Synthesis and Characterization of 1‐Azido‐2‐Nitro‐2‐Azapropane and 1‐Nitrotetrazolato‐2‐Nitro‐2‐Azapropane

1‐Azido‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane ( 1 ) was synthesized in high yield from 1‐chloro‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane and sodium azide. 1‐Nitrotetrazolato‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane ( 2 ) was synthesized in high yield from 1‐chloro‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane and silver nitrotetrazolate. The highly energetic new compounds ( 1 and 2 ) were characterized using vibrational (IR and Raman) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N), elemental analysis and low‐temperature single crystal X‐ray diffraction. 1‐Azido‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane ( 1 ) represents a covalently bound liquid energetic material which contains both a nitramine unit and an azide group in the molecule. 1‐Nitrotetrazolato‐2‐nitro‐2‐azapropane ( 2 ) is a covalently bound room‐temperature stable solid which contains a nitramine group and a nitrotetrazolate ring unit in the molecule. Compounds 1 and 2 are hydrolytically stable at ambient conditions. The impact sensitivity of compound 1 is very high (<1 J) whereas compound 2 is less sensitive (<6 J).     

One‐pot Synthesis of N‐Formyl‐O‐acyl‐ threo‐ and erythro‐DL‐β‐phenylserine Ethyl Esters and their Antiviral Properties

A series of N‐formyl‐O‐acyl‐β‐phenylserine derivatives 1b ‐ 7b were prepared by the interaction of N‐acyl‐b‐phenylserine ethyl esters 1a ‐ 7a with formic acid in presence of 1.5% HF. One‐pot acyl group N → O migration followed N‐formylation under elaborated reaction conditions. The kinetics of the reaction was investigated. The carboxylic acid moiety in the structure of β‐phenylserine had a strong influence on the reproduction of the used test‐viruses. The toxicity and antiviral activity is dependent on the diastereomeric forms of evaluated compounds.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐p‐trimethylsilylstyrene) and poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐p‐trimethylsilylstyrene‐co‐styrene)

Copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) with p‐trimethylsilylstyrene (TMSS) was carried out at 60°C in bulk and in solution in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The reactivity ratios of AN (M₁) and TMSS (M₂) were determined to be r₁ = 0.068 and r₂ = 0.309. The effects of the AIBN concentration and that of the chain transfer agent CCl₄ on the molecular weights (MWs) of the copolymers were investigated. An increase in the concentrations of AIBN or CCl₄ in solution led to a decrease in MW. Poly(AN‐co‐TMSS‐co‐St) was synthesized in solution using AIBN as the initiator. The molar fraction of AN was 0.415, while the molar ratio of TMSS/St varied from 1 : 1 to 1 : 9. The transition temperatures and thermal and thermooxidative stabilities of poly(AN‐co‐TMSS) and poly(AN‐co‐TMSS‐co‐St) were investigated. The differential scanning calorimeter technique was used to determine the compatibility of the poly(AN‐co‐TMSS) and poly(AN‐co‐TMSS‐co‐St) with commercial poly(AN‐co‐St). All the blends show a single glass transition temperature, which indicates the compatibility of the blend components. The surface film morphology of the blends mentioned above was examined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The data obtained indicate that the silicon‐containing copolymer is concentrated in the surface layer. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1920–1928, 2000     

Synthesis and Characterization of 1‐Nitroguanyl‐3‐nitro‐5‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole

The synthesis of 1‐nitroguanyl‐3‐nitro‐5‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole (ANTA‐NQ) ( 1 ) with good yield and high purity is described. DSC analysis showed that the material displays good thermal stability. An X‐ray crystallographic analysis confirms the structure of this material, as well as displays intramolecular hydrogen bonding. A gas pycnometry density for this material was measured to be 1.79 g cm⁻³. The heat of formation of this material was also measured. These data, along with the molecular formula were used as inputs to calculate the detonation velocity and detonation pressure using the Cheetah thermochemical code. The sensitivity of this material towards impact, spark and friction was also measured, as well as its vacuum thermal stability. The 3‐azido derivative 2 was also prepared and its properties are described as well. The above data show that (ANTA‐NQ) may be a high performing material with low sensitivity and good thermal stability.     

