Review of recent advances in the preparation of organic polymer monoliths for liquid chromatography of large molecules

In recent years the use of monolithic polymers in separation science has greatly increased due to the advantages these materials present over particle-based stationary phases, such as their relative ease of preparation and good permeability. For these reasons, these materials present high potential as stationary phases for the separation and purification of large molecules such as proteins, peptides, nucleic acids and cells. An example of this is the wide range of commercial available polymer-based monolithic columns now present in the market.     

Applications of polymethacrylate-based monoliths in high-performance liquid chromatography

Monolithic columns were introduced in the early 1990s and have become increasingly popular as efficient stationary phases for most of the important chromatographic separation modes. Monoliths are functionally distinct from porous particle-based media in their reliance on convective mass transport. This makes resolution and capacity independent of flow rate. Monoliths also lack a void volume. This eliminates eddy dispersion and permits high-resolution separations with extremely short flow paths. The analytical value of these features is the subject of recent reviews. Nowadays, among other types of rigid macroporous monoliths, the polymethacrylate-based materials are the largest and most examined class of these sorbents. In this review, the applications of polymethacrylate-based monolithic columns are summarized for the separation, purification and analysis of low and high molecular mass compounds in the different HPLC formats, including micro- and large-scale HPLC modes.     

Synthesis, characterization and Schlenk equilibrium studies of methylmagnesium compounds with O- and N-donor ligands - the unexpected behavior of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (pmdta = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine)

MgMe₂ (1) was found to react with 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) in tetrahydrofuran (thf) yielding a binuclear complex [{MgMe₂(thf)}₂(μ-dabco)] (2). Furthermore, from reactions of MgMeBr with diglyme (diethylene glycol dimethyl ether), NEt₃, and tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) in etheral solvents compounds MgMeBr(L), (L = diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) were obtained as highly air- and moisture-sensitive white powders. From a thf solution of 7 crystals of [MgMeBr(thf)(tmeda)] (8) were obtained. Reactions of MgMeBr with pmdta (N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) in thf resulted in formation of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in nearly quantitative yield. On the other hand, the same reaction in diethyl ether gave MgMeBr(pmdta) · MgBr₂(pmdta) (10) and [{MgMe₂(pmdta)}₇{MgMeBr(pmdta)}] (11) in 24% and 2% yield, respectively, as well as [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) as colorless needle-like crystals in about 26% yield. The synthesized methylmagnesium compounds were characterized by microanalysis and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The coordination-induced shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei of the ligands are small; the largest ones were found in the tmeda and pmdta complexes. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed in 2 a tetrahedral environment of the Mg atoms with a bridging dabco ligand and in 8 a trigonal-bipyramidal coordination of the Mg atom. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) showed them to be monomeric with five-coordinate Mg atoms. The square-pyramidal coordination polyhedra are built up of three N and two C atoms in 12 and three N and two Br atoms in 13. The apical positions are occupied by methyl and bromo ligands, respectively. Temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectroscopic measurements (from 27 to −80 °C) of methylmagnesium bromide complexes MgMeBr(L) (L = thf (4); diglyme (5); NEt₃ (6); tmeda (7)) in thf-d₈ solutions indicated that the deeper the temperature the more the Schlenk equilibria are shifted to the dimethylmagnesium/dibromomagnesium species. Furthermore, at −80 °C the dimethylmagnesium compounds are predominant in the solutions of Grignard compounds 4-6 whereas in the case of the tmeda complex7 the equilibrium constant was roughly estimated to be 0.25. In contrast, [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9) in thf-d₈ revealed no dismutation into [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12) and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13) even up to −100 °C. In accordance with this unexpected behavior, 1:1 mixtures of 12 and 13 were found to react in thf at room temperature yielding quantitatively the corresponding Grignard compound 9. Moreover, the structures of [MgMeBr(pmdta)] (9c), [MgMe₂(pmdta)] (12c), and [MgBr₂(pmdta)] (13c) were calculated on the DFT level of theory. The calculated structures 12c and 13c are in a good agreement with the experimentally observed structures 12 and 13. The equilibrium constant of the Schlenk equilibrium (2 9c ? 12c + 13c) was calculated to be K_gas = 2.0 × 10⁻³ (298 K) in the gas phase. Considering the solvent effects of both thf and diethyl ether using a polarized continuum model (PCM) the corresponding equilibrium constants were calculated to be K_thf = 1.2 × 10⁻³ and K_ether = 3.2 × 10⁻³ (298 K), respectively.     

