Amphiphilic silica/fluoropolymer nanoparticles: Synthesis,tem‐responsive and surface properties as protein‐resistance coatings

A series of amphiphilic silica/fluoropolymer nanoparticles of SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) were prepared by silica surface‐initiating atom transfer radical polymerization (SI‐ATRP) of poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA) and poly dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate (P12FMA). Their amphiphilic behavior, lower critical solution temperature (LCST), and surface properties as protein‐resistance coatings were characterized. The introduction of hydrophobic P(12FMA) block leads SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) to form individual spherical nanoparticles (～150 nm in water and ～170 nm in THF solution) as P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) shell grafted on SiO₂ core (～130 nm), to gain obvious lower LCST at 36–52 °C and higher thermostability at 290–320 °C than SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA) (LCST = 78–90 °C, T_d = 220 °C). The water‐casted SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) films obtain much rougher surface (125.3–178.4 nm) than THF‐casted films (11.5–16.9 nm) and all SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA) films (26.8–31.3 nm). Therefore, the water‐casted surfaces exhibit obvious higher water adsorption amount (Δf = ?494 ～ ?426 Hz) and harder adsorbed layer (viscoelasticity of ΔD/Δf = ?0.28 ～ ?0.36 × 10^?6/Hz) than SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA) films, but present loser adsorbed layer than THF‐casted films (ΔD/Δf = ?0.29 ～ ?0.63 × 10^?6/Hz). While, the introduction of P(12FMA) segments does not show obviously reduce in the protein‐repelling adsorption of SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) films (△f = ?15.7 ～ ?22.3 Hz) compared with SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA) films (△f = ?8.3 ～ ?11.3 Hz) and no obvious influence on water adsorption of ancient stone. Therefore, SiO₂‐g‐P(PEGMA)‐b‐P(12FMA) is suggested to be used as protein‐resistance coatings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 381–393     

Chemiluminescence of Cypridina Luciferin Analogs. Part 3. MCLA Chemiluminescence with Singlet Oxygen Generated by the Retro-Diels-Alder Reaction of a Naphthalene Endoperoxide

The chemiluminescence of the Cypridina luciferin analog, 2-methyl-6-(p-methoxyphenyl)-3,7-dihydroirnidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA), with O₂ (¹Δ_g) generated by the retro-Diels-Alder reaction of 3-(4′-methyI-l'-naphthyl)-propionic acid endoperoxide was studied in an aqueous solution with pH 7.12 at 37°C. The retro-Diels-Alder reaction occurs with a first-order rate constant of (4.16 ± 0.13) × 10^?4/s to quantitatively yield O₂ (¹Δ_g) and 3-(4′-methyl-l'-naphthyl (-propionic acid. MCLA consumed equimolar amounts of O₂ (¹Δ_g) with a second-order rate constant (6.96 ± 0.27) × 10⁸/M/s to emit light in an aqueous solution with pH 7.12 at 37°C. The chemiluminescence spectrum was identified as the fluorescence spectrum of 2-acetylamino-5-(p-methoxyphenyl)pyrazine (OMCLA), a major chemiluminescence reaction. Chemiluminescence spectra and product yields for MCLA reactions with O₂¹Δ_g, with O₂ (³Σ^?_g) and with superoxide anion radicals are identical, suggesting that all of these reactions occur via a common MCLA-2-hydrope-roxide intermediate formed by a combination of MCLA radicals and superoxide anion radicals. We have established practical use of NEPO as an O₂ (¹Δ_g) source and MCLA as a biological probe for detecting O₂ (¹Δ_g).     

Dielectric Parameters and Hydrogen Bond Interaction Study of Binary Alcohol Mixtures

The formation of hydrogen bonds between different types of molecules in binary alcohol mixtures (methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerol) have been investigated (each system at 21 mixture concentrations) by an analysis of their dielectric parameters. The static dielectric constant ε _o, limiting high-frequency dielectric constant ε _∞, excess dielectric parameters ε _o^E and ε _∞^E, effective Kirkwood correlation factor g ^eff, and corrective Kirkwood correlation factor g _f of the binary alcohol mixtures were determined at 25 °C in order to explore hydrogen-bond interactions and the strength of molecular connectivities between unlike alcohol molecules and their dipole alignment. These results confirm that the different alcohol mixtures form hydrogen-bonded structures, which are strongly influenced by the numbers of hydroxyl groups and carbon atoms of the alcohol molecules and vary with the concentrations of the mixtures.     

