A Design Strategy for Single‐Stranded Helicates using Pyridine‐Hydrazone Ligands and PbII

The reactions of py‐hz ligands ( L1–L5 ) with Pb(CF₃SO₃)₂?H₂O resulted in some rare examples of discrete single‐stranded helical Pb^II complexes. L1 and L2 formed non‐helical mononuclear complexes [Pb L1 (CF₃SO₃)₂]?CHCl₃ and Pb L2 (CF₃SO₃)₂][Pb L2 CF₃SO₃]CF₃SO₃?CH₃CN, which reflected the high coordination number and effective saturation of Pb^II by the ligands. The reaction of L3 with Pb^II resulted in a dinuclear meso‐helicate [Pb₂ L3 (CF₃SO₃)₂Br]CF₃SO₃?CH₃CN with a stereochemically‐active lone pair on Pb^II. L4 directed single‐stranded helicates with Pb^II, including [Pb₂ L4 (CF₃SO₃)₃]CF₃SO₃?CH₃CN and [Pb₂ L4 CF₃SO₃(CH₃OH)₂](CF₃SO₃)₃?2 CH₃OH?2 H₂O. The acryloyl‐modified py‐hz ligand L5 formed helical and non‐helical complexes with Pb^II, including a trinuclear Pb^II complex [Pb₃ L5 (CF₃SO₃)₅]CF₃SO₃?3CH₃CN?Et₂O. The high denticity of the long‐stranded py‐hz ligands L4 and L5 was essential to the formation of single‐stranded helicates with Pb^II.     

Ionic thermo‐responsive copolymer with multi LCST values: easy and fast LCST‐change through anion exchange

An ionic thermo‐responsive copolymer with multiple lower critical solution temperatures (multi‐LCSTs) has been developed, and the multi‐LCSTs were easily changeable according to the various counter anion types. The multi‐LCST values were achieved by introducing an ionic segment with an imidazolium moiety within the p‐NIPAAm polymer chain to produce poly(NIPAAm‐co‐BVIm) copolymers, [p‐NIBIm]⁺[Br]^?, and changing the counter anion type to produce [p‐NIBIm]⁺[X]^? (X = Cl, AcO, HCO₃, BF₄, CF₃SO₃, PF₆, SbF₆). The as‐prepared temperature‐responsive copolymers were physicochemically characterized via proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H‐NMR), Fourier‐transform infrared, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Their various LCST values, micelle sizes, and surface charges were determined using an Ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometer and a Zeta (ξ) sizer, which were fitted with temperature and stirring control. The copolymers showed a broad LCST spectrum between 39°C and 52°C. The Zeta (ξ) potential values at a pH = 7 decreased from about +9.7 for [p‐NIBIm]⁺[X]^? (X = Cl ≈ Br) to about +2.0 mV for [p‐NIBIm]⁺[X]^? (X = PF₆ ≈ SbF₆). The micelle size (or volume) of the copolymers with different anionic species gradually increased from 181.2 nm (or 2.49 × 10^?17 cm^?3) for [p‐NIBIm]⁺[Br]^? to 229.2 nm (or 5.04 × 10^?17 cm^?3) for [p‐NIBIm]⁺[CF₃SO₃]^?, showing a clear effect of the anion on the micelle size (or volume) at a constant temperature, such as body temperature. The fact that the most important physicochemical properties for the thermo‐responsive copolymers, such as the LCST value, micelle size (or volume), and surface charge, could be easily controlled only through the anion exchange suggests these are highly applicable as ionic thermo‐responsive copolymers in a drug (or gene, protein) delivery system. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water in Ionic Liquids: Correlation between Anion Hydrophilicity and Near‐Infrared Fingerprints

We show that fingerprints of the different states of water association can be clearly distinguished in the range of the first overtone of water′s symmetric O‐H stretching in the spectra of water‐saturated [EMIm]⁺‐based ionic liquids with anions of substantially different hydrophilicity, such as hydrophobic [(CF₃SO₂)₂N]^?, moderately hydrophilic [CF₃SO₃]^?, and highly hydrophilic [HSO₄]^?.     

