Synthesis and properties of new chiral mesogenic monomers and side-chain smectic homopolymers containing (−)-menthyl groups

The synthesis of new chiral monomers (M₁−M₅) and the corresponding smectic homopolymers (P₁−P₅) containing menthyl groups is described. The chemical structures and purity were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and elemental analyses. The specific optical rotations were evaluated with a polarimeter. The phase behavior and mesomorphism were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The selective reflection property of light was studied with UV/visible/NIR. The monomers M₂−M₅ formed a chiral smectic C , and cholesteric or blue phase when a flexible linkage chain was inserted between the mesogenic core and the terminal menthyl groups by reducing the steric effect. M₁ showed no mesomorphism, while M₂−M₅ showed enantiotropic and cholesteric phases. Moreover, M₅ also exhibited a cubic blue phase on cooling. With increasing temperature, the selective reflection of light shifted to the long wavelength region at the phase range, and to the short wavelength region at the cholesteric phase range, respectively. The homopolymers P₁−P₅ all exhibited the batonnet textures of a smectic A phase. The melting, clearing, and glass transition temperatures increased, and the mesophase temperature ranges widened with increasing the aryl number in the mesogenic core.     

Side-chain cholesteric liquid crystalline elastomers derived from a mesogenic crosslinking agent: I. Synthesis and mesomorphic properties

The synthesis of new side-chain cholesteric elastomers derived from a cholesteric monomer and mesogenic crosslinking agent is presented. The chemical structures of the monomers obtained were confirmed by elemental analyses, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR. The mesomorphic properties and thermal stability were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. M₁ showed cholesteric phase, and M₂ displayed enantiotropic nematic phase and monotropic smectic phase. The elastomers containing less than 12 mol% of the crosslinking units revealed reversible mesomorphic phase transition, wide mesophase temperature ranges, and high thermal stability.     

Synthesis, structure and mesomorphism of new cholesteric monomers and smectic comblike polymers

Seven new cholesteric monomers (M-1−M-7) and the corresponding smectic comblike polymers containing cholesteryl groups (P-1−P-7) were synthesized. The chemical structures and purity were characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analyses. The specific optical rotations were evaluated with a polarimeter. The mesomorphism was investigated by polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The specific optical rotation values of these monomers and polymers with the same numbers of phenyl ring and terminal groups were nearly equal, however, they decreased with increasing the aryl numbers in the mesogenic core. M-1−M-7 showed oily streak texture and focal conic texture, or fingerprint texture, or spiral texture of cholesteric phase. P-1−P-7 showed the smectic A phase. The melting, clearing, and glass transition temperatures increased, and the mesophase temperature ranges widened with increasing the aryl number in the mesogenic core. Surprisingly, although the molecular structures of M-6 and M-7 were similar to those of M-4, namely the mesogenic cores contained three phenyl rings, their phase behavior had a considerable difference, and T_m and T_i of M-6 and M-7 were less than those of M-4. In addition, M-6 and M-7 also showed an obvious glass transition. TGA showed that all the polymers had good thermal stabilities.     

A TEM study of Ni ordering in the Ni6Se5−xTex, 0<x<∼1.7, system

The Ni₆Se_5−xTe_x, 0<x<∼1.7, system has been carefully investigated via electron diffraction and TEM imaging. They reveal a somewhat disordered modulated superstructure phase arising from Ni ion ordering within an essentially well-defined chalcogen sub-structure. As x, and the underlying parent substructure cell dimensions increase, the incommensurate primary modulation wave-vector q characteristic of this Ni ion ordering quickly swings from close to for x=0 towards for x?0.5. A lock-in to would formally transform the underlying parent Bmmb (a_p, b_p, c_p) structure into a P1a1 (a_s=2a_p, b_s=b_p, c_s=a_p+c_p) superstructure phase.     

