Assessing a Spectroelectrochemical Sensor’s Performance for Detecting [Ru(bpy)3]2+ in Natural and Treated Water

A spectroelectrochemical sensor that combines three modes of selectivity in a single device was evaluated in natural and treated water samples using tris‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl) ruthenium(II) dichloride hexahydrate, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, as a model analyte. The sensor was an optically transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode coated with a thin film of partially sulfonated polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene‐ran‐butylene)‐block‐polystyrene (SSEBS). As the potential of the ITO electrode was cycled from +0.7 to +1.3 V, the analyte changed from the colored [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ complex to colorless [Ru(bpy)₃]³⁺ complex and the change in absorbance at 450 nm was used as the optical signal for quantification. Calibration curves were obtained for [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ in natural well water, river water and treated tap water with detection limits of 108, 139 and 264 nM, respectively. A standard addition method was developed to determine an ‘unknown’ spike addition concentration of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ in well water. The spectroelectrochemical sensor determined the concentration of [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ spiked into a sample of Hanford well water to be 0.39±0.03 µM versus the actual concentration of 0.40 µM.     

Electrocatalytic Dioxygen Reduction by Carbon Electrodes Noncovalently Modified with Iron Porphyrin Complexes: Enhancements from a Single Proton Relay

Oxygen reduction in acidic aqueous solution mediated by a series of asymmetric iron (III)‐tetra(aryl)porphyrins adsorbed to basal‐ and edge‐ plane graphite electrodes is investigated. The asymmetric iron porphyrin systems bear phenyl groups at three meso positions and either a 2‐pyridyl, a 2‐benzoic acid, or a 2‐hydroxyphenyl group at the remaining meso position. The presence of the three unmodified phenyl groups makes the compounds insoluble in water, enabling catalyst retention during electrochemical experiments. Resonance Raman data demonstrate that catalyst layers are maintained, but can undergo modification after prolonged catalysis in the presence of O₂. The introduction of a single proton relay group at the fourth meso position makes the asymmetric iron porphyrins markedly more robust catalysts; these molecules support higher sustained current densities than the parent iron tetraphenylporphyrin. Iron porphyrins bearing a 2‐pyridyl group are the most active catalysts and operate at stable current densities ≥1 mA cm^?2 for over 5 h. Comparative analysis of the catalysts with different proton relays also is reported.     

Reactivity Studies of η5‐ Indenyl and η5‐Cp* Ruthenium(II) Complexes towards some Polypyridyl Ligands

The reaction of [(η⁵‐L³)Ru(PPh₃)₂Cl], where; L³ = C₉H₇ ( 1 ), C₅Me₅ (Cp*) ( 2 ) with acetonitrile in the presence of [NH₄][PF₆] yielded cationic complexes [(η⁵‐L³)Ru(PPh₃)₂(CH₃CN)][PF₆]; L³= C₉H₇ ([3]PF₆) and L³ = C₅Me₅ ([4]PF₆), respectively. Complexes [3]PF₆ and [4]PF₆ reacts with some polypyridyl ligands viz, 2,3‐bis (α‐pyridyl) pyrazine (bpp), 2,3‐bis (α‐pyridyl) quinoxaline (bpq) yielding the complexes of the formulation [(η⁵‐L³)Ru(PPh₃)(L²)]PF₆ where; L³ = C₉H₇, L² = bpp, ([5]PF₆), L³ = C₉H₇, L² = bpq, ([6]PF₆); L³ = C₅Me₅, L² = bpp, ([7]PF₆) and bpq, ([8]PF₆), respectively. However reaction of [(η⁵‐C₉H₇)Ru(PPh₃)₂(CH₃CN)][PF₆] ([3]PF₆) with the sterically demanding polypyridyl ligands, viz. 2,4,6‐tris(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine (tptz) or tetra‐2‐pyridyl‐1,4‐pyrazine (tppz) leads to the formation of unexpected complexes [Ru(PPh₃)₂(L²)(CH₃CN)][PF₆]₂; L² = tppz ([9](PF₆)₂), tptz ([11](PF₆)₂) and [Ru(PPh₃)₂(L²)Cl][PF₆]; L² = tppz ([10]PF₆), tptz ([12]PF₆). The complexes were isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. They have been characterized on the basis of micro analytical and spectroscopic data. The crystal structures of the representative complexes were established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Rapid and Sensitive Electrochemical Detection of Carbaryl Based on Enzyme Inhibition and Thiocholine Oxidation Mediated by a Ruthenium(III) Complex

