Preparation of a new hydrophilic copolymer from a polylactone and the structure analyses

A new hydrophilic copolymer having three kinds of hydroxyl groups, i.e. primary OH on -hydroxy allyl alcohol component, secondary OH on cyclic hemiacetal component and tertiary OH on -hydroxy acrylate component, was prepared by reducing a ‘polylactone’, poly(1-oxa-2-oxobutane-1,4:3,3-tetrayl), with NaBH₄ in mixed solvents containing an alcohol. The structural analyses were performed by the solution ¹H NMR and the solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopies of the reduced samples. The composition of the three components turned out to be variable to the alcohol species used for the mixed solvent.     

Synthesis of end‐functionalized polyethers by phosphazene base‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of 1,2‐butylene oxide and glycidyl ether

For the living ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxy monomers, the catalytic activity of organic superbases, tert‐butylimino‐tris(dimethylamino)phosphorane, 1‐tert‐butyl‐2,2,4,4,4‐pentakis(dimethylamino)‐2Λ⁵,4Λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene), 2,8,9‐triisobutyl‐2,5,8,9‐tetraaza‐1‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.3]undecane, and 1‐tert‐butyl‐4,4,4‐tris(dimethylamino)‐2,2‐bis[tris(dimethylamino)phosphoranylidenamino]‐2Λ⁵,4Λ⁵‐catenadi(phosphazene) (t‐Bu‐P₄), was confirmed. Among these superbases, only t‐Bu‐P₄ showed catalytic activity for the ROP of 1,2‐butylene oxide (BO) to afford poly(1,2‐butylene oxide) (PBO) with predicted molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The results of the kinetic, post‐polymerization experiments, and MALDI‐TOF MS measurement revealed that the t‐Bu‐P₄‐catalyzed ROP of BO proceeded in a living manner in which the alcohol acted as the initiator. This alcohol/t‐Bu‐P₄ system was applicable to the glycidol derivatives, such as benzyl glycidyl ether (BnGE) and t‐butyl glycidyl ether, to afford well‐defined protected polyglycidols. The α‐functionalized polyethers could be obtained using different functionalized initiators, such as 4‐vinylbenzyl alcohol, 5‐hexen‐1‐ol, and 6‐azide‐1‐hexanol. In addition, the well‐defined cyclic‐PBO and PBnGE were successfully synthesized using the combination of t‐Bu‐P₄‐catalyzed ROP and click cyclization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Syntheses of thiopyrone and pyrone derivatives by photocyclization reaction of 3‐aryl‐2‐( Benzothien‐3‐yl)propenoic acids

Naphtho[1,2‐b][1]benzothiophene‐6‐carboxylic acids, 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]thiopyran‐6‐ones and 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]pyran‐6‐ones were synthesized in one step by the photocyclization reaction of 3‐aryl‐2‐([1]benzothien‐3‐yl)propenoic acids. The photocyclization reaction did not occur when the 3‐aryl group contained the electron‐withdrawing nitro group. The assignment of the ¹H and ¹³C nmr spectra of 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]thiopyran‐6‐one and 6H‐benzo[b]naphtho[2,3‐d]pyran‐6‐one by two‐dimensional nmr methods is described. The difference between the chemical shift values of H12 for these two compounds is attributed to different molecular geometries.     

CAST/CNMR: highly accurate C NMR chemical shift prediction system considering stereochemistry

Accurate, practical prediction of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts has been achieved with a new system, CAST/CNMR, taking account of stereochemistry. The CAST/CNMR system has solved the critical problem of the accurate distinction of differences and similarities in stereochemical structures around a specific carbon, which has not yet been achieved by any other database-oriented system for prediction of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts. CAST/CNMR uses a three-dimensional structural database together with a ¹³C NMR spectral database. Absolute/relative configurational and conformational structural information are described by the CAST (CAnonical-representation of STereochemistry) coding method. This paper provides an overview of the CAST/CNMR system, and describes its application to two natural products as examples.     

Solvent‐ and counterion‐specific swelling behavior of poly(acrylic acid) gels

The collapse of alkali metal poly(acrylate) (PAAM) gels was investigated for various water/organic solvent mixture systems: methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), 2‐propanol (2PrOH), t‐butanol (tBuOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (AcN), acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dioxane. In order to ascertain the counterion specificity in the swelling behavior, four kinds of alkali metal counterions were used: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺. Remarkable solvent and counterion specificities were observed for every counterion species and every solvent system, respectively. For example, in aqueous EtOH the dielectric constants (D_cr) at which collapse occurred were in the order PAACs < PAALi < PAAK < PAANa. On the other hand, the D_cr at which PAALi gel collapsed increased in the order tBuOH < dioxane < THF < MeOH < 2PrOH < EtOH < acetone < AcN < DMSO, where the D_cr ranged from about 39 to about 67. This was in contrast to our previous observation for a partially quaternized poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) gel, which collapsed in a much narrower D_cr region in similar mixed solvents. The present solvent‐ and counterion‐specific collapses are discussed on the basis of solvent properties such as the dielectric constant and Gutmann's donor number and acceptor number of a pure solvent. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2791–2800, 2000     

