Synthesis of Unsubstituted and 4,4′-Substituted Oligobipyridines as Ligand Strands for Helicate Self-Assembly

A general strategy for the synthesis of oligobipyridine ligands 2 – 5 containing from two to five 2,2′-bipyridine subunits, for helical metal complexes is described (sec Scheme). Both the unsubstituted parent strands ( a series) as well as their derivatives bearing fester or amide functions in the 4,4′-positions of the bipyridine moieties ( b – d series) have been obtained.     

Antiferromagnetic three-dimensional order induced by carboxylate bridges in a two-dimensional network of [Cu3(dcp)2(H2O)4] trimers

A new Cu(II) complex, [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n), with the ligand 3,5-pyrazoledicarboxylic acid monohydrate (H(3)dcp) has been prepared by hydrothermal synthesis, and it crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 11.633(2) A, b = 9.6005(14) A, c = 6.9230(17) A, beta = 106.01(2) degrees, and Z = 2. In the solid state structure of [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n), trinuclear [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)] repeating units in which two dcp(3-) ligands chelate the three Cu(II) ions with the central Cu(II) ion, Cu(1) (on an inversion center), link to form infinite 2D sheets via syn-anti equatorial-equatorial carboxylate bridges between Cu(2) atoms in adjacent trimers. These layers are further linked by syn-anti axial-equatorial carboxylate bridging between Cu(1) atoms in adjacent sheets resulting in the formation of a crystallographic 3D network. A detailed analysis of the magnetic properties of [Cu(3)(dcp)(2)(H(2)O)(4)](n) reveals that the dcp(3-) ligand acts to link Cu(II) centers in three different ways with coupling constants orders of magnitude apart in value. In the high temperature region above 50 K, the dominant interaction is strongly antiferromagnetic (J/k(B) = -32 K) within the trimer units mediated by the pyrazolate bridges. Below 20 K, the trimer motif can be modeled as an S = 1/2 unit. These units are coupled to their neighbors by a ferromagnetic interaction mediated by the syn-anti equatorial-equatorial carboxylate bridge. This interaction has been estimated at J(2D)/k(B) = +2.8 K on the basis of a 2D square lattice Heisenberg model. Finally, below 3.2 K a weak antiferromagnetic coupling (J(3D)/k(B) = -0.1 K) which is mediated by the syn-anti axial-equatorial carboxylate bridges between the 2D layers becomes relevant to describe the magnetic (T, H) phase diagram of this material.     

Surprising selectivity in the transformation of dimethoxy azaindoles

Transformation of 4,7-dimethoxy-6-azaindole into 4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-6-azaindole or 7-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-azaindole can be readily controlled by careful selection of a reagent. Treatment with concentrated HCl results in hydrolysis at the 4-position exclusively, while TMS-I provides demethylation at the 7-position only. Products were unambiguously identified by single crystal X-ray crystallography.     

GC-MS and GC-MS-MS analysis of a complex essential oil

Summary The alcoholic portion of avetiver oil (Bourbon), the gas chromatogram of which shows more than 100 components, was analyzed by combined GC-MS with different ionization methods. This enabled us to identify major components. The specificity of the method was improved by using combined gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in the collision-activated-dissociation mode.     

Direct determination of the enantiomeric purity of oxyphenonium using chiral HPLC with post-column extraction detection

Summary A method is described for the determination of the enantiomeric purity (enantiomeric excess) of the anticholinergic drug oxyphenonium. The method for this quaternary ammonium compound is based on the direct HPLC analysis with a chiral stationary phase. Two kinds of 1-acid glycoprotein-bonded phases were used.For the detection a post-column extraction with fluorescence detection of the ion-pair counter ion dimethoxyantracene sulphonate was used.     

The synthesis and studies towards the self-replication of bis(capped porphyrins)

Connecting two facially-protected porphyrins was expected to lead to an equal mixture of laterally-bridged doubly-protected bis-porphyrins; one in which the two porphyrin units were protected on the same face (syn) and one with the two prophyrin units protected on opposite faces (anti). Addition of a co-factor (bidentate ligand) was expected to lead predominantly to the syn-bis-porphyrin by a templated self-replication process. This concept was explored using Baldwin's capped porphyrin. Bis(capped porphyrins) were synthesised in several steps starting from zinc(II) capped porphyrin 2. Nitration of 2 followed by reduction and photo-oxidation yields a mixture of zinc(II) porphyrindiones 7 and 8 that can separated by HPLC. The condensation of 2 molar eq. of zinc(II) porphyrin-7,8-dione 8 with 1,2,4,5-benzenetetramine leads to the formation of a 1:1 mixture of syn- and anti-dizinc(II) bis(7,8-capped porphyrins), 11 and 12, respectively, that have almost identical spectroscopic properties. These two geometric isomers were distinguished by significant differences in their molecular recognition properties. Likewise the syn- and anti-dizinc(II) bis(2,3-capped porphyrins), 9 and 10, respectively, are synthesised from the related zinc(II) capped porphyrin-2,3-dione 7, and were also identified using molecular recognition studies. The molecular recognition properties of these bis(capped porphyrins) were utilised in studies of self-replicating porphyrin systems. The results show that tetraazaanthraceno-bis-porphyrins 9-12 can catalyse their own formation but self-replication was not observed. These results highlight the potential that these interesting hosts have as templates in supramolecular chemistry, synthesis and catalysis.     