Acylpyrazolone ligands: Synthesis, structures, metal coordination chemistry and applications

This review summarizes the literature on 4-acyl-5-pyrazolone ligands, their synthesis, characterization and coordination chemistry toward main group, transition, lanthanide and actinide metals and relevant applications of their metal complexes.     

Review on gel polymer electrolytes for lithium batteries

This paper reviews the state-of-art of polymer electrolytes in view of their electrochemical and physical properties for the applications in lithium batteries. This review mainly encompasses on five polymer hosts namely poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) and poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene) (PVdF-HFP) as electrolytes. Also the ionic conductivity, morphology, porosity and cycling behavior of PVdF-HFP membranes prepared by phase inversion technique with different non-solvents have been presented. The cycling behavior of LiMn₂O₄/polymer electrolyte (PE)/Li cells is also described.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization of the zinc(II) mixed-ligand complexes of N(4)-allyl thiosemicarbazones and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine,and crystal structure of the novel [ZnL2(tmen)] compound

Mixed-ligand zinc complexes with N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (tmen) and R-salicylaldehyde N(4)-allyl thiosemicarbazones (R: 3-OCH₃ (L₁), 5-Br(L₂)), [ZnL_1,2(tmen)], were synthesized and the complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectrometer, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductivity, electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectra and IR, UV–Vis, ¹H NMR and ¹⁵N spectroscopies. Crystal of [ZnL₂(tmen)] have a slightly distorted square pyramid involving O, N, S atoms of thiosemicarbazone and one N atom of tmen in basal plane and the other N atom of tmen in apex of the pyramid. The non-coordinated allyl group is disordered.     

Classical and recent free-volume models for polymer solutions: A comparative evaluation

In this work, two “classical” (UNIFAC-FV, Entropic-FV) and two “recent” free-volume (FV) models (Kannan-FV, Freed-FV) are comparatively evaluated for polymer–solvent vapor–liquid equilibria including both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. Moreover, some further developments are presented here to improve the performance of a recent model, the so-called Freed-FV. First, we propose a modification of the Freed-FV model accounting for the anomalous free-volume behavior of aqueous systems (unlike the other solvents, water has a lower free-volume percentage than polymers). The results predicted by the modified Freed-FV model for athermal and non-athermal polymer systems are compared to other “recent” and “classical” FV models, indicating an improvement for the modified Freed-FV model for aqueous polymer solutions. Second, for the original Freed-FV model, new UNIFAC group energy parameters are regressed for aqueous and alcohol solutions, based on the physical values of the van der Waals volume and surface areas for both FV-combinatorial and residual contributions. The prediction results of both “recent” and “classical” FV models using the new regressed energy parameters are significantly better, compared to using the classical UNIFAC parameters, for VLE of aqueous and alcohol polymer systems.     

Efficient, mild, parallel and purification-free synthesis of aryl ethers via the Mitsunobu reaction

A wide range of commercial diazodicarboxylates and phosphines were screened in an attempt to find purification-free conditions for application in parallel synthesis. The combination of immobilized triphenylphosphine and TMAD proved to be suitable for the synthesis of aryl ethers via the Mitsunobu reaction. Nine ethers were synthesized in good yield and excellent purity, the purification being limited to a filtration step.     

Monomer,dimer, tetramer and salt: Structural variations in Zn(II) complexes of 4,4′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide

Complexes of Zn^II salts with 4,4′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (bpdo) have been prepared by solvathermal and solvent layering methods. Three complexes were obtained from ZnBr₂: 1 is a 2D coordination polymer [Zn₂Br₄(bpdo)₂]_n, (2) a discrete trimetallic molecule [Zn₃Br₆(H₂O)₂(bpdo)₄] and 3 a salt [ZnBr₄][Zn(H₂O)₅(bpdo)]. Complexes 2 and 3 contain Zn^II ions in both octahedral and tetrahedral coordination geometry. While in 2, these are covalently linked by bridging bpdo ligands forming zwitterionic trimetallic molecules, in 3 there is complete charge separation into [ZnBr₄]²⁻ anions and [Zn(H₂O)₅(bpdo)]²⁺ cations. When Zn(NCS)₂ is used as starting material, a 1D coordination polymer [Zn(H₂O)₂ (bpdo)(NCS)₂]_n is obtained.     

