Voltammetry of electroactive liquid redox systems: anion insertion and chemical reactions in microdroplets of para-tetrakis(6-methoxyhexyl) phenylenediamine, para- and meta-tetrahexylphenylenediamine

The effect of the structure of the organic precursor molecule on the electroinsertion of anions and on the formation of materials in the ionic liquid state is compared for three compounds, para-N, N, N′, N′-tetrahexylphenylenediamine (p-THPD), meta-N, N, N′, N′-tetrahexylphenylene diamine (m-THPD), and para-N, N, N′, N′-tetrakis(6-methoxyhexyl)phenylenediamine (p-TMHPD), by characterising their condensed phase voltammetric properties in aqueous media. The electrochemically driven anion insertion in p-THPD and p-TMHPD in the presence of ClO₄ ⁻, F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, and SO₄ ²⁻ is shown to be extremely sensitive to structure. The introduction of the methoxy end groups in p-TMHPD causes (1) a considerable shift to more negative electroinsertion potentials, (2) a less stable response which upon continuous cycling decreases, and (3) considerably lower anion selectivity. For the insertion of sulfate, only p-TMHPD yields an electrochemical response which is shown to be consistent with insertion of the dianion SO₄ ²⁻. The electrochemical oxidation of a deposit of m-THPD is accompanied by anion insertion and a chemical reaction step in an EC-type electrochemical process. The product of the chemical step is electrochemically active and results in a new reversible electroinsertion process. Starting materials and products of the microdroplet reactions are characterised by Maldi-TOF mass spectrometry and a reaction mechanism based on condensed phase polymerisation is proposed. Received: 15 November 1999 / Accepted: 2 December 1999     

Pseudo[3]rotaxane Type Compelxation between α- and β-Cyc1odextrins and N,N′-Dsiheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium

Pseudo[3]rotaxane type complexation of α- and β-cyclodextrins (α- and β-CDs, respectively) with N,N′-Diheptyl-4,4′-bipyridinium (diheptyl viologen; HV²⁺) was investigated. A spectral displacement method using p-nitrophenol as a dye revealed that α-CD and HV²⁺ formed a 2:1 host-guest complex with stability constants being 3280 and 976 M⁻¹ as the first and second steps of complexation, respectively. ¹H-NMR spectra strongly indicated that α-CD accommodated the heptyl groups of HV²⁺. Although previous studies based on circular dichroism spectroscopy suggested the primary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the positively charged bipyridinium moiety od HV²⁺, 2D-NMR studies clearly demonstrated that the secondary hydroxy side of α-CD faced to the bipyridinium moiety. β-CD also formed a 2:1 complex with HV²⁺ with a similar fashion.     

Electropolymerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-[RuCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(vpy)<Subscript>4</Subscript>] complex—EQCM and Raman studies

The electropolymerization of trans-[RuCl₂(vpy)₄] (vpy=4-vinylpyridine) on Au or Pt electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) technique, and Raman spectroscopy. Cyclic voltammetry of the monomer at a microelectrode shows the typical Ru(III/II) and Ru(IV/III) waves, together with the vinyl reduction waves at −1.5 and −2.45 V and adsorption wave at −0.8 V. Electrodeposition on EQCM technique performed under potential cycling between −0.9 and −2.0 V revealed that the polymerization proceeded well in advance of the vinyl reduction waves. At potentials more positive than −0.9 V, soluble oligomers were deposited irreversibly on the electrode during the oxidative sweep. The film also showed reversible mass changes due to the oxidation and accompanying ingress of charge-balancing anions and solvent into the film. In contrast, potentiostatic growth of the polymer at −1.6 V was slower because the oligomeric material was lost completely from the electrode. Unreacted vinyl groups were detected by in situ Raman spectroscopy for films grown at −0.7, −0.9, and −1.6 V but were absent when the polymerization was carried out at −2.9 V vs Ag/Ag⁺.     

Synthesis of Nanocrystalline TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Particles and Their Structural Characteristics

Controlled nanosized TiO₂ particles of 4–10 nm were synthesized by a simple hydrolysis method followed by calcination at different temperatures. These particles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Photoacoustic/Fourier transform infrared (PA/FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to understand their structural properties. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the anatase phase of the particles where as the PA/FTIR revealed the bands around 1,500 and 3,300 cm⁻¹ due to –OH bands. ESR spectroscopic investigations carried out from 5 to 300 K indicated the presence of an ESR line at g = 2.00 emerging from radical species. It is significant to note that the intensity of the ESR line decreased as the particle size increased.     

