Effects of ionization on the phase behavior of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) in water

Phase transitions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PiPA-AA) and poly(N,N- diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PdEA-AA) in water have been investigated by means of turbidimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The phase transition temperatures (T_p) of these copolymers increase with the degree of ionization () of the acrylic acid (AA) units, which in turn is dependent on the pH of the solutions. Apparent values of pK_a for the AA units, determined from the pH dependencies of T_p, are 4.7 and 5.4 for PiPA-AA and PdEA-AA, respectively. Differences between T_p for PiPA-AA and T_p for PiPA homopolymer (T_p) are +1.5 and –0.2 °C/mol% of AA at =1 and 0, respectively. The values of T_p for PdEA-AA are +2.6 (ionic) and –0.5 (nonionic)°C/mol%, indicating that the incorporated AA units have a larger effect on PdEA than on PiPA. DSC measurements performed with each of these copolymers at different pH values show a linear relationship between T_p and the enthalpy of transition (H). IR measurements of PiPA-AA show that the profiles of IR bands from both iPA and AA units exhibit critical changes at T_p of the copolymer. Heating the solution above T_p leads to shifts of the amide II, C–H stretch, and C–H bend bands from the iPA units toward lower wavenumbers, as well as a shift of the amide I band from the iPA units toward higher wavenumbers. A decrease in the intensity of the symmetric C=O stretch IR band from carboxylate anions (1560 cm^–1), and an increase in the intensity of the C=O stretch band from COOH groups (1705 cm^–1) suggest that a partial protonation of the carboxylate groups (COO^–+H⁺COOH) takes place upon the phase transition.     

Detection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-monomethyl-lysine generated by metabolic transmethylation

Administration of radiolabelled deprenyl to rats resulted in the urinary elimination of a ¹⁴C-labelled N-monomethyl-lysine. An increased level of N-monomethyl-lysine was found following an oral dose of another drug, also containing an N-methyl group. The urine sample was treated with 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chloride and then subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); the radioactive fraction was identified as N-monomethyl-lysine by using HPLC-MS in electrospray mode. Identification of N-monomethyl-lysine in the radioactive fraction gives experimental proof of transmethylation from a well-known drug to an endogenous compound.     

Effect of Cu(II) on the electrochemically initiated reaction of thiols with<Emphasis Type="Italic"> N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine: methodology for the indirect voltammetric determination of Cu(II)

The effect of Cu(II) on the determination of homocysteine via its electrochemically initiated reaction with N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine is examined. The presence of copper inhibited the detection process for homocysteine owing to a complexation reaction occurring. This provided an indirect route for the sensitive and selective determination of Cu(II), which produced a linear response over the range from 2.5 to 500 M and a limit of detection of 2.5 M. The detection pathway was examined in the presence of metallic and inorganic ions, with negligible interference observed.     

Convenient synthesis and NMR spectral studies of variously substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylpiperidin-4-one-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-benzyloximes

Abstract  A series of variously substituted N-methylpiperidin-4-one-O-benzyloximes were synthesized by three different methods. Among them, the direct conversion of 2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-ones into the corresponding oxime ethers (method A) was proved to be better than the other two methods in the sense of good yield, convenience, easy work-up and quick reaction time. All the synthesized compounds are characterized by IR, Mass and NMR (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C COSY and HMBC) spectral studies. The conformational preference of the synthesized oxime ethers with/without alkyl and aryl substituents at C-3/C-5 and C-2/C-6 is discussed using the spectral data. The observed chemical shifts and coupling constants suggest that the synthesized oxime ethers adopt chair conformation with equatorial orientation of all the substituents, whereas 1-methyl-3-isopropyl-2,6-diphenylpiperidin-4-one-O-benzyloxime also exists in boat conformation. Based on the NMR data, the effects of oximination on ring carbons and their associated protons and alkyl substituents are discussed. In addition, the effect of NMe group on the 2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-one-O-benzyloximes was also studied. Graphical abstract        

Hexafluoroacetone as Protecting and Activating Reagent. A New Approach to <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Glycosides

Summary. N-Glycosides of Asn and homologues have been synthesized starting from hexafluoroacetone-protected -activated Asp, Glu, and Aad derivatives and glycosylamines. The synthetic value of the new building blocks was demonstrated by the concise incorporation of N-glycosylated Asn, Gln, and Aad -amides into glycopeptides.     