Preparation and performance analysis of PE-supported P(AN-co-MMA) gel polymer electrolyte for lithium ion battery application

Copolymer, poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl methacrylate) (P(AN-co-MMA)), was synthesized by solution polymerization with different mole ratios of monomers, acrylonitrile (AN) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Polyethylene (PE) supported copolymer and gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) were prepared with this copolymer and their performances were characterized with FTIR, TGA, SEM, and electrochemical methods. It is found that the GPE using the PE-supported copolymer with AN to MMA = 4:1 (mole) exhibits an ionic conductivity of 2.06 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature. The copolymer is stable up to 270 °C. The PE-supported copolymer shows a cross-linked porous structure and has 150 wt% of electrolyte uptake. The GPE is compatible with anode and cathode of lithium ion battery at high voltage and its electrochemical window is 5.5 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). With the application of the PE-supported GPE in lithium ion battery, the battery shows its good rate and initial discharge capacity and cyclic stability.     

Chemical modification of polymeric microchip devices

Analytical polymeric microchips in both fluidic and array formats offer short analysis times, coupling of many sample processing and chemical reaction steps on one platform with minimal sample and reagent consumption, as well as low cost, minimal fabrication times and disposability. However, the invariable bulk properties of most commercial polymers have driven researchers to develop new modification strategies. This article critically reviews the scope and development of chemical modifications of such polymeric chips since 2003. Surface modifications were based on chemical derivatization or activation of surface layers with reagent solutions, reactive gases and irradiation. Bulk modification of polymer chips used newly incorporation of monomers with selective chemical functionalities throughout the bulk polymer material and integrated the chip modification and fabrication into a single step. Such modifications hold a great promise for establishing a true ‘lab-on-chip’ as can be seen from many novel applications for modulating electroosmosis, suppressing protein adsorption in microchip capillary electrophoretic separations, extraction of analytes and for zone-specific binding of enzymes and other biomolecules.     

Synthesis and characterization of PLLA-PLCA-PEG multiblock copolymers and their applications in modifying PLLA porous scaffolds

Poly(l-lactic acid)-poly(l-lactic acid-co-citric acid)-poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers (PLLA-PLCA-PEG) were synthesized through polycondensation reaction and characterized by ¹H NMR and DSC. The three-dimensional ultrafine fibre microporous PLLA/PLLA-PLCA-PEG scaffolds were then fabricated by modifying PLLA with PLLA-PLCA-PEG through blending and characterized as well. Properties of scaffolds such as swelling and degradation behaviors, morphology and mechanical moduli were fully investigated. Tetrandrine-loaded PLLA/PLLA-PLCA-PEG scaffolds were also fabricated and their drug releasing behaviors were taken into consideration. Compressive testing research shows that the mechanical flexibility improves as the content of PLLA-PLCA-PEG copolymers in the scaffolds increases. The TED encapsulation efficiency of the scaffold is enhanced when the amount of PLLA-PLCA-PEG increases because of the acid-base interaction between carboxylic acid groups of the copolymer with TED. The releasing velocity of TED speeds up while the PLLA-PLCA-PEG blocks ratios in scaffolds increase. So modification of PLLA scaffold with PLLA-PLCA-PEG shall broaden its applications in tissue engineering.     

Design of single chain magnets through cyanide-bearing six-coordinate complexes

The design and preparation of stable cyanide-bearing six-coordinate complexes of formula [M^III(L)(CN)_x]^{(x + l − m)−} (M = trivalent transition metal ion and L = polydentate blocking ligand) are summarized here. Their use as ligands towards either fully hydrated metal ions or coordinatively unsaturated preformed species, to afford a wide variety of low-dimensional metal assemblies whose nuclearity, dimensionality and magnetic properties can be tuned, is also reviewed. Special emphasis is put on the appropriate choice of the end-cap ligand L whose denticity determines the number of coordinated cyanide groups in the mononuclear precursors. Among the different new spin topologies obtained through this rational synthetic strategy, ferromagnetically coupled 4,2-ribbon like bimetallic chains which exhibit slow magnetic relaxation and hysteresis effects (chain as magnets) are one of the most appealing and constitute the heart of the present contribution.     

Microchip-based electrochromatography: designs and applications

Different techniques and methods of electrochromatography on “lab on a chip” devices are reviewed. Described approaches include open-channel microchip electrochromatography relying on C₈, C₁₈ and novel gold nanoparticle (GNP) coating of microchannel wall; packed-channel microchip electrochromatography with new ways of automated loading and unloading of conventional octadecylsilica beads; monolith-based microchip electrochromatography with tailored casting of stationary phase at the specific places of microfluidic network and novel photolitographically fabricated collocated monolithic structures. Specific issues related to the microchip electrochromatography, i.e. importance of high aspect ratio of the microchannels in the open-channel electrochromatography or approaches eliminating the wall effect in the monolith-based electrochromatography, are discussed. Various applications for environmental, pharmacological, genomic and proteomic analysis are described. The operation parameters of reviewed microsystems are summarized in easy-to-read tables.     

