Percycloalkylated cyclohexanes: attempted synthesis of a trispropellane

The acid catalyzed rearrangement of two cyclohexanols of spiroannelated four-membered rings has been studied. In accordance with molecular mechanics calculations, far-reaching reorganizations with formation of unsaturated hexacyclic systems, including a fully cycloalkylated cyclohexene with a bispropellane partial structure, were observed. Attempts to convert this bispropellane to a trispropellane failed.     

High performance polymers and composites. IV. Copolymers containing benzoxazole units

Several new copolymers have been synthesized. Initial polycondensation of mixtures of aryl and arylalkyl carboxylic acids containing aromatic hydroxyl and amine substituents led to random copolyamides. Thermal cyclization of these prepolymers (inherent viscosities of about 0.2 dL/g) gave copolybenzoxazoles with inherent viscosities of about 1.4 dL/g. Thermal stability as measured by TGA was similar for the 1:1 copolymers and the homopolymers containing hydrocinnamic units; i.e., catastrophic decomposition occurred at 450°C. Copolymers with lower ratios of the hydrocinnamic units displayed greatly improved thermal stability while maintaining good molecular weight.     

From Infinite Chains according to 1∞[Zr(S2O7)4/2] in Zr(S2O7)2 to the unprecedented [Zr(S2O7)4]4– Anion in Ag4[Zr(S2O7)4]

The reaction of ZrCl₄ with oleum (65 % SO₃) in the presence of Ag₂SO₄ at 250 °C yielded colorless single crystals of Zr(S₂O₇)₂ [orthorhombic, Pccn, Z = 4, a = 709.08(6) pm, b = 1442.2(2) pm, c = 942.23(9) pm, V = 963.5(2) × 10⁶ pm³]. Zr(S₂O₇)₂ shows Zr⁴⁺ ions in an eightfold distorted square antiprismatic coordination of oxygen atoms belonging to four chelating disulfate units. Each S₂O₇^2– ion is connected to a further Zr⁴⁺ ion leading to chains according to ¹_∞[Zr(S₂O₇)_4/2]. The same reaction at a temperature of 150 °C resulted in the formation of Ag₄[Zr(S₂O₇)₄] [monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4, a = 1829.35(9) pm, b = 704.37(3) pm, c = 1999.1(1) pm, β = 117.844(2)°, V = 2277.6(2) × 10⁶ pm³]. Ag₄[Zr(S₂O₇)₄] exhibits the unprecedented [Zr(S₂O₇)₄]^4– anion, in which the central Zr⁴⁺ cation is coordinated by four chelating disulfate units. Thus, in Ag₄[Zr(S₂O₇)₄] the ¹_∞[[Zr(S₂O₇)_4/2] chains observed in Zr(S₂O₇)₂ are formally cut into pieces by the implementation of Ag⁺ ions.     

Low-level flow-induced acoustic resonances in ducts

Acoustic resonances are generated by air moving past a plate with a semi-circular leading edge located in a duct. The sound stimulates the small separation bubble near the leading edge to shed vortices into the boundary layer at the sound frequency. The acoustic energy required to sustain the resonances is generated as these vortices pass the trailing edge of the plate.     

Selenium(IV) fluoride and oxofluoride anions

The [((C₆H₅)₃P)₂N]⁺, [(C₆H₅)₄P]⁺ and [N(CH₃)₄]⁺ salts of SeF₅⁻, SeF₆²⁻ and SeOF₃⁻ and CsSeO₂F were prepared and characterized. Crystal structures were obtained for [((C₆H₅)₃P)₂N][SeF₅] and [((C₆H₅)₃P)₂N][SeOF₃] CH₂Cl₂. In contrast to oxygen-bridged dimeric TeOF₃⁻, the SeOF₃⁻ anion in [((C₆H₅)₃P)₂N][SeOF₃] CH₂Cl₂ is monomeric and represents the first experimentally well determined molecular structure of a monomeric trifluoro-chalcogenite anion. Similarly, [((C₆H₅)₃P)₂N][SeF₅] represents the first example of a structure containing a well-isolated undistorted SeF₅⁻ anion. The NMR and the vibrational spectra and their assignments were re-examined and corrected by comparison with high-level theoretical calculations. Whereas the previously published normal coordinate analysis of SeF₅⁻ is correct, that for SeOF₃⁻ needs major revision.     

Properties of small molecular drug loading and diffusion in a fluorinated PEG hydrogel studied by 1H molecular diffusion NMR and 19F spin diffusion NMR

R(f)-PEG (fluoroalkyl double-ended poly(ethylene glycol)) hydrogel is potentially useful as a drug delivery depot due to its advanced properties of sol-gel two-phase coexistence and low surface erosion. In this study, (1)H molecular diffusion nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and (19)F spin diffusion NMR were used to probe the drug loading and diffusion properties of the R(f)-PEG hydrogel for small anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil (FU) and its hydrophobic analog, 1,3-dimethyl-5-fluorouracil (DMFU). It was found that FU has a larger apparent diffusion coefficient than that of DMFU, and the diffusion of the latter was more hindered. The result of (19)F spin diffusion NMR for the corresponding freeze-dried samples indicates that a larger portion of DMFU resided in the R(f) core/IPDU intermediate-layer region (where IPDU refers to isophorone diurethane, as a linker to interconnect the R(f) group and the PEG chain) than that of FU while the opposite is true in the PEG-water phase. To understand the experimental data, a diffusion model was proposed to include: (1) hindered diffusion of the drug molecules in the R(f) core/IPDU-intermediate-layer region; (2) relatively free diffusion of the drug molecules in the PEG-water phase (or region); and (3) diffusive exchange of the probe molecules between the above two regions. This study also shows that molecular diffusion NMR combined with spin diffusion NMR is useful in studying the drug loading and diffusion properties in hydrogels for the purpose of drug delivery applications.