One-step electrochemical synthesis of pure poly(2,5-dicyano-p-phenylenevinylene) films

In this communication we describe the electrochemical synthesis of poly(2,5-dicyano-p-phenylenevinylene) (DCNPPV) polymer films on indium tin oxide substrates. We investigate the purity, morphology, absorption and emission properties of the film. The purity was checked by infrared spectroscopy. The film formed presented spectroscopic purity equivalent to the chemically prepared PPV that was dialyzed for one week. Scanning electron microscopy of the surface revealed a grain-like morphology. The absorption and emission spectra showed absorption and emission bands at 420 nm and 575 nm, respectively, with the absorption onset at 422 nm, which corresponds to an energy gap of 2.25 eV. The electrochemical determination of the energy gap gives 2.05 eV, thus quite close to the optical energy gap at the onset of absorption. The EA and IP were determined by electrochemical measurements and are 3.46 eV and 5.51 eV, respectively.

Spectral and fluorescent properties of cross-conjugated polyene ketones with terminalN-methylpyrrole residues

The spectral and fluorescent properties of a number of cross-conjugated ketones with one or two terminalN-methylpyrrole residues and those of polyene bis-ω, ω′-dimethylamino ketones with methyl substituents in the polyene chain and of some related compounds were studied. The photophysical properties of cross-conjugated ketones with terminalN-methylpyrrole residues are similar to those of the corresponding polyene bis-ω, ω′-dimethylamino ketones studied in detail previously. In both series of compounds, the absorption and fluorescence spectra undergo a bathochromic shift following an increase in the length of the polyene chains or introduction of α,α′-trimethylene or α,α′-dimethylene bridges into these chains; the same trend is observed on passing from less polar solvents to more polar solvents (positive solvatochromism). Thermochromism (long-wavelength shift of the absorption spectra upon cooling the solutions) is observed in both series of compounds. The introduction of methyl substituents into the polyene chains of bis-ω,ω′-dimethylamino ketones results in a decrease in the fluorescence quantum yield. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1293–1298, July, 1999.     

Variable Temperature Single‐Molecule Dynamics of MEH‐PPV

Herein, we continue our investigation of the single‐molecule spectroscopy of the conjugated polymer poly[2‐methoxy,5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene‐vinylene] (MEH‐PPV) at cryogenic temperatures. First, the low temperature microsecond dynamics of single MEH‐PPV conjugated polymer molecules are compared to the dynamics at room temperature revealing no detectible temperature dependence. The lack of temperature dependence is consistent with the previous assignment of the dynamics to a mechanism that involves intersystem crossing and triplet–triplet annihilation. Second, the fluorescence spectra of single MEH‐PPV molecules at low temperature are studied as a function of excitation wavelength (i.e. 488, 543, and 568 nm). These results exhibit nearly identical fluorescence spectra for different excitation wavelengths. This strongly suggests that electronic energy transfer occurs efficiently to a small number of low‐energy sites in the multichromophoric MEH‐PPV chains.     

ESR study of paramagnetic derivatives of sterically hindered di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-quinone with the tetrathiafulvalene bridge

The paramagnetic derivatives of 4,4′,7,7′-tetra-tert-butyl-2,2′-bis-1,3-benzodithiol-5,5′,6,6′-tetraone (1), viz., radical anion salts of the alkali metals (Li, Na, K) and cobaltocenium cations, chelated mono-o-semiquinone complexes with different metal fragments (Tl, TlMe₂, SnPh₃, Mn(CO)₄, Mn(PPh₃)(CO)₃), a number of copper(I) complexes with sterically hindered phosphines as well as binuclear heterometallic derivatives of triphenylantimony(V) o-semiquinone-catecholate with the analogous paramagnetic centers, were studied by ESR spectroscopy. The reaction of di-o-quinone 1 with sodium amalgam resulted in the formation of all reduced forms including quinone-semiquinone, disemiquinone, semiquinone-catecholate, and dicatecholate. A radical cation with the unpaired electron localized on the tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) fragment, which resulted from the oxidation of di-o-quinone 1, was detected by ESR spectroscopy.     

