Cyclic Conjugation Energy Effects in Polycyclic π-Electron Systems

Summary. The fact that cyclic arrangements of double bonds have a dramatic effect on the behavior of conjugated organic molecules is known since the 19th century. The fact that in monocyclic conjugated systems the size of the cycle and the number of -electrons involved is decisive for their stability (aromaticity) or lack of stability (antiaromaticity) is known since the 1930s. In polycyclic -electron systems several cyclic effects are present simultaneously and their separation became possible only recently. A molecular orbital method has been elaborated, by means of which the energy effects of individual cycles in polycyclic -electron systems can be estimated. This method is briefly outlined and illustrated by pertinent examples. An exhaustive bibliography of the topic considered is given.     

Solubilization and applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes into aqueous and organic media by the use of nanometer size-controlled fluoroalkyl end-capped oligomeric aggregates

We have studied on the solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW-CNTs) into aqueous and organic media by the use of a variety of nanometer size-controlled fluorinated self-assemblies, which were formed by the aggregations of end-capped fluoroalkyl segments in fluoroalkyl end-capped acrylic acid oligomers [R_F-(ACA)_n-R_F], N,N-dimethylacrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DMAA)_n-R_F], acryloylmorpholine oligomers [R_F-(ACMO)_n-R_F], and N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxobutyl)acrylamide oligomers [R_F-(DOBAA)_n-R_F]. Fluorinated self assemblies formed in organic media (colorless solutions) could solubilize SW-CNTs into organic media to afford the transparent pale yellow solutions. The dynamic light scattering measurements showed that the size of fluorinated self-assemblies increased after the solubilization of SW-CNTs into organic media. It was suggested that the solubilization of SW-CNTs into organic media is due to the encapsulation of SW-CNTs into fluorinated assemblies. Fluorinated assemblies were also able to solubilize SW-CNTs into water to give the transparent gray solutions. Among a variety of fluorinated assemblies, fluorinated assemblies formed by R_F-(ACMO)_n-R_F [R_F = CF(CF₃)OC₆F₁₃] oligomer was more effective for the solubilization of SW-CNTs into both aqueous and organic media. Contact angle measurements of dodecane and the fluorescence spectra for poly(methyl methacrylate) cast film modified by fluorinated self-assemblies—SW-CNTs complexes showed that SW-CNTs are dispersed above the PMMA surface.     

Photovoltaic Characteristics of a Naphthylamine Derivative

Organic photovoltaic （OPV） cells were fabricated via vacuum vapor deposition with {4-[2-（3-di-cyanomethylidene-5,5-dimethylcyclohexenyl）vinyl]phenyl}di（1-naphthyl）amine （DNP-2CN） as the electron donor, and fullerene （C60） as the electron acceptor. A thin film （10 nm） of tris（8-quinolinolato）aluminum （Alq3） was adopted as the buffer layer. A device based on this DNP-2CN exhibited an open circuit voltage （Voc） of 370 mV, a short-circuit current density （Jsc） of 0.61 mAocm 2, and a white-light power conversion efficiency （ η） of 0.09% （AM1.5, 75 mW.cm^- 2）.     

New diphthalocyanine complexes of rare-earth metals based on 4,5-isopropylidenedioxyphthalonitrile

A series of the earlier unknown diphthalocyanine complexes of rare-earth metals based on 4,5-isopropylidenedioxyphthalonitrile were prepared. Their compositions and yields depend on the radius of the complexing ion. The synthesized compounds were studied by spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. The redox potentials of the complexes studied change nonlinearly with a decrease in the lanthanide ion radius. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 274—279, February, 2006.     

Solid-phase synthesis of the cyclic lipononadepsipeptide [N-Mst(Ser1), d-Ser4, L-Thr6, L-Asp8, L-Thr9]syringotoxin

An optimized solid-phase strategy for the preparation of the cyclic lipononadepsipeptide [N-Mst(L-Ser1), D-Ser4, L-Thr6, L-Asp8, L-Thr9]syringotoxin is reported. The strategy is based on the use of a mild orthogonal protection scheme and the incorporation of the nonproteinogenic amino acid (Z)-Dhb into the peptide chain as the dipeptide Fmoc-Thr(tBu)-(Z)-Dhb-OH. The didehydrodipeptide was synthesized by a water-soluble carbodiimide-induced beta-elimination of a protected dipeptide containing a residue of Thr with its free hydroxy side chain unprotected.     