Chiral Fluorinated α‐Sulfonyl Carbanions: Enantioselective Synthesis and Electrophilic Capture,Racemization Dynamics,and Structure

Enantiomerically pure triflones R¹CH(R²)SO₂CF₃ have been synthesized starting from the corresponding chiral alcohols via thiols and trifluoromethylsulfanes. Key steps of the syntheses of the sulfanes are the photochemical trifluoromethylation of the thiols with CF₃Hal (Hal=halide) or substitution of alkoxyphosphinediamines with CF₃SSCF₃. The deprotonation of RCH(Me)SO₂CF₃ (R=CH₂Ph, iHex) with nBuLi with the formation of salts [RC(Me)? SO₂CF₃]Li and their electrophilic capture both occurred with high enantioselectivities. Displacement of the SO₂CF₃ group of (S)‐MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)SO₂CF₃ (95 % ee) by an ethyl group through the reaction with AlEt₃ gave alkane MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)Et of 96 % ee. Racemization of salts [R¹C(R²)SO₂CF₃]Li follows first‐order kinetics and is mainly an enthalpic process with small negative activation entropy as revealed by polarimetry and dynamic NMR (DNMR) spectroscopy. This is in accordance with a C_α? S bond rotation as the rate‐determining step. Lithium α‐(S)‐trifluoromethyl‐ and α‐(S)‐nonafluorobutylsulfonyl carbanion salts have a much higher racemization barrier than the corresponding α‐(S)‐tert‐butylsulfonyl carbanion salts. Whereas [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂tBu]Li/DMPU (DMPU = dimethylpropylurea) has a half‐life of racemization at ?105 °C of 2.4 h, that of [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li at ?78 °C is 30 d. DNMR spectroscopy of amides (PhCH₂)₂NSO₂CF₃ and (PhCH₂)N(Ph)SO₂CF₃ gave N? S rotational barriers that seem to be distinctly higher than those of nonfluorinated sulfonamides. NMR spectroscopy of [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂R]M (M=Li, K, NBu₄; R=CF₃, tBu) shows for both salts a confinement of the negative charge mainly to the C_α atom and a significant benzylic stabilization that is weaker in the trifluoromethylsulfonyl carbanion. According to crystal structure analyses, the carbanions of salts {[PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li? L }₂ ( L =2 THF, tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)) and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ have the typical chiral C_α? S conformation of α‐sulfonyl carbanions, planar C_α atoms, and short C_α? S bonds. Ab initio calculations of [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]^? and [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]^? showed for the fluorinated carbanion stronger n_C→σ* and n_O→σ* interactions and a weaker benzylic stabilization. According to natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations of [R¹C(R²)SO₂R]^? (R=tBu, CF₃) the n_C→σ*_{S? R} interaction is much stronger for R=CF₃. Ab initio calculations gave for [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,C_α contact ion pair (CIP) and for [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,O CIP. According to cryoscopy, [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li, [iHexC(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li, and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ predominantly form monomers in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?108 °C. The NMR spectroscopic data of salts [R¹(R²)SO₂R³]Li (R³=tBu, CF₃) indicate that the dominating monomeric CIPs are devoid of C_α? Li bonds.     

Fluoro‐ and Perfluoralkylsulfonylpentafluoroanilides: Synthesis and Characterization of NH Acids for Weakly Coordinating Anions and Their Gas‐Phase and Solution Acidities

Fluoro‐ and perfluoralkylsulfonyl pentafluoroanilides [HN(C₆F₅)(SO₂X); X=F, CF₃, C₄F₉, C₈F₁₇] are a class of imides with two different strongly electron‐withdrawing substituents attached to a nitrogen atom. They are NH acids, the unsymmetrical hybrids of the well‐known symmetrical bissulfonylimides and bispentafluorophenylamine. The syntheses, the structures of these perfluoroanilides, their solvates, and some selected lithium salts give rise to a structural variety beyond the symmetrical parent compounds. The acidities of representative subsets of these novel NH acids have been investigated experimentally and quantum‐chemically and their gas‐phase acidities (GAs) are reported, as well as the pK_a values of these compounds in acetonitrile (MeCN) and DMSO solution. In quantum chemical investigations with the vertical and relaxed COSMO cluster‐continuum models (vCCC/rCCC), the unusual situation is encountered that the DMSO‐solvated acid Me₂SO–H‐N(SO₂CF₃)₂, optimized in the gas phase (vCCC model), dissociates to Me₂SO‐H⁺–N(SO₂CF₃)₂^? during structural relaxation and full optimization with the solvation model turned on (rCCC model). This proton transfer underlines the extremely high acidity of HN(SO₂CF₃)₂. The importance of this effect is studied computationally in DMSO and MeCN solution. Usually this effect is less pronounced in MeCN and is of higher importance in the more basic solvent DMSO. Nevertheless, the neglect of the structural relaxation upon solvation causes typical changes in the computational pK_a values of 1 to 4 orders of magnitude (4–20 kJ mol^?1). The results provide evidence that the published experimental DMSO pK_a value of HN(SO₂CF₃)₂ should rather be interpreted as the pK_a of a Me₂SO‐H⁺–N(SO₂CF₃)₂^? contact ion pair.     

