Photolabile carboxylic acid protected terpolymers for surface patterning. Part 1: Polymer synthesis and film characterization

We present the synthesis and characterization of a series of photolabile phenacyl derivative polymers and their subsequent thin film preparation. These systems are composed of up to three methacrylate units: a photolabile component including a p-methoxyphenacyl moiety which after selective irradiation (UV/laser) can provide free carboxylic groups in specific areas for further modification; an anchoring unit, trimethoxysiloxane or glycidyl methacrylate derivative, which allows the covalent attachment of the polymer to the substrate; and a spacer, methyl methacrylate or styrene, which in the appropriate proportion ensures the formation of films with good quality. Structural and thermal properties of these materials have been analyzed by means of NMR, FTIR, elemental analysis, UV, gel permeation chromatography, differental scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The polymers have been subsequently processed by spin coating to render ultrathin films (<50 nm). Topographic and structural characterization studies of the films have been carried out with atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The extent of the substrate attachment of the polymers depending on the nature of the anchoring groups have been studied by ellipsometry and FTIR.     

Photolabile protection of alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenemethanol

Irradiation of alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids "caged" with the (3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenyl)methyl group results in fast (k(release) approximately = 10(5) s(-1)) release of the substrates with good quantum (Phi = 0.17-0.26) and chemical (>90%) yields. The initial byproduct of the photoreaction, 2-naphthoquinone-3-methide, reacts rapidly with water (k(H2O) = 144 +/- 11 s(-1)) to produce parent 3-hydroxy-2-naphthalenemethanol. The o-quinone methide intermediate can be also trapped by other nucleophiles or converted into a photostable Diels-Alder adduct with ethyl vinyl ether.     

Controlling film morphology in conjugated polymer:fullerene blends with surface patterning

We study the effects of patterned surface chemistry on the microscale and nanoscale morphology of solution-processed donor/acceptor polymer-blend films. Focusing on combinations of interest in polymer solar cells, we demonstrate that patterned surface chemistry can be used to tailor the film morphology of blends of semiconducting polymers such as poly-[2-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-5-methoxy-p-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV), poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT), poly[(9,9-dioctylflorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-benzothiadiazole)] (F8BT), and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-bis-N,N'-(4-butylphenyl)-bis-N,N'-phenyl-1,4-phenylendiamine) (PFB) with the fullerene derivative, [6,6]-phenyl-C(61)-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We present a method for generating patterned, fullerene-terminated monolayers on gold surfaces and use microcontact printing and Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) to pattern alkanethiols with both micro- and nanoscale features. After patterning with fullerenes and other functional groups, we backfill the rest of the surface with a variety of thiols to prepare substrates with periodic variations in surface chemistry. Spin coating polymer:PCBM films onto these substrates, followed by thermal annealing under nitrogen, leads to the formation of structured polymer films. We characterize these films with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The surface patterns are effective in guiding phase separation in all of the polymer:PCBM systems investigated and lead to a rich variety of film morphologies that are inaccessible with unpatterned substrates. We demonstrate our ability to guide pattern formation in films thick enough to be of interest for actual device applications (up to 200 nm in thickness) using feature sizes as small as 100 nm. Finally, we show that the surface chemistry can lead to variations in film morphology on length scales significantly smaller than those used in generating the original surface patterns. The variety of behaviors observed and the wide range of control over polymer morphology achieved at a variety of different length scales have important implications for the development of bulk heterojunction solar cells.     

Reorganization of lipid nanocapsules at air-water interface: Part 2. Properties of the formed surface film

The state, electrical and dilatational rheological properties of surface films formed at air–water interface from lipid nanocapsules (LNC) with various compositions as well as model monolayers formed by the LNC constituents—Labrafac^®, Solutol^® and Lipoid^® are investigated. These nanocapsules constitute potential drug delivery systems where lypophilic drug will be loaded in their core. The study of the model Labrafac^®/Solutol^® (Lab/Sol) mixed monolayers shows behavior close to the ideal. Small negative deviations in the mean molecular areas a and dipole moments μ are observed. All studied monolayers have elastic behavior during the small continuous compressions. The comparison between the properties of surface films formed from LNC with those of the model monolayers confirms the idea developed in the kinetic study [I. Minkov, Tz. Ivanova, I. Panaiotov, J. Proust, P. Saulnier, Reorganization of lipid nanocapsules at air–water interface: 1. Kinetics of surface film formation, J. Colloids Surf. B: Biointerfaces, submited for publication.] that the surface films formed after a rapid disaggregation of the unstable nanocapsule fraction (LNC I) contains mainly Labrafac and Solutol. The Labrafac molar part (x_Lab) in the formed Lab/Sol mixed layer is established.     