In the electrochemical detection method for pesticides that measures their inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterases (AChEs), the direct electrooxidation of the enzyme product (thiocholine, SCh) is slow at conventional electrodes. To overcome this limitation, an electron mediator is required to lower the applied potential and facilitate the transfer of electrons between the enzyme product and electrode. In this study, [Ru(NH₃)₅py]³⁺ is introduced as an electron mediator in inhibition‐based pesticide detection. To obtain a better signal‐to‐background ratio, [Ru(NH₃)₅py]³⁺, which undergoes a fast outer‐sphere reaction, is combined with low‐electrocatalytic indium‐tin‐oxide (ITO) electrodes at which many interfering species undergo slow redox reactions. AChE is immobilized onto an avidin‐modified ITO electrode via the direct adsorption of avidin onto ITO followed by the biospecific binding of biotinylated AChE to the avidin. SCh is generated from acetylthiocholine by AChE. Subsequently, SCh converts [Ru(NH₃)₅py]³⁺ to [Ru(NH₃)₅py]²⁺, which is then oxidized at the ITO electrode. This procedure allows the sensitive detection of carbaryl at a low applied potential of 0.15 V vs Ag/AgCl. The calculated detection limit for carbaryl is approximately 0.3 pM. This simple and sensitive pesticide sensor is thus very promising and should be extendable to the onsite environmental monitoring of other pesticides.     

The trans influence of the pyridine ligand on ruthenium(II)–porphyrin–carbene complexes

In the two ruthenium(II)–porphyrin–carbene complexes ­(di­benzoyl­carbenyl‐κC)(pyridine‐κN)(5,10,15,20‐tetra‐p‐tolyl­porphyrinato‐κ⁴N)­ruthenium(II), [Ru(C₁₅H₁₀O₂)(C₅H₅N)(C₄₈H₃₆N₄)], (I), and (pyridine‐κN)(5,10,15,20‐tetra‐p‐tolyl­porphyrinato‐κ⁴N)[bis(3‐tri­fluoro­methyl­phenyl)­carbenyl‐κC]­ruthenium(II), [Ru(C₁₅H₈F₆)(C₅H₅N)(C₄₈H₃₆N₄)], (II), the pyridine ligand coordinates to the octahedral Ru atom trans with respect to the carbene ligand. The C(carbene)—Ru—N(pyridine) bonds in (I) coincide with a crystallographic twofold axis. The Ru—C bond lengths of 1.877 (8) and 1.868 (3) Å in (I) and (II), respectively, are slightly longer than those of other ruthenium(II)–porphyrin–carbene complexes, owing to the trans influence of the pyridine ligands.     

Tailoring Coordination Polymers by Substituent Effect: A Bifunctional CoII‐Doped 1D‐Coordination Network with Electrochemical Water Oxidation and Nitroaromatics Sensing

Three Cd^II coordination polymers (CPs) were synthesized with a tripodal ligand N,N‘,N‘ ‘‐tris(4‐pyridinylmethyl)‐1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxamide in combination with three different substituted isophthalic acids with general formulas {[Cd₂( L )(NIP)₂(H₂O)₂].4H₂O}_n, (CP‐ 1 ), {[Cd₂( L )(AIP)₂(H₂O)₂].4H₂O}_n, (CP‐ 2 ) and {[Cd( L )(BIP) (H₂O)].4H₂O}_n, (CP‐ 3 ). The substituent groups on the co‐ligand had profound effect on the network topologies of the corresponding CPs as well as their properties. Out of the three, CP‐ 1 and 2 were found to form 3D networks whereas CP‐ 3 was a 1D linear chain with uncoordinated pyridyl sites. Due to its structural features CP‐ 3 was found to show interesting properties. The 1D CP containing uncoordinated pyridyl site exhibited an excellent ability for doping with Co^II which in turn acts as an efficient water oxidation electrocatalyst with required overpotential of 380 mV for an anodic current density of 1 mA cm^?2. The CP also exhibited luminescence‐based detection of nitroaromatics (LOD: 0.003 mm ) without any significant interference in presence of other organic compounds.     

