Kinetics and mechanisms of OH‐initiated oxidation of small unsaturated alcohols

Smog chamber relative rate techniques were used to measure rate coefficients of (5.00 ± 0.54) × 10^?11, (5.87 ± 0.63) × 10^?11, and (6.49 ± 0.82) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in 700 Torr air at 296 ± 1 K for reactions of OH radicals with allyl alcohol, 1‐buten‐3‐ol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol, respectively; the quoted uncertainties encompass the extremes of determinations using two different reference compounds. The OH‐initiated oxidation of allyl alcohol in the presence of NO_x gives glycolaldehyde in a molar yield of 0.85 ± 0.08; the quoted uncertainty is two standard deviations. Oxidation of 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol gives acetone and glycolaldehyde in molar yields of 0.66 ± 0.06 and 0.56 ± 0.05, respectively. The reaction of OH radicals with allyl alcohol, 1‐buten‐3‐ol, and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol proceeds predominately via addition to the >C?CH₂ double bond with most of the addition occurring to the terminal carbon. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 42: 151–158, 2010     

The elimination kinetics and mechanisms of ethyl piperidine‐3‐carboxylate,ethyl 1‐methylpiperidine‐3‐carboxylate,and ethyl 3‐(piperidin‐1‐yl)propionate in the gas phase

The gas‐phase elimination kinetics of the above‐mentioned compounds were determined in a static reaction system over the temperature range of 369–450.3°C and pressure range of 29–103.5 Torr. The reactions are homogeneous, unimolecular, and obey a first‐order rate law. The rate coefficients are given by the following Arrhenius expressions: ethyl 3‐(piperidin‐1‐yl) propionate, log k₁(s^?1) = (12.79 ± 0.16) ? (199.7 ± 2.0) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; ethyl 1‐methylpiperidine‐3‐carboxylate, log k₁(s^?1) = (13.07 ± 0.12)–(212.8 ± 1.6) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; ethyl piperidine‐3‐carboxylate, log k₁(s^?1) = (13.12 ± 0.13) ? (210.4 ± 1.7) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1; and 3‐piperidine carboxylic acid, log k₁(s^?1) = (14.24 ± 0.17) ? (234.4 ± 2.2) kJ mol^?1 (2.303 RT)^?1. The first step of decomposition of these esters is the formation of the corresponding carboxylic acids and ethylene through a concerted six‐membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism. The intermediate β‐amino acids decarboxylate as the α‐amino acids but in terms of a semipolar six‐membered cyclic transition state mechanism. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 106–114, 2006     

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with methylbutenols at 298 K

The relative‐rate method has been used to determine the rate coefficients for the reactions of OH radicals with three C₅ biogenic alcohols, 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol (k₁), 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol (k₂), and 3‐methyl‐2‐buten‐1‐ol (k₃), in the gas phase. OH radicals were produced by the photolysis of CH₃ONO in the presence of NO. Di‐n‐butyl ether and propene were used as the reference compounds. The absolute rate coefficients obtained with the two reference compounds agreed well with each other. The O₃ and O‐atom reactions with the target alcohols were confirmed to have a negligible contribution to their total losses by using two kinds of light sources with different relative rates of CH₃ONO and NO₂ photolysis. The absolute rate coefficients were obtained as the weighted mean values for the two reference compound systems and were k₁ = (6.6 ± 0.5) × 10^?11, k₂ = (9.7 ± 0.7) × 10^?11, and k₃ = (1.5 ± 0.1) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 at 298 ± 2 K and 760 torr of air. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 379–385 2004     

Absolute rate constants for the gas‐phase ozonolysis of isoprene and methylbutenol

