12-Tungstophosphoric acid immobilized on modified macroporous phenol-furfural sulfonic acid resin for tert-butylation of p-cresol.

12-Tungstophosphoric acid (HPW) had been immobilized on phenol-furfural sulfonic acid resin (PFuSR) using γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (KH). FT-IR spectra indicate that the immobilized HPW on KH modified PFuSR (PFuSR-KH) keeps its Keggin structure and IR subtraction spectra confirm the immobilization of HPW on PFuSRKH through the interaction between amino groups of KH and bridge oxygen atom of W₃O₁₃. XRD patterns of the HPW illustrate that its second-order structure is changed greatly after being immobilized. The immobilized HPW on KH-modified PFuSR not only maintains its selectivity but also possesses high acidic activity in catalyzing t-butylation of p-cresol with t-butanol, though the by-product water hindered the reaction. The PFuSR-KH-immobilized HPW loses only half of its activity after being reused five times, while the PFuSR-supported one has no catalytic activity in the second run.     

Preliminary separation and purification of rutin and quercetin from Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold extracts by macroporous resins

In this study, the performances of rutin and quercetin from Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold extracts on five macroporous resins with different physical and chemical properties were investigated. The results of static tests indicated that AB-8 resin was the most appropriate and its adsorption data were well fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. In order to optimize the separation process, different pH values of sample solution, different concentrations and pH values of ethanol solution also have been investigated. Column packed with AB-8 resin was used to perform dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments. After the treatment with AB-8 resin and optimal conditions, the contents of rutin and quercetin in the product were 8.45-fold and 13.14-fold increased with recovery yields of 63.1% and 72.3%, respectively. The results showed that the present method was suitable for large-scale preparation of rutin and quercetin from Euonymus alatus (Thunb.) Siebold or other herbal materials.     

Morphological investigations of self-assembled films from a pyridine -incorporated poly (p-phenylene)

Well-organized structures of polymers in thin films have been widely investigated. Amphiphilic polymers, star-shaped polymers and modified polystyrene-based polymers have been shown to form self-assembled honeycomb patterns on substrates. Herein, we report a poly (p-phenylene) derivative capable of producing self-assembled regular structures. Highly fluorescent honeycomb structures were observed on various substrates. The nature of the substrate and polymer influences the morphology of the film.     

Semi-empirical calculation and spectroscopic study of protonated poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) models

The characters of poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) (PBO) in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) are strongly influenced by the protonation effect. Due to such protonation effect, the experimental optical absorption spectrum was red shifted from the optical absorption spectrum predicted by AM1/ZINDO–CI (Austin Method 1/Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap coupled to single configuration interaction) method. Further studies on AM1-optimized geometries of PBO showed that the final minimized torsion angle of benzoxazole and phenylene rings increased from 0.04° for the neutral molecule to 18.53° for protonated form at N atom. Moreover, the repulsive Coulombic interactions originated from protonation tend to stiffen the PBO chain. The AM1/ZINDO–CI calculation also indicated that the strongest UV absorption peak of PBO was blue shifted with increasing torsion angle.     

Electrocatalytic tandem Knoevenagel–Michael addition of barbituric acids to isatins: Facile and efficient way to substituted 5,5′-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-3,3-diyl)bis(pyrimidine-2,4,6-(1H,3H,5H)-trione) scaffold

Electrocatalytic transformation of isatins and barbituric acids in ethanol in an undivided cell in the presence of sodium bromide as an electrolyte results in the formation of substituted 5,5′-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-3,3-diyl)bis(pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-triones) in 89–95% substance yields and 890–950% current yields. The developed efficient electrocatalytic approach to medicinally relevant 5,5′-(2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-3,3-diyl)bis(pyrimidine-2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)-trione) scaffold is 10 times faster than general chemical method, is beneficial from the viewpoint of diversity-oriented large-scale processes and represents novel example of facile environmentally benign synthetic concept for electrocatalytic tandem reaction strategy.     

