Control of the Alternating Sequence for N‐Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and Methacrylic Acid Units in a Copolymer by Cyclopolymerization and Transformation of the Cyclopendant Group

An alternating copolymer of methacrylic acid and N‐isopropyl acrylamide (NIPAM) was synthesized by selective cyclopolymerization of a special divinyl monomer and transformation of repeating cyclo‐units in the resultant cyclopolymer. Crucial to the breakthrough is the monomer design in view of two types of cleavable bonds (3° ester and activated ester) in the pendant group of the monomer and the lower reactivity ratio of the two double bonds (methacrylate and electron‐poor acrylate) for the polymerizable groups. The thus‐obtained cyclopolymer was transformed into the alternating copolymer by transformation of the activated ester into amide by isopropyl amine and cleavage of the 3° ester by trifluoroacetic acid. The resultant copolymer showed thermal and pH response in aqueous solution that was different from the 1:1 random copolymer as well as the homopolymers.     

Stereoselective Functionalization at C-2 and C-3 of the Gibberellin via an Intramolecular Free Radical Cyclization Approach

The gibberellins (GAs) are a group of naturally-occurring tetracyclic diterpenoid plant growth hormones which are widely present in higher plants and some fungal species. To date over one hundred GAs have been identified and found to be involved in almost every aspect and stage of the growth and development of plants1.Among the GAs identified to date, gibberellic acid (GA3) 1 is the most active and widely used naturally occurring gibberellin. However structure-activity relationship studies …     

Preparation of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate with a new monomer, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐benzyloxyl‐piperidinyl methacrylate,and its initiation of the graft copolymerization of styrene with a controlled radical mechanism

A copolymer [P(MMA‐co‐TBPM)] was prepared by the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐4‐benzyloxyl‐piperidinyl methacrylate (TBPM) with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. TBPM was a new monomer containing an activated ester. Both the copolymer and TBPM were characterized with NMR, IR, and gel permeation chromatography in detail. It was confirmed that P(MMA‐co‐TBPM) could initiate the graft polymerization of styrene by the cleavage of the activated ester of the TBPM segment. This process was controllable, and the molecular weight of the graft chain of polystyrene increased with the increment of conversion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4398–4403, 2002     

Photoredox‐Catalyzed Alkenylation of Benzylsulfonium Salts

Visible light‐mediated radical alkenylation of benzylsulfonium salts was achieved by means of fac‐Ir(ppy)₃ as a photocatalyst, giving allylbenzenes as products. A variety of functional groups, such as halogen, ester, and cyano, were well tolerated in this transformation. Starting benzylsulfonium salts could be readily prepared from benzyl alcohols by an acid‐mediated substitution, increasing the synthetic utility of this transformation.     

Radical polymerization and copolymerization reactivities of fumarates bearing different alkyl ester groups

Radical polymerization of fumarates bearing different alkyl ester groups (DRF) on the same molecules was investigated. In bulk polymerization of DRF at 60°C initiated with 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), it was confirmed that the polymerization reactivity depended on the structures of both alkyl ester groups. The introduction of bulky alkyl groups increased the polymerization rate and molecular weight of the polymer because of retardation of bimolecular termination rates. The effect of the ester substituents on the termination was examined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The copolymerization reactivities of DRF with styrene were also investigated. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and evaluation of an ester‐functional alkoxyamine for nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

The ester‐functional alkoxyamine 2,2‐dimethyl‐3‐(1‐(4‐(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)ethoxy)‐4‐(4‐(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)‐3‐azapentane ( 2 ) was efficiently synthesized for use as a functional initiator in nitroxide‐mediated polymerization. Two equivalents of 1‐(4‐(methoxycarbonyl)phenyl)ethyl radical were added across the double bond of 2‐methyl‐2‐nitrosopropane to form alkoxyamine 2 , which was found to control the polymerization of styrene, isoprene, and n‐butyl acrylate. The ester moieties were hydrolyzed for subsequent esterification with 1‐pyrenebutanol to form a dipyrene‐labeled initiator that was used to probe nitroxide end‐group fidelity after styrene polymerization. High retention of nitroxide was confirmed by UV‐vis studies over a range of monomer conversions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6342–6352, 2009     

