Permeability of N2, Ar,He, O2, and CO2 through as‐extruded amorphous and biaxially oriented polyester films: Dependence on chain mobility

For as‐extruded amorphous and biaxially orientated polyester films based on poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(ethylene naphthalate), and copolymers containing poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(ethylene naphthalate) moieties, permeability, diffusion, and solubility coefficients are interpreted in terms of chain mobility. The influence of polymer morphology is determined by comparison of the data for as‐extruded amorphous sheets and materials produced with different biaxial draw ratios. The crystallinities of the samples were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry and density measurements. Changes in mobility at a molecular level were investigated using dielectric spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The study, in conjunction with our earlier work, leads to the conclusion that the key to understanding differences in gas transport is the difference in local chain motions rather than in free volume. This was illustrated by the permeability results for He, Ar, N₂, and O₂ in the range of polyesters. However, the permeability of CO₂ was found to require alternative explanations because of polymer–penetrant interactions. For biaxially oriented samples, the differences in diffusivity are not only due to differences in local chain motions, but also additional constraints resulting from the increased crystallinity and chain rigidity—which also act to hinder segmental mobility. The effectiveness of the reduction in permeability in the biaxially oriented films is consequently determined by the ability of the polymer chains to effectively align and form crystalline structures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2916–2929, 2004     

A Generalized Unpaired Electron Spin Density Equation and Organic Hyperconjugation Mechanism

A large class of stereochemcial and related interactions in organic chemistry are repulsive and others are attractive, but the relative orientation of two methyl groups and the amount of energy required to twist one relative to the other (the hindered rotation energy barriers), or the alignment of such a group with respect to a conjugated ring to which it is attached (widely attributed to a mechanism called “hyperconjugation”) are estimated to be small in compared with the total energy of the molecule. We used theories of both isotropic and anisotropic proton hyperfine interactions in the π‐electron systems developed in the early sixties. They are approximated by the magnetic dipole nteractions between each proton and an electron spin magnetization that is distributed in 2s and 2p Slater atomic orbitals center on carbon atoms. We have extended these theories to the non‐planar olefinic cation radicals, which are very important in biochemistry as well as in petroleum catalysis. A three dimensional electron spin density equation has been developed in this paper to handle some Jahn‐Teller vibronic molecules. The new electron spin density equation related the observed proton hyperfine splittings to the non‐planar structures of the open‐chain alkene cation radicals generated by radiolysis and various chemical oxidation methods. The spin densities and the conformational calculations based on valence bond theory and symmetry principles are compared with some more elaborated molecular orbital calculations in the literature. The localized valence bond approaches are better in accord with our experimental results. The anomalous line‐width effect of the four methyl groups observed in the 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene cation radicals also confirmed the positive sign of the electron‐proton hyperfine constant of hyper‐conjugation mechanism. A methyl substituent attached to a conjugated molecule often behaves as if it formed part of the region of conjugation; the charge appears to flow from the methyl group into the π electron system and it may also give rise to an appreciable dipole moment. Methylation also gives rise to an appreciable dipole moment, and the resultant red shift of electronic absorption bands is of some importance in the design of dye molecules.     

TGF-β1 induction of the adenine nucleotide translocator 1 in astrocytes occurs through Smads and Sp1 transcription factors

Background  

The adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (Ant1) is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein involved with energy mobilization during oxidative phosphorylation. We recently showed that rodent Ant1 is upregulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in reactive astrocytes following CNS injury. In the present study, we describe the molecular mechanisms by which TGF-β1 regulates Ant1 gene expression in cultured primary rodent astrocytes.     

Direct optical emission spectroscopy of liquid analytes using an electrolyte as a cathode discharge source (ELCAD) integrated on a micro-fluidic chip

Atomic emission detection of metallic species in aqueous solutions has been performed using a miniaturised plasma created within a planar, glass micro-fluidic chip. Detection was achieved using an Electrolyte as a Cathode Discharge source (ELCAD) in which the sample solution itself is used as the cathode for the discharge. To realise the ELCAD technique within a micro-fluidic device, a parallel liquid-gas flow was set up in a micro-channel and a glow discharge ignited between the flowing liquid sample surface and a metal wire anode. The detection of copper and sodium was achieved, using atmospheric pressure air as a carrier gas, by observation of atomic emission lines of copper at 324 nm, 327 nm, 511 nm, 515 nm and 522 nm and an atomic emission line of sodium at 589 nm using a commercially available miniaturised spectrometer. A total electrical power of less than 70 mW was required to sustain the discharge. A semi-quantitative, absolute detection limit of 17 nmol s(-1) was obtained for sodium with a sample flow rate of 100 microL min(-1) and an integration time of 100 ms in air at atmospheric pressure. The volume required for such detection is approximately 170 nL. Further analysis was performed with an Echelle spectrometer using both argon and air as a carrier gas. The geometry and flow rates used demonstrate the feasibility of integrating such micro-plasmas into other micro-fluidic devices, such as miniaturised CE devices, as a method of detection. The potential for using such micro-plasmas within highly portable miniaturised systems and mu-TAS devices is presented and discussed.     

