De-tert-butylation of poly(N-tert-butyl-N-n-propylacrylamide): Stereochemical analysis at the triad level

The stereochemical analysis of polymers derived from N,N-disubstituted acrylamides is usually difficult. The diad tacticity can be determined from the ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals of the main-chain methylene groups. However, the splitting because of the configurational sequences is poor, even in ¹³C NMR, which does not allow determination of the tacticity at the triad level. In contrast, the stereochemical analysis of polymers derived from N-monosubstituted acrylamides is easily conducted and the triad tacticity can be determined from the ¹³C signals of the main-chain methine groups. Thus, stereochemical analysis of N,N-disubstituted polymers should be able to be conducted if the polymers are transformed into N-monosubstituted polymers with retention of the configurational sequence. Poly(N-tert-butyl-N-n-propylacrylamide) was radically prepared, and de-tert-butylation was conducted by treatment with scandium triflate in a mixed solvent of CH₃CN and 1,4-dioxane at 50, 80, and 110°C. ¹H NMR analysis of the resulting polymers indicated quantitative conversion after 72 hr, regardless of the temperature. ¹³C NMR analysis of the transformed polymers confirmed that the configurational sequences were retained during the reaction. Thus, the triad stereochemical analysis of N,N-disubstituted polymers was successfully conducted by de-tert-butylation as a polymer reaction, followed by ¹³C NMR analysis of the transformed polymers.     

Titelbild: Double C?F Bond Activation through β‐Fluorine Elimination: Nickel‐Mediated [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2‐Trifluoromethyl‐1‐alkenes with Alkynes (Angew. Chem. 29/2014)

The nickel‐mediated [3+2] cycloaddition of 2‐trifluoromethyl‐1‐alkenes with alkynes afforded fluorine‐containing multi‐substituted cyclopentadienes in a regioselective manner. This reaction involves the consecutive two C F bond cleavage of a trifluoromethyl or a pentafluoroethyl group through β‐fluorine elimination.     

Creation of Circularly Polarized Luminescence from an Achiral Polyfluorene Derivative through Complexation with Helix‐Forming Polysaccharides: Importance of the meta‐Linkage Chain for Helix Formation

A circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) material has been created by polymer–polymer complexation between a helix‐forming polysaccharide, schizophyllan (SPG), and a meta‐phenylene‐linked polyfluorene derivative (mPFS). Computational modeling revealed that mPFS can adopt a helical structure although a conventional polyfluorene derivative with a para‐phenylene linkage tends to enjoy a rigid rodlike conformation. Our detailed experimental examination showed that mPFS forms a chiral nanowire complex through cohelix formation with SPG. We have found, as expected, that this cohelical complex emits highly efficient CPL even in an aqueous solution. The appearance of the high CPL property is due to 1) a high quantum yield of the fluorene unit and 2) immobilization of the helically twisted conformation of mPFS in an isolated manner through cohelix formation with SPG. One can propose, therefore, that the SPG/mPFS complex acts as a new high‐performance CPL material with a solvent‐dispersible nanowire structure.     

Detailed Investigation of the Structural,Thermal, and Electronic Properties of Gold Isocyanide Complexes with Mechano‐Triggered Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Phase Transitions

Mechano‐induced phase transitions in organic crystalline materials, which can alter their properties, have received much attention. However, most mechano‐responsive molecular crystals exhibit crystal‐to‐amorphous phase transitions, and the intermolecular interaction patterns in the daughter phase are difficult to characterize. We have investigated phenyl(phenylisocyanide)gold(I) ( 1 ) and phenyl(3,5‐dimethylphenylisocyanide)gold(I) ( 2 ) complexes, which exhibit a mechano‐triggered single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal phase transition. Previous reports of complexes 1 and 2 have focused on the relationships between the crystalline structures and photoluminescence properties; in this work we have focused on other aspects. The face index measurements of complexes 1 and 2 before and after the mechano‐induced phase transitions have indicated that they undergo non‐epitaxial phase transitions without a rigorous orientational relationship between the mother and daughter phases. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses revealed the phase transition of complex 1 to be enthalpically driven by the formation of new aurophilic interactions. In contrast, the phase transition of complex 2 was found to be entropically driven, with the closure of an empty void in the mother phase. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that the degree of the charging effect of both complexes 1 and 2 was changed by the phase transitions, which suggests that the formation of the aurophilic interactions affords more effective conductive pathways. Moreover, flash‐photolysis time‐resolved microwave conductivity measurements revealed that complex 1 increased in conductivity after the phase change, whereas the conductivity of complex 2 decreased. These contrasting results were explained by the different patterns in the aurophilic interactions. Finally, an intriguing disappearing polymorphism of complex 2 has been reported, in which a polymorph form could not be obtained again after some period of time, even with repeated trials. The present studies provide us with a variety of hitherto unknown insights into mechano‐responsive molecular crystals, which help us to understand the phase transition behaviors upon mechanical stimulation and establish rational design principles.