ANIONIC SYNTHESIS OF A “CLICKABLE” MIDDLE-CHAIN AZIDE-FUNCTIONALIZED POLYSTYRENE AND ITS APPLICATION IN SHAPE AMPHIPHILES

"Click chemistry" is, by definition, a general functionalization methodology (GFM) and its marriage with living anionic polymerization is particularly powerful in precise macromolecular synthesis. This paper reports the synthesis of a "clickable" middle-chain azide-functionalized polystyrene (mPS-N3 ) by anionic polymerization and its application in the preparation of novel shape amphiphiles based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). The mPS-N3 was synthesized by coupling living poly(styryl)lithium chains (PSLi) with 3-chloropropylmethyldichlorosilane and subsequent nucleophilic substitution of the chloro group in the presence of sodium azide. Excess PSLi was end-capped with ethylene oxide to facilitate its removal by flash chromatography. The mPS-N3 was then derived into a giant lipid-like shape amphiphile in two steps following a sequential "click" strategy. The copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition between mPS-N3 and alkyne-functionalized vinyl-substituted POSS derivative (VPOSS-alkyne) ensured quantitative ligation to give polystyrene with VPOSS tethered at the middle of the chain (mPS-VPOSS). The thiol-ene reaction with 1-thioglycerol transforms the vinyl groups on the POSS periphery to hydroxyls, resulting in an amphiphilic shape amphiphile, mPS-DPOSS. This synthetic approach is highly efficient and modular. It demonstrates the "click" philosophy of facile complex molecule construction from a library of simple building blocks and also suggests that mPS-N3 can be used as a versatile "clickable" motif in polymer science for the precise synthesis of complex macromolecules.     

CRYSTALLIZATION OF NaY ZEOLITE IN THE PRESENCE OF “CRYSTAL DIRECTION AGENT”AND RECRYSTALLIZATION OF NaA INTO NaY IN THE REACTION MIXTURE

The process of nucleation and crystal growth of NaY zeolite over a temperature rangeof 55°--100℃ in the presence of "crystal direction agent " are studied. The apparent ac-tivation energy for nucleation and that for crystal growth are evaluated. The mechanism ofthe recrystallization of NaA into NaY is investigated by adding NaA zeolite to the reactionmixture in which the crystallization of NaY zeolite is proceeding. The recrystallization ofNaA zeolite does not occur until the NaY crystallization from the reaction mixture is com-pleted. Thus the process of recrystallization of NaA into NaY might be shown as follows: Amorphous aluminosilicate gel→NaY NaA→NaY NaA Scanning electron microscopic observations and the recrystallization curves show that therecrystallization of NaA into NaY is getting n with a degradation and dissolution of surfacecrystals on the NaA zeolite and that the nucleation and crystal growth of NaY take placeimmediately at the surface of NaA crystals.     

A comparative study in structure and reactivity of “FeO_x-on-Pt” and “NiO_x-on-Pt” catalysts

Oxide nanostructures grown on noble metal surfaces are often highly active in many reactions,in which the oxide/metal interfaces play an important role.In the present work,we studied the surface structures of Fe Ox-on-Pt and Ni Ox-on-Pt catalysts and their activity to CO oxidation reactions using both model catalysts and supported nanocatalysts.Although the active Fe O1x structure is stabilized on the Pt surface in a reductive reaction atmosphere,it is prone to change to an Fe O2x structure in oxidative reaction gases and becomes deactivated.In contrast,a Ni O1x surface structure supported on Pt is stable in both reductive and oxidative CO oxidation atmospheres.Consequently,CO oxidation over the Ni O1x-on-Pt catalyst is further enhanced in the CO oxidation atmosphere with an excess of O2.The present results demonstrate that the stability of the active oxide surface phases depends on the stabilization effect of the substrate surface and is also related to whether the oxide exhibits a variable oxidation state.     

