Polyesters containing bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane rings

Polyesters containing bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane rings are prepared from 1,4-bis(carboethoxy)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, 1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]-octane and the 1,5-disubstituted bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane analogs. These polyesters are compared to the related polymers containing 1,4-phenylene and trans-1,4-cyclohexylene rings in terms of their melting point, thermal stabilities and oxidative stabilities. The lower symmetry of the bicyclo[3.2.2]nonane ring produces lower-melting polymers than the other ring systems. The remaining three rings are approximately equivalent in their effect on the melting point of a polymer provided that no more than one bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring is present per polymer repeat unit. Two such rings produce a highermelting polymer than any other combination. Both the thermal and oxidative stabilities of the polyesters is improved by the presence of the bicyclo rings. This is attributed to the rings providing an approximation of a ladder polymer.     

Synthesis of crownophane with the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane core

Russian Chemical Bulletin -     

Synthesis of novel spiro-cyclohexene bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives

A methodology for the synthesis of novel spiro-cyclohexene bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives, including Claisen rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key synthetic steps, is described.     

Synthesis of bridgehead hydroxy bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives

Two independent synthetic routes, starting from 1,3-cyclohexadione, toward the 4-hydroxy bicyclo[2.2.2]octane-2,6-dione derivative 3 are described.     

The electronic structure of bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane and of bicyclo [2.2.2] octane

An ab initia SCF-LCAO-MO study of bicyclo [2.2.1] heptane(I) and of bicyclo [2.2.2] octane(II) has been performed. The electronic structure and the nature of the molecular orbitals and of the bonds have been analyzed. Interactions between fragment orbitals may be recognized. The bridgehead C-H bonds interact dominantly “through-space” in I and “through-bond” in II. Some relations between electronic structure and molecular properties are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(benzazoles) containing the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane moiety

Poly(benzobisoxazoles) (PBOs), poly(benzobisthiazoles) (PBTs) and copolymers thereof containing the 2,5-dihydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octane moiety have been prepared and studied. The homopolymers were synthesized by the polycondensation of 2,5-dihydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octane-1,4-dicarboxylic acid with 4,6-diamino-1,3-benzenediol dihydrochloride or 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride in poly(phosphoric acid). Random and block copolymers (PBO–PBT) were also prepared. The polymers were characterized by solubility, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy (infrared and solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance), and thermal analysis such as differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis showed thermal stability of the polymers above 375°C in air and under argon atmosphere. The polymers exhibited high resistance to organic and inorganic solvents. The polymers were converted to the more stable aromatic polymers via dehydration and retro Diels–Alder reactions of the 2,5-dihydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octyl moiety by pyrolysis. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 277–281, 1998     

Characterization of self-assembled monolayers of thiols on Au(111)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of n-butanethiol, n-dodecanethiol and their equimolar mixture on Au(111) were prepared and characterized by ellipsometry, contact angle measurement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results revealed that these SAMs are oriented ultrathin films with the thickness of nanometer scale, and the SAMs were influenced by the molecular chain length, the lattice orientation and cleanliness of the substrates. The surface of the longer chain SAM is hydrophobic. The thicknesses of three SAMs of n-butanethiol, n-dodecanethiol and their mixture revealed by ellipsometry and XPS are about 0.59 - 0.67nm, 1.60- 1.69 nm and 1.23 - 1.32nm, respectively. AFM images further demonstrated that the SAM formed by the mixture has some microdomains with two different thicknesses.     

Conformation and dynamics of arylthiol self-assembled monolayers on Au(111)

We report a computational investigation of the conformation and the dynamics of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a set of aromatic thiols arranged in the ( radical3 x radical3)-R30 degrees packing ratio on a Au(111) surface using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. It was found that the molecular conformations were better defined for the arylthiol with two phenyl groups as compared to those with a single phenyl group and that the chemical structure of the head and tail groups had a considerable influence on the system geometry. In line with the density functional theory (DFT) calculations of small thiol molecules, we found for the SAMs that the face-centered cubic (fcc) site on the Au(111) surface was the most preferred, followed by the hexagonal close-packed (hcp) site, while the bridge position showed the characteristics of a local energy maximum. The dynamics of thiol head groups on these three Au sites was found to govern the overall dynamics of SAMs as measured by the mean square displacement. We also report that both the conformation and the dynamics on the studied time scale were driven by the SAM formation energy.     

