Juan M. Giussi

Determination of thermodynamic parameters of tautomerization in gas phase by mass spectrometry and DFT calculations: Keto-enol versus nitrile-ketenimine equilibria.

The study of tautomerics equilibria is really important because the reactivity of each compound with tautomeric capacity can be determined from the proportion of each tautomer. In the present work the tautomeric equilibria in some γ,δ-unsaturated β-hydroxynitriles and γ,δ-unsaturated β-ketonitriles were studied. The first family of compounds presents two possible theoretical tautomers, nitrile and ketenimine, while the second one presents four possible theoretical tautomers, keto-nitrile, enol (E and Z)-nitrile and keto-ketenimine. The equilibrium in gas phase was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Tautomerization enthalpies were calculated by this methodology, and results were compared with those obtained by density functional theory (DFT) calculations, observing a good agreement between them. Nitrile tautomers were favored within the first family of compounds, while keto-nitrile tautomers were favored in the second family.

3-Hydroxy-4-methyl-4-pentenonitrile and 4-methyl-3-oxo-4-pentenonitrile: Study of the tautomerics equilibria in gas phase and in solution.

In the present work the tautomerics equilibria in 3-hydroxy-4-methyl-4-pentenonitrile and 4-methyl-3-oxo-4-pentenonitrile have been studied. The first compound presents two possible theoretical tautomers, nitrile and ketenimine. The second compound presents four possible theoretical tautomers ketonitrile, nitrile-enol (E and Z) and keto-ketenimine. The study of the equilibrium in gas phase was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and in solution by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry ((1)H NMR). In gas phase, the ketonitrile tautomer was favoured, a result which was supported by theoretical calculations by the use of AM1 semi-empiric calculation. The experimental tautomerization heat values were in good agreement with the theoretical ones. The (1)H NMR spectra gave the additional evidence for the coexistence of the tautomers ketonitrile and enolnitrile for 4-methyl-3-oxo-4-pentenonitrile. The nitrile-ketenimine equilibrium for both compounds could not be observed by (1)H NMR spectra because of the low sensibility of this method. The ketonitrile-enolnitrile tautomerization heat of 4-methyl-3-oxo-4-pentenonitrile has been calculated and compared with the corresponding one in gas phase to evaluate the solvent effect.

The evidence for the occurrence of tautomeric structures for selected aldehydes and thioaldehydes

Mass spectra of selected aldehydes and thioaldehydes have been analyzed and specific fragmentation assignments have been done to keto and enol tautomers, although many peaks can be assigned to both forms (i.e. mass spectra are superimposed on one another). The enolization rate for aldehydes is generally favored by the increase in the steric effect caused by α substitution to the carbonyl group. The analysis of the corresponding mass spectra has allowed to establishing an acceptable correlation between selected ion abundances ratios and approximate enolization equilibrium constants (carried out by means of DFT calculations). The influence of temperature on the enol/keto selected fragments abundance ratios (for different aldehydes and thioaldehydes and for different pair of ions of the same compound whenever possible) is studied in order to estimate the enthalpy difference for the tautomeric equilibria. The results indicate that the thioketo-thioenol equilibrium can be studied by mass spectrometry and the ionization in the ion source have negligible effect on the position of that equilibrium.

Tautomerizable β-ketonitrile copolymers for bone tissue engineering: Studies of biocompatibility and cytotoxicity

β-Ketonitrile tautomeric copolymers have demonstrated tunable hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity properties according to surrounding environment, and mechanical properties similar to those of human bone tissue. Both characteristic properties make them promising candidates as biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. Based on this knowledge we have designed two scaffolds based on β-ketonitrile tautomeric copolymers which differ in chemical composition and surface morphology. Two of them were nanostructured, using an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template, and the other two obtained by solvent casting methodology. They were used to evaluate the effect of the composition and their structural modifications on the biocompatibility, cytotoxicity and degradation properties. Our results showed that the nanostructured scaffolds exhibited higher degradation rate by macrophages than casted scaffolds (6 and 2.5% of degradation for nanostructured and casted scaffolds, respectively), a degradation rate compatible with bone regeneration times. We also demonstrated that the β-ketonitrile tautomeric based scaffolds supported osteoblastic cell proliferation and differentiation without cytotoxic effects, suggesting that these biomaterials could be useful in the bone tissue engineering field.

Spectrometric studies and theoretical calculations of some β-ketonitriles

The tautomerism of some beta-ketonitriles is investigated by the analysis of their mass spectra and theoretical calculations performed at the MP2/6-31G(d,p) level. The mass spectra of some beta-ketonitriles can provide valuable information regarding the keto-enol and nitrile-ketenimine equilibria taking place in the gas phase. The predictive value of this methodology is supported by the influence of the nature and size of substituents on tautomeric equilibria and the rather good correlation existing between the abundance ratios of selected fragments. Results show that the tautomeric equilibria of these bifunctional compounds can be evaluated by mass spectrometry.

Reversible modulation of the redox activity in conducting polymer nanofilms induced by hydrophobic collapse of a surface-grafted polyelectrolyte

We present the covalent modification of a Pani-like conducting polymer (polyaminobenzylamine, PABA) by grafting of a polyelectrolyte brush (poly [2-(methacryloyloxy)-ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride], PMETAC). As PABA has extra pendant amino moieties, the grafting procedure does not affect the backbone nitrogen atoms that are implicated in the electronic structure of the conducting polymers. Moreover, perchlorate anions interact very strongly with the quaternary ammonium pendant groups of PMETAC through ion pairing. Therefore, the grafting does not only keep the electroactivity of PABA in aqueous solutions but it adds the ion-actuation properties of the PMETAC brush to the modified electrode as demonstrated by contact angle measurements and electrochemical methods. In this way, the conjugation of the electron transfer properties of the conducting polymer with the anion responsiveness of the integrated brush renders perchlorate actuation of the electrochemical response. These results constitute a rational integration of nanometer-sized polymer building blocks that yields synergism of functionalities and illustrate the potentialities of nanoarchitectonics for pushing the limits of soft material science into the nanoworld.

Layer-by-Layer Assembled Microgels Can Combine Conflicting Properties: Switchable Stiffness and Wettability without Affecting Permeability

Responsive interfacial architectures of practical interest commonly require the combination of conflicting properties in terms of their demand upon material structure. Switchable stiffness, wettability, and permeability, key features for tissue engineering applications, are in fact known to be exclusively interdependent. Here, we present a nanoarchitectonic approach that decouples these divergent properties by the use of thermoresponsive microgels as building blocks for the construction of three-dimensional arrays of interconnected pores. Layer-by-layer assembled poly( N-isopropylacrylamide- co-methacrylic acid) microgel films were found to exhibit an increase in hydrophobicity, stiffness, and adhesion properties upon switching the temperature from below to above the lower critical solution temperature, whereas the permeability of redox probes through the film remained unchanged. Our findings indicate that the switch in hydrophilicity and nanomechanical properties undergone by the microgels does not compromise the porosity of the film, thus allowing the free diffusion of redox probes through the polymer-free volume of the submicrometer pores. This novel approach for decoupling conflicting properties provides a strategic route for creating tailorable scaffolds with unforeseen functionalities.

Metal–organic frameworks meet polymer brushes: enhanced crystalline film growth induced by macromolecular primers

We used poly-(3-sulfopropylmethacrylate) brushes as macromolecular 3D primers to promote heterogeneous nucleation and growth of archetypal ZIF-8 MOF thin films. The enhancement can be understood in terms of a high preconcentration of Zn2+ ions in the polymer brush; this leads to a rapid increase of nucleation sites in the primer.