Preparation of silicon-containing polymers. I. Polyimides from dianhydrides and organosilicon diisocyanates

New silicon-containing polyimides have been prepared by the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) with organosilicon diisocyanates having the following general structure: where R₁ = R₂ = ? CH₃ and ? C₆H₅. Thermal properties of these polyimides were studied were by TG, DTA, and DTG.     

Conjugation of siRNA with Comb‐Type PEG Enhances Serum Stability and Gene Silencing Efficiency

A thiol‐modified siRNA targeting the enhanced green fluorescence protein (eGFP) gene was conjugated with RAFT‐synthesized, pyridyl disulfide‐functional poly(PEG methyl ether acrylate)s (p(PEGA)s). siRNA‐p(PEGA) conjugates demonstrated significantly enhanced in vitro serum stability and nuclease resistance compared to the unmodified and thiol‐modified siRNA. The complexes of siRNA‐p(PEGA) conjugates with a fusogenic peptide, KALA ((+)/(–) = 2) inhibited the protein expression approximately 28‐fold more than the KALA complex of the unmodified siRNA. The protein inhibition caused by siRNA‐p(PEGA)‐KALA complexes (56 ± 5%–58 ± 3% of the fluorescence expressed in non‐treated cells) was comparable to the effect of the unmodified siRNA‐lipofectamine complex (77 ± 7%).

     

Proton Conducting Polysulfone Ionomers Carrying Sulfoaryloxybenzoyl Side Chains

Summary: Novel proton conducting ionomers have been prepared by attaching pendant sulfonated aromatic side chains to polysulfone. Lithiated polysulfone was first reacted with 4‐fluorobenzoic acid chloride to introduce 4‐fluorobenzoyl side chains to the polymer main chain. Next, the activated fluoro groups were replaced by 4‐sulfophenoxy or 7‐sulfo‐2‐naphthoxy in a potassium carbonate‐mediated nucleophilic substitution reaction. This reaction proceeded under full conversion and the degree of substitution was easily controlled by the degree of lithiation in the first step. Membranes based on ionomers carrying one sulfophenoxybenzoyl unit per polymer repeat unit reached a proton conductivity exceeding 30 mS · cm⁻¹ at 120 °C under immersed conditions.

Structures of sulfophenoxybenzoyl polysulfone and sulfonaphthoxybenzoyl polysulfone.     

Rapid Microwave‐Promoted Synthesis of Polyurethanes from a Fluorene Unit‐Containing Diol and Diisocyanates

A fluorene diol derivative, 9,9‐bis[4‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene ( 1 ), reacted with diisocyanates such as 1,3‐bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane ( 2a ), 1,6‐diisocyanatohexane ( 2b ), and 1,3‐bis(isocyanatomethyl)benzene ( 2c ) under temperature‐controlled microwave irradiation to form the corresponding polyurethanes with being 30 000 to 60 000, measured by GPC with reference to polystyrene standards within 5 to 10 min at 160 to 200 °C. In the reactions of 2a and b , the molecular weights were 15 to 20 times higher than those obtained by conventional oil bath heating. For a solvent of the microwave‐promoted reaction, a hydrocarbon compound, decalin, is preferably used to undergo the polymerization cleanly without unfavorable coloration and/or gelation.

     

Polysilsesquioxane Nanosheets Synthesized in Confined Environment

Polysilsesquioxane nanosheets with a thickness of four nanometers and lateral dimensions of several hundreds of nanometers were synthesized by polymerization of a trifunctional monomer in the layer space of montmorillonite as the confined environment.

AFM image of a polymethylsilsesquioxane nanosheet.     

Electron-impact-induced rearrangement of organic hypophosphates

Preliminary investigation of electron-impact behavior of organic hypophosphates and their mono and dithio derivatives has shown that they undergo skeletal rearrangement to the anhydride type of structure ,and that this anti-Arbuzov rearrangement is of electron-impact origin.     

Synthesis and radical ring-opening polymerization of spiro o-carbonates

Syntheses and radical ring-opening polymerization of spiro o-carbonates(I-IV) were investigated. These polymers were yellow powders and soluble in common organic solvents. The infrared and NMR spectra indicated that the polymers were alternate copolymers of either and carbonate containing double bonds. The polymerization mechanism is discussed.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new benzo[f]furo[2,3‐h]‐and benzo[f]pyrano[2,3‐h]coumarin derivatives.

Furocoumarins 3,5 and pyranocoumarin 7 were synthesized from the reaction of furonaphthalenediones 2,4 and pyranonaphthalenedione 6 respectively with carbethoxymethylene(triphenyl)phosphorane in refluxing DCM for 3‐6 hours or under microwave irradiation in toluene for a few minutes. Compounds 3,5,7 and their precursors were tested as anti‐inflammatory/antioxidant agents. They were found to compete significantly high DMSO for OH radicals, to scavenge O₂^? and to inhibit lipoxygenase to a high extent.     

Kinetics of the First Order Autocatalytic Decomposition Reaction of Nitrocellulose （13.86% N）

The kinetics of the first order autocatalytic decomposition reaction of nitrocellulose (NC, 13.86% N) was studied by using DSC. The results show that the DSC curve for the initial 50% of conversion degree of NC can be de scribed by the first order autocatalytic equation dy/dt =-10^16.3 exp (-181860/RT)y-10^16.7ex(-173050/RT)y(1-y) and that for the latter 50% conversion degree of NC described by the reaction equations dy/dt=-10^16.4exp(-154820/RT)y (n=1) and dy/dt=-10^16.9 exp(-155270/RT) y^2.80(n≠1).     

Practical Microwave Synthesis for Organic Chemists.Strategies,Instruments, and Protocols. Herausgegeben von C. Oliver Kappe,Doris Dallinger und Shaun Murphree.

Wiley‐VCH, Weinheim 2008. 300 S., geb., 59.00 €.—ISBN 978‐3527320974