Synthesis and electrochemical polymerization of N‐ethylcarbazole‐bis‐3,4‐etyhlenedioxythiophene‐N‐ethylcarbazole comonomer

A new comonomer ECz‐BEDOT‐ECz (EBEE) [ECz: N‐ethylcarbazole‐BEDOT:2,2′‐bis(3,4‐ethyhlenedioxy) thiophene] has been synthesized, characterized, and electropolymerized on Pt and carbon fiber microelectrodes (CFME). The ECz side group of the comonomer plays an important role in determining its physical properties PEBEE and it resembles the behavior of corresponding homopolymer (PECz). PBEDOT was increased by the incorporation of ECz monomer into structure. The environmental stability of PBEDOT was increased by incorporating the ECz unit into the structure. The new comonomer seems prefer to be electrodeposited onto CFME as opposed to Pt. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 795–801, 2007     

Crystallization behavior of 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol and 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol

A model margarine was stored under a temperature fluctuation cycle of 5—20 °C until granular crystals were observed. Using information obtained from the granular crystals, the crystallization behaviors of major triacylglycerols of palm oil, 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐glycerol (POP), 1‐palmitoyl‐2,3‐dioleoyl‐glycerol (POO), and their mixtures were then investigated. It was shown that in the model margarine, the POP content in the granular crystals was higher than in their surrounding materials, and the X‐ray diffraction pattern of the granular crystals revealed that they were the most stable polymorph, β. 99% pure POP, POO, and their mixtures were then stored under the above‐mentioned temperature cycle. POP was found to form the unstable polymorph, α, when cooled rapidly from the melt. Within 24 hours transformation into the γ polymorph and then into the β polymorph was observed. POO was shown to transform into the β' polymorph from α. When POP and POO were mixed, the β polymorph did not emerge, instead it was shown that POP and POO were both agglomerated in the mixtures, giving rise to the formation of granular crystals.     

Synthesis of 5‐vinyl‐m‐ phenylene‐m′‐phenylene‐32‐ crown‐10 and its radical polymerization behavior

Synthesis of a vinyl monomer, containing a 32‐membered crown ether unit (VCE) as a pendant group, was achieved by using tetra(ethylene glycol) dichloride, resorcinol, and 3,5‐dihydroxyacetophenone as starting materials. The product was identified by means of FTIR and ¹H‐NMR. It was found that this monomer readily polymerizes by the conventional radical initiator 2,2′‐ azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) to afford a polymer whose number‐average molecular weight is 36 kg/mol; however, the final conversion of the polymer was < 80%. The results of the copolymerization of VCE with styrene (ST) or acrylonitrile (AN) are also discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 2372–2379, 2002     

Lecithin‐enhanced biotransformation of cholesterol to androsta‐1,4‐diene‐3,17‐dione and androsta‐4‐ene‐3,17‐dione

A biotransformation process using Mycobacterium sp was studied for androsta‐1, 4‐diene‐3,17‐dione (ADD) and androsta‐4‐ene‐3,17‐dione (AD) production from cholesterol. Cholesterol has a poor solubility in water (～1.8 mg dm^?3 at 25 °C), which makes it difficult to use as the substrate for biotransformation. Lecithin is a mixture of phospholipids of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), which behave like surfactants and can form planar bi‐layer structures in an aqueous medium. Therefore, a small amount of lecithin (<1 g dm^?3) can be used to form stable colloids with cholesterol at a relatively high concentration (20 g dm^?3) in water. In this work, an energy density of 1000 J cm^?3 from sonication was provided to overcome the self‐association of cholesterol and to generate a stable lecithin–cholesterol suspension that could be used for enhanced biotransformation. The lecithin–cholesterol suspension was stable and could withstand typical autoclaving conditions (121 °C, 15 psig, 20 min). In contrast to conventional surfactants, such as Tween 80, that are commonly used to help solubilize cholesterol, lecithin did not change the surface tension of the aqueous solution nor cause any significant foaming problem. Lecithin was also biocompatible and showed no adverse effect on cell growth. Compared with the medium with Tween 80 as the cholesterol‐solubilizing agent, lecithin greatly improved the biotransformation process in regard to its final product yield (～59% w/w), productivity (0.127–0.346 g dm^?3 day^?1), ADD/AD ratio (6.7–8), as well as the long‐term process stability. Cells can be reused in repeated batch fermentations for up to seven consecutive batches, but then lose their bioactivity due to aging problems, possibly caused by product inhibition and nutrient depletion. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Structure and properties of polyimide‐g‐nylon 6 and nylon 6‐b‐polyimide‐b‐nylon 6 copolymers