The reactions of the biogenic organic compounds isoprene and 2‐methyl‐3‐buten‐2‐ol (MBO) with ozone have been investigated under controlled conditions for pressure (atmospheric pressure) and temperature (293 ± 2 K), using FTIR spectrometry. CO was added to scavenge hydroxyl radical formation during the ozonolysis experiments. Reaction rate constants were determined by absolute rate technique, by measuring both ozone and the organic compound concentrations. The measured values were k₁ = (1.19 ± 0.09) × 10^?17 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the reaction between ozone and isoprene and k₂ = (8.3 ± 1.0) × 10_?18 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for the reaction between ozone and MBO. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 152–156 2004     

Kinetics of the reactions of OH radicals with 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine,diethylamine, and 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol at 298 ± 2 K

Rate constants for the reactions of 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, diethylamine, and 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol with OH radicals have been measured at 298 ± 2 K using a relative rate method. The measured rate constants (cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) are (1.54 ± 0.21) × 10^?12 for 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, (1.19 ± 0.25) × 10^?10 for diethylamine, and (1.76 ± 0.38) × 10^?12 for 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol, where the indicated errors are the estimated overall uncertainties including those in the rate constants for the reference compounds. No reaction of 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine with gaseous nitric acid was observed, and an upper limit to the rate constant for the reaction of 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol with O₃ of <7 × 10^{? 20} cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was determined. Using a 12‐h average daytime OH radical concentration of 2 × 10⁶ molecule cm^?3, the lifetimes of the volatile organic compounds studied here with respect to reaction with OH radicals are 7.5 days for 2‐methoxy‐6‐(trifluoromethyl)pyridine, 1.2 h for diethylamine, and 6.6 days for 1,1,3,3,3‐pentamethyldisiloxan‐1‐ol. Likely reaction mechanisms are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 631–638, 2011     

Copolymerization of 3‐buten‐1‐ol and propylene with an isospecific zirconocene/methylaluminoxane catalyst

The copolymerization of propylene and 3‐buten‐1‐ol protected with alkylaluminum [trimethylaluminum (TMA) or triisobutylaluminum] was conducted with an isospecific zirconocene catalyst [rac‐dimethylsilylbis(1‐indenyl)zirconium dichloride], combined with methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, in the presence of additional TMA or H₂ as the chain‐transfer reagent if necessary. The results indicated that end‐hydroxylated polypropylene was obtained in the presence of the chain‐transfer reagents because of the formation of dormant species after the insertion of the 3‐buten‐1‐ol‐based monomer followed by chain‐transfer reactions. The selectivity of the chain‐transfer reactions was influenced by the alkylaluminum protecting the comonomer and the catalyst structure. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5600–5607, 2004     

Thermal decomposition of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone in m‐xylene solution: Experimental and computational study

The mechanism of thermal decomposition of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone in m‐xylene solution was studied experimentally and theoretically at the M05‐2X/6‐31G(d, p) level of theory. It follows first‐order kinetics and appears to be homogeneous and unimolecular. The proposed mechanism is via a six‐membered cyclic transition state to give a mixture of formaldehyde and acetone. Rate constant values were experimentally determined at three temperatures: 483.15, 493.15, and 503.15 K. Calculated rate constants are of the same order of magnitude than the experimental ones. Calculated Gibbs energies of activation agree very well with the experimental values. Computationally, the progress of the reactions was followed by means of the Wiberg bond index. The results indicate that the transition state has an intermediate character between reactants and products, and the calculated synchronicity shows that the reaction is slightly asynchronous. The bond‐breaking processes are more advanced than the bond‐forming ones, indicating a bond deficiency in the transition state. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 44: 407–413, 2012     

Thermal decomposition of methyl β‐hydroxyesters in m‐xylene solution

The products and kinetics of the thermal decomposition of several methyl‐β‐hydroxyesters in m‐xylene solution have been studied. It has been shown that all β‐hydroxyesters studied pyrolyze to form a mixture of methyl acetate and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone and that the decomposition follows first‐order kinetics and appears to be homogeneous and unimolecular. The rate pyrolysis of methyl‐3‐hydroxypropanoate, methyl‐3‐hydroxybutanoate, and methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbutanoate has been measured between 250 and 320°C. The relative rates of primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols at 553 K are 1.0, 8.5 and 54.1, respectively. The absence of large substituent effects indicates that little charge separation occurs during the breaking of carbon–carbon single bond. The activation entropy is compatible with a semipolar six‐membered cyclic transition state postulated for other β‐hydroxy compounds. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 92–96, 2007     

