Electronic structure of highly conducting conjugated polymers: evolution upon doping of polyacetylene, polythiophene, and polyemeraldine

The electronic properties of three types of conducting polymers: trans-polyacetylene (proto-typical of systems with a degenerate ground state), polythiophene (as an example of compounds with a nondegenerate ground state), and polyemeraldine (which can be doped via protonation) are reviewed. The structural and electronic band structure properties of these systems are studied at various defect concentrations corresponding to undoped, lightly doped, and highly doped polymers. Geometry optimizations of oligomeric equivalents to the undoped and doped polymers are performed using the semi-empirical MNDO and AM1 methods. The electronic band structures are calculated using the VEH method. The interpretation of the optical absorption data is discussed in terms of interband transitions; for doped trans-polyacetylene including soliton defects and for doped polythiophene including bipolaron defects. For highly doped trans-polyacetylene and polythiophene as well as for protonated polyemeraldine, the electronic structure of a polaron lattice conformation is discussed and shown to be in agreement with existing optical and magnetic data on these polymers.     

CROSS-LINKING OF AROMATIC POLY（THIOETHER）S

A novel cross-linking process using two high molecular weight aromatic poly(thioether)s,which were synthesized by the reactions of 4,4′-thiobisbenzenethiol with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone and 4,4′-difluorodiphenylsulfone,respectively, and commercially available lower molecular weight poly(p-phenylene sulfide)was investigated.These reactions were carried out in bulk by the addition of silver tetrafluroborate andα,α′-dibromo-p-xylene at 190℃over a period of 45 min. Furthermore,the same procedure could be modified to cross-link compression-molded films of these three polymers.The thermal and solubility behaviors of these polymers before and after cross-linking reactions,are presented.     

Hot atom chemistry in oxyanion targets,part II1: Recoil behaviour of56Mn in permanganates

Fractional precipitation techniques have been utilized to separate the lower valent and parent forms of⁵⁶Mn in permanganate targets and an attempt is made to study a few aspects of chemical stabilization of recoil⁵⁶Mn in permanganates. Ammonium permanganate, recoil behaviour of which has not been studied previously, is chosen as one of the targets along with the potassium permanganate for initial retention and also for isothermal annealing.⁵⁶Mn initial retentions of about 12% and about 4% are obtained for potassium and ammonium permanganate, respectively, by activation from a Ra–Be neutron source. A usual trend for KMnO₄ and the reduction of recoil fragments by ammonium ions in NH₄MnO₄ are seen through the isothermal annealing study.     

The molecular structure of di-t-butylamine, NH[C(CH3)3]2, as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction: an exceptionally sterically hindered amine

Gaseous di-t-butylamine, NHBu^t₂, has been studied by electron diffraction at a nozzle temperature of ca. 293 K. The diffraction data reveal that this amine is exceedingly hindered. Repulsive steric interactions between the Bu^t groups are mainly relieved by an opening of the CNC valence angle to 135(3)°. Evidence of steric strain may also be found in the non-zero tilts (2–3°) of the Bu^t groups, defining the angle of rotation of these groups about axes through the N-bonded carbon atoms orthogonal to the NC₂ plane. The N---C and C---C bonds, 1.467(13) and 1.561(6) Å, respectively, are on the other hand relatively unstrained. Other principal geometrical parameters are unexceptional: C---H = 1.103(10) Å, NCC = 111.3(1.5)° (mean value) and CCH = 106(2)°. The position of the N-bonded hydrogen atom relative to the NC₂ plane could not be determined. The torsional positions of the Bu^t groups, with respect to the N---C bonds, could not be derived from least-squares refinements. A large number of models with Bu^t groups in various fixed positions were considered; the best fit between the observed and theoretical intensity data was obtained with one Bu^t group being twisted 19° away from the position typified by one C---C bond of this group being anti to the remote N---C bond, and the other Bu^t group similarly twisted by 30°. When viewed along the N---C bonds, the Bu^t groups are twisted in the same direction. Viewed along the C(N)C axis, these groups come close to being staggered with respect to each other. The values of the above bond distances are those of r_a parameters. Parenthesized values denote error limits, being least-squares standard deviations multiplied by a factor of three.     

A novel regiodivergent resolution reaction mediated by a homochiral lithium amide base

The reaction of a racemic perhydroisoquinolene derivative 9 with the homochiral lithium amide basse 3 in the presence of Me₃SiCl in an regiodivergent fashion to give the two non-racemic regioisomeric enol silanes 10 and 11. Conversion of 10 into enone 15, an intermediate useful in the synthesis of the alkaloid (+)-yohimbine, was also possible.     

