The kinetics and mechanisms of thermal degradation of some divalent metal salts of mono(hydroxyethyl) phthalate

The thermal decomposition of lead and manganese salts of mono(hydroxyethyl) phthalate was studied by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The kinetic parameters for the various stages of decomposition of these salts were calculated by different methods and mechanisms are proposed to explain the results.     

Synthesis of some new metal-containing polyurethanes

Some new metal-containing polyurethanes were synthesized from manganese and lead salts of mono(hydroxyethyl)phthalate by condensing them with hexamethylene diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate in dimethylformamide as solvent. The polymers were characterized by viscometry, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The decomposition temperatures of these polymers were found to be significantly lower than those of metal-free polymers of similar structure. However, the rates of decomposition of metal-containing polyurethanes were lower than those of polyurethanes having no metal. Inherent viscosities in DMSO at 30° of these polyurethanes were low, ranging from 0.043 to 0.067.     

Biological and catalytic evaluation of Ru(II)‐p‐cymene complexes of Schiff base ligands: Impact of ligand appended moiety on photo‐induced DNA and protein cleavage,cytotoxicity and C‐H activation

Two organometallic Ru(II)‐p‐cymene complexes of the type [Ru(η⁶‐p‐cymene)(L)Cl]PF₆ 1 and 2 , where L is N,N‐bis(4‐isopropylbenzylidene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (bien, L1 ) or N,N‐bis (pyren‐2‐ylmethylene)ethane‐1,2‐diamine (bpen, L2 ) have been prepared and characterized well. Because of appended pyrenyl groups in coordinated bpen ligand, the complex 2 exhibits higher DNA and protein binding than complex 1 in which isopropylbenzyl groups are incorporated. Interestingly, the luminescent characteristic complex 2 is unique in displaying DNA cleavage after light activation by UVA light at 365 nm through oxygen dependent mechanism. AFM analysis attests the photo‐induced DNA fragmentation ability of complex 2 . Also, the complex 2 cleaves the protein after light exposure in a non‐specific manner suggesting that it can act as a protein photo cleaving agent. In contrast to the trend of DNA and protein interaction of complexes, the complex 1 exhibits cytotoxic activity against human breast carcinoma ( MCF‐7 ) and liver carcinoma ( HepG2 ) with potency higher than that of complex 2 due to enhanced hydrophobicity of isopropyl groups present in p‐cymene and bien ligands. Indeed, complex 2 is inactive against MCF‐7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines even up to 200 μM concentration. The AO/EB staining assay reveals that the complex 1 is able to induce late apoptotic mode of cell death in breast cancer cells, which is further confirmed by inter‐nucleosomal DNA cleavage. Furthermore, the complexes 1 and 2 are evaluated for their catalytic activities and found to be working well for the β‐carboline directed C–H arylation to afford the desired products in good yield (40–47%).     

A Comprehensive Review on Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytosterols in Insulin Resistance: A Mechanistic Approach

Natural products in the form of functional foods have become increasingly popular due to their protective effects against life-threatening diseases, low risk of adverse effects, affordability, and accessibility. Plant components such as phytosterol, in particular, have drawn a lot of press recently due to a link between their consumption and a modest incidence of global problems, such as Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cancer, and cardiovascular disease. In the management of diet-related metabolic diseases, such as T2DM and cardiovascular disorders, these plant-based functional foods and nutritional supplements have unquestionably led the market in terms of cost-effectiveness, therapeutic efficacy, and safety. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder categoriszed by high blood sugar and insulin resistance, which influence major metabolic organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. These chronic hyperglycemia fallouts result in decreased glucose consumption by body cells, increased fat mobilisation from fat storage cells, and protein depletion in human tissues, keeping the tissues in a state of crisis. In addition, functional foods such as phytosterols improve the body’s healing process from these crises by promoting a proper physiological metabolism and cellular activities. They are plant-derived steroid molecules having structure and function similar to cholesterol, which is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, olive oil, wood pulp, legumes, cereals, and leaves, and are abundant in nature, along with phytosterol derivatives. The most copious phytosterols seen in the human diet are sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol, which can be found in free form, as fatty acid/cinnamic acid esters or as glycosides processed by pancreatic enzymes. Accumulating evidence reveals that phytosterols and diets enriched with them can control glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as insulin resistance. Despite this, few studies on the advantages of sterol control in diabetes care have been published. As a basis, the primary objective of this review is to convey extensive updated information on the possibility of managing diabetes and associated complications with sterol-rich foods in molecular aspects.     

