Cation complexation with p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene pentacarboxylic acid derivative: an allosteric regulation of the first metal ion for stepwise extraction of the second ion

A calix[5]arene based solvent extraction reagent 3, appending carboxylic acid groups at the lower rim, has been developed and its complexation behavior towards some transition metal ions has been studied. The host 3 can selectively and quantitatively extract Pb(II) ions above pH 1.8 while other divalent ions such as Cu(II), Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II) are extracted quantitatively only above pH 3.0. The outstanding Pb(II) selectivity of 3 comes from the size fit complementarity effect of the Pb(II) ion in the calix[5]arene cavity. One molecule of 3 extracts two Pb(II) ions in a stepwise manner. The first Pb(II) ion is extracted into the deep cavity of the calix[5]arene defined by phenoxy oxygen atoms. The first complexed Pb(II) ion acts as a template to bring the host into a cone conformation and induces a positive allosteric effect for the extraction of the second Pb(II) ion at an oxygen rich coordinating site composed of carboxyl groups. Both the Pb(II) ions are extracted through an ion exchange mechanism and the electroneutral complex in the organic phase is formed by the release of an equivalent number of hydrogen ions into aqueous solution. The loaded Pb(II) is easily back-extracted from Pb(II)-complexed 3 using dilute acid solution.     

Morphology control of tungsten nanorods grown by glancing angle RF magnetron sputtering under variable argon pressure and flow rate

Morphologically novel tungsten nanorods (WNRs) with the co-existence of two crystalline phases, α-W (thermodynamically stable) and β-W, were fabricated by glancing angle RF magnetron sputtering technique under various Ar pressures and flow rates. For these nanorods, a significant variation in their morphology and surface roughness was observed. These structures could be useful in a wide range of applications such as field emission, robust superhydrophobic coatings, energy, and medicine.     

Oxygen-rich Ti1−xO2 pillar growth at a gold nanoparticle–TiO2 contact by O2 exposure

In-situ gas-injection transmission electron microscopy revealed that a pillar grew at the edge of the interface of a gold nanoparticle and a TiO₂ substrate during exposure to O₂ gas at 100 Pa. The pillar was found to have a titanium-deficient chemical composition of Ti_1 ? xO₂ (x > 0) by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS). The spectra showed a chemical shift of oxygen and titanium ions to have ionic states of Ti³⁺ and O^y? (y < 3/2). The formation of the Ti_1 ? xO₂ at the contact edge of gold–Ti_1 ? xO₂ interface is discussed from the perspective of an O₂ affinity, which plays an important role in CO oxidation process of supported gold particle.     

Asymmetric oxidation and determination of the configurations of an optically pure sulfoxide and an I-menthoxysulfonium salt of 1,9-bis(methylthio)dibenzothiophene by x-ray crystallographic analysis

1,9-Bis(methylthio)dibenzothiophene (1a) was treated with one equivalent of bromine and pyridine in the presence of l-menthol and then with aqueous sodium hydroxide to give optically active 1-(methylsulfinyl)-9-(methylthio)dibenzothiophene (2a) enriched by the S isomer (ee: 57%). The configuration of optically pure sulfoxide (2a) was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis to be the S configuration at the sulfinyl sulfur atom. On the other hand, 1-(methyl-l-menthoxysulfonio)-9-(methylthio)dibenzothiophene tetrafluoroborate (4a) was isolated as an intermediate of this asymmetric oxidation in an optically pure form, as yellow crystals. The absolute configuration of this sulfonium salt (4a) was verified by X-ray crystallographic analysis as the R configuration. Optically pure sulfonium salt (4a) also gave partially optically active sulfoxide (2a) with net inversion on its hydrolysis. It was suggested that the hydrolysis reaction of the sulfonium salt (4a) accordingly proceeds, not only via a sulfurane having a simple S_N2 type of geometry but also by a front side attack ofhydroxide anion, with respect to the l-menthoxy group, on sulfur, and the sequential elimination of the l-menthoxy group from the tetracoordinated intermediate. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A High‐Valent Iron(IV) Peroxo Core Derived from O2

Dioxygen‐tolerant [NiFe] hydrogenases catalyze not only the conversion of H₂ into 2 H⁺ and 2 e^? but also the reduction of O₂ to H₂O. Chemists have sought to mimic such bifunctional catalysts with structurally simpler compounds to facilitate analysis and improvement. Herein, we report a new [NiFe]‐based catalyst for O₂ reduction via an O₂ adduct. Structural investigations reveal the first example of a side‐on iron(IV) peroxo complex.     

Molecular Weight Development in Free‐Radical Polymerization with Polyfunctional Chain‐Transfer Agents, 1. Equal Reactivity Model

The analytic expression for the weight‐average molecular weight development in free‐radical polymerization that involves a polyfunctional chain‐transfer agent is proposed. Free‐radical polymerization is kinetically controlled; therefore, the probability of chain connection with a polyfunctional chain‐transfer agent as well as the primary chain‐length distribution changes during the course of polymerization. We consider the primary chains formed at different times as different types of chains, and the heterochain branching model is used to obtain the weight‐average chain length at a given conversion level in a matrix formula, described as P_w = W { D _w + ( I + T ) SP ( I – TSP )^–1 D_f }. Because the primary chains are formed consecutively, the number of chain types N is extrapolated to infinity, but such extrapolation can be conducted with the calculated values for only three different N values. The criterion for the onset of gelation is simply described as a point at which the largest eigenvalue of the product of matrixes, TSP reaches unity, i. e., det  ( I – TSP ) = 0. The present model can readily be extended for the star‐shaped polyfunctional initiators, and the relationships between the model parameters and kinetic rate expression for such reaction systems are also shown.     

Electrical property and water repellency of a networked monolayer film prepared from Au nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles, modified with alkyl thiol, formed a film on polystyrene substrate, and it was found that the deposited film drastically changes its conductivity and hydrophobicity, depending on the alkyl chain length of the thiol used.