A mild deprotection strategy for allyl-protecting groups and its implications in sequence specific dendrimer synthesis

A mild deprotection strategy for allyl ethers under basic conditions in the presence of a palladium catalyst is described. Under these conditions, aryl allyl ethers can be cleaved selectively in the presence of alkyl allyl ethers. These conditions are also effective in the deprotection of allyloxycarbonyl groups. The utility of the current methodology in sequence specific dendrimer synthesis is demonstrated.     

Analysis of the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics in three linear aromatic polyester systems

Melt or cold crystallization kinetics has a strong bearing on morphology and the extent of crystallization, which significantly affects the physical properties of polymeric materials. Nonisothermal crystallization kinetics are often analyzed by the classical Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) model or one of its variants, even though they are based on an isothermal assumption. As a result, during the nonisothermal (e.g. constant heating or cooling rate) crystallization of polymeric material, different sets of model parameters are required to describe crystallization at different rates, thereby increasing the total number of model parameters. In addition, due to the uncorrelated nature of these model parameters with the cooling or heating rate, accurate modeling at any intermediate condition is not possible. In the present work, these two limitations of the conventional approach have been eliminated by exhibiting the existence of a functional relationship between cooling or heating rate and effective activation energy during nonisothermal melt or cold crystallization in three linear aromatic polyesters. Furthermore, it has been shown that when the JMAK model is used in conjunction with this functional relationship, it is possible to precisely predict the experimental nonisothermal melt or cold crystallization kinetics at any linear cooling or heating rate with a single set of model parameters.     

Kinetics of thermal degradation of poly(-caprolactone)

The thermal degradation/modification dynamics of poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) was investigated in a thermogravimetric analyzer under non-isothermal and isothermal conditions. The time evolution of the molecular weight distribution during degradation was studied using gel permeation chromatography. Experimental molecular weight evolution and weight loss profile were modeled using continuous distribution kinetics. The degradation exhibited distinctly different behavior under non-isothermal and isothermal heating. Under non-isothermal heating, the mass of the polymer remained constant at initial stages with rapid degradation at longer times. The Friedman and Chang methods of analysis showed a 3-fold change (from 18 to 55–62 kcal mol⁻¹) in the activation energy from low temperatures to high temperatures during degradation. This suggested the governing mechanism changes during degradation and was explained using two parallel mechanisms (random chain scission and specific chain end scission) without invoking the sequential reaction mechanisms. Under isothermal heating, the polymer degraded by pure unzipping of specific products from the chain end.     

Rh2(OAc)4 catalyzed substrate selective [4+2]/[2+2] cycloaddition of acylketenes: a highly chemo- and regioselective synthesis of spiro(oxindolyl)oxazinones and β-lactams

A rhodium(II) catalyzed [4+2]/[2+2] cycloaddition reaction of N-protected isatin-3-arylimine with acylketene derived from α-diazocarbonyl compounds has been achieved for the first time for the preparation of a novel class of spiro(oxindolyl)oxazinone and spiro(oxindolyl)-β-lactam derivatives.     

Catalytic deactivation of gold surface as a consequence of Prussian blue electrodeposition and removal

It is shown that the gold surface is catalytically deactivated and smoothened upon removal of the Prussian blue (PB)–gold nanocomposite formed on the gold surface. Atomic force microscopy proves surface smoothening after PB removal. The voltammetric responses of Ru(NH₃)₆Cl₃ on the smoothened surface remain unaffected, but the reactions that involve multistep and inner-sphere electron transfer are affected on the smoothened surface as exemplified by hydroquinone, ferrous oxalate redox reactions, and oxygen reduction. These effects are attributed to catalytic deactivation as a consequence of removal of the active sites.

Electrochemical Method for the Preparation of Dibromomethyl,Bis(bromomethyl), and Bis(dibromomethyl) Arenes

Electrochemical bromination of alkyl aromatic compounds by two-phase electrolysis yields the corresponding α, α-dibrominated products. The reaction has been carried out in a single-compartment electrochemical cell using aqueous sodium bromide (40–50%), containing a catalytic amount of HBr as electrolyte, and chloroform, containing an alkyl aromatic compound, as the organic phase with a Pt plate as anode at 10–15°C. Two-phase electrolysis results in high yields (70–90%) of dibromomethyl, bis(bromomethyl), and bis(dibromomethyl) arenes, depending upon the charge passed.     

Studies on the Effect of Organic Solvents and Temperature on the Micellar Solution of Pentamethylene-1,5-bis(tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide) Gemini Surfactant

Effects of three organic solvents, viz. methyl cellosolve, acetonitrile, and formamide, on the micellization process of Gemini surfactant pentamethylene-1,5-bis(tetradecyldimethylammonium bromide) aqueous solutions, with the volume percentages of the organic solvents up to 50%, have been investigated conductometrically. The studies were made at different temperatures and the data were used to find out different micellization parameters. From the study, it was observed that, although an increment in the amount of the organic solvents delays the micellization, the increase in the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is comparatively less below 20%(v/v) showing the predominance of water character in the bulk phase at lower compositions of the organic solvents. Applying equilibrium model for micelle formation, various thermodynamic parameters were also calculated from the temperature dependence of the cmc values and the results show that the micellization process becomes less spontaneous as the volume % of the organic solvent increases in the system due to the action of water-organic solvent mixed media as better solvent than pure water (solvophobic effect) for the studied Gemini molecules.