Fluorocarbon oxy and peroxy radicals

This review deals with the most fundamental fluorocarbon oxy (x=1) and peroxy (x=2) radicals CF₃O_x, FC(O)O_x, CF₃C(O)O_x and CF₃OC(O)O_x. Their role in atmospheric and synthetic chemistry is described as well as their formation and characterisation in the gas phase and isolated in low temperature matrices. Reservoirs and hence thermal sources for oxy and peroxy radicals are peroxides (ROOR) and peroxynitrates (ROONO₂), while catenated trioxides (ROOOR) are precursors for both oxy and peroxy radicals simultaneously. The synthesis and some properties of these precursors are also described.     

Use of bis(trifluoromethyl)peroxy dicarbonate as initiator in the radical homopolymerisation of vinylidene fluoride (VDF) and copolymerisation of VDF with hexafluoropropylene

The radical homopolymerisation in acetonitrile of vinylidene fluoride (or 1,1-difluoroethylene, VDF) and the copolymerisation of VDF with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) initiated by bis(trifluoromethyl)peroxy dicarbonate are presented. Different reactions and different reactants were chosen to monitor the polymerisation in terms of initiating radicals generated from this initiator. Homopolymers and copolymers thus obtained were characterised by and NMR spectroscopy. From the assignments of the characteristic signals, an overall reaction mechanism is proposed that explains each step of the polymerisation. Particularly, an interpretation of the polymer microstructures and the presence of end-groups arising from the radical initiator as well as from eventual transfers is suggested. Among some of the microstructures, the trifluoromethoxy end-group was noted to be present in both PVDF and poly(VDF-co-HFP) (co)polymers, as generated from the decomposition of the initiator. This trifluoromethoxy end-group enabled the assessment of the molecular weights of PVDF and poly(VDF-co-HFP) (co)polymers. Thermal properties of the copolymers were also determined, showing that original fluoroelastomers possessing CF₃ end-groups are obtained endowed with low T_g and good thermal stability.     

The trifluoromethoxy carbonyl peroxy radical CF3OC(O)OO

CF3OC(O)OO radicals are generated by low-pressure flash thermolysis of CF3OC(O)OOOC(O)OCF3 highly diluted in inert gases and followed by subsequent isolation in an inert-gas matrix at low temperatures. The by-products CO2, COF2, CF3O, and CF3OO are detected. The new peroxy radical is characterized by IR and UV spectroscopy and by its UV photolytic decay which leads to the formation of CF3OO and CO2. According to DFT calculations the exitence of three stable rotamers is predicted and two of them are found experimentally.     

Photoisomerization of matrix-isolated bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfoxide: formation of the sulfenic ester CF3SOCF3

Bis(trifluoromethyl) sulfoxide, CF(3)S(O)CF(3), isolated in noble gas matrixes at low temperatures, isomerizes upon UV irradiation into the sulfenic ester CF(3)SOCF(3). The new species is characterized spectroscopically, and the vibrational assignment is supported by (18)O isotopic labeling experiments and by DFT calculations. The calculated structural parameters of CF(3)SOCF(3) are compared with the calculated and experimental data of the related compounds CF(3)SSCF(3) and CF(3)OOCF(3). In addition, the computed enthalpy differences between the sulfoxide R(2)S=O and sulfenate RSOR structures for R = H, F, CH(3), and CF(3) are included.     

Synthesis and characterization of new mesomorphic octakis(alkylthio)-substituted lead phthalocyanines and their films

