Confined Crystallization of Spin‐Crossover Nanoparticles in Block‐Copolymer Micelles

Nanoparticles of the spin‐crossover coordination polymer [FeL(bipy)]_n were synthesized by confined crystallization within the core of polystyrene‐block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) diblock copolymer micelles. The 4VP units in the micellar core act as coordination sites for the Fe complex. In the bulk material, the spin‐crossover nanoparticles in the core are well isolated from each other allowing thermal treatment without disintegration of their structure. During annealing above the glass transition temperature of the PS block, the transition temperature is shifted gradually to higher temperatures from the as‐synthesized product (T_1/2↓=163 K and T_1/2↑=170 K) to the annealed product (T_1/2↓=203 K and T_1/2↑=217 K) along with an increase in hysteresis width from 6 K to 14 K. Thus, the spin‐crossover properties can be shifted towards the properties of the related bulk material. The stability of the nanocomposite allows further processing, such as electrospinning from solution.     

Investigations into the Formation and Stability of Cationic Rhodium Diphosphane η6‐Arene Complexes

Rhodium–η⁶‐arene complexes can be generated in the presence of arenes following the hydrogenation of the diolefin in rhodium catalyst precursors of the type [Rh(PP*)(diolefin)]X (PP*=chelating diphosphane, X=noncoordinating anion). In this paper we report the characterization of such arene complexes with the ligands DuPhos, dipamp, dppe, Tangphos, dppf, and diop by means of NMR spectroscopy (³¹P, ¹⁰³Rh) and X‐ray analysis. A procedure that follows the approach to equilibrium as a function of time monitored by using an UV/Vis diode array was used to determine 20 stability constants. Analyses were accomplished directly from the spectra by either a numeric and/or a new analytic solution of the underlying system of differential equations. Additionally thermodynamic parameters were determined in the temperature range between 278 and 318 K.     

Developing Intense Blue and Magenta Colors in α‐LiZnBO3: The Role of 3d‐Metal Substitution and Coordination

We describe the synthesis, crystal structures, and optical absorption spectra/colors of 3d‐transition‐metal‐substituted α‐LiZnBO₃ derivatives: α‐LiZn_1?xM^II_xBO₃ (M^II=Co^II (0<x<0.50), Ni^II (0<x≤0.05), Cu^II (0<x≤0.10)) and α‐Li_1+xZn_1?2xM^III_xBO₃ (M^III=Mn^III (0<x≤0.10), Fe^III (0<x≤0.25)). The crystal structure of the host α‐LiZnBO₃, which is both disordered and distorted with respect to Li and Zn occupancies and coordination geometries, is largely retained in the derivatives, which gives rise to unique colors (blue for Co^II, magenta for Ni^II, violet for Cu^II) that could be of significance for the development of new, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly pigment materials, particularly in the case of the blue pigments. Accordingly, this work identifies distorted tetrahedral MO₄ (M=Co, Ni, Cu) structural units, with a long M?O bond that results in trigonal bipyramidal geometry, as new chromophores for blue, magenta, and violet colors in a α‐LiZnBO₃ host. From the L*a*b* color coordinates, we found that Co‐substituted compounds have an intense blue color that is stronger than that of CoAl₂O₄ and YIn_0.90Mn_0.10O₃. The near‐infrared (NIR) reflectance spectral studies indicate that these compounds exhibit a moderate IR reflectivity that could be significant for applications as “cool pigments”.     

Functionalization of Crosslinked Vesicles by Co‐Self‐Assembly of a Gelable Diblock Copolymer and Mercaptosilane

Herein, a convenient and general method to simultaneously fix and functionalize polymeric vesicles with sulphydryl groups by the co‐self‐assembly of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly[3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate] (PEO‐b‐PTESPMA) and 3‐mercaptopropyltrialkoxysilane in an aqueous solution is reported. The presence of sulphydryl groups across the vesicle membrane has been confirmed by using an energy‐filtered technique during TEM analysis and by capturing Au nanoparticles.

     

Fluorescent Vesicles Consisting of Galactose‐based Amphiphilic Copolymers with a π‐Conjugated Sequence Self‐assembled in Water

Fluorescent vesicles considered as a mimic of natural primitive cells are prepared from poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐block‐poly(3‐O‐methacryloyl‐D‐galactopyranose) P3HT‐b‐PMAGP copolymers. The unique characteristic of such vesicular nanostructures is their architecture, which comprises a hydrophobic π‐conjugated P3HT wall stabilized by a hydrophilic PMAGP interface featuring glucose units. The results of this work offer a very efficient and straightforward method for engineering well‐controlled fluorescent nanoparticles (without the addition of dyes), which provide an excellent support to the study of carbohydrate‐protein interactions.

