Synthesis and properties of new block copolymers based on poly(ether sulfone) and polyimides

New poly(ether sulfone)-polyimide block copolymers were synthesized from α,ω-diamineterminated poly(ether sulfone) oligomer, aromatic diamines, and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides by low-temperature solution polymerization and subsequent thermal imidization. The block copolymers were insoluble in organic solvents. The multiblock copolymers obtained by the two-pot method showed microphase separation, while the random block copolymers by the one-pot method had single phase morphology. The mechanical properties of the block copolymers were greatly improved by the introduction of polyimide into the poly(ether sulfone). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A layered tungstic acid H2W2O7 x nH2O with a double-octahedral sheet structure: conversion process from an aurivillius phase Bi2W2O9 and structural characterization

The conversion process of an Aurivillius phase, Bi(2)W(2)O(9), into a layered tungstic acid by hydrochloric acid treatment has been investigated, and resultant H(2)W(2)O(7) x nH(2)O has been fully characterized. The c parameter of Bi(2)W(2)O(9) [2.37063(5) nm] decreases to 2.21(1) nm in an acid-treated product dried at ambient temperature. The a and b parameters of Bi(2)W(2)O(9) [a = 0.54377(1) nm and b = 0.54166(1) nm] also decrease slightly to a = 0.524(1) nm and b = 0.513(1) nm in the acid-treated product dried at ambient temperature, indicating structural changes in the ReO(3)-like slabs in Bi(2)W(2)O(9) upon acid treatment. Drying at 120 degrees C leads to a further decrease in the c parameter [1.86(1) nm] with no notable change in the a and b parameters [a = 0.5249(2) nm and b = 0.513(2) nm]. The formation of an expandable layered structure is demonstrated by the successful intercalation of n-octylamine [interlayer distance 2.597(9) nm] and n-dodecylamine [interlayer distance 3.56(2) nm]. The compositions of the acid-treated products are determined to be H(2)W(2)O(7) x nH(2)O typically with n = 0.58 for the air-dried product and n = 0 for the product dried at 120 degrees C. As a consequence, the composition of the layer is H(2)W(2)O(7), and the decrease in the c parameter upon drying is ascribable to the loss of interlayer water. Scanning electron microscopy reveals no morphological change during acid treatment, which strongly suggests a selective leaching of the bismuth oxide sheets as a reaction mechanism. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HREM) observation of the acid-treated product shows consistency with a structural model for H(2)W(2)O(7), derived from Bi(2)W(2)O(9) through removal of the bismuth oxide sheets and contraction along the c axis. HREM observation also reveals that the WO(6) octahedra arrangement changes slightly with acid treatment. A one-dimensional electron density map projected on the c axis for the product dried at 120 degrees C, H(2)W(2)O(7), shows good consistency with that calculated for the structural model.     

Time-dependent complex formation of dendritic poly(L-lysine) with plasmid DNA and correlation with in vitro transfection efficiencies

Dendritic poly(L-lysine) of the 6th generation shows high transfection efficiency into several cultivated cells with low cytotoxicity. In order to understand the mechanism of complex formation with plasmid DNA, the complex was observed using atomic force microscopy. After mixing for 15 min, 1-2 microns assemblies of complexes composed of several small particles (50-200 nm) were observed. At the same time, individual small complexes of 50 to 500 nm were observed on a mica surface. After incubation for 2 h, only the large complexes were found on the mica surface. As a result of further dynamic light scattering analysis and measurement of the transfection efficiency at different time points, the transfection efficiency of KG6 was found to increase with increasing size of the DNA-complexes. This result indicates that large complexes of more than 1 micron are major species that contribute to transfection in vitro.     

Opening mechanism of internal nanoporosity of single-wall carbon nanohorn

Single-wall carbon nanohorn (SWNH), which is a tubular particle with a cone cap, was oxidized in an oxygen flow at various temperatures. N(2) adsorption at 77 K, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy measurements were carried out on the oxidized SWNHs. The specific surface area of the oxidized SWNHs can be controlled by oxidation temperature, giving the maximum value of 1420 m(2)/g. The pore size distribution by the BJH method and the comparison plot of the N(2) adsorption isotherms of SWNH oxidized at different temperatures against that of as-grown SWNH revealed the minimum oxidation temperature for opening internal nanopores. TG-DTA analyses determined the components of as-grown SWNH: amorphous carbon 2.5 wt %, defective carbon at the cone part 15 wt %, tubular carbon 70 wt %, and graphitic carbon 12 wt %. These systematic analyses provided the exact internal nanopore volume of 0.49 mL/g for pure SWNH particles.     

