The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of liquid crystals with bulky terminal groups designed for bookshelf geometry ferroelectric mixtures

The synthesis and mesomorphic properties of a systematic range of ortho difluoroterphenyls with a bulky terminal chain are detailed. The bulky terminal chain consists of either a tertiarybutyl group or a trimethylsilyl unit, each separated from the core by a short (dimethylene) chain, with the other terminal chain being either octyloxy or heptyl. The synthesis of the materials was affected efficiently using a combination of low temperature lithiations and palladium-catalysed cross-coupling reactions. Unusually for liquid crystals with bulky terminal chains, the smectic phase stability (particularly smectic C) is upheld by more than the nematic phase stability, and in most cases the smectic C phase stability is actually higher than comparable analogues with conventional unbranched terminal chains. It is postulated that the surprisingly high smectic C phase stability results from a phase separation effect due to the incompatibility of the spherical bulky group and the conventional unbranched terminal chain, hence implying that the smectic ‘layers’ are well defined, and such definition of the layers bodes well for bookshelf geometry in ferroelectric mixtures.     

An empirical formula for HPGe γ detector efficiency calibration for bulky sources

In this paper, an empirical formula for the HPGe efficiency calibration of bulky sources in cylindrical geometry is proposed. The simple but accurate empirical formula is able to effectively predict the efficiencies of summing effect-free γ-rays from cylindrical bulky sources (within ∅30 mm×40 mm) at different source-to-detector distances. The relative difference between experimental and calculated data at 0, 20, 40 and 80 mm source-to-detector distances is smaller than 5%.     

Unusual mixed valent FeIIIFeII complex (St = 3/2) stabilised by a reduced bulky 1,2-diketone

The reduction of the bulky 1,2-diketone bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)glyoxal () and FeBr(2) with 1.5 equivalents of Na results in a Class 2 mixed valent H.S. Fe(II) L.S. Fe(III) complex (2) with two five-coordinate Fe centres which are antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to give a total spin S(t) = 3/2 ground state and an S(t) = 5/2 excited state that are separated by about 25 cm(-1) (for Delta(J) approximately 5J).     

Phase separation in class II organically modified silicate films as probed by phase-imaging atomic force microscopy

Phase imaging tapping mode atomic force microscopy has been used to examine the presence and extent of phase separation in organically modified silicate films. A total of seven films were prepared using two different synthetic routes (cohydrolysis/condensation and separate hydrolysis/condensation) with three different organoalkoxysilanes and tetraethoxysilane. Films made from separately hydrolyzed sols were rougher and had larger phase separated domains compared to films prepared from cohydrolyzed sols. Likewise, films prepared from sols containing organoalkoxysilanes with nonpolar bulky substituents, such as ethyl and isobutyl, were significantly rougher and more phase separated relative to those prepared from a more miscible nitrile alkoxysilane.     

A rational approach to the design and synthesis of chiral organopalladium-amine complexes

A new chiral auxiliary, (+/-)-N,N-dimethyl-1-(2,5-dimethylphenyl)ethylamine, was designed and synthesized in two steps from 1-acetyl-2,5-dimethylbenzene. Its cyclopalladated dimeric complex could be efficiently resolved via the formation of (S)-prolinate derivatives. Both hand forms of the complex could be obtained in similar yields. Despite the enormous inter-chelate steric constraints, the bulky monodentate ligand 3,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphole (DMPP) is able to coordinate regiospecifically to the orthopalladated 2,5-dimethylbenzylamine unit trans to the NMe(2) group. Compared to its naphthylamine analogue, the orthopalladated 2,5-dimethylbenzylamine complex exhibits a significantly higher stereoselectivity in the chiral template promoted asymmetric cycloaddition reaction between DMPP and ethyl vinyl ketone.     