Splitting of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis></Superscript> atomic states in icosahedral 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis> metal endofullerenes M@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

Group-theoretical and quantum-chemical investigations of the spectrum of low-lying excited states have been performed by the ROHF and FCI-RAS (Full CI in Restricted Active Space) methods for 3d metal endofullerenes (MEFs) M@C₆₀ (M =Mn, Cr, and Fe) in different charged states. The major purpose of this study is quantum-chemical verification of the anomalous (“non-Bethe’s”) character of splitting of the d ^N atomic states in an electrostatic field with icosahedral symmetry, predicted previously within the theory of integral invariants theory. The interrelation between the integral invariants theory and the quantumchemical methods applied in this work is considered in detail. Our calculations suggest that the d ^N atomic states in the icosahedral field generated by fullerene C60 (I _h ) on a metal atom (ion) remain non-split for different charged states of the metal and C₆₀. Reasons for this phenomenon and other possible approaches to verification of the prediction are discussed. It is demonstrated that the d ^N states of the encapsulated metal are split in icosahedral 3d MEFs only under very strong compression of these structures.     

Electrooxidation of undiluted organic liquids swelling<Emphasis Type="Italic"> N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-based copolymers

Polyacrylate gels such as: N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA), ionic copolymer NIPA-co-sodium acrylate (NIPA-co-SA) and ionic copolymer NIPA-co-[2-(acryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium chloride (NIPA-co-XCl) were swollen by methanol, ethanol and N,N-dimethylformamide. These solvents were oxidized voltammetrically in the gels at platinum microelectrodes. The blocking coefficients, defined as the ratio of the currents observed in the presence and absence of the polymeric chains, were different for the solvents in the charged and uncharged polymers and did not differ for the electroactive probe, ferrocene, present in the solvents at millimolar level. This may mean that the micro ionic layer that is formed at microelectrodes at the plateau of the voltammetric solvent waves leads to a kind of collapse/phase transition of the polymer in the depletion layer. For methanol, the gel structure was found to prevent occasionally the formation of large gas bubbles at the potentials positive versus the first wave and then three one-electron waves could be obtained. Experiments done with a capillary cell and an optical microscope indicated that before formation of large bubbles at the Pt microelectrode a very dynamic, dense stream of microbubbles leaves the electrode surface.Dedicated to Zbigniew Galus on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

A kinetic stability study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>N<Subscript>5</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis>=Li,Na, K,and Rb)

A structure and kinetic stability study on some complexes with the general formula MN₅, where M are the alkali-metal atoms, Li, Na, K, and Rb, has been carried by using hybrid density functional methods. Complex B (C_2v) with two points of attachment to the N₅ ring is the most energetically favored for all metals considered here. Pyramidal structures A (C_5v) are kinetically unstable and they rapidly rearrange to the most stable planar structures B. At the QCISD(T)/6-311 + G*//B3LYP/6-311 + G* + ZPE (B3LYP/6-311 + G*) level, the decomposition barrier heights of LiN₅-B, NaN₅–B, KN₅-B, and RbN₅-B are predicted to be 19.9, 22.0, 22.5, and 23.0 kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the rate constants of the decomposition reaction MN₅-B MN₃ + N₂ (M + Li, Na, K, and Rb) are also predicted using conventional transition state theory and canonical variational transition state theory, respectively.     

Synthesis of graft copolymers of wood and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone

Lignocellulose copolymers with grafted lactam rings were prepared by graft copolymerization of wood with N-vinylpyrrolidone initiated by Fe²⁺-H₂O₂. The principal features of their formation were investigated as functions of reactant concentrations, temperature, and polymerization time. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 174–176, March–April, 2008.     