Cyclopentadienyl ruthenium alkynyldithiocarboxylate complexes

Treatment of the ruthenium chloride, CpRu(PPh₃)₂Cl, with the alkynyldithiocarboxylate anions, , in refluxing THF affords the chelate complexes CpRu(PPh₃)(κ²S,S-S₂CCCR) (1) (R = Bu^t (a), Buⁿ (b), Ph (c), SiMe₃ (d)) in high yield. The room temperature reaction of the solvated species, [CpRu(PPh₃)₂(NCPh)]⁺, with the alkynyldithiocarboxylate anions, , produces the chelate complexes 1 and the mono-coordinated complexes CpRu(PPh₃)₂(κS-S₂CCCR) (2). Complexes 2 are converted to 1 in solution so that they were characterized spectroscopically.     

Synthesis and characterization of new thorium and uranium phenolate complexes

The reaction between the chelating amino bisphenole ligand (ONOO)H₂ (1) and (ONNO)H₂ (2) with an excess of NaH gives the corresponding bis-sodium salts 3 and 4 quantitatively.The salts were reacted with thorium tetrachloride at room temperature to obtain the corresponding (ONOO)ThCl₂ (5) and (ONNO)ThCl₂ (6) complexes.However, ThCl₄ and UCl₄ react with (3) at higher temperatures to give the corresponding isomorphous homoleptic complexes (ONOO)₂Th (7) and (ONOO)₂U (8).We have also synthesized and characterized a thorium salicylaldiminato complex L₃ThCl (11) , in order to study the effect of the bridged ligand on the molecular structure.     

Synthesis of trifluoromethylated pyrazoles from trifluoromethylenaminones and monosubstituted hydrazines

Cyclocondensation of monosubstituted hydrazines 2a-c with trifluoromethylenaminones 1a-c afforded 3-CF₃ and (or) 5-CF₃ pyrazoles 3-6. Addition of N-methylhydrazine to enaminone led to 3-CF₃ pyrazole as the major product, whereas phenylhydrazine gave regiospecific formation of 5-CF₃ pyrazole.Structural assignment of regioisomers is based on NMR chemical shifts, long-range carbon-fluorine and hydrogen-fluorine coupling constants and - NOE.The pyrazole 4ac was characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

The variety of reactions of radical cations derived from 2-diphenylaminothiophene oligomers

ESR spectroelectrochemical measurements of 2-diphenylamino-substituted oligothiophenes 8_m proved the existence of radical cations upon oxidation. Their stability and dimerization depend significantly on the number m of thiophene units. The radical cations and are very reactive and dimerize spontaneously to yield either 2,5-bis(diphenylamino)-2,2′-bithiophene 10₂ or 2,5-bis(diphenylamino)-5,5′-bis(2-thienyl)-3,3′-bithiopene 11₂, respectively. In contrast, the radical cations are highly stable and do not dimerize at all.     

ipso-and para-Functionalization of meta-terphenyl ligands with substituted methyl groups: Unusual head-to-tail coupling of terphenyl moieties

The synthesis and characterization of several ipso-functionalized derivatives of the bulky terphenyl group are described. These include the primary alcohol Ar′CH₂OH (1), the bromo derivative Ar′CH₂Br (2), and the terphenyl formate Ar′CH₂OC(O)H (3). The alcohol 1 was obtained by treatment of LiAr′ with formaldehyde, and 1 was readily converted to the bromo derivative 2 using HBr. The reaction of 1 with formic acid afforded 3 in good yield. Attempts to form the Grignard derivative of 1, i.e., Ar′CH₂MgBr, resulted in a head-to-tail reaction of the terphenyl benzyl units to yield an unusual coupled product 4. An approach to the avoidance of this coupling involved the synthesis of the terphenyl derivatives and , bearing methyl groups in the para positions of the central aryl ring, which could be prepared in good yield, and converted to their respective lithium salts 7 and 8 without complication . The compounds were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy (1) and X-ray crystallography (2, 4, 5 and 6).     