Preconcentration and separation of copper (II) with solvent extraction using N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2 diaminopropane

Preconcentration and separation with solvent extraction of Cu(II) from aqueous solution using N,N′-bis(2-hydroxy-5-bromo-benzyl)1,2 diaminopropane (H₂L) as the new extractant has been studied. Separation of Cu(II) from other metal ions such as Cd(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Mn(II) at aqueous solutions of various pH values and complexing agent H₂L, has been described. The possible extraction mechanism and the compositions of the extracted species have been determined. The separation factors for these metals using this reagent are reported while efficient methods for the separation of Cu(II) from other metal ions are proposed. From the loaded organic phase, Cu(II) stripping was carried out in one stage with different mineral acid solutions. The stripping efficiency was found to be quantitative in case of HNO₃ and HCl. From quantitative evaluation of the extraction equilibrium data, it has been deduced that the complex extracted is the simple 1:1 chelate, CuL. The extraction constant has a value of logK_ex=−4.05±0.04.     

N,N-Dichlorobis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea (CC-2) as a new reagent for the synthesis of pyrimidone and pyrimidine derivatives via Biginelli reaction

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)one and benzo[4,5]imidazo/thioazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives has been described using N,N′-dichlorobis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)urea (CC-2) as a new reagent. This method is found to be efficient and convenient for the synthesis of pyrimidone and pyrimidine derivatives.     

Simple test system for single molecule recognition force microscopy

We have established an easy-to-use test system for detecting receptor-ligand interactions on the single molecule level using atomic force microscopy (AFM). For this, avidin-biotin, probably the best characterized receptor-ligand pair, was chosen. AFM sensors were prepared containing tethered biotin molecules at sufficiently low surface concentrations appropriate for single molecule studies. A biotin tether, consisting of a 6 nm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain and a functional succinimide group at the other end, was newly synthesized and covalently coupled to amine-functionalized AFM tips. In particular, PEG₈₀₀ diamine was glutarylated, the mono-adduct NH₂-PEG-COOH was isolated by ion exchange chromatography and reacted with biotin succinimidylester to give biotin-PEG-COOH which was then activated as N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester to give the biotin-PEG-NHS conjugate which was coupled to the aminofunctionalized AFM tip. The motional freedom provided by PEG allows for free rotation of the biotin molecule on the AFM sensor and for specific binding to avidin which had been adsorbed to mica surfaces via electrostatic interactions. Specific avidin-biotin recognition events were discriminated from nonspecific tip-mica adhesion by their typical unbinding force (∼40 pN at 1.4 nN/s loading rate), unbinding length (<13 nm), the characteristic nonlinear force-distance relation of the PEG linker, and by specific block with excess of free d-biotin. The convenience of the test system allowed to evaluate, and compare, different methods and conditions of tip aminofunctionalization with respect to specific binding and nonspecific adhesion. It is concluded that this system is well suited as calibration or start-up kit for single molecule recognition force microscopy.     

Determination of nickel in natural waters by FAAS after sorption on octadecyl silica membrane disks modified with a recently synthesized Schiff's base

A simple, highly sensitive, accurate and selective method for the determination of trace amounts of Ni²⁺ ions in water samples is proposed. The method is based on the separation and preconcentration of Ni²⁺ on an octadecyl-bonded silica (ODBS) membrane disk modified by a recently synthesized Schiff’s base N,N′-bis (3-methylsalicylidene) ortho phenylene diamine (MSOPD) at pH 7. The synthesis of this extractant ligand is also described. The retained nickel on the membrane was eluted with 2×5 ml 0.5 M HNO₃ and measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) at 232.0 nm. The extraction efficiency and the influence of the type and least amount of eluent for the stripping of Ni²⁺ from the disks, pH, flow rates of sample solution and eluent, amount of MSOPD, effect of other ions, and breakthrough volume were evaluated. The maximum capacity of the membrane disks modified by 3 mg of MSOPD was found to be 146±4 μg Ni²⁺. The 3σ limit of detection of the method was 30 ng per 1000 ml and also an enrichment factor of 250 was obtained. The proposed method has been applied to the determination of nickel in several water samples with satisfactory results.