An Unusual Stacking Transformation in Liquid‐Crystalline Columnar Assemblies of Clicked Molecular Propellers with Tunable Light Emissions

The columnar liquid‐crystalline (LC) and fluorescence properties of three‐dimensional molecular propellers based on tetraphenylethylene is reported. X‐ray scattering studies reveal an unusual transition from a rectangular (Col_rec) to a hexagonal columnar (Col_hex) phase. In contrast to second‐order intercolumnar transitions based on a common tilt mechanism, the transition is first order and involves an unprecedented zigzag stacking of aromatic propellers in the Col_rec phase. A sudden change in emission color from sky blue to green occurs rapidly and reversibly at this transition, which is due to the planarization of the propeller mesogen.     

Formation of interstellar vinyl alcohol via simple radical processes: Theoretical study

Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory were employed to verify whether the formation of vinyl alcohol (VA) in the interstellar medium can be explained by reactions of common and abundant interstellar species such as acetylene, radicals C₂, HC? C · , · OH, and H · . Several reaction sequences are possible. They include radical combinations, which proceed without activation barriers and are highly exothermic. The reactions of closed‐shell species acetylene and HC?C‐OH with hydrogen atoms, as well as H‐transfer and OH‐rotation processes, might require activation energy. Nevertheless, either the corresponding transition states lay below the reactant level or there are alternative routes that involve no transition states at all, such as the reaction sequences C₂ → HC?C · → HC?CH → trans‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA; C₂ → HC?C · → syn‐?C?CH‐OH → (trans or cis)‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA; and C₂ → · C?C‐OH → syn‐:C?CH‐OH → (trans or cis)‐syn‐HC( · )?CH‐OH → syn‐VA. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of stable osmafuran starting from HC≡CCH(OH)C≡CH and OsHCl(CO)(PPh3)3

This paper presents a new convenient route to prepare osmafuran starting from readily accessible HC≡CCH(OH)C≡CH and OsHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃. Treatment of a solution of OsHCl(CO)(PPh₃)₃ in dichloromethane with HC≡CCH(OH)C≡CH, followed by the addition of acetic acid, produced osmafuran [Os(CHC(PPh₃)CO(CH₂CH₃))Cl(CO)(PPh₃)₂]Cl (2). 2 has been isolated in good yield and fully characterized. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra show the characteristic downfield chemical shifts of the ring hydrogen and carbon atoms. NMR and X-ray diffraction data provide strong evidence for the aromatic nature of 2. Probably due to the effect of the phosphonium substituent, 2 exhibits remarkable thermal stability, air stability and lower reactivity.

     

Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Chiral Heteroaromatic Propellers with Small Optical Bandgaps

Chiral heteroaromatic propellers based on radially π‐extended hexapyrrolohexaazacoronenes were obtained in a concise synthesis from suitably functionalized donor–acceptor monopyrroles. To overcome steric hindrance, a new cyclodehydrogenation method was developed, and it uses bromine electrophiles as oxidative coupling agents instead of the commonly employed high‐potential oxidants. The new reaction offers high yields of propeller‐shaped targets, even for electron‐deficient precursors, and shows electrophile‐dependent stereoselectivity, with N‐bromosuccinimide and dibromine yielding, respectively D₆‐ and C₂‐symmetric products. The propeller azacoronenes are chiral and can be separated into configurationally stable enantiomers. In addition to providing steric bulk, peripheral functionalization considerably affects the electronic properties of the propellers, which exhibit reduced optical and electrochemical band gaps, and a more clearly defined electroreduction behavior.     