Application of solvent extraction and synchronous spectrofluorimetry to the determination of the formation constant for a 1:1 complex of carbazole withβ-cyclodextrin in water-dimethyl sulfoxide medium

Extraction of carbazole in heptane was performed at 25±1°C with an aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium containing -cyclodextrin (CD) at consecutive concentrations in the range of 0–10 mM. The fluorescence intensity of carbazole remaining in the heptane phase was measured by synchronous scanning fluorimetry. The apparent formation constant (K _f) for a 1:1 carbazole: CD inclusion complex in water-DMSO medium was determined by using a linear plot of the distribution ratio calculated from the fluorescence intensities vs. the -CD concentration. The values thus obtained ranged from 477 M^–1 in a 10% v/v DMSO medium to 12.1 M^–1 in a 60% v/v medium. Good linear relationships were observed between logK _f and the DMSO concentration ([DMSO]), and also between logK _f and the logarithm of the distribution coefficient (K _d) for carbazole. The formation constant in 100% water was estimated to be approximately 1.0×10³ M^–1 on the basis of the logK _f vs. [DMSO] and the logK _f vs. logK _d correlations.     

Etude des interactions a l'etat solide du nordazepam III-polyoxyethylene glycol 6000 et nordazepam III-acide succinique

We have determined the eutectic composition nordazépam (NDZ) polyoxyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG): 4% NDZ, 96% PEG (T _f =59,0±0,5°C H _f=155,9±2,4 J·g^–1; NDZ succinic acid: 0,32n (NDZ) and 0,68n (succinic acid) (T _f=163,8±0,4°C and H _f=119,34±2,1 J·g^–1). No solid solution has been found. The negative and high absolute value of mixing enthalpy indicates that the eutectic composition is formed by interactions between OH, CO, NH groups of carrier and drug with hydrogene bonds formation, confirmed by X-ray diffraction.

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Zusammensetzung Folgende eutektische Zusammensetzungen wurden bestimmt: Nordazepam (NDZ) Polyoxyethylenglykol 6000 (PEG): 4% NDZ, 96% PEG (T_f = 59,0±⁰.5°C H_f=155,9±2.4 J·g^–: NDZ Bernsteinsäure: 0,32n (NDZ) und 0,68 n (Bernsteinsäure) (T _f=163,8±0,4°C und H _f= 119,34±2,4 J·g^–1). Es wurden keine Mischkristalle gefunden. Der negative und absolut gesehen grosse Wert der Mischenthalpie zeigt, dass das Eutektikum durch Wechselwirkungen zwischen den OH CO NH Gruppen von Carrier und Droge in Form von Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen gebildet wird, was durch Röntgendiffraktion bestätigt wurde.

     

Studying Cu2–xSe phase transformation through DSC examination

The thermal effect accompanying the transition of Cu_2–xSe into a superionic conduction state was studied by non-isothermal measurements, at different heating and cooling rates (β=1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20°C min^–1). During heating the peak temperature (T_p) remains almost stable for all values of β, (136.8±0.4°C for Cu₂Se and 133.0±0.3°C for Cu_1.99Se). A gradual shift of the initiation of the transformation towards lower temperatures is observed, as the heating rate increases. During cooling there is a significant shift in the position of the peak maximum (T_p) towards lower temperatures with the increase of the cooling rate. A small hysteresis is observed, which increases with the increase of the cooling rate, β. The mean value of transformation enthalpy was found to be 30.3±0.8 J g^–1 for Cu₂Se and 28.9±0.9 J g^–1 for Cu_1.99Se. The transformation can be described kinetically by the model f(ǯ)=(1–ǯ)^n(1+kcatX), with activation energy E=175 kJ mol^–1, exponent value n equal to 0.2, logA=20 and log(k_cat)= 0.5.     

