Synthesis and polymerization studies of organic-soluble eumelanins

The isolation, structure determination and chemical characterization of eumelanins has been plagued by their very low solubility in organic solvents. To gain insights into the structure and reactivity of these unusual and important biologic macromolecules and to pave the way for their use in electronics, we have prepared soluble melanins via the synthesis of monomeric precursors containing lipophilic substituents. Two such monomers derived from 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) were prepared, namely the benzyl and octyl ester derivatives. Both benzyl and octyl ester monomers were oxidatively polymerized to yield dark, melanin-like pigments. These polymerization processes were followed by UV-visible, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy. These studies showed that the polymerizations proceeded by cross-linking at the 4- and 7-positions of the indole nucleus and led to highly heterogeneous polymeric products. Incorporation of a lipophilic benzyl or octyl group resulted in enhanced solubility of the pigments in a wide range of organic solvents. The UV-visible spectra of the organically soluble synthetic melanins were essentially identical to that of natural eumelanin.     

Effect of Solvent on the Morphology and Microstructure of Light Emitting Organogels

Summary: Self assembly of oligo(phenylene vinylene) based gelator is studied in three different solvents namely, trans-decahydronaphthalene (trans-decalin), benzene and benzyl alcohol. The morphology as well as the thermal properties are different for benzyl alcohol gel as compared to those gels in trans-decalin or benzene. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that in case of benzyl alcohol gel, the molecular organization is highly ordered with respect to the fibrils grown in other two solvents.     

Synthesis and characterization of tris-methacrylated 3,4,5-tris

The synthesis of liquid crystalline 3,4,5-tris(11-methacryloylundecyl-1-oxybenzyloxy)benzoic acid, 2-methyl-(1,4,7,10,13-pentaoxacyclopentadecane)-3,4,5-tris[4-(11-methacryloylundecyl-1-oxy)benzyloxy] benzoate and its 1:1 complex with sodium triflate is described. The observed mesophases were identified, by polarized optical microscopy and contact preparation techniques, to be of hexagonal columnar disordered structure. The amphiphiles form lyotropic columnar phases in concentrated methacrylate solvents, while at low solute contents supramolecular organogels emerge.     

Synthesis and study of mesogenic compounds having a methylene ketone (-CH2-CO-) linking group

Abstract

Recently we have reported isoflavone derivatives as potential mesogens [1]. During the synthesis of isoflavone derivatives, 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl benzyl ketone was synthesized as an intermediate. Nguyen Huu Tinh et al. [2] have reported the effect of the influence of the central linkage, such as ethylene, methylene ketone and ketone on the mesogenic compounds. Vora et al. [3] have also reported a mesogenic homologous series with terminal and lateral phenolic groups. To understand the effect of hydrogen bonding originating between methylene ketone and free lateral hydroxy groups, ortho to the methylene ketone group, on mesogenicity, the present homologous series of 2-hydroxy, 4(4′-n-alkoxybenzoyloxy)phenyl benzyl ketone was synthesized. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques. The first six homologues of the present series are non-mesogenic and mesomorphism appears from the heptyl derivative onwards. The present series shows a monotropic smectic A phase except for the last member (octadecyloxy) which exhibits an enantiotropic smectic A mesophase. The transition temperatures are also identified using DSC. The fluorescent studies of some of the compounds of the present series are under investigation.     

Synthesis,structural analysis,and visualization of poly(2‐ethynyl‐9‐substituted carbazole)s and poly(3‐ethynyl‐9‐substituted carbazole)s containing chiral and achiral minidendritic substituents

The synthesis of 2‐ethynyl‐9‐substituted carbazole and 3‐ethynyl‐9‐substituted carbazole monomers containing first‐generation chiral and achiral dendritic (i.e., minidendritic) substituents, 2‐ethynyl‐9‐[3,4,5‐tris(dodecan‐1‐yloxy)benzyl]carbazole (2ECz), 3‐ethynyl‐9‐[3,4,5‐tris(dodecan‐1‐yloxy)benzyl]carbazole (3ECz), 2‐ethynyl‐9‐{3,4,5‐tris[(S)‐2‐methylbutan‐1‐yloxy]benzyl}carbazole (2ECz*), and 3‐ethynyl‐9‐{3,4,5‐tris[(S)‐2‐methylbutan‐1‐yloxy]benzyl}carbazole (3ECz*), is presented. All monomers were polymerized and copolymerized by stereospecific polymerization to produce cis‐transoidal soluble stereoisomers. A structural analysis of poly(2ECz), poly(2ECz*), poly(3ECz), poly(3ECz*), poly(2ECz*‐co‐2ECz), and poly(3ECz*‐co‐3ECz) by a combination of techniques, including ¹H NMR, ultraviolet–visible, and circular dichroism spectroscopy, thermal optical polarized microscopy, and X‐ray diffraction experiments, demonstrated that these polymers had a helical conformation that produced cylindrical macromolecules exhibiting chiral and achiral nematic phases. Individual chains of these cylindrical macromolecules were visualized by atomic force microscopy. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3509–3533, 2002     

