Synthesis and properties of new (−)-menthol-derived chiral liquid crystal compounds with alkyl or alkoxy terminal groups

Two series of chiral mesogenic compounds derived from (?)-menthol with varying length of alkyl or alkoxy terminal groups respectively were designed and synthesised. Their chemical structures were characterised by FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectra. The thermal properties and optical textures were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and polarising optical microscopy. Bragg selective reflection spectra of the compounds with the alkoxy chain in the N* phase were measured by ultraviolet/visible spectrometer. The results showed that the alkyl series homologues melt directly to the isotropic phase on heating and display cubic blue phase and focal conic textures of chiral nematic phase on cooling, whereas the alkoxy series displayed oily streak textures with iridescent colours on heating, and platelet textures of blue phase and focal conic textures were observed on cooling cycles. The chain structure and length of the terminal groups have profound influence on the isotropic temperature and a large odd–even effect is observed for the compounds. The selective reflection colours of alkoxy series shifted to longer wavelength with the increasing of temperature.     

Study of the system Pr2O3-SeO2-H2O at 100°C and the properties of the compounds obtained

The solubility of the system Pr₂O₃-SeO₂-H₂O at 100°C was studied. The fields of crystallization of Pr₂(SeO₃)₃·H₂O, PrH(SeO₃)₂, Pr(HSeO₃)₃ were established. The compounds obtained were identified by means of chemical, X-ray and thermal analysis. The thermal decomposition of Pr₂(SeO₃)₃·H₂O, PrH(SeO₃)₂, and Pr(HSeO₃)₃ was determined.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis and photocatalytic properties of α-Fe2O3 nanoellipsoids

A simple and a novel chemical approach was used for the growth of α-Fe₂O₃ nanostructures. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the monodisperse nanoellipsoid morphology of α-Fe₂O₃ nanostructures. The sizes of the short axis and the long axis of these ellipsoids were in the ranges of 50–60 nm and 40–50 nm, respectively. XRD analysis revealed that the product exhibited α-Fe₂O₃ phase. Comprehensive TEM and HRTEM analysis revealed that α-Fe₂O₃ nanoellipsoids are single crystal in nature. The methylene blue decomposition kinetics was studied for different irradiation time. The methylene blue was totally decomposed by increasing the irradiation time up to 220 min.     

Vibrational circular dichroism of 2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine and 2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide: theoretical evidence on the existence of multiple –CH, –CH2, and –CH3⋯O intramolecular hydrogen bonds on the nitroxide oxygen

Enantiopure (±)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine and its oxidized form (±)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide were prepared and then separated by chiral HPLC. Their stereochemical structures and their conformational distribution in solution were investigated using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) combined with density functional theory (DFT). The experimental spectra have been compared with theoretical data. This comparison indicated that (−)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine and its oxidized form (+)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide have an (S,S)-configuration and exist in several conformations. The good fit confirms the reliability of the conformational analysis. Our results indicated that going from the reduced form to the oxidized one strongly influences the type of conformers in solution. Moreover, DFT calculations showed that for all of the conformers of (S,S)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4-methylpyridine-N-oxide, the formation of four centered intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the hydrogen of the –CH, –CH₂, and –CH₃ groups and the nitroxide oxygen is possible. Moreover the stability of the conformers of both compounds is influenced by the all-trans structure of the sec-butyl moieties.     

Reaction kinetics and thermochemistry of the chemically activated and stabilized primary ethyl radical of methyl ethyl sulfide,CH3SCH2CH2•, with O2 to CH3SCH2CH2OO•

Oxidation of methyl ethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₂CH₃, methylthioethane, MES) under atmospheric and combustion conditions is initiated by hydroxyl radicals, MES radicals, generated after loss of a H atom via OH abstraction, will further react with O₂ to form chemically activated and stabilized peroxyl radical adducts. The kinetics of the chemically activated reaction between the CH₃SCH₂CH₂• radical and molecular oxygen are analyzed using quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory for k(E) with master equation analysis and a modified strong-collision approach to account for further reactions and collisional deactivation. Thermodynamic properties of reactants, products, and transition states are determined by the B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p), M062X/6-311+G(2d,p), ωB97XD/6-311+G(2d,p) density functional theory, and CBS-QB3, G3MP2B3, and G4 composite methods. The reaction of CH₃SCH₂CH₂• with O₂ forms an energized peroxy adduct CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• with a calculated well depth of 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Thermochemical properties of reactants, transition states, and products obtained under CBS-QB3 level are used for calculation of kinetic parameters. Reaction enthalpies are compared between the methods. The temperature and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for both the chemically activated reactions of the energized adduct and the thermally activated reactions of the stabilized adducts are presented. Stabilization and isomerization of the CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• adduct are important under high pressure and low temperature. At higher temperatures and atmospheric pressure, the chemically activated peroxy adduct reacts to new products before stabilization. Addition of the peroxyl oxygen radical to the sulfur atom followed by sulfur-oxygen double bond formation and elimination of the methyl radical to form S(= O)CCO• + CH₃ (branching) is a potentially important new pathway for other alkyl-sulfide peroxy radical systems under thermal or combustion conditions.     

