of key estrogens and progestogens were derived from the micro‐TLC experiment reported previously. By combining these three methods, we can point the start of elution, the maximum concentration of analyte in eluate, and the whole eluent volume, which is necessary to achieve an appropriate selectivity and high extraction recovery. Proposed calculation method allows to estimate the beginning of the steroid peak, when the analyte appears in the eluate flowing from the sorbent. Such observation advances the SPE optimization protocol that was described before and was based on the correlation between raw k_SPE and k_micro‐TLC data.     

A TLC Study of the lipophilicity of thirty-two acetylcholinesterase inhibitors — 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and 2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]quinoline derivatives

The lipophilicity of thirty-two novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors — 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine and 2,3-dihydro-1H-cyclopenta[b]quinoline derivatives was studied by thin layer chromatography. The analyzed compounds were chromatographed on RP-18, RP-8, RP-2, CN and NH₂ stationary phases with dioxane — citric buffer pH 3.0 binary mobile phases containing different proportions of dioxane. R_M values for pure water were extrapolated from the linear Soczewiński-Wachtmeister equation and six compounds with known literature log P values were used as reference calibration data set for computation of experimental log P values. The obtained results were compared with computationally calculated partition coefficients values (AlogPs, AClogP, AlogP, MlogP, KOWWIN, XlogP2, XlogP3) by PCA and significant differences between them were observed.     

Micro-TLC Approach for Fast Screening of Environmental Samples Derived from Surface and Sewage Waters

In this work we demonstrated analytical capability of micro-planar (micro-TLC) technique comprising one and two-dimensional (2D) separation modes to generate fingerprints of environmental samples originated from sewage and ecosystems waters. We showed that elaborated separation and detection protocols are complementary to previously invented HPLC method based on temperature-dependent inclusion chromatography and UV-DAD detection. Presented 1D and 2D micro-TLC chromatograms of SPE (solid-phase extraction) extracts were optimized for fast and low-cost screening of water samples collected from lakes and rivers located in the area of Middle Pomerania in northern part of Poland. Moreover, we studied highly organic compounds loaded in the treated and untreated sewage waters obtained from municipal wastewater treatment plant “Jamno” near Koszalin City (Poland). Analyzed environmental samples contained number of substances characterized by polarity range from estetrol to progesterone as well as chlorophyll-related dyes previously isolated and pre-purified by simple SPE protocol involving C18 cartridges. Optimization of micro-TLC separation and quantification protocols of such samples were discussed from the practical point of view using simple separation efficiency criteria including total peaks number, log(product ΔhR _F), signal intensity and peak asymmetry. Outcomes of the presented analytical approach, especially using detection involving direct fluorescence (UV366/Vis) and phosphomolybdic acid (PMA) visualization are compared with UV-DAD HPLC-generated data reported previously. Chemometric investigation based on principal components analysis revealed that SPE extracts separated by micro-TLC and detected under fluorescence and PMA visualization modes can be used for robust sample fingerprinting even after long-term storage of the extracts (up to 4 years) at subambient temperature (?20 °C). Such approach allows characterization of wide range of sample components that are present in given extract in high and middle concentration range. Due to protocol simplicity and low cost of analysis this method can be useful for preliminary sample screening.     

One-Step Formation of N-Alkenyl-malonamides and N-Alkenyl-thiomalonamides from Carbamoyl Meldrum's Acids

A one-pot synthesis for the preparation of N-alkenyl-malonamides and N-alkenyl-thiomalonamides was developed. 5-[Hydroxy/mercapto(aryl/alkylamino)methylene]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione act as a source of ketenes that react with the tautomeric form of alkyl-(2-phenyl-propylidene)-amines. A possible [2 + 2] or [4 + 2] cycloaddition product of ketene to imines was not observed.     

Synthesis and structure determination of 2,3-diaryl-9,9-dioxo-1H-9-thia-1,4,4a,7,10-pentaazaphenanthrene-2-ols

3-Amino-1,1-dioxopyrido[4,3-e]-1,4,2-dithiazine has been synthesized and applied to the synthesis of 3-amino-2-(4-thioxo-1,4-dihydropyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)guanidine. The reaction of the aminoguanidine with the appropriate 1,2-diarylethane-1,2-diones afforded 2,3-diaryl-9,9-dioxo-1H-9-thia-1,4,4a,7,10-pentaazaphenanthrene-2-ol derivatives. The structure of these compounds, which represent a novel heterocyclic ring system, was confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis and spectroscopic data including COSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC.     

