PREPARATION AND STRUCTURE OF FIVE DERIVATIVES OF β-(1→3)-D-GLUCAN ISOLATED FROM PORIA COCOS SCLEROTIUM

A new solvent of cellulose (1.5 mol/L NaOH/0.5 mol/L urea aqueous solution) was used as one of the homogeneous reaction media of polysaccharides for methylation, hydroxyethylation and hydroxypropylation. A water insoluble β-(l→3)-D-glucan, sample PCS3-II, isolated from fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos was sulfated in dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO), carboxymethylated in NaOH, isopropanol solution, as well as methylated, hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated in the new solvent system, respectively, to obtain five water-soluble derivatives coded as S-PCS3-Ⅱ, C-PCS3-Ⅱ, M-PCS3-Ⅱ, HE-PCS3-Ⅱ and HP-PCS3-Ⅱ. Their chemical structure and distribution of substitution were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), elementary analysis (EA), 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 2D-COSY, 2D-TOCSY and 2D-1H-detected 1H 13C HMQC spectra. The results reveal that the relative reactivity of hydroxyl groups of the β-(l→3)-D-glucan is in the order C-6 ＞ C-4 ＞ C-2 on the whole. The substitution of the samples S-PCS3-Ⅱ, C-PCS3-Ⅱ and M-PCS3-Ⅱoccurred mainly at C-6 position and secondly at C-4 and C-2 positions, and that of HE-PCS3-II occurred at C-6 and C-4positions and of HP-PCS3-II almost completely occurred at C-6 position. The degrees of substitution (DS) obtained from 13C-NMR range from 0.23 to 1.27. The water solubility of the derivatives is in the order S-PCS3-Ⅱ＞ C-PCS3-Ⅱ＞ M-PCS3-Ⅱ＞ HE-PCS3-Ⅱ＞ HP-PCS3-Ⅱ. This work provides a novel and nonpolluting process for the methylation, hydroxyethylation and hydroxypropylation ofβ-(1→3)-D-glucan.     

EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF PEO ON THE STRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF PDMAEMA/PEO HYDROGELS

A new kind of binary hydrogels composed of poly(dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) with varying weight average molecular weights ((M)w = 5 × 104, 1 × 105 and 2.5 × 106) were prepared by y-irradiation technology. The properties of PDMAEMA/PEO hydrogels obtained were evaluated in terms of gel fraction, gel strength, thermal characterization and swelling behavior. The gel strength and swelling degree of the hydrogels could be improved obviously after adding PEO into the PDMAEMA system, while the degree of improvement decreased with increasing (M)w of PEO. The temperature sensitivity of PDMAEMA/PEO was retained only in the sample with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104, and the pH sensitivity was retained in samples with PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 and 1 × 105. When DMAEMA/PEO mixtures containing PEO of (M)w = 5 × 104 were irradiated, the main reaction could be the cross-linking of DMAEMA, and the linear PEO molecular chains could penetrate into the cross-linked network of PDMAEMA. With increasing Mw of PEO, some side reactions were induced, such as grafting of DMAEMA onto PEO molecules, the scission or cross-linking of PEO.     

STRUCTURE, MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND BIOACTIVITIES OF （1→3）-β-D-GLUCANS AND ITS SULFATED DERIVATIVES FROM FOUR KINDS OF LENTINUS EDODES

Abstract Lentinan samples, (1→3)-β-D-glucans containing 4.6-15.2 wt% proteins, coded as L-I1. L-I2. L-I3 and L-I4 (L-I)were isolated from four kinds of Lentinus edodes. These glucans were treated with acetone to remove the protein in order to obtain free protein glucans coded as LNP-I1. LNP-I2, LNP-I3 and LNP-I4 (LNP-I). The free-protein polysaccharides were sulfated to give derivatives (S-LNP-I) with degree of substitution (DS) from 0.4-0.8. The structural features and weight- average molecular weight (Mw) of the samples were investigated by using infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis,^13C-NMR, size exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering (SEC-LLS) and viscometry. The effects of structure and conformation of the polysaccharides on antitumor activities were assayed in vivo (Sarcoma 180 solid tumors)and in vitro (Sarcoma 180, HL-60, MCF-7 and Vero tumors). The results indicated that the predominant species of the samples L-I and LNP-I in 0.2 mol/L NaCl aqueous solution existed as triple-helical chains with high rigidity and in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as single-flexible chains. Interestingly, the antitumor activities of LNP-I are lower than those of the native glucans (L-I), whereas their sulfated derivatives have higher inhibition ratio against Sarcoma 180 than LNP-I. The results reveal that the binding of protein, sulfated modification and the triple helix conformation are important factors in the enhancement of the antitumor activities of polysaccharides on the whole.     

