Synchrotron SAXS and WAXS Studies on Changes in Structural and Thermal Properties of Poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] Single Crystals during Heating

Summary: The annealing and melting behavior of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)) single crystals were followed in real time by synchrotron small‐ (SAXS) and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS) measurements. The real‐time SAXS measurements revealed that the P(3HB) single crystal exhibits a discontinuous increase of lamellar thickness during heating. The structural changes as observed by SAXS and WAXS were in response to the thermal properties of single crystals characterized by differential scanning calorimetry.

A series of two‐dimensional small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns of P(3HB) single crystal mats during the lamellar thickening process.     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of β‐Butyrolactone: End‐Group Analysis of Poly(3‐hydroxybutanoate) Using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography

The ring‐opening polymerization of (R,S)‐β‐butyrolactone (BL) in bulk was analyzed with respect to the polymer structure of the resulting poly[(R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutanoate)] [P(3HB)] by isolation of the pure form using preparative supercritical CO₂ fluid chromatography. It was confirmed that the four‐membered BL was polymerized in bulk by lipase to yield the corresponding cyclic, hydroxy‐ and crotonate‐terminated P(3HB)s. The relative ratios of the three types of polymers depended on the lipase concentration as well as on the monomer conversion. It was also confirmed that both cyclic and linear P(3HB) polymer species were subject to hydrolysis, and inter‐ and intramolecular transesterification by lipase to produce two series of polymers having linear and cyclic structures with higher and lower molecular weight. The formation of the cyclic P(3HB) iss regarded as the characteristic feature of the lipase‐catalyzed polymerization of BL.     

The peptide NCbz‐Val‐Tyr‐OMe and aromatic π–π interactions

The peptide N‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐L‐valyl‐L‐tyrosine methyl ester or NCbz‐Val‐Tyr‐OMe (where NCbz is N‐benzyloxycarbonyl and OMe indicates the methyl ester), C₂₃H₂₈N₂O₆, has an extended backbone conformation. The aromatic rings of the Tyr residue and the NCbz group are involved in various attractive intra‐ and intermolecular aromatic π–π interactions which stabilize the conformation and packing in the crystal structure, in addition to N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. The aromatic π–π interactions include parallel‐displaced, perpendicular T‐shaped, perpendicular L‐shaped and inclined orientations.     

Poly(2‐vinylpyridine)‐block ‐Poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) Single Crystals in Micellar Solution

Self‐assembly of poly(2‐vinylpyridine)‐block‐poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (P2VP‐b‐PCL) diblock copolymer in the presence of a selective solvent is investigated by transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Addition of water into a P2VP‐b‐PCL solution in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 20 °C produces elongated truncated lozenge shaped single crystals of uniform size and shape in large quantities. The single crystals are composed of PCL single‐crystal layer sandwiched between two P2VP layers tethered on the top and bottom basal surfaces. The formation of the single crystals is found to depend on the temperature. These findings provide a facile approach to the preparation of uniform single crystals in large quantities.

     

Visualization of the Recrystallization of Solution‐Grown Poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] Lamellar Crystals

Morphological changes of solution‐grown poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] lamellar crystals during heating were directly investigated by atomic force microscopy. The thickening of lamellar crystals was further visualized by enzymatic degradation of less‐ordered crystal regions in thermally treated lamellar crystals. The morphological changes of lamellar crystals induced by thermal treatment are due to recrystallization.     

Lipase‐Catalyzed Transformation of Unnatural‐Type Poly(3‐hydroxybutanoate) into Reactive Cyclic Oligomer

Unnatural‐type syndiotactic and atactic poly[(R,S)‐3‐hydroxybutanoate]s [P(3HB)s] were enzymatically transformed into a reactive cyclic 3HB oligomer of molecular weight ca. 500 in an organic solvent, such as toluene, using immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica at 40°C for 24 h. It was confirmed that similar results were obtained for both syndiotactic and atactic P(3HB)s. On the other hand, the acidic degradation of these polymers using a protonic acid, such as p‐toluenesulfonic acid, exclusively produced the linear 3HB oligomer instead of the cyclic oligomer. The formation of the cyclic oligomer was regarded as the characteristic feature of the lipase‐catalyzed degradation in organic media. The cyclic oligomer obtained readily reacted with alcohol as a nucleophile, and using lipase, to produce the alkyl ester of the 3HB oligomer.     

