Carbon networks based on dehydrobenzoannulenes. 3. Synthesis of graphyne substructures

This Letter describes the synthesis of the first macrobicyclic subunits of the hypothetical all-carbon network graphyne. Key to synthetic success is an intramolecular Sonogashira cross-coupling sequence.     

Carbon networks based on dehydrobenzoannulenes. 4. Synthesis of "star" and "trefoil" graphdiyne substructures via sixfold cross-coupling of hexaiodobenzene

The synthesis and characterization of star- and trefoil-shaped polyethynyl aromatic structures, which represent model substructures of the all-carbon network graphdiyne, are described. Assembly of these macrocycles is accomplished via 6-fold Sonogashira cross-coupling of hexaiodobenzene using Pd[P(o-Tol)(3)](2) and CuI as the catalytic system. The development of these modified Sonogashira conditions is detailed. This work has led to the synthesis of a new family of hexakis(phenylbutadiynyl)benzene derivatives (4a-c), the largest of which is the D(3)(h)()-symmetric "trefoil" 2 and is composed of three [18]annulenes fused at a common benzene ring. Attempts at the synthesis of "wheel" 3 are also described. Compound 2 represents the largest fragment of the graphdiyne network to date. UV-vis spectroscopic studies indicate enhanced electron delocalization throughout the extended pi-system.     

Synthesis of nanostructures based on 1,4- and 1,3,5-phenylethynyl units with π-extended conjugation. Carbon networks dendrimer base units

A convenient and efficient synthesis of 3,5-di(silylethynyl)phenylacetylene and p-[3,5-di(silylethynyl)phenylethynyl]phenylacetylene has been carried out. These compounds serve to prepare nanometer-sized conjugated 1,4- and 1,3,5-phenylethynyl oligomers, by means of cross-coupling with a convenient haloaryl derivative, catalysed by palladium(II), in excellent yields. The phenylethynyl homologues show fluorescence emission, the wavelength of which is displaced by approximately 20 nm by each phenylethynyl unit increasing the conjugate chain.     

Synthesis of nanostructures based on 1,4- and 1,3,5-ethynylphenyl subunits with pi-extended conjugation. Carbon dendron units

Nanometer-sized conjugated 1,4- and 1,3,5-ethynylphenyl oligomers were synthesized starting from 3,5-di(trimethylsilylethynyl)phenylacetylene and p-[3,5-di(trimethylsilylethynyl)-1-ethynylphenyl]phenyl acetylene by cross-coupling reaction with a convenient haloaryl derivative, catalyzed by palladium(II)/copper(I), in excellent yield. The terminal acetylenes were efficiently prepared by a specific protection-deprotection methodology. All ethynylphenyl homologues obtained show fluorescence emission, with the bathochromic shift of approximately 20 nm by each ethynylphenyl unit increasing the conjugate chain. Parallel conjugated ethynylphenyl chains were prepared through the insertion of a 1,5-naphthalene subunit, and the compounds exhibit fluorescence radiation emission.     

Carbon networks based on benzocyclynes. 6. synthesis of graphyne substructures via directed alkyne metathesis

Intramolecular ring closing alkyne metathesis afforded the graphyne biscyclyne (3) in high macrocyclization yield and good overall yield. This methodology also furnished the tris[12]cyclyne 4, which contains the longest linear diphenylacetylene conjugation pathway for any graphyne substructure based on the tribenzo[12]cyclyne core.     

Nuclease tolerant FRET probe based on DNA-quantum dot conjugation.

We have developed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) probe based on the conjugation of a quantum dot (QD) with dye (YOYO-3) intercalated DNA. The FRET-inducing electrostatic coupling of DNA and the QD made structural changes to the QD-DNA conjugates, which significantly prevented an enzymatic reaction between the DNA and a conventional restriction endonuclease (EcoRI).     

Carbon networks based on 1,5-naphthalene units. Synthesis of 1,5-naphthalene nanostructures with extended pi-conjugation

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of nanometer-sized conjugated molecules of 5-X-naphthylethynyl (X= NO(2), NMe(2)) units with precise length and constitution have been carried out. A new extended pi-conjugated 5-nitronaphthyl family was synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between the protected 5-iodonaphthylethynyl 5a and 1-ethynyl-5-nitronaphthalene 9, or the resulting ethynyl compound 11 and the 1-iodo-5-nitronaphthalene 3. Catalytic oxidative dimerization of the terminal acetylene compounds permits the isolation of the corresponding 1,3-butadiyne derivatives 16-18, with the nitro groups at the ends of the conjugation, in excellent yields. A new family of conjugated 5-nitro-(naphthylethynyl)-[5-(N,N-dimethylamino)]naphthalene (20-22), was also synthesized by palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 5-iodo-N,N-dimethylnaphthalene-1-amine (19) with the appropriate terminal acetylene (9, 11, and13 respectively). Compounds 20-22 show a fluorescence emission and also exhibit a charge-transfer absorption in the visible spectrum. X-ray structure of 20 confirms a centrosymmetric dimer association with an interplanar distance of 3.43 A, and the naphthalene rings adopt an anti conformation around the Ctbd1;C triple bond.     