Hexanoyl chitosan/ENR25 blend polymer electrolyte system for electrical double layer capacitor

Single salt polymer electrolytes based on hexanoyl chitosan‐ENR25 were prepared by employing LiN (CF₃SO₂)₂ or LiCF₃SO₃ as the doping salt. Elastic property of hexanoyl chitosan was enhanced with the incorporation of ENR25. DSC studies revealed immiscibility of hexanoyl chitosan and ENR25, and dissolution of salt was favored in ENR25 phase. Conductivity enhancement was observed in the blends as compared with the neat hexanoyl chitosan. The maximum conductivities achieved for LiCF₃SO₃‐ and LiN (CF₃SO₂)₂‐comprising electrolyte systems were 1.6 × 10^?8 and 5.0 × 10^?7 S cm^?1, respectively. Deconvolution of spectra bands in the v_as (SO₂^?) mode of LiN (CF₃SO₂)₂ and v_s (SO₃^?) mode of LiCF₃SO₃ has been carried out to estimate the relative percentage of free ions and associated ions. The findings were in good agreement with conductivity results. Electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) was fabricated with hexanoyl chitosan/ENR25 (90:10)‐LiN (CF₃SO₂)₂‐EmImTFSI electrolyte and activated carbon‐based electrodes. The conductivity and electrochemical stability window of hexanoyl chitosan/ENR25‐LiN (CF₃SO₂)₂‐EmImTFSI were ~10^?6 S cm^?1 and 2.7 V, respectively. The performance of the EDLC was analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic charge‐discharge (GCD). From GCD, the specific capacitance of EDLC was 58.0 F g^?1 at 0.6 mA cm^?2. The specific capacitance was found to decrease with increasing current density.     

Cationic versus neutral Ru(II)--N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as latent precatalysts for the UV-induced ring-opening metathesis polymerization

A series of cationic and neutral Ru^II complexes of the general formula [Ru(L)(X) (tBuCN)₄]⁺X^? and [Ru(L)(X)₂(tBuCN)₃)], that is, [Ru(CF₃SO₃){NCC(CH₃)₃}₄(IMesH₂)]⁺[CF₃SO₃]^? ( 1 ), [Ru(CF₃SO₃){NCC(CH₃)₃}₄(IMes)]⁺[CF₃SO₃]^? ( 2 ), [RuCl{NCC(CH₃)₃}₄(IMes)]⁺Cl^? ( 3 ), [RuCl{NCC(CH₃)₃}₄(IMesH₂)⁺Cl^?]/[RuCl₂{NCC(CH₃)₃}₃(IMesH₂)] ( 4 ), and [Ru(NCO)₂{NCC(CH₃)₃}₃(IMesH₂)] ( 5 ) (IMes=1,3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene, IMesH₂=1,3‐dimesityl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) have been synthesized and used as UV‐triggered precatalysts for the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of different norborn‐2‐ene‐ and cis‐cyclooctene‐based monomers. The absorption maxima of complexes 1 – 5 were in the range of 245–255 nm and thus perfectly fit the emission band of the 254 nm UV source that was used for activation. Only the cationic Ru^II‐complexes based on ligands capable of forming μ²‐complexes such as 1 and 2 were found to be truly photolatent in ROMP. In contrast, complexes 3 – 5 could be activated by UV light; however, they also showed a low but significant ROMP activity in the absence of UV light. As evidenced by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, the structure of the polymers obtained with either 1 or 2 are similar to those found in the corresponding polymers prepared by the action of [Ru(CF₃SO₃)₂(IMesH₂)(CH‐2‐(2‐PrO)‐C₆H₄)], which strongly suggest the formation of Ru‐based Grubbs‐type initiators in the course of the UV‐based activation process. Precatalysts that have the IMesH₂ ligand showed significantly enhanced reactivity as compared with those based on the IMes ligand, which is in accordance with reports on the superior reactivity of IMesH₂‐based Grubbs‐type catalysts compared with IMes‐based systems.     