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with NO3 and NO2

Rate coefficients for the gas‐phase reaction of isoprene with nitrate radicals and with nitrogen dioxide were determined. A Teflon collapsible chamber with solid phase micro extraction (SPME) for sampling and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and a glass reactor with long‐path FTIR spectroscopy were used to study the NO₃ radical reaction using the relative rate technique with trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol (crotyl alcohol) as reference compounds. The rate coefficients obtained are k(isoprene + NO₃) = (5.3 ± 0.2) × 10^?13 and k(isoprene + NO₃) = (7.3 ± 0.9) × 10^?13 for the reference compounds trans‐2‐butene and 2‐buten‐1‐ol, respectively. The NO₂ reaction was studied using the glass reactor and FTIR spectroscopy under pseudo‐first‐order reaction conditions with both isoprene and NO₂ in excess over the other reactant. The obtained rate coefficient was k(isoprene + NO₂) = (1.15 ± 0.08) × 10^?19. The apparent rate coefficient for the isoprene and NO₂ reaction in air when NO₂ decay was followed was (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10^?19. The discrepancy is explained by the fast formation of peroxy nitrates. Nitro‐ and nitrito‐substituted isoprene and isoprene‐peroxynitrate were tentatively identified products from this reaction. All experiments were conducted at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure in nitrogen or synthetic air. All rate coefficients are in units of cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and the errors are three standard deviations from a linear least square analyses of the experimental data. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 57–65, 2005     

Surfactant effects on the reaction of 2‐(4‐cyanophenoxy)‐quinoxaline with hydroxide ion

A reaction of 2‐(4‐cyanophenoxy)quinoxaline 1 with hydroxide ion is accelerated by supramolecular aggregates of cetyltrialkylammonium chlorides (alkyl = Me, n‐Pr, and n‐Bu). In diluted surfactant solutions, with relatively high substrate concentration (7.0 × 10^?5 M), rate constants go through double rate maxima with increase in the surfactant concentration. The first rate maximum is ascribed to a reaction occurring in premicellar aggregates and the second to reaction in micelles. At low substrate concentration (7 × 10^?6 M), second‐order rate constants in the micellar pseudophase are dependent on the surfactant headgroup size, which is related to charge dispersion in the transition state. Nonmicellizing tri‐n‐octylmethylammonium ions (TOAMs) increase the reaction of 1 with hydroxide ion. The observed rate enhancements may be due to the formation of small, hydrophobic aggregates which bind the substrate and promote the nucleophilic substitution reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 510–515, 2006     

Thermal dimerization kinetics of 3‐(p‐bromo‐phenyl)‐pyridazinium benzoyl methylid in solutions

3‐(p‐Bromo‐phenyl)‐pyridazinium‐benzoyl methylid (BPPBM) participates in solution at 3 + 3 dipolar thermal dimerization that can be spectrally monitored by the extinction in its visible intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) band. The attenuation of ICT band intensity shows the decrease of the BPPBM concentration with the increasing of dimer concentration. The complex kinetics of light‐assisted dimerization process was studied taking into account that the thermodynamic equilibrium is reached after more than 24 h. On the basis of general order of reaction theory, we found that the dimerization reaction must be described as a multistep mechanism. The rate constants of the dimerization reactions in ethanol (k = 0.00897 s^?1) and benzene (k = 0.00774 s^?1) solutions were correlated with the BPPBM and dimer structural features established by using the HyperChem 5.02 simulation program package. A kinetic mechanism of 3 + 3 dipolar thermal dimerization for the studied ylid is proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 230–239, 2008     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 4,4′‐[2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl)ethylidene]diphthalic anhydride and aromatic diamines

