Second hyperpolarizabilities (gamma) of bisimidazole and bistriazole benzenes: diradical character, charged state, and spin state dependences

The second hyperpolarizabilities of bisimidazole- and bistriazole-benzene compounds have been calculated at different levels of approximation to unravel the effects of diradical character as well as of charge and spin multiplicity. The largest second hyperpolarizabilities are associated with intermediate diradical character, provided positive charging does not compensate for this effect. For the neutral diradical bisimidazole compound, the singlet diradical species possesses a second hyperpolarizability two to three times larger than the corresponding triplet, demonstrating the possibility of spin state control of the third-order NLO responses for diradical species.     

Improving the properties of the proton exchange membranes by introducing α-methylstyrene in the pre-irradiation induced graft polymerization

New proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of α-methylstyrene (AMS)/styrene (STY)/divinylbenzene (DVB) into the crosslinked polytetrafluoroethylene (RX-PTFE) films and successively sulfonated. The new PEMs showed the improved glass transition temperature and chemical stability as compared with the PEMs prepared by pre-irradiation induced grafting of STY/DVB. The balance of the cost, grafting kinetic, thermal properties and the properties of the resulted proton exchange membrane is the key point of this work.     

Torands Revisited: Metal Sequestration and Self‐Assembly of Cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline Hexaaza Macrocycles

A series of novel toroidal cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline macrocycles with an unusual hexaaza cavity are reported. Nickel‐mediated Yamamoto aryl–aryl coupling was found to be a versatile tool for the cyclotrimerization of functionalized 1,10‐phenathroline precursors. Due to the now improved processability, both liquid‐crystalline behavior in the bulk phase and two‐dimensional self‐assembly at the molecular level could be studied, for the first time, for a torand system. The macrocycles exhibited a strong affinity for the complexation of different metal cations, as evidenced by MALDI‐TOF analysis and spectroscopic methods. Experimental results were correlated to an extensive computational study of the cyclo‐2,9‐tris‐1,10‐phenanthroline cavity and its binding mode for metal cations. Due to the combination of several interesting features, toroidal macrocycles may find future applications in the field of ion and charge transport through molecular channels, as well as for chemical sensing and molecular writing in surface‐confined monolayers under STM conditions.     

Synthesis of an Alternated Heterobimetallic Supramolecular Polymer Based on Ru(II) and Fe(II)

A heterobimetallic supramolecular polymer (polyRuFe) with alternately complexed Ru(II) and Fe(II) is prepared following a stepwise synthetic route through harnessing first the strongly binding metal ion Ru(II) and then the weakly binding metal ion Fe(II). A high yield of product is achieved in each step. The heterometal ions are incorporated into the polymer chain in identical coordination environments formed by two 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine moieties. Characterization is accomplished by NMR spectroscopy, MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. PolyRuFe shows a wide optical window (λ = 311–577 nm) and a broad distinct reversible redox nature of two types, originated from the coupling of the two heterometallic segments into the polymer chain. Such characteristics of polyRuFe suggest its potential for various electrochemical and electro-optical applications.     

Preparation and characterization of silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite

The silica-pillared derivatives from kanemite (NaHSi(2)O(5).3H(2)O) were prepared by intercalation of dialkyldimethylammonium (DADMA) ion and pillaring with tetraethylorthosilicate. The formation of silica pillars between the silicate sheets was demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, (29)Si CP/MAS NMR, and TEM observation. The basal spacing depended on the chain length of DADMA. Nitrogen adsorption study showed that the specific surface area was enlarged over 1000 m(2) g(-1) by the pillaring and that the pore size was in the micropore region. Water and benzene adsorption isotherms revealed that the surface properties of the pillared derivatives show hydrophobic character.     

