Influence of Decreasing Solvent Polarity (1,4‐Dioxane/Water Mixtures) on the Acid–Base and Copper(II)‐Binding Properties of Guanosine 5′‐Diphosphate

The acidity constants of twofold protonated guanosine 5′‐diphosphate, H₂(GDP)^?, and the stability constants of the [Cu(H;GDP)] and [Cu(GDP)]^? complexes were determined in H₂O as well as in 30 or 50% (v/v) 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O by potentiometric pH titrations (25°; I=0.1M , NaNO₃). The results showed that in H₂O one of the two protons of H₂(GDP)^? is located mainly at the N(7) site and the other one at the terminal β‐phosphate group. In contrast, for 50% 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O solutions, a micro acidity‐constant evaluation evidenced that ca. 75% of the H₂(GDP)^? species have both protons phosphate‐bound, because the basicity of pyridine‐type N sites decreases with decreasing solvent polarity whereas the one of phosphate groups increases. In the [Cu(H;GDP)] complex, the proton and the metal ion are in all three solvents overwhelmingly phosphate‐bound, and the release of this proton is inhibited by decreasing polarity of the solvent. Based on previously determined straight‐line plots of log K vs. pK (where R represents a non‐interacting residue in simple diphosphate monoesters ROP(O^?)(?O)? O? P(?O)(O^?)₂, R? DP^3?), which were now extended to mixed solvents (based on analogies), it is concluded that, in all three solvents, the [Cu(GDP)]^? complex is more stable than expected based on the basicity of the diphosphate residue. This increased stability is attributed to macrochelate formation of the phosphate‐coordinated Cu²⁺ with N(7) of the guanine residue. The formation degree of this macrochelate amounts in aqueous solution to ca. 75% (being thus higher than that of the Cu²⁺ complex of adenosine 5′‐diphosphate) and in 50% (v/v) 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O to ca. 60%, i.e., the formation degree of the macrochelate is only relatively little affected by the change in solvent, though it needs to be emphasized that the overall stability of the [Cu(GDP)]^? complex increases with decreasing solvent polarity. By including previously studied systems in the considerations, the biological implications are shortly discussed, and it is concluded that Nature has here a tool to alter the structure of complexes by shifting them on a protein surface from a polar to an apolar region and vice versa.     

Mononukleare und mehrfach verbrückte dinukleare Phthalocyaninate(1–/2–) des Yttriums durch Solvenz‐kontrollierte Kondensation; kleine Solvenz‐Cluster als Liganden

