Antibacterial activities of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) and poly(styrene-random-4-vinyl pyridine)

Styrene was polymerized in the presence of benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) to yield polystyrene-TEMPO (PS-TEMPO) macroinitiator. The PS-TEMPO macroinitiator with different molecular weight was reacted with 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) to synthesize polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PS-b-PVP), which was then quaternized with n-octyl iodide. Antibacterial activity of the quaternized copolymers was assessed against a gram negative bacterium (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and a gram positive one (Staphylococcus aureus) by using the shake flask test method, and the results were compared with those of poly(styrene-random-4-vinyl pyridine) (P(ST-r--VP)). The quaternized copolymers inhibited greatly the growth of the bacteria, and PS-b-PVP was more active than P(ST-r-VP), which was ascribed to the fact that the content of quaternized 4-VP units on the surface of the particles of the former copolymer was higher than that corresponding to the latter one.     

Synthesis and reactions of 4-vinyl pyridine derivatives of ruthenium(II)

4-Vinyl pyridine (4-Vp) reacts with RuHClCO(PPh₃)₃ (I) in THF to give RuHClCO(PPh₃)₂(4-Vp) (II, which reacts with sodium derivatives of bidentate chelating ligands to afford substitution products, [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)]. The bindentate ligands used are 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde, trifluorothenoylacetone and 8-hydroxyquinoline. Insertion reactions of the Ru---H bond of II with activated olefins such as acrylonitrile [giving RuCl(CO)(CH₃CHCN)(PPh₃)₂(4-Vp)], 2-vinyl pyridine, dimethyl fumarate and monobromodiethyl fumarate have been carried out to obtain chelated Ru---C bonded complexes. RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ reacts with an excess of 4-Vp to give an octahedral ruthenium addition complex containing two vinyl pyridine ligands. The dimer [RuClCO(CH₃CHCN)(PPh₃)(4-Vp)]₂ is obtained by the reaction of [RuClCO(CH₃CHCN)(PPh₃)₂]₂ with an excess of 4-Vp. Stereochemical assignments have been made for these new complexes on the basis of IR and ¹H NMR data.     

低阶煤半焦利用热重在O2/CO2、O2/N2和O2/Ar气氛下燃烧特性研究

利用热重研究了两种中国西北典型低阶煤半焦的燃烧特性。探究了不同气氛（O₂/CO₂、O₂/N₂和O₂/Ar）和不同氧气浓度对其燃烧特性的影响。实验结果表明,无论是反应气氛还是氧气浓度都会对低阶煤半焦的燃烧产生影响。相比于N₂和Ar,CO₂明显有利于燃烧反应进行：当反应气氛由O₂/CO₂变为O₂/Ar时,两种不同低阶煤半焦的燃尽温度分别升高了63.7和68.8℃;而当反应气氛由O₂/CO₂变为O₂/N₂时,两种不同低阶煤半焦的燃尽温度分别升高了135.9和129.6℃。在研究范围内,氧气浓度的提高也能明显提高半焦的燃烧性能。与此同时,半焦燃烧特性的动力学分析表明,随着氧气浓度提高,两种半焦燃烧反应的表观活化能E和指前因子A均呈增大趋势。通过对E和A两者关系的分析结果表明,半焦富氧燃烧的活化能和指前因子存在动力学补偿效应。     

Modified poly(phenylene oxide) membranes for the separation of carbon dioxide from methane