     

Optically Triggered Dissociation of Kinetically Stabilized Block Copolymer Vesicles in Aqueous Solution

We demonstrate a strategy for using an optical stimulus to trigger the dissociation of block copolymer (BCP) vesicles in aqueous solution. The BCP, comprising hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and a block of poly(methacrylic acid) bearing a number of spiropyran methacrylate comonomer units (P(MAA‐co‐SPMA)), was allowed to firstly self‐assemble into large vesicles in aqueous solution at pH = 3 with protonated carboxylic acid groups, and then become kinetically stable at pH = 8 due to the glassy vesicle membrane of P(MAA‐co‐SPMA). Fast dissociation of the vesicles was achieved through a cascade of events triggered by UV‐induced isomerization from neutral spiropyran to charged merocyanine in the membrane.

     

2‐(1 H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐yl)‐Pyridine Ligands as Alternatives to 2,2′‐Bipyridines in Ruthenium(II) Complexes

The synthesis of a variety of 2‐(1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐pyridines by click chemistry is demonstrated to provide straightforward access to mono‐functionalized ligands. The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by such a mono‐functionalized ligand highlights the synthetic potential of this class of bidentate ligands with respect to polymer chemistry or the attachment onto surfaces and nanoparticles. The coordination to Ru^II ions results in homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes with the resultant photophysical and electrochemical properties strongly dependent on the number of these ligands attached to the Ru^II core.     

A Simple and Effective Approach to Vesicles and Large Compound Vesicles via Complexation of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer With Polyelectrolyte in Water

This work reports for the first time a simple and effective approach to trigger a spheres‐to‐ vesicles morphological transition from amphiphilic block copolymer/polyelectrolyte complexes in aqueous solution. Vesicles and large compound vesicles (LCVs) were prepared via complexation of polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PS‐b‐PEO) with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) in water and directly visualized using cryo‐TEM. The complexation and morphological transitions were driven by the hydrogen bonding between the complementary binding sites on the PAA and PEO blocks of the block copolymer. The findings in this work suggest that complexation between amphiphilic block copolymer and polyelectrolyte is a viable approach to vesicles and LCVs in aqueous media.     

Amphiphilic block copolymers of high‐molecular‐weight poly(ethylene oxide) and either ε‐caprolactone or γ‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone: Synthesis and characterization

Ethylene oxide (EO) has been block‐polymerized with both ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) and γ‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone (MCL) through the combination of the anionic polymerization of EO and the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐CL and MCL. ω‐Hydroxyl poly(ethylene oxide) has been reacted with triethylaluminum (OH/Al = 1) and converted into a macroinitiator for ROP of ε‐CL and MCL. In toluene at room temperature, this polymerization leads to a bimodal molecular weight distribution as a result of monomer insertion in only some of the aluminum alkoxide bonds. However, in a more polar solvent (methylene chloride) added with 1 equiv of a Lewis base (pyridine), the expected diblock is formed selectively, and this indicates that aggregation of the active species in toluene is responsible for a macroinitiator efficiency of less than 1. A series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers with poly(ε‐caprolactone) (semicrystalline) and poly(γ‐methyl‐ε‐caprolactone) (amorphous) as the hydrophobic blocks have been prepared and characterized with size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR, IR, and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1132–1142, 2004     

Host‐Assisted Guest Self‐Assembly: Enhancement of the Dimerization of Pyronines Y and B by γ‐Cyclodextrin

Buckle up! The dimerization of small fluorescent guests is strongly enhanced in presence of a cyclodextrin host. The host cavity acts like a belt to assist the self‐assembly of guests (see picture). Small variations in the guest structure have significant influence on the stability and geometry of the aggregates.

     

Electronic Excitation of [(μ4‐η2‐alkyne)Rh4(CO)8(μ‐CO)2]: An In Situ UV/Vis Spectroscopy,Spectral Reconstruction and DFT Study

Reactions of three alkynes, namely, 1‐heptyne, 3‐hexyne and 1‐phenyl‐1‐butyne, with [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃] are performed in anhydrous hexane under argon atmosphere with multiple perturbations of alkynes and [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃]. The reactions are monitored by in situ UV/Vis spectroscopy, and the collected electronic spectra are further analyzed with the band‐target entropy minimization (BTEM) family of algorithms to reconstruct the pure component spectra. Three BTEM estimates of [(μ₄‐η²‐alkyne)Rh₄(CO)₈(μ‐CO)₂], in addition to that of [Rh₄(CO)₉(μ‐CO)₃], are successfully reconstructed from the experimental spectra. Time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) predicted spectra at the PBE0/DGDZVP level are consistent with the corresponding BTEM estimates. The present study demonstrates that: 1) the BTEM family of algorithms is successful in analyzing multi‐component UV/Vis spectra and results in good spectral estimates of the trace organometallics present; and 2) the subsequent DFT/TD‐DFT methods provide an interpretation of the nature of the electronic excitation and can be used to predict the electronic spectra of similar transition organometallic complexes.     