An unusual polycatenating network self‐assembled by the 2D → 2D parallel → 3D parallel interpenetration of coordinative and hydrogen‐bonded (6,3) motifs

In the title coordination compound, catena‐poly[[[bis[diaquacadmium(II)]‐μ₂‐trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethene]bis{μ₂‐2,2′‐[(5‐carboxymethoxy‐m‐phenylene)dioxy]diacetato}] trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethene solvate dihydrate], {[Cd₂(C₁₂H₁₀O₉)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₂)(H₂O)₄]·C₁₂H₁₀N₂·2H₂O}_n, (I), each Cd^II centre adopts a pentagonal–bipyramidal coordination geometry. The incompletely deprotonated 2,2′‐[(5‐carboxymethoxy‐m‐phenylene)dioxy]diacetate (TCMB) ligands and trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethene (bpe) ligands both act as bidentate bridges, linking the Cd^II centres into one‐dimensional ladders, which are connected into an undulating two‐dimensional (6,3) layer through O—H...N hydrogen bonds between the carboxylate groups of the TCMB ligands and the N atoms of the uncoordinated bpe ligands. Each undulating layer polycatenates two other identical layers, exhibiting the unusual combination of both 2D → 2D parallel and 2D → 3D parallel interpenetration (2D and 3D are two‐ and three‐dimensional, respectively).     

2,3‐Di(2‐pyridyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazine: A NN‐CNN‐Type Bridging Ligand for Dinuclear Transition‐Metal Complexes

A new bridging ligand, 2,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐5‐phenylpyrazine (dpppzH), has been synthesized. This ligand was designed so that it could bind two metals through a NN‐CNN‐type coordination mode. The reaction of dpppzH with cis‐[(bpy)₂RuCl₂] (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) affords monoruthenium complex [(bpy)₂Ru(dpppzH)]²⁺ ( 12+ ) in 64 % yield, in which dpppzH behaves as a NN bidentate ligand. The asymmetric biruthenium complex [(bpy)₂Ru(dpppz)Ru(Mebip)]³⁺ ( 23+ ) was prepared from complex 12+ and [(Mebip)RuCl₃] (Mebip=bis(N‐methylbenzimidazolyl)pyridine), in which one hydrogen atom on the phenyl ring of dpppzH is lost and the bridging ligand binds to the second ruthenium atom in a CNN tridentate fashion. In addition, the RuPt heterobimetallic complex [(bpy)₂Ru(dpppz)Pt(C?CPh)]²⁺ ( 42+ ) has been prepared from complex 12+ , in which the bridging ligand binds to the platinum atom through a CNN binding mode. The electronic properties of these complexes have been probed by using electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques and studied by theoretical calculations. Complex 12+ is emissive at room temperature, with an emission λ_max=695 nm. No emission was detected for complex 23+ at room temperature in MeCN, whereas complex 42+ displayed an emission at about 750 nm. The emission properties of these complexes are compared to those of previously reported Ru and RuPt bimetallic complexes with a related ligand, 2,3‐di(2‐pyridyl)‐5,6‐diphenylpyrazine.     

Synthesis and Molecular Structure of New S‐Nucleosides of 5‐(4‐Pyridyl)‐4‐Aryl‐4H‐1,2,4‐Triazole‐3‐Thiols

The synthesis of some new S‐nucleosides of 5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐4‐aryl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiols ( 4a‐n ) is described. Direct glycosylation of ( 4a‐n ) with tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐D‐glucopyranosyl bromide in the presence of potassium hydroxide followed by deacetylation using dry ammonia in methanol gave the corresponding 3‐S‐(ñ‐D‐glucopyranosyl)‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐4‐aryl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazoles ( 6a‐n ) in good yields. All the compounds were fully characterized by means of ¹HNMR, ¹³C NMR spectra and elemental analyses. To assist in the interpretation of the spectroscopic data, the crystal structure of 3‐S‐(2′,3′,4′,6′‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranosyl)‐5‐(4‐pyridyl)‐4‐phenyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 5a ) was determined by X‐ray diffraction.     

trans‐Diaceto­nitrilebis­(di‐2‐pyridyl sulfide‐N,N′)ruthenium(II) bis­(tetra­fluoro­borate) monohydrate

