A simple thermodynamic model for quantitatively addressing cooperativity in multicomponent self-assembly processes--Part 2: Extension to multimetallic helicates possessing different binding sites

The extended site-binding model, which explicitly separates intramolecular interactions (i.e., intermetallic and interligand) from the successive binding of metal ions to polytopic receptors, is used for unravelling the self-assembly of trimetallic double-stranded Cu(I) and triple-stranded Eu(III) helicates. A thorough analysis of the available stability constants systematically shows that negatively cooperative processes operate, in strong contrast with previous reports invoking either statistical behaviours or positive cooperativity. Our results also highlight the need for combining successive generations of complexes with common binding units, but with increasing metallic nuclearities, for rationalizing and programming multicomponent supramolecular assemblies.     

Calixarene‐Based Surfactants: Conformational‐Dependent Solvation Shells for the Alkyl Chains

Thermodynamic parameters obtained from studying the micellization of amphiphilic p‐sulfonatocalix[n]arenes were correlated with the alkyl chain length and with the number of monomeric units (n) in the calix[n]arene structure. The micellization Gibbs free energy (Δ${G{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ ) becomes more negative upon increasing the alkyl chain length of the p‐sulfonatocalix[4]arene. This is in agreement with the trend generally observed for other surfactants. However, the Δ${G{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ value for transferring one CH₂ group from the bulk aqueous medium to the micelle [Δ${G{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ (CH₂)] is lower than the value generally observed for single‐chain surfactants, suggesting the existence of intramolecular interactions between the alkyl chains of the free unimers. On the other hand, the critical micelle concentration (cmc; per alkyl chain unit) increased with the increasing number of monomeric units. These results are explained on the basis of the conformation adopted by the calixarene in the bulk solution. The calix[4]arene derivatives are preorganized into the cone conformation, which is favorable for the formation of globular aggregates. The calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene derivatives do not adopt cone conformations. Changing these conformations to the more favorable cone conformer in the aggregates implies an energetic cost that contributes to making Δ${G{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ less efficient. In the case of the calix[6]arene derivative this energetic cost is enthalpic, whereas in the case of the octamer it is both enthalpic and entropic. Both the Δ${G{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ (CH₂) value and the change in heat capacity (ΔC${{\rm p}{{{\rm o}\hfill \atop {\rm M}\hfill}}}$ ) seem to indicate that for the cone calix[4]arene derivatives all alkyl chains are solvated by the same hydration shell, whereas in the case of the highly flexible calix[8]arene derivative each alkyl chain is individually hydrated.     

Thermodynamic Study of Dihydrogen Phosphate Dimerisation and Complexation with Novel Urea‐ and Thiourea‐Based Receptors

Complexation of dihydrogen phosphate by novel thiourea and urea receptors in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide was studied in detail by an integrated approach by using several methods (isothermal titration calorimetry, ESI‐MS, and ¹H NMR and UV spectroscopy). Thermodynamic investigations into H₂PO₄^? dimerisation, which is a process that has been frequently recognised, but rarely quantitatively described, were carried out as well. The corresponding equilibrium was taken into account in the anion‐binding studies, which enabled reliable determination of the complexation thermodynamic quantities. In both solvents the thiourea derivatives exhibited considerably higher binding affinities with respect to those containing the urea moiety. In acetonitrile, 1:1 and 2:1 (anion/receptor) complexes formed, whereas in dimethyl sulfoxide only the significantly less stable complexes of 1:1 stoichiometry were detected. The solvent effects on the thermodynamic parameters of dihydrogen phosphate dimerisation and complexation reactions are discussed.     

Effects of solvent on weak halogen bonds: Density functional theory calculations

In recent years, many applications of solution‐phase halogen bonding in anion recognition, catalysis, and pseudorotaxane formation have been reported. Moreover, a number of thermodynamic data of halogen bonding interactions in organic solution are now available. To obtain detailed information of the influence of the surrounding medium on weak halogen bonds, a series of dimeric complexes of halobenzene (PhX) with three electron donors (H₂O, HCHO, and NH₃) were investigated by means of DFT/PBE calculations in this work. The PCM implicit solvation approach was utilized to include the effects of three solvents (cyclohexane, chloroform, and water) as representatives for a wide range of dielectric constant. In some cases, halogen‐bond distances are shown to shorten in solution, accompanied by concomitant elongation of the C? X bonds. For the remaining systems, the intermolecular distances tend to increase or remain almost unchanged under solvent effects. In general, the solvent has a slight destabilizing effect on weak halogen bonds; the strength order of halogen bonds observed in vacuum remains unchanged in liquid phases. Particularly, the interaction strength attenuates in the order I > Br > Cl in solution, consistent with the experimental measurements of weak halogen bond door abilities. The similarities between halogen and hydrogen bonding in solution were also elucidated. The results presented herein would be very useful in future applications of halogen bonding in molecular recognition and medicinal chemistry. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Solvent Dependence of the Monomer–Dimer Equilibrium of Ketone-Substituted Triscatecholate Titanium(IV) Complexes

Hierarchical helicates based on ketone-substituted titanium(IV)triscatecholates show different monomer-dimer behavior depending on different solvents. The dimerization constants of a whole series of differently alkyl-substituted complexes is analyzed to show that the solvent has a very strong influence on the dimerization. Hereby, effects like solvophobicity/philicity, sterics, electronics of the substituents and weak side-chain—side-chain interactions seem to act in concert.     