Effects of hydration and hydrophilicity on Na‐Clay‐supported aqueous‐phase catalysis for atom transfer radical polymerization

Hydrated sodium montmorillonite (Na‐clay) has been used as a catalyst support for the heterogeneous atom transfer radical polymerization of benzyl methacrylate in the presence of various concentrations of water, reducing agent, and CuBr₂ in anisole at ambient temperature. The polymerization was promoted via reduction of Cu^II to Cu^I through the addition of sodium ascorbate (NaAsc) as a reducing agent in aqueous solution. The polymerizaton proceeded in a controlled manner and produced poly(benzyl methacylate) with moderately narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD) when performed under optimum conditions of hydration (10 wt % ≤ H₂O/Na‐clay ≤ 21 wt %) and reducing agent (0.15 ≤ [NaAsc]/[I] ≤ 0.23). The polymerization was uncontrolled if hydration and NaAsc exceed above their optimum range of concentrations. Apparent rate of the polymerization (k_app) increased in the presence of decane–anisole (1/3, v/v) mixture solvent. Selective adsorption of decane at the interfaces of the hydrated clay was attributed for the rate enhancement due to increased polymer and hydrophobic interface interaction. The polymerization progressed in a controlled manner as confirmed by the first‐order time‐conversion plot, linear increase in molecular weights, and moderately narrow MWDs over conversion. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Solvent self-diffusion,polymer NMR relaxation,and free volume in polymer solutions

The self-diffusion coefficient of chloroform in poly(isopropyl acrylate)—chloroform solutions has been studied as a function of concentration and temperature by using the pulsed-field-gradient spin-echo NMR method. It is found that the self-diffusion coefficient of the solvent can be adequately fitted by using a simple free-volume approach with either a concentration or temperature superposition. It was noted that the free-volume parameters derived from the self-diffusion data are the same as those derived from deuterium NMR transverse relaxation-time measurements of the polymer in the same system. The equality of these two sets of experiments suggests a fundamental relationship between the two different processes. The simplest explanation is that the free volume necessary for the local segmental motion of the polymer and the translation of the solvent are similar.     

Comparative evaluation of antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Rhizophora apiculata and glucose

The focus of the study is to compare the antibacterial efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) fabricated by exploiting biological (a mangrove plant, Rhizophora apiculata) and chemical means (Glucose). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterised using UV-visible absorption spectrophotometry (UV-vis), Fourier transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (BAgNPs) were observed at 423 nm with particle sizes of 19-42 nm. The chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles (CAgNPs) showed a maximum peak at 422 nm with particle sizes of 13-19 nm. An obvious superiority of the antibacterial potency of BAgNPs compared to the CAgNPs as denoted by the zone of inhibition (ZoI) was noted when the nanoparticles were treated against seven different Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) strains. The current study therefore elucidates that the synthesized AgNPs were efficient against the bacterial strains tested.     

Hydrated Clay for Catalyst Removal in Copper Mediated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

A simple method has been described to remove catalyst from the copper mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of benzyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate in anisole at 25 °C using hydrated natural clay (sodium montmorillonite, Na‐clay). The method consists of (1) addition of hydrated clay (Cu^I/clay ≈ 5 wt.‐%) either during or after the polymerization, (2) oxidation of catalyst complex by exposing the terminated reaction mixture in air, and (3) filtration to obtain catalyst free polymer solution. A strong coordination of CuBr‐ligand complex onto hydrated clay (10 wt.‐% < H₂O/clay < 30 wt.‐%) upon oxidation resulted in polymers with no or insignificant residual catalyst (<1.74 ppm), as determined by UV‐vis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The recovered clay exhibited expanded intercalary layers and absence of polymer within it.

     

Synthesis of amphiphilic poly(methyl methacrylate‐ b‐ethylene oxide) copolymers from monohydroxy telechelic poly(methyl methacrylate) as macroinitiator

The synthesis of well‐defined poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PMMA‐b‐PEO) dibock copolymer through anionic polymerization using monohydroxy telechelic PMMA as macroinitiator is described. Living anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate was performed using initiators derived from the adduct of diphenylethylene and a suitable alkyllithium, either of which contains a hydroxyl group protected with tert‐butyldimethylsilyl moiety in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?78 °C in the presence of LiClO₄. The synthesized telechelic PMMAs had good control of molecular weight with narrow molecular weight distribution (MWD). The ¹H NMR and MALDI‐TOF MS analysis confirmed quantitative functionalization of chain‐ends. Block copolymerization of ethylene oxide was carried out using the terminal hydroxyl group of PMMA as initiator in the presence of potassium counter ion in THF at 35 °C. The PMMA‐b‐PEO diblock copolymers had moderate control of molecular weight with narrow MWD. The ¹H NMR results confirm the absence of trans‐esterification reaction of propagating PEO anions onto the ester pendants of PMMA. The micellation behavior of PMMA‐b‐PEO diblock copolymer was examined in water using ¹H NMR and dynamic light scattering. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2132–2144, 2008     

Anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate using tetrakis[tris(dimethylamino)phosphoranylidenamino] phosphonium (P5+) as counterion in tetrahydrofuran

A novel metal‐free initiator, i.e. the salt of the tetrakis[tris(dimethylamino)phosphoranylidenamino]phosphonium (P₅⁺) cation with the 1,1‐diphenylhexyl (DPH^–) anion was prepared by cation metathesis. It initiates a very fast and controlled anionic polymerization of methyl methacrylate in THF. Kinetic investigations between –20 and +20°C using a flow tube reactor provide nearly linear first‐order time‐conversion plots with half‐lives below 0.1 s, a linear dependence of the number‐average degree of polymerization, and rather narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≈ 1.2). ¹³C NMR measurements on a model of the active chain end (the P₅⁺ salt of ethyl isobutyrate) in THF‐d₈ show 15 and 25 ppm upfield shifts of the α‐carbon compared to the dimers and tetramers of the lithium ester enolate, respectively, indicating a non‐aggregated structure and an increased charge density on the α‐carbon.