Thermoplastic poly(ester‐imide)s derived from anhydride‐terminated polyester prepolymer and diisocyanate

The phase‐separation behavior of thermoplastic poly(ester‐imide) [P(E‐I)] multiblock copolymers, (A‐B)_n, was investigated by a stepwise variation of the imide content. All the multiblock copolymers were synthesized by solution polycondensation with dimethylformamide as a solvent. P(E‐I)s were prepared with anhydride‐terminated polyester prepolymer and diisocyanates. Polyester prepolymers were prepared by the reaction of pyromellitic dianhydride and two different polyols [poly(tetramethylene oxide glycol) (PTMG) and polycaprolactone diol (PCL)]. Structural determination was done with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier transform NMR, and the molecular weight was determined by gel permeation chromatography. The effect of the imide content on the thermal properties of the synthesized P(E‐I)s was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers were also characterized for static and dynamic mechanical properties. Thermal analysis data indicated that the polymers based on PTMG were stable up to 330 °C in nitrogen atmosphere and exhibited phase‐separated morphology. Polymers based on PCL showed multistage decomposition, and the films derived from them were too fragile to be characterized for static and dynamic mechanical properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 341–350, 2004     

Microfabricated bioreactor chips for immobilised enzyme assays

A microfabricated device is reported that has been designed to permit the in situ packing of a section of channel with enzyme immobilised onto controlled pore glass (CPG). It is fabricated from glass and polydimethylsiloxane and to prevent dead volumes, has dedicated channels for packing the reactor. The device has the advantage of being simple in design, the flow through enzyme reactor channel being simply a widened section of the analyte channel. The system is suitable for both hydrodynamic and electro-osmotic pumping, and is designed such that when the packing is exhausted it can be repacked. Controlled pore glass provides a reproducible none swelling, high porosity medium onto which the enzyme could be immobilised. The large particle size meant that it was vital to optimise the immobilisation procedure in order to achieve acceptable enzyme activity. The microfabricated device was developed with two enzymes of different molecular masses; alkaline phosphatase and xanthine oxidase. The pore size of the CPG was found to be very important for xanthine oxidase, where the 697 Å pore size (120-200 mesh) CPG was found to give the highest activity (18-20% activity retained after immobilisation). The microfabricated device was used for the assay of p-nitrophenyl phosphate and hypoxanthine with spectrophotometric detection at 405 and 470 nm, respectively. The limits of detection were 5 and 8 μM, respectively.     

Mesoporous silica anchored Ru catalysts for highly enantioselective hydrogenation of beta-ketoesters

Recyclable and reusable mesoporous silica anchored Ru catalysts based on 4,4'-substituted BINAPs were synthesized and used for the hydrogenation of beta-alkyl beta-ketoesters with up to 98.6% e.e. and beta-aryl beta-ketoesters with up to 95.2% e.e.     

The [Sn(9)Pt(2)(PPh(3))](2)(-) and [Sn(9)Ni(2)(CO)](3)(-) complexes: two markedly different Sn(9)M(2)L transition metal zintl ion clusters and their dynamic behavior

