Persistent Digermenes with Acyl and α-Chlorosilyl Functionalities

We report the preparation of α-chlorosilyl- and acyl-substituted digermenes. Unlike the corresponding transient disilenes, these species with a Ge=Ge double bond show an unexpectedly low tendency for cyclization, but in turn are prone to thermal Ge=Ge bond cleavage. Triphenylsilyldigermene has been isolated as a crystalline model compound, and is the first fully characterized example of a neutral digermene with an A₂GeGeAB substitution pattern. Spectroscopic and computational evidence prove the constitution of 1-adamantoyldigermene as a first persistent species with a heavy double bond conjugated with a carbonyl moiety.     

Fluorescent Flipper Probes: Comprehensive Twist Coverage

To image the membrane tension in living cells, planarizable push–pull probes have been introduced. The first operational probe is built around two dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]thiophenes (DTTs) that are twisted out of co-planarity and polarized with donors and acceptors at either end. In this report, the chemical space available for the twisting of “flipper probes” is assessed comprehensively. The result is, not surprisingly, that every atom matters: Removal of one methyl group in the twist region yields probes that planarize already in solution and are thus less sensitive to membrane tension. Addition of one or more carbons in the same region hinders non-interfering probe alignment along lipid tails and thus partitioning into lipid bilayer membranes as well as mechanosensitivity. However, substitution of one methyl by an isosteric trifluoromethyl group in the twist region, achieved by quite substantial multistep organic synthesis, yields excitation maxima that shift over +100 nm to the red in response to increasing order of the surrounding membrane. This record redshift comes with record changes in fluorescence intensity and lifetime, high push–pull transition dipoles and higher rotational barriers. Supported by distinct dependence on viscosity and twist of the push–pull probes, kinetic competition between dark, fully twisted and bright, fully planarized relaxed excited states emerges as unifying origin of fluorescence quantum yields.     

An Organic Zeolite With 10 Å Diameter Pores Assembles From a Soluble and Flexible Building Block by Non-Covalent Interactions

Two similar molecular building blocks, which both contain a hydrogen-bonded nitro group, have been prepared and crystallised. One structure has more flexibility with a butyl side chain which allows an open framework organic zeolite to form with large 10 Å diameter pores, whereas the other structure has less flexibility with an aryl side chain and is close packed. The pore size is comparable with those of the aluminophosphate VPI-5 (12 Å). It is concluded that some flexibility in the design of the building block for porous organic molecular materials was beneficial.     

Herringbone and Helical Self‐Assembly of π‐Conjugated Molecules in the Solid State through CH/π Hydrogen Bonds

Self‐organization of organic molecules through weak noncovalent forces such as CH/π interactions and creation of large hierarchical supramolecular structures in the solid state are at the very early stage of research. The present study reports direct evidence for CH/π interaction driven hierarchical self‐assembly in π‐conjugated molecules based on custom‐designed oligophenylenevinylenes (OPVs) whose structures differ only in the number of carbon atoms in the tails. Single‐crystal X‐ray structures were resolved for these OPV synthons and the existence of long‐range multiple‐arm CH/π interactions was revealed in the crystal lattices. Alignment of these π‐conjugated OPVs in the solid state was found to be crucial in producing either right‐handed herringbone packing in the crystal or left‐handed helices in the liquid‐crystalline mesophase. Pitch‐ and roll‐angle displacements of OPV chromophores were determined to trace the effect of the molecular inclination on the ordering of hierarchical structures. Furthermore, circular dichroism studies on the OPVs were carried out in the aligned helical structures to prove the existence of molecular self‐assembly. Thus, the present strategy opens up new approaches in supramolecular chemistry based on weak CH/π hydrogen bonding, more specifically in π‐conjugated materials.     

