Nano-segregated structures of hydrogen-bonded mesogens with perfluorinated moieties: cubic phase formation and first order smectic A to smectic C phase transition

Two series of mesogenic compounds having both a perfluorinated substituent and a hydrogen bonding active site were synthesized and their phase behavior investigated. Due to the chemical architecture of these materials exhibiting amphiphilic character, structures of nano-segregation are expected to form. We found a thermotropic cubic phase with Ia3d symmetry in one of the acid/base hydrogen-bonded complexes, which is a nano-segregated structure. Moreover materials exhibiting a first order smectic A to smectic C phase transition were found, which was ascertained by differential scanning calorimetry measuring a large latent heat, and X-ray diffraction experiments observing abrupt changes of physical properties at the phase transition, i.e. the tilt angle, the intensity and the half-width of the small angle reflection. This first order phase transition occurs due to the frustration of nano-segregated structures of lamellar phases.     

Nano-segregated structures of hydrogen-bonded mesogens with perfluorinated moieties: cubic phase formation and first order smectic A to smectic C phase transition

Two series of mesogenic compounds having both a perfluorinated substituent and a hydrogen bonding active site were synthesized and their phase behavior investigated. Due to the chemical architecture of these materials exhibiting amphiphilic character, structures of nano-segregation are expected to form. We found a thermotropic cubic phase with Ia3d symmetry in one of the acid/base hydrogen-bonded complexes, which is a nano-segregated structure. Moreover materials exhibiting a first order smectic A to smectic C phase transition were found, which was ascertained by differential scanning calorimetry measuring a large latent heat, and X-ray diffraction experiments observing abrupt changes of physical properties at the phase transition, i.e. the tilt angle, the intensity and the half-width of the small angle reflection. This first order phase transition occurs due to the frustration of nano-segregated structures of lamellar phases.     

Phase behavior and mesophase structures of 1,3,5-benzene- and 1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxamides: towards an understanding of the losing order at the transition into the isotropic phase

One of the simplest and most-versatile motifs in supramolecular chemistry is based on 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxamides. Variation of the core structure and subtle changes in the structures of the lateral substituents govern the self-assembly and determine the phase behavior. Herein, we provide a comprehensive comparison between the phase behavior and mesophase structure of a series of 1,3,5-benzene- and 1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxamides that contain linear and branched alkyl substituents. Depending on the substituent, different crystalline, plastic crystalline, and liquid crystalline phases were formed. The relatively rare columnar nematic (N(C)) phase was only observed in cyclohexane-based trisamides that contained linear alkyl substituents. Of fundamental interest in liquid crystalline supramolecular systems is the transition from the mesomorphic state into the isotropic state and, in particular, the question of how the order decreases. Temperature-dependent IR spectroscopy and XRD measurements revealed that columnar H-bonded aggregates were still present in the isotropic phase. At the clearing transition, mainly the lateral order was lost, whilst shorter columnar aggregates still remained. A thorough understanding of the phase behavior and the mesophase structure is relevant for selecting processing conditions that use supramolecular structures in devices or as fibrillar nanomaterials.     

An achiral form of the hexameric resorcin[4]arene capsule sustained by hydrogen bonding with alcohols

The well-known hexameric capsules sustained by self-assembly of resorcin[4]arenes 1 with water molecules (1(6).(H2O)8) are shown to assemble similarly with (+/-)-2-ethylhexanol (2EH) as an achiral 1(6).(2EH)6.(H2O)2 species which further encapsulates 2EH.     

Self-assembly of novel [3]- and [2]rotaxanes with two different ring components: donor-acceptor and hydrogen bonding interactions and molecular-shuttling behavior

Three of the first kind of hetero[3]rotaxanes, which comprise one linear component and one neutral and one tetracationic ring component, have been assembled by using the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and donor-acceptor interactions. Three neutral [2]rotaxanes and three tetracationic [2]rotaxanes have also been synthesized as intermediate products or for the sake of property comparison. The linear molecules are incorporated with two glycine subunits, for templating the formation of the neutral tetraamide cyclophane, and one or two hydroquinone subunits, for inducing the formation of the tetracationic cyclophane. Variable-temperature (1)H NMR investigation reveals that the shuttling behavior of the tetracationic ring component along the linear component is substantially influenced by the existence of the neutral ring component. The spatial repelling interaction of the neutral ring on the electron-deficient tetracationic ring simultaneously weakens the latter's "positioning" tendency at both electron-rich hydroquinone sites of the linear component. As a result, the activation energy associated with the shuttling process of the tetracationic ring between the two hydroquinone sites is remarkably reduced in comparison to that of the shuttling process of the corresponding neutral ring-free [2]rotaxanes. For the first time, the rotation of the dipyridinium subunit around the axis formed by the two methylene groups connecting them within the tetracationic cyclophane has been investigated by variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy and the associated kinetic data have also been successfully obtained. Furthermore, the UV-vis and fluorescent properties of the new [2]- and [3]rotaxanes have been studied. The results demonstrate that [3]rotaxanes with different ring components possess unique kinetic features that are not available in [3]rotaxanes with identical ring components.     

