Calix[4]arenes containing urea and crown/urea moieties: effects of the crown ether unit and Na towards anion binding ability

Calix[4]arenes containing urea and crown/urea moieties, 7 and 10, respectively have been synthesized. ¹H NMR titrations of 7 and 10 with anions in DMSO-d₆ showed that 7 and 10 formed complexes with Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ to a different extent. The association constants of 7 and 10 towards anions were calculated and found to vary as H₂PO₄⁻>Cl⁻>Br⁻>NO₃⁻. However, compared to 7 the presence of the crown unit in 10 resulted in a slightly higher affinity to Cl⁻ and Br⁻, but a lower affinity to H₂PO₄⁻. Upon addition of Na⁺, the binding ability of 10 towards H₂PO₄⁻ is increased due to ion-pair enhancement.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of metal-containing polyurethane-ureas from hexadentate Schiff base metal complexes

Metal-containing polyurethane-ureas and copolyurethane-ureas have been synthesized by the reaction between hexadentate Schiff base metal complexes and isocyanate-terminated prepolymers. The metal complexes employed were MSal₂trien, where (M=Ni and Zn, Sal=salicylaldehyde and trien=triethylenetetramine). The NCO-terminated prepolymers used were tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate terminated poly(1,4-butanediol) (PB), tolylene 2,4-diisocyanate terminated poly(propylene glycol) (PP) prepolymers and the prepolymers synthesized from 4,4^′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and diols. The diols employed were polycaprolactone diol (PCL) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO). Copolyurethane-ureas were synthesized by the reaction between MSal₂trien, PB or PP prepolymers and MDI. Characterizations of polymers were carried out using IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, solubility and viscosity. Flammability of polymers was investigated by measuring limiting oxygen index (LOI) values and thermal stability was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

On the pyrolysis of aryl cinnamates a convenient entry to unsymmetrical stilbenes

Symmetrical and unsymmetrical stilbenes can be prepared by pyrolysis of the corresponding aryl cinnamates. The mechanism of product formation is discussed.