A novel fluorinated aromatic dianhydride, 4,4′‐[2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(3‐trifluoromethyl‐phenyl)ethylidene]diphthalic anhydride (TFDA) was synthesized by coupling of 3′‐trifluoromethyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroacetophenone with o‐xylene under the catalysis of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, followed by oxidation of KMnO₄ and dehydration. A series of fluorinated aromatic polyimides derived from the novel fluorinated aromatic dianhydride TFDA with various aromatic diamines, such as p‐phenylenediamine (p‐PDA), 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA), 1,4‐bis(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene (p‐APB), 1,3‐bis(4‐amino‐phenoxy)benzene (m‐APB), 4‐(4‐aminophenoxy)‐3‐trifluoromethylphenylamine (3FODA) and 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene (6FAPB), were prepared by polycondensation procedure. All the fluorinated polyimides were soluble in many polar organic solvents such as NMP, DMAc, DMF, and m‐cresol, as well as some of low boiling point organic solvents such as CHCl₃, THF, and acetone. Homogeneous and stable polyimide solutions with solid content as high as 35–40 wt % could be achieved, which were prepared by strong and flexible polyimide films or coatings. The polymer films have good thermal stability with the glass transition temperature of 232–322 °C, the temperature at 5% weight loss of 500–530 °C in nitrogen, and have outstanding mechanical properties with the tensile strengths of 80.5–133.2 MPa as well as elongations at breakage of 7.1–12.6%. It was also found that the polyimide films derived from TFDA and fluorinated aromatic diamines possess low dielectric constants of 2.75–3.02, a low dissipation factor in the range of 1.27–4.50 × 10^?3, and low moisture absorptions <1.3%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4143–4152, 2004     

Thermal Behavior of 2‐(Dinitromethylene)‐1,3‐diazacyclopentane

A new compound, 2‐(dinitromethylene)‐1,3‐diazacyclopentane (DNDZ), was prepared by the reaction of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (FOX‐7) with 1,2‐diaminoethane in N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Thermal decomposition of DNDZ was studied under non‐isothermal conditions by DSC, TG/DTG methods, and the enthalpy, apparent activation energy and pre‐exponential factor of the exothermic decomposition reaction were obtained as 317.13 kJ·mol^?1, 269.7 kJ·mol^?1 and 10^24.51 s^?1, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion was 261.04°C. Specific heat capacity of DNDZ was determined with a micro‐DSC method and a theoretical calculation method, and the molar heat capacity was 205.41 J·mol^?1·K^?1 at 298.15 K. Adiabatic time‐to‐explosion was calculated to be a certain value between 263–289 s. DNDZ has higher thermal stability than FOX‐7.     

Rate constants of the gas‐phase reactions of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal,trans‐2‐octenal,and trans‐2‐nonenal

The rate constants of the gas‐phase reaction of OH radicals with trans‐2‐hexenal, trans‐2‐octenal, and trans‐2‐nonenal were determined at 298 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure using the relative rate technique. Two reference compounds were selected for each rate constant determination. The relative rates of OH + trans‐2‐hexenal versus OH + 2‐methyl‐2‐butene and β‐pinene were 0.452 ± 0.054 and 0.530 ± 0.036, respectively. These results yielded an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐hexenal of (39.3 ± 1.7) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐octenal versus the OH reaction with butanal and β‐pinene were 1.65 ± 0.08 and 0.527 ± 0.032, yielding an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐octenal of (40.5 ± 2.5) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The relative rates of OH+trans‐2‐nonenal versus OH+ butanal and OH + trans‐2‐hexenal were 1.77 ± 0.08 and 1.09 ± 0.06, resulting in an average rate constant for OH + trans‐2‐nonenal of (43.5 ± 3.0) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. In all cases, the errors represent 2σ (95% confidential level) and the calculated rate constants do not include the error associated with the rate constant of the OH reaction with the reference compounds. The rate constants for the hydroxyl radical reactions of a series of trans‐2‐aldehydes were compared with the values estimated using the structure activity relationship. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 483–489, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorinated poly(amide imide)s derived from 1,4‐bis(2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐trimellitimidophenoxy)benzene and aromatic diamines