Bimetallic oxide nanoparticles confined in ZIF‐67‐derived carbon for highly selective oxidation of saturated C–H bond in alkyl arenes

Zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have recently emerged as an ideal type of carbon precursors with abundant tailorability. In this work, a series of ZIF‐derived porous carbon catalysts have been prepared with encapsulation of bimetallic oxide nanoparticles via simple thermal treatment. The composition and structure of these catalysts were confirmed in detail by different characterization methods. The bimetallic oxide (Mn/Co, Fe/Co, and Cu/Co) nanoparticles were encapsulated in the nitrogen‐doped graphitized carbon matrix. Moreover, the hierarchically porous structure and carbon defects were successfully constructed in the carbon catalysts. Additionally, in the selective oxidation of saturated C–H bonds in alkyl arenes, the carbon catalysts demonstrate outstanding performance for the oxidation of C–H bonds to corresponding carboxyl groups. This was due to their unique structure can greatly promote mass transfer and molecular oxygen activation, resulting in high conversion and high selectivity. Remarkably, this work here could also provide a novel strategy to the controllable synthesis of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)‐derived carbon catalysts for enhanced performance in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Microsolvation of small cations and anions

Recent advances in the theoretical treatment of microsolvation of small ions, a problem with practical implications in chemistry, physics, and biology, are exposed. In particular, we discuss sound stochastic approaches to sample complex energy landscapes and delve into the nature of bonding interactions that dictate both structural and energetical preferences. An in-depth analysis of the effect of formal charges in the surrounding network of solvent to solvent hydrogen bonds is also presented. The problem, as expected, is more complicated than simple definitions may forecast.     

Covalently Linked Bis(Amido-Corroles): Inter- and Intramolecular Hydrogen-Bond-Driven Supramolecular Assembly

Four bis-corroles linked by diamide bridges were synthesized through peptide-type coupling of a trans-A₂B-corrole acid with aliphatic and aromatic diamines. In the solid state, the hydrogen-bond pattern in these bis-corroles is strongly affected by the type of solvent used in the crystallization process. Although intramolecular hydrogen bonds play a decisive role, they are supported by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and weak N−H⋅⋅⋅π interactions between molecules of toluene and the corrole cores. In an analogy to mono(amido-corroles), both in crystalline state and in solutions, the aliphatic or aromatic bridge is located directly above the corrole ring. When either ethylenediamine or 2,3-diaminonaphthalene are used as linkers, incorporation of polar solvents into the crystalline lattice causes a roughly parallel orientation of the corrole rings. At the same time, both NHCO⋅⋅⋅NH corrole hydrogen bonds are intramolecular. In contrast, solvation in toluene causes a distortion with one of the hydrogen bonds being intermolecular. Interestingly, intramolecular hydrogen bonds are always formed between the –NHCO– functionality located further from the benzene ring present at the position 10-meso. In solution, the hydrogen-bonds pattern of the bis(amido-corroles) is strongly affected by the type of the solvent. Compared with toluene (strongly high-field shifted signals), DMSO and pyridine disrupt self-assembly, whereas hexafluoroisopropanol strengthens intramolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Small changes with big effects: Tuning polymer properties with supramolecular interactions

For biological polymers like DNA and proteins, supramolecular interactions dictate the folding and assembly of the polymer chains. Advances in synthetic polymer chemistry enable the synthesis of polymers of defined length and composition, but the field has yet to reach the same level of sophistication as nature's polymers. However, the incorporation of just a few supramolecular interactions into a synthetic polymer chain can drastically change the manner in which the polymer assembles and interacts, thereby altering the properties of a polymeric material. This highlight will focus on approaches wherein a low‐density of supramolecular functionalities (<10 wt %) were used per polymer chain. How the selection of the appropriate supramolecular functionality (based on the directionality and strength of the interaction), along with the location of these groups on a polymer chain, can afford a spectrum of material properties has been highlighted. At one end, the supramolecular motif can dramatically alter the elasticity of a material, and at the other, the motif can have a more subtle effect like increasing the stability of a micelle. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 457–472     

How Many Water Molecules Does it Take to Dissociate HCl?

The potential energy surfaces of the HCl(H₂O)_n (n is the number of water molecules) clusters are systematically explored using density functional theory and high‐level ab initio computations. On the basis of electronic energies, the number of water molecules needed for HCl dissociation is four as reported by some experimental groups. However, this number is five owing to the inclusion of entropic factors. Wiberg bond indices are calculated and analyzed, and the results provide a quadratic correlation and classification of clusters according to the nondissociated, partially dissociated, and fully dissociated character of the H?Cl bond. Our computations show that if temperature is not controlled during the experiment, the values obtained for the dipole moment (or for any measurable property) are susceptible to change, providing a different picture of the number of water molecules needed for HCl dissociation in a nanoscopic droplet.