Radical cyclization studies directed toward the synthesis of BMS-200475 ‘entecavir’: the carbocyclic core

Two routes are presented for the conversion of d-diacetone glucose (5a) into a protected carbocyclic core of BMS-200475 (Entecavir). The reduction of two terminal epoxides with Cp₂TiCl to form carbon radicals and their cyclizations with a terminal acetylene and an α,β-unsaturated ester lead ultimately to allylic alcohol 11a, a candidate for Mitsunobu coupling with guanine.     

ESR study of the radicals obtained from adducts of dialkyl itaconates with bromotrichloromethane

Three kinds of bromides were prepared from the reaction of dialkyl itaconates with bromotrichloromethane as precursors of analogous radicals for the propagating radicals of some dialkyl itaconates, i.e., the methyl, deuterated methyl, and adamantyl ester derivatives. The radicals were generated by photoirradiation of a toluene solution of the bromides in the presence of hexabutylditin at −60 to 60°C, and ESR spectra were recorded. Hyperfine splitting and the temperature dependence of the linewidth were determined. The β-deuterated radicals were also characterized to determine a coupling to β-hydrogens. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1969–1978, 1999     

Radical Ring‐Opening Polymerization Behavior of 1,1‐Dicyano‐2‐Vinylcyclopropane and Its Copolymerization with 1‐Cyano‐1‐Ester‐2‐Vinylcyclopropane

Radical ring‐opening polymerization of 1,1‐dicyano‐2‐vinylcyclopropane 1 was performed in benzonitrile to find the corresponding homopolymer 2 soluble in organic solvents was successfully obtained while that in other solvents gave crosslinked and thus insoluble homopolymer. In addition, 1 underwent radical copolymerization with 1‐cyano‐1‐ester‐2‐vinylcyclopropanes 3 and 4 to afford the corresponding copolymers 7 and 8 . By increasing the content of the 1 ‐derived unit in the resulting copolymers, the solubility of the copolymers in organic solvents became lower and the residual weights at 600 °C and their glass transition temperatures became higher. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1723–1729     

Methods for the surface functionalization of γ‐Fe2O3 nanoparticles with initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization and the formation of core–shell inorganic–polymer structures

Carboxylic acid capped γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by the standard decomposition of Fe(CO)₅ in di‐n‐octyl ether and oleic acid. Two methods were employed to introduce surface functionality to the nanoparticles. First, a thermally stable, tert‐butyldiphenylsilyl‐protected hydroxyl group was incorporated into the carboxylic acid surfactant used during the synthesis. Subsequent deprotection and transformation installed a 2‐bromopropionyl ester group on the particle surface (the functional‐group‐interchange method). The resulting nanoparticles were 4.53 nm in average diameter and were characterized with IR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction, and elemental analysis. Second, a 2‐bromopropionyl ester group was installed on the particle surface after synthesis via the exchange of the surface oleic acid with a carboxylic acid containing the desired 2‐bromopropionyl ester unit (the ligand‐exchange method). The resulting nanoparticles were 4.30 nm in average diameter and were characterized with IR spectroscopy, TEM, and elemental analysis. Monitoring the percentage of bromine incorporated into the nanoparticle sample versus the ligand‐exchange reaction time indicated that the number of initiator‐containing carboxylic acids that could be exchanged onto the surface was limited, presumably by the steric size of the 2‐bromopropionyl ester group. Styrene was then polymerized directly off γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles, and this yielded hybrid core–shell structures. The measurements of the magnetic properties of the samples demonstrated that the magnetism of the core γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle did not change during the performance of the chemical transformations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3675–3688, 2005     

Mapping the characteristics of the radical ring‐opening polymerization of a cyclic ketene acetal towards the creation of a functionalized polyester