Self-assembly morphology and packing structures depend on the ‘head’ of organic cations anchored on polyoxometalate anions in hybrids

Two organic-polyoxometalates (organic-POMs) hybrids were constructed by fan-shaped 1-methyl-3-[3, 4, 5-tris(octadecyloxy) benzyl]imidazolium salts (labelled as I–Cl) and triethyl-[3, 4, 5-tris (octadecyloxy) benzyl] ammonium salts (labelled as Q–Cl) and Keggin anions [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? by electrostatic interaction. Self-assembled behaviours of two aggregates in organic solvent and solid state were investigated in detail by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. The mixed solution of chloroform–methanol or chloroform–acetone provided the stable environment for aggregates and aggregates showed a uniform micron size. X-ray analysis results showed that flower-like aggregates morphology of I₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀] based on imidazole ring as ‘head’ in organic cations was formed by the stacking of multilamellar discs and kept the lamellar structure in solid state. Bulk thorn spheres appeared in Q₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀] aggregates, which were formed by closely interspersed of lots flatted blocks with hexagonal structure characteristics in solid state. The comprehension for the self-assembly morphology and solid structure of organic-polyoxometalate hybrids would help us to use easily modified organic moiety and functional inorganic polyoxoanions as blocks to build novel and giant supramolecular architecture.     

Nonaqueous synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles:Review and indium oxide as case study for the dependence of particle morphology on precursors and solvents

Nonaqueous solution routes to metal oxide nanoparticles are a valuable alternative to the well-known aqueous sol-gel processes, offering advantages such as high crystallinity at low temperatures, robust synthesis parameters and ability to control the crystal growth without the use of surfactants. In the first part of the review, we give an overview of the various nonaqueous routes to metal oxides, their surface functionalization and their assembly into well-defined nanostructures. However, we will strongly focus on surfactant-free processes developed in our group. Within the various reaction systems such as metal halides—benzyl alcohol, metal alkoxides—benzyl alcohol, metal alkoxides—ketones, metal acetylacetonates—benzyl alcohol and metal acetylacetonates—benzylamine we will discuss representative examples in order to show the versatility of this approach. The careful characterization of the organic species in the final reaction mixtures provides information about possible condensation mechanisms. Depending on the system several reaction pathways have been postulated: (i) elimination of organic ethers as result of condensation between two metal alkoxide precursors; (ii) C–C bond formation between the alkoxy ligand of the metal alkoxide precursor and the solvent benzyl alcohol under formation of a metal hydroxyl species, which can undergo further condensation; (iii) ketimine and aldol-like condensation steps, which in the metal acetylacetonate systems are preceded by a solvolysis of the precursor, involving C–C bond cleavage. In the second part of the paper we will focus on the synthesis of indium oxide nanoparticles using different precursors and solvents. Indium oxide represents an instructive example how the oxide precursors and the solvents influence the particle morphology. These findings make it possible to tailor particle size and shape of a particular metal oxide by the appropriate choice of the reaction system.     

Synthesis and retrostructural analysis of libraries of AB3 and constitutional isomeric AB2 phenylpropyl ether-based supramolecular dendrimers

We report the synthesis of methyl esters of 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic, 3-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)propionic, and 3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)propionic acids and their use in a convergent iterative strategy to prepare up to four generations of three libraries, one of 3,4,5- and two of constitutional isomeric 3,4- and 3,5-substituted 3-phenylpropyl dendrons. Each library contains 3-[3,4,5-tris(dodecyl-1-oxy)phenyl]propyl-, 3-[3,4-bis(dodecyl-1-oxy)phenyl]propyl-, 3-{3,4-bis[3-(4-dodecyl-1-oxyphenyl)propyl-1-oxy]phenyl}propyl-, and 3-{3,4,5-tris[3-(4-dodecyl-1-oxyphenyl)propyl-1-oxy]phenyl}propyl ether first-generation dendrons on their periphery and -CO2CH3, -COOH, and -CH2OH groups at their apex. Regardless of their generation number and their periphery, internal, and apex structures, these dendrons self-assemble into supramolecular dendrimers that self-organize into all periodic and quasi-periodic assemblies encountered previously and in several unencountered with architecturally related benzyl ether-based supramolecular dendrimers. A variety of porous columnar lattices that were previously obtained only from dendritic dipeptides and hollow supramolecular spheres were also discovered from these building blocks. The more flexible and less compact 3-phenylpropyl ether repeat units are stable under acidic conditions, facilitate a simpler synthetic strategy, provide faster dynamics of self-assembly into higher-order supramolecular structures of larger dimensions, exhibit lower transition temperatures than the corresponding benzyl ether homologues, and demonstrate the generality of the self-assembly concept based on amphiphilic dendrons.     

