Synthesis of Tetraoxygenated Terephthalates via a Dichloroquinone Route: Characterization of Cross‐Conjugated Liebermann Betaine Intermediates

Cross‐conjugated quinoid betaines 4 (2,5‐bis(alkoxycarbonyl)‐3,6‐dioxo‐4‐(1‐pyridinium‐1‐yl)cyclohexa‐1,4‐dien‐1‐olates; Liebermann betaines) were synthesized from 2,5‐dichloro‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,4‐dicarboxylates ( 2 ) and pyridines in acetone containing H₂O. Their structure was secured by NMR spectroscopy and by X‐ray diffraction analysis of 4f (alkoxy = EtO, pyridine = 4‐Me₂N–C₅H₄N). Betaines 4 show comparatively high reactivity towards nucleophiles as a consequence of their cross‐conjugated character. Betaine 4a and hydroxy‐3,4‐methylenedioxybenzene (sesamol) condense to give a pyridinium quinolate salt 14 which has a bifurcate H‐bond from a pyridinium N⁺–H donor to both carbonyl (C=O) and olate (C–O⁻) acceptors in the solid state. Betaine 4b hydrolyzes in aqueous solution to give diethyl 2,5‐dihydroxy‐3,6‐dioxocyclohexa‐1,4‐diene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate ( 11 ) as a pyridinium salt, or as polymeric zinc(II) complex of the dianion of 11 in the presence of ZnCl₂. Dihydroxyquinone 11 was analytically differentiated from its independently prepared hydroquinone form, diethyl 2,3,5,6‐tetrahydroxyterephthalate ( 12 ), by NMR analysis in solution and X‐ray crystal structure determination of both compounds.     

Synthesis and comparison of the structure–property relationships of symmetric and asymmetric water‐soluble poly(p‐phenylene)s

Sodium salts of water‐soluble polymers poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P1 ), poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(dodecyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P2 ), poly{[2,5‐bis(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]‐alt‐[2,5‐bis(dibenzyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene]} ( P3 ), poly[2‐hexyloxy‐5‐(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene] ( P4 ), and poly[2‐dodecyloxy‐5‐(3‐sulfonatopropoxy)‐1,4‐phenylene] ( P5 )] were synthesized with Suzuki coupling reactions and fully characterized. The first group of polymers ( P1 – P3 ) with symmetric structures gave lower absorption maxima [maximum absorption wavelength (λ_max) = 296–305 nm] and emission maxima [maximum emission wavelength (λ_em) = 361–398 nm] than asymmetric polymers P4 (λ_max = 329 nm, λ_em = 399 nm) and P5 (λ_max = 335 nm, λ_em = 401 nm). The aggregation properties of polymers P1 – P5 in different solvent mixtures were investigated, and their influence on the optical properties was examined in detail. Dynamic light scattering studies of the aggregation behavior of polymer P1 in solvents indicated the presence of aggregated species of various sizes ranging from 80 to 800 nm. The presence of alkoxy groups and 3‐sulfonatopropoxy groups on adjacent phenylene rings along the polymer backbone of the first set hindered the optimization of nonpolar interactions. The alkyl chain crystallization on one side of the polymer chain and the polar interactions on the other side allowed the polymers ( P4 and P5 ) to form a lamellar structure in the polymer lattice. Significant quenching of the polymer fluorescence upon the addition of positively charged viologen derivatives or cytochrome‐C was also observed. The quenching effect on the polymer fluorescence confirmed that the newly synthesized polymers could be used in the fabrication of biological and chemical sensors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3763–3777, 2006     

Influence of P‐Bonded Bulky Substituents on Electronic Interactions in Ferrocenyl‐Substituted Phospholes

