A “Mitsubishi emblem” tetrauclear aluminum complex containing two unsymmetric N2O2‐ligands and a symmetric NO3‐ligand as initiator for polymerization of rac‐lactide

A novel hydroxy‐, methoxy‐, and phenoxy‐bridge “Mitsubishi emblem” tetranuclear aluminum complex ( 1 ) is synthesized from an unsymmetric amine‐pyridine‐bis(phenol) N₂O₂‐ligand (H₂L¹) and a symmetric amine‐tris(phenol) NO₃‐ligand (H₂L²). Two same configuration chiral nitrogen atoms are formed in the tetranuclear Al complex upon coordination of the unsymmetric tertiary amine ligand to central Al. Complex 1 initiates controlled ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of rac‐lactide and afford polylactide (PLA) with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n = 1.05–1.19). The analysis of ¹H NMR spectra of the oligomer indicates that the methoxy group is the initiating group and the ring‐opening polymerization of lactide follows a coordination‐insertion mechanism. The Homonuclear decoupled ¹H NMR spectroscopy suggests the isotactic‐rich chains is preferentially formed in PLA. The study on kinetics of the ROP of lactide reveals the homopropagation rate is higher than the cross‐propagation rate, which is in agreement with the observed isotactic selectivity in the ROP of rac‐lactide. The stereochemistry of the polymerization was also supported by activation parameters. The introduction of unsymmetric ligand H₂L¹ has an effect on stereoslectivity of polymerization. This result may be of interest for the design of multinuclear metal complex catalysts containing functionalized ligands. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2084–2091     

Corresponding Angle Feedback in an innovative weighted transportation system

The optimal information feedback has a significant effect on many socioeconomic systems like stock market and traffic systems aiming to make full use of resources. In this Letter, we study dynamics of traffic flow with real-time information. The influence of a feedback strategy named Corresponding Angle Feedback Strategy (CAFS) is introduced, based on a two-route scenario in which dynamic information can be generated and displayed on the board to guide road users to make a choice. Our model incorporates the effects of adaptability into the cellular automaton models of traffic flow and simulation results adopting this optimal information feedback strategy have demonstrated high efficiency in controlling spatial distribution of traffic patterns compared with the other three information feedback strategies, i.e., vehicle number and flux.     

Metal-free synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones via denitrative coupling reactions of β-nitrostyrenes with sodium sulfinates

Abstract

A practical metal-free procedure for the synthesis of (E)-vinyl sulfones has been developed through the coupling of β-nitrostyrenes with sodium sulfinates under microwave irradiation. This methodology provides a convenient and efficient approach to various (E)-vinyl sulfones from readily available starting materials with excellent regioselectivity. The present oxidative reaction involves an efficient denitrative radical cross-coupling of β-nitrostyrenes with sodium sulfinates via using AcOH as an additive.     

Novel fabrication of magnetic thermoplastic nanofibers via melt extrusion of immiscible blends

A novel technique of fabricating magnetic thermoplastic nanofibers by the control of the phase separation of immiscible polymer blends during melt extrusion was presented. The magnetic poly(vinyl alcohol‐co‐ethylene) (PVA‐co‐PE)/Fe₃O₄ composite nanofibers were prepared via the melt extrusion of cellulose acetate butyrate matrix and PVA‐co‐PE preloaded with different amounts of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The morphologies of magnetic composite nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The uniform dispersion of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in nanofiber matrixes and crystal structures were confirmed using transmission electron microscopy and wide angle X‐ray diffraction. Thermogravimetric analysis was employed to quantify the exact loading amount of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in the composite nanofibers. The magnetic measurements showed that composite nanofibers displayed superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature. With increasing content of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, the saturation magnetization of the magnetic composite nanofiber significantly improved. The prepared magnetic composite nanofibers might have found potential applications in the sensors and bio‐molecular separation fields. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Site‐specific reversible immobilization and purification of His‐tagged protein on poly(2‐acetamidoacrylic acid) hydrogel beads

Ni²⁺‐complexed poly(2‐acetamidoacrylic acid) (PAAA) hydrogel beads were developed for the site‐specific reversible immobilization and purification of the histidine‐tagged green fluorescent protein (His‐tagged GFP). PAAA hydrogel beads were prepared by photopolymerization, and significantly improved mechanical properties of PAAA hydrogel beads were observed in comparison with PAAA hydrogel from our previous study. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to determine the binding of His‐tagged GFP to the hydrogel beads in three‐dimensional space. Photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed 89% of binding efficiency of His‐tagged GFP to the Ni²⁺‐PAAA hydrogel beads, 51% of yielding recovery. The maximum binding capacity of His‐tagged GFP was estimated to be 0.45 µg/mg of Ni²⁺‐PAAA hydrogel beads. The recombinant His‐tagged GFP from the soluble fraction of E. coli BL21(DE3) cell lysates was purified with Ni²⁺‐PAAA hydrogel beads. The major advantage of the Ni²⁺‐PAAA hydrogel beads system was simple preparation procedures of producing the matrix, because PAAA hydrogel beads had relatively enhanced mechanical strength than soft hydrogels. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.