Selective α-Bromination of β-Keto Esters in Reusable PEG-400 under Mild and Catalyst-free Conditions

An efficient bromination protocol for the synthesis of α-bromo-β-keto esters has been developed. In PEG-400 （poly（ethylene glycol-400））, a variety of β-keto esters were treated with NBS （N-bromosuccinimide） at room temperature to selectively afford the corresponding α-monobromination products in excellent yields. It is noteworthy that the reaction was conducted under mild, environmentally benign and catalyst-free conditions.     

Functionalization of gold electrode surface with heterobifunctional poly(ethylene oxide)s having both mercapto and aldehyde groups

We synthesized heterobifunctional poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (α‐formyl‐ω‐mercapto‐PEO; CHO‐PEO₄₀₀‐SH, average molecular weight of PEO part being 400), which had both an aldehyde group as a binding site with amino group of protein and a mercapto group for gold electrode surface. The CHO‐PEO₄₀₀‐SH was adsorbed on a gold electrode surface and cytochrome c (cyt.c) was fixed on this modified electrode. The redox response of covalently immobilized cyt.c was observed on the cyclic voltammetry measurement, showing that CHO‐PEO₄₀₀‐SH can be used as a linker to fix cyt.c on an electrode. Another type of heterobifunctional PEO (α‐formyl‐ω‐(2‐pyridyldithio)‐PEO; CHO‐PEO₃₀₀‐SS‐Py), which had an aldehyde group and a 2‐pyridinethiol (2‐Py) through disulfide bond, was synthesized to form co‐adsorbed monolayer of PEO chain and 2‐Py on an electrode surface. It was expected, due to the spacer with shorter PEO chain and lower surface density, that better redox response of the fixed cyt.c was obtained. However, the redox response of fixed cyt.c was not detected on the CHO‐PEO₃₀₀‐SS‐Py modified gold electrode. Instead, this heterobifunctional PEO was found to function as a good promoter for cyt.c dissolved in phosphate buffer solution. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hypervalent Iodine(III) Sulfonate Mediated Synthesis of 2‐Arylimidazo[1,2‐a]Pyrimidines in Liquid PEG‐400

PEG‐400[poly(ethylene glycol‐400)] is used as a “green” recyclable solvent in the one‐pot synthesis of 2‐arylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidines by reaction with ketones, [hydroxyl(2,4‐dinitrobenzenesulfonyloxy)‐iodo]benzene (HDNIB), and 2‐aminopyrimidine. Significant rate enhancements and improved yields have been observed.     

Electrochemical characterization of hydrogels for biomimetic applications

Hydrogels are increasingly being recognized as having potential in bio‐compatible applications. In previous work, we investigated the feasibility of poly(ethylene glycol)‐dimethacrylate (PEG‐1000‐DMA) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐diacrylate (PEG‐400‐DA) polymerized using either a chemical initiator (C) or a photoinitiator (P) to encapsulate and stabilize biomimetic membranes for novel separation technologies or biosensor applications. In this paper, we have investigated the electrochemical properties of the hydrogels used for membrane encapsulation. Specifically, we studied the crosslinked hydrogels by using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and we demonstrated that chemically crosslinked hydrogels had lower values for the effective electrical resistance and higher values for the electrical capacitance compared with hydrogels with photoinitiated crosslinking. Transport numbers were obtained using electromotive force measurements and demonstrated that at low salt concentrations, both PEG‐400‐DA‐C and PEG‐400‐DA‐P hydrogels presented an electropositive character whereas PEG‐1000‐DMA‐P was approximately neutral and PEG‐1000‐DMA‐C showed electronegative character. Sodium transport numbers approached the bulk NaCl electrolyte value at high salt concentrations for all hydrogels, indicating screening of fixed charges in the hydrogels. The average salt diffusional permeability 〈P_s〉 and water permeability 〈P_w〉 were found to correlate with EIS results. Both PEG‐1000‐DMA‐C and PEG‐400‐DA‐C had higher 〈P_s〉 and 〈P_w〉 values than PEG‐1000‐DMA‐P and PEG‐400‐DA‐P hydrogels. In conclusion, our results show that hydrogel electrochemical properties can be controlled by the choice of polymer and type of crosslinking used and that their water and salt permeability properties are congruent with the use of hydrogels for biomimetic membrane encapsulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Studies on the Thermodenaturation Behavior of Bacillus subtilis α‐Amylase on Chromatographic Media

