Concise Synthesis of (±)-Clopidogrel via Carboxylation of Benzylamine with CO2

A concise and efficient synthesis of (±)-clopidogrel, an antithrombotic agent, is achieved by inserting CO₂ at the benzylic position as the key reaction without using any toxic transition metals. The overall yield of the synthetic process is 38% and the salient features include operationally simple process chemistry and fewer steps.     

An Investigation into the Migration of Segments in Crosslinked Fluorinated Polyimide Adhesive

Crosslinked fluorinated polyimides (CFPI) were successfully synthesized to study and explore the effect of cross-linkage on the migration of fluorinated segments and on the adhesion strength. Characterization by dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed good thermal properties of CFPI. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results showed that the ratio of fluorinated component (6FDA-ODA) concentration of the surface to the bulk decreased with the crosslink density. The water contact angle of CFPI was lower than that of non-crosslinked fluorinated polyimide, indicating that the migration of fluorinated groups to the surface was reduced by the presence of cross-linkage. Therefore, CFPI, with no fluorine segregation on the surface, exhibited excellent wetting of adherent surfaces and adhesion strength, which was proved by lap shear strength (LSS) measurements and scanning electron microscopy.     

New insights into water‐soluble and water‐coordinated copper 15‐metallacrown‐5 gadolinium complexes designed for high‐field magnetic resonance imaging applications

The development of contrast agents specifically designed for high‐field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is required because the relaxation efficiency of classic Gd(III) contrast agents significantly decreases with increasing magnetic field strengths. With an idea of exploring the unique structure of lanthanide (Ln) 15‐MC‐5 metallacrowns, we developed a series of water‐soluble Gd(III) aqua‐complexes, bearing aminohydroxamate (glycine, α‐alanine, α‐phenylalanine and α‐tyrosine) ligands, with increasing number of water molecules directly coordinated to the Gd(III) ion: Gd(H₂O)₄[15‐MC_Cu(II)Glyha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 1 (Gd)), Gd(H₂O)₄[15‐MC_Cu(II)Alaha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 2 (Gd)), Gd(H₂O)₃[15‐MC_{Cu(II)Phalaha}‐5](Cl)₃ ( 3 (Gd)) and Gd(H₂O)₃[15‐MC_Cu(II)Tyrha‐5](Cl)₃ ( 4 (Gd)). In these systems, the Ln(III) central ion is coordinated by five oxygen donor atoms of the ligands and three or four inner‐sphere water molecules. The X‐ray crystal structure of metallacrown Ln(H₂O)_3,4[15‐MC_Cu(II)Rha‐5]³⁺ agrees with density functional theory predictions. The calculations demonstrate that the exchange of coordinated water molecules can proceed easily, resulting in increased relaxivity parameters. The longitudinal relaxivities (r₁) of 1 (Gd)– 4 (Gd) in water at ultrahigh magnetic field of 9.4 T were determined to be 11.5, 14.8, 13.9 and 12.2 mM^?1 s^?1, respectively. The ability to increase the number of Ln(III) inner‐sphere water molecules up to four, the planar metallacrown structure and the rich hydration shell due to strong hydrogen bonds between the [15‐MC‐5] moiety and bulk water molecules provide new opportunities for potential MRI applications.     

Water inclusion as a trigger for modulation of anthracene arrangement and fluorescence emission of organic salt

An organic salt composed 9,10-bis(4-aminophenyl)anthracene and hypophosphorous acid emits yellow-green fluorescence in the crystalline state. The salt also gives water inclusion crystal which provides blue-green fluorescence. Single X-ray crystal studies revealed that water molecules induced the fluorescence change resulting from reaggregation of molecular packing.     

Naphthodithiophene-based donor materials for solution processed organic solar cells

As an emerging donor building block, naphthodithiophene (NDT) is causing more concerns in the field of organic semiconductors. With the rigid and coplanar molecule structure, NDT will exhibit more application space relying on its own advantage for facilitating the charge carrier transport. In this review article, we have summarized the development progress on the NDT-based donor materials for solution processed organic solar cells. Discussions and comments on those representative NDT type materials about structure and property are also presented.     

Proteins as functional interlayer in organic field-effect transistor

The paper summarizes and discusses the recent advances of proteins as functional interlayers in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). Specific focus is given on the proteins integrated into the device structure, either to act as dielectric materials or to perform as the functional interlayer between the dielectric and the organic semiconductor (OSC). The main emphasis is give to the location and the specific effect of protein layers in the structure of OFETs. Besides, the possibility of amyloid serving as useful building blocks for OFET is discussed.     

Surface treatment of CaCO3 with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents and tensile properties of the rubber composites

In order to reinforce the composite consisting of isoprene rubber (IR) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, the surface treatment of CaCO₃ particles with a mixture of amino- and mercapto-functional silane coupling agents was investigated. The quantity of chemisorbed silanes in treated CaCO₃ measured using thermogravimetry was greater for amino- than for mercapto-silane and for the tri- than for the dialkoxy structure. Second, the molecular mobility of polycondensate of the mixtures with the trialkoxy structure measured using ¹H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance had the least molecular mobility, i.e., formed the highest density network. The greater values of stress at 500% strain, fracture stress, and elongation at break were determined for the treatment with amino- and mercapto-functional silanes having a trialkoxy structure from the stress-strain curves of composite. The mixture treatment with dialkoxy structure and with amino- or mercapto-functional silane only did not improve the mechanical properties sufficiently. Interactions between the amino group and the CaCO₃ surface, covalent bonding between the mercapto group and the IR, and high density network formation of trialkoxy silane were important for improving the mechanical properties of the composite.