Copper(II) ion-sensing mechanism of oligo-phenylene vinylene derivatives: syntheses and theoretical calculations

Oligo-phenylene vinylene (oligo-PV) with two picolinamide side-groups and six methoxy end-groups was synthesized in order to be a fluorescent sensing molecule. Various metal ion solutions (1.5×10^?4 M) were added to the 1.5×10^?6 M acetonitrile solution of the fluorescent molecule. The fluorescent emission spectra showed that, at about the same concentration (1.5×10^?4 M), only Cu(II) ion can quench the fluorescent emission of the picolinamide-PV solution. Possible metal ion-sensing mechanisms could be either the binding at picolinamide side-groups or methoxy end-groups, or interchain-stacking driven by the metal ions. Hence, oligo-PVs with six methoxy end-groups but without substituted side-groups, and another oligo-PV with six methoxy end-groups and two ethoxy side-groups were synthesized for comparison. These molecules turned out to be inactive to any metal ion solutions. Moreover, quantum calculation was used to confirm the result. Binding energy and conformation were calculated and simulated. It could be concluded that nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the picolinamide group and one oxygen atom from the methoxy group are involved in the metal ion-binding process.     

Intramolecular mobility of spin labelled poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(vinylcaprolactam) in solutions

The intramolecular (segmental) mobilities of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) and poly(vinylcaprolactam) in solutions have been investigated using the spin label technique. The rotational correlation times for the segments do not depend on the spin label used for their determination. The rotational correlation times and the effective segmental dimensions for poly(vinylcaprolactam) are greater than those for poly(vinylpyrrolidone), the difference being due to different dimensions of the side-groups of the macromolecules. Near the temperature of phase separation in an aqueous solution of poly(vinylcaprolactam), the hydrophobic interaction of macromolecular side-groups leads to the compression of the molecular coil. As a result, the segmental mobility diminishes, and the spatial limitations on the rotation of a spin label surrounded by bulky side-groups become more severe.     

Amphiphilic liquid-crystalline networks — phase behavior and alignment by mechanical fields

A cross-linked polysiloxane carrying non-ionic amphiphilic side-groups attached with their hydrophobic end to the polymer backbone is synthesized. The amphiphilic groups are selectively deuterated at the α-position of the hydrophobic alkyl chains. The phase behavior with water is studied by deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A lamellar phase (L_a) is observed on the low-water-concentration side of the liquid-crystalline regime. The domains of the L_a-phase can be aligned macroscopically by uniaxial compression of the sample.     

Degradation Mechanisms of Biodegradable Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)1000 Diacrylate Network as Studied by Proton Solid-State Flow NMR Relaxometry

Summary: Degradation mechanisms of biodegradable photo-polymerised poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)1000 diacrylate {[(DL-LA/GA)DA]} matrices or films were studied by proton solid-state NMR relaxometry. A flow NMR unit cell was developed for this purpose. The (DL-LA/GA)DA-network was degraded in PBS buffer solution of pH = 7.4. A real-time proton NMR method provided information about the staged break down of the network during continuous circulation of the buffer solution through the NMR tube. The current study shows that degradation of the network proceeds in three stages: 1 - extraction of a sol fraction that causes substantial immobilization of the material, 2 - scissions of network chains producing network defects without formation of extractable products, and 3 – finally, chain scissions that cause formation of a sol fraction and complete degradation of the material. It was shown that the [(DL-LA/GA)DA-network was composed of rigid and viscoelastic domains on all stages of degradation. This heterogeneity could be due to heterogeneous spatial distribution of network junctions in the initial network and/or nano-scale phase separation of polyacrylate chains that form multifunctional network junctions and poly(lactide-co-glicolide) network chains. A combination of bulk and surface erosion both on nano- and macroscopic scales could explain the observed degradation mechanisms. It is shown that knowledge of weight loss upon hydrolytic degradation is not sufficient for understanding degradation mechanisms in the relation to functional properties of this type of hydrogels.     

