Factors influencing C-ON bond homolysis in alkoxyamines: unexpected behavior of SG1 (N-(2-methyl-2-propyl)- N-(1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-oxyl)-based alkoxyamines

Alkoxyamines and persistent nitroxides are important regulators of nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP). Since the polymerization time decreases with the increasing equilibrium constant K (k(d)/k(c)), i.e., the increasing rate constant k(d) of the homolysis of the C-ON bond between the polymer chain and the nitroxide moiety, the factors influencing the cleavage rate constants are of considerable interest. SG1-based alkoxyamines have turned out to be the most potent alkoxyamine family to use for NMP of various monomers. Therefore, it is of high interest to determine the factors which make SG1 derivatives better regulators than TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) derivatives. Contrary to what we had observed with TEMPO derivatives, we observed two relationships for the plot E(a) vs BDE(C-H), one for the nonpolar released alkyl radicals (E(a) (kJ/mol) = -133.0 + 0.72BDE) and the other one for the polar released alkyl radicals (E(a) (kJ/mol) = -137.0 + 0.69BDE). However, for both families (SG1 and TEMPO derivatives), the rate constants k(d) of the C-ON bond homolysis were correlated to the cleavage temperature T(c) (log(k(d)(s(-)(1))) = 1.51 - 0.058T(c)). Such correlations should help to design new alkoxyamines to use as regulators and to improve the tuning of NMP experiments.     

Ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry performance evaluation for analysis of antibiotics in natural waters

An ultra performance liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of 17 antibiotics in natural waters in one single extraction and chromatographic procedure. Gradient separation conditions were optimised for 17 compounds belonging to five different antibiotic groups: quinolones (oxolinic acid, nalidixic acid, pipemidic acid, flumequine), fluoroquinolones (enoxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, enrofloxacin, sarafloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, lomefloxacin), sulphonamides (sulphamethoxazole, sulphamethazine), nitro-imidazole (ornidazole) and diaminopyrimidine (trimethoprim). The separation of all compounds, obtained using a 1.7 μm particle size column (100 mm?×?2.1 mm), was achieved within 10 min time. Water samples were adjusted to pH 7 and extracted using Oasis hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) solid phase extraction cartridges. After elution with methanol and concentration, extracts were injected in a C18 column (Acquity UPLC BEH C18) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Average recovery from 100 ng L^?1 fortified samples was higher than 70% for most of the compounds, with relative standard deviations below 20%. Performances of the method (recoveries, detection limit, quantification limit and relative standard deviation) and matrix effects were studied, and results obtained showed that method was suitable for routine analysis of antibiotics in surface water. Samples analysis from Seine River (France) confirmed the interest of antibiotic contamination evaluation in that area.

1-Phosphanorbornadienes in Enantioselective Catalysis

Recent developments in the chemisty of 1-phosphanorbornadienes are reviewed. Due to their bicyclic structure with a non-racemisable phosphorus atom at the bridgehead, they are ideally suited to enantioselective catalysis as transition metal complexes. Amongst this family, two enantiopure species play a special role, i.e., the so-called BIPNOR, a 2,2'-bis-1,1'-phosphanorbornadienyl ( 1 ), and a 2-formyl-1-phosphanorbornadiene ( 2 ). BIPNOR displays high enantioselectivities for a range of rhodium-catalyzed reactions. The carboxyaldehyde ( 2 ) is an ideal starting point for the synthesis of a series of enantiopure chelating 1-phosphanorbornadienes whose structures can be optimized for various catalytic enantioselective reactions. Examples of both approaches are given.     