2,5‐Diferrocenyl‐1‐Ar‐1H‐phospholes 3 a – e (Ar=phenyl ( a ), ferrocenyl ( b ), mesityl ( c ), 2,4,6‐triphenylphenyl ( d ), and 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl ( e )) have been prepared by reactions of ArPH₂ ( 1 a – e ) with 1,4‐diferrocenyl butadiyne. Compounds 3 b – e have been structurally characterized by single‐crystal XRD analysis. Application of the sterically demanding 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl group led to an increased flattening of the pyramidal phosphorus environment. The ferrocenyl units could be oxidized separately, with redox separations of 265 ( 3 b ), 295 ( 3 c ), 340 ( 3 d ), and 315 mV ( 3 e ) in [NnBu₄][B(C₆F₅)₄]; these values indicate substantial thermodynamic stability of the mixed‐valence radical cations. Monocationic [ 3 b ]⁺–[ 3 e ]⁺ show intervalence charge‐transfer absorptions between 4650 and 5050 cm^?1 of moderate intensity and half‐height bandwidth. Compounds 3 c – e with bulky, electron‐rich substituents reveal a significant increase in electronic interactions compared with less demanding groups in 3 a and 3 b .     

New Optically Active Bis‐Heterocycles Derived from (S)‐Proline

Enantiomerically pure bis‐heterocycles containing a (S)‐proline moiety have been prepared starting from (S)‐N‐benzylprolinehydrazide ( 2b ). The reactions with isothiocyanates or butyl isocyanate in refluxing MeOH led to the corresponding thiosemicarbazide 5 and semicarbazide 9 with a N‐benzylprolinoyl residue. The structure of the tert‐butyl derivative 5d was established by X‐ray crystallography. Base‐catalyzed cyclization of 5 and 9 led to (S)‐3‐(pyrrolidin‐2‐yl)‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5(4H)‐thiones 6 and the corresponding 5(4H)‐one 8 , respectively, whereas, in concentrated H₂SO₄, compounds 5 undergo cyclization to give (S)‐5‐amino‐2‐(pyrrolidin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazoles 7 . Furthermore, 2b reacted with hexane‐2,5‐dione in boiling ⁱPrOH to yield the (S)‐N‐(2,5‐dimethylpyrrol‐1‐yl)prolinamide 10 . In the case of the bis‐heterocycle 8 , treatment with HCOONH₄ and Pd/C in MeOH gave the debenzylated product 12 .     

Synthesis of 2,2,5,5‐Tetrasubstituted 1,4‐Dioxa‐2,5‐disilacyclohexanes via Organotin(IV)‐Catalyzed Transesterification of (Acetoxymethyl)alkoxysilanes

(Acetoxymethyl)silanes 2 , 7 a – c , and 10 a – c with at least one alkoxy group, of the general formula (AcOCH₂)Si(OR)_3?n(CH₃)_n (R: Me, Et, iPr; n=0, 1, 2), were synthesized from the corresponding (chloromethyl)silanes 1 , 6 a – c , and 9 a – c by treatment with potassium acetate under phase‐transfer‐catalysis conditions. These compounds were found to provide 2,2,5,5‐organo‐substituted 1,4‐dioxa‐2,5‐disilacyclohexanes 3 , 8 a – c , and 11 a – c if treated with organotin(IV) catalysts such as dioctyltin oxide. The reaction proceeds through transesterification of the acetoxy and alkoxy units followed by ring‐closure to form a dimeric six‐membered ring. The corresponding alkyl acetates are formed as the reaction by‐products. With these mild conditions, the method overcomes the drawbacks of previously reported synthetic routes to furnish 2,2,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,4‐dioxa‐2,5‐disilacyclohexane ( 3 ) and even allows the synthesis of 1,4‐dioxa‐2,5‐disilacyclohexanes bearing hydrolytically labile alkoxy substituents at the silicon atom in good yields and high purity. These new materials were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and X‐ray analysis (trans‐ 8 a ).     

