Polyazomethines Bearing Furan Moieties. Solution Polycondensation of Bis(furanic diamine)s and Aromatic Dialdehydes

A series of new polyazomethines containing furan moieties was synthesized by polycondensation of bifuranic diamine monomers with commercially available aromatic dialdehydes viz., terephthaldehyde (TPA), isophthaldehyde (IPA). Inherent viscosities and number average molecular weights of polyazomethines were in the range 0.90–1.56 dL/g and 10460–17850 (SEC, polystyrene standard), respectively indicating formation of medium to reasonably high molecular weight polymers. The resulting polyazomethines were characterized by solubility tests, viscosity measurements, FTIR, NMR, UV spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These furan-based polyazomethines were essentially amorphous and exhibited glass transition temperatures (Tg) in the 150–190°C range. The temperature at 10% wt loss (T₁₀), determined from TGA of polyazomethines were in the range 300–380°C, indicating their good thermal stability.     

Biomass-based green chemistry: sustainable solutions for modern economies

Abstract

Biomass and renewable raw materials are the basis and driver for an even greater alignment of industry to the principles of green chemistry and sustainability. Nature provides a remarkably wide range of renewable raw materials with varying properties and differing chemical compositions. Renewable raw materials are therefore especially interesting as alternatives to fossil resources for energy generation and as starting materials for industrial chemistry. Since various forms of biomass are also essential for human nutrition and animal feed, their use as feedstocks for other purposes must be balanced. Ideally, the biomass remaining after the nutritious components are removed can serve as a feedstock. Examples of applications that use biomass as starting materials include adhesives, textile and leather, cosmetics, cleaning agents, coatings, paints, printing inks, crop protection, lubricants and dietary supplements.     

Green chemistry for the synthesis of methacrylate-based hydrogels crosslinked through Diels–Alder reaction

This study describes an environmentally friendly and green synthetic approach for the preparation of poly(aminoethylmethacrylate)-based hydrogels crosslinked through Diels–Alder (DA) reaction in water. This “click” reaction offers the possibility of preparing chemically crosslinked hydrogels in the absence of any catalyst, initiator or coupling agent, thus preserving the biocompatibility of the material. The suitable furan diene was obtained by modifying a methacrylate polymer by its reaction with furfural, a first generation compound derived from renewable resources. Methacrylate-based complementary polymeric dienophiles were also prepared by introducing maleimide groups into the structure. The products obtained at different steps were characterized by FTIR, NMR and TGA techniques. The study of the rheological properties of the hydrogels proved the success of this green “click” synthetic strategy confirming the formation of chemically crosslinked networks by the use of the Diels–Alder reaction. Furthermore, SEM studies revealed promising morphological properties of the ensuing hydrogels in terms of biomedical applications.     

Biofuels–Renewable Energy Sources: A Review

Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic, and it significantly reduces toxic and other emissions when burned as a fuel. The advantages of biodiesel as diesel fuel are its portability, ready availability, renewability, higher combustion efficiency, non-toxicity, higher flash point, and lower sulfur and aromatic content, higher cetane number, and higher biodegradability. The major disadvantages of biodiesel are its higher viscosity, lower energy content, higher cloud point and pour point, higher nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions, lower engine speed and power, injector coking, engine compatibility, high price, and greater engine wear. The technical disadvantages of biodiesel/fossil diesel blends include problems with fuel freezing in cold weather, reduced energy density, and degradation of fuel under storage for prolonged periods. The sources of biodiesel are vegetable oils and fats. The direct use of vegetable oils and/or oil blends is generally considered to be unsatisfactory and impractical for both direct injection and indirect type diesel engines because of their high viscosities and low volatilities injector coking and trumpet formation on the injectors, higher level of carbon deposits, oil ring sticking, and thickening and gelling of the engine lubricant oil, acid composition. Biodiesel is obtained by transesterifying triglycerides with methanol. A popular variation of the batch transesterification process which needs high alcohol/acid ratio (several separation problems and high corrosivity and toxicity) is the use of continuous stirred tank reactors in series. This continuous process is heterogeneous and is based on reactive distillation. The key factor is the selection of the right and effective solid catalyst which leads to reduction of energy consumption and investments at all.     