Chromium Oxide Tetrafluoride and Its Reactions with Xenon Hexafluoride; the [XeF5]+ and [Xe2F11]+ Salts of the [CrVIOF5]−, [CrVOF5]2−, [CrV2O2F8]2−, and [CrIVF6]2− Anions

Molten mixtures of XeF₆ and Cr^VIOF₄ react by means of F₂ elimination to form [XeF₅][Xe₂F₁₁][Cr^VOF₅] ⋅ 2 Cr^VIOF₄, [XeF₅]₂[Cr^IVF₆] ⋅ 2 Cr^VIOF₄, [Xe₂F₁₁]₂[Cr^IVF₆], and [XeF₅]₂[Cr^V₂O₂F₈], whereas their reactions in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (aHF) and CFCl₃/aHF yield [XeF₅]₂[Cr^V₂O₂F₈] ⋅ 2 HF and [XeF₅]₂[Cr^V₂O₂F₈] ⋅ 2 XeOF₄. Other than [Xe₂F₁₁][M^VIOF₅] and [XeF₅][M^VI₂O₂F₉] (M=Mo or W), these salts are the only Group 6 oxyfluoro-anions known to stabilize noble-gas cations. Their reaction pathways involve redox transformations that give [XeF₅]⁺ and/or [Xe₂F₁₁]⁺ salts of the known [Cr^VOF₅]²⁻ and [Cr^IVF₆]²⁻ anions, and the novel [Cr^V₂O₂F₈]²⁻ anion. A low-temperature Raman spectroscopic study of an equimolar mixture of solid XeF₆ and CrOF₄ revealed that [Xe₂F₁₁][Cr^VIOF₅] is formed as a reaction intermediate. The salts were structurally characterized by LT single-crystal X-ray diffraction and LT Raman spectroscopy, and provide the first structural characterizations of the [Cr^VOF₅]²⁻ and [Cr^V₂O₂F₈]²⁻ anions, where [Cr^V₂O₂F₈]²⁻ represents a new structural motif among the known oxyfluoro-anions of Group 6. The X-ray structures show that [XeF₅]⁺ and [Xe₂F₁₁]⁺ form ion pairs with their respective anions by means of Xe- - -F–Cr bridges. Quantum-chemical calculations were carried out to obtain the energy-minimized, gas-phase geometries and the vibrational frequencies of the anions and their ion pairs and to aid in the assignments of their Raman spectra.     

Syntheses,Structures, and Bonding of NgF2⋅CrOF4, NgF2⋅2CrOF4 (Ng=Kr,Xe), and (CrOF4)∞

The noble-gas difluoride adducts, NgF₂ ⋅ CrOF₄ and NgF₂ ⋅ 2CrOF₄ (Ng=Kr and Xe), have been synthesized and structurally characterized at low temperatures by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The low fluoride ion affinity of CrOF₄ renders it incapable of inducing fluoride ion transfer from NgF₂ (Ng=Kr and Xe) to form ion-paired salts of the [NgF]⁺ cations having either the [CrOF₅]⁻ or [Cr₂O₂F₉]⁻ anions. The crystal structures show the NgF₂ ⋅ CrOF₄ adducts are comprised of F_t−Ng−F_b- - -Cr(O)F₄ structural units in which NgF₂ is weakly coordinated to CrOF₄ by means of a fluorine bridge, F_b, in which Ng−F_b is elongated relative to the terminal Ng−F_t bond. In contrast with XeF₂ ⋅ 2MOF₄ (M=Mo or W) and KrF₂ ⋅ 2MoOF₄, in which the Lewis acidic, F₄(O)M- - -F_b- - -M(O)F₃ moiety coordinates to Ng through a single M- - -F_b−Ng bridge, both fluorine ligands of NgF₂ coordinate to CrOF₄ molecules to form F₄(O)Cr- - -F_b−Ng−F_b- - -Cr(O)F₄ adducts in which both Ng−F_b bonds are only marginally elongated relative to the Ng−F bonds of free NgF₂. Quantum-chemical calculations show that the Cr−F_b bonds of NgF₂ ⋅ CrOF₄ and NgF₂ ⋅ 2CrOF₄ are predominantly electrostatic with a small degree of covalent character that accounts for their nonlinear Cr- - -F_b−Ng bridge angles and staggered O−Cr- - -F_b−Ng−F_t dihedral angles. The crystal structures and Raman spectra of two CrOF₄ polymorphs have also been obtained. Both are comprised of fluorine-bridged chains that are cis- and trans-fluorine-bridged with respect to oxygen.     