The title complex, [Ru(C₁₀H₈N₂S)₂(CH₃CN)₂](BF₄)₂·H₂O, is the product of the solvolysis of [Ru(dps‐N,N)₂(dps‐N,S)](PF₆)₂ (dps is di‐2‐pyridyl sulfide) in the presence of HBF₄ in acetone–aceto­nitrile at room temperature. There are two independent cations, with the Ru atoms on inversion centres; each Ru atom has an octahedral geometry with the dps mol­ecules behaving as N,N′‐bidentate ligands and assuming a trans arrangement.     

Study of the Bonding Modes of Di‐2‐pyridyl ketoxime Ligand towards Ruthenium,Rhodium and Iridium Half Sandwich Complexes

The bonding modes of the ligand di‐2‐pyridyl ketoxime towards half‐sandwich arene ruthenium, Cp*Rh and Cp*Ir complexes were investigated. Di‐2‐pyridyl ketoxime {pyC(py)NOH} react with metal precursor [Cp*IrCl₂]₂ to give cationic oxime complexes of the general formula [Cp*Ir{pyC(py)NOH}Cl]PF₆ ( 1a ) and [Cp*Ir{pyC(py)NOH}Cl]PF₆ ( 1b ), for which two coordination isomers were observed by NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the complexes revealed that in the major isomer the oxime nitrogen and one of the pyridine nitrogen atoms are coordinated to the central iridium atom forming a five membered metallocycle, whereas in the minor isomer both the pyridine nitrogen atoms are coordinated to the iridium atom forming a six membered metallacyclic ring. Di‐2‐pyridyl ketoxime react with [(arene)MCl₂]₂ to form complexes bearing formula [(p‐cymene)Ru{pyC(py)NOH}Cl]PF₆ ( 2 ); [(benzene)Ru{pyC(py)NOH}Cl]PF₆ ( 3 ), and [Cp*Rh{pyC(py)NOH}Cl]PF₆ ( 4 ). In case of complex 3 the ligand coordinates to the metal by using oxime nitrogen and one of the pyridine nitrogen atoms, whereas in complex 4 both the pyridine nitrogen atoms are coordinated to the metal ion. The complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques.     

Structure of the Complex of [Ru(tpm)(dppz)py]2+ with a B‐DNA Oligonucleotide—A Single‐Substituent Binding Switch for a Metallo‐Intercalator

We report the synthesis of three new complexes related to the achiral [Ru(tpm)(dppz)py]²⁺ cation (tpm=tripyridazole methane, dppz=dipyrido[3,2‐a:2′,3′‐c]phenazine, py=pyridine) that contain an additional single functional group on the monodentate ancillary pyridyl ligand. Computational calculations indicate that the coordinated pyridyl rings are in a fixed orientation parallel to the dppz axis, and that the electrostatic properties of the complexes are very similar. DNA binding studies on the new complexes reveal that the nature and positioning of the functional group has a profound effect on the binding mode and affinity of these complexes. To explore the molecular and structural basis of these effects, circular dichroism and NMR studies on [Ru(tpm)(dppz)py]Cl₂ with the octanucleotides d(AGAGCTCT)₂ and d(CGAGCTCG)₂, were carried out. These studies demonstrate that the dppz ligand intercalates into the G²–A³ step, with {Ru(tpm)py} in the minor groove. They also reveal that the complex intercalates into the binding site in two possible orientations with the pyridyl ligand of the major conformer making close contact with terminal base pairs. We conclude that substitution at the 2‐ or 3‐position of the pyridine ring has little effect on binding, but that substitution at the 4‐position drastically disrupts intercalative binding, particularly with a 4‐amino substituent, because of steric and electronic interactions with the DNA. These results indicate that complexes derived from these systems have the potential to function as sequence‐specific light‐switch systems.     

