Synthesis and characterization of MCM-48 tubular membranes

MCM-48 membranes have been prepared on alumina supports of different pore sizes. A battery of characterization techniques has been used to study the physical properties and the quality of the membranes prepared. The highest quality membranes were prepared on supports with pore size of up to 60 nm. The MCM-48 membranes were tested in the separation of gas phase mixtures and a cyclohexane/O₂ selectivity higher than 270 was obtained. The selective separation of organic compounds from inert components is a result of the cooperative effects of capillary condensation in MCM-48 pores and of the specific interactions of the permeating compounds and the membrane material.     

Water adsorption on and desorption from crystalline copolymers of vinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene

Water adsorption and absorption on crystalline polyvinylidene fluoride with 30% trifluoroethylene, P(VDF-TrFE, 70:30), was examined by thermal desorption spectroscopy. Two distinctly different water adsorption sites are identified: one adsorbed species that resembles ice and another species that interacts more strongly with the polymer thin film. The existence of the latter species is consistent with X-ray diffraction studies of water absorbed into the bulk of copolymers of polyvinylidene fluoride with trifluoroethylene crystalline thin films. There are strong steric effects observed in the angle-resolved thermal desorption that may be a result of the large polymer thin film surface dipoles.     

Fungicidal properties of meso-arylglycosylporphyrins: influence of sugar substituents on photoinduced damage in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A series of neutral meso-arylglycosylporphyrins has been tested in order to evaluate their potency as antifungal agents against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Photodynamic activity of these molecules results in intracellular damage as evidenced by the loss of clonogenicity and DNA fragmentation. The ability of these photosensitizers to permeate yeast cells is determined by microspectrofluorimetry and is correlated with their antifungal potency. Amphiphilic porphyrin derivatives are shown to exhibit the more pronounced photoactivity.     

Terbium-sensitized luminescence determination of levofloxacin in tablets and human urine and serum

A selective and sensitive luminescence method for the determination of levofloxacin is described. The method is based in the luminescence signal from a terbium(III)-levofloxacin complex, in a micellar solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), using a chemical deoxygenation agent (Na2SO3). The method allows the determination of 8-600 ng mL-1 of levofloxacin in 10 mM SDS solution containing 0.04 M acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 6) and 7.5 mM Na2SO3 with lambda exc = 292 nm and lambda em = 546 nm. The luminescence method was applied to the determination of the levofloxacin in a Spanish commercialized pharmaceutical formulation Tavanic (Hoechst Marion Roussel). Good concordance was found between the nominal and experimental values (500 and 488 mg, respectively), with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.6%. The proposed method was shown to be 100-fold more sensitive than the spectrophotometric method, and nearly 2-fold more sensitive than the fluorescence method. The method was also applied to levofloxacin determination in human serum (by external calibration method) and urine (by standard additions method), spiked at levels found after drug administration at normal clinical doses. Average recoveries found were 90.1 (RSD 1%) and 102 (RSD 1.9%), respectively.     

Compatibility mechanisms between EVA and complex impact heterophasic PP-EPx copolymers as a function of EP content

Compatibility mechanisms between EVA and complex heterophasic iPP-EPx copolymers have been studied as a function of EP content. Systematic studies were made in order to characterize the thermal, morphological and mechanical behavior, before and after blending a series of PP-EPx/EVA concentrations. Multiple melting, proportional to the EP content, was observed for the neat copolymers and an explanation was given for its evolution in terms of rejection-like secondary crystallization. After blending with EVA, the generation of a single T_g was taken as an indication of compatibility between both polymers. A morphological transition toward compatibility was first determined at 20 wt.% EVA which was in correlation with a morphological change from isolated spherical domains to interconnected voids. A second morphological transition from interconnected voids to fibrous crystals was observed above 40 wt.% EVA. This last transition marked the beginning of compatibility. Overall, the evolution of blends was explained in terms of the nature of the complex heterophasic copolymers. Tensile mechanical studies were also consistent with morphological changes. Increases in the x content in EPx and in EVA concentration worked in favor of impact resistance.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-[α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide

The synthesis of N-[(α-acetoxy)-4-pyridylmethyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (4) and its reactivity are described. Since the acetoxy is a good leaving group, 4 gives S_N processes easily.     