The thermodenaturation behavior of Bacillus subtilis α‐amylase on some chromatographic media was studied by determining their adsorption parameters with frontal analysis. The experimental results show that on a RP‐C₁₈ reversed‐phase medium, a Chelating Sepharose Fast‐Flow chelated by Zn²⁺ affinity medium and a WCX‐1 cation‐exchange medium, a stable conformation of α‐amylase molecule separately exists below or over 30 °C; while on a PEG‐400 hydrophobic medium and a modified PEG‐400 medium, a stable conformation of α‐amylase molecule separately exists below 40 and 30 °C, and when the experimental temperatures are separately over 40 and 30 °C, a drastically conformational change of α‐amylase molecules can continuously take place. And by combining the intrinsic fluorescence emission spectrum and thermal inactivation profile of α‐amylase in free solution and on the PEG‐400 and modified PEG‐400 hydrophobic media, it can be concluded that in liquid chromatographic procedure, chromatographic media can induce the conformational change of α‐amylase molecules and promote their thermodenaturation; and in hydrophobic interaction chromatography, the higher the hydrophobicity of chromatographic medium, the lower the conformational change temperature of α‐amylase molecules on the chromatographic medium.     

Polyethylene glycol mediated one‐pot three‐component synthesis of new 4‐thiazolidinones

An efficient one‐pot three‐component cyclocondensation of 4‐(p‐toulyl sulfonoxy) benzaldehyde, aryl amines, and mercaptoacetic acid in polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG‐400) was conducted to obtain new 2,3‐disubstituted‐4‐thiazolidinones. This route is economical and ecofriendly. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 23:166–170, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20766     

Effect of Poly(ethylene glycol)‐400 and Carbon on MoO3 Nanocomposite Materials and Its Catalytic Activity

The effect of addition of poly(ethylene glycol)‐400 (PEG‐400) and carbon (0, 1, 2 and 3 wt%) as substrates were investigated systematically to get the desired phase of carbon‐doped MoO₃ material. The carbon source was prepared from the Acacia arabica plant wood. The resulting samples were calcined at 500°C. The effect of PEG‐400 and carbon composite on the structure, particle size and morphology were investigated. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, SEM‐EDS and FT‐IR techniques. The samples with PEG‐400 and carbon addition give better control of particle size and porosity. The prepared catalysts were tested for the synthesis of 3,4‐dihydropyrimidones via the Biginelli‐type condensation reaction. This new method consistently has the advantage of excellent yields (88%–93%) and short reaction times (1.5–3 h) than do classical Biginelli reaction conditions.     

Effects of Enhanced UV‐B Radiation on Biochemical Traits in Postharvest Flowers of Medicinal Chrysanthemum

This article reported UV‐B radiation effects on biochemical traits in postharvest flowers of chrysanthemum. The experiment included six levels of UV‐B radiation (UV0, 0 μW cm^?2; UV50, 50 μW cm^?2; UV200, 200 μW cm^?2; UV400, 400 μW cm^?2; UV600, 600 μW cm^?2 and UV800, 800 μW cm^?2). Enhanced UV‐B radiation significantly increased hydrogen peroxide content (except for UV50), but did not evidently affect malondialdehyde content in flowers. Chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content were significantly increased by UV600 and UV800. UV400 and UV600 significantly increased anthocyanins, carotenoids and UV‐B absorbing compounds content, and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and cinnamic acid‐4‐hydroxylase (C4H) over the control. 4‐coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) activity was significantly decreased by enhanced UV‐B radiation (except for UV50). The relationships between UV‐B radiation intensities and the activities of secondary metabolism enzymes were best described by a second‐order polynomial. The R² values for UV‐B radiation intensities and the activities of PAL, C4H and 4CL were 0.8361, 0.5437 and 0.8025, respectively. The results indicated that enhanced UV‐B radiation could promote secondary metabolism processes in postharvest flowers, which might be beneficial for the accumulation of medically active ingredients in medicinal plants. The optimal UV‐B radiation intensities in the study were between UV400‐UV600.     

