Synthesis of Highly Emissive Fluorophores Based on Multiply Stacked Anthracene Arrangement

Newly designed fluorophore systems with feather-like structures were constructed by connecting bisanthracene building units via a concise reaction sequence of bromination, etherification, and desilylation. Spectroscopic characterizations revealed that all of the fluorophore systems achieved high light absorptivity and high emission efficiency by preventing closely spaced anthracene chromophores from mutual interactions to reduce concomitant energy loss by fluorescence quenching. The application of fluorophore systems for the preparation of light-harvesting dyad materials has successfully demonstrated their potential utility as versatile photofunctional tools.     

UV–vis and fluorescence detection by receptors based on an isophthalamide bearing a phenylethynyl group

We have successfully prepared 5-(2-phenylethynyl)isophathalilc acid as a signaling unit and the corresponding derivatives for an anion receptor 2 and a barbiturate receptor 4. Receptor 2 showed characteristic UV–vis changes and dramatic fluorescence quenching upon the addition of anions and receptor 4 showed UV–vis and an OFF-ON fluorescence changes upon the addition of dibutylbarbituric acid based on the diphenylethyne moiety.     

Synthesis and characterization of a biphenyl-linked hemicryptophane and an endohedral cobalt(II) complex

Hemicryptophanes are covalent molecular cages, constructed from a cyclotriveratrylene-based host unit and a functional unit linked by covalent spacers, which have been designed to accommodate endohedral functionalities in the cavity. In this study, the synthesis and characterization of the rigid, biphenyl-linked hemicryptophane 1 were investigated by NMR, ESI-MS, and X-ray crystallography. The structure of the inclusion complex, in which a dichloromethane molecule was constructed encapsulated within 1, was characterized by X-ray crystallography. An endohedral, cobalt(II) hemicryptophane complex 2 was also synthesized and characterized ESI-MS and X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystal structure of 2 showed that the biphenyl-linked hemicryptophane had three components—a molecule each of chloroform and acetonitrile, and a cobalt(II) ion—within its cavity.     

Linear polybiurets: Facile synthesis and characteristic properties

Linear polybiurets have been synthesized by polyaddition of benzyloxyamine and diisocyanates, and properties of the novel polymeric materials have been elucidated. Prior to polymerization, model reactions between benzyloxyamine and phenyl isocyanate were examined in detail and proved to be controlled by the molar ratio of reagents and by catalysts to give the urea (1:1 adduct) and/or biuret (1:2 adduct). Under appropriate conditions, the biuret was synthesized in a quantitative yield. Polymerization of equimolar amounts of benzyloxyamine and diphenylmethane or hexamethylene diisocyanate proceeded smoothly to give polybiurets with inherent viscosities up to 0.52 dL/g. The benzyl group of the model biuret and polybiuret could be removed by catalytic hydrogenation. Both the N-benzyloxy-type and N-hydroxy-type polybiurets showed excellent solubility in common organic solvents. The two kinds of polybiurets as well as model biurets adsorbed metal cations efficiently. The N-hydroxybiuret structure exhibited particularly high affinity for iron(III) and was useful for selective removal of iron from metal cation mixtures. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stable and Highly Efficient Electrochemical Production of Formic Acid from Carbon Dioxide Using Diamond Electrodes

High faradaic efficiencies can be achieved in the production of formic acid (HCOOH) by metal electrodes, such as Sn or Pb, in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂). However, the stability and environmental load in using them are problematic. The electrochemical reduction of CO₂ to HCOOH was investigated in a flow cell using boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. BDD electrodes have superior electrochemical properties to metal electrodes, and, moreover, are highly durable. The faradaic efficiency for the production of HCOOH was as high as 94.7 %. Furthermore, the selectivity for the production of HCOOH was more than 99 %. The rate of the production was increased to 473 μmol m^?2 s^?1 at a current density of 15 mA cm^?2 with a faradaic efficiency of 61 %. The faradaic efficiency and the production rate are almost the same as or larger than those achieved using Sn and Pb electrodes. Furthermore, the stability of the BDD electrodes was confirmed by 24 h operation.     

Influence of terminal substituent on non-linear S-shaped oligomers consisting of azobenzene moieties at the peripheral arm: Synthesis,characterisation and phase transition behaviour

A series of symmetrical S-shaped mesogens based on 4,4′-bis-(6-bromohexyloxy)biphenyl as a central unit containing two 2-{6-[4-(4-substitutedphenylazo)phenoxy]hexyloxy}phenol as side-chain groups has been successfully synthesised. The terminal substituent was varied from halogen (X = F, Cl, Br and I) to non-halogen (X = C₂H₅ and OC₂H₅). The oligomers with C₂H₅ and OC₂H₅ substituents exhibit predominantly the monotropic nematic (N) phase. The OC₂H₅-containing derivatives possess long-range stability of N phase than its C₂H₅-containing analogue in which it has small range of N phase stability. As for halogen-containing analogues, oligomer with F exhibits monotropic N phase whilst oligomers with Cl and Br exhibit monotropic N and smectic A (SmA) phases. In addition, homologue with Br shows additional phase which is smectic B (SmB) phase upon further cooling. However, the oligomers in which F, Cl and Br were substituted by I exhibits purely monotropic SmA and SmB phases. X-ray diffraction measurements reveal that the smectic phase is inclined to the monolayer structure.     

Synthesis of ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles for liquid scintillators used in the detection of neutrinoless double beta decay

We synthesized liquid scintillators incorporating ZrO₂ nanoparticles for application in neutrinoless double beta decay experiments. ZrO₂ nanoparticles of less than 10 nm in size were synthesized with sub- and supercritical hydrothermal methods. The Zr concentrations in the liquid scintillators were determined to be up to 1.4 wt% with inductively coupled plasma analysis, and the liquid scintillators were transparent to scintillation. These results indicate that these methods are applicable for the preparation of liquid scintillators for neutrinoless double beta decay experiments.     

Morphological change of crystalline polymer films by annealing: substrate‐ and heating/cooling‐rate‐dependent surface roughness

We study the morphological change of crystalline polymer films by annealing using atomic force microscope, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques. As typical samples, we employ high‐density and low‐density polyethylene films prepared by the cast method. After annealing at 135 °C for 4 h, the surface roughness of polyethylene films by the atomic force microscope significantly increases, and the crystallite size by the X‐ray diffraction also shows some increase, while the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectrum hardly exhibits any change. This can be well explained as a result of the growth of crystal structure by recrystallization during annealing. More interestingly, we find that the choice of the substrate and also the heating/cooling rates for annealing significantly influences the surface roughness of the films. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.