`Segmented' crystals solved using synchrotron radiation: (2S,3R,4S,5R)‐4‐(10,10‐dimethyl‐3,3‐dioxo‐3λ6‐thia‐4‐azatricyclo[5.2.1.01,5]decan‐4‐ylcarbonyl)‐2,6‐diphenylperhydropyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,3‐dione

The title compound, C₂₉H₃₁N₃O₅S, forms needle‐shaped `segmented' crystals, thereby inhibiting successful single‐crystal data collection using conventional laboratory facilities. One crystallite of dimensions 0.15 × 0.03 × 0.01 mm yielded sufficent single‐crystal diffraction data on the Australian Synchrotron PX1 beamline. The two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit are nearly superimposable and show only minor conformational deviations from closely related compounds. The molecules pack using one N—H...O hydrogen bond and several phenyl C—H...O(=S), phenyl C—H...O(=C) and methylene C—H...O(=C) hydrogen bonds and weak C—H...π interactions.     

Dynamic Vapochromic Behaviors of Organic Crystals Based on the Open–Close Motions of S‐Shaped Donor–Acceptor Folding Units

The first vapochromic organic crystals are described with respect to their preparation, color change, adsorption/desorption properties, crystal structures, and color‐change mechanism. Non‐solvatochromic, 1,4,5,8‐naphthalene‐tetracarboxylic diimide (NDI) derivatives 1 a bearing two pyrrole imine (PI) tethers have been used as a motif for the crystal packing template. Red‐purple vapochromic solid 3 was prepared by evacuation of orange crystals 2 (equivalent to 1 a ?2 MeOH), obtained by recrystallization of 1 a from MeOH. Solid 3 showed high‐adsorption ability and unprecedented vapor‐dependent color changes upon exposure to a variety of organic vapors, whereas light brown amorphous solid 1 a , did not show vapo‐ or solvatochromic behavior toward any organic solvent. The strong adsorption capability of 3 was confirmed by TGA experiments and adsorption/desorption isotherms. Analysis of the solid‐state UV/Vis analysis revealed that the vapor‐dependent color changes of 3 were owed to the specific interference of solvent vapors with its broad CT absorbance at λ=450–650 nm. Packing structures of 1 a in orange crystals 2 , red‐purple solid 3 , and regenerated orange solid 2 were unequivocally established by single crystal and synchrotron powder X‐ray diffraction, respectively. Molecular structures and arrays of 1 a in these materials indicated that 1) unit 1 a had an S‐shaped folded conformation in 2 and 3 by intramolecular donor–acceptor interactions between NDI and two PI units; 2) inclusion of the guest vapor into the S‐shaped template decreased the intramolecular PI‐NDI interactions, accompanied by increasing intermolecular NDI‐NDI and PI‐PI interactions; and 3) such flexible, open–close motions of the S‐shaped template could be repeated during reversible adsorption/desorption processes without degradation of crystal packing. The adsorption properties and mechanism of molecular shape‐dependent vapochromic behavior of 3 are discussed with reference to experimental results, crystallographic data, and theoretical calculations.     

An Alternative Method for the Preparation of Diphenylboron Chelates. The Crystal and Molecular Structures of (Pyridine‐2‐acetyloximato)diphenylboron and (1‐Phenylazo‐2‐naphtholato)diphenylboron

A convenient method for the preparation of diphenylboron chelates from ammonium tetraphenylborate is described. A variety of five‐ or six‐membered O,O‐, N,O‐ and N,N‐chelates were obtained in yields from 60 to 90 %. The isolated compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹B). The crystal and molecular structures of (pyridine‐2‐acetyloximato)diphenylboron and (1‐phenylazo‐2‐naphtholato)diphenylboron were determined by X‐ray diffraction on single crystals.     