INFLUENCES OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT AND BRANCHING PARAMETER OF LACQUER POLYSACCHARIDE ON THE GROWTH OF LEUCOCYTES

A method of determining branching parameter of lacquer polysaccharide wasestablished by acid-base back-titration of terminal uronic acid of branches. The branchingfactors obtained are in agreement with the values determined by colorimetric method withcarbazole and the results estimated by using Zimm-Stockmayer equation from viscositydata. Influences of molecular weights and branching factors of five fractions of lacquerpolysaccharide on the bioactivities were studied. The results show that the polysaccharideshave bioactivities in motivating the growth of leucocytes, and the effect increases with thedecrease of molecular weight and branching factor in the range studied (17×10~4 >M_w>4×10~4).     

EFFECT OF POLYMERIZATION CONDITIONS ON THE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF POLYPHENYLSILSISQUIOXANE

Samples of polyphenylsilsisquioxane (PPSQ)using CaF_2 or MgF_2 as the main catalysts hadbeen prepared under different polymerization conditions. The results were treated on anorthogonal design L_9 (3~4). All weight-average molecular weights (M_W ) of PPSQ had beenmeasured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Effects of polymerization conditionsincluding reaction temperature, composition of the dual catalysts (CaF_2 or MgF_2 and DCC),mixture of solvents and reaction time on M_W of PPSQ have been discussed. The quantity of thecatalysts is the most important factor that affects M_W of PPSQ. Reaction temperature is thesecond important factor. Appropriate polymerization condition has been established to get PPSQwith high M_W.     

A NEW METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF WEIGHT-AVERAGE MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF POLYMER FROM THE INTRINSIC VISCOSITY AND CHROMATOGRAM

A new method is proposed for estimation of weight-average molecular weight from the intrinsicviscosity and GPC chromatogram of a polymer sample for which Mark-Houwink coefficients are notknown. The method bases on an approximate relationship between GPC data and the intrinsicviscosity of the sample. Reliability of this method was tested by comparing with the universalcalibration method which requires known Mark-Houwink coefficients for seven samples havingdifferent molecular weight distributions. Results obtained by the new method are in excellent agree-ment with those by the universal calibration method.     

COMPARISON OF POLYSACCHARIDES ISOLATED FROM THE MYCELIA OF A CULTIVATED STRAIN OF PORIA COCOS GROWN IN DIFFERENT LIQUID CULTURE MEDIA

Mycelium of a cultivated strain of Poria cocos was grown by submerged fermentation in a liquid mediumcontaining corn steep liquor with orbital shaking. Six polysaccharides coded as ac-PCM1, ac-PCM2, ac-PCM3-Ⅰ andⅡ, ac-PCM4-Ⅰand Ⅱ were isolated from the myelium by extracting with 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution, hot water, 0.5 mol/L NaOHaqueous solution and 88% formic acid. Exo-polysaccharide was obtained from the culture medium and coded as ac-PCM0.The monosaccharide composition and molecular weights of these polysaccharides were characterized by using infraredspectroscopy, gas chromaography, elemental analysis, ~(13)C-NMR, viscometry and light scattering. The results indicated thatac-PCM0, ac-PCM1 and ac-PCM2 are heteropolysaccharides containing glucose, galactose, mannose and fucose, and ac-PCM3-Ⅰ and ac-PCM3-Ⅱ mainly consist of D-glucose. The content of the glucose in the polysaccharides increased with theisolation progress. Remarkably, α-glucan and β-glucan coexisted in the extract by NaOH aqueous solution (ac-PCM3), andcould be separated by chemical methods. The protein in the ac-PCM polysaccharides cultured from the medium containingcorn steep liquor was higher than that in the ab-PCM from the medium with bran extract. Therefore, the polysaccharidesfrom Poria cocos mycelia cultured in different media have different chemical composition, molecular weights and conformations.     

COMPATIBILITY AND PHASE BEHAVIOR OF PS/SBR BLEND Ⅰ. EFFECT OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF PS

The results of this study reveals not only the sensitivity of the compatibility of PS with SBR to the molecular weight (MW) of PS and temperature, but also some other interesting characteristics, i. e., unusual morphology change during the process of mixing with increase in temperature of specimen preparation observed under optical microscope and double-peak UCST curves for three blends with PS of low MW from DSC data. Acording to the amount of inward shift of the component T_g's and the broadening of the transition regions, it may be said that this polymer pair is compatible only when the MW of PS is low, and even then there still exists micro-heterogeneity.     

