Extended O‐Doped Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The synthesis of O‐doped benzorylenes, in which peripheral carbon atoms have been replaced by oxygen atoms, has been achieved for the first time. This includes key high‐yielding ring‐closure steps which, through intramolecular C?O bond formation, allow stepwise planarization of oligonaphthalenes. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction showed that the tetraoxa derivative forms remarkable face‐to‐face π–π stacks in the solid state, a favorable solid‐state arrangement for organic electronics.     

Optical Determination of Glucose with Glucose Oxidase Immobilized in PVC together with Fluorescent Oxazol‐5‐One Derivatives

Abstract

Fully reversible biosensors for glucose monitoring based on solid polyvinylchloride (PVC) films where the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was incorporated together with 2‐phenyl‐4‐[4‐(1,4,7,10‐tetraoxa‐13‐azacyclopentadecyl)benzylidene]‐5‐oxazolone (CPO‐1), 2‐(3,5‐dinitrophenyl)‐4‐[4‐(1,4,7,10‐tetraoxa‐13‐azacyclopentadecyl)benzylidene]‐5‐oxazolone (CPO‐2), 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)‐4‐[4‐(1,4,7,10‐tetraoxa‐13‐azacyclopentadecyl)benzylidene]‐5‐oxazolone (CPO‐3) and 2‐(4‐tolyl)‐4‐[4‐(1,4,7,10‐tetraoxa‐13‐azacyclopentadecyl)benzylidene]‐5‐oxazolone (CPO‐4) derivatives have been developed. The limit of detection (LOD) values for glucose were found to be 1.47×10^?5 M, 2.01×10^?5 M, 0.89×10^?5 M, and 0.12×10^?5 M for CPO‐1, CPO‐2, CPO‐3, and CPO‐4, respectively (n=7). Sensor films were found to have excellent photostability.     

Azatrioxa[8]circulenes: Planar Anti‐Aromatic Cyclooctatetraenes

We describe herein the first synthesis of a new class of anti‐aromatic planar cyclooctatetraenes: the azatrioxa[8]circulenes. This was achieved by treating a suitably functionalised 3,6‐dihydroxycarbazole with 1,4‐benzoquinones or a 1,4‐naphthoquinone. We fully characterised the azatrioxa[8]circulenes by using optical, electrochemical and computational techniques as well as by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography. The results of a computational study (NICS) suggest that the central planar cyclooctatetraene is anti‐aromatic when the molecules are in neutral or oxidised states (2+), and that the corresponding dianions are aromatic. We discuss the aromatic/anti‐aromatic nature of the planar cyclooctatetraenes and compare them with the isoelectronic tetraoxa[8]circulenes.     

Polymer Cages as Universal Tools for the Precise Bottom‐Up Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles

A template synthesis allows the preparation of monodisperse nanoparticles with high reproducibility and independent from self‐assembly requirements. Tailor‐made polymer cages were used for the preparation of nanoparticles, which were made of cross‐linked macromolecules with pendant thiol groups. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were prepared in the polymer cages in situ, by using different amounts of cages versus gold. The polymer cages exhibited a certain capacity, below which the AuNPs could be grown with excellent control over the size and shape. Control experiments with a linear diblock copolymer showed a continuous increase in the AuNP size as the gold feed increased. This completely different behavior regarding the AuNP size evolution was attributed to the flexibility of the polymer chain depending on cross‐linking. Moreover, the polymer cages were suitable for the encapsulation of AgNPs, PdNPs, and PtNPs by the in situ method.     

Diazadioxa[8]circulenes: Planar Antiaromatic Cyclooctatetraenes

In this paper we describe a new class of antiaromatic planar cyclooctatetraenes: the diazadioxa[8]circulenes. The synthesis was achieved by means of a new acid‐mediated oxidative dimerization of 3,6‐dihydroxycarbazoles to yield the diazadioxa[8]circulenes in high yields. The synthetic protocol appears to be general, and is a one‐pot transformation in which two C? C bonds and two C? O bonds are formed with the loss of two molecules of water. We also present a detailed characterization of the optical and electrochemical properties of this new class of stable planar cyclooctatetraenes. The properties of the diazadioxa[8]circulenes are compared with the properties of isoelectronic tetraoxa[8]circulenes and azatrioxa[8]circulenes. We discuss the antiaromatic nature of the planar central cyclooctatetraene moiety. The antiaromatic nature of the planar cyclooctatetraenes was studied by using computational methods (NICS calculations), and these calculations reveal that the central eight‐membered ring has antiaromatic character.     