Upper Limit of Nitrogen Content in Carbon Materials

Nitrogen‐doped carbon materials (NDCs) play an important role in various fields. A great deal of effort has been devoted to obtaining carbon materials with a high nitrogen content; however, much is still unknown about the structure of the nitrogen‐doped materials and the maximum nitrogen content possible for such compounds. Here, we demonstrate an interesting relationship between the N/C molar ratio and the N content of NDCs. The upper limit for the nitrogen content of NDCs that might be achieved was estimated and found to strongly depend on the carbonization temperature (14.32 wt % at 1000 °C and 21.66 wt % at 900 °C), irrespective of the precursor or preparation conditions. Simulations suggest that, especially in the carbon architectures obtained at high temperatures, nitrogen atoms are always located on separate hexagon moieties in a graphitic configuration, thereby yielding a critical N/C molar ratio very close to the value estimated from the experimental results.     

A High‐Voltage and Ultralong‐Life Sodium Full Cell for Stationary Energy Storage

Recently, there has been great interest in developing advanced sodium‐ion batteries for large‐scale application. Most efforts have concentrated on the search for high‐performance electrode materials only in sodium half‐cells. Research on sodium full cells for practical application has encountered many problems, such as insufficient cycles with rapid capacity decay, low safety, and low operating voltage. Herein, we present a layered P2‐Na_0.66Ni_0.17Co_0.17Ti_0.66O₂, as both an anode (ca. 0.69 V versus Na⁺/Na) and as a high‐voltage cathode (ca. 3.74 V versus Na⁺/Na). The full cell based on this bipolar electrode exhibits well‐defined voltage plateaus near 3.10 V, which is the highest average voltage in the symmetric cells. It also shows the longest cycle life (75.9 % capacity retention after 1000 cycles) in all sodium full cells, a usable capacity of 92 mAh g^?1, and superior rate capability (65 mAh g^?1 at a high rate of 2C).     

Condensed thienopyrimidines. II. Synthesis and gastric antisecretory activity of thiazole and polymethylene condensed thienopyrimidine derivatives

Thiazolo[3,2-a]thieno[3,2-d]-, [3,4-d]- and [2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives (6, 11 and 16), and polymethylene condensed thieno[3,2-d]-, [3,4-d]- and [2,3-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives (19-21), in which the oxygen atom of the oxazolidine moiety in 3 was replaced by a sulfur atom or methylene groups, were synthesized and evaluated for gastric antisecretory activity in pylorus-ligated rats. The structure-activity relationships of these compounds are discussed.     

Polymerization of tetraallyl ammonium chloride

The radical polymerization of tetraallyl ammonium chloride (TAAC) was carried out in water using azo-initiator as compared to that of diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC); the rate of polymerization was quite low for TAAC, around one-third of DADMAC. Kinetic discussion revealed the importance of degradative chain transfer in the polymerization of TAAC. The cyclopolymerizability of TAAC was estimated kinetically as the ability of 5-membered monocyclic radical to form a bicyclic ring, giving the cyclization constant of 21 mol/L at [M] = 2 mol/L. Gelation occurred at around 20% conversion.     

Fluorometric Determination of Trace Amounts of Fluoride Ion Using an Expanded Porphyrin

A highly selective and sensitive method of fluorometry is described for determination of the fluoride ion at the parts per billion level via the ion-pair complex formation of the fluoride ion with an expanded prophyrin [2,23-diethyl-8,17-bis(2-ethoxycarbonylethyl)-3,7,12,13,18,22-hexamethylsapphyrin (H₃sap)]. The ion-pair complex gives out an enhanced fluorescence intensity at 680 nm on excitation at 450 nm. Since the present method is based on a direct reaction of the fluoride ion with the sappyrin, a 200-fold amount of the aluminum (III) ion [10⁻⁴M (M = mol dm⁻³)] and a 2000-fold amount of the iron(III) ion (10⁻³M) over the fluoride ion did not interfere with determination of the fluoride ion at concentrations as low as 5 × 10⁻⁷M in the presence of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane-N,N,N′,N′-teraacetic acid. The proposed method was applied to determination of the fluoride ion in various water samples (tap water, river water, rain water, underground water, and hot spring water) and satisfactory results were obtained.