Spectrophotometric determination of copper in alkaline solutions and evaluation of some hydroxy-substituted 1,10-phenanthrolines as chromogenic reagents

Seven new hydroxy-substituted 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives have been evaluated as chromogenic reagents for the determination of copper in strongly alkaline solution. The most sensitive of these, 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline, has proven to be highly effective in a simple, rapid procedure for determining trace amounts of copper in sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, sodium phosphate or ammonium hydroxide.     

Evaluating the influence of deposition conditions on solvation of reactive conducting polymers with neutron reflectivity

We describe in situ neutron reflectivity (NR) and RAIRS studies of the chemical modification of films of a polypyrrole-based conducting polymer derived from the pentafluorophenyl ester of poly(pyrrole-N-propanoic acid) (PFP) electrodeposited on electrode surfaces. We explore the role of the solvent in controlling the rate of reaction with solution-based nucleophiles (amines, which react with the ester to form amides). By varying the identity of the solvent (water vs acetonitrile) and the neutron contrast (deuteration), we find that both the identity of the solvent and its population within the film are paramount in determining chemical reactivity and electroactivity. IR signatures allow monitoring of the reaction of solution-based amine-tagged species such as amino-terminated poly(propylene glycol), ferrocene ethylamine, and lysine with film-based ester functionalities: the carbonyl bands show ester/amide interconversion and some hydrolysis to acid. Time-dependent spectral analysis shows marked variations in reaction rate with (i) (co-)polymer composition (replacement of some fluorinated ester-functionalized pyrrole with unfunctionalized pyrrole), (ii) the solvent to which the polymer film is exposed, and (iii) the rate of polymer deposition. NR data provide solvent profiles as a function of distance perpendicular to the interface, the variations of which provide an explanation for film reactivity patterns. Homopolymer films are relatively hydrophobic, thus hindering reaction with species present in water solutions. Incorporating pyrrole groups raises the solvent population-dramatically for water-thereby facilitating entry and reaction of aqueous-based lysine. Changing film deposition rate yields films with different absolute levels of solvent and reactivity patterns that are dependent on the size of the reactant molecules: more rapid deposition of polymer gives films with a more open structure leading to a higher solvent content and thence increased reactivity. These results, supported by XPS and AFM data, allow assembly of composition-structure-reactivity correlations, in which the controlling feature is film solvation.     

Temporal onset-order discrimination through the tactual sense

Tactual temporal-onset order thresholds were measured for two sinusoidal vibrations of different frequencies delivered to two separate locations (thumb and index finger) of a multi-finger tactual stimulating device. The frequency delivered to the thumb was fixed at 50 Hz and that to the index finger at 250 Hz. The amplitude and duration of each of the two sinusoidal vibrations were roved independently from trial to trial in a 1-interval, 2AFC procedure. Performance, measured as a function of stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA), indicated that the temporal-onset-order threshold averaged 34 ms across four subjects. The data were further classified into subsets according to both the amplitude and duration of the two stimuli in each trial of the roving-discrimination paradigm. The results indicated that the amplitude differences of the two stimuli in each trial had a substantial effect on onset-order discrimination, while duration differences generally had little effect. The effects of amplitude differences are explained qualitatively in terms of amplitude latency relationships and stimulus interactions such as temporal masking. Overall, the results not only contribute to an enhanced understanding of the temporal sensitivity of the tactual system but also provide guidelines for the design of tactual aids for hearing-impaired persons.     

Building blocks for N-type molecular and polymeric electronics. Perfluoroalkyl- versus alkyl-functionalized oligothiophenes (nTs; n = 2-6). Systematic synthesis, spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and solid-state organization

The synthesis, comparative physicochemical properties, and solid-state structures of five oligothiophene (nT) series differing in substituent nature and attachment, regiochemistry, and oligothiophene core length (n) are described. These five series include the following 25 compounds: (i) alpha,omega-diperfluorohexyl-nTs 1 (DFH-nTs, n = 2-6), (ii) beta,beta'-diperfluorohexyl-nTs 2 (isoDFH-nTs, n = 2-6), (iii) alpha,omega-dihexyl-nTs 3 (DH-nTs, n = 2-6), (iv) beta,beta'-dihexyl-nTs 4 (isoDH-nTs, n = 2-6), and (v) unsubstituted oligothiophenes 5 (alphanTs, n = 2-6). All new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. To probe and address quantitatively how the chemistry and regiochemistry of conjugated core substitution affects molecular and solid-state properties, the entire 1-5 series was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and optical absorption and emission spectroscopies. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for several fluorocarbon-substituted oligomers are also presented and compared. The combined analysis of these data indicates that fluorocarbon-substituted nT molecules strongly interact in the condensed state, with unit cell level phase separation between the aromatic core and fluorocarbon chains. Surprisingly, despite these strong intermolecular interactions, high solid-state fluorescence efficiencies are exhibited by the fluorinated derivatives. Insight into the solution molecular geometries and conformational behavior are obtained from analysis of optical and variable-temperature NMR spectra. Finally, cyclic voltammetry data offer a reliable picture of frontier MO energies, which, in combination with DFT computations, provide key information on relationships between oligothiophene substituent effects and electronic response properties.     

The site of Cr+ attachment to gas-phase aniline from infrared spectroscopy

Infrared spectroscopy of gas-phase Cr+ complexes of aniline was studied using the FELIX free electron laser interfaced to a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. For both the monomer complex Cr+(aniline) and the dimer complex Cr+(aniline)2 the spectra showed features indicating binding of the metal ion to the aromatic pi cloud, as opposed to the nitrogen atom. Agreement with DFT-calculated infrared absorption spectra for the ring-bound complexes was good using the MPW1PW91 functional, but the B3LYP functional predicted the wrong binding site. The spectroscopic results resolve the ambiguity in computational prediction of the preferred binding site and support the use of the MPW1PW91 functional for these systems.     

Molecular cube of Re(II) and Mn(II) that exhibits single-molecule magnetism

A pseudocubic, paramagnetic cluster of ReII and MnII, [{MnCl}4{Re(triphos)(CN)3}4], has been prepared, and its magnetic properties have been investigated. Antiferromagnetic coupling is observed between the "S = 1/2" ReII and S = 5/2 MnII centers resulting in an effective S = 8 ground state. AC susceptibility studies reveal that the molecule is a single-molecule magnet with an effective barrier for magnetization reversal of Ueff = 8.8 cm-1.     

Halide-induced supramolecular ligand rearrangement

A novel reaction involving the halide-induced rearrangement of ligands within supramolecular Rh(I) complexes containing hemilabile ligands is presented. Three analogous bis- and trishemilabile ligands have been synthesized to construct bi- and trimetallic Rh(I) macrocyclic complexes. An intentionally added halide source results in the formal rotation of only one hemilabile ligand along the axis that is perpendicular to the plane defined by the aryl backbone of the hemilabile ligands. X-ray structures, as determined by X-ray crystallography, of key intermediates and products are presented.     

A charge-transfer-induced spin transition in the discrete cyanide-bridged complex [[Co(tmphen)2]3[Fe(CN)6]2

A charge-transfer-induced spin transition (CTIST) is observed in the discrete cyanide-bridged complex, {[Co(tmphen)2]3[Fe(CN)6]2}. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction, 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy, and magnetic susceptibility were used collectively to describe the oxidation states of the Co and Fe ions in this cluster as a function of temperature. This pentanuclear complex represents the first example of a CTIST at the discrete molecular level.