Composition-tunable properties of amphiphilic comb copolymers containing protected methacrylic acid groups for multicomponent protein patterning

Methods to micropattern multiple protein components on surfaces under mild conditions are of interest for biosensing, proteomics, and fundamental studies in cell biology. Here, we report on the composition-dependent thin-film solubility behavior of o-nitrobenzyl methacrylate (oNBMA, a protected form of methacrylic acid)/methyl methacrylate (MMA)/poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGMA) random terpolymers, materials which are promising as aqueous-processible photoresists. Over a broad range of terpolymer compositions, these materials formed initially water-insoluble films, which, upon UV irradiation, rapidly dissolved in aqueous solutions above a critical pH. This threshold pH ranged from approximately 5-7 depending upon the copolymer composition and decreased as the relative ratio of MMA to PEGMA in the copolymers decreased. In addition, in a narrow window of compositions near 35:0:65 oNBMA/MMA/PEGMA (wt ratio), an inverse behavior was observed: thin films that were initially water soluble became kinetically stable in aqueous solutions after UV exposure. The time for these films to completely dissolve was hours rather than seconds, and the rate of dissolution was both temperature- and pH-dependent. This behavior is consistent with a transient stability imparted by inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the film. Using copolymers of this composition as negative tone photoresists, we demonstrated patterning of two proteins into two discrete regions of a surface. The selective solubility of the resist copolymer allows the entire patterning process to be completed using only biological buffers as solvents and across a temperature range between 4 and 37 degrees C without subjecting either protein to ultraviolet irradiation or dehydration. These materials are thus of interest for complex surface photopatterning under mild aqueous conditions.     

Non-isothermal melt crystallization kinetics for ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and ethylene-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid terpolymers

Non-isothermal melt crystallization kinetics and subsequent melting behavior for four different grades of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer and three different grades of ethylene-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid terpolymer was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry technique. The non-isothermal melt crystallization data were analyzed based on the Ozawa and Ziabicki macrokinetic models. The effective energy barriers describing non-isothermal melt crystallization process for these resins were determined based on the differential iso-conversional method of Friedman. The amount of non-crystallizable, intra-molecular defects had substantial effects on the non-isothermal melt crystallization kinetics and subsequent melting behavior.     

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 25: Mechanisms of aldehyde and carboxylic acid formation

Aldehydes and acids can be formed in numerous reactions in oxidizing polyethylene melts. Significant amounts of aldehydes result from β-scission of alkoxy radicals that are formed on bimolecular hydroperoxide decomposition. There are also large amounts of aldehydes expected from acid-catalyzed decomposition of allylic hydroperoxides as soon as enough acids have accumulated for efficient catalysis. There are difficulties in explaining the formation of aldehydes at a constant rate in sufficient amount for explaining the experimental data. There are much less difficulties with the constant rate of carboxylic acid formation. The α,γ-keto-hydroperoxides that are formed on chain propagation might account for the bulk of the acids formed at a constant rate.The foremost problems with the acids pertain to their formation at increasing rates in the initial as well as in the advanced stages. Formation and decomposition of α,β-di-hydroperoxides and α,γ-di-hydroperoxides is a possibility in this respect. Similarly, α,β-keto-hydroperoxides might be formed on peroxidation in the α-position to ketone groups in the advanced stages. There are considerable difficulties in elucidating the exact role of the aldehydes that are usually seen as the main precursors of the acids. Although there are many possibilities for transformation of aldehydes into acids, the free radical mechanisms envisaged usually have considerable disadvantages. These disadvantages result essentially from fast decarbonylation of acyl radicals and even faster decarboxylation of acyl-oxy radicals. Direct transformation of peracids into acids on reaction with double bonds is always a possibility. Moreover, in the low temperature range (150-160 °C) where hydroperoxides are accumulating, direct reaction of aldehydes with primary and/or secondary hydroperoxides will also yield acids.     

