Synthesis of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate functionalized 1,4-polyisoprene, from natural rubber and synthetic 1,4-polyisoprene

N,N-Diethyldithiocarbamate functionnalized 1,4-polyisoprenes were prepared from 1,4-polyisoprenes (natural or synthetic). The syntheses were performed by nucleophilic addition of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate salts upon oxirane rings of epoxidized units according to a SN2 mechanism with ring opening. Studies on model molecules of epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene units (1,2-epoxy-1-methylcyclohexane and 4,5-epoxy-4-methyloctane) were previously achieved to develop the procedure. The best yields were obtained at low temperature in polar medium, and more especially in water with sodium N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDT-Na) as reagent. A diastereospecific addition was noted when reaction was performed in water with DEDT-Na. Afterwards, the developed procedure was successfully generalized to epoxidized synthetic polyisoprenes and epoxidized natural rubber (in THF, then in latex medium). Excellent results were obtained in latex medium with epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) latices. As with the models, a diastereospecific addition of sodium N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate trihydrate onto epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene units of ENR was observed at the condition to bring the latex medium to pH 8 before introduction of DEDT-Na. Influence of temperature, drc, and DEDT-Na concentration were successively examined to determine the best conditions of the addition on ENR latices.     

DNA-templated self-assembly of protein and nanoparticle linear arrays

Self-assembling DNA tiling lattices represent a versatile system for nanoscale construction. Self-assembled DNA arrays provide an excellent template for spatially positioning other molecules with increased relative precision and programmability. Here we report an experiment using a linear array of DNA triple crossover tiles to controllably template the self-assembly of single-layer or double-layer linear arrays of streptavidin molecules and streptavidin-conjugated nanogold particles through biotin-streptavidin interaction. The organization of streptavidin and its conjugated gold nanoparticles into periodic arrays was visualized by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.     

A Theoretical Study of Complex Formation between Formaldehyde and Lithium

Ab initio SCF and CI calculations on the cationic and neutral complexes of formaldehyde and lithium are reported. For the cationic complex CH₂O/Li⁺, the stabilization energy of 41.7 kcal/mol obtained from the SCF calculation increases to 51.6 kcal/mol if a configuration interaction is introduced. For the neutral complex CH₂O^?/Li⁺, the C_2v-conformer of the ²A₁-state with the equilibrium bond distances of d(C? O) = 1.23 Å and d (O? Li) = 1.90 Å is calculated to be more stable than the ₂B₁-state with d (C? O) = 1.34 Å, and d (O? Li) = 1.65 Å. Charge transfer and polarization effects upon complex formation are discussed.     

Determination of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in environmental waters by derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry using flow injection on-line preconcentration with double-microcolumn adsorption

The species of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples were determined by flow injection on-line preconcentration and separation on two-microcolumn system-derivative flame atomic absorption spectrometry during a collaborative analysis for certification. The Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in water samples were retained on two microcolumns with ion exchange resin and were eluted directly to nebulizer by 15% HNO³ and 8% NH⁴NO³, respectively. The characteristic concentration (at the sensitivity grade of 2 mV min^?1 for 1 min of preconcentration time) for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0.130 and 0.0985 μg l^?1, in the order which were 332- and 431-fold better than those of FAAS, and 45- and 47-fold better than those of FI-FAAS, respectively. The relative standard deviations were 3.27% and 3.66% with corresponding detection limits (3σ) of 0.244 and 0.235 μg l^?1, respectively. The linear ranges of determinations for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were 0～100 μgm l^?1 with correlation coefficients of 0.9984 to 0.9996. The satisfactory recovery of 94.4%～106% for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) could be obtained from water samples.     

Redox‐responsive core cross‐linked micelles of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(furfuryl methacrylate) by Diels‐Alder reaction for doxorubicin release

Redox‐responsive core cross‐linked (CCL) micelles of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (PEO‐b‐PFMA) block copolymers were prepared by the Diels‐Alder click‐type reaction. First, the PEO‐b‐PFMA amphiphilic block copolymer was synthesized by the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The hydrophobic blocks of PFMA were employed to encapsulate the doxorubicin (DOX) drug, and they were cross‐linked using dithiobismaleimidoethane at 60 °C without any catalyst. Under physiological circumstance, the CCL micelles demonstrated the enhanced structural stability of the micelles, whereas dissociation of the micelles took place rapidly through the breaking of disulfide bonds in the cross‐linking linkages under reduction environment. The core‐cross‐linked micelles showed fine spherical distribution with hydrodynamic diameter of 68 ± 2.9  nm. The in vitro drug release profiles presented a slight release of DOX at pH 7.4, while a significant release of DOX was observed at pH 5.0 in the presence of 1,4‐dithiothreitol. MTT assays demonstrated that the block copolymer did not have any practically cytotoxicity against the normal HEK293 cell line while DOX‐loaded CCL micelles exhibited a high antitumor activity towards HepG2 cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3741–3750     

Rotational constants of malonaldehyde and isotopic species derived from ab initio results

A quantum mechanical treatment based on ab initio results for the 21-dimensional potential energy surface of malonaldehyde is extended to yield the rotational constants of the lowest two states of the hydrogen transfer motion. The approximate separation of rotation from internal motion by an Eckart type transformation allows one to use a restricted basis set involving not more than one quantum of excitation for the 20 small vibrations. The results agree with experiment on the apparent structural effects of tunnelling excitation and their dependence on isotopic substitution. In the case of asymmetrically substituted species, the extent of localization confirms qualitative estimates from observation. The second moments derived from the rotational constants indicate that the molecular extension is underestimated in the O···O direction and overestimated perpendicular to this direction within the molecular plane. The agreement with experiment is shown to improve significantly by correcting the equilibrium geometry but only marginally by varying further properties of the minimum energy path.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study on graphene-nanoribbon-resonators tuned by adjusting axial strain

A tunable graphene-nanoribbon (GNR)-resonator was investigated via classical molecular dynamics simulations. Resonance frequencies increased with increasing externally applied gate-force and axial-strain, and could be tuned above several hundred GHz. Tunable resonance frequencies achieved from the gate force were higher than those achieved from the axial-strain. The operating frequencies of GNR-resonators without axial-strain or with small axial-strains were most widely tuned by the gate, and almost linearly increased with increasing mean deflection. As the axial strain increased, the tunable ranges of the GNR-resonators were exponentially decreased, although the operating frequencies increased. GNR-resonators without axial-strain could be applied to wide-range-tuners, whereas GNR-resonators with high axial-strain could be applied to high-frequency-fine-tuners.     

Oliveridepsidones A–D,antioxidant depsidones from Garcinia oliveri

Four new prenylated depsidones, oliveridepsidones A–D, were isolated from the bark of Garcinia oliveri collected in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated using mainly NMR techniques (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC and NOE experiments). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.