Synthesis,Characterization, and Electronic Structures of Porphyrins Fused with Polycyclic Aromatic Ring Systems

A series of porphyrins fused with acenaphthylene, phenanthroline, and benzofluoranthene polycyclic aromatic rings were prepared by means of a 3+1 porphyrin synthesis approach and subsequent retro‐Diels–Alder reaction of bicyclo[2.2.2]octadiene‐fused precursors. Analysis of the magnetic circular dichroism spectra and the results of time‐dependent DFT calculations are used to identify the reasons for the trends observed in the wavelengths and relative intensities of the Q bands of the products. Michl's perimeter model is used as a conceptual framework to explain the changes in the relative energies of the frontier π‐molecular orbitals.     

Facile synthesis of graft copolymers containing rigid poly(dialkyl fumarate) branches by macromonomer method

Graft copolymers show microphase separated structure as seen in block copolymers and have lower intrinsic viscosity than block copolymers because of a branching structure. Therefore, considering molding processability, especially for polymers containing rigid segments, graft copolymers are useful architectures. In this work, graft copolymers containing rigid poly(diisopropyl fumarate) (PDiPF) branches were synthesized by full free‐radical polymerization process. First, synthesis of PDiPF macromonomers by addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) was investigated. 2,2‐Dimethyl‐4‐methylene‐pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester was found to be an efficient AFCT agent for diisopropyl fumarate (DiPF) polymerization because of the suppression of undesired primary radical termination, which significantly took place when common AFCT agent, methyl 2‐(bromomethyl)acrylate, was used. Copolymerization of PDiPF macromonomer with ethyl acrylate accomplished the generation of the graft copolymer having flexible poly(ethyl acrylate) backbone and rigid PDiPF branches. The graft copolymer showed a microphase separated structure, high transparency, and characteristic thermal properties to PDiPF and poly(ethyl acrylate). © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 2474–2480     

Order-Stability in Complex Biological,Social, and AI-Systems from Quantum Information Theory

This paper is our attempt, on the basis of physical theory, to bring more clarification on the question “What is life?” formulated in the well-known book of Schrödinger in 1944. According to Schrödinger, the main distinguishing feature of a biosystem’s functioning is the ability to preserve its order structure or, in mathematical terms, to prevent increasing of entropy. However, Schrödinger’s analysis shows that the classical theory is not able to adequately describe the order-stability in a biosystem. Schrödinger also appealed to the ambiguous notion of negative entropy. We apply quantum theory. As is well-known, behaviour of the quantum von Neumann entropy crucially differs from behaviour of classical entropy. We consider a complex biosystem S composed of many subsystems, say proteins, cells, or neural networks in the brain, that is, S=(Si). We study the following problem: whether the compound system S can maintain “global order” in the situation of an increase of local disorder and if S can preserve the low entropy while other Si increase their entropies (may be essentially). We show that the entropy of a system as a whole can be constant, while the entropies of its parts rising. For classical systems, this is impossible, because the entropy of S cannot be less than the entropy of its subsystem Si. And if a subsystems’s entropy increases, then a system’s entropy should also increase, by at least the same amount. However, within the quantum information theory, the answer is positive. The significant role is played by the entanglement of a subsystems’ states. In the absence of entanglement, the increasing of local disorder implies an increasing disorder in the compound system S (as in the classical regime). In this note, we proceed within a quantum-like approach to mathematical modeling of information processing by biosystems—respecting the quantum laws need not be based on genuine quantum physical processes in biosystems. Recently, such modeling found numerous applications in molecular biology, genetics, evolution theory, cognition, psychology and decision making. The quantum-like model of order stability can be applied not only in biology, but also in social science and artificial intelligence.     

Structures and Reaction Mechanism of Novel Metal-Carbene Complexes Derived from Hypervalent Diazadiselenathiapentalenes

Abstract

Novel metal-carbene complexes (4) with a metallapentalene framework have been obtained from hypervalent diazadiselenathiapentalenes (3) by treating with Pt(PPh₃)₄, Pd(PPh₃)₄ and RhCl(PPh₃)₃. X-Ray investigations revealed that the central hypervalent sulfur atom in 3 was substituted by a metal atom to form M-Se bonds in the resultant metallapentalene framework.     

