New structural model for Si/SiO2 interfaces derived from spherosiloxane clusters: implications for Si 2p photoemission spectroscopy

In this Letter, we investigate the Si/SiO(2) interface structure formed by the chemisorption of H8Si8O12 and other spherosiloxane clusters on Si(100). Using transition state calculations, we clearly demonstrate that the clusters do not bond to the Si(100) surface via single vertex attachment as proposed previously, but rather attach via Si-O bond cleavage. This alternative cracked cluster geometry allows us to predict the photoemission features of spherosiloxane clusters on Si(100) without invoking second nearest neighbor effects.     

Spontaneous Cu(I)Br–PMDETA‐mediated polymerization of isobornyl methacrylate in heterogeneous aqueous medium at ambient temperature

Isobornyl methacrylate (IBMA), a bulky hydrophobic methacrylate, undergoes very fast polymerization, in bulk, with Cu(I)Br/N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine (PMDETA)/ethyl‐2‐bromoisobutyrate system, at ambient temperature. IBMA also undergoes a spontaneous initiator‐free polymerization, at ambient temperature, with Cu(I)Br/PMDETA catalytic system in dimethyl sulfoxide–water mixtures. The rate of the polymerization is seen to increase with the water content up to 80 mol % of water. A possible intervention of air in initiation is proposed. The active Cu(0) formed by the disproportionation of Cu(I) species in aqueous medium probably plays a vital role for a possible air‐initiation of IBMA via single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) mechanism. A high tolerance level to water under SET‐LRP conditions is demonstrated. The poly(IBMA) samples obtained exhibit low molecular weight distributions (1.1–1.3). Similar behavior was not observed with other common methacrylates such as methyl methacrylate, t‐butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and benzyl methacrylate. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis and morphological study of thick benzyl methacrylate-styrene diblock copolymer brushes

We demonstrate, for the first time, the synthesis of model poly(benzyl methacrylate) [P(BnMA)] brushes of very high thickness (>300 nm) on silicon wafer. P(BnMA) brush is also synthesized from the surface of silica nanoparticles, from a covalently anchored initiator monolayer, using ambient temperature ATRP. The kinetic studies and block copolymerization from the surface anchored P(BnMA)-Br macroinitiator showed that the polymerization was controlled in nature. AFM, ellipsometry, and water contact angle were used for the characterization of the polymer brush. The grafting density of the P(BnMA) brush, formed by immersion in a dilute monomer solution, was relatively less (～11% less) in comparison to that obtained by immersion in neat monomer under similar conditions. The P(BnMA)-Br macroinitiator brushes were used to synthesize P(BnMA-b-S) diblock copolymer brushes by the ATRP of styrene at 95 °C. The P(BnMA-b-S) brushes showed stimulus response to a selective solvent and various nanopatterns were observed according to the composition of the block copolymer.     

Gating the mechanistic pathway to the elusive 4-membered ring azeteoporphyrin

Photolysis of metalated (Cu and Ni) and free base 2-diazo-3-oxochlorins within a frozen matrix (λ = 457.9 nm, toluene, 80 K) generates a single photointermediate with a hypsochromically shifted electronic absorption spectrum relative to the starting diazochlorins. The appearance of ketene (~2131 cm(-1)) and azete (~1670 cm(-1)) vibrations in infrared absorption and Raman spectra, respectively, identifies this intermediate as resulting from the Wolff rearrangement of the diazochlorins upon N(2) loss. Computational modeling of the vibrational spectra and TDDFT simulation of the electronic transitions of potential photointermediates corroborate this assignment. Isolation and analysis of photoproducts of these diazochlorins formed within n-butanol-doped frozen toluene matrices indicate near exclusive formation of azeteoporphyrins. In sharp contrast, room temperature laser photolysis of these materials yields a mixture of photoproducts deriving from the presence of both carbene and ketene intermediates. Computational modeling of the intramolecular reactivity of the proposed sp(2) carbene intermediate shows exclusive bond insertion to the adjacent phenyl group, and no evidence of Wolff rearrangement. Computational reaction profile analyses reveal that the barrierless Wolff rearrangement proceeds via an out-of-plane carbene electronic configuration that is generated directly during the loss of N(2). The formation of out-of-plane carbene, resulting in the exclusive formation of the observed ketene photointermediate at low temperatures, is consistent with orbital symmetry considerations and by the geometric constraints imposed by the frozen matrix. Combined, this leads to a model showing that azeteoporphyrin formation via the Wolff rearrangement is dependent upon the structural disposition of the adjacent framework, and the specific reaction intermediate formed is very sensitive to this feature.     

