Reactions of ketenes with ethoxyalkynes: Synthesis of 2,2,4-trialkylcyclobutane-1,3-diones

Treatment of dimethyl ketene with ethoxyacetylene 1a, 1-ethoxyoct-1-yne 1b, and 1-ethoxytetrade-1-yne 1c afforded the 3-ethoxycyclobutenones 2a–c. Hydrolysis of 2a–c with dilute hydrochloric acid gave the cyclobutane-1,3-diones 3a–c. The ¹H NMR spectra of these compounds indicate that in CDCl₃ solution 2,2-dimethylcyclobutane-1,3-dione 3a exists as the diketone, whereas the 2,2,4-trialkylcyclobutane-1,3-diones 3b and 3c exist as the monoenols.     

Conformational effects on the performance and selectivity of a polymeric pseudostationary phase in electrokinetic chromatography

The effect of the conformation of a polymeric pseudostationary phase on performance and selectivity in electrokinetic chromatography was studied using an amphiphilic pH-responsive polymer that forms compact intramolecular aggregates (unimer micelles) at low pH and a more open conformation at high pH. The change in conformation was found to affect the electrophoretic mobility, retention, selectivity, and separation efficiency. The low-pH conformer has higher electrophoretic mobility and greater affinity for most solutes. The unimer micelle conformation was also found to provide a solvation environment more like that of micelles and other amphiphilic self-associative polymers studied previously. It was not possible to fully characterize the effect of conformation on efficiency, but very hydrophobic solutes with long alkyl chains appeared to migrate with better efficiency when the unimer micelle conformation was employed. The results imply that polymers with a carefully optimized lipophilic-hydrophilic balance that allow self-association will perform better as pseudostationary phases. In addition, the results show that electrokinetic chromatography is a useful method for determining the changes in solvation environment provided by stimuli-responsive polymers with changes in the conditions.     

Measurement of the hydrodynamic radii of PEE-G dendrons by diffusion spectroscopy on a benchtop NMR spectrometer

Benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a useful tool for the rapid determination of the self-diffusion coefficient and the hydrodynamic radius of dendrons. The self-diffusion coefficients of the first four generations of poly ethoxy ethyl glycinamide (PEE-G) dendrons are measured by diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) on a benchtop NMR equipped with diffusion gradient coils. The hydrodynamic radii of the dendrons are calculated via the Stokes–Einstein equation. The effects of solvent and pH are determined with the hydrodynamic radius increasing with generation and decreasing upon neutralization of an acidic solution. These measurements provide valuable information for biological and pharmaceutical applications of dendrons.     

Protein-nanoparticle labelling probed by surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy

A benzotriazole dye has been attached to a heme protein via a Michael addition and the unique potential of surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) to provide informative in situ recognition of more than one label on one protein demonstrated.     

Mechanically Interlocked Chiral Self-Templated [2]Catenanes from 2,6-Bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (btp) Ligands

We report the efficient self-templated formation of optically active 2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine ( btp ) derived homocircuit [2]catenane enantiomers. This represents the first example of the enantiopure formation of chiral btp homocircuit [2]catenanes from starting materials consisting of a classical chiral element; X-ray diffraction crystallography enabled the structural characterization of the [2]catenane. The self-assembly reaction was monitored closely in solution facilitating the characterization of the pseudo-rotaxane reaction intermediate prior to mechanically interlocking the pre-organised system via ring-closing metathesis.     

Portable X-band system for solution state dynamic nuclear polarization

This paper concerns instrumental approaches to obtain large dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) enhancements in a completely portable system. We show that at fields of 0.35 T under ambient conditions and at X-band frequencies, 1H enhancements of >100-fold can be achieved using nitroxide radical systems, which is near the theoretical maximum for 1H polarization using the Overhauser effect at this field. These large enhancements were obtained using a custom built microwave transmitter and a commercial TE102 X-band resonant cavity. The custom built microwave transmitter is compact, so when combined with a permanent magnet it is readily transportable. Our commercial X-band resonator was modified to be tunable over a range of approximately 9.5-10 GHz, giving added versatility to our fixed field portable DNP system. In addition, a field adjustable Halbach permanent magnet has also been employed as another means for matching the electron spin resonance condition. Both portable setups provide large signal enhancements and with improvements in design and engineering, greater than 100-fold 1H enhancements are feasible.     

Use of in‐situ atomic force microscopy to monitor the biodegradation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

Thin films of a co‐polymer mixture of poly 3‐hydroxybutyrate and poly 3‐hydroxyvalerate P(3HB‐3HV) were spun‐cast onto glass slides resulting in 35 nm thick layers with a spherulitic microstructure. An untyped strain of Streptomyces sp. bacteria was isolated from soil samples, and it's PHA depolymerase was used to degrade the P(3HB‐3HV) thin films. Both ex‐situ and in‐situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) biodegradation studies were performed to determine the kinetics of the biodegradation over the course of three hours at room temperature. Ex‐situ AFM was performed in Tapping Mode and in‐situ AFM was performed in the PHA depolymerase using contact mode AFM in the liquid cell, allowing for the real‐time analysis of P(3HB‐3HV) biodegradation. Biodegradation is observed uniformly throughout the surface, and can be observed within 30 min. of depolymerase exposure. In‐situ AFM analysis yields a linear degradation rate as a function of time, while the ex‐situ study suggests a more complex kinetics.