Two Versatile and Parallel Approaches to Highly Symmetrical Open and Closed Natural Product‐Based Structures

Two parallel approaches for preparing diverse and highly symmetrical homohybrids derived from a series of mono‐ and diterpenes, steroids, and alkaloids are reported. Both procedures are based on the mono‐addition of bis(alkynyl) dilithium reagents to natural products having a carbonyl group to produce the corresponding alkynyl derivatives. The Glaser–Hay Cu‐promoted homocoupling of these alkynyl natural product mono‐adducts as well as the Huisgen Cu‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction resulted in the synthesis of steroid‐, terpene‐, and alkaloid‐based homohybrid derivatives incorporating diverse spacers to join the natural product scaffolds. Straightforward entries to novel closed highly symmetrical and complex estrone‐based macrocyclic and cage architectures by means of the Glaser–Eglinton homocoupling and the CuAAC reaction have been devised.     

1,4,6,9‐Tetraoxa‐5λ4‐selena‐spiro[4.4]nonane – A Combined Theoretical and Experimental Study

The symmetric spiro‐selenurane derived from ethylene glycol, 1,4,6,9‐tetraoxa‐5λ⁴‐selena‐spiro[4.4]nonane, was prepared from selenium tetrachloride and ethylene glycol and its molecular structure was determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. NBO analyses for the title compound and a related compound were conducted to assess the role of the stereochemical active lone pair on the selenium atom on the structure.     

On the Possibility of Endohedrally Helium‐doped TEX – A DFT Treatment

TEX is a caged, nitramine type explosive material. To envisage the response of its bonds against stretching, an inert atom, helium, is doped into interior cavity of TEX molecule. Density functional theory at the level of B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) was employed to investigate some physicochemical and quantum chemical properties of the helium‐doped TEX (He@TEX) and compared with TEX and TEX+He composite systems. The result of helium doping caused swelling of TEX cage but no bond rupture occurred. The doped helium atom acquired positive charge.     

Solvent Extraction of Ag(I) and Cu(II) with New Macrocyclic Schiff Bases

Two new macrocyclic Schiff bases (II) and (III) containing nitrogen ‐ oxygen donor atoms were synthesized by reaction between diethylene triamine or 2,2′‐(ethylenedioxy)bis(ethylamine) and the intermediate compound: 1,4‐bis(6‐methoxy‐2‐formylphenyl)‐1,4‐dioxabutane (I). Identification of these macrocyclic Schiff bases: 1,12, 15,18, 29,32 ‐ hexaaza ‐ [3,4;8,9;20,21;26,27‐tetra‐(6′‐methoxyphenyl)]‐5,8,22,25‐tetraoxa cyclo tetratriacosine‐1,11,18,28‐tetraene. (II) 1,12,21,32‐tetraaza‐[3,4;9,10;23,24;29, 30‐tetra‐(6′‐methoxyphenyl)]‐5,8,15,18,25,28,35,38‐octaoxa cyclo ‐ tetracontane‐1,11,21,31‐tetraene. (III) were determined by elemental analysis (LC‐MS), (IR) and (¹H and ¹³C‐NMR) spectroscopy. The liquid‐liquid extraction of metal picrates such as Ag⁺ and Cu²⁺ from aqueous phase to organic phase was carried out using these ligands. The effect of chloroform and dichloromethane as organic solvents over the metal picrate extractions were investigated at 25 ± 0.1 °C by using atomic absorption spectrometer.     

Encapsulation of Metalloporphyrins in a Self‐Assembled Cubic M8L6 Cage: A New Molecular Flask for Cobalt–Porphyrin‐Catalysed Radical‐Type Reactions

The synthesis of a new, cubic M₈L₆ cage is described. This new assembly was characterised by using NMR spectroscopy, DOSY, TGA, MS, and molecular modelling techniques. Interestingly, the enlarged cavity size of this new supramolecular assembly allows the selective encapsulation of tetra(4‐pyridyl)metalloporphyrins (M^II(TPyP), M=Zn, Co). The obtained encapsulated cobalt–porphyrin embedded in the cubic zinc–porphyrin assembly is the first example of a catalytically active encapsulated transition‐metal complex in a cubic M₈L₆ cage. The substrate accessibility of this system was demonstrated through radical‐trapping experiments, and its catalytic activity was demonstrated in two different radical‐type transformations. The reactivity of the encapsulated Co^II(TPyP) complex is significantly increased compared to free Co^II(TPyP) and other cobalt–porphyrin complexes. The reactions catalysed by this system are the first examples of cobalt–porphyrin‐catalysed radical‐type transformations involving diazo compounds which occur inside a supramolecular cage.     