Comparison of Aqueous and 1-Octanol Solubility as well as Liquid–Liquid Distribution of Acyclovir Derivatives and Their Complexes with Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin

The aim of the presented work is the comparison of aqueous and 1-octanol solubilities of different acyclovir derivatives and their hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes. The solubility measurements were carried out at different temperatures over the range 25–45 °C using water, 1-octanol, water saturated with 1-octanol, 1-octanol saturated with water, buffered aqueous solutions (pH = 5.5 and 7.0) and buffered aqueous solutions containing cyclodextrin as solvents. The aqueous solubilities of the compounds are very low but may be enhanced by complexation with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, especially if the acyclovir derivatives have aromatic groups which may be included in the cyclodextrin cavity. The values of 1-octanol–water partition coefficients of acyclovir derivatives, obtained using extraction experiments, showed a similar sequence as the solubility results in 1-octanol. Additionally, some molecular mechanics and molecular dynamic calculations were performed to determine optimized structures of acyclovir derivative complexes with β-cyclodextrin treated as a model.     

Performance of density functional theory in computing nonresonant vibrational (hyper)polarizabilities

A set of exchange‐correlation functionals, including BLYP, PBE0, B3LYP, BHandHLYP, CAM‐B3LYP, LC‐BLYP, and HSE, has been used to determine static and dynamic nonresonant (nuclear relaxation) vibrational (hyper)polarizabilities for a series of all‐trans polymethineimine (PMI) oligomers containing up to eight monomer units. These functionals are assessed against reference values obtained using the Møller–Plesset second‐order perturbation theory (MP2) and CCSD methods. For the smallest oligomer, CCSD(T) calculations confirm the choice of MP2 and CCSD as appropriate for assessing the density functionals. By and large, CAM‐B3LYP is the most successful, because it is best for the nuclear relaxation contribution to the static linear polarizability, intensity‐dependent refractive index second hyperpolarizability, static second hyperpolarizability, and is close to the best for the electro‐optical Pockels effect first hyperpolarizability. However, none of the functionals perform satisfactorily for all the vibrational (hyper)polarizabilities studied. In fact, in the case of electric field‐induced second harmonic generation all of them, as well as the Hartree–Fock approximation, yield the wrong sign. We have also found that the Pople 6–31+G(d) basis set is unreliable for computing nuclear relaxation (hyper)polarizabilities of PMI oligomers due to the spurious prediction of a nonplanar equilibrium geometry. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New basis sets for the evaluation of interaction‐induced electric properties in hydrogen‐bonded complexes

Interaction‐induced static electric properties, that is, dipole moment, polarizability, and first hyperpolarizability, of the CO? (HF)_n and N₂? (HF)_n, n = 1–9 hydrogen‐bonded complexes are evaluated within the finite field approach using the Hartree–Fock, density functional theory, Møller–Plesset second‐order perturbation theory, and coupled cluster methods, and the LPol‐n (n = ds, dl, fs, fl) basis sets. To compare the performance of the different methods with respect to the increase of the complex size, we consider as model systems linear chains of the complexes. We analyze the results in terms of the many‐body and cooperative effects. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Sedimentation rate in the Sungai Linggi estuary using excess 210Pb and 137Cs

The purpose of this study was to estimate the sedimentation rate in the Sungai Linggi estuary using the constant initial concentration of unsupported or excess ²¹⁰Pb model and verified with ¹³⁷Cs method. Five sediment cores were collected on 25 January 2011 using gravity corer with the inner tube of 50 cm length and 7.5 cm diameter. The total ²¹⁰Pb activities in the sediment cores profile at all sampling stations were varied and upper than those obtained for supported ²¹⁰Pb i.e. ²²⁶Ra, indicated disequilibrium among ²¹⁰Pb and its grandparents in the ²³⁸U decay series. Meanwhile, the lower ¹³⁷Cs activities were observed at all sampling stations due to no significant sources of ¹³⁷Cs releases were transferred into Malaysian marine. The estimation of sedimentation rate indicated the agreement of ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs method with a general presence of deep mixing in the Sungai Linggi estuary. Therefore, the apparent sedimentation rates calculated from ²¹⁰Pb profiles generally reflect the true value with the range from 0.70 to 1.97 cmyr^?1. High sedimentation rate was observed at some sampling stations which are located in river channel, estuary and closer to mainland. This suggested that land-use development, agriculture activities, channelization etc. introduced a large amount of sediment loaded into those areas.