Cycloparaphenylene (CPP) series are molecular models for graphene armchair edges: trends in their aromaticity and cyclic conjugation are evaluated

Cycloparaphenylene ([r]CPP) and cyclacene ([r]CA) series are models for short carbon nanotubes. It is shown that armchair edges in model cycloparaphenylenes possess greater aromaticity and cyclic conjugation than do zigzag edges in model cyclacenes. According to Aihara’s bond resonance energy (BRE) and Bosanac and Gutman energy effect (ef) measurements, cycloparaphenylenes are twice as aromatic as cyclacenes. The general solution of all eigenvalues of all members of the cycloparaphenylene series is given. The origin of the recurrence of some eigenvalues are determined.     

Crystalline Divinyldiarsenes and Cleavage of the As=As Bond

The first divinyldiarsenes [{(NHC)C(Ph)}As]₂ (NHC=IPr 3 a , SIPr 3 b ; IPr=C{(NAr)CH}₂; SIPr=C{(NAr)CH₂}₂; Ar=2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃) are reported. Compounds 3 a and 3 b were prepared by the reduction of corresponding chlorides {(NHC)C(Ph)}AsCl₂ (NHC=IPr 2 a , SIPr 2 b ) with Mg. Calculations revealed a small HOMO–LUMO energy gap of 3.86 ( 3 a ) and 4.24 eV ( 3 b ). Treatment of 3 a with (Me₂S)AuCl led to the cleavage of the As=As bond to restore 2 a , which is expected to proceed via the diarsane [{(IPr)C(Ph)}AsCl]₂ ( 4 ). Remarkably, 4 as well as 2 a can be selectively accessed on treatment of 3 a with an appropriate amount of C₂Cl₆. Moreover, 3 a readily reacts with PhEEPh (E=Se or Te) at room temperature to give {(IPr)C(Ph)}As(EPh)₂ (E=Se 5 a ; Te 5 b ), revealing the cleavage of As=As and E−E bonds and the formation of As−E bonds. Such highly selective stepwise oxidation ( 3 a → 4 → 2 a ) and bond metathesis ( 3 a → 5 a , b ) reactions are unprecedented in main-group chemistry.     

N‐bromo‐hydantoin grafted polystyrene beads: Synthesis and nano‐micro beads characteristics for achieving controlled release of active oxidative bromine and extended microbial inactivation efficiency

N‐bromo‐hydantoin and N‐bromo‐5,5′‐dimethylhydantoin conjugated polystyrene beads were synthesized from chloromethyl polystyrene beads which differ in their particles size, crosslinking, nano‐micro porosity, and tunnels size on the surface, in order to study the effect of these parameters on oxidative halogen release and resultant activity, for water purification applications. The synthesized beads were characterized using elemental analysis, FT‐IR, solid state ¹³C‐NMR, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The conjugation yield and kinetics in different solvents and bromine loading capacity were studied. The N‐bromoamine polystyrene beads were tested for water decontamination according to NSF 231 protocol. The release of active bromine was analyzed by spectrophotometer using a DPD‐1 kit and also studied the antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and MS2 phages. Bead's nano‐micro characteristics were found critical for oxidative halogen release control: rate stabilization and modulation, extension and also influences antimicrobial activity. The synthesized beads exhibited extended and stable release of bromine, 6 and 4 log reduction for E. coli and MS2, respectively for 250 L of passing contaminated water. Thus, N‐halamine hydantoins conjugated polystyrenes, chemically or kinetically release modified should have applications as disinfectants in water purification systems as well as medical field. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 596–610     

Polytriacetylenes bearing directly attached functional groups with tunable physical and electronic properties

We report the synthesis and characterization of a unique class of conjugated polymers, polytriacetyelenes (PTAs), from a set of trans‐enediyne (EDY) monomers bearing alkyl and aromatic substituents. Two different methods, i.e., Glaser‐Hay coupling and Pd‐catalyzed oxidative coupling, were employed depending on the nature of the side‐chains. Our methodology is highly versatile in that it allows direct attachment of aromatic substituents to the PTA main‐chains, allowing enhanced tunability in polymer electronic properties, which has not been achievable through previously reported methods. The newly synthesized PTAs displayed strong ability of quenching the fluorescence of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT), a prototypical conjugated polymer in organic solar cells, indicating possible applications of these PTAs in optoelectronic devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1391‐1395     

Synthesis of Functional Poly(disubstituted acetylene)s through the Post‐Polymerization Modification Route

We report the recent progress in the preparation of functional poly(disubstituted acetylene)s (PDSAs) through post‐polymerization modification routes. The metathesis polymerization of disubstituted acetylene monomers activated by Mo/W–Sn complex catalysts, which do not tolerate highly polar functionalities, was assumed to be a key step in the polymer synthetic procedures. We and other groups have explored several approaches to prepare PDSAs with latent reactive functionalities, which are inactive to Mo/W–Sn complex catalysts but can be used as highly reactive sites for post‐polymerization modification. Click chemistry, Michael‐type addition reactions, the use of activated esters and other strategies are demonstrated by recently published examples. These works indicate that post‐polymerization modification is an efficient route to the synthesis of various functional PDSAs.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of a Dual-Action Ligand Targeting αvβ3 Integrin and VEGF Receptors

