Resorcinarene-centered Amphiphilic Star-block Copolymers: Synthesis,Micellization and Controlled Drug Release

Eight-arm star-shaped poly（■-caprolactone）-block-poly（ethylene glycol）s（SPCL-b-PEG） have been prepared by a combination of controlled ring-opening polymerization（CROP） and coupling reaction. First, eight-arm star-shaped poly（■-caprolactone）s（SPCL） with a resorcinarene core were synthesized using octamethyl tetraundecylresorcinarene octaacetate as octa-initiator and yttrium tris（2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolate） [Y（DBMP）3] as catalyst. Then the coupling reaction was carried out between SPCLs and carboxyl-terminated methoxy poly（ethylene glycol）s（mP EG-COOH） in the presence of N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide（DCC） and 4-dimethylaminopyridine（DMAP）, resulting in eight-arm star-shaped SPCL-b-PEGs with controlled molecular weight and well-defined architecture. Furthermore, these amphiphilic eight-arm SPCL-b-PEGs could self-assemble into micelles with low critical micellar concentrations（CMC）, which was characterized by fluorescent spectroscopy. Moreover, indomethacin loaded micelles with high drug loading content and high encapsulation efficiency can be prepared, which is probably due to the highly branched architecture. The morphologies of micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, which exhibited diverse nanostructures as the drug loading contents varied. In vitro drug release of indomethacin from SPCL-b-PEG micelles was carried out in PBS, from which a sustained release behavior was observed. SPCL-b-PEG micelles did not show significant cytotoxicity at copolymer concentrations up to 1000 mg/L, making them very promising for drug delivery.     

LARGELY IMPROVED TENSILE PROPERTIES OF POLY（ETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE） BY USING GLYCERIN

In order to improve the tensile properties of poly（ethylene terephthalate）（PET）, we used the direct esterification method to synthesize PET in a home-made facility, and a certain amount of ethylene glycol （EG）, one of the two starting monomers, was substituted by glycerin （GE）. Four PETs with different GE contents were prepared to investigate the effect of GE on the crystallization and tensile properties of the prepared copolyester. The results showed largely improved tensile properties and increased crystallization temperature due to the possible crosslinking structure in PET by using a small amount of GE.     

A STUDY ON RADIATION CROSSLINKING OFPOLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE （PDMS） RUBBER LATEX

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber latex with two sorts of sensitizers, trimethylol propane tri-methacrylate (TMPTMA) and diethylene glycol di-acrylate (DEGDA), was irradiated with y-rays and electron beams in various conditions. The radiation crosslinking reaction of PDMS occurs in the inner phase of the latex and is relatively isolated from the water phase. Therefore the oxygen and the radicals produced by the radiolysis reaction of water almost have no effect on the crosslinking reaction of polymer. The experimental data correspond with the Charlesby-Pinner relationship in the main. The gelation doses, degree of crosslinking and degradation as well as G values of crosslinking were calculated. From them, the sensitization coefficients were derived to offer a quantitative measurement of the enhancing effect of sensitizer on the radiation crosslinking.     

DFT Study on the Origin of the Enantioselectivity of （S）-4-Hydroxylproline-Catalyzed Direct Aldol Reaction between Acetone and 4-Nitrobenzaldehyde

DFT-B3LYP calculations were carried out to study the enantioselectivity of the （S）-4-hydroxylproline-catalyzed direct aldol reaction between acetone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde. Four transition structures associated with the stereo-controlling step of the reaction have been determined. They are corresponding to the anti and syn arrangements of the methylene moiety related to the carboxylic acid group in enamine intermediate and the si and re attacks to the aldehyde carbonyl carbon. The effect of DMSO solvent on the stereo-controlling step was investigated with polarized continuum model （PCM）. The computed energies of the transition states reveal the moderate enantioselectivity of the reaction.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Ethylene Glycol Monoethylether by Diperiodatonickelate（IV） in Alkaline Medium

The kinetics of oxidation of ethylene glycol monoethylether (EGE) by diperiodatonickelate(IV) ion (DPN) was studied by spectrophotometry in alkaline medium. The reaction rate showed first order dependence on Ni(IV) and positive fractional order with respect to EGE. The pseudo-first order rate conslants, kobs increased with the increase of [OH^-] and decreased with the increase of [IO4^- ]. Added salts had little effect on the rate and no free radical was detected. Based on these,the mechanism including the equilibrium between DPN and EGE was proposed. Furthermore, the activation parameters of the reaction were calculated.     