Extension of conjugation leading to bathochromic or hypsochromic effects in OPV series

Four OPV series 1-4 (a-d) with a terminal dialkylamino group as electron donor were prepared by Wittig-Horner reactions. To study the influence of the push-pull effect on the long-wavelength absorption, three of the four series contained terminal acceptor groups (CN, CHO, NO(2)). The length of the chromophores strongly affects the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-an effect which superimposes upon the extension of the conjugation. Increasing numbers n of repeat units cause an overall bathochromic shift for the purely donor-substituted series 1 a-4 a and the series 1 b-4 b with CN as weak acceptor. The two effects annihilate each other in the series 1 c-4 c with terminal CHO groups, so that the absorption maxima are almost independent of the length of the chromophore. A hypsochromic shift is observed for the series 1 d-4 d, which contains the strong acceptor group NO(2). This anomaly disappears on protonation of the dialkylamino group because the push-pull effect disappears in the ammonium salts. The results can be explained by semiempirical quantum mechanics (AM1, INDO/S). The HOMO-LUMO transition, which is mainly responsible for the ICT, becomes less important in the electron transitions S(0)-->S(1) when the distance between donor and acceptor is increased. The commonly used VB model, which contains an electroneutral and a zwitterionic resonance structure, is contrasted with a MO model with dipole segments at both ends of the OPV chains. The latter model turned out to be more appropriate-at least for donor-acceptor-substituted OPVs with n >/= 2.     

Computer simulations of two-dimensional trifunctional bimodal networks

Transformation of mean chain dimensions in a bimodal Gaussian network is analyzed by generating a two-dimensional trifunctional network using Monte Carlo technique and deforming it, subject to the balance of mean forces at each junction. Instantaneous fluctuations in chain dimensions are not considered in the simulations. The problem is, therefore, equivalent to the analysis of a two-dimensional deterministic system of two sets, short and long, of linear springs, joined at trifunctional junctions. The molecular deformation of network chains, the distribution of orientation of chain vectors and the reduced stresses are studied as a function of extension ratio and network topology.     

Extension and compression behavior of rubbery polymer networks

The elastic behavior of different types of rubbery polymers (natural rubber, polybutadiene, silicone, and polyisoprene) networks at various degrees of vulcanization and swelling was examined in extension and compression. The data are represented by the Mooney-Rivlin equation. In compression, although C₂ is zero, C₁ decreases strongly with increasing swelling to a limiting value which, in some cases, may be correlated with the value of C₁ found in extension and hence related to the theoretical modulus for highly swollen networks. A possible explanation is presented in terms of supramolecular order in the amorphous materials.     

Synthesis of a homotrifunctional conjugation reagent based on maleimide chemistry

A novel homotrifunctional conjugation reagent, 1,3,5-tris-(N-maleimidomethyl)benzene has been synthesized in high yield with minimum purification. The reactivity of this compound was examined by using l-cysteine as a nucleophile.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and photochromism of novel two-dimensional supramolecular networks based on Keggin-type polyoxoanion and lanthanide coordination cations

Three new compounds [Ln(NMP)(4)(H(2)O)(4)][H(x)()GeMo(12)O(40)].2NMP.3H(2)O (Ln = Ce(IV) (1), Pr(IV) (2), x = 0; Ln = Nd(III) (3), x = 1; NMP = N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) have been prepared in aqueous solution and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV-vis, and TG analyses. The single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that all three compounds are isostructural. In their structures, an interesting two-dimensional supramolecular network is constructed by the [GeMo(12)O(40)](4)(-) anion and [Ln(NMP)(4)(H(2)O)(4)](3+/4+) cation building blocks via hydrogen-bonding interactions, exhibiting the porous structure. Upon irradiation with UV light, the crystals of 1-3 show photochromic behavior.     