螺桨烷型分子BX[(CH_2)_n]_3和BX(CH_2)[CH(CH_2)_nCH](X=N,P)的结构和性质

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)研究了螺桨烷型分子BX[(CH2)n]3和BX(CH2)[CH(CH2)n CH](X=N,P;n=1-6)的结构、稳定性、化学键和电子光谱性质.计算结果表明这些分子都是稳定的.BX[(CH2)n]3(X=N,P;n=1-6)的最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)和最低空分子轨道(LUMO)之间的能隙均大于5.20 eV,其中BN[CH2]3和BP[CH2]3的能隙超过7.0 eV,与C5H6的能隙(7.27 eV)很接近,BX(CH2)[CH(CH2)n CH](X=N,P;n=1-6)的能隙在6.80 eV左右.所研究分子能量的二阶差分表明BN[(CH2)3]3、BP[(CH2)4]3及BX(CH2)[CH(CH2)2CH](X=N,P)是最稳定的.BX[(CH2)n]3的Wiberg键级表明除了BN[(CH2)n]3(n=2和6)中不存在B―N键,其它化合物中B和N均形成了化学键,BP[(CH2)n]3中除了BP[(CH2)2]3不存在B―P键,其它的均存在.电子密度的拓扑分析表明N―B键属于离子键,而P―B键具有共价键特征.BX[(CH2)n]3(X=N,P)的第一垂直激发能分别在191.1-284.8 nm和191.8-270.1 nm之间,BX(CH2)[CH(CH2)n CH](X=N,P)的第一垂直激发能分别在190.5-199.7 nm和209.0-221.3 nm之间.     

Structural,electrical and optical properties of Lin@C20 (n = 1–6) nanoclusters

The current research was undertaken to investigate the structural, electrical, and optical properties of C₂₀ fullerene decorated with different numbers of lithium (Li) atoms on its surface. The stability of the structure increased as the number of lithium atoms increased. Increasing the number of lithium atoms around C₂₀ from one to four slightly increased the E_g (energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital). Increasing the number to five or six narrowed the E_g. The electrical properties such as ionization potential (I), electron affinity (A), chemical potential (μ), global hardness (η), global softness (γ), global electrophilicity (ω), and electronegativity (χ) were also calculated. The polarizability (α) and first hyperpolarizability (β₀), which correspond to the linear optical and nonlinear optical properties, respectively, were also calculated. An intense increase in β₀ was recorded as the effect of five Li atoms adsorbed onto the C₂₀ surface. The results of this study can be used to design and fabricate nanomaterials with adjustable electro-optical properties.     

Rapid insight into C60 influence on biological functions of proteins

Experimental methods of investigations of nanoparticle (NP)–protein interactions are limited, because they require a high amount of samples and the NPs tend to interfere with spectral results. Therefore, molecular modeling is a commonly accepted tool in such kind of investigations. Examining the molecule toxicity on the molecular level, we usually want to know, mainly, the location of the ligand on the protein surface and what is an influence of such a contact on the biological functions of the protein. In the presented work, we demonstrate that multiple-docking of the ligand from a random start and with large grid volume, to let the ligand search the whole protein surface, allows to find the best binding sites and gives reliable results considering ligand–protein interactions. In the present work, we have constructed six models of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids proteins: α1-antitripsin, albumin, ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and transferrin with fullerene, C₆₀ utilizing molecular docking methods. The most probable results were examined with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) to see, if the simple docking method is able to predict the fullerene binding affinity. Albumin and lysozyme were already widely investigated and literature data is available for their complexes with fullerene C₆₀ and/or its derivatives. Thus, we used these two models as a reference set to validate the used molecular modeling methods. With our best knowledge, interactions of the remaining four proteins with NPs have never been investigated in detail before. Our results indicate that fullerene C₆₀ readily interacts with all studied proteins and may have a large impact on their biological functions.     

Catalytic decomposition of azomethane and reactions of adsorbed methyl radicals on the molybdenum surface

The methods of temperature-programmed reaction/desorption (TPR/TPD) are used to study azomethane (CH³N=NCH³) decomposition and the reactions of the products of its pyrolysis (CH ₃ ^* radicals and N₂) on the polycrystalline molybdenum surface. A TPR spectrum of adsorbed azomethane decomposition shows mainly N₂, H₂, and unreacted azomethane. Upon preliminary adsorption of azomethane pyrolysis products on a catalyst sample, a TPR spectrum shows N₂, H₂, and CH₄ in comparable amounts. The difference in the composition of desorption products found for these two types of experiments shows that, in the decomposition of adsorbed azomethane, surface methyl moieties are not formed. The rate constants were calculated for the dissociation of adsorbed CH₃, CH₂, and CH, recombination of hydrogen atoms with each other and with CH₃ and CH₂, and the recombinative desorption of nitrogen atoms. Deceased.     

