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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
91

Solution and solid phase synthesis of N,N'-diacetyl chitotetraoses

Vijayakrishnan, Balakumar January 2008 (has links)
The three major biopolymers, proteins, nucleic acids and glycoconjugates are mainly responsible for the information transfer, which is a fundamental process of life. The biological importance of proteins and nucleic acids are well explored and oligosaccharides in the form of glycoconjugates have gained importance recently. The β-(1→4) linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) moiety is a frequently occurring structural unit in various naturally and biologically important oligosaccharides and related conjugates. Chitin which is the most abundant polymer of GlcNAc is widely distributed in nature whereas the related polysaccharide chitosan (polymer of GlcN and GlcNAc) occurs in certain fungi. Chitooligosaccharides of mixed acetylation patterns are of interest for the determination of the substrate specificities and mechanism of chitinases. In this report, we describe the chemical synthesis of three chitotetraoses namely GlcNAc-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcN, GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc-GlcN and GlcN-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc. Benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) and p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl (PNZ) were used for the amino functionality due to their ability to form the β-linkage during the glycosylation reactions through neighboring group participation and the trichloroacetimidate approach was utilized for the donor. Monomeric, dimeric acceptors and donors have been prepared by utilizing the Z and PNZ groups and coupling between the appropriate donor and acceptors in the presence of Lewis acid yielded the protected tetrasaccharides. Finally cleavage of PNZ followed by reacetylation and the deblocking of other protecting groups afforded the N,N’-diacetyl chitotetraoses in good yield. Successful syntheses for the protected diacetyl chitotetraoses by solid phase synthesis have also been described. / Die drei wichtigsten Biopolymere sind Proteine, Nukleinsäuren und Glykokonjugate. Sie sind von fundamentaler Bedeutung für lebenswichtige Prozesse, wie z.B. den Informationstransfer. Die biologische Bedeutung von Proteinen und Nukleinsäuren ist eingehend erforscht, während Oligosaccharide in Form von Glykokonjugaten erst in neuerer Zeit an Bedeutung gewonnen haben. Die β-(1→4) verknüpfte N-Acetylglucosamin (GlcNAc) Einheit kommt häufig als in vielen natürlichen und biologisch wichtigen Oligosacchariden und ihren Konjugaten vor. Chitin, ein Polymer von GlcNAc, ist in der Natur weit verbreitet, während das verwandte Polysaccharid Chitosan (Polymer of GlcN und GlcNAc) in gewissen Pilzen auftritt. Chitooligosaccharide gemischter Acetylierungsmuster sind von Bedeutung für die Bestimmung von Substratwirkungen und für den Mechanismus von Chitinasen. In dieser Arbeit beschreiben wir die chemische Synthese von drei Chitotetraosen, nämlich GlcNAc-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcN, GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc-GlcN and GlcN-GlcN-GlcNAc-GlcNAc. Benzyloxycarbonyl (Z) und p-Nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl (PNZ) wurden aufgrund ihrer Fähigkeit, die β-Verknüpfung während der Glykosylierung durch die Nachbargruppenbeteiligung zu steuern, als Aminoschutzgruppen verwendet. Zur Aktivierung der Donoren wurde die Trichloracetamidat Methode angewendet. Monomere und dimere Akzeptoren und Donoren wurden unter Verwendung von Z und PNZ Gruppen hergestellt. Die Kupplung von geeigneten Donoren und Akzeptoren in Gegenwart einer Lewis Säure ergaben die Tetrasaccharide. Schließlich ergab die Entschützung von PNZ, gefolgt von der Reacetylierung der Aminogruppe und Abspalten der übrigen Schutzgruppen die N,N’-Diacetylchitotetraosen in guten Ausbeuten. Weiterhin wird die erfolgreiche Synthese der geschützten Diacetylchitotetraosen durch Festphasensynthese beschrieben.
92

Synthesis And Characterization Of Zirconium Tungstate-zirconia Core-shell Composite Particles