Polymeric bis(phosphonomethyl­carboxylato)calcium(II) at 85 K

In the crystal structure of the title compond, alternatively called poly[calcium(II)‐di‐μ‐carboxymethylphosphonato], [Ca(C₂H₄O₅P)₂]_n or [Ca(H₂AP)₂]_n, one of the phosphonate O atoms of the phosphonocarboxylate monoanion lies nearly antiperiplanar (ap) to the carboxylic acid C atom. The phosphonate P atom is located −sc and +ac relative to the carboxylic acid O atoms. The overall structure has a layered architecture. The Ca²⁺ cations lie on a twofold axis and are bridged by the phosphonate O atoms to form chains along the c axis, giving layers parallel to (100). There are medium‐strength O—H⃛O and C—H⃛O hydrogen‐bonding interactions stabilizing the layers, and O—H⃛O hydrogen bonds connect adjacent layers.     

Synthesis of a variety of star‐shaped polybenzamides via chain‐growth condensation polymerization with tetrafunctional porphyrin initiator

A variety of well‐defined tetra‐armed star‐shaped poly(N‐substituted p‐benzamide)s, including block poly(p‐benzamide)s with different N‐substituents, and poly(N‐substituted m‐benzamide)s, were synthesized by using porphyrin‐cored tetra‐functional initiator 2 under optimized polymerization conditions. The initiator 2 allowed discrimination of the target star polymer from concomitantly formed linear polymer by‐products by means of GPC with UV detection, and the polymerization conditions were easily optimized for selective synthesis of the star polybenzamides. Star‐shaped poly(p‐benzamide) with tri(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (TEG) side chain was selectively obtained by polymerization of phenyl 4‐{2‐[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethylamino}benzoate ( 1b ′) with 2 at ?10 °C in the case of [ 1b ′]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 40 and at 0 °C in the case of [ 1b ′]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 80. Star‐shaped poly(p‐benzamide) with 4‐(octyloxy)benzyl (OOB) substituent was obtained only when methyl 4‐[4‐(octyloxy)benzylamino]benzoate ( 1c ) was polymerized at 25 °C at [ 1c ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ = 20. On the other hand, star‐shaped poly(m‐benzamide)s with N‐butyl, N‐octyl, and N‐TEG side chains were able to be synthesized by polymerization of the corresponding meta‐substituted aminobenzoic acid alkyl ester monomers 3 at 0 °C until the ratio of [ 3 ]₀/[ 2 ]₀ reached 80. However, star‐shaped poly(m‐benzamide)s with the OOB group were contaminated with linear polymer even when the feed ratio of the monomer 3d to 2 was 20. The UV–visible spectrum of an aqueous solution of star‐shaped poly(p‐benzamide) with TEG side chain indicated that the hydrophobic porphyrin core was aggregated. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Reactivity of Dyad Ruthenium‐Based Molecules for Light‐Driven Oxidation Catalysis

Dyad molecules containing the 2,3,5,6‐tetrakis(2‐pyridyl)pyrazine (tppz) ligand with general formula [(tpy)Ru(μ‐tppz)Ru(X)(L‐L)]ⁿ⁺ (X=Cl, CF₃COO, or H₂O; L‐L=2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy) or 3,5‐bis(2‐pyridyl)pyrazole (Hbpp); tpy=2,2′:6′,2“‐terpyridine) have been prepared, purified, and isolated. The complexes have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic techniques and by X‐ray diffraction analysis for two of them. Additionally, full electrochemical characterization based on cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and square wave voltammetry has been also performed. The pH dependence of the redox couples for the aqua complexes have also been studied and their corresponding Pourbaix diagrams drawn. Furthermore, their capacity to catalytically oxidize organic substrates, such as alcohols, alkenes, and sulfides, has been carried out chemically, electrochemically, and photochemically. Finally, their capacity to behave as water oxidation catalysts has also been tested.     

A three‐dimensional hybrid framework based on novel [Co4Mo4] bimetallic oxide clusters with 3,5‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole ligands

In the title organic–inorganic hybrid complex, poly[[[μ‐3,5‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole]tri‐μ₃‐oxido‐tetra‐μ₂‐oxido‐oxidodicobalt(II)dimolybdenum(VI)] monohydrate], {[Co₂Mo₂O₈(C₁₂H₉N₅)]·H₂O}_n, the asymmetric unit is composed of two Co^II centers, two [Mo^VIO₄] tetrahedral units, one neutral 3,5‐bis(3‐pyridyl)‐1,2,4‐triazole (BPT) ligand and one solvent water molecule. The cobalt centers both exhibit octahedral [CoO₅N] coordination environments. Four Co^II and four Mo^VI centers are linked by μ₂‐oxide and/or μ₃‐oxide bridges to give an unprecedented bimetallic octanuclear [Co₄Mo₄O₂₂N₄] cluster, which can be regarded as the first example of a metal‐substituted octamolybdate and exhibits a structure different from those of the eight octamolybdate isomers reported to date. The bimetallic oxide clusters are linked to each other through corner‐sharing to give two‐dimensional inorganic layers, which are further bridged by trans‐BPT ligands to generate a three‐dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid architecture with six‐connected distorted α‐Po topology.     