Fluorescent polymer cubosomes and hexosomes with aggregation-induced emission

Fluorescent polymer cubosomes and hexosomes with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) were prepared from amphiphilic block copolymers PEG-b-PTPEMA where the hydrophobic block PTPEMA was a polymethacrylate with tetraphenylethene (TPE) as the AIE side group. Four highly asymmetric block copolymers with hydrophilic block weight ratio f_PEG ≤ 20% were synthesized. Cubosomes and hexosomes with strong fluorescence emission were obtained by nanoprecipitation of polymers with f_PEG < 9% in dioxane/water and THF/water systems. Their ordered internal structures were studied by electron microscopy (cryo-EM, SEM and TEM) and the X-ray scattering technique (SAXS). To elucidate the formation mechanisms of these inverted colloids, other parameters influencing the morphologies, like the water content during self-assembly and the organic solvent composition, were also investigated. This study not only inspires people to design novel building blocks for the preparation of functional cubosomes and hexosomes, but also presents the first AIE fluorescent polymer cubosome and hexosome with potential applications in bio-related fields.

Fluorescent Im$\bar{3}$m cubosome and P6mm hexosome with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) were reported, which were formed by amphiphilic block copolymers PEG-b-PTPEMA. The length of hydrophobic block PTPEMA was adjusted to control morphology formation.     

Etude des propriétés cristallographiques,diélectriques et d'optique non linéaire de quelques nouvelles phases de composition BaxLi5−2xNb5(1−y)Ta5yO15 et de structure bronzes oxygénés de tungstène quadratiques

Two series of phases with tetragonal bronze-like structure and composition Ba_xLi_5?2xT₅O₁₅ (T = Nb, Ta) have been isolated in the systems BaNb₂O₆LiNbO₃ and BaTa₂O₆LiTaO₃. All these phases show ferroelectric-paraelectric transitions. The Curie temperature increases with the lithium content. The value of T_C for Ba_2.03Li_0.94Nb₅O₁₅ is the highest ever observed for this type of structure: the obtained phases are potentially good materials for the harmonic generation of the 0.53-μm radiation. The optical yield of the niobate Ba_2.14Li_0.71Nb₅O₁₅ is about 2.5 times that of Ba₂NaNb₅O₁₅ and 250 times that of the K.D.P. The crystallographic and dielectric data of the system Ba_2.14Li_0.71Nb₅O₁₅Ba_2.14Li_0.71Ta₅O₁₅ characterize three domains, which are respectively antiferroelectric, ferroelectric, and paraelectric. The Curie temperature and the optical yield decrease with increasing tantalum content.     

Conservation of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·H2O layers during the topotactic dehydration of [(C2H4NH3)3N]2·(ZrF7)2·9H2O

Tren amine cations [(C₂H₄NH₃)₃N]³⁺ and zirconate or tantalate anions adopt a ternary symmetry in two hydrates, [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O and [H₃tren]₆·(ZrF₇)₂·(TaOF₆)₄·3H₂O, which crystallise in R32 space group with a_H = 8.871 (2) Å, c_H = 38.16 (1) Å and a_H = 8.758 (2) Å, c_H = 30.112 (9) Å, respectively. Similar [H₃tren]₂·(MX₇)₂·H₂O (M = Zr, Ta; X = F, O) sheets are found in both structures; they are separated by a water layer (O_w(2)-O_w(3)) in [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O. Dehydration of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·9H₂O starts at room temperature and ends at 90 °C to give [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O. [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O layers remain probably unchanged during this dehydration and the existence of one intermediate [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·3H₂O hydrate is assumed. O_w(1) molecules are tightly hydrogen bonded with -NH₃⁺ groups and decomposition of [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₇)₂·H₂O occurs from 210 °C to 500 °C to give successively [H₃tren]₂·(ZrF₆)·(Zr₂F₁₂) (285 °C), an intermediate unknown phase (320 °C) and ZrF₄.     

Functionalization of cellulose nanocrystal powder by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas

Cellulose - Despite promising characteristics such as the biodegradability and the environmentally benign nature of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) based composites, their poor dispersion and...