Khazeni, Nasser 01 January 2013 (has links) (PDF)
Thermal mismatch between different components of a system could cause of problems like residual stress induced cracking, thermal fatigue or even optical misalignment in certain high technology applications. Use of materials with customized thermal expansion coefficient is a counter-measure to resolve such problems. Zirconium tungstate (ZrW2O8) with negative thermal expansion coefficient is capable of being used in synthesis of composites with tailored coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). In this work, the sol-gel method which had been already set up in our group was characterized and the sources of the factors imposing impurities in the product were distinguished in all the steps of precursor preparation and heat treatment. In the second part of study, zirconium tungstate particles synthesized by the sol-gel method were utilized as core in synthesis of ZrW2O8&ndash / ZrO2 core&ndash / shell composite particles. Shell layer was composed of ZrO2 nanocrystallites and precipitated from an aqueous solution by urea hydrolysis. Volume of the shell was effectively controlled by concentration of the initial zirconium ion in the solutions. The rate of precipitation was a function of the ratio of initial urea concentration to zirconium ion. It is hypothesized that isolation of the ZrW2O8 within a layer of ZrO2, will be a key element in solving problems associated with reactivity of ZrW2O8 towards other components in sintering of ceramic&ndash / ceramic composites with tuned or zero thermal expansion coefficient.
93

Estudo de nanoestruturas de óxido de zinco sintetizadas em condições hidrotermais : avaliação toxicológica

Gonçalves, Fernanda de Jesus January 2014 (has links)
Orientador: Prof. Dr. Flávio Leandro de Graça / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2014. / Nanopartículas de óxido de zinco têm sido por décadas aplicadas em diversos produtos industriais e mais recentemente vem recebendo enorme atenção por suas implicações nos campos da medicina e biomedicina. Em particular nanoestruturas unidimensionais (1D) de óxido de zinco tem despertado interesse devido à alta área de superfície disponível receber grupos funcionais tornando o material compatível, eficiente para terapias fotodinâmicas e como agente cancerígeno. Nessa dissertação de mestrado o foco dos estudos foi direcionado a investigar a citotoxicidade das nanoestruturas de óxido zinco preparado a partir de uma solução aquosa em condições hidrotermais. As NPs de óxido de zinco foram sintetizadas em diferentes tempos (30 minutos, 2 e 4 horas) com intuito de avaliar o efeito de diferentes tamanhos na toxicidade. Pela técnica de microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) foi possível acompanhar a evolução morfológica e a formação de bastões (1D) organizados na forma de flores. Pelas imagens de MEV foi observado que o tamanho e a morfologia variam de acordo com o tempo de síntese. A fase pura hexagonal (wurtzita) do ZnO foi indexada nos difratogramas obtidos. Analisando os espectros de absorção na região do ultravioleta/visível e foram estimados os valores de band gap ótico de cada nanoestrutura. As características óticas ainda foram monitoradas por espectroscopia de fluorescência e para todas as NPs de ZnO estudadas foram observadas a presença de banda na região do visível, normalmente relacionada a presença de defeitos estruturais e morfológicos durante a preparação das NPs de ZnO. O potencial zeta e tamanho da partícula dispersas em meio aquoso (pH ~7.0) foram investigados e o ilustrando que a técnica utilizada para separação e dispersão foram eficientes proporcionando um comportamento monomodal.. O estudo de citotoxicidade das NPs de ZnO sintetizadas foi realizado pela técnica de citometria de fluxo, em que foi verificada a morte celular por necrose e apoptose. Os resultados mostraram propriedade nociva das NPs em relação às células tumorais HeLa e não tumorais L929. Esses estudos preliminares apontam essas NPs de ZnO excelente candidatas para futuras aplicações na área médica como agentes cancerígenos. / Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been applied for decades in many industrial products and more recently have received enormous attention for their implications in the fields of medicine and biomedicine. In particular one-dimensional (1D) zinc oxide nanostructures have attracted attention due to the high surface area available to receive functional groups making compatible, efficient material for photodynamic therapy and as carcinogenic agents. In this dissertation the focus was directed to investigate the cytotoxicity of zinc oxide nanostructures prepared from an aqueous solution under hydrothermal conditions. Zinc oxide NPs were synthesized at various times (30min., 2 and 4 hours) in order to evaluate the effect of different sizes in toxicity. By the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, it was possible to follow the morphological evolution and the formation of rods (1D) organized in flowers. From SEM images, it was observed that the size and morphology varied with the time of synthesis. The pure hexagonal (wurtzite) ZnO phase was indexed in the diffractograms obtained by X-Ray Diffraction analysis. The absorption spectra in the ultraviolet / visible region and the values of optical band gap were estimated for each nanostructure. The optical characteristics were also monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and all ZnO NP studied presented band in the visible region, usually related to the presence of structural and morphological defects during the preparation of the NPs of ZnO. The zeta potential and particle size dispersed in water (pH ~ 7,0) have been investigated and illustrated that the technique used for separation was efficient, providing a monomodal behavior. The cytotoxicity study of the synthesized ZnO NPs was carried out via flow cytometry in which cell death was observed by necrosis and apoptosis. The results showed NPs harmful property with respect to non-tumor HeLa cells and healthy L929 cells. These preliminary studies indicate these ZnO NPs are excellent candidates for future applications in the medical field as carcinogens.
94

Efeitos de superfície na síntese e estabilização de materiais cerâmicos à base de ZrO2 sintetizados pelo método Pechini. / Surface effects on synthesis and stabilization of ZrO2-based ceramic materials synthesized by the Pechini method.