Mononuclear and Multiply Bridged Dinuclear Phthalocyaninates(1–/2–) of Yttrium by Solvent Controlled Condensation; Small Solvent Clusters as Ligands Green chlorophthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III), [Y(Cl)pc^2–] forms when yttrium chloride is heated with o‐phthalonitrile in 1‐chloronaphthalene. Black cis‐di(chloro)phthalocyaninato(1‐)yttrium(III), ^cis[Y(Cl)₂pc^–] is obtained as a stable intermediate by partial reduction. Both complexes are soluble in many O‐donor solvents and pyridine. The solubility in water is remarkable: [Y(Cl)pc^2–] dissolves with green, ^cis[Y(Cl)₂pc^–] with red‐violet color. Typical absorptions of the pc^2– ligand are observed at 14800 and 29700 cm^–1. A solvent dependent monomer‐dimer equilibrium is found for the pc^– radical. The monomer with absorptions at 12100 and 19900 cm^–1 is favored in non‐polar solvents, while in polar solvents the dimer with absorptions at 8700, 13200 and 18600 cm^–1 is preferred. cis‐Tri(dimethylformamide)chlorophthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III) etherate ( 1 ) crystallises from a solution of [Y(Cl)pc^2–] in MeOH/dmf, cis‐tetra(dimethylsulfoxide)phthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III) chloride etherate methanol disolvate ( 2 ) from thf/dmso, μ‐di(chloro)‐μ‐di〈di(pyridine)(μ‐water)〉di(phthalocyaninato(2–)‐ yttrium(III)) ( 5 ) from py, and cis‐(chloro)pyridine(triphenylphosphine oxide)phthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III) semi‐etherate ( 3 ) is obtained from a solution of [Y(Cl)pc^2–] and triphenylphosphine oxide in py. 1 condenses in MeOH yielding a (1 : 1)‐mixture ( 4 ) of μ‐di(chloro)di(〈trans‐(diwaterdimethanol)〉〈dimethanol〉phthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III)) ( 4 a ) and μ‐di(chloro)di(dimethylformamide〈dimethanol〉phthalocyaninato(2–)yttrium(III)) ( 4 b ); co‐ordinatively bound solvent clusters are in brakets. The structures of 1 – 5 have been established by X‐ray crystallography. Apart from 3 with hepta‐co‐ordinated yttrium, the metal ion prefers octa‐co‐ordination, and the bond arrangement around Y³⁺ is always a distorted quadratic antiprism. In the dinuclear complexes obtained by solvent controlled condensation both antiprisms share an edge by two μ‐Cl atoms in 4 , while in 5 the antiprisms are face‐shared by two trans positioned μ‐Cl atoms and μ‐O atoms, respectively. In 5 , the bent ^b〈{py}₂(μ‐H₂O)〉 cluster is stabilised by a combined interplanar bonding of pyridine by short N…H–O bonds (d(N…O) = 2.664(7) Å; 2.81(2) Å) and strong van‐der‐Waals interactions with the ecliptic pc^2– ligands. 4 a and 4 b contain the dimeric methanol cluster 〈(MeOH)₂〉, and 4 a in addition the cyclic heterotetrameric trans‐diwaterdimethanol cluster, trans^c〈(H₂O)₂(MeOH)₂〉. The neutral clusters co‐ordinatively bound to the Y atom are compared with structurally established cluster‐anions of type 〈(OMe)(MeOH)〉^–, linear ^l〈(OMe)(MeOH)₂〉^–, cyclic ^c〈(OH)₃(H₂O)₃〉^3–, ^b〈{H₂O}₂(μ‐O)〉^2–, and ^b{H₂O}₂(μ‐F)〉^–.     

Channel‐forming solvate crystals and isostructural solvent‐free powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone

Crystals of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone, (I), grown from a variety of solvents, are invariably trigonal (space group R); these are 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone acetone 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₆O, (Ia), and 6‐methyl‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone propan‐2‐ol 0.1667‐solvate, C₆H₇NO₂·0.1667C₃H₈O, (Ib), and the forms from methanol, (Ic), water, (Id), benzonitrile, (Ie), and benzyl alcohol, (If). They incorporate channels running the length of the c axis that contain extensively disordered solvent molecules. A solvent‐free sublimed powder of 5‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2‐pyridone microcrystals is essentially isostructural. Inversion‐related host molecules interact via pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds to form R₂²(8) dimers. Six of these dimers form large R₁₂⁶(42) puckered rings, in which the O atom of each N—H...O hydrogen bond is also the acceptor in an O—H...O hydrogen bond that involves the 5‐hydroxy group. The large R₁₂⁶(42) rings straddle the axes and form stacked columns viaπ–π interactions between inversion‐related molecules of (I) [mean interplanar spacing = 3.254 Å and ring centroid–centroid distance = 3.688 (2) Å]. The channels are lined by methyl groups, which all point inwards to the centre of the channels.     

2‐Ethyl‐1‐[5‐(4‐methylphenyl)pyrazol‐3‐yl]‐3‐(thiophene‐2‐carbonyl)isothiourea: molecular ribbons containing three types of hydrogen‐bonded ring

The title compound, C₁₈H₁₈N₄OS₂, was prepared by reaction of S,S‐diethyl 2‐thenoylimidodithiocarbonate with 5‐amino‐3‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐1H‐pyrazole using microwave irradiation under solvent‐free conditions. In the molecule, the thiophene unit is disordered over two sets of atomic sites, with occupancies of 0.814 (4) and 0.186 (4), and the bonded distances provide evidence for polarization in the acylthiourea fragment and for aromatic type delocalization in the pyrazole ring. An intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond is present, forming an S(6) motif, and molecules are linked by N—H...O and N—H...N hydrogen bonds to form a ribbon in which centrosymmetric R₂²(4) rings, built from N—H...O hydrogen bonds and flanked by inversion‐related pairs of S(6) rings, alternate with centrosymmetric R₂²(6) rings built from N—H...N hydrogen bonds.     

