Uncovering the Hidden Landscape of Tris(4-pyridyl) Ligands: Topological Complexity Derived from the Bridgehead

Supramolecular main group chemistry is a developing field which parallels the conventional domain of metallo-organic chemistry. Little explored building blocks in this area are main group metal-based ligands which have the appropriate donor symmetry to build desired molecular or extended arrangements. Tris(pyridyl) main group ligands (E(py)₃, E=main group metal) are potentially highly versatile building blocks since shifting the N-donor arms from the 2- to the 3-positions and 4-positions provides a very simple way of changing the ligand character from mononuclear/chelating to multidentate/metal-bridging. Here, the coordination behaviour of the first main group metal tris(4-pyridyl) ligands, E(4-py)₃ (E=Sb, Bi, Ph−Sn) is explored, as well as their ability to build metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). The complicated topology of these MOFs shows a marked influence on the counter anion and on the ability of the E(4-py)₃ ligands to switch coordination mode, depending on the steric and donor character of the bridgehead. This structure-directing influence of the bridgehead provides a potential building strategy for future molecular and MOF design in this area.     

An acid-free Pictet–Spengler reaction using deep eutectic solvents (DES)

Deep eutectic solvents (such as the combination of either urea or glycerol with choline chloride) are effective solvents/organocatalysts for Pictet–Spengler condensations to form carbolines. The reaction conditions are quite mild and do not require additional Bronsted or Lewis acid catalyst. Given the inexpensive, non-toxic, and recyclable nature of the DES, these reaction conditions are simple and highly environmentally friendly.     

Expedient synthesis of novel β-ketoesters from the Mizoroki–Heck coupling of ethyl 3-ethoxyacrylate with aryl and pyridyl halides

It is well known that β-ketoesters are useful intermediates for the synthesis of a range of heterocyclic templates. While there are many useful synthetic methods available to access these intermediates, there are still opportunities for the discovery of useful methodologies for their construction from novel starting materials. In this regard, we report on the discovery of a facile Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck coupling of ethyl 3-ethoxyacrylate with aryl and heteroaryl halides to form substituted alkoxyacrylates which can be hydrolyzed to form novel aryl and heteroaryl β-ketoesters.     

Surface modification by graphene oxide:An efficient strategy to improve the performance of activated carbon based supercapacitors

An efficient and cost-effective strategy to modificate the surface of active carbon (AC), form a 3D-conductive network, and therefore improve the electrochemical performance of AC based supercapacitor was developed.     

Structural studies of metal ligand complexes by ion mobility-mass spectrometry

Collision cross sections (CCS) have been measured for three salen ligands, and their complexes with copper and zinc using travelling-wave ion mobility-mass spectrometry (TWIMS) and drift tube ion mobility-mass spectrometry (DTIMS), allowing a comparative size evaluation of the ligands and complexes. CCS measurements using TWIMS were determined using peptide and TAAH calibration standards. TWIMS measurements gave significantly larger CCS than DTIMS in helium, by 9 % for TAAH standards and 3 % for peptide standards, indicating that the choice of calibration standards is important in ensuring the accuracy of TWIMS-derived CCS measurements. Repeatability data for TWIMS was obtained for inter- and intra-day studies with mean RSDs of 1.1 % and 0.7 %, respectively. The CCS data obtained from IM-MS measurements are compared to CCS values obtained via the projection approximation, the exact hard spheres method and the trajectory method from X-ray coordinates and modelled structures using density functional theory (DFT) based methods.     

Stark Hole-Burning Spectroscopy of Cresylviolet Perchlorate in Amorphous Hosts

Stark hole-burning spectroscopy is used to investigate the effective dipole moment change of cresylviolet perchlorate (CVP) in various glass and polymer hosts such as ethanol:methanol (EM), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), poly (2-hydroxyethyl) methacrylate (PHEMA), polyvinylbutyral (PVB), and formamide. The strong correlation between effective dipole moment change of the guest molecule and the holeburning efficiencies of the host matrices illustrates the sensitivity of the dipole moment change as a direct measure of guest-host interactions. Hole-burning is found to be more efficient as the dipole induced reaction field increases. This relationship is discussed in terms of the unusual hole-burning mechanism suggested for this molecule. The effective dipole moment change of cresylviolet perchlorate ranges from 0.14 to 0.59 Debye.     

Synthesis of poly(ω‐pentadecalactone)‐b‐poly(acrylate) diblock copolymers via a combination of enzymatic ring‐opening and RAFT polymerization techniques

Herein the first reported preparation of diblock copolymers of the polyethylene‐like polyester poly(ω‐pentadecalactone) (PPDL) via a combination of enzymatic ring‐opening polymerization (eROP) and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques is described. PPDL was synthesized via eROP using Novozyme 435 as a catalyst and a bifunctional initiator/chain transfer agent (CTA) appropriate for the eROP of ω‐pentadecalactone (PDL) and RAFT polymerization of acrylic and styrenic monomers. Chain growth of the PPDL macro‐CTA was performed to prepare acrylic and styrenic diblock copolymers of PPDL, and demonstrates a facile, metal‐free, and “greener” alternative to preparing acrylic diblock copolymers of polyethylene (PE). Diblock copolymer architecture was substantiated via analysis of ¹H NMR spectroscopic, UV‐GPC chromatographic, DSC onset crystallization (T_c), and MALDI‐ToF mass spectrometric data. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3326–3335     

Dual input–output pairs for modeling hysteresis inspired by mem-models

We call attention to a dual-pair concept for modeling hysteresis involving instantaneous switching: Specifically, there are two input–output pairs for each hysteresis model under one specific input, namely a differential pair and an integral pair. Currently in engineering mechanics, only one pair is being recognized and utilized, not the other. Whereas this dual-pair concept is inherent in the differential and algebraic forms of memristors and memcapacitors, the concept has not been carried over to memristive system theory, nor to memcapacitive system theory. We show that the “zero-crossing” feature in memristors, memcapacitors, and memristive/memcapacitive models (i.e., the “mem-models”) is also a feature of the differential pairs of well-known non-mem-models, examples of which are Ramberg–Osgood, Bouc–Wen, bilinear hysteresis, and classical Preisach. The dual-pair concept thus connects mem-models and non-mem-models, thereby facilitating the modeling of hysteresis, and raising a set of scientific questions for further studies that might not otherwise come to awareness.     

Recent Trends in Polymer Electrolytes Based on Poly(Ethylene Oxide)

Recent work on the crystallographic and morphological structure of semicrystalline PEO complexes with alkali metal salts is described. The thermal properties of the materials and the influence of solvent on complex formation is also considered. The dependence of the ionic conductivity of the complexes on their morphology, the temperature and ionic association is discussed and some current work relating to the mechanism of conduction is considered. The various strategies which have been adopted to suppress crystallinity and so to optimize ionic conductivity, including networks, “comb” structures, and linear copolymers, are reviewed. The morphological organization and mesogenic behavior of some novel crystalline complexes of PEO with organo-alkali salts, such as sodium phenolates and naphtholates, are discussed. Some PEO composite materials which have mixed electronic-ionic mechanisms of conductivity are also described.