Side‐chain crystallization behavior of graft copolymers consisting of an amorphous main chain and crystalline side chains. II. Poly(n‐hexyl methacrylate)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol)

The phase behavior and crystallization of graft copolymers consisting of poly(n‐hexyl methacrylate) (PHMA) as an amorphous main chain and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as crystallizable side chains (HMAx with 15 ≤ x ≤ 73, where x represents the weight percentage of PEG) were investigated. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering profiles measured above the melting temperature of PEG suggested that a microdomain structure with segregated PHMA and PEG domains was formed in HMA40 and HMA46. This phase behavior was qualitatively described by a calculated phase diagram based on the mean‐field theory. Because of the segregation of PEG into microdomains, the crystallization temperature of the PEG side chains in HMAx was higher than that in poly(methyl acrylate)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) having a similar value of x, which was considered to be in a disordered state above the melting temperature. In HMAx with x ≤ 40, PEG crystallization was strongly restricted, probably because the PEG microdomains were isolated in the PHMA matrix. As a result, the growth of PEG spherulite was not observed because the PEG crystallization occurred after vitrification of the PHMA segregated domains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 129–137, 2007     

Control of methanol oxidation by ionic behavior in supercritical water

In supercritical water the rate of methanol oxidation was controlled by ionic behavior as follows: the oxidation rate of methanol decreased with increasing proton and hydroxide ion concentration, possibly due to stabilization of the reactant, while that of CO was suppressed by added protons and enhanced by added hydroxide ions.     

Silylation of water glass. I. Solvent extraction and trimethylsilylation of silicic acid

Homogeneous trimethylsilylation of silicic acid in nonaqueous media was studied. The silylation process consisted of three steps: acidification of sodium silicate, solvent extraction. and trimethylation of silicic acid. Sodium silicate was first acidified with dilute sulfuric acid to form silicic acid: extraction followed with hydrophilic organic solvents. The Silicic acid obtained was finally allowed to react with trimethylchlorosilane to give trimethylsilylates with molecular weights of 1000–12,000. Optimum conditions for each step have been intensively sought to achieve trimethylsilylates in high yield. The trimethylsilylates exhibited excellent thermal stability and surface properties, such as water repellency and antifoaming properties, comparable to those of conventional polydimethylsiloxanes.     

Characterization and crystal structures of copper(II), cobalt(II), and nickel(II) complexes with two kinds of piperidine carboxylic acids

Copper(II) complex with -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid ( -Hpipe-3):[Cu( -pipe-3)₂(H₂O)] and cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with piperidine-4-carboxylic acid (Hpipe-4):[M(Hpipe-4)₂(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ (M: Co, Ni) have been prepared and characterized by means of IR and powder diffuse reflection spectra, thermal analysis, and magnetic susceptibility. The crystal structures of these complexes have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal of [Cu( -pipe-3)₂(H₂O)] is orthorhombic with the space group Pbcn. The copper atom is in a square pyramidal geometry, ligated by two carboxylato oxygen atoms, two nitrogen atoms, and a water molecule. One molecule of this complex consists of either -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid or -piperidine-3-carboxylic acid. The crystals of [M(Hpipe-4)₂(H₂O)₄]Cl₂ are monoclinic with space group P2₁/n. In these complexes the metal atom is in an octahedral geometry ligated by two carboxylato oxygen atoms and four water molecules.     

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of pyrroloazepine derivatives as potent antihypertensive agents with antiplatelet aggregation activity

A series of 1-aminoalkyl-pyrrolo[2,3-c]azepin-8-one derivatives was synthesized and evaluated as alpha 1 adrenergic and serotonin 2 (5-HT2) receptor antagonists, with the aim of finding a novel antihypertensive agent potently exhibiting both activities. Some compounds with a 4-[4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)piperidino]butyl group at the 1-position exhibited both activities, and varied significantly in terms of the substituents at the 4-position of the pyrroloazepine ring. Among the compounds obtained in this study, (E)-1-[4-[4-(4-fluorobenzoyl)piperidino]-butyl]-4-hydroxyimino-7- methyl-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydropyrrolo[2,3-c]azepin-8-one (15a, SUN9221) displayed potent alpha 1-adrenergic antagonistic activity (pA2 = 8.89 +/- 0.21) and 5-HT2 antagonistic activity (pA2 = 8.74 +/- 0.22) in isolated guinea pig arteries. This compound exhibited antihypertensive activity and a duration of action equivalent to orally administered prazosin or doxazosin, 3 mg/kg, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats, as well as potent antiplatelet aggregation activity.     

One‐Pot Stereoselective Synthesis of 2‐Acylaziridines and 2‐Acylpyrrolidines from N‐(Propargylic)hydroxylamines

The stereoselective direct transformation of N‐(propargylic)hydroxylamines into cis‐2‐acylaziridines was achieved by the combined use of AgBF₄ and CuCl. Copper salts were found to promote the transformation of the intermediary 4‐isoxazolines into 2‐acylaziridines and both 3‐aryl‐ and 3‐alkyl‐substituted 2‐acylaziridines could be prepared by using this method. Furthermore, subsequent 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides that were generated in situ from the intermediary 2‐acylaziridines with maleimides was achieved in a stereoselective one‐pot procedure to afford the corresponding 2‐acylpyrrolidines, which consisted of an octahydropyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole skeleton.     

Polymer-Supported Bases. 10. Synthesis of Phosphatidylcholines Using Polymer-Supported or Free Acylimidazoles

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine was synthesized in a good yield by the reaction of L-α-glycerophosphorylcholine with 1-palmitoylimidazole in the presence of DBU. Polymer-supported 1-palmitoylimidazole moiety also could be used as the acylating reagent, though the yield of the choline was moderate.     

Pressure-Induced Solidification of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate

We have used Raman spectroscopy to investigate the high-pressure phase behavior of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄]), a representative ionic liquid, at pressures up to ~7.5 GPa. We have also studied how increasing pressure leads to conformational changes in the [bmim]⁺ cation. We have found that liquid [bmim][BF₄] undergoes pressure-induced solidification (freezing) into a superpressed (metastable) state at 2.5 GPa; another structural change probably occurs at ~6 GPa. Remarkably, conformational changes in the [bmim]⁺ cation between trans and gauche conformers are concordant with the metastable structural changes of [bmim][BF₄]. As the pressure is increased from ambient, the fraction of gauche conformers increases, but the gauche fraction decreases above the solidification pressure (2.5 GPa), and slope of the gauche/trans ratio changes again above 6 GPa. We interpret these results in terms of the fragility of the ionic liquid.     

Preparation and physical properties of flame retardant acrylic resin containing nano-sized aluminum hydroxide

Poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) shows high strength and transparency but is a flammable material. In this study, the surface of aluminum hydroxide was modified with methacrylate containing phosphoric acid moieties before dispersion in MMA, and organic-inorganic nano-hybrid materials were obtained by bulk polymerization in the presence of the surface-modified aluminum hydroxide. The resulting hybrid materials retained the high transparency of PMMA, with transparency values similar to that of pure PMMA. Moreover, the flame resistance of the hybrid materials was improved in comparison with that of pure PMMA, with depression of the horizontal burning rate becoming a maximum at an inorganic content of 3 wt%. These results suggest that the use of aluminum hydroxide surface-modified with phosphoric acid groups is an efficient method for obtaining good performance fire-resistant polymer materials.