KAl(SO4)2·12H2O (Alum) Catalyzed One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of 2‐Alkyl and 2‐Aryl‐4(3H)‐quinazolinone under Microwave Irradiation and Solvent Free Conditions

Twenty 2,3‐disubstituted‐4(3H)‐quinazolinones were synthesed by one‐pot three‐component method with isatoic anhydride, orthoesters and amines as raw materials in the presence of KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O (Alum) under microwave irradiation and solvent‐free conditions. 6‐Bromo‐2‐propyl‐3‐p‐tolylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ( 4m ), 6‐bromo‐2‐methyl‐3‐phenethylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ( 4n ) and 6‐bromo‐2‐ethyl‐3‐phenethylquinazolin‐4(3H)‐one ( 4o ) were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and elemental analysis.     

Effects of mixed aqueous‐organic solvents on the rate of intramolecular carboxylic group‐catalyzed cleavage of N‐(4′‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamic acid

Kinetic study on the cleavage of N‐(4′‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamic acid (NMPPAH) in mixed H₂O‐CH₃CN and H₂O‐1,4‐dioxan solvents containing 0.05 M HCl reveals the formation of phthalic anhydride (PAn)/phthalic acid (PA) as the sole or major product. Pseudo first‐order rate constants (k₁) for the conversion of NMPPAH to PAn decrease nonlinearly from 60.4 × 10^?5 to 2.64 × 10^?5 s^?1 with the increase in the contents of 1,4‐dioxan from 10 to 80% v/v in mixed aqueous solvents. The rate of cleavage of NMPPAH in mixed H₂O‐CH₃CN solvents at ≥50% v/v CH₃CN follows an irreversible consecutive reaction path: NMPPAH PA. The values of k₁ are larger in H₂O‐CH₃CN than in H₂O‐1,4‐dioxan solvents. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 316–325, 2004     

Spectroscopic study of the penetration depth of grafted polystyrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐perfluoropropylvinylether) substrates. 1. Effect of grafting conditions

This study concerns the radiation grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐perfluoropropylvinylether) (PFA) substrates and the penetration depth of the graft. Grafting was obtained by the simultaneous irradiation method, and the spectroscopic analysis was made with the micro‐Raman technique. Effects of grafting conditions such as the type of solvent, dose rate, and irradiation dose on the grafting yield were investigated. Of the different solvents used, the most efficient in terms of increasing grafting yield were dichloromethane, benzene, and methanol, respectively. A mixture of methanol and dichloromethane used as a solvent for styrene achieved a higher degree of grafting and concentration of grafted polystyrene onto the surface of PFA substrates than solutions of the monomer in the separate solvents. The degree of grafting increased with increasing radiation dose up to 500 kGy, stabilizing above this dose. However, the grafting yield decreased with an increase in the dose rate. The increase in the overall grafting yield was accompanied by a proportional increase in the penetration depth of the grafts into the substrate. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3191–3199, 2002     

catena‐Poly[[[pentaaquathulium(III)]‐μ‐5‐sulfonatobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato] 4,4′‐bipyridyl 1.5‐solvate hemihydrate]

The crystal structure of the title compound, {[Tm(C₈H₃O₇S)(H₂O)₅]·1.5C₁₀H₈N₂·0.5H₂O}_n, is built up from two [Tm(SIP)(H₂O)₅] molecules (SIP³⁻ is 5‐sulfonatobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate), three 4,4′‐bipyridyl (bpy) molecules and one solvent water molecule. One of the bpy molecules and the solvent water molecule are located on an inversion centre and a twofold rotation axis, respectively. The Tm^III ion coordination is composed of four carboxylate O atoms from two trianionic SIP³⁻ ligands and five coordinated water molecules. The Tm³⁺ ions are linked by the SIP³⁻ ligands to form a one‐dimensional zigzag chain propagating along the c axis. The chains are linked by interchain O—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate a two‐dimensional layered structure. The bpy molecules are not involved in coordination but are linked by O—H...N hydrogen bonds to form two‐dimensional layers. The two‐dimensional layers are further bridged by the bpy molecules as pillars and the solvent water molecules through hydrogen bonds, giving a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure. π–π stacking interactions between the parallel aromatic rings, arranged in an offset fashion with a face‐to‐face distance of 3.566 (1) Å, are observed in the crystal packing.     