Monomers and polymers from plant oils via click chemistry reactions

As a consequence of the depleting of fossil reserves and environmental issues, today, plant oils and fatty acids derived therefrom have a respectable status within the polymer chemistry community. However, maximizing the benefits of these renewable feedstocks requires the utilization of sustainable and efficient chemical transformations. The emergence of click chemistry concept and especially the renaissance of thiol‐ene addition reaction have had an impact on the way to make plant oil‐derived polymers. This highlight discusses the applicability and success of thiol‐ene addition and other click reactions in the transformation of oleochemicals into monomers and polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013     

Enzymatic syntheses of unsaturated polyesters based on isosorbide and isomannide

The search for materials produced from renewable sources aiming at the substitution of petroleum‐based derivates is an area of intense investigation. In this work, the enzymatic copolymerization of isosorbide or isomannide with diethyl adipate and fractions of different unsaturated diesters (diethyl itaconate, diethyl fumarate, diethyl glutaconate, and diethyl hydromuconate) were examined using CAL‐B as catalyst. The polyesters prepared using one‐step syntheses were characterized by SEC, NMR, and MALDI‐TOF MS. In addition, syntheses with linear diols were carried out in bulk to evaluate the reactivity of cyclic diols in producing unsaturated polyesters using enzymatic catalysis, as well as to evaluate the occurrence of addition side reactions on the double bonds. Isosorbide and isomannide yielded unsaturated polymers with values in the order of 4,000‐16,000 when fumarate or glutaconate esters were added in 5 mol % ratio against adipate. In all cases MALDI‐TOF confirmed the presence of unsaturated units. Although these polyesters have unreacted double bonds they are prone to crosslinking and ready to further functionalization, like anchoring bioactive molecules. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3881–3891     

医学留学生化学实验全英文教学资源建设与实践*

针对目前化学实验全英文在线教学资源匹配度较低、相对匮乏等问题,以医学留学生为中心,建设了有声课件、模块化实景实验操作视频以及测试题库3种不同类型的化学实验全英文教学资源,通过资源的线下使用和基于雨课堂的在线预习,实现从“集中、定时、定点”的传统教学模式向“模块化、碎片化、信息化”的混合教学模式转变,可以丰富教学资源和教学手段,改进教学秩序,提高医学留学生化学知识和技能学习的积极性和主动性,使“教”“学”良性循环,可切实提高化学实验国际化教学质量。     

“功能涂料”课程的教学改革:打造趣味性、互动性和挑战性的课堂*

本着培养涂料行业精英人才的宗旨,针对涂料行业对人才需求的特点,结合多年教学经验,从教材的选择、教学内容设置、教学方法改进以及考核方法改革等4个方面探索了“功能涂料”课程的教学方法改革与课程实践。通过自编教材,精心设置授课内容,将科研成果、前沿知识、生活场景、新闻事件与书本知识相结合,提高课堂的趣味性;通过讨论法和交换式互动上课来加强课堂的互动性;通过过程性评价提高课程的学业挑战度。通过教学改革,本课程的选课率和出勤率得到了大幅提高,学生对涂料的兴趣明显增加,毕业后选择进入涂料领域工作的学生也越来越多。     

Metal‐Free Deoxygenation of Carbohydrates

The conversion of readily available cellulosic biomass to valuable feedstocks and fuels is an attrative goal but a challenging transformation that requires the cleavage of multiple nonactivated C? O bonds. Herein, the Lewis acid trispentafluorophenylborane (B(C₆F₅)₃) is shown to catalyze the metal‐free hydrosilylative reduction of monosaccharides and polysaccharides to give hydrocarbons with reduced oxygen content. The choice of the silane reductant influences the degree of deoxygenation, with diethylsilane effecting the complete reduction to produce hexanes while tertiary silanes give partially deoxygenated tetraol and triol products.