Two types of poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO) membranes were prepared: one by chemical modification through sulfonation using chlorosulfonic acid and another by physical incorporation with a heteropolyacid (HPA), viz., phosphotungstic acid. These membranes were tested for the separation of CO₂/CH₄ mixtures. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction techniques were used to confirm the modified structure of PPO as well as to understand its interactions with gaseous molecules. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the membrane morphology. Thermal stability of the modified polymers was assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), while the tensile strength was measured to evaluate their mechanical stability. Both chemical and physical modifications did not adversely affect the thermally and mechanical stabilities. Experiments with pure CO₂ and CH₄ gases showed that CO₂ selectivity (27.2) for SPPO increased by a factor of 2.2, while the PPO–HPA membrane exhibited 1.7 times increase in selectivity with a reasonable permeability of 28.2 Barrer. An increase in flux was observed for the binary CO₂/CH₄ mixture permeation with an increasing feed concentration (5–40 mol%) of CO₂. An enhancement in feed pressure from 5 to 40 kg/cm² resulted in reduced CO₂ permeability and selectivity due to the competitive sorption of methane. Both the modified PPO membranes were found to be promising for enrichment of methane despite exhibiting lower permeability values than the pristine PPO membrane.     

Surface-enhanced raman scattering from poly(4-vinyl pyridine)

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been observed for poly(4-vinyl pyridine) absorbed onto silver island films. Bands near 1219 and 1613 cm^?1, which are weak in normal Raman spectra of PVP, are strong in SERS spectra, and the band near 1020 cm^?1, which is the strongest band in the normal spectra, is relatively weak in SERS. The strongest bands in the SERS spectra all belong to the same symmetry species as α_ZZ, implying that the pyridine moieties are adsorbed through the nitrogen atoms with a vertical conformation. The ring breathing mode of the pyridine rings is observed near 1020 cm^?1, a frequency characteristic of pyridinium ions or coordinated pyridine, providing further evidence for adsorption through the nitrogen atoms. Silver catalyzed photooxidation, which can lead to the appearance of artifacts in SERS spectra, particularly of polymers, can be reduced by overcoating SERS samples with thin films of polymers such as poly(methyl methacrylate) that have low Raman scattering cross sections.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the all-trans- and the trans–cis-[UO2Br2(OAsPh3)2] isomers

The all-trans and the trans–cis isomers of [UO₂Br₂(OAsPh₃)₂] have been prepared by reacting UO₂Br₂·xH₂O with OAsPh₃. The molecular structures for both isomers have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The all-trans isomer is singular as the two U---OAsPh₃ bonds are very different.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on

N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on (C₁₁H₁₃NO₂) has been studied by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=8.834(1), b=10.508(2), c=11.212(2) Å, V=1040.8(3) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.22 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.084 mm⁻¹. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.038 for 1373 reflections (I>2σ(I)). The title compound is photochromic and the molecule is not planar. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds occur between the pairs of atoms N(1) and O(1) [2.631(2) Å], and N(1) and O(2) [2.641(2) Å], the H atom essentially being bonded to the N atom. There is also a strong intermolecular O–HO hydrogen bonding [2.647(2) Å] between neighbouring molecules. Tautomeric properties and conformations of the title compound were investigated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical AM1 calculations and the results are compared with the X-ray results.     

Hybridization of poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) aggregates in dioxane/water solution

Self-assembly of binary blends of two triblock copolymers of poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-b-polystyrene-b-poly(4-vinyl pyridine), i.e., P4VP₄₃-b-PS₂₆₀-b-P4VP₄₃ (P1) and P4VP₄₃-b-PS₃₆₆-b-P4VP₄₃ (P2), in dioxane/water solution was studied. These two triblock copolymers individually tend to form vesicles (P2) and cylindrical micelles (P1) in dilute solution. It was found that copolymer components in the blend, sample preparation method, and annealing time had significant effect on hybridization aggregate morphology. By increasing P1 content in the copolymer blends, fraction of looped and stretched cylinders increased, while fraction of bilayers decreased. Nearly no bilayer was observed when P1 content was above 85 wt%. On the other hand, fraction of cylinders decreased while fraction of bilayers increased with the increase of P2 content in copolymer blends. Lamellar structures were obtained, when P2 content was 60 wt% in the copolymer blends, whereas cylinders were seldom found when P2 content was above 80 wt%. These results indicate that P1 and P2 copolymer molecules cooperatively participate in the formation of cylinders and vesicles. Some exotic structures, such as lamellae with protruding cylinders (LPC), incomplete vesicles with protruding cylinders (VPC), and cylindrical bilayers, have been kinetically trapped. These structures may result from intramicellar fusion processes in cylindrical micelles. The striking structures represent a compromise between bilayer and cylindrical geometries.     

