Electrochemical oxidation of aliphatic amines and their attachment to carbon and metal surfaces

The electrochemical oxidation of aliphatic amines (primary, secondary, and tertiary) has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and preparative electrolysis. The oxidation mechanisms have been established, and the lifetimes of the radical cations have been measured for secondary and tertiary amines. These results have been put in parallel with the attachment of amines to glassy carbon, Au, and Pt electrodes by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). It is then possible to show that it is not the radical cation but the radical obtained after the deprotonation which reacts with the electrode surface. XPS results also point to the existence of a covalent bond between Au or Pt and the organic moiety.     

Synthesis, characterization and potential biomedical applications of N-succinimidyl ester functionalized, polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles

N-Succinimidyl ester functionalized polypyrrole-coated polystyrene latex particles (PS_E-PPyNSE) were prepared by the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole and the active ester-functionalized pyrrole (pyrrole-NSE) in the presence of polystyrene latex particles. Polystyrene microspheres were prepared by emulsion polymerization (PS_E) leading to particles having a diameter of 450 nm. These PS_E particles were precoated with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) prior to the in situ copolymerization of pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE. The initial comonomer concentration fractions were 25/75, 50/50 and 75/25 for pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE, respectively. The PPy-coated PS_E particles were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, electrophoretic mobility and chemical composition. The study of morphology by means of scanning electron microscopy showed roughening of the underlying PS_E particles owing to the addition of PPyNSE, the overlayer thickness of which was estimated to be around 7 nm. Moreover, loading PPyNSE overlayers resulted in a shift of the electrophoretic mobility from –5.31 m cm/V s to a very small but positive value (0.082–0.112 m cm/V s). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy permitted the detection of pyrrole-NSE repeat units at the surface indicating that pyrrole and pyrrole-NSE did indeed copolymerize. The PS_E-PPyNSE particles were further evaluated as bioadsorbents of human serum albumin used as a test protein. For this study, PS_E-PPyNSE₅₀ particles, synthesized from a comonomer feed ratio of 50/50 in pyrrole/pyrrole-NSE, were used and were shown to attach efficiently human serum albumin macromolecules with a maximum amount of 0.2 mg m^–2.

Synthesis and characterization of active ester-functionalized polypyrrole-silica nanoparticles: application to the covalent attachment of proteins

Novel ester-functionalized polypyrrole-silica nanocomposite particles were prepared by oxidative copolymerization of pyrrole and N-succinimidyl ester pyrrole (50/50% initial concentrations), using FeCl3 in the presence of ultrafine silica nanoparticles (20 nm diameter). The N-succinimidyl ester pyrrole monomer was prepared in aqueous solution using 1-(2-carboxyethylpyrrole) and N-hydroxysuccinimide in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide. The resulting nanocomposites (N-succinimidyl ester polypyrrole-silica) are raspberry-shaped agglomerates of silica sol particles "glued" together by the insoluble poly(pyrrole-co-N-succinimidyl pyrrole). The N-succinimidyl ester polypyrrole-silica particles were characterized in terms of their size, density, copolymer content, and polydispersity. Scanning electron microscopy and disk centrifuge sedimentometry confirmed that the nanocomposite particles had narrow size distributions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated a silica-rich surface and a high surface concentration of N-succinimidyl ester groups. These nanoparticles exhibited good long-term dispersion stability. The chemical stability of the ester functions in aqueous media after several weeks of storage was monitored by FTIR spectroscopy. The functionalized nanocomposites were tested as bioadsorbents of human serum albumin (HSA). The very high amount of immobilized HSA determined by UV-visible spectroscopy is believed to be due to covalent binding. Incubation of the HSA-grafted nanocomposite with anti-HSA resulted in immediate flocculation, an indication that they are alternative candidates for visual diagnostic assays.     