The 7,8-epoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene) bicyclo[2.2.2]octane; synthesis and diels-alder reactivity

The preparation of 7,8-epoxy-2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene)bicyclo[2,2,2] octane (5) is described. Evidence for transannular interaction between the homoconjugated s-cis-butadiene functions in 5 is found in the UV absorption spectrum. The Diels-Alder addition of 5 to tetracyanoethylene (TCE) is syn-regioselective and leads to the monoaducts 16:17 (85:15). The dienes 16,17 are less reactive than 5 toward TCE. anti-regioselectivity (leading to exo-2, endo-3-bis(chloromethyl)-5,6-bis(methylene)-syn-7,8-epoxybicyclo[2.2.2]octaves (25) is observed in the double elimination of HCl from the syn-7,8-epoxy-exo-2,endo-3,exo-5,endo-6-tetrakis(chloromethyl)bicyclo[2.2.2]octane (11), precursor of 5. The structures of the regioisomers 16,17 were confirmed spectroscopically and chemically. Elimination of HCl from the chloromethyl groups in 26 (TCE adduct of 25) and HCN from the TCE adducts 16, 17 and 26 can be induced by CsF in DMF.     

Enantioselective synthesis of bridgehead hydroxyl bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives via asymmetric allylindation

A recent new strategy for the transformation of mono-dioxolane protected 1,3-cyclohexadione into bridgehead hydroxyl bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives, based on allylindation followed by ozonolysis and intramolecular aldol addition, was modified to include asymmetric allylindation. This enabled the first enantioselective synthesis of (1R,4R,6S)-endo-4-(tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyloxy)-6-hydroxy-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one and (1S,4S,6R)-endo-4-(tert-butyl-dimethyl-silyloxy)-6-hydroxy-bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one in high enantiomeric excess. Issues concerning the non-reproducibility of the asymmetric allylindation were also addressed.     

Structure and electrochemistry of 4,4'-dithiodipyridine self-assembled monolayers in comparison with 4-mercaptopyridine self-assembled monolayers on Au(111)

4,4'-Dithiodipyridine (PySSPy) monolayers on Au(111) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The studies were performed in solutions of different anions and pHs (0.1 M H2SO4, 0.1 M HClO4, 0.1 and 0.01 M Na2SO4, 0.1 and 0.01 M NaOH). The cyclic current-potential curves in H2SO4 show current peaks at about 0.4 V, which are absent for all other electrolytes at this potential. The XPS data suggest that PySSPy adsorbs via the S endgroup on the gold surface and the S-S bond breaks during adsorption. From the chemical shift of the N(ls) peak, it is concluded that in acidic media the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) is fully protonated, whereas in basic solution it is not. The pKa is estimated to be 5.3. STM studies reveal the existence of highly ordered superstructures for the SAM. In Na2SO4 and H2SO4, a (7 x mean square root of 3) structure is proposed. However, whereas in Na2SO4 solutions the superstructure does not change with potential, in 0.1 M H2SO4 the superstructure is observed only negative of the current peak at +0.4 V. At more positive potentials, the film becomes disordered. The results are compared to those for 4-mercaptopyridine (PyS) SAMs. XPS experiments and current-potential curves indicate that both molecules adsorb in the same manner on Au(111), that is, even in the case of PySSPy the adspecies is PyS. The STM results, however, call for a more subtle interpretation. While in Na2SO4 solutions the observed superstructures are the same for both SAMs, markedly different structures are found for PySSPy and PyS SAMs in 0.1 M H2SO4.     

Asymmetric sequential Michael reaction: Synthesis of optically active bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives

The sequential Michael reaction of (S)-4,5-di-O-isopropylidenepent-2- enoate and with lithium enolate afforded diastereo- and enantioselectively bicyclo[2.2.2]octane and (or ), respectively. The adducts were efficiently converted into both enantiomeric keto aldehydes (−)- and (+)- .     

Electrodeposition of Au monolayer on Pt(111) mediated by self-assembled monolayers

In-situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy (IRRAS) have been used to examine the electrodeposition of gold onto Pt(111) electrodes modified with benzenethiol (BT) and benzene-1,2-dithiol (BDT) in 0.1 M HClO4 containing 10 microM HAuCl4. Both BT and BDT were attached to Pt(111) via one sulfur headgroup. STM and IRRAS results indicated that the other SH group of BDT was pendant in the electrolyte. Both BT and BDT formed (2 x 2) structures at the coverage of 0.25, and they were transformed into (square root(3) x square root(3))R30 degrees as the coverage was raised to 0.33. These two organic surface modifiers resulted in 3D and 2D gold islands at BT- and BDT-coated Pt(111) electrodes, respectively. The pendant SH group of BDT could interact specifically with gold adspecies to immobilize gold adatoms on the Pt(111) substrate, which yields a 2D growth of gold deposition. Molecular resolution STM revealed an ordered array of (6 x 2 square root(13)) after a full monolayer of gold was plated on the BDT/Pt(111) electrode. Since BDT was strongly adsorbed on Pt(111), gold adatoms only occupied free sites between BDT admolecules on Pt(111). This is supported by a stripping voltammetric analysis, which reveals no reductive desorption of BDT admolecules at a gold-deposited BDT/Pt(111) electrode. It seems that the BDT adlayer acted as the template for gold deposit on Pt(111). In contrast, a BT adlayer yielded 3D gold deposit on Pt(111). This study demonstrates unambiguously that organic surface modifiers could contribute greatly to the electrodeposition of metal adatoms.