Molecular Acceptors Based on a Triarylborane Core Unit for Organic Solar Cells

Triarylboranes that exhibit p–π* conjugation serve as versatile building blocks to design n-type organic/polymer semiconductors. A series of new molecular acceptors based on triarylborane is reported here. These molecules are designed with a boron atom that bears a bulky 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl (Mes*) substituent at the core and strong electron-withdrawing 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene)malononitrile (IC) units as the end-capping groups that are linked to the core by bithiophene bridges. Butyl or butoxy groups are introduced to the bithiophene units to tune the optoelectronic properties. These molecules show nearly planar backbones with highly localized steric hindrance at the core, low LUMO/HOMO energy levels, and broad absorption bands spanning the visible region, which are all very desirable characteristics for use as electron acceptors in organic solar cell (OSC) applications. The attachment of butyl groups to the bithiophene bridges brings about a slightly twisted backbone, which in turn promotes good solubility and homogeneous donor/acceptor blend morphology, whereas the introduction of butoxy groups leads to improved planarity, favorable stacking in the film state, and a greatly reduced band gap. OSC devices based on these molecules exhibit encouraging photovoltaic performances with power conversion efficiencies reaching up to 4.07 %. These results further substantiate the strong potential of triarylboranes as the core unit of small molecule acceptors for OSC applications.     

Exploring the Reactivity of a Frustrated Sn/P Lewis Pair: The Highly Selective Complexation of the cis-Azobenzene Photoisomer

The reactivity of the geminal frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) (F₅C₂)₃SnCH₂P(tBu)₂ ( 1 ) was explored by reacting it with a variety of small molecules (PhOCN, PhNCS, PhCCH, tBuCCH, H₃CC(O)CH=CH₂, Ph[C(O)]₂Ph, PhN=NPh and Me₃SiCHN₂), featuring polar or non-polar multiple bonds and/or represent α,β-unsaturated systems. While most adducts are formed readily, the binding of azobenzene requires UV-induced photoisomerization, which results in the highly selective complexation of cis-azobenzene. In the case of benzil, the reaction does not lead to the expected 1,2- or 1,4-addition products, but to the non-stereoselective (tBu)₂PCH₂-transfer to a prochiral keto function of benzil. All adducts of 1 were characterised by means of multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction experiments.     

Modulation of direct electron transfer of cytochrome c by use of a molecularly imprinted thin film

We describe the preparation of a molecularly imprinted polymer film (MIP) on top of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) on gold, where the template cytochrome c (cyt c) participates in direct electron transfer (DET) with the underlying electrode. To enable DET, a non-conductive polymer film is electrodeposited from an aqueous solution of scopoletin and cyt c on to the surface of a gold electrode previously modified with MUA. The electroactive surface concentration of cyt c was 0.5 pmol cm^?2. In the absence of the MUA layer, no cyt c DET was observed and the pseudo-peroxidatic activity of the scopoletin-entrapped protein, assessed via oxidation of Ampliflu red in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, was only 30 % of that for the MIP on MUA. This result indicates that electrostatic adsorption of cyt c by the MUA–SAM substantially increases the surface concentration of cyt c during the electrodeposition step, and is a prerequisite for the productive orientation required for DET. After template removal by treatment with sulfuric acid, rebinding of cyt c to the MUA–MIP-modified electrode occurred with an affinity constant of 100,000 mol^?1 L, a value three times higher than that determined by use of fluorescence titration for the interaction between scopoletin and cyt c in solution. The DET of cyt c in the presence of myoglobin, lysozyme, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) reveals that the MIP layer suppresses the effect of competing proteins.     

Bidentate Lewis Acids Derived from o-Diethynylbenzene with Group 13 and 14 Functions

Starting from 1,2-diethynylbenzene, a series of bidentate Lewis acids was prepared by means of hydrometalations, in particular hydrosilylation, hydroboration, hydroalumination and terminal metalation based on group 13 and 14 elements. In the case of terminal alkyne metalation, the Lewis-acidic gallium function was introduced using triethylgallium under alkane elimination. A total of six different Lewis acids based on a semiflexible organic scaffold were prepared, bearing −SiClMe₂, −SiCl₂Me, −SiCl₃, −B(C₆F₅)₂, −AlBis₂ (Bis=bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl) and −GaEt₂ as the corresponding functional units. In all cases, the Lewis acid functionalisation was carried out twice and the products were obtained in good to excellent yields. In the case of the twofold gallium Lewis acid, a different structural motif in the form of a polymer-like chain was observed in the solid state. All new bidentate Lewis acids were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, CHN analysis and X-ray diffraction experiments.     

