Adjacent Ester Groups Research Articles

Fully Bio-Based 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid Polyester toward Plastics with Mechanically Robust, Excellent Gas Barrier and Fast Degradation.

Aliphatic-aromatic copolyesters offer a promising solution to mitigate plastic pollution, but high content of aliphatic units (>40 %) often suffer from diminished comprehensive performances. Poly(butylene oxalate-co-furandicarboxylate) (PBOF) copolyesters were synthesized by precisely controlling the oxalic acid content from 10 % to 60 %. Compared with commercial PBAT, the barrier properties of PBOF for H2O and O2 increased by more than 6 and 26 times, respectively. The introduction of the oxalic acid units allowed the water contact angle to be reduced from 82.5° to 62.9°. Superior hydrophilicity gave PBOF an excellent degradation performance within a 35-day hydrolysis. Interestingly, PBO20F and PBO30F also displayed obvious decrease of molecular weight during hydrolysis, with elastic modulus >1 GPa and tensile strength between 35-54 MPa. PBOF achieved the highest hydrolysis rates among the reported PBF-based copolyesters. The hydrolytic mechanism was further explored based on Fukui function analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Noncovalent analysis indicated that the water molecules formed hydrogen bonding interaction with adjacent ester groups and thus improved the reactivity of carbonyl carbon. PBOF not only meet the requirements of the high-performance packaging market but can quickly degrade after the end of their usage cycles, providing a new choice for green and environmental protection.

EPR and Preparative Studies of 5- endo Cyclizations of Radicals Derived from Alkenyl NHC-Boranes Bearing tert-Butyl Ester Substituents.

Radical H atom abstraction from a set of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of alkenylboranes bearing two tert-butyl ester substituents was studied by EPR spectroscopy. The initial boraallyl radical intermediates rapidly ring closed onto the O atoms of their distal ester groups in 5- endo mode to yield 1,2-oxaborole radicals. Unexpectedly, two structural varieties of these radicals were identified from their EPR spectra. These proved to be two stable rotamers, in which the carbonyl group of the tert-butyl ester was oriented toward and away from the NHC ring. These rotamers were akin to the s- trans and s- cis rotamers of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Their stability was attributed to the quasi-allylic interaction of their unpaired electrons with the carbonyl units of their adjacent ester groups. EPR spectroscopic evidence for two rotamers of the analogous methyl ester containing NHC-oxaborole radicals was also obtained. An improved synthetic procedure for preparing rare NHC-boralactones was developed involving treatment of the alkenyl NHC-boranes with AIBN and tert-dodecanethiol.

Stereocomplexation of Polymers in Micelle Nanoreactors As Studied by Multiple Detection Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation.

In this study the thermally induced in situ stereocomplexation (SC) of binary blends of symmetrical isotactic and syndiotactic polymethymethacrylates (i- and s-PMMAs) inside micellar nanoreactors (MNR) with polystyrene (PS) shells is investigated using thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF) as a separation technique. The MNRs are prepared from three systematic binary blending ratios of pure micelles of i-PMMA-PS and s-PMMA-PS in a nonsolvent for PMMAs in order to produce mixed micelles with a binary microstructural composition of the interior PMMA cores. The SC of these stereoregular PMMA cores inside the MNRs is shown to be thermally induced as a function of annealing temperatures from room temperature up to 150 °C. This SC is initially confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), whereby signal shifts are observed in the carbonyl absorption regions. These signal shifts are as a result of SC interactions between adjacent ester and alpha-methyl groups. Furthermore, temperature-dependent dynamic light scattering (DLS) results show that MNRs with more SC domains have a much more drastic reduction in size. Additional corroboration is provided by multiple detection ThFFF results which show significant differences in retentions and sizes between MNRs with stereocomplexed cores and those without. Ratios of i-PMMA:s-PMMA in the order of 1:1, 1:2, and 2:1 were investigated with all ratios exhibiting thermal annealing induced SC, of which the 1:2 ratio is shown to have the highest predisposition to SC.