Paulo Jorge Brazão Marcos 11 December 2006 (has links)
As aplicações do ZrO2 dependem das suas fases cristalinas e muitos estudos têm sido realizados sobre suas transições e os aditivos empregados no seu controle. No entanto, os mecanismos atuantes em tais processos são explicados com base exclusivamente cinética desconsiderando a contribuição termodinâmica que os aditivos exercem sobre as energias dos polimorfos e suas superfícies. Neste trabalho, o efeito termodinâmico do MgO sobre as transformações de fases é estudado para pós de ZrO2 preparados por uma rota química derivada do método Pechini. Análises de picnometria, área de superfície específica, difração de raios X, espectroscopias de infravermelho, Raman e de fotoelétrons excitados por raios X, além de amplitude sônica eletrocinética foram empregadas para caracterizar a evolução das fases formadas. Verifica-se que quantidades crescentes de MgO desestabilizam a fase monoclínica e tornam a fase tetragonal estável. A fase cúbica é encontrada para grandes quantidades de MgO. As transformações de fases marcam descontinuidades em características como área de superfície específica devido a alteração de simetria cristalina. O MgO, na forma de periclásio, não foi observado para quantidades inferiores a 40 % molar. Levando-se em conta a baixa solubilidade do MgO no ZrO2 conclui-se que o controle das fases observadas possui pouca contribuição de processos cinéticos associados à formação de defeitos puntiformes. Resultados de XPS mostram que o íon Mg2+ localiza-se tanto na rede cristalina quanto na superfície do ZrO2. A sua segregação é atribuída a um efeito termodinâmico que resulta na diminuição da energia de superfície do ZrO2 promovendo o desenvolvimento de um excesso de superfície, confirmado pelas medidas de área de superfície específica, com a conseqüente diminuição do tamanho de partícula. Tais conclusões implicam que ambos os efeitos termodinâmicos e cinéticos devem ser considerados no controle do polimorfismo do ZrO2. / The applications of ZrO2 depend on its cristalline phases and several studies have been carried out about its transitions and the additives used to control it. However, the active mechanisms in such processes are explained with an exclusively kinetic basis disregarding the thermodynamic contribution that the additives exert over the polimorphs and surface energies. In this work, the thermodynamic effect of MgO on phase transformation is reported for ZrO2 powders prepared by a chemical route derived from Pechini\'s method. Picnometric, specific surface area, X-ray diffraction, infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, besides electrokinetic sonic amplitude experiments were performed to characterize the evolution of the formed phases. It is verified that crescent amounts of MgO desestabilize the monoclinic phase and make stable the tetragonal. The cubic phase is found for large amounts of MgO. The phase transformations appoint descontinuities as the specific surface area due to crystalline simmetry change. The MgO, in the periclase form, wasn?t observed for amounts lower than 40 molar %. Taking into account the low solubility of MgO into ZrO2 it is concluded that the control of the observed phases has a low contribution to kinetic processes associated to point defects formation. XPS data show that Mg2+ ion is located onto the bulk as far as the ZrO2 surface. Its segregation is assigned to a thermodynamic effect resulting in a decrease of ZrO2 surface energy, which promotes the development of a surface excess, upholded by specific surface area measurements, with the consequent decrease of particle size. Such conclusions impose that both thermodynamic and kinetic effects must be considered on the control of ZrO2 polimorphism.
95

Estudos do meio reacional da síntese de polianilina e poli-o-toluidina / Studies of the reaction media of polyaniline and poly-o-toluidine synthesis

