Reversible polymerization driven by folding

Bisfunctionalized m-phenylene ethynylene imine oligomers were polymerized in the polar solvent acetonitrile, resulting in high-molecular weight poly(m-phenylene ethynylene imine)s. It is hypothesized that this polymerization, which proceeds through the reversible metathesis of imine bonds, is driven by the folding of the long m-phenylene ethynylene imine chains. Upon conducting the polymerization in a series of solvents in which the m-phenylene ethynylene oligomers exhibit different folding stabilities, it was possible to correlate the molecular weight of the resulting poly(m-phenylene ethynylene imine)s with the helical stability of the corresponding oligomers. The polymerization was also demonstrated to be reversible and responsive to solvent and temperature changes.     

Effects of Axle‐Core,Macrocycle, and Side‐Station Structures on the Threading and Hydrolysis Processes of Imine‐Bridged Rotaxanes

Imine‐bridged rotaxanes are a new type of rotaxane in which the axle and macrocyclic ring are connected by imine bonds. We have previously reported that in imine‐bridged rotaxane 5 , the shuttling motion of the macrocycle could be controlled by changing the temperature. In this study, we investigated how the axle and macrocycle structures affect the construction of the imine‐bridged rotaxane as well as the dynamic equilibrium between imine‐bridged rotaxane 5 and [2]rotaxane 7 by using various combinations of axles ( 1 A , B ), macrocycles ( 2 a – e ), and side‐stations (XYL and TEG). In the threading process, the flexibility of the macrocycle and the substituent groups at the para position of the aniline moieties affect the preparation of the threaded imines. The size of the imine‐bridging station and the macrocyclic tether affects the hydrolysis of the imine bonds under acidic conditions.     

A nitrogen-15 NMR study of hydrogen bonding in 1-alkyl-4-imino-1,4-dihydro-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids and related compounds

The title compounds contain groups (amine, amide, imine, carboxylic acid) that are capable of forming intramolecular hydrogen bonds involving a six-membered ring. In compounds where the two interacting functional groups are imine and carboxylic acid, the imine is protonated to give a zwitterion; where the two groups are imine and amide, the amide remains intact and forms a hydrogen bond to the imine nitrogen. The former is confirmed by the iminium 15N signal, which shows the coupling of 1J(15N,1H) -85 to -86.8 Hz and 3J(1H,1H) 3.7-4.2 Hz between the iminium proton and the methine proton of a cyclopropyl substituent on the iminium nitrogen. Hydrogen bonding of the amide is confirmed by its high 1H chemical shift and by coupling of the amide hydrogen to (amide) nitrogen [(1J(15N,1H) -84.7 to -90.7 Hz)] and to ortho carbons of a phenyl substituent. Data obtained from N,N-dimethylanthranilic acid show 15N-1H coupling of (-)8.2 Hz at 223 K (increasing to (-)5.3 Hz at 243 K) consistent with the presence of a N... H-O hydrogen bond.     

Out‐of‐Water Constitutional Self‐Organization of Chitosan–Cinnamaldehyde Dynagels

An investigation of the constitutional adaptive gelation process of chitosan/cinnamaldehyde ( C / Cy ) dynagels is reported. These gels generate timely variant macroscopic organization across extended scales. In the first stage, imine‐bond formation takes place “in‐water” and generates low‐ordered hydrogels. The progressive formation of imine bonds further induces “ out‐of‐water” increased reactivity within interdigitated hydrophobic self‐assembled layers of Cy , with a protecting environmental effect against hydrolysis and that leads to the stabilization of the imine bonds. The hydrophobic swelling due to Cy layers at the interfaces reaches a critical step when lamellar self‐organized hybrids are generated (24 hours). This induces an important restructuration of the hydrogels on the micrometric scale, thus resulting in the formation of highly ordered microporous xerogel morphologies of high potential interest for chemical separations, drug delivery, and sensors.     

Water-soluble pH-responsive dendritic core-shell nanocarriers for polar dyes based on poly(ethylene imine)

A simple general synthetic concept to build dendritic core-shell architectures with pH-labile linkers based on hyperbranched PEI cores and biocompatible PEG shells is presented. Using these dendritic core-shell architectures as nanocarriers, the encapsulation and transport of polar dyes of different sizes is studied. The results show that the acid-labile nanocarriers exhibit much higher transport capacities for dyes than unfunctionalized hyperbranched PEI. The cleavage of imine bonds and controlled release of the polar dyes revealed that weak acidic condition (pH approximately 5.0) could cleave the imine bonds linker and release the dyes up to five times faster than neutral conditions (pH = 7.4).     