Density functional theory study of the mechanism for the formation of glycidyl esters from triglyceride.

Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) are by-products of edible oil refinement that have attracted attention globally due to concerns over their possible harmful effects on human health when consumed. It is thus important to improve our understanding of GE formation if we are to suppress GE production during edible oil refinement. In this paper, a first-principles density functional theory study of the formation mechanism of GEs was performed. Triglycerides undergo a self-condensation reaction between two adjacent ester groups to yield GEs and an anhydride as a by-product. This process is energetically unfavorable, having a relatively high activation energy of around 80kcal/mol, which indicates that GE formation is intrinsically a high-temperature process. Both the thermodynamic and the kinetic energies of the reaction are insensitive to the size of the fatty chain substituents present. If water participates in the self-condensation, the activation barrier is notably decreased by 23.9kcal/mol, indicating that GE production in the presence of high-temperature water vapor should be more kinetically favorable. Our results suggest that reducing the reaction temperature and avoiding the use of water should suppress GE production during edible oil refinement.

Biochemical and molecular characterization of a lipase from an Algerian isolated Staphylococcus aureus strain.

A Staphylococcus aureus strain, isolated from an Algerian biotope, secretes a non-induced lipase in the culture medium. The S. aureus lipase (SAL) was purified to homogeneity. Pure SAL is a monomeric protein (43 kDa). The 20 N-terminal amino acid residues showed a high degree of homology with other staphylococcal lipase sequences. SAL presents specific activities of about 1600 and 555 U mg-1 using tributyrin and olive oil emulsion as substrates, respectively. In contrast to other staphylococcal lipases previously characterized, SAL was stable at a pH range from 6 to 9 after 1 h incubation, and retained 50% of its activity after 10 min incubation at 50 °C. The purified enzyme was also characterized using monolayer technique. Lipase activity can be measured only when the surface pressure exceeds 15 mN m-1 . The critical surface pressure (πc ) measured with egg-PC films was estimated at 33 mN m-1 . SAL showed a preference for the distal ester groups of the diglyceride isomers at low surface pressure, for the adjacent ester groups at high surface pressure and a preference for the sn-3 position of the 2,3-sn-enantiomer of dicaprin. Cloned and sequenced gene part, encoding the mature lipase shows, in comparison with S. aureus lipase 3 (SAL3), a deletion of three residues (LKA) at the N-terminal extremity and a substitution of glycine 208 and isoleucine 226 with an arginine and leucine, respectively.

Kinetic behaviour of recombinant Fusarium solani lipases using monomolecular films: Effect of the heterologous expression

Two lipases from Fusarium solani, FSL and FSL2, were efficiently expressed in Pichia pastoris. To check the influence of the expression on interfacial properties of FSL and to study kinetic properties of FSL2, interfacial parameters of FSL2, native FSL, untagged recombinant and tagged recombinant forms of FSL were compared using the monomolecular film technique.Kinetic study on the dependence of the stereoselectivity of these lipases on the surface pressure was performed using three dicaprin isomers spread in the form of monomolecular films at the air-water interface. The FSL2 seems to have an important penetration power with a preference for adjacent ester groups and the heterologous expression accompanied or not with the N-His-tag extension on the FSL were found to modify the pressure preference and increase the catalytic hydrolysis rate of three dicaprin isomers. The heterologous expression was found to preserve the FSL regioselectivity without affecting its stereospecificity at high and low surface pressure. The evaluation of the recombinant expression Effects on Catalysis (REC), the N-Tag Effects on Catalysis (TEC), and the N-Tag and Recombinant expression Effects on Catalysis (TREC) showed that the heterologous expression was more efficient than the presence of the N-terminal tag extension on the FSL.

