Lipase‐Catalyzed Transesterification of Polyesters to Ester Copolymers

Lipase‐catalyzed intermolecular transesterification between two different polyesters has been carried out using in toluene. The transesterification of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) and (1,4‐butylene adipate) took place via catalysis of lipase from Candida antarctica to give an ester copolymer. ¹³C NMR analysis showed that the resulting polymer was not a mixture of the starting polyesters, but a copolymer consisting of both units. The reaction temperature and solvent amount greatly affected the microstructure of the ester copolymer. Under appropriate conditions, the random copolymer was formed. The enzymatic transesterification has been monitored by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and ¹³C NMR. Ester copolymers were enzymatically obtained from PCL and other poly(α,ω‐alkylene dicarboxylate)s and their microstructure depended on the polyester structure.     

Influence of Microwave Irradiation on the Lipase‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone

Summary: The microwave (MW)‐assisted lipase‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in boiling solvents was investigated for the first time. In case of boiling toluene or benzene the MW‐assisted reaction proceeded significantly slower compared to oil bath heating. On the other hand, using boiling diethyl ether as solvent, an increase of the polymerization rate due to MW irradiation was found. Yield, molecular weight measurements, and MALDI‐TOF analysis supported the results.

Reactivity of the MW‐assisted ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone compared with conventional thermal heating in different solvents.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Polycaprolactone‐block‐Polystyrene via Macromolecular Chain Transfer Reagents

ε‐Caprolactone (CL) was enzymatically polymerized with 2‐mercaptoethanol as the initiator, both in an oil bath and under microwave (MW) irradiation. The polymerization performed under MW irradiation maintaining equal conditions led to higher yields and less formation of side products, i.e., a higher chemoselectivity was observed. The resulting polyester with a terminal  SH moiety had a of 3 600 g · mol⁻¹, determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and was used as a chain transfer reagent. Subsequent copolymerization with styrene in different ratios led to polycaprolactone‐block‐polystyrene. SEC analysis and polarization microscopy of crystallized samples with different styrene contents proved the formation of block copolymers.

     

The Nonanuclear [Mo(IV){(CN)Fe(III)(3-ethoxy-saldptn)}8]Cl4 Complex Compound Exhibits Multiple Spin Transitions Observed by Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The hyperfine interactions at ¹⁸¹Ta ions on Fe³⁺ sites in α-Fe₂O₃ (hematite) were studied in the temperature range 11–1100 K by means of the perturbed angular correlation (PAC) technique. The ¹⁸¹Hf(β⁻)¹⁸¹Ta probe nuclei were introduced chemically into the sample during the preparation. The hyperfine interaction measurements allow to observe the magnetic phase transition and to characterize the supertransferred hyperfine magnetic field B_hf and the electric field gradient (EFG) at the impurity sites. The angles between B_hf and the principal axes of the EFG were determined. The Morin transition was also observed. The results are compared with those of similar experiments carried out using ¹¹¹Cd probe. ^aAlso at Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.     

Effect of N-substitution in multinuclear complexes allows interplay between magnetic states and multistability investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy

A series of pentadentate ligands N–X–⁵LH₂ (X?=?H, Methyl, Benzyl)?=?N–X–saldptn (4-X-N,N′-bis(1-hydroxy-2-benzylidene)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane) has been prepared by a Schiff base condensation between 1,7-diamino-4-X-azaheptane and salicylaldehyde. Complexation with Fe(III) yields a series of high-spin (S?=?5/2) complexes of [Fe^III(N–X–⁵L)Cl]. Such precursors were combined with [Mo(CN)₈]^4? and a series of blue nonanuclear cluster compounds [Mo^IV{(CN)Fe^III(N–X–⁵L)}₈]Cl₄ resulted. Such star-shaped nonanuclear compounds are high-spin systems at room temperature. On cooling to 10 K some of the iron(III) centers switched to the low-spin state as proven by Mössbauer spectra, i.e. multiple electronic transitions. Parts of the compounds perform a high-spin to high-spin transition. Under light irradiation the populations are altered slightly.     

Complexes based on ethylene- and propylene-bridged-pentadentate-Fe(III)-units allow interplay between magnetic centers and multistability investigated by Mössbauer spectroscopy

The propylene-based ⁵3,3-L?=?[N,N′-Bis(1-hydroxy-2-benzylidene)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane] and ethylene-based pentadentate ligand ⁵2,2-L?=?[N,N′-Bis(1-hydroxy-2-benzylidene)-1,5-diamino-3-azapentane] has been prepared. Complexation with Fe(III) yields high-spin (S?=?5/2) complexes of [Fe^III(⁵2,2-L)Cl] and [Fe^III(⁵3,3-L)Cl]. Such precursors were combined with [M(CN) _x ] ^y? (M?=?W(IV), Mo(IV), Ru(II), Co(III)) and heptanuclear and nonanuclear clusters of [M{(CN-Fe^III(⁵2,2-L)} _x ]Cl _y and [M{(CN-Fe^III(⁵3,3-L)} _x ]Cl _y resulted. Such starshaped hepta- and nonanuclear compounds are high-spin systems at room temperature. On cooling to 20 K in all presented ethylene compounds the iron(III) centers switch to a second high-spin state as proven by Mössbauer spectra with a yield of about 30%, i.e., multiple electronic transitions. The propylene compounds, however, perform a high-spin to low-spin transition. Mössbauer spectra taken during green light irradiation indicate changes in the population of the different electronic states, i.e. concerted inorganic reaction.