Abstract: A hydrogel tissue adhesive having increased degradation time is described. The hydrogel tissue adhesive is formed by reacting an oxidized polysaccharide with a water-dispersible, multi-arm amine in the presence of a polyol additive, which retards the degradation of the hydrogel. The hydrogel may be useful as a tissue adhesive or sealant for medical applications, including but not limited to, ophthalmic applications such as sealing wounds resulting from trauma such as corneal lacerations, or from surgical procedures such as vitrectomy procedures, cataract surgery, LASIK surgery, glaucoma surgery, and corneal transplants; neurosurgery applications, such as sealing the dura; as a plug to seal a fistula or the punctum; adhesion prevention to prevent undesired tissue to tissue adhesions resulting from trauma or surgery; and as a hemostat sealant.

Abstract: A method is provided for the thermal decarboxylation of a phenolic substrate in the presence of a non-amine basic catalyst to produce a vinyl monomer. The product of the decarboxylation reaction may additionally be acetylated in the presence of an acetylating agent in the same reaction vessel.

Abstract: It was found that glycidyloxystyrenes, including glycidyloxystyrene and substituted glycidyloxystyrene, can be synthesized from hydroxycinnamic acid or substituted hydroxycinnamic acids in a one-pot, two-step process. The substrate can be thermally decarboxylated and then without purification, reacted in the presence of a halomethyl-oxirane and a base. The resulting product can be polymerized or coppolymerized to a fully substituted product.

Abstract: It was found that glycidyloxystyrenes, including glycidyloxystyrene and substituted glycidyloxystyrene, can be synthesized from hydroxycinnamic acid or substituted hydroxycinnamic acids in a one-pot, two-step process. The substrate can be thermally decarboxylated and then without purification, reacted in the presence of a halomethyl-oxirane and a base. The resulting product can be polymerized or coppolymerized to a fully substituted product.

Abstract: A method for preparing p-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy)styrene monomers and oligomers is described. The method comprises a base-catalyzed reaction of a styrene ester, a suitable alcohol and an alkylene oxide in a single vessel reaction. In this method, the reactive p-hydroxystyrene is generated in situ via the base-catalyzed transesterification reaction between the styrene ester and the alcohol in the presence of the base catalyst. The p-hydroxystyrene formed reacts with the alkylene oxide to form the p-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy)styrene monomer or oligomer.

Abstract: Certain complexes containing ligands having a phosphino group, amino group or an imino group, and a second functional group such as amide, ester or ketone, when complexed to transition metals, catalyze the (co)polymerization of olefinic compounds such as ethylene, ?-olefins and/or acrylates. A newly recognized class of ligands for making copolymer containing polar monomers using late transition metal complexes is described.

Abstract: A method for preparing p-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy)styrene monomers and oligomers is described. The method comprises a base-catalyzed reaction of a styrene ester, a suitable alcohol and an alkylene oxide in a single vessel reaction. In this method, the reactive p-hydroxystyrene is generated in situ via the base-catalyzed transesterification reaction between the styrene ester and the alcohol in the presence of the base catalyst. The p-hydroxystyrene formed reacts with the alkylene oxide to form the p-(2-hydroxyalkyloxy)styrene monomer or oligomer.

Abstract: A method is provided for the thermal decarboxylation of a phenolic substrate in the presence of a non-amine basic catalyst to produce a vinyl monomer. The product of the decarboxylation reaction may additionally be acetylated in the presence of an acetylating agent in the same reaction vessel.

Abstract: Certain complexes containing ligands having a phosphino group, amino group or an imino group, and a second functional group such as amide, ester or ketone, when complexed to transition metals, catalyze the (co)polymerization of olefinic compounds such as ethylene, &agr;-olefins and/or acrylates. A newly recognized class of ligands for making copolymer containing polar monomers using late transition metal complexes is described.

Abstract: Certain complexes containing ligands having a phosphino group, amino group or an imino group, and a second functional group such as amide, ester or ketone, when complexed to transition metals, catalyze the (co)polymerization of olefinic compounds such as ethylene, &agr;-olefins and/or acrylates. A newly recognized class of ligands for making copolymer containing polar monomers using late transition metal complexes is described.

Abstract: Certain complexes containing ligands having a phosphino group, amino group or an imino group, and a second functional group such as amide, ester or ketone, when complexed to transition metals, catalyze the (co)polymerization of olefinic compounds such as ethylene, &agr;-olefins and/or acrylates. A newly recognized class of ligands for making copolymer containing polar monomers using late transition metal complexes is described.