X-ray crystal structure of racemic bis(ethyl fumarate) (acetonitrile)nickel(0)

The crystal and molecular structure of racemic bis(ethyl fumarate)(acetonitrile) nickel(0) was determined from X-ray diffractometer data. The structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier methods, and refined by least-squares techniques to R = 0.045 for 3034 independent reflections.Crystals are triclinic, space group P$\text{1}$, with Z = 2, in a unit cell of dimensions: a 9.219 (6), b 13.257 (3), c 10.521 (9) », α 92.57 (9)°, β 109.25 (10)°, γ 110.0 (9)°.The coordination around the nickel(0) atom (the four carbon atoms of the HCCH groups, and the N atom of the acetonitrile residue), may be described as planar, with a slightly distorted trigonal symmetry. The conformations of the two ehtyl fumarate residues agree, more or less closely, with the principle of staggered bonds. The torsion angles around the HCCH groups are significantly different from 180°, as observed in other similar complexes. The four asymmetric carbon atoms of a molecule have the same absolute configuration. SSSS and RRRR molecules are present in the unit cell.     

Some aspects of the symmetry and topology of possible carbon allotrope structures

Elemental carbon has recently been shown to form molecular polyhedral allotropes known as fullerenes in addition to the familiar graphite and diamond known since antiquity. Such fullerenes contain polyhedral carbon cages in which all vertices have degree 3 and all faces are either pentagons or hexagons. All known fullerenes are found to satisfy the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) in which all pentagonal faces are completely surrounded by hexagons so that no two pentagonal faces share an edge. The smallest fullerene structures satisfying the IPR are the known truncated icosahedral C₆₀ of I _h symmetry and ellipsoidal C₇₀ of D _5h symmetry. The multiple IPR isomers of families of larger fullerenes such as C₇₆, C₇₈, C₈₂ and C₈₄ can be classified into families related by the so-called pyracylene transformation based on the motion of two carbon atoms in a pyracylene unit containing two linked pentagons separated by two hexagons. Larger fullerenes with 3ν vertices can be generated from smaller fullerenes with ν vertices through a so‐called leapfrog transformation consisting of omnicapping followed by dualization. The energy levels of the bonding molecular orbitals of fullerenes having icosahedral symmetry and 60n ² carbon atoms can be approximated by spherical harmonics. If fullerenes are regarded as constructed from carbon networks of positive curvature, the corresponding carbon allotropes constructed from carbon networks of negative curvature are the polymeric schwarzites. The negative curvature in schwarzites is introduced through heptagons or octagons of carbon atoms and the schwarzites are constructed by placing such carbon networks on minimal surfaces with negative Gaussian curvature, particularly the so-called P and D surfaces with local cubic symmetry. The smallest unit cell of a viable schwarzite structure having only hexagons and heptagons contains 168 carbon atoms and is constructed by applying a leapfrog transformation to a genus 3 figure containing 24 heptagons and 56 vertices described by the German mathematician Klein in the 19th century analogous to the construction of the C₆₀ fullerene truncated icosahedron by applying a leapfrog transformation to the regular dodecahedron. Although this C₁₆₈ schwarzite unit cell has local O _h point group symmetry based on the cubic lattice of the D or P surface, its larger permutational symmetry group is the PSL(2,7) group of order 168 analogous to the icosahedral pure rotation group, I, of order 60 of the C₆₀ fullerene considered as the isomorphous PSL(2,5) group. The schwarzites, which are still unknown experimentally, are predicted to be unusually low density forms of elemental carbon because of the pores generated by the infinite periodicity in three dimensions of the underlying minimal surfaces. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Reducing Ga?H and Ga?C Bonds in Close Proximity to Oxidizing Peroxo Groups: Conflicting Properties in Single Molecules