An extended Hückel study of hydrogen and oxygen chemisorption on Ru(001) surface

Extended Hückel MO theory has been applied to treat the chemisorption of hydrogen and oxygen atoms on Ru(001) surfaces. The site of chemisorption, surface-adatom distance, chemisorption energy and the vibrational frequency of the adatom on the surface have been calculated. For different sites, the chemisorption energy (E_c) results are as follows: For hydrogen, |E_c|(centre) > |E_c|(top) > |E_c|(bridge); while for oxygen, |E_c|(bridge) > |E_c|(top) > |E_c|(centre). These results are critically discussed in the light of the recent results obtained from the electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) experiments.     

An Organic Mixed‐Valence Ligand for Multistate Redox‐Active Coordination Networks

The multistate redox‐active/multi‐interactive ligand 5,5′,8,8′‐tetra(4‐pyridyl)‐2,2′‐(1,4‐phenylene)bis‐1H‐perimidine (H₂TPP) was designed and synthesized. H₂TPP undergoes four one‐electron oxidation steps, and was used for the preparation of a multistate redox‐active coordination network in a solid–liquid interface reaction using molten Cd²⁺ salts. The multiple redox states of H₂TPP were confirmed spectroscopically by stepwise four‐electron oxidation. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that the mixed‐valence states of the ligand are class II on the UV/Vis/NIR timescale and borderline class II/class III on the ESR timescale.     

Tetrafluorine‐Containing Ketones and Acetoacetates: Synthesis and Mechanistic Study

Addition of trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetate to the carbanions of α‐fluorobenzyl‐phosphonate ( 3 ) or diisopropyl(fluorocarbethoxymethyl)phosphonate ( 9 ) formed the corresponding intermediates [CF₃C(O)CFPh]^?Li⁺ ( 10 ) and [CF₃C(O)CFCO₂Et]^?Li⁺ ( 11 ), respectively. Subsequent protonation, alkylation or allylation of 10 and 11 afforded trifluoromethyl fluorobenzyl ketones 12 and ethyl 2,4,4,4‐tetra‐fluoroacetoacetates 13 . Based on the results obtained, a plausible mechanism was proposed.     

Preparation of P(MBA‐co‐MAA)/Zr(OH)4/P(EGDMA‐co‐MAA)/TiO2 Tetra‐layer Hybrid Microspheres and the Corresponding ZrO2/TiO2 Double‐shelled Hollow Microspheres

Double‐shelled zirconia/titania (ZrO₂/TiO₂) hollow microspheres were prepared by the selective removal of the polymer components via the calcination of the corresponding tetra‐layer poly(N,N′‐methylenebisacryl amide‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(MBA‐co‐MAA))/Zr(OH)₄/poly(ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate‐co‐methacrylic acid) (P(EGDMA‐co‐MAA))/TiO₂ hybrid microspheres. These tetra‐layer microspheres were synthesized by the combination of the distillation copolymerization of N,N(‐methylenebisacryl amide‐co‐methacrylic acid (MBA) or ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) crosslinker and methacrylic acid (MAA) for the preparation of polymer core and third‐layer as well as the controlled sol‐gel hydrolysis of inorganic precursors for the construction of zirconium hydroxide (Zr(OH)₄) and titania (TiO₂) layers. The thicknesses of zirconia and titania shell‐layers were conveniently controlled via varying the feed of zirconium n‐butoxide (Zr(OBu)₄) and titanium tetrabutoxide (TBOT) during the sol‐gel hydrolysis, while the sizes of polymer layers were tuned through a multi‐stage distillation precipitation copolymerization. The structure and morphology of the resultant microspheres were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), X‐ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogrametric analysis (TGA).