Racemization behavior of l,l-lactide during heating

To control the depolymerization process of poly(l-lactic acid) into l,l-lactide for feedstock recycling, the racemization of l,l-lactide as a post-depolymerization reaction was investigated. In the absence of a catalyst, the conversion to meso-lactide increased with increase in the heating temperature and time at a higher rate than the conversion into oligomers. The resulting high composition of meso-lactide suggests that the direct racemization of l,l-lactide had occurred in addition to the known racemization mechanism that occurs on the oligomer chains. In the presence of MgO, the oligomerization rapidly proceeded to reach an equilibrium state between monomers and oligomers. The equilibrium among l,l-, meso-, and d,d-lactides was found to be a convergent composition ratio l,l-:meso-:d,d-lactides = 1:1.22:0.99 (wt/wt/wt) after 120 min at 300 °C. This composition ratio also indicates that in addition to the known racemization reaction on the oligomer chains, direct racemization among the lactides is also a frequent occurrence.     

A convenient synthesis of l-ribose from d-fructose

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of l-ribose was accomplished starting from commercially inexpensive d-fructose. The intermediates in the process can serve as versatile precursors for the preparation of l-nucleoside analogues.     

Synthesis of l,l-puromycin

l,l-Puromycin, a diastereomer of the natural peptidyl nucleoside antibiotic puromycin, has been synthesized from l-xylose in 13 steps.     

Characterization and release of triptolide-loaded poly (d,l-lactic acid) nanoparticles

Triptolide (TP), which has immunosuppressive effect, anti-neoplastic activity, anti-fertility function and severe toxicities on digestive, urogenital, blood circulatory system, was used as a model drug in this study. TP-loaded poly (d,l-lactic acid) (PLA) nanoparticles were prepared by the modified spontaneous emulsification solvent diffusion method (modified-SESD method). Dynamic light scattering system (DLS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffractometry and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed to characterize the nanoparticles fabricated for size and size distribution, surface morphology, the physical state of drug in nanoparticles, and the interaction between the drug and polymer. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and the in vitro release of TP in nanoparticles were measured by the reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The produced nanoparticles exhibited a narrow size distribution with a mean size of approximately 150 nm and polydispersity index of 0.088. The morphology of the nanoparticles exhibited a fine spherical shape with smooth surfaces without aggregation or adhesion. TP-entrapped in nanoparticles was found in the form of amorphous or semicrystalline. It was found that a weak interaction existed between the drug and polymer. In all experiments, more than 65% of EE were obtained. The in vitro release profile of TP from nanoparticles exhibited a typical biphasic release phenomenon, namely initial burst release and consequently sustained release. In this case, the particle size played an important role for the drug release. The modified-SESD method was a potential and advantage method to produce an ideal polymer nanoparticles for drug delivery system (DDS).     

New building blocks for peptide and depsipeptide synthesis: hexafluoroacetone protected l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives

Efficient syntheses of l-homoisoserine and d,l-homoisocysteine derivatives starting from l-malic and d,l-thiomalic acid using hexafluoroacetone as protecting and activating agent are described. The new compounds are interesting building blocks for the preparation of non-natural peptides and depsipeptides as well as for the construction of new GABA derivatives.     

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine with various terminal groups

New low-molecular weight gelators based on l-valine and l-isoleucine, which have various terminal groups such as ester, carboxyl, and carboxylate, function as a good organogelator that form an organogel in many organic solvents. In addition, the sodium salt compounds form not only organogels but also a hydrogel in the presence of a cationic surfactant.     

A highly efficient synthesis of unnatural l-sugars from d-ribose

A preparative and short synthesis of l-ribose and l-apiose was accomplished starting from d-ribose via stereoselective cis-dihydroxylation and C2-hydroxymethylation, respectively. These l-sugars can serve as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of l-nucleosides.     

