Amperometric Hydrogen Peroxide Biosensor Based on the Immobilization of Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) on the Layer‐by‐Layer Assembly Films of Gold Colloidal Nanoparticles and Toluidine Blue

The precursor film was first formed on the Au electrode surface based on the self‐assembly of L ‐cysteine and the adsorption of gold colloidal nanoparticles (nano‐Au). Layer‐by‐layer (LBL) assembly films of toluidine blue (TB) and nano‐Au were fabricated by alternately immersing the electrode with precursor film into the solution of toluidine blue and gold colloid. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) were adopted to monitor the regular growth of {TB/Au} bilayer films. The successful assembly of {TB/Au}_n films brings a new strategy for electrochemical devices to construct layer‐by‐layer assembly films of nanomaterials and low molecular weight materials. In this article, {TB/Au}_n films were used as model films to fabricate a mediated H₂O₂ biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase, which responded rapidly to H₂O₂ in the linear range from 1.5×10^?7 mol/L to 8.6×10^?3 mol/L with a detection limit of 7.0×10^?8 mol/L. Morphologies of the final assembly films were characterized with scanning probe microscopy (SPM).     

Theoretical investigation on identical anionic halide‐exchange SN2 reaction processes on N‐haloammonium cation NH3X+ (X = F,Cl, Br,and I)

CCSD(T) calculations have been used for identically nucleophilic substitution reactions on N‐haloammonium cation, X^? + NH₃X⁺ (X = F, Cl, Br, and I), with comparison of classic anionic S_N2 reactions, X^? + CH₃X. The described S_N2 reactions are characterized to a double curve potential, and separated charged reactants proceed to form transition state through a stronger complexation and a charge neutralization process. For title reactions X^? + NH₃X⁺, charge distributions, geometries, energy barriers, and their correlations have been investigated. Central barriers ΔE for X^? + NH₃X⁺ are found to be lower and lie within a relatively narrow range, decreasing in the following order: Cl (21.1 kJ/mol) > F (19.7 kJ/mol) > Br (10.9 kJ/mol) > I (9.1 kJ/mol). The overall barriers ΔE relative to the reactants are negative for all halogens: ?626.0 kJ/mol (F), ?494.1 kJ/mol (Cl), ?484.9 kJ/mol (Br), and ?458.5 kJ/mol (I). Stability energies of the ion–ion complexes ΔE_comp decrease in the order F (645.6 kJ/mol) > Cl (515.2 kJ/mol) > Br (495.8 kJ/mol) > I (467.6 kJ/mol), and are found to correlate well with halogen Mulliken electronegativities (R² = 0.972) and proton affinity of halogen anions X^? (R² = 0.996). Based on polarizable continuum model, solvent effects have investigated, which indicates solvents, especially polar and protic solvents lower the complexation energy dramatically, due to dually solvated reactant ions, and even character of double well potential in reactions X^? + CH₃X has disappeared. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Discrete Cationic Zinc and Magnesium Complexes for Dual Organic/Organometallic‐Catalyzed Ring‐Opening Polymerization of Trimethylene Carbonate

