Polyethylene terephthalate–multiwall nanotubes nanocomposites: Effect of nanotubes on the conformations,crystallinity and crystallization behavior of PET

PET‐nanotube composite samples were manufactured by mixing neat PET with a PET‐multiwall carbon nanotube masterbatch. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was utilized to monitor the gauche and trans conformations of the polymeric chains with respect to the nanotube content. The crystallinity as well as the crystallization behavior of the polymer were studied via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An increase of the trans conformations and crystallinity was recorded at low NT contents followed by a sharp decrease at 1 wt % of nanotubes, further addition of nanotubes led once again to increase of the trans conformations and crystallinity. This behavior was attributed to the aggregations formation which as shown via transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was initiated at concentrations above 0.5 wt %. Discordance between the FTIR and DSC results in the case of the PET sample showed that the later bears relatively more trans non‐crystalline conformers than the nanocomposite samples. Thus it appears that the nanotubes incorporate the trans non‐crystalline segments into the crystalline phase. This work has shown that even a minor addition of carbon nanotubes (even 0.1 wt %) alters the crystallization behavior of the polymer dramatically, yielding a novel nanocomposite material rather than a simple mixture of two ingredients. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 668–676, 2008     

Precision Chain‐Walking Polymerization of trans‐4‐Octene Catalyzed by α‐Diimine Nickel(II) Catalysts Bearing ortho‐sec‐Phenethyl Groups

α‐Diimine nickel complexes bearing bulky ortho‐sec‐phenethyl groups (bis{[N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐2,6‐di‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel ( 1 ), bis{[N,N′‐(4,6‐dimethyl‐2‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel ( 2 ), bis{[N,N′‐(4‐methyl‐2‐sec‐phenethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromonickel ( 3 )) and {bis[N,N′‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)imino]‐1,2‐dimethylethane}dibromidonickel ( 4 ) are used as a precatalyst for the polymerization of trans‐4‐octene upon activation with modified methylaluminoxane. These catalysts conduct chain‐walking polymerization of trans‐4‐octene to give polymers possessing propyl and butyl branches with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution. The branching structure depends on the nickel complex as well as the polymerization temperature, and the ratio of propyl branch was increased with increasing the bulkiness of the ligand and decreasing the polymerization temperature. Consequently, the most bulky 1 among the complexes used is found to polymerize trans‐4‐octene with high 1,5‐regioselectivity at −20 °C to give poly(1‐propylpentan‐1,5‐diyl).

     

Die Akzeptoreigenschaften der Metall—Metall-Einheit in den zweikernigen Komplexen cis-M2(O2CCH3)2Cl4L2, M = Tc,Re; L = neutrale Base

The Acceptor Properties of the Metal—Metal Unit in the Dinuclear Complexes cis-M₂(O₂CCH₃)₂Cl₄L₂, M = Tc, Re; L = neutrale Base The weakly bound H₂O molecules in axial positions of the dimetalates cis-M₂(O₂CCH₃)₂Cl₄L₂, M = Tc, Re, are easily substituted on reaction with stronger donor bases. With increasing donor number D_N or donor strength D_S of the axial ligands, the metal—metal stretching frequency v₁ is lowered. The linearity between v₁ and the hard D_N scale shows, that the M₂ unit acts as a hard Lewis acid in the axial direction, according to the observation that no coordination of soft donor bases takes place. The trans influence of the metal—metal multiple bond is estimated from the ratio of the shifts observed for v₁ and the equatorial metal-ligand stretching modes after formation of adducts. The ratio is about 5: 1 in the ditechnetates and thus considerable higher than in the dirhenates with about 2: 1.     

Syntheses of Conjugated Polymers for Photonics

Summary: By the Suzuki coupling reaction of 9,9-dioctyl-2,7-bis(1,3,2-dioxaborinan-2-yl)fluorene ( I ) and 3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl 2,5-dibromobenzenesulfonate ( II ) the alternating poly{[9,9-dioctylfluoren-2,7-diyl]-alt-[2-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-phenoxysulfonyl)-1,4-phenylene]} ( III ) was synthesized. Alkaline hydrolysis of III gave a conjugated polyelectrolyte carrying sulfonic acid groups ( IV ). Monomers 2,5-dibromo-3-[2-(pyren-1-yl)vinyl]thiophene and 2,5-dibromo-3-[2-(quinolin-4-yl)vinyl)thiophene were prepared and copolymerized with I to afford poly{[9,9-dioctylfluoren-2,7-diyl]-alt-[3-(2-(pyren-1-yl)vinyl)thiophen-2,5-diyl]} ( V ) and poly{[9,9-dioctylfluoren-2,7-diyl]-alt-[3-(2-(quinolin-4-yl)-vinyl)thiophen-2,5-diyl] ( VI ), respectively. Conjugated backbone of V contains the conjugated pyrene unit in the side chain. Similarly the side chain of VI contains the conjugated quinoline structure unit which can be for instance protonated. By the Suzuki polycondensation reaction of I and of the prepared methyl 3-(2,7-dibromocarbazole-9-yl)propionate ( VII ) the new poly{[9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl]-alt-[9-(2-methoxycarbonylethyl)carbazole-2,7-diyl]} ( VIII ) was synthesized and characterized.     

Solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance investigation of neurosteroid compounds and magnesium interactions

The neurosteroid trans‐dehydroandrosterone (DHEA) and its analogs with slightly different modifications in the side chain attached to C17, that is, (3S)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐one ( 1 ) and (3S,20R)‐acetoxypregn‐5‐en‐20‐ol ( 2 ), have been synthesized to investigate DHEA–cation interactions. In this study, we applied solid‐state ¹H/¹³C cross‐polarization/magic‐angle spinning (CP/MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to a series of DHEA analog/Mg²⁺ mixtures at different Mg²⁺ concentrations. The high‐resolution ¹³C NMR spectra of 1 /Mg²⁺ mixtures exhibit two distinct ¹³C spectral patterns, one attributable to 1 free from Mg²⁺, and the other attributable to 1 with bound Mg²⁺. For 2 , the ¹³C NMR spectra exhibit three distinct spectral patterns; besides that of the free form, the other two can be assigned to Mg²⁺‐bound forms. Based on the analysis of the chemical shift deviations (CSDs), we conclude that both 1 and 2 might be subject to a cation–π interaction via the C5–C6 double bond, in contrast to that observed previously for DHEA. As demonstrated, DHEA possesses two Mg²⁺ binding sites, that is, C17–O and C5–C6 double bond, in which the binding affinity of the former is at least three times stronger than that of the latter. The solid‐state ¹³C NMR investigation allows better understanding of the underlying cation binding effects of neurosteroid molecules in vitro.     

High concentration trans form unsaturated lipids detected in a HeLa cell by Raman microspectroscopy

High concentration trans form unsaturated lipids have been found in a HeLa cell by Raman microspectroscopy. Two CC stretch bands are observed simultaneously at 1669 cm⁻¹ (trans form) and at 1656 cm⁻¹ (cis form) in a Raman spectrum obtained from a small area (1 µm in diameter) in a HeLa cell. The intensity ratio 1669/1656 indicates that the concentration of the trans form is as high as that of the cis. It is demonstrated that Raman microspectroscopy provides a powerful and unique means for in situ and noninvasive structural characterization of unsaturated lipids in a living cell. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogallierungsreaktionen mit den Monoalkinen H5C6‐C≡C‐SiMe3 und H5C6‐C≡C‐CMe3 – cis/trans‐Isomerie und Substituentenaustausch

Hydrogallation Reactions Involving the Monoalkynes H₅C₆‐C≡C‐SiMe₃ and H₅C₆‐C≡C‐CMe₃ – cis/trans Isomerisation and Substituent Exchange Phenyl‐trimethylsilylethyne, H₅C₆‐C≡C‐SiMe₃, reacted with different dialkylgallium hydrides, R₂Ga‐H (R = Me, Et, nPr, iPr, tBu), by the addition of one Ga‐H bond to its C≡C triple bond (hydrogallation). The gallium atoms attacked selectively those carbon atoms, which were also attached to trimethylsilyl groups. The cis arrangement of Ga and H across the resulting C=C double bonds resulted only for the sterically most shielded di(tert‐butyl)gallium derivative, while in all other cases spontaneous cis/trans rearrangement occurred with the quantitative formation of the trans addition products. The diethyl compound Et₂Ga‐C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅ ( 2 ) gave by substituent exchange the secondary products EtGa[C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅]₂ ( 7 , Z,Z) and Ga[C(SiMe₃)=C(H)‐C₆H₅]₃ ( 8 ). Interestingly, compound 8 has two alkenyl groups with a Z configuration, while the third C=C double bond has the cis arrangement of Ga and H (E configuration). The reversibility of the cis/trans isomerisation of hydrogallation products was observed for the first time. tert‐Butyl‐phenylethyne gave the simple addition product, R₂Ga(C₆H₅)=C(H)‐CMe₃ ( 9 ), only with di(n‐propyl)gallium hydride.     

Validation of a simple HPLC method for assay of haplamine and its metabolites in plasma suitable for pharmacokinetic application in rats

A simple HPLC method with ultraviolet detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of haplamine and its metabolites (trans/cis-3,4-dihydroxyhaplamine) in rat. A liquid-liquid extraction was used to extract the compounds from rat plasma. The analysis was performed on a C(18) Nucleosil Nautilus column. The mobile phase consisted of water (A) and a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile (85:15; v/v) (B) used in gradient mode (38-40% B for 10 min, 40-58% B for 49 min, 58-38% B for 1 min, and 38% for 5 min) pumped at 1 mL/min. The calibration curves showed good linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 for the analytes in the investigated concentration range. The lower limit of detection was 0.007, 0.008 and 0.009 microg/mL and the lower limit of quantification was 0.014, 0.017 and 0.018 microg/mL for haplamine, and trans/cis-3,4-dihydroxyhaplamine, respectively. The method was applied to a preliminary pharmacokinetic study in rats. This method proved to meet fully the standards required of experimental pharmacokinetic studies and should be used in further preclinical investigation.