Natural product-guided discovery of a fungal chitinase inhibitor

Natural products are often large, synthetically intractable molecules, yet frequently offer surprising inroads into previously unexplored chemical space for enzyme inhibitors. Argifin is a cyclic pentapeptide that was originally isolated as a fungal natural product. It competitively inhibits family 18 chitinases by mimicking the chitooligosaccharide substrate of these enzymes. Interestingly, argifin is a nanomolar inhibitor of the bacterial-type subfamily of fungal chitinases that possess an extensive chitin-binding groove, but does not inhibit the much smaller, plant-type enzymes from the same family that are involved in fungal cell division and are thought to be potential drug targets. Here we show that a small, highly efficient, argifin-derived, nine-atom fragment is a micromolar inhibitor of the plant-type chitinase ChiA1 from the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Evaluation of the binding mode with the first crystal structure of an A. fumigatus plant-type chitinase reveals that the compound binds the catalytic machinery in the same manner as observed for argifin with the bacterial-type chitinases. The structure of the complex was used to guide synthesis of derivatives to explore a pocket near the catalytic machinery. This work provides synthetically tractable plant-type family 18 chitinase inhibitors from the repurposing of a natural product.     

Cold NaOH/urea aqueous dissolved cellulose for benzylation: Synthesis and characterization

Cold NaOH/urea aqueous dissolved cellulose was studied for the synthesis of benzyl cellulose by etherification with benzyl chloride. By varying the molar ratios of benzyl chloride to OH groups in cellulose (1.5–4.0) and reaction temperatures (65–70 °C), benzyl cellulose with a degree of substitutions (DS) in the range of 0.29–0.54 was successfully prepared under such mild conditions. The incorporation of benzyl groups into cellulose was evidenced by multiple spectroscopies, including FT IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, CP/MAS ¹³C NMR and XRD. In addition, the thermal stability and surface morphology of the benzyl cellulose was also investigated with regard to the degree of substitution. The results indicated that the benzyl cellulose product with a low DS (0.51) in the present study reached the same solubility in many organic solvents as compared to those prepared in heterogeneous media. After benzylation, the sample decomposed at a lower temperature with a wider temperature range, which indicated that the thermal stability of benzyl cellulose was lower than that of the native cellulose. In addition, benzylation resulted in a pronounced reduction in crystallinity as well as a fundamental alteration of morphology of the native cellulose.     

Convenient synthesis of poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate) from activated urethane derivatives of γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate

A series of activated urethane‐type derivatives of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate were synthesized, and their potential as monomers for polypeptide synthesis was investigated. The derivatives of the focus of this work were a series of N‐aryloxycarbonyl‐γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate 1 , of which aryl groups were phenyl, 4‐chlorophenyl, and 4‐nitrophenyl. These urethanes 1 were reactive in polar solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and were efficiently converted into poly(γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (poly(BLG)) under mild conditions; at 60 °C without addition of any catalyst. Among the three urethanes, that having 4‐nitrophenoxycarbonyl group 1c was the most reactive to give poly(BLG) efficiently, as was expected from the highly electron deficient nature of the nitrophenoxycarbonyl group. On the other hand, the urethane 1a having phenoxycarbonyl group was also efficiently converted into poly(BLG), in spite of the intrinsically less electrophilicity of the phenoxycarbonyl group. In addition, the successful formation of poly(BLG) by the reaction of 1a favored its diluted concentration (0.1 M) much more than 2.0 M, the optimum initial concentration for 1c . ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses of the reactions in situ revealed that the predominant pathway from 1 to poly(BLG) involved the intramolecular cyclization of 1 into the corresponding N‐carboxyanhydride, with release of phenol and its successive ring‐opening polymerization with release of carbon dioxide. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2649–2657, 2008     

Synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of substituted zinc phthalocyanines

