Modeling the free radical polymerization of acrylates

Acrylates have gained importance because of their ease of conversion to high‐molecular‐weight polymers and their broad industrial use. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a well‐known monomer for free radical polymerization, but its α‐methyl substituent restricts the chemical modification of the monomer and therefore the properties of the resulting polymer. The presence of a heteroatom in the methyl group is known to increase the polymerizability of MMA. Methyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate (MHMA), methyl α‐methoxymethylacrylate (MC₁MA), methyl α‐acetoxymethylacrylate (MAcMA) show even better conversions to high‐molecular‐weight polymers than MMA. In contrast, the polymerization rate is known to decrease as the methyl group is replaced by ethyl in ethyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate (EHMA) and t‐butyl in t‐butyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylate (TBHMA). In this study, quantum mechanical tools (B3LYP/6‐31G*) have been used in order to understand the mechanistic behavior of the free radical polymerization reactions of acrylates. The polymerization rates of MMA, MHMA, MC₁MA, MAcMA, EHMA, TBHMA, MC₁AN (α‐methoxymethyl acrylonitrile), and MC₁AA (α‐methoxymethyl acrylic acid) have been evaluated and rationalized. Simple monomers such as allyl alcohol (AA) and allyl chloride (AC) have also been modeled for comparative purposes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Synthesis of Smart Food Packaging from Poly (Gelatin-co-Dimethyl Acrylamide) / Citric Acid-Red Apple peel Extract

ABSTRACT

A novel and smart hydrogel was synthesized from N, N dimethyl acrylamide (DMAAm), gelatin, and citric acid (CA) red apple peel extract (RApE) to be utilized as a multi-functional food packaging material. The p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was prepared through a redox polymerization technique in film form in petri dishes. Mechanical and water resistance of the p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was improved by the addition of citric acid and N, N, methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross linker. The characterization of p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermo gravimetric analyzer (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic and mechanical analyzer (DMA). FT-IR revealed the existence of bonding interactions between the functional group of RApE and gelatin, carbonyl groups of DMAAm, and carboxylic acid groups of CA. TGA results found that p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was stable up to 565°C. It was observed that RApE improved thermal stability and decreased the elasticity of the p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE. When tested against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was observed to have antimicrobial activity. Total antioxidant and anthocyanin effect of p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was analyzed. Additionally, to monitor the color changes of p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE, it was studied at different pH values. Furthermore, p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE was applied to real samples such as whole pasteurized milk and cheese. It was found to have a good color indicator and antimicrobial activity for pasteurized whole milk and cheese. It was concluded that p(Gelatin-co-DMAAm)/CA-RApE is a very good candidate to be used in food packaging and biomedical materials, along with other potential applications.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel 4-nitro-2-(octyloxy)phenoxy substituted symmetrical and unsymmetrical Zn(II), Co(II) and Lu(III) phthalocyanines

Compounds 3 and 4 have been prepared by the reaction of 4-nitrocatechol 1 and 4-nitrophthalonitrile 2 by a common method, aromatic nucleophilic subtitution of the nitro group in 4-nitrophthalonitrile. Starting from 4 and 1-bromooctane, their alkylation reaction gave compound 5. Zn(II) 8, Co(II) 9 and Lu(III) 10 complexes were synthesized from the corresponding metal salts by the tetramerization of compound 5. Compound 7 was prepared by the statistical condensation of 5 and 4,5-bis(hexylthio)phthalonitrile 6 with CoCl₂ · 6H₂O in dry dimethylformamide. The new compounds were characterized by FT-IR, UV/Vis, NMR and mass spectra. The electrochemical properties of the complexes were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry in non-aqueous medium. The effect of temperature on the dc conductivity and the impedance spectra of spin coated film of the compounds was investigated at temperatures between 295 and 433 K and in the frequency range 40–10⁵ Hz. Thermally activated conductivity dependence on temperature was observed for all compounds.     

Substituent effects to the electrochromic behaviors of electropolymerized metallophthalocyanine thin films

Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) (M = 2H⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Cu²⁺) bearing diethylaminophenoxy and chloro substituents at the peripheral positions (MPc-tdea-tCl) were coated on the working electrodes with the electropolymerization and tested as electrochromic materials. Altering the metal center of MPcs affected the redox activities of MPc-tdea-tCl films. All electropolymerized MPc-tdea-tCl films behaved as conductive and redox active films in different electrolyte systems. Electrochromic properties of MPc-tdea-tCl films were investigated via the voltammetric, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ spectroelectrocolorimetric measurements. H ₂ Pc-tdea-tCl film did not give any electrochromic response, while ZnPc-tdea-tCl and CuPc-tdea-tCl films behave as a reasonable electrochromic material. Distinctive color changes with short response times, high optical contrast, and better optical and coulombic stabilities were only observed with CoPc-tdea-tCl film.     

