Insights into the Intraspecific Variability of the above and Belowground Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds in Tomato

The in-vivo monitoring of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions is a potential non-invasive tool in plant protection, especially in greenhouse cultivation. We studied VOC production from above and belowground organs of the eight parents of the Multi-Parent Advanced Generation Intercross population (MAGIC) tomato population, which exhibits a high genetic variability, in order to obtain more insight into the variability of constitutive VOC emissions from tomato plants under stress-free conditions. Foliage emissions were composed of terpenes, the majority of which were also stored in the leaves. Foliage emissions were very low, partly light-dependent, and differed significantly among genotypes, both in quantity and quality. Soil with roots emitted VOCs at similar, though more variable, rates than foliage. Soil emissions were characterized by terpenes, oxygenated alkanes, and alkenes and phenolic compounds, only a few of which were found in root extracts at low concentrations. Correlation analyses revealed that several VOCs emitted from foliage or soil are jointly regulated and that above and belowground sources are partially interconnected. With respect to VOC monitoring in tomato crops, our results underline that genetic variability, light-dependent de-novo synthesis, and belowground sources are factors to be considered for successful use in crop monitoring.     

马来酸酐接枝稀土异戊橡胶接枝率的测试方法

以马来酸酐(MAH)和稀土异戊橡胶(IR)聚合液为主要原料,采用溶液接枝改性反应制备了马来酸酐接枝稀土异戊橡胶(IR-g-MAH)。以IR-g-MAH接枝率的测试方法为研究对象,对比直接滴定法和返滴法,并进一步优化直接滴定法的测试条件。实验结果表明,直接滴定法测试的结果准确度高、重复性好,且测试过程简单。其较优的测试条件为:水解试剂为乙醇,样品用量为0.2~0.5g,KOH-乙醇标准溶液浓度为0.02~0.06mol/L。     

Simple technique for the simultaneous determination of solvent diffusion coefficient in polymer by Quantum Resistive Sensors and FT‐IR spectroscopy

A simple, quick and novel method for the determination of diffusion properties through polymer films, based on Quantum Resistive Sensors made of Conductive Polymer nanoComposites is presented. The integral time lag method is employed for the calculation of diffusion coefficient, and the results are compared simultaneously with that of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and sorption method. Two model polymers, a semi‐crystalline poly(lactic acid) and an amorphous poly(isobutylene‐co‐isoprene), are used to validate the study. A good correlation is established between the diffusion coefficient values derived from all techniques demonstrating the interest of such reliable, simple and cheap nanosensors for the quick determination (several minutes) of diffusion properties in polymer films. Our first results suggest that this technique is meaningful for the determination of barrier properties in nanocomposite membranes filled with platelets of graphene or clay. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface treatment of CaCO3 with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents and tensile properties of the rubber composites

In order to reinforce the composite consisting of isoprene rubber (IR) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, the surface treatment of CaCO₃ particles with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents was investigated. The quantity of chemisorbed silanes in treated CaCO₃ measured using thermogravimetry was greater for amino- than for mercapto-silane and for the tri- than for the dialkoxy structure. Second, the molecular mobility of polycondensate of the mixtures with the trialkoxy structure measured using ¹H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance had the least molecular mobility, i.e., formed the highest density network. The greater values of stress at 500% strain, fracture stress, and elongation at break were determined for the treatment with amino- and mercapto-functional silanes having a trialkoxy structure from the stress-strain curves of composite. The mixture treatment with dialkoxy structure and with amino- or mercapto-functional silane only did not improve the mechanical properties sufficiently. Interactions between the amino group and the CaCO₃ surface, covalent bonding between the mercapto group and the IR, and high density network formation of trialkoxy silane were important for improving the mechanical properties of the composite.     

BF3-Et2O-Mediated One-Pot Synthesis of Acetylchromans from Polyhydroxyacetophenones and Isoprene/Allyl Alcohol

A convenient one-pot method has been developed for the synthesis of substituted acetylchromans involving the condensation of polyhydroxyacetophenone with isoprene and long chain allylic alcohol (phytol) in the presence of borontrifluoride etherate (BF₃-Et₂O).     

