Characterization of surfactant complex mixtures using Raman spectroscopy and signal extraction methods: Application to laundry detergent deformulation

This paper presents the analysis of surfactants in complex mixtures using Raman spectroscopy combined with signal extraction (SE) methods. Surfactants are the most important component in laundry detergents. Both their identification and quantification are required for quality control and regulation purposes. Several synthetic mixtures of four surfactants contained in an Ecolabel laundry detergent were prepared and analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. SE methods, Independent Component Analysis and Multivariate Curve Resolution, were then applied to spectral data for surfactant identification and quantification. The influence of several pre-processing treatments (normalization, baseline correction, scatter correction and smoothing) on SE performances were evaluated by experimental design. By using optimal pre-processing strategy, SE methods allowed satisfactorily both identifying and quantifying the four surfactants. When applied to the pre-processed Raman spectrum of the Ecolabel laundry detergent sample, SE models remained robust enough to predict the surfactant concentrations with sufficient precision for deformulation purpose. Comparatively, a supervised modeling technique (PLS regression) was very efficient to quantify the four surfactants in synthetic mixtures but appeared less effective than SE methods when applied to the Raman spectrum of the detergent sample. PLS seemed too sensitive to the other components contained in the laundry detergent while SE methods were more robust. The results obtained demonstrated the interest of SE methods in the context of deformulation.     

Polyesters by a Radical Pathway: Rationalization of the Cyclic Ketene Acetal Efficiency

Radical ring-opening polymerization (rROP) of cyclic ketene acetals (CKAs) combines the advantages of both ring-opening polymerization and radical polymerization thereby allowing the robust production of polyesters coupled with the mild polymerization conditions of a radical process. rROP was recently rejuvenated by the possibility to copolymerize CKAs with classic vinyl monomers leading to the insertion of cleavable functionality into a vinyl-based copolymer backbone and thus imparting (bio)degradability. Such materials are suitable for a large scope of applications, particularly within the biomedical field. The competition between the ring-opening and ring-retaining propagation routes is a major complication in the development of efficient CKA monomers, ultimately leading to the use of only four monomers that are known to completely ring-open under all experimental conditions. In this article we investigate the radical ring-opening polymerization of model CKA monomers and demonstrate by the combination of DFT calculations and kinetic modeling using PREDICI software that we are now able to predict in silico the ring-opening ability of CKA monomers.     

Planarized star-shaped oligothiophenes with enhanced pi-electron delocalization

[structure: see text] Planarized star-shaped oligothiophenes 1 have been synthesized by connecting short-chain oligothiophenes on a benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b':5,6-b' ']trithiophene central core. Their electrochemical and optical properties have been characterized by cyclic voltammetry and UV-visible spectroscopy, respectively. These results associated with theoretical calculations show the advantage of benzotrithiophene as a central core in terms of pi-electron delocalization.     

Using apparent molecular weight from SEC in controlled/living polymerization and kinetics of polymerization

Apparent molecular weights from size exclusion chromatography, that is molecular weights relative to standards of a nature different to that of the polymer sample being studied, are frequently used. We use calculations corresponding to realistic cases to provide guidelines for situations when, and to what extent, apparent molecular weights (MWs) can be meaningful. In controlled polymerization, we show how, without due care, use of apparent MW, could lead to the incorrect conclusion that the reaction was not controlled, whereas the true MWs would be close to theoretical values. We show here that the quality of the eluent as a solvent for the standard and the polymer sample is a good indication of the accuracy and the significance of the apparent polydispersity index. Accurate Mark–Houwink–Sakurada parameters are of limited availability, but the data about solvent quality available in handbooks or available from static light scattering measurements. Apparent M_n is of no use in controlled polymerization if simple simulations as performed in this work do not validate their use. The determination of transfer constants by the Mayo plot can be performed using apparent M_n without introducing any significant error, contrary to apparent weight‐average molecular weight M_w or apparent ln number distribution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 897–911, 2008     

Synthesis,photopolymerization, and adhesive properties of new bisphosphonic acid monomers for dental application