Hydrothermal synthesis, structural characterisation and magnetic behaviour of hybrid complexes of N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetate

Two new compounds containing multidentate chelating organic residues of N-(phophonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid (H₄pmida), [M(pyr)(H₂O)₄][M₂(Hpmida)₂(pyr)(H₂O)₂]·2(H₂O) (where pyr=pyrazine and M=Co²⁺ or Ni²⁺ for I and II, respectively) have been synthesised and structurally characterised by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis and solid-state ³¹P MAS NMR. The compounds contain discrete binuclear anionic [M₂(Hpmida)₂(pyr)(H₂O)₂]²⁻ units in which one pyrazine ligand bridges two M²⁺ cations which are completely trapped inside three five-membered chelate rings formed by the Hpmida³⁻ ligands. These moieties close pack in the ac plane via a series of strong and highly directional O–HO hydrogen bonds leading to the formation of anionic layers. One-dimensional cationic coordination polymers are placed in-between and strongly hydrogen-bonded to these layers. The magnetic properties of these two materials are also reported.     

Structural and spectral studies on N-(4-chloro)benzoyl-N′-(4-tolyl)thiourea

The crystal and molecular structure of the N-(4-chloro)benzoyl-N′-(4-tolyl)thiourea (C₁₅H₁₃N₂OSCl, M_r=304.79) is determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure is monoclinic, space group: P2₁/n, a=16.097(6), b=4.5989(2), c=19.388(7) Å and β=89.299(6)° V=1434.7(9)ų, Z=4. FTIR and NMR spectra have been characterized. The interactions of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds have been discussed. Density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP) methods have been used to determine the structure and energies of stable conformers. Minimum energy conformations are calculated as a function of the torsion angle θ (C13–N1–C14–N2) varied every 30°. The optimized geometry corresponding to crystal structure is the most stable conformation. This has partly been attributed to intramolecular hydrogen bonds. With the basis sets of the 6-311G* quality, the DFT calculated bond parameters and harmonic vibrations are predicted in a very good agreement with experimental data.     

Ionic miscibility enhancement via microion elimination in sulfonated polystyrene/poly(ethyl-acrylate-co-4-vinyl pyridine) ionomer blends

Miscibility enhancement of ionomer/ionomer and ionomer/polymeric acid systems is studied on the polymer pairs of poly(styrene-co-tetramethyl ammonium styrenesulfonate)/poly(ethyl acrylate-co-N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium iodide) and poly(styrene-co-styrenesulfonic acid)/poly(ethyl acrylate-co-N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium iodide). NMR and dynamic mechanical results show that in these blends direct macroion–macroion interaction can be achieved with the elimination of microcounterions from the polymer chains. Ion-ion attraction leads to a miscibility enhancement comparable to that of the previously reported proton transfer blends; a miscible blend is obtained with ca. 5 mol% of ions in the polymers.     

Potentiometric study of Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexation with two high molecular weight poly(acrylic acids)

The copper (II) or nickel (II) complex formation with two poly(acrylic acids) of high molecular weight (Mw=2.5×10⁵ and 3×10⁶) was investigated in aqueous dilute solution (NaNO₃ 0.1 mol l⁻¹; 25°C). Potentiometric titrations were carried out, first to precise the acid-base properties of the two polymers, and secondly to determine the stability constants of the MA and MA₂ complex species formed. The Bjerrum's method, modified by Gregor et al. (J. Phys. Chem., 59 (1955) 34–39), for the study of polymeric acids was used. The results obtained showed that both polymers present very similar properties. As expected, copper (II) is more readily bound to poly(acrylic acids). CuA₂ was the predominant observed species; the global stability constant log β₁₀₂ was found to be close to 6.6. With nickel (II), none of the complex species MA or MA₂ becomes predominant (log β₁₀₂=5.5). Finally, the PAA complexes present a greater stability compared with that of monomeric analogs.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles stabilized with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-poly(4-vinyl pyridine) colloid and their application in responsive catalysis

