Surface functional polymers by post-polymerization modification using diarylcarbenes: introduction, release and regeneration of hydrogen peroxide and bactericidal activity

Non-covalent interactions involving remote substituents influence the topologies of supramolecular chains featuring hydroxyl-O–H⋯O(hydroxyl) hydrogen bonding in crystals of (HOCH2CH2)2NC(S)N(H)(C6H4Y-4) for Y = H, Me, Cl and NO2

Secondary non-covalent interactions prove crucial in determining the topology of supramolecular chains sustained by conventional O–H⋯O hydrogen bonding.

2-[Carbamo-thio-yl(2-hy-droxy-eth-yl)amino]-ethyl benzoate: crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and computational study

The title di-substituted thio-urea, C12H16N2O3S, has the hy-droxy-lethyl and ethyl benzoate substituents bound to the same amine-N atom, and is twisted, having a (+)syn-clinal conformation with the Namine-C-C-O(hydroxyl, carbon-yl) torsion angles of 49.39 (13) and 59.09 (12)°, respectively; the dihedral angle between the almost planar CN2S core and the pendent benzene ring is 69.26 (4)°. In the crystal, supra-molecular layers propagating in the ac plane are formed via a combination of hydroxyl-O-H⋯S(thione), amine-N-H⋯O(hydroxyl, carbon-yl) hydrogen-bonds. The layers stack along the b axis with inter-digitation of the benzene rings allowing the formation of π-π stacking [inter-centroid separation = 3.8722 (7) Å] and parallel C=O⋯π inter-actions. A computational chemistry study shows the conventional hydrogen bonding in the crystal leads to significant electrostatic stabilization but dispersion terms are also apparent, notably through the inter-actions involving the benzene residue.

Photochromic Materials by Postpolymerisation Surface Modification

Photochromic materials are available by a postpolymerization surface modification of diverse polymers in a multistep sequential process mediated, first, by carbene insertion chemistry, second, by diazonium coupling with a tethered precursor, and finally by coupling to a spiropyran. This three-step sequence is efficient, and surface loading densities of 10¹³ molecules cm^-2 are typically achievable, leading to materials with observable photochromic and wettability behavior, which operate over multiple cycles without significant photobleaching or loss of efficacy. Materials suitable for application in this process include both reactive, but also lower surface energy polymers. Although the process is particularly efficient for high surface area materials, surface modification onto lower surface area substrates, while being intrinsically less efficient, is nonetheless sufficiently effective that changes in macroscopic photochromic properties are readily observable.

Electrospun Gelatin Membrane Cross-Linked by a Bis(diarylcarbene) for Oil/Water Separation: A New Strategy To Prepare Porous Organic Polymers

Porous organic polymers (POPs) as absorbing materials have attracted increasing attention. Here, we report a new approach to prepare these polymers for selective oil absorption from oil/water mixtures. Perfluoroalkylbis(diaryldiazomethane) was synthesized and used to modify the surface of an electrospun gelatin membrane by a carbene insertion reaction, not only to immobilize the porous network morphology by cross-linking but also to introduce perfluoroalkyl groups for oil/water separation. The membrane was characterized to show its surface and bulk properties, as well as its performance for absorption capacity, selectivity, and renewability. This approach offers a new horizon in the preparation of POPs for oil/water separation.

Surface modification using crosslinking of diamine and a bis(diarylcarbene): synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity via binding hydrogen peroxide

Modification of polymer beads with a functionalized bis(arylcarbene) provides access to materials with biocidal properties.