Synthesis and Characterization of Aminoporphyrin‐End‐Functionalized Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) with Photodynamic and Thermoresponsive Effects

The novel aminoporphyrin‐end‐functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) polymer H₂N‐TPP‐PNIPAM (TPP=5,10,15,20‐tetraphenyl‐21H,23H‐porphyrin) behaves as a multifunctional platform that displays a photodynamic effect, thermosensitivity, and fluorescence properties. The polymer was designed by using an asymmetrical aminoporphyrin (i.e., H₂N‐TPP‐Cl) as the initiator for the atom‐transfer radical polymerization of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). The polydispersity index (PDI) obtained by gel‐permeation chromatography indicated that the molecular‐weight distribution was narrow (1.09<PDI<1.27). The lower critical solution temperatures of H₂N‐TPP‐PNIPAM showed a decreasing trend as the molecular weight was increased as a result of the incorporation of the porphyrin group at the end of the chain. The fluorescence spectra revealed the luminescent properties of the materials. The results of confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the polymer could enter the cytoplasm through endocytosis. In addition, the multifunctional platform exhibited low toxicity against normal cells (L929) and cancer cells (Hela) and enhanced photodynamic activity towards HeLa cells, without significant necrocytosis towards L929 cells; as a result this material may be useful in the future for practical photodynamic therapy.     

Synthesis and properties of DNA complexes containing 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinoxy (TEMPO) moieties as organic radical battery materials

We report here the first example of organic radical battery with DNA. Though there is a growing interest in DNA/cationic-lipid complexes as promising gene delivery vehicles, few efforts have been focused on the use of such complexes as advanced materials for organic optoelectronic applications. The present article describes how substitution of the sodium counter cation of DNA with cationic amphiphilic lipid(1-4) provided novel DNA-lipid complexes that contain TEMPO radicals, in which the actual mole ratio of phosphate to lipid was 1:0.84 to 1:0.16. All the TEMPO-containing DNA-lipid complexes displayed reversible two-stage charge/discharge processes, the discharge capacities of which were 40.5-60.0 A h kg(-1). In particular, the capacity of a DNA-lipid(3)-based cell reached 60.0 A h kg(-1), which corresponds to 192 % relative to its theoretical value for the single-electron one-stage process, indicating a two-electron process.     

Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Redox‐Neutral Coupling of α‐Trifluoromethylacrylic Acid with Benzamides through Directed C−H Bond Cleavage

A rhodium(III)‐catalyzed redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with bezamides proceeds smoothly accompanied by amide‐directed C?H bond cleavage to produce β‐[2‐(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]‐α‐trifluoromethylpropanoic acid derivatives. One of the products can be transformed to a trifluoromethyl substituted heterocyclic compound. In addition, the redox‐neutral coupling of α‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid with related aromatic substrates possessing a nitrogen‐containing directing group can also be conducted under similar conditions.     

Polyacetylene and Polynorbornene Derivatives Carrying TEMPO. Synthesis and Properties as Organic Radical Battery Materials

Summary: 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidine 1‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐containing N‐propargylamide HCCCH₂NHCO‐4‐TEMPO ( 1 ), propargyl ester HCCCH₂OCO‐4‐TEMPO ( 2 ), phenylacetylene derivative HCCC₆H₃‐3,4‐(CO₂‐4‐TEMPO)₂ ( 3 ), and norbornene diester monomers, NB‐2,3‐exo,exo‐(CH₂OCO‐4‐TEMPO)₂ ( 4 ), NB‐2,3‐endo,exo‐(COO‐4‐TEMPO)₂ ( 5a ), NB‐2,3‐endo,endo‐(COO‐4‐TEMPO)₂ ( 5b ) (NB = norbornene, TEMPO = 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxyl) were synthesized and polymerized with rhodium and ruthenium catalysts. Monomers 2 , 5a , and 5b gave polymers with number‐average molecular weights of 47 000–185 000 in 59–100% yields, while 1 , 3 , and 4 gave polymers insoluble in common organic solvents in 88–100% yields. The capacities of cells fabricated with poly( 1 ), poly( 2 ), and poly( 3 ) were 67, 82, and 23 Ah · kg⁻¹ based on the weight, respectively. The capacity of poly( 5a )‐based cell reached the theoretical value (109 Ah · kg⁻¹) of the polymer.

Charge–discharge curves of poly( 5a ) at a current density of 0.13 mA · cm⁻² (100 mA · g⁻¹_{‐cathode active material}) in the voltage range of 2.5–4.2 V.