Separation and structural analysis by 1H-NMR of the telomers of methyl methacrylate with thiophenol

The stereoselectivity of the addition step and the transfer step of the radical telomerization of methyl methacrylate with thiophenol has been studied by determining the structure and the amount of each isomer by ¹H-NMR. We found, in this case, that the addition step gave preferentially a diad r and that the transfer step gave preferentially a diad m. On the other hand, the tacticity observed for higher telomers is preferentially syndiotactic, similar to that of the poly(methyl methacrylate) prepared by radical initiation. The propagation process for radical telomerization obeys, as for the radical polymerization, Bernoulli's statistics.     

Mixed-valence, mixed-spin-state, and heterometallic [2x2] grid-type arrays based on heteroditopic hydrazone ligands: synthesis and electrochemical features

An extended family of heterometallic [(M1)2(M2)2(L-)4](n+) [2x2] grid-type arrays 1-9 has been prepared. The three-tiered synthetic route encompasses regioselective, redox and enantioselective features and is based on the stepwise construction of heteroditopic hydrazone ligands A-C. These ligands contain ionisable NH and nonionisable NMe hydrazone units, which allows the metal redox properties to be controlled according to the charge on the ligand binding pocket. The 2-pyrimidine (R) and 6-pyridine (R') substituents have a significant effect on complex geometry and influence both the electrochemical and magnetic behaviour of the system. 1H NMR spectroscopic studies show that the Fe(II) ions in the grid can be low spin, high spin or spin crossover depending on the steric effect of substituents R and R'. This steric effect has been manipulated to construct an unusual array possessing two low-spin and two spin-crossover Fe(II) centres (grid 8). Electrochemical studies were performed for the grid-type arrays 1-9 and their respective mononuclear precursor complexes 10-13. The grids function as electron reservoirs and display up to eight monoelectronic, reversible reduction steps. These processes generally occur in pairs and are assigned to ligand-based reductions and to the Co(III)/Co(II) redox couple. Individual metal ions in the heterometallic grid motif can be selectively addressed electrochemically (e.g., either the Co(III) or Fe(II) ions can be targeted in grids 2 and 5). The Fe(II) oxidation potential is governed by the charge on the ligand binding unit, rather than the spin state, thus permitting facile electrochemical discrimination between the two types of Fe(II) centre in 7 or in 8. Such multistable heterometallic [2x2] gridlike arrays are of great interest for future supramolecular devices incorporating multilevel redox activity.     

Molecular Recognition in Anion Coordination Chemistry. Structure,Binding Constants and Receptor-Substrate Complementarity of a Series of Anion Cryptates of a Macrobicyclic Receptor Molecule

The crystal structures of four anion cryptates [X^? ? BT -6H⁺] formed by the protonated macrobicyclic receptor BT -6H⁺ with F^?, Cl^?, Br^? and N have been determined. They provide a homogeneous series of anion coordination patterns with the same ligand. The small F^?-ion is tetracoordinated, while Cl^? and Br^? are bound in an octahedron of H-bonds. The non-complementarity between these spherical anions and the ellipsoïdal cavity of BT -6H⁺ is reflected in ligand distortions. Structural complementarity is achieved for the linear triatomic substrate N, which is bound by two pyramidal arrays of three H-bonds, each interacting with a terminal N-atom of N. The formation constants of the complexes formed by BT -6H⁺ with a variety of anions (halides, N, NO, carboxylates, SO, HPO, AMP^2?, ADP^3?, ATP^4?, P₂O) have been determined. Very strong complexations are found, as well as marked electrostatic and structural effects on stability and selectivity; in particular the binding of F^?, Cl^?, Br^?, and N may be analyzed in terms of the crystal structure data. The cryptand BT -6H⁺ is a molecular receptor containing an ellipsoïdal recognition site for linear triatomic substrates of size compatible with the size of the molecular cacity. Further developments of various aspects of anion coordination chemistry are considered.     

