Moisture sorption, transport, and hydrolytic degradation in polylactide

Management of moisture penetration and hydrolytic degradation of polylactide (PLA) is extremely important during the manufacturing, shipping, storage, and end-use of PLA products. Moisture transport, crystallization, and degradation, in PLA have been measured through a variety of experimental techniques including size-exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction. Quartz crystal microbalance and dynamic vapor sorption experiments have also been used to measure moisture sorption isotherms in PLA films with varying crystallinity. A surprising result is that, within the accuracy of the experiments, crystalline and amorphous PLA films exhibit identical sorption isotherms.     

Enzymatic polymerizations using surfactant microstructures and the preparation of polymer-ferrite composites

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Horseradish peroxidase has been used as a biocatalyst to synthesize a polymeric material from alkyl-substituted phenols. The synthesis is carried out in a...     

The pyrolysis of trimethylgermane and trimethylsilane

The number of products and the H₂/CH₄ ratio obtained from the flow pyrolyses of (CH₃)₃GeH and (CH₃)₃SiH were very different. The (CH₃)₃GeH decomposition is consistent with the following mechanism:

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The pyrolysis of (CH₃)₃SiH was found to be much more complex, presumably due to the formation of silicon-carbon double bonded intermediates and the (CH₃)₂Si(H)CH₂ radical. We also present data which supports the presence of a H atom chain sequence during this pyrolysis.     

High-Valent Manganese in Polyoxotungstates. 3. Dimanganese Complexes of gamma-Keggin Anions

Dimanganese-substituted gamma-Keggin heteropoly tungstates have been synthesized by reaction of the lacunary species gamma-[(SiO(4))W(10)O(32)](8)(-) with appropriate mixtures of Mn(II) and MnO(4)(-). The crystal structure of [(CH(3))(3)(C(6)H(5))N](4)[(SiO(4))W(10)Mn(III)(2)O(36)H(6)].2CH(3)CN.H(2)O (anion 1) was determined by X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic data: space group P&onemacr;, a = 12.951(3) ?, b = 14.429(3) ?, c = 20.347(4) ?, alpha = 81.95(3) degrees, beta = 88.92(3) degrees, gamma = 67.48(3) degrees, V = 3475.2(13) ?(3), and Z = 2. The final R value is 7.29% for 15861 reflections with I > 2sigma(I). The anion has the anticipated gamma-Keggin structure with virtual C(2)(v)() symmetry. The two Mn cations occupy adjacent, edge-shared octahedra with bridging hydroxo and terminal aqua ligands. Anion 1 can be oxidized and reduced to the corresponding Mn(III)Mn(IV) (2) and Mn(II)(2) (3) species respectively. The magnetic susceptibility of 1 between 2 and 300 K indicates that the Mn(III) cations are antiferromagnetically coupled, with J = -17.0 cm(-)(1) and g = 1.965. No simple magnetic behavior was observed for 2 or 3.     

A new class of hybrid materials via salt inclusion: novel copper(II) arsenates Na(5)ACu(4)(AsO(4))(4)Cl(2) (A = Rb,Cs) composed of alternating covalent and ionic lattices

Two novel copper(II) arsenates Na5ACu4(AsO4)4Cl2 (A = Rb, Cs) were synthesized by conventional solid-state methods using reactive molten salt media. These compounds are isostructural and crystallize in an orthorhombic lattice (Fmmm, No. 69; Z = 8). The cell constants are a = 14.632(3) A, b = 18.872(2) A, c = 14.445(3) A, V = 3989(1) A3, for A = Rb; a = 14.638(3) A, b = 18.990(4) A, c = 14.418(3) A, V = 4008(1) A3, for A = Cs. Single-crystal structure studies reveal a new composite framework consisting of alternating covalent and ionic lattices. The covalent lattice contains highly oriented oligomeric mu-oxo [Cu4O12]16- tetrameric units with a cyclo-S8-like Cu4O4 magnetic core that resembles the building block of layered cuprates. The ionic slab consists of a novel framework of mixed alkali metal chloride lattice and rarely seen Na6O8 clusters. Similar to organic-inorganic hybrid materials, the title compounds present a new class of host-guest chemistry via salt inclusion reactions.     

Symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in poly (vinyl chloride) membrane sodium selective electrodes

The complexing ability of a range of 19 symmetrical, unsymmetrical and bridged calix[4]arene derivatives having ester, ketone, amide, amine and thioether functionalities were determined by the picrate extraction method. On incorporating these calix[4]arene derivatives as neutral carrier ionophores in sodium-selective poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes the performance was assessed on the basis of the sensitivity and selectivity over the alkali, alkaline earth metals and hydrogen and ammonium ions. The temperature dependence, response times and lifetimes were also determined. Four ionophores in particular gave excellent sensitivity and selectivity and lifetimes of > 200 days. These electrodes were then tested without additional lipophilic additives and one ionophore was incorporated into poly (vinyl chloride) membrane electrodes with plasticizing solvents of varying polarity.     

Mass spectrometric interrogation of thioester-bound intermediates in the initial stages of epothilone biosynthesis

Direct detection of thioester intermediate mixtures bound to EpoC, a 195 kDa polyketide synthase, has been achieved using limited proteolysis and Fourier-transform mass spectrometry (FTMS). Incubation with various N-acetylcysteamine thioester (S-NAC) substrate mimics produced mass shifts on the EpoC ACP domain consistent with their condensation with an enzyme-bound carbanion produced by the decarboxylation of methylmalonyl-S-EpoC. Reconstitution of EpoA-ACP, EpoB, and EpoC gave a +165.0 Da mass shift consistent with the formation of the methylthiazolyl-methacrylyl product by incorporation of acetyl-CoA, cysteine, and methylmalonyl-CoA. Thioester-templated reaction intermediates and products are typically characterized by quantifying radioactive substrates, either enzyme bound or chemically hydrolyzed. In contrast, the MS-based methodology described here provides semiquantifiable ratios of free enzyme, intermediate, and product occupancy and reveals that certain substrates result in a >50% formation of nonproductive intermediates.