Synthesis and HPLC evaluation of carboxylic acid phases on a hydride surface

Three organic moieties containing carboxylic acid functional groups are attached to a particulate silica surface through silanization/hydrosilation. Two compounds (undecylenic acid and 10-undecynoic acid) have 11 carbon chains and the other is a five-carbon acid (pentenoic acid). Bonding is confirmed through carbon elemental analysis, diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy, and carbon-13 and silicon-29 CP-MAS NMR spectroscopy. The bonded phases are tested by HPLC using PTH amino acids, nucleic acids, theophylline-related compounds, anilines, benzoic acid compounds, choline, and tobramycin. The latter two compounds are used to investigate the aqueous normal phase properties of the three bonded materials.     

Physico-chemical aspects of polyethylene processing in an open mixer. Part 24: Experimental kinetics of aldehyde and carboxylic acid formation

The experimental kinetics for carboxylic acids shows more complexity than that for ketones. The fitting of the experimental results for the initial stages to the equation consisting of a linear and a quadratic term in processing time accounts well for the ketone data but not for the acid data. Instead of that, the data for the acids show fair fit to an equation containing a linear term and another term that is cubic in processing time. In the temperature range of the experiments the linear term is practically constant. The cubic term increases strongly with temperature. The combination of a linear and a quadratic term can account for the advanced stages of processing. The corresponding quadratic term shows strong increase if the processing temperature passes from 150 to 160 °C. However, for higher processing temperatures it remains constant within experimental error. The difference carbonyl absorbance measured after treatment of the polyethylene films with ammonia corresponds to the sum of the acids and aldehydes. It shows similarly complex kinetics. Some of the difficulties encountered with the experimental kinetics cannot be resolved with the data available. It is only the comparison with the formal kinetics based on potential mechanisms of product formation that allows for better understanding of the experimental results.     

Studies on complex compounds of thorium(IV) with pyridine and quinoline carboxylic acid. Part I

Summary Thorium acetylacetonate [Th(acac)₄] reacts with pyridine carboxylic acids in acetone giving eight coordinate thorum(IV) complexes of the compositions [Th(pic)₄] and [Th(picO)₄] (picH = picolinic acid, picOH = picolinic acidN-oxide). The complex [Th(dip)₂] · 3H₂O (dipH₂ = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) is also reported. Thorium(IV) complexes of the types [Th(quin)₂] · 2H₂O and [Th(quind)₂(acac)₂] (quinH₂ = quinolinic acid or pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid, quindH = quinaldinic acid) were prepared by the interaction of [Th(acac)₄] with the respective acids in acetone. The lower solubility and i.r. spectral studies of the complex [Th(quin)₂] · 2 H₂O suggest that it is polymeric.     

Functionalization of poly-SNS-anchored carboxylic acid with Lys and PAMAM: surface modifications for biomolecule immobilization/stabilization and bio-sensing applications

Poly(2-(2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl) (SNS) acetic acid) was electrochemically deposited on graphite electrodes and functionalized with lysine (Lys) amino acid and poly(amidoamine) derivatives (PAMAM?G2 and PAMAM?G4) to investigate their matrix properties for biosensor applications. Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized onto the modified surface as the model enzyme. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to report the surface properties of the matrices in each step of the biosensor construction. The biosensors were characterized in terms of their operational and storage stabilities and the kinetic parameters (K and I(max)). Three new glucose biosensors revealed good stability, featuring low detection limits (19.0 μM, 3.47 μM and 2.93 μM for lysine-, PAMAM?G2- and PAMAM?G4-functionalized electrodes, respectively) and prolonged the shelf lives (4, 5, and 6 weeks for Lys-, PAMAM?G2- and PAMAM?G4-modified electrodes, respectively). The proposed biosensors were tested for glucose detection on real human blood serum samples.     

Langmuir-Blodgett film characteristics and phospholipid membrane ion conduction : Part 2. Ethylenic Acyl Chain Oxidation

The influence of polar moieties located in the non-polar hydrocarbon zone in bilayer lipid membranes on ion conduction is described. Natural egg-derived phosphatidyl choline combined with cholesterol produces membranes containing several ethylenic residues in the hydrocarbon interior. Catalytic oxidation of these residues by ultraviolet radiation provides a significant density of permanently-bound polar species within the membrane. The extent of such oxidation is correlated with the Arrhenius energy barrier to ion conduction for bilayer membranes and molecular packing characteristics obtained from Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer compression experiments. The results confirm that membrane ion current is almost entirely controlled by molecular packing.     

