Preparation and Properties of Aliphatic Polybenzoxazoles from 4,4′-Diamino-3,3′-Dihydroxybiphenyl and Aliphatic Dicarboxylic Acid Chlorides by the Silylation Method

Abstract

A series of aliphatic polybenzoxazoles of high molecular weights was prepared in three steps by the low-temperature solution polycondensation of tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-substituted 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dihydroxy-biphenyl with aliphatic diacid chlorides with 7 to 12 methylene units yielding trimethylsilyl-substituted poly(o-hydroxysamide) precursor polymers, which were subjected to desilylation with methanol giving the poly(o-hydroxyamide)s, followed by thermal cyclodehydration. The aliphatic polybenzoxazoles had melting points in the 172 to 246 °C range with glass transition temperatures of 55-97°C. They were stable in the melt state up to 400 °C in nitrogen. These polybenzoxazoles and the corresponding bisbenzoxazole model compounds exhibited no liquid crystallinity.     

Polymeric Schiff Bases. III. Some Prototype Exchange Reactions of Schiff Bases

The amine moiety in Schiff bases can be exchanged quantitatively by another amine to yield new Schiff bases if the volatility of the replacing amine is lower than the derived amine, thereby allowing the latter to distilled from the reaction mass. This amine exchange was shown to be quantitative also for diamines and di-Schiff bases. Similarly, quantitative conversions were found for aldehydes and acetal exchanges with Schiff bases for both monofunctional and difunctional reactants. The bis exchange, involving two complementary Schiff bases, was quantitative also when the reactants were so selected that one of the new derived Schiff bases could be removed by distillation. The bis exchange was demonstrated with mono and di-Schiff bases.

Mechanisms are suggested for these Schiff base exchange reactions: attempts to isolate the proposed intermediates physically were unsuccessful; however spectroscopic evidence indicates the formation of intermediate compounds.

The Schiff base exchanges involving polyfunctional reactants are of interest in the synthesis of polymers.     

Beyond Reduction Cocatalysts: Critical Role of Metal Cocatalysts in Photocatalytic Oxidation of Methane with Water**

Environmentally sustainable and selective conversion of methane to valuable chemicals under ambient conditions is pivotal for the development of next-generation photocatalytic technology. However, due to the lack of microscopic knowledge about non-thermal methane conversion, controlling and modulating photocatalytic oxidation processes driven by photogenerated holes remain a challenge. Here, we report novel function of metal cocatalysts to accept photogenerated holes and dominate selectivity of methane oxidation, which is clearly beyond the conventional concept in photocatalysis that the metal cocatalysts loaded on the surfaces of semiconductor photocatalysts mostly capture photogenerated electrons and dominate reduction reactions exclusively. The novel photocatalytic role of metal cocatalysts was verified by operando molecular spectroscopy combined with real-time mass spectrometry for metal-loaded Ga₂O₃ model photocatalysts under methane and water vapor at ambient temperature and pressure. Our concept of metal cocatalysts that work as active sites for both photocatalytic oxidation and reduction provides a new understanding of photocatalysis and a solid basis for controlling non-thermal redox reactions by metal-cocatalyst engineering.     

A Quadruply Bridged Non-Offset Face-to-Face Porphyrin Dimer and Cross-Shaped Pentameric Porphyrin Tapes Based on 2,7,12,17-Tetrakis(pinacolatoboryl) NiII Porphyrin

2,7,12,17-Tetrakis(pinacolatoboryl) Ni^II porphyrin 5 Ni was synthesized in 75 % yield by Ir-catalyzed borylation of porphine followed by Ni^II metalation and has been demonstrated to be a useful synthon, giving 2,7,12,17-tetraaryated Ni^II porphyrins 6 a – d , peripherally octaarylated Ni^II porphyrins 8 a – d , quadruply bridged face-to-face non-offset Ni^II-porphyrin dimer 12 , and cross-shaped β-meso singly linked porphyrin pentamers and nonamers. Oxidation of cross-shaped β-meso singly linked porphyrin pentamers 14 Ni and 14 Zn gave fused pentameric tapes 15 Ni and 15 Zn . The structures of 12 , 14 Zn , and 15 Ni have been revealed by X-ray diffraction analysis. Optical separation of 12 has been accomplished, showing a bisignate coupling pattern for exciton-coupled blue-shifted Soret band. Pentameric porphyrin tape 15 Zn exhibits a red-shifted absorption band at 1156 nm and seven reversible redox waves.