One-pot synthesis of mixed (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkenes precursors of the novel beta-organylthio vinyllithium intermediates

One-pot hydrochalcogenation of 1-phenylthioacetylenes using organylselenolate and organyltellurolate anions generated by the insertions of selenium and tellurium in n-organyl lithium produced (Z)-1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkenes. The chemical reactivity of these mixed 1,2-bis(organylchalcogene)-1-alkenes was studied by Te/Li and Se/Li stereoretentive exchanges carried out with n-butyl lithium, furnishing the new intermediate species (Z)-beta-organylthio vinyllithium anions, which were trapped with aldehydes, to give the (Z)-3-hydroxy vinyl thioethers with total control of the regio- and stereochemistry. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetic field effects on the conductivity of organic bipolar and unipolar devices at room temperature

Magnetic field effects on the conductivity of different types of organic devices: undoped and dye doped aluminium (III) 8-hydroxyquinoline (Alq(3))-based organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electron-only Alq(3)-based diodes, and a hole-only N,N`-diphenyl-N,N`-bis(1-naphthyl)1,1`-biphenyl-4,4`-diamine (alpha-NPD)-based diode were studied at room temperature. Only negative magnetoresistance (MR) was observed for the Alq(3)-based devices. The addition of a rubrene dye in Alq(3)-based OLEDs quenches the MR by a factor of 5. The alpha-NPD hole-only device showed only positive MR. Our results are discussed with respect to the actual models for MR in organic semiconductors. Our results are in good agreement with the bipolaron model. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Randomized Evaluation of Two Drug-Eluting Stents With Identical Metallic Platform and Biodegradable Polymer But Different Agents (Paclitaxel or Sirolimus) Compared Against Bare Stents: 1-Year Results of the PAINT Trial

Objectives: We tested two novel drug-eluting stents (DES), covered with a biodegradable-polymer carrier and releasing paclitaxel or sirolimus, which were compared against a bare metal stent (primary objective). The DES differed by the drug, but were identical otherwise, allowing to compare the anti-restenosis effects of sirolimus versus paclitaxel (secondary objective). Background: The efficacy of novel DES with biodegradable polymers should be tested in the context of randomized trials, even when using drugs known to be effective, such as sirolimus and paclitaxel. Methods: Overall, 274 patients with de novo coronary lesions in native vessels scheduled for stent implantation were randomly assigned (2:21 ratio) for the paclitaxel (n = 111), sirolimus (n = 106), or bare metal stent (n = 57) groups. Angiographic follow-up was obtained at 9 months and major cardiac adverse events up to 12 months. Results: Both paclitaxel and sirolimus stents reduced the 9-month in-stent late loss (0.54-0.44 mm, 0.32-0.43 mm, vs. 0.90-0.45 mm respectively), and 1-year risk of target vessel revascularization and combined major adverse cardiac events (P < 0.05 for both, in all comparisons), compared with controls. Sirolimus stents had lower late loss than paclitaxel stents (P < 0.01), but similar 1-year clinical outcomes. There were no differences in the risk of death, infarction, or stent thrombosis among the study groups. Conclusion: Both novel DES were effective in reducing neointimal hyperplasia and 1-year re-intervention, compared to bare metal stents. Our findings also suggest that sirolimus is more effective than paclitaxel in reducing angiographic neointima, although this effect was not associated with better clinical outcomes. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Histological analysis of cobalt-chromium stents with and without Camouflage (R) polymer coating: experimental porcine carotid artery model

This study evaluated the arterial response to cobalt-chromium stents with and without polymer coating (Camouflage (R), Hemoteq AG, Wuerselen, Germany) implanted in pigs. Cobalt-chromium balloon-expandable stents (4 x 16 mm) were implanted in the common carotid arteries of nine pigs. Histological analysis of endothelialization, inflammation and injury was performed one month later. All stents were successfully deployed, and all but one animal survived the 30 study days. All arteries were patent. Endothelialization was nearly complete in most sections of all carotid stents in both groups. There were mild inflammatory infiltrate and mild-to-moderate injury, which were associated with the stent shafts and not significantly different between groups. Our findings suggest that, in porcine carotid arteries, the histological response to balloon-expandable cobalt-chromium stents coated with polymer (Camouflage (R), Hemoteq AG) is similar to the response to non-coated cobalt-chromium stents.

