A Soft Copper(II) Porous Coordination Polymer with Unprecedented Aqua Bridge and Selective Adsorption Properties

Herein, the synthesis, crystal structure, and full characterization of a new soft porous coordination polymer (PCP) of ([Cu₂(dmcapz)₂(OH₂)]DMF_1.5)_n ( 1 ) formulation, which is easily obtained in the reaction of CuX₂ (X=Cl, NO₃) salts with 3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐carboxypyrazole (H₂dmcapz) is present. Compound 1 shows a copper(II) dinuclear secondary building unit (SBU), which is supported by two pyrazolate bridges and an unprecedented H₂O bridge. The dinuclear SBUs are further bridged by the carboxylate ligands to build a diamondoid porous network. The structural transformations taking place in 1 framework upon guest removal/uptake has been studied in detail. Indeed, the removal of the bridging water molecules gives rise to a metastable evacuated phase ( 1 b ) that transforms into an extremely stable porous material ( 1 c ) after freezing at liquid‐nitrogen temperature. The soaking of 1 c into water allows the complete and instantaneous recover of the water‐exchanged material ( 1 a′ ). Remarkably, 1 b and 1 c materials possess structural bistability, which results in the switchable adsorptive functions. Therefore, the gas‐adsorption properties of both materials have been studied by means of single‐component gas adsorption isotherms as well as by variable‐temperature pulse‐gas chromatography. Both materials present permanent porosity and selective gas‐adsorption properties towards a variety of gases and vapors of environmental and industrial interest. Moreover, the flexible nature of the coordination network and the presence of highly active convergent open metal sites confer on these materials intriguing gas‐adsorption properties with guest‐triggered framework‐breathing phenomena being observed. The plasticity of Cu^II metal center and its ability to form stable complexes with different coordination numbers is at the origin of the structural transformations and the selective‐adsorption properties of the studied materials.     

Studies of the antenna effect in polymer molecules. XVII. Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-vinylcarbazole) and poly[sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-(acryloyloxyhexyl)carbazole]

Two new antenna polyelectrolytes, poly(sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-vinylcarbazole) (PSSS–VCz) and poly[sodium styrenesulfonate-co-N-(acryloyloxyhexyl)carbazole](PSSS–AHCz) have been synthesized. Both polymers were found to solubilize large hydrophobic compounds such as perylene in aqueous solution, but PSSS–AHCz was much more efficient than PSSS–VCz. The distribution coefficients of perylene between the polymer pseudophase and water was determined to be (2.9 ± 0.1) × 10⁶ and (4.0 ± 0.2) × 10⁴ in PSSS–AHCz and PSSS–VCz, respectively. The greater solubilizing ability of PSSS–AHCz is attributed to the higher content of hydrophobic monomer units in the polymer. Both copolymers displayed photocatalytic activity, absorbing light in the UV-visible spectral region. Energy can then be transferred to a solubilized molecule or dissolved oxygen and induce photochemical reactions. The model reaction used in this study was the photosensitized oxidation of perylene solubilized in aqueous polymer solutions. PSSS–AHCz was found to be a much more efficient photocatalyst than PSSS–VCz. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of PSSS–AHCz is attributed to the greater concentration of carbazole chromophores, the higher local concentration of probe in the polymeric pseudophase and possibly to the elimination of the low-energy excimer.     

Ethylation of methylarsenic(III) compounds by sodium tetraethylborate

The compounds MeAsBr₂ and Me₂AsBr at concentrations of (1–5) × 10^?3 M in acetone solution are ethylated in high yield by NaBEt₄ to MeEt₂As and Me₂EtAs, as shown by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The extents of ethylation of MeAs²⁺ and Me₂As⁺ (expressed as ions, by convention) in aqueous acid solutions [at concentrations of (5–20) × 10^?6 M ] were investigated using cold trap/AA and GC AA procedures. The species Me₂As⁺ was ethylated (to give Me₂EtAs) in good yield (88%); in contrast, MeAs²⁺ produced the volatile trialkylarsine, MeEt₂As, in poor yield (30%). No volatile trialkylarsine could be obtained on treating inorganic arsenic(III) (As³⁺) solutions with NaBEt₄.     

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials. I. Characterization and degradation of poly(imide–silica) hybrids

Poly(imide–silica) hybrid materials with covalent bonds were prepared by (3-aminopropyl)methyldiethoxysilane (APrMDEOS) terminated amic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) via a sol–gel technique. Infrared (IR), ²⁹Si and ¹³C CP/MAS nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to study hybrids containing various proportions of TMOS and hydrolysis ratios. The microstructure and chain mobility of hybrids were investigated by proton spin–spin relaxation T₂ measurements. The apparent activation energy E_a for degradation of hybrids in air was studied by the van Krevelen method. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 2275–2284, 1999     

Indirect hydrogen analysis by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS)

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical tool very useful to investigate the composition of gaseous mixtures. The different gases are separated by specific columns but, if hydrogen (H₂) is present in the sample, its detection can be performed by a thermal conductivity detector or a helium ionization detector. Indeed, coupled to GC, no other detector can perform this detection except the expensive atomic emission detector. Based on the detection and analysis of H₂ isotopes by low‐pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (MS), a new method for H₂ detection by GC coupled to MS with an electron ionization ion source and a quadrupole analyser is presented. The presence of H₂ in a gaseous mixture could easily be put in evidence by the monitoring of the molecular ion of the protonated carrier gas. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cover Picture: Metal–Organic Spheres as Functional Systems for Guest Encapsulation (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 13/2009)

The infinite coordination polymerization…? of metal ions and multitopic organic ligands is explored to fabricate metal–organic micro‐ and nanospheres that can be used as functional matrices. In their Communication on page 2325 ff., D. Maspoch and co‐workers show how this simple process affords spheres that encapsulate active substances, such as magnetic nanoparticles, organic dyes, and quantum dots, to result in multifunctional spheres. Marianne Verdoux is thanked for the cover graphic design.

     

Structural studies on aryl‐substituted enaminoketones and their thio analogues. Part II. Experimental and DFT calculated carbon–carbon coupling constants,nJ(CC)'s (n = 1–3)

Spin–spin carbon–carbon coupling constants across one, two and three bonds, J(CC), have been measured for a series of aryl‐substituted Z‐s‐Z‐s‐E enaminoketones and their thio analogues. As a result, a large set, altogether 178, of J(CC)s has been obtained. It consists of 82 couplings across one bond, 31 couplings across two bonds and 65 couplings across three bonds. Independently, the DFT calculations at the B3PW91/6‐311++G(d,p)//B3PW91/6‐311++G(d,p) level yielded a set of theoretical J(CC) values. A comparison of these two sets of data gave an excellent linear correlation with parameters a and b close to ideal; a = 0.9978 which is not far from unity and b = 0.22 Hz which is close to zero. The ¹J(CC) couplings determined for the crucial fragment of the molecules, i.e. ? C?C? C?O (or ? C?C? C?S), are: ¹J(C?C) ≈ 68 Hz (67 Hz) and ¹J(C? C) = 60.5 Hz (60.0 Hz). The corresponding couplings found for the Z‐s‐Z‐s‐E isomer of the parent enaminoketone, 4‐methylamino‐but‐3‐en‐2‐one are 64.1 and 59.3 Hz, respectively. The most sensitive towards substitution of the oxygen atom by sulfur are two‐bond couplings between the α‐vinylic and aromatic C_ipso carbon atoms, which attain 12 Hz in the enaminoketone derivatives and decrease to 5 Hz in their thio analogues. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.