Influence of elastomeric core–shell impact modifiers on mechanical properties of cellulose diacetate resin

Cellulose diacetate (CDA) plasticized with triacetine was blended by melting extrusion with two different kind of elastomeric core–shell impact modifiers: methyl methacrylate (MMA, shell) grafted onto styrene–butadiene–rubber (SBR, core) (MSBR) and MMA (shell) grafted onto butyl acrylate rubber (BAR, core) (MBAR). The different CDA/MSBR and CDA/MBAR blends were characterized by mechanical properties and morphological observation with various impact modifier contents. The highest impact strength was observed in the case of the blend with 5 wt% of MSBR and 3 wt% of MBAR, respectively. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus of CDA blends were decreased with increasing both MSBR and MBAR. According to SEM observation, MBAR was dispersed more effectively in CDA matrix than that of MSBR, thus indicating improved impact strength.     

Determination of docetaxel in rat plasma and its application in the comparative pharmacokinetics of Taxotere and SID530, a novel docetaxel formulation with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin

In this study, a sensitive, simple and reliable method for the quantification of docetaxel in rat plasma was developed and validated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The plasma samples were prepared by protein precipitation, and paclitaxel was used as an internal standard (IS). Chromatographic separation was achieved using a Gemini C₁₈ column (2.0 × 150 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid–acetonitrile (30:70, v/v). The precursor–product ion pairs used for multiple reaction monitoring were m/z 808.5 → 527.5 (docetaxel) and m/z 854.2 → 286.5 (IS, paclitaxel). A calibration curve for docetaxel was constructed over the range 1–1000 ng/mL. The developed method was specific, precise and accurate, and no matrix effect was observed. The validated method was applied in a comparative pharmacokinetic study in which two docetaxel formulations, SID530, a new parenteral formulation of docetaxel with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HP‐β‐CD), and Taxotere, were administered to rats at a dose of 5 mg/kg. For SID530 and Taxotere, the mean C₀ values were 1494 and 1818 ng/mL, respectively, and the AUC_last values were 837 and 755 h ng/mL, respectively. These two formulations did not show any statistical differences with regard to the pharmacokinetic parameters, thus establishing that the SID530 and Taxotere products are pharmacokinetically comparable in male rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mild and Efficient Deoxygenation of Sulfoxides with a WCl6/Indium System

Dialkyl, diaryl, and aryl alkyl sulfoxides can be rapidly converted to the corresponding sulfides with a WCl₆/In system in excellent yields under mild conditions.     

Cytotoxic 5‐Hydroxyindole Alkaloids from the Marine Sponge Scalarispongia sp.

Three new 5‐hydroxyindole alkaloids ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) along with seven known analogs ( 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ) were isolated from a Dokdo marine sponge Scalarispongia sp. The elucidation of the structures of the new compounds by spectroscopic analyses indicated that these compounds were an indole glyoxylate ( 1 ), a mono‐indole analog of hyrtinadine A ( 2 ), and a symmetrical bis‐indole with pyridine linker ( 3 ). The comparison of IC₅₀ values for obtained compounds against a human leukemia cell line revealed that the bis‐indole structure is a requirement for cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis of Poly(benzothiadiazole‐co‐dithienobenzodithiophenes) and Effect of Thiophene Insertion for High‐Performance Polymer Solar Cells

We describe herein the synthesis of novel donor–acceptor conjugated polymers with dithienobenzodithiophenes (DTBDT) as the electron donor and 2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole as the electron acceptor for high‐performance organic photovoltaics (OPVs). We studied the effects of strategically inserting thiophene into the DTBDT as a substituent on the skeletal structure on the opto‐electronic performances of fabricated devices. From UV/Vis absorption, electrochemical, and field‐effect transistor analyses, we found that the thiophene‐containing DTBDT derivative can substantially increase the orbital overlap area between adjacent conjugated chains and thus dramatically enhance charge‐carrier mobility up to 0.55 cm² V^?1 s^?1. The outstanding charge‐transport characteristics of this polymer allowed the realization of high‐performance organic solar cells with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.1 %. Detailed studies on the morphological factors that enable the maximum PCE of the polymer solar cells are discussed along with a hole/electron mobility analysis based on the space‐charge‐limited current model.     

Self-assembled discotic nematic liquid crystals formed by simple hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties

New discotic nematic liquid crystals have been prepared through intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the core of 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (phloroglucinol, PG) or 1,3,5-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzene (THPB) and the peripheral molecules of stilbazole derivatives. The various nematic phases formed by new hydrogen bonding building blocks were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, polarising optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The first discotic complexes of PG and trans-4-alkoxy-4′-stilbazoles exhibited nematic columnar (N_C) and hexagonal columnar phases depending on the length of alkyl chains, which were considered as the basic discotic structure. Several structural variations on the building blocks were attempted to examine their effects on the liquid crystalline properties of discotic complexes. The nematic lateral phase (N_L) with enhanced intercolumnar order was observed for the complexes of PG and trans-4-cyanoalkoxy-4′ stilbazoles due probably to the strong dipole interactions between cyano groups at the end of alkoxy chains. By introducing the nonlinear structure in three arms of supramolecular discotic mesogen, a discotic nematic phase (N_D) was observed for the complex of THPB and trans-4-octyloxy-4 -stilbazole. The single hydrogen bonding between phenol and pyridine moieties in this study provides a simple and effective method for preparing the rarely found discotic nematic liquid crystals.     

Spectroscopic characterization and preparation of low molecular,water‐soluble chitosan with free‐amine group by novel method

Low molecular, water‐soluble chitosan (LMWSC) with a free amine group was prepared by the novel salts‐removal method described in this study. A weight‐average molecular weight and degree of deacetylation (DDA) of LMWSC were determined by viscometry and Kina titration, resulting in 18,579 Da and 93% DDA, respectively. In the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra the absorption band by the carboxyl group derived from lactic acid and the impurities formed in the enzymatic process disappeared or were significantly lower than that of the control chitosan. Also, from the ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra the empirical value for the area ratio of the proton and carbon corresponds nearly to its theoretical values. The matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrum identified the difference in the two adjacent peaks as 161. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3796–3803, 2002     

Redetermination of (6R,7S,9S,11S)‐(–)‐sparteinium monoperchlorate

The structure of the title compound, C₁₅H₂₇N₂⁺·ClO₄^?, consists of a monoprotonated sparteinium cation and a perchlorate anion. The two tertiary N atoms of the cation, one perchlorate O atom and a H atom form a bifurcated hydrogen bond, the four hydrogen‐bonding atoms being nearly in the same plane.