New derivatization method for determination of 3-chloro-4(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in water

An extremely potent mutagen, 3-chloro-4(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) is commonly present in chlorinated drinking water. Due to its high mutagenic activity and according to World Health Organization guidelines its concentration should be controlled in drinking waters. Determination of MX is difficult due to ppt levels at which the compound usually exists in drinking waters. Derivatization of MX with 2-propanol is presented as a method which significantly lowers the GC–MS detection level compared to other alcohol derivatization agents.     

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF POLYMERS BY THE ADDITION OF GRAFTED NANO-INORGANIC PARTICLES

An irradiation grafting method was applied for the modification of nanoparticles so that the latter can be added topolymeric materials for improving their mechanical performance using existing compounding techniques. The followingitems are discussed in this paper: (a) chemical interaction between the grafting monomers and the nanoparticles duringirradiation, (b) properties including modulus, yield strength, impact strength and fracture toughness of the resultantcomposites, and (c) possible morphological changes induced by the addition of nanoparticles. Though irradiation graftingpolymerization, nanoparticle agglomerates turn into a nano-composite microstructure (comprised of the nanoparticles and thegrafted, homopolymerized secondary polymer), which in turn builds up a strong interfacial interaction with the surrounding,primary polymeric matrix during the subsequent mixing procedure. Due to the fact that different grafting polymers broughtabout different nanoparticle/matrix interfacial features, microstructures and properties of the ultimate composites could thusbe tailored. It was found that the reinforcing and toughening effects of the nanoparticles on the polymer matrix can be fullybrought into play at a rather low filler loading in comparison to conventional particulate filled composites.     

ortho-Mercuration of ferrocenylimines

The mercuration of a series of aryliminomethylferrocenes occurred predominantly in an ortho-position of the substituted ferrocenyl ring to yield 2-mercurated ferrocenylimines. The regiospecificity of this reaction suggests that the mercury is directed into the ortho-position by coordination of the mercury to imino nitrogen with subsequent electrophilic substitution. The chromatographic and spectral properties of the 2-mercurated products show the presence of an intramolecular N → Hg coordination via the five-membered ring in these molecules, which was further confirmed by the single-crystal structure analysis of 2-chloromercuro-1-[(4-methoxyphenylimino)methyl]ferrocene.     

DNA cleavage reaction of antitumour antibiotic, kapurimycin A3, with deoxytetranucleotide d(CGCG)2

Kapurimycin A3 (kap A3, 1 ), an antitumour antibiotic, alkylates N7 of guanine₂ (G₂) and G₄ of d(C₁G₂C₃G₄)₂ to produce their covalent adducts 2 (64 %) and 3 (7.0 %), respectively. Heating at 90 °C for 5 min degraded both adducts to kap A3 - G adduct (5) with the concurrent release of their respective abasic-site containing oligomers 4 and 6.     

Ultrahigh field MAS NMR dipolar correlation spectroscopy of the histidine residues in light-harvesting complex II from photosynthetic bacteria reveals partial internal charge transfer in the B850/His complex.

Low-temperature 15N and 13C CP/MAS (cross-polarization/magic angle spinning) NMR has been used to analyze BChl-histidine interactions and the electronic structure of histidine residues in the light-harvesting complex II (LH2) of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila. The histidines were selectively labeled at both or one of the two nitrogen sites of the imidazole ring. The resonances of histidine nitrogens that are interacting with B850 BChl a have been assigned. Specific 15N labeling confirmed that it is the tau-nitrogen of histidines which is ligated to Mg2+ of B850 BChl molecules (beta-His30, alpha-His31). The pi-nitrogens of these Mg2+-bound histidines were found to be protonated and may be involved in hydrogen bond interactions. Comparison of the 2-D MAS NMR homonuclear (13C-13C) dipolar correlation spectrum of [13C6,15N3]-histidines in the LH2 complex with model systems in the solid state reveals two different classes of electronic structures from the histidines in the LH2. In terms of the 13C isotropic shifts, one corresponds to the neutral form of histidine and the other resembles a positively charged histidine species. 15N-13C double-CP/MAS NMR data provide evidence that the electronic structure of the histidines in the neutral BChl a/His complexes resembles the positive charge character form. While the Mg...15N isotropic shift confirms a partial positive charge transfer, its anisotropy is essentially of the lone pair type. This provides evidence that the hybridization structure corresponding to the neutral form of the imidazole is capable of "buffering" a significant amount of positive charge.