Structural analysis of interpenetrated methyl‐modified MOF‐5 and its gas‐adsorption properties

The first example of an interpenetrated methyl‐modified MOF‐5 with the formula Zn₄O(DMBDC)₃(DMF)₂, where DMBDC^2? is 2,5‐dimethylbenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylate and DMF is N,N‐dimethylformamide (henceforth denoted as Me₂MOF‐5‐int ), namely, poly[tris(μ₄‐2,5‐dimethylbenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(N,N‐dimethylformamide)‐μ₄‐oxido‐tetrazinc(II)], [Zn₄(C₁₀H₈O₄)₃O(C₃H₇NO)₂]_n, has been obtained from a solvothermal synthesis of 2,5‐dimethylbenzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O in DMF. A systematic study revealed that the choice of solvent is of critical importance for the synthesis of phase‐pure Me₂MOF‐5‐int , which was thoroughly characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), as well as by gas‐adsorption analyses. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of Me₂MOF‐5‐int (660 m² g^?1), determined by N₂ adsorption, is much lower than that of nonpenetrated Me₂MOF‐5 (2420 m² g^?1). However, Me₂MOF‐5‐int displays an H₂ uptake capacity of 1.26 wt% at 77 K and 1.0 bar, which is comparable to that of non‐interpenetrated Me₂MOF‐5 (1.51 wt%).     

Synthesis of three new 1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl) pyrrole‐based donor polymers and their bulk heterojunction solar cell applications

A series of three new 1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole‐based polymers such as poly[1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole] ( PTPT ), poly[1,4‐(2,5‐bis(octyloxy)phenylene)‐alt‐5,5'‐(1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole)] ( PPTPT ), and poly[2,5‐(3‐octylthiophene)‐alt‐5,5'‐(1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole)] ( PTTPT ) were synthesized and characterized. The new polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and the thermogravimetric analysis showed that the three polymers are thermally stable with the 5% degradation temperature >379 °C. The absorption maxima of the polymers were 478, 483, and 485 nm in thin film and the optical band gaps calculated from the onset wavelength of the optical absorption were 2.15, 2.20, and 2.13 eV, respectively. Each of the polymers was investigated as an electron donor blending with PC₇₀BM as an electron acceptor in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. BHJ solar cells were fabricated in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PC₇₀BM/TiO_x/Al configurations. The BHJ solar cell with PPTPT :PC₇₀BM (1:5 wt %) showed the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.35% (J_sc = 7.41 mA/cm², V_oc = 0.56 V, FF = 33%), measured using AM 1.5G solar simulator at 100 mW/cm² light illumination. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

New photoluminescent conjugated polymers with 1,4‐dioxo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole (DPP) and 1,4‐phenylene units in the main chain

A series of π‐conjugated polymers and copolymers containing 1,4‐dioxo‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole (also known as 2,5‐dihydro‐3,6‐diphenylpyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4‐dione) (DPP) and 1,4‐phenylene units in the main chain is described. The polymers are synthesised using the palladium‐catalysed aryl‐aryl coupling reaction (Suzuki coupling) of 2,5‐dihexylbenzene‐1,4‐diboronic acid with 1,4‐dioxo‐2,5‐dihexyl‐3,6‐di(4‐bromophenyl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole and 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐dihexylbenzene in different molar ratios. Soluble hairy rod‐type polymers with molecular weights up to 21 000 are obtained. Polymer solutions in common organic solvents such as chloroform or xylene are of orange colour (λ_max = 488 nm) and show strong photoluminescence (λ_max = 544 nm). The photochemical stability is found to be higher than for corresponding saturated polymers containing isolated DPP units in the main chain. Good solubility and processability into thin films render the compounds suitable for electronic applications.     

π‐conjugated polymers having diaza[12]annulene rings and aminopenta‐2,4‐dienylidene groups generated by the ring opening of pyridinium rings