ON INFLUENCE OF CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOW FIELDS AND THERMAL FACTORS ON MOTION OF TYPHOONS

This paper mainly aims at studying the influence of the characteristics of flow fields and thermal factors on the motion of typhoons, Results show that the northward (or southward) component of typhoon motion shows up when the southerly maximum wind on the east periphery of a typhoon is stronger (or weaker) than the northerly one to the west. A westward (or eastward) component appears when the westerly maximum wind to the south is weaker (or stronger and exceeds a certain value) than the easterly one to the north. The speeds of motion differ from each other depending on the different flow patterns. Counterclockwise rotation occurs when two typhoons are close to such an extent that they interact on each other. A typhoon also has the tendency of moving towards the stronger heating and more unstable areas, as well as in the direction of the gradient of temperature variation. In addition, the impact of the variation of subtropical high on typhoon motion is also discussed.     

INVESTIGATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTRINSIC VISCOSITY AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT OF POLY (VINYL CHLORIDE-DIETHYL MALEATE)

A poly (vinyichloride-diethyl maleate) copolymer has been fractionated by repeated precipitation method. All fractions and the unfractionated sample have been characterized by viscometry, dynamic osmometry, Zimm static osmometry, light scattering and gel permeation chromatography. After correction for polydispersity, a [η]～M relationship for monodisperse polymer solutions has been obtained:[η]=1.99×10~(-3)M~(0.87) (ml/g, at 25℃, in cyclohcxanone)For the copolymer solution in THF, the second virial coefficient A_2 decreases as the molecular weight increases. The relationship isA_2=2 slope ((?)_n RT)~(-1/2).     

STUDIES ON MISCIBILITY OF POLY (ε-CAPROLACTONE) AND ALIPHATIC POLYCARBONATE BLENDS AND DETERMINATION OF THEIR INTERACTION PARAMETER*

In this paper the miscibility of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and aliphatic polycarbonate (APC) is studied by using DSC. The results show that PCL and APC are miscible in all ranges of composition. The interaction parameter between the polymers is calculated from the melting point depression data. Using optical microscope, the shapes of the PCL spherulites in the blends are observed.     

β-CYCLODEXTRIN REGULATED STEREOREGULARITY AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT IN INCLUSION POLYMERIZATION OF ACRYLONITRILE

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymers were prepared by inclusion polymerization of the monomer using various molar equivalents of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). Stereoregular (isotactic, atactic and syndiotactic) distributions of the prepared PAN polymers were determined from terminal model Bernoullian statistics using ¹³C-NMR data. With an increase in acrylonitrile (AN): β-CD ratios, the proportion of isotactic polymers increased. Also, T_g increased along with degradation temperature at higher AN: β-CD ratios. However, molecular weight of the polymers prepared was lower at an AN: β-CD ratio of 10:1, but was found to be larger than the control at an AN: β-CD ratio of 20:1.     

RESEARCH ON THE POLYCONDENSATION KINETICS OF ω-AMINO-ACIDS*

In our previous report, it was discovered that the polycondensation of 9-amino-nonanoic acid follows second order from the beginning up to the extent of reaction, p, around 99%, and after which the reaction changes rapidly to third order. In this paper, we wish to report that this change of the reaction order from second to third occurred also in the polycondensation of 6-aminocaproic acid and 11-amino-undecanoic acid. The transition region lay again at p around 99%. It may be concluded that this is a general rule in the polycondensation of the ω-amino-acids (monomers of the A—B type), and the controversial results that appeared in the literature may be cleared up by our experiments.     

CONFORMATION AND CHAIN PACKING STRUCTURES OF POLY (ρ-PHENYLEN BENZOBISTHIAZOLE) BY MOLECULAR SIMULATION*

The conformation, the chain packing stabilization and the unit cell modeling of poly(p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) have been investigated by using molecular simulation techniquein the present work. A coupling behaviour of σ-bond rotations at either side of the pheny-lene ring or the heterocyclic ring was found surely to exceed a length of the repeat unit ofthe polymer chain. For a single chain model, the stable torsion angle of the repeat resultedat 14°. In the crystalline cell minimization, the dihedral angle along the polymer chaincould even be stabilized in various values. It therefore indicates that the intermolecularinteraction does play a considerable role for this polymer forming the conformation. Ac-cording to cohesive energies calculated for these unit cell models, the torsion angle in themost stable crystalline cell is 0°. When the chains packing together, there exist so manyenergy stable wells along the chain axis 0.35--0.36nm apart from neighbouring chains.Most of the unit cells have quite closed cohesive energies. These factors thus cause thedifficulty of forming an unique perfect crystalline structure of the polymer. The presentstudy suggested a number of reasonable unit cells, and the most stable crystalline structurefor this polymer that is monoclinic, non-primitive unit cell.     

