Free radical polymerization of caffeine‐containing methacrylate monomers

The incorporation of acrylic functionality into caffeine enables the preparation of a vast array of novel thermoplastics and thermosets. A two‐step derivatization provided a novel caffeine‐containing methacrylate monomer capable of free radical polymerization. Copolymers of 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate and caffeine methacrylate (CMA) allowed for a systematic study of the effect of covalently bound caffeine on polymer properties. ¹H NMR and UV‐vis spectroscopy confirmed caffeine incorporation at 5 and 13 mol %, and SEC revealed the formation of high molecular weight (co)polymers (>40,000 g/mol). CMA incorporation resulted in a multistep degradation profile with initial mass loss closely correlating to caffeine content. Differential scanning calorimetry, rheological, and thermomechanical analysis demonstrated that relatively low levels of CMA increased the glass transition temperature, resulting in higher moduli and elucidating the benefits of incorporating caffeine into polymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2829–2837     

Physical mechanisms responsible for the water-induced degradation of PC61BM P3HT photovoltaic thin films

We show that [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC₆₁BM) at the surface of thin film blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):PC₆₁BM can be patterned by water. Using a series of heating and cooling steps, water droplets condense onto the blend film surface. This is possible due to the liquid-like, water swollen layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate. Breath pattern water deformation and subsequent drying on the film surface results in isolated PC₆₁BM structures, showing that migration of PC₆₁BM takes place. This was confirmed by selective wavelength illumination to spatially map the photoluminescence from the P3HT and PC₆₁BM. Within a device, redistribution of the surface PC₆₁BM into aggregates would be catastrophic, as it would markedly alter device performance. We also postulate that repeated volume change of the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate layer by water swelling may be, in part, responsible for the delamination failure mechanism in thin film solar cells devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 141–146     

Isolation of Elusive HAsAsH in a Crystalline Diuranium(IV) Complex

The HAsAsH molecule has hitherto only been proposed tentatively as a short‐lived species generated in electrochemical or microwave‐plasma experiments. After two centuries of inconclusive or disproven claims of HAsAsH formation in the condensed phase, we report the isolation and structural authentication of HAsAsH in the diuranium(IV) complex [{U(Tren^TIPS)}₂(μ‐η²:η²‐As₂H₂)] ( 3 , Tren^TIPS=N(CH₂CH₂NSiPrⁱ₃)₃; Prⁱ=CH(CH₃)₂). Complex 3 was prepared by deprotonation and oxidative homocoupling of an arsenide precursor. Characterization and computational data are consistent with back‐bonding‐type interactions from uranium to the HAsAsH π*‐orbital. This experimentally confirms the theoretically predicted excellent π‐acceptor character of HAsAsH, and is tantamount to full reduction to the diarsane‐1,2‐diide form.     

Syntheses of the Saturated Analogues of 4-Nitrophenol and 4-Nitroaniline

Two syntheses for 4-nitrocyclohexanol and 4-nitrocyclohexanamine are presented. Both conveniently start from commercially available 4-aminocyclohexanol.