Enantiospecific synthesis of the (9S,18R)-diastereomer of the leukocyte adhesion inhibitor cyclamenol A

Cyclamenol A is one of the very few non-carbohydrate and non-peptide natural products that inhibit leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells. We report on the first enantioselective total synthesis of the (9S, 18R)-diastereomer of this macrocyclic polyene lactam. Key elements of the synthesis are i) the synthesis of the required chiral building blocks by employing readily accessible building blocks from the chiral pool, that is, (S)-malic acid and (R)-hydroxyisobutyric acid, ii) assembly of a linear polyene precursor by means of Wittig and Horner olefination reactions as key C-C bond-forming transformations, iii) ring closure by means of a vanadium-mediated pinacolisation reaction and iv) conversion of the generated cis-diol into a (Z)-olefin to complete the entire polyene system of the natural product. Attempts to close the macrocyclic ring by a macrolactamisation, a double Stille coupling or direct olefination in a McMurry reaction failed. Crucial to the successful completion of the synthesis was the correct orchestration of the final steps. It was necessary to first deprotect the intermediate formed after macrocycle formation and to generate the sensitive heptaene system in the last step by means of a Corey-Hopkins sequence.     

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure determination of first examples of donor-functionalized terphenyl lanthanide complexes

The molecular structures of novel donor-functionalized terphenyl derivatives of trivalent ytterbium, yttrium, and samarium of composition [DanipYb(mu2-Cl)2(mu3-Cl)Li(THF)]2 (1) and [DanipLn(mu2-Cl)2(mu2-Cl)Li(THF)2]2 (Ln = Y, 2; Ln = Sm, 3) are reported [Danip = 2,6-di(o-anisol)phenyl]. The complexes are obtained from the reaction of equimolar amounts of DanipLi and LnCl3 (Ln = Yb, Y, Sm) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature in 60% yield. 1-2 toluene crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Ponebar. Crystal data for 1-2 toluene at 203 K: a = 9.7281(9) A; b = 12.7989(12) A; c = 13.4870(12) A; alpha = 91.553(2) degrees; beta = 103.957(2) degrees; gamma = 109.916(2) degrees; V = 1521.2(2) A(3); Z' = 1; D(calcd) = 1.615 g cm(-3); R1 = 3.43%. 2-toluene crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Ponebar. Crystal data for 2-toluene at 203 K: a = 10.4152(10) A; b = 12.5783(12) A; c = 14.4640(14) A; alpha = 69.963(2) degrees; beta = 80.900(2) degrees; gamma = 66.603(2) degrees; V = 1633.3(3) A(3); Z' = 1; D(calcd) = 1.386 g cm(-3); R1 = 4.07%. 3-toluene crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Ponebar. Crystal data for 3-toluene at 203 K: a = 10.3457(8) A; b = 12.5658(10) A; c = 14.4365(11) A; alpha = 70.2250(10) degrees; beta = 81.2820(10) degrees; gamma = 66.8330(10) degrees; V = 1623.3(2) A(3); Z' = 1; D(calcd) = 1.521 g cm(-3); R1 = 3.40%. Complexes 1-3 represent first examples of donor-functionalized terphenyl complexes of the elements ytterbium, yttrium, and samarium, respectively. The molecular structures of 1-3 feature a "constraint geometry" type arrangement of the Danip ligand at the lanthanide atom. The complexes reported are dimeric and composed of lithium chloride bridged DanipLnCl(2) moieties (Ln = Yb, Y, Sm), stabilized through additional coordination of two methoxy functions to the lanthanide atom.     

Influence of reduction conditions on H2 adsorption in high-surface Rh/CeO2 catalysts as deduced by volumetry, calorimetry, and 1H NMR techniques

1H NMR spectra corresponding to H2 adsorption on high-surface Rh/CeO2 catalysts (S(BET) approximately 55 m2/g) are formed by two lines, attributed to hydrogen adsorbed on ceria (resonance line A) and rhodium-metal particles (upfield-shifted line B). The evolution of 1H NMR spectra as a function of temperature, time, and type of reduction (static or dynamic) allows the study of the progressive establishment of the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) in Rh/CeO2 catalysts. As the reduction progresses, the mean adsorption heat and the amount of hydrogen adsorbed on the metal, deduced from volumetry, NMR, and calorimetry techniques, decrease considerably. As a consequence of the decrease in metal activity, the amount of hydrogen transferred to the support CeO2 is also reduced (spill-over processes). Outgassing of samples at 773 K eliminates hydrogen species retained at the metal-support surface, and oxidation treatments at 473 and 673 K eliminate the electronic effect and physical blocking of metal particles. The oxidation at 673 K recuperates the total adsorption capacity of metal particles. On the basis of these treatments, the contribution of different processes to the SMSI effect is analyzed. Electronic perturbation of rhodium particles is higher when reductions are performed in dynamic conditions; however, the importance of physical blocking of metal particles increases in static reductions. High reducibility of ceria strengthens electronic effects in Rh/CeO2 compared to those observed in Rh/TiO2 catalysts.