Influence of various starch types on PCL/starch blends anaerobic biodegradation

Research concentrated on the biodegradable capability of PCL blends with various types of starch in an anaerobic aqueous environment of mesophilic sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. For blend preparation, use was made of a native starch Meritena from maize, another from Waxy – a genetically modified type of maize, as well as Gel Instant, a gelatinized starch, and an amaranth starch. Additional PCL/starch blends were prepared from the same starch types, but these were initially plasticized with glycerol. The biodegradability tests were supplemented with thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); morphology was identified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), plus mechanical properties were also tested. While mixtures of PCL with starches plasticized with glycerol exhibited improved mechanical properties and a higher degree of biodegradation in the anaerobic environment, mixtures of PCL with pure forms of starch were ascertained as rather resistant to the anaerobic aqueous environment. TGA and DSC analysis confirmed the removal of starch and glycerol from the PCL matrix. SEM then proved these results through the absence of starch grains in the samples following anaerobic biodegradation.     

Comparative Research of Influence of Temperature (20-1000°C) on Binary Mixtures of Solid Solutions Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ·8H 2 O with Sulphate of Differentiated Cation Compound (Na + , Ca 2+ , Al 3+ )

We analyzed thermal (20-1000;C) phase changes of the substrates of Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ;8H 2 O (I), Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ;16H 2 O (II), CaSO 4 ;2H 2 O (III), Na 2 SO 4 (IV) and their binary mixtures (percentage ratio 10-90;) in the presence of magnesium phosphate (I). Thermal differential analysis, IR and XR, showed that these substances, heated for 1 hour up to 500 and 1000;C, changed the structure.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc(II) Complexes with 3,4-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde Thiosemicarbazone: The Crystal Structure of [Zn(34-MBTSC)2Cl2]

Abstract

The synthesis and characterization of three zinc(II) complexes [Zn(34-MBTSC)₂Cl₂] (1), [Zn(34-MBTSC)₂Br₂] (2), and [Zn(34-MBTSC)₂I₂] (3) of 3,4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (34-MBTSC) are reported. Elemental analysis (CHN) and spectral (FT-IR and ¹H-NMR) measurements have been used to characterize the complexes. In addition, the structure of the complex 1 has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. In these complexes, the zinc(II) ion is bonded to two thioketonic sulfur donors in η¹-S bonding mode and to two halide ions in tetrahedral geometry.

Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfer, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental files: Additional figures.     

Adamantane-bearing benzylamines and benzylamides: novel building blocks for supramolecular systems with finely tuned binding properties towards β-cyclodextrin

Novel building blocks for the synthesis of supramolecular components based on adamantane-bearing benzylamines were prepared. The binding properties of these amines and the corresponding acetamides towards β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were studied using mass spectrometry, NMR spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry and semi-empirical calculations. It was found that all of the examined guests predominantly formed 1:1 inclusion complexes in an enthalpy-driven manner with association constants of the order of 10²–10³ M^? 1. Stronger binding to the β-CD cavity was observed for guests with a longer spacer between the adamantane and benzene moieties and/or a 1,4-disubstituted benzene ring.     

PEG‐Modified Macroporous Poly(Glycidyl Methacrylate) and Poly(2‐Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Microspheres to Reduce Non‐Specific Protein Adsorption

To minimize non‐specific protein adsorption on macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate) and poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) microspheres containing amino and/or carboxyl groups, the microspheres are coated with α,ω‐bis‐carboxy poly(ethylene glycol) and amino‐terminated poly(ethylene glycol‐co‐propylene glycol) or α‐methoxy‐ω‐amino poly(ethylene glycol). Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA), γ‐globulin, ¹²⁵I‐BSA, pepsin, and chymotrypsin on neat and PEGylated microspheres is determined by UV–VIS spectroscopy of supernatants and eluates or by measurement of radioactivity in an ionization chamber. Neat and PEGylated microspheres adsorb 0.8–70% and 0.02–44% of protein, respectively.

