Radiation-induced oxidation of polyethylene,ethylene–butene copolymer,and ethylene–propylene copolymer

Oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products during γ-irradiation were studied on five types of polyethylene (PE), ethylene–butene copolymer (EB), and ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR) using gas chromatography, mass spectrography, and high-resolution NMR. Samples were irradiated in oxygen under pressure from 0 to 500 torr by ⁶⁰Co γ-rays up to 20 Mrad at 22–25°C. In enough oxygen, oxygen consumption and yield of oxidation products are independent of oxygen pressure for low-density PE, EB, and EPR. The G values of oxygen consumption were 14–18.4 for PE, 11.6 for EB at 1 × 10⁶ rad/h, and 8.3 for EPR at 2 × 10⁵ rad/h. The oxidation products determined were carboxylic acid (? CH₂? CO? OH), H₂O, CO₂, and CO. The oxygen consumption and oxidation products for PE were found to increase with increasing crystallinity.     

Reactivity of Tyr–Leu and Leu–Tyr dipeptides: identification of oxidation products by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

The exposure of peptides and proteins to reactive hydroxyl radicals results in covalent modifications of amino acid side‐chains and protein backbone. In this study we have investigated the oxidation the isomeric peptides tyrosine–leucine (YL) and leucine–tyrosine (LY), by the hydroxyl radical formed under Fenton reaction (Fe²⁺/H₂O₂). Through mass spectrometry (MS), high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC‐MS) and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MSⁿ) measurements, we have identified and characterized the oxidation products of these two dipeptides. This approach allowed observing and identifying a wide variety of oxidation products, including isomeric forms of the oxidized dipeptides. We detected oxidation products with 1, 2, 3 and 4 oxygen atoms for both peptides; however, oxidation products with 5 oxygen atoms were only present in LY. LY dipeptide oxidation leads to more isomers with 1 and 2 oxygen atoms than YL (3 vs 5 and 4 vs 5, respectively). Formation of the peroxy group occurred preferentially in the C‐terminal residue. We have also detected oxidation products with double bonds or keto groups, dimers (YL–YL and LY–LY) and other products as a result of cross‐linking. Both amino acids in the dipeptides were oxidized although the peptides showed different oxidation products. Also, amino acid residues have shown different oxidation products depending on the relative position on the dipeptide. Results suggest that amino acids in the C‐terminal position are more prone to oxidation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gamma-oxidation of linear low-density polyethylene: The dose–rate effect of irradiation on chemical and physical modifications

γ-Oxidation of linear low-density polyethylene based on hexene and butene was investigated. Irradiation was performed at different dose rates in air (from 2 rad/s to 100 rad/s). Degraded samples were analyzed with IR combined with NO and SF₄ derivatizations. Our results showed that the lower the dose rate, the higher the degree of oxidation in terms of γ-product formation. Ketone species appeared to be the dominant γ-products. The G values of γ-product formation were very dependent on the dose rate of initiation. Comparison of the G value ratio of different γ-products revealed stoechiometry differences. The complex appearance and disappearance of unsaturations was tentatively explained. The modifications of elongation at break induced by γ-irradiation were monitored by molecular changes in weight. This was not conclusive because changes in elongation at break are inconsistent with changes in M_w/M_n. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Über die Oxydation von Manganoxidhydroxid

The oxidation of γ-MnOOH (manganite) in oxygen and its disproportionation in HNO₃ lead topotactically to β-MnO₂. The oxidation of synthetic α-MnOOH (groutite) in oxygen depends on its cristallite size; finely divided crystals oxidise rapidly to Mn₅O₈ which usually is stable but yields β-MnO₂ by further oxidation. Larger crystals of disperse synthetic α-MnOOH are topotactically transformed to γ-MnO₂. In HNO₃ α-MnOOH disproportionates into γ-MnO₂ and Mn²⁺. Though strictly topotactical, the reaction α-MnOOH → γ-MnO₂ is not single-phase as might be expected. The discontinuity in the function: JAHN -TELLER distortion vs. reaction rate, may simply be interpreted as the crosspoint of two different functions attributed to the crystal species α-MnOOH and γ-MnO₂, respectively. This distortion confirms the presence of Mn³⁺ in manganite and nsutite. The wide variety of possible X ray powder patterns of the phase γ-MnO₂ is explained by the superposition of, (i) cristallite size broadening, (ii) intergrowth structure effects on the profile, and (iii) BRAGG angle shifts due to substitution of part of Mn⁴⁺ by Mn³⁺.     