Association thickener by host guest interaction of a β-cyclodextrin polymer and a polymer with hydrophobic side-groups

A host polymer with pending β-cyclodextrin side-groups and a guest polymer with pending hydrophobic 4-tert-butylanilide side groups were synthesized by polymeranalogous reactions starting from poly[(maleic anhydride)-alt-(isobutene)] (M̄_w = 60000). The inclusions of both polymers with complementary monomeric guests and hosts are proven by microcalorimetry. The interaction of the host polymer and the guest polymer in aqueous solution is accompanied by a tremendous increase in viscosity.     

A DSC-Study of Donor/Acceptor Side-Chain Polymers with Flourinated Taper-Shaped Tails

It is shown that insertion in methacrylic polymers of bulky electron donor/acceptor side-groups with taper-shaped flourinated tails promotes a self-organization of the respective side-chain polymers due to the space demands of the bulky D/A side-groups, leading to a columnar hexagonal mesophase. The presence of an Lc-phase is evidenced by DSC and identified by X-ray analysis. The orientation in the respective copolymers and polymer blends is additionally improved by the CT-interaction between the D/A side-groups. An increased packing effect due to this CT-orientation effect is evidenced in DSC by an increase of the respective transition temperatures. CT-interaction is responsible as well for a preferential polymerization of monomeric D/A-complexes leading to copolymers of alternating structures and for a zip-like arrangement along the main chain of the A/D-complexes between the interacting side-groups in polymer blends. Formation of mesophases is even observed in CT-interacting blends between the Lc-D/A side-chain polymethacrylates and the respective amorphous D/A side-chain polysiloxanes.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

COMPUTER SIMULATIONS ON UNPERTURBED CONFIGURATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF POLY (METHYL ACRYLATE)

A full-relaxation optimization of molecule and the popular MM2 force field are em-ployed to obtain the geometry parameters and the conformational energy surface of a mesoor a racemic dyad of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) with a specified carbonyl-bond orien-tation in side-groups. It is found that the conformational energy maps calculated hereconsiderably differ from those calculated with the rigid molecular model as reported in theearlier studies. The g~- state cannot be omitted in the obtained contour maps. Two impor-tant conformers tg~- and g~(-t) with energy minima were newly detected for a racemic dyad.The analysis on the conformations with energy minima confirmed that the ester groupsare not always perpendicular to the plane defined by the two adjacent skeletal bonds andmay change their relative orientations to meet the requirement of lower energies duringthe conformational state transition. Instead of the early way of adjusting the interactionenergy parameters to fit the experimental data, we attempt to predict unperturbed chaindimensions via the reliable force field and the configurational statistical mechanics. Theproposed scheme with three rotational states identified from the contour maps allowed usto satisfactorily reproduce the experimental dimensions of random PMA chains.     

Rapid isolation method for lipopolysaccharide and lipid A from gram-negative bacteria

A fast, convenient extraction method for lipopolysaccharide (LPS), using a commercial RNA isolating reagent, allows the isolation of LPS or lipid A from low milligram (dry weight) quantities of bacterial cells. The method avoids the use of specialized equipment and has been used for processing relatively large numbers of samples. The major components of the commercial RNA isolating reagent, Tri-Reagent, are phenol and guanidinium thiocyanate in aqueous solution. The bacterial cell membranes are disrupted with guanidinium thiocyanate, which eliminates the need for mechanical cell disruption (e.g. French press) or heating. LPS and its degradation products, with particular attention paid to its bioactive lipid A portion, were measured and compared with those from the most common conventional extraction method, hot phenol-water. Negative ion quadrupole ion trap and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, fatty acid composition analysis by capillary gas chromatography, total and free phosphate by UV spectrophotometry and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that LPS and lipid A isolated using the Tri-Reagent approach were cleaner and suffered less degradation through loss of phosphate and (or) fatty acyl side chains from lipid A. The Tri-Reagent extraction method generated low free phosphate contamination, 11% of the total phosphate concentration, whereas the hot phenol-water extraction method gave approximately 58% as free, inorganic phosphate. Similar results were observed for the degradation of fatty acyl side chains. The time required by the new method is considerably shorter (two or three days) than that required by conventional hot phenol-water extraction (about two weeks).     