Polymer diffusion in latex films at ambient temperature

Polymer diffusion across interfaces at room temperature (21°C) was analyzed by direct nonradiative energy transfer (DET) in labeled latex films. Two modellatex polymers were examined: poly(butyl methacrylate) [PBMA, M_w = 3.5 × 10⁴, T_g (dry) = 21°C] and a copolymer of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate with 10 wt % (acetoacetoxy)-ethyl methacrylate [P(EHMA-co-AAEM), M_w = 4.8 × 10⁴, T_g (dry) = −7°C]. Little energy transfer due to polymer diffusion was detected for the P(EHMA-co-AAEM) latex samples in the dispersed state or dried to solids content below ca. 90%, but above 90% solids, diffusion occurs among particles. For PBMA, diffusion occurs only after the film is dried (>97% solids) and aged. In the dry PBMA films, it requires 4–5 days at 21°C to reach a significant extent of mixing (f_m = 0.3–0.4). This corresponds to an estimated penetration depth d_app of 30–40 nm and a mean apparent diffusion coefficient (D_app) of 5 × 10⁻⁴ nm²/s. The corresponding D_app value for the dry P(EHMA-co-AAEM) sample is 5 × 10⁻² nm²/s, and it takes about 25–40 min for this polymer to reach f_m of 0.3–0.4 with d_app of 20–30 nm. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1129–1139, 1998     

Syntheses and characterizations of bis(trialkoxysilyl)oligoimides. II. Syntheses and characterizations of fluorinated crosslinkable oligoimides with low refractive indices

Novel crosslinkable fluorinated oligoimides were prepared in two steps. The first involved the synthesis of oligoimides terminated with nadic or allylic double bonds, and the second step was materialized either by a radical addition of mercaptotrialkoxysilane derivatives onto nadic double bonds or a hydrosilylation reaction of hydrogenotrialkoxysilane derivative onto allylic double bonds. Three kinds of crosslinking of the trialkoxysilane end groups were studied. The first kind entailed a thermal self‐crosslinking of trialkoxysilane groups. The second process of crosslinking incorporated a bicomponent system—the crosslinked agent was 1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethane (TRIOH). The trialkoxysilane groups reacted with the hydroxyl–phenol groups of TRIOH to give thermally stable phenoxysilane bonds as well as a crosslinking network. The last method was also a bicomponent system; the oxalic acid was added into an oligoimide solution where by thermal treatment water was created. The water molecules hydrolyzed the trialkoxysilane groups into silanol groups that polycondensed into a crosslinked network following a sol–gel process. The mechanism of the different crosslinking reactions was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid‐state ²⁹Si NMR. The self‐crosslinked material prepared from precursor α,ω‐trimethoxysilyl fluorinated oligomer (M_n = 5500 g · mol^?1) exhibited a 10 wt % loss temperature under air higher than 420 °C and a low birefringence (Δn = 0.008) at 1.300 μm. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2602–2619, 2001     

Electrochemical behaviour and determination of rimsulfuron herbicide by square wave voltammetry

The voltammeric behaviour of rimsulfuron herbicide has been studied by square wave stripping voltammetry on static hanging mercury drop electrode. It exhibited a well-defined peak within the pH range of 1.0–6.0, having a maximum peak response at ?600 mV (vs.Ag/AgCl) at pH 3.0. The factors such as accumulation potential (E_acc), accumulation time (t_acc), frequency (f), pulse amplitude (ΔE) and step potential (ΔE_s) have been optimised. The calibration plot was a straight line in the range of 4.4–134.4 μg L^?1 with a detection limit of 1.3 μg L^?1. The validity of the method was assessed from the recoveries of spiked lake water, tomato juice and agrochemical formulation of Doncep^®. The results of the experiments conducted for five recoveries were 48.8 ± 1.7 and 49.7 ± 1.0 μg L^?1, which are very close to the rimsulfuron spiked to lake water and tomato juice (50 μg L^?1), with a relative error of –2.4% and ?0.6%, respectively. The electrode reaction mechanism was also postulated.     

Effects of POSS nanoparticles on glass transition temperatures of ultrathin poly(t‐butyl acrylate) films and bulk blends

As a model system, thin films of trisilanolphenyl‐POSS (TPP) and two different number average molar mass (5 and 23 kg mol^?1) poly(t‐butyl acrylate) (PtBA) were prepared as blends by Langmuir–Blodgett film deposition. Films were characterized by ellipsometry. For comparison, bulk blends are prepared by solution casting and the samples are characterized via differential scanning calorimetry. The increase in T_g as a function of TPP content for bulk high and low molar mass samples are in the order of ～10 °C. Whereas bulk T_g shows comparable increases for both molar masses (～10 °C), the increase in surface T_g for higher molar mass PtBA is greater than for low molar mass (～22 °C vs. ～10 °C). Nonetheless, the total enhancement of T_g is complete by the time 20 wt % TPP is added without further benefit at higher nanofiller loads. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 175–182     

