Study of Magnetic and Electrical Properties of Poly(o-phenylenediamine)/Manganese Substituted ZnFe2O4 Nanocomposites

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Different concentrations of ZnFe2O4 and manganese substituted ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (10%, 20% and 30%) dispersed...     

Selenium dioxide reaction of substituted diphenacyl sulfides: generation of α -ketoacids

The attempted selenium dioxide oxidation of substituted diphenacyl sulfides in anticipation of further functionalization led to a series of α -ketoacids 3 via oxidation followed by C?S bond cleavage. Two minor products, 5 and 6, have also been isolated and a mechanistic pathway for the formation of 3, 5 and 6 has been proposed.     

Improvement of tea leaves fermentation with Aspergillus spp. pectinase

The pectinase enzymes isolated from Aspergillus spp., A. indicus, A. flavus and A. niveus were used for fermentation of tea leaves. The enzymes were purified and characterized. The effect of both crude enzyme preparation and purified pectinase enzymes on the improvement of tea leaf fermentation were determined in terms of theaflavin, thearubigin, high polymerized substances, total liquor colour, dry matter content and total soluble solids of the tea produced. The crude enzyme preparations obtained from ethanol precipitation were found to be more effective in improving tea leaf fermentation than the purified pectinase enzymes.     

Synthesis and characterization of aromatic/cycloaliphatic poly(amide‐ imide‐imide)s from bis(4‐amino‐ 3,5‐dimethylphenyl) cycloalkane derivatives

A series of novel aromatic diamines containing cycloaliphatic moieties was synthesized by the reaction of cycloalkanones like cyclohexanone and cycloheptanone with 2,6‐dimethylaniline. The tetrimide diacid was synthesized using the prepared diamine with 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride/pyromellitic dianhydride and p‐aminobenzoic acid. The polymers were prepared by treating the tetrimide diacid with different aromatic diamines. The structures of the monomers and polymers were identified using elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The polymers show excellent solubility. The polymers are amorphous and have high optical transparency. They also show good thermal stability and their T_g value is found to be in the range 268–305 °C. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

New benzoxazines from renewable resources for green composite applications

Fully bio‐based composites composed of polybenzoxazine resins obtained from renewable natural resources (such as cardanol, furfurylamine, and stearylamine) and bio‐fiber such as jute fiber were prepared. The purity of the isolated cardanol was determined by Gas Chromatography. The structure of cardanol and its benzoxazine monomers were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and Mass spectroscopic analysis and its polymerization process was monitored by Differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The composites' tensile and flexural strengths were measured by UTM and its impact strength was measured by IZOD impact tester respectively. The bio composite (PCF‐Bzo/Jute fiber) shows superior thermal and mechanical (from thermogravimetric analysis and dynamic mechanical analysis) properties when compared with stearylamine‐based composite (PCS‐Bzo/Jute fiber). The surface morphologies of the fractured composites were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:573–582, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis,characterization and properties of photoresponsive polymers comprising photocrosslinkable pendant chalcone moieties

New methacrylate monomers, namely 4‐methacryloyloxyphenyl‐4′‐fluorostyryl ketone and 4‐methacryloyloxyphenyl‐4′‐ethylstyryl ketone comprising a free radical polymerizable group and a photocrosslinkable group, were synthesized by reacting the respective hydroxychalcones with methacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine. The monomers were polymerized in the presence of ethyl methyl ketone (EMK) at 70 °C using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The chemical structures were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques: ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The thermal stability of the polymers was studied using thermogravimetric analysis in nitrogen atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine the glass transition temperature of the homopolymers. Photocrosslinking of the synthesized homopolymers was investigated in solution. The two homopolymers were crosslinked within 10–15 min. After crosslinking, the homopolymers were insoluble in the same solvent. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Specific Modulation of Protein Activity by Using a Bioorthogonal Reaction

Unnatural amino acids with bioorthogonal reactive groups have the potential to provide a rapid and specific mechanism for covalently inhibiting a protein of interest. Here, we use mutagenesis to insert an unnatural amino acid containing an azide group (Z) into the target protein at positions such that a “click” reaction with an alkyne modulator (X) will alter the function of the protein. This bioorthogonally reactive pair can engender specificity of X for the Z‐containing protein, even if the target is otherwise identical to another protein, allowing for rapid target validation in living cells. We demonstrate our method using inhibition of the Escherichia coli enzyme aminoacyl transferase by both active‐site occlusion and allosteric mechanisms. We have termed this a “clickable magic bullet” strategy, and it should be generally applicable to studying the effects of protein inhibition, within the limits of unnatural amino acid mutagenesis.     

Unsaturated polyester nanocomposites filled with nano alumina

Alumina nanoparticles (60–70 nm) were prepared by the sol–gel technique using citric acid and aluminum nitrate. Casting technique was used to make nanocomposites of unsaturated polyester (UPR) and nano alumina. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) study demonstrated that nano alumina particles were dispersed uniformly in the UPR matrix and agglomeration of particles was found at higher filler loading (>5 wt%). The nanocomposites show higher tensile, flexural and impact strength than pristine UPR. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the fractured surface of tensile test samples show that the ductile fracture of UPR was converted to brittle fracture with the addition of nano alumina. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) studies showed the storage modulus increased up to 5 wt% loading of nano alumina. The impact strength and storage modulus results agree well. The thermogravimetric studies revealed that the nanocomposites were having higher thermal stability than the pure UPR. As the concentration of the nano alumina in the UP resin increased, the char yield was also increased.