Synthesis,characterization, photo‐induced alignment,and surface orientation of poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐azobenzene)s

Three types of bi‐functionalized copolymers ( P1FAz , P2FAz , and P3FAz ) with different numbers of fluorene units and an azobenzene unit were synthesized and characterized using UV–vis and polarized absorption spectroanalysis. The trans‐cis photoisomerization was conformed under 400 nm light irradiation for all copolymers in chloroform. However, in the film state, only the trans‐cis photoisomerization occurred by mono‐fluorene attached copolymer poly[(9,9‐di‐n‐octylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐4,4′‐azobenzene)] ( P1FAz ). Photo‐induced alignment was achieved using the P1FAz film after irradiation with linear polarized 400 nm light and subsequent annealing at 60 °C. Surface orientation of a spin‐coating film of poly(9,9‐didodecylfluorene) ( F12 ) was achieved using the photo‐induced alignment layer of the P1FAz film after annealing at 90 °C. The photo‐induced alignment layer of P1FAz has potential application to the surface orientation technique for appropriate polymers, which will be useful for the fabrication of optoelectronics devices. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Hyperbranched‐polyethyleneiminated functional polymers. III. Synthesizing thiophosphate‐containing pseudodendritic poly‐ethyleneiminated polyoxypropylenediamine and its behavior at an oil/metal interface under extreme pressure

A simple synthetic route for preparing a thiophosphate‐containing pseudodendritic polyethyleneiminated polyoxypropylenediamine, D400(EI)_xP, is presented. The number of ethyleneimine group (EI) in D400(EI)_xP was determined by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR to be 4.3 for D400(EI)₄P and 8.9 for D400(EI)₈P, and the extent of branch was quantitatively determined using potentiometric titration. The numbers of thiophosphate groups per thiophosphate‐containing pseudodendritic polymers molecule for D400(EI)₀P, D400(EI)₄P, and D400(EI)₈P were calculated by elemental analyses of sulfur content. The AW performance of these synthesized thiophosphate‐containing pseudodendritic polymers was examined by measuring the temperature of oil, and the frictional coefficient and electrical contact resistance between the two metal surfaces. More thiophosphate groups on either side of D400(EI)₈P are found to increase the electrical contact resistance due to the chemical adsorption of thiophosphate groups onto metal surfaces, forming a thick layer and reducing operating time required to form the adsorption layer. Interestingly, the adsorption layers markedly reduce the frictional coefficient (～ 0.012) and limit the increase in oil temperature (～ 90 °C) throughout the entire period of AW test, reducing weight loss of the metal (0.1 mg). © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5504–5513, 2004     

Synthesis of N‐[(tert‐Butoxy)carbonyl]‐3‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxoacridin‐2‐yl)‐L‐alanine,a New Fluorescent Amino Acid Derivative

A simple synthesis of a new, highly fluorescent amino acid and of its protected derivative useful in peptide studies is described. The obtained derivative, N‐[(tert‐butoxy)carbonyl]‐3‐(9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxoacridin‐2‐yl)‐L ‐alanine ( 6 ), shows intense long‐wave absorption (above 360 nm) and emission (above 400 nm). The quantum yield of fluorescence of the investigated compound is very high, so it can serve as a sensitive analytical probe useful, e.g., in analysis of peptide conformations.     