Polymerization of acrolein and methyl vinyl ketone induced by amine–water and pyridine–phenol systems

It was reported that acrolein (AL) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) polymerizes at temperatures below 0°C in the presence of pyridine (Py) and water. To clarify this polymerization mechanism the polymerization of AL and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) by an initiation system such as Py–water, triethylamine (Et₃N)–water, or Py–phenol(Ph) was carried out. The polymerization rate (R_p) of MVK in the Et₃N–water system was expressed by the same equation, R_p = k [Et₃N] [H₂O] [MVK]², used for AL in the Py–water system. Meanwhile, β-hydroxypropionaldehyde, β-phenoxypropionaldehyde, γ-ketobutanol, and β-phenoxy-1-methylpropionketone were obtained as the initial addition products. The polymer of AL obtained was composed of polymer units of vinyl and aldehyde polymerization, but the structure of MVK polymer obtained by the Py–water system was composed of only vinyl polymerization units. The polymerization of MVK by the Py–Ph system did not occur, however. These results were discussed in terms of the initiation and propagation mechanisms.     

γ(δ)-Thionolactones – Enantioselective Capillary GC and Sensory Characteristics of Enantiomers

The even numbered γ(δ)-thionolactones (C₆–C₁₂) were investigated, using heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)- and heptakis(2,3-di-O-acetyl-6-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-cyclodextrin as chiral stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography. The odor characteristics of γ(δ)-thionolactone enantiomers were investigated by enantioselective gas chromatography/olfactometry.     

Gamma-, photo-, and thermally-initiated oxidation of linear low density polyethylene: A quantitative comparison of oxidation products

The detailed oxidation products from the initiated oxidation of linear low density polyethylene have been compared by the use of infrared spectroscopy combined with chemical derivatization. Oxidized films were treated with NO or SF₄ to allow the resolution of the various alcohol and hydroperoxides and of the carbonyl species, respectively. All types of initiation gave very similar products but in varying quantities. In photooxidation, hydroperoxide was clearly shown to approach a photostationary concentration either from below for fresh film or from above for samples that had been pre-oxidized by γ-irradiation, prior to UV exposure. Carboxylic acid groups, the main backbone scission product, dominated in photooxidations, possibly as the result of the further oxidation of sec-hydroperoxide sites.     

Bildung und Charakterisierung von Oberflächenverbindungen in den Systemen (C6H5CH2)4M/γ-Al2O3 (M = Ti,Zr)

Formation and Characterization of Surface Compounds in the Systems (C₆H₅CH₂)₄M/γ-Al₂O₅ (M = Ti, Zr) By O-bridges anchored surface-compounds are formed by protolytic splitting off of benzyl groups if tetrabenzyltitanium and -zirconium are added to γ-alumina. These compounds contain the metal in different oxidation states in dependence on the carrier/substrate ratio and the density of OH groups on the alumina surface. The different kinds of surface compounds are discussed. Furthermore, the products formed by thermal decomposition and hydrogenolysis of the surface compounds were analysed. With regard to catalytic conversion reactions of hydrocarbons systems of the type (C₆H₅CH₂)₄M/Pt/γ-Al₂O₃were involved in the investigations.     

