Facile synthesis of heat‐resistant and photoluminescent poly(N‐aryleneindole ether)s via catalyst‐free C?N/C?O coupling reaction

We present here a novel programmable polymerization route for the synthesis of new indole‐based polymers via a catalyst‐free nucleophilic substitution reaction. The polycondensation of 4‐hydroxyindole with different activated difluoro monomers undergoes in N‐methylpyrrolidinone, affording soluble poly(N‐aryleneindole ether)s (PEINs) with high molecular weights (M_w up to 486,000) in high yields (up to 96%). The structures of the polymers are characterized by means of FT‐IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, the results show good agreement with the proposed structures. The resulting polymers are processable and enjoy high glass transition temperatures (T_gs > 180 °C) and thermal stability (T_ds > 420 °C). Thin films of PEINs show great mechanical behaviors with high tensile strength up to 104 Mpa, and good optical transparency. In addition, due to the indole moieties in the main chains, all these PEINs are endowed with significantly strong photonic luminescence in chloroform and display highly solvent‐dependent emission bands. Especially, the polymer PEIN‐3 carrying sulfonyl units, shows outstanding blue‐light emission with high quantum yields (45.2%, determined against quinine sulfate). The results obtained by cyclic voltammetry suggest that PEINs possess good electroactivity. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 313–320     

The crystal structure,luminescence and nitrobenzene‐sensing properties of a two‐dimensional MnII coordination polymer based on 2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine

A two‐dimensional Mn^II coordination polymer (CP), poly[bis[μ₂‐2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine‐κ²N³:N^3′]bis(thiocyanato‐κN)manganese] [Mn(NCS)₂(C₁₁H₉N₅)₂]_n, (I), has been obtained by the self‐assembly reaction of Mn(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O, NH₄SCN and bent 2,6‐bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)pyridine (2,6‐bip). CP (I) was characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structure features a unique two‐dimensional (4,4) network with one‐dimensional channels. The luminescence and nitrobenzene‐sensing properties were explored in a DMF suspension, revealing that CP (I) shows a strong luminescence emission and is highly sensitive for nitrobenzene detection.     

Designing Simple Tridentate Ligands for Highly Luminescent Europium Complexes

A series of tridentate benzimidazole‐substituted pyridine‐2‐carboxylic acids have been prepared with a halogen, methyl or alkoxy group in the 6‐position of the benzimidazole ring, which additionally contains a solubilising N‐alkyl chain. The ligands form neutral homoleptic nine‐coordinate lanthanum, europium and terbium complexes as established from X‐ray crystallographic analysis of eight structures. The coordination polyhedron around the lanthanide ion is close to a tricapped trigonal prism with ligands arranged in an up–up–down fashion. The coordinated ligands serve as light‐harvesting chromophores in the complexes with absorption maxima in the range 321–341 nm (ε=(4.9–6.0)×10⁴ M ^?1 cm^?1) and triplet‐state energies between 21 300 and 18 800 cm^?1; the largest redshifts occur for bromine and electron‐donor alkoxy substituents. The ligands efficiently sensitise europium luminescence with overall quantum yields ( ) and observed lifetimes (τ_obs) reaching 71 % and 3.00 ms, respectively, in the solid state and 52 % and 2.81 ms, respectively, in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature. The radiative lifetimes of the Eu(⁵D₀) level amount to τ_rad=3.6–4.6 ms and the sensitisation efficiency η_sens= (τ_rad/τ_obs) is close to unity for most of the complexes in the solid state and equal to approximately 80 % in solution. The photophysical parameters of the complexes correlate with the triplet energy of the ligands, which in turn is determined by the nature of the benzimidazole substituent. Facile modification of the ligands makes them promising for the development of brightly emissive europium‐containing materials.     

Circularly Polarized Luminescence from Helically Chiral N,N,O,O‐Boron‐Chelated Dipyrromethenes

Helically chiral N,N,O,O‐boron chelated dipyrromethenes showed solution‐phase circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) in the red region of the visible spectrum (λ_em(max) from 621 to 663 nm). The parent dipyrromethene is desymmetrised through O chelation of boron by the 3,5‐ortho‐phenolic substituents, inducing a helical chirality in the fluorophore. The combination of high luminescence dissymmetry factors (|g_lum| up to 4.7 ×10^?3) and fluorescence quantum yields (Φ_F up to 0.73) gave exceptionally efficient circularly polarized red emission from these simple small organic fluorophores, enabling future application in CPL‐based bioimaging.     