Reactions of N‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)pyridinium chloride with 2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylenediamine in 1:2, 1:1.5, 1:1, and 2:1 molar ratios caused the ring opening of the pyridinium ring and thereby yielded polymers ( P1 – P4 ) consisting of 5‐(2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)penta‐2,4‐dienylideneammonium chloride (unit A) and N‐2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene diaza[12]annulenium dichloride (unit B). The ¹H NMR spectra suggested that the composition ratios of unit A to unit B in P1 – P4 were 0.98:0.02, 0.94:0.06, 0.81:0.19, and 0.79:0.21, respectively. P1 – P4 showed an absorption maximum (λ_max) at a longer wavelength than the monomers because of the expansion of the π‐conjugation system. Films of P3 and P4 showed λ_max at a considerably longer wavelength than those in solution, and this was attributable to the ordered structures of the polymers in the solid state. Powder X‐ray diffraction analysis supported the ordered structures of P3 and P4 . Pellets molded from P3 and P4 exhibited a metallic luster, whereas those from P1 and P2 did not show such a luster. Cyclic voltammetry measurements indicated that P1 – P4 were electrochemically active in films. The thermal stability of the polymers depended on the composition ratios of unit A to unit B. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1507–1514, 2007     

Green‐emitting poly[(1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐ (1,4‐phenylenevinylene)]s: Effect of the substitution patterns on the optical properties

Green‐emitting substituted poly[(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)]s ( 6 ) were synthesized via the Wittig–Horner reaction. The polymers were yellow resins with molecular weights of 10,600. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption of 6 (λ_max = 332 or 415 nm) was about 30 nm redshifted from that of poly[(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] ( 2 ) but was only 5 nm redshifted with respect to that of poly[(1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] ( 1 ). A comparison of the optical properties of 1 , 2 , and 6 showed that substitution on m‐ or p‐phenylene could slightly affect their energy gap and luminescence efficiency, thereby fine‐tuning the optical properties of the poly[(m‐phenylene vinylene)‐alt‐(p‐phenylene vinylene)] materials. The vibronic structures were assigned with the aid of low‐temperature UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Light‐emitting‐diode devices with 6 produced a green electroluminescence output (emission λ_max ～ 533 nm) with an external quantum efficiency of 0.32%. Substitution at m‐phenylene appeared to be effective in perturbing the charge‐injection process in LED devices. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1820–1829, 2004     

Highly luminescent diyne (?CC?CC?) containing hybrid polyphenyleneethynylene/poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) polymer: Synthesis and characterization

Luminophoric dialdehyde 1,4‐bis[4‐formylphenylethynyl‐(2,5‐dioctadecyloxyphenyl)‐buta‐1,3‐diyne] ( 4 ) enables the synthesis of diyne‐containing hybrid polyphenyleneethynylene/poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) polymer poly[1,4‐phenylene‐ethynylene‐1,4‐(2,5‐dioctadecyloxy)phenylene‐butadi‐1,3‐ynylene‐1,4‐(2,5‐dioctadecyloxy)phenylene‐ethynylene‐1,4‐phenylene‐ethene‐1,2‐diyl‐1,4‐(2,5‐dioctadecyloxy)phenylene‐ethene‐1,2‐diyl] ( 7 ) with a well‐defined general structure (? Ph? C?C? Ar? C?C? C?C? Ar? C?C? Ph? CH?CH? Ar? CH?CH? )_n, which was confirmed by NMR and infrared spectroscopy. The highly luminescent material is thermostable, soluble in usual organic solvents through the grafting of octadecyloxy side groups, and can be processed into transparent films. With the aim to investigate the effect of ? C?C? C?C? in the photophysical behavior of 7 , a comparison of the photophysics of monomers 3 [1,4‐bis(4‐formylphenylethynyl)‐2,5‐dioctadecyloxybenzene] and 4 and subsequently of their respective polymers 6 and 7 has been carried out. Similar photophysical behaviors for 6 (poly[1,4‐phenylenethynylene‐1,4‐(2,5‐dioctadecyloxyphenylene)ethene‐1,2‐diyl]) and 7 were observed in dilute CHCl₃ solution as a result of an identical chromophore system responsible for the absorption (λ_a = 448 nm) and emission (λ_f = 490 nm) in both compounds. The increased planarization and enhanced rigidity of the conjugated backbone in the solid state at room temperature as well as in frozen dilute tetrahydrofuran solution at 77 K cause the bathochromic shift of the absorption and emission spectra. The large octadecyloxy side chains obviously limit strong π‐π interchain interactions in the solid films, which explains the high fluorescence quantum yields of 35 and 52% obtained for 6 and 7 , respectively. The energetically arduous migration of the π electron through the diyne units not only requires a higher threshold voltage for the detection of photoconductivity in 7 but could possibly limit radiationless deactivation channels of the exciton, which explains the approximate 20% fluorescence quantum yields difference between 6 and 7 in the solid state. The electron‐withdrawing effect of the triple bonds confer both 6 and 7 with a good electron‐accepting property (E^ox = 1.39 V vs Ag/AgCl) if used in light‐emitting diode devices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2670–2679, 2002     