Photochemical degradation of environmentally persistent perfluorooctanoic acid （PFOA） in the presence of Fe（Ⅲ）

Environmentally persistent and bioaccumulative perfluorooctanic acid （PFOA） was difficult to be decomposed under the irradiation of 254 nm UV light. However, in the presence of 80μmol/L Fe（Ⅲ）, 80% of PFOA with initial concentration of 48μmol/L （20 mg/L） was effectively degraded and 47.8% of fluorine atoms in PFOA molecule were transformed into inorganic fluoride ion after 4 h reaction. Shorter chain perfluorocarboxylic acids bearing C3-C7 and fluoride ion were detected and identified by LC/MS and IC as the degradation products in the aqueous solution. It was proposed that complexes of PFOA with Fe（Ⅲ） initiated degradation of PFOA irradiated with 254 nm UV light.     

Photochemistry of nonconjugated bichromophoric systems Ⅲ. Synthesis and photoreaction of poly(ethylene glycol) biscoumarinyloxyacetates

A series of poly(ethylene glycol) biscoumarinyloxyacetates have been synthesized and their intramolecular photochemical cyclodimerizations have been studied.It was found that only syn-HT configuration products were obtained when these bisesters were directly irradiated in chloroform,and the yields of the products decreased with the increase of the chain length.This photocyclization reaction is a convenient and effective method to synthesize macrocyclic compounds.     

La（III）催化磷酸二（4－硝基苯酚）酯水解研究

The catalytic hydrolysis of bis（4-nitrophenyl）phosphate （BNPP） by lanthanum（Ⅲ） ion in the presence of amino-alcoholic ligands： diethanolamine （DEA） and triethanolamine （TEA）, was investigated kinetically at 30 ℃. The results indicated that the dinuclear dihydroxo complexes formed by lanthanum（Ⅲ） ion with aminoalcoholic ligands might be the catalytically active species which catalyze the hydrolysis of BNPP to different extents and the catalytic mechanism was believed to involve the synergism of double Lewis acid activation of the substrate and an intramolecular nucleophilic attack of a bridging oxo ligand.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidation of Lactic Acid by Dihydroxyditelluratoargentate（Ⅲ）in Alkaline Medium

The kinetics of the oxidation of lactic acid(Lac) by dihydroxyditelluratoargentate(Ⅲ）[abbreviated as DDA of Ag(Ⅲ）]anions was studied in an aqueous alkaline medium by conventional spectrophotometry in a temperature range of 25-40℃.The order of the redox reaction of lactic acid and DDA was found to be first-order.The rates increased with the increase in [OH^-]and decreased with the increase in [tellurate].No free radical was detected.In the view of this the dihydroxymonotelluratoargentate(Ⅲ）species(DMA) is assumed to be the active species.A plausible mechanism involving a two-electron transfer is proposed,and the rate equation derived from the mechanism can be used to explain all the experimenttal results.The activation parameters(25℃）and the rate constants of the rate-determining step along with the preequilibrium constants at different temperatures were evaluated.     

Studies on PNPP Hydrolysis Catalyzed by Schiff Base Cobalt（Ⅱ） Complexes

Two cobalt（Ⅱ） complexes of the Schiff base with morpholino or aza-crown ether pendants, CoL^1 and CoL^2, as mimic hydrolytic metalloenzyme, were used in catalytic hydrolysis of carboxylic ester （PNPP）. The analysis of specific absorption spectra of the hydrolytic reaction systems indicates that key intermediates, made up of PNPP and Co（Ⅱ） complexes, have been formed in reaction processes of the PNPP catalytic hydrolysis. The mechanism of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis has been proposed based on the analytic result of specific absorption spectrum. A kinetic mathematical model, applied to the calculation of the kinetic parameter of PNPP catalytic hydrolysis, has been established based on the mechanism proposed. The acid effect of buffer solution, structural effect of the complexes, and effect of temperature on the rate of PNPP hydrolysis catalyzed by the complexes have been also discussed.     