Homo- and heterometallic [2x2] grid arrays containing RuII, OsII, and FeII subunits and their mononuclear RuII and OsII precursors: synthesis, absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties

The absorption spectra, redox behavior, and luminescence properties (both at 77 K in rigid matrices and at room temperature in fluid solution) of a series of [2x2] molecular grids have been investigated. The latter were prepared either by means of sequential self-assembly, or by a stepwise protection/deprotection procedure, and are based on a ditopic hexadentate ligand 1 in which two terpyridine-like binding sites are fused together in a linear arrangement. The molecular grids studied include the homometallic species [[Fe(1)](4)](8+) (Fe(2)Fe(2)), and the heterometallic species [[Ru(1)](2)[Fe(1)](2)](8+) (Ru(2)Fe(2)) and [[Os(1)](2)[Fe(1)](2)](8+) (Os(2)Fe(2)). For comparison purposes, the properties of the mononuclear complexes [Ru(1)(2)](2+) (1-Ru) and [Os(1)(2)](2+) (1-Os) have been studied. All these compounds exhibit very intense absorption bands in the UV region (epsilon in the 10(5)-10(6) M(-1) cm(-1) range, attributed to spin-allowed ligand-centered (LC) transitions), as well as intense metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) transitions (epsilon in the 10(4)-10(5) M(-1) cm(-1) range) that extend to the entire visible region. The mononuclear species 1-Ru and 1-Os exhibit relatively intense luminescence, both in acetonitrile at room temperature (tau=59 and 18 ns, respectively) and in butyronitrile rigid matrices at 77 K. In contrast, the tetranuclear molecular grids do not exhibit any luminescence, either at room temperature or at 77 K. This is attributed to fast intercomponent energy transfer from the Ru- or Os-based subunits to the low-lying metal-centered (MC) levels involving the Fe(II) centers, which leads to fast radiationless decay. The redox behavior of the compounds is characterized by several metal-centered oxidation and ligand-centered reduction processes, most of them reversible in nature (as many as twelve for Fe(2)Fe(2)). Detailed assignment of each redox process has been made, and it is apparent that these systems can be viewed as multilevel molecular electronic species capable of reversibly exchanging a number of electrons at accessible and predetermined potentials. Furthermore, it is shown that the electronic interaction between specific subunits depends on their location in the structure and on the oxidation states of the other components.     

Cross-linking of polyolefins: a study by thermoporosimetry with benzene derivatives as swelling solvents.

The solvents o-, m-, p-xylene, p-dichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and naphthalene were calibrated as condensates used in the thermoporosimetry technique. Exponential relationships were found connecting the pore radii R(p) (in nm) and the freezing-point depression of the swelling solvent deltaT (in degrees C) on the one hand and the apparent energy of crystallization W(a) (in J cm(-3)) and deltaT on the other hand: R(p) = t exp[-1/(c deltaT)]; W(a) = W0 exp(deltaT/f). Pore- or mesh-size distributions can be derived from differential scanning calorimetry results by using the following equation: dV(p)/dR(p) = k{[cY(T)deltaT2]/[W(a)R(p)]}. All the numerical parameters were determined. Polyethylene and polypropylene samples, cross-linked with high-energy electrons or gamma-rays, were submitted to thermoporosimetry study. Relative mesh-size distributions, which depend on the polymer/solvent pair, were calculated for these polyolefins with o-, m-, and p-xylene as solvent and were found to be in the same sequence as those of their degrees of swelling and the irradiation doses received.     

Surface organometallic chemistry of main group elements: selective synthesis of silica supported [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+)

The reaction of the Lewis acid B(C(6)F(5))(3) with silanol groups of silica surfaces, dehydroxylated at different temperatures (300, 500, 700, and 800 degrees C), has been investigated in presence of the Br?nsted base NEt(2)Ph. The structure of the resulting modified silica supports [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+) (1) has been carefully identified by IR and multinuclear solid-state NMR spectroscopies, isotopic (2)H and (18)O labeling, elemental analysis, molecular modeling, and comparison with synthesized molecular models. Highly dehydroxylated silica surfaces were required to transform selectively each silanol group into unique [triple bond Si-OB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-)[HNEt(2)Ph](+) fragments. For lower dehydroxylation temperatures, two sorts of surface sites were coexisting on silica: the free silanol groups [triple bond SiOH] and the ionic species 1.     

