Synthesis of hollow CaCO3 nanospheres templated by micelles of poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid-b-ethylene glycol) in aqueous solutions

An asymmetric triblock copolymer, poly(styrene-b-acrylic acid-b-ethylene glycol) (PS-b-PAA-b-PEG), was synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer controlled radical polymerization. Micelles of PS-b-PAA-b-PEG with PS core, PAA shell, and PEG corona were then prepared in aqueous solutions, followed by extensive characterization based on dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. The well-characterized micelles were used to fabricate hollow nanospheres of CaCO(3) as a template. It was elucidated from TEM measurements that the hollow nanospheres have a uniform size with cavity diameters of ca. 20 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a high purity and crystallinity of the hollow nanospheres. The hollow CaCO(3) nanospheres thus obtained have been used for the controlled release of an anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen. The significance of this study is that we have overcome a previous difficulty in the synthesis of hollow CaCO(3) nanospheres. After mixing of Ca(2+) and CO(3)(2-) ions, the growth of CaCO(3) is generally quite rapid to induce large crystal, which prevented us from obtaining hollow CaCO(3) nanospheres with controlled structure. However, we could solve this issue by using micelles of PS-b-PAA-b-PEG as a template. The PS core acts as a template that can be removed to form a cavity of hollow CaCO(3) nanospheres, the PAA shell is beneficial for arresting Ca(2+) ions to produce CaCO(3), and the PEG corona stabilizes the CaCO(3)/micelle nanocomposite to prevent secondary aggregate formation.     

A versatile scaffold for facile synthesis of fluorescent cyano-substituted stilbenes

Here we report the facile derivatization of a cyano-substituted stilbene into higher π-extended analogues. The cyano-substituted stilbene, which serves as a synthetic scaffold, has a bromo group and a formyl group on its 4- and 4′-position of the phenylene rings and thus readily undergoes selective transformation into other functional groups using various simple organic reactions. The resultant π-conjugated molecules that contain a cyano-substituted stilbene skeleton exhibit fluorescence in solution and in the solid state.     

Flow analysis of silicate rocks for zirconium

A flow analysis system involving the on-line configuration of an anion-exchange column has been examined to enrich and determine trace concentrations of zirconium of several ppm to hundred ppm levels in silicate rocks and minerals. About 100 mg of sample is decomposed by fusion with a mixture of boric acid and lithium carbonate and taken up with 1M hydrochloric acid to a total of 100 ml. Depending upon the concentration of zirconium, either a 1- or 4-ml aliquot is introduced into an aqueous carrier stream, merged with sulphuric acid and passed through a small volume anion-exchange column. The enriched zirconium is then back eluted with hydrochloric acid, colour-developed with Arsenazo III, and detected spectrophotometrically at 665 nm.     

Plutonium fallout from the nuclear-powered satellite Cosmos-1402

Radiochemical measurements of^239,240Pu were carried out for a total of 57 individual rain and snow samples collected at Fayetteville (36 °N, 94 °W), Arkansas, during the period between November 1984 and June 1986. The results indicate that the fallout of plutonium observed during the past three years is due, primarily, to the nuclear debris originating from the 7 February 1983 burn-up of the nuclear-powered Soviet satellite Cosmos-1402.This investigation was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant ATM 84-07618.     

Poly(ethylene imine)s as Antimicrobial Agents with Selective Activity

We report the structure–activity relationship in the antimicrobial activity of linear and branched poly(ethylene imine)s (L‐ and B‐PEIs) with a range of molecular weights (MWs) (500–12 000). Both L‐ and B‐PEIs displayed enhanced activity against Staphylococcus aureus over Escherichia coli. Both B‐ and L‐PEIs did not cause any significant permeabilization of E. coli cytoplasmic membrane. L‐PEIs induced depolarization of S. aureus membrane although B‐PEIs did not. The low MW B‐PEIs caused little or no hemolysis while L‐PEIs are hemolytic. The low MW B‐PEIs are less cytotoxic to human HEp‐2 cells than other PEIs. However, they induced significant cell viability reduction after 24 h incubation. The results presented here highlight the interplay between polymer size and structure on activity.

     

Preparation,crystal structure,and spectroscopic,chemical, and electrochemical properties of (2E,4E)-1,4-di(3-guaiazulenyl)-1,3-butadiene compared with those of (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene

Wittig reaction of (E)-3-(3-guaiazulenyl)propenal (11) with (3-guaiazulenylmethyl)triphenylphosphonium bromide (9) in ethanol containing NaOEt at 25 °C for 24 h under argon gives the title new (2E,4E)-1,3-butadiene derivative 4, in 33% isolated yield, which upon treatment with hexafluorophosphoric acid (i.e., 65% HPF₆ aqueous solution) in tetrahydrofuran (=THF) at 25 °C for 1 h under aerobic conditions affords a new air (two-electron) oxidation product (E)-ethylene-1,2-bis(3-guaiazulenylmethylium) bis(hexafluorophosphate) (14), quantitatively, and further, zinc-reduction of 14 in trifluoroacetic acid (=CF₃COOH) at 0 °C for 1 h under argon reverts 4, quantitatively. Along with the above interesting results, our discovered another preparation method, spectroscopic properties, crystal structure, and electrochemical behavior of 4, which serves as a strong two-electron donor and acceptor, compared with those of the previously reported (E)-1,2-di(3-guaiazulenyl)ethylene (3) are documented in detail.     

Heterocyclic effect for optical properties of naphthoquinone-based pigment: 2-methyl-3-heteroarylthio-1,4-naphthalenedione

Three novel naphthoquinone-based heterocyclic pigments, 2-methyl-3-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)thio-1,4-naphthalenedione, (4-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio-1,4-naphthalenedione, and (1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thio]-1,4-naphthalenedione, are synthesized, and their optical properties in both solution and solid states are investigated. Depending on the heteroarylthio ring in the pigment, variation in optical properties is observed, e.g. characteristic colours for each pigment in the solution and solid states. The achiral pigment containing the 1-methyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl ring exhibits a chiral space group and a CD signal in the solid state.     

Local crystal structure of nano-manganese-oxide gold adsorbent

The local crystal structure of dried and deuterated nano-manganese-oxide powder samples was studied via atomic pair distribution function analysis of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. The protonated sample shows ultrahigh efficiency as a gold adsorbent even from ppt-level aqueous solutions such as seawater. We show that the nano-manganese-oxide particles have an R-MnO₂-type local crystal structure. The possible role of the protons on the surface of the nano-particles is discussed.