Pyrolysis—field ionization mass spetrometric investigation of polymeric heterocycles: I. polyquinolines and polyquinoxalines

Pyrolysis—field ionization mass spectrometry was used for the investigation of the mechanism of the thermal degradation of polymeric heterocycles. Heat-resistant polymers containing aromatic and heterocyclic units such as polyquinolines and polyquinoxalines have a strong tendency to form large condensed systems during pyrolysis, and finally will carbonize. In the course of this process, side-groups (phenyl) and small fragments (NH₃, HCN, acetonitrile, acrylonitrile, etc.) are split off. In addition, large heteroatom-containing fragments such as nitriles can be identified. These, together with some fragments that contain the complete heterocyclic ring, are characteristic of the chain building units (“key fragments”). Furthermore, compounds generated by recombination reactions and intramolecular cyclization are constituents of the pyrolysate.     

Chemical analysis of vinyl-crosslinked poly(dimethylsiloxane) model networks and use of the resulting structural information in the interpretation of their elastomeric properties

Model networks were prepared by selective crosslinking through vinyl groups occurring as either chain ends or as side-groups on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) backbone. Iodometric titrations were used to determine the number of unreacted groups, thereby providing detailed information on the completeness of the reactions and the structure of the resulting networks. The end-linking reaction of the vinyl-terminated chains was generally found to be at least 95% complete. In the case of very high junction functionality, however, the extent of reaction was significantly lower, presumably because of steric interferences in the vicinity of the junctions, as was concluded in a previous investigation. Lower extents of reaction were also found in the case of vinyl groups located along the chains, probably because such groups are constrained by two chain sequences instead of one. The equilibrium elastomeric properties of both types of networks were interpreted using the structural information thus obtained and were found to be in good agreement with previous experimental results. They are also in satisfactory agreement with theory, without introduction of the highly questionable assumption of large contributions from interchain entanglements.     

CONFORMATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLY(ACRYLIC ACID) AND POLY(METHACRYLIC ACID)

A full-relaxation optimization of molecule and the Dreiding force field are employed toobtain the geometry parameters and the conformational energy surfaces of meso or racemicdyad of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA). Three differentcarbonyl-bond orientations of side-groups resulted in the differences in depth of potentialwells in their energetic contours for a meso or a racemic dyad. These discrepancies areinterpreted as a result of various fine structures corresponding to grid search conformationsas well as thereby different interactions. The analysis on the most stable conformationsof PMAA confirmed that the ester groups are nearly perpendicular to the plane definedby the two adjacent skeletal bonds but may possibly change their relative orientations tomeet the requirement of lower energy during the conformational state transition. For eachpolyme, two global energy maps of a meso and a racemic dyad were finally constructedfrom the superposition of energy data for the three kinds of side-group orientations by theBoltzmann factors. From an ensemble average, the proposed scheme with three rotationalisomeric states (RIS) allowed us to access the experimentally unperturbed dimensions ofPAA chain via the configurational statistical mechanics. Although the calculation wasbased on the short-range, local interactions, it was interested to note that the experimentalcharacteristic ratios just fell within the range calculated for atactic chains.     

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry analysis of poly(vinyl acetate), poly(methyl methacrylate) and their blend coalesced from inclusion compounds formed with γ-cyclodextrin

Direct insertion probe pyrolysis mass spectrometry (DIP-MS) analyses of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) and binary PMMA/PVAc guests, coalesced from their inclusion compounds (ICs) formed with host γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) through removal of the γ-CD host, have been performed. A slight increase in the thermal stabilities of the coalesced polymers were recorded both by TGA and DIP-MS compared to the corresponding as-received polymers. The DIP-MS observations pointed out that the thermal stability and degradation products of these polymers are affected once they are included inside the IC channels created by the stacked host γ-CDs. DIP-MS observations suggested that the degradation mechanisms for PMMA and PVAc chains in their coalesced blend were significantly altered from those observed in their as-received and solution blended samples. This was attributed to the presence of specific molecular interactions between the intimately mixed PMMA and PVAc chains in their coalesced blend.     