Aging and degradation of polyolefins. III. Polyethylene and ethylene–propylene copolymers

Rates of oxygen absorption and formation of oxidation products were determined in γ-initiated oxidations of thin films of high- and low-density polyethylene, atactic and isotactic polypropylene, and of three ethylene–propylene copolymers. Radiation yields G for O₂ absorbed and formation of hydroperoxides depend on dose rates and decrease sharply with increasing ethylene content of the copolymers and moderately with increasing crystallinity of any base polymer. G values for dialkyl peroxide and carbonyl formation, and therefore for chain initiation and termination, do not change much with polymer composition and crystallinity and not at all with dose rates. A few experiments with atactic polypropylene and an amorphous ethylene–propylene copolymer, initiated by di-tert-butylperoxy oxalate, indicate that 37 mole-% of ethylene in the polymer increases the efficiency of initiation and the tendency toward crosslinking.     

Metal-mediated dearomatization leading to 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes via tandem nucleophilic aromatic addition–Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination–oxidative demetalation sequences

A ruthenium-mediated dearomatization sequence has been developed that delivers structurally intriguing azaspirolactam products in stereoselective fashion. Treatment of (η⁶-arene)Ru(cyclopentadienyl) complexes bearing N-benzyl-β-amido phosphonate side chains with excess NaH results in intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic addition to the ipso position of the coordinated arenes. Subsequent Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction with added aldehydes affords olefinated spirolactam cyclohexadienyl ruthenium complexes. Mild oxidation with CuCl₂ or CuBr₂ under CO effects removal and recovery of the CpRu(II) fragment. Substituents present on the cyclohexadienyl skeleton influence the outcome of demetalation and products obtained in this study include functionalized 2-azaspiro[4.5]decanes and tetrahydroisoquinolinones.     

Dilute solution properties of styrene–acrylonitrile and styrene–methyl methacrylate copolymers. I. Intrinsic viscosity–molecular weight relations

Styrene–acrylonitrile (St–AN) copolymers of three compositions—27.4 mole-% (SA₁); 38.5 mole-% (SA₂); and 47.5 mole-% (SA₃) acrylonitrile—and styrene–methyl methacrylate (St–MMA) copolymer (SM) of 46.5 mole-% methyl methacrylate were prepared by bulk polymerization at 60°C with benzoyl peroxide as the initiator, and were then fractionated. The molecular weights of unfractionated and fractionated samples were determined by light scattering in a number of solvents. The [η] versus M?_w relations at 30°C were established for SA₁, SA₂, SM, and polystyrene (PSt) in ethyl acetate (EAc), dimethyl formamide (DMF), and γ-butyrolactone (γ-BL), and for SA₃ in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), DMF, and γ-BL. Second virial coefficients A₂ and the Huggins constant were determined. From values of A₂ and the exponent a of the Mark–Houwink relation it is seen that the solvent power for samples SA₁, SA₂, and PSt is in the order EAc < γ-BL < DMF, while for sample SA₃ the solvent power is in the order MEK < γ-BL < DMF. The solvent power decreases with an increase in AN content. The solvent power of the three solvents used for SM copolymer sample is practically the same within experimental errors. From the a values it is concluded that in a given solvent the copolymer chains are more extended than the corresponding homopolymers.     

Electrochemical Oxidative C−H/N−H Coupling between γ‐Lactams and Anilines

A mild method for the direct C?H/N?H coupling between γ‐lactams and anilines through electrochemical oxidation has been developed. The protocol proceeded smoothly without metal catalysts at room temperature to afford γ‐substituted γ‐lactams in good yields. It has been revealed that the quasi‐divided cell which provided high current density on the anode was crucial for this reaction.     