The study of the miscibility and morphology of poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinylphenol)/poly(propylene carbonate) blends

Blends of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) with copolymer poly(styrene‐co‐4‐vinyl phenol) (STVPh) have been studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin probe method and Raman spectroscopy. The ESR results indicated that the nitroxide radical existed in a PPC‐rich and an STVPh‐rich micro domain in the blends, corresponding to the fast‐motion and slow‐motion component in the ESR spectra, respectively. And in the temperature dependence composite spectra, the fast‐motion fraction increased with increasing the hydroxyl group content in copolymer STVPh. Moreover, the ESR parameter T_5mT, rotational correlation times (τ_c) and activation energies (E_a) showed similar dependence on the hydroxyl group content as the fast‐motion fraction. It resulted from the enhancement of the hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the hydroxyl groups in STVPh and the carboxyl groups and ether oxygen in PPC. However, the distinct band shift and intensity change among the Raman spectra of pure polymer components and those of the blends were observed. In the carboxyl‐stretching region, the band shifted to lower frequency with increasing the hydroxyl groups. Furthermore, the phase morphologies of the blends were obtained by optical microscopy. All could be concluded that the hydrogen‐bonding interaction between the two components was progressively favorable to the mixing process and was the driving force for the miscibility enhancement in the blends. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

New conducting pyrrole–thiophene co-polymer from an oligomer precursor: electrochemical characterisation

A new oligomer of N,N′-bis(2-pyrrolyl methylene)-3,4-dicyano-2,5-diaminothiophene possessing cyano-substituted thiophene and pyrrole residues linked together by azomethine groups was used for the electrochemical polymerisation of conducting films. The approach used for the oligomer design favours inter-chain interactions through hydrogen bonding and negative charge stability through the cyano substitute thiophene. The oligomer was successfully electropolymerised at 0.67 V vs Ag⁺/Ag from 0.1M tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBABF₄)/acetonitrile as a dark blue film on the surface of platinum electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to investigate the redox behaviour of the films. The electrically conducting polymer showed p-doping/neutralisation behaviour. The effect of different electrolytes such as TBABF₄, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAClO₄), lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) and sodium perchlorate (NaClO₄) on the redox switching and the stability of the polymer films was investigated. Infrared and UV-vis spectra of oligomer and polymers are presented. The evolution of the film growing process is shown by UV-vis spectroscopy.     

Linearly polarized white fluorescence from shish-kebab type liquid crystalline poly(P-phenylenevinvlene)s with (P-phenylene)s as kebab

Liquid crystalline(LC) polymers with a shish-kebab-type moiety on their cross-conjugated(p-phenylene)s-poly(p-phenylenevinylene) s main chains were synthesized through Gilch polymerization in order to develop a kind of polymers available for linearly polarized white-light-emitting from single chain.In this system,the 2,5-bis(4’-alkoxyphenyl)benzene as the "kebabs" connects with poly(p-phenylenevinylene)(PPV) main chain backbone using its molecular gravity center and the PPV as the "shish" or "skewer"(the "shish-kebab").The polymers possess desirable properties such as excellent solubility and liquid crystalline properties.To drop the "kebabs" of the 2,5-bis(4’-alkoxyphenyl)benzene into the orientation microgroove of aligned polyimide film,not only the "shish" of polymer main chain can be aligned by the virtue of orientation of "kebabs" but also the uniform cross-conjugated structure between the "kebabs" and "shish" can be broken. Then,the alignment of the polymer main chain showed yellow light emission and was also accompanied by orientation of the LC side chains showing blue light emission,this gave rise to a notable linearly polarized white fluorescence.     

New sterically hindered di-o-quinones of the biphenyl series

New di-o-quinones of the biphenyl series, namely, 2,2′-dialkyl-5,5′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl-3,4,3′,4′-diquinones, were synthesized. Their structures were established by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of 2,2′-dimethyl-5,5′-di-tert-butylbiphenyl-3,4,3′,4′-diquinone was established by X-ray structural analysis. The structure is characterized by orthogonal (the torsion angle is 82.9°) mutual arrangement ofo-benzoquinone fragments. ESR studies demonstrated that chemical reduction of diquinone proceeds in four oneelectron stages to form paramagnetic mono- and trianions as intermediates. Quinopyrocatechols, which are intermediates in the synthesis of di-o-quinones, were isolated and characterized. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 804–809, April, 1997.     