Studies on the thermal behavior of CS:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl polymer electrolytes exerted by different [Amim] Cl content

The principle motivation of this research work is to develop environmental-friendly polymer electrolytes utilizing corn starch (CS), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Amim] Cl) by solution casting technique. The highest ionic conductivity value was achieved for the composition CS:LiTFSI:[Amim] Cl (14 wt. %:6 wt. %:80 wt. %) which exhibits the ionic conductivity value of 5.68 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 40 °C with the activation energy of 4.86 kJ mol⁻¹. This sample possess high concentration of amorphous phase coupled with greater presence of conducting cations (lithium, Li⁺ and imidazolium, [Amim]⁺) as depicted by the dielectric loss tangent plot. The conductivity-temperature plots were found to obey Arrhenius rule in which the conductivity mechanism is thermally assisted. The melting temperature of polymer electrolyte decreases with increase in [Amim] Cl content. This is attributed to the good miscibility of [Amim] Cl in CS:LiTFSI matrix inducing structural disorderliness. Reference to the TGA results it is found that the addition of [Amim] Cl diminishes the heat-resistivity whereas enhancement in the thermal stability occurred at the initial addition and declines with further doping of [Amim] Cl.     

Novel triazinium-imidothioate zwitterions: intermediates in the reaction of [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazinium cations with amines

Starting with bis([1,3,4]thiadiazolo)[1,3,5]triazinium halides 1, a novel class of heterocyclic compounds, the [1,3,4]thiadiazolo[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazinium halides 5 were prepared. The reaction between 5 and primary or secondary amines 6 yielded highly substituted guanidines 8 and fused tricyclic bis([1,2,4]triazolo)[1,5-a:1′,5′-d][1,3,5]triazinium halides 9. The formation of the reactive triazinium-imidothioate zwitterions 7, which is controlled by the influence of negative hyperconjugation, was proven by NMR data and the X-ray structure of 7c. The subsequent ring-closure/ring-opening steps can be understood in terms of an S_N(ANRORC) process accompanied by intramolecular proton-transfer reactions. The zwitterions 7 were reacted with EtI forming cationic derivatives 10 or hydrolyzed at pH 6-7 to give novel heterocyclic ethanethioamides 11.     

QM study on regioselectivity in the synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazines: kinetic and thermodynamic point of view

In the present study, the experimentally observed regioselectivity in pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazine synthesis has been modeled using density functional theory method at M06/6-311++G** level. Also the tautomerism of all four tautomers of 6-ethyl-2-thio(1H) pyrimidin-(3H)-4-one as an important intermediate through the reaction path in pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazine synthesis has been investigated extensively in the gas and solution phase. The stability order of tautomers was found as A > D > B > C, in gas and chloroform solvent; however, changing to more polar solvents this order was changed as A > B > D > C using polarized continuum model. In the next step, we focused on another significant feature of this synthesis which has major role in the observed regioselectivity. Two proposed reaction paths with two different transition states that it seems the mode of its intermolecular cyclization has a special role in regioselectivity of the final product have been considered. Comparison of our calculated NMR and IR spectrum with those already reported for some pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]benzothiazines demonstrates a reliable agreement. Moreover, all obtained results in the gas and solution phase confirm that the synthesis of above-mentioned compound is thermodynamically more favorable than the possible regioisomeric product.     