     

Enantiomeric separation of R,S‐tolterodine and R,S‐methoxytolterodine with negatively charged cyclodextrins by capillary electrophoresis

The methods for separation of R,S‐tolterodine and R,S‐methoxytolterodine enantiomers using sulfated α‐, β‐CD and phosphated‐γ‐CD by CE in acidic BGE based on Tris/phosphate pH 2.5 buffer were developed. Sulfated α‐ and β‐CD allow anodic detection while phosphated‐γ‐CD allows only cathodic detection of the separated enantiomers. The influence of chiral selector (CS)'s concentration as well as the influence of composition and concentration of BGE on resolutions were studied. Reversal migration order of tolterodine and methoxytolterodine enantiomers was observed, when sulfated‐α‐ and sulfated‐β‐CD were used. The developed methods with all three studied CSs, were validated and compared. All proposed methods enable determination of 0.2% of S‐tolterodine as an optical impurity in pills, however the method with phosphated‐γ‐CD provided lower detection limit, better repeatability of peak areas and migration times, and also lower consumption of CS. Developed method employing phosphated‐γ‐CD that was applied for the determination of optical purity of R‐tolterodine in commercial pills.     

Underivatized amylose and cellulose as new stationary phases for hydrophilic interaction chromatography

Two polysaccharide stationary phases have been newly suggested for application in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Both columns (amylose‐silica, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm and cellulose‐silica, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) demonstrated a satisfactory retention of polar compounds. The influence of the mobile‐phase composition (acetonitrile content, pH, salt concentration) on the retention was in agreement with the HILIC concept. The phases showed a very similar behavior, typical efficiency of about 50 000 plates/m, cellulose retained test compounds somewhat more strongly. Under the experimental conditions, electrostatic (non‐HILIC‐type) interactions due to the dissociation of silanol groups on the silica surface did not influence the retention, noticeably. The applicability of polysaccharide stationary phases for the chromatography of polar compounds was proven by the separation of mixtures of sugars (fructose, glucose, saccharose, maltose, trehalose) or vitamins (nicotinamide, pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid, ascorbic acid).     

A novel amido–pyrophosphate MnII chelate complex with the synthetic ligand O{P(O)[NHC(CH3)3]2}2 (L): [Mn(L)2{OC(H)N(CH3)2}2]Cl2·2H2O

The title complex, trans‐bis(dimethylformamide‐κO)bis{N,N′‐N′′,N′′′‐tetra‐tert‐butyl[oxybis(phosphonic diamide‐κO)]}manganese(II) dichloride dihydrate, [Mn(C₁₆H₄₀N₄O₃P₂)₂(C₃H₇NO)₂]Cl₂·2H₂O, is the first example of a bis‐chelate amido–pyrophosphate (pyrophosphoramide) complex containing an O[P(O)(NH)₂]₂ fragment. Its asymmetric unit contains half of the complex dication, one chloride anion and one water molecule. The Mn^II atom, located on an inversion centre, is octahedrally coordinated, with a slight elongation towards the monodentate dimethylformamide ligand. Structural features of the title complex, such as the P=O bond lengths and the planarity of the chelate ring, are compared with those of previously reported complexes with six‐membered chelates involving the fragments C(O)NHP(O), (X)NP(O) [X = C(O), C(S), S(O)₂ and P(O)] and O[P(O)(N)₂]₂. This analysis shows that the six‐membered chelate rings are less puckered in pyrophosphoramide complexes containing a P(O)OP(O) skeleton, such as the title compound. The extended structure of the title complex involves a linear aggregate mediated by N—H...O and N—H...Cl hydrogen bonds, in which the chloride anion is an acceptor in two additional O—H...Cl hydrogen bonds.     

Transition‐Metal‐Free Activation of Amides by N−C Bond Cleavage

The amide bond N?C activation represents a powerful strategy in organic synthesis to functionalize the historically inert amide linkage. This personal account highlights recent remarkable advances in transition‐metal‐free activation of amides by N?C bond cleavage, focusing on both (1) mechanistic aspects of ground‐state‐destabilization of the amide bond enabling formation of tetrahedral intermediates directly from amides with unprecedented selectivity, and (2) synthetic utility of the developed transformations. Direct nucleophilic addition to amides enables a myriad of powerful methods for the formation of C?C, C?N, C?O and C?S bonds, providing a straightforward and more synthetically useful alternative to acyl‐metals.