Lanthanide luminescence efficiency in eight- and nine-coordinate complexes: Role of the radiative lifetime

The photophysical parameters for the sensitization of metal-centred luminescence are analyzed in two series of complexes with tridentate and hexadentate ligands having N_xO_y chelating units. In particular, the radiative lifetime τ_rad is experimentally estimated for 29 nine-coordinate Eu^III complexes and 10 eight- and nine-coordinate Yb^III complexes. The known dependence of τ_rad on refractive index is substantiated by comparing data for solid-state samples and solutions. Moreover, a clear dependence of τ_rad with the coordination environment is evidenced and in the case of Eu^III, a comparison between τ_rad and the nephelauxetic effect generated by the ligands is attempted. Altogether, this extensive analysis points to the importance of having a handle on τ_rad when designing ligands for highly luminescent lanthanide-containing molecular edifices. This, in turn, should stimulate initiating theoretical considerations to unravel a reliable relationship between τ_rad and the electronic structure of the ligands.     

Aminophosphines derived from N‐phenylpiperazine and N‐ethylpiperazine: Synthesis,oxidation reactions,and molybdenum complexes

Functionalized aminophosphine of the type Ph₂PNR₂ ( 1,2 ) have been synthesized by treating Ph₂PCl with N‐phenylpiperazine or N‐ethylpiperazine. Oxidation of these ligands with aqueous hydrogen peroxide, elemental sulfur or selenium afforded the corresponding phosphine oxides 3,4 , sulfides 5,6 , and selenides 7,8 in good yields. The molybdenum complexes of the aminophosphines have been obtained. All new compounds were fully characterized by IR, NMR, and microanalysis, and the molecular structures of two representative compounds were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 22:679–686, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.20733     

Lanthanoid/Alkali Metal β‐Triketonate Assemblies: A Robust Platform for Efficient NIR Emitters

The reaction of hydrated lanthanoid chlorides with tribenzoylmethane and an alkali metal hydroxide consistently resulted in the crystallization of neutral tetranuclear assemblies with the general formula [Ln(Ae ? HOEt)( L )₄]₂ (Ln=Eu³⁺, Er³⁺, Yb³⁺; Ae=Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺). Analysis of the crystal structures of these species revealed a coordination geometry that varied from a slightly distorted square antiprism to a slightly distorted triangular dodecahedron, with the specific geometrical shape being dependent on the degree of lattice solvation and identity of the alkali metal. The near‐infrared (NIR)‐emitting assemblies of Yb³⁺ and Er³⁺ showed remarkably efficient emission, characterized by significantly longer excited‐state lifetimes (τ_obs≈37–47 μs for Yb³⁺ and τ_obs≈4–6 μs for Er³⁺) when compared with the broader family of lanthanoid β‐diketonate species, even in the case of perfluorination of the ligands. The Eu³⁺ assemblies show bright red emission and a luminescence performance (τ_obs≈0.5 ms, ${{\Phi}{{{\rm L}\hfill \atop {\rm Ln}\hfill}}}$ ≈35–37 %, η_sens≈68–70 %) more akin to the β‐diketonate species. The results highlight that the β‐triketonate ligand offers a tunable and facile system for the preparation of efficient NIR emitters without the need for more complicated perfluorination or deuteration synthetic strategies.     

A 4′‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐3,2′:6′,3′′‐terpyridine‐based luminescent cadmium(II) coordination polymer for the detection of 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol

The title coordination polymer, poly[bis[μ3‐4‐(3,2′:6′,3′′‐terpyridin‐4′‐yl)benzoato]cadmium(II)], [Cd(C₂₂H₁₄N₃O₂)₂]_n or [Cd(3‐cptpy)₂]_n, (I), has been synthesized solvothermally and characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction. The structure is composed of 3‐cptpy^? ligands bridging Cd atoms, with each Cd atom coordinated by six ligands and each ligand coordinating to three Cd atoms. Each Cd atom is in a slightly distorted trans‐N₂O₄ octahedral environment, forming a two‐dimensional layer structure with a (3,6)‐connected topology. Layers are linked to each other by π–π stacking, resulting in a three‐dimensional supramolecular framework. The strong luminescence and good thermal stability of (I) indicate that it can potentially be used as a luminescence sensor. The compound also shows a highly selective and sensitive response to 2,4,6‐trinitrophenol through the luminescence quenching effect.     