Stable Heterometallic CuII‐BaII‐2,5‐Thiophenedicarboxylate Framework with High Capacity for Light Hydrocarbons

The heterometallic Cu^II‐Ba^II coordination polymer, namely [CuBa(tdc)₂(H₂O)(DMF)]_n ( 1 ) (H₂tdc = 2,5‐thiophenedicarboxylic acid, DMF = N,N′‐dimethylformamide), was solvothermally synthesized by the reaction of H₂tdc, CuCl₂ · 2H₂O, and Ba(NO₃)₂. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that compound 1 features a 3D intricate framework with the 1D channels occupied by the coordinated solvent molecules. After removing the coordinated solvent molecules, the desolvated samples of 1a exhibit high capacity for light hydrocarbons.     

A complex containing both five‐ and six‐coordinate [bis(5‐bromosalicyli­dene)benzene‐1,2‐diimine]chloro­iron(III)

The title compound, aqua­chloro{4,4′‐di­bromo‐2,2′‐[o‐phenylenebis­(nitrilo­methyl­idyne)]­diphenolato‐O,N,N′,O′}iron(III)–chloro{4,4′‐di­bromo‐2,2′‐[o‐phenyl­enebis­(nitrilomethyli‐dyne)]diphenolato‐O,N,N′,O′}iron(III)–di­methyl­form­amide (1/1/1), [FeCl(C₂₀H₁₂Br₂N₂O₂)][FeCl(C₂₀H₁₂Br₂N₂O₂)(H₂O)]·C₃H₇NO, contains one independent five‐coordinate [FeCl(C₂₀H₁₂Br₂N₂O₂)] monomer, one six‐coordinate [FeCl(C₂₀H₁₂Br₂N₂O₂)(H₂O)] monomer and a non‐coordinating di­methyl­form­amide solvent mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. In the five‐coordinate monomer, the Fe atom shows distorted square‐pyramidal geometry, with the N and O atoms of the ligand at the base and the Cl atom at the apex of the pyramid. In the six‐coordinate monomer, the Fe atom is in a distorted octahedral geometry and coordinated by the donor atoms of the tetrafunctional ligand in the horizontal plane, and the coordination sphere is completed by the O atom of the water mol­ecule and the Cl atom at the axial positions. The title compound contains intermolecular O—H?O hydrogen bonds. Apart from these hydrogen bonds, there are also intermolecular C—H?Cl and C—H?O contacts.     

catena‐Poly[[silver(I)‐μ‐1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane] hemi(naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate) dihydrate]: a three‐dimensional metallo‐supramolecular sandwich lamellar network

The title compound, {[Ag(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)](C₁₀H₆O₆S₂)_0.5·2H₂O}_n, (I), features a three‐dimensional supramolecular sandwich architecture that consists of two‐dimensional cationic layers composed of polymeric chains of silver(I) ions and 1,3‐bis(4‐pyridyl)propane (bpp) ligands, linked by Ag...Ag and π–π interactions, alternating with anionic layers in which uncoordinated naphthalene‐1,5‐disulfonate (nds²⁻) anions and solvent water molecules form a hydrogen‐bonded network. The asymmetric unit consists of one Ag^I cation linearly coordinated by N atoms from two bpp ligands, one bpp ligand, one half of an nds²⁻ anion lying on a centre of inversion and two solvent water molecules. The two‐dimensional {[Ag(bpp)]⁺}_n cationic and {[(nds)·2H₂O]²⁻}_n anionic layers are assembled into a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework through long secondary coordination Ag...O interactions between the sulfonate O atoms and Ag^I centres and through nonclassical C—H...O hydrogen bonds.     

