Aqueous solution self-assembly of polystyrene-b-poly(l-lysine) diblock oligomers

This paper reports on the dilute, aqueous solution self-assembly of two asymmetric polystyrene-b-poly(l-lysine) (PS_nPK_m) diblock oligomers with PS and PK number-average degrees of polymerization of eight, respectively, 40 and 60. The self-assembly of these diblock oligomers was investigated using static and dynamic light scattering in combination with analytical ultracentrifugation. Direct dissolution of the diblock oligomers in water generates a mixture of solution assemblies, part of which is cylindrical or rod-like in nature according to the light scattering experiments. This is surprising given the highly asymmetric nature of the diblock oligomers. Additional experiments in which the sample preparation conditions were varied and sample solutions subjected to a thermal treatment or prepared via dialysis from an organic/aqueous solution, however, suggest that direct dissolution results in kinetically trapped assemblies, which are (partially) converted into thermodynamically more favored assemblies upon varying the sample preparation conditions.     

Highly twisted arenes by Scholl cyclizations with unexpected regioselectivity

Let's twist! The Scholl reaction with quinquephenyl derivatives has been shown to have an unexpectedly strong preference for forming twisted, helicene aromatic polycycles, instead of their flat counterparts. This tendency is so strong that it will overcome even severe steric hindrance, and the procedure can be used in the efficient synthesis of hexa-tert-butylhexabenzotriphenylene from a simple biaryl starting material (see scheme).     

The perfluorinated alcohols (F5C6)(F3C)2COH and (F5C6)(F10C5)COH: synthesis, theoretical and acidity studies, spectroscopy and structures in the solid state and the gas phase

The syntheses of the perfluorinated alcohols (F(5)C(6))(F(3)C)(2)COH (1) and (F(5)C(6))(C(5)F(10))COH (2) are described. Both compounds were prepared in reasonable yields (1: 65%, 2: 85%) by reacting the corresponding ketone with C(6)F(5)MgBr, followed by acidic work-up. The alcohols were characterized by NMR, vibrational spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, acidity measurements and gas-phase electron diffraction. A combination of appropriate 2D NMR experiments allowed the unambiguous assignment of all signals in the (19)F spin systems, of which that of 2 was especially complex. High acidity of the alcohols is indicated by acidity measurements as well as the calculated gas phase acidities. It is also supported by the crystal structure of 2, which exhibits only a single weak intermolecular hydrogen bridge with an O...O distance of 301 pm. This shows the low donor strength of the oxygen atom in the compound, which is partly compensated through formation of two intramolecular CF...H contacts of 220 and 232 pm length to the proton not involved in the hydrogen bridge. The pK(a) values in acetonitrile are 22.2 for 1 and 22.0 for 2; their calculated gas phase acidities are 1367 and 1343 kJ mol(-1) (MP2/TZVPP level).     

CCl3(+) and CBr3(+) salts with the [Al(OR(F))4]- and [((F)RO)3Al-F-Al(OR(F))3]- anions (R(F) = C(CF3)3)

The CX3(+) salts [CCl(3)](+)[Al(OR(F))(4)](-)1, [CCl(3)](+)[(R(F)O)(3)Al-F-Al(OR(F))(3)](-)2, [CBr(3)](+)[Al(OR(F))(4)](-)3, [CBr(3)](+)[(R(F)O)(3)Al-F-Al(OR(F))(3)](-)4 (R(F) = C(CF(3))(3)) were prepared in 56 to 85% yield from CX(4) (X = Cl, Br) and the corresponding silver salts (weight balance, NMR, IR, X-ray structure of 1). The most convenient solvent for the preparation of 1 and 2 is SO(2)ClF but for 3 and 4 it is SO(2). The reactions are complete after about three days stirring at -30 to -40 °C. The salts are stable for weeks in solution at -40 °C and stable for a few hours at RT in the solid state. In SO(2)ClF (1, 2) or SO(2) (3, 4) solution they decompose slowly at -20 °C and within several hours at RT; in general the CBr3(+) salts are more stable than the CCl3(+) homologues. The decomposition products were assigned as CCl(3)F and primarily CBr(2)F(2) (which likely forms as a Lewis acid induced disproportionation product of the initial CBr(3)F). The C-X vibrations of the salts were found in the expected range and the assignments were made based on experimental and calculated data. The IR spectrum of a CBr3(+) salt is for the first time reported here.     