Laser Raman spectroscopic study of photoreaction dynamics in p -chloro cinnamic acid crystal

Raman phonon spectroscopy has been used to study photodimerization reaction inp-chloro cinnamic acid (pCCA) crystal. The β-form of the crystal yields the 4,4′-dichloro-β-truxinic acid dimer. Six distinct low frequency phonon bands are observed in thepCCA monomer crystal. On reaction progress, these bands show a monotonic shift to lower frequencies and broaden out. Finally, in the dimer crystal the phonon spectrum shows two weak broad bands. These results suggest that the reaction is homogeneous in the initial stages and, as the product concentration increases, the lattice becomes highly disordered. The reactant and the product were characterised by infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The disappearance of aliphatic C=C bond stretching vibration and appearance of cyclobutane ring deformation and cyclobutane ring-breathing vibrations on reaction confirm photodimerization by cyclobutane ring formation. The large Stoke's shift between the absorption and emission band suggest strong exciton-phonon coupling in the monomer lattice. This reaction seems to be phonon-mediated.     

Spectroscopic study of ternary copper(II) complexes on a silica surface

The formation of ternary surface complexes of copper(II) with one or two molecules of 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or α-picolinic acid (Hpic), which were obtained after adsorption on the silica surface in different ways, was studied by electronic and ESR spectroscopy. Coordination of the ligands, which were preliminarily adsorbed by copper ions, afforded only 1∶1 ternary surface complexes. In both cases, coordinatively more saturated ternary surface complexes were formed only when Cu(bpy)₂ ²⁺ and Cu(pic)₂ were adsorbed on the SiO₂ surface from solutions. The compositions and structures of the ternary surface complexes containing bipyridine ligands are temperature independent, whereas in the picolinate-containing ternary surface complexes, the coordination spheres of the adsorbed complexes are rearranged as the temperature changes. Presented at the First Moscow Workshop on Highly Organized Catalytic Systems (June 19, 1997). Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1765–1771, October, 1997.     

Development of electrochemical biosensors based on sol-gel enzyme encapsulation and protective polymer membranes

Protective polymer coatings have been used to enhance the retention of enzymes in sol-gel films as immobilisation phases in electrochemical biosensors. Carbon film electrodes were electrochemically modified with poly(neutral red) (PNR). These electrodes were coated with oxysilane sol-gels incorporating glucose oxidase and an outer coating of carboxylated PVC (CPVC) or polyurethane (PU), with and without Aliquat-336 or isopropyl myristate (IPM) plasticizer, was applied. The biosensors were characterised electrochemically using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Impedance spectra showed that the electrode surface is most active when the sol-gel–GOx layer is not covered with a membrane. However, membranes without plasticizer extend the lifetime of the biosensor to more than 2 months when PU is used as an outer membrane. The linear range of the biosensors was found to be 0.05–0.50 mM of glucose and the biosensor with PU outer membrane exhibited higher sensitivity (ca.117 nA mM⁻¹) in the region of linear response than that with CPVC. The biosensors were applied to glucose measurement in natural samples of commercial orange juice.     

Polyfused nitrogen-containing heterocycles 18. 2′-Amino-5-methyl-1,2,3,4,4′,5′-hexahydrospiro[quinoxaline-2,4′-thiazol]-3-ones. Synthesis,structure, and recyclization

Bis-3-(α-bromoethyl)quinoxalin-2-ones with 3-oxapentane or 3,6-dioxaoctane spacer binding two heterocyclic fragments react with thiourea to give the corresponding bis-spirothiazoloquinoxalines, which upon treatment with acetic anhydride can be converted to podands with terminal thiazoloannulated quinoxaline fragments. X-Ray data for 2′-amino-4-ethyl-5-methyl-1,2,3,4,4′,5′-hexahydrospiro[quinoxaline-2,4′-thiazol]-3-one indicate for this compound a potentiality to form clathrate structures with various solvate molecules. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2386–2393, December, 2007.     

