Thermally stable organically modified layered silicates based on alkyl imidazolium salts.

A series of imidazolium salts having various substituents and functional groups were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. Organic modification of natural and synthetic layered silicates involving montmorillonite (MMT), laponite (lap), and synthetic mica (mica) was carried out by ion-exchange reaction. The obtained organo-clays were characterized by FTIR and powder X-ray diffraction techniques. Results indicate that these organically modified clays have much higher thermal stabilities compared to their corresponding imidazolium halides. It was also observed from TGA analysis that thermal stability does not depend on the functional group present at the 3-position of the imidazolium salts. These studies strongly supports premise that the removal of halide is necessary to improve the thermal stability of the organo-clay produced.

Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activities of novel methacrylate polymers containing norfloxacin.

A novel methacrylate monomer containing a quinolone moiety was synthesized and homopolymerized in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) by using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The new monomer was copolymerized with poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (MPEGMA) in DMF using the same initiator. The monomer, homopolymer, and copolymer were characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), FTIR, (13)C NMR, and (1)H NMR. The antibacterial activities of the monomer as well as polymers were investigated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, which are representative of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. All compounds showed excellent antibacterial activities against these two types of bacteria. The antibacterial activities were determined using the shaking flask method, where 25 mg/mL concentrations of each compound were tested against 10(5) CFU/mL bacteria solutions. The number of viable bacteria was calculated by using the spread plate method, where 100 microL of the incubated antibacterial agent in bacteria solutions were spread on agar plates and the number of viable bacteria was counted after 24 h of incubation period at 37 degrees C.

Methacrylate derivatives incorporating pyroglutamic acid.

Methacrylates containing pyroglutamic acid were synthesized in good yields. Methyl alpha-pyroglutamyl methylacrylate (PyMM) and methyl alpha-pyroglutamidoundecanoyl methylacrylate (PyUM) give very fast photopolymerization rates both in homopolymerizations and with widely used commercial monomers N-vinyl pyrrolidinone (NVP) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). Soluble or cross-linked homopolymers can be obtained depending upon polymerization temperature. Pyroglutamic methacrylates polymerize without added initiator in the melt. Solution cast, photocured, and thermally cured coatings gave good to excellent adhesion to poly(ethylene terephthalate) and glass surfaces.

Five- and six-membered ring opening of pyroglutamic diketopiperazine.

A variety of ring-opening reactions of pyroglutamic diketopiperazine at both the five-membered and six-membered rings is described. Mild, basic conditions facilitate nucleophilic attack by amines at the diketopiperazine carbonyls giving pyroglutamides in excellent yield. Reaction with nucleophiles under acidic conditions give bis-glutamate derivatives of 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP). These reactions provide simple, two-step sequences to pyroglutamides and symmetrical diketopiperazines from commercial pyroglutamic acid with control of product dictated by reaction conditions, catalyst, and nucleophile.