X‐ray induced degradation of surface bound azido groups during XPS analysis

Mesoporous silica SBA‐15 was synthesized and silanized with azidopropyl triethoxysilane in order to design a clickable material. Fourier transform infrared analysis permitted to prove the attachment of the azidopropylene groups to SBA‐15 resulting in the reactive and functional material N₃‐SBA‐15. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to determine the surface composition of SBA‐15. However, we unexpectedly found that the surface bound azido groups undergo X‐ray induced decomposition during the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis resulting in the formation of nitrenes. These are very reactive groups able to intercalate C―C and C―H bonds of the propylene chains as judged from the N1s peak shape. Possible mechanisms of intercalation are suggested. C1s and N1s peaks were recorded at different exposure time. N/C, N⁺/N and N⁺/C undergo exponential decay. N⁺/N reaches the value of zero in less than 80 min of exposure to the X‐ray source. The N⁺/C decay plot was fitted with first‐order kinetics, and the decomposition kinetic constant (k_dec) was found to equal to 516.4 s^?1. This is a fast X‐ray induced degradation which must be considered with care when examining clickable materials with surface bound alkyl azido groups. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of merocyanine dyes Part VIII. Partial charge and conjugation of heteroatoms in the electroattractor rings

Partial charges for oxygen and sulfur in the electroattractor rings of a series of merocyanine dyes are determined using binding energy-partial charge correlations. The atomic charges are used to study the conjugation of the heteroatoms in the electroattractor part of the dyes. The carbonyl group is highly conjugated in the C-O⁻ form, especially in the nitro dyes, whereas its conjugation is somewhat hindered when a thioketone group coexists in the attractor part, thus suggesting a competition between both attractor groups.     

Synthesis,characterization and applications of polysiloxane networks with immobilized pyrogallol ligands

A porous, solid insoluble polysiloxane‐immobilized ligand system bearing pyrogallol active sites of the general formula P? (CH₂)₃? NH(CH₂)₃OC₆H₃(OH)₂ (where P represents [Si? O]_n siloxane network) has been prepared by the reaction of 3‐aminopropylpolysiloxane with 1,3‐dibromopropane followed by the reaction with pyrogallol. ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that the pyrogallol is chemically bonded to the siloxane backbone. Thermal analysis showed that the ligand system is stable under nitrogen at relatively high temperature. The polysiloxane–pyrogallol ligand system exhibits high potential for the uptake of the metal ions (Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺). Complexation of the pyrogallol ligand system for the metal ions at the optimum conditions was found to be in the order Fe³⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Ni²⁺ > Co²⁺. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly hydrophilic surfaces from polyglycidol grafts with dual antifouling and specific protein recognition properties

Homopolymer grafts from α-tert-butoxy-ω-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol (PGL) were prepared on gold and stainless steel (SS) substrates modified by 4-benzoyl-phenyl (BP) moieties derived from the electroreduction of the parent salt 4-benzoyl benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate. The grafted BP aryl groups efficiently served to surface-initiate photopolymerization (SIPP) of PGL. In similar conditions, SIPP of hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) permitted the production of PHEMA grafts as model surfaces. Water contact angles were found to be 66°, 15°, and 0° for SS-BP, SS-PHEMA, and SS-PPGL, respectively. The spontaneous spreading of water drops on SS-PPGL was invariably observed with 1.5 μL water drops. PPGL thus appears as a superhydrophilic polymer. Resistance to nonspecific adsorption of proteins of PPGL and PHEMA grafts on gold was evaluated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) using antibovine serum albumin (anti-BSA). The results conclusively show that PPGL-grafts exhibit enhanced resistance to anti-BSA adsorption compared to the well-known hydrophilic PHEMA. PPGL grafts were further modified with BSA through the carbonyldiimidazole activation of the OH groups providing immunosensing surfaces. The so-prepared PPGL-grafted BSA hybrids specifically interacted with anti-BSA in PBS as compared to antimyoglobin. It is clear that the superhydrophilic character of PPGL grafts opens new avenues for biomedical applications where surfaces with dual functionality, namely, specific protein grafting together with resistance to biofouling, are required.     