Water sorption and glass transition of freeze-dried camu-camu (myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) Mc Vaugh) pulp

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to determine phase transitions of freeze-dried camu-camu pulp in a wide range of moisture content. Samples were equilibrated at 25°C over saturated salt solutions in order to obtain water activities (a_w) between 0.11–0.90. Samples with a_w>0.90 were obtained by direct water addition. At the low and intermediate moisture content range, Gordon–Taylor model was able to predict the plasticizing effect of water. In samples, with a_w>0.90, the glass transition curve exhibited a discontinuity and T^’_g was practically constant (–58.8°C), representing the glass transition temperature of the maximally concentrated phase(T_g ).     

Effects of Solvent Composition and Temperature on K+–18-Crown-6 Complexation in Acetonitrile–Water Mixed Solvents

Complexation of K⁺ by 18-crown-6 ether (18C6) in pure water and in acetonitrile–water mixed solvents containing 0.1 mol-dm^{? 3} (C₂H₅)₄NCl has been systematically studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) at 293, 298, and 303 K. The formation constant K of the 1:1 [K(18C6)]⁺ complex and the complexation enthalpy Δ _rH were simultaneously determined from the titration data. The logK and Δ _rH(kJ-mol^{? 1}) values at 298 K are 2.04, ?26.2 in pure water and 2.23, ?25.0; 2.61, ?24.2; 2.95, ?23.8; 3.48, ?21.0; 3.85, ?19.4; 4.36, ?18.7; and 5.73, ?17.0 in the mixed solvents at x _AN (mole fraction of acetonitrile) of 0.043, 0.135, 0.258, 0.448, 0.578, 0.759, and 1.0, respectively. The change in heat capacity for the complex formation, Δ C _p °, was also determined by the temperature dependence of Δ _rH. Whereas the Δ C _p ° is (57 ± 11) and (63 ± 20) J-mol^{? 1}-K^{? 1} in pure water and in the solvent mixture at x _AN = 0.043, respectively, it decreases with increasing x _AN. The Δ C _p ° values are ?(48 ± 11), ?(110 ± 25), ?(354 ± 40), ?(359 ± 24), and ?(304 ± 30) J-mol^{? 1}-K^{? 1} at x _AN = 0.135, 0.258, 0.448, 0.578, and 0.759, respectively. The changes in complexation thermodynamics (Δ Δ _rG, Δ Δ_rH, and Δ Δ _r S) are discussed in terms of the corresponding transfer thermodynamics of K⁺, 18-crown-6, and [K(18C6)]⁺ upon transferring from water to acetonitrile–water mixed solvents. It was found that hydrophobic solvation of the complex [K(18C6)]⁺ plays an important role in complex formation occurring in water and in the water-rich mixed solvent. Moreover, changes in solvent structure significantly affect the transfer enthalpy and entropy of each species, i.e., K⁺, 18-crown-6, and [K(18C6)]⁺. The observed monotonous changes in the complexation Gibbs energy, enthalpy, and entropy with solvent composition are due to the effective compensation of the Δ _trG, Δ _trH, and Δ _tr S for K⁺ with those for 18-crown-6 and [K(18C6)]⁺.     

Preparation and characterization of poly(2‐methyl‐1,5‐pentamethylene oxamide) (PM52) polymer

Poly(2‐methyl‐1,5‐pentaneoxamide) ( PM52) with relative viscosity up to 3.3 were synthesized using 2‐methyl‐1,5‐pentanediamine (M52) and dibutyl oxalate via spray/melt polycondensation. The obtained polyoxamide was characterized by FTIR, ¹H‐NMR, WAXD, DSC, and TGA. The T_m of PM52 was 200°C with a heat of fusion (ΔH_f) of 59.7 J·g−¹, crystallization temperature of 125°C, and a crystallization enthalpy (ΔH_c) of 42.6 J·g⁻¹. Isothermal crystallization studies revealed a 2‐dimensional crystallization phenomenon which didn't vary with change in crystallization temperature. TGA analysis revealed that the thermal stability of PM52 compared well with commercial PA6, and XRD studies revealed an α form of crystal structure and that the polymers possessed good crystallinity. Saturated water absorption of 4.6 wt% was recorded for the new polyoxamide synthesized as compared with 10.6 wt% for commercial PA6; such properties are good for applications in the food industry, plastics, and electronics industry where dimensional stability is a key requirement.     

