Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide/modified poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) nanocomposite

In this study, the graphene oxide/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) nanocomposite modified with 2-mercaptoethanol (GO/MPNIPAM) was synthesized in three stages. N-Isopropylacrylamide polymerization was firstly performed in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator, which was discovered by Homer, and 2-mercaptoethanol as a modifier. Then, the graphene oxide/modified polymer nanocomposite was synthesized by the covalent interactions between carboxylic acids of the graphene oxide and hydroxyl groups of the modified polymer during the esterification reaction. The GO/MPNIPAM nanocomposite includes some percentage of the polymer that improves solubility and stability of the GO sheets in physiological applications; due to the interaction between the MPNIPAM and the modified GO polymer, a bridge-like connection is formed between the GO sheets and the process that leads to remove a large number of hydrophilic groups on the GO nanocomposite and therefore, the GO/MPNIPAM is well dissolved in organic solvents. This property is beneficial for anti-cancer drug delivery as well as π–π interactions between the nanocomposite and aromatic drugs. The nanocomposite is not a toxic material for human body at all and has high capacity for drug delivery. Structure and morphology of the nanocomposite were studied by FTIR, SEM, XRD, UV, TGA and Raman analysis. The analysis done by X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of graphene oxide in nanocomposites and improved crystalline polymer in nanocomposites.     

Copolymer of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid as drug carrier

A copolymer of N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride with maleic acid of constant composition was prepared under the conditions of radical initiation. The possibility of the functionalization of the copolymer with drugs containing amino groups by polymer-analogous transformations was examined. Conditions were found for preparing conjugates of the copolymer with isoniazid. The structures and the quantitative compositions of the conjugates were determined by ¹³С NMR spectroscopy, and the possibility of preparing conjugates with controlled drug content was demonstrated.     

Glucose sensitive poly (<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) microgel based etalons

Thermoresponsive microgels have been shown to be an excellent platform for designing sensor materials. Recently, poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-co-acrylic acid (pNIPAm-co-AAc) microgel based etalon materials have been described as direct sensing materials that can be designed to have a single, unique color. These color tunable materials show immense promise for sensing due to their spectral sensitivity and bright visual color. Here, we describe a proof-of-concept for etalon sensing of glucose. We found that aminophenylboronic acid (APBA)-functionalized pNIPAm-co-AAc microgels in an etalon respond to 3 mg/mL glucose concentrations by red shifting their reflectance peaks by 110 nm up to 150 nm. Additionally, APBA-functionalized pNIPAm-co-AAc microgels have a depressed volume phase transition temperature at 18–20 °C, which shifts to 24–26 °C after glucose binding. We also demonstrate that these materials show a marked visual color change, which is a first step towards developing direct read-out sensor devices.     

Effect of freeze-drying and rehydrating treatment on the thermo-responsive characteristics of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) microspheres

Investigations on the effect of freeze-drying and rehydrating treatment on equilibrium volume changes and on the thermo-response rate of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microspheres were carried out. The experimental results showed that freeze-drying and rehydrating treatment had nearly no effect on the low critical solution temperature and equilibrium volume changes of PNIPAM microspheres. Furthermore, when the PNIPAM microspheres were frozen in only liquid nitrogen through rapid cooling, the response rate of PNIPAM microspheres to environmental temperature change was nearly not affected by the treatment, which was surprisingly different from the macroscopic hydrogel. The dimension effect was responsible for this phenomenon. The micron-sized PNIPAM microsphere itself has a much quicker response rate compared with the bulky hydrogel because the characteristic time of gel deswelling is proportional to the square of a linear dimension of the hydrogel.     

Molecular properties of the copolymers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diallyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylammonium chloride and maleic acid

The hydrodynamic and conformational properties of molecules of poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) and N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride-maleic acid copolymers of different compositions in solutions with various ionic-strength and pH values, as well as of the polyelectrolyte complex based on the copolymer with dodecyl sulfate anions in chloroform, are studied. For poly(N,N-diallyl-N,N-dimethylammonium chloride) molecules in a 1 M NaCl solution, the Kuhn segment length and the hydrodynamic diameter of the chain are estimated as A = 3.9 nm and d = 0.48 nm, respectively. In acidic solutions with pH 3.5, the copolymers demonstrate behavior typical for polyelectrolytes. In an alkaline solution with pH 13, when 1 M NaCl is added to the solution of the copolymer containing 29 mol % maleic acid units, there is an antipolyelectrolyte effect that manifests itself as an increase in the intrinsic viscosity of the copolymer and in the hydrodynamic radius of its molecules. It is found that an increase in the fraction of maleic acid units in the copolymer from 12 to 42 mol % brings about a reduction in the equilibrium rigidity of its macromolecules from 4.1 to 2.2 nm. The equilibrium rigidity of polyelectrolyte-complex molecules is higher than that of initial copolymer molecules owing to steric interactions arising between the aliphatic chains of dodecyl sulfate anions. In an electric field, the molecules of the complex are oriented owing to the induced dipole moment resulting from the displacement of dodecyl sulfate anions along the chain contour.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels with rapid response to temperature changes

