Ethylene (co-)polymerization by long-lifetime half-sandwich zirconium catalyst bearing a [SSO]-carborane ligand

Half-sandwich zirconium complex 3 containing tridentate carborane [S,S,O] ligand 2 [(HOC6H2R2-4,6)(CH2)SC(B10H10) C(Ph)2P=S, R=tBu] was synthesized by the reaction of CpZrCl3(Cp=η5-C5H5) with sodium salt of ligand 2. Zirconium complex 3 was characterized by elemental and NMR analyses. DFT calculations were also performed on complex 3 to analyze the stereochemistry. The results from DFT calculations indicate that structure S1, in which no sulfur atom bonds to the zirconium atom, exists at the lowest energy level. In the presence of methylaluminoxane(MAO), complex 3 exhibited good catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization and long life-time up to 10 h. Moreover, the complex 3/MAO system displayed excellent catalytic activities toword ethylene copolymerization with 1-hexene or polar olefins.     

Supramolecular Complexes of Multivalent Cholesterol‐Containing Polymers to Solubilize Carbon Nanotubes in Apolar Organic Solvents

Copolymers of 2‐ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and cholesteryloxycarbonyl‐2‐hydroxymethacrylate (CEM) were prepared by reversible addition–fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Supramolecular complexes of these copolymers with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were soluble in THF, toluene, and isooctane. The colloidal solutions remained stable for months without aggregation. The rationale for the choice of CEM was based on the high adsorption energy of cholesterol on the CNT surface, as computed by DFT calculations. Adsorption isotherms were experimentally measured for copolymers of various architectures (statistical, diblock, and star copolymers), thereby demonstrating that 2–5 cholesterol groups were adsorbed per polymer chain. Once the supramolecular complex had dried, the CNTs could be easily resolubilized in isooctane without the need for high‐power sonication and in the absence of added polymer. Analysis by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that the CNTs were devoid of bundles. The supramolecular complexes could also be employed in an inverse emulsion polymerization of 2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) in isooctane and dodecane, thereby leading to the formation of a continuous polymeric sheath around the CNTs. Thus, this technique leads to the formation of very stable dispersions in non‐polar organic solvents, without altering the fundamental properties of the CNTs.     

Development of Immunonutrient from Pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata Duchense Ex. Lamk.) Seed

Pumpkin seeds has long been used as a source of nutrition. Based on its content, it is possible that part of this plant used as immunonutrient. The purpose of this research is to study the immunomodulatory activity of pumpkin seeds. It effects on the non-specific immune response was determined through carbon clearance test, organ indexes (liver, spleen and thymic gland) and mice peritoneal exudate activity (PEA). The effects on specific immune response were determined through total antibody titre, delayed type of hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction and number of lymphocytes. On non specific immune response test, pumpkin seed at a low dose (PLD-3.8 g/kg bw) and at a high dose (PHD-7.6 g/kg bw) showed immunostimulanting effect with phagocytic index of 1.219 and 1.347, respectively. PHD increased PEA activity (p<0.01) in lysing microbes. On specific immune response test, PLD and PHD showed immunostimulation effect indicated through 50% haemaglutination activity (HA titre) i.e., 1:512 and 1:2048, respectively compared to than that of control (1:256) for secondary antibody titre. Through cellular immunity test, 48 hours after challenged, PHD showed significant (p<0.05) increased in footpad thickness. After 7 days administration, both doses of pumpkin increased lymphocytes number significantly (p<0.05). Based on the data it can be concluded that, pumpkin seeds have immunomodulatory effects, and can therefore be used as immunonutrient     

Maleimide Glycidyl Ether: A Bifunctional Monomer for Orthogonal Cationic and Radical Polymerizations

A novel bifunctional monomer, namely maleimide glycidyl ether (MalGE), prepared in a four‐step reaction sequence is introduced. This monomer allows for selective (co)polymerization of the epoxide group via cationic ring‐opening polymerization, preserving the maleimide functionality. On the other hand, the maleimide functionality can be copolymerized via radical techniques, preserving the epoxide moiety. Cationic ring‐opening multibranching copolymerization of MalGE with glycidol was performed, and a MalGE content of up to 24 mol% could be incorporated into the hyperbranched polymer backbone (M_n = 1000–3000 g mol⁻¹). Preservation of the maleimide functionality during cationic copolymerization was verified via NMR spectroscopy. Subsequently, the maleimide moiety was radically crosslinked to generate hydrogels and additionally employed to perform Diels‐Alder (DA) “click” reactions with (functional) dienes after the polymerization process. Radical copolymerization of MalGE with styrene (M_n = 5000–9000 g mol⁻¹) enabled the synthesis of a styrene copolymer with epoxide functionalities that are useful for versatile crosslinking and grafting reactions.

     

Evidence for the Chain‐Growth Synthesis of Statistical π‐Conjugated Donor–Acceptor Copolymers

The synthesis of a series of dithienosilole–benzotriazole donor–acceptor statistical copolymers with various donor–acceptor ratios is reported, prepared by Kumada catalyst‐transfer polymerization. Statistical copolymer structure is verified by ¹H NMR and optical absorption spectroscopy, and supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The copolymers exhibit a single optical absorption band that lies between dithienosilole and benzotriazole homopolymers, which shifts with varying donor–acceptor content. A chain extension experiment using a partially consumed benzotriazole solution as a macroinitiator followed by addition of dithienosilole leads to the synthesis of a statistical dithienosilole–benzotriazole block copolymer from a pure benzotriazole block, demonstrating that both chain extension and simultaneous monomer incorporation are possible using this methodology.

     

A Hemi‐metallocene Chromium Catalyst with Trimethylaluminum‐Free Methylaluminoxane for the Synthesis of Disentangled Ultra‐High Molecular Weight Polyethylene

Recently, it has been shown that by using a single‐site catalytic system having titanium as a metallic center, it is possible to tailor the entanglement density in the amorphous region of a semi‐crystalline ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). This route provides the possibility to make high‐modulus, high‐strength uniaxially and biaxially drawn tapes and films, without using any solvent during processing. In this publication, it is shown that a single‐site catalyst having chromium as metallic center, proposed by Enders and co‐workers, can also be tuned to provide control on the entanglement density during synthesis of the UHMWPE. However, to achieve the goal some modifications during the synthesis are required. The synthesized polymers can be processed in the solid state below the equilibrium melting temperature, resulting in uniaxially drawn tapes having tensile strength and modulus greater than 3.5 N/tex and 200 N/tex, respectively. Rheological studies have been performed to follow the increase in entanglement density in melt state with time.

     

Formation of DNA‐Copolymer Fibrils Through an Amyloid‐Like Nucleation Polymerization Mechanism

Conjugation of a hydrophobic poly(2‐oxazoline) bearing tertiary amide groups along its backbone with a short single stranded nucleotide sequence results in an amphiphilic comb/graft copolymer, which organizes in fibrils upon direct dissolution in water. Supported by circular dichroism, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scattering data, fibrils are formed through inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between hydrogen accepting amide groups along the polymer backbone and hydrogen donating nucleic acid grafts leading to the formation of hollow tubes.