The synthesis, photophysical and photochemical properties of the 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}oxy) and 4-({3,4,5-tris-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyloxy]benzyl}thio) zinc(ii) phthalocyanines are reported for the first time. The new compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, electronic spectroscopy and mass spectra. General trends are described for photodegradation, singlet oxygen, fluorescence and triplet excited state quantum yields, and triplet state and fluorescence lifetimes of these compounds in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The fluorescence of the complexes was quenched by benzoquinone (BQ). The effects of the substitution on the photophysical and photochemical parameters of the zinc(II) phthalocyanines (6, 7 and 8) are also reported. Photophysical and photochemical properties of phthalocyanine complexes are very useful for PDT applications. The substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanines showed high triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. High singlet oxygen quantum yields are very important for Type II mechanism. Thus, these complexes show potential as Type II photosensitizers.     

Self-assembled monolayers derived from alkoxyphenylethanethiols having one, two, and three pendant chains

This article describes the design, synthesis, and study of alkoxyphenylethanethiol-based adsorbates with one (R1ArMT), two (R2ArMT), and three (R3ArMT) pendant octadecyloxy chains substituted at the 4-, 3,5-, and 3,4,5-positions, respectively, of the phenylethanethiol group. These adsorbates are being developed for use in the preparation of compositionally versatile "mixed" self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coatings. The resultant SAMs were characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The studies revealed that R1ArMT generates a well-ordered monolayer film, while R2ArMT and R3ArMT generate monolayer films with diminished conformational order in which the degree of crystallinity decreases as follows: C18 ～ R1ArMT > R3ArMT > R2ArMT. In addition, comparison of the molecular and chain packing densities of SAMs derived from these new adsorbates reveals that the R2ArMT and R3ArMT adsorbates give rise to SAMs with reduced chain tilt and smaller surface area per chain when compared to the SAMs derived from C18 and R1ArMT.     

Solvent and substituent effects on aggregation constants of perylene bisimide π-stacks--a linear free energy relationship analysis

A series of six perylene bisimides (PBIs) with hydrophilic and hydrophobic side chains at the imide nitrogens were applied for a comparative study of the solvent and structural effects on the aggregation behaviour of this class of dyes. A comparison of the binding constants in tetrachloromethane at room temperature revealed the highest binding constant of about 10(5) M(-1) for a PBI bearing 3,4,5-tridodecyloxyphenyl substituents at the imide nitrogens, followed by 3,4,5-tridodecylphenyl and alkyl-substituted PBIs, whereas no aggregation could be observed in the accessible concentration range for PBIs equipped with bulky 2,6-diisopropylphenyl substituents at the imide nitrogens. The aggregation behaviour of three properly soluble compounds was investigated in 17 different solvents covering a broad polarity range from nonpolar n-hexane to highly polar DMSO and water. Linear free energy relationships (LFER) revealed a biphasic behaviour between Gibbs free energies of aggregation and common empirical solvent polarity scales indicating particularly strong π-π stacking interactions in nonpolar aliphatic and polar alcoholic solvents whilst the weakest binding is observed in dichloromethane and chloroform. Accordingly, PBI aggregation is dominated by electrostatic interactions in nonpolar solvents and by solvophobic interactions in protic solvents. In water, the aggregation constant is increased far beyond LFER expectations pointing at a pronounced hydrophobic effect.     

Low-Temperature Fast Production of Carbon and Acetic Acid Dual-Promoted Pd/C Catalysts

The Pd/C catalysts are widely used in synthesis of fine chemicals in industry, but their production suffers from a complicated two-step process involving impregnation and reduction, and requires large amounts of solvents and reductant, which would lead to a series of issues such as time consumption, resource waste and environmental pollution. Herein, ultra-small Pd nanoparticles uniformly anchored on carbon nanotubes (Pd/CNTs) were synthesized by using a one-pot and low-temperature reduction strategy. The present process/technology is very sensitive to and controlled by the supports and solvents, and the carbon support and acetic acid synergistically play crucial and decisive roles in the fast production of Pd/C catalysts. Also, the used solvents can be recycled and reutilized, which meets the requirements of sustainable chemistry and green economy. When the as-obtained Pd/CNTs catalyst was used to catalyze the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, it achieved a conversion efficiency as high as 99.3 % and a high selectivity up to >99.9 %. The simple, scalable and environmentally friendly strategy can be extended to anchor Pd nanoparticles on various carbon substrates, which sheds a new light on the synthesis of Pd/C catalysts.     