Positional specificity of sardine digestive lipase in the hydrolysis of triacylglycerols and analogs

Using lipid emulsions as well as the monomolecular film technique, we studied some kinetic properties of sardine digestive lipase (SaDL). The pure lipase was able to hydrolyze a triolein emulsion in the absence of any additives and seems therefore to tolerate the accumulation of long free fatty acids at the interface. The kinetic behavior of SaDL can be explained by the high penetration capacity of this enzyme into a lipidic interface. SaDL hydrolyzes efficiently pure tributyrin, in the absence of additives. Subsequently, the sardine lipase is not denaturated at high interfacial energy. A kinetic study of the surface pressure dependency of the regioselectivity of SaDL was performed using an optically pure stereoisomer of diglyceride (1,2‐sn‐dicaprin) and a prochiral isomer (1,3‐sn‐dicaprin) that were spread as monomolecular films at the air‐water interface. At low surface pressure, SaDL acts preferentially on distal carboxylic ester groups of the diglyceride isomer (1,3‐sn‐dicaprin) but at high surface pressure, this enzyme prefers adjacent ester groups of the (1,2‐sn‐dicaprin) isomer. Interestingly, the SaDL was found to hydrolyze efficiently the secondary ester group of a triglyceride analog. This is in line with the fact that SaDL hydrolyzed triolein at the sn‐2 position, as shown using the thin‐layer chromatography technique. This property is sought for the synthesis of specific triacylglycerol‐based compounds, such as structured lipids.Practical applications: The sardine digestive lipase was found to efficiently hydrolyse the secondary ester group of a triglyceride analogue, a characteristic sought for the synthesis of structured lipids.The sardine digestive lipase (SaDL) showed an ability to hydrolyze the secondary ester group of a triglyceride analog (1,2‐DDG) with the R configuration (R3).

ChemInform Abstract: Furo‐ and Thieno‐Fused 1,3‐Diazepine‐4,6‐diones.

AbstractStarting from the furan (I) possessing two adjacent ester groups the synthesis of furo‐fused diazepinedione derivatives (VI) and (VII) is developed.

Kinetic Properties of a Novel Fusarium solani (phospho)lipase: A Monolayer Study

Using the monomolecular film technique, we studied interfacial properties of Fusarium solani lipase (FSL). This lipolytic enzyme was found to be unique among the fungal lipases possessing not only a lipase activity but also a high phospholipase one.The FSL was able to hydrolyze dicaprin films at various surface pressures. The surface pressure dependency, the stereospecificity, and the regioselectivity of FSL were performed using optically pure stereoisomers of diglyceride (1,2-sn- dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin) and a prochiral isomer (1,3-sn-dicaprin) spread as monomolecular films at the air-water interface. The FSL prefers adjacent ester groups of the diglyceride isomers (1,2-sn-dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin) at low and high surface pressures. Furthermore, FSL was found to be markedly stereospecific for the sn-1 position of the 1,2-sn-enantiomer of dicaprin at both low and high surface pressures.Moreover, FSL shows high activities on phospholipids monolayers. However, this enzyme displays high preference to zwitterionic phospholipids compared to the negatively charged ones.

Directional Cyclooligomers via Alkyne Metathesis

Macrocyclic oligomers possessing direction-defining ester linkages were synthesized via metathesis of the nondirectional alkyne functional group. Alkyne metathesis is expected to scramble the relative orientation of adjacent ester groups, potentially leading to a complex mixture of macrocyclic products. We wondered whether a narrow product distribution would be achievable with a proper choice of the building block structure. Here we show that the shape of the building block determines whether the macrocyclic products are directionally uniform or scrambled. Specifically, two isomeric arylene-ethynylene polyesters afforded significantly different product distributions upon being subjected to depolymerization-macrocyclization. These results underscore the importance of learning how the shape and geometry of the building blocks affect the macrocyclization energy landscape.