Synthesis of α-alkoxyalkyltributyllead compounds via the reaction of tributylplumbyllithium with α-chloroethers,and the conjugate addition of tributylplumbyllithium to enones

α-Alkoxyalkyltributylleads 1 were prepared from the reaction of tributylplumbyllithium with α-chloroethers 2. This procedure is more convenient than the conventional method which involves transmetallation from the corresponding α-alkoxyalkyltrialkyltin. Tributylplumbyllithium was also used for the synthesis of β-oxo-organolead 4.     

Synthesis and liquid crystalline properties of novel compounds containing a 3‐fluoro‐4‐cyanophenoxy group

A series of novel compounds containing a 3‐fluoro‐4‐cyanophenoxy group were synthesized and fully characterized by IR and ¹H NMR, and their mesomorphic properties were studied. Seven compounds exhibited enantiotropic nematic phases and three compounds exhibited monotropic nematic phases, as confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. Selected properties of the liquid crystalline compounds synthesized were calculated by ab initio methods at a HF/6‐31G level. The bond lengths, bond angles and dihedral angles of the fragments with the same structure change little between the compounds. All the compounds with a terminal alkoxy chain approached a planar structure.     

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of regular hexahedron α-Fe2O3

Synthesis of α-Fe₂O₃ compound with regular hexahedron shape is firstly reported. X-ray diffraction and scan electron microscope are used to characterize the structure and morphology of the prepared sample, respectively. The average edge length of hexahedron is about 0.9 μm. A reaction mechanism has been proposed. The pH value is a crucial factor for the formation and shape of α-Fe₂O₃. Moreover, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and charge-discharge test of α-Fe₂O₃ as anode material in lithium ion batteries are evaluated. The data indicate that the synthesized regular hexahedron α-Fe₂O₃ can show better electrochemical properties than that of the commercial.     

Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of tolane‐based liquid crystals with a fluorinated polar end group

Three series of tolane‐based liquid crystalline compounds with a fluorinated polar end group have been synthesized. Their phase transition temperatures were measured by texture observation in a polarizing microscope and confirmed by DSC. The all‐fluorinated trifluoromethyl and trifluoromethoxy group have a tendency to promote the smectic A phase, but the difluoromethoxy group has the tendency to promote a wide nematic phase.     

Conjugates of polyhedral boron compounds with carbohydrates 8. Synthesis and properties of nido-ortho-carborane glycoconjugates containing one to three ��-lactosylamine residues

??-Lactosylamine derivatives containing one to three disaccharide residues with the bromine atom at the terminal position of aglycon were synthesized. Conjugation of these derivatives with 1-mercapto-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane was carried out in DMSO, which was accompanied by deboronation to form nido-ortho-carborane (7,8-dicarba-nido-undecaborate) glycoconjugates in up to 70% yield. The hydrolytic stability of glycoconjugates and the binding efficiency of their triethylammonium salts to castor-bean galectin (Ricinus communis aggluinin, RCA₁₂₀) were estimated. Glycoconjugates are decomposed in an aqueous solution by ??15% at 37 °C in three days. The glycoconjugate salt with one ??-lactosylamine residue binds to galectin analogously to lactose; after indroduction of the second ??-lactosylamine residue into glycoconjugate, the binding efficiency increases ??6-fold due to the cluster effect.     

Synthesis,properties and photochromism of novel charge transfer compounds with Keggin anions and protonated 2,2′-biquinoline