Improvement of the growth of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis from Toliara (Madagascar): Effect of agitation, salinity and CO2 addition

Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis Toliara isolated from alkaline and salt lakes in the south-western area of Madagascar is a potential source of proteins that could efficiently fight against food deficiency in developing countries like Madagascar. Up to now, productivity in this country has been low, so a better understanding of the growth conditions of this species is needed to improve its production. Growth experiments were undertaken in bubble columns at laboratory scale. The influence of agitation of the culture, medium salinity (ranging from 13 to 35 g L⁻¹) and CO₂ addition (ranging from 0 to 2%, v/v) on growth and protein content was examined. Because Arthrospira cells are fragile, a bubble column without additional mixing gave the best growth. Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis showed higher specific growth rate (μ_max) and protein content for lower salinity. Addition of 1% of CO₂ improved the productivity by near 60%. The feasability of semi-continuous culture was demonstrated and optimal culture conditions led to a mean productivity of 0.22 ± 0.03 g L⁻¹ d⁻¹, a mean specific growth rate of 0.015 ± 0.002 h⁻¹ and a protein content of 53 ± 2% of total dry weight.     

Adsorption and corrosion inhibition behaviour of N-(phenylcarbamothioyl)benzamide on mild steel in acidic medium

Corrosion inhibition property of N-(phenylcarbamothioyl)benzamide (PCB) on mild steel in 1.0 M HCl solution has been investigated using chemical (weight loss method) and electrochemical techniques (potentiodynamic polarization and AC impedance spectroscopy). The inhibition efficiencies obtained from all the methods are in good agreement. The thiourea derivative is found to inhibit both anodic and cathodic corrosion as evaluated by electrochemical studies. The inhibitor is adsorbed on the mild steel surface according to Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The adsorption mechanism of inhibition was supported by spectroscopic (UV-visible, FT-IR, XPS), and surface analysis (SEM-EDS) and adsorption isotherms. The thermodynamic parameter values of free energy of adsorption (ΔG_ads) reveals that inhibitor was adsorbed on the mild steel surface via both physisorption and chemisorption mechanism.     

Electrochemical preparation of self-doped poly(N-(3-sulfonicpropion) anilide) and its application in sensing ethanol

A novel containing sulfonic acid group aniline monomer, N-(3-sulfonicpropion) anilide, was synthesized in three steps and subsequently to be electropolymerized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The resulting self-doped poly(N-(3-sulfonicpropion) anilide) (SPAN/GCE) held 79.5% electrochemical activity when transferred from 0.1 M pH 7.0 PBS to 0.1 M pH 10.0 PBS, indicating its remarkable extension of the redox activity. The SPAN/GCE was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and found that 30% of the nitrogen atoms are sulfonated. Preliminary experimental results show that after the immobilization of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) on the SPAN/GCE (ADH/SPAN/GCE), the ADH/SPAN/GCE showed good electrocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of ethanol. These reveal that the SPAN/GCE is quite promising in the fields of biosensors, biofuel cells and other bioelectrochemical devices.     

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of the first copper(II) complex with an (E)-4-aryl-4-oxo-2-butenoato ligand

A new binuclear Cu(II) complex with an (E)-4-(2,4-diisopropylphenyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoato ligand (L) was successfully synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and IR-spectroscopy. The structures of (E)-4-(2,4-diisopropylphenyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid (HL), and the corresponding (tetrakis)-μ-[(E)-4-(2,4-diisopropylphenyl)-4-oxo-2-butenoato]-bis(ethanol)-copper(II) complex, [Cu₂L₄(C₂H₅OH)₂], were determined by single crystal X-ray analyses and are preliminarily discussed. This is the first complex of a transition metal with ligand L, as well as the first determined crystal structure of a metal complex with this type of ligand. Analysis of the magnetic susceptibility measurements of the isolated [Cu₂L₄(C₂H₅OH)₂] · H₂O complex shows the existence of a strong anti-ferromagnetic intradimer coupling, with an exchange integral value 2J of −260 cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis and surface properties of N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[3-(aldonamido)propyl]amine-N-oxides

A new group of saccharide surfactants, N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[3-(aldonamido)propyl]amine-N-oxides (derivatives of d-gluconic, d-glucoheptonic, and lactobionic acids), were synthesized with high yields by one-step oxidation reaction of an appropriate N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[3-(aldonamido)-propyl]amine with an excess of 30 wt% of an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide. Their structures and purity were confirmed by means of elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. In comparison to an appropriate N-dodecyl-N,N-bis[3-(aldonamido)propyl]amine, the investigated N-oxides are more soluble in water with similar critical micelle concentration values and show higher surface effectiveness. They are low-foamable but in mixtures with sodium dodecyl sulfate form high-volume and stable foams in a wide range of mixture compositions.     