Determination of epoxides by high-performance liquid chromatography following derivatization with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethyldithiocarbamate

A reversed-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method that allows quantitation of low levels of epoxides has been described. The method involved derivatization of epoxides using 100- to 1,000-fold excess N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) at 60 °C for 20 min at neutral pH. The unreacted DTC was then decomposed to CS₂ and diethyl amine by acidification of the reaction mixture to pH 2 using orthophosphoric acid. The first two steps could be performed in the same reaction vessel by sequential addition of reagents. In the final step, an aliquot (20 μL) of the derivatized sample was analyzed for the presence of stable esters of DTC by RP-HPLC using a Supelcosil LC-18-S (150 × 4.6-mm) column and a mobile phase consisting of 40% (v/v) acetonitrile in water at a flow of 1 mL min⁻¹. Using UV detection at 278 nm, the epoxides gave linear responses in the concentration range of 0.25 to 50 μM. The method is robust, and as low as 5 pmol of the analyte could be successfully detected and quantified with recoveries of ≥94%. Following a minimal pretreatment such as ultrafiltration (molecular weight cutoff 5,000 Da), the method is suitable for analysis of epoxides in complex physiological fluids (e.g., fetal bovine serum). The method has been rigorously evaluated and adapted in our laboratory for routine analysis and determination of stability of epoxides of 1,3-butadiene and other alkenes added to cell cultures.     

Synthesis of amphiphilic diblock copolymers poly[2-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-poly(stearyl methacrylate) and their self-assembly in mixed solvent

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers consisting of 2-(N, N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA, abbreviated as DMA) and stearyl methacrylate (SMA) with different degrees of polymerization and compositions were prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization. The composition and chemical structures of (co)polymers were confirmed by the measurements of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The self-aggregating structures of amphiphilic diblock copolymers with the concentration of 0.1~0.3 wt.% in THF/water mixed solvent was investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). It was found that both the morphologies and aggregating particle size resulted from the amphiphilic diblock copolymers depended on the variation of pH values, the lengths of the hydrophobic PSMA chains, and the weight ratio of THF/water mixed solvent.     

New acyl derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-deacetyllappaconitine

New N-acylates of the norditerpenoid alkaloid N-deacetyllappaconitine that were modified in the aromatic ring and are interesting as potential pharmacologically valuable compounds were prepared. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 275–279, May–June, 2008.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-hydroxymethylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N-isopropylacrylamide, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, poly(NIPAM–co-NHMAAm–co-HEMA), have been synthesized and their swelling—deswelling behavior studied as a function of NIPAM concentration, NIPAM/NHMAAm and NIPAM/HEMA mole ratio, and total monomer concentration. Copolymers varying in composition have been obtained by redox copolymerization of these three monomers. Temperature has been changed in the ranges from 4 to 70 °C at fixed pH and total ionic strength. Equilibrium swelling ratio, dynamic swelling ratio, and dynamic deswelling ratio were evaluated for all hydrogel systems. The equilibrium swelling ratios of the copolymeric gels decrease with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content. The formation of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl and amido groups decreases the hydrophilic group numbers of the gel and the affinity of the gel towards water decreases. The copolymer gels also showed rapid volume transitions with time. The time required for equilibrium shrinking increased with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content in the gel.     

Copolymer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid as drug carrier

A copolymer of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid of constant composition was prepared under the conditions of radical initiation. The possibility of the functionalization of the copolymer with drugs containing amino groups by polymer-analogous transformations was examined. Conditions were found for preparing conjugates of the copolymer with isoniazid. The structures and the quantitative compositions of the conjugates were determined by ¹³С NMR spectroscopy, and the possibility of preparing conjugates with controlled drug content was demonstrated.     