Several novel compounds with protonated 2,2′-biquinoline (biqui) and Keggin polyoxoanions (α-isomers), having the general formula (Hbiqui)_m[XM₁₂O₄₀]·nsolv, X=P (m=3), Si (m=4); M=Mo, W; n=0, 3; solv=H₂O, N,N-dimethylformamide (dmf), were synthesized and characterized by analytical, spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction techniques. Electronic spectroscopy (visible/UV) indicated the presence of intermolecular charge transfer between the organic and inorganic moieties in the solid state. Evidence for the existence of intermolecular electronic interaction in solution was found for compounds with the [SiW₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anion, a fact quite uncommon for charge transfer compounds based on Keggin anions. A single crystal X-ray diffraction study could be performed on (Hbiqui)₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]·3dmf crystals, but the refinements revealed the presence of highly disordered 2,2′-biquinoline molecules and α-[SiW₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anions. Photosensitivity to sunlight and to W-lamp visible light was assessed for all compounds. Photochromic properties were found for solids with [XMo₁₂O₄₀]^m− Keggin anions. Reduction of these anions upon irradiation was observed by diffuse reflectance and EPR spectroscopy. After a minimum of 5 h under sunlight, the extent of anion reduction followed the order (Hbiqui)₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀]·3dmf>(Hbiqui)₄[SiMo₁₂O₄₀]·3dmf>(Hbiqui)₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀]>(Hbiqui)₄[SiMo₁₂O₄₀]·4H₂O. The Kurtz powder test was used to evaluate the second-order non-linear optical properties of the prepared compounds. (Hbiqui)₄[SiW₁₂O₄₀]·3H₂O originated a second harmonic generation signal with intensity about 15% that of urea for 1064 nm radiation.     

Polyol Process to Large-scale Synthesis of Cu2O with Disk-like Structure

A new form of Cu2O, disk-like structure with 60 nm in thickness and 2 μm in diameter, has been successfully synthesized in bulk quantities by polyol process in the presence of PVP K-30.     

Synthesis and magnetic properties of the γ-Fe2O3/poly-(methyl methacrylate)-core/shell nanoparticles

The synthesis of γ-Fe₂O₃/poly-(methyl methacrylate)-core/shell nanoparticles and their magnetic properties are reported. Specific γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles capable of initiating atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) were prepared by a ligand exchange reaction of ((chloromethyl)phenylethyl)-dimethylchlorosilane and caprylate-capped γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles of 4 nm in diameter, and the ATRP of methyl methacrylate was carried out subsequently. These nanoparticles were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Low temperature magnetic properties investigated with SQUID magnetometry revealed that the coercivity and the blocking temperature changed slightly owing to surface effects.     

Synthesis and Structure of the Complexes of 2-Alkoxycarbonylalkyltin Trichlorides with 2-Salicylideneaminophenol

SinceHutton]developedanovelr0utet0preparationofthe2-alkoxycarbonylalkyltintrichIorides,R'OCOCHRCH,SnCI,(l),lhavereceivedconsiderableattenti0nbecauseofthevarietyofcoordinationgeometriesaboutthetinatom.2-'Previ0usly,wehadre-portedtheadducts0flwithneutraIdonorssuchasDMSO,HMPA,bpyandphen.'-'Inthispaper,wereportthesynthesis0fthecomplexes0flwithnegativebivaIentligandderivedfr0m2-salicylideneamin0phenop(H2L),R'OCOCHRCH,SnClL(R=H,Me,R'=Me,Et,n-Pr,Allyl,n-Bu),andthecrystaIstructureof…     

Triptycene scaffolds: Synthesis and properties of triptycene-derived Schiff base compounds for the selective and sensitive detection of CN− and Cu2+

A series of triptycene-derived Schiff bases were synthesized by condensation between amino triptycenes with an appropriate aldehyde and were isolated in good to excellent (85–90%) yields. Amongst these, a triptycene-hydroxybenzaldehyde Schiff base compound proved to be a selective sensor for cyanide. It exhibited a “turn-on” fluorescence response at 490 nm to CN^? facilitated by the nucleophilic addition of CN^? to the aldehyde group, accompanied by a visible color change from orange to yellow. Likewise, a triptycene salicylaldehyde adduct was shown to be highly sensitive towards the detection of the CN^? ion with a detection limit of 0.9 μM. On the other hand a triptycene-BODIPY Schiff base compound could be used for the detection of Cu²⁺ ions over other competing, biologically relevant metal ions in acetonitrile. Photophysical studies revealed a 1:1 binding model for the triptycene-BODIPY compound.     

Synthesis and properties of the copper(Ⅱ) complexes with stable radical

Four novel copper(Ⅱ) complexes have been synthesized,namely Cu(hfac)2NITPhNO2 (1),Cu(hfac)2NITPhCH3 (2),Cu(pfpr)2NITPhNO2,(3) and Cu(Pfpr)2NITPhCH3 (4),where hfac= hexafluoro-acetylacetonate,pfpr=pentafluoropropionate,NITR.=2-R-4,4,5,5-tetraniethyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazolyl-1-oxyl-3-oxide.(R=4-nitrophenyl,4-methylphenyl).These complexes were rharicter-ized by elemental analyses,IR,electronic spectra and molar conductance.The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility of complexes 1 and 3 have been studied in the 4 300 K range,giving I he exchange integral J=10.56 cm-1 for complex 1 and J =-30.9 cm-1 for complex 3.