A series of thermosensitive and fast-response poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) hydrogels were prepared by incorporating PVA into cross-linked PNIPA to form a semi-interpenetrating polymeric network (semi-IPN). Compared to the conventional PNIPA hydrogel, the semi-IPN hydrogels thus prepared exhibit significantly faster response rates and undergo full deswelling in 1 min (lose about 95% water within 1 min) when the temperature is raised above their lower critical solution temperature, and have larger equilibrium swelling ratios at room temperature. These improved properties are attributed to the incorporation of PVA, which forms water-releasing channels and results in increased hydrophilicity, into the PNIPA hydrogel networks.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermoresponsive poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-hydroxymethylacrylamide-co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on N-isopropylacrylamide, N-hydroxymethylacrylamide, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, poly(NIPAM–co-NHMAAm–co-HEMA), have been synthesized and their swelling—deswelling behavior studied as a function of NIPAM concentration, NIPAM/NHMAAm and NIPAM/HEMA mole ratio, and total monomer concentration. Copolymers varying in composition have been obtained by redox copolymerization of these three monomers. Temperature has been changed in the ranges from 4 to 70 °C at fixed pH and total ionic strength. Equilibrium swelling ratio, dynamic swelling ratio, and dynamic deswelling ratio were evaluated for all hydrogel systems. The equilibrium swelling ratios of the copolymeric gels decrease with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content. The formation of the intermolecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl and amido groups decreases the hydrophilic group numbers of the gel and the affinity of the gel towards water decreases. The copolymer gels also showed rapid volume transitions with time. The time required for equilibrium shrinking increased with increasing NHMAAm and HEMA content in the gel.     

A new strategy to prepare temperature-sensitive poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) microgels

In this study, a new method was developed to prepare temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgels by free radical precipitation polymerization using siloxane coupling agent as the new crosslinker. Ammonium persulfate acted as the initiator for the radical copolymerization as well as the catalyst for the hydrolysis/condensation of the siloxane groups. The particle diameter and polydispersity of the microgels were measured by photon correlation spectroscopy and the results display that the microgels are monodisperse. The microgels exhibit temperature sensitivity and the phase transition temperature is approximately 31 °C. Furthermore, the diameter of the microgels changes upon heating and cooling processes. These were observed to be reversible. The novel crosslinking method described herein is the condensation of siloxane groups, which is totally different from the traditional double-vinyl crosslinkers. This innovative approach offers an alternative path to prepare functional core–shell particles and inorganic/organic hybrid materials.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-conformers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chloroacetylcytisine

N-Chloroacetylcytisine was synthesized by acylation of (–)-cytisine. Stable Z- and E-conformers with respect to rotational isomerism around the N-12–CO bond were found in PMR spectra at room temperature. The point at which PMR resonances of the Z- and E-conformers coalesced upon heating was measured. The transition barrier between the conformers was estimated.     

Energetics of phase separation in aqueous solutions of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide)

The energetics of phase separation in dilute aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) is studied by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. The temperature dependences of the partial heat capacity of the polymer are obtained. The effect of the heating rate on their shape is examined. The concentration dependences of thermodynamic parameters of phase transition are determined. After phase separation of the system, the partial heat capacity of the polymer is much smaller than its partial heat capacity in the state of a swollen random coil. This finding indicates the occurrence of the polymer hydrophobic structure in the concentrated phase of the system probably in the form of clusters of monomer units. The profile of transition is described by the Schröder-van Laar equation with the van’t Hoff enthalpy independent of polymer concentration. The size of the cooperative unit of the ordered hydrate structure of the polymer is estimated and found to be coincident with the size of the Kuhn segment. High-velocity sedimentation measurements of the polymer are conducted at various temperatures both below and above the binodal curve of the system. It is shown that the sizes of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) macromolecules before the phase transition temperature and in the diluted phase after phase separation of the system coincide. Thus, in the diluted phase, macromolecules retain the coil conformation.     

Effects of ionization on the phase behavior of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) in water

Phase transitions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PiPA-AA) and poly(N,N- diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PdEA-AA) in water have been investigated by means of turbidimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The phase transition temperatures (T_p) of these copolymers increase with the degree of ionization () of the acrylic acid (AA) units, which in turn is dependent on the pH of the solutions. Apparent values of pK_a for the AA units, determined from the pH dependencies of T_p, are 4.7 and 5.4 for PiPA-AA and PdEA-AA, respectively. Differences between T_p for PiPA-AA and T_p for PiPA homopolymer (T_p) are +1.5 and –0.2 °C/mol% of AA at =1 and 0, respectively. The values of T_p for PdEA-AA are +2.6 (ionic) and –0.5 (nonionic)°C/mol%, indicating that the incorporated AA units have a larger effect on PdEA than on PiPA. DSC measurements performed with each of these copolymers at different pH values show a linear relationship between T_p and the enthalpy of transition (H). IR measurements of PiPA-AA show that the profiles of IR bands from both iPA and AA units exhibit critical changes at T_p of the copolymer. Heating the solution above T_p leads to shifts of the amide II, C–H stretch, and C–H bend bands from the iPA units toward lower wavenumbers, as well as a shift of the amide I band from the iPA units toward higher wavenumbers. A decrease in the intensity of the symmetric C=O stretch IR band from carboxylate anions (1560 cm^–1), and an increase in the intensity of the C=O stretch band from COOH groups (1705 cm^–1) suggest that a partial protonation of the carboxylate groups (COO^–+H⁺COOH) takes place upon the phase transition.     