Impregnation synthesis of a novel macroporous silica-based crown ether polymeric material modified by 1-dodecanol and its adsorption for strontium and some coexistent metals

4,4′,(5′)-Di-(tert-butylcyclohexano)-18-crown-6(DtBuCH18C6) is a chelating agent having high selectivity mostly for Sr(II). To significantly reduce its leakage by molecular modification, a macroporous silica-based DtBuCH18C6 polymeric composite (DtDo/SiO₂–P) was synthesized. It was performed by impregnating and immobilizing DtBuCH18C6 and 1-dodecanol molecules into the pores of the SiO₂–P particles utilizing an advanced vacuum sucking technique. The adsorption of a few fission and non-fission products Sr(II), Ba(II), Cs(I), Ru(III), Mo(VI), Na(I), K(I), Pd(II), La(III), and Y(III) onto DtDo/SiO₂–P was investigated. It was done by examining the effects of contact time and the HNO₃ concentration in a range of 0.1–5.0 M at 298 K. At the optimum concentration of 2.0 M HNO₃, DtDo/SiO₂–P exhibited strong adsorption ability and high selectivity for Sr(II) great over all of the tested elements, which showed very weak or almost no adsorption except Ba(II). Meanwhile, It was found that the quantity of total organic carbon (TOC) leaked from DtDo/SiO₂–P in 2.0 M HNO₃, 187.5 ppm, was lower than 658.4 ppm that leaked from DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂–P, which was not modified. This was ascribed to the effective association of DtBuCH18C6 and 1-dodecanol through intermolecular interaction. The reduction of DtBuCH18C6 leakage by molecular modification with 1-dodecanol was achieved. It was of great benefit to application of DtDo/SiO₂–P in chromatographic partitioning of Sr(II), one of the main heat generators, from high level liquid waste (HLLW) in reprocessing of nuclear spent fuel in the MAREC (Minor Actinides Recovery from HLLW by Extraction Chromatography) process developed recently.     

Catalytic activity of copper(II)complexes of immobilized ‘polystyrene-bound 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine’ for the oxidative coupling of 2,6-disubstituted phenols

‘Polystyrene-bound 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine’-copper (PS-DMAP-Cu(ii)) catalysts for the oxidation of 2,6-disubstituted phenols were immobilized by grafting or by partial adsorption on silica and by crosslinking with 2% divinylbenzene. The most active immobilized catalyst is the most flexible, i.e. the grafted one, which however is still six times less active than unbound linear PS-DMAP-Cu(II). The less extended conformation of the adsorbed polymeric catalyst exhibits a significantly lower activity. For the crosslinked catalyst, indications were obtained that diffusional limitations occur. Application of all three types of immobilized PS-DMAP based catalysts in a continuous stirred tank (CST) reactor was unsuccessful. The phenol conversion drastically decreased in time. This loss of activity could be explained by the destructive effect of water: interaction of reaction water with the very basic DMAP ligands may result in the production of an excess of hydroxide which, according to our earlier work, deactivates the catalyst. A catalyst based on the less basic poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) adsorbed onto silica exhibited an invariable phenol conversion in the CST reactor for at least 230 h.     