Synthesis and Study of the Thermal and Chiro-Optical Properties of Polyacetylenes with Bulky Side Groups: Poly(1-ethynyl-4-biphenyl), Poly(1-ethynyl-4- phenoxybenzene) and Poly(1-ethynyl-4-pentylbenzene)

The monosubstituted acetylenes 1-ethynyl-4-biphenyl, 1-ethynyl-4-phenoxybenzene and 1-ethynyl-4-pentylbenzene were polymerized to the corresponding polyacetylenes with bulky side substituents: PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB, respectively, using a Rh(I) complex as polymerization catalyst. The FT-IR and UV-VIS spectra of PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB were studied using the corresponding spectra of polyphenylacetylene (PPA), polytolylacetylene (PETOL) and poly(1-ethynyl-naphthalene) PEN as reference. Based on the spectral analysis, high cis-trasoid structures were assigned to PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB. The specific optical rotation of PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB was measured in the chiral solvent α (-)pinene and, only for PEPB, also in α (+)pinene. It was found that even at low concentration PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB cause changes in the specific optical rotation of the chiral medium where they have been dissolved. This phenomenon has not been observed when toluene or atactic polystyrene are dissolved in the same chiral solvent in similar concentration. This suggests that the polyacetylenes with bulky side groups are able to rearrange in a helical configuration (prevalently right-handed or vice-versa, depending on the type of chiral medium used) once hosted in a chiral medium giving a contribution to the chirality of the solvent where they have been dissolved. The thermal stability of PEBIP, PEPHENO and PEPB was studied under N₂ flow by thermal analysis (TGA, DTG and DTA) in comparison to reference monosubstituted polyacetylenes PPA, PETOL and PEN. The results show that the thermal stability of monosubstituted polyacetylenes is greatly improved by the presence of bulky substitutents as theoretically expected, and similarly, also the char-forming tendency increases with the bulkiness of the side groups.     

Directed assembly and separation of self-assembled monolayers via electrochemical processing

Separated domains of 1-dodecanethiolate were fabricated via solution displacement of preformed 1-adamantanethiolate self-assembled monolayers on Au{111}. Subsequently, the 1-adamantanethiolate domains were desorbed selectively, and the substrate was exposed to a 1-octanethiol solution, creating artificially separated self-assembled monolayers of 1-dodecanethiolate and 1-octanethiolate. The molecular order of each lattice type and the apparent height differences imaged with scanning tunneling microscopy and the two distinct cathodic peaks observed with cyclic voltammetry indicated distinct separated domains of each lattice type in the separated self-assembled monolayers. By manipulating the intermolecular interaction strengths of the patterned molecules, we are able to control the structure and properties of the separated self-assembled monolayers via the exploitation of competitive adsorption and the utilization of electrochemical processing, which can be extended to other self-assembly patterning techniques such as microdisplacement printing.     

大位阻烯烃不对称环氧化合成手性环氧化合物

采用大位阻的有机锂试剂或格氏试剂与卤代烯烃偶联合成了7种大位阻取代烯烃. 以Oxone(KHSO₅)作为氧化剂, 分别在D-果糖衍生酮和(2S,5R)-2-异丙基-5-甲基环己酮为催化剂的催化下, 将合成的7种大位阻取代烯烃转变成了7个大位阻的手性环氧化合物. 其中以D-果糖衍生酮的对映选择性最好, 当双键碳上含有3个取代基时, 对映选择性最高, e.e.值为96.8%~99.5%. (2S, 5R)-2-异丙基-5-甲基环己酮的对映选择性较差, 无论是一取代的烯烃还是三取代的烯烃, 其e.e.值均介于25.6%~34.1%之间.     

An efficient chemical method for separation of corsolic acid from its isomeric maslinic acid

Based on the difference in steric bulk around C12-C13 double bond, the two isomeric dihydroxy pentacyclic triterpenic acids viz: corsolic acid and maslinic acid have been quantitatively separated via their methyl esters by reacting with the bulky m-chloroperbenzoic acid. Corsolic acid methyl ester was obtained in pure form, whereas maslinic acid methyl ester was separated as 12-oxo derivative formed via its epoxide. Alkaline hydrolysis of corsolic acid methyl ester afforded the desired acid. This method was also found to work well with the isomeric amyrin mixture (alpha- and beta-), but not highly selective. The high selectivity of this method with corsolic maslinic acid system can be rationalized in terms of 2alpha-hydroxy functionality, which provides additional crowding around the double bond and completely prevented corsolic acid from its reaction with perbenzoic acid.     

