Fluoroalkylation of poly(cyclopentadienyl)siloxane and the surface properties of poly(fluorocyclopentenyl)siloxane films

In this work, poly(fluorocyclopentenyl)siloxane (FPCS) was obtained via a single electron transfer addition reaction of poly(cyclopentadienyl)siloxane (PCS) and perfluoroalkyl iodides, and reduction reaction of the intermediates. PCS was prepared by substitution and hydrolysis reactions using methyltrichlorosilane and sodium cyclopentadienide (NaCp) as raw materials. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR, and ¹⁹F NMR indicated the structures of the target polymers. The XPS results showed that the thin films prepared by dip-coating were fluorine enriched at the surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) image showed that on the rough surface of films, there were many pinnacles which were generated through the migration of side chain fluoroalkyl groups. The relative static contact angles of water and n-hexadecane on FPCS and PCS indicated that sodium dithionite initiated the reaction of perfluoroalkyl iodides and PCS so that FPCS was successfully synthesized. The measured surface energy of PCS was 2.57 × 10^?2 N/m; while FPCS was 2.14 × 10^?2 N/m, which represented better liquid repellent property compared to PCS.     

Practical synthesis of bicyclic pyrazol-5-one derivatives

This communication describes a convenient synthesis of fused bicyclic pyrazolones in a one-pot reaction procedure. Modified protocols are also developed to access 5,5-bicyclic and bulky pyrazolones in good yields. The method reported herein represents a practical approach to structurally diversified bicyclic pyrazolones.     

Self-Assembly of Trisiloxane-Tailed Sugar Surfactant in Aqueous Solution

Abstract

A lactobionamide-based trisiloxane surfactant (Si3N2–LA) was prepared via a two-step method. Structure characterization of Si3N2–LA was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). Surface activity and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution of Si3N2–LA were investigated by surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and negative-stained transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the surfactants can self-assemble into spherical vesicles with diameters in the range from 50 to 150 nm due to the introduction of trisiloxane tail.     

New Fluorinated Poly(imide siloxane) Random and Block Copolymers with Variation of Siloxane Loading

Several new random and block copoly(imide siloxane)s have been prepared by the solution polycondensation of commercially available 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) and amino-propyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (APPS) with 4,4′-(hexafluoro-isopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). The siloxane loading was kept to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt% in the copolymers. The random copolymers were prepared by a one pot solution imidization technique, and two pot solution imidization technique was adopted for the synthesis of the block copolymers. The diamine ODA and the dianhydride 6FDA composed the hard block segment, while APPS and 6FDA composed the soft block segment. The hard block length was kept constant while the soft block lengths were varied by varying the siloxane loading. Accordingly, block copoly(imide siloxane)s were prepared on increasing the soft block lengths (DP) from 3 to 6, 10, 18 and 36 for fixed hard block length of 22. The resulting polymers have been well characterized by IR, NMR and GPC techniques. Thermal and mechanical properties of the random and block copolymers were compared with the already reported homopolyimide without siloxane moiety.     

Determination of the permittivity of nematic liquid crystals in the microwave region

Two 3 mm thick microscope glass plates, having one face plus their two long edges coated by a thick metallic film, are spaced 75 μm apart by mylar spacers. Because of the metallic coatings on the inner faces the structure acts as a single metallic slit. The space between the two coated plates is filled with aligned nematic liquid crystal (E7, Merck/BDH) and the cell is inserted in an absorber aperture. This single metallic slit geometry supports resonant modes when microwaves are incident with their polarization (E-field) perpendicular to the slit. The structure gives a set of Fabry-Perot-like resonant transmission frequencies. These frequencies move when a voltage is applied between the two plates, the liquid crystal being first aligned homogeneously, then realigning homeotropically with the applied field. By minotoring these changes a fast and easy to use procedure for determining the permittivity and its anisotropy for nematic liquid crystals in the microwave region has been developed. The parameters determined for E7 are ε_e = 3.17 (n_e = 1.78 ± 0.01) and ε_o = 2.72 (n_o = 1.65 ± 0.01), (Δn ≈ 0.13) in the 40.0–60.0 GHz region.     