Li+ cation coordination in [Li2(CF3SO3)2(diglyme)] and [Li3(C2F3O2)3(diglyme)]

The title compounds, poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­methanesulfonato‐lithium(I)], [Li₂(CF₃SO₃)₂(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, and poly­[[[bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether]­lithium(I)]‐di‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato‐dilithium(I)‐μ₃‐tri­fluoro­acetato], [Li₃(C₂F₃O₂)₃(C₆H₁₄O₃)]_n, consist of one‐dimensional polymer chains. Both structures contain five‐coordinate Li⁺ cations coordinated by a tridentate diglyme [bis(2‐methoxy­ethyl) ether] mol­ecule and two O atoms, each from separate anions. In both structures, the [Li(diglyme)X₂]^? (X is CF₃SO₃ or CF₃CO₂) fragments are further connected by other Li⁺ cations and anions, creating one‐dimensional chains. These connecting Li⁺ cations are coordinated by four separate anions in both compounds. The CF₃SO₃^? and CF₃CO₂^? anions, however, adopt different forms of cation coordination, resulting in differences in the connectivity of the structures and solvate stoichiometries.     

Reactions of Bromine Fluoride Dioxide,BrO2F,for the Generation of the Mixed‐Valent Bromine Oxygen Cations Br3O4+ and Br3O6+

A reliable synthesis of unstable and highly reactive BrO₂F is reported. This compound can be converted into BrO₂⁺SbF₆^?, BrO₂⁺AsF₆^?_, and BrO₂⁺AsF₆^??2 BrO₂F. The latter decomposes into mixed‐valent Br₃O₄?Br₂⁺AsF₆^? with five‐, three‐, one‐, and zero‐valent bromine. BrO₂⁺ H(SO₃CF₃)₂^? is formed with HSO₃CF₃. Excess BrO₂F yields mixed‐valent Br₃O₆⁺OSO₃CF₃^? with five‐ and three‐valent bromine. Reactions of BrO₂F and MoF₅ in SO₂ClF or CH₂ClF result in Cl₂BrO₆⁺Mo₃O₃F₁₃^?. The reaction of BrO₂F with (CF₃CO)₂O and NO₂ produces O₂Br‐O‐CO‐CF₃ and the known NO₂⁺Br(ONO₂)₂^?. All of these compounds are thermodynamically unstable.     

Easy Access to the Copper(III) Anion [Cu(CF3)4]−

CuCl or pre‐generated CuCF₃ reacts with CF₃SiMe₃/KF in DMF in air to give [Cu(CF₃)₄]^? quantitatively. [PPN]⁺, [Me₄N]⁺, [Bu₄N]⁺, [PhCH₂NEt₃]⁺, and [Ph₄P]⁺ salts of [Cu(CF₃)₄]^? were prepared and isolated spectroscopically and analytically pure in 82–99 % yield. X‐ray structures of the [PPN]⁺, [Me₄N]⁺, [Bu₄N]⁺, and [Ph₄P]⁺ salts were determined. A new synthetic strategy with [Cu(CF₃)₄]^? was demonstrated, involving the removal of one CF₃^? from the Cu atom in the presence of an incoming ligand. A novel Cu^III complex [(bpy)Cu(CF₃)₃] was thus prepared and fully characterized, including by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The bpy complex is highly fluxional in solution, the barrier to degenerate isomerization being only 2.3 kcal mol^?1. An NPA study reveals a huge difference in the charge on the Cu atom in [Cu(CR₃)₄]^? for R=F (+0.19) and R=H (+0.46), suggesting a higher electron density on Cu in the fluorinated complex.     

Dynamic Equilibria in Solvent‐Mediated Anion,Cation and Ligand Exchange in Transition‐Metal Coordination Polymers: Solid‐State Transfer or Recrystallisation?

