Preparation of PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO/α-cyclodextrin supramolecular hydrogels hybridized with exfoliated graphite nanoplates

Abstract

In this work, an effective method was developed to prepare novel PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO (EPE)/α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) supramolecular hydrogels containing exfoliated graphite nanoplates (xGNPs) by mixing an aqueous solution of α-CD with an aqueous dispersion of xGNPs at the presence of amphiphilic EPE copolymer. The EPE copolymer played three important roles in the preparation process: (1) as an exfoliating agent to break expanded graphites into xGNPs under ultrasonication, (2) as a dispersant to stabilize xGNPs in the aqueous solution, and （3）as a component to form the inclusion complexes with α-CD. The resultant xGNPs/EPE/α-CD hybridized hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which confirmed not only the formation of supramolecular hydrogel structure but also the homogenous dispersion of xGNPs in the hydrogel matrix. It was found that the existence of xGNPs can accelerate the speed of gel formation in comparison with that of the native EPE/α-CD hydrogel. Additionally, the water-retention ability and the release behavior of vancomycin hydrochloride for the xGNPs/EPE/α-CD hybridized hydrogels were investigated.     

Inclusion Interactions of Cucurbit[7]uril with Adenine and its Derivatives

Interactions of cucurbit[7]uril (Q[7] host) with guest adenine (g1), adenosine (g2) and 2′,3′-o-isopropylideneadenosine (g3) were studied in details by ¹H NMR, UV absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods. We found that the suitable pH range for interaction was between 1 and 7, and the optimal pH range was between 2 and 4. The ¹H NMR analysis indicated that Q[7] selectively interacted with the adenine moiety of the guests g1 and g2, while Q[7] selectively interacted with the D-ribose sugar ring moiety of the guest g3. Moreover, ¹H NMR spectra showed that the exchange between the bound guest and the free guest was fast on the NMR time scale for the Q[7]-g1 and Q[7]-g2 systems. However, an obvious equilibrium between the bound host/guest and the unbound host/guest were observed in the Q[7]-g3 complex. Several methods were used to determine quantitatively the stability of the three host–guest inclusion complexes formed between Q[7] and the guests. The formation constants by UV and fluorescence were 1.90 × 10⁵ L mol^? 1 and 1.34 × 10⁵ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g1, 9.41 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 and 4.24 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g2, 4.50 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 and 3.62 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g3, respectively. HPLC method was also introduced to explore the interactions between Q[7] and the adenine and its derivatives. The formation constants of the host–guest inclusion complexes, as determined by HPLC, were 6.76 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g1, 1.80 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g2, 3.01 × 10⁴ L mol^? 1 for Q[7]-g3 respectively. Our study suggested that Q[7] could be a suitable host for the delivery of bioactive molecules, such as the adenine and its derivatives.     

REACTION OF SCHIFF BASE OF THIOHYDRAZIDES WITH P(NR2)3

Abstract

Three pathways were observed in the reactions of Schiff bases of Thiohydrazides with P(NR₂)₃. (a) MeS-R₂N exchange: MeS-C([dbnd]S)-NHN[dbnd]CHPh (1) reacted with P(NR₂)₃ led to new Schiff bases, R₂N-C([dbnd]S)-NHN[dbnd]CH = Ph (2). (b) Cleavage of C[dbnd]S bond and the formation of P[dbnd]S bond: H₂N-C([dbnd]S)-NHN[dbnd]CH = Ph (3) reacted with P(NR₂)₃ gave rise to the thiophosphoric amide. (Et₂N)₂P([dbnd]S)-NH-CH = N-N[dbnd]CH-Ph (4). (c) Formation of thiadiazole and triazole: Schiff bases 2a and H₂N(MeS)C = N-N[dbnd]CH-Ph (6) reacted with P(NR₂)₃ respectively and produced 5-dimethylamino-2-phenyl-2,3-(2H)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (5) and 5-methylthio-2-phenyl-2,3-(2H)-1,3,4-triazole (7).     

First Total Syntheses of 4′-0-Geranylisoliquiritigenin And 4′-O-Geranylnarigenin

The title compounds, 4'-0-geranylisoliquiritigenin and 4'-0-geranylnaringenin isolated from Millettia ferruginea and Borania coerulescens respectively, were first synthesized starting from geranyl bromide, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and O-hydroxy acetophenones by the condensation reaction and demethoxymethylation as key steps.     

Contact Angle Determined by Spontaneous Imbibition in Porous Media: Experiment and Theory

In this paper, a theoretical model was established to determine the contact angle by introducing a new defined effective capillary radius into the Lucas–Washburn equation. Based on the theoretical model, capillary rise experiments of water imbibed by different glass beads were carried out to measure the contact angle; the results were similar to the available data published in the literature. In addition, the model was modified to take account of the dynamic contact angle, according to the experimental data. The influence of the dynamic contact angle on the movement of the spontaneous imbibition was studied.     