AROMATIC AND HETEROCYCLIC DINITRILES AND THEIR POLYMERS ⅪⅤ. STUDY ON THE CATALYSTS OF THE POLYMERIZATION OF AROMATIC NITRILES*

Various catalysts for the polymerization ot aromatic nitriles were investigated. It was found that Lewis acid-metal is a preferable catalyst system for the polymerization of aromatic nitriles, and the polymerization rate is about 10 times faster than Lewis acid alone. The polymerization rate of benzonitrile catalyzed by Lewis acid and different metals was measured, and the activity of metals was in the following decreasing order ,magnesium, zinc, sodium, calcium. Furthermore, the polymerization of benzonitrile catalyzed by different Lewis acid and zinc was also investigated.     

STUDIES ON THE POLYMERIZATION OF β-CYCLODEXTRIN WITH EPICHLOROHYDRIN*

Different proportions of β-cydodextrin and epichlorohydrin were used to prepare a group of β-cyclodextrin polymers. The relationship between the reaction extent and the molar ratios of reactants was discussed according to the results of ~1H-NMR, ~(13) C-NMR spectra and elemental analysis. Especially, high resolution ~1H-NMR spectra were usd for studying the reaction active sites and the extent of reaction. The solubility of oil soluble drugs in water was largely improved in the presence of water-soluble β-cyclodextrin polymer.     

SIMULTANEOUS CALIBRATION OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT SEPARATION AND COLUMN DISPERSION OF SEC WITH CHARACTERIZED POLYMER STANDARDS

With the aid of the theoretical relationship between the calibration relation of a SEC column for the monodisperse polymer species under ideal working condition and the effective relations between the molecular weight and the elution volume for characterized polymer samples, a computational procedure for simultaneous calibration of molecular weight separation and column dispersion is proposed. From the experimental chromatograms of narrow MWD polystyrene standards and broad MWD 1,2-polybutadiene fractions the spreading factors of a SEC column was deduced by the proposed method. The variation of the spreading factor with the elution volume is independent upon the polymer sample used.     

EFFECT OF SEQUENCE STRUCTURE ON THE THERMOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE PROPERTIES OF POLYESTERAMIDES BASED ON DIMETHYLBENZIDINE, BISPHENOL-A AND ρ-TEREPHTHALYL CHLORIDE*

A series of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesteramides with differ-ent sequence structure based on dimethylbenzidine (DMBD), bisphenol-A(BPA) and p-terephthalyl chloride (TPC) was synthesized by changing the feeding order of monomers inlow temperature solution polycondensation system. By means of NMR and a computer pro-gram the sequence structure parameters were measured. The effect of sequence structureon liquid crystalline phase transition temperature of PEAs obtained was investigated.     

MOLECULAR WEIGHT DEPENDENCE OF THE MELTING BEHAVIOR OF POLY(ε-CAPROLACTONE)

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) with different molecular weights was synthesized and characterized by a gelpermeation chromatograph equipped with multiple detector. The melting behavior of PCL was also studied. It was found thatthe equilibrium melting points (T_m~0) of PCL samples depend on their molecular weights. Wide angle X-ray diffractionmeasurements (WAXD) and DSC measurements showed that the crystals of the high molecular weight PCLs were moreperfect than those of the low molecular weigh ones. These results demonstrate that the concentration of the end groups ofPCL chains is the main factor that influences the melting behavior. The fusion enthalpy per repeating unit (ΔH_u) wasdetermined to be 11.3 kJ/mol for PCL.     

STUDIES OF ACTIVE DIACYLAMIDES OF BENZOTRIAZOLE Ⅰ. SYNTHESIS OF POLYAMIDES AND POLYESTERS*

Two new routes to polyamides and polyesters were established, based on the polycondensationof new typical active diacylamide of benzotriazole, such as 1, 1'-(isophthaloyl) bisbenzotriazole(IPBBT) and 1, 1'-(terephthaloyl)bisbenzotriazole (PBBT) with diamines, diols and diphenol underdifferent mild conditions. The N-acylation of polycondensation occurred at room temperaturewithout added catalyst, the O-acylation of polycondensation had to complete in the presence oftriethylamine as a catalyst at 60℃.