We describe herein an original approach for the efficient immortal ring‐opening polymerization (iROP) of trimethylene carbonate (TMC) under mild conditions using dual‐catalyst systems combining a discrete cationic metal complex with a tertiary amine. A series of new zinc and magnesium cationic complexes of the type [{NNO}M]⁺[anion]^? ({NNO}^?=2,4‐di‐tert‐butyl‐6‐{[(2′‐dimethylaminoethyl)methylamino]methyl}phenolate; M=Zn, [anion]^?=[B(C₆F₅)₄]^? ( 2 ), [H₂N‐ {B(C₆F₅)₃}₂]^? ( 3 ), and [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]^? ( 4 ); M=Mg, [anion]^?=[H₂N{B(C₆F₅)₃}₂]^? ( 7 )) have been prepared from the corresponding neutral compounds [{NNO}ZnEt] ( 1 ) and [{NNO}‐ Mg(nBu)] ( 6 ). Compounds 2 – 4 and 7 exist as free ion pairs, as revealed by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy in THF solution, and an X‐ray crystallographic analysis of the bis(THF) adduct of compound 7 , 7? (THF)₂. The neutral complexes 1 and 6 , in combination with one equivalent or an excess of benzyl alcohol (BnOH), initiate the rapid iROP of TMC, in bulk or in toluene solution, at 45–60 °C (turnover frequency, TOF, up to 25–30 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn)?h^?1 for 1 and 220–240 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Mg)?h^?1 for 6 ), to afford H‐PTMC‐OBn with controlled macromolecular features. ROP reactions mediated by the cationic systems 2 /BnOH and 7 /BnOH proceeded much more slowly (TOF up to 500 and 3 000 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn or Mg)?h^?1 at 110 °C) than those based on the parent neutral compounds 1 /BnOH and 6 /BnOH, respectively. Use of original dual organic/organometallic catalyst systems, obtained by adding 0.2–5 equiv of a tertiary amine such as NEt₃ to zinc cationic complexes [{NNO}Zn]⁺[anion]^? ( 2 – 4 ), promoted high activities (TOF up to 18 300 mol(TMC)?mol(Zn)?h^?1 at 45 °C) giving H‐PTMC‐OBn with good control over the M_n and M_w/M_n values. Variation of the nature of the anion in 2 – 4 did not significantly affect the performance of these catalyst systems. On the other hand, the dual magnesium‐based catalyst system 7 /NEt₃ proved to be poorly effective.     

Radical‐initiated polymerization of β‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone

β‐Methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MMBL) was synthesized and then was polymerized in an N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution with 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiation. The homopolymer of MMBL was soluble in DMF and acetonitrile. MMBL was homopolymerized without competing depolymerization from 50 to 70 °C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) for MMBL followed the kinetic expression R_p = [AIBN]^0.54[MMBL]^1.04. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 86.9 kJ/mol, k_p/k_t^1/2 was equal to 0.050 (where k_p is the rate constant for propagation and k_t is the rate constant for termination), and the rate of initiation was 2.17 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 s^?1. The free energy of activation, the activation enthalpy, and the activation entropy were 106.0, 84.1, and 0.0658 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for homopolymerization. The initiation efficiency was approximately 1. Styrene and MMBL were copolymerized in DMF solutions at 60 °C with AIBN as the initiator. The reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.22 and r₂ = 0.73) for this copolymerization were calculated with the Kelen–Tudos method. The general reactivity parameter Q and the polarity parameter e for MMBL were calculated to be 1.54 and 0.55, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1759–1777, 2003     

Nitroxide‐mediated radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate controlled with a minimal amount of 9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole

The controlled nitroxide‐mediated homopolymerization of 9‐(4‐vinylbenzyl)‐9H‐carbazole (VBK) and the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with varying amounts of VBK were accomplished by using 10 mol % {tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino} nitroxide relative to 2‐({tert‐butyl[1‐(diethoxyphosphoryl)‐2,2‐dimethylpropyl]amino}oxy)‐2‐methylpropionic acid (BlocBuilder?) in dimethylformamide at temperatures from 80 to 125 °C. As little as 1 mol % of VBK in the feed was required to obtain a controlled copolymerization of an MMA/VBK mixture, resulting in a linear increase in molecular weight versus conversion with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w /M_n ≈ 1.3). Preferential incorporation of VBK into the copolymer was indicated by the MMA/VBK reactivity ratios determined: r_VBK = 2.7 ± 1.5 and r_MMA = 0.24 ± 0.14. The copolymers were found significantly “living” by performing subsequent chain extensions with a fresh batch of VBK and by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy analysis. VBK was found to be an effective controlling comonomer for NMP of MMA, and such low levels of VBK comonomer ensured transparency in the final copolymer. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Thermochemistry of 2-Aminopyridine (C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>6</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)(s)