Study of degradation behavior of besifloxacin,characterization of its degradation products by LC–ESI–QTOF–MS and their in silico toxicity prediction

Knowledge and understanding of the stability profile of a drug is important as it affects its safety and efficacy. In the present work, besifloxacin, a new, fourth‐generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was subjected to different forced‐degradation conditions as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines such as hydrolysis (acid, base and neutral), oxidation, thermal and photolysis. The drug degraded under acidic, basic, oxidative and photolytic conditions while it was found to be stable under dry heat and neutral hydrolytic conditions. In total, five degradation products (DPs) were formed under different conditions—DP1 and DP2 (photolysis), DP3 (oxidation), DP4 (acidic), DP3 and DP5 (basic). The chromatographic separation of besifloxacin and its degradation products was achieved on a Sunfire C₁₈ (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column with 0.1% aqueous formic acid–acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The gradient RP‐HPLC method was developed and validated as per ICH guidelines. The degradation products were characterized with the help of LC–ESI–QTOF mass spectrometric studies and the most likely degradation pathway of the drug was proposed. In silico toxicity assessment of the drug and its degradation products was carried out, which indicated that DP3 and DP4 carry a mutagenicity alert.     

Reactions in aminosilane–epoxy prepolymer systems I. Kinetics of epoxy–amine reactions

The reactions of an epoxy prepolymer based on bisphenol A diglycidylether (DGEBA) with γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (γ-APS) are studied. The results of different techniques are compared: size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, chemical titration, and Fourier Transform Infrared absorption. Epoxy amine reactions are shown to be faster than the crosslinking reactions between alkoxysilane and hydroxy groups, and thus, can be studied seprately. The reactivity of the epoxy group in DGEBA is compared with that of phenylglycidylether (PGE). And the reactivity of the amine group of γ-APS is compared with that of hexylamine. The kinetic constants are calculated with a mechanism which takes into account both the catalytic and noncatalytic reactions. The ratio r = k₂/k₁ of the reactivity of the secondary to the primary amino-hydrogens was also determined. The values of r are 1.4 for hexylamine and 1.2 for γ-APS. The reactivity of the epoxy groups are the same for both PGE and DGEBA.     

meso–meso‐Linked Diarylamine‐Fused Porphyrin Dimers

A meso–meso‐linked diphenylamine‐fused porphyrin dimer and its methoxy‐substituted analogue were synthesized from a meso–meso‐linked porphyrin dimer by a reaction sequence involving Ir‐catalyzed β‐selective borylation, iodination, meso‐chlorination, and S_NAr reactions with diarylamines followed by electron‐transfer‐mediated intramolecular double C?H/C?I coupling. While these dimers commonly display characteristic split Soret bands and small oxidation potentials, they produced different products upon oxidation with tris(4‐bromophenyl)aminium hexachloroantimonate. Namely, the diphenylamine‐fused porphyrin dimer was converted into a dicationic closed‐shell quinonoidal dimer, while the methoxy‐substituted dimer gave a meso–meso, β‐β doubly linked porphyrin dimer.     

Electron‐pair density decomposition for core–valence separable systems

The electron pair density of a core‐valence separable system can be decomposed into three parts: core‐core, core‐valence, and valence‐valence. The core‐core part has a Hartree‐Fock like structure. The core‐valence part can be written as Γ_cv (1,2) = γ_c (1,1)γ_v (2,2) ? γ_c (1,2)γ_v (2,1) + γ_c (2,2)γ_v (1,1) ? γ_c (2,1)γ_v (1,2), where only the 1‐matrices from the core and valence orbitals contribute. The valence‐valence part is left to be determined from the reduced frozen‐core type wave function, which often contains the essential information on the electron correlation and the chemical bond. We demonstrate the analysis to the ground state of negative ion Li^? and 2¹Σ_u⁺ excited state of the Li₂ molecule. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Three‐dimensional organotin–hexacyanoferrate polymers as effective oxidizing reagents towards phenols

Three‐dimensional organotin–hexacyanoferrate polymers of the type _∞³[(R₃Sn)₃Fe^III(CN)₆] where R = Me (I), n‐butyl (II) and phenyl (III), represent members of the family of supramolecular coordination polymers (SCPs) which have zeolitic‐like structure containing micropores. The structures of I–III contain wide channels capable of encapsulating resorcinol, which undergoes in situ oxidation to 1,3,4‐trihydroxy benzene (THB) or p‐nitrophenol (PNP), which converts to 1,4‐benzoquinone (BQ) and 2‐hydroxybenzoquinone (2‐HBQ). The oxidation products were investigated by spectroscopic methods and by HPLC. The SCP III was found to be a more effective oxidizing reagent than I and II due to the presence of terminal Sn‐OH₂ groups hydrogen bonded to one‐sixth of the terminal CN groups, causing more wide expandable channels. In addition, mechanisms of the oxidation processes of resorcinol and PNP have been proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the Structural Chemistry of γ‐Brasses: Two Different Interpenetrating Networks in Ternary F‐Cell Pd–Zn–Al Phases