Recyclable polybutadiene elastomer based on dynamic imine bond

Catalyst‐free recyclable polybutadiene (PB) elastomer cross‐linked by dynamic imine bonds is prepared by the reaction between amine functionalized PB and aldehyde cross‐linkers. The dynamic nature of imine bond is investigated by rheometry and creep‐recovery experiments. The cross‐linking degrees are regulated by incorporating different amount of aldehyde, and their influence on the cross‐linked elastomers is investigated in detail. The temperature‐induced imine exchange reactions enable recycling of the cross‐linked PB elastomers and their mechanical properties are almost unchanged after several cycles. It is important to note that the elastomers also show excellent solvent resistance even at high temperature. The good mechanical properties, solvent resistance and recycling ability of the resultant PB elastomer demonstrate the superiority of the imine bonds in the design of recyclable polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2011–2018     

Conical intersection control of heterocyclic photochemical bond scission

The photochemistry of the heterocycle 5,6-dihydro-1-methyl-5,5-diphenylpyridin-2(1H)-one (compound 1 in the text) leads to two competitive reactions (the reactions are depicted in the Introduction to the article). These arise from fission of bond a, between the nitrogen (N-6) and C-1, and bond b, between C-4, with the two phenyl substituents, and C-5, adjacent to the nitrogen. Scission of bond a alone leads to a zwitterionic intermediate which can be trapped by nucleophiles, while cleavage of bonds a and b together affords two fragments--a ketene and an imine. The ketene could be intercepted with nucleophiles and the imine trimerized. Computation reveals little weakening of bonds a and b. But as stretching begins, conical intersections are encountered, leading to ground-state products.     

Competing Reaction Pathways in Heterogeneously Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Allyl Cyanide: The Chemical Nature of Surface Species

We present a mechanistic study on the formation of an active ligand layer over Pd(111), turning the catalytic surface highly active and selective in partial hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde acrolein. Specifically, we investigate the chemical composition of a ligand layer consisting of allyl cyanide deposited on Pd(111) and its dynamic changes under the hydrogenation conditions. On pristine surface, allyl cyanide largely retains its chemical structure and forms a layer of molecular species with the CN bond oriented nearly parallel to the underlying metal. In the presence of hydrogen, the chemical composition of allyl cyanide strongly changes. At 100 K, allyl cyanide transforms to unsaturated imine species, containing the C=C and C=N double bonds. At increasing temperatures, these species undergo two competing reaction pathways. First, the C=C bond become hydrogenated and the stable N-butylimine species are produced. In the competing pathway, the unsaturated imine reacts with hydrogen to fully hydrogenate the imine group and produce butylamine. The latter species are unstable under the hydrogenation reaction conditions and desorb from the surface, while the N-butylimine adsorbates formed in the first reaction pathway remain adsorbed and act as an active ligand layer in selective hydrogenation of acrolein.     

Recent progress in bio-based elastomers with intrinsic self-healing mechanisms - part I: Natural rubber modifications

This review is focused on recent achievements in bio-based self-healable elastomeric materials with special regard to elastomers made of natural rubber (NR) and its modified forms, including epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), oxidized natural rubber (oNR) or carbonated natural rubber (CNR). Besides natural rubber, also Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG), which is an isomer of cis-1,4-polyisoprene, is a material of great interest to obtain bio-based self-healable elastomers. The paper attempts to describe the main classification of the most important intrinsic self-repairing mechanisms, including different types of reversible non-covalent interactions (such as hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, metal–ligand coordination, shape-memory ability), dynamic covalent bonds (for instance Diels-Alder reversible bonds, dynamic sulfur-sulfur bonds, dynamic ester bonds, boronic-ester exchangeable bonds, dynamic imine bonds, silyl ether exchangeable bonds) and their combinations, which are found in self-healing elastomers. Furthermore, examples of NR-based elastomeric materials are provided and the potential applications proposed by researchers are also presented.     

Stereoconversion of amino acids and peptides in uryl-pendant binol schiff bases

(S)-2-Hydroxy-2'-(3-phenyluryl-benzyl)-1,1'-binaphthyl-3-carboxaldehyde (1) forms Schiff bases with a wide range of nonderivatized amino acids, including unnatural ones. Multiple hydrogen bonds, including resonance-assisted ones, fix the whole orientation of the imine and provoke structural rigidity around the imine C==N bond. Due to the structural difference and the increase in acidity of the alpha proton of the amino acid, the imine formed with an L-amino acid (1-l-aa) is converted into the imine of the D-amino acid (1-D-aa), with a D/L ratio of more than 10 for most amino acids at equilibrium. N-terminal amino acids in dipeptides are also predominantly epimerized to the D form upon imine formation with 1. Density functional theory calculations show that 1-D-Ala is more stable than 1-L-Ala by 1.64 kcal mol(-1), a value that is in qualitative agreement with the experimental result. Deuterium exchange of the alpha proton of alanine in the imine form was studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and the results support a stepwise mechanism in the L-into-D conversion rather than a concerted one; that is, deprotonation and protonation take place in a sequential manner. The deprotonation rate of L-Ala is approximately 16 times faster than that of D-Ala. The protonation step, however, appears to favor L-amino acid production, which prevents a much higher predominance of the D form in the imine. Receptor 1 and the predominantly D-form amino acid can be recovered from the imine by simple extraction under acidic conditions. Hence, 1 is a useful auxiliary to produce D-amino acids of industrial interest by the conversion of naturally occurring L-amino acids or relatively easily obtainable racemic amino acids.     