The copolymer of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-poly(4-vinylpyridine) was synthesized by free radical copolymerization of 4-vinylpyridine and N-isopropylacrylamide. The copolymer synthesized with the feed monomer ratio of 4-vinylpyridine/N-isopropylacrylamide equal to 1/3 was associated to form thermoresponsive colloid in neutral water at room temperature, the average size and the cloud-point temperature of which were 40 nm and 32 °C, respectively. The thermoresponsive colloid was used as scaffold to load 2-nm Au nanoparticles to form the responsive catalyst of colloid-stabilizing gold nanoparticles. The catalysis in the model reduction of 4-nitrophenol with NaBH₄ suggested that the catalytic reduction could be modulated due to the thermoresponsive phase-transition of the colloid-stabilizing gold nanoparticles. That was, the catalytic reduction firstly accelerated with the increase in temperature below the cloud-point temperature and then decelerated with the increase in temperature above the cloud-point temperature of the thermoresponsive colloid-stabilizing Au nanoparticles.     

C60(OH)n-loaded nanofibrous membranes protect HaCaT cells from ROS-associated damage

C₆₀(OH)n-loaded nanofi brous membranes were prepared by electrospinning to suppress the elevation of intracellular ROS and Ca²⁺, and to protect human keratinocyte cells from ROS-associated damage and apoptosis.     

Miscibility and crystallinity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) blends

With the objective of developing new biodegradable materials, the miscibility and the crystallinity of blends of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), P(3HB), and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), P(3HB-co-3HV), have been studied. P(3HB) (300 kg mol⁻¹)/P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV (340 kg mol⁻¹) blends were prepared by casting in a wide range of proportions, and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The experimental values for the glass transition temperatures (T_g) are in good agreement with the values provided by the Fox equation, showing that the blends are miscible. It was observed that the T_g and the melting temperature (T_m) decreases with the increase in the P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV content, while the crystallization temperature (T_c) increases. FT-IR analyses confirmed the decrease on the crystallinity of P(3HB)/P(3HB-co-3HV)–10% 3HV blends with higher copolymer contents. Bands related to the crystallinity were changed, due to the copolymer content that produced miscible and less crystalline blends.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering from bilayers of polystyrene,diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A,poly(4-vinyl pyridine), and poly(4-styrene sulfonate)

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been observed from thin films of polystyrene (PS), diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA), and poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PVP) deposited on silver island films Degradation of the polymers occurred rapidly during laser irradiation and was accompanied by the appearance of strong bands near 1375 and 1575 cm-1. These bands were attributed to the formation of graphite-like species by the silver-catalyzed thermal oxidation of the polymers induced by localized laser heating of the substrate. When the thin films of PS, DGEBA, or PVP were overcoated with much thicker films of a second polymer such as polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), the degradation was greatly reduced, and excellent SERS spectra of the PS, DGEBA, and PVP films were obtained. Overlayers reduced degradation within the first films deposited on silver island films by restricting the availability of oxygen at the interface to its solubility in the overlayer polymer or by altering the adsorption of oxygen onto the substrate. SERS was observed for the PS, DGEBA, and PVP films and the PSS overlayers when the films were deposited from relatively dilute solutions. When the PS, DGEBA, and PVP films were deposited from more concentrated solutions, SERS was not observed from the PSS overlayers. It was suggested that most of the SERS was due to a short-range, charge-transfer mechanism associated with sites of atomic scale roughness and that SERS was observed from the overlayer when the first film failed to occupy all of the sites.     

Poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer membranes for selective separation of CO2

A series of copolymers containing ether oxygen groups and amino groups were prepared based on N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMEMA) and polyethylene glycol methyl ether methyl acrylate (PEGMEMA). The effect of PEGMEMA content in the copolymer on density, free volume, mechanical performance, and H₂, CO₂, N₂ and CH₄ gas transport properties of the copolymer was determined. Free volume was characterized using the polymer density and group contribution theory. The permeability of the copolymer to CO₂ is high, and both the CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/H₂ selectivities are high. For example, the permeability coefficient of PDMAEMA–PEGMEMA-90 (“90” represents the weight percent of PEGMEMA) to CO₂ is 112 Barrer and the CO₂/N₂ and CO₂/H₂ selectivity coefficients are 31 and 7, respectively. The effect of the temperature on gas transport properties was also determined. Finally, the potential application of the copolymer membranes for CO₂/light gases separation was explored.     

Zur Komplexierung von enantiomerenreinen cis- und trans-3-Diphenylphosphino-4-hydroxy-tetrahydrofuranen mit [Rh(COD)2]BF4

The complexation behaviour of cis- und trans-3-diphenylphosphino-4-hydroxyl-tetrahydrofurans with [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄ is studied with the help of NMR and IR spectroscopy. In dependence of the spatial arrangement of hydroxyl and phosphino group the formation of different intra- and intermolecular bridged O-P complexes has been observed.

Zusammenfassung

Das Komplexierungsverhalten von cis- und trans-3-Diphenylphosphino-4-hydroxy-tetrahydrofuranen mit [Rh(COD)₂]BF₄ wird mit Hilfe von NMR- und IR-Spektroskopie studiert. In Abhängigkeit von der räumlichen Anordnung von Hydroxy- und Phosphinogruppe zueinander wird die Bildung von intra- bzw. intermolekular verbrückten O-P-Komplexen beobachtet.     

Synthesis, characterisation and reactivity of trans-[Ru(L)(PPh3)Br2]; L=2-pyridyl-N-(2′-methylthiophenyl)methyleneimine: Crystal structure of trans-[Ru(L)(PPh3)Br2]

Reaction of Ru(PPh₃)₂Br₂ with the NNS chelating tridentate ligand 2-pyridyl-N-(2′-methylthiophenyl)methyleneimine (L) led to the isolation of the ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(L)(PPh₃)Br₂]. Reactivity of this complex with different bidentate chelating ligands revealed that the products are quite different from those obtained by reacting Ru(L)(PPh₃)Cl₂ (the corresponding cis dichloro complex) with the same ligands under comparable conditions. The mixed chelates were isolated and characterised by elemental analysis, magnetic moment measurement and by different spectroscopic methods along with their precursor. Electrochemistry of the complexes was examined by cyclic voltammetry using a platinum working electrode and a Ag/AgCl electrode as reference. The crystal structure of [Ru(L)(PPh₃)Br₂] disclosed that, unlike Ru(L)(PPh₃)Cl₂, the two bromo ligands are in trans position and this explained the difference in its reactivity pattern from the corresponding chloro complex.     

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of homobimetallic Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes of s- and as-indacene-diide

The Rh(COD) and Ir(COD) homobimetallic complexes of s-indacene-diide, 2,6-dimethyl-s-indacene-diide, as-indacene-diide, and 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide have been synthesized from the di-lithium salts of the dianions and metal dimers [M(μ-Cl)L₂]₂ (M = Rh, Ir; L₂ = COD, NBD, (ethylene)₂, (CO)₂ as mixtures of syn and anti isomers. The syn/anti ratio depends on the nature of the ancillary ligands at the metal and on the s or as geometry of the bridging ligand. In the reaction of the 2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[M(COD)]₂ species with CO, the higher reactivity of the syn isomers has been justified on the basis of a greater instability of the ground state due to steric interactions between the COD groups. Bis-η¹ metal-bonded intermediates have been identified in the carbonylation of iridium derivatives; on the other hand, the formation of the bis-η⁵ mixed complexes syn and anti-{2,7-dimethyl-as-indacene-diide-[Rh(COD)][Rh(CO)₂]} and their reactivity strongly support the existence of metal---metal interaction in the rhodium derivatives.