Rheological properties of functionalised thermosensitive copolymers for injectable applications in medicine

Functionalised triblock copolymers based on poly((lactic acid)-co-(glycolic acid)) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) further modified with 3-methylenetetrahydrofuran-2,5-dione (itaconic anhydride; ITA) exhibited sol-gel transition induced by increasing temperature. Rheological properties of a series of ITA/PLGA-PEG-PLGA/ITA copolymer concentrations (6?C24 mass %) in deionised Milli-Q water were studied by both the test tube inverting method (TTIM) and rheometer. The gel stiffness increased with the polymer concentration shifting the gel point of the copolymer to the lower temperature. The present study demonstrates that each method describes a sol-gel transition, but the combined method gives comprehensive information about changes in colour, viscosity, elastic and loss moduli. Characterisation of such a gel is necessary for its further use, in order to determine whether the material is appropriate as an injectable biomedical hydrogel.     

Biodegradation of tobacco waste by composting: Genetic identification of nicotine-degrading bacteria and kinetic analysis of transformations in leachate

The tobacco industry produces large quantities of solid and liquid waste. This waste poses a significant environmental problem, as some major components are harmful and toxic. The aim of this work is to isolate and identify the nicotine-degrading microorganisms in the composting of tobacco waste. The bioremediation process for the detoxification of waste was carried out in a column reactor at an airflow-rate of 0.4 L min^?1 kg^?1. The concentrations of nicotine and number of CFU in the samples taken from reactor were monitored over nineteen days. After nineteen days, 89.8 % of nicotine conversion was obtained. A nicotine-degrading bacterium, strain FN, was isolated from the composting mass and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the basis of morphology, 16S rDNA sequence, and the phylogenetic characteristics. To confirm that the isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa FN is the actual nicotine degrader, batch experiments were performed using tobacco leachate. It was confirmed that the strain FN possesses a considerable capacity to degrade nicotine with simultaneous COD removal. The Monod kinetic model for single substrate was applied to obtain the substrate degradation rate and half saturation constant.     

A study of the thermal and light induced spin transition in [FeL2](BF4)2 and [FeL2](ClO4)2 L=2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrazine

The spin crossover compounds [FeL2](BF4)2, L=2,6-di(3-methylpyrazol-1-yl)pyrazine and [FeL2](ClO4)2 have very unusual two stage spin transitions which are initially steep and then become more gradual. A detailed variable temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction study has shown that the course of the spin transition is controlled by an order-disorder transition in the counter anions. The high and low spin states both crystallise in the tetragonal space group I4, the structures of the high and low spin states are presented at 290 and 30 K, respectively. The title compounds are shown to undergo LIESST (Light Induced Excited Spin State Trapping) under irradiation with either red or green laser light with wavelengths of 632.8 and 532.06 nm, respectively, at 30 K. The cell parameters for the tetragonal photo-induced metastable high spin state at this temperature are a= 9.169(6), c= 17.77(1) A for [FeL2](ClO4)2 with an increase in unit cell volume of 21 A3, and a= 9.11(1), c= 17.75(2) A and an increase in volume of 42.8 A3 for [FeL2](BF4)2.     

An Alternative Preparation of 1-(N,N-Dimethylaminomethyl)-1′-(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of AuI and PdII Complexes with this Hybrid Ligand

1-(N,N-Dimethylaminomethyl)-1′-(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene (1) was synthesized in good yield by lithiation of 1-bromo-1′-(diphenylphosphanyl)ferrocene and subsequent reaction with Eschenmoser''s salt (dimethylmethylideneammonium iodide). Making use of an easily accessible, nontoxic starting material, this procedure represents a convenient alternative to the original synthetic protocol based on stepwise lithiation/functionalization of 1,1′-bis(tributylstannyl)ferrocene and reductive amination [M. E. Wright, Organometallics 1990, 9, 853–856]. Compound 1 has typical hybrid-donor properties. When reacted with [AuCl(tht)] (tht=tetrahydrothiophene), it afforded the expected Au^I phosphane complex [AuCl(1-κP)] (2). An attempted removal of the chloride ligand from 2 with AgClO₄ produced an ill-defined material formulated as Au(1)ClO₄. The uncoordinated amine substituent reacted with traces of hydrogen chloride formed by slow decomposition typically occurring in solution. In this manner, complexes [AuCl(Ph₂PfcCH₂NHMe₂)]Cl (3, fc=ferrocene-1,1′-diyl) and [AuCl(Ph₂PfcCH₂NHMe₂)]ClO₄ (4) were isolated from crystallizations experiments with 2 and Au(1)ClO₄, respectively. On a larger scale, complex 3 was prepared easily from 2 and hydrogen chloride. The course of reactions between [PdCl₂(cod)] (cod=cycloocta-1,5-diene) and 1 were found to depend on the ligand-to-metal ratio. Whereas the reaction with two equivalents of 1 afforded bis(phosphane) complex trans-[PdCl₂(1-κP)₂] (5), that of a Pd:P ratio 1:1 produced ligand-bridged dimer [(μ-1)PdCl₂]₂ (6). With hydrogen chloride, complex 6 reacted to afford zwitterionic complex [PdCl₃(1H-κP)] (7), which was also formed when ligand 1 and [PdCl₂(cod)] were allowed to react slowly by liquid-phase diffusion of their chloroform solutions. The compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods (multinuclear NMR and ESI–MS), and the molecular structures of complex 2–4, 6⋅2CHCl₃ and 7⋅1.5CHCl₃ were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

High thermodynamic stability and extraordinary kinetic inertness of copper(II) complexes with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid): example of a rare isomerism between kinetically inert penta- and hexacoordinated copper(II) complexes