The molar enthalpies of solution of 2-aminopyridine at various molalities were measured at T=298.15 K in double-distilled water by means of an isoperibol solution-reaction calorimeter. According to Pitzer’s theory, the molar enthalpy of solution of the title compound at infinite dilution was calculated to be D_solH_m^￥ = 14.34 kJ·mol^-1\Delta_{\mathrm{sol}}H_{\mathrm{m}}^{\infty} = 14.34~\mbox{kJ}\cdot\mbox{mol}^{-1}, and Pitzer’s ion interaction parameters b_MX^(0)L, b_MX^(1)L\beta_{\mathrm{MX}}^{(0)L}, \beta_{\mathrm{MX}}^{(1)L}, and C_MX^fLC_{\mathrm{MX}}^{\phi L} were obtained. Values of the relative apparent molar enthalpies ( ^φ L) and relative partial molar enthalpies of the compound ([`(L)]₂)\bar{L}_{2}) were derived from the experimental enthalpies of solution of the compound. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the cation C₅H₇N₂ ⁺\mathrm{C}_{5}\mathrm{H}_{7}\mathrm{N}_{2}^{ +} in aqueous solution was calculated to be D_fH_m^o(C₅H₇N₂⁺,aq)=-(2.096±0.801) kJ·mol^-1\Delta_{\mathrm{f}}H_{\mathrm{m}}^{\mathrm{o}}(\mathrm{C}_{5}\mathrm{H}_{7}\mathrm{N}_{2}^{+},\mbox{aq})=-(2.096\pm 0.801)~\mbox{kJ}\cdot\mbox{mol}^{-1}.     

Stabilization of Substituted Triazenide Oxides: Synthesis and X‐ray Structural Features of Polymeric Potassium 3‐(4‐carboxylatophenyl)‐1‐methyltriazene N‐oxide‐hydrate, {K[O2C‐C6H4‐N(H)NN(CH3)O]·4H2O}n

3‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐1‐methyltriazene N‐oxide reacts with KOH in methanol/pyridine to give {K[O₂C‐C₆H₄‐N(H)NN(CH₃)O]·4H₂O}_n, Potassium‐3‐(4‐carboxylatophenyl)‐1‐methyltriazene N‐oxide). The terminal carboxylato group of the anion does not interact with the cation. In the crystal lattice of {K(C₈H₈N₃O₃)·4H₂O}_n each three of the four water molecules interact with two potassium cations, every K⁺ ion being the centre of six bridging K···O interactions. Potassium cations interact further with the terminal N‐oxigen atom of single [C₈H₈N₃O₃]^? anions achieving two parallel {C₈H₈N₃O₃^?K⁺}_n chains, which are linked through water molecules. The resulting polymeric, one‐dimensional chain, is operated by a screw axis 2₁ parallel to the crystallographic direction [010], along and equidistant to the K⁺ centres. The coordination of the K⁺ centres involves a distortion of the boat conformation of elementary sulfur (S₈) with the ideal C_2v symmetry.     

Theoretical Study on the Intermolecular Interactions between 1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐Dinitroethylene and H2O

The density functional method was applied to the study of 1,1‐diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethylene (Fox‐7)/H₂O dimer. All the possible dimers ( 1, 2 and 3 ), as well as the monomers, were fully optimized with the DFT method at the B3LYP/6‐311++G^** level. The basis set superposition errors (BSSE) are 4.62, 4.07 and 3.45 kJ/mol, and the zero point energy (ZPE) corrections for the interaction energies are 7.94, 5.66 and 6.40 kJ/mol for 1, 2 and 3 , respectively. Dimer 1 is the most stable, judged by binding energy. After BSSE and ZPE corrections, the greatest corrected intermolecular interaction energy of dimer 1 was predicted to be ?29.36 kJ/mol. The charge redistribution mainly occurs on the adjacent N–H··· O atoms and N–O··· H atoms between submolecules. The oxygen in the nitro group acts as a moderate hydrogen acceptor as compared to water oxygen. Based on the statistical thermodynamic method, the standard thermodynamic functions, heat capacities (C⁰_P), entropies (S⁰_T) and thermal corrections to enthalpy (H⁰_T), and the changes of thermodynamic properties on going from monomer to dimer over the temperature range 200.00‐700.00 K were predicted. It is energetically or thermodynamically favorable for Fox‐7 to bind with H₂O and to form dimer 1 at room temperature.     