Transient disruption of liver gap junctional intercellular communication and induction of apoptosis after administration of 1,4-bis[2-(3,5 dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene in mice

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and connexin expression (Cx26 and Cx32) in mouse liver were studied after administration of 4-bis[2-(3,5 dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP), a phenobarbital-like enzyme inducer. Female C57BI/6 mice were administered TCPOBOP (5.8 mg/kg BW) and euthanized 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours later. Liver samples were snap frozen, or fixed in formalin, or submitted to GJIC analysis. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemistry and the Western blotting for Cx26 and Cx32 were performed. After 48 and 72 h of drug administration the liver-to-body weight ratio was increased 70% and 117% (p < 0.0001), respectively. There were temporal-dependent alterations in liver histopathology and a significant increase in cell proliferation was noted after 48h and sustained after 72h, though to a lesser extent (p < 0.0001). In addition. TCPOBOP administration induced apoptosis, which appeared to be time-dependent showing statistical significance only after 72h (p < 0.0001). Interestingly, a transient disruption by nearly 50% of GJIC capacity was detected after 48 h of drug ingestion, which recovered after 72 h (p = 0.003). These GJIC changes were due to altered levels of Cx26 and Cx32 in the livers of TCPOBOP-treated mice. We concluded that a single administration of TCPOBOP transiently disrupted the levels of GJIC due to decreased expression of connexins and increased apoptotic cell death in mouse liver. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Phase behavior of the orange essential oil/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate/water system

The ternary phase diagram for the orange essential oil (OEO)/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)/water system was constructed at 25 degrees C. It indicates a large single phase region, comprising an isotropic water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion (ME) phase (L(2)), a liquid crystal (LC) (lamellar or hexagonal) and a large unstable emulsion phase that separates in two phases of normal and reverse micelles (L(1) and L(2)). In this communication the properties of the ME are investigated by viscosity, electric conductivity and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) indicating that the isotropic ME phase exhibits different behaviors depending on composition. At low water content low viscous ""dry"" surfactant structures are formed, whereas at higher water content higher viscous water droplets are formed. The experimental data allow the determination of the transition from ""dry"" to the water droplet structures within the L(2) phase. SAXS analyses have also been performed for selected LC samples. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural Characterization of Photopolymerizable Binary Liposomes Containing Diacetylenic and Saturated Phospholipids

The use of liposomes to encapsulate materials has received widespread attention for drug delivery, transfection, diagnostic reagent, and as immunoadjuvants. Phospholipid polymers form a new class of biomaterials with many potential applications in medicine and research. Of interest are polymeric phospholipids containing a diacetylene moiety along their acyl chain since these kinds of lipids can be polymerized by Ultra-Violet (UV) irradiation to form chains of covalently linked lipids in the bilayer. In particular the diacetylenic phosphatidylcholine 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DC8,9PC) can form intermolecular cross-linking through the diacetylenic group to produce a conjugated polymer within the hydrocarbon region of the bilayer. As knowledge of liposome structures is certainly fundamental for system design improvement for new and better applications, this work focuses on the structural properties of polymerized DC8,9PC:1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phusphocholine (DMPC) liposomes. Liposomes containing mixtures of DC8,9PC and DMPC, at different molar ratios, and exposed to different polymerization cycles, were studied through the analysis of the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of a spin label incorporated into the bilayer, and the calorimetric data obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies. Upon irradiation, if all lipids had been polymerized, no gel-fluid transition would be expected. However, even samples that went through 20 cycles of UV irradiation presented a DSC band, showing that around 80% of the DC8,9PC molecules were not polymerized. Both DSC and ESR indicated that the two different lipids scarcely mix at low temperatures, however few molecules of DMPC are present in DC8,9PC rich domains and vice versa. UV irradiation was found to affect the gel fluid transition of both DMPC and DC8,9PC rich regions, indicating the presence of polymeric units of DC8,9PC in both areas, A model explaining lipids rearrangement is proposed for this partially polymerized system.

