Thermoresponsive amphiphilic symmetrical triblock copolymers with a hydrophilic middle block made of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): synthesis, self-organization, and hydrogel formation

Several series of symmetrical triblock copolymers were synthesized by the reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer method. They consist of a long block of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) as hydrophilic, thermoresponsive middle block, which is end-capped by two small strongly hydrophobic blocks made from five different vinyl polymers. The association of the amphiphilic polymers was studied in dilute and concentrated aqueous solution. The polymer micelles found at low concentrations form hydrogels at high concentrations, typically above 30–35 wt.%. Hydrogel formation and the thermosensitive rheological behavior were studied exemplarily for copolymers with hydrophobic blocks of polystyrene, poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate), and poly(n-octadecyl acrylate). All systems exhibited a cloud point around 30 °C. Heating beyond the cloud point initially favors hydrogel formation but continued heating results in macroscopic phase separation. The rheological behavior suggests that the copolymers associate into flower-like micelles, with only a small share of polymers that bridge the micelles and act as physical cross-linkers, even at high concentrations.     

Heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constants for fe(h(2)o)(6)(3+/2+) at metal oxide electrodes

The title redox couple, in noncoordinating perchlorate medium, has been used to probe the electrochemical behavior of different IrO2-based electrodes; pure oxide electrodes, as well as IrO2-SnO2 mixtures, have been investigated. The obtained results show that the electrode material strongly affects the electrochemical response. A tentative explanation, based on the different point of zero charge of the considered oxides, is presented.     

Two orthopalladated chromophores

The title compounds, {5‐(di­methyl­amino)‐2‐[N‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)­imino­methyl]­phenyl}[N‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)‐4‐nitro­salicyl­aldiminato]­palladium(II), [Pd(C₁₄H₁₁N₂O₄)(C₁₆H₁₇N₂O)], (I), and [4‐(diethyl­amino)‐N‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)­sali­cyl­aldiminato]{2‐[N‐(4‐methoxy­phenyl)­imino­methyl]‐5‐nitrophenyl}palladium(II) di­chloro­methane hemisolvate, [Pd(C₁₄H₁₁N₂O₃)(C₁₈H₂₁N₂O₂)]·0.5CH₂Cl₂, (II), both contain push–pull chromophores coordinated to Pd in a square‐planar arrangement. In both compounds, the five‐membered orthopalladated ring is essentially planar, while the coordinated six‐membered ring is not. Deviations from a coplanar arrangement of the phenyl­ene rings of the coordinated Schiff bases are observed in both (I) and (II) as a result of intramolecular steric interactions.     

Four-membered chelate aminoalkenyl complexes of platinum(II). Synthesis,carbonylation and oxidation to aminoacidato complexes

Amination of Pt^II-allene complexes of the type cis[PtCl₂(Me₂CCCHR)(PPh₃)] gives the new four-membered C, N chelate aminoalkenyl complexes [$\text{PtC(CMe}{}_2\text{)CHRN}$Me₂(PPh₃)Cl]. These undergo ready insertion of carbon monoxide into the CPt σ-bond; the resulting acyl complexes are oxidized by hydrogen peroxide to aminoacidato complexes, and the free unsaturated β-aminoacids can be recovered in good yield by ligand displacement.     

A Novel L-Shaped Fluorescent Probe for AIE Sensing of Zinc (II) Ion by a DR/NIR Response

In the field of optical sensors, small molecules responsive to metal cations are of current interest. Probes displaying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) can solve the problems due to the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) molecules, scarcely emissive as aggregates in aqueous media and in tissues. The addition of a metal cation to an AIE ligand dissolved in solution can cause a “turn-on” of the fluorescence emission. Half-cruciform-shaped molecules can be a winning strategy to build specific AIE probes. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel L-shaped fluorophore containing a benzofuran core condensed with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde crossed with a nitrobenzene moiety. The novel AIE probe produces a fast colorimetric and fluorescence response toward zinc (II) in both in neutral and basic conditions. Acting as a tridentate ligand, it produces a complex with enhanced and red-shifted emission in the DR/NIR spectral range. The AIE nature of both compounds was examined on the basis of X-ray crystallography and DFT analysis.     

The reactivity of furanoid and pyranoid glycals towards aromatic Grignard reagents and a nickel catalyst

By reaction with aromatic Grignard reagents in the presence of low valent nickel species at low temperature, the 1,2-unsaturated furanoid glycal (1) undergoes coupling reaction to produce 2,3-unsaturated products (1a,b) as pure stereoisomers. When these reaction conditions are applied to protected 1,2-unsaturated pyranoid glycals (2, 3, 4), both cross-coupling and elimination reactions occur to give conjugated diene-alcohol derivatives (2a; 3a,b; 4a,b, respectively), in moderate yield.     

(4-Vinylpyridine-Styrene) Copolymer as Host Polymer for Chromophoric Complexes with Potential Second Order Nonlinear Optical Properties

A series of new metal containing polymers for second order nonlinear optics have been prepared by grafting Cu (II) and Pd (II) chromophoric complexes on a preformed (4-vinylpyridine-styrene) copolymeric backbone. The metallated polymers have been chemically and physically characterized. They show high glass transition temperatures, high thermal stability and good solubility. Their properties have been compared with analogous metallated poly(4-vinylpyridine) samples: variations in the polymeric backbone, as well as in ligands, metal, and metallation ratio, allow to tune their properties.     

Chemistry of iron carbonyl anions: Selective reduction of nitroarenes and α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds,and reductive dehalogenation of organic halides by (C2H5)4N+ HFe3(CO)11−

The tetraethylammonium undecacarbonylhydridotriferrate [(C₂H₅)₄N⁺ HFe₃(CO)₁₁^?] (I): which can be easily prepared in a two-step sequence from iron pentacarbonyl, triethylamine and tetraethylammonium chloride, selectively reduces nitroarenes to amines and α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding saturated compounds both in good yield. I reacts with some organic halides to give dehalogenated products.