Thermodynamics of ionization of 2,4-dinitrophenol in water-dimethylsulfoxide solvents

The ionization constants of 2,4-dinitrophenol were measured in water-dimethylsulphoxide solvent mixtures at five temperatures ranging from 20 to 40°C. The enthalpy and entropy contributions to the ionization process are discussed. The results indicate that in water-rich solvent mixtures the ionization process is controlled by the entropy factor while in the dimethylsulphoxide-rich solvent mixtures it is controlled by the enthalpy factor.     

CRTA for the Thermoanalytical Screening of Volatile Compounds 2. The volatility of trifluoroacetylacetonates of Al,Cr and Zr studied by the method of quasi-equilibrium thermogravimetry

Quasi-equilibrium thermogravimetry (with sample holders specially calibrated for the vapour pressure) was used for thermoanalytical screening of volatile compounds. ‘p-T’ relationships (in the range 0.0006 to 0.11 at) were obtained for acetylacetonates and fluoroacetylacetonates of Al, Cr and Zr. The incorporation of the trifluoromethyl group into the acetylacetone ligand noticeably increases the volatility: the enthalpy of evaporation remains practically constant, but the evaporation entropy changes distinctly. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Labile Interactions Defined in Crystalline Metal Complexes

The problems involved in identifying and quantifying labile interactions considered to influence complex compound structures are highlighted through the assessment of four different families of metal complexes for which extensive crystallographic data are available. Modification of the charge distribution within a ligand molecule as a result of coordination is one factor with a number of ramifications. A detailed analysis of evidence for both intra- and inter-molecular attractions in dimethylsulfoxide complexes of metal perchlorates is used to provide a basis for the consideration of weak interactions between complex ions involving forces including phenyl-group attractions, hydrogen bonding and cavity inclusion.     

The remarkable role of water during the chemoselective reduction of ketones mediated by metallic aluminium

Diaryl ketones are reduced selectively to the corresponding benzhydrols in good yield by aluminium powder in the presence of sodium hydroxide in the solvent system MeOH:H₂O=2:1 whereas dialkyl ketones, α-tetralone, aryl alkyl ketones and cycloalkanones remain mostly unaffected. Interestingly, diaryl ketones remain totally unchanged by the present reagent combination in the absence of water, that is in anhydrous methanol.     

Characteristic and spectroscopic properties of the Schiff-base model compounds

Two series of conjugated aromatic imines (Schiff-base model compounds) with different central groups and various side-group substitutions have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ultra-violet and visible light (UV–vis) spectroscopy measurements. The UV–vis absorption of solutions of these compounds in dimethylacetamid (DMA), chloroform and methanol was investigated in the optical range from 240 to 450 nm, where two distinct absorption bands: at 250–280 and 315–360 nm with the different level of absorption have been observed. The influence of compound molecular structure and polarity of solvent on the absorption spectra and the possible optical transitions have been discussed. Structure of diamines in the azomethine models fundamentally affected their spectroscopic properties and conjugation of π-electrons.     

High Ethene/Ethane Selectivity in 2,2′‐Bipyridine‐Based Silver(I) Complexes by Removal of Coordinated Solvent

Following removal of coordinated CH₃CN, the resulting complexes [Ag^I(2,2′‐bipyridine)][BF₄] ( 1 ) and [Ag^I(6,6′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine)][OTf] ( 2 ) show ethene/ethane sorption selectivities of 390 and 340, respectively, and corresponding ethene sorption capacities of 2.38 and 2.18 mmol g^?1 when tested at an applied gas pressure of 90 kPa and a temperature of (20±1) °C. These ethene/ethane selectivities are 13 times higher than those reported for known solid sorbents for ethene/ethane separation. For 2 , ethene sorption reached 90 % of equilibrium capacity within 15 minutes, and this equilibrium capacity was maintained over the three sorption/desorption cycles tested. The rates of ethene sorption were also measured. To our knowledge, these are the first complexes, designed for olefin/paraffin separations, which have open silver(I) sites. The high selectivities arise from these open silver(I) sites and the relatively low molecular surface areas of the complexes.     

Multiple Multidentate Halogen Bonding in Solution,in the Solid State,and in the (Calculated) Gas Phase

The binding properties of neutral halogen‐bond donors (XB donors) bearing two multidentate Lewis acidic motifs toward halides were investigated. Employing polyfluorinated and polyiodinated terphenyl and quaterphenyl derivatives as anion receptors, we obtained X‐ray crystallographic data of the adducts of three structurally related XB donors with tetraalkylammonium chloride, bromide, and iodide. The stability of these XB complexes in solution was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and the results were compared to X‐ray analyses as well as to calculated binding patterns in the gas phase. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the gas‐phase complexes indicated that the experimentally observed distortion of the XB donors during multiple multidentate binding can be reproduced in 1:1 complexes with halides, whereas adducts with two halides show a symmetric binding pattern in the gas phase that is markedly different from the solid state structures. Overall, this study demonstrates the limitations in the transferability of binding data between solid state, solution, and gas phase in the study of complex multidentate XB donors.