A Covalent Organic Helical Cage with Remarkable Chiroptical Amplification

Purely organic shape‐persistent chiral cages are designed through the use of rigid chiral axes. Covalent dimerization of a tripodal fragment bearing chiral allenes forms a molecular twisted prism with loop‐like lateral edges presenting 10‐fold chiroptical amplification compared to its isolated building blocks. The expected geometry of covalent organic helical cage (M,M)₃‐ 1 was confirmed by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Comparison of the chiroptical responses of this shape‐persistent molecular container with more flexible analogues highlights how the control of the conformational freedom of the molecule can be used to obtain molecular cages with strong chiroptical responses. Selective inclusion‐complex formation with ferrocenium ions [(P,P)₃‐ 1 @Fc⁺] was confirmed and quantified with HR‐ESI‐MS and NMR spectroscopy.     

Destructive Effect of an α‐Particle on TEX

By computational studies it was found that interaction of an α‐particle with TEX (an explosive molecule having a cage structure) disturbs the molecular skeleton dramatically. As the α‐particle exerts its positive electrostatic field, the C–C bond between the dioxalane rings present in TEX breaks down forming the dication of TEX. The calculation were done within the constraints of the density functional theory at the level of B3LYP using various bases sets, mainly 6‐31++G(d,p).     

Graphite Electrode Coated with a 7,16‐Dibenzyl‐1,4,10,13‐tetraoxa‐7,16‐diazacyclooctadecane‐Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite as Sensor For Detection of Samarium

A composite multiwalled carbon nanotube polyvinyl chloride electrode based on 7,16‐dibenzyl‐1,4,10,13‐tetraoxa‐7,16‐diazacyclooctadecane (DBDA18C6) as Sm³⁺ ionophore is reported. This potentiometric sensor showed a wide linear working range, 1×10^?2–1×10^?8 M, Nernstian slope, 20.2±0.48 mV per decade and a limit of detection, 6.3±0.36×10^?9 M. It works in the pH range 2.5–8.5 and shows a good selectivity over a number of metal ions. It has been found suitable for the analysis of ores and industrial effluents. The electrode surface is characterized by FRA and AFM.     

4,10‐Dinitro‐2,6,8,12‐tetraoxa‐4,10‐diazaisowurtzitane (TEX): a nitramine with an exceptionally high density

The title compound (systematic name: 4,10‐di­nitro‐2,6,8,12‐tetraoxa‐4,10‐di­aza­tetra­cyclo­[5.5.0.0^3,11.0^5,9]­do­decane), C₆H₆N₄O₈, exhibits the highest density among known N‐nitramines, due to its close‐packed crystal structure. It may be regarded as consisting of a distorted hexagonal close‐packed lattice formed by the isowurtzitane cages, with the nitro groups occupying the free space between the cages.     

Solution‐Phase Dynamic Assembly of Permanently Interlocked Aryleneethynylene Cages through Alkyne Metathesis

Highly stable permanently interlocked aryleneethynylene molecular cages were synthesized from simple triyne monomers using dynamic alkyne metathesis. The interlocked complexes are predominantly formed in the reaction solution in the absence of any recognition motif and were isolated in a pure form using column chromatography. This study is the first example of the thermodynamically controlled solution‐phase synthesis of interlocked organic cages with high stability.     

Molecularly Defined Nanostructures Based on a Novel AAA–DDD Triple Hydrogen‐Bonding Motif

A facile and flexible method for the synthesis of a new AAA–DDD triple hydrogen‐bonding motif is described. Polytopic supramolecular building blocks with precisely oriented AAA and DDD groups are thus accessible in few steps. These building blocks were used for the assembly of large macrocycles featuring four AAA–DDD interactions and a macrobicyclic complex with a total of six AAA–DDD interactions.     

Controlling Gas Selectivity in Molecular Porous Liquids by Tuning the Cage Window Size

Control of pore window size is the standard approach for tuning gas selectivity in porous solids. Here, we present the first example where this is translated into a molecular porous liquid formed from organic cage molecules. Reduction of the cage window size by chemical synthesis switches the selectivity from Xe‐selective to CH₄‐selective, which is understood using ¹²⁹Xe, ¹H, and pulsed‐field gradient NMR spectroscopy.     