Synthesis,structural characterization and thermal properties of a new copper(II) one‐dimensional coordination polymer based on bridging N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzylidene)‐2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine and dicyanamide ligands

The design and synthesis of polymeric coordination compounds of 3d transition metals are of great interest in the search for functional materials. The coordination chemistry of the copper(II) ion is of interest currently due to potential applications in the areas of molecular biology and magnetochemistry. A novel coordination polymer of Cu^II with bridging N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine (H₂L‐DM) and dicyanamide (dca) ligands, catena‐poly[[[μ₂‐2,2‐dimethyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐oxidobenzylidene)propane‐1,3‐diamine‐1:2κ⁶O,N,N′,O′:O,O′]dicopper(II)]‐di‐μ‐dicyanamido‐1:2′κ²N¹:N⁵;2:1′κ²N¹:N⁵], [Cu₂(C₁₉H₂₀N₂O₂)(C₂N₃)₂]_n, has been synthesized and characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analysis. Structural studies show that the Cu^II centres in the dimeric asymmetric unit adopt distorted square‐pyramidal geometries, as confirmed by the Addison parameter (τ) values. The chelating characteristics of the L‐DM²⁻ ligand results in the formation of a Cu^II dimer with a double phenolate bridge in the asymmetric unit. In the crystal, the dimeric units are further linked to adjacent dimeric units through μ_1,5‐dca bridges to produce one‐dimensional polymeric chains.     

Bismuth‐Based Coordination Polymers with Efficient Aggregation‐Induced Phosphorescence and Reversible Mechanochromic Luminescence

Two bismuth coordination polymers (CPs), (TBA)[BiBr₄(bp4mo)] (TBA=tetrabutylammonium) and [BiBr₃(bp4mo)₂], which are based on the rarely used simple ditopic ligand N‐oxide‐4,4′‐bipyridine (bp4mo), show mechanochromic luminescence (MCL). High solid‐state phosphorescence quantum yields of up to 85 % were determined for (TBA)[BiBr₄(bp4mo)] (λ_em=540 nm). Thorough investigations of the luminescence properties combined with DFT and TDDFT calculations revealed that the emission is due to aggregation‐induced phosphorescence (AIP). Upon grinding, both samples became amorphous, and their luminescence changed from yellow to orange and red, respectively. Heating or exposure to water vapor led to the recovery of the initial luminescence. These materials are the first examples of mechanochromic phosphors based on bismuth(III).     

Surface Functionalization of g‐C3N4: Molecular‐Level Design of Noble‐Metal‐Free Hydrogen Evolution Photocatalysts

A stable noble‐metal‐free hydrogen evolution photocatalyst based on graphite carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) was developed by a molecular‐level design strategy. Surface functionalization was successfully conducted to introduce a single nickel active site onto the surface of the semiconducting g‐C₃N₄. This catalyst family (with less than 0.1 wt % of Ni) has been found to produce hydrogen with a rate near to the value obtained by using 3 wt % platinum as co‐catalyst. This new catalyst also exhibits very good stability under hydrogen evolution conditions, without any evidence of deactivation after 24 h.     

N‐Oxide 1,2,4,5‐Tetrazine‐Based High‐Performance Energetic Materials

One route to high density and high performance energetic materials based on 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine is the introduction of 2,4‐di‐N‐oxide functionalities. Based on several examples and through theoretical analysis, the strategy of regioselective introduction of these moieties into 1,2,4,5‐tetrazines has been developed. Using this methodology, various new tetrazine structures containing the N‐oxide functionality were synthesized and fully characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Hydrogen peroxide (50 %) was used very effectively in lieu of the usual 90 % peroxide in this system to generate N‐oxide tetrazine compounds successfully. Comparison of the experimental densities of N‐oxide 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine compounds with their 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine precursors shows that introducing the N‐oxide functionality is a highly effective and feasible method to enhance the density of these materials. The heats of formation for all compounds were calculated with Gaussian 03 (revision D.01) and these values were combined with measured densities to calculate detonation pressures (P) and velocities (ν_D) of these energetic materials (Explo 5.0 v. 6.01). The new oxygen‐containing tetrazines exhibit high density, good thermal stability, acceptable oxygen balance, positive heat of formation, and excellent detonation properties, which, in some cases, are superior to those of 1,3,5‐tritnitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5‐trinitrotriazacyclohexane (RDX), and octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX).     

Ultrasound‐Assisted Synthesis of 6‐Methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐N‐aryl‐2‐oxo/thio‐4‐arylpyrimidine‐5‐carboxamides Catalyzed by Uranyl Nitrate Hexahydrate

An efficient and simple method developed for the synthesis of 6‐methyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐N‐aryl‐2‐oxo/thio‐4‐arylpyrimidine‐5‐carboxamide derivatives ( 4a‐o ) using UO₂(NO₃)₂.6H₂O catalyst under conventional and ultrasonic conditions. The ultrasound irradiation synthesis had shown several advantages such as milder conditions, shorter reaction times and higher yields. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds have been confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectra.     