In an aqueous solution at room temperature, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H(4)L(1)) and Cu(I) (I) form a pentacoordinated (pc) complex, pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), exhibiting conformation I of the cyclam ring. At high temperature, the complex isomerises to a hexacoordinated isomer, trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-), with a trans-III conformation of the cyclam ring. In pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), four ring nitrogen atoms and one phosphonate oxygen atom are arranged around Cu(I) (I) in a structure that is half-way between a trigonal bipyramid and a tetragonal pyramid, with one phosphonic acid group uncoordinated. In the trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-) isomer, the nitrogen atoms form a plane and the phosphonic acid groups are in a mutually trans configuration. A structurally very similar ligand, 4-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,8-bis(methylphosphonic acid) (H(4)L(2)), forms an analogous pentacoordinated complex, pc-[Cu(L(2))](2-), at room temperature. However, the complex does not isomerise to the octahedral complex analogous to trans-O,O-[Cu(L(1))](2-). Because of the high thermodynamic stability of pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-), (logbeta=25.40(4), 25 degrees C, I=0.1 mol dm(-3) KNO(3)) and the formation of protonated species, Cu(I) (I) is fully complexed in acidic solution (-log [H(+)] approximately 3). Acid-assisted decomplexation of both of the isomers of [Cu(H(2)L(1))] takes place only after protonation of both uncoordinated oxygen atoms of each phosphonate moiety and at least one nitrogen atom of the cycle. The exceptional kinetic inertness of both isomers is illustrated by their half-lives tau(1/2)=19.7 min for pc-[Cu(H(2)L(1))] and tau(1/2) about seven months for trans-O,O-[Cu(H(2)L(1))] for decomplexation in 5 M HClO(4) at 25 degrees C. The mechanism of formation of pc-[Cu(L(1))](2-) is similar to those observed for other macrocyclic complexes.     

A ferrocenyl‐substituted pseudo­titanocene complex

The title compound, (η⁵‐cyclo­penta­dienyl)[(1,2,3,4,5‐η)‐4‐ferro­cenyl‐1,2,5,6‐tetrakis­(tri­methyl­silyl)­cyclo­hexa‐2,4‐dien‐1‐yl]­titanium(II), [TiFe(C₅H₅)₂(C₂₃H₄₂Si₄)] or [Ti{η⁵‐C₆H₂{Fe­(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(η⁵‐C₅H₅)}{Si(CH₃)₃}₄}(η⁵‐C₅H₅)], possesses two directly linked metallocene units that subtend an angle of 52.9 (1)° (defined by the least‐squares planes of the directly connected π‐ligands) associated with the steric requirements of the bulky tri­methyl­silyl substituents. The cyclo­hexa­dienyl ligand adopts an envelope conformation; the perpendicular distance of its η⁵‐plane to the Ti atom is 1.512 (1) Å.     

Study of chemoselective asymmetric hydrogenation of (1-bromo-1-alkenyl)boronic esters with iridium–PˆN complexes

In this paper we report the first chemoselective asymmetric hydrogenation of (1-bromo-1-alkenyl)boronic esters, which constitutes a new route to (α-bromoalkyl)boronic esters. The study demonstrates that excellent chemoselectivities along with full conversions can be obtained for hydrogenation of alkyl substituted derivatives with iridium–PˆN complexes. Moreover, acyclic alkyl derivatives afford (α-bromoalkyl)boronic esters in good enantioselectivities ranging from 64 to 73% ee. A cyclic alkyl derivative was obtained only in a nearly racemic form. The (1-bromo-1-alkenyl)boronic esters appear to be less reactive towards homogenous hydrogenation conditions than their chloro analogues as demonstrated by the higher catalyst loadings required to achieve full conversions for alkyl derivatives and lower conversions observed for the aryl substituted derivatives.     

Automated in-syringe single-drop head-space micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine samples

A novel approach of head-space single-drop micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine is presented. For the first time, the syringe of an automated syringe pump was used as an extraction chamber of adaptable size for a volatile analyte. This approach enabled to apply negative pressure during the enrichment step, which favored the evaporation of the analyte. Placing a slowly spinning magnetic stirring bar inside the syringe, effective syringe cleaning as well as mixing of the sample with buffer solution to suppress the interference of acetic acid was achieved.     

Thermal,morphological, and mechanical properties of ethyl vanillin immobilized in polyvinyl alcohol by electrospinning process

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers with ethyl vanillin as an active compound were prepared using electrospinning technique. The final products of electrospinning process were in the form of nanofibers films. PVA/ethyl vanillin nanofibers, having fibers diameters in the range 100–1700 nm, were successfully electrospun from ethanol/water mixture of PVA and ethyl vanillin. The effects of immobilization process on ethyl vanillin thermal properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of DSC showed significant influence of immobilization process on thermal properties of ethyl vanillin. It was noticed that melting point of immobilized ethyl vanillin was lower (~55 °C) compared to free flavor (~77 °C). Our results showed that films based on PVA/ethyl vanillin nanofibers are mechanically stable.     

Cycloaddition Reactions of Deoxyribosylpropynoates

Pure anomers of either α or β 3-(2-deoxyribofuranosyl)propynoates reacted with the tetramethylcyclobutadiene–aluminum trichloride complex to yield the corresponding diastereoisomeric Dewar benzenes. Thermal- or ultraviolet light–initiated rearrangement gave rise to highly substituted C-aryldeoxyribosides as single anomers. The same compounds as well as other substituted deoxyribosides were obtained also by transition metal–mediated cycloaddition reactions.