Douglas Silva Machado 24 April 2007 (has links)
Foram realizadas análises por espectros absorção, fluorescência e excitação para anilina e orto-toluidina em água, com e sem a adição de HCl. Os resultados indicam que as propriedades do meio dependem das concentrações de amina e de HCl, sendo observado principalmente pelos espectros de excitação de fluorescência. Espectros de 1H RMN parecem indicar um efeito de agregação destas moléculas pelas mudanças observadas na forma e na posição dos sinais dos prótons. Foi realizada a síntese de polianilina e de poli-o-toluidina, sendo o acompanhamento efetuado por espectroscopia ultravioleta-visível e pela técnica de perfil de potencial, indicando similaridades entre os dois métodos. As sínteses de polianilina e de poli-o-toluidina também foram realizadas via fotoquímica, sendo os produtos de reação caracterizados por espectroscopia ultravioleta visível e por infravermelho. / The aim this work was to study aniline and orto-toluidine in aqueous solution with or without HCl addition. The analyses were realized by absorption and fluorescence spectrum. The results show that the proprieties are relation on amines and chloridric acid concentrations, especially it was observed by fluorescence excitation spectrum. Changes in protons sign position and in the form can be indicating an effect of aggregation with these molecules though 1H RMN spectrum. UV-Vis spectroscopy and open circuit potential measurements were used for monitor the synthesis of polyaniline and the poly-o-toluidine. Theses methods show similar results. Also, the synthesis of polyaniline and the poly-o-toluidine were realized by photochemistry via, which the reaction products were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy and FTIR.
96

Structural characterisation and in vitro behaviour of apatite coatings and powders.

Etok , S E 17 November 2009 (has links)
Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings are used in orthopaedic surgery for bone regeneration. Current methods of phase quantification of HAP coatings suffer from drawbacks. A novel methodology of quantitative phase analysis of HAP coatings has been devised and validated. This method, based on whole pattern fitting with a fundamental parameters approach, incorporates amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and apatite phases into structural refinements. A comparison of the structural and chemical properties of plasma sprayed (PS) and novel electrodeposited (ED) HAP coatings has been conducted. ED coatings contained less ACP and more preferred orientation than the PS coatings, although the stoichiometry was similar. In vitro investigations of PS and ED coatings in simulated body fluid and foetal calf serum revealed that both are bioactive. A carbonated apatite layer produced on the ED coatings was -0.7μm thick with a stoichiometry and chemical constituents similar to that of natural bone apatite. PS coatings produced a nanocrystalline carbonated apatite layer (-4μm). For the first time it has been possible to model crystalline HAP and nanocrystalline apatite as independent phases and obtain accurate lattice parameters for each. A positive linear correlation has been made between microstrain and the solubility of HAP and carbonated apatites. Dissolution studies have shown that the behaviour of HAP and carbonated apatite is dominated by crystallite size at low undersaturation and by crystallite size and microstrain at high undersaturation for crystallites between -30OA- 1000A. Metastable equilibrium occurred for crystallites <_400A at low undersaturation. Carbonate content did not affect the solubility or dissolution behaviour. A novel technology for coating polymeric tape with HAP for potential use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been devised. Mechanical tests have demonstrated that no adverse properties are induced by the coating technology. Cell culture studies have shown that the HAP layer is capable of enhanced attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells compared to uncoated tape.
97

Cibles thérapeutiques d'analogues de l'acide ascorbique / Therapeutics targets of ascorbic acid’s analogues.