Study of the mechanism of redox transformations of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aryl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-iminoquinones

The mechanisms of redox transformations of sterically hindered [¹IBQ]-[³IBQ], 9,10-iminophenanthraquinone [⁴IFQ], and o-aminophenol [⁵AP] have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that the reduction process in tetrahydrofuran consists of two consecutive reversible steps leading to the formation of a radical anion and a dianion. In the case of acetonitrile, only the first redox process is detected, which involves the steps of protonation and electron addition resulting in the formation of a monoanion. Quantum-chemical calculations indicate a lower degree of participation of the six-membered nonaromatic carbon ring in the spin density delocalization in the o-iminosemiquinonate radical anions as compared to o-benzosemiquinonate radical anions. The oxidation of iminoquinones results in the formation of an unstable radical cation, which undergoes further chemical transformations. An increase in the acidity of a medium leads to the formation of protonated forms with the reduction potential being shifted anodically. The introduction of screening groups makes it possible to suppress side reactions of hydrolysis and cyclization of oxidized o-aminophenol [⁵AP] forms. Therefore, the major product of complete electrolysis is o-iminobenzoquinone [²IBQ].     

Synthesis and characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-tolyglycosylamines

N-Tolylglycosylamines were synthesized from o-, m-, and p-toluidines and aldoses (D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, L-rhamnose, D-xylose, and L-arabinose). The anomeric and isomeric compositions of the synthesized products were established using ¹³C NMR methods. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 333–335, July–August, 2008.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.     

Crystal structure of hydrobromides of pyridines and quinolines <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxides

Structures of hydrobromides of quinoline, 4-methylquinoline, pyridine, and 4-methylpyridine N-oxides have been elucidated by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. In contrast to other salts, quinoline N-oxide hydrobromide crystallizes in the form of dimer with two water molecules. The oxygen atom of the organic molecule is coordinated with water protons, and its state is close to sp ²-hybridization. In the cases of other hydrobromides, the oxygen atom is strongly bound to the proton of НBr and exhibits sp ³-hybridization.     

Electrochemical and in situ Raman spectroscopic study on the stability of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylaniline)

The stability of poly(N-methylaniline) (PNMA) as electrode material has been studied in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid with the use of electrochemical and in situ Raman spectroscopic techniques. It has been shown that the electrochemical decomposition of electrodeposited PNMA films follows a first-order reaction kinetics. The decomposition rate constants vary between 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ and 2.0 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for electrode potential varying between 0.2 and 1.0 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively. In situ Raman spectroscopy has been applied in obtaining kinetic data at selected electrode potentials, and good correlation of these data with the corresponding data obtained by cyclic voltammetry has been found. As compared to polyaniline, the decomposition of PNMA proceeds at nearly the same rate at electrode potentials not exceeding 0.5 V. The decomposition of PNMA proceeds faster within the potential limits of 0.5 to 0.8 V and slower at electrode potentials exceeding 0.8 V as compared to polyaniline. This article is dedicated to Professor Algirdas Vaškelis (Institute of Chemistry, Vilnius, Lithuania) on the occasion of his 70th birthday and in honour of his contributions to electrochemistry and physical chemistry.     

Viscosities and Surface Tensions of Phenetole with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dimethylformamide and Tetrahydrofuran Binary Systems at Three Temperatures

Viscosities, η, and surface tensions, σ, of binary systems of phenetole (ethoxy benzene or ethyl phenyl ether) with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylformamide or with tetrahydrofuran were measured over the entire mole fraction range and at (298, 303 and 308) K. The experimental data was used to compute the deviations in viscosity, Δη, and surface tension, Δσ. Values of the excess Gibbs energy of activation G*^E, surface entropy S _σ and surface enthalpy H _σ were calculated. Viscosity data of the binary systems were calculated using the Grunberg and Nissan and the three-body and four-body McAllister correlations. The Redlich–Kister method was used for evaluation of coefficients and standard deviations for Δη, Δσ and G*^E. The results were interpreted in terms of the probable effect of molecular interactions between components as well as polarity.