Aromatic homo‐ and copolyesters from naturally occurring monosaccharides: PET and PEI analogs derived from L‐arabinitol and xylitol

The synthesis and characterization of new aromatic homo‐ and copolyesters based on l‐arabinitol and xylitol are described. These polymers were obtained by polycondensation reaction of the 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐methyl‐l‐arabinitol or 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐methyl‐xylitol, or their mixtures with ethylene glycol, with terephthaloyl chloride or isophthaloyl chloride in o‐dichlorobenzene or in the melt phase from the corresponding methyl phthalates. All the polymers were characterized by GPC, IR, and NMR. Their M_w values ranged between 11,500 and 46,500, with polydispersities from 1.5 to 2.3. They were found to be soluble in chloroform, but insoluble in water. In contrast with the homopolymers completely made with EG, they showed a significant hygroscopicity. DSC and TGA studies showed that the melting temperature of polyethylene terephthalate is depressed by the presence of pentitol units, whereas the thermal stability is kept above 350 °C. Only copolyesters containing 10% or less of pentitol units showed melting and produced X‐ray diffraction patterns characteristic of crystalline material. d‐Arabinitol‐based homopolyesters appeared to be more crystalline than those derived from xylitol and also presented a higher thermal stability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6394–6410, 2005     

Enantiopure aryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols and their use for heterogeneous hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate

Both enantiomers of two new chiral modifiers (naphthyl- and anthryl-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-pyridinyl] methanols, 4H and 5H) are obtained for the first time from inexpensive d-mannitol in 10 easy steps. Until now erythro-4H is the only synthetic chiral modifier available under both enantiomeric forms, which provide enantioselectivities almost as high as those obtained with natural cinchonidine, for which only one enantiomer is available. It is shown that the anthryl group may be less efficient than the naphthyl (the e.e.% drops from 75% with erythro-4H to 46% with erythro-5H) and that N-methyl substitution (trisubstituted nitrogen as in cinchonidine) leads also to a drop in the e.e.% (from 75% with 4H to 39% with 4Me).     

ΛΛ 6 hypernucleus in α + 2Λ cluster model

The binding energy of the double hypernucleus _ΛΛ ⁶ is calculated in α + 2Λ cluster model using the method of translation invariant basis TIMO. As regards the required interaction potentials we use a density dependent effective ΛN force and a gaussian form for ΛΛ potential. With these interactions a very reasonable value ofB _ΛΛ is obtained if the oscillator states up to the excitation quantum numberN=12 are taken into account in the expansion of wavefunction of the hypernucleus. This value ofN is much smaller than that obtained in an earlier study. This lowering inN value is attributed to a much better choice of ΛN potential used in the present study.     

Spectrophotometric determination of tranexamic acid in pharmaceutical bulk and dosage forms.

In this study, a simple, fast, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations. The method is based on the reaction of ninhydrin with the primary amino group of tranexamic acid in the basic medium at pH 8.0. The reaction produces a bluish-purple color which absorbs maximally at 565 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the range of 3-40 microg ml(-1) with molar absorptivity of 5.093 x 10(3) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The effects of various factors such as temperature, heating time, concentration of reagent, color stability and interferences were investigated to optimize the procedure. The results have been validated analytically and statistically. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of tranexamic acid in bulk and pharmaceutical preparations with good results.     

Withanolides from Withania adpressa

From the leaves of Withania adpressa, a plant endemic to Sahara of Morocco and Algeria, the novel steroidal lactone (22R)‐14α,15α,17β,20β‐tetrahydroxy‐1‐oxowitha‐2,5,24‐trien‐26,22‐olide (= (15S,17S)‐14,15,17,20‐tetrahydroxy‐22,26‐epoxyergosta‐2,5,24‐triene‐1,26‐dione; 1 ), was isolated, along with three known compounds, withanolides F ( 2 ), J ( 3 ), and oleanolic acid. Their structures were mainly solved by in‐depth 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (including ADEQUATE) experiments, as well as by HR‐MS analyses and chemical evidence.     

TmDOTA-: a sensitive probe for MR thermometry in vivo.

The lanthanide complex, thulium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (TmDOTA-), has been investigated as an agent for MR thermometry in vivo. The chemical shifts of the TmDOTA- protons were highly sensitive to temperature at a clinically relevant field strength, yet insensitive to pH and the presence of Ca2+. Given the excellent stability of lanthanide-DOTA complexes and high thermal sensitivity, TmDOTA- is expected to be a good candidate for MR thermometry in vivo.     

The rotational and vibrational spectra of 1,3-dithiole- 2-one

Microwave spectra of 1,3-dithiole-2-one show that the molecule has a planar equilibrium conformation. IR and Raman spectra are analysed to give the normal modes of vibration.     

Kinetics and mechanism of decomposition of intermediate complex during oxidation of pectate polysaccharide by potassium permanganate in alkaline solutions

The kinetics of decomposition of an [Pect·Mn^VIO₄^2?] intermediate complex have been investigated spectrophotometrically at various temperatures of 15–30°C and a constant ionic strength of 0.1 mol dm^?3. The decomposition reaction was found to be first‐order in the intermediate concentration. The results showed that the rate of reaction was base‐catalyzed. The kinetic parameters have been evaluated and found to be ΔS^≠ = ? 190.06 ± 9.84 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH^≠ = 19.75 ± 0.57 kJ mol^?1, and ΔG^≠ = 76.39 ± 3.50 kJ mol^?1, respectively. A reaction mechanism consistent with the results is discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 67–72, 2003     

Rheological study of multilayer functionalized polymers: characterization of interdiffusion and reaction at polymer/polymer interface

Rheological behavior in molten state of multilayered polymers was investigated by dynamic mechanical measurements. The competition between polymer/polymer interdiffusion and interfacial reaction of functionalized polymers in a sandwich structure was followed by oscillatory mode under small amplitudes of deformation. The systems chosen for study were polyethylene (PE) grafted with glycidyl methacrylate/polyamide (PA) 6 as a reactive system and PE/PA6 as nonreactive one. Moreover, the interphase thickness was estimated by using thermodynamical models. Experimental results of bilayer systems were compared to existing models of multiphase systems. An expression of storage modulus as a function of welding time was also suggested. Thus, the fit between this one and the experimental data was satisfactory with the different appearing phenomena.