Novel nanostructured composite materials based on bacterial cellulose membranes (BC) and acrylate polymers were prepared by in situ atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). BC membranes were functionalized with initiating sites, by reaction with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BiBBr), followed by atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (BA), catalyzed by copper(I) bromide and N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA), using two distinct initiator amounts and monomer feeds. The living characteristic of the system was proven by the growth of PBA block from the BC-g-PMMA membrane. The BC nanofiber sleeving was clearly demonstrated by SEM imaging, and its extent can be tuned by controlling the amount of initiating sites and the monomer feed. The ensuing nanocomposites showed high hydrophobicity (contact angles with water up to 134°), good thermal stability (initial degradation temperature in the range 241-275 °C), and were more flexible that the unmodified BC membranes.

meso-Arylporphyrins participate, as dienophiles, in Diels-Alder reactions with o-benzoquinodimethane to yield novel chlorins, bacteriochlorins and naphtho[2,3-b]porphyrins.

N-(Porphyrin-2-ylmethyl)glycine was synthesized and used as precursor of azomethine ylide, which was trapped with several dipolarophiles. The reaction of that azomethine ylide with dimethyl fumarate afforded the expected adduct. However, with 1,4-benzo- and 1,4-naphthoquinones only dehydrogenated adducts were isolated. Also, the reaction of that ylide with meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin and tetraazaporphine allowed access to novel porphyrin-chlorin and porphyrin-tetraazachlorin dyads.

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