Facile regiospecific syntheses of N‐α,N‐1(τ)‐dialkyl‐l‐histidines

Two diverse methodologies describe the first synthesis of suitably protected N‐α,N‐1(τ)‐dialkyl‐Lhistidine derivatives. Synthesis of suitably protected N‐α,N‐1(τ)‐dialkyl‐L‐histidines 7‐9 containing different alkyl groups at the N‐α and N‐1(τ) positions was achieved in four steps starting from L‐histidine methyl ester. Whereas, in the one‐step alternate route N‐α‐Boc‐L‐histidine methyl ester upon direct and simultaneous N‐α and N‐1(τ) alkylation with various alkyl halides in the presence of sodium hydride in DMF easily afforded N‐α,N‐1(τ)‐dialkyl‐L‐histidines 14 containing identical alkyl group at the N‐α and N‐1(τ) positions in high yields. Both procedures allowed facile entry to methyl and other higher alkyl groups at the N‐α‐position of the histidine ring     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Characterization of Two Novel Five‐coordinate Zinc(II) Complexes with the Tripod Ligand Tris(N‐methylbenzimidazol‐2‐yl‐methyl)amine and α,β‐unsaturated Carboxylates

Two novel five‐coordinate zinc(II) complexes with the tripod ligand tris(N‐methylbenzimidazol‐2‐ylmethyl)amine (Mentb) and two different α,β‐unsaturated carboxylates, with the composition [Zn(Mentb)(acrylate)] (ClO₄)·DMF·1.5CH₃OH ( 1 ) and [Zn(Mentb)(cinnamate)](ClO₄)·2DMF·0.5CH₃OH ( 2 ), were synthesized and characterized by means of elemental analyses, electrical conductivity measurements, IR, UV, and ¹H NMR spectra. The crystal structure of two complexes have been determined by a single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction method, and show that the Zn^II atom is bonded to a Mentb ligand and a α,β‐unsaturated carboxylate molecule through four N atoms and one O atom, resulting in a distorted trigonal‐bipyramidal coordination [τ( 1 ) = 0.853, τ( 2 ) = 0.855], with approximate C₃ symmetry.     

Luminescence and Light‐Driven Energy and Electron Transfer from an Exceptionally Long‐Lived Excited State of a Non‐Innocent Chromium(III) Complex

Photoactive metal complexes employing Earth‐abundant metal ions are a key to sustainable photophysical and photochemical applications. We exploit the effects of an inversion center and ligand non‐innocence to tune the luminescence and photochemistry of the excited state of the [CrN₆] chromophore [Cr(tpe)₂]³⁺ with close to octahedral symmetry (tpe=1,1,1‐tris(pyrid‐2‐yl)ethane). [Cr(tpe)₂]³⁺ exhibits the longest luminescence lifetime (τ=4500 μs) reported up to date for a molecular polypyridyl chromium(III) complex together with a very high luminescence quantum yield of Φ=8.2 % at room temperature in fluid solution. Furthermore, the tpe ligands in [Cr(tpe)₂]³⁺ are redox non‐innocent, leading to reversible reductive chemistry. The excited state redox potential and lifetime of [Cr(tpe)₂]³⁺ surpass those of the classical photosensitizer [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) enabling energy transfer (to oxygen) and photoredox processes (with azulene and tri(n‐butyl)amine).     

Ethyl 1,4‐Dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylates by a Tandem SNAr‐Addition‐Elimination Reaction

A series of N‐substituted 1,4‐dihydro‐4‐oxo‐1,8‐naphthyridine‐3‐carboxylate esters has been prepared in two steps from ethyl 2‐(2‐chloronicotinoyl)acetate. Treatment of the β‐ketoester with N,N‐dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) gave a 95% yield of the 2‐dimethylaminomethylene derivative. Subsequent reaction of this β‐enaminone with primary amines in DMF at 120^oC for 24 h then afforded the target compounds in 47–82% yields by a tandem S_NAr‐addition‐elimination reaction. Synthetic and procedural details as well as a mechanistic rationale are presented.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 2‐Oxazolines from Ethyl α‐Cyanocinnamate Derivatives with N‐Bromoacetamide

An efficient method for the one‐pot synthesis of 2‐oxazolines from ethyl α‐cyanocinnamate derivatives with N‐bromoacetamide in the presence of K₃PO₄ has been developed. The reaction performed smoothly and cleanly to give 2‐oxazolines in good to excellent yields (up to 98%) within 4.5 h in acetone at room temperature without protection of inert gases. A total of 13 examples have been investigated. A possible nucleophilic addition reaction mechanism is proposed.     