Microwave spectrum and conformational composition of 1-vinylimidazole

The microwave spectrum of 1-vinylimidazole has been investigated in the 21-80 GHz spectral region. The spectra of two conformers have been assigned. One of these forms is planar, while the other is nonplanar with the imidazole ring and the vinyl group forming an angle of 15(4)° from coplanarity. The planar form is found to be 5.7(7) kJ/mol more stable than the nonplanar rotamer by relative intensity measurements. The spectra of 10 vibrationally excited states of the planar form and one excited-state spectrum of the nonplanar form were assigned. The vibrational frequencies of several of these states were determined by relative intensity measurements. The microwave work has been augmented by quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD/cc-pVTZ, MP2/cc-pVTZ, and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ levels of theory. The B3LYP calculations predict erroneously that both forms of 1-vinylimidazole are planar, whereas the MP2 and CCSD calculations correctly predict the existence of a planar and a nonplanar conformer of this compound.     

Microwave spectrum, conformational composition, and intramolecular hydrogen bonding of (2-chloroethyl)amine (ClCH2CH2NH2)

The microwave spectrum of (2-chloroethyl)amine, ClCH(2)CH(2)NH(2), has been investigated in the 22-120 GHz region. Five rotameric forms are possible for this compound. In two of these conformers, denoted I and II, the Cl-C-C-N chain of atoms is antiperiplanar, with different orientations of the amino group. The link of the said atoms is synclinal in the three remaining forms, III-V, which differ with respect to the orientation of the amino group. The microwave spectra of four of these conformers, I-IV, have been assigned. In two of these rotamers, III and IV, the amino group is oriented in such a manner that rare and weak five-membered N-H···Cl intramolecular hydrogen bonds are formed. The geometries of conformers I and II preclude a stabilization by this interaction. The energy differences between the conformers were obtained from relative intensity measurements of spectral lines. The hydrogen-bonded conformer IV represents the global energy minimum. This rotamer is 0.3(7) kJ/mol more stable than the other hydrogen-bonded conformer III, 4.1(11) kJ/mol more stable than II, and 5.5(15) kJ/mol more stable than I. The spectroscopic work has been augmented by quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD/cc-pVTZ and MP2/6-311++G(3df,3pd) levels of theory. The CCSD rotational constants and energy differences are in good agreement with their experimental counterparts.     

Self-assembly hexanuclear metallacontainer hosting halogenated guest species and sustaining structure of 3D coordination framework

Chloride-centered hexanuclear hydroxopyrazolate reveals potential as a receptor of halomethane and halometallate species and as a molecular building block for coordination polymers.     

Controlled supramolecular oligomerization of C3-symmetrical molecules in water: the impact of hydrophobic shielding

The supramolecular oligomerization of three water-soluble C(3)-symmetrical discotic molecules is reported. The compounds all possess benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide cores and peripheral Gd(III)-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) moieties, but differ in their linker units and thus in their propensity to undergo secondary interactions in H(2)O. The self-assembly behavior of these molecules was studied in solution using circular dichroism, UV/Vis spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The aggregation concentration of these molecules depends on the number of secondary interactions and on the solvophobic character of the polymerizing moieties. Hydrophobic shielding of the hydrogen-bonding motif in the core of the discotic is of paramount importance for yielding stable, helical aggregates that are designed to be restricted in size through anti-cooperative, electrostatic, repulsive interactions.     

LiB12PC, the first boron-rich metal boride with phosphorus--synthesis, crystal structure, hardness, spectroscopic investigations

We present synthesis, crystal structure, hardness, and IR/Raman and UV/Vis spectra of a new compound with the mean composition LiB₁₂PC. Transparent single crystals were synthesised from Ga, Li, B, red phosphorus and C at 1500 °C in boron nitride crucibles welded in Ta ampoules. Depending on the type of boron used for the synthesis we obtained colourless, brown and red single crystals with slightly different P/C ratios. Colourless LiB₁₂PC crystallizes orthorhombic in the space group Imma (No. 74) with a=10.188(2) Å, b=5.7689(11) Å, c=8.127(2) Å and Z=4. Brown LiB₁₂P_0.89C_1.11 is very similar, but with a lower P content. Red single crystals of LiB₁₂P_1.13C_0.87 have a larger unit cell with a=10.4097(18) Å, b=5.9029(7) Å, c=8.2044(12) Å. EDX measurements confirm that the red crystals contain more phosphorus than the other ones. The crystal structure is characterized by a covalent network of B₁₂ icosahedra connected by exohedral B? B bonds and P? P, P? C or C? C units. Li atoms are located in interstitials. The structure is closely related to MgB₇, LiB₁₃C₂ and ScB₁₃C. LiB₁₂PC fulfils the electron counting rules of Wade and also Longuet‐Higgins. Measurements of Vickers micro‐hardness (H_V=27 GPa) revealed that LiB₁₂PC is a hard material. The optical band gaps obtained from UV/Vis spectra match the colours of the crystals. Furthermore we report on the IR and Raman spectra.