One-pot synthesis of β-amino acid derivatives via addition of bis(O-silyl) ketene acetals on iminium salts

We report here our findings on a new and highly efficient strategy for the synthesis of β-amino acids involving the addition of bis(O-silyl) ketene acetals on Mannich type iminium electrophiles.     

SU-8 as a structural material for labs-on-chips and microelectromechanical systems

Since its introduction in the nineties, the negative resist SU-8 has been increasingly used in micro- and nanotechnologies. SU-8 has made the fabrication of high-aspect ratio structures accessible to labs with no high-end facilities such as X-ray lithography systems or deep reactive ion etching systems. These low-cost techniques have been applied not only in the fabrication of metallic parts or molds, but also in numerous other micromachining processes. Its ease of use has made SU-8 to be used in many applications, even when high-aspect ratios are not required. Beyond these pattern transfer applications, SU-8 has been used directly as a structural material for microelectromechanical systems and microfluidics due to its properties such as its excellent chemical resistance or the low Young modulus. In contrast to conventional resists, which are used temporally, SU-8 has been used as a permanent building material to fabricate microcomponents such as cantilevers, membranes, and microchannels. SU-8-based techniques have led to new low-temperature processes suitable for the fabrication of a wide range of objects, from the single component to the complete lab-on-chip. First, this article aims to review the different techniques and provides guidelines to the use of SU-8 as a structural material. Second, practical examples from our respective labs are presented.     

Carboxylic acid functional group analysis using constant neutral loss scanning-mass spectrometry

The present study describes the development of a new analytical technique for the functional group determination of the carboxylic moiety using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry (APCI-MS/MS) operated in the constant neutral loss scanning (CNLS) mode. Carboxylic groups were first derivatized into their corresponding methyl esters by reacting with BF₃/methanol mix and the reaction mixture was then directly injected into the APCI chamber. The loss of methanol (m/z = 32 amu) resulting from the fragmentation of the protonated methyl esters was then monitored. Applying this method together with a statistical approach to reference mixtures containing 31 different carboxylic acids at randomly calculated concentrations demonstrated its suitability for quantitative functional group measurements with relative standard deviations below 15% and a detection limit of 0.005 mmol L⁻¹. Its applicability to environmental matrices was also shown through the determination of carboxylic acid concentrations inside atmospheric aerosol samples. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that the tandem mass spectrometry was successfully applied to functional group analysis, offering great perspectives in the characterization of complex mixtures which are prevailing in the field of environmental analysis as well as in the understanding of the chemical processes occurring in these matrices.     

From Lignin‐derived Aromatic Compounds to Novel Biobased Polymers

Nowadays, the synthesis of (semi)aromatic polymers from lignin derivatives is of major interest, as aromatic compounds are key intermediates in the manufacture of polymers and lignin is the main source of aromatic biobased substrates. Phenols with a variety of chemical structures can be obtained from lignin deconstruction; among them, vanillin and ferulic acid are the main ones. Depending on the phenol substrates, different chemical modifications and polymerization pathways are developed, leading to (semi)aromatic polymers covering a wide range of thermomechanical properties. This review discusses the synthesis and properties of thermosets (vinyl ester resins, cyanate ester, epoxy, and benzoxazine resins) and thermoplastic polymers (polyesters, polyanhydrides, Schiff base polymers, polyacetals, polyoxalates, polycarbonates, acrylate polymers) prepared from vanillin, ferulic acid, guaiacol, syringaldehyde, or 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid.

     

Flash hydrolysis deinking of laser print using degradable toner resin

The choice of vinyl polymers as the plastic matrix for the pigment in xerographic toner did not anticipate the deinking thrust which has swept the paper industry. The hydrolytic stability of the carbon-carbon bond in vinyl and diene copolymers has prevented the use of a plastic degradation strategy for toner removal. New toner resins based on alkali degradable plastics have been shown to allow up to 97% toner removal. Based on polyimide and polyesterimide toners (either magnetic or non-magnetic) developed by Xerox, this study uses flash hydrolysis in the presence of 0.5% alkali to repulp. The process operates on 200-300 second batches at 190−210°C. The best results were obtained using alkaline repulping and magnetic deinking coupled with washing. The alkali also inhibits the hydrolytic degradation of cellulose although it negatively impacts the brightness. Thus the use of a polymer resin containing a chemically sensitive function allows conversion of the toner to pigment fragments and water soluble oligomers. The former is best separated by magnetic deinking while the latter is removed by washing.     

Regiospecific synthesis,structure and electron ionization mass spectra of 1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones containing the acridine skeleton

The synthesis of regioisomeric 3‐alkyl(aryl)‐2‐(acridin‐9′‐yl)imino‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones ( 8b‐i ) and 2‐alkyl(aryl)imino‐3‐(acridin‐9′‐yl)‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐ones ( 11a‐i ) was performed by the reaction of 3‐(acridin‐9‐yl)‐1‐alkyl(aryl)thioureas 5a‐i with methyl bromoacetate and bromoacetyl bromide, respectively, via the corresponding isothiourea hydrobromides with excellent regioselectivity. The structure, NMR spectra and mass spectrometric behavior of the resulting compounds are discussed.     

Metaboliten der 1,5-Dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]chinazolin-2(3H)-one. Synthese und Reaktionen einiger 1,5-Dihydro-3-hydroxyimidazo[2,1-b]chinazolin-2(3H)-one

Metabolites of 1,5-Dihydroimidazo[2,1-b ]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones. Preparation and Reactions of Some 1,5-Dihydro-3-hydroxyimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones Hydroxylated 1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones 2–4 and 6 were isolated as metabolites of imidazoquinazolinones 1a and 1b , respectively. The synthesis of 1,5-dihydro-3-hydroxy-3-methylimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-2(3H)-ones 3 , 4 , and 6 , and the preparation of some derivatives thereof is described.     

Synthesis of 2‐(Quinoxalin‐2‐ylamino‐benzotriazolyl) Pentanedioic Derivatives as Potential Anti‐Folate Agents

Anti‐folate agents had a significant impact on therapeutic treatment plans for diseases such as cancer, and bacterial and parasitic infections, notably malaria. Quinoxaline derivatives showed in vitro anticancer activity and were able to inhibit both the dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase. Here, we decided to combine the chemical properties of quinoxalines and quinoxaline 1,4‐dioxides with those of benzotriazole nucleus with the aim to evaluate the resulting biological properties. Two main new series, including more than 60 compounds, were prepared. In the first one, the benzotriazole moiety was linked through the nitrogen atoms 1, 2, or 3, to a glutaric acid substituent to simulate a glutamic moiety. In the second series, the glutaric acid was substituted with acetic acid moiety to evaluate the effects of steric hindrance. Here, we describe the multistep chemical processes to obtain all titled quinoxalines starting from commercially available diamines. The classical oxidation of selected quinoxalines was unsuccessful, and we have come to an independent synthetic pathway to obtain new derivatives linked to the benzotriazole moieties starting from synthons bearing N‐oxide functionality.