Deuterium kinetic isotope effects and mechanism of the thermal isomerization of bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to 1,3-cyclooctadiene

The thermal conversion of cis-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene to cis,cis-1,3-cyclooctadiene might involve a direct disrotatory ring opening, or it might possibly take place by way of cis,trans-1,3-cyclooctadiene. This cis,trans-diene might possibly form the more stable cis,cis isomer through a [1,5] hydrogen shift or a trans-to-cis isomerization about the trans double bond. Deuterium kinetic isotope effect determinations for the isomerizations of 2,2,5,5-d(4)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene and 7,8-d(2)-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-7-ene rule out these two alternatives because the observed effects are much smaller than would be anticipated for these mechanisms: k(H)/k(D)(d(4)) at 250 degrees C is 1.17 (1.04 per D), and k(H)/k(D)(d(2)) at 238 degrees C is 1.20 (1.10 per D). The direct disrotatory ring opening route remains the preferred mechanism.     

Single-crystal to single-crystal phase transition of cucurbit[5]uril hydrochloride hydrates: large water-filled channels transforming to layers of unusual stability

Cucurbit[5]uril hydrochloride hydrate crystals with large water-filled channels transform to a highly stable layer structure via a single-crystal to single-crystal mechanism; (129)Xe NMR showed that porosity in CB[5] samples depends critically on the method of preparation.     

Ultra-fast rotors for molecular machines and functional materials via halogen bonding: crystals of 1,4-bis(iodoethynyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane with distinct gigahertz rotation at two sites

As a point of entry to investigate the potential of halogen-bonding interactions in the construction of functional materials and crystalline molecular machines, samples of 1,4-bis(iodoethynyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (BIBCO) were synthesized and crystallized. Knowing that halogen-bonding interactions are common between electron-rich acetylenic carbons and electron-deficient iodines, it was expected that the BIBCO rotors would be an ideal platform to investigate the formation of a crystalline array of molecular rotors. Variable temperature single crystal X-ray crystallography established the presence of a halogen-bonded network, characterized by lamellarly ordered layers of crystallographically unique BIBCO rotors, which undergo a reversible monoclinic-to-triclinic phase transition at 110 K. In order to elucidate the rotational frequencies and the activation parameters of the BIBCO molecular rotors, variable-temperature (1)H wide-line and (13)C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR experiments were performed at temperatures between 27 and 290 K. Analysis of the (1)H spin-lattice relaxation and second moment as a function of temperature revealed two dynamic processes simultaneously present over the entire temperature range studied, with temperature-dependent rotational rates of k(rot) = 5.21 × 10(10) s(-1)·exp(-1.48 kcal·mol(-1)/RT) and k(rot) = 8.00 × 10(10) s(-1)·exp(-2.75 kcal·mol(-1)/RT). Impressively, these correspond to room temperature rotational rates of 4.3 and 0.8 GHz, respectively. Notably, the high-temperature plastic crystalline phase I of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane has a reported activation energy of 1.84 kcal·mol(-1) for rotation about the 1,4 axis, which is 24% larger than E(a) = 1.48 kcal·mol(-1) for the same rotational motion of the fastest BIBCO rotor; yet, the BIBCO rotor has three fewer degrees of translational freedom and two fewer degrees of rotational freedom! Even more so, these rates represent some of the fastest engineered molecular machines, to date. The results of this study highlight the potential of halogen bonding as a valuable construction tool for the design and the synthesis of amphidynamic artificial molecular machines and suggest the potential of modulating properties that depend on the dielectric behavior of crystalline media.     

Dependence of transition state structure on substrate: the intrinsic C-13 kinetic isotope effect is different for physiological and slow substrates of the ornithine decarboxylase reaction because of different hydrogen bonding structures

Ornithine decarboxylase is the first and the rate-controlling enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis; it decarboxylates l-ornithine to form the diamine putrescine. We present calculations performed using a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) method with the AM1 semiempirical Hamiltonian for the wild-type ornithine decarboxylase reaction with ornithine (the physiological substrate) and lysine (a "slow" substrate) and for mutant E274A with ornithine substrate. The dynamical method is variational transition state theory with quantized vibrations. We employ a single reaction coordinate equal to the carbon-carbon distance of the dissociating bond, and we find a large difference between the intrinsic kinetic isotope effect for the physiological substrate, which equals 1.04, and that for the slow substrate, which equals 1.06. This shows that, contrary to a commonly accepted assumption, kinetic isotope effects on slow substrates are not always good models of intrinsic kinetic isotope effects on physiological substrates. Furthermore, analysis of free-energy-based samples of transition state structures shows that the differences in kinetic isotope effects may be traced to different numbers of hydrogen bonds at the different transition states of the different reactions.     