Polyimide-silica sol–gel membranes from a novel alkoxysilane functionalized polyimide: preparation,characterization and gas separation properties

Novel polyimide-organosilicate hybrid films were prepared by sol–gel process from a novel functionalized polyimide with alkoxysilanes as pendant groups that increase the affinity between inorganic and organic phases. The synthesis of this functionalized polyimide was carried out by an esterification reaction of a copolyimide containing carboxylic acid groups with allyl alcohol and subsequent hydrosililation. Tetraethoxysilane was used as precursor of silica in different amounts to obtain hybrid membranes with a silica content of 5, 10 and 20 %. The polymers and hybrid membranes were structural, mechanical and thermally characterized. The ²⁹Si-NMR solid state spectroscopy confirmed that silica was covalently bonded to the polyimide. SEM pictures showed a good dispersion of the silica particles and an amorphous morphology was observed by WAXS. DSC analyses revealed an increase in rigidity with the increase in silica content. The mechanical strength of the hybrid membranes decreased with the silica amount, exhibiting a brittle behavior. The evaluation of the gas permeation properties revealed that the film with the lowest silica content showed the highest permeability coefficients for O₂, N₂, CH₄, and CO₂ with 34, 8, 6, and 128 barrers respectively, while all hybrid membranes showed similar permselectivities around 4 and 22 for O₂/N₂ and CO₂/CH₄ respectively. The fractional free volume of hybrid membranes determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy followed the same trend that permeability coefficients, confirming that the gas transport properties are mainly governed by the free volume elements.     

Regioselective Synthesis and Characterization of Multinuclear Convex‐Bound Ruthenium‐[n]Cycloparaphenylene (n=5 and 6) Complexes

Mono‐ and multinuclear complexes of ruthenium and [n]cycloparaphenylene (CPP, n=5 and 6) were synthesized in excellent yields through ligand exchange of the cationic complex [(Cp)Ru(CH₃CN)₃](PF₆) with CPP. In the multinuclear complexes, ruthenium selectively coordinated to alternate paraphenylene units to give bis‐ and tris‐coordinated Ru complexes for [5] and [6]CPPs, respectively. Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis revealed the Ru was coordinated with η⁶‐hapticity on the convex surface of CPP.     

Ionic conducting membranes based on new sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone)s for fuel cell applications

The synthesis and characterization of new di‐ and tetra‐sulfonated ether diketone monomers are described. From these monomers, a wide series of sulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone)s (SPAEK) are synthesized by varying the sulfonic acid repartition along the polymer backbones. Their chemical structures are thoroughly characterized by NMR. From these polymers tough membranes are obtained from solution casting method and their water uptake, ionic conductivity, and water/gas permeation properties are determined and compared with those of Nafion membrane. Preliminary fuel cell tests show that SPAEK membranes are promising candidates for fuel cell application. This work brings new insights concerning the beneficial effects of introducing densely sulfonated monomers in a polyarylether macromolecular structure along with fluorinated groups improving conductivity while reducing unwanted excessive swelling. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 771–777     

[1,5] Sigmatropic shifts in a 1,4-diphospholylbenzene

The central phenylene ring of 1,4-bis(3,4-dimethylphosphol-1-yl)benzene undergoes [1,5] shifts around both phospholyl rings above 150°C to give 1,4-bis(3,4-dimethyl-5H-phosphol-2-yl)benzene, which can be trapped by tolane, [CpFe(CO)₂]₂, or Mn₂ (CO)₁₀ to yield the corresponding bis-1-phosphanor-bornadiene, bis-phosphaferrocene, or bis-phosphacymantrene respectively.