Modified polyaniline through simultaneous electrochemical polymerization of aniline and metanilic acid

Simultaneous electropolymerization of aniline and metanilic acid in aqueous HClO₄ leads to a copolymer similar to that obtained by direct sulfonation of polyaniline. Characterization by electrochemical and spectroscopic methods (UV -visible, Fourier transform IR and proton NMR) indicated the presence of polyaniline linear chains in which metanilic acid units were inserted as spacers. Elemental analysis showed that the copolymer was 40% doped by the sulfonate side-groups intramolecularly (self-doping) and 20% doped by ClO₄⁻ intermolecularly. The presence of sulfonate functional groups decreased electronic conductivity and increased solubility in alkaline solvents, but the electtrochemical properties remained principally that of polyaniline.     

一种含酚酞结构聚酰亚胺的合成及性能表征

通过酚酞的硝化和还原,得到了一种新型的含酞结构和酚羟基的二胺单体,通过二胺和4,4'-六氟亚异丙基二(邻苯二甲酸酐)(6FDA)缩聚并高温亚胺化,得到了相应的含酚羟基聚酰亚胺PI-HP.利用1H-NMR、FTIR、GPC及热分析表征了PI-HP的结构和热性能,利用紫外-可见光谱表征了其透明性.结果表明,PI-HP在部分极性有机溶剂中如DMF、THF、丙酮中具有良好的溶解性,具有较高的热稳定性并在可见光区域具有较好的透明性,其含羟基可进一步修饰用于制备各种功能材料.     

Accelerated hydrolytic degradation of Poly(l-lactide)/Poly(d-lactide) stereocomplex up to late stage

Poly(l-lactide) (PLLA)/poly(d-lactide) (PDLA) blend specimens containing only stereocomplex as crystalline species, together with those of pure PLLA and PDLA specimens, were prepared by solution crystallization using acetonitrile as the solvent. Their accelerated hydrolytic degradation was carried out in phosphate-buffered solution at elevated temperatures of 70-97 °C up to the late stage. During hydrolytic degradation, the stereocomplex crystalline residues were first traced by gel permeation chromatography. Similar to the hydrolytic degradation of pure PLLA and PDLA specimens, the hydrolytic degradation of stereocomplexed PLLA/PDLA blend specimens slowed down at the late stage when most of the amorphous chains were removed and crystalline resides were formed and degraded. The estimated activation energy for hydrolytic degradation of stereocomplex crystalline residues (97.3 kJ mol⁻¹) is significantly higher than 75.2 kJ mol⁻¹ reported for α-form of PLLA crystalline residues. This indicates that the stereocomplex crystalline residues showed the higher hydrolysis resistance compared to that of α-form of PLLA crystalline residues.     

The terminal grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) chains to silica surfaces

Two methods are described for the terminal grafting of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains to silica particles. In both cases, a diisocyanate coupling route is employed. In the first method, isocyanatecapped PEO chains are reacted directly with the silica surface in a suitable organic solvent e.g. carbon tetrachloride. This route was found to be suitable for silica surfaces which had been previously, at some stage, dry. The second method, more suitable for aqeous silica dispersions, involves reacting the isocyanate-capped PEO chains with γ-amino n-propyl triethoxysilane. The resultant triethoxysilanecapped PEO chains are then added directly to the silica dispersion during the later stages of its formation (by hydrolysis of tetraethylsilicate in water/methanol mixtures). A co-condensation process results in the grafting of the PEO chains. In both cases, high coverages of PEO chains are achieved. However, in aqeous media it was found necessary to add isopropanol (0.5%) to the system to prevent oxidative degradation of the PEO chains. Even then long-term stability ( > c. 1 month) diffucult to to achieve; this was thought to be due to the slow dissolution process of silica itself in aqeous solution.     

