Catalytic Nitrene Transfer by an FeIV-Imido Complex Generated by a Comproportionation Process

Nitrene transfer reactions have emerged as one of the most powerful and versatile ways to insert an amine function to various kinds of hydrocarbon substrates. However, the mechanisms of nitrene generation have not been studied in depth albeit their formation is taken for granted in most cases without definitive evidence of their occurrence. In the present work, we compare the generation of tosylimido iron species and NTs transfer from Fe^II and Fe^III precursors where the metal is embedded in a tetracarbene macrocycle. Catalytic nitrene transfer to reference substrates (thioanisole, styrene, ethylbenzene and cyclohexane) revealed that the same active species was at play, irrespective of the ferrous versus ferric nature of the precursor. Through combination of spectroscopic (UV-visible, Mössbauer), ESI-MS and DFT studies, an Fe^IV tosylimido species was identified as the catalytically active species and was characterized spectroscopically and computationally. Whereas its formation from the Fe^II precursor was expected by a two-electron oxidative addition, its formation from an Fe^III precursor was unprecedented. Thanks to a combination of spectroscopic (UV-visible, EPR, Hyscore and Mössbauer), ESI-MS and DFT studies, we found that, when starting from the Fe^III precursor, an Fe^III tosyliodinane adduct was formed and decomposed into an Fe^V tosylimido species which generated the catalytically active Fe^IV tosylimide through a comproportionation process with the Fe^III precursor.     

Synthesis,Electronic Properties and WOLED Devices of Planar Phosphorus‐Containing Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

We describe the synthesis and the physical properties of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) containing a phosphorus atom at the edge. In particular, the impact of the successive addition of aromatic rings on the electronic properties was investigated by experimental (UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence, cyclic voltammetry) and theoretical studies (DFT). The physical properties recorded in solution and in the solid state showed that the P‐containing PAHs exhibit properties expected for an emitter in white organic light‐emitting diodes (WOLEDs).     

Characterization of low molecular weight hydrocarbon oligomers by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a solvent-free sample preparation method.

A new solvent-free sample preparation method using silver trifluoroacetate (AgTFA) was developed for the analysis of low molecular weight paraffins and microcrystalline waxes by laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LDI-TOFMS). Experiments show that spectral quality can be enhanced by dispersing AgTFA directly in liquid paraffins without the use of additional solvents. This preparation mixture is applied directly to the MALDI probe. Solid waxes could be examined by melting prior to analysis. The method also provides sufficiently reproducible spectra that peak area ratios between mono- and bicyclic alkane peaks indicated variations in the cycloalkane content of paraffin samples. Dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons observed during the desorption/ionization process was studied by analysis of alkane standards.     

Zero-temperature properties of randomly self-interacting polymers

We study the zero-temperature behavior of several simple models for randomly self-interacting polymers in one and 1+1 dimensions. Results are based on exact enumeration and closed-form expressions.     

The calculation of frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities including electron correlation effects

The theory for the calculation of the frequency-dependent hyperpolarizabilities β(?2ω; 0, ω), β(?ω; 0, ω), and β(0; ω, ?ω) is discussed. New relations between these tensors are derived for those wave functions that obey the time-dependent Hellmann–Feynman theorem (e.g., the self-consistent field [SCF] or the exact wave function). Using second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2), expressions are obtained for the hyperpolarizabilities in terms of derivatives of appropriately defined linear polarizability tensors with respect to a static electric field. Results are presented for ammonia and formaldehyde for the optical Kerr effect and for secondharmonic generation. These results indicate that it is desirable to determine the frequency-dependent contribution to the hyperopolarizability at the MP2 rather than the SCF level of theory, in cases where the static hyperpolarizability has a large contribution from electron correlation and/or where the frequency-dependent contribution may be more significant, such as for secondharmonic generation.     

Luminescent copolymers for applications in multicolor‐light‐emitting devices

Light‐emitting diodes based on organic materials [organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs)] have attracted much interest over the past decade. Several different attempts have been made to realize multicolor OLEDs. This article describes a new approach based on energy transfer in a donor/acceptor system. A copolymer containing both donor and acceptor compounds as comonomer units is prepared. The polymer consists of a derivative of a luminescent dye [4‐dicyanmethylene‐2‐methyl‐6‐4H‐pyran (DCM); acceptor compound], which is copolymerized with fluorene (donor compound) to combine the properties of an electroactive polymer with a highly luminescent dye. Photochemical processing is achieved by UV irradiation of this copolymer in the presence of gaseous trialkylsilanes. This reagent selectively saturates the C?C bonds in the DCM comonomer units while leaving the fluorene units essentially unaffected. As a result of the photochemical process, the red electroluminescence of the acceptor compound vanishes, and the blue‐green electroluminescence from the polyfluorene units is recovered. Compared with previous approaches based on polymer blends, this copolymer approach avoids problems associated with phase‐separation phenomena in the active layer of OLEDs. © 2006Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4317–4327, 2006     

Benzo[d]-1,2-oxaphospholes as precursors of stabilized C-centered radicals

[reaction: see text] Several benzo[d]-1,2-oxaphosphole 2-oxides were examined as potential precursors of stabilized C-centered radicals. The transient absorption spectra obtained after laser flash photolysis in the presence of di-tert-butyl peroxide showed the features of benzylic radicals with formation and decay kinetics not significantly influenced by the presence of oxygen. In the case of compounds with two possible diastereomeric forms, the C-H bond of the trans-isomers [corrected] is more reactive toward hydrogen abstraction.