Polyimide‐g‐nylon 6 copolymers were prepared by the polymerization of phenyl 3,5‐diaminobenzoate with several diamines and dianhydrides with a one‐step method. The polyimides containing pendant ester moieties were then used as activators for the anionic polymerization of molten ε‐caprolactam. Nylon 6‐b‐polyimide‐b‐nylon 6 copolymers were prepared by the use of phenyl 4‐aminobenzoate as an end‐capping agent in the preparation of a series of imide oligomers. The oligomers were then used to activate the anionic polymerization of ε‐caprolactam. In both the graft and copolymer syntheses, the phenyl ester groups reacted quickly with caprolactam anions at 120°C to generate N‐acyllactam moieties, which activated the anionic polymerization. All the block copolymers had higher moduli and tensile strengths than those of nylon 6. However, their elongations at break were much lower. The graft copolymers based on 2,2′‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride and 2,2′‐bis[4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane displayed elongations comparable to that of nylon 6 and the highest moduli and tensile strengths of all the copolymers. The thermal stability, moisture resistance, and impact strength were dramatically increased by the incorporation of only 5 wt % polyimide into both the graft and block copolymers. The graft and block copolymers also exhibited improved melt processability. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 300–308, 2006     

Crystallization Behavior of Molecular Compound in Binary Mixture System of 1,3‐Dioleoyl‐2‐Palmitoyl‐sn‐Glycerol and 1,3‐Dipalmitoyl‐2‐Oleoyl‐sn‐Glycerol

Previous studies showed that the stable β‐form of molecular compound (MC) crystals having a double‐chain‐length structure is formed in a binary mixture system of 1,3‐dioleoyl‐2‐palmitoyl‐sn‐glycerol (OPO) and 1,3‐dipalmitoyl‐2‐oleoyl‐sn‐glycerol (POP) with a 1:1 concentration ratio of OPO and POP. The use of MC crystals made of POP and OPO for edible applications, such as margarine, is advantageous due to no‐trans, low‐saturated, and high‐oleic fats. Industrial manufacturing technology involves rapid cooling processes, and the kinetic properties of crystallization of MC of OPO and POP are required. In this study, we clarified the crystallization of MC of OPO and POP under rapid cooling at rates of 1–150 °C min^?1, using synchrotron radiation time‐resolved X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry methods. The main results are as follows: (1) POP and OPO crystallized in separate manners without the formation of MC crystals under rapid cooling (>40 °C min^?1), while MC crystals started to form with decreasing rates of cooling in addition to the POP and OPO crystals (<30 °C min^?1); (2) metastable and stable forms sub‐α, α, β′, and β of POP and OPO were formed, whereas the MC crystals of β were formed during the cooling processes; and (3) the heating processes after crystallization by rapid cooling caused separate melting of the metastable and stable forms of POP and OPO crystals and the formation of MC crystals of β made of POP and OPO, as well as melting of the MC crystals alone.     

But‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diamine and But‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diol as Donors for Thermodynamically Favored Transaminase‐ and Alcohol Dehydrogenase‐Catalyzed Processes

Both cis‐ and trans‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diamines have been prepared and efficiently applied as sacrificial cosubstrates in enzymatic transamination reactions. The best results were obtained with the cis‐diamine. The thermodynamic equilibrium of the stereoselective transamination process is shifted to the amine formation due to tautomerization of 5H‐pyrrole into 1H‐pyrrole, achieving high conversions (78–99%) and enantiomeric excess (up to >99%) by using a small excess of the amine donor. Furthermore, when the reaction proceeded, a strong coloration was observed due to polymerization of 1H‐pyrrole. A structurally related compound, cis‐but‐2‐ene‐1,4‐diol, has been utilized as cosubstrate in different alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐mediated bioreductions. In this case, high conversions (91–99%) were observed due to a lactonization process. Both strategies are convenient from both synthetic and atom economy points of view in the production of valuable optically active products.