A novel intumescent flame‐retardant LDPE system and its thermo‐oxidative degradation and flame‐retardant mechanisms

A carbonization agent, 3,9‐di (2‐hydroxyisopropyl)‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐3,9‐diphosphaspiro‐[5,5]‐undecane (SPEPO), was synthesized from pentaerythritol (PER), phosphorus trichloride, formic acid, and acetone as raw materials. The structure of SPEPO was characterized by FTIR and ¹H‐NMR. As a carbonization agent and an acid source, SPEPO can form a novel intumescent flame‐retardant (IFR) system for low density polyethylene (LDPE) together with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) and melamine phosphate (MP). The flame retardancy and thermal behavior of the IFR system for LDPE were investigated by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 test, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). When the weight ratio of SPEPO, APP, and MP is 7:7:1 and their total loading level is 30%, the IFR‐LDPE presents the optimal flame retardancy (LOI value of 27.6 and UL‐94 V‐0 rating). However, SPEPO, APP, or MP can only show a very poor flame‐retardant performance when used alone. This indicates that there is a synergistic effect among SPEPO, APP, and MP. TGA results obtained in air demonstrate that SPEPO has an ability of char formation itself, and the char residue of SPEPO can reach 24 wt% at 700°C. The IFR can change the thermal degradation behavior of LDPE, enhance T_max of the decomposition peak of LDPE, and promote LDPE to form char based on the calculated and the experimental data of residues. According to the results of Py‐GC/MS in combination with FTIR of the char residues at different temperatures, a possible flame‐retardant mechanism has been proposed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Shape‐Controlled Synthesis and Self‐Sorting of Covalent Organic Cage Compounds

The directional bonding approach is a powerful tool to rationally control both shape and stoichiometry of three‐dimensional objects built from rigid building blocks under dynamic covalent conditions. Co‐condensation of catechol‐functionalized tribenzotriquinacene derivatives which have 90° angles between the reactive sites and diboronic acids with bite angles of 60°, 120°, and 180°, led to the efficient formation of, respectively, bipyramidal, tetrahedral, or cubic covalent organic cage compounds in a predictable manner. Investigations on the self‐sorting of ternary mixtures containing two competitive boronic acids revealed either narcissistic or social self‐sorting depending on the stability of the segregated cages relative to feasible three‐component assemblies.     

Aluminum/Nitrogen Cycles and an Open Cage with Al–H and N–H Functions

The cyclic tert‐butyl‐amino alane dimer [tBu–N(H)AlH₂]₂ ( 1 ) was obtained from reaction between alane with tert‐butylamine and its boranate derivative [tBu–N(H)–Al(BH₄)₂)]₂ ( 2 ) subsequently from 1 by hydride/chloride exchange using PbCl₂ followed by reaction with LiBH₄. Both compounds form four‐membered Al₂N₂ cycles with typical Al–N bond lengths of 1.940(5) Å ( 1 ) and 1.945(5) Å ( 2 ) as found from X‐ray diffraction analysis. The tert‐butyl substituents at the nitrogen atoms may be situated at the same side of the ring (cis) or at opposite sides (trans). For compound 1 both isomers are present in solution, showing particular temperature dependent NMR shifts. In the solid both compounds 1 and 2 adopt the trans arrangement. When 1 is reacted with PbCl₂ in half of the molarity ratio used for 2 , surprisingly the novel compound 3 , a zwitterion, can be obtained: [(tBu–N)(Al–H)₃(tBu–N(H))₃Cl((H)N–tBu)₃(Al–H)₂(Al–Cl)(N–tBu)]⁺[(tBu–N)(tBu–N(H))(AlCl₂)₂]^–. X‐ray structure analysis reveals that the anion is made of a tert‐butyl amino aluminum dichloride dimer (central Al₂N₂ ring) with one of the two nitrogen atoms being deprotonated. The cationic counterpart consists of three entities: (i) There is a first seco‐norcubane like Al₃N₄ basket with tert‐butyl groups at the nitrogen atoms, two hydride and one chloride ligand at the aluminum atoms and three hydrogen atoms on the open side of the basket, all pointing in the same direction; (ii) There is a second similar Al₃N₄ basket with the same substituent pattern except that all aluminum atoms have exclusively hydrogen ligands; (iii) Both baskets coordinate a central chloride through the six protons at the open nitrogen face of the baskets in such a way that the chloride lies in the center of a H₆ trigonal anti‐prism [mean H–Cl–H = 56.1(9)°]. As each of the open cages has a positive charge the overall charge by combination with the chloride adds to +1. The structure of the cationic part of 3 is unprecedented in AlN polycycles.