Structural Characterization and Enzymatic Degradation of α‐, β‐, and γ‐Crystalline Forms for Poly(β‐propiolactone)

A structural comparison of three different crystalline forms of poly(β‐propiolactone) (PPL) was carried out by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The α‐form in a hot‐drawn and annealed film represents a 2₁ helix conformation. The β‐form in a cold‐drawn and annealed film represents a planar zigzag conformation. The γ‐form in an oriented sedimented mat of solution‐grown chain‐folded lamellar crystals also implies a planar zigzag conformation. The solution‐cast film depicts similar outlines with the γ‐form in lamellar crystals in all the experimental measurements, suggesting that the molecular chain in the solution‐cast film has a planar zigzag conformation. While elongation at break decreased, tensile strength and Young's modulus increased with an increase in the crystallinity, independent of the crystalline forms. The influence of the enzymatic degradation of these crystal structures has been investigated by using an extracellular PHB depolymerase purified from Ralstonia pickettii T1. The rate of degradation was in the order of β‐form > α‐form > solution‐cast (γ‐form) film, and the different surface morphologies after partial enzymatic degradation were observed in scanning electron micrographs. It is suggested that the crystal structure is one of the important factors for determining the rate of degradation together with crystallinity.

Enzymatic degradation profiles of poly(β‐propiolactone) films.     

Characteristic Interactions between Poly(hydroxybutyrate) Depolymerase and Poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] Film Studied by a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Enzymatic degradation of poly[(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate] (P(3HB)) film by the poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) depolymerase from Ralstonia picketti T1 was studied in 0.01 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) at 37 °C by using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique. Enzymatic degradation of P(3HB) film was quantitatively followed by QCM as a positive frequency shift. While, the amount of depolymerases adsorbed on the film could be evaluated as a negative frequency shift by using a mutant enzyme which had no hydrolytic activity in a catalytic site. The degradation rate increased with enzyme concentration to reach a maximum value at 1.0 μg · mL^?1, and then the rate decreased at higher enzyme concentration. This enzyme concentration dependence could be quantitatively explained in terms of a change of coverage of the film surface by the adsorbed enzyme. When the wild‐type enzyme solution in a QCM cell was replaced with the mutant enzyme solution in the middle of the reaction, the degradation rate was reduced markedly, indicating that the wild‐type enzyme adsorbed on the P(3HB) surface is easily substituted by the mutant enzyme in the solution. On the other hand, replacement of the wild‐type enzyme solution with other proteins or buffer solutions did not affect the degradation rate at all, suggesting that the adsorbed enzyme was not desorbed from the film surface. Thus, the adsorbed PHB depolymerase is released from the P(3HB) surface only by interaction with the same depolymerase in solution.

Time courses of frequency changes (ΔF) or weight changes (Δw) observed during enzymatic degradation of P(3HB) film by PHB depolymerase from R. picketti T1 at 37 °C.     

Antibacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) fibrous membranes containing quaternary ammonium salts

In this study, antimicrobial membranes based on biodegradable material poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐4‐hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB‐4HB)] and quaternary ammonium salts (QASs) by two methods have been performed. Three QASs with varied alkyl chain lengths have been synthesized successfully and characterized by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared. The synthesized QASs were blended with P(3HB‐4HB) and electrospun into composite fibrous membranes or casted into conventional membranes. Electrospun fibrous membranes with large surface areas are a superior type of antimicrobial biomaterials, and they exhibit preferable properties than solution casting membranes. Specifically, electrospun fibrous membranes are tougher and can inactivate both Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a contact time of 30 min, whereas the solution casting membranes cannot. The length of alkyl chain in the quaternary ammonium groups on the modified P(3HB‐4HB) membranes is able to influence the antimicrobial activity. This type of antimicrobial material may have potential applications in biomaterial field. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Blends of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)/4,4′‐thiodiphenol and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)/ 4,4′‐thiodiphenol: Specific interaction and properties

The specific interaction between poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] and 4,4′‐thiodiphenol (TDP) and between poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and TDP was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Interassociated hydrogen bonds were found between the polyester chains and the TDP molecules in the binary blends. The fractions of associated carbonyl groups, F_b 's, in the blends first increased and then decreased as the TDP content increased. The thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of P(3HB)–TDP and PHBV–TDP blends were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, respectively. Thermal analysis revealed that the P(3HB)–TDP blends possessed eutectic phase behavior. Furthermore, it was found that the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of P(3HB) and PHBV were greatly modified through blending with TDP. Environmental degradability in river water was evaluated by a biochemical oxygen demand tester, and it was clarified that TDP lowered the degradation rate of P(3HB). The results suggest that TDP is effective in modifying the physical properties as well as the biodegradability of polyesters. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2891–2900, 2000     