The search for tolerant Lewis acid catalysts. Part 2: Enantiopure cycloalkyldialkylsilyl triflimide catalysts

A series of 2-aryl- and arylmethyl-3-dialkylphenylsilyl cycloalkanones have been prepared and resolved. The pure enantiomers were reduced to the corresponding cycloalkane derivatives. These were used for the in situ generation of enantiopure cycloalkylsilyl triflimides by protodesilylation with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide. The association of a bulky leaving group with a silicon atom carrying large substituents was again shown to favour the complexation of silicon with carbonyl groups: all these trialkylsilyl triflimides showed a high catalytic activity for Diels-Alder reactions. Enantiomeric excesses up to 59% were observed. This is the highest enantioselectivity ever observed for a Diels-Alder reaction catalysed by a silicon Lewis acid.     

Substituted homoallenyl aldehydes and their derivatives. Part 1: Homoallenyl aldehydes and protected hydrazones

The paper presents a simple synthesis of substituted propargyl vinyl ethers and their subsequent thermally-initiated Claisen rearrangement leading to various 3-substituted homoallenyl aldehydes. Several methods, including Sonogashira coupling, base-promoted substitution on the triple bond by sodium amide or butyllithium, and the preparation of substituted propargyl alcohols, were used in the initial step. Phosphate-protected homoallenyl aldehyde hydrazone derivatives were synthesised and fully characterised. The stereochemistry of 9-anthracene carbaldehyde hydrazone, which, surprisingly, afforded both cis and trans isomers, was established using X-ray analysis.     

Oligosaccharide Analogues of Polysaccharides. Part 3. A new protecting group for alkynes: Orthogonally protected dialkynes

Dialkynes of the type 3 (Scheme 1) are regioselectively deprotected by treating them either with base in a protic solvent (→ 4 ), or– after exposing the OH group– by catalytic amounts of base in an aprotic solvent (→ 5 and 8 ). The Me₃Si-protected 12 (Scheme 2) is inert to catalytic BuLi/THF which transformed 11 into 9 , while K₂CO₃/MeOH transformed both 10 into 9 , and 12 into 13 , evidencing the requirement for a more hindered (hydroxypropyl)silyl substituent. C-Silylation of the carbanions derived from 17–19 (Scheme 3) with 15 led to 20–22 , but only 22 was obtained in reasonable yields. The key intermediate 27 was, therefore, prepared by a retro-Brook rearrangement of 23 , made by silylating the hydroxysulfide 16 with 15 . The OH group of 27 was protected to yield the {[dimethyl(oxy)propyl]dimethylsilyl}acetylenes (DOPSA's) 21, 28 , and 29 . The orthogonally protected acetylenes 20–22, 28 , and 29 were de-trimethylsilylated to the new monoprotected acetylene synthons 30–34 . The scope of the orthogonal protection was checked by regioselective deprotection of the dialkynes 39–42 (Scheme 4), prepared by alkylation of 35 (→ 39 ), or by Pd⁰/CuI-catalyzed cross-coupling with 36–38 (→40–42 ). The cross-coupling depended upon the solvent and proceeded best in N,N,N′,N′ -teramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA). Main by-product was the dimer 43 . On the one hand, K₂CO₃/MeOH removed the Me₃Si group and transformed 39–42 into the monoprotected 44–47 ; catalytic BuLi/THF, on the other hand, transformed the alcohols 48–51 , obtained by hydrolysis of 39–42 , into the monoprotected dialkynes 52–55 , all steps proceeding in high yields. Addition of the protected DOPSA groups to the lactones 56 (→57–59 ) and 62 (→63 ) (Schemes 5 and 6) gave the corresponding hemiketals. Reductive dehydroxylation of 57 and 58 failed; but similar treatment of 59 yielded the alcohol 61 . Similarly, 63 was transformed into 64 which was protected as the tetrahydropyranyl (Thp) ether 65 . In an optimized procedure, 62 was treated sequentially with lithiated 31 , BuLi, and Me₃SiCl (→ 66 ), followed by desilyloxylation to yield 60% of 67 , which was protected as the Thp ether 68 . Under basic, protic conditions, 68 yielded the monoprotected bisacetylene 69 ; under basic, aprotic conditions, 67 led to the monoprotected bisacetylene 70 . These procedures are compatible with the butadiynediyl function. The butadiyne 73 was prepared by cross-coupling the alkyne 69 and the iodoalkyne 71 (obtained from 70 , together with the triiodide 72 ) and either transformed to the monosilylated 76 or, via 77 , to the monosilylated 78 . Formation of the homodimers 74 and 75 was greatly reduced by optimizing the conditions of cross–coupling of alkynes.     