A dual-action ligand targeting both integrin α_Vβ₃ and vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), was synthesized via conjugation of a cyclic peptidomimetic α_Vβ₃ Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) ligand with a decapentapeptide. The latter was obtained from a known VEGFR antagonist by acetylation at the Lys13 side chain. Functionalization of the precursor ligands was carried out in solution and in the solid phase, affording two fragments: an alkyne VEGFR ligand and the azide integrin α_Vβ₃ ligand, which were conjugated by click chemistry. Circular dichroism studies confirmed that both the RGD and VEGFR ligand portions of the dual-action compound substantially adopt the biologically active conformation. In vitro binding assays on isolated integrin α_Vβ₃ and VEGFR-1 showed that the dual-action conjugate retains a good level of affinity for both its target receptors, although with one order of magnitude (10/20 times) decrease in potency. The dual-action ligand strongly inhibited the VEGF-induced morphogenesis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs). Remarkably, its efficiency in preventing the formation of new blood vessels was similar to that of the original individual ligands, despite the worse affinity towards integrin α_Vβ₃ and VEGFR-1.     

β‐Functionalized Push–Pull opp‐Dibenzoporphyrins as Sensitizers for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A novel class of β‐functionalized push–pull zinc opp ‐dibenzoporphyrins were designed, synthesized, and utilized as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells. Spectral, electrochemical, and computational studies were systematically performed to evaluate their spectral coverage, redox behavior, and electronic structures. These porphyrins displayed much broader spectral coverage and more facile oxidation upon extension of the π conjugation. Free‐energy calculations and femtosecond transient absorption studies (charge injection rate in the range of 10¹¹ s⁻¹) suggested efficient charge injection from the excited singlet state of the porphyrin to the conduction band of TiO₂. The power conversion efficiency (η ) of YH3 bearing acrylic acid linkers (η =5.9 %) was close to that of the best ruthenium dye N719 (η =7.4 %) under similar conditions. The superior photovoltaic performance of YH3 was attributed to its higher light‐harvesting ability and more favorable electron injection and collection, as supported by electrochemical impedance spectral studies. This work demonstrates the exceptional potential of benzoporphyrins as sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells.     

Silyl‐ and Disilanyl‐BODIPYs: Synthesis via Catalytic Dehalosilylation and Spectroscopic Properties

We describe herein the first synthesis of silyl‐ and disilanyl‐BODIPYs through transition‐metal‐catalyzed dehalosilylation of iodo‐BODIPYs using a Pd(P(t Bu)₃)₂/Et₃N/toluene system. Various mono‐ and bis‐silyl‐BODIPYs, mono‐ and bis‐disilanyl‐BODIPYs and bis‐BODIPYs linked by silylene and SiOSi groups were synthesized by using this straightforward method. Silyl‐ and disilanyl‐substitution significantly modifies the spectroscopic properties of the BODIPY, in which the fluorescence quantum yields of the silyl‐BODIPYs are remarkably increased, whereas the emission spectra of disilanyl‐BODIPYs are red‐shifted due to effective σ(SiSi)–π(BODIPY) conjugation.     

萘酰亚胺取代修饰4,4′-螺双环戊并[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩化合物的合成制备及其在有机薄膜光伏器件中的应用研究

近年来,新型有机非富勒烯受体的开发极大地促进了有机聚合物太阳能电池效率的不断突破。其中具有空间非平面结构的新型非富勒烯受体材料是该领域的一个研究热点。本文选取1,8-萘酰亚胺(NMI)作为受电子单元,合成制备了基于螺[4,4]双环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩核心单元的空间非平面化合物SCPDT-(NMI)4及对应的基于环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩以及环戊[2,1-b∶3,4-b′]二噻吩-4-酮的线性模型化合物CPDT-(NMI)2和CPDT-O-(NMI)2。在此基础上,详细研究了3个化合物的光谱吸收、荧光光谱以及循环伏安电化学性质。结果表明,具有螺形结构的SCPDT-(NMI)4因其非平面结构以及较高的分子内空间位阻,导致其吸收光谱与线性化合物CPDT-(NMI)2相比出现了11nm的蓝移。固体薄膜吸收光谱结果表明,这一系列化合物具有弱的分子间相互作用。电化学循环伏安测试结果表明,所合成的3个化合物均有可逆的氧化还原过程。据此测得化合物的LUMO能级大致为-3.5~-3.8eV之间,可作为电子受体用于有机薄膜光伏电池。利用所合成的萘酰亚胺修饰的化合物作为电子受体,PBDB-T作为电子给体制备了有机太阳能电池器件。器件实验结果表明,基于空间非平面SCPDT-(NMI)4的器件光电转换效率达到了1.16%,远高于以线性分子CPDT-(NMI)_2作为受体的器件效率(0.11%)。荧光光谱猝灭实验结果表明,所合成的萘酰亚胺化合物与聚合物之间不完全的电子转移是影响器件性能的最主要因素。