Conformation and conformation-dependent properties of chain molecules

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor N.A. Plate for his outstanding contributions to polymer science and his extraordinary leadership in the world scientific community. The long-lasting personal and professional relationship with Nikolai came to the end rather untimely, but his enthusiasm for science and people will always be remembered. The rotational isomeric state treatment has been extended to elucidate conformation and conformation-dependent properties of chain molecules occurring under the condition for which some special care is required. Examples include the odd-even effect of n-alkane chains, dipole moment of polymethylmathacrylate (PMMA), enhancement of optical rotation of vinyl polymers, screw-sense reversal of polyaspartates, and the anisotropy of a flexible spacer involved in the main-chain liquid crystal. Major conclusions are as follows: (1) The distinct odd-even effect is a peculiar character of the methylene sequence -(CH2)n-attributable to its bond angle (tetrahedral) and rotational preference (trans). In the other chains including carbonate linkages or oxyethylene units, the correlation along the chain unnecessarily accompany the odd-even phenomenon. (2) When the meso dyad of the PMMA chain takes the trans-trans conformation, the two adjacent ester groups are situated at a separation of only ca. 0.27 nm. The strong dipole-dipole interaction between the two polar ester groups may be alleviated by taking a staggered arrangement. The importance of such neighbor-dependent correlation in treating dielectric properties has been pointed out. (3) The amplification of conformational asymmetry has been discussed for two seemingly dissimilar examples: i.e., flexible vinyl polymers having asymmetric side chains and tightly hydrogen-bonded α-helical polypeptides. The conformation of the side chain has been elucidated for each of the enantiomeric forms of the backbone. The small free-energy difference between the two forms may cooperatively trigger a drastic effect in these polymeric systems. (4) A long oxyethylene spacer carrying mesogenic units on both terminals can be rather easily accommodated in the nematic LC phase. The nematic conformation of the spacer was found to play a crucially important role in determining the orientational order and the packing entropy of the nematic state.

Kinetic properties of dromedary pancreatic lipase: A comparative study on emulsified and monomolecular substrate

Using the classical emulsified system and the monomolecular film technique, we compared several interfacial properties of dromedary pancreatic lipase (DrPL) with those of a mammal (human) and an avian (turkey) model. Like turkey pancreatic lipase (TPL) and unlike human pancreatic lipase (HPL), in the absence of colipase and bile salts, using tributyrin emulsion or monomolecular films of dicaprin at low surface pressure, DrPL hydrolyses pure tributyrin emulsion, as well as dicaprin films maintained at low surface pressures. DrPL was also able to hydrolyse triolein emulsion in the absence of any additive and despite the accumulation of long-chain free fatty acids at the interface. The difference of behaviours between the two mammal pancreatic lipases (DrPL and HPL) can be explained by the penetration capacity of each enzyme. DrPL presents a critical surface pressure value (21 mN m −1) that is more important than this of HPL. Subsequently, the dromedary pancreatic lipase interacts efficiently with interfaces and it is not denaturated at high interfacial energy. A kinetic study on the surface pressure dependency, stereospecificity and regioselectivity of DrPL was performed using optically pure stereoisomers of either three dicaprin isomers containing a single hydrolysable decanoyl ester bond that were spread as monomolecular films at the air/water interface. Interestingly, in comparison with all the previously studied mammal pancreatic lipases, DrPL presents the highest preference for adjacent ester groups of dicaprin isomers (1,2- sn-dicaprin and 2,3- sn-dicaprin) at high surface pressure. Furthermore, DrPL forms a pancreatic lipase subgroup in which the stereopreference switches from sn-3 position to the sn-1 position when increasing the surface pressure.

Asymmetric Reduction of Ketones Catalyzed by a Polymeric Chiral Ru Complex

Two polystyrene-supported chiral ligands 1 and 2, based on (1S,2S)-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (TsDPEN), were prepared from sodium 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate dihydrate in seven and eight steps, respectively. The catalytic properties of their Ru complexes prepared in situ were examined for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones with formic acid-triethylamine azeotrope as the hydrogen source to exhibit the high catalytic activities and enantioselectivities. This reduction protocol also displayed excellent chemoselectivities: the keto-carbonyl group was reduced selectively under these reaction conditions whereas the adjacent ester, amide, or cyano groups remained intact. The immobilized catalyst was easily recovered by simple filtration and subsequent washing with dichloromethane, and was reused without a significant drop in enantioselectivity. The resulting optically active alcohols are known to be appropriate intermediates for the synthesis of (S)-fluoxetine, which is an important antidepressant.

