Synthesis of self‐healing polyurethane urea‐based supramolecular materials

Supramolecular polyurethane ureas are expected to have superior mechanical properties primarily due to the reversible, noncovalent interactions such as hydrogen bonding interactions. We synthesized polyurethane prepolymers from small molecular weight of poly(tetramethylene ether)glycol and isophorone diisocyanates, which were end capped with propylamine to synthesize polyurethane ureas with high contents of urea and urethane groups for hydrogen‐bonding formations to facilitate self‐healing. The effects of polyurethane urea molecular weight (3000 ≤ M_n ≤ 9000), crosslinking, and cutting direction were studied in terms of thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties with an emphasis on the self‐healing efficiency. It was found that the thermal self‐healability was more pronounced as the molecular weight of polyurethane urea decreased, showing a maximum of more than 96% with 3000 M_n when the sample was cut along the stretch direction. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 468–474     

Solid‐state 31P NMR investigation on the status of guanine nucleotides in paclitaxel‐stabilized microtubules

Microtubule dynamics is a target for many chemotherapeutic drugs. In order to understand the biochemical effects of paclitaxel on the GTPase activity of tubulin, the status of guanine nucleotides in microtubules was investigated by ³¹P cross‐polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) NMR. Microtubules were freshly prepared in vitro in the presence of paclitaxel and then lyophilized in sucrose buffer for solid‐state NMR experiments. A ³¹P CPMAS NMR spectrum with the SNR of 25 was successfully acquired from the lyophilized microtubule sample. The broadness of the ³¹P spectral lines in the spectrum indicates that the molecular environments around the guanine nucleotides inside tubulin may not be as crystalline as reported by many diffraction studies. Deconvolution of the spectrum into four spectral components was carried out in comparison with the ³¹P NMR spectra obtained from five control samples. The spectral analysis suggested that about 13% of the nucleotides were present as GTP and 37% as GDP in the β‐tubulin (E‐site) of the microtubules. It was found that most of the GDPs were present as GDP‐P_i complex in the microtubules, which seems to be one of the effects of paclitaxel binding. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the option valuation and decomposition of exchange option

In this paper, we shall find the uniquerational price associated with the exchange option. Also, we find the decomposition of Snell envelope and value function of the American exchange option.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-lauthisan

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-lauthisan has been accomplished starting from d-glyceraldehyde acetonide by combination of diastereoselective alkylation and ring-closing metathesis. High degree of 1,3-asymmetric induction has been realized in ether system.     

Solid phase synthesis of azapeptides using an automatic synthesizer

Peptides containing azaglycine located terminally or within the backbone have been prepared in the solid phase by means of an automatic synthesizer.     

Phase transformation of Ni-B, Ni-P diffusion barrier deposited electrolessly on Cu interconnect

In this paper, we report that the phase transformation of Ni-B, Ni-P diffusion barriers deposited electrolessly on Cu, for the reason that the Ni-P layer is a more effective diffusion barrier than the Ni-B layer. The Ni₃B crystallized was decomposed to Ni and B₂O₃ above 400 °C and the Ni₃P crystallized was decomposed to Ni and P₂O₅ above 600 °C respectively in Ar atmosphere. Also, the Ni₃B was decomposed to Ni and free B above 400 °C and the Ni₃P was decomposed to Ni and free P above 600 °C respectively in H₂ atmosphere. The decomposed Ni formed a solid solution with Cu. The Cu diffusion occurred above 400 °C for Ni-B layer and above 600 °C for Ni-P layer, respectively. Because the decomposition temperature of Ni-P layer is about 200 °C higher than that of Ni-B layer, the Ni-P layer is a more effective barrier for Cu than the Ni-B layer.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed regioselective synthesis of 2-substituted indoles via ring-opening of epoxides by anilines

Anilines react with epoxides in dioxane at 180°C in the presence of a catalytic amount of a ruthenium catalyst along with tin(II) chloride to afford 2-substituted indoles in moderate to good yields.     

Investigation of the Li1+xV3O8 electrode–organic electrolyte interface by scanning photoelectron microscopy

To investigate the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the Li_1+xV₃O₈ electrode surface in the thermodynamic stability range of the organic electrolyte, we applied scanning photoelectron microscopy (SPEM) to a pristine electrode and to an electrode after ten cycles. The F K-edge absorption spectrum of the cycled electrode showed that LiF forms on the electrode surface during the lithium insertion–extraction process in the Li_1+xV₃O₈/Li cell. The photoelectron spectrum for the cycled electrode showed intense spectral features corresponding to Li 1s, F 2s, F 2p, and P 2p electron signals, whereas these spectral features were of negligible intensity for the pristine electrode. The above results give strong support for the formation of an SEI that consists of LiF and compounds containing phosphorus during operation of the battery. The SPEM images also revealed that the fluorine distribution on the surface of the cycled electrode was inhomogeneous.     

Synthesis and adsorption properties of gold nanoparticles within pores of surface‐functional porous polymer microspheres

Mesoporous polymer microspheres with gold (Au) nanoparticles inside their pores were prepared considering their surface functionality and porosity. The Au/polymer composite microspheres prepared were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The results showed that the adsorption of Au nanoparticles could be increased by imparting the pore structure and surface‐functional groups into the supporting polymer microspheres (in this study, poly (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐co‐acrylonitrile) and poly (EGDMA‐co‐AN) system). Above all, from this study, it was established that the porosity of the polymer microspheres is the most important factor that determines the distribution and adsorption amount of face‐centered cubic (fcc) Au nanoparticles in the final products. Our study showed that the continuous adsorption of Au nanoparticles with the aid of the large surface area and surface interaction sites formed more favorably the Au/polymer composite microspheres. The BET measurements of Au/poly(EGDMA‐co‐AN) composite microspheres reveals that the adsorption of Au nanoparticles into the pores kept the pore structure intact and made it more porous. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5627–5635, 2004     

Sorption of chromium hydroxide sol on silica studied by radiotracing

This study was undertaken to investigate the sorption behavior of chromium hydroxide sol on silica type adsorbent in aqueous solution. Radioisotopic tracer method was used to assess data. This technique allowed sensitive kinetic and equilibrium measurements in both direction: sorption and desorption, which are strongly dependent on solution conditions, such as pH, ionic strength or the presence of complexing species. Total removal of sol particles could not be achieved, even under the most favorable experimental conditions (acidification).