Ferrocene-bound polyester resins

Seven ferrocene-bound polyester resins were prepared from fumaric acid and diethylene glycol in the presence of different ferrocene derivatives. To accomplish the incorporation of the organometallic moiety into the polyester resin chain, the cyclopentadienyl rings of ferrocene were substituted in the 1,1′ positions with reactive functional groups. The ferrocene derivatives used were: 1,1′-bis(1-hydroxyethyl) ferrocene 1 , 1,1′-ferrocene dicarboxylic acid 2 , and 1,1′-ferrocene diacetic acid 3 . The incorporation of an organometallic complex significantly increased the rate of the polyesterification process. In order of increasing rate enhancement, the effect was 2 < 3 < 1 . The effectiveness of ferrocene derivatives chemically incorporated into the polyester backbone during copolymerization with styrene was studied by monitoring the gel time, cure rate, and the resin properties. The efficiency of the copolymerization reaction of ferrocene-bound polymers with styrene decreased in the order 1 ≥ 3 > 2 . Mechanisms to account for these results are presented. Some of the strength related properties were also studied.     

Dialogical Argument as an Interface to Complex Debates

The Magtalo prototype environment harnesses dialogue protocols to support flexible, intuitive interaction with data in complex, contentious domains and provides mechanisms for eliciting structured knowledge. Magtalo represents the first example of an implemented online system that uses a closely specified argument-based dialogue protocol combined with a rich language for representing monologic argument to provide a tool for intuitive user exploration of a disagreement space. This approach also enables the expansion of argument resources through knowledge elicitation, which is structured by the argument dialogue protocol. The continuing aim of our research is to use advances in argumentation theory to push the practice of argumentation technology in providing tools and interfaces that have wide appeal.     

Novel NMDA antagonists: replacement of the pyridinium ring of 6,11-ethanobenzo[b]quinolizinium cations with heteroisoquinolinium cations

Replacement of the pyridinium ring of 6,11-ethanobenzo[b]quinolizinium cations with thiazolium (4a and 4b) and N-methylimidazolium (4c and 4d) resulted in equipotent compounds in the [3H]TCP binding assay. The corresponding N-methyl-1,2,4-triazolium analogs were less potent in this assay. The thiazolium derivative 4b, with a Ki = 2.9 nM, is being evaluated as a possible neuroprotective N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) antagonist.