S. R. Shukla

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some novel bis-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and bis-4-thiazolidinone derivatives from terephthalic dihydrazide.

A novel series of 1,4-bis(6-(substituted phenyl)-[1,2,4]-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles (5a-b) and 4-bis(substituted phenyl)-4-thiazolidinone derivatives (7a-c) have been synthesized from terephthalic dihydrazide (1) through multistep reaction sequence. 1,4-Bis(5-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2yl) benzene derivatives (2a-f) and bis-substituted terephthalohydrazide (6a-e) were also synthesized from terephthalic dihydrazide by cyclization with various aromatic acids and aldehydes. Terephthalic dihydrazide (1) was obtained from poly(ethylene terephthalate) waste from reaction with hydrazine hydrate in good yield (86%). All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activities against various bacteria and fungi strains. Several of these compounds showed potential antibacterial activity.

Action of alkali on polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate polyesters

The two polyesters (polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate) were treated with aqueous as well as alcoholic solutions of sodium hydroxide at varying temperatures for different durations of time. The results were evaluated in terms of the loss in weight of the samples. The fabric samples of polyethylene terephthalate showed a greater degree of weight loss as compared to those of polybutylene terephthalate. The mechanism for the differences in the action of alkali on these two polyesters is explained.

Estimation and characterization of polyester oligomers

Oligomers were obtained from polyester samples by solvent extraction and dissolution methods. Dioxane, chloroform, and chlorobenzene were used for the extraction method, whereas dimethyl formamide and phenol : tetrachloroethane (1 : 1 mixture) were used for the dissolution method. The oligomers were separated and analyzed by a thin-layer chromatographic technique. It was observed that extraction with chloroform and dissolution with phenol : tetrachloroethane gave higher oligomer contents. Also, the values were higher for as-spun fibers. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis showed that in all the cases lower oligomers were obtained with a maximum of the cyclic trimer, whereas the efficiencies of solvents varied for removal of higher oligomers.