Analysis of the Role of Peripheral Ligands Coordinated to ZnII in Enhancing the Energy Barrier in Luminescent Linear Trinuclear Zn‐Dy‐Zn Single‐Molecule Magnets

Three new Dy complexes have been prepared according to a complex‐as‐ligand strategy. Structural determinations indicate that the central Dy ion is surrounded by two LZn units (L^2? is the di‐deprotonated form of the N₂O₂ compartmental N,N′‐2,2‐dimethylpropylenedi(3‐methoxysalicylideneiminato) Schiff base. The Dy ions are nonacoordinate to eight oxygen atoms from the two L ligands and to a water molecule. The Zn ions are pentacoordinate in all cases, linked to the N₂O₂ atoms from L, and the apical position of the Zn coordination sphere is occupied by a water molecule or bromide or chloride ions. These resulting complexes, formulated (LZnX)‐Dy‐(LZnX), are tricationic with X=H₂O and monocationic with X=Br or Cl. They behave as field‐free single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) with effective energy barriers (U_eff) for the reversal of the magnetization of 96.9(6) K with τ₀=2.4×10^?7 s, 146.8(5) K with τ₀=9.2×10^?8 s, and 146.1(10) K with τ₀=9.9×10^?8 s for compounds with Zn?OH₂, Zn?Br, and Zn?Cl motifs, respectively. The Cole–Cole plots exhibit semicircular shapes with α parameters in the range of 0.19 to 0.29, which suggests multiple relaxation processes. Under a dc applied magnetic field of 1000 Oe, the quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM) is partly or fully suppressed and the energy barriers increase to U_eff=128.6(5) K and τ₀=1.8×10^?8 s for 1 , U_eff=214.7 K and τ₀=9.8×10^?9 s for 2 , and U_eff=202.4 K and τ₀=1.5×10^?8 s for 3 . The two pairs of largely negatively charged phenoxido oxygen atoms with short Dy?O bonds are positioned at opposite sides of the Dy³⁺ ion, which thus creates a strong crystal field that stabilizes the axial M_J=±15/2 doublet as the ground Kramers doublet. Although the compound with the Zn?OH₂ motifs possesses the larger negative charges on the phenolate oxygen atoms, as confirmed by using DFT calculations, it exhibits the larger distortions of the DyO₉ coordination polyhedron from ideal geometries and a smaller U_eff value. Ab initio calculations support the easy‐axis anisotropy of the ground Kramers doublet and predict zero‐field SMM behavior through Orbach and TA‐QTM relaxations via the first excited Kramers doublet, which leads to large energy barriers. In accordance with the experimental results, ab initio calculations have also shown that, compared with water, the peripheral halide ligands coordinated to the Zn²⁺ ions increase the barrier height when the distortions of the DyO₉ have a negative effect. All the complexes exhibit metal‐centered luminescence after excitation into the UV π–π* absorption band of ligand L^2? at λ=335 nm, which results in the appearance of the characteristic Dy^III (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_J/2; J=15/2, 13/2) emission bands in the visible region.     

Preparation of (S,S)‐Fmoc‐β2hIle‐OH, (S)‐Fmoc‐β2hMet‐OH,and (S)‐Fmoc‐β2hTyr(tBu)‐OH for Solid‐Phase Syntheses of β2‐ and β2/β3‐Peptides

The preparation of three new N‐Fmoc‐protected (Fmoc=[(9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)methoxy]carbonyl) β²‐homoamino acids with proteinogenic side chains (from Ile, Tyr, and Met) is described, the key step being a diastereoselective amidomethylation of the corresponding Ti‐enolates of 3‐acyl‐4‐isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐ones with CbzNHCH₂OMe/TiCl₄ (Cbz=(benzyloxy)carbonyl) in yields of 60–70% and with diastereoselectivities of >90%. Removal of the chiral auxiliary with LiOH or NaOH gives the N‐Cbz‐protected β‐amino acids, which were subjected to an N‐Cbz/N‐Fmoc (Fmoc=[(9H‐fluoren‐9‐yl)methoxy]carbonyl) protective‐group exchange. The method is suitable for large‐scale preparation of Fmoc‐β²hXaa‐OH for solid‐phase syntheses of β‐peptides. The Fmoc‐amino acids and all compounds leading to them have been fully characterized by melting points, optical rotations, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra, as well as by elemental analyses.