The solution properties of a series of transition‐metal–ligand coordination polymers [ML(X)_n]_∞ [M=Ag^I, Zn^II, Hg^II and Cd^II; L=4,4′‐bipyridine (4,4′‐bipy), pyrazine (pyz), 3,4′‐bipyridine (3,4′‐bipy), 4‐(10‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)anthracen‐9‐yl)pyridine (anbp); X=NO₃^?, CH₃COO^?, CF₃SO₃^?, Cl^?, BF₄^?; n=1 or 2] in the presence of competing anions, metal cations and ligands have been investigated systematically. Providing that the solubility of the starting complex is sufficiently high, all the components of the coordination polymer, namely the anion, the cation and the ligand, can be exchanged on contact with a solution phase of a competing component. The solubility of coordination polymers is a key factor in the analysis of their reactivity and this solubility depends strongly on the physical properties of the solvent and on its ability to bind metal cations constituting the backbone of the coordination polymer. The degree of reversibility of these solvent‐induced anion‐exchange transformations is determined by the ratio of the solubility product constants for the starting and resultant complexes, which in turn depend upon the choice of solvent and the temperature. The extent of anion exchange is controlled effectively by the ratio of the concentrations of incoming ions to outgoing ions in the liquid phase and the solvation of various constituent components comprising the coordination polymer. These observations can be rationalised in terms of a dynamic equilibrium of ion exchange reactions coupled with Ostwald ripening of crystalline products. The single‐crystal X‐ray structures of [Ag(pyz)ClO₄]_∞ ( 1 ), {[Ag(4,4′‐bipy)(CF₃SO₃)] ? CH₃CN}_∞ ( 2 ), {[Ag(4,4′‐bipy)(CH₃CN)]ClO₄ ? 0.5 CH₃CN}_∞ ( 3 ), metal‐free anbp ( 4 ), [Ag(anbp)NO₃(H₂O)]_∞ ( 5 ), {[Cd(4,4′‐bipy)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ ? 4 H₂O}_∞ ( 6 ) and {[Zn(4,4′‐bipy)SO₄(H₂O)₃] ? 2 H₂O}_∞ ( 7 ) are reported.     

Solvolysis Products of the Types [RhMeL2(Me3[9]aneN3)]2+ and [RuCl3—XLX(Me3[9]aneN3)](x)+ (x = 1‐2) and Preparation and Structure of [Ru([9]aneS3)(Me3[9]aneN3)](CF3SO3)2

Solvolysis of [RhMe(CF₃SO₃)₂(Me₃[9]aneN₃)] ( 1 ) (Me₃[9]aneN₃ = 1, 4, 7‐trimethyl‐1, 4, 7‐triazacyclononane) in CH₃CN, DMSO or pyrazole (L) leads to substitution of both trifluoromethylsulfonate ligands and formation of the cationic complexes [RhMeL₂(Me₃[9]aneN₃)](CF₃SO₃)₂ 3—5 . In contrast, treatment of [RuCl₃(Me₃[9]aneN₃)] ( 2 ) with Ag(CF₃SO₃) in a 1:3 ratio for 2h in CH₃CN leads to formation of the tetranuclear complex [{RuCl₃(Me₃[9]aneN₃)}₂Ag₂(CF₃SO₃)(CH₃CN)](CF₃SO₃) · CH₃CN ( 6 ) with a novel [(RuCl₃)₂Ag₂] core. More forcing conditions enable the substitution of respectively one or two chloride ligands by CH₃CN (reflux 18h) or DMF (85°C, 1h) to afford [RuCl₂(CH₃CN)(Me₃[9]aneN₃)](CF₃SO₃) ( 7 ) and [RuCl(DMF)₂(Me₃[9]aneN₃)](CF₃SO₃)₂ ( 8 ). The heteroleptic sandwich complex [Ru([9]aneS₃)(Me₃[9]aneN₃)](CF₃SO₃)₂ ( 9 ) can be prepared by reduction of 2 with Zn powder in acetone in the presence of 3 equiv. of Ag(CF₃SO₃), followed by addition of [9]aneS₃ (1, 4, 7‐trithiacyclononane). The redox potential E°(Ru³⁺/Ru²⁺) of +1.87 V vs NHE for 9 is only —0.12 V lower than that of the homoleptic complex [Ru([9]aneS₃)₂]²⁺. Crystal structures are reported for 3 — 9 .     