Intermolecular/interionic interactions in l-isoleucine-, l-proline-, and l-glutamine-aqueous electrolyte systems

Speed of sound and density values for ternary systems (amino acid + salt + water): l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in aqueous solutions of 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ have been measured for several concentrations of amino acids at different temperatures (303.15, 308.15, 313.15, 318.15, and 323.15 K). Using speed of sound and density data, the thermodynamic parameters such as isentropic compressibility (κ_s), change in isentropic compressibility (Δκ_s) and relative change (Δκ_s/κ₀) in isentropic compressibility have been computed. The isentropic compressibility values decrease with increase in the amino acid concentration as well as with temperature. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in concentration of l-isoleucine/l-proline/l-glutamine in 1.5 M KCl, 1 M KNO₃, and 0.5 M K₂SO₄ has been ascribed to an increase in the number of incompressible zwitterions in solutions, and the formation of ‘zwitterions-ions’ and ‘zwitterions-water dipole’ entities in solutions. The decrease in κ_s values with increase in temperature has been attributed to the corresponding decrease of κ_relax (a relaxational part of compressibility), which is dominant over the corresponding increase of κ_∞ (an instantaneous part of compressibility). The trends of variation of Δκ_s and Δκ_s/κ₀ with variations in solute concentration and temperature have also been discussed in terms of solute-solute and solute-solvent intermolecular/interionic interactions operative in the systems.     

Influence of cellulose nanowhiskers on the hydrolytic degradation behavior of poly(d,l-lactide)

This paper reports the preparation of bionanocomposites based on poly(d,l-lactide) and cellulose nanowhiskers (PDLLA/CNWs) and studies the influence of the CNWs on the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the polylactide. The hydrolytic degradation process was studied in a phosphate buffer medium through the sample weight loss and also by FTIR, DSC and TGA measurements. The presence of CNWs induced a strong delay in the hydrolytic degradation of the PDLLA, even when the concentration of the nanofillers was only 1%. This effect was related to the physical barrier created by the highly crystalline CNWs that inhibited water absorption and hence retarded the hydrolytic degradation of the bionanocomposites. In addition, the incorporation of cellulose nanocrystals in the PDLLA also made the biopolymer more thermally stable, increasing the initial temperature of mass loss even after the degradation in phosphate medium. The results presented here show the possibility of controlling the biodegradability and prolonging the service life of a polylactide through the incorporation of a small quantity of nanofillers obtained from renewable materials.     

Swelling and hydrolytic degradation of poly(d,l-lactic acid) in aqueous solutions

Low molecular weight poly(lactic acid) was synthesized by direct polycondensation of lactic acid. The oligomers were characterized by viscometry, light scattering, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The swelling behaviour of tablets made of the above polymer immersed in buffer solutions at 37 °C was studied. In the same experiments, the hydrolytic stability of d,l-PLA was assessed by measuring the weight loss after drying the tablets. In order to inhibit any degradation due to bacteria, formaldehyde was added in the solution as biostatic factor. The effect of an incorporated drug on the swelling behaviour of d,l-PLA tablets was also considered. It was found that the incorporation of drug in d,l-PLA tablets increases their swelling index, probably due to the creation of additional porosity in the specimens or other interaction between drug and polymeric matrix.     

Effects of molecular weight and small amounts of d-lactide units on hydrolytic degradation of poly(l-lactic acid)s

Films of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) with different number-average molecular weights (M_n) and d-lactide unit contents (X_d) were made amorphous and the effects of molecular weight and small amounts of d-lactide units on the hydrolytic degradation behavior in phosphate-buffered solution at 37 °C of PLLA were investigated. The degraded films were investigated using gravimetry, gel permeation chromatography, polarimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffractometry, and tensile testing. To exclude the effects of crystallinity on the hydrolytic degradation, the films were made amorphous by melt-quenching. The incorporation of small amounts of d-lactide units drastically enhanced the hydrolytic degradation of PLLA. In the period of 0-32 weeks, the hydrolytic degradation rate constant (k) of PLLA films increased with increasing X_d, while the k values did not depend on M_n. This means that the effects of X_d on the hydrolytic degradation rate of the films are higher than those of M_n. In contrast, in the period of 32-60 weeks neither X_d nor M_n was a crucial parameter to determine k values, probably because in addition to these parameters the differences in the amount of catalytic oligomers accumulated in films and crystallinity affect the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the films. The initially amorphous PLLA films remained amorphous even after the hydrolytic degradation for 60 weeks.     

