Theoretical investigations on Ziegler-Natta catalysis: Alkylation of the TiCl4 catalyst

Theoretical ab initio methods have been used to study the alkylation reaction of the MgCl₂-supported TiCl₄ catalyst. Investigation of the reaction path indicated that the Al(CH₃)₃ co-catalyst inserts into the coordination sphere of the titanium atom of the catalyst so that a methyl group of Al(CH₃)₃ interacts with the titanium. The methyl group migrates from Al(CH₃)₃ to the vacant coordination site of the catalyst. When the catalyst loses one of its chlorine atoms to the co-catalyst during this reaction, the catalyst maintains its vacant site, but the position of the vacant site changes. The presence of the external electron donor coordinated to the co-catalyst makes the alkylation reaction energetically more favourable.     

Cu(II) Ion Complexation by Excess of β-cyclodextrin in Aqueous Alkaline Solutions

Polarographic investigations of Cu(II) complexation in aqueous alkaline solutions containing an excess of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) show that the complex formation begins at pH > 11, the concentration of free (uncomplexed) Cu(II) ions being in the range from ca. 10^-12 to ca. 10^-19 M, depending on β-CD concentration and pH. The formation of copper(II) 1:1 hydroxy-complex with β-cyclodextrin anion (CD^2-) was observed at pH 11–14. The logarithm of the stability constant of CuCD(OH)^2- ₂ complex is 19.7 ± 0.2 (20 °C, ionic strength 1.0), the values of the molar extinction coefficient and of the diffusion coefficient of this complex are 50 M^-1 cm^-1 (λ_max = 660 nm) and 1.0 × 10^-6 cm² s^-1, respectively.     

Potential energy surfaces for small alcohol dimers. II. Propanol, isopropanol, t-butanol, and sec-butanol

Potential energy landscapes for homogeneous dimers of propanol, isopropanol, tert-butanol, and sec-butanol were obtained using 735 counterpoise-corrected energies at the MP2/6-311+G(2df,2pd) level. The landscapes were sampled at 15 dimer separation distances for different relative monomer geometries, or routes, given in terms of the yaw, pitch, and roll of one monomer relative to the other and the spherical angles between the two monomer centers (taken as the C atom attached to the O). The resultant individual energy surfaces and their complex topographies were also regressed using a site-site pair potential model using a modified Morse potential that provides a mathematically simple representation of the landscapes suitable for use in molecular simulations. Generalized Morse parameters were also obtained for this model from a composite regression of these energy landscapes and those previously reported for methanol and ethanol. The quality of fit for all these energy landscapes suggests that these site parameters have transferability for possible use on other alcohols.     

Characterization of phosphatidylcholine/polyethylene glycol-lipid aggregates and their use as coatings and carriers in capillary electrophoresis

PEG-stabilized lipid aggregates are a promising new class of model membranes in biotechnical and pharmaceutical applications. CE techniques, field-flow fractionation, light scattering, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), and microscopic techniques were used to study aggregates composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleyl-sn-glycero-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and PEG-lipid conjugates. The PEG-lipids, with PEG molar masses of 1000, 2000, and 3000, were 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy-(PEG)] derivatives with either dimyristoyl (DM, 14:0) or distearoyl (DS, 18:0) acyl groups. The 80/20 mol% POPC/PEG-lipid dispersions in HEPES at pH 7.4 were extruded through 100 nm size membranes. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to determine the sizes of POPC and the PEGylated aggregates. All methods demonstrated that the DSPEG-lipid sterically stabilized aggregates were smaller in size than pure POPC vesicles. The zeta potentials of the aggregates were measured and showed an increase from -19 mV for pure POPC to -4 mV for the POPC/DSPEG3000 aggregates. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), electron cryo-microscopy (EM), and multifrequency QCM studies were made to achieve information about the PEGylated coatings on silica. Lipid aggregates with different POPC/DSPEG3000-lipid ratios were applied as capillary coating material, and the 80/20 mol% composition was found to give the most suppressed and stable EOFs. Mixtures of low-molar-mass drugs and FITC-labeled amino acids were separated with the PEGylated aggregates as carriers (EKC) or as coating material (CEC). Detection was made by UV and LIF.     

Atomic layer deposition as pore diameter adjustment tool for nanoporous aluminum oxide injection molding masks

The wetting properties of polypropylene (PP) surfaces were modified by adjusting the dimensions of the surface nanostructure. The nanostructures were generated by injection molding with nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) as the mold insert. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of molybdenum nitride film was used to control the pore diameters of the AAO inserts. The original 50-nm pore diameter of AAO was adjusted by depositing films of thickness 5, 10, and 15 nm on AAO. Bis(tert-butylimido)-bis(dimethylamido)molybdenum and ammonia were used as precursors in deposition. The resulting pore diameters in the nitride-coated AAO inserts were 40, 30, and 20 nm, respectively. Injection molding of PP was conducted with the coated inserts, as well as with the non-coated insert. Besides the pore diameter, the injection mold temperature was varied with temperatures of 50, 70, and 90 degrees C tested. Water contact angles of PP casts were measured and compared with theoretical contact angles calculated from Wenzel and Cassie-Baxter theories. The highest contact angle, 140 degrees , was observed for PP molded with the AAO mold insert with 30-nm pore diameter. The Cassie-Baxter theory showed better fit than the Wenzel theory to the experimental values. With the optimal AAO mask, the nanofeatures in the molded PP pieces were 100 nm high. In explanation of this finding, it is suggested that some sticking and stretching of the nanofeatures occurs during the molding. Increase in the mold temperature increased the contact angle.     

Pd-NHC catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura couplings on 3-bromo-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole-6-sulfonamide

A series of novel α-carboline derivatives such as 3-aryl-9H-pyrido[2,3-b]indole-6-sulfonamides have been synthesized from the readily available low-cost raw material, benzotriazole which is subjected to nucleophilic aromatic substitution with 5-bromo-2-chloropyridine followed by sequential steps of cyclization, sulfonation, amidation, and finally Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions. The C–C bond formation between 3-bromo-9H-pyrido[2.3-b]indole-6-sulfonamide and various boronic acids was achieved with more accessible palladium pre-catalyst, Pd-PEPPSI-IPr via Suzuki coupling under microwave condition in a short reaction time with excellent yields.     

Alkali treatment of birch kraft pulp to enhance its TEMPO catalyzed oxidation with hypochlorite

Alkali treatment was used to increase the reactivity of birch kraft pulp prior to its 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) catalyzed oxidation with hypochlorite, which is a process commonly applied to prepare nanofibrillated cellulose. On contrary to the traditional use of NaBr as a cocatalyst, TEMPO was activated with HOCl prior to the oxidation. Commonly, the lack of bromide increases the oxidation time and impairs the formation of carboxylic groups. However, the reaction time of the bromide-free TEMPO catalyzed oxidation could be shortened from 2.5 to 0.5 h when the pulp was treated with 1 M NaOH prior to the oxidation (2.4 mmol NaOCl/g pulp). The beneficial effect was obtained even if the alkali treatment was executed at room temperature and only for few minutes. Moreover, the alkali pretreatment enabled selective production of a pulp with carboxylate content as high as 1.6 mmol/g with NaOCl dosage of 4.4 mmol/g. The changes in the cellulosic raw material during the alkali treatment were assessed by water retention value and carbohydrate analysis.