The sulfur reversion process in natural rubber in terms of crosslink density and crosslink density distribution

Unfilled natural rubber compounds composed of conventional (CV), semi-efficient (SEV), efficient (EV) and sulfur donor (SD) vulcanization systems were heat aged to promote sulfur reversion. Rheometry, hardness, strain-strain characteristics including Mooney-Rivlin analysis, equilibrium solvent swell and Double Quantum (DQ) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were used to monitor crosslink density changes. A loss of crosslink density was observed by rheometry, C₁, equilibrium swelling and by DQ NMR as a function of cure extent. No chain scission reactions were operating in the time/temperature conditions used. All crosslink distributions were unimodal and the network homogeneity followed the order of EV > SD > SEV > CV. The crosslink distribution narrowed during the curing process for the CV and SEV systems. Non-oxidative maturation reactions were advantageous in promoting a more random distribution of crosslinks in the polymer matrix.     

Tailoring 3,3′‐Dihydroxyisorenieratene to Hydroxystilbene: Finding a Resveratrol Analogue with Increased Antiproliferation Activity and Cell Selectivity

Four novel compounds were designed by “tailoring” 3,3′‐dihydroxyisorenieratene (a natural carotenoid) based on an isoprene unit retention truncation strategy. Among them, the smallest molecule 1 (2,3,6,2′,3′,6′‐hexamethyl‐4,4′‐dihydroxy‐trans‐stilbene) was concisely synthesized in a one‐pot Stille–Heck tandem sequence, and surfaced as a promising lead molecule in terms of its selective antiproliferative activity mediated by blocking the NCI‐H460 cell cycle in G1 phase. Additionally, theoretical calculations and cell uptake experiments indicate that the unique polymethylation pattern of compound 1 significantly induces a conformational change shift out of planarity and increases its cell uptake and metabolic stability. The observation should be helpful to rationally design resveratrol‐inspired antiproliferative agents.     

采用反应挤出三次加料法合成苯乙烯/异戊二烯/苯乙烯

以同向啮合双螺杆挤出机为反应器,采用苯乙烯和异戊二烯为聚合单体,以正丁基锂为引发剂,采用三次加料法合成苯乙烯/异戊二烯/苯乙烯(SIS)三嵌段热塑性弹性体.氢核磁共振(1H NMR)谱分析结果表明,共聚物中聚异戊二烯嵌段以1,4-结构为主.采用四氧化锇催化双氧水氧化降解聚合物分子链,利用凝胶渗透色谱对氧化降解后的聚苯乙烯碎片进行分析,证明共聚物分子为(聚苯乙烯-聚异戊二烯-聚苯乙烯)(PS-PI-PS)三嵌段结构.动态力学分析(DMA)及透射电子显微镜(TEM)分析结果表明,SIS具有两相分离结构.拉伸试验结果表明,共聚物拉伸强度与苯乙烯含量有关.     

氯化钕异丙醇合物/三异丁基铝催化剂活性中心的分离与聚合

研究了氯化钕异丙醇合物/三异丁基铝催化剂的配制方式对异戊二烯聚合和聚合产物特性的影响。 将催化剂的悬浊液分离得到清液和沉淀，分别进行聚合，并对沉淀进行了拉曼光谱表征。 结果表明，(Nd+Al)配制方式在室温和70 ℃下所得催化剂的清液均无活性，并且70 ℃下所得催化剂的沉淀也无活性。 (Nd+IP+Al)配制方式在任何条件下所得催化剂的各组分均有活性，推测该配制方式所得催化剂可能形成的是2种活性中心：(isoprenyl)2NdCl和(isoprenyl)NdCl2。 配制方式对聚异戊二烯的微观结构没有影响(96%左右)，分离前的悬浮催化剂和沉淀催化剂所得聚异戊二烯均为高分子量(Mn＞100×104)和窄分子量分布(Mw/Mn＜2.0)的聚合物，但是分离后清液所得聚合物的分子量较低(Mn＜30×104)，分子量分布很宽(Mw/Mn＞5.0)。     

Modeling of Anionic Polymerization of Isoprene in an Industrial Reactor

One of the most important reasons for modeling polymerization processes is to provide a tool for estimating the risks of runaway reactions in polymer industry. This is especially important for batch processes, such as anionic polymerization of isoprene or butadiene. This work presents a theoretical and experimental research of the anionic polymerization of isoprene using cyclohexane as solvent and n‐butyllithium as initiator. In the first part, a phenomenological kinetic expression is obtained that describes the anionic polymerization of isoprene initiated by n‐butyllithium in cyclohexane. In the second, the mass and energy balance equations are solved to model the anionic polymerization of isoprene in a quasi‐adiabatic batch reactor. Adjustment of reactor parameters is made using the data obtained from a laboratory reactor. The proposed model predicts adequately the obtained temperature, pressure, and conversion profiles from this set of experiments. Finally, a mathematical model is developed to predict the behavior for the anionic polymerization of isoprene in an industrial reactor.