Solvatomorphism in (E)‐2‐(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene)hydrazinecarboximidamide

The structures of orthorhombic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate dihydrate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2H₂O, (I), triclinic (E)‐4‐(2‐{[amino(iminio)methyl]amino}vinyl)‐3,5‐dichlorophenolate methanol disolvate, C₈H₈Cl₂N₄O·2CH₄O, (II), and orthorhombic (E)‐amino[(2,6‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxystyryl)amino]methaniminium acetate, C₈H₉Cl₂N₄O⁺·C₂H₃O₂⁻, (III), all crystallize with one formula unit in the asymmetric unit, with the molecule in an E configuration and the phenol H atom transferred to the guanidine N atom. Although the molecules of the title compounds form extended chains via hydrogen bonding in all three forms, owing to the presence of different solvent molecules, those chains are connected differently in the individual forms. In (II), the molecules are all coplanar, while in (I) and (III), adjacent molecules are tilted relative to one another to varying degrees. Also, because of the variation in hydrogen‐bond‐formation ability of the solvents, the hydrogen‐bonding arrangements vary in the three forms.     

Reactivity Towards Europium(III) of the Radiolysis Products of the Ionic Liquid 1‐Methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium Bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C4‐mimTf2N) and Effect of Water: A TRLFS (Time‐Resolved Laser‐Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy) Preliminary Study

The effect of laser irradiation at λ_exc 266 nm onto the fluorescence characteristics of Eu^III in solution of the ionic liquid 1‐methyl‐3‐butyl‐1H‐imidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]amide (C₄‐mimTf₂N) was examined for various amounts of H₂O added. Stable radiolytic products that were generated at very low doses (in the range of 4 kGy) were very reactive with Eu^III and led to the appearance of a new europium luminescent species that was characterized by lifetime, relative intensity, and emission spectrum. Although the lifetime and the intensity depended on the H₂O content, the emission spectrum was not influenced by H₂O. It was shown that large amounts of H₂O, although not preventing radiolysis of C₄‐mimTf₂N, inhibited the complexation with Eu^III.     

Comparison of the methyl ester of l‐tyrosine hydrochloride and its methanol monosolvate

Solvent‐free (2S)‐methyl 2‐ammonio‐3‐(4‐hydroxy­phenyl)­propionate chloride, C₁₀H₁₄NO₃⁺·Cl⁻, (I), and its methanol solvate, C₁₀H₁₄NO₃⁺·Cl⁻·CH₃OH, (II), are obtained from different solvents: crystallization from ethanol or propan‐2‐ol gives the same solvent‐free crystals of (I) in both cases, while crystals of (II) were obtained by crystallization from methanol. The structure of (I) is characterized by the presence of two‐dimensional layers linked together by N—H⋯Cl and O—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds and also by C—H⋯O contacts. Incorporation of the methanol solvent mol­ecule in (II) introduces additional O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds linking the two‐dimensional layers, resulting in the formation of a three‐dimensional network.     

Guest‐Triggered Supramolecular Isomerism in a Pillared‐Layer Structure with Unusual Isomers of Paddle‐Wheel Secondary Building Units by Reversible Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Transformation

Solvothermal reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂ ? 4 H₂O, 1,4‐bis[2‐(4‐pyridyl)ethenyl]benzene (bpeb) and 4,4′‐oxybisbenzoic acid (H₂obc) in the presence of dimethylacetamide (DMA) as one of the solvents yielded a threefold interpenetrated pillared‐layer porous coordination polymer with pcu topology, [Zn₂(bpeb)(obc)₂] ? 5 H₂O ( 1 ), which comprised an unusual isomer of the well‐known paddle‐wheel building block and the trans–trans–trans isomer of the bpeb pillar ligand. When dimethylformamide (DMF) was used instead of DMA, a supramolecular isomer [Zn₂(bpeb)(obc)₂] ? 2 DMF ? H₂O ( 2 ), with the trans–cis–trans isomer of the bpeb ligand with a slightly different variation of the paddle‐wheel repeating unit, was isolated. In MeOH, single crystals of 2 were transformed by solvent exchange in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) manner to yield [Zn₂(bpeb)(obc)₂] ? 2 H₂O ( 3 ), which is a polymorph of 1 . SCSC conversion of 3 to 2 was achieved by soaking 3 in DMF. Compounds 1 and 2 as well as 2 and 3 are supramolecular isomers.     

