Thermogravimetric analysis of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)

The thermal degradation of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) [P(HB‐HV)] was studied using thermogravimetry (TG). In the thermal degradation of PHB, the temperature at the onset of weight loss (T_o) was derived by T_o = 0.97B + 259, where B represents the heating rate (°C/min). The temperature at which the weight loss rate was maximum (T_p) was T_p = 1.07B + 273, and the final temperature (T_f) at which degradation was completed was T_f = 1.10B + 280. The percentage of the weight loss at temperature T_p (C_p) was 69 ± 1% whereas the percentage of the weight loss at temperature T_f (C_f) was 96 ± 1%. In the thermal degradation of P(HB‐HV) (7:3), T_o = 0.98B + 262, T_p = 1.00B + 278, and T_f = 1.12B + 285. The values of C_p and C_f were 62 ± 7 and 93 ± 1%, respectively. The derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves of PHB confirmed only one weight loss step change because the polymer mainly consisted of the HB monomer only. The DTG curves of P(HB‐HV), however, suggested multiple weight loss step changes; this was probably due to the different evaporation rates of the two monomers. The incorporation of 10 and 30 mol % of the HV component into the polyester increased the various thermal temperatures (T_o, T_p, andT_f) by 7–12°C (measured at B = 20°C/min). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 2237–2244, 2001     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Thermal Behavior of 3‐(4‐Aminofurazan‐3‐yl)‐4‐(4‐nitrofurazan‐3‐yl)furazan (ANTF)

The energetic material 3‐(4‐aminofurazan‐3‐yl)‐4‐(4‐nitrofurazan‐3‐yl)furazan (ANTF) with low melting‐point was synthesized by means of an improved oxidation reaction from 3,4‐bis(4′‐aminofurazano‐3′‐yl)furazan. The structure of ANTF was confirmed by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and the crystal structure was determined by X‐ray diffraction. ANTF crystallized in monoclinic system P2₁/c, with a crystal density of 1.785 g cm⁻³ and crystal parameters a=6.6226(9) Å, b=26.294(2) Å, c=6.5394(8) Å, β=119.545(17)°, V=0.9907(2) nm³, Z=4, μ=0.157 mm⁻¹, F(000)=536. The thermal stability and non‐isothermal kinetics of ANTF were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) with heating rates of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 K min⁻¹. The apparent activation energy (E_a) of ANTF calculated by Kissinger's equation and Ozawa's equation were 115.9 kJ mol⁻¹ and 112.6 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively, with the pre‐exponential factor lnA=21.7 s⁻¹. ANTF is a potential candidate for the melt‐cast explosive with good thermal stability and detonation performance.     

Poly‐α,β‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)‐DL‐aspartamide: A new drug carrier

Poly‐α,β‐(3‐hydroxypropyl)‐DL ‐aspartamide (PHPA) was synthesized by the ring‐open reaction of polysuccinimide (PSI) and 3‐hydroxypropylamine. The polymer was characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, FTIR, and GPC. Mark–Houwink coefficients were obtained from viscometry and GPC measurements, K = 5.53 × 10⁻³ and α = 0.78 in water. The acute toxicity of PHPA was examined and it revealed no death in ICR mice up to the dose treated of 15.3 kg/kg, and hematological parameters showed no significant difference between treated and control animals. The potential use of PHPA as a drug carrier was also investigated. In a typical case, a contraceptive drug, norethindrone (NET), was bonded to PHPA, and the drug sustained released as long as 120 days an in vitro test. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 2411–2417, 2000     

Enantioselective Synthesis of 4H‐Pyrans Through Organocatalytic Asymmetric Formal [3+3] Cycloadditions of 2‐(1‐Alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones with β‐Keto Esters

4H‐Pyran units are frequently present in molecules with significant biological and pharmaceutical activities. Herein, we present the first enantioselective formal [3+3] cycloaddition between 2‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2‐alken‐1‐ones and β‐keto esters catalyzed by a cyclohexyldiamine‐based thiourea‐tertiary amine bifunctional catalyst. Under the mild and eco‐friendly conditions, a wide range of polysubstituted 4H‐pyrans were obtained in moderate yields with good enantioselectivities.