The role of hydrogen bonding in the selectivity of l-cysteine methyl ester (CYSM) and l-cysteine ethyl ester (CYSE) for chloride ion

The interaction of cysteamine (CY), l-cysteine methyl ester (CYSM), and l-cysteine ethyl ester (CYSE) with nitrate, sulfate, perchlorate, dihydrogen phosphate, and chloride ions was investigated using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). CYSM and CYSE are chemical derivatives of CY. These thiols have a quaternary ammonium group to attract the anions to the SERS surface. Dihydrogen phosphate did not interact with these cationic thiols. The CY interaction with perchlorate, nitrate, and sulfate is stronger than the interaction with chloride. However, replacing a hydrogen on the carbon adjacent to the quaternary ammonium group with either a methyl or ethyl ester group results in stronger complexation with chloride ion than with either sulfate or nitrate ion. In the case of CYSM, the chloride interaction is five times stronger than the interaction with perchlorate. Molecular modeling indicates that the high selectivity of CYSM/CYSE for chloride is due to hydrogen bonding between the chloride ion and the hydrogen of the CH 3 moeities of adjacent ester groups.

Kinetic properties of turkey pancreatic lipase: A comparative study with emulsified tributyrin and monomolecular dicaprin

Using the classical emulsified system and the monomolecular film technique, we compared several interfacial properties of turkey pancreatic lipase (TPL) and human pancreatic lipase (HPL). TPL, like HPL, presented the interfacial activation phenomenon when vinyl ester was used as substrate. In the absence of colipase and bile salts, using tributyrin emulsion or monomolecular films of dicaprin at low surface pressure, TPL, unlike HPL, hydrolyzes pure tributyrin emulsion as well as dicaprin films maintained at low surface pressures. TPL was also able to hydrolyze triolein emulsion in the absence of any additive and despite the accumulation of long-chain free fatty acids at the interface. The difference of behaviors between TPL and HPL can be explained by the penetration power of each enzyme. The enzyme that presents the maximal pi(c) (TPL) interacts more efficiently with interfaces, and it is not denaturated at high interfacial energy. Turkey pancreatic lipase is more active on rac-dicaprin than HPL; a maximal ratio of 9 was found between the catalytic activities of the two lipases measured at their surface pressure optima (20 mN m(-1)). A kinetic study on the surface pressure dependency, stereospecificity, and regioselectivity of TPL was performed using enantiopure diglyceride (1,2-sn-dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin) and a prochiral isomer (1,3-dicaprin) that were spread as monomolecular films at the air-water interface. At low surface pressure (15 mN m(-1)), TPL acts preferentially on primary carboxylic ester groups of the diglyceride isomers (1,3-dicaprin), but at high surface pressure (23 mN m(-1)), this enzyme prefers both adjacent ester groups of the diglyceride isomers (1,2-sn-dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin). HPL prefers adjacent ester groups of the diglyceride isomers (1,2-sn-dicaprin and 2,3-sn-dicaprin). Furthermore, TPL was found to be markedly stereospecific for the sn-1 position of the 1,2-sn-enantiomer of dicaprin at low surface pressure (15 mN m(-1)), while at high surface pressure (23 mN m(-1)), this lipase presents a stereopreference for the sn-3 position of the 2,3-sn-enantiomer of dicaprin. HPL is stereospecific for the sn-1 position of the 1,2-sn-enantiomer of dicaprin both at 15 and 23 mN m(-1).