Treatment of [Li(H₂Ga{CH(SiMe₃)₂}₂)] ? 2 OEt₂ ( 1? 2 OEt₂) with two equivalents of tert‐butyl hydrogen peroxide, H‐O‐O‐CMe₃, afforded the organogallium peroxide [({(Me₃Si)₂HC}₂Ga(OH)(OOCMe₃)Li)₂] ( 3 ), which possesses oxidizing peroxo groups in close proximity to reducing Ga? C bonds. The lithium atoms of the dimeric formula units are coordinated by both oxygen atoms of the peroxides and by two hydroxo groups. The cleavage of the Ga? C bond was not observed, even when an excess of H‐O‐O‐CMe₃ was applied. Instead, the adduct [{(Me₃Si)₂HC}₂Ga(OH)(OOCMe₃)₂Li₂(HOOCMe₃)] ( 4 ) was isolated, which has an intact H‐O‐O‐CMe₃ molecule terminally attached to lithium. A similar structural motif was found for the compound [(LiOOCMe₃)₂(HOOCMe₃)₂] ( 5 ). The trihydrido gallanate [Li(H₃Ga? {CH(SiMe₃)₂})] ? OEt₂ ( 2 ) yielded the unique peroxide [({(Me₃Si)₂HC}? Ga(H)(OOCMe₃)₂Li)₂] ( 6 ) under similar conditions that possesses Ga? C and even more reactive Ga? H bonds beside peroxo groups. It decomposed at room temperature by the insertion of oxygen atoms into the Ga? H bonds and the formation of [({(Me₃Si)₂HC}? Ga(OH)(OCMe₃)(OOCMe₃)Li)₂] ( 7 ), which was isolated in a low yield. Further decomposition gave the complete degradation of all peroxo groups with the formation of a relatively complicated Li₄Ga₄O₈ cage ( 8 ).     

Synthesis, Characterization and Crystal Structures of Some Linked Metal Carbonyl Clusters Derived from Diethynyl-Substituted Silane and Disilane Ligands

The use of diethynylsilane, diethynyldisilane and diethynyldisiloxane in the synthesis of some linked metal carbonyl clusters is demonstrated. New dimeric η²-diyne complexes of cobalt [{Co₂(CO)₆}₂(η²-diyne)], ruthenium [{(μ-H)Ru₃(CO)₉}₂(μ₃-η²,η²-diyne)] and osmium [{(μ-CO)Os₃(CO)₉}₂(μ₃-η²-diyne)] {diyne=HC≡CSi(CH₃)₂C≡CH, HC≡CSi(CH₃)₂–Si(CH₃)₂C≡CH, HC≡CSi(CH₃)₂–O–Si(CH₃)₂C≡CH or HC≡CSi(Ph)₂C≡CH} have been prepared in good yields from the reaction of [Co₂(CO)₈], [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] and [Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)₂] with half an equivalent of the appropriate diyne ligand, respectively. All the twelve compounds have been characterized by IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. The molecular structures of eight of them have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Structurally, each of the tetracobalt species displays two Co₂C₂ cores adopting the pseudo-tetrahedral geometry with the alkyne bond lying essentially perpendicular to the Co–Co vector. For the group 8 ruthenium and osmium analogues, the hexanuclear carbonyl clusters consist of two trinuclear metal cores with the μ₃-η²,η² bonding mode for the acetylene groups in the former case and μ₃-(η²-||) bonding mode in the latter one. Density functional theory was employed to study the electronic structures of these molecules in terms of the nature of the silyl or disilyl unit and its substituents.     