Temperature dependent Raman scattering study of l-ascorbic acid

Temperature dependent Raman study of l-ascorbic acid has been performed from 15 to 418 K. Changes in the wavenumber vs. temperature plots for some internal modes were interpreted as conformational molecular change and the discontinuity in the wavenumber vs. temperature plots along with the appearance of a new vibrational mode in the temperature range 200-270 K suggests that l-ascorbic acid undergoes a structural phase transition. For temperatures higher than 300 K, no relevant modification was observed on the Raman spectra thus indicating a stable structure at high temperatures. Additionally, a correlation between OH stretching wavenumber and the behavior of hydrogen bond is also made.     

One-pot inversion of d-mannono-1,4-lactone for the practical synthesis of l-ribose

l-Ribose was synthesized in a concise manner from d-mannono-1,4-lactone using one-pot inversion conditions. Treatment of d-mannono-1,4-lactone with piperidine, followed by mesylation-induced S_N2-type O-alkylation, afforded the desired one-pot inversion in an optimum yield, and the following straightforward transformations provided l-ribose in good yields.     

Synthesis of homochiral 2-C-perfluoroalkyl substituted d- and l-riboses

Homochiral 2-C-perfluoroalkyl substituted d- and l-riboses were synthesized via Barbier, Grignard and Ruppert type reactions. The influence of the size of the perfluoroalkyl groups, attached to C-2, on the furanose/pyranose as well as on the α-furanose/β-furanose and α-pyranose/β-pyranose ratio in solution was studied.     

New pyrano[3,4-b]indoles from 2-hydroxymethylindole and l-dehydroascorbic acid

2-Hydroxymethylindole reacts with l-dehydroascorbic acid under mild conditions to give (3R,3aR,10cS)-3-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3a,10c-dihydroxy-3a,5,6,10c-tetrahydrofuro[3′,4′:5,6]pyrano[3,4-b]indol-1(3H)-one. Its tosyl derivative undergoes cyclization to form a pentacyclic ketal derivative.     

Kinetics of thermo-oxidative and thermal degradation of poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) at processing temperature

Poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) degraded at processing temperature under air and nitrogen. A random chain scission model was established and used to determine the activation energy E_a, and FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR were used to elucidate the degradation behavior under different atmospheres. Results showed that there were two to three stages. The 1st stage was dominated by the oligomers containing carboxylic acid groups and hydroxyl groups, during which oxygen and nitrogen had little effect on the degradation, thus they share similar E_a. When the oligomers were consumed over or evaporated, the 2nd stage began, and oxygen had a promoting effect on the thermo-oxidation process, resulting in the great decrease in E_a. The third stage of PDLLA was observed when it degraded under nitrogen over 200 °C, which was caused by the appearance of carboxylic acid substance.     

A convenient, large-scale synthesis of 4′-carboxamido N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-phenylalanines

A large-scale synthesis of a series of 4′-carboxamido N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-phenylalanines is described. This method features mild reaction conditions and high chemical yields from commercially available N-Boc-2′,6′-dimethyl-l-tyrosine methyl ester.     

Novel synthesis of 5-thio-hexopyranoside: preparation of 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose

Asymmetric synthesis of both d- and l-isomers of 5-thioglucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thioaltrose are described. The key intermediates, l- and d-threose diethylacetal derivatives, were derived by chemical transformation from d-xylose or d-arabinose and by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation from γ-hydroxycrotylaldehyde diethylacetal. They transformed to γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal via trans-2,3-epoxy alcohol in seven steps. Acetic acid-promoted cyclization of γ-thiiranyl diethylacetal gave 5-thiopyranoside. Removal of the protected groups under the acidic conditions afforded 5-thio-d- and l-glucose and 1,6-anhydro-5-thio-l- and d-altrose, respectively.     

A d,l-proline catalyzed diastereoselective trimolecular condensation: an approach to the one-pot synthesis of perhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones

d,l-Proline was found to catalyze efficiently the one-pot trimolecular condensation of indoles, a sugar hydroxyaldehyde, and Meldrum’s acid followed by intramolecular cyclization with evolution of carbon dioxide and elimination of acetone to afford 7-(1H-3-indolyl)-2,3-dimethoxyperhydrofuro[3,2-b]pyran-5-ones. The reaction proceeded cleanly at ambient temperature to afford the products in good yields with high diastereoselectivity.