Assessment of intermolecular N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonding in stabilising hetero- and homodimers in solution

This paper describes the first assessment of intermolecular weak N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonding in stabilising hetero- and homodimers in solution. Aromatic amide and urea monomers have been designed and synthesised. The association constants of the heterodimers formed by two complementary monomers and the homodimers formed by self-complementary monomers have been determined by using ¹H titration and dilution experiments. The results show that both N–H…F and N–H…Cl hydrogen bonds are able to stabilise the corresponding dimers to a measurable extent, even though the stability of the dimers is generally low.     

Application of polymethyl methacrylate in cathode materials of lithium-ion batteries

A study of the Li₂FeSiO₄/C cathode material doped with Mn demonstrated that introduction of polymethyl methacrylate results in a substantial decrease in the particle size and increase in the specific surface area of the cathode material. Polymethyl methacrylate strongly improves the cyclic stability of the cathode material. The discharge capacity after the first cycle was 218 mA h g^–1, and that upon stabilization of the structure of the cathode material, 170 mA h g^–1.     

Phase structure and crystallization behavior of polyethylene in its blends with cis-1,4-butadiene rubber

Phase structure and crystallization behavior of polyethylene(PE) in its blends with cis-1,4-butadiene rubber(BR) at different blend ratios and sample preparation conditions were studied. The PE is finely dispersed in the BR matrix. For samples hot pressed at 145 °C, circular PE microdomains with randomly oriented PE lamellar aggregates were produced. The domain size and number increase with increasing PE content. When the PE content is over 10 wt%, most of the PE domains impinged each other. The separated PE domains are connected by PE stripes with parallel arranged lamellar aggregates. For samples hot pressed at 140 °C, elongated PE microdomains with oriented PE lamellar aggregates were obtained due to the shear flow. The crystallization of PE in the blends depends on the phase structure. Confined crystallization of PE occurs in small microdomains at relatively low temperature. With the increase of domain size, the crystallization ability of PE increases while the confined crystallization decreases.     

Self-penetrating and interpenetrating 3D metal-organic frameworks constructed from 4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)-phthalic acid and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-donor auxiliary ligands

Two new interesting entangled structures, namely, [Ni_1.5(L)(bpy)₂(H₂O)₃] _n · 3nH₂O (I) and [Cd₃(L)₂(bbi)₂]n · nH₂O (II)(where H₃L is 4-(4-carboxyphenoxy)-phthalic acid, bpy is 4,4′-bipyridine, and bbi is 1,1′-(1,4-butanediyl)bis(imidazole)) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis (EA), infrared spectra (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), solid fluorescence and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that complex I possesses a 3D self-penetrating framework constructed from ladder-like and fishbone-like subunits. Complex II shows a 3D framework of two-fold interpenetration assembled from trinuclear Cd(II) clusters bridged by bbi and L^3? ligands.     

Improvements to CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> headspace biodegradability test

This study proposes changes to the design and evaluation of the CO₂ headspace test, which is used as a simple method for assessment of the complete biodegradability of surfactants. It presents a modified equation for the calculation of biodegradation. It is proposed that the solution of 7 mol L^?1 sodium hydroxide commonly used in the process involving alkalinisation of the vial contents be replaced with 15 mol L^?1 sodium hydroxide. The use of the higher hydroxide concentration leads to a significant reduction in the value of the blank CO₂ headspace test.     

Synthesis of potential inhibitors of glycosyltransferases representing UDP-GlcNAc

Based on rational design of the transition state analog inhibitors of glycosyltransferases, four model glycomimetics of this type, viz. benzyl 2-thio-α-dfructofuranoside 1-diethylphosphate (XIa), its β-anomer (XIb), and their ethyl 2-thio analogs — α-anomer (XIIa) and β-anomer (XIIb), were synthesized. In addition, fourteen precursors arising during the synthesis of the desired final model compounds (XI and XII), partially or fully acetylated benzyl and/or ethyl 2-thiofructofuranoside 1-diethyl phosphates, were isolated and characterized with the aim to prepare complete series of glycomimetics, representing donor UDP-GlcNAc designated for biological assays on human GnT’s, viz. GnT-I, Core2GnT, and GnT-V.