Magnetic field induced Freedericksz transition of a planar aligned liquid crystal doped with metalloporphyrins FeTPPCl,MnTPPCl and ZnTPP

We observed that the planar aligned nematic liquid crystal (5CB) doped with a volume fraction of 1% of FeTPPCl [5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyriniron(III)chloride] or MnTPPCl [5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinmanganese(III)chloride] dramatically decreased the critical magnetic field for the magnetic field induced Freedericksz transition, while 5CB doped with ZnTPP [5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinzinc(II)] revealed no such effect, when compared with pure 5CB. In the guest-host (5CB) system, FeTPPCl and MnTPPCl as guests are both strong paramagnetic materials with an interaction through coordination of the -CN group in 5CB onto the metal ion of the porphyrin. As a result, the 5CB molecules are dragged to reorientate under a static magnetic field, while ZnTPP is a diamagnetic material without such a property. This phenomenon concerning magneto-optical components could be useful in liquid crystal displays.     

Magnetically assisted removal and separation of cationic dyes from aqueous solution by magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels

Magnetic poly(acrylic acid‐acrylamide‐butyl methacrylate) (P(AAB)) nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared and used as adsorbents for removal and separation of cationic dyes from aqueous solution. These magnetic P(AAB) nanocomposite hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). It was found that these magnetic P(AAB) nanocomposite hydrogels had magnetic responsive characters. The dynamic swelling, removal, and separation of cationic dye, crystal violet (CV), and basic magenta (BM) by these magnetic nanocomposite hydrogels were studied. The adsorption capacity and isotherm studies of cationic dyes onto magnetic P(AAB) nanocomposite hydrogels have been evaluated. The magnetic P(AAB) nanocomposite hydrogels containing Fe₃O₄ particles can be easily manipulated in magnetic field for removal and separation of cationic dyes from aqueous solution. Adsorption process agreed very well with the Langmuir and Freundlich models. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synergistic effects of cerium phosphate and intumescent flame retardant on EPDM/PP composites

An intumescent flame retardant system composed of ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and pentaerythritol (PER) was used for flame retarding ethylene–propylene–diene‐modified elastomer (EPDM)/polypropylene (PP) blends. Cerium phosphate (CeP) was synthesized and the effect on flame retardancy and thermal stability of EPDM/PP composites based on intumescent flame retardant (IFR) were studied by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94, and thermogravimetic analysis (TGA), respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were used to analyze the morphological structure and the component of the residue chars formed from the EPDM/PP composites, and the mechanical properties of the materials were also studied. The addition of CeP to the EPDM/PP/APP/PER composites gives better flame retardancy than that of EPDM/PP/APP/PER composites. TGA and RT‐FTIR studies indicated that an interaction occurs among APP, PER, and EPDM/PP. The incorporation of CeP improved the mechanical properties of the materials. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rapid and accurate evaluation of the binding energies and the individual N-H···O=C, N-H···N, C-H···O=C, and C-H···N interaction energies for hydrogen-bonded peptide-base complexes

The binding energies of thirty-six hydrogen-bonded peptide-base complexes, including the peptide backbone-ase complexes and amino acid side chain-base complexes, are evaluated using the analytic potential energy function established in our lab recently and compared with those obtained from MP2, AMBER99, OPLSAA/L, and CHARMM27 calculations. The comparison indicates that the analytic potential energy function yields the binding energies for these complexes as reasonable as MP2 does, much better than the force fields do. The individual N H…O=C, N H…N, C H…O=C, and C H…N attractive interaction energies and C=O…O=C, N H…H N, C H…H N, and C H…H C repulsive interaction energies, which cannot be easily obtained from ab initio calculations, are calculated using the dipole-dipole interaction term of the analytic potential energy function. The individual N H…O=C, C H…O=C, C H…N attractive interactions are about 5.3±1.8, 1.2±0.4, and 0.8 kcal/mol, respectively, the individual N H … N could be as strong as about 8.1 kcal/mol or as weak as 1.0 kcal/mol, while the individual C=O…O=C, N H…H N, C H…H N, and C H…H C repulsive interactions are about 1.8±1.1, 1.7±0.6, 0.6±0.3, and 0.35±0.15 kcal/mol. These data are helpful for the rational design of new strategies for molecular recognition or supramolecular assemblies.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel piperidin-4-ol derivatives

Abstract  

A series of novel piperidin-4-ol derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for potential treatment of HIV. The compounds were obtained via an efficient synthetic route in excellent yields and have been characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. The CCR5 antagonistic activities of the compounds have also been evaluated.