Polycyclotrimerization of aromatic diynes: Synthesis,thermal stability,and light‐emitting properties of hyperbranched polyarylenes

New aromatic diyne monomers of 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐(dihexyloxy)benzene ( 1 ), 1,6‐diethynyl‐2‐(hexyloxy)naphthalene ( 2 ), and 9,9‐bis(4‐ethynylphenyl)fluorene ( 3 ) are synthesized. Their homopolymerizations and copolymerizations with 1‐octyne ( 4 ) or phenylacetylene ( 5 ) are effected by TaBr₅–Ph₄Sn and CpCo(CO)₂–hν, giving soluble hyperbranched polyarylenes with high molecular weights (M_w up to ～ 2.9 × 10⁵) in high yields (up to 99%). The structures and properties of the polymers are characterized and evaluated by IR, NMR, UV, PL, and TGA analysis. The polymers show excellent thermal stability (T_d > 400 °C) and carbonize when pyrolyzed at 900 °C. Upon photoexcitation, the polymers emit deep blue light in the vicinity of ～400 nm with fluorescence quantum yields up to 92%. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4249–4263, 2007     

Copper(I) salt/PEG‐400 catalysis in one‐pot direct synthesis of 1‐aryl‐1H‐indazoles from 2‐bromobenzaldehydes and arylhydrazines

2‐Bromobenzaldehydes are condensed and cyclized with arylhydrazines (or their hydrochlorides) in PEG‐400 at 110 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of a copper(I) salt along with a base to give 1‐aryl‐1H‐indazoles in high yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of New tert‐Butyl‐ and Bromo‐functionalized [1,2,4]Triazino [5,6‐b]indole‐3‐thiols and Indolo[2,3‐b]quinoxalines

In the present investigation, the synthesis of a series of structurally new and interesting tert‐butyl‐ and bromo‐functionalized [1,2,4]triazino[5,6‐b ]indoles ( 6a – f ) and indolo[2,3‐b ]quinoxalines ( 8a – f ) has been achieved, involving the condensation reaction of 7‐bromo‐5‐tert‐butylisatins ( 4a – f ) with thiosemicarbazide ( 5 ) and benzene‐1,2‐diamine ( 7 ). The substrates 4a – f were prepared through bromination reaction of 5‐tert‐butylisatin ( 3 ) with NBS in PEG‐400 followed by alkylation reaction. The molecular structures of these newly synthesized compounds were elucidated on the basis of their elemental analyses and spectral data.     

Cover Picture: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society 2/2011

¹H‐NMR spectra of compounds from Sageretia thea Leaf, were adopted from on‐line HPLC‐SPE‐NMR (CD₃CN, 400 MHz). ESI/MS (positive) and UV data of each compound are shown as insets. This paper entitled “olar Constituents from Sageretia thea Leaf Characterized byHPLC‐SPE‐NMR Assisted Approaches” was awarded to be the best paper for the year of 2010 of JCCS. For full text, please see J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2009 , 56(5), 1002‐1009.     

枯草杆菌α-淀粉酶在一些色谱体系中的热力学和超热力学研究

通过测定不同温度范围的热力学平衡常数、焓变、熵变、自由能变和补偿温度,研究了枯草杆菌α-淀粉酶在几种色谱介质上的热力学和超热力学。结果表明,在RP-C18反相介质、Zn2+螯合的Sepharose fast-flow亲和介质和WCX-1阳离子交换介质上,当温度分别在13-30和30-50℃范围时,它们的lnKSL分别随绝对温度的倒数线性变化;而在PEG-400和修饰的PEG-400疏水色谱介质上,当温度分别在13-40和13-30℃范围时,它们的lnKSL分别随绝对温度的倒数线性减小,但当温度分别高于40℃和30℃时,它们则随绝对温度的倒数剧烈减小。通过研究不同温度范围的焓变、熵变、自由能变和α-淀粉酶构象变化之间的关系,发现在RP-C18反相和Zn2+螯合的Sepharose fast-flow亲和介质上在30- 50 ℃温度范围内,在WCX-1阳离子交换介质上在13-30 ℃温度范围内,α-淀粉酶的吸附过程由焓变和熵变共同所支配,而在Zn2+螯合的Sepharose fast-flow亲和介质上在13- 30 ℃温度范围内,在WCX-1阳离子交换介质上在30-50 ℃温度范围和在PEG-400 和修饰的PEG-400疏水色谱介质上在13-65 ℃温度范围时,α-淀粉酶的吸附过程仅仅由熵变所控制。最后,通过α-淀粉酶在这些色谱体系中的补偿温度进一步发现,它们的焓变仅仅只能通过它们构象变化所引起的熵变所补偿。     