Free radical initiated low temperature crosslinking of phenylethynyl (PE) end‐capped oligomides

A relatively low‐temperature crosslinking method for phenylethynyl (PE) end‐capped oligomides was developed. PE end‐capped oligomides are typically cured into crosslinked polyimides at 370 °C for about 1 h. The addition of a low viscosity mixed‐solvent of N‐methylpyrrolidinone (NMP)/dimethyl ether of polyethylene glycol (M = 250 g/mol), NMP/DM‐PEG‐250, or NMP/polyethylene glycol (M = 400 g/mol), NMP/PEG‐400, as film forming medium for PE‐end‐capped oligomides was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹³C NMR showed that the mixed solvent addition was effective for achieving low‐temperature crosslinking of the ethynyl end‐caps over the temperature range 200–250 °C. The low temperature crosslinking process was explained by thermolysis of the PEG molecules over this temperature range forming free radical species such as ～CH₂CH₂O· or ～CH₂CH₂^· which initiate cure of the ethynyl groups resulting in a cross linked polyimide membrane. The PEG solvents also provide a radical source for the degradation polymerization of the solvents to a water and NMP insoluble polymer, which formed a miscible blend with the crosslinked membrane. Glass transition temperature (differential scanning calorimetry) data and thermo gravimetric analysis data provide evidence for the miscible blend. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3950–3963, 2010.     

Theoretical study of {Au3(CH3NCOCH3)3}n·{2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenone} (n = 1,2) complexes

The interaction between {Au₃(CH₃N?COCH₃)₃} and {2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenone} and the electronic structure and spectroscopic properties of {Au₃(CH₃N = COCH₃)₃}_n·{2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenone} (n = 1,2) are studied at the HF, MP2, and PBE levels. Secondary π‐interactions (Au‐fluorenone) were found to be the main contribution to short‐range stability in the {Au₃(CH₃N?COCH₃)₃}_n·{2,4,7‐trinitro‐9‐fluorenone} complex. At the MP2 and PBE levels, Au‐C equilibrium distances of 292.3 and 304.0 pm and interaction energies of 105.3 and 24.9 kJ/mol were found, respectively. The absorption spectra of these complexes were calculated by the single excitation time‐dependent method at the PBE level. The theoretical values obtained are in agreement with the experimental range. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

L‐Tryptophan‐Induced Electron Transport across Supported Lipid Bilayers: an Alkyl‐Chain Tilt‐Angle,and Bilayer‐Symmetry Dependence

Molecular orientation‐dependent electron transport across supported 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid bilayers (SLBs) on semiconducting indium tin oxide (ITO) is reported with an aim towards potential nanobiotechnological applications. A bifunctional strategy is adopted to form symmetric and asymmetric bilayers of DPPC that interact with L ‐tryptophan, and are analyzed by surface manometry and atomic force microscopy. Polarization‐dependent real‐time Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (FT‐IRRAS) analysis of these SLBs reveals electrostatic, hydrogen‐bonding, and cation–π interactions between the polar head groups of the lipid and the indole side chains. Consequently, a molecular tilt arises from the effective interface dipole, facilitating electron transport across the ITO‐anchored SLBs in the presence of an internal Fe(CN)₆^4?/3? redox probe. The incorporation of tryptophan enhances the voltammetric features of the SLBs. The estimated electron‐transfer rate constants for symmetric and asymmetric bilayers (k_s=2.0×10^?2 and 2.8×10^?2 s^?1) across the two‐dimensional (2D) ordered DPPC/tryptophan SLBs are higher compared to pure DPPC SLBs (k_s=3.2×10^?3 and 3.9×10^?3 s^?1). In addition, they are molecular tilt‐dependent, as it is the case with the standard apparent rate constants ${k_{{\rm{app}}}^0 }$ , estimated from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and bipotentiostatic experiments with a Pt ultramicroelectrode. Lower magnitudes of k_s and ${k_{{\rm{app}}}^0 }$ imply that electrochemical reactions across the ITO–SLB electrodes are kinetically limited and consequently governed by electron tunneling across the SLBs. Standard theoretical rate constants ${\left( {k_{{\rm{th}}}^0 } \right)}$ accrued upon electron tunneling comply with the potential‐independent electron‐tunneling coefficient β=0.15 Å^?1. Insulator–semiconductor transitions moving from a liquid‐expanded to a condensed 2D‐phase state of the SLBs are noted, adding a new dimension to their transport behavior. These results highlight the role of tryptophan in expediting electron transfer across lipid bilayer membranes in a cellular environment and can provide potential clues towards patterned lipid nanocomposites and devices.     