Hydrogen-bond mediated catalysis: the aminolysis of 6-chloropyrimidine as catalyzed by derivatives of uracil.

The aminolysis of 6-chloropyrimidine and 2-amino-6-chloropyrimidine has been examined by using density functional theory. Relative to the aminolysis of 6-chloropyrimidine, the addition of an electron-donating NH(2) group to C(2) increases the barrier to aminolysis, indicating that the third hydrogen bond does not play a catalytic role but introduces additional rigidity into the system. However, the computations suggest that there is an interesting correlation between the barrier to aminolysis and the proton affinity of the species that interacts with the incoming NH(3). To extend the range of proton affinities, the aminolysis of 6-chloropyrimidine was examined by using fluoro, imine, and thioketo derivatives of the uracil-derived bases. The proton affinity of the moiety that hydrogen bonds with NH(3) is decreased by fluoro substitution, and thus the aminolysis barriers are increased. Similarly, imine substitution enhances the PA of the moiety, which is reflected in a decrease in the aminolysis barriers. The same correlation exists for the thioketo-derived bases, whose PAs are intermediate between the fluoro and imine derivatives. Thus, the aminolysis of 6-chloropryimidine and 2-amino-6-chloropyrimidine demonstrates the importance of a well-chosen proton acceptor and the catalytic possibilities associated with the formation of multiple hydrogen bonds.     

Spectroscopic analysis of the interaction between bilirubin and bovine serum albumin

The interactions between bilirubin (BR) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The association constant between BR and BSA was obtained by fluorescence enhancement titration. Furthermore, fluorescence quenching was studied at different temperatures, and the binding constant was also determined by the method of fluorescence quenching. The two methods yielded similar results. It indicated that the former method could be successfully applied to the determination of BR. The results showed that the binding of BR to BSA induced conformational changes in BSA. Based on the theory of F?rster energy transfer, the distance between BR and protein were calculated. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the main binding force could be judged. The experimental results revealed that BSA and BR had strong interactions. The mechanism of quenching belonged to static quenching and the main sort of binding force was van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds.     

A dynamic tricopper double helicate

The reaction between 8-aminoquinoline, 1,10-phenantholine-2,9-dicarbaldehyde, and copper(I) tetrafluoroborate gave a quantitative yield of a tricopper double helicate. The presence of dynamic covalent imine (C=N) bonds allowed this assembly to participate in two reactions not previously known in helicate chemistry: 1) It could be prepared through subcomponent substitution from a dicopper double helicate that contained aniline residues. An electron-poor aniline was quantitatively displaced; a more electron-rich aniline competed effectively with the aminoquinoline, setting up an equilibrium between dicopper and tricopper helicates that could be displaced towards the tricopper through the addition of further copper(I). 2) Both dicopper and tricopper helicates could be prepared simultaneously from a mixture of phenanthroline dialdehyde, aniline, and aminoquinoline, which contained all possible imine condensation products in equilibrium. Following the addition of copper(I), thermodynamic equilibration on both covalent and coordinative levels eliminated all partially-formed and mixed imine ligands from the mixture, leaving the helicates as exclusive products.     

Spectroscopic studies of new model compounds for poly[N,N′-bis(phenoxyphenyl)pyromellitimide]

New model compounds for poly[N,N′-bis(phenoxyphenyl)pyromellitimide] have been synthesized in order to investigate the formation of imine bonds which are proposed to form during the curing process and lead to crosslinking in the bulk polymer. Raman studies show that terminal amines can react with imide carbonyls during curing to form C?N bonds. The Raman band due to C?N appears at 1656 cm^?1 and the band due to C?O closest to the imine bond is observed at 1742 cm^?1. These results are in agreement with previously published results on vapor deposited polyimide films.     