Novel ternary phases, (Pd_1?xZn_x)₁₈(Zn_1?yAl_y)_86?δ (0≤x≤0.162, 0.056≤y≤0.088, 0≤δ≤4), which adopt a superstructure of the γ‐brass type (called γ′‐brass), have been synthesized from the elements at 1120 K. Single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis reveals a phase width (F$\bar 4$ 3m, a=18.0700(3)–18.1600(2) Å, Pearson symbols cF400–cF416), which is associated with structural disorder based on both vacancies as well as mixed site occupancies. These structures are constructed of four independent 26‐atom γ‐clusters per primitive unit cells and centered at the four special positions A (0, 0, 0), B (1/4, 1/4, 1/4), C (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) and D (3/4, 3/4, 3/4). Two of these, centered at B and C , are completely ordered Pd₄Zn₂₂ clusters, whereas the other two, centered at A and D , contain all structural disorder in the system. According to our single‐crystal X‐ray results, Al substitutions are restricted to the A ‐ and D ‐centered clusters. Moreover, the outer tetrahedron (OT) site of the 26‐atom cluster at D is completely vacant at the Al‐rich boundary of these phases. Electronic structure calculations, using the tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital atomic‐spheres approximation (TB‐LMTO‐ASA) method, on models of these new, ternary γ′‐brass phases indicate that the observed chemical compositions and atomic distributions lead to the presence of a pseudogap at the Fermi level in the electronic density of states curves, which is consistent with the Hume‐Rothery interpretation of γ‐brasses, in general.     

Fast Hydrocarbon Oxidation by a High‐Valent Nickel–Fluoride Complex

In the search for highly reactive oxidants we have identified high‐valent metal–fluorides as a potential potent oxidant. The high‐valent Ni–F complex [Ni^III(F)(L)] ( 2 , L=N,N′‐(2,6‐dimethylphenyl)‐2,6‐pyridinedicarboxamidate) was prepared from [Ni^II(F)(L)]^? ( 1 ) by oxidation with selectfluor. Complexes 1 and 2 were characterized by using ¹H/¹⁹F NMR, UV‐vis, and EPR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray crystallography. Complex 2 was found to be a highly reactive oxidant in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. Kinetic data and products analysis demonstrate a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism of oxidation. The rate constant determined for the oxidation of 9,10‐dihydroanthracene (k₂=29 m ^?1 s^?1) compared favorably with the most reactive high‐valent metallo‐oxidants. Complex 2 displayed reaction rates 2000–4500‐fold enhanced with respect to [Ni^III(Cl)(L)] and also displayed high kinetic isotope effect values. Oxidative hydrocarbon and phosphine fluorination was achieved. Our results provide an interesting direction in designing catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation and fluorination     

Operando X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Shows Iron Oxidation Is Concurrent with Oxygen Evolution in Cobalt–Iron (Oxy)hydroxide Electrocatalysts

Iron cations are essential for the high activity of nickel and cobalt‐based (oxy)hydroxides for the oxygen evolution reaction, but the role of iron in the catalytic mechanism remains under active investigation. Operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations are used to demonstrate partial Fe oxidation and a shortening of the Fe?O bond length during oxygen evolution on Co(Fe)O_xH_y. Cobalt oxidation during oxygen evolution is only observed in the absence of iron. These results demonstrate a different mechanism for water oxidation in the presence and absence of iron and support the hypothesis that oxidized iron species are involved in water‐oxidation catalysis on Co(Fe)O_xH_y.