Properties of block and graft copolymers of polybutadiene with small complexed poly(4-vinylpyridine) segments

Various diblocks, triblocks and a graft copolymer of butadiene with 4-vinylpyridine short blocks have been prepared. They were complexed with ZnCl₂ to give ionomer-like materials. For all copolymers, the T_g of the elastomeric block (?84°C to ?91°C) was unchanged by complexation. For all diblocks and triblocks with short blocks (DP _n ～ 3) the storage modulus was only slightly increased by comparison with uncomplexed materials. For the graft copolymer even with short blocks the material is less sensitive to temperature after complexation. For triblocks, when the DP _n of the vinylpyridine blocks was high enough (15 units), complexes were associated in multiplets of large size and the elastomeric properties were retained up to 200°C.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of PE/organoclay nanocomposites

Polyethylene/montmorillonite clay nanocomposites were obtained via direct melt intercalation. The clay was organically modified with four different types of quaternary ammonium salts. The objective of this work is to study the use of montmorillonite clay in the production of nanocomposites by means on rheological, mechanical and crystallization properties of nanocomposites and to compare to the properties of the matrix and PE/unmodified clay nanocomposites. In general, the tensile test showed that the yield strength and modulus of the nanocomposites are close to the pure PE. Apparently, the mixture with Dodigen salt seems to be more stable than the pure PE and PE/unmodified clay.     

Symmetric orbits of orthogonal veronese actions and their second order envelopes

The orbits of Lie groups acting in Euclidean spaces by isometries are extrinsically symmetric iff they are parallel, i.e. satisfy ${\overline \nabla} h =0 $ Submanifolds characterized by the integrability condition $ {\overline R}\o\ h =0 $ of this system ${\overline \nabla} h =0$ are called semi-parallel (or semi-symmetric, extrinsically); they are the 2nd order envelopes of the symmetric orbits. For the orthogonal Veronese action, corresponding to the map well-known from the algebraic geometry, all symmetric orbits will be determined, as well as their 2nd order envelopes. The results are essential for the classification of the semi-parallel submanifolds.     

Synthesis of thienothiazocinoisoindolediones and thienothiazinoisoindolones from mercaptothiophenes and chloromethylphthalimide

2-Thienylthiomethylphthalimides 3a,b were synthesized by action of Chloromethylphthalimide on 2-or 3-mercaptothiophene. Reduction of 3a,b and Wittig reaction using carbethoxycarbonyltriphenyl-phosphorane gave the corresponding acetic acids 5a,b which cyclized under Friedel and Crafts conditions to lead the thienothiazocinoisoindolediones 6a,b. Thienothiazinoisoindolones 7a,b were obtained from hydroxyisoindolones derivatives 4a,b in acid conditions via an acyliminium ion.     

On the stereochemistry of photoaddition between α,β-unsaturated ketones and olefins—II

Some years ago an empirical rule, which allows the prediction of product stereochemistry in cis-photocycloaddition reactions of α,β-unsaturated ketones and olefins was tentatively proposed. Several additional examples, both selected from the literature and synthesized in our laboratory, seem to strengthen the validity of the rule.     

H2S-sensing properties of SnO2 produced by ball milling and different chemical reactions

In this work, the mechanochemical synthesis of a moderately agglomerated tin oxide (SnO₂) powders and the subsequent preparation of semiconductor gas sensors as prototypes, were studied. Tin (II) chloride (SnCl₂) powder was milled with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) and potassium carbonate, (K₂CO₃) powder, respectively, in a ball mill at room temperature and in an air atmosphere. Heat treatment of milled mixtures at 400 °C resulted in the formation of a tetragonal phase, confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). During milling in the presence of water, a high number of hydroxide (OH) groups are formed at the surface. When SnCl₂ was milled with K₂CO₃, no water was produced and the Fourier-transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) of the powder has no surface hydroxyl deformations. On exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas, the particles, prepared from anhydrous powder, have higher sensitivity than these, prepared from hydrated powder. The SnO₂ thick film, prepared from anhydrous powder may be successfully applied to a H₂S gas sensor.     

A Bis-Chelating / Ligand for the Synthesis of Heterobimetallic Platinum(II)/Rhenium(I) Complexes: Tools for the Optimization of a New Class of Platinum(II) Anticancer Agents

The two independent and coordination sites of a newly synthesized bis[2-(hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole] platform have been exploited to prepare four monometallic neutral ()Pt^II complexes carrying DMSO, pyridine, triphenylphosphine, or N-heterocyclic carbene as the fourth ligand. Then, the second coordination site was used to introduce an IR-active rhenium tricarbonyl entity, affording the four corresponding heterobimetallic neutral Pt^II/Re^I complexes, as well as a cationic Pt^II/Re^I derivative. X-ray crystallographic studies showed that distortion of the organic platform occurred to accommodate the coordination geometry of both metal centers. No ligand exchange or transchelation occurred upon incubation of the Pt^II complexes in aqueous environment or in the presence of Fe^III, respectively. The antiproliferative activity of the ligand and complexes was first screened on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Then, the IC₅₀ values of the most active candidates were determined on a wider panel of human cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and A2780), as well as on a nontumorigenic cell line (MCF-10A). Low micromolar activities were reached for the complexes carrying a DMSO ligand, making them the first examples of highly active, but hydrolytically stable, Pt^II complexes. Finally, the characteristic mid-IR signature of the {Re(CO)₃} fragment in the Pt/Re heterobimetallic complexes was used to quantify their uptake in breast cancer cells.     

Design,Synthesis and Structural Analysis of New Macrocycles Containing Dispiro-1,3-dioxane Units

The synthesis and the structure of new macrocycles containing semiflexible dispiro-1,3-dioxane units is reported. The structural analysis of the compounds is performed by high field NMR spectra, mass spectrometry investigations (MALDI, ESI-MS) and the solid state molecular structure obtained for two compounds by single crystal X-ray diffractometry. The dynamics of the macrocycles promoted by the flipping of the middle cyclohexane ring of the dispirane units is investigated using low temperature NMR experiments.

New macrocycles containing dispiro-1,3-dioxane units were investigated by NMR, X-ray diffractometry and mass spectrometry     

Flammability and morphology of HDPE/clay nanocomposites

High-density polyethylene/modified bentonite clay/polar compatibilizer nanocomposites were prepared through the melt intercalation process. The clay was organophilizated using different percentages of quaternary ammonium salt 100, 125, and 150 % based cation exchange capacity of the clay. The nanocomposites were prepared in a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder and then specimens were injection molded. For the evaluation of flammability of the test system was used for burning in the horizontal position according to the norm (Underwriters Laboratories, UL94HB) and to the method of cone calorimeter. The thermal behavior of nanocomposites was evaluated by thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction techniques, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology and analyze the degree of expansion of the clays prepared and the degree of exfoliation of nanocomposites. It was observed that the percentage of ammonium salt and the compatibilizer polar influence on the final properties of the systems and consequently improving the thermal stability and reducing the flammability of the matrix.