α‐Chymotrypsin‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Bis(indolyl)alkanes in Water

A novel methodology for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes by the reaction of aromatic aldehydes and indole in water has been developed, and a series of desired products were obtained in moderate to excellent yields (from 65% to 97%) using 1.2 mg/mL α‐chymotrypsin as biocatalyst.     

Linear Free‐Energy Correlations for the Vinylheptafulvene Ring Closure: A Probe for Hammett σ Values

Linear free‐energy relationships, like Hammett correlations, are fundamental in physical organic chemistry for the elucidation of reaction mechanisms. In this work, we show that Hammett correlations exist for the ring closure of six different model systems of vinylheptafulvenes (VHFs) to their corresponding dihydroazulenes (DHAs). These first‐order reactions were easily followed by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy on account of the significantly different absorption characteristics between VHFs and DHAs. Opposing effects displayed by substituent groups at two different positions are conveniently accounted for by simply subtracting the two Hammett σ values of each group. The linear correlations readily allow us to obtain unknown and approximate Hammett σ values for previously uninvestigated substituents. We also show that they can provide alternative values to the standard ones. We present values for a variety of substituent groups ranging from alkynes, sulfones, sulfoxides, and different heteroaromatics. The electronic effects exerted by substituent groups on VHFs are also reflected in their absorption maxima. Thus, we have established an empirical relationship between the absorption maximum of the VHF and the Hammett σ values of its substituents. This fine‐tuning of electronic properties is particularly important for the ongoing efforts of using the DHA/VHF molecular switch in molecular electronics devices.     

Temperature‐Induced Transformation from Large Compound Vesicles to Worm‐like Aggregates by ABC Triblock Copolymer

Two triblock polymers, tetraaniline‐block‐poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide)‐block‐poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (TA‐b‐PNIPAM‐b‐PHEA) and TA‐b‐PHEA‐b‐PNIPAM, were synthesized with unambiguous structure by a two step method. The difference of these two diblock polymers is the connection order of carboxyl group to block, e.g., carboxyl group to PNIPAM block for PNIPAM‐b‐PHEA and to PHEA block for PHEA‐b‐PNIPAM. Secondly, block tetraaniline was linked to the diblock polymer through amidation to yield the corresponding triblock copolymer. Both of them have almost the identical chemical compositions. The only difference is the connection order of each block in the triblock polymers. When they were self‐assembled at 45°C in a suitable solution, both of their aggregates have spherical shape with slight defects on their surface with the average diameter of about 400 nm. However, when their aggregate dispersion was cooled down to 20°C, only TA‐b‐PHEA‐b‐PNIPAM's morphology changed, forming worm‐like aggregates with the diameter of about 100–200 nm transformed from spherical aggregates. Both amphiphilic property and position of each block in this triblock copolymer are very essential for this morphology transformation. Since the worm‐like aggregates presented here by our group have hollow structure inside, its controlled release properties for doxorubicin were evaluated. Drug release experiment indicated that along with the temperature changes, the rearrangement of the intermediate layer structure caused morphology change in aggregate, thus accelerating the speed of drug release.     

LED‐Illuminated NMR Studies of Flavin‐Catalyzed Photooxidations Reveal Solvent Control of the Electron‐Transfer Mechanism

Mechanistic insights into chemical photocatalysis are mainly the domain of UV/Vis spectroscopy, because NMR spectroscopy has been limited by the type of illumination so far. An improved LED‐based illumination device can be used to obtain NMR reaction profiles of photocatalytic reactions under synthetic conditions and perform both photo‐CIDNP and intermediate studies. Flavin‐catalyzed photooxidations of alcohols show the potential of this setup. After identical initial photoreaction steps the stabilization of a downstream intermediate is the key to the further reaction mechanism and the reactivity. As a chemical photocatalyst flavin can act either as a one‐ or a two‐electron mediator when the stability of the zwitterionic radical pair is moldulated in different solvents. This demonstrates the importance of downstream intermediates and NMR‐accessible complementary information in photocatalytic reactions and suggests the control of photoorganic reactions by solvent effects.