Application of abrupt cut-off models in the analysis of the capacitance spectra of conjugated polymer devices

In this paper, a detailed study of the capacitance spectra obtained from Au/doped-polyaniline/Al structures in the frequency domain (0.05 Hz-10 MHz), and at different temperatures (150-340 K) is carried out. The capacitance spectra behavior in semiconductors can be appropriately described by using abrupt cut-off models, since they assume that the electronic gap states that can follow the ac modulation have response times varying rapidly with a certain abscissa, which is dependent on both temperature and frequency. Two models based on the abrupt cut-off concept, formerly developed to describe inorganic semiconductor devices, have been used to analyze the capacitance spectra of devices based on doped polyaniline (PANI), which is a well-known polymeric semiconductor with innumerous potential technological applications. The application of these models allowed the determination of significant parameters, such as Debye length (approximate to 20 nm), position of bulk Fermi level (approximate to 320 meV) and associated density of states (approximate to 2x10(18) eV(-1) cm(-3)), width of the space charge region (approximate to 70 nm), built-in potential (approximate to 780 meV), and the gap states` distribution.

Ultrafast dynamics of bis (n-butylimido) perylene thin films excited by two-photon absorption

We report a pump-probe study of the two-photon induced reflectivity changes in bis (n-butylimido) perylene thin films. To enhance the two-photon excitation we deposited bis (n-butylimido) perylene films on top of gold nanoislands. The observed transient response in the reflectivity spectrum of bis (n-butylimido) perylene is due to a depletion of the molecule`s ground state and excited state absorption.

3D Cell-Migration Studies using Two-Photon Engineered Polymer Scaffolds

We use two-photon polymerization to fabricate 3D scaffolds with precise control over pore size and shape for studying cell migration in 3D. These scaffolds allow movement of cells in all directions. The fabrication, imaging, and quantitative analysis method developed here can be used to do systematic cell studies in 3D.

Magnetic resonance and conductivity study of gelatin-based proton conductor polymer electrolytes

This work report results from proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), continuous-wave (CW-EPR) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (P-EPR) and complex impedance spectroscopy of gelatin-based polymer gel electrolytes containing acetic acid. cross-linked with formaldehyde and plasticized with glycerol. Ionic conductivity of 2 x 10(-5) S/cm was obtained at room temperature for samples prepared with 33 wt% of acetic acid. Proton ((1)H) line shapes and spin-lattice relaxation times were measured as a function of temperature. The NMR results show that the proton mobility is dependent on acetic acid content in the plasticized polymer gel electrolytes. The CW-EPR spectra, which were carried out in samples doped with copper perchlorate, indicate the presence of the paramagnetic Cu(2+) ions in axially distorted sites. The P-EPR technique, known as electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM), was employed to show the involvement of both, hydrogen and nitrogen atoms, in the copper complexation of the gel electrolyte. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Heterobimetallic compounds [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)X] (X = Cl, Br, I and N(3)): synthesis, electrochemical analysis, and the crystal structure of [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)I] [dppf=1,1`-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]

A series of new ruthenium-iron based derivatives [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)Cl] (1), [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)Br] (2), [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)I] (3) and [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(dppf)N(3)] (4) were obtained by reactions of [Ru(eta(5)-Cp)(PPh(3))(2)Cl] with 1,1`-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene (dppf) and characterized by IR, NMR ((1)H, (13)C and (31)P), (57)Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Additionally, the compound (3) was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, and the results were as follows: orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 18.2458(10), b = 20.9192(11), c = 34.4138(19) a""<<, alpha = beta = gamma = 90A degrees, V = 13135.3(12) a""<<(3) and Z = 16.