Magnetic control of chemical transformations: application for programmed electrocatalysis and surface patterning

Lateral translocation of electrocatalyst-modified magnetic particles was achieved upon application of an external magnetic field. Programmed electrocatalytic reactions at different electrodes or different areas of an electrode were performed. The spatially controlled electrocatalytic reactions were exemplified with NADH electrocatalytic oxidation and with bioelectrocatalytic electrode patterning. The method will be particularly useful for programmed electrochemical reactions at interdigitated electrodes.     

Magnetic control of chemical transformations: application for programmed electrocatalysis and surface patterning

Lateral translocation of electrocatalyst-modified magnetic particles was achieved upon application of an external magnetic field. Programmed electrocatalytic reactions at different electrodes or different areas of an electrode were performed. The spatially controlled electrocatalytic reactions were exemplified with NADH electrocatalytic oxidation and with bioelectrocatalytic electrode patterning. The method will be particularly useful for programmed electrochemical reactions at interdigitated electrodes.     

Structure evolution in the PbO-ZrO2-TiO2 sol-gel system: Part II—Pyrolysis of acid and base-catalyzed bulk and thin film gels

The pyrolysis behavior of acid and base-catalyzed bulk and thin film Pb(Zr, Ti)O₃, or PZT, gels as well as their components have been studied using Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and Dynamic Mass Spectrometric Analysis (DMSA). The TGA/DTA data reflected the structural differences of the acid and base-catalyzed gels. Gels obtained using an acid catalyst were less cross-linked, denser, and more homogeneous than base-catalyzed gels. Based on the understanding of structure evolution in the silica system, the various events in the TGA/DTA studies of acid-catalyzed PZT gels were attributable to specific mechanisms. The DMSA showed that primarily water, 2-methoxyethanol, acetone, and carbon dioxide were evolved for both acid and base catalyzed PZT gels. The presence of the latter two volatiles was associated with the decomposition of the acetate group via the carbonate route. Acetate and carbonate groups were determined by Fourier Transform Intrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to be present in the gel structure prior to pyrolysis. Differences in the synthesis of the prehydroiyzed solution were found to affect the amount of residual alkoxy groups, gel structure, pyrolysis behavior, and therefore, the resulting microstructures of sol-gel derived PZT thin films. Finally, some suggestions for improving the processing of sol-gel PZT thin films are given.     

Tetrazoles as carboxylic acid isosteres: chemistry and biology

Tetrazoles are often used as metabolism-resistant isosteric replacements for carboxylic acids in SAR-driven medicinal chemistry analogue syntheses. Tetrazoles have not been found in nature; with rare exceptions, these compounds do not exhibit appreciable biological activity, but they are at the same time resistant to biological degradation. This property makes it possible to use tetrazoles as isosteric substituents of various functional groups in the development of biologically active substances. The tetrazole motif has been used in various drug pharmacophores as a suitable replacement of carboxylic acid moiety and different methods have been used for the synthesis of tetrazoles using different reaction conditions. This review tries to give a vivid look on the different synthetic methods, using catalysts or different reagents for the synthesis of tetrazoles. The biological importance of tetrazoles has also been highlighted.     

Gas chromatographic determination of carboxylic acid chlorides and residual carboxylic acid precursors used in the production of some penicillins.

An improved gas chromatographic method is described for the simultaneous determination of carboxylic acid chlorides and related carboxylic acids used in the production of some commercial semisynthetic penicillins. The acid chloride reacts with diethylamine to form the corresponding diethylamide. Carboxylic acid impurities are converted to trimethylsilyl esters. The two derivatives are separated and quantitated in the same chromatographic run. This method, an extension of the earlier procedure of Hishta and Bomstein (1), has been applied to the acid chlorides used to make oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, and methicillin (Figure 1); it shows promise of application to other acid chlorides. The determination is more selective than the usual titration methods, which do not differentiate among acids with similar pK's. Relative standard deviations of the acid chloride determination are 1.0-2.5%. Residual carboxylic acid can be repetitively determined within a range of 0.6% absolute.