1H NMR spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol and other 1,4‐diols: DFT calculation of shifts and coupling constants

The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of butane‐1,4‐diol, pentane‐1,4‐diol, (S,S)‐hexane‐2,5‐diol, 2,5‐dimethylhexane‐2,5‐diol and cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols (cis and trans) in benzene and some other solvents have been analysed. The conformer distribution and the NMR shifts of these diols in benzene have been computed on the basis of the density functional theory, the solvent being included by means of the integral‐equation‐formalism polarizable continuum model implemented in Gaussian 09. Relative Gibbs energies of all conformers are calculated at the Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE)0/6‐311+G(d,p) level and NMR shifts by the gauge‐including atomic orbital method with the PBE0/6‐311+G(d,p) geometry and the cc‐pVTZ basis set. Vicinal three‐bond coupling constants for the acyclic diols are calculated from the relative conformer populations, the geometries and generalized Karplus equations developed by Altona's group; these correlate well with the experimental values. The solvent dependence of coupling constants for butane‐1,4‐diol is attributed to conformational change. Coupling constants for the rigid cyclohexane‐1,4‐diols do not change with solvent and are readily explained in terms of their geometries. The NMR shifts of hydrogen‐bonded protons in individual conformers of alkane‐1,n‐diols show a very rough correlation with the OH···OH distances. The computed overall NMR shifts for CH protons in 1,2‐diols, 1,3‐diols and 1,4‐diols are systematically high but correlate very well with the experimental values, with a gradient of 1.07 ± 0.01; those for OH protons correlate less well. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biodegradable polymers based on renewable resources. VII. Novel random and alternating copolycarbonates from 1,4:3,6‐dianhydrohexitols and aliphatic diols

Novel copolycarbonates containing 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D ‐glucitol or 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐D ‐mannitol units, with various methylene chain lengths, were synthesized by bulk and solution polycondensations, of several combinations of carbonate‐modified sugar derivatives and aliphatic diols. Bulk polycondensations of 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐2,5‐bis‐O‐(phenoxycarbonyl)‐D ‐glucitol or 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐2,5‐bis‐O‐(phenoxycarbonyl)‐D ‐mannitol with four α,ω‐alkanediols having methylene chain lengths of 4, 6, 8, and 10, respectively, at 180 °C afforded the corresponding copolycarbonates with number‐average molecular weight (M_n) values up to 19.₂ × 10³. ¹³C NMR analysis disclosed that these polymers had scrambled structures in which the sugar carbonate and aliphatic carbonate moieties were nearly randomly distributed along a polymer chain. However, solution polycondensations between 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐2,5‐bis‐O‐(p‐nitrophenoxycarbonyl)‐D ‐glucitol or 1,4:3,6‐dianhydro‐2,5‐bis‐O‐(p‐nitrophenoxycarbonyl)‐D ‐mannitol, and the α,ω‐alkanediols in sulfolane or dimethyl sulfoxide at 60 °C gave well‐defined copolycarbonates having regular structures consisting of alternating sugar carbonate and aliphatic carbonate moieties with M_n values up to 33.₈ × 10³. Differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated that all the copolycarbonates were amorphous with glass‐transition temperatures ranging from 1 to 65 °C, which decreased with increasing lengths of the methylene chain of the aliphatic diols. Additionally, all the copolycarbonates were stable up to 310–330 °C as estimated by thermogravimetric analysis. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2312–2321, 2003     

