Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Chloro‐Bridged Coordination Polymers [Cd(BIM)Cl2]n and [Pb(BIM)Cl2]n

Two novel coordination polymers, [Cd(BIM)Cl₂]_n ( 1 ) and [Pb(BIM)Cl₂]_n ( 2 ) [wherein BIM = bis(imidazol‐1‐yl)methane], were synthesized by the reactions of the BIM ligand with CdCl₂ and PbCl₂, respectively. They were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TGA and X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction techniques. Single‐crystal X‐ray structure analyses showed there is a pseudooctahedral arrangement around the cadmium atom in the complex 1 . It has a three‐dimensional network which contains one‐dimensional inorganic‐organic hybrid chains and μ₂‐bridging chloride ligands. A rare pentacoordinate square‐pyramidal arrangement was adopted for the lead(II) atom in the complex 2 , which has an unusual two‐dimensional layer structure of macrometallacycles crosslinked with the bridging Pb₂Cl₂ units. The metal atoms in both complexes were coordinated with two BIM ligands in cis arrangement and bridged by μ₂‐bridging chloride ligands.     

Reactivity of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine with CuI and [Cu(MeCN)4][PF6]: Benzimidazole Formation vs. Cu Oxidation

The reaction of 2,2′‐Bis(2N‐(1,1′,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐guanidino))diphenylene‐amine (TMG₂PA) ( 1 ) with CuI in MeCN results in the formation of [Cu^II(TMG₂PA^amid)I] ( 2 ) indicatingthat Cu^I is the target of an oxidative attack of the N‐H proton of the ligand which itself is converted to molecular hydrogen. In contrast, if [Cu(MeCN)₄][PF₆] is used as the Cu^I source, [Cu^I₂(TMGbenz)₂][PF₆]₂ ( 3 ) is obtained instead. The use of the non‐coordinating counterion [PF₆]^– apparently prevents Cu^I from oxidation but induces itself a cyclisation reaction within the ligand which results in the formation of a benzimidazole‐guanidine ligand.     

Preparative isolation of pseudolaric acids A and B,and their glucosides from the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi using high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

In order to provide the chemical markers for the quality control of herbal medicines, four diterpenoids, pseudolaric acids A and B (PAA and PAB), and their glucosides were isolated from the methanol extract of the Chinese herb Pseudolarix kaempferi using high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC). The diphase solvent system was n‐hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H₂O which was used at two ratios (5:5:5:5 and 1:9:4:6 by volume) in the separation of pseudolaric acids and their glycosides, respectively. As a result, PAA (14 mg), PAB (129 mg), PAA‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (8 mg, PAAG), and PAB‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside (42 mg, PABG) were obtained from 0.5 g of the crude extract. Their purities were determined to be above 97% by HPLC analysis. Their chemical structures were confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR analysis or HPLC comparison with the reference compounds.     

A novel phosphorus‐containing thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(ester‐imide) with high flame retardancy

A novel phosphorus–nitrogen thermotropic liquid crystalline poly(ester‐imide) (PN‐TLCP) derived from p‐acetoxybenzoic acid (ABA), terephthalic acid (TPA), acetylated 2‐(6‐oxide‐6H‐dibenz<c,e><1,2>oxa phosphorin‐ 6‐yl)‐1,4‐dihydroxy phenylene (DOPO‐AHQ) and N,N'‐hexane‐1,6‐diylbis(trimellitimide) was prepared by melt transesterification. The chemical structure, the mesophase behavior, and the thermal properties of the copolymer were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), elemental analysis, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), hot‐stage polarized light microscopy (PLM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). PN‐TLCP exhibited a nematic mesophase with a strong birefringence at a low and broad mesomorphic temperature ranging from 220 to 350°C, an initial flow temperature as low as about 190°C and a glass transition temperature of about 160°C. PN‐TLCP has also good thermal stability, high char residues and excellent flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index, LOI = 71 and UL‐94 V‐0 rating). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Confocal microscopy study of uptake kinetics of α‐lactalbumin and β‐lactoglobulin onto the cation‐exchanger SP Sepharose FF

Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to study single‐ and two‐component protein uptake for α‐lactalbumin (ALA) and β‐lactoglobulin (BLG), as models for whey proteins, to SP Sepharose FF at pH 3.7 during batch experiments in a finite bath. By coupling a fluorescent dye with the protein molecule, the penetration into individual adsorbent particles at different times during batch uptake was visualised. In a single‐component system, BLG penetrated fast into the adsorbent beads and gradually filled them in a shell‐wise fashion, while adsorption of ALA was mostly confined to the outer shells of the adsorbent. For the two‐component studies, the results showed that ALA was able to displace BLG despite its lower affinity to the adsorbent under the employed conditions. CLSM results were then compared both qualitatively and quantitatively to their counterparts obtained in traditional experiments by indirect measurements of the protein concentration in the fluid phase. A novel quantitative approach was undertaken by modifying the simple kinetic rate model traditionally used to determine the kinetic rate constant, k₁, for batch uptake experiments, in order to describe batch uptake kinetics based on CLSM data. Although BLG results were in good agreement, there was a discrepancy in ALA results.     

Formaldehyde Formation on Vanadium Oxide Surfaces V2O3(0001) and V2O5(001): How does the Stable Methoxy Intermediate Form?

Hydroxy‐mediated methoxy formation or stabilization is probably an important process in many methanol adsorption systems. Hydrogen atoms originating from the scission of the methanol O? H bond react with the substrate and form water. This process may result 1) in the production of additional surface defects as reactive centers for methoxy formation and 2) in the stabilization of methoxy groups by suppression of methanol formation.

     

Molecular Recognition in Self‐Assembled Integrated Circuits: Getting Smaller while under Control

Available in small print : Block copolymer lithography has great potential for reducing the size and fabrication time of integrated circuits. Hydrogen‐bonding‐mediated molecular recognition in self‐assembly processes can be used to produce highly ordered square arrays of block copolymers on the surface of a silicon substrate (see picture).

     

Synthesis and Mesomorphic Behavior of 3‐Alkyl‐2,5‐ bis[p‐(hexa‐2,4‐dienoyloxy)phenyl]‐Thiophene Derivatives

3‐Alkyl‐2,5‐bis[p‐(hexa‐2,4‐dienoyloxy)phenyl]‐thiophene derivatives were synthesized by using Kumada coupling and Suzuki coupling reactions as key steps. The thermotropic liquid crystalline behavior of these compounds was investigated by optical polarized microscopy, monotropic nematic mesophases were observed in such compounds.