Radical ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic ketene acetals is a means to achieve novel types of aliphatic polyesters. 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxe‐5‐pene is a seven‐membered cyclic ketene acetal containing an unsaturation in the 5‐position in the ring structure. The double bond functionality enables further reactions subsequent to polymerization. The monomer 2‐methylene‐1,3‐dioxe‐5‐pene was synthesized and polymerized in bulk by free radical polymerization at different temperatures, to determine the structure of the products and propose a reaction mechanism. The reaction mechanism is dependent on the reaction temperature. At higher temperatures, ring‐opening takes place to a great extent followed by a new cyclization process to form the stable five‐membered cyclic ester 3‐vinyl‐1,4‐butyrolactone as the main reaction product. Thereby, propagation is suppressed and only small amounts of other oligomeric products are formed. At lower temperatures, the cyclic ester formation is reduced and oligomeric products containing both ring‐opened and ring‐retained repeating units are produced at higher yield. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4587–4601, 2009     

Synthesis of substituted polymethylenes by radical polymerization of alkyl N,N-dialkylfumaramates and maleamates: Relative reactivity of the isomers

Bulk polymerization of alkyl N,N-dialkylfumaramates (FAE) and maleamates (MAE) was performed in the presence of a radical initiator. It has been found that FAE is more reactive than MAE when the reactivity of the two geometrical isomers was compared for their homo- and copolymerizations. From investigation on the effect of ester and N-substituents of these monomers, it has been found that the isopropyl ester shows a higher reactivity than the methyl ester and that N-ethyl and n-butyl substitution gives polymers with high molecular weight of more than several thousands. The resulting substituted polymethylenes from FAE and MAE were characterized and compared with each other. The isomerization of MAE to FAE with morpholine as an isomerization catalyst and monomer-isomerization radical polymerization were also investigated.     

Sulfamate Esters Guide Selective Radical‐Mediated Chlorination of Aliphatic C−H Bonds

Masked alcohols are particularly appealing as directing groups because of the ubiquity of hydroxy groups in organic small molecules. Herein, we disclose a general strategy for aliphatic γ‐C(sp³)?H functionalization guided by a masked alcohol. Specifically, we determine that sulfamate ester derived nitrogen‐centered radicals mediate 1,6‐hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT) processes to guide γ‐C(sp³)?H chlorination. This reaction proceeds through a light‐initiated radical chain‐propagation process and is capable of installing chlorine atoms at primary, secondary, and tertiary centers.     

Copolymers of methyl methacrylate and fluoroalkyl methacrylates: Effects of fluoroalkyl groups on the thermal and optical properties of the copolymers

Fluoroalkyl methacrylates, 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate ( 1 ), hexafluoroisopropyl methacrylate ( 2 ), 1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoro‐2‐methyl‐2‐propyl methacrylate ( 3 ), and perfluoro t‐butyl methacrylate ( 4 ) were synthesized. Homopolymers and copolymers of these fluoroalkyl methacrylates with methyl methacrylate (MMA) were prepared and characterized. With the exception of the copolymers of MMA and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethyl methacrylate ( 1 ), the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the copolymers were found to deviate positively from the Gordon‐Taylor equation. The positive deviation from the Gordon‐Taylor equation could be accounted for by the dipole–dipole intrachain interaction between the methyl ester group and the fluoroalkyl ester group of the monomer units. These T_g values of the copolymers were found to fit with the Schneider equation. The fitting parameters in the Schneider equation were calculated, and R² values, the coefficients of determination, were almost 1.0. The refractive indices of the copolymers, measured at 532, 633, and 839 nm wavelengths, were lower than that of PMMA and showed a linear relationship with monomer composition in the copolymers. 2 and MMA have a tendency to polymerize in an alternating uniform monomer composition, resulting in less light scattering. This result suggests that the copolymer prepared with an equal molar ratio of 2 and MMA may have useful properties with applications in optical devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4748–4755, 2008     