QM:QM embedding using electronic densities within an ONIOM framework: energies and analytic gradients

Accurate calculations of large systems remain a challenge in electronic structure theory. Hybrid energy techniques are a promising family of methods for treating such systems. Expanding on previous developments, we present a QM:QM electronic embedding model whereby the high-level region is polarized by the electron density of the low-level region within an ONIOM framework. A direct Coulomb embedding model as well a more computationally efficient model involving a density fitting expansion are considered. We also develop a generalized theory for the first derivatives of these classes of QM:QM electronic embedding schemes, which requires solution of a single set of self-consistent field response equations. Two initial test cases are presented and discussed.     

Ambient temperature ATRP of benzyl methacrylate as a tool for the synthesis of block copolymers with styrene

The rapid atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of benzyl methacrylate (BnMA) at ambient temperature was used to synthesize block copolymers with styrene as the second monomer. Various block copolymers such as AB diblock, BAB symmetric and asymmetric triblock, and ABABA pentablock copolymers were synthesized in which the polymerization of one of the blocks namely BnMA was performed at ambient temperature. It is demonstrated that the block copolymerization can be performed in a controlled manner, regardless of the sequence of monomer addition via halogen exchange technique. Using this reaction condition, the composition (ratio) of one block (here BnMA) can be varied from 1 to 100. It is further demonstrated that in the multiblock copolymer syntheses involving styrene and benzyl methacrylate, it is better to start from the PS macroinitiator compared with PBnMA macroinitiator. The polymers synthesized are relatively narrow dispersed (<1.5). It is identified that the ATRP of BnMA is limited to certain molecular weights of the PS macroinitiator. Additionally, a preliminary report about the synthesis of the block copolymer of BnMA‐methyl methacrylate (MMA), both at ambient temperature, is demonstrated. Subsequent deprotection of the benzyl group using Pd/C? H₂ results in methacrylic acid (MAA)–methyl methacrylate (MAA–MMA) amphiphilic block copolymer. GPC, IR, and NMR are used to characterize the synthesized polymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2848–2861, 2006     

Relative diels-alder reactivity of 3-alkyl-2-(3-butenyl)-1,2-dihydropyridines. : Interplay of electronic and steric factors related to the 3-alkyl group.

Steric effects have been found to predominate over Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO) effects in controlling the relative rates of intramolecular cycloadditions of 3-R-substituted- 2-(3-butenyl)1,2-dihydropyridines (DHP) in the series $\text{4a–c}$ (R = H, Me, Et).     

Electrical Conductivity in TCNQ Salts of Bis(4-dimethylaminophenylimino) sulfur and its Structural Analogues

Four compounds, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-benzidine, 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)azobenzene and bis(4-dimethylaminophenylimino)sulfur (BAPIS) were examined electrochemically and spectroscopically. Each was shown to be a fairly good donor forming in its first oxidation state a radical-cation. The latter two materials surprisingly exhibited only single one-electron oxidations. Conformational flexibility about the -NSN- unit was studied by NMR spectroscopy and ab initio molecular orbital theory. The experimental ΔG* for a cis-trans to trans-cis interconversion in BAPIS was found to be 11.9 kcal/mole.

The four donors all form 1:1 adducts with TCNQ. The compaction resistances of the complexes have been measured as a function of temperature. Of the four, (BAPIS)(TCNQ) appears to be a one-dimensional material. The other three complexes behave as typical mixed stack organic semiconductors.     

Quantum chemical studies of semiconductor surface chemistry using cluster models

Modern quantum chemical methods can be used to investigate many properties of novel molecules and materials with predictive power. We have carried out accurate quantum chemical calculations with cluster models to investigate chemical reactions on semiconductor surfaces. The structure–property relationships that emerge from these studies are illustrated with particular emphasis on silicon as well as indium phosphide surface chemistry. Some new strategies that we have developed to provide a proper balance between covalent and dative bonding in compound semiconductors are discussed. Embedded cluster models have been used in some cases to include the effects of the surroundings on the active region. The structural and mechanistic understanding that emerges from our studies is illustrated by selected results on atomic layer deposition of Al₂O₃ on silicon and hydrogenation of P-rich and In-rich indium phosphide surfaces.     

Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using a Novel Graft Copolymer and Enhanced Particle Stability via a “Polymer Brush Effect”

Polymer‐encapsulated silver nanoparticles were synthesized and sterically stabilized by a new core‐shell type system consisting of poly(S‐alt‐MA)‐graft‐PMMA copolymer that acts as a scaffold for the synthesis of size confined nanoparticles. The graft copolymer is synthesized via ambient temperature ATRP using the CuBr/PMDETA catalytic system at ambient temperature. The graft copolymer is hypothesized to function as a scaffold with the anhydride part interacting strongly with the silver ions, while the PMMA graft functions as a polymer brush that stabilizes the dispersion and prevents the particle aggregation due to a ‘polymer brush effect’. UV absorption and TEM studies confirm that the synthesized silver composite particles have a core‐shell structure.