Kinetics and mechanistic aspects on electron‐transfer process for permanganate oxidation of poly(ethylene glycol) in aqueous acidic solutions in the presence and absence of Ru(III) catalyst

The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by the permanganate ion as a multiequivalent oxidant in aqueous perchlorate solutions at an ionic strength of 2.0 mol dm⁻³ has been investigated spectrophotometrically. The reaction kinetics was found to be of complex in nature. The pseudo–first‐order plots showed curves of inverted S‐shape, consisting of two distinct stages throughout the entire course of reaction. The first stage was relatively slow, followed by a fast reaction rate at longer time periods. The first‐order dependence in [MnO₄⁻], fractional first‐order dependence in [H⁺], and fractional first‐order kinetics in the PEG concentration for the first stage have been revealed in the absence of the Ru(III) catalyst. The influence of the Ru(III) catalyst on the oxidation kinetics has been examined. The oxidation was found to be catalyzed by the added Ru(III) catalyst. The First‐order dependence on the catalyst and zero order with respect to the oxidant concentrations have been observed. The kinetic parameters have been evaluated, and a tentative reaction mechanism consistent with the kinetic results is suggested and discussed.     

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Triethylene Glycol Dinitrate

Introduction Triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN) is a novel en-ergetic material containing two groups of NO2, which can be used as an energetic plasticizer ingredient in propellants because of its excellent proformance.1 It exhibits lower impact sensitivity, better thermostability, weaker poisonousness and volatility, and stronger effec-tiveness of plasticizing cellulose nitrate than nitroglyc-erine (NG). As a new plasticizer TEGDN has good ap-plication prospects in the near future. The…     

Synthesis of superparamagnetic and thermoresponsive hybrid nanoparticles via surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate

A reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was directly anchored onto superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (SPNPs) in a simple procedure using a ligand exchange reaction of 2‐[(dodecylsulfanylcarbonylthiolsulfanyl) propionic acid] (DCPA) with oleic acid initially present on the surface of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The DCPA‐modified SPNPs were then used for the surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization of di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate and (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate to fabricate structurally well‐defined hybrid SPNPs with temperature‐responsive poly[di(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether acrylate‐co‐(oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate] shell and magnetic Fe₃O₄ core. Evidence of a well‐controlled surface‐mediated RAFT polymerization was gained from a linear increase of number‐average molecular weight with overall monomer conversions and relatively narrow polydispersity indices of the copolymers grown from the SPNPs. The resultant hybrid nanoparticles exhibited superparamagnetic property with a saturation magnetization of 55.1–19.4 emu/g and showed a temperature‐responsive phenomenon as the temperature changed between 25 and 40 ^°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3420–3428     

Synthesis,Photophysical, and Electrochemical Properties of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes containing Open‐Chain Crown Ether

Four polypyridyl bridging ligands BL¹⁻⁴ containing open‐chain crown ether, where BL¹⁻³ formed by the condensation of 4,5‐diazafluoren‐9‐oxime with diethylene glycol di‐p‐tosylate, triethylene glycol di‐p‐tosylate, and tetraethylene glycol di‐p‐tosylate, respectively. BL⁴ formed by the reaction of 4‐(1,10‐phenanthrolin‐5‐ylimino)methylphenol with triethylene glycol di‐p‐tosylate, have been synthesized. Reaction of Ru(bpy)₂Cl₂·2H₂O with BL, respectively, afforded four bimetallic complexes [(bpy)₂RuBL¹⁻⁴Ru(bpy)₂]⁴⁺ as [PF₆]⁻ salts. Electrochemistry of these complexes is consistent with one Ru^II‐based oxidation and several ligand‐based reductions. These complexes show metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer absorption at 439‐452 nm and emission at 570‐597 nm.     

RAFT synthesis of a water‐soluble triblock copolymer of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) using a macromolecular chain transfer agent in aqueous solution

Triblock copolymers of poly(styrenesulfonate)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(styrenesulfonate) with narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n = 1.28–1.40) and well‐defined structure have been synthesized in aqueous solution at 70 °C via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) capped with 4‐cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate end groups was used as the macro chain transfer agent (PEG macro‐CTA) for sole monomer sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate. The reaction was controllable and displayed living polymerization characteristics and the triblock copolymer had designed molecular weight. The reaction rate depended strongly on the CTA and initiator concentration ratio [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀: an increase in [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀ from 1.0 to 5.0 slowed down the polymerization rate and improved the molecular weight distribution with a prolonged induction time. The polymerization proceeded, following first‐order kinetics when [CTA]₀/[ACPA]₀ = 2.5 and 5.0. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3698–3706, 2007     

Novel synthesis of biodegradable amphiphilic linear and star block copolymers based on poly(ε‐caprolactone) and poly(ethylene glycol)