Theoretical investigation of the atmospheric chemistry of methyl difluoroacetate: reaction with Cl atoms and fate of alkoxy radical at 298 K

A theoretical study on the mechanism of the reactions of methyl difluoroacetate (MDFA) CF₂HC(O)OCH₃ with Cl atoms is presented. Two conformers relatively close in energy have been identified for MDFA. Geometry optimization and frequency calculations have been performed at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and energetic information is further refined by calculating the energy of the species using G2(MP2) theory. Transition states (TSs) are searched on the potential energy surface involved during the reaction channels, and each of the TSs is characterized by the presence of only one imaginary frequency. The existence of TSs on the corresponding potential energy surface is ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate calculation. Our calculations reveal that hydrogen abstraction from the –CH₃ group is thermodynamically and kinetically more facile than that from the –CF₂H group. Theoretically calculated rate constants at 298 K using the canonical transition state theory are found to be in good agreement with the experimentally measured ones. The atmospheric lifetime of CF₂HC(O)OCH₃ was estimated to be 16 years. The atmospheric fate and the main degradation process of alkoxy radical CF₂HC(O)OCH₂O are also discussed for the first time. Our calculation indicates that the fluorine atoms substitution has deactivating effect for the α-ester rearrangement.     

Linking Deltahedral Zintl Clusters with Conjugated Organic Building Blocks: Synthesis and Characterization of the Zintl Triad [R‐Ge9‐CHCH?CHCH‐Ge9‐R]4−

The accessibility of triads with deltahedral Zintl clusters in analogy to fullerene–linker–fullerene triads is another example for the close relationship between fullerenes and Zintl clusters. The compound {[K(2.2.2‐crypt)]₄[RGe₉‐CHCH CHCH‐Ge₉R]}(toluene)₂ (R=(2Z,4E)‐7‐amino‐5‐aza‐hepta‐2,4‐dien‐2‐yl), containing two deltahedral [Ge₉] clusters linked by a conjugated (1Z,3Z)‐buta‐1,3‐dien‐1,4‐diyl bridge, was synthesized through the reaction of 1,4‐bis(trimethylsilyl)butadiyne with K₄Ge₉ in ethylenediamine and crystallized after the addition of 2.2.2‐cryptand and toluene. The compound was characterized by single‐crystal structure analysis as well asNMR and IR spectroscopy.     

Electrochemical formation and properties of two-component films of transition metal complexes and C60 or C70

The electrochemically active polymers have been formed during electro-reduction carried out in solution containing fullerenes, C₆₀ or C₇₀, and transition metal complexes of Pd(II), Pt(II), Rh(III), and Ir(I). In these films, fullerene moieties are covalently bounded to transition metal atoms (Pd and Pt) or their complexes (Rh and Ir) to form a polymeric network. All films exhibit electrochemical activity at negative potentials due to the fullerene cages reduction process. For all studied metal complexes, yields of formation of films containing C₇₀ are higher than yields of electrodeposition of their C₆₀ analogs. C₇₀ /M films also exhibit higher porosity in comparison to C₆₀/M layers. The differences in film morphology and efficiency of polymer formation are responsible for differences in electrochemical responses of these films in acetonitrile containing supporting electrolyte only. C₇₀/M films shows more reversible voltammeric behavior in negative potential range. They also show higher potential range of electrochemical stability. Processes of film formation and electrochemical properties of polymers depend on the transition metal ions or atoms bonding fullerene cages into polymeric network. The highest efficiency of polymerization was observed for fullerene/Pd and fullerene/Rh films. In the case of fullerene/Pd films, the charge transfer processes related to the fullerene moieties reduction in negative potential range exhibit the best reversibility among all of the studied systems. Capacitance performances of C₆₀/Pd and C₇₀/Pd films deposited on the porous Au/quartz electrode were also compared. Capacitance properties of both films are significantly affected by the conditions of electropolymerization. Only a fraction of the film having a direct contact with solution contributes to pseudocapacitance. Capacitance properties of these films also depend on the size of cations of supporting electrolyte. The C₇₀/Pd film exhibits much better capacitance performance comparison to C₆₀/Pd polymer.     

