Synthesis of Furoxans (1,2,5‐oxadiazole 2‐oxides) from Styrenes and Nitrosonium Tetrafluoroborate in Non‐Acidic Media and Mechanistic Study

Diverse furoxans (1,2,5‐oxadiazole 2‐oxides) were synthesized from the corresponding styrenes using nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate as the nitrosation reagent in pyridine (basic media) or dichloromethane (neutral media). Acid‐sensitive functional groups were tolerated under these conditions. The probable reaction mechanism was elucidated. The experimental results support an ionic reaction pathway in contrast to the conventional acidic conditions with a radical mechanism.     

High‐resolution pluronic‐filled microchip CE‐SSCP analysis system via channel width control

Although the resolution of CE‐SSCP has been significantly improved by using a poly(ethyleneoxide)‐poly(propyleneoxide)‐poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO‐PPO‐PEO; Pluronic^®) triblock copolymer as a separation medium, CE‐SSCP on a microchip format is not widely applicable because their resolution is limited by short channel length. Therefore, a strategy to improve the resolution in channels of limited lengths is highly required for enabling microchip‐based CE‐SSCP. In this study, we developed a high‐resolution CE‐SSCP microchip system by controlling the width of the pluronic‐filled channel. We tested four different channel widths of 180, 240, 300, and 400 μm, and found that 300 μm showed the highest resolution in the separation of two pathogen specific markers. Potential applications of our method in various genetic analyses were also shown by using SNP markers for spinal muscular atrophy.     

Selective adsorption of modified nucleoside cancer biomarkers by hybrid molecularly imprinted adsorbents

Modified adenosine nucleosides have been proposed to be potential DNA‐based biomarkers for early diagnosis of tumor and a promising tool for the development of noninvasive prediction systems. However, the low concentration of modified adenosine nucleosides in physiological fluids makes them challenging for both quantitative and qualitative determination. Therefore, materials, which are potentially useful for selective adsorption of nucleobase‐containing compounds, were obtained. To obtain the adsorbents, the silica gel particles were coated layer‐by‐layer with films of the polymers with different combinations of polymers containing thymine groups. Next, the microspheres were irradiated with UV light in the presence of 2’‐deoxyadenosine or 5’‐deoxy‐5’‐(methylthio)adenosine, as template molecules, which resulted in the photodimerization of thymine moieties and molecular imprinting of adsorbed modified adenosine compounds. The selectivity of the adsorption was significantly enhanced by the photoimprinting process. Eventually, the imprinted particles have shown an improved ability to recognize mainly 2’‐deoxyadenosine and 5’‐deoxy‐5’‐(methylthio)adenosine molecules. The best performing adsorbent was obtained using modified natural polysaccharides. The studied materials could serve as promising adsorbents of biomarkers for tumor diagnostics.     

Spin Self‐Assembled Clay Nanocomposite Passivation Layers Made from a Photocrosslinkable Poly(vinyl alcohol) and Na+‐Montmorillonite Enhance the Environmental Stability of Organic Thin‐Film Transistors

We investigated the effects of the multilayer polymer‐clay nanohybrid passivation films on the stability of pentacene organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) exposed to air and UV irradiation. Well‐ordered multilayer films were deposited by the spin‐assisted layer‐by‐layer assembly method using photocrosslinkable poly(vinyl alcohol) with the N‐methyl‐4(4′‐formylstyryl)pyridinium methosulfate acetal group (SbQ‐PVA) and Na⁺‐montmorillonite in a water‐based solution process. When photocrosslinked, these SbQ‐PVA/clay multilayers were found to serve as excellent barriers to O₂ and UV‐light. Moreover, when used as passivation layers, they enhanced the stability of pentacene OTFT devices exposed to air and UV radiation.     

Mesophilic Acidogenesis of Food Waste-Recycling Wastewater: Effects of Hydraulic Retention Time,pH, and Temperature

The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT), pH, and operating temperature (T _OP) on the degradation of food waste-recycling wastewater (FRW) were investigated in laboratory-scale hydrolysis/acidogenesis reactors. Response surface analysis was used to approximate the production of volatile organic acids and degradation of volatile suspended solids (VSS), carbohydrate, protein, and lipid with regard to the independent variables (1?≤?HRT?≤?3 days, 4?≤?pH?≤?6, 25?≤?T _OP?≤?45 °C). Partial cubic models adequately approximated the corresponding response surfaces at α?<?5 %. The physiological conditions for maximum acidification (0.4 g TVFA?+?EtOH/g VS_added) and the maximal degradation of VSS (47.5 %), carbohydrate (92.0 %), protein (17.7 %), and lipid (73.7 %) were different. Analysis of variance suggested that pH had a great effect on the responses in most cases, while T _OP and HRT, and their interaction, were significant in some cases. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that Sporanaerobacter acetigenes, Lactobacillus sp., and Eubacterium pyruvivorans-like microorganisms might be main contributors to the hydrolysis and acidogenesis of FRW. Biochemical methane potential test confirmed higher methane yield (538.2 mL CH₄/g VS_added) from an acidogenic effluent than from raw FRW.     

Preparation of ureido group bearing polymers and their upper critical solution temperature in water

Poly(2‐ureidoethylmethacrylate) (PUEM_n) was synthesized via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) radical polymerization and following polymer reaction. We prepared two PUEM_n samples with different degrees of polymerization (n = 100 and 49). The polymers exhibited upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) solution. The phase separation temperature (T_p) in PBS can be controlled ranging from 17 to 55 °C by changing molecular weight of the polymer, polymer concentration, and adding NaCl concentration. The polymers in PBS formed coacervate drops by liquid–liquid phase separations below T_p. Results of the dielectric relaxation measurement, the hydration number per monomeric unit was 5 above T_p. Based on a fluorescence study, the polymer formed slightly hydrophobic environments below T_p. The liquid–liquid phase separation was occurred presumably because of weak hydrophobic interactions and intermolecularly hydrogen bonding interactions between the pendant ureido groups. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2845–2854     

Efficient method for large-scale preparation of two components H and I of Sg-6 saponins from whole seeds of wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.)

New saponin components, Sg-6 saponins, have been recently reported from the seeds of wild soybean (Glycine soja) which may have specific health benefits. To evaluate the possible health benefits, a large amount of Sg-6 saponins are needed, but general group A acetyl saponins and new Sg-6 saponins are eluted in overlapping peaks by ordinal preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and/or open column methods. A new method is proposed in this report. This method includes (1) deacetylation of group A acetyl saponins in alkali condition with KOH, (2) precipitation of Sg-6 saponins in acid condition with HCl, (3) recovery of Sg-6 saponins with aqueous methanol from the precipitate, and (4) elution of Sg-6 saponins by preparative reverse-phase open column. With this method, from 450?g of wild soybean whole seed powder, about 1?g of Sg-6 saponins (mixture of six components) was clearly separated from other saponins with 61% recovery.