Third Generation ATP Sensor with Enzymatic Analyte Recycling

For the first time the direct electron transfer of an enzyme ‐ cellobiose dehydrogenase, CDH ‐ has been coupled with the hexokinase catalyzed competition for glucose in a sensor for ATP. To enhance the signal output for ATP, pyruvate kinase was coimmobilized to recycle ADP by the phosphoenolpyruvate driven reaction. The new sensor overcomes the limit of 1 : 1 stoichiometry of the sequential or competitive conversion of ATP by effective enzymatic recycling of the analyte. The anodic oxidation of the glucose converting CDH proceeds at electrode potentials below 0 mV vs. Ag|AgCl thus potentially interfering substances like ascorbic acid or catecholamines do not influence the measuring signal. The combination of direct electron transfer of CDH with the enzymatic recycling results in an interference‐free and oxygen‐independent measurement of ATP in the lower µmolar concentration range with a lower limit of detection of 63.3 nM (S/N=3).     

A Borinic Acid Polymer with Fluoride Ion‐ and Thermo‐responsive Properties that are Tunable over a Wide Temperature Range

A new type of smart borinic acid polymer with luminescence and multiple stimuli‐responsive properties is reported. In DMSO with small amounts of water, the homopolymer PBA shows a tunable upper critical solution temperature (UCST). As the amount of water increases from 0 to 2.5 % (v/v), the UCST rises linearly from 20 °C to 100 °C (boiling point of water). Thus, the thermal responsive behavior can be tuned over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, polymer solutions in DMSO show a reversible response to fluoride ions, which can be correlated to the presence of the Lewis acidic borinic acid groups. Upon addition of fluoride, the polymer becomes soluble because the functional R₂BOH groups are converted into ionic [R₂BF₂]^? groups, but turns insoluble again upon addition of H₂O, which reverses this process.     

Mechanism of Host–Guest Complex Formation and Identification of Intermediates through NMR Titration and Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy

The formation of host–guest (H‐G) complexes between 1,8‐bis[(diethylgallanyl)ethynyl]anthracene (H) and the N‐heterocycles pyridine and pyrimidine (G) was studied in solution using a combination of NMR titration and diffusion NMR experiments. For the latter, diffusion coefficients of potential host–guest structures in solution were compared with those of tailor‐made reference compounds of similar shape (synthesized and characterized by NMR, HRMS, and in part XRD). Highly dynamic behavior was observed in both cases, but with different host–guest species and equilibria. With increasing concentrations of the pyridine guest, the equilibrium H₂?H₂κ¹‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (in the second step a host dimer coordinates one guest molecule); for pyrimidine the equilibrium H₂→H₁κ²‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (the formation of a 1:1 aggregate is the second step).     

Spectroscopic Properties,Conformation and Structure of Difluorothiophosphoryl Isocyanate in the Gaseous and Solid Phase

Difluorothiophosphoryl isocyanate, F₂P(S)NCO was characterized with UV/vis, NMR, IR (gas and Ar-matrix), and Raman (liquid) spectroscopy. Its molecular structure was also established by means of gas electron diffraction (GED) and single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) in the gas phase and solid state, respectively. The analysis of the spectroscopic data and molecular structures is complemented by extensive quantum-chemical calculations. Theoretically, the C_s symmetric syn-conformer is predicted to be the most stable conformation. Rotation about the P−N bond requires about 9 kJ mol⁻¹ and the predicted existence of an anti-conformer is dependent on the quantum-chemical method used. This syn-orientation of the isocyanate group is the only one found in the gas phase and contained likewise in the crystal. The overall molecular structure is very similar in gas and solid, despite in the solid state the molecules arrange through intramolecular O⋅⋅⋅F contacts into layers, which are further interconnected by S⋅⋅⋅N, S⋅⋅⋅C and C⋅⋅⋅F contacts. Additionally, the photodecomposition of F₂P(S)NCO to form CO, F₂P(S)N, and F₂PNCO is observed in the solid Ar-matrix.     

New sorption and solvation measuring methods: Forced flow through liquids and solid state fluidised bed sorbents in high pressure gravimetry

A novel measuring method is presented here that allows sorption and solvation measurements near to different process conditions. Especially for the sorption kinetics it is important that the measuring conditions are similar to later applications. Particularly for high pressure sorption measurements this claim could not be fulfilled for most technical applications.The advantage of the measuring methods presented here is that solid bed samples in high pressure gravimetry can be measured under flow-through conditions in both directions and, for the first time in high pressure gravimetry, liquid samples can be measured under flow-through conditions. Especially for ionic liquids, of which a large variety of new substances with unknown sorption potentials have been synthesised in the last few years, this results in much shorter measuring times.The first measurements presented here show that the new system allows for measuring times around 26 times shorter for an ionic liquid.     

Synthesis and solvent‐dependent micellization of the amphiphilic block copolymer poly(styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene

The amphiphilic organoboron block copolymer poly (styreneboronic acid)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSBA‐b‐PS ) has been prepared through a postpolymerization modification route from the silicon‐functionalized block copolymer poly(4‐trimethylsilylstyrene)‐block‐polystyrene ( PSSi‐b‐PS ). PSBA‐b‐PS is obtained through highly selective reaction of PSSi‐b‐PS with BBr₃ at room temperature and subsequent hydrolysis of the BBr₂‐functionalized intermediate. Transmission electron microscopy studies demonstrate that PSBA‐b‐PS undergoes pH dependent micellization in aqueous solution. Different morphologies could be realized by using different mixtures of water and organic solvents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2438–2445, 2010