Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Nanorods,Nanotubes, and Nanowires

New mechanisms for the controlled growth of one‐dimensional (1D) metal–organic framework (MOF) nano‐ and superstructures under size‐confinement and surface‐directing effects have been discovered. Through applying interfacial synthesis templated by track‐etched polycarbonate (PCTE) membranes, congruent polycrystalline zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) solid nanorods and hollow nanotubes were found to form within 100 nm membrane pores, while single crystalline ZIF‐8 nanowires grew inside 30 nm pores, all of which possess large aspect ratios up to 60 and show preferential crystal orientation with the {100} planes aligned parallel to the long axis of the pore. Our findings provide a generalizable method for controlling size, morphology, and lattice orientation of MOF nanomaterials.     

Synthesis of Renewable meta‐Xylylenediamine from Biomass‐Derived Furfural

We report the synthesis of biomass‐derived functionalized aromatic chemicals from furfural, a building block nowadays available in large scale from low‐cost biomass. The scientific strategy relies on a Diels–Alder/aromatization sequence. By controlling the rate of each step, it was possible to produce exclusively the meta aromatic isomer. In particular, through this route, we describe the synthesis of renewably sourced meta‐xylylenediamine (MXD). Transposition of this work to other furfural‐derived chemicals is also discussed and reveals that functionalized biomass‐derived aromatics (benzaldehyde, benzylamine, etc.) can be potentially produced, according to this route.     

Photoinduced Miyaura Borylation by a Rare‐Earth‐Metal Photoreductant: The Hexachlorocerate(III) Anion

The first photoinduced carbon(sp²)–heteroatom bond forming reaction by a rare‐earth‐metal photoreductant, a Miyaura borylation, has been achieved. This simple, scalable, and novel borylation method that makes use of the hexachlorocerate(III) anion ([Ce^IIICl₆]^3?, derived from CeCl₃) has a broad substrate scope and functional‐group tolerance and can be conducted at room temperature. Combined with Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling, the method is applicable to the synthesis of various biaryl products, including through the use of aryl chloride substrates.     

A kinetic study of the oxidation of hydroxamic acids by compounds I and II of horseradish peroxidase: Effect of transition metal ions

Abstract

Oxidation of hydroxamic acids (HXs) generates HNO, and it is not clear whether it is formed also in the presence of metal ions. The kinetics of the oxidation of HXs, such as acetohydroxamic acid, suberohydroxamic acid, and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), by compounds I and II of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at pH 7.0 and 25?°C have been studied using rapid-mixing stopped-flow. The kinetics of these reactions were compared to those observed in the presence of Cu(ClO₄)₂, NiSO₄, or ZnSO₄. The rates decrease upon increasing [Cu^II] at constant [HXs], and no oxidation of HX occurs when [HX]/[Cu^II] ≈ 2, implying that HX oxidation in the presence of Cu^II proceeds through the free ligand since the predominant complex is CuX₂. In the case of Ni^II, the oxidation rate decreases upon increasing the ratio [Ni^II]/[HX] beyond 1, where the predominant complex is Ni^IIX⁺, implying that its oxidation is feasible. The effect of Zn^II could be studied only on the rate of HXs oxidation by compound II demonstrating similar behavior to that of Ni^II. HXs were also oxidized catalytically by HRP/H₂O₂ at pH 7.0, demonstrating that metal ions facilitate the formation of HNO while hardly affecting its yield and the extent of HX oxidation.     

Reactions of carbonate radical anion with amino-carboxylate complexes of manganese(II) and iron(III)

Abstract

The reaction kinetics of eight amino-carboxylate complexes of Fe(III) and Mn(II) with carbonate radical anion were studied using the pulse radiolysis method and UV-vis spectroscopy. Difference spectra revealed the formation of Fe(IV) and Mn(III) after reaction with CO₃^??. Spectral measurements revealed the first step to be the coordination of carbonate to the metal center. All of these led to the conclusion that the role of coordinated carbonate is essential to the electron transfer process by carbonate radical anion.     