Deprotonated diindolylmethanes as dianionic analogues of scorpionate bis(pyrazolyl)borate ligands: synthesis and structural characterization of representative titanocene and zirconocene complexes

Deprotonation of di(3-methylindol-2-yl)phenylmethane (L₂H₂) or with two equivalents of ⁿBuLi, followed by reactions with Cp₂TiCl₂ or Cp₂ZrCl₂ yielded complexes . Compounds 1-4 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, and compounds 1, 3, and 4 were further analyzed by X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of 1, 3, and 4 illustrate that chelating di(3-methylindol-2-yl)methanes have a structural relationship to coordinated bis(pyrazolyl)borates.     

p-Cymene ruthenium thioether complexes

Thioethers PhC₂H₄SMe, PhC₃H₆SⁱPr and MeSAllyl form substitutionally labile monomeric adducts (p-cymene)RuCl₂(SRR′) (2a-c) upon treatment with the {(p-cymene)RuCl₂}₂ dimer (p-cymene = η⁶-MeC₆H₄ⁱPr-1,4). Pure adducts were obtained by crystallization from CH₂Cl₂/Et₂O, and 2a,c as well as the bis(thioether) complex (3) were studied by X-ray crystallography. The trichloro bridged diruthenium complex is formed as a byproduct in the preparation of 3 and was also crystallographically characterized. In solution, pure samples 2a-c equilibrate with free thioether and the dimeric starting complex 1. The amount of 1 present in these mixtures increases with increasing bulk of the thioether substituents. Attempts to thermally replace the cymene ligand by the dangling arene substituent of the thioether ligand of 2a,b failed. Complexes 2a-c as well as the dimethylsufide derivative 2d were studied by cyclic voltammetry and display a close to reversible (2a,c,d) or partially reversible (2b) oxidation near +0.85 V and an irreversible reduction at rather negative potential. New peaks observed after oxidation and reduction point to dissociation of the thioether ligand as the main decomposition pathway of the associated radical cations and anions.     

Palladium complexes with meso-bioxazoline ligands for alternating styrene/CO copolymerisation: Counterion effect

Two sets of mono- and dicationic palladium complexes (8) and (10), having and as counterions, were synthesised. The interionic structure of the methyl-acetonitrile complexes [Pd((R,S)-Bn-Box)(CH₃)(NCCH₃)](X) (8) in solution, was investigated by pulsed-gradient spin-echo (PGSE) diffusion measurements and (¹H, ¹⁹F)-HOESY NMR spectroscopy. A high degree of ion-pairing was found in each complex. The HOESY spectra showed that the and anions take up selective positions, on the side of the complex remote from the benzyl groups, but close to the acetonitrile ligand, while the triflate is, partially, occupying a pseudo fifth coordination position on the side of the cation remote from the two benzyl-groups. The complexes 8 and 10 were used as catalyst precursors for the copolymerisation of styrene with carbon monoxide, producing syndiotactic copolymers, with the exception of complex 10a, that led to isotactic copolymers.     

Quaternary ammonium salt-based chromogenic and fluorescent chemosensors for fluoride ions

Chemosensors 5-7 possessing a quaternary ammonium cation (for electrostatic interactions) and an N-H group(s) (for H-bonding) as recognition sites and an anthracene-9,10-dione as both a chromogenic and fluorescent moiety exhibit absorption and emission changes with fluoride ions only. No significant response to other anions such as Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, , CH₃COO⁻, , and is observed. The dual emission at λ_max 580 nm (free 5/6) and λ_max 510 and 540 nm (5/6 + F⁻) in chemosensors 5 and 6 enables ratiometric analysis of fluoride ions.     

The coordination chemistry of enantiopure diimines derived from 1-phosphanorbornadiene-2-carboxaldehydes

The reaction of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with enantiopure (R)-2-formyl-1-phosphanorbornadiene (1) takes place with efficient kinetic resolution and gives an easily separable mixture of the corresponding (S,S)-bis-imine (3) and (R)-mono-imine (4). The absolute configuration of 3 has been established by X-ray crystal structure analysis. The coordination chemistry of enantiopure 3 with Pd(II), Rh(I), and Ru(II) has been investigated. The reaction of [PdCl₂(cod)] mainly affords a binuclear complex 6 whose structure has been established by X-ray analysis. One unit is coordinated to one P and one PdCl⁺ unit is tricoordinated to the other P and the two N. The two square planar units are parallel and the Pd?Pd distance is 3.1787(5) Å. The reaction of [RhCl(cod)]₂ gives the very reactive tetracoordinate cationic [Rh(P₂N₂)]⁺ species 7 which is able to activate one C-Cl bond of chloroform to give the dichloromethyl-Rh complex (8) whose octahedral structure has been ascertained by X-ray analysis.