Synthesis and Characterization of a New Titanium-silicate Material Containing Cage-like Polyhedral Oligosilsesquioxane

A new titanium-silicate material was synthesized with cubic cage-like tetramethylammonium octasilicate and TiCl4 ethanol solution as precursors.The product was characterized by FTIR,29Si NMR,UV-Vis,and XRD.Structural and ingrediental analyses suggest that this material has a layered structure with cubic cage-like polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane as building blocks and titanium as bridging atoms.     

介孔分子筛孔道结构对药物巯甲丙脯酸释放性能的影响

以巯甲丙脯酸为药物模型, 研究了不同孔道结构的介孔分子筛载体的药物释放性能.     

Study of structure properties of organized silica sorbents synthesized on polymeric templates

Mesoporous silica materials were synthesized by applying Pluronic type polymers as pore creating agents. The composition of a reacting mixture and the process conditions were changed in a synthesis procedure. These changes differentiated the characteristics of porous structure of obtained sorbents. The parameters characterizing the pore structure were estimated and the changes of pore arrangement of obtained materials being a result of different synthesis conditions were investigated. The small-angle XRD results indicate that F cubic structure was formed what confirms the cage-like ordering of the synthesized silicas.     

Iron silylamide-grafted periodic mesoporous silica

The surface chemistry of a series of well-defined metalorganic ferrous and ferric iron complexes on periodic mesoporous silica (PMS) was investigated. In addition to literature known Fe(II)[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)(THF), Fe(II)[N(SiPh(2)Me(2))(2)](2), and Fe(III)[N(SiMe(3))(2)](2)Cl(THF), the new complexes [Fe(II){N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(2)](2) and Fe(III)[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](3)(μ-Cl)Li(THF)(3) were employed as grafting precursors. Selection criteria for the molecular precursors were the molecular size (monoiron versus diiron species), the oxidation state of the iron center (II versus III), and the functionality of the silylamido ligand (e.g., built-in spectroscopic probes). Hexagonal channel-like MCM-41 and cubic cage-like SBA-1 were chosen as two distinct PMS materials. The highest iron load (12.8 wt %) was obtained for hybrid material [Fe(II){N(SiHMe(2))(2)}(2)](2)@MCM-41 upon stirring the reaction mixture iron silylamide/PMS/n-hexane for 18 h at ambient temperature. Size-selective grafting and concomitantly extensive surface silylation were found to be prominent for cage-like SBA-1. Here, the surface metalation is governed by the type of iron precursor, the pore size, the reaction time, and the solvent. The formation of surface-attached iron-ligand species is discussed on the basis of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption, and elemental analysis.     

Ordered mesoporous silica with large cage-like pores: structural identification and pore connectivity design by controlling the synthesis temperature and time

FDU-1 silicas with large cage-like pores (diameter about 10 nm) were synthesized under acidic conditions from tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer template B50-6600 (EO(39)BO(47)EO(39)). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering provided strong evidence that FDU-1 silica synthesized under typical conditions is a face-centered cubic Fm3m structure with 3-dimensional hexagonal intergrowth and is not a body-centered cubic Im3m structure, as originally reported. Samples synthesized in a wide range of conditions (initial temperatures from 298 to 353 K; hydrothermal treatment at 333-393 K) exhibited similar XRD patterns and their nitrogen adsorption isotherms indicated a good-quality cage-like pore structure. The examination of low-pressure nitrogen adsorption isotherms for FDU-1 samples, whose pore entrance diameters were evaluated using an independent method, allowed us to conclude that low-pressure adsorption was appreciably stronger for samples with smaller pore entrance sizes. This prompted us to examine low-pressure adsorption isotherms for a wide range of samples and led us to a conclusion that the FDU-1 pore entrance size can be systematically enlarged from about 1.3 nm (perhaps even lower) to at least 2.4 nm without an appreciable loss of uniformity by increasing the temperature of the hydrothermal treatment or the initial synthesis. Further enlargement of pore entrance size was achieved for sufficiently long hydrothermal treatment times at temperatures of 373 K or higher, as seen from the shape of nitrogen desorption isotherms. This allowed us to obtain samples with uniform pore sizes, high adsorption capacity, and with pore entrances enlarged so much that their size was similar to the size of the pore itself, resulting in a highly open porous structure. However, in the latter case, there was evidence that the pore entrance size distribution was quite broad.     