Bordignon, Benoît 26 September 2013 (has links)
L'acide ascorbique (AA) a longtemps été décrit comme un agent antiprolifératif, mais la molécule doit être utilisée à très fortes doses, nécessitant des injections intraveineuses. La régulation stricte et complexe des concentrations sanguines et cellulaires rendent impossible le maintien des concentrations élevées sur une longue période.Avec la société KaïronKem, nous avons créé une chimiothèque de dérivés de l'AA. Le but de ce travail thèse était d'identifier des molécules dérivées dont l'action antiproliférative est supérieure à celle de l'AA. Parmi elles, nous avons sélectionné la plus prometteuse, K873, qui a montré des effets cytotoxiques et antiprolifératifs sur différentes cellules tumorales humaines à une dizaine de micromolaires, tout en étant non-toxique pour les cellules saines. Nous avons ensuite testé son efficacité in vivo grâce à des injections quotidiennes chez des souris immunodéficientes xénogreffées avec des cellules cancéreuses humaines. K873 a montré une action antiproliférative sur la progression tumorale équivalente à l'AA à des doses 100 à 200 fois inférieures.Nous avons étudié le mécanisme d'action de K873. Tout comme l'AA, il diminue l'expression de deux familles de gènes impliqués dans la progression du cycle cellulaire : facteurs d'initiation de la traduction et ARNt synthétases. Nos résultats montrent que le transporteur intracellulaire de l'AA (SVCT2) n'est pas utilisé pour l'entrée de K873 dans la cellule, bypassant ainsi sa saturation. De la même façon que l'AA, K873 diminue le niveau intracellulaire d'AMPc mais en n'ayant aucune activité antioxydante. Les dérivés de l'AA pourraient être une nouvelle classe de médicaments anticancéreux. / Ascorbic acid (AA) was long described as an antiproliferative agent. However, the molecule has to be used at very high concentrations, which necessitates intravenous injections. In addition, the tight regulation of in-blood and in-cell AA concentrations makes it impossible to hold very high concentrations for any substantial length of time.In collaboration with KaironKem, we undertook the creation of a focused chemical library of AA derivatives. The aim of this work was therefore to identify derivatives molecules with antiproliferative action higher than AA. Among these new molecules, we selected K873 that has cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects on different human tumor cells at tenth micromolar concentration, without being toxic for normal cells. We then tested in vivo the effect of treatment with K873's daily injections in xenografted immunodeficient mice with human cancer cells. K873 showed an antiproliferative effect on tumor growth similar to AA but at doses 100 to 200 times lower.Finally we studied the mechanism of action of K873. As AA, it decreases the expression of two genes families involved in cell cycle progression, i.e. initiation factor of translation and tRNA synthetases. Our results also showed that the specific intracellular transporter of AA (SVCT2) is not used for K873 entry in cells, thus bypassing saturation. Finally, as AA, K873 reduced cAMP intracellular level but without antioxidant activity. Our findings suggest that AA derivatives could be a promising new class of anti-cancer drugs.
98

Total Synthesis of Decytospolides A and B and Progress Towards the Total Synthesis of Carambolaflavone A

Hannah M Simpson (9755462) 14 December 2020 (has links)
Decytospolides A and B are natural products isolated from Cytospora sp. No ZW02 that show mild anticancer properties. The interest in synthesizing these compound lies not in their activities, but rather the simplicity of the structure which could easily be modified to provide more potent derivatives. Previous syntheses of these compounds relied on transition metals to install the tetrahydropyran core or extensive use of protecting groups. Our first generation synthesis made use of the Achmatowicz rearrangement to synthesize the tetrahydropyran moiety. Based on this, a concise, protecting group free synthesis has been accomplished utilizing the Achmatowicz rearrangement of an optically active furanyl alcohol followed by diastereoselective Kishi reduction of the resulting dihydropyranone hemiacetal. <br><br>Carambolaflavone A is a natural product isolated from A. carambola with antidiabetic properties. Notably, these compound promote both insulin secretion and glucose uptake by muscle cells in hyperglycemic rats. A previous synthesis has been reported by Wang and coworkers, however this synthesis does not offer much potential for the formation of derivatives and relies on a C-glycosylation that requires heating for regio- and diastereoselectivity. Progress towards a concise synthesis has been made featuring a Lewis acid promoted highly diastereoselective substrate controlled C-glycosylation that does not require heating and a one pot oxidation of chroman to chromone utilizing DDQ. Further research is underway to complete the synthesis of this molecule by an oxidative addition to the chromone and subsequent removal of protecting groups.
99

SYNTHESIS OF ACYL-THIOESTER ANALOGS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN KINETIC/STRUCTURE-FUNCTION STUDIES WITH C-C BOND REMODELING ENZYMES