Biodegradable, amphiphilic, diblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL‐b‐PEG), triblock poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐block‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL‐b‐PEG‐b‐PCL), and star shaped copolymers were synthesized by ring opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether or poly(ethylene glycol) or star poly(ethylene glycol) and potassium hexamethyldisilazide as a catalyst. Polymerizations were carried out in toluene at room temperature to yield monomodal polymers of controlled molecular weight. The chemical structure of the copolymers was investigated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. The formation of block copolymers was confirmed by ¹³C NMR and DSC investigations. The effects of copolymer composition and molecular structure on the physical properties were investigated by GPC and DSC. For the same PCL chain length, the materials obtained in the case of linear copolymers are viscous whereas in the case of star copolymer solid materials are obtained with low T_g and T_m temperatures. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3975–3985, 2007     

β‐Peptide Conjugates: Syntheses and CD and NMR Investigations of β/α‐Chimeric Peptides,of a DPA‐β‐Decapeptide,and of a PEGylated β‐Heptapeptide

β³‐Peptides consisting of six, seven, and ten homologated proteinogenic amino acid residues have been attached to an α‐heptapeptide (all d‐ amino acid residues; 4 ), to a hexaethylene glycol chain (PEGylation; 5c ), and to dipicolinic acid (DPA derivative 6 ), respectively. The conjugation of the β‐peptides with the second component was carried out through the N‐termini in all three cases. According to NMR analysis (CD₃OH solutions), the (M)‐3₁₄‐helical structure of the β‐peptidic segments was unscathed in all three chimeric compounds (Figs. 2, 4, and 5). The α‐peptidic section of the α/β‐peptide was unstructured, and so was the oligoethylene glycol chain in the PEGylated compound. Thus, neither does the appendage influence the β‐peptidic secondary structure, nor does the latter cause any order in the attached oligomers to be observed by this method of analysis. A similar conclusion may be drawn from CD spectra (Figs. 1, 3, and 5). These results bode well for the development of delivery systems involving β‐peptides.     

Synthesis and characterization of a new fluorinated polyether glycol prepared by radical grafting of hexafluoropropylene onto polytetramethylene glycol

A new fluorinated polyether glycol (PTMG-g-HFP) was prepared by radical grafting of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) onto polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) in the presence of different initiators. The structure of PTMG-g-HFP was characterized by means of IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The effects of nature and amount of initiator, reaction time and reaction temperature on grafting HFP onto PTMG were investigated. The results showed di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) was the most efficient in the reaction and the optimal reaction conditions were: [DTBP]₀/[PTMG]₀, 0.12; reaction temperature, 140 °C; reaction time, 6 h.     

Vinyl ether end‐groups in poly(ethylene glycol)s from the Na2CO3‐promoted degradation of 1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one polymers

The Na₂CO₃‐promoted polymerization of 1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one (I) to afford poly(ethylene glycol) III was reinvestigated. The reaction appeared to involve a nucleophilic attack against the carbonyl and methylene groups of I to afford poly(carbonate) II with poly(ethylene glycol) linkages and ethylene oxide IV as a side product (10–22%). As the reaction progressed, poly(carbonate) II decreased and poly(ethylene glycol) III increased. Under some conditions, poly(ethylene glycol)s V and VI with vinyl ether terminal groups were formed unexpectedly. The formation of unsaturated products during the polymerization of I/EO (ethylene oxide) has not been reported in the literature. We believe that vinyl ethers were formed from the degradation of poly(carbonate)s and were accompanied by a reduction in molecular weight. The structures of vinyl ethers V and VI were confirmed by hydrogenation of the double bond into the ethyl ether group in VII and VIII, respectively. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 152–160, 2000     

Triclinic structural isomer of cerium(III)–picrate complexes with triethylene glycol

Two new isomers of [Ce(NO₃)(Pic)(H₂O)₂(EO3)](Pic) complex (where EO3 = triethylene glycol and Pic = picrate anion) have been synthesized by one-pot reaction and structurally characterized. Both isomers, orange and yellow in color, respectively, have a triclinic P-1 crystal lattice with different unit cell dimension, and Ce(III) adopts a different coordination number. In orange isomer, the Pic anion is chelated to Ce(III) via phenolic and ortho-nitro oxygens in a bidentate mode, while in yellow isomer the Pic anion is chelated only monodentate through the phenolic oxygen. Coordination geometries can be described as a distorted bicapped square antiprism and a distorted tricapped trigonal prism for 1 and 2, respectively. Alcohol groups from EO3 form a 1-D chain with symmetry direction [1 0 0] through intermolecular O–H ··· O hydrogen bonding. Photoluminescence spectra of the complexes showed a broad band at 515–540 nm due to the 5d → 4f transition from the Ce(III) with electric dipole allowed.