催化苯羟基化反应的高效介孔VOx/SBA-16催化剂

利用浸渍法制备了介孔SBA-16负载高分散氧化钒催化剂(VOx/SBA-16),并使用XRD,TEM,N2物理吸附和Raman光谱对其进行了表征.结果表明,制备的VOx/SBA-16催化剂保持了SBA-16立方笼状孔结构,钒物种主要高度分散在SBA-16载体孔内.钒含量为7·3%的VOx/SBA-16催化剂在催化苯羟基化反应中表现出优异的催化性能.这是由于催化剂表面形成了高分散的VO4物种和纳米结构V2O5微晶.     

Studies on mesoporous niobosilicates synthesized using F127 triblock copolymer

A detailed characterization of cage-like mesoporous SBA-16 niobosilicate with tailored features of the structure is reported. The materials were synthesized in a EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆(F127)-water system under acidic conditions and the pore diameters were tuned by varying the hydrothermal treatment temperature and time. The effects of the synthesis parameters on the structural/textural properties of the cubic Im3m niobosilicates have been investigated systematically. We show that the total pore volume, pore diameter, and micro-/mesopores ratio can be controlled very efficiently by changing the synthesis parameters.     

Coordination chemistry of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and derivatives. Part II. The quest for tailored ligands,complexes and related applications

This review paper covers the recent developments (2004–2009) on the tailored synthetic modifications and related coordination chemistry of the water-soluble cage-like aminophosphine ligand 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo-[3.3.1.1]decane (PTA), together with the new applications in the fields of catalysis, material science and medicinal chemistry.     

Cage-like amino alcohols. synthesis, reactions, and application

The review analyzes methods for the synthesis of amino alcohols containing cage-like norbornene, norbornane, and adamantane fragments. Such reactions of amino alcohols as selective functionalization of hydroxy and amino groups, as well as heterocyclizations with formation of nitrogen- and oxygen-containing heterocycles, are considered. Biological activity of cage-like amino alcohols and their derivatives and their use as ligands in catalytic asymmetric syntheses are discussed.     

Electromagnetic functionalized cage-like polyaniline composite nanostructures

Novel cage-like and electromagnetic functional polyaniline (PANI)/CoFe2O4 composite nanostructures, in which the self-assembled PANI nanofibers (approximately 15 nm in diameter) entwined around the octahedral CoFe2O4 magnet acting as the nucleation site or template, were successfully prepared by FeCl3 as either oxidant and dopant via a self-assembly process. The coordination effect of the magnet as a nucleation site or template and the magnetic interaction between the PANI nanofibers and CoFe2O4 as a driving force results in such cage-like nanostructures. The cage-like composite nanostructures not only have high conductivity (sigmamax approximately 5.2 S/cm), but also show a typical ferromagnetic behavior.     

Cage-like tris(salen)-type metallocryptand for cooperative guest recognition

A new cryptand-like tris(salen)-type ligand, H₆L, was synthesized. Metalation of this ligand with zinc(II) acetate gave a trinuclear metallohost [LZn₃] with a cage-like cavity surrounded by three metallosalen moieties. The metallohost [LZn₃] showed unique binding behavior to MOAc (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) as an ion pair due to the cage-like cavity for cationic guests as well as the zinc(II) centers for anionic guests.     

A novel approach for preparation of “cage-like” multihollow polymer microspheres through sulfonated polystyrene particles

A new and effective process has been developed for fabrication of novel cage-like multihollow polymer particles by using sulfonated polystyrene (SP) particles as the templates, with heptane as the phase separation agent, in an ethanol/water medium. The ratio of water/ethanol and the heating temperature play important roles in the formation of these multihollow particles. It was found that the cage-like polymer particles could be obtained when the ratio of ethanol/water is 5:5 (w/w), with a temperature above 50?°C. After a detailed study, the formation mechanism was proposed based on an SP swollen (ethanol and heptane penetrating process) and phase separation process. This new method for fabricating the cage-like multihollow polymer particles has a great meaning not only on confirming the formation mechanism, but also on providing an effective way to prepare the special hollow core/porous shell polymer particles, which could have wide range of potential applications, such as catalysts, sensors, and drug release.     