Four new monomers, 3‐(N‐methylacrylamido)propylidenebisphosphonic acid, 3‐(N‐propyl‐acrylamido)propylidenebisphosphonic acid, 3‐(N‐hexylacrylamido)propylidenebisphosphonic acid, and 3‐(N‐octylacrylamido)propylidenebisphosphonic acid, have been synthesized in good yields and fully characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, and HRMS. The copolymerization of these monomers with N,N′‐diethyl‐1,3‐bis(acrylamido)propane (DEBAAP) has been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. These mixtures show a higher reactivity than DEBAAP. New self‐etch dental primers, based on these acrylamide monomers, have been formulated. Dentin shear bond strength measurements have shown that primers based on these bisphosphonic acids assure a strong bond between the tooth substance and a dental composite. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5258–5271, 2009     

Kinetic study on the living/controlled cationic polymerization of p‐methoxystyrene coinitiated by tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

A kinetic study of the living cationic polymerization of p‐methoxystyrene using 1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethanol ( 1 )/B(C₆F₅)₃ initiating system in a mixture of CH₃CN with CH₂Cl₂ 1:1 (v/v) at room temperature was carried out utilizing a wide variety of conditions. The polymerization proceeded in a living fashion even in the presence of a large amount of water ([H₂O]/[B(C₆F₅)₃] ratio up to 20) to afford polymers whose M_n increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion with fairly narrow MWDs (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.3). The investigation revealed that the rate of polymerization was first‐order in B(C₆F₅)₃ concentration, while a negative order in H₂O concentration close to ?2 was obtained. It was also found that the rate of polymerization decreased with lowering temperature, which could be attributed to a decreased concentration in free Lewis acid, the true coinitiator of polymerization. A mechanistic scheme to explain the kinetic behavior of living p‐methoxystyrene polymerization is proposed, which has been validated by PREDICI simulation on multiple‐data curves obtained by ¹H NMR in situ polymerization experiment. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6928–6939, 2008     

Kinetic study of H‐atom transfer in imidazoline‐, imidazolidine‐, and pyrrolidine‐based alkoxyamines: Consequences for nitroxide‐mediated polymerization

The H‐atom transfer reaction was studied for a series of imidazoline, imidazolidine, and pyrrolidine‐based alkoxyamines containing either isobutyrate‐2‐yl or 1‐phenylethyl alkyl fragments. The C O bond homolysis rate constants and activation energies were determined by ¹H NMR product analysis as a function of temperature. Inter‐ and intramolecular H‐atom transfer reactions were distinguished by examination of alkoxyamine thermolysis products in the absence and in the presence of a radical scavenger (thiophenol or deuterated styrene). A correlation between the structure of the nitroxyl fragment of alkoxyamine and the H‐transfer reaction was found. The high steric demands of the substituents on the nitroxyl part of the isobutyrate‐2‐yl alkoxyamine decrease both types of reaction. For alkoxyamines containing the 1‐phenylethoxyamines, neither inter‐ nor intramolecular H‐atom transfer was observed. Controlled polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated with imidazoline‐based alkoxyamine was observed, although the polymer obtained was not living. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6579–6595, 2009     

Understanding and improving direct UV detection of monosaccharides and disaccharides in free solution capillary electrophoresis

Direct UV detection of carbohydrates in free solution capillary electrophoresis at 270 nm is made possible by a photo-oxidation reaction. Glucose, rhamnose and xylose were shown to have unique UV absorption spectra hypothesizing different UV absorbing intermediates for their respective photo-oxidation. NMR spectroscopy of the photo-oxidation end products proved they consisted of carboxylates and not malondialdehyde as previously theorized and that oxygen thus plays a key role in the photo-oxidation pathway. Adding the photo-initiator Irgacure^® 2959 in the background electrolyte increased sensitivity by 40% at an optimum concentration of 1 × 10⁻⁴ mM and 1 × 10⁻⁸ mM for conventional 50 μm i.d. capillaries and for the corresponding extended light path capillaries, respectively.