     

Highly Enantioselective Michael Addition of Cyclic 1,3‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to β,γ‐Unsaturated α‐Keto Esters

A highly enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds to β,γ‐unsaturated α‐keto esters catalyzed by amino acid‐derived thiourea‐tertiary‐amine catalysts is presented. Using 5 mol% of a novel tyrosine‐derived thiourea catalyst, a series of chiral coumarin derivatives were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%) and with up to 96% ee under very mild conditions within a short reaction time.     

Water transport properties in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) biopolymers

Water sorption and diffusion have been investigated in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and three poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) copolymers [P(HB‐HV)] by means of a Cahn electromicrobalance. Permeability of these samples have been determined using a gravimetric permeation cell. Two experimental setups were used for the gravimetric sorption measurements, under dynamic and static conditions, respectively. The differences observed in the results obtained using these techniques are discussed. The sorption measurements have evidenced the tendency of water molecules to form aggregates or clusters in the polymer. In addition, the static sorption method revealed the potential of PHB and P(HB‐HV) to undergo molecular relaxations, eventually leading to a partial desorption of the previously sorbed water after an induction period. The clustering effect was adequately described by the polycondensation model. On the other hand, the interpretation of the diffusivity in terms of mobility coefficients has revealed a competition between a plasticization effect and clustering. As a whole, water transport properties in PHB and its copolymers can be considered to be very close in magnitude to those of common thermoplastics such as PVC and PET. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 455–468, 1999     

Regio‐ and Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Conjugate Addition of Trimethylaluminium to Linear α,β,γ,δ‐Unsaturated Alkyl Ketones

A regio‐ and enantioselective copper‐catalyzed 1,4‐conjugate addition of trimethylaluminium to linear δ‐aryl‐substituted α,β,γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones was developed. A series of γ,δ‐unsaturated alkyl ketones were obtained in good yields with high regio‐ and enantioselectivity (up to 88% ee and 96:4 dr). Expansion of the reaction scope to substrates containing aromatic heterocycles also afforded good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 91% ee) with very high regioselectivities, exclusively providing the single 1,4‐products.

     

Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Aerobic Intermolecular Cyclization of Acrylic Acid with Alkenes to α‐Methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones

The methodology in this article is a palladium(II)/copper(II)‐ or palladium(II)‐catalyzed intermolecular cyclization of acrylic acid with alkenes to produce α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone derivatives using molecular oxygen as an environmentally benign oxidant. In this system, the carboxylato, especially trifluoroacetato, or trimethylacetato ligand, plays a quite important role to afford a high catalytic activity by suppressing the deposition of palladium(0) black.     

Carbon dioxide sorption and diffusion in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐CO‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)

CO₂ sorption and diffusion in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and three poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) copolymers were investigated gravimetrically at temperatures from 25° to 50°C and pressures up to 1 atm. The sorption behavior proved to be linear for all the copolymers studied. An additional set of measurements performed in a pressure decay apparatus at 35°C showed that the linearity could be extrapolated to pressures up to 25 atm. The sorption results obtained from both techniques were in good agreement. The poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) sorption kinetics were increasingly non‐Fickian at the higher temperatures, thus preventing the calculation of diffusion coefficients above 35°C. Interestingly, this was not the case for poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), and diffusion coefficients and permeabilities could be calculated at all of the investigated temperatures. The 35°C permeabilities were fairly low, which is attributed to the high degree of crystallinity of this polyester family. Finally, the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) barrier properties against CO₂ are successfully compared with those of some selected common thermoplastics. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 2391–2399, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of polyimide‐γ‐Fe2O3 nanocomposites

Novel polyimide‐γ‐Fe₂O₃ hybrid nanocomposite films (PI/γ‐Fe₂O₃) has been developed from the poly(amic acid) salt of oxydianiline with different weight percentages (5, 10, 15 wt %) of γ‐Fe₂O₃ using tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc) as aprotic solvents. The prepared polyimide‐γ‐Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite films were characterized for their structure, morphology, and thermal behavior employing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron micrograph (SEM), transmission electron micrograph (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ¹³C‐NMR, and thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) techniques. These studies showed the homogenous dispersion of γ‐Fe₂O₃ in the polyimide matrix with an increase in the thermal stability of the composite films on γ‐Fe₂O₃ loadings. Magnetization measurements (magnetic hysteresis traces) have shown very high values of coercive force indicating their possible use in memory devices and in other related applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 834–840, 2007     

