Fluctuating Carbonaceous Networks with a Persistent Molecular Shape: A Saddle‐Shaped Geodesic Framework of 1,3,5‐Trisubstituted Benzene (Phenine)

A saddle‐shaped macromolecule has been synthesized. The molecule was designed as a geodesic saddle with 1,3,5‐trisubstituted benzene (named phenine) as the fundamental unit. The phenines were woven into a polygonal framework that was composed of 168 sp²‐hybridized carbon atoms. The saddle‐shaped structure with unique symmetry showed atypical conformational changes. The biaryl linkages in this molecule had a small energy barrier for rotation, and these structural fluctuations resulted in seven ¹H NMR resonances representing 84 aromatic hydrogen atoms. Nevertheless, the overall saddle shape of the molecule was persistent, and the “up” and “down” orientations of phenine moieties circulated to give average ¹H resonances. The structural characteristics of this molecule, including the anomalous entropy‐driven dimerization, may deepen our understanding of defect‐rich graphitic sheets.     

A Cell‐Targeted Non‐Cytotoxic Fluorescent Nanogel Thermometer Created with an Imidazolium‐Containing Cationic Radical Initiator

A cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer based on thermo‐responsive N‐isopropylacrylamide and environment‐sensitive benzothiadiazole was developed with a new azo compound bearing imidazolium rings as the first cationic radical initiator. This cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer showed an excellent ability to enter live mammalian cells in a short incubation period (10 min), a high sensitivity to temperature variations in live cells (temperature resolution of 0.02–0.84 °C in the range 20–40 °C), and remarkable non‐cytotoxicity, which permitted ordinary cell proliferation and even differentiation of primary cultured cells.     

Magnetic moments of proton drip-line nuclei13O and9C

The magnetic moments of the proton drip-line nuclei¹³O(I = 3/2^–,T _1/2 = 8.6 ms) and 9C(I = 3/2^–,T _1/2 = 126 ms) have been determined for the first time through the combined techniques of polarized radioactive nuclear beams and-NMR detection. The observed magnetic moments are ¦(¹³O)¦ = 1.3891 ±0.0003 _N and ¦(⁹C)¦ = 1.3914 ±0.0005 _N. Spin expectation values are deduced to be 0.76 and 1.44 for¹³O and⁹C, respectively. While the of¹³O is consistent with the systematics from isospinT= 1/2 mirror pairs, the of⁹C is unusually large, even far larger than the single particle value, = 1.     

A new method analyzing large and strongly interacting reaction systems

A new method is presented to analyze the various interactions in reaction systems. The method is especially suited for large and strongly interacting systems where other analyzing methods are not practical. The method could isolate the particular interaction from the whole interaction by a procedure termed the partial diagonalization of the bond order matrix. The usefulness of the method is exemplified by the adsorption of CO on Pt and W surfaces. The interactions on the W surface are much stronger than those on the Pt surface, which is consistent with the experimental data. The role of individual interactions for the weakening of the C-O bond and the formation of the Pt-C and W-C bonds is discussed separately.