Enzymatic Synthesis and Polymerization of Cyclic Trimethylene Carbonate Monomer with/without Methyl Substituent

The direct enzymatic synthesis of a cyclic trimethylene carbonate (1,3‐dioxane‐2‐one) monomer with/without a methyl substituent was carried out using dimethyl or diethyl carbonate and 1,3‐diol with the objective of producing aliphatic poly(trimethylene carbonate), a typical biodegradable synthetic plastic. The lipase‐catalyzed condensation of dimethyl or diethyl carbonate with aliphatic 1,3‐diols using immobilized Candida antarctica lipase (lipase CA) in an organic solvent at 70 °C afforded the corresponding methyl‐substituted and unsubstituted cyclic trimethylene carbonates. The cyclic trimethylene carbonates obtained by the reaction of dimethyl or diethyl carbonates with 1,3‐propanediol and 2‐methyl‐1,3‐propanediol were polymerized by lipase to produce the corresponding polycarbonates.

Total TMC yield as a function of the reaction time.     

Quantum chemical study of alternating N/B and N/C π bonds in (un)charged even‐membered 4n and 4n+2 cyclic systems and their related open systems

With semi‐empirical MO and ab initio calculations at different levels, we investigated the π conjugation of alternating X? Y bonds with X? Y for N/B and N/C combinations in an open and cyclic arrangement. Although the intrinsic symmetry is lost for the acyclic even‐membered compounds, the alternation is still reflected in its geometry and electron‐density transfer. For the cyclic π compounds, we focused our attention on borazine N₃B₃H₆ (D_3h symmetry), which is isoelectronic with benzene (D_6h symmetry). Specific attention is given to the electrophilic behavior of borazine with respect to CH and SiMe. The dynamics based on the results of FT‐ICR mass spectrometry was studied in more detail. In addition, the results of the cyclic systems with 4n and 4n+2 π electrons concerning their geometries are compared with the corresponding carbon compounds. Attention is also given to the dication of borazine, because of the corresponding triplet ground state of the benzene dication. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Synthesis, crystal structure and studies on properties of trisodium 5,3′,5′-trisulfonate-2,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-deoxybenzoin

A new water soluble compound trisodium 5,3′,5′-trisulfonate-2,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-deoxybenzoin (TTDB) was synthesized and characterized by IR, UV, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis. The single crystal of TTDB was determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The scavenging effect of compounds on hydroxy radicals was detected by fluorescent spectrophotometry. The electrochemical behavior of compounds in nonaqueous solution DMF was carried out by means of cyclic voltammetry. The experimental result shows that the crystal [C₁₄H₁₇Na₃O₁₈S₃] belongs to monoclinic, space group C2/c with unit cell constants a = 1.4223(4) nm, b = 2.4327(8) nm, c = 1.3596(4) nm, α = 90°, β = 113.044(5)°, γ = 90°, Z = 8, V = 4.329(2) nm³, D _c = 1.925 mg/m³, F(000) = 2568, F _w = 638.43, R ₁ = 0.0950, wR ₂ = 0.2648. The half effective concentration EC₅₀ of scavenging hydroxy radicals of compound THDB is 53.1 μmol/L, while that of scavenging hydroxy radicals of compound TTDB is 47.3μmol/L. The electrochemistry redox processes of THDB and TTDB are different from each other. __________ Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2005, 26(9) (in Chinese)     

SYNTHESIS OF ORGANOGERMANE OLIGOMERS VIA LIGAND SUBSTITUTION POLYMERIZATION FROM 1, 4-DIOXANE COMPLEX OF GERMANIUM DICHLORIDE

Some organogermanium oligomers with different side groups were synthesized via li-gand substitution polymerization from 1, 4-dioxane complex of germanium dichloride withdifferent organolithitum compounds. The oligomers were isolated through either precipi-tation from methanol or extraction using toluene with a yield of no less than 50%. Theweiglit average molecular weight (M_w) of the oligomers is ranging from 1.4×10~3 to 5.9×10~3depending on the type and alkyl length of the organolithium compounds used.     

Copper passivity and its breakdown in sodium bicarbonate solutions: A scanning electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron and auger spectroscopy study

Effect of bicarbonate ions on the copper passivity and its local breakdown is studied by cyclic voltammetry, Auger spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Comparing data for solutions with various sodium bicarbonate concentrations shows copper to undergo pitting in 0.02 M NaHCO₃, whereas it remains stably passive in 0.10 M NaHCO₃. Independent studies suggest that carbonates play a protective role in stabilization of the oxide-hydroxide passive film on copper.