Functionalization of crosslinked polyacrylamide through γ‐radiation‐induced grafting of 4‐vinylpyridine

Crosslinked polyacrylamide beads were irradiated in air with a Co⁶⁰ γ‐radiation source. The preirradiated beads were graft‐copolymerized through heating with 4‐vinylpyridine in the presence of benzoyl peroxide. Grafting was studied as a function of various reaction parameters and was determined from the increase in the weight of the original polymer and the estimation of pyridine pendants in the homopolymer‐free graft copolymer. Although making the polymer basic in character, this modification retained the hydrophilic nature of polyacrylamide. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2613–2620, 2002     

Synthesis of α‐Arylphosphonates using Copper‐Catalyzed α‐Arylation and Deacylative α‐Arylation of β‐Ketophosphonates

Efficient methods for the direct arylation and deacylative arylation of β‐ketophosphonates with iodoarenes in presence of a copper(I) or a copper(II) salt as the catalysts have been developed. The corresponding α‐arylphosphonates were obtained in high yields. A tentative mechanism for the deacylative arylation reaction was proposed on the basis of the experimental data.     

γ‐Crystalline form of nylon‐10,10 in nylon‐10,10–montmorillonite nanocomposite

Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and variable temperature WAXD spectroscopy and Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry were used to identify the γ‐crystalline form of nylon‐10,10 in the nanocomposite of nylon‐10,10 and montmorillonite. A new diffraction peak at 2θ = 22° was observed in the WAXD pattern of the nanocomposite as compared with nylon‐10,10, and the data of variable temperature WAXD indicated that it was the characteristic peak of γ‐crystalline form of nylon‐10,10. The amide VI band at 624 cm^?1 was also observed in the FTIR spectrum of the nanocomposite, which is characteristic of γ‐crystalline nylon. In addition, the shoulder peak at 1553 cm^?1 can be assigned to the amide II band of γ‐crystalline form of nylon‐10,10. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Kinetics of antioxidant action of α‐ and γ‐toco‐pherols in sunflower and soybean triacylglycerols

A kinetic analysis was performed to evaluate the antioxidant behavior of α‐ and γ‐to‐copherols (5—2000 ppm) in purified triacylglycerols obtained from sunflower oil (TGSO) and soybean oil (TGSBO) at 100 °C. Different kinetic parameters were determined, viz. the stabilization factor as a measure of effectiveness, the oxidation rate ratio as a measure of strength, and the antioxidant activity which combines the other two parameters. In the low concentration range (up to 400 ppm in TGSBO and up to 700 ppm in TGSO) α‐tocopherol was a more active antioxidant than γ‐tocopherol whereas the latter was more active at higher concentrations. It has been found that the different activity of the tocopherols is not due to their participation in chain initiation reactions, but that the loss of antioxidant activity at high tocopherol concentrations is due to their consumption in side reactions. The rates of these reactions are higher in TGSBO than in TGSO. Both α‐tocopherol itself and its radicals participated more readily in side reactions than γ‐tocopherol and its radicals. Both α‐ and γ‐tocopherol reduce lipid hydroperoxides, thus generating alkoxyl radicals which are able to amplify the rate of lipid oxidation by participating in chain propagation reactions.     

