In vitro degradation characteristics of poly(anhydride-imides) containing pyromellitylimidoalanine

The in vitro degradation characteristics of poly(anhydride-imides) containing pyromellitylimidoalanine, with either 1,6-bis(carboxyphenoxy)hexane (CPH) or sebacic acid (SA) were assessed. The copolymers contained up to 50 mol % of the imide monomer, pyromellitylimidoalanine (PMA-ala). Degradation was pH sensitive, being enhanced under basic conditions. Control of degradation times from 2 days to 2 months was achieved by the selection of appropriate monomer units in the polymer backbone. Monomers were chosen based on their solubility in aqueous media, as well as how they influenced the hydrophobicity and crystallinity of the polymer matrices. Polymer degradation was followed by ultraviolet spectroscopy and high-pressure liquid chromatography. Increasing the amount of imide monomer, PMA-ala, and the use of SA (rather than CPH) as the comonomer increased the degradation rate of the polymer matrices. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

ChemInform Abstract: Redetermination of Na3TaF8.

The crystal structure of Na₃TaF₈ is redetermined at 153 K and well determined bond distances and angles are provided.     

Multimodal Analysis of Light-Driven Water Oxidation in Nanoporous Block Copolymer Membranes**

Heterogeneous light-driven catalysis is a cornerstone of sustainable energy conversion. Most catalytic studies focus on bulk analyses of the hydrogen and oxygen evolved, which impede the correlation of matrix heterogeneities, molecular features, and bulk reactivity. Here, we report studies of a heterogenized catalyst/photosensitizer system using a polyoxometalate water oxidation catalyst and a model, molecular photosensitizer that were co-immobilized within a nanoporous block copolymer membrane. Via operando scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), light-induced oxygen evolution was determined using sodium peroxodisulfate (Na₂S₂O₈) as sacrificial electron acceptor. Ex situ element analyses provided spatially resolved information on the local concentration and distribution of the molecular components. Infrared attenuated total reflection (IR-ATR) studies of the modified membranes showed no degradation of the water oxidation catalyst under the reported light-driven conditions.     

Slow Inversion of Coordinated Thioether Groups in SNS-Type Ruthenium Pincer Complexes

The thioether-group-containing SNS-type pincer complex [({EtSCH₂CH₂}₂NH)RuCl(H)(PPh₃)] ( 2 ) exists in three different diastereomers ( 2 a – c ). The molecular structures obtained from single crystal X-Ray diffraction studies of all three isomers reveal a difference in the relative orientation of the respective EtS-groups, while other commonly observed diastereomers as the result of cis-/trans- or fac-/mer-isomerism are not observed. Chemical exchange between the three diastereomers 2 a – c was discovered by phase-sensitive ¹H and ³¹P NOESY NMR spectroscopy, and further quantified by line shape analysis of ¹H NMR spectra. The experimentally derived averaged Gibbs energies of activation for the interconversion of the isomers (65–70 kJ/mol) are in good agreement with the results obtained from DFT calculations, which suggest an inversion of the ligating sulfur atoms, although a dissociative pathway for the configurational inversion can be competitive.     

Lithium Aluminium Hydride and Metallic Iron: A Powerful Team in Alkene and Arene Hydrogenation Catalysis

Alkenes that normally do not react with LiAlH₄ (3-hexene, cyclohexene, 1-Me-cyclohexene), can be reduced to the corresponding alkanes by a mixture of LiAlH₄ and Fe⁰ (the iron was activated by Metal-Vapour-Synthesis). This alkene-to-alkane conversion with a stoichiometric quantity of LiAlH₄/Fe⁰ does not need quenching with water or acids, implying that both H's originate from LiAlH₄. The LiAlH₄/Fe⁰ combination is also a remarkably potent cooperative catalyst for hydrogenation of multi-substituted alkenes and benzene or toluene. An induction period of circa two hours and the minimally required temperature of 120 °C, suggests that the actual catalyst is a combination of Fe⁰ and the decomposition product of LiAlH₄ (LiH and Al⁰). A thermally pre-activated LiAlH₄/Fe⁰ catalyst did not need an induction time and is also active at room temperature and 1 bar H₂. A combination of AliBu₃ and Fe⁰ is an even more active hydrogenation catalyst. Without pre-activation, tetra-substituted alkenes like Me₂C=CMe₂ and toluene could be fully hydrogenated.