Possible cage-like nanostructures formed by amino acids

We report possible cage-like nanostructures formed by a representative amino acid, serine octamers and decamers, determined by binding energy calculations and molecular dynamic simulations using the density functional tight-binding method. We used the l-handed serine to construct complex conformers linked by hydrogen bonds. We found the structures linked by -COOH···O=C- to be the most stable conformers and the calculation of the vibrational modes of complexes further illustrated this result. We attempted to apply our cage-like structures to the delivery of C(20) and cycloserine as model molecules. Our results may shed light on the design of cage-like biocompatible complexes for drug delivery.     

Application of atomic Hirshfeld surface analysis to intermetallic systems: is Mn in cubic CeMnNi4 a thermoelectric rattler atom?

The Mn atom in the cubic polymorph of CeMnNi(4) appears to be located in an oversized cage-like structure, and anomalously large atomic displacement parameters (ADPs) for the Mn atom indicate that it is a potential "rattler" atom. Here, multitemperature synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data measured between 110 and 900 K are used to estimate ADPs for the Mn "guest" atom and the "host" structure atoms in cubic CeMnNi(4). The ADPs are subsequently fitted with Debye and Einstein models, giving Θ(D) = 301(2) K for the "host" structure and Θ(E) = 165(2) K for the Mn atom. This is higher than typical Einstein temperatures for rattlers in thermoelectric skutterudites and clathrates (Θ(E) = 50-80 K), indicating that the Mn atom in cubic CeMnNi(4) is more strongly bonded. In order to probe the chemical interactions of the potential Mn rattler atom, atomic Hirshfeld surface (AHS) analysis is carried out and compared with AHS analysis of well-established guest atom rattlers in archetypical skutterudites, MCoSb(3). Surprisingly, the skutterudite rattlers have more deformed AHSs than the Mn atom in cubic CeMnNi(4). This is related to the highly ionic nature of the skutterudite rattlers, which is not taken into account in the neutral spherical atom approach of the AHS. Additionally, visualization of void spaces in the two materials using the procrystal electron density shows that while the Mn atom is tightly fitting in the CeMnNi(4) structure then the La atom in the skutterudite is truly situated in an oversized cage of the host structure. Overall, we conclude that the Mn atom in cubic CeMnNi(4) cannot be coined a rattler.     

DFT study of structural, electronic, vibrational, and magnetic properties of the chirality cage-like molecule C24O12

Bonding, vibrational and magnetic properties of the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12) are studied by DFT calculations. Infrared- and Raman-active vibrational frequencies of the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12) are assigned. Two (13)C and one (17)O nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral signals of the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12) are characterized. Heat of formation of the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12) is estimated. Compared to C(60) and the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12), only from the thermodynamic points of view, C(24)O(12) is more stable than C(60). Thus we believe that the cage-like molecule C(24)O(12) has sufficient stability to allow its experimental preparation. We proposed that it could be synthesized by using the condensation of molecules C(6)(OH)(6) and C(12)Cl(12). Since the symmetry of C(24)O(12) is D(6), it is a chiral molecule.     

Structure determination of neutral MgO clusters--hexagonal nanotubes and cages

Structural information for neutral magnesium oxide clusters has been obtained by a comparison of their experimental vibrational spectra with predictions from theory. (MgO)(n) clusters with n = 3-16 have been studied in the gas phase with a tunable IR-UV two-color ionization scheme and size-selective infrared spectra have been measured. These IR spectra are compared to the calculated spectra of the global minimum structures predicted by a hybrid ab initio genetic algorithm. The comparison shows clear evidence that clusters of the composition (MgO)(3k) (k = 1-5) form hexagonal tubes, which confirm previous theoretical predictions. For the intermediate sizes (n≠ 3k) cage-like structures containing hexagonal (MgO)(3) rings are identified. Except for the cubic (MgO)(4) no evidence for bulk like structures is found.     