Formation and Organization of Amino Terminated Self-assembled Layers on Si(001) Surface

We have investigated the effects of dipping time, solution concentration and solvent type on the formation of self-assembled monolayers with aminosiloxane molecules (i.e., N-(3 trimethoxysilylpropyl)diethylenetriamine (TPDA)) on the Si(001) surface. Studies performed with an ellipsometer showed that monolayers with a thickness of about 1.2 nm were formed when the dipping time is about 2 h, while multilayer were observed for longer time periods. The effect of the TPDA concentration on the thickness of the deposited layer was not very profound, however, the contact angle data exhibit importance of concentration on the surface coverage. The type of the solvent used in the formation of the monolayers was found an important parameter. Monolayers were formed with solvent having larger dielectric constants. Relatively thick multilayer was observed when benzene was used as the solvent, due to its quite low dielectric constant (hydrophobicity).     

Preparation and properties of trans-2-butene-1,4-bis (triphenylphosphonium)-saponite

Intercalation of trans-2-butene-1,4-bis(triphenyl phosphonium) into synthetic saponite (Sumecton SA; cation exchange capacity of 71 meq (100 g clay)⁻¹) was conducted by the cation exchange reaction in aqueous solution. The sample was obtained as powder and thin supported film. Quantitative cation exchange was shown by the chemical composition of the product as well as the amount of the trans-2-butene-1,4-bis(triphenylphosphonium) remaining in the solution. The intercalation compound adsorbed styrene from aqueous solution and exhibited thermal stability (decomposes at higher than 400°C) as shown by the TG-DTA curves recorded in air.     

Considerations of polymerization method and molecular weight for proton-conducting poly(p-phenylene) derivatives

Ni(0)-catalyzed coupling polymerization of 2,5-dichloro-4′-phenoxybenzophenone was investigated by varying the ligand and coligand, temperature, reaction time, and solvent. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) of poly(4-phenoxybenzoyl-1,4-phenylene)s (PPBPs) could be controlled by the polymerization conditions and reached a maximum of 4.4 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹. Sulfonated PPBPs (S-PPBPs) with various M_ws were prepared with sulfuric acid to study the effect of molecular weight on the chemical and electrical properties of PPBP-based electrolytes. The strong molecular interactions in S-PPBP provided an ion exchange capacity of 2.9 meq g⁻¹ without loss of high mechanical properties. High molecular weight S-PPBPs had more desirable properties for fuel cell applications. While the swelling ratios and hydration numbers of S-PPBPs decreased with increasing molecular weight, the mechanical strength, proton conductivity, and fuel cell performance increased. S-PPBP also showed anisotropic behavior in the swelling and proton conductivity; such behavior is caused by the rigid-rod nature and the liquid-crystal structure.     

Copolymerization of N-(4-carboxyphenyl)maleimide with acrylonitrile and the properties of its membrane

N-(4-Carboxyphenyl)maleimide (N-4-CPMI, M₁) was copolymerized with acrylonitrile (AN, M₂) to prepare the copolymer. The monomer reactivity ratios and Alfrey-Price Q, e values were determined as r₁ = 0.56, r₂ = 0.84, Q ₁ = 2.0, Q ₂ = 0.6 and e ₁ = 2.06, e ₂ = 1.2. The membrane of copolymer containing 0.25% CPMI had a good tensile property (67.3 MPa). The 0.75 mole% membrane had an excellent selectivity factor (α = 45.3).     

Synthesis and Properties of 1,1-bis{[3-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Dimethylamino)propyl]amido}alkane-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxides

A homologous series of new surface-active 1,1-bis{[3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propyl]amido}alkane-di-N-oxides were synthesized in the reaction of an appropriate diethyl 2-alkylmalonate with N,N-dimethylamino-1,3-propanediamine followed by oxidation with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The adsorption isotherms of their aqueous solutions were measured and evaluated to obtain adsorption parameters: critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface excess concentration (Γ_CMC), equilibrium surface tension at the CMC (γ_CMC), cross-sectional area of the adsorbed surfactant molecule (A _CMC), efficiency of surface adsorption (pC₂₀), standard free energies of adsorption (ΔG°_ads), and micellization (ΔG°_CMC). All investigated di-amidoamines and di-N-oxides were practically non-toxic to selected bacteria and yeasts. These compounds are readily biodegradable in the Closed Bottle Test inoculated with activated sludge. Surface and biological properties showed that this group of N-oxide-type compounds has high surface activity and fulfills requirements for environmental acceptance.

