Non-fouling surfaces produced by gas phase pulsed plasma polymerization of an ultra low molecular weight ethylene oxide containing monomer

The pulsed plasma polymerization of low molecular weight molecules containing only one (ethylene oxide vinyl ether) and two (diethylene oxide vinyl ether) ethylene oxide units were investigated. The surface density of EO units retained in the polymer films increases sharply with decreasing average power input during deposition, particularly at very low plasma duty cycles. The protein adsorption properties of these plasma synthesized polymer were investigated using ¹²⁵I-labeled albumin and fibrinogen. Surprisingly effective, non-fouling surfaces were observed with films synthesized from the monomer containing two ethylene oxide units; however, the monomer containing only one EO unit gave surfaces that were not particularly effective in preventing protein adsorptions. The results obtained show that ultra short chain length PEO modified surfaces can be biologically non-fouling. This, in turn, has interesting consequences in terms of trying to identify the basic reason for the effectiveness of EO units in preventing biomolecule adsorptions on surfaces.     

Completion of the series of M2(hpp)4Cl2 compounds from W to Pt: the W, Os, and Pt compounds

The series of M2(hpp)4Cl2 complexes (hpp is the anion of 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine) from M = W to M = Pt has been completed by the preparation and characterization of those with M = W, Os, and Pt. W(hpp)4Cl2 (1) has a W-W distance of 2.250(2) A, is diamagnetic, and can be assigned a W-W triple bond based on a sigma 2 pi 4 electron configuration. Os2(hpp)4Cl2 (2) has an Os-Os distance of 2.379(2) A and displays a temperature-independent paramagnetism. It can be assigned a sigma 2 pi 4 delta 2 delta*2 configuration. Pt2(hpp)4Cl2 has a Pt-Pt distance of 2.440(1) A and is diamagnetic. A bond order of 1, based on a configuration in which only the sigma* orbital is empty, is consistent with these data.     

Orthogonal Polarity Graphs and Sidon Sets

Determining the maximum number of edges in an n‐vertex C₄‐free graph is a well‐studied problem that dates back to a paper of Erd?s from 1938. One of the most important families of C₄‐free graphs are the Erd?s‐Rényi orthogonal polarity graphs. We show that the Cayley sum graph constructed using a Bose‐Chowla Sidon set is isomorphic to a large induced subgraph of the Erd?s‐Rényi orthogonal polarity graph. Using this isomorphism, we prove that the Petersen graph is a subgraph of every sufficiently large Erd?s‐Rényi orthogonal polarity graph.     

Aza Diels-Alder reactions utilizing 4-iodo-2-trimethylsilyloxy-butadiene

The aza Diels-Alder reaction is described for a novel diene. Imines bearing benzyl and aromatic protecting groups both work well. Moderate diastereoselectivities can be obtained using the simple α-methylbenzyl chiral auxiliary.     

The enantioselective halo aldol reaction utilizing cyclopropyl ketone-derived enolates

A new enantioselective halo aldol reaction is reported using a chiral borane catalyst. The absolute stereochemistry of the product was unambiguously determined by chemical transformations and a preliminary mechanistic study is reported.     

Asymmetric flavone-based liquid crystals: synthesis and properties

A series of flavones (n-F) substituted at the 4′, and 6 positions was prepared, characterised by NMR (¹H,¹³C), HRMS, and studied for liquid crystal properties. The 4′-alkoxy,6-methoxyflavones (4-F–16-F) exhibit varying ranges of nematic and smectic A phases as evidenced by polarised optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As the tail length is increased, the smectic phase becomes more prevalent. Smectic phases for (8-F–16-F) were further analysed by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the rate of structural transformations was explored by combined DSC/XRD studies. Flavonol 6-F–OH was also prepared but no mesogenic behaviour was observed. The molecular structures of 6-F and 6-F–OH were determined by single-crystal XRD and help to explain the differences in material properties. Additionally, fluorescence and electrochemical studies were conducted on solutions of n-F.     

Pulsed-plasma polymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone: Synthesis of a linear polymer

The RF plasma induced polymerization of 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone was examined under variable duty-cycle pulsed-plasma conditions. Large-scale progressive changes in the composition of the resultant polymeric films were observed with sequential changes in the plasma duty cycle employed during polymerization, all other plasma variables held constant. The film compositional changes obtained are in the direction of increased retention of the lactam ring of the monomer in the resultant polymers as the duty cycles employed (i.e., the ratio of plasma on to plasma off times) were decreased. Particularly significant are the relatively linear polymeric structures obtained under the exceptionally low-average power deposition conditions made accessible with the pulsed plasma technique. XPS and FTIR spectroscopic examination of these latter films reveal compositions that are similar to those obtained by conventional (i.e., nonplasma) synthesis of the linear polymer. The film chemistry controllability demonstrated in the present study is achieved while maintaining the many advantages of the plasma polymerization approach for surface modifications. This work provides additional support for use of the pulsed operational mode as an effective means of film chemistry control, in particular extending the plasma polymerization technique to include synthesis of linear polymers, in lieu of the more highly crosslinked structures typically produced in conventional continuous-wave plasma polymerization processes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 3121–3129, 1998     

The kinetics of the reaction of O(3P) and D atoms with cyclohexane

The kinetics of the reactions of O(³P) and D atoms with cyclohexane have been investigated using fast-flow techniques. The rates of reaction were computed by monitoring changes in both atom and cyclohexane concentrations using electron spin resonance and mass spectrometric methods, respectively. The O(³P) + C₆H₁₂ reaction was studied over a temperature range of 344 to 513°K and we obtain a specific rate constant of (3.2±0.6) × 10¹⁴ exp (?4400±400/RT) cm³/mole˙sec for this reaction. The only reaction product detectable mass spectrometrically under flow conditions of excess oxygen atoms is formaldehyde. The D + C₆H₁₂ reaction was studied over a temperature range of 297 to 596°K. A specific rate constant of (4.1±1.0) × 10¹³ exp (?4000±300/RT) cm³/mole˙sec was obtained for this reaction. On the basis of the results obtained in these studies, the important primary process in both the O(³P) and D atom reactions is concluded to be abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the cyclohexane molecule.