The syntheses of new octakis (alkylthio)-substituted phthalocyanines of Pb(II) (1a and 2a) are described. These compounds are very soluble in most common organic solvents. They have been fully characterized using elemental analysis, NMR, infrared and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The mesogenic properties of these new materials were studied by differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. These phthalocyanine derivatives are liquid at room temperature and form columnar-hexagonal (Col_h) mesophases below −10 °C. It has been indicated that the addition of methylene bridges to the phthalocyanine (Pc) core increases the clearing point temperatures. Also, the coordination of Pb²⁺ with the phthalocyanine core decreases the clearing point temperatures and the liquid crystal phase transition temperatures. Thin films of octakis(alkylthio)-substituted Pb(II) phthalocyanines 1a and 2a were prepared by the method of spin-coating. To obtain films with an ordered structure the film of 1a was slowly cooled from room temperature down to −10 °C. Sandwich structures of the form Au/PbPc(1a)/Au were prepared for the investigation of their electrical properties. It was shown that a slowly cooled Au/PbPc(1a)/Au structure demonstrates repeatable and stable electrical switching behaviour for applied bias voltages between −1 V and +1 V.     

A set of highly water-soluble tetraethyleneglycol-substituted Zn(II) phthalocyanines: synthesis, photochemical and photophysical properties, interaction with plasma proteins and in vitro phototoxicity

Three Zn(II) phthalocyanines substituted by hydroxyl-terminated tetraethylene glycol chains have been synthesized. In order to evaluate the potential of these highly water-soluble phthalocyanines as type II-photosensitisers for photodynamic therapy, their structure-activity relationship was assessed by determining relevant photophysical and photochemical properties, such as their aggregation behaviour in aqueous buffers, their fluorescence properties and their efficiency with regard to the generation of singlet oxygen. In addition, evidence for a negligible interaction with plasma proteins in undiluted human plasma was obtained using a recently developed bioanalytical method and compared with the fluorescence quenching approach. These results combined with in vitro data regarding the phototoxicity of these phthalocyanines against HT-29 cancer cells provide evidence for the relevance of the non-peripherally substituted derivative for further in vivo investigations.     

Infrared studies of pyroelectric Langmuir–Blodgett films of arachidic acid and 1,2-bis(dodecyloxy)-4,5-diaminobenzene

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), p-polarized grazing angle (GAIR) and Horizontal Attenuated Total Reflectance (HATR) spectra have been recorded of arachidic acid (AA)/1,2-bis(dodecyloxy)-4,5-diaminobenzene (DADB) Y-type alternate LB films deposited on an aluminium plate with 31 layers. It is well known that the frequencies of CH₂ stretching bands of a hydrocarbon chain are sensitive to the conformational ordering of the chain. Changes in frequency and intensity can be used to characterize film ordering and preferential molecular packing. The observed peak frequencies and intensities of these bands indicate that the alkyl chains are present in a mostly trans conformation and tilted from the normal direction with respect to the substrate in LB films. The FTIR–GAIR and HATR spectra of 31 layers alternate film show significant changes in the region 1700–1400 cm⁻¹ due to the partial proton transfer between acid and amine head groups. According to the HATR spectrum, the peak at 1731 cm⁻¹ is observed due to a proportion of the carboxylic acid groups forming sideways dimers indicating that if the carboxylic acid groups form sideways dimers, they are less likely to undergo proton transfer with the amino groups.     

Synthesis, structure, spectroscopic properties, and magnetic properties of an octakis(alkylthio)-substituted lutetium(III) bisphthalocyanine

The synthesis of a new sandwich lutetium(III) bisphthalocyanine substituted with hexylthio groups (1), [(C6H1)S)8-Pc]2Lu, is described. The compound is very soluble in most common organic solvents and has been fully characterized (elemental analysis, IR, 1H and 13C NMR, UV-vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry). The chemically oxidized and reduced forms have been formed and characterized. The crystal structure of the compound (1) has been determined by X-ray diffraction on a single crystal. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 31.558(2) A, b = 32.755(2) A, c = 20.489(1) A, beta = 127.119(1) degrees, and Z = 4. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility, measured on polycrystalline samples and in the range 6-300 K, is in agreement with one unpaired electron per molecular unit as found for the unsubstituted derivative. The magnetic results can be modeled assuming one-dimensional chain of spin S = 1/2 with g = 2.04 and an antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -11.83 cm(-1), H = -2JSigmaSiSj).