A series of fluorinated poly(amide imide)s were prepared from 1,4‐bis(2′‐trifluoromethyl‐4′‐trimellitimidophenoxy)benzene and various aromatic diamines [3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐diaminediphenylmethane, α,α‐bis(4‐amino‐3,5‐dimethyl phenyl)‐3′‐trifluoromethylphenylmethane, 1,4‐bis(4′‐amino‐2′‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene, 4‐(3′‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,6‐bis(3′‐aminophenyl)pyridine, and 1,1‐bis(4′‐aminophenyl)‐1‐(3′‐trifluoromethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane]. The fluorinated poly(amide imide)s, prepared by a one‐step polycondensation procedure, had good solubility both in strong aprotic solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and cyclopentanone, and in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and m‐cresol. Strong and flexible polymer films with tensile strengths of 84–99 MPa and ultimate elongation values of 6–9% were prepared by the casting of polymer solutions onto glass substrates, followed by thermal baking. The poly(amide imide) films exhibited high thermal stability, with glass‐transition temperatures of 257–266 °C and initial thermal decomposition temperatures of greater than 540 °C. The polymer films also had good dielectric properties, with dielectric constants of 3.26–3.52 and dissipation factors of 3.0–7.7 × 10^?3, and acceptable electrical insulating properties. The balance of excellent solubility and thermal stability associated with good mechanical and electrical properties made the poly(amide imide)s potential candidates for practical applications in the microelectronics industry and other related fields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1831–1840, 2003     

Gas‐Phase Elimination Reaction of Ethyl (5‐cyanomethyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)carbamate: A Computational Study

The gas‐phase elimination reaction of ethyl (5‐cyanomethyl‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl)carbamate has been studied computationally at the MP2/6–31++G(2d,p) level of theory. The values of the activation parameters and rate constants for the thermal decomposition were evaluated over a temperature range from 405.0 to 458.0 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants was used to deduce the modified Arrhenius expression: log k_{405–458 K} = (9.01 ± 0.49) + (1.32 ± 0.16) log T – (6946 ± 30) 1/T, which is in good agreement with the expression obtained from experimental data. The results confirm that the mechanism is a cis‐concerted elimination that occurs in two steps: The first one corresponds to the formation of ethylene and an intermediate, 5‐(cyanomethyl)‐1,3,4‐thiadiazol‐2‐yl‐carbamic acid, via a six‐membered cyclic transition state, and the second one is the decarboxylation of this intermediate via a four‐membered cyclic transition step, leading to carbon dioxide and the corresponding 1,3,4‐thiadiazole derivative (5‐amino‐1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2‐acetonitrile). The connectivity of transition states with their respective minima was verified through intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations, and the progress of the reaction was followed by means of Wiberg bond indices, resulting that both transition states have an “early” character, nearer to the reactants than to the products.     

Kinetics of the reactions of OH with 3‐methyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one and 3,5,5‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one under simulated atmospheric conditions

Relative rate coefficients for the reactions of OH with 3‐methyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one and 3,5,5‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one have been determined at 298 K and atmospheric pressure by the relative rate technique. OH radicals were generated by the photolysis of methyl nitrite in synthetic air mixtures containing ppm levels of nitric oxide together with the test and reference substrates. The concentrations of the test and reference substrates were followed by gas chromatography. Based on the value k(OH + cyclohexene) = (6.77 ± 1.35) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, rate coefficients for k(OH + 3‐methyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one) = (3.1 ± 1.0) × 10^?11 and k(OH + 3,5,5‐trimethyl‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one) = (2.4 ± 0.7) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 were determined. To test the system we also measured k(OH + isoprene) = (1.11 ± 0.23) × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, relative to the value k(OH + (E)‐2‐butene) = (6.4 ± 1.28) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The results are discussed in terms of structure–activity relationships, and the reactivities of cyclic ketones formed in the photo‐oxidation of monoterpene are estimated. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 7–11, 2002     

