Air‐stable and recoverable catalyst for copper‐catalyzed controlled/living radical polymerization of styrene; In situ generation of Cu(I) species via electron transfer reaction

Copper‐catalyzed controlled/living radical polymerization (LRP) of styrene (St) was conducted using the silica gel‐supported CuCl₂/N,N,N′,N′,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (SG‐CuCl₂/PMDETA) complex as catalyst at 110 °C in the presence of a definite amount of air. This novel approach is based on in situ generation and regeneration of Cu(I) via electron transfer reaction between phenols and Cu(II). Sodium phenoxide or p‐methoxyphenol was used as a reducing agent of Cu(II) complexes in LRP. The number–average molecular weight, M_n,GPC, increases linearly with monomer conversion and agrees well with the theoretical values up to 85% conversion The molecular weight distribution, M_w/M_n, decreases as the conversion increases and reaches values below 1.2. The catalyst was recovered in aerobic condition and reused in copper‐catalyzed LRP of St. For the second run, the number–average molecular weights increased with monomer conversion and the polydispersities decreased as the polymerization proceeded and reached to the value <1.3 at 81% conversion. The recycled catalyst retained 90% of its original activity in the subsequent polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 77–87, 2006     

Thermochemically induced binding of methyl orange to polycations containing primary amine groups

The thermochemical transformation of electrostatically formed complexes of methyl orange (MO) with polycations containing primary amine groups such as ammonium salts afforded new polymers with a high concentration of covalently bound 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoazobenzene groups in the side chain. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(β‐aminoethylene acrylamide hydrochloride) were employed as support polycations for MO. The transformation of sulfonate–ammonium ion pairs into sulfonamide bonds, via heating at an elevated temperature, was supported by the polymer properties before and after the thermal treatment. The polymer structure changes were monitored with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The spacer length between the backbone and azobenzene structures used as side chains strongly influenced the polymer properties before and after the heat‐induced reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5898–5908, 2006     

Lithographic design of photosensitive polyarylates based on reaction development patterning

The factors affecting pattern‐forming properties in reaction development patterning were examined with polyarylates with various bisphenol moieties. The developability of the photosensitive polyarylates was dependent on the properties of the subtituent (R) in the bisphenol moieties. The development time decreased in the following order: R?C(CH₃)₂ > fluorenyl unit ? phenolphthalein unit > C(CF₃)₂ > SO₂. This order agreed with that of the reactivity between the polyarylates and ethanolamine, and these orders can be explained by pK_a of the bisphenol used to prepare the polyarylates. The development with NH₂? R′? OH resulted in successful positive‐tone pattern formation. However, pattern formation with the developers containing NH₂? R′? OCH₃ was unsuccessful. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2694–2706, 2006     

Palladacycles in catalysis - a critical survey

The application of palladacycles as catalysts for cross-coupling and similar reactions is reviewed. In the majority of cases palladacycles are likely to serve as a source of highly active but unstable zero-valent palladium species. In this respect the palladacycles resemble the so-called phosphine-free catalysts. The advantages and limitations of palladacycle catalysts are discussed.     

Solid state reactions of nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds(Ⅰ)——Solid state reactions of 3-methyl-l-phenyl-5-pyrazolone with carbonyl compounds

The solid state reaction of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone (MPP) with aromatic aldehydes and ke-tones benzil derivatives and imides,and the solid state Michael addition reaction of MPP with 4-arylidene-3-methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrnzolone 2 were investigated.Some new solid state reactions between the reactants were found,from which a series of new compounds were obtained The structures of the products were identified by IR,1H NMR,MS,elemental analyses and also by X-ray crystal analysis,and the reaction mechanism of MPP with aromatic aldehydes and ketones was proposed     

A new method for the generation of stable phenoxyl radicals by the reaction of [(Me3Si)2N]2E (E = Ge,Sn) with sterically hindered phenols

An unusual reaction of diaminogermylene and diaminostannylene with sterically hindered phenols which leads to the formation of stable phenoxyl radicals in high concentrations was found. The reaction mechanism was proposed. Amides [(Me₃Si)₂N]₂E (E = Ge, Sn) were investigated electrochemically.     

MCM-41-supported bidentate phosphine palladium(0) complex: a highly active and recyclable catalyst for the Sonogashira reaction of aryl iodides

The first MCM-41-supported bidentate phosphine palladium(0) complex has been prepared. This complex is a highly efficient catalyst for Sonogashira reaction and can be reused at least 10 times without any decrease in activity.     

The “Facilitated Transition” hypothesis as an explanation for the gemdialkyl effect

A new technique of searching the conformational space of transition states was used to explore the cause of the rate acceleration in the gem-dialkyl effect in intramolecular cyclization reactions. Several previous hypotheses were discarded and a new hypothesis was advanced based on this new data. This hypothesis, the “Facilitated Transition” hypothesis, states that increased steric hindrance reduces the overall activation energy by facilitating rotation through the transition state. The older “Reactive Rotamer” hypothesis was eliminated by generating all conformations of the starting materials using the and computer programs and demonstrating that no relationship is found between rate increase and a change in the concentration of “reactive rotamers”.     

Synthesis of thieno[3.2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyrrolenine derivatives under the Fischer reaction conditions

The reaction of alkyl 4-(2-acetylhydrazino)-2-methyl-3-thiophenecarboxylates with 3-methylbutan-2-one was carried out under the Fischer reaction conditions. The influence of Lewis acids and solvents on the process was studied. A convenient method for the synthesis of thieno [3.2-b]pyrrolenine derivatives was proposed.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 725–729, March, 2005.