Helical self-organization and hierarchical self-assembly of an oligoheterocyclic pyridine-pyridazine strand into extended supramolecular fibers

The synthesis and characterization of an alternating pyridine-pyridazine strand comprising thirteen heterocycles are described. Spontaneous folding into a helical secondary structure is based on a general molecular self-organization process enforced by the conformational information encoded within the primary structure of the molecular strand itself. Conformational control based on heterocyclic "helicity codons" illustrates a strategy for designing folding properties into synthetic oligomers (foldamers). Strong intermolecular interactions of the highly ordered lock-washer subunits of compound 3 results in hierarchical supramolecular self-assembly into protofibrils and fibrils. Compound 3 also forms mechanically stable two-dimensional Langmuir-Blodgett and cast thin films.     

[M(bpy)3] (M = Fe,Ru, Os): New Crystalline Materials from the reductive electrocrystallization of [M(bpy)3](PF6)2

Reductive electrocrystallization at a constant current density (11.0–11.5 μA/cm²) of millimolar solutions of [M(bpy)₃](PF₆)₂, where M = Fe, Ru, or Os, and bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine in acetonitrile containing 0.1M Bu₄NPF₆ results in the formation of dark crystals on the Pt cathode. The crystals grow as long, thin, and shiny needles having a hexagonal cross section of 0.1–0.5 mm in diameter. Combustion microanalyses results are consistent with the composition for [Fe(bpy)₃], [Ru(bpy)₃], and [Os(bpy)₃]. In addition, the chromophores are conserved, as confirmed by recording both the electronic and the ¹H-NMR spectra after reoxidation of the electrocrystals in humid air. The spectra are identical to those for authentic samples of [Fe(bpy)₃]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, and [Os(bpy)₃]²⁺. A ratio of 2.0 ± 0.1 e^?/molecule is observed upon completion of the controlled potential electrolysis of a solution of [M(bpy)₃]²⁺, which results in the precipitation of a dark solid and the almost complete fading of the color of the original solution. Unexpectedly, the crystals do not exhibit an ESR signal. These data indicate the formation of novel materials, crystalline [Fe(bpy)₃], [Ru(bpy)₃], and [Os(bpy)₃].     

An approach to channel type molecular structures. 1. Synthesis ofBouquet-shaped molecules based on an [18]-O6 polyether macrocycle

An approach to a transmembrane cation channel is described. It is based on the grafting of oxygen bearing side-chains on a macrocyclic polyether unit that constitutes the organizing core. The resulting species has a structure of overall bouquet shape. The synthesis of such a molecule . _M ⁰ ,14a is described, together with that of its analogue bearing polymethylene side-chains _M ^C ,14b. The physicochemical properties of these molecules indicate that they possess the features expected on the basis of their structure.This paper is dedicated to the memory of the late Dr C. J. Pedersen.     

Self-sorting of two imine-based metal complexes: balancing kinetics and thermodynamics in constitutional dynamic networks

A major hurdle in the development of complex constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) is the lack of strategies to simultaneously control the output of two (or more) interconnected dynamic processes over several species, namely reversible covalent imine bond formation and dynamic metal–ligand coordination. We have studied in detail the self-sorting process of 11 constitutional dynamic libraries containing two different amines, aldehydes and metal salts into two imine-based metal complexes, having no overlap in terms of their compositions. This study allowed us to determine the factors influencing the fidelity of this process (concentration, electronic and steric parameters of the organic components, and nature of the metal cations). In all 11 systems, the outcome of the process was primarily determined by the ability of the octahedral metal ion to select its pair of components from the initial pool of components, with the composition of the weaker tetrahedral complex being imposed by the components rejected by the octahedral metal ions. Different octahedral metal ions required different levels of precision in the “assembling instructions” provided by the organic components of the CDN to guide it towards a sorted output. The concentration of the reaction mixture, and the electronic and steric properties of the initial components of the library were all found to influence the lifetime of unwanted metastable intermediates formed during the assembling of the two complexes.

Constitutional dynamic networks have been developed to simultaneously control the output of two interconnected dynamic processes over several species of the same reaction mixture.