An unexpected phase transition during the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction of cinnamic acid to truxillic acid: changes in polymorphism monitored by solid-state NMR

We have detected a phase transition during the progress of the solid-state [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction of alpha-trans-cinnamic acid. The reaction was monitored using (13)C CPMAS experiments as a function of irradiation time of the parent alpha-trans-cinnamic acid, which forms the product dimer, alpha-truxillic acid. UV light centered at 350 nm was used for photoirradiation, which is in the "tail" of the absorption band of cinnamic acid. Two different crystal polymorphs of alpha-truxillic acid are observed (P2(1)/n and C2/c) at different stages of conversion of the parent crystal, assigned through (13)C NMR and powder X-ray diffraction. The two polymorphs showed clear, distinguishable patterns in the (13)C NMR spectra: a 2-peak versus 3-peak pattern corresponding to sites on the 4-membered sp (3) hybridized ring in the photoproduct. A phase transition is observed midway through the reaction, which we have assigned to the conversion of the P2(1)/n polymorph to the C2/ c polymorph of alpha-truxillic acid. The packing energy of the resultant mixed crystal of cinnamic acid and truxillic acid changes during the course of the photoreaction, which allows for the C2/c polymorph of truxillic acid to appear. Both phases have been confirmed via X-ray powder diffraction. Two techniques--differential scanning calorimetry and solid-state CPMAS NMR using increasingly fast rotational frequencies--demonstrate that the P2(1)/n phase is metastable.     

The first synthesis of a methano[60]fullerene with an electron-donating group at the methano-bridge carbon: synthesis and reaction of aminomethano[60]fullerene

[reaction: see text] Aminomethano[60]fullerene was synthesized for the first time as a trifluoromethanesulfonic acid salt by applying the Curtius rearrangement of azidocarbonylmethano[60]fullerene as the key reaction. Aminomethano[60]fullerene thus obtained was found to be able to react with various acyl chlorides to afford the corresponding amides.     

Binuclear cyclopentadienylmetal cyclooctatetraene derivatives of the first row transition metals: effects of ring conformation on the bonding of an eight-membered carbocyclic ring to a pair of metal atoms

Binuclear Cp(2)M(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) derivatives have been synthesized for M = V, Cr, Co, and Ni and have now been studied theoretically for the entire first row of transition metals from Ti to Ni. The early transition metal derivatives Cp(2)M(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) (M = Ti, V, Cr. Mn) are predicted to form low-energy cis-Cp(2)M(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) structures with a folded C(8)H(8) ring (dihedral angle ～130°) and short metal-metal distances suggesting multiple bonding. These predicted structures are close to the experimental structures for M = V, Cr with V≡V and Cr≡Cr bond lengths of ～2.48 and ～2.36 ?, respectively. The middle to late transition metals form trans-Cp(2)M(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) structures (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) with a twisted μ-C(8)H(8) ring and no metal-metal bonding. The hapticity of the central μ-C(8)H(8) ring in such structures ranges from five for Mn and Fe to four for Co and three for Ni and thus depend on the electronic requirements of the central metal atom. This leads to the favored 18-electron configuration for both metal atoms in the singlet Fe, Co, and Ni structures but only 17-electron metal configurations in the triplet Mn structure. In addition, the late transition metals form trans-Cp(2)M(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) structures (M = Fe, Co, Ni), with the tub conformation of the μ-C(8)H(8) ring functioning as a tetrahapto (M = Fe, Co) or trihapto (M = Ni) ligand to each CpM group. A μ-C(8)H(8) ring in the tub conformation also bonds to two CpFe units as a bis(tetrahapto) ligand in both singlet and triplet cis-Cp(2)Fe(2)(μ-C(8)H(8)) structures.     

In situ synthesis of hexakis(alkoxy)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazines: mesogenic phase transition of the electron-deficient discotic compounds

2,3,8,9,14,15-Hexakis(alkoxy)diquinoxalino[2,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazines with alkyl side chains varying from 6 to 12 carbon atoms were readily synthesized by the condensation of hexaketocyclohexane with the respective 1,2-bisalkoxy-4,5-diaminobenzene. Polarization microscopy and DSC studies showed all these compounds to exhibit a very wide mesophase range of over 150 degrees C. An interesting D(hd) to D(rd) transition was observed for the octyl derivative 3b, as determined by X-ray diffraction measurements. The hexyl derivative showed three reduction potentials, suggesting that the HATN core maintained its electron-deficient characteristic and considered suitable as an n-doped discotic-liquid crystalline material. Incorporation of six alkoxy chains did not override the electron deficiency of the HATN core.