A tert-butyl/cyano substituted (1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl)benzene and η π complexes with CpCr(CO)2

A rational synthesis for 5-tert-butyl-3-cyano-1-(1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl)benzene, which was first observed from thermal cleavage of the bis-dithiadiazolyl, has been developed. Voltammetry and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra for this radical are reported and its X-ray structure is described. Despite the bulky ^tBu substituent, the cyano supramolecular synthon is still able to maintain links to a single neighbouring sulfur atom of the S₂ unit, as previously observed in cyano-substituted dithiadiazolyls. In the η² complex with CpCr(CO)₂, no such interactions are observed; the nitrile group forms a centrosymmetric dimer through weak contacts with the para H atom on the aryl ring of the partner molecule. This behaviour is contrasted to similar complexes of less bulky dithiadiazolyls, where intermolecular interactions are retained in the crystalline lattice.     

An investigation of the high gas permeability of poly (1-Trimethylsilyl-1-Propyne)

The permeability of poly (1–trimethylsilyl–1−propyne), PMSP, to light gases is higher than that of any other nonporous synthetic polymer at ambient temperatures. PMSP is in the glassy polymer state at these temperatures. Permeability, diffusion, and solubility coefficients were determined for N₂, O₂, CH₄, and CO₂ in PMSP, and are compared with values reported for these gases in poly (dimethyl siloxane). The higher gas permeability of PMSP results primarily from a substantial gas solubility, which appears to be due, in turn, to a large “excess” free volume in the unrelaxed (Langmuir) domains of this glassy polymer. The structure of PMSP, which consists of relatively rigid backbone chains separated by bulky trimethylsilyl side groups, probably is responsible for this large free volume.     

Bulky guanidinates for the stabilization of low oxidation state metallacycles

This article summarizes the development of a new class of very bulky guanidinate ligands. These have been used to prepare unprecedented examples of heterocycles containing groups 2, 13, 14 or 15 elements in the +1 oxidation state. The ligands have also been harnessed in the preparation of the only examples of guanidinato, and/or closely related amidinato, complexes of iron(I), cobalt(I) and planar four-coordinate lanthanide(II) metals. Preliminary studies of the further chemistry of these very reactive complexes are also reviewed. Throughout, the tendency of the bulky guanidinate ligands to exhibit ligating and stabilizing properties more akin to those of bulky β-diketiminate ligands than less bulky amidinates or guanidinates, will be discussed.     

Control of pi-stacking for highly emissive poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s: synthesis and photoluminescence of new tricyclodecane substituted bulky poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s and its copolymers

In the present work, we have demonstrated a facile approach to increase the luminescence of the poly (p-phenylenevinylene)s via controlling the molecular aggregates induced by pi-stacking. We have synthesized new bulky tricyclodecane (TCD) substituted PPVs: poly(2-methoxy-5-tricyclodecanemethyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MTCD-PPV), poly(bis-2,5-tricyclodecanemethyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (BTCD-PPV), and a series of symmetrically substituted bulky PPV copolymers (P-1-P-7) covering the entire composition range from 0 to 100 mol %. The structures of the monomers and polymers were confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR, and the molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The composition analysis by NMR revealed that the bulky monomer was highly reactive and the incorporation of bulky units in MEH-PPV increased irrespective of the feed ratio. The polymers possess good solubility, high molecular weights, good thermal stability, and so forth. The molecular weights of the PPV copolymers were also significantly affected by the bulky substitution: the higher the incorporation of bulky units, the lower the molecular weight. The absorption and emission studies revealed that there was no influence on the MEH-PPV by TCD substitution in solution whereas in the solid state the photoluminescence intensity of PPV increased more than 10 times. The luminescence increase in PPV was observed throughout the entire bulk and was not confined to any particular domain in the polymer. The bulky PPV copolymers showed that both the luminescence intensity (in film) and quantum yields (in solution) increased with an increase in the extent of BTCD incorporation in the MEH-PPV and attained a maximum for 50% BTCD. The TCD unit has thus proved to be an efficient bulky susbstituent for PPV as it controls the pi-stack-induced molecular aggregates in the polymer chains by increasing the interchain distances. The new bulky PPV copolymers are highly soluble, thermally stable, and highly luminescent besides being economically cheap compared to the other materials reported so far for the bulkier approach in pi-conjugated materials.     