The formation of aryloxenium ion in the reaction of N-nitro-O-(4-nitrophenyl)hydroxylamine with strong acids

The reaction of N-nitro-O-(4-nitrophenyl)hydroxylamine (1) with conc. H₂SO₄ affords 4-nitropyrocatechol and that with conc. sulfonic acids (RSO₃H where R = Me, CF₃) affords 2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenyl-R-sulfonates in yields of 80?C85%. These reactions are assumed to proceed through an intermediate (phenoxy)oxodiazonium ion [NO₂C₆H₄O-N=N=O]⁺, which eliminates the N₂O molecule to form the aryloxenium ion [NO₂C₆H₄O]⁺. The latter reacts with acid anions at the ortho-carbon atom of the phenyl ring. The thermodynamical parameters of the elementary reactions resulting in the formation of the (phenoxy)oxodiazonium ion [NO₂C₆H₄O-N=N=O]⁺ and aryloxenium ion [NO₂C₆H₄O]⁺ were calculated in the B3LYP/6?311+G(d) study of the combined molecular system (nitrohydroxylamine 1 + [H₃SO₄]⁺). The reaction of nitrohydroxylamine 1 with aqueous solutions of strong acids (??70% H₂SO₄, CF₃SO₃H) affords mainly 4-nitrophenol. It appears that the mechanism of this reaction does not involve the formation of the aryloxenium ion.     

Donor and acceptor properties of the solvents tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydrothiophene

The donor and acceptor properties of tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydro-thiophene were evaluated by means of electrochemical and spectroscopic methods. Polarographic and cyclovoltammetric data for LiClO₄, NaClO₄, KClO₄, RbClO₄, CsClO₄, Ba(ClO₄)₂, AgCF₃SO₃, TlClO₄, Zn(CF₃SO₃)₂, Cd(CF₃SO₃)₂, Cu(CF₃SO₃)₂, Pb(CF₃SO₃)₂, Mn(CF₃SO₃)₂, Co(CF₃SO₃)₂, Ni(ClO₄)₂·2H₂O, oxygen, perylene, ferrocene, and bis(biphenyl)chromium tetraphenylborate in tetrahydrofuran and of TlClO₄, CuCF₃SO₃, Pb(CF₃SO₃)₂, Cd(CF₃SO₃)₂, oxygen, ferrocene and bis(biphenyl)chromium tetraphenylborate in tetrahydrothiophene together with the potentials of the Ag/0.01 M Ag⁺-ion electrodes in these two solvents are given. Molar Gibbs (free) energies for the transfer from acetonitrile into tetrahydrofuran for Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Ag⁺, Tl⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺, and for the transfer into tetrahydrothiophene for Ag⁺, Cu⁺, Tl⁺, Cd²⁺, and Pb²⁺ were calculated from these data. Visible spectra were obtained for the solvatochromic dyes acetylacetonato(N,N,N,N,-tetramethylethylenediamine) copper(II) perchlorate and for 2,6-diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenyl-l-pyridinio)phenoxide, which served as secondary standards to obtain donor and acceptor numbers. The changes in half-wave potentials of the cations vs. bis(biphenyl)chromium(I)/(0) and the Gibbs energies of transfer are discussed on basis of hard and soft donor properties of these two solvents.     

Crystal Structure of the Mixed‐Valent Basic Mercury Nitrate HgI2(NO3)2·HgII(OH)(NO3)·HgII(NO3)2·4HgIIO [= Hg8O4(OH)(NO3)5]

Light‐yellow single crystals of the mixed‐valent mercury‐rich basic nitrate Hg₈O₄(OH)(NO₃)₅ were obtained as a by‐product at 85 °C from a melt consisting of stoichiometric amounts of (Hg^I₂)(NO₃)₂·2H₂O and Hg^II(OH)(NO₃). The title compound, represented by the more detailed formula Hg^I₂(NO₃)₂·Hg^II(OH)(NO₃)·Hg^II(NO₃)₂·4Hg^IIO, exhibits a new structure type (monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4, a = 6.7708(7), b = 11.6692(11), c = 24.492(2) Å, β = 96.851(2)°, 2920 structure factors, 178 parameters, R1[F² > 2σ(F²)] = 0.0316) and is made up of almost linear [O‐Hg^II‐O] and [O‐Hg^I‐Hg^I‐O] building blocks with typical Hg^II‐O distances around 2.06Å and a Hg^I‐O distance of 2.13Å. The Hg₂²⁺ dumbbell exhibits a characteristic Hg‐Hg distance of 2.5079(7) Å. The different types of mercury‐oxygen units form a complex three‐dimensional network exhibiting large cavities which are occupied by the nitrate groups. The NO₃^? anions show only weak interactions between the nitrate oxygen atoms and the mercury atoms which are at distances > 2.6Å from one another. One of the three crystallographically independent nitrate groups is disordered.     