Proton‐Conductive 3D LnIII Metal–Organic Frameworks for Formic Acid Impedance Sensing

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) as new classes of proton‐conducting materials have been highlighted in recent years. Nevertheless, the exploration of proton‐conducting MOFs as formic acid sensors is extremely lacking. Herein, we prepared two highly stable 3D isostructural lanthanide(III) MOFs, {(M(μ₃‐HPhIDC)(μ₂‐C₂O₄)_0.5(H₂O))?2 H₂O}_n (M=Tb ( ZZU‐1 ); Eu ( ZZU‐2 )) (H₃PhIDC=2‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid), in which the coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules and uncoordinated imidazole N atoms play decisive roles for the high‐performance proton conduction and recognition ability for formic acid. Both ZZU‐1 and ZZU‐2 show temperature‐ and humidity‐dependent proton‐conducting characteristics with high conductivities of 8.95×10^?4 and 4.63×10^?4 S cm^‐1 at 98 % RH and 100 °C, respectively. Importantly, the impedance values of the two MOF‐based sensors decrease upon exposure to formic acid vapor generated from formic aqueous solutions at 25 °C with good reproducibility. By comparing the changes of impedance values, we can indirectly determine the concentration of HCOOH in aqueous solution. The results showed that the lowest detectable concentrations of formic acid aqueous solutions are 1.2×10^?2 mol L^?1 by ZZU‐1 and 2.0×10^?2 mol L^?1 by ZZU‐2 . Furthermore, the two sensors can distinguish formic acid vapor from interfering vapors including MeOH, N‐hexane, benzene, toluene, EtOH, acetone, acetic acid and butane. Our research provides a new platform of proton‐conductive MOFs‐based sensors for detecting formic acid.     

Radical heterogeneous polymerization behavior of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide in benzene

The polymerization of N‐methyl‐α‐fluoroacrylamide (NMFAm) initiated with dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) in benzene was studied kinetically and with electron spin resonance. The polymerization proceeded heterogeneously with the highly efficient formation of long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 111 kJ/mol. The polymerization rate (R_p) at 50 °C is given by R_p = k[MAIB]^0.75±0.05 [NMFAm]^0.44±0.05. The concentration of the long‐lived polymer radical increased linearly with time. The formation rate (R_p?) of the long‐lived polymer radical at 50 °C is expressed by R_p? = k[MAIB]^1.0±0.1 [NMFAm]^0±0.1. The overall activation energy of the long‐lived radical formation was 128 kJ/mol, which agreed with the energy of initiation (129 kJ/mol), which was separately estimated. A comparison of R_p? with the initiation rate led to the conclusion that 1‐methoxycarbonyl‐1‐methylethyl radicals (primary radicals from MAIB), escaping from the solvent cage, were quantitatively converted into the long‐lived poly(NMFAm) radicals. Thus, this polymerization involves completely unimolecular termination due to polymer radical occlusion. ¹H NMR‐determined tacticities of resulting poly(NMFAm) were estimated to be rr = 0.34, mr = 0.48, and mm = 0.18. The copolymerization of NMFAm(M₁) and St(M₂) with MAIB at 50 °C in benzene gave monomer reactivity ratios of r₁ = 0.61 and r₂ = 1.79. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2196–2205, 2001     

Polymerization of 1,3‐dienes with functional groups. III. Free‐radical polymerization of N,N‐diethyl‐2‐methylene‐3‐butenamide