Synthesis and properties of aromatic polyamide-benzoxazoles from trimethylsilyl-substituted 2,4-diaminophenol and aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides

Aromatic poly(o-hydroxy amide)s having inherent viscosities of 0.6–2.2 dL/g were readily synthesized by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of N,N′,O-tris(trimethylsilyl)-substituted 2,4-diaminophenol with aromatic dicarboxylic acid chlorides in various organic solvents. The viscosity values were much higher than those of the polymers obtained by a conventional method using parent 2,4-diaminophenol. Subsequent thermal cyclodehydration of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s at 280°C under vacuum afforded the corresponding aromatic polyamide-benzoxazoles. Most of the poly(o-hydroxy amide)s dissolved readily in amide-type solvents, whereas the polyamide-benzoxazoles were quite insoluble in organic solvents. The polyamide-benzoxazoles, which gave yellow, transparent, and tough films, had glass transition temperatures of 260–300°C and were stable up to 400°C in air.     

Optimization of imidazole 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and selection and synthesis of a development candidate

Structural modification of imidazole 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors for optimizing inhibitory potency, pharmacokinetic behavior and toxicity (ocular) profile led to 4-{3-[4-(2-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenylthio]}phenyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxamide (6) with no observable ocular toxicity. The orally active and safe imidazole 5-LO inhibitor 6 was selected as a clinical candidate and advanced to clinical studies. An improved synthesis of 6 is also discussed.     

On-line coupled supercritical fluid extraction and chromatography for the determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrix

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was on-line coupled with supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for the determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrix. Inert ODS-silica gel packings were used as a trap column for an interface between SFE and SFC and as an analytical column for the satisfactory separation of extracts. Thiolcarbamate herbicides could be extracted satisfactorily from the soil matrix, which had different characteristics. The results indicated that the proposed system was useful for the rapid determination of thiolcarbamate herbicides in soil matrices.     

Polymerization of surface-active monomers. VIII. Tacticity of polymers prepared by radical polymerization of quaternary salts of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate in micellar and isotropic media

The effect of monomer micellization on the polymerization was studied from the standpoint of stereochemistry in the polymerization. Quaternary salts (C_nBr) of dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate with n-alkyl bromide having N (=4, 8 and 12) carbon atoms were polymerized with radical initiators in isotropic and anisotropic media and the resulting polymers were converted to poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to determine their tacticity. Tacticities of poly (C₁₂Br)s were little affected by initiators and solvents used for their preparations. There was little dependence of the tacticities on alkyl chain length (N) for poly (C_nBr)s prepared in water and dimethylformamide (DMF). Most of polymers produced here conformed to Bernoullian propagation statistics and a definite difference was not found in the tacticities between the polymers prepared in isotropic and anisotropic media. From the results obtained here it was deduced that the micellar aggregation has little influence upon the stereochemistry in the polymerization of the quaternary monomers. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Palladium nanoclusters deposited on single-walled carbon nanohorns

This study reports a direct route for deposition of Pd nanoclusters on single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWNHs) in a one step reaction involving chemical reduction of metal ions in the presence of a polymer-stabilizer. The applied strategy provides small Pd nanoclusters with an average diameter of approximately 2.3 nm robustly attached to the nanotubular carbon. The attachment is mediated by the polymer (poly(vinylpyrrolidone), PVP) used to stabilize the nanoclusters.     

Novel asymmetric michael addition of alpha-cyanopropionates to acrolein by the use of a bis(oxazolinyl)phenylstannane-derived rhodium(III) complex as a chiral Lewis acid catalyst

The rhodium complex prepared in situ by simply mixing [[RhCl(c-octene)2]2] and [(Phebox)SnMe3] (1) (Phebox = 2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl) was found to serve as an efficient catalyst for the asymmetric Michael addition of alpha-cyanopropionates (4) to acrolein under mild and neutral conditions. In the present catalytic system, both the temperature of catalyst preparation and the order of the addition of the substrates were very important for the catalytic efficiency and enantioselectivity. Detailed mechanistic studies of this catalytic system revealed that the [(Phebox)RhIII(SnMe3)Cl] complex (9), generated by oxidative addition of [[RhCl(c-octene)2]2] to 1, is an active catalyst and the turnover number (TON) of the present actual catalyst existing in a reaction mixture is greater than 10,000. The obtained (R) stereochemistry of the Michael adducts 5 can be explained by N-bonded enol intermediates C', which are formed by enolization of 4 bound to the Lewis acidic rhodium complex 9. We also found that the active catalyst 9 gradually decomposed in the presence of the remaining [[RhCl(c-octene)2]2] in the reaction mixture to form the catalytically nonactive [(Phebox)RhCl2] fragment A, whose structure was characterized by an X-ray crystallographic study after converting to the tBuNC complex 10.