Greenish‐yellow‐, yellow‐, and orange‐light‐emitting iridium(III) polypyridyl complexes with poly(ε‐caprolactone)–bipyridine macroligands

A set of novel greenish‐yellow‐, yellow‐, and orange‐light‐emitting polymeric iridium(III) complexes were synthesized with the bridge‐splitting method. The respective dimeric precursor complexes, [Ir(ppy)₂‐μ‐Cl]₂ (ppy = 2‐phenylpyridine) and [Ir(ppy? CHO)₂‐μ‐Cl]₂ [ppy? CHO = 4‐(2‐pyridyl)benzaldehyde], were coordinated to 2,2′‐bipyridine carrying poly(ε‐caprolactone) tails. The resulting emissive polymers were characterized with one‐dimensional (¹H) and two‐dimensional (¹H? ¹H correlation spectroscopy) nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry, and the successful coordination of the iridium(III) centers to the 2,2′‐bipyridine macroligand was revealed. The thermal behavior was studied with differential scanning calorimetry and correlated with atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the quantitative coordination was verified by both the photophysical and electrochemical properties of the mononuclear iridium(III) compounds. The photoluminescence spectra showed strong emissions at 535 and 570 nm. The color shifts depended on the substituents of the cyclometallating ligands. Cyclic voltammetry gave oxidation potentials of 1.23 V and 1.46 V. Upon the excitation of the films at 365 nm, yellow light was observed, and this could allow potential applications in light‐emitting devices. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2765–2776, 2005     

Preparation of functional spherical polysilsesquioxane/gold nanoparticle composites and their applications in DNA assay

Functional spherical solid and hollow particles of polysilsesquioxanes (PSQs) containing amine, thiol, and vinyl groups were prepared by polymerizing organotrialkoxysilanes (OTASs) containing corresponding chemical groups. Fluorescent PSQ particles were prepared by physically entrapping Rhodamine 6G, Coumarin 7, and Fluoresceine sodium salts. The intensity of fluorescent light increased initially with increasing amount of entrapped fluorophores and then leveled off or decreased slightly after reaching a maximum value. PSQ particles containing gold nanoparticles (GNPs), both inside and on the surface, were prepared by the in situ reduction of gold ions by the PSQ particles. When the reduction reaction was carried out for extended periods of time, the GNP that had formed inside the poly(3-mercaptopropyl)silsesquioxane (PMPSQ) and polyvinylsilsesequioxane (PVSQ) particles underwent interesting morphological changes. PSQ particles containing amine and thiol groups fixed the GNPs on the surface, which could be utilized further in binding amine-modified oligo-DNA strands. The aggregation of PSQ/GNP particles combined with complementary oligo-DNA strands was examined to demonstrate that these particles could be applied to DNA assays and isolation. The particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy, and fluorescence microscopy.     

An electrochemical study on the substituted spinel LiMn1.95Cr0.05O4

Cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge?Cdischarge technique, potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to study the behavior of a LiMn_1.95Cr_0.05O₄ (substituted lithium?Cmanganese spinel) electrode in nonaqueous electrolytes at 25 °C. Quantitative and qualitative changes of the electrode transport parameters as functions of lithium concentration were analyzed. Several equivalent circuits are discussed; the results obtained by different methods are compared. The PITT and EIS results are in good agreement; the chemical diffusion coefficient D varies within 10^?14?C10^?9 cm² s^?1 depending on the lithium content in the Li_xMn_1.95Cr_0.05O₄ electrode.     

Trapped ion chain as a neural network: error resistant quantum computation

We demonstrate the possibility of realizing a neural network in a chain of trapped ions with induced long range interactions. Such models permit one to store information distributed over the whole system. The storage capacity of such a network, which depends on the phonon spectrum of the system, can be controlled by changing the external trapping potential. We analyze the implementation of error resistant universal quantum information processing in such systems.     

Silver nanoparticles as potential antiviral agents

Virus infections pose significant global health challenges, especially in view of the fact that the emergence of resistant viral strains and the adverse side effects associated with prolonged use continue to slow down the application of effective antiviral therapies. This makes imperative the need for the development of safe and potent alternatives to conventional antiviral drugs. In the present scenario, nanoscale materials have emerged as novel antiviral agents for the possibilities offered by their unique chemical and physical properties. Silver nanoparticles have mainly been studied for their antimicrobial potential against bacteria, but have also proven to be active against several types of viruses including human imunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, herpes simplex virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and monkey pox virus. The use of metal nanoparticles provides an interesting opportunity for novel antiviral therapies. Since metals may attack a broad range of targets in the virus there is a lower possibility to develop resistance as compared to conventional antivirals. The present review focuses on the development of methods for the production of silver nanoparticles and on their use as antiviral therapeutics against pathogenic viruses.     

Planar hydrocarbons more optically active than their isomeric helicenes

Comparisons are made of the calculated optical rotation tensors of C(2v)-symmetric, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and their [5]helicene, [6]helicene, and [7]helicene isomers. Seven ∩-shaped, planar compounds had, in each case, larger computed tensor elements than the chiral helicenes. Merely obviating the condition of solution averaging wholly changes expectations of the magnitudes and etiologies of optical activity. Symmetries of achiral compounds facilitate semiquantitative correlations between structure and optical rotation.     

Synthesis of polysiloxane xerogels with fluorine-containing groups in the surface layer and their sorption properties

Hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl-trimethoxysilane (TFMS) or 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFES) were used to synthesize xerogels functionalized with fluorine-containing groups. According to transmission electron microscopy, the skeletons of synthesized polysiloxane xerogels have globular structures and consist of agglomerates of particles with fluorinated groups on their surfaces. FTIR spectroscopy showed that primary xerogel particles possess spatial polysiloxane networks, with fluorinated groups along with silanol groups and water in the surface layer. According to thermal analyses, the water content was 3–8 wt.%, and it decreased with increasing length of the fluorinated chain. Thermal destruction of the surface layer starts above 300 °C. The sorbents that were obtained were predominantly mesoporous materials with well-developed porous structures (S_BET = 400–960 m² g⁻¹, V_s = 0.66–0.93 cm³ g⁻¹). The influence of the TEOS/functional silane ratio and the natures of the functional groups on the structural and adsorptive properties were shown. The samples synthesized are organophilic. The affinity for n-hexane increases with increasing length of the fluorine-containing chain (PFES) and the content of fluorinated groups in the surface layer. The hybrid organic–inorganic materials that were obtained can be used for adsorption of hydrocarbons, including oil, from water.