Calcium-based hydrated minerals: Promising halogen-free flame retardant and fire resistant additives for polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers

In this study, we evaluated the potential flame retardant effect of calcium-based hydrated minerals, such as hydrated lime, partially and completely hydrated dolomitic limes in polyethylene (MDPE) and ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) and compared to that obtained with magnesium di-hydroxide (MDH). The most significant flame retardant effects, observed using the mass loss calorimeter test, indicated that Ca-based MDPE composites showed similar peak Heat Release Rate (pHRR) level to that obtained with MDH composite while the pHRR was lower for Ca-based fillers in EVA compositions. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) data, combined with thermal analysis results, indicated that the calcium di-hydroxide plays a role in the formation of an intumescent cohesive residue during the combustion. Indeed, Ca(OH)₂ reacts with CO₂ formed during the thermal degradation of the polymer to generate CaCO₃ (calcium carbonate) that contributes to the enhancement of the mechanical resistance of the residue.     

Attraction behaviour of Anagrus nilaparvatae to remote lemongrass (Cymbopogon distans) oil and its volatile compounds

Utilisation of Anagrus nilaparvatae is a promising and effective method for planthoppers manipulation. Twenty-seven components of remote lemongrass (Cymbopogon distans) oil were identified by GC/MS and nine volatiles were selected for behavioural experiments. In this study, we noted that the remote lemongrass oil was attractive to female A. nilaparvatae at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mg/L. α-Pinene, β-pinene, eucalyptol, carveol and D-carvone attracted female wasps in the dose-dependent bioassays. Blend 1 (a mixture of eucalyptol, D-carvone, carveol, α-pinene, and β-pinene with ratios of remote lemongrass oil volatiles of 625:80:11:5:3) attracted female wasps at 10 mg/L, while blend 2 (a mixture of the same five volatiles at the same loading ratio) attracted them at 0.1 and 1 mg/L. These results suggested that plant essential oils could be attractants for natural enemies to control pests. The ratios of volatiles in the mixtures affect the attractiveness of the synthetic mixtures.     

Disappearing Polymorphs in Metal–Organic Framework Chemistry: Unexpected Stabilization of a Layered Polymorph over an Interpenetrated Three-Dimensional Structure in Mercury Imidazolate

The “disappearing polymorph” phenomenon is well established in organic solids, and has had a profound effect in pharmaceutical materials science. The first example of this effect in metal-containing systems in general, and in coordination-network solids in particular, is here reported. Specifically, attempts to mechanochemically synthesize a known interpenetrated diamondoid (dia) mercury(II) imidazolate metal–organic framework (MOF) yielded a novel, more stable polymorph based on square-grid (sql) layers. Simultaneously, the dia-form was found to be highly elusive, observed only as a short-lived intermediate in monitoring solvent-free synthesis and not at all from solution. The destabilization of a dense dia-framework relative to a lower dimensionality one is in contrast to the behavior of other imidazolate MOFs, with periodic density functional theory (DFT) calculations showing that it arises from weak interactions, including structure-stabilizing agostic C−H⋅⋅⋅Hg contacts. While providing a new link between MOFs and crystal engineering of organic solids, these findings highlight a possible role for agostic interactions in directing topology and stability of MOF polymorphs.     

Cyclodesulfurization of Substituted Thiosemicarbazides into 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles via Hydrazonoyl Chlorides

Abstract

The reaction of thiosemicarbazides 1a–h with hydrazonoyl chlorides 2a–g at ambient temperature, in the presence of triethylamine yielded, in each case, two products. The structure of these compounds was confirmed as 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 14a–h and hydrazonothioates 15a–g. The structure of 15b was confirmed through single crystal X-ray diffraction. A mechanism was proposed for this cyclodesulfurization reaction.     

Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions with Thiazolonylhydrazones: A New Route for the Synthesis of Several New Thienyl- and Furyl-Thiazolonylpyrrolopyrazole Derivatives of Expected Biological Activities

Several new pyrrolopyrazoles were synthesized via the reactions of each of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde thiazolonylhydrazone or 2-furaldehyde thiazolonylhydrazone with N -substituted maleimides followed by partial dehydogenation using bromobenzene and complete aromatization using nitrobenzene. Structures were established on the basis of elemental analyses and spectroscopic data studies.     

Studies on 2-Aminothiophenes: Synthesis,Transformations, and Biological Evaluation of Functionally-Substituted Thiophenes and Their Fused Derivatives

Abstract

Heterocyclic enamines1 reacted with ethyl acetoacetate to afford the corresponding amide derivatives2. Treatment of2 with carbon disulphide yielded the dipotassium salts3which reacted in-situ with a variety of α -haloketones to give the respective substituted thiophenes5,8, and13. The reactivity of the latter products towards various chemical reagents was studied to yield their fused thiophene derivatives7,10,12, and14, respectively. Some representative compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity.     

Chemistry of Phosphorus Ylides. Part 34 Synthesis of Chromenone Phosphanylidene and Cyclobutylidene Derivatives

Abstract

The reaction of nucleophilic phosphacumulene ylides with visnaginone and khellinone afforded the corresponding phosphanylidene and furochromene derivatives. Moreover, pyranochromenes were obtained from the reaction of chromene carbaldehydes with phosphacumulenes. On the other hand, the phosphanylidene-cyclobutylidenes and their dimers were produced from the reaction of furochromene carbaldehydes with the same phosphonium reagents.     

Kinetic Investigation of Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Formation via Perfusion‐Based Frontal Photopolymerization: Influence of Free‐Radical Polymerization Conditions on Frontal Velocity and Swelling Gradients

Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels are extensively used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. The ability to spatially control hydrogel properties is critical for designing scaffolds that direct cell behavior and tissue regeneration. To this end, we have recently developed a polymerization technique, perfusion‐based frontal photopolymerization, to generate tunable gradients in PEG hydrogels. This study explores the effects of polymerization conditions on the velocity of the propagating front and its influence on gradients in hydrogel swelling. Alterations in photoinitiator perfusion rate result in the largest variations in frontal velocity and in the magnitude of the swelling gradient among all polymerization conditions investigated.

     

Application of New Modified Poly(ethylene Oxide)-Block-Poly(propylene oxide)-Block-Poly(ethylene oxide) Copolymers as Demulsifier for Petroleum Crude Oil Emulsion

Water soluble nonionic amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and hydrophobic poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) were prepared. Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymers, PEG-PPG-PEG, were prepared in the normal condition. The chemical composition and molecular weights of the prepared copolymers were determined from ¹H NMR and GPC techniques. The surface properties of the prepared surfactants were determined by measuring the surface tension at different temperatures. The prepared nonionic surfactants were evaluated as demulsifiers for water in crude-oil emulsions that were pronounced at different ratios of crude oil: water at 318 K and 333 K. The experimental results showed that the dehydration rate of the prepared demulsifiers reached 100% based on demulsifier chemical compositions and concentrations.