A New Approach for the Synthesis of Miktoarm Star Polymers Through a Combination of Thiol–Epoxy “Click” Chemistry and ATRP/Ring‐Opening Polymerization Techniques

A new approach was developed for synthesis of certain A₃B₃‐type of double hydrophilic or amphiphilic miktoarm star polymers using a combination of “grafting onto” and “grafting from” methods. To achieve the synthesis of desired miktoarm star polymers, acetyl protected poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) thiols (M_n = 550 and 2000 g mol^?1) were utilized to generate A₃‐type of homoarm star polymers through an in situ protective group removal and a subsequent thiol–epoxy “click” reaction with a tris‐epoxide core viz. 1,1,1‐tris(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethane triglycidyl ether. The secondary hydroxyl groups generated adjacent to the core upon the thiol–epoxy reaction were esterified with α‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to install atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiating sites. ATRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) using the three‐arm star PEG polymer fitted with ATRP initiating sites adjacent to the core afforded A₃B₃‐type of double hydrophilic (PEG)₃[poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)] (PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymers. Furthermore, the generated hydroxyl groups were directly used as initiator for ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone to prepare A₃B₃‐type of amphiphilic (PEG)₃[poly(ε‐caprolactone)]₃ miktoarm star polymers. The double hydrophilic (PEG)₃(PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymers showed lower critical solution temperature around 34 °C. The preliminary transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated formation of self‐assembly of (PEG)₃(PNIPAM)₃ miktoarm star polymer in aqueous solution. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 146–156     

Clickable polyurethanes based on s‐triazine ring containing aromatic diisocyanate bearing pendent alkyne group: Synthesis and postmodification

A new s‐triazine ring containing aromatic diisocyanate bearing a pendent alkyne group, namely, 2,4‐bis(4‐isocyanatophenoxy)?6‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)?1,3,5‐triazine was synthesized and reacted with various diols viz., 1,10‐decanediol, tetraethylene glycol and polyethylene glycols in the presence of dibutyltin dilaurate as the catalyst to obtain a series of linear polyurethanes. The selected polyurethanes possessing pendent alkyne groups were postmodified with chemically diverse azides viz., 1‐(azidomethyl)benzene, 1‐(azidomethyl)pyrene, and methoxy end‐caped poly(ethylene glycol) azide via copper‐catalysed azide‐alkyne Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition. FTIR and ¹H NMR spectra indicated quantitative click reaction. UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopic analysis confirmed complete incorporation of pyrenyl groups indicating the formation of fluorescence active polyurethane by postmodification with 1‐(azidomethyl)pyrene. TG analysis of polyurethanes indicated two stage weight loss and their thermal stability, as judged by T ₁₀ values, was governed by weight percent of urethane linkages. The water contact angle measurements revealed improved wettability with increased content of PEG either in the backbone of polyurethanes or as grafted chains. DLS and TEM studies confirmed that certain polyurethanes possessing PEG segments displayed self‐assembly in aqueous solution, which was further supported by pyrene encapsulation studies using UV–vis spectroscopy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 1008–1020     

Facile Chan‐Lam coupling using ferrocene tethered N‐heterocyclic carbene‐copper complex anchored on graphene

Ferrocene tethered N‐heterocyclic carbene‐copper complex anchored on graphene ([GrFemImi]NHC@Cu complex) has been synthesized by covalent grafting of ferrocenyl ionic liquid in the matrix of graphene followed by metallation with copper (I) iodide. The [GrFemImi]NHC@Cu complex has been characterized by fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), fourier transform Raman (FT‐Raman), CP‐MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), energy dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area analysis and X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. This novel complex served as a robust heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of bioactive N‐aryl sulfonamides from variety of aryl boronic acids and sulfonyl azides in ethanol by Chan‐Lam coupling. Recyclability experiments were executed successfully for six consecutive runs.     