New Routes to Functionalize Carbon Black for Polypropylene Nanocomposites

Methods for chemical surface functionalization for carbon black (CB) nanoparticles were studied to produce (CB)/polypropylene (PP) nanocomposites with superior electrical and thermal properties. Nanoparticle dispersion is known to directly control the extent to which nanocomposites maximize the unique attributes of their nanoscale fillers. As a result, tailored nanoparticle surface chemistry is a widely utilized method to enhance the interfacial interactions between nanoparticles and polymer matrices, assisting improved filler dispersion. In this work, a rapid chemical functionalization approach using a number of diarylcarbene derivatives, followed by the azo-coupling of substituted diazonium salts, for the covalent introduction of selected functional groups to the CB surface, is reported. Characterization of the modified CB by XPS, TGA, CHN, and ATR-IR collectively confirmed surface functionalization, estimating surface grafting densities of the order of 10(13) and 10(14) molecules/cm(2). Nanocomposites, synthesized by solvent mixing PP with pristine and modified CB, demonstrated macroscopic property changes as a result of the nanoparticle surface functionalization. Pronounced improvements were observed for PP nanocomposites prepared with a dodecyl-terminated diaryl functionalized CB, in which TEM analysis established improved nanofiller dispersion owing to the enhanced CB-PP interfacial interactions in the nanocomposite. Observed dielectric relaxation responses at 20 wt % loading and a reduced percolation threshold realized conductivities of 1.19 × 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 10 wt %, compared to 2.62 × 10(-15) S cm(-1) for pristine CB/PP nanocomposites at the same filler loading. In addition, thermal properties signify an increase in the number of nucleation sites by the raised degree of crystallinity as well as increased melting and crystallization temperatures.

Surface modification of polymers with bis(arylcarbene)s from bis(aryldiazomethane)s: preparation, dyeing and characterization

Modification of polymer beads by a series of bis(arylcarbene) provides materials with different surface chemical characteristics, and a subsequent dyeing process generates colored polymers with a variety of surface functional groups.

Barbituric acid-based magnetic N-halamine nanoparticles as recyclable antibacterial agents

Novel recyclable bactericidal materials, barbituric acid-based magnetic N-halamine nanoparticles (BAMNH NPs), were fabricated by coating of magnetic silica nanoparticles (MS NPs) with barbituric acid-based N-halamine by the aid of the radical polymerization. The sterilizing effect on the bacterial strain is investigated by incubating Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis). The as-prepared BAMNH NPs exhibit higher biocidal activity than the bulk powder barbituric acid-based N-halamine due to the high activated surface area. The structural effect of N-halamine on antimicrobial performance was fully clarified through the comparison between BAMNH NPs and hydantoin-based magnetic N-halamine nanoparticles (HMNH NPs). BAMNH NPs exhibited promising stability toward repeated washing and long-term storage. BAMNH NPs with different chlorine content were comparatively chosen to investigate the influence of chlorine content on the antimicrobial activity. An antibacterial recycle experiment revealed that no significant change occurred in the structure and antibacterial efficiency of BAMNH NPs after five recycle experiments. The combination of barbituric acid-based N-halamine with magnetic component results in an obvious synergistic effect and facilitates the repeated antibacterial applications, providing potential and ideal candidates for sterilization or even for the control of disease.

Photoinduced carbene generation from diazirine modified task specific phosphonium salts to prepare robust hydrophobic coatings

3-Aryl-3-(trifluormethyl)diazirine functionalized highly fluorinated phosphonium salts (HFPS) were synthesized, characterized, and utilized as photoinduced carbene precursors for covalent attachment of the HFPS onto cotton/paper to impart hydrophobicity to these surfaces. Irradiation of cotton and paper, as proof of concept substrates, treated with the diazirine-HFPS leads to robust hydrophobic cotton and paper surfaces with antiwetting properties, whereas the corresponding control samples absorb water readily. The contact angles of water were determined to be 139° and 137° for cotton and paper, respectively. In contrast, water placed on the untreated or the control samples (those treated with the diazirine-HFPS but not irradiated) is simply absorbed into the surface. Additionaly, the chemically grafted hydrophobic coating showed high durability toward wash cycles and sonication in organic solvents. Because of the mode of activation to covalently tether the hydrophobic coating, it is amenable to photopatterning, which was demonstrated macroscopically.