Melt‐processable thermosetting polyimide: Synthesis,characterization, fusibility,and property

To obtain a melt‐processable thermosetting polyimide having a high glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and good solvent resistance, the effect of introducing a crosslinkable agent into the polymer chain ends of the melt‐processable polyimide on its physical properties was studied. The polyimide (calculated number‐average molecular weight (M_n) = 11,600 g/mol) capped with the crosslinkable agent exhibited poor melt flowability because its crosslinkable agent reacted at the processing temperature of 360 °C. To reduce the rate of crosslink reaction, two methods were investigated. One was lowering the processing temperature, and the other was decreasing the amount of crosslinkable agent. The low‐molecular‐weight oligomer (calculated M_n = 6300 g/mol) capped with the crosslinkable agent exhibited good melt flowability at the lower processing temperature of 340 °C where the crosslinkable agent did not react. However, the obtained molded part of this oligomer was too brittle to maintain its shape. However, the polyimide (calculated M_n = 11,600 g/mol) partially capped with the crosslinkable agent demonstrated good melt flowability at the processing temperature of 360 °C. Furthermore, the molded part of this resin was strong and tough. In addition, the cured part exhibited high T_g and good solvent resistance. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2395–2404, 2004     

Molecular design of potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B based on the tertiary structure prediction.

To design a potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B (rat liver), the tertiary structure was predicted based on the crystal structure of the papain complexed with (+)-(2S,3S)-3-(1-[N-(3-methylbutyl)amino]leucylcarbonyl)oxirane-2- carbolylic acid (E-64-c), a thiol protease inhibitor. Taking advantage of the structural characteristics of the predicted active site, seventeen inhibitors were chemically synthesized by molecular modeling, and one of them, N-(L-3-trans-propylcarbamoyloxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-isoleucyl-L-p rol ine (CA-074) was shown to be the first potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B. The relationship between the structure and inhibitory activity is discussed based on the model structure of the cathepsin B-inhibitor complex.     

The clinical evaluation of the serum SCC antigen levels with "SCC RIABEAD" by immunoradiometric assay

The clinical significance of serum SCC antigen level was evaluated by the monoclonal antibody method (SCC.RIABEAD Dinabot Co. Ltd). Patients with squamous cell carcinoma showed a high positive SCC antigen level and positive rate elevated with the advance of the clinical stage. The serum SCC antigen level was decreased by treatment, and it increased again before obvious clinical recurrence was recognized. The results suggest that measurement of serum SCC antigen level is useful as a follow up of cancer treatment.     

Gas‐transport properties of indan‐containing polyimides

A series of indan‐containing polyimides were synthesized, and their gas‐permeation behavior was characterized. The four polyimides used in this study were synthesized from an indan‐containing diamine [5,7‐diamino‐1,1,4,6‐tetramethylindan (DAI)] with four dianhydrides [3,3′4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 3,3′4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA), (3,3′4,4′‐biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), and 2,2′‐bis(3,4′‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA)]. The gas‐permeability coefficients of these four polyimides changed in the following order: DAI–BTDA < DAI–ODPA < DAI–BPDA < DAI–6FDA. This was consistent with the increasing order of the fraction of free volume (FFV). Moreover, the gas‐permeability coefficients were almost doubled from DAI–ODPA to DAI–BPDA and from DAI–BPDA to DAI–6FDA, although the FFV differences between the two polyimides were very small. The gas permeability and diffusivity of these indan‐containing polyimides increased with temperature, whereas the permselectivity and diffusion selectivity decreased. The activation energies for the permeation and diffusion of O₂, N₂, CH₄, and CO₂ were estimated. In comparison with the gas‐permeation behavior of other indan‐containing polymers, for these polyimides, very good gas‐permeation performance was found, that is, high gas‐permeability coefficients and reasonably high permselectivity. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2769–2779, 2004     

Photochemical behavior of azobenzene-conjugated CoII, CoIII, and FeII bis(terpyridine) complexes