[Sn(9)Pt(2)(PPh(3))](2)(-) (2) was prepared from Pt(PPh(3))(4), K(4)Sn(9), and 2,2,2-cryptand in en/toluene solvent mixtures. The [K(2,2,2-cryptand)](+) salt is very air and moisture sensitive and has been characterized by ESI-MS, variable-temperature (119)Sn, (31)P, and (195)Pt NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The structure of 2 comprises an elongated tricapped Sn(9) trigonal prism with a capping PtPPh(3), an interstitial Pt atom, a hypercloso electron count (10 vertex, 20 electron) and C(3)(v)() point symmetry. Hydrogenation trapping experiments and deuterium labeling studies showed that the formation of 2 involves a double C-H activation of solvent molecules (en or DMSO) with the elimination of H(2) gas. The ESI-MS analysis of 2 showed the K[Sn(9)Pt(2)(PPh(3))](1)(-) parent ion, an oxidized [Sn(9)Pt(2)(PPh(3))](1)(-) ion, and the protonated binary cluster anion [HSn(9)Pt(2)](1)(-). 2 is highly fluxional in solution giving rise to a single time-averaged (119)Sn NMR signal for all nine Sn atoms but the Pt atoms remain distinct. The exchange is intramolecular and is consistent with a rigid, linear Pt-Pt-PPh(3) rod embedded in a liquidlike Sn(9) matrix. [Sn(9)Ni(2)(CO)](3)(-) (3) was prepared from Ni(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2), K(4)Sn(9), and 2,2,2-cryptand in en/toluene solvent mixtures. The [K(2,2,2-cryptand)](+) salt is very air and moisture sensitive, is paramagnetic, and has been characterized by ESI-MS, EPR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 3 is a 10-vertex 21-electron polyhedron, a slightly distorted closo-Sn(9)Ni cluster with an additional interstitial Ni atom and overall C(4)(v)() point symmetry. The EPR spectrum showed a five-line pattern due to 4.8-G hyperfine interactions involving all nine tin atoms. The ESI-MS analysis showed weak signals for the potassium complex [K(2)Sn(9)Ni(2)(CO)](1-) and the ligand-free binary ions [K(2)Sn(9)Ni(2)](1)(-), [KSn(9)Ni(2)](1)(-), and [HSn(9)Ni(2)](1)(-).     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and crystal structure analysis of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole and its morpholinomethyl derivative

The preparation of 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-morpholin-1-ylmethyl imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole via the intermediate 2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-6-(4-methoxyphenyl)Imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4] thiadiazole is described. Elemental analysis, IR spectrum, ¹H NMR and X-ray crystal structure analyses were carried out to determine the compositions and molecular structures of the two compounds. The crystal packing exhibits intermolecular C–H?O, C–H?N, C–H?F and π–π stacking interactions leading to the formation of the supramolecular network.     

Comparative Study of Biosorption of Heavy Metals Using Living Green Algae Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris: Equilibrium and Kinetics

The biosorption of several heavy metals such as cobalt(II), chromium(III), lead(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II), and manganese(II) from aqueous systems on living microalgae cultures, Scenedesmus quadricauda and Neochloris pseudoalveolaris were studied under laboratories conditions. The kinetic and statistical parameters were calculated by using the data obtained from batch cultivation and well fitted a pseudo-first-order rate equation. The initial metal concentrations in solution were about 5–40 mg · L^?1. According to the pseudo-second-order model, the biosorption capacities of Scenedesmus quadricauda for Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions were found in the ranges of 2.14–52.48, 1.98–81.98, 8.05–4.26, 7.81–24.96, 2.17–55.71, and 3.54–75.20 mg g^?1, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed that the metal uptake capacity of each living green algae was rather fast. It was also observed that the biosorption kinetic rate decreased with increasing concentration for both microalgae. The application of diffusion-controlled models to the experimental results indicated that the contribution of intraparticle diffusion to the overall sorption kinetics was not very important. Results showed that Co(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II) ions could effectively be absorbed by using living microalga cultures from aqueous solutions.     

Screening of Plant Pollen Sources,Polyphenolic Compounds,Fatty Acids and Antioxidant/Antimicrobial Activity from Bee Pollen

In this study, the botanical origin, total flavonoid and phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phenolic profile and fatty acid composition of mixed bee pollen loads collected in Bayburt, Turkey, were determined. In addition to these assays, antibacterial activity of bee-collected pollen extract (BCPE) against a variety of food-borne pathogenic bacteria was determined in vitro. Pollen loads were classified into five botanical families based on their color: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Campanulaceae, Cistaceae and Rosaceae. Total flavonoid, total phenolic, CUPRAC and CERAC concentrations were 173.52 mg GAE/g, 79.21 mg QE/g, 85.59 mg Trolox/g and 118.13 mg Trolox/g, respectively. Twenty-three phenolic compounds were scanned in bee pollen extract by LC-MS/MS, with rutin being the most abundant. Cis-4,7,10,13,16,19 docosahexaenoic acid was the predominant fatty acid, followed by cis-11-eicosenoic acid, palmitic acid, and alfa linolenic acid. In addition, the agar well diffusion (AWD) and micro-broth dilution methods were used to determine of the antibacterial activity of the BCPE sample. MIC values were observed to vary between 2.5–5 mg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 5–10 mg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria. These findings indicate that bee pollen could be a potential source of antioxidants and antimicrobials.