Synthesis,physicochemical characterization,and self‐assembly of linear,dibranched, and miktoarm semifluorinated triphilic polymers

Linear, dibranched, and miktoarm amphiphiles containing both hydrophobic and fluorophilic moieties were synthesized and characterized in an attempt to elucidate the relationship between semifluorinated amphiphile structure and aggregate behavior in aqueous solution. For the linear and dibranched amphiphiles, there was an exponential decrease in critical aggregation concentration (CMC) and a logarithmic increase in core microviscosity with increasing length of the fluorocarbon segments; while the miktoarm architecture produced no notable trend in microviscosity or CMC. Furthermore, the linear and dibranched surfactants showed enhanced kinetic stability, dissociating more slowly in the presence of human serum than did either the dibranched or miktoarm amphiphiles. Finally, encapsulation studies with the hydrophobic drug paclitaxel (PTX) showed that the ability to solubilize and retain PTX increased with the presence and with the increasing size of the fluorocarbon moiety for both the linear and dibranched amphiphiles, while no such trend was observed for the miktoarm amphiphiles. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3324–3336     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of 2-methyl-2-nitrocyclohexanol: Combining the intramolecular nitroaldol (Henry) reaction & lipase-catalysed resolution

Efforts to combine the intramolecular nitroaldol reaction with lipase-catalysed resolution of the resulting nitroaldol adduct in a one-pot dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) are described. Significant challenges were encountered in the combination of the two systems. trans-2-Methyl-2-nitrocyclohexyl acetate (±)-3b was isolated in excellent enantiopurity (>98% ee) via a sequential DKR sequence where the lipase-mediated resolution and base-mediated interconversion of 2-methyl-2-nitrocyclohexanol 2 were effected alternately, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach initially. Further work showed, for the first time, evidence that a DKR-type system is possible for 2. Reaction engineering allowed the design of a sequential one-pot reaction system which furnished the products with excellent enantioselectivity, and good diastereoselectivity.     

Crystal structures of four complexes produced by reaction of copper(I) cyanide with imidazoles

Four complexes of CuCN with imidazoles have been prepared by adding the ligand to a solution of CuCN in aqueous sodium thiosulfate. The imidazole ligands used were 2-methylimidazole (mim), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (dmim), 5-chloro-1-methylimidazole (clmim), and 2-phenylimidazole (phim). Complex 1, (CuCN)(mim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 9.565(3), b = 7.764(5), c = 8.983(8) Å, = 96.76(3)°, Z, = 4, Complex 2, (CuCN)(dmim) is monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 8.120(2), b = 11.796(4), c = 16.375(9) Å, , = 100.87(4)°, Z = 8. Complex 3, (CuCN) (clmim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.907(4), b = 6.894(5), c = 18.259(4) Å, = 102.79(2)°, Z = 16. Complex 4, (CuCN)(phim) is orthorhombic, Pca2₁, a = 9.204(4), b = 8.125(2), c = 26.304(6) Å, Z, = 8. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 have one-dimensional chains –Cu–CN–Cu– with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. Complex 3 has a two-dimensional sheet of CuCN, again with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. In 1 the imidazole group is disordered by a two-fold rotation approximately around the N···N direction in the imidazole group. In 3 one of the imidazole groups has a disorder involving exchange of the Cl and CH₃.     

Latest Developments in the Catalytic Application of Nanoscaled Neutral Group 8–10 Metals

In the last few decades, the synthesis and catalytic application of nanoscaled particles prepared from Group 8–10 (formerly Group VIIIB) elements have been widely explored and have achieved promising results. The innovative use of these nanoparticle catalysts may provide new opportunities in the efficient combination of conventionally used homogenous and heterogeneous catalysts. Conventional homogeneous catalysts pose extraction and recycling difficulties when dealing with metal complexes and/or ligands, whereas heterogeneous catalysts generally require more pressing experimental conditions, such as high temperatures and high pressures, to be effective. Therefore, to solve these problems, the synthesis and use of nanoparticle catalysts as replacements for conventional catalytic systems is a breakthrough owing to their improved handling and environmental and economic aspects. This Focus Review primarily addresses the catalytic applications of neutral Group 8–10 nanoparticles with an average size of less than 10 nm, and also includes a discussion of commonly used synthetic methodology.     

Characterization of the nanostructure of complexes formed by a redox-active cationic lipid and DNA

We report characterization of the nanostructures of complexes formed between the redox-active lipid bis(n-ferrocenylundecyl)dimethylammonium bromide (BFDMA) and DNA using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). A particular focus was directed to the influence of lipid oxidation state (where reduced BFDMA has a net charge of +1 and oxidized BFDMA has a charge of +3) on the nanostructures of the solution aggregates formed. Complexes were characterized over a range of charge ratios of reduced BFDMA to DNA (1.1:1, 2.75:1, and 4:1) in solutions of 1 mM Li2SO4. For these complexes, a single peak in the SANS data at 1.2 nm(-1) indicated that a nanostructure with a periodicity of 5.2 nm was present, similar to that observed with complexes of the classical lipids DODAB/DOPE and DNA (multilamellar spacing of 7.0 nm). The absence of additional Bragg peaks in all the SANS data indicated that the periodicity did not extend over large distances. Both inverse Fourier transform analysis and form factor fitting suggested formation of a multilamellar vesicle. These results were confirmed by cryo-TEM images in which multilamellar complexes with diameters between 50 and 150 nm were observed with no more than seven lamellae per aggregate. In contrast to complexes of reduced BFDMA and DNA, Bragg peaks were absent in SANS spectra of complexes formed by oxidized BFDMA and DNA at all charge ratios investigated. The low-q behavior of the SANS data obtained using oxidized BFDMA and DNA complexes suggested that large, loose aggregates were formed, consistent with complementary cryo-TEM images showing predominantly loose disordered aggregates. Some highly ordered spongelike and cubic phase nanostructures were also detected in cryo-TEM images. We conclude that control of BFDMA oxidation state can be used to manipulate the nanostructures of lipid-DNA complexes formed using BFDMA.