Free‐radical homo‐ and copolymerization behavior of N,N‐diethyl‐2‐methylene‐3‐butenamide (DEA) was investigated. When the monomer was heated in bulk at 60 °C for 25 h without initiator, rubbery, solid gel was formed by the thermal polymerization. No such reaction was observed when the polymerization was carried out in 2 mol/L of benzene solution with with 1 mol % of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The polymerization rate (R_p) equation was R_p ∝ [DEA]^1.1[AIBN]^0.51, and the overall activation energy of polymerization was calculated 84.1 kJ/mol. The microstructure of the resulting polymer was exclusively a 1,4‐structure where both 1,4‐E and 1,4‐Z structures were included. From the product analysis of the telomerization with tert‐butylmercaptan as a telogen, the modes of monomer addition were estimated to be both 1,4‐ and 4,1‐addition. The copolymerizations of this monomer with styrene and/or chloroprene as comonomers were also carried out in benzene solution at 60 °C. In the copolymerization with styrene, the monomer reactivity ratios obtained were r₁ = 5.83 and r₂ = 0.05, and the Q and e values were Q = 8.4 and e = 0.33, respectively. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 999–1007, 2004     

Kinetics of the thermal dimerization and isomerization of cis,trans-1,5-cyclooctadiene in the gas phase and of related reactions. A simple algorithm to determine the rate constants of competing first- and second-order reactions

In the gas phase, cis,trans-1,5-cyclooctadiene (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 1\limits_\sim} $\end{document}) undergoes a unimolecular rearrangement to cis,cis-1,5-cyclooctadiene (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 2\limits_\sim} $\end{document}) and bimolecular formation of dimers \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 3\limits_\sim}-{\mathop 5\limits_\sim} $\end{document} $\end{document}. The Arrhenius parameters are E_A = 135.7 ± 4.4 kJ mole^?1 and log(A/sec^?1) = 12.9 ± 0.6 for the first reaction and E_A = 66.1 ± 6.0 kJ mole^?1 and log[A/(liter mole^?1 sec^?1)] = 5.5 ± 0.8 for the second reaction. Using thermochemical kinetics, the first reaction is shown to proceed via a rate determining Cope rearrangement of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 1\limits_\sim} $\end{document} to cis? 1,2-divinylcyclobutane (\documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 6\limits_\sim} $\end{document}), E_A = 136.2 - 4.4 kJ mole^?1 and log(A/sec^?1) = 13.0 ± 0.6. The corresponding back reaction, \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 6\limits_\sim}{\rightarrow}{\mathop 1\limits_\sim} $\end{document}, which was investigated separately, shows E_A = 110.2 ± 1.2 kJ mole^?1 and log(A/sec^?1) = 10.9 ± 0.2. The heat of formation of \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 6\limits_\sim} $\end{document} is determined to 188 ± 5.5 kJ mole^?1. The mechanism of formation of dimers \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\mathop 3\limits_\sim}-{\mathop 5\limits_\sim} $\end{document} is discussed. To allow the formal analysis of the kinetic problem, a simple algorithm to obtain the rate constants of competing first- and second-order reactions was developed.     

Electronic Structure Modulation in an Exceptionally Stable Non‐Heme Nitrosyl Iron(II) Spin‐Crossover Complex

The highly stable nitrosyl iron(II) mononuclear complex [Fe(bztpen)(NO)](PF₆)₂ (bztpen=N‐benzyl‐N,N′,N′‐tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine) displays an S=1/2?S=3/2 spin crossover (SCO) behavior (T_1/2=370 K, ΔH=12.48 kJ mol^?1, ΔS=33 J K^?1 mol^?1) stemming from strong magnetic coupling between the NO radical (S=1/2) and thermally interconverted (S=0?S=2) ferrous spin states. The crystal structure of this robust complex has been investigated in the temperature range 120–420 K affording a detailed picture of how the electronic distribution of the t_2g–e_g orbitals modulates the structure of the {FeNO}⁷ bond, providing valuable magneto–structural and spectroscopic correlations and DFT analysis.     

Kinetics of the reaction Cl + CH4 → CH3+ HCl from 200° to 500deg;K

The rate constant for the reaction \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm Cl} + {\rm CH}_4 \mathop {\longrightarrow}\limits^1 {\rm CH}_3 + {\rm HCl}$\end{document} has been determined over the temperature range of 200°–500°K using a discharge flow system with resonance fluorescence detection of atomic chlorine under conditions of large excess CH₄. For 300° > T > 200°K the data are best fitted to the expression k₁ = (8.2 ± 0.6) × 10^?12 exp[?(1320 ± 20)/T] cm³/sec. Curvature is observed in the Arrhenius plot such that the effective activation energy increases from 2.6 kcal/mol at 200° < T < 300°K to 3.5 kcal/mol at 360° < T < 500°K. The data over the entire range may be fitted by the expression k₁ = 8.6×10^?18 T^2.11 exp[?795/T]. These results are compared with other experimental studies and with a semiempirical transition state calculation. Their atmospheric significance is discussed.     