Spectroscopic and structural studies of bis[isopropoxy(thiocarbonyl)]sulfide, [(CH(3))(2)CHOC(S)](2)S

Structural and conformational properties of the molecule bis[isopropoxy(thiocarbonyl)]sulfide, [(CH(3))(2)CHOC(S)](2)S, have been studied by vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman) and quantum chemical calculations (HF and B3LYP with 6-31+G* basis sets). The crystal and molecular structure of the title compound was determined by X-ray diffraction methods. It crystallizes in the monoclinic C2/c space group with a = 8.4007(4), b = 13.5936(5), c = 10.3648(5) angstrom, beta = 106.024(4)degrees and Z = 4 molecules per unit cell. The molecules are sited on a crystallographic twofold axis passing through the sulphide atom and arranged in layers perpendicular to the b-axis. The solid state IR and Raman spectra of the compound give no sign of any other rotamer. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elastomeric Composites Based on Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer Rubber and Conducting Polymer-Modified Carbon Black

Thermally stable elastomeric composites based on ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) and conducting polymer-modified carbon black (CPMCB) additives were produced by casting and crosslinked by compression molding. CPMCB represent a novel thermally stable conductive compound made via ""in situ"" deposition of intrinsically conducting polymers (ICP) such as polyaniline or polypyrrole on carbon black particles. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the composites are thermally stable with no appreciable degradation at ca. 300 degrees C. Incorporating CPMCB has been found to be advantageous to the processing of composites, as the presence of ICP lead to a better distribution of the filler within the rubber matrix, as confirmed by morphological analysis. These materials have a percolation threshold range of 5-10 phr depending on the formulation and electrical dc conductivity values in the range of 1 x 10(-3) to 1 x 10(-2) S cm(-1) above the percolation threshold. A less pronounced reinforcing effect was observed in composites produced with ICP-modified additives in relation to those produced only with carbon black. The results obtained in this study show the feasibility of this method for producing stable, electrically conducting composites with elastomeric characteristics. POLYM. COMPOS., 30:897-906, 2009. (C) 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers

Four novel mononuclear and polynuclear Cu(I) thiosaccharinates with triphenylphosphane and bis(diphenylposphino)methane. Synthesis and structural study of Cu(4)(tsac)(4)(PPh(3))(3), Cu(tsac)(PPh(3))(2), Cu(4)(tsac)(4)(dppm)(2), and Cu(2)(tsac)(2)(dppm)(2)

Four new ternary complexes of copper(I) with thiosaccharin and phosphanes were prepared. The reaction of [Cu(4)(tsac)(4)(CH(3)CN)(2)] (1) (tsac: thiosaccharinate anion) with PPh(3) in molar ratios Cu(I)/PPh(3) 1:075 and 1:2 gave the complexes [Cu(4)(tsac)(4)(PPh(3))(3)] center dot CH(3)CN (2) and Cu(tsac)(PPh(3))(2) (3), respectively. The reaction of 1 with Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2) (dppm) in molar ratios Cu(I)/dppm 2:1 and 1:1 gave the complexes [Cu(4) (tsac)(4)(dppm)(2)] center dot 2CH(2)Cl(2) (4) and [Cu(2)(tsac)(2)(dppm)(2)] center dot CH(2)Cl(2) (5), respectively. All the compounds have been characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic methods. Complex 2 presents a tetra-nuclear arrangement with three metal centers in distorted tetrahedral S(2)NP environments, the fourth one with the Cu(I) ion in a distorted trigonal S(2)N coordination sphere, and the tsac anions acting as six electron donor ligands in mu(3)-S(2)N coordination forms. Complex 3 shows mononuclear molecular units with copper(I) in a distorted trigonal planar coordination sphere, built with the exocyclic S atom of a mono-coordinated thiosaccharinate anion and two P-atoms of triphenylphosphane molecules. With dppm as secondary ligand the structures of the complexes depends strongly on the stoicheometry of the preparation reaction. Complex 4 has a centrosymmetric structure. Two triply bridged Cu(2)(tsac)(2)(dppm) units are joined together by the exocyclic S-atoms of two tsac anions acting effectively as bridging tridentate ligands. Complex 5 is conformed by asymmetric dinuclear moieties where the two dppm and one tsac ligands bridge two Cu(I) atoms and the second tsac anion binds one of the metal centers through its exocyclic S-atom. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.