     

Preparations and properties of thermosensitive terpolymers of N‐isopropylacrylamide,sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐propanesuphonate,and N‐tert‐butylacrylamide

Terpolymers based on N‐isopropylacrylamide, sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐propanesulfonate, and N‐tert‐butylacrylamide were synthesized by free‐radical copolymerization with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) of the linear polymer aqueous solutions were determined by the measurement of the transmittance on UV at different temperatures. The influence of the polymer concentration, polymer composition, and ionic strength on the LCSTs of the linear polymers was investigated. The LCST decreased with increases in the hydrophobic monomer N‐tert‐butylacrylamide, polymer concentration, and ionic strength. The phase transition became sharp when the polymer concentration and ionic strength increased. Meanwhile, the crosslinked hydrogels were prepared with the same recipe used for the linear terpolymers, but a crosslinker was added to the reaction system. The swelling ratios of the hydrogels at various temperatures and salt solutions were determined. The hydrogels possessed both high swelling ratios and thermosensitivity. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Thermal‐ and Photo‐Induced Isomerization of All‐E‐ and Z‐Isomer‐Rich Xanthophylls: Astaxanthin and Its Structurally‐Related Xanthophylls,Adonirubin, and Adonixanthin

The effects of heating and photo‐irradiation on the stability of all‐E‐isomer‐rich and Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, astaxanthin and its structurally related xanthophylls, adonirubin, and adonixanthin, are investigated. The xanthophylls with high Z‐isomer content are prepared from their high‐purity all‐E‐isomers by thermal isomerization and filtering techniques, that is, total Z‐isomer ratios of adonirubin, astaxanthin, and adonixanthin are 80.9%, 89.5%, and 72.5%, respectively. The all‐E‐ and Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls dissolved in ethanol are stored at 4, 30, and 50 °C in the dark and at 30 °C under photo‐irradiation using a fluorescent light for 21 days. In the all‐E‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, as the storage temperature increases, the total Z‐isomer ratio becomes higher, whereas in the Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, the all‐E‐isomer ratio becomes higher. Photo‐irradiation slightly promotes Z‐isomerization in (all‐E)‐xanthophylls, but highly promotes all‐E‐isomerization in Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls. In addition, photo‐irradiation prevents thermal Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐xanthophylls. Moreover, it is found that some xanthophyll Z‐isomers such as (9Z)‐astaxanthin are more stable than that of the other Z‐isomers against heating and photo‐irradiation. These findings can contribute not only to establishing suitable storage conditions for Z‐isomer‐rich xanthophylls, but also to developing control techniques for the E/Z‐isomer ratio of the xanthophylls. Practical Applications: The fundamental data on the stability of xanthophyll isomers against heating and photo‐irradiation and finding stable xanthophyll Z‐isomers are very important to develop xanthophyll materials rich in the Z‐isomers. Moreover, this study clearly shows that the heat treatment enhances the Z‐isomerization of xanthophylls, whereas the photo‐irradiation enhances the all‐E‐isomerization and prevents thermal Z‐isomerization of them. This information can be utilized in technology for arbitrarily controlling E/Z‐isomerization of xanthophylls.     

Singlet oxygen generation and adhesive loss in stimuli‐responsive,fullerene‐polymer blends,containing polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polystyrene and polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene‐block‐polystyrene rubber‐based adhesives

The adhesive properties, as measured by bulk tack and peel strength analysis, were found to decrease in polystyrene‐block‐polybutadiene‐block‐polystyrene (SBS) and polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene‐block‐polystyrene (SIS) PSA films containing common singlet oxygen generators, acridine, rose bengal, and C₆₀ fullerene, when irradiated with a tungsten halogen light in air. The addition of the singlet oxygen quencher, β‐carotene, to the C₆₀ fullerene samples was found to significantly deter the rate of adhesive loss in the fullerene‐SBS and ‐SIS PSA nanocomposites. The presence of oxygen was essential to the mechanism of adhesive loss and, in combination with the effects of singlet oxygen generators and a singlet oxygen scavenger, strongly supports a singlet‐oxygen mediated process. FTIR investigations of fullerene‐SBS and ‐SIS systems suggest the initial formation of peroxides which, upon further irradiation, lead to the generation of carbonyl‐containing compounds of a ketonic type after crosslinking. Rates of SBS and SIS C‐H abstraction were comparable and found to decrease when the high‐pressure, mercury xenon irradiation source was filtered to allow only light of λ > 390 nm. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of N‐methyl‐2‐nitrodiphenylamine‐4‐diazonium salt and its diazoresin