Synthesis,Redox Properties,and Electronic Spectra of Sterically Crowded Triarylphosphines Conjugated with Electron Acceptors

Abstract

Synthesis, redox properties, and electronic spectra of the sterically crowded triarylphosphines conjugated with π-electron systems, especially electron acceptors such as carbonyl group, are briefly reviewed. The sterically crowded triarylphosphines conjugated with various π-electron systems were synthesized from the common synthetic intermediate, (bromoaryl)phosphine, by conventional manner. The sterically crowded triarylphosphines conjugated with the electron acceptors exhibit visible absorption and fluorescence with large Stokes shift. Large solvent effect, redshift in polar solvent, and good correlation with the difference of the oxidation potential of the phosphine moiety and the reduction potential of the acceptor moiety suggest polar excited state resulting from HOMO-LUMO transition.     

Hydrooligomerization of Butadiene with Nickel Complex Catalyst

Abstract

Oligomerization of butadiene with the catalyst system of nickel(II)chloride, electron donor, and lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride has been studied. Most oligomers obtained with this catalyst were linear, and dihydrogenated dimers, trimers, and tetramers. They were n-octa-1,6-diene, n-octa-1,7-diene, n-dodeca-1,6,10-triene, and n-hexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene, which were identified by means of infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry. Yields of each oligomer were strongly affected by the nature of the electron donors used. The hydrogen required for the formation of the hydrooligomers was assumed to originate from the lithium aluminum hydride or sodium borohydride used as a reducing agent. A proposed mechanism for the hydrooligomerization is that butadiene is oligomerized on the nickel atom, and the produced oligoolefins, bonded to the nickel by two terminal π-allylic bonds, are dihydrogenated to linear hydrooligomers.     

Functions of Acyclic Poly(ethylene Oxide) Homologs: Acceleration of Nucleophilic Reactions and Selective Ion Transport through Membranes

The acceleration effect of poly(ethylene oxide) on nucleophilic reactions was investigated. The enhancement of the reaction rate was interpreted by the cooperative solvation of alkali metal ions with ethereal oxygens of PEO resulting in active nucleophilic anions. In relation to the complex formation of alkali metal ions with PEO, the oligo(ethylene oxide) derivatives were prepared as the synthetic ionophores, which were able to transport alkali metal ions selectively through a liquid membrane against the alkali metal ion concentration.     

Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Bilayer Film Coating

The electrode characteristics of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) for K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, and Ca²⁺ based on bilayer film coatings, where the inner layer films are electroactive electropolymerized ones and the outer layer films are composed of conventional ion-sensitive materials, have been examined. These ISEs of the coated-wire electrode type have no conventional internal reference solution and reference electrode, but the inner films may be considered to function as the “internal standard solution.” The ion selectivity coefficients and the activity range showing Nernstian response were almost comparable to those of conventional liquid-membrane electrodes. The bilayer-coated ISEs showed insensitivity to O₂ and CO₂, long-term stability, and little drift. It was also found that the electrode performance is practically unchanged after sterilization in an autoclave. The results demonstrate that the bilayer-coated ISEs examined are promising for the determination of K⁺, Na⁺, NH₄ ⁺, or Ca²⁺ activity in biological and environmental systems.     

An Attempt at the Preparation of Macrocyclic Polymer

Syntheses of cyclic oligomer and polymer were attempted with magnesiacyclohexane as the initiator in HMPA. The oligomer of α-methylstyrene, initiated by magnesiacyclohexane, was treated with dimethyldichlorosilane in order to obtain a stable cyclic oligomer. The products were investigated by GPC, IR, NMR, and elemental analysis. It was found that magnesia-cyclohexane could not be activated enough by HMPA, and that the magnesium-carbon bond was not stable in HMPA, and that the chain transfer reaction might occur repeatedly during the polymerization. Consequently, the yield of cyclic oligomer was so low that cyclic compounds could not be discriminated from the linear oligomer.