General Assembly of Twisted Trigonal‐Prismatic Nonanuclear Silver(I) Clusters

A general class of C₃‐symmetric Ag₉ clusters, [Ag₉S(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(CF₃SO₃)] ( 1 ), [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(CF₃SO₃)₂] ? CF₃SO₃ ( 2 ), [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₆(dpph)₃(NO₃)₂] ? NO₃ ( 3 ), and [Ag₉(tBuC₆H₄S)₇(dpph)₃(Mo₂O₇)_0.5]₂ ? 2 CF₃COO ( 4 ) (dpph=1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane), with a twisted trigonal‐prism geometry was isolated by the reaction of polymeric {(HNEt₃)₂[Ag₁₀(tBuC₆H₄S)₁₂]}_n, 1,6‐bis(diphenylphosphino)hexane, and various silver salts under solvothermal conditions. The structures consist of discrete clusters constructed from a girdling Ag₉ twisted trigonal prism with the top and bottom trigonal faces capped by diverse anions (i.e., S^2? and CF₃SO₃^? for compound 1 , 2×CF₃SO₃^? for compound 2 , 2×NO₃^? for compound 3 , and tBuC₆H₄S^? and Mo₂O₇^2? for compound 4 ). This trigonal prism is bisected by another shrunken Ag₃ trigon at its waist position. Interestingly, two inversion‐related Ag₉ trigonal‐prismatic clusters are dimerized by the Mo₂O₇^2? ion in compound 4 . The twist is amplified by the bulkier thiolate, which also introduces high steric‐hindrance for the capping ligand, that is, the longer dpph ligand. Four more silver–sulfur clusters (namely, compounds 5 – 8 ) with their nuclearity ranging from 6–10 were solely characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction to verify the above‐described synergetic effect of mixed ligands in the construction of Ag₉ twisted trigonal prisms. Surprisingly, only cluster 1 emits yellow luminescence at λ=584 nm at room temperature, which may be attributed to a charge transfer from the S 3p orbital to the Ag 5s orbital, or mixed with metal‐centered (MC) d¹⁰→d⁹s¹ transitions. Upon cooling from 300 to 80 K, the emission intensity was enhanced along with a hypsochromic shift. The good linear relationship between the maximum emission intensity and the temperature for compound 1 in the range of 180–300 K indicates that this is a promising molecular luminescent thermometer. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetric studies indicated that the diffusion‐ and surface‐controlled redox processes were determined for compounds 1 and 3 as well as compound 4 , respectively.     

A portable lab‐on‐a‐chip instrument based on MCE with dual top–bottom capacitive coupled contactless conductivity detector in replaceable cell cartridge

A new design for a compact portable lab‐on‐a‐chip instrument based on MCE and dual capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (dC⁴D) is described. The instrument is battery powered with total dimension of 14 × 25 × 8 cm³ (w × l × h), and weighs 1.2 kg. The device consists of a front electrophoresis compartment which has the chip holder and the chip, the associated high‐voltage electrodes for electrophoresis injection and separation and the detector. The detection cell is integrated into the device housing with an exchangeable plug‐and‐play cartridge format. The design of the dC⁴D cell has been optimized for maximum performance. The cartridge includes the top–bottom excitation and pick up electrodes incorporated into the cell and connected to push‐pull self‐latching pins that are insulated with plastic. The metal frame of the cartridge is grounded completely to eliminate electronic interferences. The cartridge is designed to clamp a thin fluidic chip at the detection point. The cartridges are replaceable whereby different cartridges have different detection electrode configurations to employ according to the sensitivity or resolution needed in the specific analytical application. The second compartment consists of all the electronics, data acquisition card, high‐voltage modules of up to ±5 kV both polarity, and batteries for 10 h of operation. The improved detector performance is illustrated by the electrophoresis analysis of six cations (NH₄⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Li⁺) with a detection limit of approximately 5 μM and the analysis of the anions (Br^?, Cl^?, NO₂^?, NO₃^?, SO₄^2?, F^?) with a detection limit of about 3 μM. Analytical capabilities of the instrument for food and medical applications were evaluated by simultaneous detection of organic and inorganic acids in fruit juice and inorganic cations and anions in rabbit blood samples and human urine samples are also demonstrated.     