Channel‐forming solvates of 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine and its solvent‐free tautomer 6‐chloro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone

On crystallization from CHCl₃, CCl₄, CH₂ClCH₂Cl and CHCl₂CHCl₂, 6‐chloro‐5‐hydroxy‐2‐pyridone, C₅H₄ClNO₂, (I), undergoes a tautomeric rearrangement to 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine, (II). The resulting crystals, viz. 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine chloroform 0.125‐solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·0.125CHCl₃, (IIa), 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine carbon tetrachloride 0.125‐solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂.·0.125CCl₄, (IIb), 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine 1,2‐dichloroethane solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·C₂H₄Cl₂, (IIc), and 6‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydroxypyridine 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane solvate, C₅H₄ClNO₂·C₂H₂Cl₄, (IId), have I4₁/a symmetry, and incorporate extensively disordered solvent in channels that run the length of the c axis. Upon gentle heating to 378 K in vacuo, these crystals sublime to form solvent‐free crystals with P2₁/n symmetry that are exclusively the pyridone tautomer, (I). In these sublimed pyridone crystals, inversion‐related molecules form R²₂(8) dimers via pairs of N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The dimers are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds into R⁴₆(28) motifs, which join to form pleated sheets that stack along the a axis. In the channel‐containing pyridine solvate crystals, viz. (IIa)–(IId), two independent host molecules form an R²₂(8) dimer via a pair of O—H...N hydrogen bonds. One molecule is further linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds to two 4₁ screw‐related equivalents to form a helical motif parallel to the c axis. The other independent molecule is O—H...O hydrogen bonded to two related equivalents to form tetrameric R⁴₄(28) rings. The dimers are π–π stacked with inversion‐related dimers, which in turn stack the R⁴₄(28) rings along c to form continuous solvent‐accessible channels. CHCl₃, CCl₄, CH₂ClCH₂Cl and CHCl₂CHCl₂ solvent molecules are able to occupy these channels but are disordered by virtue of the site symmetry within the channels.     

Synthesis of tetrazole‐containing azo polymers with properties of photo‐induced birefringence and surface‐relief‐gratings via RAFT polymerization

A novel optically active monomer, 6‐{4‐[4‐(1‐phenyl‐1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yloxy)‐phenylazo] ‐phenoxy}‐hexyl methacrylate (PTPPHMA) bearing tetrazole and azobenzol moieties, was synthesized and polymerized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using 2‐cyanoprop‐2‐yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB) as the RAFT agent and 2, 2′‐azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as the initiator. Well‐defined optically active photochromic polyPTPPHMA(PPTPPHMA) was obtained. “Living”/controlled characteristics were observed in the polymerization: well‐controlled molecular weights (M_ns), narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n) of the polymers and successful chain‐extension of PPTPPHMA with styrene (St) as the second monomer. The photochemical interconversion between trans and cis isomers of PPTPPHMA in N,N′‐dimethyl formamide (DMF) solution was explored under irradiation of ultraviolet light. The photoinduced birefringence on the thin films of PPTPPHMA was investigated. A maximum birefringence of 0.1 was obtained, and no significant change of profiles of the birefringence after several cycles of writing/erasing/rewriting sequences was observed. The surface‐relief‐gratings (SRGs) were induced on the polymer films by interference of Kr⁺ laser beams at 413.1 nm with 35 mW/cm² intensity, the diffraction efficiencies from SRGs were measured to be in the range of 2.0–2.5%. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) results showed the gratings produced on the surfaces of the polymer film. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 682–691, 2008     

Analysis of solvent‐accessible voids and proton‐coupled electron transfer of 2,6‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)pyridine and its hydrochloride