A Simple and Sensitive Label‐free Immunoassay for Factor B Using Resonance Scattering Spectral Detection

In pH 7.2 Na₂HPO₄‐NaH₂PO₄ buffer solution and in the presence of PEG‐6000, goat‐anti‐human factor B (GABF) was combined with human factor B (BF) specifically, and aggregated to form immune complex particles that exhibited a resonance scattering (RS) peak at 400 nm. The laser scattering indicated that the average diameter of immune complex particles was 1320 nm. BF in the concentration range of 0.04 to 9.60 µg/mL was proportional to the resonance scattering intensity at 400 nm. Its regression equation was ΔI=33.61C+ 1.4, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9969, and a detection limit of 0.01 µg/mL BF. This label‐free resonance scattering spectral (RSS) method has been applied to the determination of BF in serum samples, and the results were in agreement with that of the immunoturbity.     

Nitropyridyl isocyanates in 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions

The reactivity of 3‐nitro‐4‐pyridyl isocyanate ( 7 ) and 5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl isocyanate ( 9 ) in 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions with azides and pyridine N‐oxides has been investigated. 1,3‐Dipolar cycloaddition to trimethylsilylazide (TMSA) afforded the respective tetrazolinones, 1‐(3‐nitropyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐tetrazol‐5(4H)one ( 8 , 50 %) and 1‐(5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐tetrazol‐5(4H)one ( 11 , 64 %). Respectively, 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of nitropyridyl isocyanates 7 and 9 to 3,5‐dimethylpyridine N‐oxide ( 14 ), 3‐methylpyridine N‐oxide ( 21 ) and pyridine N‐oxide ( 22 ) gave the substituted amines, 3,5‐dimethyl‐N‐(3‐nitropyridin‐4‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine ( 17 ), 3,5‐dimethyl‐N‐(5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine ( 20 ), N‐(5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine ( 24 ), 5‐methyl‐N‐(5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine ( 23 ) and 3‐methyl‐N‐(5‐nitropyridin‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐amine ( 25 ) in 65 ‐ 80 % yield, obtained by cycloaddition, rearrangement and decarboxylation. The results demonstrate that the nitropyridyl isocyanates ( 7,9 ) readily undergo 1,3‐dipolar cyloaddition reactions similar to phenyl isocyanates.     

A Novel Synthesis of 2‐Ferrocenoyl‐Substituted Iodobenzofurans

In the present investigation, the first construction of a series of structurally new 2‐ferrocenoyl‐substituted iodobenzofurans hybrids has been achieved through a simple and mild two‐step procedure, involving the iodination of salicylaldehydes using N‐iodosuccinimide reagent in eco‐friendly PEG‐400 medium at room temperature followed by one‐pot Rap–Stoermer reaction with 1‐chloroacetylferrocene in refluxing MeCN with the presence of K₂CO₃ as base and PEG‐400 as the activated additive. These newly synthesized compounds belong to a new class of ferrocene‐benzofuran hybrids and could be good candidates for the development of compounds for use in medicinal chemistry.     

Cover Picture: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society 1/2011

¹H‐NMR spectra of compounds from Sageretia thea Leaf, were adopted from on‐line HPLC‐SPE‐NMR (CD₃CN, 400 MHz). ESI/MS (positive) and UV data of each compound are shown as insets. This paper entitled “Polar Constituents from Sageretia thea Leaf Characterized byHPLC‐SPE‐NMR Assisted Approaches” was awarded to be the best paper for the year of 2010 of JCCS. For full text, please see J. Chin. Chem. Soc. 2009 , 56(5), 1002‐1009.