On the regioselectivity for the Michael addition of thiols to unsymmetrical fumaric derivatives

The regiochemistry of the Michael addition of thiols to unsymmetrical fumaric derivatives was investigated. Conjugate addition of thiols to unsymmetrical fumaric diester was well controlled by the presence of lithium cation and one of the two possible regioisomers was prepared in a highly selective manner. Fumaric ester amides underwent the regioselective Michael addition that was controlled by the presence or absence of the base; either of the regioisomers was prepared as an almost diastereomerically pure form. The present control of the regiochemistry can be explained by the factors of change of active site for the addition by the coordination or non-coordination of proton or lithium cation to the carbonyls. To clarify the origin of the regioselectivity, the relative rates of the conjugate addition of thiol to acrylate derivatives were measured under competitive conditions. Ethyl acrylate reacted with thiol faster than tert-butyl acrylate and the rate difference was enhanced by the presence of lithium cation. In the presence of base, ethyl acrylate gave the adducts much faster than acrylamide, while under non-basic conditions acrylamide showed higher reactivity than the ester. This regioselectivity was also observed in the Michael/aldol reaction and multi-substituted γ-butyrolactones were prepared in a stereoselective manner. The thio groups introduced here served as a leaving group and a convenient stereoselective synthesis of β-, γ- and δ-lactams was developed.     

Synthesis and thermal dissociation of polymers having hemiacetal ester moieties

Polymers having hemiacetal ester moieties in the side chain were synthesized and their thermal dissociation was examined. 1‐Alkoxyethyl methacrylates (1) were synthesized from methacrylic acid with alkyl vinyl ethers and their radical copolymerizations with butyl methacrylate were carried out at 80°C for 6.5 h using AIBN as an initiator to afford the corresponding copolymers having the hemiacetal ester moieties in the side chain. The hemiacetal ester moieties in the copolymers thermally converted to carboxyl groups with elimination of the corresponding vinyl ethers. The thermal dissociation of the hemiacetal ester moieties in the side chain obeyed first‐order kinetics at 140°C, and their reactivities were in the following order: 1‐(tert‐butoxy)ethyl > 1‐isopropoxyethyl > 1‐ethoxyethyl > 1‐butoxyethyl ester. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 609–614, 1999     

Syntheses and radical polymerization behavior of novel optically active methacrylamides having (L)-leucine structure in the side chains

Syntheses and radical polymerizations of methacrylamides having (L)-leucine and N-methyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester structures in the side chains N-methacryloyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester (MA-L-M) and N-methyl-N-methacryloyl-(L)-leucine methyl ester (N-Me-MA-L-M) were carried out. The monomers were prepared by the reactions of methacryloyl chloride with the corresponding amino acid methyl esters. Radical polymerizations were carried out in the presence of appropriate initiators at 60°C and 120°C. MA-L-M afforded the corresponding polymer with M_ns 38,000 ∼ 372,000 in high yields, while N-Me-MA-L-M afforded a trace amount of polymer at 60°C and in a low yield even at 120°C. Both inversion and increase of absolute value of specific rotation were observed in the transformation from MA-L-M (+1.3°C) to poly(MA-L-M) (−35.7°C). Changes in the CD spectral pattern and the conformation of the leucine moiety were confirmed from the monomer to polymer. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2681–2690, 1998     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene containing a crown ether unit at the junction point via combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and nitroxide mediated radical polymerization routes