Transition Metal Catalysis Using Functionalized Dendrimers

Dendrimers are well-defined hyperbranched macromolecules with characteristic globular structures for the larger systems. These novel polymers have inspired many chemists to develop new materials and several applications have been explored, catalysis being one of them. The recent impressive strides in synthetic procedures increased the accessibility of functionalized dendrimers, resulting in a rapid development of dendrimer chemistry. The position of the catalytic site(s) as well as the spatial separation of the catalysts appears to be of crucial importance. Dendrimers that are functionalized with transition metals in the core potentially can mimic the properties of enzymes, their efficient natural counterparts, whereas the surface-functionalized systems have been proposed to fill the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. This might yield superior catalysts with novel properties, that is, special reactivity or stability. Both the core and periphery strategies lead to catalysts that are sufficiently larger than most substrates and products, thus separation by modern membrane separation techniques can be applied. These novel homogeneous catalysts can be used in continuous membrane reactors, which will have major advantages particularly for reactions that benefit from low substrate concentrations or suffer from side reactions of the product. Here we review the recent progress and breakthroughs made with these promising novel transition metal functionalized dendrimers that are used as catalysts, and we will discuss the architectural concepts that have been applied.     

High‐throughput characterization of pattern formation in symmetric diblock copolymer films

Surface‐pattern formation in thin block copolymer films was investigated by utilizing a high‐throughput methodology to validate the combinatorial measurement approach and to demonstrate the value of the combinatorial method for scientific investigation. We constructed measurement libraries from images of subregions of block copolymer films having gradients in film thickness and a range of molecular mass, M. A single gradient film covers a wide range of film morphologies and contains information equivalent to a large number of measurements of films having a fixed thickness, h. Notably, the scale of the surface patterns is generally much larger than the molecular dimensions so that the interpretation of the patterns is more subtle than ordering in bulk block copolymer materials, and there is no predictive theory of this type of surface‐pattern formation. We observed a succession of surface patterns that repeat across the film with increasing h [extended smooth regions, regions containing circular islands, labyrinthine (“spinodal”) patterns, holes, and smooth regions again]. The extended smooth regions and the labyrinthine patterns appear to be novel features revealed by our combinatorial study, and these patterns occurred as bands of h that were quantized by integral multiples of the bulk lamellar period, L_o. The magnitude of the height gradient influenced the width of the bands, and the smooth regions occupied an increasing fraction of the film‐surface area with an increasing film gradient. The average size of the spinodal patterns, λ, was found to scale as λ ～ L or λ ～ M^?1.65 and reached a limiting size at long annealing times. The hole and island features had a size comparable to λ, and their size likewise decreased with increasing M. The smooth regions were attributed to an increase in the surface‐chain density in the outer brushlike block copolymer layer with increasing h, and the scaling of λ with M was interpreted in terms of the increasing surface elasticity with M. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2141–2158, 2001     

Reactions of polystyryllithiums and model lithium carbanions with 9,10‐bis(halomethyl)anthracenes

The direct and nearly quantitative incorporation of 9,10‐anthracenylidene (AN) chromophores into polystyrene occurred via the reaction of polystyryllithium (PSLi) with 9,10‐bis(chloromethyl)anthracene (BCMA) at ?78 °C in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/ hexane containing between 30 and 40 vol % hexane. Although the reaction of PSLi and BCMA or 9,10‐bis(bromomethyl)anthracene (BBMA) in THF at ?78 °C gave nearly quantitative coupling, typically only 30–50% AN incorporation was observed, as determined by ultraviolet–visible spectrometry. Model coupling reactions of 3,3‐dimethyl‐1,1‐diphenyl‐1‐lithiobutane, (1,1,2,2‐tetramethyl)propylcyclopentadienyllithium, 9‐methylfluorenyllithium, and triphenylmethyllithium with BCMA or BBMA at ?78 °C in THF in nearly all cases gave several AN‐containing coupling products. This was consistent with lithium–halogen exchange leading to the linking of multiple AN groups. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3121–3129, 2001     

Photoionization of Naphthalene and Anthracene in Acetonitrile

Naphthalene and anthracene undergo a monophotonic ionization process in MeCN to produce the radical cations in low quantum yields (around 0.06 for anthracene). This reaction originates from the relaxed singlet excited state S₁, and it is not due to traces of H₂O in the solvent.