Thiocyanation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylsulfonyl-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-aroyl-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-[(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-arylsulfonyl)benzimidoyl]-1,4-benzoquinone imines

Reactions of thiocyanate ion with N-aroyl-, N-arylsulfonyl-, and N-(N-arylsulfonylbenzimidoyl)-1,4-benzoquinone imines follow the 1,4-addition pattern, and the adducts undergo intramolecular cyclization to give the corresponding N-substituted 5-amino-1,3-benzoxathiol-2-ones as final products.     

Reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Allyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Diallyltrifluoromethanesulfonamides with Carboxylic Acid Amides under Oxidizing Conditions

Reactions of acetamide and benzamide with N-allyltrifluoromethanesulfonamide in the presence of t-BuOCl–NaI afforded exclusively 2,5-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)piperazine. Analogous reaction with N,N-diallyltrifluoromethanesulfonamide gave mixed halogenation product at only one C=C double bond of the substrate.     

Temperature dependent synthesis of micro- and meso-porous silica employing the thermo-responsive polymer of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide) as structure-directing agent

Temperature dependent synthesis of micro- and meso-porous silica employing the thermo-responsive homopolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) or the random copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) as structure-directing agent (SDA) and Na₂SiO₃ as silica source is proposed. The thermo-responsive character of the SDA provides the advantages including (1) temperature dependent synthesis of microporous silica, hierarchically micro-mesoporous silica, and mesoporous silica just by changing the aging temperature below or above the low critical solution temperature of the thermo-responsive SDA, and (2) elimination of the thermo-responsive SDA from silica matrix by water extraction. The synthesis mechanism is discussed, and the effect of the aging temperature and the weight radio of SDA/Na₂SiO₃ on the synthesis of micro- and meso-porous silica are studied. Microporous silica, hierarchically micro-mesoporous silica and mesoporous silica with the surface area at 3.5−9.0 × 10² m²/g and the pore volume at 0.28−1.13 cm³/g and the average pore size ranging from 1.1 to 9.0 nm are synthesized. The strategy affords a new and environmentally benign way to fabricate porous silica materials, and is believed to bridge the gap between the synthesis of microporous and mesoporous silica materials.     

Synthesis of amino acid conjugates of glycyrrhizic acid using <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-hydroxyphthalimide and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

Synthesis of amino acid conjugates of glycyrrhizic acid with the use of N-hydroxyphthalimide, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, and tert-butyl esters of L-amino acids (valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and methionine) was performed followed by deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid. The target amino acid conjugates were isolated by column chromatography on silica gel in 40–45% yield. The structure of the prepared compounds was confirmed by IR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Reactions of 1-nitrocyclohexene with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-binucleophiles

A modification of 1-nitrocyclohexene synthesis is proposed; its reaction with phenylhydrazine and benzoic acid hydrazide is shown to afford monoadducts, and with hydrazine hydrate, bisaduct. With diphenylguanidine occurs heterocyclization to 1-phenyl-2-N-phenylamino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzimidazole, whose structure is confirmed by the X-ray diffraction data. The analysis performed for this compound of the electron density distribution function in the crystal made it possible to estimate the charge distribution, π-electrons delocalization nature, and the role of N-H…N, C-H…H-C and C-H…C interactions in the formation of the crystal packing.     

Conformations and properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-Alkyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-(2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dialkylamino)-ethylmethylthiophosphonates

Conformers of the biologically active compounds CH₃P(O)(OR)(SCH₂CH₂NR ₂ ^′ ), where (I) R = i-C₄H₉, R′ = C₂H₅ and (II) R = C₂H₅, R′ = i-C₃H₇, are calculated within the AM1 level of theory. The elongated and twisted forms with maximum and minimum distances between a nitrogen atom and those of a phosphorus tetrahedron, respectively, and bearing a syn and anti oriented alkoxy group relative to a phosphoryl oxygen, are studied. It is found that the differences between the energy, electronic, and geometric parameters of these forms are apparent in differences between their properties, e.g., the ability to participate in complexation and protonation, reactions that to some extent simulate the interaction between a substance and a biological object.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-halohexamethyldisilazanes

The review is devoted to N-halohexamethyldisilazanes, perspective but scantily studied halogenating agents. Methods of preparation, physiochemical characteristics, and synthetic potential are considered. Mechanisms of a number of reactions are presented.