Main-chain,syndioregic, high-glass transition temperature polymer for nonlinear optics: Synthesis and characterization

A new main-chain syndioregic (head-to-head) NLO polymer was synthesized. The glass transition temperature of high molecular weight polymer was found to be 208°C, and the polymer has minimal weight loss at temperatures to at least 250°C owing to the incorporation of hydrogen bonding moieties and rigid bridging groups. The polymer was further characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The study of the nonlinear optical properties of this polymer are in progress. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Preparation of polyfunctional heterocycles using highly functionalized aminated arylmagnesium reagents as versatile scaffolds

[reaction: see text] Functionalized Grignard reagents, derived from readily available o-iodoaniline derivatives and obtained via a straightforward iodine-magnesium exchange, can be used to prepare a wide range of polyfunctional indoles, quinolines, and quinazolinones.     

Synthesis of amorphous silicon colloids by trisilane thermolysis in high temperature supercritical solvents

Colloidal submicrometer-diameter amorphous silicon (a-Si) particles are synthesized with >90% yield by thermal decomposition of trisilane (Si3H8) in supercritical hexane at temperatures ranging from 400 to 500 degrees C and pressures up to 345 bar. A range of synthetic conditions was explored to optimize the quality of the product. Under the appropriate synthetic conditions, the colloids are spherical and unagglomerated. The colloids can be produced with average diameters ranging from 50 to 500 nm by manipulating the precursor concentration, temperature, and pressure. Relatively narrow particle size distributions, as measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), with standard deviations about the mean as low as approximately +/-10% could be obtained in some cases. We explored the thermal annealing of the amorphous silicon particles after isolation from the reactor and found that crystallization to diamond structure silicon occurred at temperatures as low as 650 degrees C. The amorphous and crystalline materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction and high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy.     

Method for the determination of chromium (VI) as chromium (VI)-dibenzyidithiocarbamate

Dibenzyldithiocarbamic acid (DBDC) exhibits the ability to speciate between chromium(VI) and chromium(III), since only the chromium(VI) will form complexes with DBDC. The complex is then extracted into an organic solvent and assayed using an ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometer at 498.8 nm. Using 250 ml of aqueous sample detection limits less than 1 ng/ml are possible, while the linear range extends to 500 gmg/ml when working at 498.8 nm. Oxidation of the chromium(III) to chromium (VI) using cerium (IV) enables the determination of total chromium and subsequently the chromium (III) in solution. Evaluation of the method with a standard reference material produced only 4.81 part per thousand error in the determination of chromium(VI).     

Moderating influence of proteins on nonplanar tetrapyrrole deformations: coenzyme F430 in methyl-coenzyme-M reductase

Normal-coordinate structural decomposition, cluster analysis, and molecular mechanics calculations were undertaken to examine the effect of methyl-coenzyme-M reductase (MCR) on the nonplanar deformations of coenzyme F430. Although free 12,13-diepi-F430 has a lower energy conformation than free F430, the protein restraints exerted by MCR are responsible for F430 having a lower energy conformation than the 12,13-diepimer in MCR. According to the NSD analysis, the crystal structure of free diepimerized F430M is highly distorted. In MCR the protein prevents 12,13-diepi-F430 from undergoing nonplanar deformations; therefore, MCR favors F430 over the 12,13-diepimeric form. The strain imposed on 12,13-diepi-F430 in the protein is so large that although 88% of free F430 is found in the diepimeric form, none of the diepimeric form is found in MCR. This is of significance since the two forms have different chemistries. MCR also moderates the nonplanar deformations of coenzyme F430, which are known to affect redox potentials and axial ligand affinities in tetrapyrroles, suggesting that the protein environment (MCR) is responsible for tuning the chemistry of the active site nickel ion. F430 is bound to MCR by hydrogen bonds between the protein and the F430 carboxylate groups. Conformational searches have shown that F430 has very little rotational and translational freedom within MCR.     

Methylation of 3-methyl- and 3-phenyl-4-arylhydrazonoisoxazol-5-ones with diazomethane

3-Methyl(or phenyl)-4-arylhydrazonoisoxazol-5-ones on methylation with diazomethane afford 3-methyl(or phenyl)-4-(N-methylarylhydrazono)isoxazol-5-ones and 3-methyl(or phenyl)-5-methoxy-4-arylazoisoxazoles. The latter compounds readily rearrange to 4-methoxycarbonyl-5-methyl(or phenyl)-2-aryl-2H-1,2,3-triazoles.     

Synthesis of tellurobispyridines

All six isomers of tellurobispyridine, namely 2,2′-tellurobispyridine, 2,3′-tellurobispyridine, 2,4′-tellurobis-pyridine, 3,3′-tellurobispyridine, 3,4′-tellurobispyridine and 4,4′-tellurobispyridine have been synthesised.     

Grid-type metal ion architectures: functional metallosupramolecular arrays

Recent advances in supramolecular coordination chemistry allow access to transition-metal complexes of grid-type architecture comprising two-dimensional arrays of metal ions connecting a set of organic ligands in a perpendicular arrangement to generate a multiple wiring network. General design principles for these structures involve the thermodynamically driven synthesis of complex discrete objects from numerous molecular components in a single overall operation. Such supramolecular metal ion arrays combine the properties of their constituent metal ions and ligands, showing unique optical, electrochemical, and magnetic behavior. These features present potential relevance for nanotechnology, particularly in the area of supramolecular devices for information storage and processing. Thus, a dense organization of addressable units is represented by an extended "grid-of-grids" arrangement, formed by interaction of grid-type arrays with solid surfaces.     

Ligand K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy of [Fe4S4]1+,2+,3+ clusters: changes in bonding and electronic relaxation upon redox

Sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is reported for [Fe(4)S(4)](1+,2+,3+) clusters. The results are quantitatively and qualitatively compared with DFT calculations. The change in covalency upon redox in both the [Fe(4)S(4)](1+/2+) (ferredoxin) and the [Fe(4)S(4)](2+/3+) (HiPIP) couple are much larger than that expected from just the change in number of 3d holes. Moreover, the change in the HiPIP couple is higher than that of the ferredoxin couple. These changes in electronic structure are analyzed using DFT calculations in terms of contributions from the nature of the redox active molecular orbital (RAMO) and electronic relaxation. The results indicate that the RAMO of HiPIP has 50% ligand character, and hence, the HiPIP redox couple involves limited electronic relaxation. Alternatively, the RAMO of the ferredoxin couple is metal-based, and the ferredoxin redox couple involves extensive electronic relaxation. The contributions of these RAMO differences to ET processes in the different proteins are discussed.     

Electronic decay constant of carotenoid polyenes from single-molecule measurements

The conductance of carotenoid polyenes chemically bound at each end to gold contacts has been measured for single molecules containing 5, 7, 9, and 11 carbon-carbon double bonds in conjugation. The electronic decay constant, beta, is determined to be 0.22 +/- 0.04 A-1, in close agreement with the value obtained from first principles simulations (0.22 +/- 0.01 A-1). The absolute values of the molecular conductance are within a factor of 3 of those calculated from first principles. The small value of beta demonstrates that conductivity drops off only slowly with chain length, confirming that carotenoid conjugated chains are relatively good molecular "wires".