Gas‐phase dissociation of ionic liquid aggregates studied by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy‐variable collision induced dissociation

Positive singly charged ionic liquid aggregates [(C_nmim)_m+1(BF₄)_m]⁺ (mim = 3‐methylimidazolium; n = 2, 4, 8 and 10) and [(C₄mim)_m+1(A)_m]⁺ (A = Cl⁻, BF₄⁻, PF₆⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻ and (CF₃SO₂)₂N⁻) were investigated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy‐variable collision induced dissociation. The electrospray ionisation mass spectra (ESI‐MS) showed the formation of an aggregate with extra stability for m = 4 for all the ionic liquids with the exception of [C₄mim][CF₃SO₃]. ESI‐MS‐MS and breakdown curves of aggregate ions showed that their dissociation occurred by loss of neutral species ([C_nmim][A])_a with a ≥ 1. Variable‐energy collision induced dissociation of each aggregate from m = 1 to m = 8 for all the ionic liquids studied enabled the determination of E_{cm, 1/2} values, whose variation with m showed that the monomers were always kinetically much more stable than the larger aggregates, independently of the nature of cation and anion. The centre‐of‐mass energy values correlate well with literature data on ionic volumes and interaction and hydrogen bond energies. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of new polymeric ionic liquid microgels

A new two‐step route toward the synthesis of polymeric ionic liquid microgel particles is presented. In the first step, hydrophilic microparticles were prepared by the concentrated emulsion polymerization of the ionic liquid 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium bromide in the presence of small amounts of N,N‐dimethylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinking agent. In the second step, the bromide anion was exchanged in water with different anions such as BF, CF₃SO, (CF₃SO₂)₂N^?, (CF₃CF₂SO₂)₂N^?, and dodecylbenzenesulfonate, and this resulted in the coagulation of the microparticles, which were easily recovered by filtration. The obtained polymeric ionic liquid microparticles could be swollen in a very broad range of organic solvents, including apolar organic solvents. As an application, glucose oxidase was encapsulated inside polymeric ionic liquid microparticles, which were used in an amperometric biosensor. The response of the biosensor showed excellent values that strongly depended on the nature of the polymeric ionic liquid counteranion in the order of Br^? > BF > (CF₃SO₂)₂N^?. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 3958–3965, 2006     

Self‐polyaddition of triethylsilyl perfluoroisopropenyl ether

The results on radical self‐polyaddition reactivity of two trialkylsilyl perfluoroisopropenyl ethers, triethysilyl perfluoroisopropenyl ether [CF₂?C(CF₃)OSi(C₂H₅)₃] (FTEE) and dimethylphenylsilyl perfluoroisopropenyl ether [CF₂?C(CF₃)OSi(CH₃)₂C₆H₅] (DMPE), and two perfluoroisopropenyl carboxylates, 2‐butyroxypentafluoropropene [CF₂?C(CF₃)OCOC₃H₇] (BuFPP) and 2‐(methoxyacetoxy)pentafluoropropene [CF₂?C(CF₃)OCOCH₂OCH₃] (MFPP), are described. Radical self‐polyaddition of FTEE afforded a polymer as high as 1.87 × 10⁴ in molecular weight in the presence of radical generators such as benzoyl peroxide and di‐tert‐butyl peroxide. DMPE gave only addition products with initiating radicals. BuFPP and MFPP scarcely yielded even addition products with radical. The mechanism that the self‐polyaddition of FTEE was initiated by the addition of radical onto the perfluoroisopropenyl group followed by a 1,5‐shift to afford a methyl radical that attacked the perfluoroisopropenyl group of another FTEE molecule is proposed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2743–2754, 2003