Selective bromination of perylene diimides under mild conditions

A novel method for the bromination of perylene diimides, PDI (1), under mild conditions is reported. Variation of the reaction conditions allows mono- and dibromination of PDIs to afford 2 and 3 (these can be separated through standard procedures) or exclusive dibromination to afford 3. Pure 1,7 regioisomers are obtained through repetitive crystallization. The structure of 1,7-3b was elucidated by a single-crystal X-ray analysis. The facility of the bromination reaction, which decreases in the order 1a > 1b > 1c, depends on PDI aggregation propensities. Monobrominated PDIs were utilized for the syntheses of novel unsymmetrical piperidinyl (4a and 4b) and trimethylsilylethynyl derivatives (5a and 5b). Computational studies (DFT) on imide substituent rotation in PDIs reveal that in the case of bulky groups there is a restricted rotation leading to isomers, in agreement with our experimental results. An aromatic core twist in PDIs bearing one and two bromine substituents was also investigated by DFT.     

Propylene bulk phase oligomerization with bisiminepyridine iron catalysts: Mechanistic investigation of 1,2-versus 2,1-propylene insertion

Iron(II) complexes were synthesized with bisiminepyridine ligands of different steric demand. Activation with modified MAO (25 mol% isobutyl groups) generated very active catalysts for propylene oligomerization. These oligomerizations were carried out in liquid propylene in a heat flow calorimeter. The oligomers were separated by preparative gas chromatography and the dimers and trimers analyzed using analytical gas chromatography, ¹H-NMR-, and ¹³C NMR-spectroskopy. By means of the knowledge of the dimer and trimer structure, we were able to establish a mechanistic pathway for propylene insertion and obtained knowledge about the iron alkyl species involved. Analysis of the various dimers formed allowed us to determine the percentage of 1,2-versus 2,1-propylene insertions. Considering the same iron alkyl species with ligands of different steric demand, a change in the probabilities for 1,2-versus 2,1-propylene insertions can be observed. With this knowledge, the catalyst behaviour for ligands of varying steric demand can be predicted. The question of how to produce oligomers versus polymers is one of knowing how to control the ratio of the 1.2-and 2.1-insertion. One method is to alter the steric demand in the ortho position of the ligand. The more bulky the ligand, the more often a 2,1-propylene insertion happens and, therefore, the higher the molecular mass of the oligomers, i.e., polymer is formed. Another important observation is that the formation of α-olefines is favored with a higher steric demand of the catalyst. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

High‐Yield Synthesis of Amido‐Functionalized Polyoctahedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes by Using Acyl Chlorides

Homosubstituted amido‐functionalized polyoctahedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have been synthesized by using acyl chlorides in high yields (ca. 95 %). The method proved to be superior over “conventional” syntheses applying carboxylic acids or acid anhydrides, which are much less efficient (ca. 60 % yield). A palette of aryl and alkyl groups has been used as side‐chains. The structures of the resulting amide‐POSS are supported by multinuclear ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and their full conversion into octasubstituted derivatives was confirmed using mass spectrometry. We also demonstrate that the functionalized silsesquioxanes with bulky organic side‐chains attached to cubic siloxane core form spherical‐like, well‐separated nanoparticles with a size of approximately 5 nm.     