Facile Synthesis and Properties of 2‐λ5‐Phosphaquinolines and 2‐λ5‐Phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones

Treatment of 2‐ethynylanilines with P(OPh)₃ gives either 2,2‐diphenoxy‐2‐λ⁵‐phosphaquinolines or 2‐phenoxy‐2‐λ⁵‐phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones under transition‐metal‐free conditions. This reaction offers access to an underexplored heterocycle, which opens up the study of the fundamental nature of the N?P^V double bond and its potential for delocalization within a cyclic π‐electron system. This heterocycle can serve as a carbostyril mimic, with application as a bioisostere for pharmaceuticals based on the 2‐quinolinone scaffold. It also holds promise as a new fluorophore, since initial screening reveals quantum yields upwards of 40 %, Stokes shifts of 50–150 nm, and emission wavelengths of 380–540 nm. The phosphaquinolin‐2‐ones possess one of the strongest solution‐state dimerization constants for a D–A system (130 M ^?1) owing to the close proximity of a strong acceptor (P?O) and a strong donor (phosphonamidate N? H), which suggests that they might hold promise as new hydrogen‐bonding hosts for optoelectronic sensing.     

Polybenzimidazoles tethered with N‐phenyl 1,2,4‐triazole units as polymer electrolytes for fuel cells

Polybenzimidazole (PBI) polymers tethered with N‐phenyl 1,2,4‐triazole (NPT) groups were prepared from a newly synthesized aromatic diacid, 3′‐(4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3,5‐diyl) dibenzoic acid (PTDBA). The obtained polymers show superior thermal and chemical stability and good solubility in many aprotic solvents. The inherent viscosities of all polymers were around 1 dL/g. They exhibit high thermal stability with initial decomposition temperature ranging from 515 to 530 °C, high glass transition temperature ranging from 375 to 410 °C, and good mechanical properties with tensile stress in the range of 66–98 MPa and modulus 1897–2600 MPa. XRD analysis indicates that these polymers are amorphous in nature. Physicochemical properties such as water and phosphoric acid‐uptake, oxidative stability, and proton conductivity of membranes of these polymers have also been determined. The proton conductivity ranged from 4.7 × 10^?3 to 1.8 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 175 °C in dry conditions. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2289–2303, 2009     

Investigation of the stereodynamics of tris‐(α‐diimine)–transition metal complexes by enantioselective dynamic MEKC

Enantiomerization of octahedral tris(α‐diimine)–transition metal complexes was investigated by enantioselective dynamic MEKC. Varying both the transition metal ion (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, and Ni²⁺) and the bidentate diimine ligand (1,10‐phenanthroline and 2,2′‐bipyridyl), the enantiomer separations were performed either in a 100 mM sodium tetraborate buffer (pH 9.3) or in a 100 mM sodium tetraborate/sodium dihydrogenphosphate buffer (pH 8.0) both containing sodium cholate as chiral surfactant. The unified equation of dynamic chromatography was employed to determine apparent reaction rate constants from the electropherograms showing distinct plateau formation. Apparent activation parameters ΔH^? and ΔS^? were calculated from temperature‐dependent measurements between 10.0 and 35.0°C in 2.5 K steps. It was found that the nature of the central metal ion and the ligand strongly influence the enantiomerization barrier. Surprisingly, complexes containing the 2,2′‐bipyridyl ligand show highly negative activation entropies between ?103 and ?116 J (K mol)^?1 while the activation entropy of tris(1,10‐phenanthroline) complexes is positive indicating a different mechanism of interconversion. Furthermore, it was found that the Ni²⁺ complexes are stereostable under the conditions investigated here making them a lucent target as enantioselective catalysts.