Synthese de polymeres fonctionnels modelisant des sites recepteurs de proteines. Etude de leur interaction avec des anti-coagulants de la famille des phenylindanedione

Modelling of biological receptors of proteins by the synthesis of polymers with side-groups resembling proteins is one way of studying the interaction between drug and protein. For this purpose, various methacrylic monomers with amine para(2-hydroxyethyl) aniline as its acetanilide derivatives onto methacrylic chloride or onto 2-chlorocarbonyloxy-ethyl methacrylate. The corresponding polymers are used as protein models, particularly those having a free amine function. A comparative study by differential spectroscopy of drug-albumin and polymer-drug model interaction for the anticoagulant as phenylindanedione) has made it possible to obtain information on the nature of the albumin receptors.     

Photoinduced optical anisotropy in films of photochromic liquid crystalline polymers

The light-induced modification of the optical properties of photochromic liquid crystalline (side-group) polymers (LCPs) containing azobenzene moieties was studied. Films of such polymers were irradiated with unpolarized and linearly polarized light. Unpolarized irradiation results in a modification of the order parameter, whereas the director orientation remains constant. The light-induced disturbance of the supramolecular order is strongly dependent on the structure of the polymer. A correlation with the enthalpic stability of the liquid crystalline phases is given. Linearly polarized irradiation causes a modification of the order parameter and a reorientation of the side-groups towards a direction perpendicular to the electric vector of the actinic light. This reorientation process is caused by an angular-dependent photoselection within the steady state of the photoisomerization of the azobenzene units. The amount and kinetic of the reorientation differ considerably as a function of certain structural features of the polymers, such as the content of photochromic moieties and the lengths of the spacer chains between the polymeric backbone and the rod-like moieties. It is shown that under certain circumstances the angular-dependent photoselection process may cause a reorientation of the non-photochromic moieties by a cooperative process. The result is a light-induced rotation of the optical axis of the LCP and thus an efficient modification of the birefringent and dichroic properties. This effect can be used in optical data storage.     

Mechanical property and biodegradability of solution‐cast films prepared from amphiphilic polylactide‐grafted dextran

Polylactide (PLA)‐grafted dextran was synthesized with a trimethylsilyl protection method to produce novel biodegradable, biomedical materials. PLA‐grafted dextrans with various lengths and numbers of graft chains were synthesized. The properties of solution‐cast films prepared from PLA‐grafted dextrans were investigated with thermal and dynamic mechanical analyses. The graft‐copolymer films exhibited lower glass‐transition temperatures, melting temperatures (T_m's), and crystallinities as well as higher viscosity properties as compared with poly‐L ‐lactide film. The T_m and crystallinity and mechanical properties at 37 °C could be adjusted by controlling the molecular structure such as the lengths and numbers of graft chains. Furthermore, the biodegradability of PLA‐grafted dextran films was investigated through the weight change of film and the molecular weight change of polymer during the in vitro degradation test. PLA‐grafted dextrans exhibited different degradation behavior from poly‐L ‐lactide with the introduction of a polysaccharide segment and branched structure as well as the change of end‐functional group. The degradation rate of PLA‐grafted dextran and the cast film prepared from PLA‐grafted dextran could be adjusted by controlling the sugar content or the length of graft chains. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2462–2468, 2003     

PU/MOMMT纳米复合材料的制备与研究

纳米复合材料由于其纳米尺寸效应，表面效应以及纳米粒子与基体界面间强的相互作用，具有优于相同组分常规复合材料的力学、热学等性能，引起了人们的广泛关注。用纳米材料改性聚合物，制备纳米复合材料是获得高性能高分子复合材料的重要方法。1998年以来，Pinnavaia等首先制备了聚氨酯，蒙脱土（PU／MMT）纳米复合材料，研究了有机蒙脱土在聚醚中的分散性。其后Chen等将聚羟基己内酯/蒙脱土（PCL／MMT）纳米复合材料加入到PCL和二苯基甲烷-4，4＇-二异氰酸酯（MDI）合成的预聚体与1，4-丁二醇扩链反应后的溶液中，制备了PU／MMT纳米复合材料。少量PCL／MMT的引入可使复合材料的综合性能大幅提高。