Trevor J. Boram (12475518) 28 April 2022 (has links)
<p>  </p> <p>Biosynthesis of fatty acids and specialized metabolites, such as polyketides, is dependent on the C-C bond forming enzymatic activity of carboxylases and <u>k</u>eto<u>s</u>ynthases (KS). Carboxylases and KS perform complex carbon-carbon bond forming reactions via a ping-pong mechanism; the catalytic interactions of which are still unclear. The KS reaction involves the Claisen condensation of an acylated enzyme with a malonyl-thioester, driven forward by the energy of the malonyl-thioester decarboxylation. Similarly, the carboxylase proceeds via a carboxyl-biotin-enzyme intermediate, and a subsequent C-C bond forming reaction. Engineering the substrate specificity of these enzyme involved in producing polyketides is sought after for the purpose of producing novel, derivative polyketides. These derivative polyketides may have serve as effective new antibiotics, of which discovery has waned. Unfortunately, incomplete understanding of protein-protein interactions, conformational changes, and substrate orientation in catalysis leads to not well informed engineering attempts. A challenge in deducing the catalytic details of enzymes acting on malonyl-thioesters in general is the hyper-reactivity of their β-ketoacid and thioester substrates, which are prone to hydrolysis and decarboxylation. Many structures of malonyl-CoA bound enzymes feature hydrolysis of the thioester, preventing determination of enzyme:substrate interactions in structure-function studies. To work around this problem of innate reactivity, groups have synthesized a variety of acyl-thioester analogs for probing the details of enzyme catalysis with mixed success. The success of these enzyme:analog mechanistic studies appears to hinge upon the similarity of the analog to the natural substrate. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of near-natural, acyl-thioester analogs, featuring single atom substitutions. Using a novel UV-vis assay, we have determined <em>K</em>i values of our analogs with paradigmatic KSs <em>E. coli</em> FabH. These <em>K</em>i values are marginally higher than the substrate <em>K</em>m values, suggesting the KSs bind the analogs as they would natural substrates. Using this information, we have conducted preliminary X-ray crystallography experiments to determine the carboxylase:analog and KS:analog catalytic interactions, which will allow for new insight into debated C-C bond forming catalytic details. The information presented in this thesis and additional studies on protein-protein interactions can be leveraged into informed engineering studies of PKS enzymes.</p>
100

<strong>Synthesis, Recycling, and Processing of Topochemical Polymer Single Crystals</strong>

Zitang Wei (16325274) 15 June 2023 (has links)
<p>  </p> <p>Plastics play crucial rules in almost every aspect of life. Unique properties of plastics like chemical and light resistant, strong, moldable, and low cost make plastic materials useful in many aspects of our global society. However, largely relying on feedstock resources like fossil fuels, plastics production is not sustainable. Thus, plastic recycling could be an efficient alternative to save feedstock resources as well as to reduce production cost.</p> <p>Recently, a series of polymer materials synthesized via topochemical polymerization are considered as strong candidates for next generation recyclable plastics. It is well-known that topochemical polymerization has high efficiency and environment-friendly features, such as solvent-free and catalyst-free reaction conditions, high reaction yield without side reactions, and atom economy. Yet, there exist few studies on depolymerizing and recycling those polymers. A unique topochemically polymerizable polyindenedione derivative [2,2'-Bi-1H-indene]-1,1'-dione-3,3'-diyl dialkylcarboxylate (polyBIT) with rapid and quantitative depolymerization was discovered via breakage of elongated carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds with bond length of 1.57∼1.63 Å. The elongated C-C bonds have been proven theoretically and experimentally to have significantly lower bond dissociation energies than normal C-C bonds, and it is the major driving force to depolymerize polyBIT polymer single crystals. </p> <p>Different from most traditional polymers that can be dissolved or melt processed, topochemical polymer single crystals are not soluble in most common solvents due to their highly crystalline and ordered nature. This unique feature inhibited topochemical polymer crystals from practical applications. To convert needle-like polyBIT crystals into useful forms, I developed an ultrasonication method to break large polymer crystals into small fibers that can be uniformly suspended in organic solvents. Followed by vacuum filtration and heat press, polyBIT crystals can be processed into robust and freestanding polymer thin films. The processed thin films presented reasonable mechanical properties with Young’s modulus of over 600MPa and are stable under harsh conditions.</p> <p>Topochemical polymerization reactions require specific monomer packings before applying external stimuli, and a small change in monomer structure may completely alter the reactivity. Therefore, functionalizing monomer structures for topochemical reactions is quite challenging. In the polyBIT system, we attempted to functionalize BIT monomer with several linear and branched side chains. After preparing monomer crystals, only needle-like 1D monomers can be photopolymerized, while plate-like 2D monomer crystals became photostable. Introducing heteroatoms (such as oxygen, sulfur, bromine, chlorine) can induce different non-bonding interactions and interactions, which combined can push monomers away from one another to make them unreactive. Introducing branched side chains will also change the distances between two BIT monomers and leads to unreactive crystals when the branched side chain is too bulky (such as when tertbutyl group is on the end of side chain). Functionalizing side chains for polyBIT crystals can further tune the mechanical properties of the crystals: swapping end methyl group with a simple bromine atom can induce multiple intermolecular and interchain interaction including weak hydrogen bonding and C−H···Br interactions. These interactions bind all the polymer chains together to provide a strong 1D polymer fiber with elastic modulus over 10.6 GPa. These results suggest that the crystalline polymers synthesized from simple photochemistry and without expensive catalysts are promising for practical applications with complete materials circularity and wide range of structural and mechanical turnabilities.</p>

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