Crystallization kinetics and melting behaviour of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)

Isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization kinetics of microbial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB‐3HHx)] was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and ¹³C solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Avrami analysis was performed to obtain the kinetic parameters of primary crystallization. The results showed that the Avrami equation was suitable for describing the isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization processes of P(3HB‐3HHx). The equilibrium melting temperature of P(3HB‐3HHx) and its nucleation constant of crystal growth kinetics, which were obtained by using the Hoffman–Weeks equation and the Lauritzen–Hoffmann model, were, respectively, 121.8 °C and 2.87 × 10⁵ K² when using the empirical ‘universal’ values of U* = 1500 cal mol^?1. During the heating process, the melting behaviour of P(3HB‐3HHx) for both isothermal and non‐isothermal crystallization showed multiple melting peaks, which was the result of melting recrystallization. The lower melting peak resulted from the melting of crystals formed during the corresponding crystallization process, while the higher melting peak resulted from the recrystallization that took place during the heating process. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Mediated Organocatalytic Transfer of Tin onto Aldehydes: New Access to α‐Silyloxyalkylstannanes and γ‐Silyloxyallylstannanes

A new, highly efficient and mild N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐mediated organocatalytic procedure for the transfer of tin from tributyl(trimethylsilyl)stannane (Bu₃SnSiMe₃) onto aldehydes for the preparation of α‐silyloxyalkylstannanes and γ‐silyloxyallylstannanes has been developed.     

Synthesis and swelling properties of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate‐co‐1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl)imidazolium betaine hydrogels

A series of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate/1‐vinyl‐3‐(3‐sulfopropyl)imidazolium betaine (HEMA/VSIB) copolymeric gels were prepared from various molar ratios of HEMA and the zwitterionic monomer VSIB. The influence of the amount of VSIB in copolymeric gels on their swelling behavior in water and various saline solutions at different temperatures and the drug‐release behavior, compression strength, and crosslinking density were investigated. Experimental results indicated that the PHEMA hydrogel and the lower VSIB content (3%) in the HEMA/VSIB gel exhibited an overshooting phenomenon in their dynamic swelling behavior, and the overshooting ratio decreased with increase of the temperature. In the equilibrium water content, the value increased with increase of the VSIB content in HEMA/VSIB hydrogels. In the saline solution, the water content for these gels was not affected by the ion concentration when the salt concentration was lower than the minimum salt concentration (MSC) of poly(VSIB). When the salt concentration was higher than the MSC of poly(VSIB), the deswelling behavior of the copolymeric gel was more effectively suppressed as more VSIB was added to the copolymeric gels. However, the swelling behavior of gels in KI, KBr, NaClO₄, and NaNO₃ solutions at a higher concentration would cause an antipolyelectrolyte phenomenon. Besides, the anion effects were larger than were the cation effects in the presence of a common anion (Cl^?) with different cations and a common cation (K⁺) with different anions for the hydrogel. In drug‐release behavior, the addition of VSIB increased the drug‐release ratio and the release rate. Finally, the addition of VSIB in the hydrogel improved the gel strength and crosslinking density of the gel. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2888–2900, 2001     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Thermal Behaviors of 3‐Nitro‐1,5‐bis(4,4′‐dimethylazide)‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐3‐azapentane (NDTAP)

The energetic material, 3‐nitro‐1,5‐bis(4,4′‐dimethyl azide)‐1,2,3‐triazolyl‐3‐azapentane (NDTAP), was firstly synthesized by means of Click Chemistry using 1,5‐diazido‐3‐nitrazapentane as main material. The structure of NDTAP was confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The crystal structure of NDTAP was determined by X‐ray diffraction. It belongs to monoclinic system, space group C2/c with crystal parameters a=1.7285(8) nm, b=0.6061(3) nm, c=1.6712(8) nm, β=104.846(8)°, V=1.6924(13) nm³, Z=8, μ=0.109 mm⁻¹, F(000)=752, and D_c=1.422 g cm⁻³. The thermal behavior and non‐isothermal decomposition kinetics of NDTAP were studied with DSC and TG‐DTG methods. The self‐accelerating decomposition temperature and critical temperature of thermal explosion are 195.5 and 208.2 °C, respectively. NDTAP presents good thermal stability and is insensitive.     

Oxygen‐Involved Oxidative Deacetylation of α‐Substituted β‐Acetyl Amides – Synthesis of α‐Keto Amides

α‐Substituted β‐acetyl amides could undergo C C bond cleavage to form α‐keto amides when treated with copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BF₃⋅OEt₂) under an oxygen atmosphere. The yield can be increased by the addition of tert‐butyl hydroperoxide which alone can also effect the reaction. The reaction provides a new protocol for the synthesis of α‐keto amides.