A blue to red light sensitive photoinitiating systems based on 3,5-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone derivatives for free radical polymerization

Self-assembly of a metal-organic cage-like structure bearing cofacial redox-active bis-(o-semiquinone) copper(II) units

Ditopic di-o-quinone with a resorcinol bridge exhibits the ability to self-assemble in a reaction with copper, giving a cage-like binuclear complex that, due to the cofacially placed metal ions, is capable of encapsulation of different solvent molecules as guest ligands. Notably, the geometry of the internal cavity of this complex adjusts depending on the coordinating properties of the encapsulated molecule (mono- or bidentate). A feature of this species is that the cage-forming units are copper(II) bis-semiquinonate moieties, capable of undergoing ligand-centered redox transformations. Electrochemical and EPR spectroscopy studies showed that there is a channel for intramolecular electronic exchange interactions between the redox centres of the molecule.

Pore Structure Tuning of Poly-EGDMA Biomedical Material by Varying the O-Quinone Photoinitiator

Porous polymer monoliths with thicknesses of 2 and 4 mm were obtained via polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) under the influence visible-light irradiation in the presence of a 70 wt% 1-butanol porogenic agent and o-quinone photoinitiators. The o-quinones used were: 3,5-di-tret-butyl-benzoquinone-1,2 (35Q), 3,6-di-tret-butyl-benzoquinone-1,2 (36Q), camphorquinone (CQ), and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ). Porous monoliths were also synthesized from the same mixture but using 2,2'-azo-bis(iso-butyronitrile) (AIBN) at 100 °C instead o-quinones. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy, all the resulting samples were conglomerates of spherical, polymeric particles with pores between them. Use of mercury porometry showed that the interconnected pore systems of all the polymers were open. The average pore size, D_mod, in such polymers strongly depended on both the nature of the initiator and the method of initiation of polymerization. For polymers obtained in the presence of AIBN, the D_mod value was as low as 0.8 μm. For polymers obtained via photoinitiation in the presence of 36Q, 35Q, CQ, and PQ, the D_mod values were significantly greater, i.e., 9.9, 6.4, 3.6, and 3.7 μm, respectively. The compressive strength and Young's modulus of the porous monoliths increased symbatically in the series PQ < CQ < 36Q < 35Q < AIBN with decreasing proportions of large pores (over 12 μm) in their polymer structures. The photopolymerization rate of the EGDMA and 1-butanol, 30:70 wt% mixture was maximal for PQ and minimal for 35Q. All polymers tested were non-cytotoxic. Based on the data from MTT testing, it can be noted that the polymers obtained via photoinitiation were characterized by their positive effect on the proliferative activity of human dermal fibroblasts. This makes them promising osteoplastic materials for clinical trials.

Complexes of Metal Halides with Unreduced o-(Imino)quinones

A series of complexes of metal halides with unreduced quinone-type ligands have been synthesized and characterized in detail. The 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (1) and 4,6-di-tert-butyl-N-aryl-substituted o-iminobenzoquinones (2-5) (aryl is 2,6-dimethylphenyl in 2, 2-methyl-6-ethylphenyl in 3, 2,6-diethylphenyl in 4, and 2,6-diisopropylphenyl in 5) were used to obtain the molecular complexes with metal 12 group halides as well as with indium(III) iodide. The molecular structures of five complexes, bearing an unreduced form of redox-active ligand, have been established by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The spectral data, electrochemical measurements, and DFT calculations indicate the significant transformations of the molecular orbitals of 1-5 upon complexation with Lewis acids. The reduction potentials of o-(imino)quinones in complexes with metal halides shift into the anodic region versus uncoordinated ones. The choice of metal halide allows varying the shift magnitude up to 1.7 V in 2·CdI₂. The change of the oxidizing ability of the 1-5 upon coordination with Lewis acids enables the oxidation of mercury and ferrocene, infeasible for free ligands.

Modern Porous Polymer Implants: Synthesis, Properties, and Application

Abstract

The needs of modern surgery triggered the intensive development of transplantology, medical materials science, and tissue engineering. These directions require the use of innovative materials, among which porous polymers occupy one of the leading positions. The use of natural and synthetic polymers makes it possible to adjust the structure and combination of properties of a material to its particular application. This review generalizes and systematizes the results of recent studies describing requirements imposed on the structure and properties of synthetic (or artificial) porous polymer materials and implants on their basis and the advantages and limitations of synthesis methods. The most extensively employed, promising initial materials are considered, and the possible areas of application of polymer implants based on these materials are highlighted.

Imine-Based Catechols and o-Benzoquinones: Synthesis, Structure, and Features of Redox Behavior

Novel sterically hindered catechols of the type 3-(RN=CH)-4,6-DBCatH₂ with iminoalkyl or iminoaryl groups in the third position of the aromatic ring have been synthesized and characterized in detail. The o-benzoquinones 3-(RN=CH)-4,6-DBBQ have been synthesized by the oxidation of the corresponding catechols. The oxidation of methylimino-substituted catechol with K₃[Fe(CN)₆] in alkaline medium leads to the formation of two products: o-quinone and diene-dione, the product of the water addition to the corresponding o-quinone. Some o-benzoquinones react with water or methanol to yield products of water or methanol addition. A prototropic tautomerism is characteristic of catecholaldimines: a quinomethide form is observed in the case of aliphatic amine derivatives, while aryl-substituted catecholaldimines can exist both in the catechol and quinomethide forms in the crystalline state. The formation of dimeric structures motifs is observed in crystals. The electrochemical oxidation of imino-based catechols proceeds via two one-electron processes; the second wave is quasi-reversible, which is unusual for catechols.