On-Surface Synthesis of Cumulene-Containing Polymers via Two-Step Dehalogenative Homocoupling of Dibromomethylene-Functionalized Tribenzoazulene

Cumulene compounds are notoriously difficult to prepare and study because their reactivity increases dramatically with the increasing number of consecutive double bonds. In this respect, the emerging field of on-surface synthesis provides exceptional opportunities because it relies on reactions on clean metal substrates under well-controlled ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. Here we report the on-surface synthesis of a polymer linked by cumulene-like bonds on a Au(111) surface via sequential thermally activated dehalogenative C−C coupling of a tribenzoazulene precursor equipped with two dibromomethylene groups. The structure and electronic properties of the resulting polymer with cumulene-like pentagon–pentagon and heptagon–heptagon connections have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy methods and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory calculations. Our results provide perspectives for the on-surface synthesis of cumulene-containing compounds, as well as protocols relevant to the stepwise fabrication of carbon–carbon bonds on surfaces.     

Environmentally Benign Solution-Based Procedure for the Fabrication of Metal Oxide Coatings on Metallic Pigments

Aluminum pigments were coated with Fe₂O₃ and CuO by solution-based thermal decomposition of the urea nitrate compounds hexakisureairon(III)nitrate and tetrakisureacopper(II)nitrate. The deposition process was optimized to obtain homogeneously coated aluminum pigments. The growth of the surface coatings was controlled by investigation with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and static light scattering as well as infrared, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The iron precursor showed an incomplete decomposition in solution, incorporating traces of urea molecules inside the coatings while the copper precursor showed complete dissociation accompanied by in situ formation of amine complexes. The amount of organic residues resulting from ligand fragments in the final oxide coatings could be reduced to 22 % for the iron oxide and 12 % for the copper oxide by further temperature treatment in solution (259 °C). Colorimetric investigations of the obtained pigments revealed an excellent hiding power, outperforming the pigments used in current state-of-the-art formulations.     

On‐Surface Synthesis of Cumulene‐Containing Polymers via Two‐Step Dehalogenative Homocoupling of Dibromomethylene‐Functionalized Tribenzoazulene

Cumulene compounds are notoriously difficult to prepare and study because their reactivity increases dramatically with the increasing number of consecutive double bonds. In this respect, the emerging field of on‐surface synthesis provides exceptional opportunities because it relies on reactions on clean metal substrates under well‐controlled ultrahigh‐vacuum conditions. Here we report the on‐surface synthesis of a polymer linked by cumulene‐like bonds on a Au(111) surface via sequential thermally activated dehalogenative C?C coupling of a tribenzoazulene precursor equipped with two dibromomethylene groups. The structure and electronic properties of the resulting polymer with cumulene‐like pentagon–pentagon and heptagon–heptagon connections have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy methods and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory calculations. Our results provide perspectives for the on‐surface synthesis of cumulene‐containing compounds, as well as protocols relevant to the stepwise fabrication of carbon–carbon bonds on surfaces.     

Photochemical Deracemization of Allenes and Subsequent Chirality Transfer

Trisubstituted allenes with a 3‐(1′‐alkenylidene)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐one motif were successfully deracemized (13 examples, 86–98 % ee) employing visible light (λ=420 nm) and a chiral triplet sensitizer as the catalyst (2.5 mol %). The photocatalyst likely operates by selective recognition of one allene enantiomer via hydrogen bonds and by a triplet‐sensitized racemization process. Even a tetrasubstituted allene (45 % ee) and a seven‐membered 3‐(1′‐alkenylidene)‐azepan‐2‐one (62 % ee) could be enantiomerically enriched under the chosen conditions. It was shown that the axial chirality of the allenes can be converted into point chirality by a Diels–Alder (94–97 % ee) or a bromination reaction (91 % ee). Ring opening of the five‐membered pyrrolidin‐2‐one was achieved without significantly compromising the integrity of the chirality axis (92 % ee).     

Enantioselective crossed intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions mediated by a chiral chelating Lewis acid

In intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions, the two tethered olefins can approach each other in a straight or in a crossed fashion. Despite the fact that the latter reaction mode leads to intriguing, otherwise inaccessible bridged skeletons, there has so far not been any enantioselective variants thereof. This study concerned the crossed [2+2]-photocycloaddition of 2-(alkenyloxy)cyclohex-2-enones to bridged cyclobutanes. It was found that the reaction could be performed with high enantioselectivity (80–94% ee) under visible light conditions when employing a chiral rhodium Lewis acid as a catalyst (2 mol%).

An enantioselective crossed [2+2] photocycloaddition is presented which proceeds under visible light irradiation in the presence of a chiral Lewis acidic metal complex. Chelation of two oxygen atoms to the metal centre accounts for the observed enantioface differentiation.     

C=X π-Systeme

Im Rahmen des Graduiertenkollegs “Hochreaktive Mehrfachbindungssysteme” hatten G. Erker und J. Grobe vom 16. bis 18. November 1994 schon zum zweiten Mal nach Münster eingeladen. “Organic and Inorganic Chemistry of Reactive C=X π-Systems” waren diesmal das Thema.     

Potential of membrane-assisted solvent extraction for the determination of phosphoric acid triesters in wastewater samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) method is presented for the extraction of several non-ionic organophosphorus chemicals from wastewaters samples followed by LC-MS/MS determination. The method was developed for a variety of chlorinated phosphates (trichloroethyl, tichloropropyl) and non-chlorinated phosphates (triphenyl, tributyl) used as flame retardants and for plasticizers such as triethylhexyl and tris-butoxyethyl phosphate. Parameters such as extracting solvent, sample volume and ionic strength, extraction temperature and time were optimized. The final method provides good quantification limits (1-25 ng L(-1)) and linearity (R2>0.9978). Method precision was also good at high concentrations (5% mean RSD at the 500 ng L(-1) level) but decreased at lower concentrations (20% mean RSD at the 20 ng L(-1) level). MASE yields lower matrix effects than SPE in a successive LC-MS/MS analysis of these compounds, avoiding the need for standard addition for quantification. When applied to wastewater samples comparable results were obtained using either MASE with internal standard calibration or SPE with standard addition.