Synthesis of non-aggregating chlorins and isobacteriochlorins from meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin: a study using 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions under mild conditions

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin and its nickel complex, with the bulky azomethine ylide dipole was studied under mild conditions, and yielded chlorin and isobacteriochlorin derivatives self-prevented from aggregation. The reactions were performed at room temperature or 0 °C, and we were able to establish a set of reaction conditions to obtain only the chlorin or the isobacteriochlorin. These compounds were evaluated in solution, and no aggregation was observed at less than 25 mM (∼30 mg mL⁻¹) using ¹H NMR experiments.     

Structure and energy of Mo27SxCy clusters: a density functional theory study

For understanding the carburization processes of MoSx catalysts, the structures and energies of Mo27SxCy cluster models have been computed at the level of density functional theory. The surface sulfur atoms on the Mo edge and S edge as well as bulky sulfur atoms have been replaced by atomic carbon, and the corresponding structures have S/C ratios in the range of 0.8-55. The formation of all Mo27SxCy structures is favored thermodynamically. It is also found that the formation of CS and C2 bridging units is more favored than the individual or separated replacements and that the formation of C2 bridging units is more favored than that of CS units. In contrast, the replacement of sulfur on the Mo edge is least favored. Furthermore, the replacement of the bulky sulfur on the Mo edge is equally favored as those of sulfur on the S edge. For aiding further experimental studies, the C=S and C=C stretching frequencies have been computed.     

Chiral separation of enantiomeric 1,2-diamines using molecular imprinting method and selectivity enhancement by addition of achiral primary amines into eluents.

The imprinted polymers based on a transient complex formation between methacrylic acid and template molecules were prepared by using methacrylic acid and ethylene dimethacrylate as a cross-linking agent. The template molecules used were (R,R)-cyclohexanediamine (1), (S,S)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (2) and (S)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine (3). Another group of templates were those in which the amino group of these templates had been substituted by the hydroxy group: (R,R)-1,2-cyclohexanediol (4) and (S,S)-hydrobenzoin (5). Racemic 2 was separated by the polymer prepared with template 2 (P2) and that with template 1 (P1). Template 2 is larger than template 1 in steric bulkiness, but P1 was effective for the enantiomer separation of racemic 2. P1 was not effective for the separation of racemic 4. Enantioselectivity observed in racemic 2 in P2 was higher than that in racemic 1 in P1. P2 has no definite predetermined shape for solute 1, but it was capable of separating racemic 1. This separation should be thus ascribed to the orientation of at least two carbonyl groups reflecting the conformation of template 2 in P2 cavity. Racemic 5, having the same configuration of the two bulky phenyl groups as that of solute 2, was separated in P2. When the primary amines such as propylamine, cyclohexylamine and 1-adamantanamine were added into the acetic acid-methanol mixtures as eluents, both enantioselectivity and retentivity for racemic 2 were enhanced along with the remarkable peak tailing.     

Determination of carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere of charcoal plants by HPLC and UV detection

A chromatographic quantification method with two different mobile phases (elution conditions 1 and 2) was developed to determine carbonyl compounds (CCs) in air samples collected from charcoal production workplaces, using C18 cartridges coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHi). Several 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones (DNPHo) were separated and quantified using an HPLC system and UV detection. In 16 min, elution condition 1 successfully separated and quantified the DNPHo of 14 CC including acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, and furfural, and estimated the sum of C4 isomers, butanal-isobutanal-butanone. This elution condition was able to resolve the pairs acrolein/furfural and propanone/propanal, which have been cited in the literature as difficult mixtures to be separated. The elution condition 2 allowed separation and quantification, in less than 30 min, of 13 out of the 17 CC listed above. This elution condition was also able to separate propanone from propanal and butanone from the other components of the C4 mixture. When the two mobile phases were used together, they allowed confirmation of the presence of the DNPHo in the real samples. Thus, both elution conditions have been shown to be appropriate to determine CC, in personal and stationary samples, collected in charcoal production plants.