Ultrasound in polymer chemistry: Revival of an established technique

The history of ultrasound in polymer chemistry goes back a long way. Initially, its uses were limited to being an alternative method of initiating radical polymerizations through the decomposition of solvents to form radicals or through the breakage of polymers leading to macroradicals. Recently, the raw power of ultrasound has been focused through the use of weak linkages in polymer chains, which enables the production of well‐defined macroradicals and coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5445–5453, 2006     

Photoresponsive supramolecular systems: self-assembly of azodibenzoic acid linear tapes and cyclic tetramers

A new strategy to effect photoinduced control over molecular self-assembly is reported. This strategy uses the reversible trans-cis photoisomerization of a novel azobenzene system, where the trans- and cis-forms self-assemble into dramatically different higher-order structures. The trans-azobenzene form of this molecule associates into infinite hydrogen-bonded linear tapes, while the cis-azobenzene form undergoes hydrogen-bonded self-assembly into cyclic tetramers. This results in a second level of association, where the cis-hydrogen-bonded supramolecular cycles ultimately form long, rod-like aggregates through stacking interactions.     

meso-substituted aromatic 34pi core-modified octaphyrins: syntheses,characterization and anion binding properties

Modified octaphyrins with 34pi electrons have been synthesized and characterized following a simple synthetic methodology. An acid-catalyzed alpha,alpha coupling of tetrapyrranes containing furan, thiophene and selenophene rings resulted in the formation of the respective octaphyrins in relatively good yield. Solution studies by (1)H NMR and 2D NMR methods and single crystal Xray structural characterization reveal an almost flat structure with two heterocyclic rings inverted. Specifically, in 14 two selenophene rings (one on each biselenophene unit) are inverted while in 15 two furan rings (one on each bifuran unit) are inverted when the meso substituent are mesityl groups. On changing the mesityl substituent to m-xylyl group as in 19, the location of ring inversion shifts to pyrrole rings (one on each bipyrrole unit) indicating the dependence of structure on the meso substituents. UV/Vis studies, both in freebase and protonated forms reveal typical porphyrinic character and the aromatic nature of the octaphyrins. The Deltadelta values evaluated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy also support their aromatic nature. The protonated forms of octaphyrins bind TFA anion in a 1:2 ratio. The TFA anions are located one above and below the plane of the octaphyrin macrocycle and they are held by weak electrostatic NH-O interactions similar to that observed for protonated rubyrins. However, in the present case, there is an additional non-electrostatic CH-O interaction involving beta-CH of the inverted heterocyclic ring and the carbonyl oxygen of the TFA. Furthermore, inter molecular interactions between the Cbond;H of the meso-mesityl group and the fluorine of CF(3) group of bound TFA leads to the formation of one-dimensional supramolecular arrays with interplanar distance of 13 A between two octaphyrins.     

Host-guest antenna materials

The focus of this review is on host-guest composites with photonic antenna properties. The material generally consists of cylindrical zeolite L crystals the channels of which are filled with dye molecules. The synthesis is based on the fact that molecules can diffuse into individual channels. This means that, under the appropriate conditions, they can also leave the zeolite by the same way. In some cases, however, it is desirable to block their way out by adding a closure molecule. Functionalization of the closure molecules allows tuning of, for example, wettability, refractive index, and chemical reactivity. The supramolecular organization of the dyes inside the channels is a first stage of organization. It allows light harvesting within a certain volume of a dye-loaded nanocrystalline zeolite and radiationless transport to both ends of the cylinder or from the ends to the center. The second stage of organization is the coupling to an external acceptor or donor stopcock fluorophore at the ends of the channels, which can trap or inject electronic excitation energy. The third stage of organization is the coupling to an external device through a stopcock molecule. The wide-ranging tunability of these highly organized materials offers fascinating new possibilities for exploring excitation-energy-transfer phenomena, and challenges for developing new photonic devices.     