Poly(methyl methacrylate)‐b‐polystyrene (PMMA‐b‐PS) containing a benzo‐15‐crown‐5 unit at the junction point was prepared by combining atom transfer radical polymerization and nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization. For this purpose, 6,7,9,10,12,13,15,16‐octahydro‐5,8,11,14,17‐pentaoxa‐benzocyclopentadecene‐2‐carboxylic acid 3‐(2‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐propionyloxy)‐2‐methyl‐2‐[2‐phenyl‐2‐(2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidin‐1‐yloxy)‐ethoxycarbonyl]‐propyl ester ( 3 ) was synthesized and used as an initiator in atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of CuCl and pentamethyldiethylenetriamine at 60°C. A linear behavior was observed in both plots of ln([M]₀/[M]) versus time and M_n,_GPC versus conversion indicating that the polymerization proceeded in a controlled/living manner. Thus obtained PMMA precursor was used as a macroinitiator in nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization of styrene (St) at 125°C to give well‐defined PMMA‐b‐PS with crown ether per chain. Kinetic data were also obtained for copolymerization. Moreover, potassium picrate (K⁺ picrate) complexation of 3 and PMMA‐b‐PS copolymer was studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3242–3249, 2006     

Main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) caused by two-photon ionization of dopant

The main chain scission reaction of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) doped with N,N,N,′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) was examined by ESR spectroscopy and GPC measurement, and the scission mechanism was analyzed. The two-photon ionization of TMPD with excimer laser excitation at 77 K produced an ester radical anion of PMMA (PMMA·m?), which becomes the main chain tertiary radical ? CH₂? C˙(CH₃)? CH₂? after the detachment of the ester side group by annealing of the sample at room temperature. The main chain scission radical ˙C(CH₃)(COOCH₃)? (PMMA˙) which was produced by the β-scission from? CH₂? ˙C(CH₃)? CH₂? showed the 13-line ESR spectrum instead of the ordinary 9-line, due to the fast quenching of the sample to 77 K. The change of the molecular weight distribution was measured by GPC after several irradiation-and-annealing operations. The simulation of the GPC curve confirmed that the scission re-action occurs at random in the PMMA chain in the solid and the main chain scission yield from the ester radical anion, [PMMA˙]/[PMMA·m?], is 0.30. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

GC–MS analysis of phytoconstituents present in Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds extract and its antioxidant activity

Trigonella foenumgraecum L. (TF) is a medicinal herb, belonging to the family Legumes. It has shown positive results in remedying hypo-cholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-lipidemia, antilithigenic, hepatoprotective, antiulcer, anticarcinogenic, antifungal and other miscellaneous pharmacological effects of fenugreek. The n-hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. Seeds (TF) was analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for identification and characterization of its therapeutic claim by traditional system. DPPH method was used to determine the antioxidant activity of Trigonella foenumgraecum L-seeds extract using UV spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 518 nm as it is one of the most sorted methods for antioxidant activity. The major compounds discovered in Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds extract are Linoleic acid (48.01%); 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (24.65%); 2-[4-Methyl-6-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-enyl)hexa-1,3,5-trienyl]cyclohex-1-en-carboxaldehyde(1.88%); Nonane dioic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester (1.09%); Bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester of azelaic acid (11.97%); Elemicin (0.51%); cis-Linoleic acid methyl ester (0.76%); Linoleic acid chloride(0.57%); Ethyl oleate(0.18%); Isopropyl linoleate (0.38%); Dihydrovallesiachotamine (0.06%); 4-(2,2-Dimethyl-6-methylenecyclohexyl) butanal(0.12%); Citronellyl myristate (0.09%); Rhaphidecursinol B(0.25%); 5-Methoxygalbelgin (0.07%); Vitamin E (0.31%); 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-4-{[3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl]imino}-2-pentanone (0.76%); γ-Sitosterol (0.66%); 1-(1,5-Dimethylhexyl)-3a,12a-dimethyltetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]cyclopropa[e]phenanthren-7-ol (0.16%) and (9Z)-9-Octadecenyl (9Z)-9-hexadecenoate (1.57%). The results showed potential antioxidant activity of n-hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds by showing significant reduction in free radical against DPPH. The hexane extract of Trigonella foenumgraecum L. seeds comprises various non-water-soluble (nonpolar) constituents. These compounds were established qualitatively via GC-MS evaluation. The free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was established owning to the presence of compounds such as terpenes, vitamin E, and unsaturated fatty acids.