Fano profile in a novel double cavity optomechanical system with harmonically bound mirrors

We investigate a double cavity optomechanical system generating single and double Fano resonance (multi-Fano). By altering a single parameter, the tunnelling rate g of the middle mirror, we are able to switch between single and double Fano line shapes. The first spectral line shape is stronger in the case of multi-Fano than in the case of single Fano. Also the behaviour of the steady state value of the displacement of the middle mirror, with respect to g, heavily influences the behaviour of double Fano lines in our scheme. This tunability along with using a single pump and signal/probe laser has an added advantage in situations where only low power consumption is available.     

The novel approach of stability aspect in organic oligoene dye for dye-sensitized solar cell applications

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The phenyl-conjugated oligoene dye 2-cyano3-(4-diphenylaminophenyl)prop-2-enoic acid (SKS) was synthesized by chemical method, and its structure was...     

Exceptionally Plastic/Elastic Organic Crystals of a Naphthalidenimine-Boron Complex Show Flexible Optical Waveguide Properties

The design of molecular compounds that exhibit flexibility is an emerging area of research. Although a fair amount of success has been achieved in the design of plastic or elastic crystals, realizing multidimensional plastic and elastic bending remains challenging. We report herein a naphthalidenimine–boron complex that showed size-dependent dual mechanical bending behavior whereas its parent Schiff base was brittle. Detailed crystallographic and spectroscopic analysis revealed the importance of boron in imparting the interesting mechanical properties. Furthermore, the luminescence of the molecule was turned-on subsequent to boron complexation, thereby allowing it to be explored for multimode optical waveguide applications. Our in-depth study of the size-dependent plastic and elastic bending of the crystals thus provides important insights in molecular engineering and could act as a platform for the development of future smart flexible materials for optoelectronic applications.     

Rhodium(III) catalyzed synthesis of isoquinolone fused azabicycles through C–H activation of N-pivaloyloxy benzamides

Herein we describe an efficient one pot strategy toward highly functionalized isoquinolone fused azabicycles having great synthetic potential via C–H activation of N-pivaloyloxy benzamides under very mild conditions. The reaction is accomplished at room temperature within one hour in good to excellent yields and is found to be compatible with a range of diazabicyclic olefins and benzamides. The present strategy offers an easy route for the synthesis of biologically relevant compounds which possess multiple points for divergent synthesis. N–N bond cleavage of synthesized compounds may enable their significant role as effective precursors for the preparation of diaminocyclopentane fused isoquinolones.     

High‐efficiency polymer solar cells based on phenylenevinylene copolymer with BF2‐azopyrrole complex and CN‐PC70BM with solvent additive

Power conversion efficiency (PCE) of phenylenevinylene‐based copolymer with BF₂ azopyrrole complex (PB)/modified PC₇₀BM, that is, CN‐PC₇₀BM bulk heterojunction solar cells improves from 2.16 to 4.90% using a processing additive and drying condition. The results demonstrate that a processing additive and drying condition provides an effective means to control both the surface roughness and finer interpenetrating networks to enhance the exciton dissociation into free charge carriers, charge transportation, and collection. Taking into the account of simple device fabrication process without thermal annealing, the PCE of the polymer solar cell can further improved by chloronapthalene (CN) additive under the fast drying condition. The average carrier lifetimes extracted from the impedance spectra and found to correlate with measured PCEs. At short circuit conditions and illumination, the average charge carrier lifetime was found vary from 16.8 to 32 μs with power conversion efficiencies ranging from 3.0 to 4.9%. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Synthesis,structural characterization and biological studies of neodymium(III) and samarium(III) complexes with mercaptotriazole Schiff bases

A series of neodymium(III) and samarium(III) complexes of type [Ln(L)Cl(H₂O)₃] have been synthesized with Schiff bases (LH₂) derived from 3‐(phenyl/substituted phenyl)‐4‐amino‐5‐mercapto‐1,2,4‐triazoles and isatin. The structures of the complexes were established using elemental analysis, molar conductivities, magnetic moments, infrared, NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and UV–visible spectra, X‐ray diffraction and mass spectrometry. The thermal behaviour of these compounds under non‐isothermal conditions was investigated using thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry. The intermediates obtained at the end of various thermal decomposition steps were identified from elemental analysis and infrared spectral studies. All the ligands and their complexes were also screened for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Colletotrichum capsici. The screening results were correlated with the structural features of the compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.