Isolation of individual components in the electronic absorption spectra of polyaniline from the spectroelectrochemical data

The absorption spectra of polyaniline (PAN) films obtained by electrochemical polymerization on transparent SnO₂-glass electrodes are analyzed. The spectra are recorded at steady-state potentials of 0.0 to 0.8 V (Ag/AgCl) in an aqueous HC1 solution. Individual absorption bands, isolated by the Alentsev-Fok method, include both earlier known bands and some new absorption bands. The former correspond to π-π* transitions in the benzenoid rings (300-320 nm), radical cations (∼435 nm), localized polarons (∼755 nm), and quinoid structures (∼655 nm). By comparing these results with the spectroelectrochemical data obtained earlier for electrochemically synthesized PAN in solutions of various acids and for vacuum-deposited PAN, the newly found bands are assigned to different intermolecular interactions, specifically, a donor-acceptor coupling of the quinoid moieties with counter anions (at 570 nm) and an electron exchange between highly conducting domains of the film (∼900 nm)     

Raman spectroscopic study of bacterial endospores

Endospores and endospore-forming bacteria were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were recorded from Bacillus licheniformis LMG 7634 at different steps during growth and spore formation, and from spore suspensions obtained from diverse Bacillus and Paenibacillus strains cultured in different conditions (growth media, temperature, peroxide treatment). Raman bands of calcium dipicolinate and amino acids such as phenylalanine and tyrosine are more intense in the spectra of sporulating bacteria compared with those of bacteria from earlier phases of growth. Raman spectroscopy can thus be used to detect sporulation of cells by a characteristic band at 1,018 cm^–1 from calcium dipicolinate. The increase in amino acids could possibly be explained by the formation of small acid-soluble proteins that saturate the endospore DNA. Large variations in Raman spectra of endospore suspensions of different strains or different culturing conditions were observed. Next to calcium dipicolinate, tyrosine and phenylalanine, band differences at 527 and 638 cm^–1 were observed in the spectra of some of the B. sporothermodurans spore suspensions. These bands were assigned to the incorporation of cysteine residues in spore coat proteins. In conclusion, Raman spectroscopy is a fast technique to provide useful information about several spore components. Figure A difference spectrum between Raman spectra of B. licheniformis LMG 7634 cultured for 6 days and 1 day, together with the reference Raman spectrum of calcium dipicolinate     

Preparation and characterization of side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodeoxycholic acid residue

A series of new side-chain liquid crystalline polymers containing chenodiol residue derived from 24-[4′-hydroxybiphenyl-4-yl-4-(allyloxy)benzoyloxy]-3α,7α-di{n-[4′-(4-ethoxybenzoyloxy)biphenyl-4-yloxy]-n-oxoalkanoyloxy}-5β-cholane was designed and prepared. The chemical structures of the monomer and polymer were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectra. The mesomorphic properties of monomer and polymer were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The side-chain liquid crystalline polymers revealed wide mesophase temperature range and high thermal stability, and they showed nematic liquid crystalline phase. The influence of flexible space group length on thermal properties and specific rotation was examined.     

Effect of chain aggregation on the conductivity and ESR spectra of polyaniline

Solutions of polyaniline in m-cresol with and without camphorsulfonic acid (CSA), as well as films cast from these solutions were studied by ESR spectroscopy at 133–423 K and by optical spectroscopy in the range λ = 350–1100 nm. An analysis of the optical and ESR spectra shows that in the solutions and films without CSA polyaniline is fully doped but the conductivity of these films is low (∼10⁻⁸ S cm⁻¹; cf. 100 S cm⁻¹ for the films with CSA). Compared with the CSA-containing samples, the samples without CSA are characterized by broader ESR lines and higher contribution of the Curie spins to the magnetic susceptibility. These facts indicate a weak aggregation of polyaniline chains without CSA, which leads to low conductivity. A formula was proposed, which describes the temperature dependence of the polyaniline ESR linewidth and allows the interchain distance and the mobility of electrons moving along polymer chains to be determined. The conductivity of polyaniline films is affected by moderate heating (363–388 K) of the films and solutions from which the films were cast. It was found that the interchain distances correlate with the conductivity of the films and with the broadening of their ESR lines caused by the effect of O₂. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2701–2711, December, 2005.