Predicting toxicity of tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi): measurement of the variation in alkaloid concentration among plants and among years

Tall larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) is the principal mountain larkspur responsible for the majority of cattle deaths on mountain rangelands in western Colorado and central and southern Utah in the United States. Ten plants in each of two tall larkspur populations in the mountains near Ferron and Salina, Utah, were marked, and single stalks were harvested periodically through the growing season for 4 yr. Toxic alkaloid concentration [alkaloids containing the N-(methylsuccimimido)-anthranilik ester group] was determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Individual larkspur plants varied in alkaloid concentrations, especially in early growth (14–38 mg/g). As the concentration declined over the growing season, variation among plants also declined. There were yearly differences in alkaloid concentration among individual plants (P < 0.01) and populations (P < 0.001), even after accounting for differences in phenological growth between years. Variables such as precipitation, temperature, days since snow melt, growing degree days (sum of mean temperature each day from snow melt), and plant height and weight were all considered in a Mallows Cp multiple regression selection procedure to predict alkaloid concentration. The mixed model procedure in SAS adjusted the regression equation for locations and years. Growing degree days was the best single predictor of alkaloid levels: ln y = (3.581 – 0.00423 GDD), R ² = 0.85. Internal validation of this equation within individual years and locations from which the equation was developed, produced correlations between observed versus predicted values ranging from r = 0.73 to 0.93. External validations on nine other larkspur populations produced correlations ranging from r = 0.76 to 0.99. This predictive equation can provide a tool for ranchers and land managers to make management decisions of when to graze cattle in larkspur areas.     

Synthesis,characterization and antibacterial activity of quaternized <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-(2-carboxyethyl) chitosan

N,O-(2-carboxyethyl)chitosan (N,O-2-CEC) was prepared from chitosan with 3-chloropropionic acid as modifying agent and NaOH as catalyst. Different quaternary ammonium groups were introduced into N,O-2-CEC by the reaction between N,O-2-CEC and different 2,3-epoxypropyl trialkyl ammonium chlorides in the presence of 25% NaOH aqueous solution, and obtained different quaternized N,O-2-carboxyethyl chitosans (QCECs). Structures of QCECs were characterized by FT-IR, ¹HNMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Antimicrobial activity of QCECs was evaluated against a gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and a gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Compared with N,O-2-CEC and quaternized chitosans, the QCECs had much stronger antimicrobial activity, which increased with increasing chain length of the alkyl in the quaternary ammonium groups. The presence of benzyl in quaternary ammonium groups could endow QCECs with much better antimicrobial activity.     

Pure gas and vapor permeation properties of poly[1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] (PTMSDPA) and its desilylated analog, poly[diphenylacetylene] (PDPA)

The permeabilities of He, H₂, N₂, O₂, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and n-C₄H₁₀ in poly[1-phenyl-2-[p-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] (PTMSDPA) and poly[diphenylacetylene] (PDPA) are presented and compared to those of poly(1-trimethylsilyl-1-propyne) (PTMSP), poly(1-phenyl-1-propyne) (PPP), and polysulfone. Like PTMSP, PTMSDPA, a disubstituted glassy acetylene-based polymer, exhibits higher permeabilities to organic vapors than to permanent gases due to its rigid polyacetylene backbone and bulky side groups, which provide a relatively high fractional free volume (FFV) value of 0.26. Desilylation was performed on PTMSDPA. The resulting material, PDPA, is totally insoluble in common organic solvents, so it has much higher chemical resistance than PTMSDPA. Additionally, due to its insolubility in polymerization solvents, desilylation provides the only known route to high molar mass PDPA. The FFV of the resulting membrane (PDPA) is reduced by approximately 12% relative to that of PTMSDPA. This leads to a decrease in gas permeability values and selectivity of organic vapors relative to nitrogen. For example, the oxygen permeability is reduced from 1200 to 500 Barrers upon desilylation. The pure gas selectivities decrease from 9 to 3 for n-C₄H₁₀/N₂ and from 26 to 9 for C₃H₈/N₂.