Functionalization and crosslinking reactions of ethyl-α-hydroxymethylacrylate

Ethyl-α-hydroxymethylacrylate (EHMA) was esterified with hexanoyl chloride in 80% yield. The homopolymer of the hexanoate ester was found to be a glassy thermoplastic and soluble polymer. Copolymerization of the hexanoate ester with EHMA in varying ratios gave polymers that were thermoplastic and more soluble as a result of internal lubrication of the long alkyl pendant groups. Copolymers with styrene were synthesized with relatively high conversion. Reaction of EHMA with adipoyl chloride gave a bis-ester which served as crosslinking agent when copolymerized with different monomers including EHMA itself. In a separate synthesis EHMA was reacted with toluenediisocyanate (TDI). In the absence of catalyst a monourethane was formed. This monomer still contains one isocyanate function and is capable of further reactions subsequent to double bond addition polymerization. This reaction was also carried out on poly-EHMA, with or without catalyst. The products were the mono and the crosslinked bisurethanes as expected. Thus, acyl chlorides and isocyanates were found to be excellent reagents for derivatization of EHMA. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and spectrophotometric study of BODIPY appended crown ether sensor for ion detection

A novel fluoroionophore compound was synthesized from a boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorophore and 4′-formylbenzo-15-crown-5 ionophore groups. Photophysical properties of the BODIPY-crown compound were studied with UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The effect of metalic cations (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Ba²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺) on the absorption and fluorescence spectra of compound 2 was investigated. Blue shifts were detected in UV–Vis spectra upon addition of some metal ions (Al³⁺ > Fe³⁺ > Na⁺). At the same time, the emission intensity of this complex increased due to binding of Na⁺ ion to the benzo crown cavity. Additionally, a decrease in the intensity of the 630 nm emission peak and an increase in the intensity of the 570 nm emission peak was observed in the fluorescence emission spectra following addition of Al³⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions.     

Synthesis and photopolymerizations of first monomers with phosphonate and bisphosphonate or phosphonic and bisphosphonic acid functionalities for potential dental applications

The first monomers containing both phosphonate and bisphosphonate (M1) or phosphonic and bisphosphonic acid (M2) functionalities are synthesized, aiming to improve binding abilities of self-etching adhesive systems and composites: An amine having both phosphonate and bisphosphonate functionalities is prepared via Michael addition reaction between diethyl (6-aminohexyl)phosphonate and tetraethyl vinylidene bisphosphonate, its reaction with 2-isocyanatoethyl methacrylate gives M1 which is converted to M2 by selective dealkylation of the phosphonate/bisphosphonate ester groups. Their copolymerization with commercial dental monomers (bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) investigated by photo-differential scanning calorimetry shows adequate photopolymerization rate and conversion. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses of M2-treated hydroxyapatite particles show formation of stable M2-calcium salts. These monomers are assessed to be not toxic according to MTT standards by in vitro cytotoxicity studies with NIH 3T3, U2OS, and Saos-2 cells. All these properties make these monomers potential candidates as biocompatible components for dental adhesives and composites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2739–2751     

An LC Method for the Determination of Bupropion and Its Main Metabolite,Hydroxybupropion in Human Plasma

A new LC method has been developed and validated for the direct determination of bupropion and its main metabolite, hydroxybupropion in human plasma. Plasma samples were analyzed after a simple, one step protein precipitation with trichloroacetic acid using a C₈ column and mobile phase, consisting of methanol/acetonitrile/phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 3.0) (40:10:50, v/v/v) and 20 mM 1-heptane sulfonic acid sodium salt with carbamazepine as the internal standard. UV detection was performed at 214 and 254 nm. The method was validated over the concentration range of 60–2,400 and 150–4,700 ng mL⁻¹ for bupropion and hydroxybupropion, respectively. The intra- and inter-day assay variability was less than 15% for the two analytes. Limit of detection values were 24.8 and 63.4 ng mL⁻¹ for bupropion and hydroxybupropion, respectively. The method developed was applied to quantification of bupropion and hydroxybupropion in human plasma.

     

Ti (IV) attached‐phosphonic acid functionalized capillary monolith as a stationary phase for in‐syringe‐type fast and robust enrichment of phosphopeptides

In this study, poly(vinylphosphonic acid‐co‐ethylene dimethacrylate), poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) capillary monolith was synthesized as a starting material for obtaining a stationary phase for microscale enrichment of phosphopeptides. The chelation of active phosphonate groups with Ti (IV) ions gave a macroporous monolithic column with a mean pore size of 5.4 μm. The phosphopeptides from different sources were enriched on Ti (IV)‐attached poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith using a syringe‐pump. The monolithic capillary columns exhibited highly sensitive/selective enrichment performance with phosphoprotein concentrations as low as 1.0 fmol/mL. Six different phosphopeptides were detected with high intensity by the treatment of β‐casein digest with the concentration of 1.0 fmol/mL, using Ti (IV)@poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith. Highly selective enrichment of phosphopeptides was also successfully carried out even at trace amounts, in a complex mixture of digested proteins (molar ratio of β‐casein to bovine serum albumin, 1:1500) and three phosphopeptides were successfully detected. Four highly intense signals of phosphopeptides in human serum were also observed with high signal‐to‐noise ratio and a clear background after enrichment with Ti (IV)@poly(VPA‐co‐EDMA) monolith. It was concluded that the capillary microextraction system enabled fast, efficient and robust enrichment of phosphopeptides from microscale complex samples. The whole enrichment process was completed within 20 min, which was shorter than in the previously reported studies.