Linear Pyrazole‐bridged Tetra(N‐heterocyclic carbene) Ligands and Their Hexanuclear Silver(I) Complexes

New hybrid ligands are reported that combine two types of popular donor groups within a single linear scaffold, viz., a central pyrazolate bridge and two appended bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene) units; the ligand strands thus provide two potentially tridentate {NCC} compartments. The pyrazole/tetraimidazolium proligands, [H₅L¹](PF₆)₄ and [H₅L²](PF₆)₄ , were synthesized via multi‐step protocols, and the NH prototropy of [H₅L¹](PF₆)₄ was examined by variable temperature (VT) NMR spectroscopy, giving solvent dependent activation parameters (ΔH^? = 27.6 kJ · mol^–1, ΔS^? = –125 J · mol^–1 · K^–1 in [D₃]MeCN; ΔH^? = 40.4 kJ · mol^–1, ΔS^? = –86.9 J · mol^–1 · K^–1 in [D₆]DMSO) that are in the range typical for pyrazoles. Reaction of the proligands with Ag₂O gave hexametallic complexes [Ag₆(L¹)₂](PF₆)₄ and [Ag₆(L²)₂](PF₆)₄ that involve all six potential donor atoms of the ligands, viz. the four C^NHC and two N^pz donors, in metal coordination. X‐ray crystallography revealed a chair‐like central {Ag₆} deck in both complexes but different arrangements of the ligand strands, which goes along with significantly different Ag^I ··· Ag^I distances that indicate more pronounced argentophilic interactions in case of [Ag₆(L¹)₂]^{4 +}.     

Stimuli‐responsive 4‐acryloylmorpholine/4‐acryloylpiperidine copolymers via nitroxide mediated polymerization

4‐acryloylmorpholine/4‐acryloylpiperidine statistical copolymers were synthesized by nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) with BlocBuilder unimolecular initiator in dimethylformamide solution at 120 °C. The copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions (dispersity ? = 1.25–1.35, number average molecular weights M _n = 8.5–13.7 kg mol^?1). The copolymer microstructure was essentially statistical (reactivity ratios r _4AP = 0.81 ± 0.73, r _4AM = 0.73 ± 0.68 based on non‐linear fitting of the Mayo‐Lewis equation). Cloud point temperatures (CPT) in aqueous media were tuned from 11 °C to 92 °C, merely by adjusting the initial monomer composition. Using NMP permitted sharper control of the CPT transitions, compared to the similar copolymer made using conventional radical polymerization. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2160–2170     

Synthesis and characterization of new soluble thermally stable poly(azomethine‐ether‐imide)s: discerning the possibility for high temperature applications

A new series of polyimides was synthesized by the condensation of monomers (azomethine‐ether diamine, DA‐1 and DA‐2) with pyromelliticdianhydride (PMDA), 3,4,9,10‐perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PD) and 3,3′4,4′‐benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BD). The structural explications of monomers and polyimides was conducted by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR and elemental analysis. All polyimides were found soluble in polar aprotic solvents and found to be semicrystalline in nature confirmed by XRD. The inherent viscosities were found in the range of 0.67–0.77 g/dl. %. Average molecular weight (M_W) and number average molecular weight (Mn) of the polyimides were found in the range of 5.72 × 10⁵ g/mol–6.58 × 10⁵ g/mol and 3.79 × 10⁵ g/mol 4.11 × 10⁵ g/mol respectively. The polyimides exhibited excellent thermal properties having a glass transition temperature T_g in the range of 230–290°C and the 10% weight loss temperature was above 450°C. The values of thermodynamic parameters, activation energy, enthalpy and entropy fall in the range of 45.2–53.90 kJ/mol, 43.5–52.30 kJ/mol and 0.217 kJ/mol k to 0.261 kJ/mol k respectively. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.