THE SYNTHESIS,SOLVOLYSIS AND REARRANGEMENT OF BENZYL TRIFLUOROMETHANESULFINATES

Abstract

The synthesis and reactivity of benzyl trifluoromethanesulfinates have been investigated. These esters are easily and almost quantitatively obtained by selective oxidation of the corresponding sulfenates. A study of their behavior has revealed some unique features. In sharp contrast to benzyl arenesulfinates, which undergo ethanolysis with complete sulfur-oxygen bond fission, the corresponding trifluorornethanesulfinates undergo ethanolysis with exclusive carbon-oxygen bond fission, and with a rate enhancement by a factor of 6 powers of ten. The unusual high reactivity of these esters, comparable to that of the corresponding tosylates, is discussed. A kinetic study of the solvent and substituent effects on the rate of solvolysis has been performed. Also in contrast with benzyl arenesulfinates, these esters undergo facile rearrangement to sulfone on heating in polar nonhydroxylic solvents such as acetonitrile, in high yields. The mechanisms of solvolysis and rearrangement are discussed.     

Lepidium graminifolium L.: Glucosinolate Profile and Antiproliferative Potential of Volatile Isolates

Glucosinolates (GSLs) from Lepidium graminifolium L. were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by their desulfo-counterparts using UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS technique and by their volatile breakdown products-isothiocyanates (ITCs) using GC-MS analysis. Thirteen GSLs were identified with arylaliphatic as the major ones in the following order: 3-hydroxybenzyl GSL (glucolepigramin, 7), benzyl GSL (glucotropaeolin, 9), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl GSL (11), 3-methoxybenzyl GSL (glucolimnanthin, 12), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzyl GSL (3,5-dimethoxysinalbin, 8), 4-hydroxybenzyl GSL (glucosinalbin, 6), 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl GSL (10) and 2-phenylethyl GSL (gluconasturtiin, 13). GSL breakdown products obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and CH₂Cl₂ extraction after hydrolysis by myrosinase for 24 h (EXT) as well as benzyl ITC were tested for their cytotoxic activity using MTT assay. Generally, EXT showed noticeable antiproliferative activity against human bladder cancer cell line UM-UC-3 and human glioblastoma cell line LN229, and can be considered as moderately active, while IC₅₀ of benzyl ITC was 12.3 μg/mL, which can be considered as highly active.     

Rate and product studies with benzyl and p-nitrobenzyl chloroformates under solvolytic conditions

The specific rates of solvolysis of p-nitrobenzyl chloroformate are well correlated using the extended Grunwald-Winstein equation, with a high sensitivity (l) to changes in solvent nucleophilicity (N(T)) and a moderate sensitivity (m) to changes in solvent ionizing power (Y(Cl)). The values are consistent with a rate-determining association within an association-dissociation pathway. The selectivity values (S) for the attack at the acyl carbon show a modest preference for ethanol over water and a relatively high preference for ethanol over 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE). The solvolyses of benzyl chloroformate show similar characteristics in solvents of relatively high nucleophilicity and/or low ionizing power. In solvents with considerable fluoro alcohol content, an ionization mechanism, accompanied by loss of carbon dioxide, leads to benzyl chloride, benzyl alcohol, and benzyl alkyl ether. A new correlation now applies, with a much lower l value and somewhat higher m value. The S values for this pathway are close to unity, even in TFE-ethanol mixtures, consistent with the components of the binary solvent capturing a highly reactive carbocation.     

一锅法简便合成取代苯氧基苯乙酮

探讨了聚合物支载的铬（Ⅵ）氧化剂、过溴离子及取代苯氧基离子于单锅中以1－苯乙醇为底物,合成苯氧基苯乙酮的方法,并与分步合成法相比较。实验表明,此合成方法具有操作简便、反应条件温和、无须分离中间体、且产率较高等优点,并探索了温度、溶剂、树脂的用量等对一锅法产率的影响。     

6-取代苄硫基-3-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-1,2,4-三唑[3,4-b][1,3,4]噻二唑类化合物的合成与抑菌活性

以4-氨基-5-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-3-巯基-1,2,4-三唑为原料,环化得到6-巯基-3-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-1,2,4-三唑[3,4-b][1,3,4]噻二唑再与取代苄氯反应,得到9个6-取代苄硫基-3-(3,4,5-三甲氧基苯基)-1,2,4-三唑[3,4-b][1,3,4]噻二唑类衍生物3a～3i.其结构经IR,1H NMR,MS和元素分析确证.初步生物活性测试结果表明部分化合物有一定的杀菌活性.