Reaction of 2,3‐Dichloro‐1,4‐Naphthoquinone with 1‐Phenylbiguanide and 2‐Guanidinebenzimidazole

When 2,3‐dichloro‐1,4‐naphthoquinone (DCHNQ) ( 1 ) is allowed to react with 1‐phenylbiguanide (PBG) ( 2 ), 4‐chloro‐2,5‐dihydro‐2,5‐dioxonaphtho[1,2‐d]imidazole‐3‐carboxylic acid phenyl amide ( 4 ), 6‐chloro‐8‐phenylamino‐9H‐7,9,11‐triaza‐cyclohepta[a]naphthalene‐5,10‐dione ( 5 ) and 4‐dimethyl‐amino‐5,10‐dioxo‐2‐phenylimino‐5,10‐dihydro‐2H‐benzo[g]quinazoline‐1‐carboxylic acid amide ( 6 ) were obtained. While on reacting 1 with 2‐guanidinebenzimidazole (GBI) ( 3 ) the products are 3‐(1H‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl)‐4‐chloro‐3H‐naphtho[1,2‐d]imidazole‐2,5‐dione ( 7 ) and 3‐[3‐(1H‐benzoimidazol‐2‐yl)‐ureido]‐1,4‐dioxo‐1,4‐dihydronaphthalene‐2‐carboxylic acid dimethylamide ( 8 ).     

Synthesis and characterization of new π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,8‐naphthyridine in the main chain: Role of the 1,8‐naphthyridine unit in π‐conjugated polymers

Alternating π‐conjugated copolymers of 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,6‐diyl ( 1,8‐Nap ) with 9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl ( P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) and 2,5‐didodecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene ( P(ROPh‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) have been synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed organometallic polycondensation. The copolymers showed UV‐vis absorption peaks at around 390 nm in o‐dichlorobenzene. The polymers were photoluminescent both in o‐dichlorobenzene and in the solid state. In o‐dichlorobenzene, the emission peaks of P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) and P(ROPh‐Ph‐1.,8‐Nap) appeared at λ_EM = 440 and 471 nm, with quantum yields of 87% and 66%, respectively. Electrochemical data revealed that 1,8‐Nap behaved as a typical electron‐accepting unit. When P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) was treated with 10‐camphorsulfonic acid, the emission peak shifted to λ_EM = 598 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis of Functionalized Pyrroles by Reaction of 3,4‐Diacetylhexane‐2,5‐dione with Primary Amines in Water

3,4‐Diacetylhexane‐2,5‐dione (tetra‐acetylethane) undergoes a complex reaction with primary amines in boiling water to produce N‐alkyl‐3‐acetyl‐2,5‐dimethylpyrroles, together with small quantities of N‐alkyl‐3,4‐diacetyl‐2,5‐dimethylpyrroles and 2,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrrol‐3‐yl‐vinyl‐acetamides. When the reaction was carried out in methanol at room temperature, the yields of the latter products increased.     

Synthesis,Photochromic, and Computational Studies of Dithienylethene‐Containing β‐Diketonate Derivatives and Their Near‐Infrared Photochromic Behavior Upon Coordination of a Boron(III) Center

A series of dithienylethene‐containing 1‐thienyl‐3‐aryl‐propane‐1,3‐diones (aryl=phenyl (Ph), thienyl (Th), and 4,5‐bis(2,5‐dimethylthiophen‐3‐yl)thiophen‐2‐yl (DTE‐Th)) and the corresponding boron(III) diketonates, (O^O)BR₂ (R=F, C₆F₅, and Ph), have been designed and synthesized. Their photophysical, electrochemical, and photochromic properties have been studied. Upon coordination of a boron(III) center, the closed forms of the dithienylethene‐containing β‐diketonates show near‐infrared response and the photochromic behavior was also found to be affected by the aryl substituents at the 3‐position of the β‐diketonates. Moreover, computational studies have been performed that help to provide an understanding of the effect of substituents on the photophysical and photochromic properties.     