Relationships on the effect of water on glass transition temperature and young's modulus of nylon 6

The glass transition temperature T_g of nylon 6 decreases monotonically toward a finite value T_gl upon increase of the moisture content. The mechanism of this decrease entails the reversible replacement of intercaternary hydrogen bonds in the accessible regions of the polyamide. The limiting glass transition temperature T_gl is approached when the moisture content approaches W_l, which corresponds to the amount of water required for complete interaction with all accessible amide groups. Denoting with T_g0 the glass transition temperature of the dry polymer, the effect of water on T_g is represented by the equation, T_g = (ΔT_g)₀ exp{?[ln(ΔT_g)₀]W/_τW_l} + T_gl, where (ΔT_g)₀ = T_g0 ?T_gl, and τ = W(T_gl+1)/W_l. This equation appears to be generally applicable to hydrophilic polymers, since correspondingly calculated data are also in very good agreement with experimental data for polymers such as nylon 66, poly(vinyl alcohol), and polyN-vinylpyrrolidone. The effect of water of Young's modulus E of nylon 6 is represented by an analogous relationship, and the quantity In[(E?E_l)/(T_g?T_gl)] is a linear function of the moisture content.     

Contribution of the Guinier-Preston zones to the hardening of Al-5%Ag alloy and its photo-electrochemical protection in seawater using n-CdS

The contributions of the GP zones and the matrix to the alloy hardening have been studied in the alloy Al-5% at. Ag aging at 150 °C. They were determined separately using a method based on the hardness measurement which obeys the relation ΔHv_SS = 19.72x^2/3 + 0.218 (Gpa), where x is the means atomic concentration of the matrix. The GP zones follows the relationship (ΔHv _GP = 18.4 f_v^0.94 kg/mm²), f_v is the volume fraction of GP zones. In a second part, the photo-electrochemical properties of n-CdS were exploited for the cathodic protection of the alloy Al-5% at.Ag in one of the most corrosive environments namely seawater. The corroded surface was rough and the corrosion product contains divided particles. However, the corrosion was significantly hindered by contacting the alloy to n-CdS (E_g = 2.40 eV) irradiated by visible light with different intensities (42–103 mW cm^-2). Under illumination, the electrode potential of the alloy is cathodically shifted when short-circuited to n-CdS, indicating a photo cathodic protection while the corrosion current falls from 2.67 (in the dark) down to 1.73 mA cm^-2 under a light flux of 103 mW cm^-2. Conversely, when the alloy is short-circuited to p-type CuO (E_g = 1.46 eV), the corrosion current increased by 26% under illumination, due to the activated dissolution by photoholes.     

Origins of relative acidity: First and second period hydrides

The origins of the trends of relatively acidity across and between the first and second period hydrides (BH₃, CH₄, NH₃, H₂O, HF, AIH₃, SiH₄, PH₃, H₂S, and HCl) were investigated using molecular and subsystem quantum mechanics at the Hartree-Fock (HF)/6–31 + + G ^**//HF/6–31 + + G ^** level of theory. The total deprotonation energies, Δ E_acid, are interpreted in terms of three component processes: Δ E₁; deprotonation without electronic and nuclear relaxation; Δ E₂, electronic relaxation within the acid geometry; and Δ E₃, nuclear relaxation. Δ E₁ is given from the electrostatic potential at the acidic proton, Δ E₃ + Δ E₂ (= Δ E ^*) is given from the calculated energy of the conjugate anion at the acid geometry. The increased acidity across a given period is shown to be already mostly an inherent property of the acid. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Electron-spin magnetic moments of the 2Σ+ ions Li2+, Li2−, and Be2+: An ab initio ROHF study

For the ²Σ⁺ ground states of the ions Li₂⁺, Li₂⁻, and Be₂⁺, the dependence of the magnetic moment (parametrized by g-shifts) on the bond length R was studied at the ROHF level. The Δ g-values were calculated via a perturbative approach (complete to second order in Breit-Pauli interactions) using quadruple-zeta AO basis sets augmented by semidiffuse and polarization functions. All Δ g-values in these systems are negative. The parallel component Δ g_∥ generally changes little with R, remaining close to the g-shift of the corresponding ²S atomic dissociation product. For Li₂⁺ and Be₂⁺, the perpendicular component Δ g _⟂ is more sensitive to geometry than is Δ g_∥, mainly because of the second-order magnetic coupling with excited ²Π states. For Li₂⁻, Δ g _⟂ and Δ g_∥ are similar due to the large size of the 2σ_u, SOMO, resulting in g-values close to that of a free electron. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 63: 511–521, 1997     