Neue Oxonium-Bromochalkogenate(IV) — Darstellung,Struktur und Eigenschaften von [H3O][TeBr5] · 3C4H8O2 und [H3O]2[SeBr6]

New Oxonium Bromochalcogenates(IV) — Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of [H₃O][TeBr₅] · 3 C₄H₈O₂ and [H₃O]₂[SeBr₆] Dark red crystals of the composition [H₃O][TeBr₅] · 3 C₄H₈O₂ ( 1 ) were isolated from a saturated solution of TeBr₄ in 1,4-dioxane containing a small amount of water. In this compound (space group P2₁/m, a = 8.922(4) Å, b = 13.204(7) Å, c = 9.853(5) Å, β = 91.82(4)° at 150 K) a square pyramidal [TeBr₅]^? anion has been isolated for the first time. The coordination sphere of the anion is completed to a distorted octahedron by weak interaction with a dioxane molecule of the cationic system. The [H₃O]⁺ cations are connected to chains by dioxane molecules. At room temperature the compound is stable only in its mother liquor. Crystalline [H₃O]₂[SeBr₆] ( 2 ) (space group Fm3m, a = 10.421(1) Å at 170 K) is a bromoselenous acid of high symmetry. The [H₃O]⁺ ion is only weakly coordinated by Br atoms of the anion. The anions are isolated octahedral [SeBr₆]^2? units. The structure is isotypic to the K₂[PtCl₆] structure. Despite being a halogenochalcogen(IV) acid, 2 exhibits a remarkable thermal stability. Both oxonium compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analyses. Vibrational spectra of 2 are reported.     

Crystal engineering: Supramolecular structures by cocrystallization ofMeso-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol and bisimines,simple cases of molecular recognition

The crystal structures of molecular complexes betweenmeso- 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediol and two bisimines (N,N-(dibenzylidene)-ethylenediamine and glyoxylidene-bis(2,4-dimethyl-3-pentyl-amine) are reported at different temperatures. The structure-determining motif of the cocrystalline arrangement is one single O-H . N hydrogen bond resulting in infinite ladderlike polymers. The supramolecular structure is formed by recognition of fitting species: Thed- orl-isomers do not arrange in such structures.¹H NMR experiments show that no prearrangements take place by forming complexes in solution.     

Synthesis of new 3,4-di-and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-one derivatives and X-ray diffraction study of crystal solvates of 3-methylsulfonylamino-2-(2-methylsulfonylaminophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-one

The reactions of hydrazide, mesyl hydrazide, succinyl hydrazide, and maleyl hydrazide of anthranilic acid with carbonyl compounds were studied, and new di-and tetrahydroquinazolin-4-one derivatives were prepared. The structure of one reaction product, viz., 3-methylsulfonylamino-2-(2-methylsulfonylaminophenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-one, was established by X-ray diffraction study of two crystal solvates of this compound. The characteristic features of the crystal packings of these solvates are discussed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1183–1191, July, 2006.     

Thiophosphorylated cavitand: structure and affinity towards soft metal ions

The iiii stereoisomer of the tetrathiophosphonate-calix[4]resorcinarene host 1 exhibited excellent extraction properties towards soft metal ions, with a better affinity for Ag⁺ (91%), than for Tl⁺ (38%) and Hg²⁺ (16%). The extraction of other picrate salts (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺) was not detected. The stoichiometry and the structure of the Hg²⁺, Tl⁺ and Ag⁺ complexes were studied by NMR in solution and gave respectively 1:1, 1:1 and 1:2 host-guest complexes. The formation of the self-assembled 1₂·(AgPic)₄ complex was independent on the anion and only observed with silver(I) ion.     

Synthesis of π‐conjugated oligomer that can form metallo polymers

An oligo(p‐phenylene vinylene) that contains terpyridine ligands has been synthesized. Upon addition of metal ions, a π‐conjugated metallo polymer is formed in which the well‐defined character of oligomers and the material properties of polymers are combined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4020–4023, 2002     

Polymerization of cyclic imino ethers: From its discovery to the present state of the art

Topics concerning the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of cyclic imino ethers and functional material production based on the resulting polymers are reviewed. Cyclic imino ethers are readily subjected to isomerization polymerization via cationic initiators. Mechanistic studies have provided a new concept, electrophilic polymerization. Double isomerization polymerization and no‐catalyst alternating copolymerization are interesting examples that show characteristics of the ring opening of cyclic imino ethers. The living polymerization of these monomers affords precisely controlled polymeric materials. Through the use of the unique properties of the product polymers, various functional polymeric materials, such as polymeric nonionic surfactants, compatibilizers, hydrogels, stabilizers for dispersion polymerization, biocatalyst modifiers, and supramolecular assemblies, have been developed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 192–209, 2002