Cooperative effects in two-dimensional ring-like networks of three-center hydrogen bonding interactions

Cooperative effects in two-dimensional cyclic networks containing intermolecular three-centered hydrogen bonding interactions of the type H1...A...H2 are investigated by means of ab intio molecular orbital and density functional theory calculations. Ring-like clusters consisting of three and up to nine monomers of the cis-cis isomer of carbonic acid H2CO3 are used as basic models, where each unit acts simultaneously as a double hydrogen-bond donor and double hydrogen-bond acceptor. Cooperative effects based on binding energies are evident for (H2CO3)n, where n goes from 2 to 9. Thus, the ZPVE-corrected dissociation energy per bifurcated hydrogen bond increases from 11.52 kcal/mol in the dimer to 20.42 kcal/mol in the nonamer, i.e., a 77% cooperative enhancement. Cooperative effects are also manifested in such indicators as geometries, and vibrational frequencies and intensities. The natural bond orbital analysis method is used to rationalize the results in terms of the substantial charge delocalization taking place in the cyclic clusters. Cooperativity seems close to reaching an asymptotic limit in the largest ring considered, n = 9.     

Porous nanoarchitectures based on TiO2 aerogels and Au particles as potential SERS sensor for monitoring of water quality

Encouraged by the environment friendly character of TiO₂ and the well-known affinity of a large variety of molecules to bind to the gold nanostructures surface we obtained novel porous nanoarchitectures based on TiO₂ aerogel and Au colloidal particles and tested their capability to detect contaminant species adsorbed from an aqueous solution on metallic nanoparticles surface. The efficiency of the composites prepared by various methods to detect pollutants from water by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was established by using thioacetamide, crystal violet and rhodamine 6G as test molecules and comparatively discussed. The lowest detectable concentrations were found to depend on the sample preparation method and the pollutant species type and were determined to be of around 10⁻² M for thioacetamide and in the range between 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁷ M for dye molecules off and under resonant excitation, respectively. The obtained results show the real potential of the prepared porous composites for further use in the development of new SERS-based sensors for monitoring of water quality.     

Redox reaction in two-dimensional porous coordination polymers based on ferrocenedicarboxylates

A series of 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylate-based two-dimensional porous coordination polymers were synthesized by incorporating different diamine co-ligands. These compounds immobilized on electrodes, exhibited reversible redox reactions, arising from ferrocenyl moiety.     

Synthesis of two-dimensional phenylene-boroxine networks through in vacuo condensation and on-surface radical addition

We report on covalent two-dimensional phenylene-boroxine hybrid-networks that were synthesized under ultra-high vacuum conditions from doubly functionalized monomers through thermally activated condensation prior to deposition and successive heterogeneously catalyzed radical addition on Ag(111). Structural properties were characterized in situ by high resolution Scanning-Tunneling-Microscopy (STM).     

Recent progress on the smart membranes based on two-dimensional materials

Inspired by the biosystems, the artificial smart membrane to control the mass transport and molecular conversion has attracted increasing attention in the fields of membrane separation, desalination, nanofiltration, healthcare and environmental remediation. However, the trade-off limitations in polymeric membranes greatly hinder the development of smart membranes with high permeability and manipulability. Recently, inspired by the unique physical/chemical properties of two-dimensional(2 D) mater...     

Extended two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks based on thiolate-copper coordination bonds

Self-assembly and surface-mediated reactions of 1,3,5-tris(4-mercaptophenyl)benzene--a three-fold symmetric aromatic trithiol--are studied on Cu(111) by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) under ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) conditions. In order to reveal the nature of intermolecular bonds and to understand the specific role of the substrate for their formation, these studies were extended to Ag(111). Room-temperature deposition onto either substrate yields densely packed trigonal structures with similar appearance and lattice parameters. Yet, thermal annealing reveals distinct differences between both substrates: on Cu(111) moderate annealing temperatures (~150 °C) already drive the emergence of two different porous networks, whereas on Ag(111) higher annealing temperatures (up to ~300 °C) were required to induce structural changes. In the latter case only disordered structures with characteristic dimers were observed. These differences are rationalized by the contribution of the adatom gas on Cu(111) to the formation of metal-coordination bonds. Density functional theory (DFT) methods were applied to identify intermolecular bonds in both cases by means of their bond distances and geometries.     

Construction and application of bioinspired nanochannels based on two-dimensional materials

With the development of nanotechnology and materials science, bioinspired nanochannels appeared by mimicking the intelligent functions of biological ion channels. They have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to their controllable structure and tunable chemical properties. Inspired by the layered microstructure of nacre, 2D layered materials as excellent matrix material of nanochannel come into our field of vision. Bionic nanochannels based on 2D materials have the advantages...