Reversible Transformation between Amorphous and Crystalline States of Unsaturated Polyesters by Cis–Trans Isomerization

An aliphatic polyester has been prepared from ethylene oxide and maleic anhydride that undergoes reversible transformation between amorphous (T_g=18 °C) and crystalline (T_m=124 °C) states through cis–trans isomerization of the C=C bonds in the polymer backbone without any change in either the molecular weight or dispersity of the polymer. A similar transformation was also observed in chiral unsaturated polyesters formed from enantiopure terminal epoxides, such as epichlorohydrin, phenyl glycidyl ether, and (2,3‐epoxypropyl)benzene. These unsaturated polyesters with 100 % E‐configuration in the crystalline state were prepared by quantitative isomerization of their Z‐configuration analogues in the presence of a catalytic amount of diethylamine, while in the presence of benzophenone, irradiation with 365 nm UV light resulted in the transformation of about 30 % trans‐alkene to cis‐maleate form, thereby affording amorphous polyesters.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate). V. Kinetics of initial template polymerization

The influence of stereoregular poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a polymer matrix on the initial rate of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) has been measured between ?11 and +60°C using a dilatometric technique. Under proper conditions an increase in the relative initial rate of template polymerization with respect to a blank polymerization was observed. Viscometric studies showed that the observed effect could be related to the extent of complex formation between the polymer matrix and the growing chain radical. The initial rate was dependent on tacticity and molecular weight of the matrix polymer, solvent type and polymerization temperature. The accelerating effect was most pronounced (a fivefold increase in rate) at the lowest polymerization temperature with the highest molecular weight isotactic PMMA as a matrix in a solvent like dimethylformamide (DMF), which is known to be a good medium for complex formation between isotactic and syndiotactic PMMA. The acceleration of the polymerization below 25°C appeared to be accompanied by a large decrease in the overall energy and entropy of activation. It is suggested that the observed template effects are mainly due to the stereoselection in the propagation step (lower activation entropy Δ S_p^?) and the hindrance of segmental diffusion in the termination step (higher activation energy Δ E_t^?) of complexed growing chain radicals.     

Conformational preference and mechanism of decarboxylation of levodopa. A quantum dynamics/quantum mechanics study

The present study addresses the conformational preferences and the mechanism of decarboxylation of levodopa (LD). LD is used to increase dopamine concentrations in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. LD crosses the protective blood–brain barrier, where it is converted into dopamine by the process of decarboxylation. Molecular dynamics simulation has been carried out at the DFT/6‐31++G level of theory to identify the global minimum structure of LD. Conformational preferences of the amino acid side chain of LD has been investigated at the B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. Fourier transform analysis has been performed to identify the origin of the rotational barriers. Electrostatic dipole moment and bond interactions underlie the observed potential energy barriers for rotation of the amino acid side chain of LD. The vital biological process of decarboxylation of LD has been examined in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. Without the presence of water, there is only one possible route for the decarboxylation of LD. In this concerted mechanism, a proton transfer and breakage of the C₁₀—C₁₈ bond, take place simultaneously (ΔE^# = 73.2 kcal/mol). In solution, however, two possible decarboxylation routes are available for LD. The first involve the formation of a zwitterionic intermediate (ΔE^# = 72.4 kcal/mol). The zwitterionic form of LD have been localized using explicitly bound water molecules to model short‐range solvent effects and self‐consistent reaction field polarized continuum model to estimate long‐range solvent interactions. The second route involve the formation of a cyclic structure in which a water molecule acts as a bridge linking the anticarboxylic hydrogen and α‐position carbon atom (ΔE^# = 59.8 kcal/mol). Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis reveals that the conformational and overall stability of the amino acid side chain is facilitated by the antiperiplanar interactions between the phenyl moiety C—H and C—C bonds and C—X bonds of the amino acid side chain. However, much of the major donor–acceptor interactions is of the lone pair type and is localized within the amino acid side chain itself. Results of the present work reveal that NBO data reflect nicely and identify clearly reaction coordinates at the transition species. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.