Degradative chain transfer in vinyl acetate polymerizations using toluene as solvent

In this work, we propose that retardation in vinyl acetate polymerization rate in the presence of toluene is due to degradative chain transfer. The transfer constant to toluene (C_trs) determined using the Mayo method is equal to 3.8 × 10^?3, which is remarkably similar to the value calculated from the rate data, assuming degradative chain transfer (2.7 × 10^?3). Simulations, including chain‐length‐dependent termination, were carried out to compare our degradative chain transfer model with experimental results. The conversion–time profiles showed excellent agreement between experiment and simulation. Good agreement was found for the M_n data as a function of conversion. The experimental and simulation data strongly support the postulate that degradative chain transfer is the dominant kinetic mechanism. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3620–3625, 2007     

Effect of Poly(methacrylic acid) on the Cytokine Level in an In Vivo Tumor Model

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality globally. Despite remarkable improvements in cancer-treatment approaches, disease recurrence and progression remain major obstacles to therapy. While chemotherapy is still a first-line treatment for a variety of cancers, the focus has shifted to the development and application of new approaches to therapy. Nevertheless, the relationship between immune response, neoplastic diseases and treatment efficiency is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the immunopharmacological effects of methacrylic acid homopolymer in an in vivo tumor model. Materials and methods: Monomeric methacrylic acid was used to synthesize polymers. Methacrylic acid was polymerized in dioxane in the presence of 4-Cyano-4-[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]pentanoic acid. To study the molecular weight characteristics of PMAA by GPC, carboxyl groups were preliminarily methylated with diazomethane. An experimental cancer model was obtained by grafting RMK1 breast cancer cells. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Results: The effect of PMAA on the serum concentrations of several cytokines was studied upon its single administration to laboratory animals in early neoplastic process. The IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β1 concentrations were found to change significantly and reach the level observed in intact rats. The IL-10 concentration tended to normalize. Conclusion: The positive results obtained are the basis for further studies on the effect of methacrylic-acid polymers with different molecular-weight characteristics on the neoplastic process.     

Bioactive materials for bone regeneration based on zinc-modified hydroxyapatite

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Selective Synthesis of 2,5‐Diformylfuran by Sustainable 4‐acetamido‐TEMPO/Halogen‐Mediated Electrooxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural

A new method was developed for the selective gram‐scale synthesis of 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF), which is an important chemical with a high application potential, via oxidation of biomass‐derived 5‐hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) catalyzed by 4‐acetylamino‐2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidine‐1‐oxyl (4‐AcNH‐TEMPO) in a two‐phase system consisting of a methylene chloride and aqueous solution containing sodium hydrogen carbonate and potassium iodide. The key feature of this method is the generation of the I₂ (co‐)oxidant by anodic oxidation of iodide anions during pulse electrolysis. In addition, the electrolyte can be successfully recycled five times while maintaining a 62–65 % yield of DFF. This novel method provides a sustainable pathway for waste‐free production of DFF without the use of metal catalysts and expensive oxidants. An advantage of electrooxidation is utilized in the preparation of demanding chemical.     

Nonlinear optoacoustic transformation in the system of dielectric substrate/submicron metal coating/liquid

The optoacoustic method has been shown to be an accurate technique for the measurement of the properties of submicron metal coatings deposited on a dielectric substrate, i.e., mirrors. The method has been previously theoretically described in terms of a linear model of optoacoustic transformation in a system substrate/coating/liquid. The goal of the present work was to determine the limits at which the linear model is still applicable. The modification of the laser induced acoustic signal profiles and transfer functions of optoacoustic transformation versus the laser fluence was studied for two liquids: ethanol and water.     

Base-free aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid over Pt/C catalysts synthesized by pulse alternating current technique

The Pt/C catalysts with various Pt content (5-30 wt%) synthesized via electrochemical pulse alternating current technique have been evaluated for the base-free aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. The higher Pt content in the catalyst (30 wt%) provides the product yield up to 65% upon performing the process in concentrated (～0.1 M) aqueous solutions of the substrate.     

Preparation, crystallographic characterization and theoretical study of two isomers of C70(CF3)12

Two isomers of C70(CF3)12 have been isolated from a mixture obtained by trifluoromethylation of C70 with CF3I; their molecular structures determined by X-ray crystallography are in good agreement with the results of theoretical DFT calculations for the most stable C70(CF3)12 isomers.     

A quantum chemical study of [1.1.1.1]pagodane and its related compounds

The PBE0/6-31G** quantum chemical method is used to determine the symmetry and equilibrium structural parameters of the molecules of [1.1.1.1]pagodane (C₂₀H₂₀, D _2h ), two dienes (C₂₀H₂₀, D _2h ), two diradicals (C₂₀H₂₀, C _2ν ), and two dications (C₂₀H₂₀²⁺, D _2h and C _2ν ). The energy of a highly symmetric dication with a rectangular cycle is lower by 36 kcal/mole than that of a low symmetric dication with a trapezoidal cycle. The polarization interaction with liquid methylene chloride causes its decrease by 147 kcal/mole.     

Anticancer Aminoferrocene Derivatives Inducing Production of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and deficient mitochondria are two weak points of cancer cells. Their simultaneous targeting is a valid therapeutic strategy to design highly potent anticancer drugs. The remaining challenge is to limit the drug effects to cancer cells without affecting normal ones. We have previously developed three aminoferrocene (AF)-based derivatives, which are activated in the presence of elevated levels of ROS present in cancer cells with formation of electron-rich compounds able to generate ROS and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). All of them exhibit important drawbacks including either low efficacy or high unspecific toxicity that prevents their application in vivo up to date. Herein we describe unusual AF-derivatives lacking these drawbacks. These compounds act via an alternative mechanism: they are chemically stable in the presence of ROS, generate mitochondrial ROS in cancer cells, but not normal cells and exhibit anticancer effect in vivo.     

pH-Responsive N^C-Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes: Synthesis,Photophysical Properties,Computational Results,and Bioimaging Application

Herein we report four [Ir(N^C)₂(L^L)]ⁿ⁺, n = 0,1 complexes (1–4) containing cyclometallated N^C ligand (N^CH = 1-phenyl-2-(4-(pyridin-2-yl)phenyl)-1H-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole) and various bidentate L^L ligands (picolinic acid (1), 2,2′-bipyridine (2), [2,2′-bipyridine]-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid (3), and sodium 4,4′,4″,4‴-(1,2-phenylenebis(phosphanetriyl))tetrabenzenesulfonate (4). The N^CH ligand precursor and iridium complexes 1–4 were synthesized in good yield and characterized using chemical analysis, ESI mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy. The solid-state structure of 2 was also determined by XRD analysis. The complexes display moderate to strong phosphorescence in the 550–670 nm range with the quantum yields up to 30% and lifetimes of the excited state up to 60 µs in deoxygenated solution. Emission properties of 1–4 and N^CH are strongly pH-dependent to give considerable variations in excitation and emission profiles accompanied by changes in emission efficiency and dynamics of the excited state. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD DFT) calculations made it possible to assign the nature of emissive excited states in both deprotonated and protonated forms of these molecules. The complexes 3 and 4 internalize into living CHO-K1 cells, localize in cytoplasmic vesicles, primarily in lysosomes and acidified endosomes, and demonstrate relatively low toxicity, showing more than 80% cells viability up to the concentration of 10 µM after 24 h incubation. Phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (PLIM) experiments in these cells display lifetime distribution, the conversion of which into pH values using calibration curves gives the magnitudes of this parameter compatible with the physiologically relevant interval of the cell compartments pH.