Acetate- and thiol-capped monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles: XPS, XAS, and HRTEM studies

Monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of RuCl3 in 1,2-propanediol. The mean particle size was controlled by appropriate choice of the reduction temperature and the acetate ion concentration. Colloidal solutions in toluene were obtained by coating the metal particles with dodecanethiol. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS for the Ru K-absorption edge) were performed on particles of two different diameters, 2 and 4 nm, and in different environments, polyol/acetate or thiol. For particles stored in polyol/acetate XPS studies revealed superficial oxidation limited to one monolayer and a surface coating containing mostly acetate ions. Analysis of the EXAFS spectra showed both oxygen and ruthenium atoms around the ruthenium atoms with a Ru-Ru coordination number N smaller than the bulk value, as expected for fine particles. In the case of 2 nm acetate-capped particles N is consistent with particles made up of a metallic core and an oxidized monolayer. For 2 nm thiol-coated particles, a Ru-S bond was evidenced by XPS and XAS. For the 4 nm particles XANES and XPS studies showed that most of the ruthenium atoms are in the zerovalent state. Nevertheless, in both cases, when capped with thiol, the Ru-Ru coordination number inferred from EXAFS is much smaller than for particles of the same size stored in polyol. This is attributed to a structural disorganization of the particles by thiol chemisorption. HRTEM studies confirm the marked dependence of the structural properties of the ruthenium particles on their chemical environment; they show the acetate-coated particles to be single crystals, whereas the thiol-coated particles appear to be polycrystalline.     

Properties of poly(styrene/alpha-tert-butoxy-omega-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) microspheres suspended in water. Effect of sodium chloride and temperature on particle diameters and electrophoretic mobility

Hydrodynamic and electrophoretic properties of core-shell poly(styrene/alpha- tert-butoxy-omega-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol) (P(S/PGL)) microspheres suspended in water are described. The microspheres were obtained by surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and alpha- tert-butoxy-omega-vinylbenzyl-polyglycidol macromonomer ( M n = 2800, M w/ M n = 1.05). The process yielded microspheres with number average diameter D n = 270 nm and with low diameter dispersity index D w/ D n = 1.01. Shells of P(S/PGL) microspheres were enriched in polyglycidol. Molar fraction of polyglycidol monomeric units in the shells (determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) was equal to 0.34, which is much higher than the average molar fraction of polyglycidol monomeric units in whole particles of 0.048. Influences of NaCl concentration and temperature on P(S/PGL) microsphere diameters and on their electrophoretic mobility were investigated. It was found that hydrodynamic diameter of P(S/PGL) microspheres, determined by photon correlation spectroscopy, decreased significantly when temperature did exceed a certain value (transition temperature, T t). It has been found that the decrease is more pronounced for higher concentrations of NaCl in the medium. For microspheres suspended in 10 (-1) M NaCl, the hydrodynamic diameter decreased by 8% whereas for the same particles in pure water the diameter decreased by 5.2%. The process of shrinkage was fully reversible. Values of T t for P(S/PGL) microspheres were lower for higher concentrations of NaCl. Adjustment of salt concentration allowed controlling T t in a range from 44.4 to 49.9 degrees C. 13C NMR relaxation time measurements (T 1) for carbon atoms in polyglycidol macromonomer revealed that T 1 did increase with increasing temperature (in temperature range from 25 to 75 degrees C) indicating higher motion of chains at higher temperature. Addition of NaCl did not induce a substantial change of T 1 in the mentioned temperature range. The swelling-deswelling properties of P(S/PGL) microspheres' interfacial layer affected adsorption of P(S/PGL) particles on modified with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane mica. It was shown that the deposition of P(S/PGL) microspheres at 25 degrees C on mica led to formation of two-dimensional crystal-shape assemblies, whereas at 60 degrees C (far above T t = 49.8 degrees C in H2O) the microspheres were randomly adsorbed without formation of colloidal crystal assemblies.