A RIS treatment of the mean-square dipole moment of PMMA chains in consideration of the pendant ester group orientations

According to the six-state scheme proposed by Vacatello and Flory, the mean-square dipole moments 〈 M 2〉/ x ( x: number of monomeric units) of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains and their temperature dependence d ln 〈M 2〉/ dT were calculated by the matrix algebra method of rotational isomeric state theory. To take account of the orientation effect of polar ester groups, the statistical weight matrices, U′ and U″, were recast into an expanded form. A Bernoullian probability λ introduced to measure the preference between the two alternative orientations ( χ=0 and χ= π) of the side ester groups was found to give rise to a large effect on the mean-square dipole moment of polymers. When the skeletal bonds of a meso dyad are both in trans, an exceptionally strong dipole-dipole interaction may take place. If the two adjacent ester groups adopt the same orientation, the dipoles must be situated nearly parallel to each other in a close proximity. Such repulsive interactions may be alleviated by taking a staggered conformation, i.e. ( χ, χ′)=(0, π) or ( π,0). Such neighbor-dependent correlation inherent to the meso dyad is considered by assigning a parameter λ′ to the proper element of the U m ″ matrix. The values of 〈 M 2〉/ x observed at 30 °C were satisfactorily reproduced by adopting λ=0.270 and λ′=0.865. The thermal coefficients d ln 〈M 2〉/ dT were found to be reconciled with the available experimental data by allowing the orientation parameters λ and λ′ to be slightly temperature dependent. The stereochemical characteristics of the chain terminals were examined in order to extend the treatment to include the dipole moment of PMMA oligomers.

Synthesis and hydrolytic stability of model poly(ester urethane ureas)

AbstractHydrolysis of poly(ester urethane ureas) (PURUs) is a complex phenomenon which impedes the analysis of the relationships between their composition and hydrolytic stability. Hydrolytic stability of PURUs decreases due to rising (i) polyol acidity, (ii) content of ester groups, (iii) flexibility and (iv) hydrophilicity of the backbones; molar mass of polyols does not seem to have any appreciable effect on it. Negative influence of ether groups (which have better hydrolytic stability than ester groups) is probably linked to the increase in the backbone flexibility and, consequently, to easier access of water molecules to ester groups. Positive effect of aromatic rings in polyols can be ascribed to enhanced rigidity of the backbones as well as to increased hydrolytic stability of adjacent ester groups due to the resonance effect. It can be presumed that the mentioned effects will superpose and simultaneously predestine the resulting hydrolytic resistance. Considering the observed tendencies, it is possible to qualitatively predict the trends how the hydrolytic stability will respond to changes in PURUs composition.

Thermal behavior of methacrylic acid–ethyl acrylate copolymers

AbstractThe thermal degradation behavior of copolymers of methacrylic acid (81.5–17.4 mol%) was studied using thermogravimetry (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the degradation products were analyzed using mass spectroscopy and DSC–FTIR. From mass spectroscopy, it was observed that in the copolymers the main degradation products obtained below 280°C included water, ethanol, and methanol, whereas at higher temperature (up to 400°C), CO2, CO, and small olefins were liberated. Elimination of water and ethanol is attributed to anhydride formation, which is believed to result from two routes: (a) anhydride formation involving adjacent acid groups and (b) anhydride formation involving adjacent acid and ester groups. An endothermic transition in the DSC and percent weight loss in the TGA in the same temperature range (140–280°C) support the above proposal. An increase in weight loss with increase in EA content of the copolymer confirms the participation of EA in the anhydride formation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Pyrolysis‐evolved gas‐infrared spectroscopic characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymer glazing materials

AbstractThe linear temperature programmed pyrolysis of some commercial crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) copolymers has been examined by the technique of pyrolysis‐evolved gas‐infrared analysis. Methyl methacrylate monomer, methanol, and carbon dioxide were detected in the pyrolysis gases. The profiles of rate of evolution against temperature were used to identify the presence of occluded monomer and thermally unstable and groups such as unsaturation. The evolution profiles for methyl methacrylate and methanol were found to be characteristic for each type of crosslink. Evolution of methanol between 250°C and 300°C, and between 300°C and 350°C has been attributed to condensation reactions of carboxylic acid and primary amide groups, respectively, with adjacent ester groups. The evolution profiles were used to distinguish between samples from different manufacturers, and to identify material in aircraft canopies.