A new substituted diphenylamine diazonium salt, N‐methyl‐2‐nitrodiphenylamine‐4‐diazonium salt (MNDDS) and its diazoresin (MNDDS‐resin) were synthesized and their thermostability as well as photosensitivity were investigated. The results show that MNDDS and resin exhibit much higher thermostability than that of the parent compound, diphenylamine‐4‐diazonium salt (DDS) and resin (DDS resin) in solid state or in coating but the photosensitivities of them are confirmed to be in same level. The excellent thermostability of MNDDS and its diazoresin is very important because the storage life of a negative presensitized plate is mainly dependent on it. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 189–193, 1999     

Synthesis and characterization of N‐methyl‐2,6‐dinitrodiphenylamine‐4‐diazonium salt and its diazoresin

A new photosensitive agent, dinitro derivatives of diphenylamine diazonium salt (N‐methyl‐2,6‐dinitrodiphenylamine‐4‐diazonium salt, MDNDDS), and its diazoresin were synthesized. Their photoreactivities and thermostabilities were investigated. Our results revealed that MDNDDS and MDNDDS‐resin exhibited greatly improved thermostability both in solid state and in coating film comparing with the conventional unsubstituted and mononitro substituted diphenylamine diazonium salts (DDS and MNDDS, respectively) and their diazoresins. The photosensitivity of MDNDDS was found to be slightly lower than DDS but still comparable with MNDDS. As a result of its improved thermostability, both MDNDDS‐resin as a photosensitive agent and lithographic printing plate prepared by MDNDDS‐resin will have a long shelf‐life, which is very important to reduce waste and factory running‐cost. MDNDDS also has a maximum absorption wavelength (λ_max) at 425 nm, which means that an iodine gallium lamp (main emission wavelength λ_em = 420 nm), is better than conventional mercury lamp (λ_em = 360 nm), to be used as the irradiation source in the photoimaging process. Compared with the mercury lamp, iodine gallium lamp is cheaper and greener. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Neuroprotective Effects of N‐Alkyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazolidine‐3,5‐diones and Their Corresponding Synthetic Intermediates N‐Alkylhydroxylamines and N‐1‐Alkyl‐3‐carbonyl‐1‐hydroxyureas against in vitro Cerebral Ischemia

Herein we report the synthesis and neuroprotective effects of new N‐alkyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazolidine‐3,5‐diones and their corresponding synthetic intermediates, N‐alkylhydroxylamines and N‐1‐alkyl‐3‐carbonyl‐1‐hydroxyureas, in an in vitro model of ischemia. We found five analogues that protect HT22 cells from death in the concentration range of 1–5 μM . Because members of the MAP kinase family are known to be key players in nerve cell survival and death, we characterized the role of these kinases in the neuroprotective mechanisms of the newly synthesized analogues. The results indicate that these compounds provide neuroprotection through distinct mechanisms of action.     

Lewis Acid‐Mediated Transformations of trans‐2‐Aroyl‐3‐aryl‐ cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates into 2‐Pyrones and 1‐Indanones

trans‐2‐Aroyl‐3‐arylcyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylates upon treatment with aluminium(III) chloride (AlCl₃) underwent ring‐opening, fragmentation, recombination and lactonization to give highly substituted 2‐pyrones. Alternatively, when treated with titanium(IV) chloride (TiCl₄), the cyclopropane diesters underwent a Nazarov cyclization to afford 1‐indanones with high diastereoselectivity.

     

Synthesis and characterization of PS‐b‐PDMS‐b‐PS triblock copolymer

A series of polystyrene‐b‐poly(dimethylsiloxane)‐b‐polystyrene (PS/PDMS/PS) triblock copolymers had been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The products had been characterized by Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle, and scanning electron microscope. The results indicate that the PS chains have been successfully blocked onto the PDMS back bone, and the PS‐b‐PDMS‐b‐PS triblock copolymers have low‐surface tension, good thermal stability, and microphase separation configuration. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013