The initiation of polymerization by organoaluminium amides

Two organoaluminium amides have been used to initiate the polymerizations of methyl methacrylate, acetaldehyde and n-butyraldehyde. Methyl methacrylate polymerized through the vinyl function to give amorphous products. The aldehydes reacted through the carbonyl group at low temperatures with high degrees of stereospecificity to give polymers with substantial crystallinity. The molecular weight of the polyacetaldehyde is very high.     

Squaric acid N-hydroxylamides: synthesis, structure, and properties of vinylogous hydroxamic acid analogues

The synthesis of squaric acid N-hydroxylamide esters 5 and amides 6 from dimethyl squarate 2a is described. These derivatives are analogues of the naturally occurring iron(III) chelator hydroxamic acid. On the basis of a comparative reactivity study, a concerted retro-Cope mechanism for the formation of the N-hydroxylamide esters 5 by reaction of dimethyl squarate with hydroxylamines is proposed. A preliminary iron(III) binding study of these hydroxamic acid analogues is presented, demonstrating binding of iron(III) to amides 6 in aqueous solutions, while the esters 5 did not show any sign of metal ion binding. 13C NMR spectroscopic data (chemical shift and spin-lattice relaxation time determination) of these and related derivatives delineate the resonance structures predominant in these molecules. The resonance structures of the derivatives rationalize their spectroscopic data, chemical reactivity, and iron(III) binding properties. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of squaric acid N-hydroxylamide ester 5b and squaric acid N-hydroxylamide amide 6c confirm their connectivity and provide structural evidence supporting the spectroscopically derived conclusions. The squaric acid N-hydroxylamides are potentially useful in the construction of chemosensors for iron(III).     

Rapid method for the determination of alachlor, atrazine and metolachlor in groundwater by solid-phase extraction

A solid-phase extraction method is described for the separation of alachlor, atrazine and metolachlor from groundwater using solid-phase disposable columns. The method is rapid, reproducible and uses considerably fewer reagents than classical liquid-liquid methods. The average recoveries were greater than 90% for all three compounds.     

Enhancing the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic materials using simultaneous ball milling

One of the limiting factors restricting the effective and efficient bioconversion of softwood-derived lignocellulosic residues is the recalcitrance of the substrate following pretreatment. Consequently, the ensuing enzymatic process requires relatively high enzyme loadings to produce monomeric carbohydrates that are readily fermentable by ethanologenic microorganisms. In an attempt to circumvent the need for larger enzyme loadings, a simultaneous physical and enzymatic hydrolysis treatment was evaluated. A ball-mill reactor was used as the digestion vessel, and the extent and rate of hydrolysis were monitored. Concurrently, enzyme adsorption profiles and the rate of conversion during the course of hydrolysis were monitored. α-Cellulose, employed as a model substrate, and SO₂-impregnated steam-exploded Douglas-fir wood chips were assessed as the cellulosic substrates. The softwood-derived substrate was further posttreated with water and hot alkaline hydrogen peroxide to remove >90% of the original lignin. Experiments at different reaction conditions were evaluated, including substrate concentration, enzyme loading, reaction volumes, and number of ball beads employed during mechanical milling. It was apparent that the best conditions for the enzymatic hydrolysis of α-cellulose were attained using a higher number of beads, while the presence of air-liquid interface did not seem to affect the rate of saccharification. Similarly, when employing the lignocellulosic substrate, up to 100% hydrolysis could be achieved with a minimum enzyme loading (10 filter paper units/g of cellulose), at lower substrate concentrations and with a greater number of reaction beads during milling. It was apparent that the combined strategy of simultaneous ball milling and enzymatic hydrolysis could improve the rate of saccharification and/or reduce the enzyme loading required to attain total hydrolysis of the carbohydrate moieties.     

Synthesis of novel 1,3,4‐oxadiazinane‐2‐thiones derived from (1R,2S‐ephedrine, (1S,2S)‐pseudoephedrine and (1R,2S)‐norephedrine

A several novel 1,3,4‐oxadiazinan‐2‐thiones have been synthesized by the cyclization of β‐hydrazino‐alcohols with either carbon disulfide or 1,1′‐thiocarbonyldiimidazole (TCDI).