From Osmium Hydrido Vinylidene to Osmacycles: The Key Role of Osmabutadiene Intermediates

Osmium hydrido vinylidene 1 shows diverse cyclization reactivity with activated terminal alkynes. Treatment of 1 with HC?CCOR′ (R′=OEt and Me) gave osmafurans 3 a and 3 b via osmium alkenyl/vinylidenes 2 a and 2 b . In addition, 1 reacted with HC?CCH(OH)C?CH to yield osmabenzene 4 , in which the alkynol acted as a C₅ fragment to cyclize with 1 . Mechanistic analysis indicates that these reactions and the previous formal [3+3] cycloadditions between 1 and HC?CCH(OH)R (R=Ph, Et, and vinyl) or HC?CCH(OEt)₂ all go through similar osmabutadiene intermediates. Subsequently, the intermediates either took a “coordination and cyclization” process or a “carbon–carbon coupling” path to cyclization, depending on the coordination ability of substituents on the terminal alkenyl carbon atom.     

Linking Deltahedral Zintl Clusters with Conjugated Organic Building Blocks: Synthesis and Characterization of the Zintl Triad [R‐Ge9‐CHCHCHCH‐Ge9‐R]4−

The accessibility of triads with deltahedral Zintl clusters in analogy to fullerene–linker–fullerene triads is another example for the close relationship between fullerenes and Zintl clusters. The compound {[K(2.2.2‐crypt)]₄[RGe₉‐CH?CH? CH?CH‐Ge₉R]}(toluene)₂ (R=(2Z,4E)‐7‐amino‐5‐aza‐hepta‐2,4‐dien‐2‐yl), containing two deltahedral [Ge₉] clusters linked by a conjugated (1Z,3Z)‐buta‐1,3‐dien‐1,4‐diyl bridge, was synthesized through the reaction of 1,4‐bis(trimethylsilyl)butadiyne with K₄Ge₉ in ethylenediamine and crystallized after the addition of 2.2.2‐cryptand and toluene. The compound was characterized by single‐crystal structure analysis as well asNMR and IR spectroscopy.     

Star-shaped polymers with a doubled fullerene (C60) branching center

Star-shaped regular homopolystyrenes with 22 arms and heteroarm polymers with 12 PS arms and 10 poly(2-vinypyridine) arms have been synthesized by consecutive coupling-functionalization-coupling reactions. The synthesis includes the following stages: the exhaustive grafting of fullerene C₆₀ by polystyryllithium chains (living hexaadducts); the coupling of hexaadducts with the use of dimethyldichlorosilane or 1,4-dibromobutane into twelve-arm macromolecules, where the branching center is composed of two covalently bonded fullerene C₆₀ molecules; functionalization of twelve-arm double-core PS stars during the action of excess dihalides (the replacement of lithium atoms with groups containing chlorine or bromine atoms); and the coupling of living chains of PS or poly(2-vinylpyridine) via reactions with halogen-containing groups at the branching center of double-core PS stars. Linear living polymers used as arms have been prepared by anionic polymerization. Exclusion chromatography has been used to control the individual stages of synthesis. The molecular characteristics of the PS precursor and of star-shaped polymers have been studied in terms of hydrodynamics and light scattering.     

Theoretical predictions of the nitrogen heterocyclic compounds with metal and noble gas (metal = Cu,Ag, Au)

Here, we report a new type of Ng-containing compounds formed between the Ng-M group and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, (CH₂)_nHNCuNg⁺ (n = 2, 3), (CH)₄NMNg, and (CH)₅NCuNg⁺ (M = Cu, Ag, Au; Ng = Ar, Kr, Xe). Quantum chemistry computations were carried out to optimize their geometric structures and calculate the dissociation energies, dissociation enthalpy, and dissociation free energy change. The stability of these Ng-bonding complexes was inspected by investigating the three dissociation processes of the these compounds into (a) Ng, M, and nitrogen heterocycle C_nN; (b) C_nN + MNg⁺; and (c) C_nNM + Ng, which are all endothermic and nonspontaneous, these dissociation processes are also turned out to be endergonic in nature at standard state. The natural bond orbital, atoms in molecules, and energy decomposition analysis based on the molecular wavefunction show that the M-Ng and M-N bonds have some covalent and electrostatic characters.