Hypercritically enhanced distortion of a phase diagram: The (polystyrene + acetaldehyde) system

We report new experimental evidence of the existence of double critical points in a binary system. Pressure-temperature data on the solubility of (polystyrene + acetaldehyde) were obtained using a low-angle light-scattering technique. Phase diagrams change from an UCST/LCST configuration showing a marked double maxima to an hour-glass shape with a “window of miscibility” as pressure decreases. Successful modeling of these unusual shapes was achieved by using a computation algorithm which incorporates a temperature- and concentration-dependent interaction parameter. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys, 35: 631–637, 1997     

Homo‐ and heteropolynuclear copper(II) complexes containing a new diimine–dioxime ligand and 1,10‐phenanthroline: synthesis,characterization, solvent‐extraction studies,catalase‐like functions and DNA cleavage abilities

A series of homo‐, heterodinuclear and homotrinuclear copper(II) complexes containing a new Schiff base ligand and 1,10‐phenanthroline were synthesized. Based on results of elemental analyses, FTIR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectra, conductivity measurements and magnetic susceptibility measurements, the complexes had general compositions {[Cu(L)(H₂O)M(phen)₂](ClO₄)₂ [M = Cu(II), Mn(II), Co(II)]} and {[Cu₃(L)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}. The metal:L:phen ratio is 2:1:2 for the dinuclear copper(II) complexes and the metal:L ratio was 3:2 for the trinuclear copper(II) complex. The liquid–liquid extraction of various transition metal cations [Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), Cd(II), Hg(II)] from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out using the diimine–dioxime ligand. It was concluded that the ligand can effectively be used in solvent extraction of copper(II) from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. Furthermore, catalytic activitiy of the complexes for the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide was also investigated in the presence of imidazole. Dinuclear copper(II)–manganese(II) complex has some similarity to manganese catalase in structure and activity. The interaction between these complexes and DNA has also been investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis; we found that the homo‐ and heterodinuclear copper complexes can cleave supercoiled pBR322 DNA to nicked and linear forms in the presence of H₂O₂. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel sorbent for chromatographic separations: A silica matrix modified with non‐covalently bonded tetrakis(β‐cyclodextrin)–porphyrin conjugates

We prepared new phases for LC that consisted of silica modified with non‐covalently bonded tetrakis(β‐cyclodextrin)–porphyrin (where cyclodextrin is CD) conjugates. The effects of the porphyrin core, type of spacer and β‐CD moieties on the behaviours of the modified phases for the separation of aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, butylbenzene, pentylbenzene, o‐terphenyl, triphenylene, phenol and caffeine) and fluorinated aromatic compounds (pentafluorobenzonitrile, pentafluoronitrobenzene and hexafluorobenzene) were studied using the Tanaka test. The results indicate that the non‐covalent substitution of silica with CD‐based macromolecules that have a porphyrin core can be a very effective method for preparing novel sorbents with specific chromatographic properties for applications in LC.     

Oxo‐vanadium(IV) Schiff base complex supported on modified MCM‐41: a reusable and efficient catalyst for the oxidation of sulfides and oxidative S–S coupling of thiols

Oxo‐vanadium(IV) Schiff base complex supported on MCM‐41 as an organic–inorganic hybrid heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized with post‐grafting of MCM‐41 with 3‐aminoropropyltrimethoxysilane and subsequent reaction with 3,4‐dihydroxybenzaldehyde and then complexation with oxo‐vanadium acetylacetonate salt. The catalyst was analysed using a series of characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, small‐angle X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen absorption isotherm, transmission electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The data collected provided evidence that the vanadium complex was anchored onto MCM‐41. High catalytic activity of this catalyst was observed in the oxidation of various sulfides and thiols (into sulfoxides and disulfides, respectively) with urea hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in high to excellent yields and selectivity under mild conditions. The heterogeneous catalyst could be recovered easily and reused several times without significant loss in catalytic activity and selectivity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.