Homo‐double helix formation of an optically active conjugated polymer bearing carboxy groups and amplification of the helicity upon complexation with achiral and chiral amines

An optically active, m‐terphenyl‐based π‐conjugated polymer bearing carboxy groups was synthesized by the copolymerization of the diethynyl monomer bearing a carboxy group with (S,S)‐2,5‐bis(2‐methylbutoxy)‐1,4‐dibromobenzene using Sonogashira reaction. The copolymer showed a weak circular dichroism (CD) in the main‐chain chromophore region due to a homo‐double helix formation with an excess helical handedness biased by the chiral alkoxy substituents through self‐association. However, upon complexation with achiral amines, such as piperidine, the CD intensity of the polymer significantly increased resulting in the formation of a greater excess one‐handed homo‐double helix via hydrogen‐bonded inclusion complexation with the achiral amines between each strand, leading to the amplification of the helicity. A preferred‐handed homo‐double helix was also induced in the polymer in the presence of nonracemic amines. The effect of the achiral and chiral amines on the homo‐double helix formation was investigated by comparing the CD spectra of the polymer to those of its model dimer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 990–999     

REDUCTIVE DEIMINATION OF SULFOXIMIDES AND SULFIMIDES WITH P-TOLUENESULFONYL NITRITE AND T-BUTYL THIONITRATE1

Abstract

Reduction of sulfimides and sulfoximides with p-toluenesulfonyl nitrite, a new nitrosating agent, gave nearly quantitatively the corresponding deimination products, sulfides and sulfoxides, respectively. In the reaction of dialkyl and aryl alkyl sulfoximides with t-butyl thionitrate, N-t-butylthiosulfoximides were obtained besides the usual deimination products, although diaryl sulfoximides were readily deiminated to the corresponding sulfoxides in good yields in the same treatment. t-Butyl thionitrate was also found to deiminate diphenyl sulfimide to give diphenyl sulfide in good yield. Sulfoximides reacted sluggishly with t-butyl thionitrite, however, eventually affording a small amount of sulfoxides.     

A SYNTHETIC ROUTE TO 3-METHYLTHIO-2-ALKANONES STARTING FROM 3-ALKYL-2,4-PENTANEDIONES

Abstract

An efficient preparation of a 3-methylthio-2-alkanone (1) has been realized by the reaction of a 3-alkyl-2,4-pentanedione (8) with one mol-equiv of S-methyl methanethiosulfonate (4) in the presence of excess EtONa in EtOH. Furthermore, treatment of 8 with 4 and K₂CO₃ in refluxing acetone, followed by addition of MeOH and heating the resulting mixture, gave 1 in a high yield. These methods were applied to synthesis of pseudoionone.     

Nonclassical Urea Oligomers. VII. Binding Specificity of Carbanilido-ethylenimine Oligomer: Absorption Behavior in Suspension

Polyester elastomers were prepared by block copolymerization of dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), butanediol (BDO), and polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG). Polyester from DMT and butanediol forms a high-melting hard segment in block copolyester to prevent undue chain slippage when fibers are stretched. High elongation was provided by soft segment which consisted of condensation product from DMT and PTMG.

Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of composition variables on the properties of these elastomers, such as glass transition temperature, elongation at break, tenacity, and elastic recovery. The study on molecular characteristics of the elastic polyester showed that a leather-like region exists between glassy and rubbery regions. These elastomers were melt-spun to give elastic fibers which are competitive with commercially available Spandex-type fibers.     

Synthesis of Star-Shaped Polymers via Coordination of Bipyridyl-Terminated Polyoxyethylene with Metal Ions

Abstract

This paper describes the synthesis of various star-shaped polymers by means of complexation of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylene with Ru(II) ion. Three kinds of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylenes of different molecular weights were prepared from the corresponding polyoxyethylene monomethyl ethers with narrow molecular weight distributions. Bipyridyl was found to be introduced quantitatively at the end of the polymers based on the results of UV spectra. The formation of a star-shaped polymer was carried out by the reaction of RuCl₃ with three equivalents of bipyridyl-terminated polyoxyethylene. The UV spectrum of the star-shaped polymer obtained supported the formation of a typical Ru(II) tris(bipyridyl) complex. From the results of GPC, the star-shaped polymer obtained had a higher molecular weight than the pre-polymer and showed a narrow molecular weight distribution. In the case of a Ni(II) or a Co(II) complex, however, the star-shaped polymer was found to be dissociated into three linear prepolymers under the conditions of GPC measurement.     

Polymerization of Cyclic Ethers

Abstract

In the present series of studies on the cationic polymerization of cyclic ethers, the reactivities of cyclic ethers were quantified and the effect of the catalyst upon the polymerization kinetics was revealed. These kinetic analyses were successfully performed by means of our “phenoxyl end-capping method”. The change of the reactivity by the ring size of the monomer was interestingly demonstrated. In addition, it is emphasized that the frequency factor as well as the activation energy influence the rate constant of propagation. As to the effect of catalyst upon the polymerization kinetics, the most important conclusion is that the rate constant of propagation changes very little according to the changes of the catalyst components. Variation of the conversion rate by a change of catalyst is due to differences in the rates of the initiation and the termination reactions.     

Synthesis and Polymerization of Spiro Oxyphosphoranes

Novel methods of synthesis of spiro acyloxyphosphoranes are described emphasizing the significance of the first isolated instance of these new species. Then, the no-catalyst alternating copolymerizations of the combinations of cyclic phosphorus(III) compounds (serving as nucleophilic monomer, M_N) with acrylic acid derivatives and with α-keto acids (electrophilic monomer, M_E) are mentioned. These copolymerizations proceed without added initiator. Spiro oxyphosphoranes play an important role in the copolymerization scheme in the equilibrium with the ⁺M_N - M_E ^? zwitterion, the key intermediate of the copolymerization. Finally, new reactions of spiro acyloxyphosphoranes with nucleophiles, alcoholysis and aminolysis polymerizations are presented.     

Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Bilayer Film Coating

The electrode characteristics of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and Ca²⁺ based on bilayer film coatings, where the inner layer films are electroactive electropolymerized ones and the outer layer films are composed of conventional ion-sensitive materials, have been examined. These ISEs of the coated-wire electrode type have no conventional internal reference solution and reference electrode, but the inner films may be considered to function as the “internal standard solution.” The ion selectivity coefficients and the activity range showing Nernstian response were almost comparable to those of conventional liquid-membrane electrodes. The bilayer-coated ISEs showed insensitivity to O₂ and CO₂, long-term stability, and little drift. It was also found that the electrode performance is practically unchanged after sterilization in an autoclave. The results demonstrate that the bilayer-coated ISEs examined are promising for the determination of K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, or Ca²⁺ activity in biological and environmental systems.