Retardation Effect of Enzymatic Degradation of Microbial Polyesters at the Surface by Blending with Polystyrene

The enzymatic surface degradation behavior of the blend films of polystyrene (PS) with poly[((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐((L )‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)] (P(3HB‐co‐3HV)) or poly((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate (P(3HB)) were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that the blends of PS with P(3HB‐co‐3HV) or P(3HB) are immiscible in both the amorphous and melt states. The degradation of both P(3HB‐co‐HV) and P(3HB) was significantly retarded at the initial stages of enzymatic attack by hydrophobic PS (up to 20 wt.‐%).     

Syntheses,Characterization, and Antibacterial Activities of Four New Schiff Base Compounds Derived from 1‐Phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐benzoyl‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one

Four new Schiff bases were designed and synthesized. 5‐Methyl‐4‐(4‐aminophenylamino‐phenyl‐methylene)‐2‐phenyl‐2,4‐dihydro‐pyrazol‐3‐one (compound 1 ) and 5‐methyl‐4‐(2‐aminophenylamino‐phenyl‐methylene)‐2‐phenyl‐2,4‐dihydro‐pyrazol‐3‐one (compound 2 ) were synthesized by interaction of 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐benzoyl‐2‐pyrazolin‐5‐one (PMBP) with o‐ and p‐phenylenediamine, respectively; 4,4′‐(1,2‐phenylenebis(azanediyl)bis(phenylmethanylylidene))bis(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5(4H)‐one) (compound 3 ) and 5‐methyl‐4‐(phenyl(2‐((3‐phenylallylidene)amino)phenylamino)methylene)‐2‐phenyl‐2,4‐dihydro‐pyrazol‐3‐one (compound 4 ) were synthesized by interaction of compound 2 with PMBP and cinnamaldehyde in an ethanolic medium, respectively. The molecular structures of the title compounds were first characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The title compounds were tested for antibacterial activity (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) by disk diffusion method.     

Four 2‐amino‐6‐aryl‐4‐methoxy‐11H‐pyrimido[4,5‐b][1,4]benzodiazepines: similar molecular structures but different crystal structures

2‐Amino‐4‐methoxy‐6‐phenyl‐11H‐pyrimido[4,5‐b][1,4]benzodiazepine, C₁₈H₁₅N₅O, (I), and its 6‐(2‐fluorophenyl)‐, 6‐(3‐nitrophenyl)‐ and 6‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐ analogues, viz. C₁₈H₁₄FN₅O, (II), C₁₈H₁₄N₆O₃, (III), and C₁₉H₁₇N₅O₂, (IV), respectively, all adopt molecular conformations which are almost identical, containing boat‐shaped seven‐membered rings. In each structure, paired N—H...N hydrogen bonds link the molecules into centrosymmetric dimers. In each of (I)–(III), the dimers are further linked, forming a different three‐dimensional framework in each case, while in compound (IV) the dimers are linked into sheets. The significance of this study lies in the observation of different crystal structures in four compounds whose molecular structures are very similar.     

Elastic Organic Crystals of a Fluorescent π‐Conjugated Molecule

An elastic organic crystal of a π‐conjugated molecule has been fabricated. A large fluorescent single crystal of 1,4‐bis[2‐(4‐methylthienyl)]‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorobenzene (over 1 cm long) exhibited a fibril lamella morphology based on slip‐stacked molecular wires, and it was found to be a remarkably elastic crystalline material. The straight crystal was capable of bending more than 180° under applied stress and then quickly reverted to its original shape upon relaxation. In addition, the fluorescence quantum yield of the crystal was about twice that of the compound in THF solution. Mechanical bending–relaxation resulted in reversible change of the morphology and fluorescence. This research offers a more general approach to flexible crystals as a promising new family of organic semiconducting materials.     