Azobenzene-conjugated mononuclear and dinuclear terpyridyl complexes of Co(II), Co(III), and Fe(II) were synthesized, and their photoisomerization behavior was investigated. Co(II) and Co(III) complexes, [tpyCo(tpy-AB)]X(n) and [(Cotpy)(2)(tpy-AB-tpy)]X(n) (tpy-AB = C(15)N(3)H(10)-C(6)H(4)-N=NC(6)H(5), tpy-AB-tpy = C(15)N(3)H(10)-C(6)H(4)-N=NC(6)H(4)-C(15)N(3)H(10), X = PF(6) or BPh(4)), exhibit trans-to-cis photoisomerization by irradiation at 366 nm, and this behavior is dependent on solvents and counterions. For the Co(II) complexes, BPh(4) salts undergo cis-to-trans isomerization in propylene carbonate by both photoirradiation with visible light (435 nm) and heat, indicating that reversible trans-cis isomerization has occurred. [Co(tpy-AB)(2)](BPh(4))(2) shows a two-step trans-to-cis isomerization process. The trans-cis isomerization behavior of Co(III) complexes was observed only in the solvents with a low donor number such as 1,2-dichloroethane. Fe(II) complexes, [tpyFe(tpy-AB)]X(n) (X = PF(6) or BPh(4)), exhibit slight trans-to-cis photoisomerization due to the energy transfer from the azobenzene moiety to Fe(tpy)(2) moieties.     

Electrocapillary phenomena at oil-water interfaces

Summary In order to discuss the structure of the electrical double layer at the oil-water interface, we measured the electrocapillary curves for various inorganic electrolyte aqueous solutions (aq. phase) in contact with the oil phase containing surface active agents (oil phase). When the aqueous phase contained the potassium halide, the depression of the interfacial tension over the cathodic polarization range due to the adsorption of the surface active agent, i. e. cetyl pyridinium chloride or cytyltrimethylammonium chloride, was suppressed strongly. The suppression was larger for the anion of larger crystal radius. This phenomenon indicated that the adsorbed surface active ion was neutralised by the binding of counter-ions. When the oil phase contained sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate, the interfacial tension was depressed over the anodic polarization region. This depression was again suppressed by the counter-ion binding. The order of this suppression for various divalent cations agreed with that of the binding ability to chondroitin sulphate. Moreover, high valent cations had strong binding ability. These counter-ion binding support the idea of the penetration of polar groups of orientated surface active agents into the aqueous phase at the oil-water interface.

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Zusammenfassung Um Aussagen über die Struktur der elektrischen Doppelschicht an Öl-Wasser-Grenzflächen zu erhalten, wurden die Elektrokapillaritätskurven von wässerigen Lösungen verschiedener anorganischer Salze in Kontakt mit der Ölphase, die grenzflächenaktive Stoffe enthielt, gemessen.Die durch Cetylpyridiniumchlorid oder cetyltrimethylammoniumchlorid in der Ölphase bewirkte Erniedrigung der Grenzflächenspannung wurde im Bereich der kationischen Polarisation durch Kaliumhalogenide in der wässerigen Phase aufgehoben. Die Wirkung des anorganischen Salzes wurde mit zunehmendem Anionenradius stärker.Die durch Natriumdodecylbenzolsulfonat bewirkte Erniedrigung der Grenzflächenspannung wurde durch die Kaliumhalogenide im Bereich der anodischen Polarisation aufgehoben. Die Wirkung zweiwertiger Kationen lief parallel mit der Bindungsfestigkeit dieser Ionen an Chondroitinsulfat.Diese Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß die adsorbierten grenzflächenaktiven Ionen in ihrer Wirkung durch die Bindung von Gegenionen neutralisiert werden und daß die polaren Gruppen der an der Öl-Wasser-Grenzfläche orientierten grenzflächenaktiven Molekeln in die wässerige Phase eindringen.

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With 7 figures and 1 table