The crystal structures of the solid form of solvated 2,6‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)pyridine (H₂dimpy) trihydrate, C₁₁H₉N₅·3H₂O·[+solvent], I , and its hydrate hydrochloride salt 2‐[6‐(1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)pyridin‐2‐yl]‐1H‐imidazol‐3‐ium chloride trihydrate, C₁₁H₁₀N₅⁺·Cl^?·3H₂O, II , are reported and analysed in detail, along with potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations for evaluation of the acid–base equilibria and proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reactions. Compound I crystallizes in the high‐symmetry trigonal space group P3₂21 with an atypical formation of solvent‐accessible voids, as a consequence of the 3₂ screw axis in the crystallographic c‐axis direction, which are probably occupied by uncharacterized disordered solvent molecules. Additionally, the trihydrated chloride salt crystallizes in the conventional monoclinic space group P2₁/c without the formation of solvent‐accessible voids. The acid–base equilibria of H₂dimpy were studied by potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations, and the results suggest the formation of H₃dimpy⁺ (pK_a1 = 5.40) and H₄dimpy²⁺ (pK_a2 = 3.98), with the electrochemical behaviour of these species showing two consecutive irreversible proton‐coupled electron‐transfer reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate the interpretation of the experimental results and support the assignment of the electrochemical behaviour.     

Widely Controllable Syngas Production by a Dye‐Sensitized TiO2 Hybrid System with ReI and CoIII Catalysts under Visible‐Light Irradiation

Visible‐light irradiation of a ternary hybrid catalyst prepared by grafting a dye, an H₂ evolving Co^III catalyst and a CO‐producing Re^I catalyst on TiO₂ have been found to produce both H₂ and CO (syngas) in CO₂‐saturated N ,N ‐dimethyl formamide (DMF)/water solution containing a 0.1 m sacrificial electron donor. The H₂/CO ratios are effectively controlled by changing either the water content of the solvent or the molar ratio of the Re^I and Co^III catalysts ranging from 1:2 to 15:1. The controlled syngas formation is discussed in terms of competitive electron flow from TiO₂ to each of the CO₂‐reduction and hydrogen‐evolving sites depending on the efficiencies of the two catalytic reaction cycles under given reaction conditions.     

Exceptional Crystallization Diversity and Solid‐State Conversions of CdII Coordination Frameworks with 5‐Bromonicotinate Directed by Solvent Media

A series of nine coordination polymers {[Cd(L)₂(solvent)_x](solvent)_y}_n have been prepared from Cd(NO₃)₂ and 5‐bromonicotinic acid (HL) in different solvents through a layered diffusion method. By using CH₃OH/H₂O at different volume ratios of 1:1 and 1:3, a one‐dimensional (1D) coordination species ( 1 a ) and a three‐dimensional (3D) (3,6)‐connected framework ( 2 a?g₁ ) can be obtained. A similar self‐assembly process in C₂H₅OH/H₂O or H₂O/1,4‐dioxane gives 2 a?g₂ or 2 a?g₃ , which are isomorphic to 2 a?g₁ but with different lattice solvents. Replacement of the mixed solvents with DMF/H₂O (v/v 1:1 or 1:3) also gives a 1D chain complex ( 1 b ) or a 3D microporous framework ( 2 b?g₁ ). Similarly, MOF 2 b?g₂ can be assembled from CH₃CN/H₂O as an isomorphic solvate of 2 b?g₁ . Significantly, the 3D MOF families of 2 a?g _n and 2 b?g _n are supramolecular isomers even though they are topologically equivalent. Also, if a mixture of CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ (v/v 1:1 or 3:1) is used, a pair of distinct MOFs ( 3 a?g ) and ( 3 b ) are generated as pseudo‐polymorphs that show a two‐dimensional (2D) sheet and a 3D coordination framework, respectively. Furthermore, mutual solvent‐induced conversions were realized between 1 a and 1 b and between 2 a?g₁ , 2 a?g₂ , and 2 a?g₃ following the size‐dependent rule of the solvent. These results are of great significance in recognizing the solvent effect upon coordination assemblies and their crystal transformations.