Crosslinked polystyrene with improved mechanical properties

The synthesis of some divinyl monomers—bis(vinylphenyl)ethane ( 2 ), bis(vinylbenzyloxy)hexane ( 3a ), and bis(vinylbenzyloxy)dodecane ( 3b ) is reported. Copolymers of the new monomers and styrene were evaluated as an alternative to divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymers for use as matrices and absorbents. The mechanical properties and the amount of residual double bonds in the copolymers were compared. It was found that the new copolymers, unlike the divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymers, retained their mechanical strength even at high crosslinking degrees. Stress at break values of 79, 68, and 18 N/mm² were found for the polymers crosslinked with 20 mol % of 3a, 2 , and divinylbenzene; 5, 25 and 45% of the divinyl units in these polymers were left as pendant double bonds. Porous styrene– 2 copolymers were synthesized and shown to have lower surface areas than the corresponding divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymers. The pore size distribution showed that this was due to the absence of the smallest pores which are found in the divinylbenzene-crosslinked polymers in between heavily crosslinked nodules. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Grafting of functionalized silica particles with poly(acrylic acid)

Two different methods to graft silica particles with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) were studied. In the first method PAA was reacted with 1,1′‐carbonyldiimidazole to give functionalized PAA. The resulting activated carbonyl group reacted easily with 3‐aminopropyl‐functionalized silica at low temperatures. In the second method 3‐glycidoxypropyl‐functionalized silica particles were reacted directly with PAA by using magnesium chloride as a catalyst. Different molecular weights of PAAs were used in order to investigate the effect of molecular weight on grafting yields in both methods. The grafting yields were determined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). All products were also investigated with IR. The results showed that the yields of reactions performed at ambient temperature by using 1,1′‐carbonyldiimidazole‐functionalized PAA were the same as with a direct reaction of unfunctionalized PAA and 3‐aminopropyl‐functionalized silica performed at 153°C. Also in reactions between 3‐glycidoxypropyl‐functionalized silica and PAA the yields were satisfactory. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

l-Proline as an efficicent catalyst for the multi-component synthesis of 6-amino-4-alkyl/aryl-3-methyl-2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitriles in water

An efficient four-component synthesis of 6-amino-4-alkyl/aryl-3-methyl-2,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole-5-carbonitriles involving ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, malononitrile, and various aldehydes using l-proline (10 mol %) in water under mild reaction condition in excellent yields is established. A comparative study of l-proline with γ-alumina, basic alumina, and KF-alumina was also carried out. The generality and functional tolerance of this convergent and environmentally benign method is demonstrated.     

Versatile bio-ink for covalent immobilization of chimeric avidin on sol-gel substrates

A bio-ink for covalent deposition of thermostable, high affinity biotin-binding chimeric avidin onto sol-gel substrates was developed. The bio-ink was prepared from heterobifunctional crosslinker 6-maleimidohexanoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide which was first reacted either with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane or 3-aminopropyldimethylethoxysilane to form silane linkers 6-maleimide-N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)hexanamide or -(ethoxydimethylsilyl)propyl)-hexanamide. C-terminal cysteine genetically engineered to chimeric avidin was reacted with the maleimide group of silane linker in methanol/PBS solution to form a suspension, which was printed on sol-gel modified PMMA film. Different concentrations of chimeric avidin and ratios between silane linkers were tested to find the best properties for the bio-ink to enable gravure or inkjet printing. Bio-ink prepared from 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane was found to provide the highest amount of active immobilized chimeric avidin. The developed bio-ink was shown to be valuable for automated fabrication of avidin-functionalized polymer films.     

Synthesis of 4-alkoxy-8-hydroxyquinolines

Quinolines with a hydroxyl group at the 8-position and an alkoxy group at the 4-position are rare compounds. In this paper the synthesis of five 4-alkoxy-8-hydroxyquinolines is reported. The key reaction in the synthetic route is a selective protection of the hydroxyl group at C-atom 8 in 4,8-dihydroxyquinoline with a tosyl group and the hydrolytic removal of the protective group after the alkylation. The tosyl group is stable during the alkylations with various alkylating agents in the presence of sodium hydride.     

An Approach to 3-Benzylfuran-2-Carboxylic Acid

3-benzylfurfural was prepared from furfural and benzylmagnesium chloride and it was then oxidized to 3-benzylfuran-2-carboxylic acid with silver oxide in 40% overall yield.     

Synthesis of Tetrahydro-1H,7H-benzo[ij]quinolizine-1,7-dione Derivatives

Tetrahydro-1H,7H-benzo[ij]quinolizine-1,7-diones have been obtained by the cyclization of N-alkoxyphenyl-N-(2-carboxyethyl)--alanines. Fission of the ester bond occurs on cyclization of N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-N-(2-carboxyethyl)--alanine, but the cyclization of the 3,4-dialkoxyphenyl derivative leads to the formation of 9-alkoxy-8-hydroxy-2,3,5,7-tetrahydro-1H,7H-benzo[ij]quinolizine-1,7-diones. The corresponding dioximes and diphenylhydrazones were obtained.     

Catalytic Effect of Trialkylammonium Chlorides on the Decomposition of Enolphosphorus Dichloridates: Improved Procedure for the Preparation of β-Chloroarylidene and Alkylidene Malonates

Reaction of enolates of benzoylmalonate and phosphorus oxychloride is studied.

The yield of isolated β-chlorobenzylidene malonate is doubled by using tertiary amines for the formation of the enolate of benzoylmalonate instead of starting from alkali salt. The role of trialkylammonium hydrochloride is discussed. Improved synthesis of β-chloroarylidene/alkylidene malonates is described in detail.     

Sulfonated cellulose nanofibrils obtained from wood pulp through regioselective oxidative bisulfite pre-treatment

The consecutive pre-treatment of cellulose with periodate and bisulfite was used as a new potential method to promote nanofibrillation of hardwood pulp and to obtain nanofibrils with sulfonated functionality. Nanofibrils having typical widths of 10–60 nm were obtained from sulfonated celluloses having low anionic charge densities (0.18–0.51 mmol/g) by direct high-pressure homogenization without the use of any mechanical pre-treatments. The aqueous nanofibrils existed as highly viscous and transparent gels and possessed cellulose I crystalline structures with crystallinity indexes of approximately 40 %. A transparent film was obtained from sulfonated nanofibrils having tensile strength of 164 ± 4 MPa and Young’s modulus of 13.5 ± 0.4 MPa. Oxidative sulfonation was shown to be a potential green method to promote nanofibrillation of cellulose, as it avoids the production of halogenated wastes, because the periodate used can be efficiently regenerated and recycled as shown in the preliminary experiments.     

Sodium chlorite as an efficient oxidant and hydroxy ion pump in osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation

Sodium chlorite is an efficient stoichiometric oxidant in Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation. One sodium chlorite provides the reaction with the stoichiometric number of electrons and hydroxide ions needed to dihydroxylate two olefins without the consumption of any additional base. 100% conversion in sodium chlorite asymmetric dihydroxylation of styrene was achieved twice as fast as in the established Sharpless K(3)[Fe(CN)(6)] dihydroxylation. Even internal olefins were dihydroxylated fast with sodium chlorite without hydrolysis aids. Eight olefins were dihydroxylated to corresponding vicinal diols with yields and ees as good as those reported in the literature for other similar processes.