Crystal Structure and Non-Hydrostatic Stress-Induced Phase Transition of Urotropine Under High Pressure

High-pressure behavior of hexamethylenetetramine (urotropine) was studied in situ using angle-dispersive single-crystal synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared absorption (FTIR) spectroscopy. Experiments were conducted in various pressure-transmitting media to study the effect of deviatoric stress on phase transformations. Up to 4 GPa significant damping of molecular librations and atomic thermal motion was observed. A first-order phase transition to a tetragonal structure was observed with an onset at approximately 12.5 GPa and characterized by sluggish kinetics and considerable hysteresis upon decompression. However, it occurs only in non-hydrostatic conditions, induced by deviatoric or uniaxial stress in the sample. This behavior finds analogies in similar cubic crystals built of highly symmetric cage-like molecules and may be considered a common feature of such systems. DFT computations were performed to model urotropine equation of state and pressure dependence of vibrational modes. The first successful Hirshfeld atom refinements carried out for high-pressure diffraction data are reported. The refinements yielded more realistic C−H bond lengths than the independent atom model even though the high-pressure diffraction data are incomplete.     

A two-step route to synthesis of small-pored and thick-walled SBA-16-type mesoporous silica under mildly acidic conditions

Highly ordered SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials were synthesized by using poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer (EO(132)-PO(50)-EO(132), Pluronic F108) as template through a two-step pathway under mildly acidic conditions (pH 2.15-4.50). The highly ordered cage-like mesoporosity of the prepared SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials having Im3m cubic mesostructure was proved by the well-defined X-ray diffraction patterns combined with transmission electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy shows a variation from the spherical agglomerations to the randomly shaped ones with an increase of pH value. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis reveals that the prepared SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials have a uniform small-sized pore diameter (3.37-4.24 nm) and very thick pore wall (8.84-10.2 nm). These features may make the SBA-16-type mesoporous silica materials synthesized in this study favor the incorporation of catalytically active heteroatoms in silica frameworks, and the functionalization of organic groups for applications in catalysis, sensor and separation. The two-step synthetic method under the mildly acidic conditions can also be extended to the production in the industrial scale as an environmentally friendly way.     

Construction and Ion Exchange Properties of Supramolecular Complexes with Organic Ligands and Metal Ions

Supramolecular architectures with specific topologies such as closed threedimensional molecular cages present a large range of applications in material science, medicine and chemical technology.1,2 In the past decades, a number of such frameworks, e.g. M6L4, M12L8 and M18L6, have been synthesized by assembly of organic ligands with transitional metal salts.3-5 However, the M3L2 type cage-like complexes are not well known up to now.6,7 We report herein the generation of M3L2 type cages by tripodal ligands and various metal salts, and the anion exchange, molecular recognition properties of these metallosupramolecular cages.     

Adsorption and structural properties of channel-like and cage-like organosilicas

Channel-like and cage-like mesoporous silicas, SBA-15 (P6mm symmetry group) and SBA-16 (Im3m symmetry group), were modified by introducing single ureidopropyl surface groups, mixed ureidopropyl and mercaptopropyl surface groups, and single bis(propyl)disulfide bridging groups. These hexagonal and cubic organosilicas were prepared under acidic conditions via co-condensation of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and proper organosilanes using poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(propylene oxide)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) amphiphilic block copolymer templates, P123 (EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀) and F127 (EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆). The modified SBA-15 and SBA-16 materials were synthesized by varying the molar ratio of organosilane to TEOS in the initial synthesis gel. The removal of polymeric templates, P123 and F127, was performed with ethanol/hydrochloric acid solution. In the case of SBA-15 the P123 template was fully extracted, whereas this extraction process was less efficient for the removal of F127 template from the SBA-16-type organosilicas; in the latter case a small residue of F127 was retained. The adsorption and structural properties of the resulting materials were studied by nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms at −196^∘C (surface area, pore size distribution, pore volumes), powder X-Ray diffraction, CHNS elemental analysis and high-resolution thermogravimetry. The structural ordering, the BET specific surface area, pore volume and pore size decreased for both channel-like and cage-like mesoporous organosilicas with increasing concentration of incorporated organic groups.