PREPARATION,DERIVATIZATION WITH TRIMETHYLSILYLDIAZOMETHANE,AND GC/MS ANALYSIS OF A “POOL” OF ALKYL METHYLPHOSPHONIC ACIDS FOR USE AS QUALITATIVE STANDARDS IN SUPPORT OF COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

There are hundreds of nerve agents in the class of alkyl methylphosphonofluoridates covered by Schedule 1 of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention). Hydrolysis of these sarin-like nerve agents results in an equal number of alkyl methylphosphonic acids. These alkyl methylphosphonic acids are persistent and provide good evidence of specific agent production or use. In order to support the CWC and counterterrorism activities, it is desirable to have ready access to each of these hydrolysis products for use as qualitative standards. A means for simultaneously producing multiple alkyl methylphosphonates from methylphosphonic acid and the corresponding alcohols was developed. Derivatization of these alkyl methylphosphonic acids with trimethylsilyldiazomethane yields the corresponding methyl esters which are suitable for GC/MS analysis.     

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF SINGLE AND MIXED AMMONIUM AND PHOSPHONIUM SALTS GRAFTED ON “GEL—TYPE” SYYRENE—DIVINYLBENZENE COPOLYMERS

A systematic study on the synthesis and antibacterial activity of the quaternary“onium“ salts grafted on an insoluble“gel-type“ stryene-7% divinylbenzene copolymer by polymer-analogous reactions is showed.Antibacterial activity of quaternary ammonium and/or phosphonium salts grafted on polymer-supports has been studied against staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.A wide variety of “onium“ salts bound to macromolecular supports with different quaternary groups and different quaternary chain length substituents were examined.The antibacterial activity of mixed “onium“ salts increases as a consequence of the association of ammonium and phosphonium salts grafted on the same polymeric support.     

A NOVEL AND SIMPLE METHOD OF PREPARATION OF POLY(STYRENE-B-2-VINYLPYRIDINE) BLOCK COPOLYMER OF NARROW MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION: LIVING ANIONIC POLYMERIZATION FOLLOWED BY MECHANISM TRANSFER TO CONTROLLED/“LIVING” RADICAL POLYMERIZATION (ATRP)

A novel and simple method of preparation of a block copolymer of styrene and 2-vinylpyridine with narrow molecular weight distribution is reported. The novelty lies in the transformation of the polymerization mechanism from living anionic to controlled/“living” radical polymerization (ATRP). Thus, anionic polymerization of styrene is carried out in benzene using sec-butyllithium as the initiator followed by termination with ethylene oxide to prepare hydroxy-terminated polystyrene (PS-OH). PS-OH is converted to chloride-terminated polystyrene (PS-Cl) by a displacement reaction involving thionyl chloride and pyridine in benzene. PS-Cl is used to initiate the heterogeneous ATRP of 2-vinylpyridine in p-xylene with CuCl/2,2′-bipyridine system. The polymers synthesized are characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), IR and proton NMR spectroscopies.     

POLYCYCLES AND CAGES IN MOLECULAR ALUMO-POLYSILOXANES—(Ph2SiO)8[Al(O)OH]4 Used as a Supramolecular Target and “Auto-Condensation” Within the Molecule

In this preliminary review the reaction of [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO(OH)]₄ toward 1,3-diaminopropane and hexamethyldisilazane is discussed in view of supramolecular chemistry and access to structural transformations of the original polycycle. Two distinct adducts may be isolated in the first case: [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO(OH)]₄· 3H₂N-CH₂CH₂CH₂-NH₂ and [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO(OH)]₄· 2H₂N-CH₂CH₂CH₂-NH₂. Whereas in the 1:3 adduct the four protic hydrogen atoms of the inner Al₄(OH)₄ ring are involved in O…H…N hydrogen bridges to two terminal diaminopropanes and a bridging diaminopropane thus forming an O…H…N(H)₂-CH₂CH₂CH₂N(H)₂ …H…O loop, in the 1:2 adduct two such O…H…N(H)₂-CH₂CH₂CH₂N(H)₂…H…O loops are present. When [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO(OH)]₄ is allowed to react with hexamethyldisilazane, again two different products may be obtained depending on the solvent: [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO₂]₂[AlOO-SiMe₃]₂[NH₄· THF]₂ or [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlOO_0.5]₄· 2 py. This last reaction may be viewed as an inner condensation within [Ph₂SiO]₈[AlO(OH)]₄ loosing two equivalents of water. Both products of the reaction with hexamethyldisilazane have an inner Al₂O₂ four-membered cycle in common, to which Al₂O₄Si₂ eight-membered cycles are partly fused.