Structural Diversity of Copper(I)–N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes; Ligand Tuning Facilitates Isolation of the First Structurally Characterised Copper(I)–NHC Containing a Copper(I)–Alkene Interaction

The preparation of a series of imidazolium salts bearing N‐allyl substituents, and a range of substituents on the second nitrogen atom that have varying electronic and steric properties, is reported. The ligands have been coordinated to a copper(I) centre and the resulting copper(I)–NHC (NHC=N‐heterocyclic carbene) complexes have been thoroughly examined, both in solution and in the solid‐state. The solid‐state structures are highly diverse and exhibit a range of unusual geometries and cuprophilic interactions. The first structurally characterised copper(I)–NHC complex containing a copper(I)–alkene interaction is reported. An N‐pyridyl substituent, which forms a dative bond with the copper(I) centre, stabilises an interaction between the metal centre and the allyl substituent of a neighbouring ligand, to form a 1D coordination polymer. The stabilisation is attributed to the pyridyl substituent increasing the electron density at the copper(I) centre, and thus enhancing the metal(d)‐to‐alkene(π*) back‐bonding. In addition, components other than charge transfer appear to have a role in copper(I)–alkene stabilisation because further increases in the Lewis basicity of the ligand disfavours copper(I)–alkene binding.     

Ni‐Catalyzed [4+3+2] Cycloaddition of Ethyl Cyclopropylideneacetate and Dienynes: Scope and Mechanistic Insights

A detailed study of the Ni‐catalyzed [4+3+2] cycloaddition reaction between ethyl cyclopropylideneacetate and dienynes has been conducted, resulting in the development of a new method for the synthesis of compounds containing nine‐membered rings. We studied the reactivity of various dienynes, together with their substituent and conformational effects. The mechanism of the reaction was probed by examining the stoichiometric reactions of the Ni complexes and dienynes.     

Strained Ammonium Precursors for Radiofluorinations

The increasing application of positron emission tomography (PET) in nuclear medicine has stimulated the extensive development of a multitude of novel and versatile techniques to introduce fluorine-18, especially for the radiolabelling of biologically or pharmacologically active molecules. Taking into consideration that the introduction of fluorine-18 (t_1/2=109.8 min) mostly proceeds under harsh conditions, radiolabelling of such molecules represents a challenge and is of enormous interest. Ideally, it should proceed in a regioselective manner under mild physiological conditions, in an acceptable time span, with high yields and high specific activities. Special attention has been drawn to 2-fluoroethyl and 3-fluoropropyl groups, which are often the active sites of radiofluorinated compounds. Precursors containing an ammonium leaving group – such as a strained azetidinium or aziridinium moiety – can help to overcome these obstacles leading to a convenient and mild introduction of [¹⁸F]fluoride with high radiochemical yields.     

Polybenzimidazole dendrimer containing triazine rings-based high-temperature proton exchange membranes with high performances over a wide humidity range

A high-temperature proton exchange membrane with high proton conductivity over a wide humidity range still remains a challenge. PBI dendrimer containing triazine rings (TPBI) was synthesized to approach this aim considering its high content of hygroscopic terminal groups and of larger free volume. A novel proton conductor previously synthesized (zirconium 3-sulfopropyl phosphonate, ZrSP) was doped due to its good proton conductivity over a wide humidity range. TPBI was post-crosslinked with a tetrafunctional epoxy resin (N,N,N′,N′-tetraglycidyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, TGDDM) to enhance the mechanical stability at low cross-linking degrees, which allowed high doping levels of ZrSP, and thus, high conductivity. The prepared membranes (TPBI-TGDDM/ZrSP) showed good thermal stability, high proton conductivity over wide humidity range, and good dimensional stability. At suitable degrees of branching, TPBI-TGDDM/ZrSP exhibited superior mechanical property, oxidative stability, methanol barrier property, and membrane selectivity than its linear analog (mPBI-TGDDM/ZrSP). As ZrSP instead of PA was applied as the proton conductor, TPBI-TGDDM/ZrSP showed good durability of proton conductivity, especially in comparison with TPBI-TGDDM/PA, which highly retarded decline in conductivity caused by PA leaking. The proton conductivity at 180 °C of TPBI(20)-TGDDM(10)/ZrSP(50) achieved 142, 84.2 and 23.6 mS cm^?1 at 100%, 50%, and 0 RH, respectively.