Photoionization and Pyrolysis of a 1,4‐Azaborinine: Retro‐Hydroboration in the Cation and Identification of Novel Organoboron Ring Systems

The photoionization and dissociative photoionization of 1,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐1,4‐azaborinine by means of synchrotron radiation and threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy is reported. The ionization energy of the compound was determined to be 7.89 eV. Several low‐lying electronically excited states in the cation were identified. The various pathways for dissociative photoionization were modeled by statistical theory, and appearance energies AE_0K were obtained. The loss of isobutene in a retro‐hydroboration reaction is the dominant pathway, which proceeds with a reverse barrier. Pyrolysis of the parent compound in a chemical reactor leads to the generation of several yet unobserved boron compounds. The ionization energies of the C₄H₆BN isomers 1,2‐ and 1,4‐dihydro‐1,4‐azaborinine and the C₃H₆BN isomer 1,2‐dihydro‐1,3‐azaborole were determined from threshold photoelectron spectra.     

Synthesis of polymers with isolated thiophene–arylidene–thiophene chromophores for enhanced and specific electron/hole transport

The synthesis of nine new polymers intended for future use in light‐emitting diodes is described. The polymers consist of alternating units of thiophene–arylidene–thiophene chromophores and saturated silicon‐containing spacers. The arylidene moieties include benzene‐1,4‐, 2,5‐dimethoxybenzene‐1,4‐, naphthalene‐1,4‐, anthracene‐9,10‐, pyridine‐2,5‐, pyridine‐2,6‐, N‐methylcarbazole‐3,6‐, 1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2,5‐, and 4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole‐5,5′‐. The syntheses involved dibromination of the central arene followed by Suzuki or Kumada cross‐coupling reactions with two thiophene units. Subsequent dilithiation and reaction with dihalosilylalkanes provided the polymers. Their optical properties, including ultraviolet–visible absorption and emission in solution, were comparable to those of the parent monomer units, and they possessed the physical characteristics of macromolecules. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 872–879, 2001     

Syntheses and Structures of Ruthenium(II) N,S‐Heterocyclic Carbene Diphosphine Complexes and their Catalytic Activity towards Transfer Hydrogenation

Phosphine exchange of [Ru^IIBr(MeCOO)(PPh₃)₂(3‐RBzTh)] (3‐RBzTh=3‐benzylbenzothiazol‐2‐ylidene) with a series of diphosphines (bis(diphenylphosphino)methane (dppm), 1,2‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppv), 1,1′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), 1,4‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (dppb), and 1,3‐(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp)) gave mononuclear and neutral octahedral complexes [RuBr(MeCOO)(η²‐P₂)(3‐RBzTh)] (P₂=dppm ( 2 ), dppv ( 3 ), dppf ( 4 ), dppb ( 5 ), or dppp ( 6 )), the coordination spheres of which contained four different ligands, namely, a chelating diphosphine, carboxylate, N,S‐heterocyclic carbene (NSHC), and a bromide. Two geometric isomers of 6 ( 6a and 6 b ) have been isolated. The structures of these products, which have been elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, show two structural types, I and II, depending on the relative dispositions of the ligands. Type I structures contain a carbenic carbon atom trans to the oxygen atom, whereas two phosphorus atoms are trans to bromine and oxygen atoms. The type II system comprises a carbene carbon atom trans to one of the phosphorus atoms, whereas the other phosphorus is trans to the oxygen atom, with the bromine trans to the remaining oxygen atom. Complexes 2 , 3 , 4 , and 6a belong to type I, whereas 5 and 6 b are of type II. The kinetic product 6 b eventually converts into 6a upon standing. These complexes are active towards catalytic reduction of para‐methyl acetophenone by 2‐propanol at 82 °C under 1 % catalyst load giving the corresponding alcohols. The dppm complex 2 shows the good yields (91–97 %) towards selected ketones.