Spectroscopic studies on bilirubin aggregate at liquid/liquid interface

Bilirubin (BR) aggregating at liquid/liquid interface was firstly detected by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging/spectroscopy combining with ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) absorption spectra. In the UV/Vis absorption spectra of BR aggregate, a new shoulder appeared at 474 nm, and BR absorption maximum underwent red shift from 450 nm to a longer wavelength at 497 nm, which indicates that BR aggregate was formed at the interface. Meanwhile, the BR molecule structure changed or conformation torsion, that is, the increase in orbit overlap or dihedral angle and the enhancement of exciton coupling. In the study of FTIR imaging/spectroscopy, the hydrogen bond-sensitive infrared bands of BR aggregate showed remarkable changes in band shift and intensity compared with those of BR powder, suggesting that the intramolecular hydrogen bonds broke out and internal structure changed. These new findings will be helpful for understanding of the BR molecular interaction, transportation, complex with serum albumin and metal ions, and the effect of BR aggregating on biomembrane and human tissues.

Nanostructured Macromolecular Metal Containing Materials in Catalysis

Summary: Nanostructured regular materials based on cross-linked polypropylene imine (PPI) dendrimers and silica-gel polyamine composites were used as a support for the synthesis of Pd nanoparticles. The materials were tested as catalysts and displayed a high activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of conjugated double bonds.     

Highly Enantioselective Extraction of Underivatized Amino Acids by the Uryl‐Pendant Hydroxyphenyl‐Binol Ketone

The hydroxyphenyl chiral ketone, (S)‐ 3 , reacts with D ‐amino acids bearing hydrophobic side chains exclusively over the L ‐amino acids in a two‐phase liquid–liquid extraction, and thus acts as a highly stereoselective extractant. Calculations for the energy‐minimized structures for the imine diastereomers and the comparison of the selectivities with other phenyl ketones, (S)‐ 4 and (S)‐ 5 , demonstrate that the hydrogen bond between the carboxylate group and the phenolic hydroxyl group contributes to the remarkable enantioselectivities. The multiple hydrogen bonds present in the imine of (S)‐ 3 reinforce the rigidity, and results in the difference between the stabilities of the imine diastereomers. The imine could be hydrolyzed in methanolic HCl solution, and the extraction of the evaporated residues revived the organic layer of (S)‐ 3 , which could enter into a new extractive cycle and leaves the D ‐amino acid with enantiomeric excess (ee) values of over 97 % in the aqueous layer.     

Hybridization of sugar alcohols into brucite interlayers via a melt intercalation process

We report the preparation of organic-brucite (BR) hybrids using harmless sugar alcohols (xylitol, XYL, and sorbitol, SOR). Since XYL and SOR are solid materials at room temperature, the hybridization was investigated by comparing two separate methods, hydrothermal treatment and melt mixing. BR-sugar alcohol hybrids were successfully prepared by a melt intercalation method at 175 °C. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses indicated that organic molecules were intercalated into the brucite layers, overcoming the barrier of hydroxyl bonds between the BR layers. Moreover, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and thermal analyses showed that the intercalated materials at 175 °C resulted in the formation of covalent Mg-O-C bond linkages on the interlayer surface of BR.     

1,3‐Bis[2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)phenoxy]propane

The title compound {systematic name: 2,2′‐[1,3‐propanediyldioxydi‐o‐phenylenebis(nitrilomethylidyne)]diphenol}, C₂₉H₂₆N₂O₄, exists as the phenol–imine form in the crystal, and there are strong intramolecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bonds, with O⋯N distances of 2.545 (2) and 2.579 (2) Å. The C=N imine bond distances are in the range 1.276 (2)–1.279 (2) Å and the C=N—C bond angles are in the range 123.05 (16)–124.64 (17)°. The configurations about the C=N bonds are anti (1E).     

Thiophene-Fused 1,4-Diazapentalene: A Stable C=N-Containing π-Conjugated System with Restored Antiaromaticity

A thiophene-fused 1,4-diazapentalene (TAP) was rationally designed and synthesized as a C=N-containing 4n π-electron system that exhibits restored antiaromaticity impaired by the doping with C=N bonds. X-ray crystallographic analysis and quantum chemical calculations revealed that the annulation of thiophene rings with the 1,4-diazapentalene moiety resulted in a much higher antiaromaticity than the pristine 1,4-diazapentalene. These effects can be ascribed to the reduced bond alternation of the eight-membered-ring periphery caused by stabilization of the less-stable bond-shifted resonance structure upon increasing the degree of substitution of imine moieties. Consequently, TAP underwent facile hydrogenation even under mild conditions because of its pronounced antiaromaticity and the high aromaticity of the corresponding hydrogenated product H₂-TAP. In addition, the electrophilic C=N moieties in TAP led to the formation of a dense π-stacked structure. These results highlight the effect of partial replacement of C=C bonds with C=N bonds in antiaromatic π-electron systems.