Four N7‐benzyl‐substituted 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐diones as ethanol hemisolvates: similar molecular constitutions but different crystal structures

3‐tert‐Butyl‐7‐(4‐chlorobenzyl)‐4′,4′‐dimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐dione ethanol hemisolvate, C₃₀H₃₄ClN₃O₂·0.5C₂H₆O, (I), its 7‐(4‐bromobenzyl)‐ analogue, C₃₀H₃₄BrN₃O₂·0.5C₂H₆O, (II), and its 7‐(4‐methylbenzyl)‐ analogue, C₃₁H₃₇N₃O₂·0.5C₂H₆O, (III), are isomorphous, with the ethanol component disordered across a twofold rotation axis in the space group C2/c. In the corresponding 7‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]‐ compound, C₃₁H₃₄F₃N₃O₂·0.5C₂H₆O, (IV), the ethanol component is disordered across a centre of inversion in the space group P. In each of (I)–(IV), the reduced pyridine ring adopts a half‐chair conformation. The heterocyclic components in (I)–(III) are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by a single C—H...π interaction, with the half‐occupancy ethanol component linked to the dimer by a combination of C—H...O and O—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds. The heterocyclic molecules in (IV) are linked into chains of centrosymmetric rings by C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds, again with the half‐occupancy ethanol component pendent from the chain. The significance of this study lies in the isomorphism of the related derivatives (I)–(III), in the stoichiometric hemisolvation by ethanol, where the disordered solvent molecule is linked to the heterocyclic component by a two‐point linkage, and in the differences between the crystal structures of (I)–(III) and that of (IV).     

Polymeric dopant effects of bent‐core covalent‐bonded and hydrogen‐bonded structures on banana‐shaped liquid crystalline complexes

Two series of banana‐shaped liquid crystalline (LC) H‐bonded complexes HP_m / CB_n (i.e., bent‐core H‐bonded side‐chain homopolymer HP mixed with bent‐core covalent‐bonded small molecule CB ) and CP_m / HB_n (i.e., bent‐core covalent‐bonded side‐chain homopolymer CP mixed with bent‐core H‐bonded small molecular complex HB ) with various m/n molar ratios were developed. The bent‐core covalent‐ and H‐bonded structural moieties were homopolymerized in the banana‐shaped LC H‐bonded complexes HP_m / CB_n and CP_m / HB_n , respectively. The influences of m/n molar ratios (polymeric moieties vs. small molecular moieties) on the mesomorphic and electro‐optical properties of both banana‐shaped LC H‐bonded complexes HP_m / CB_n and CP_m / HB_n were investigated. The polar smectic phases could be achieved and stabilized by smaller contents of polymeric dopants in banana‐shaped LC H‐bonded complexes, such as HP1/CB10 , HP1/CB15 , CP1/HB10 , and CP1/HB15 , which possessed tunable spontaneous polarization (Ps) values according to the molar ratios of m/n , that is, lower Ps values obtained in H‐bonded complexes HP_m /CB_n and CP_m / HB_n with higher ratios of H‐bonded moieties (larger m/n molar ratios), respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 764–774, 2010     

Crystal and molecular structures of atropisomeric N‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐quinolinediones

The crystal structures of N‐aryl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐quinolinediones bearing methoxy‐ ( 1 ), methyl‐ ( 2 ), and chloro‐ ( 3 ) substituents in 2′‐position of the phenyl ring have been determined by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. The heterocyclic ring in 1–3 adopts an envelope conformation, with the smallest ring puckering in the ortho‐chloro derivative 3 . The N‐aryl ring is almost perpendicular with respect to the quinoline‐2,4‐dione ring. The corresponding dihedral angle values are 83.2(1)°, 80.0(9)°, and 83.4(2)° in 1, 2 and 3 , respectively. The hydrogen bond of C H⋅⋅⋅O type joins the molecules of the ortho‐methoxy derivative 1 into dimers. The supramolecular structure also contains two C H⋅⋅⋅π interactions that link the hydrogen‐bonded dimers into sheets. In ortho‐methyl derivative 2 , one C H⋅⋅⋅π interaction generates infinite chains, whereas two C H⋅⋅⋅O hydrogen bonds and three C H⋅⋅⋅π interactions in the ortho‐chloro derivative 3 form three‐dimensional framework. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 19:325–331, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20436