Synthesis and characterization of naphtho[2,1‐b:3,4‐b′]dithiophene‐based polymers with extended π‐conjugation systems for use in bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells

Two novel polymeric semiconductor materials based on naphtho[2,1‐b:3,4‐b']dithiophene (NDT), PNDT‐TTT and PNDT‐TET , were designed and synthesized. These synthesized polymers were tested in bulk heterojunction solar cells as blends with the acceptor [6,6]‐phenyl‐C71‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM). PNDT‐TTT contained tri‐thiophene units, and PNDT‐TET contained bi‐thiophene units coupled by ethylenic linkages. Comparison to the properties of PNDT‐T , which contained single thiophene units, these polymers exhibit red‐shifted absorption spectra as a result of the enhanced conjugation lengths. These effects resulted in high short circuit currents (J_SC) in the organic solar cells. The PNDT‐TET ‐ and PNDT‐TTT ‐based devices exhibited considerably better photovoltaic performances, with power conversion efficiencies of 3.5 and 3.3%, respectively, compared to the PNDT‐T ‐based device (1.3%). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 4742–4751     

Single‐step modified QuEChERS for determination of chlorothalonil in shallot (Allium ascalonicum) using GC‐μECD and confirmation via mass spectrometry

A single extraction method was developed for chlorothalonil in shallot using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (GC‐μECD). Samples were extracted with single‐step modified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method using ethyl acetate as an extraction solvent. Significant matrix effects were observed, and the calibration curve was constructed from the matrix. The linearity of the analytical response across the studied range of concentrations (0.01–1.00 mg/L) was excellent, obtaining a correlation coefficient (r²) of 0.996. >0.996. Recovery studies were carried out on spiked shallot blank samples, at two concentration levels (0.4 and 2.0 mg/kg) with three replicates performed at each level. Mean recoveries of 97.2–104.9% with RSDs of 1.3–2.7% were obtained. The method is demonstrated to be suitable for the determination of chlorothalonil in shallot. The dissipation rates of chlorothalonil were described using first‐order kinetics, and its half‐life was 2.8 days. Based on the dissipation pattern of the pesticide residues, the pre‐harvest residue limit (PHRL) was also calculated. Residues were confirmed via mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

(S)-selective dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols by the combination of subtilisin and an aminocyclopentadienylruthenium complex as the catalysts

A new procedure for the dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of racemic alcohols into single enantiomers is described. This procedure employs surfactant-treated subtilisin as an (S)-selective resolving catalyst and an aminocyclopentadienylruthenium complex as a racemizing catalyst. The DKR is performed best in the presence of an acyl donor such as trifluoroethyl butyrate in THF at room temperature. Eight simple secondary alcohols have been efficiently resolved with high optical purities and good yields. The subtilisin-based DKR is complementary in stereoselectivity to its lipase-based counterpart. For an acyl-carrying alcohol, both subtilisin- and lipase-based DKRs have proceeded equally well to give a pair of enantiomeric products (>99.5% ee each) with opposite optical rotations in high yields (94-95%).     

On the stereological estimation of reduced moment measures

Recently, a new set of fundamental stereological formulae based on isotropically oriented probes through fixed points have been derived, the so-called nucleator estimation principle (cf. Jensen and Gundersen (1989, J. Microsc., 153, 249–267)). In the present paper, it is shown how a model-based version of these formulae leads to stereological estimators of reduced moment measures of stationary and isotropic random sets in ⁿ .     

Controlling degradation of acid-hydrolyzable pluronic hydrogels by physical entrapment of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) microspheres

Chemically crosslinked biodegradable hydrogels based on di-acrylated Pluronic F-127 tri-block copolymer were prepared by a photopolymerization method. Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres were physically entrapped within the Pluronic hydrogel in order to modulate the local pH environment by acidic degradation by-products of PLGA microspheres. The PLGA microspheres were slowly degraded to create an acidic microenvironment, which facilitated the cleavage of an acid-labile ester-linkage in the biodegradable Pluronic hydrogel network. The presence of PLGA microspheres accelerated the degradation of the Pluronic hydrogel and enhanced the protein release rate when protein was loaded in the hydrogel.SEM image of photo-crosslinked Pluronic hydrogel entrapping PLGA microspheres.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of syn-aminoalcohols via contributing CH-π interaction: simple synthesis of (−)-bestatin

¹H NMR and X-ray crystallography studies revealed that a CH-π and chelation control in aromatic aminoaldehydes (1-6) effects a highly diastereoselective addition to afford optically active syn-aminoalcohols (1a-6a). This methodology was applied to the synthesis of (−)-bestatin.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of alpha-chloroacetanilides with benzylamines in dimethyl sulfoxide

Kinetic studies of the reactions of alpha-chloroacetanilides (YC6H4NRC(=O)CH2Cl; R = H (5) and CH3 (6)) with benzylamines (NH2CH2C6H4X) were carried out in dimethyl sulfoxide at 55.0 degrees C. The Br?nsted betaX values were in the range from 0.6 to 0.9 and cross-interaction constants phoXY were positive: phoXY = +0.21 and +0.18 for 5 and 6, respectively. The rates were faster with 6 than with 5 and inverse secondary kinetic isotope effects involving deuterated benzylamine (ND2CH2C6H4X) nucleophiles, kH/kD < 1.0, were obtained. Based on these and other results, a stepwise mechanism with rate-limiting expulsion of the chloride leaving group from a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, T+/-, is proposed. In this mechanism, a prior carbonyl addition to T+/- is followed by a bridged type transition state to expel the chloride. An enolate-like transition state in which the developing negative charge on C(alpha) delocalizes toward the carbonyl group (nC-->pi*(C=O) interaction) is not feasible for the present series of reactions due to a stronger charge transfer involving the lone pair on the anilino nitrogen (nAN-->pi*(C=O) interaction).