Tetrakis(1‐naphthylamino)silane and its tetrahydrofuran trisolvate

In both title structures, C₄₀H₃₂N₄Si and C₄₀H₃₂N₄Si·3C₄H₈O, the angles around the Si atom deviate significantly from the tetrahedral value [104.34 (7)–116.63 (7)° in the nonsolvate and 99.91 (15)–116.85 (15)° in the solvate]. The amino H atoms in the solvated structure are involved in hydrogen bonding with two of the tetrahydrofuran solvent molecules.     

Synthesis and structural studies of Rh, Pd, Ni complexes and one-pot synthesis of binuclear Ru complex [(η-p-cymene)Ru(μ2-Cl)3Ru{PhN(P(OC6H4OMe-o)2)2}Cl]

The Rh^I, Ru^II, Pd^I and Ni^II complexes of the aminobis(phosphonite), PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂ (1) are reported. The reactions of 1 with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in 1:1 and 2:1 molar ratio afford the mono- and diolefin substituted chloro bridged chelate complexes, [(COD)Rh₂(μ₂-Cl)₂{PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}] (2) and [Rh(μ₂-Cl){PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}]₂ (3), respectively. Similarly, the cationic mono- and bis-chelate complexes, [Rh(COD){PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}]OTf (4) and [Rh{PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}₂]OTf (5) are obtained by treating 1 with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ in the presence of AgOTf in appropriate ratios. The dinuclear Rh^I carbonyl complex, [RhCl(CO){μ-PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}]₂ (6) is prepared by treating 1 with 0.5 equiv. of [Rh(CO)₂Cl]₂. Reaction of 1 with cis-[NiBr₂(DME)] (DME = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) affords [{PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}NiBr₂] (7) whereas with [Ru-(η⁶-p-cymene)Cl₂]₂ in refluxing THF medium produces an interesting and rare bimetallic Ru^II complex, [(η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(μ₂-Cl)₃Ru{PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}Cl] (8). Redox condensation of the Pd⁰ and Pd^II derivatives with 1 affords the dinuclear Pd^I complex, [PdBr{μ-PhN(P(OC₆H₄OMe-o)₂)₂}]₂ (9). The formation and structure of complexes 2-9 are assigned through various spectroscopic and micro analysis data. The molecular structures of 5 and 7-9 are confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

New bonding modes for boraamidinate ligands in heavy group 15 complexes: fluxional behavior of the 1:2 complexes, LiM[PhB(NtBu)2]2 (M = As, Sb, Bi)

The reactions of MCl3 with Li2[PhB(NtBu)2] in 1:1, 1:1.5, and 1:2 molar ratios in diethyl ether produced the monoboraamidinates ClM[PhB(NtBu)2] (1a, M = As; 1b, M = Sb; 1c, M = Bi), the novel 2:3 boraamidinate complexes [PhB(NtBu)2]M-micro-N(tBu)B(Ph)N(tBu)M[PhB(NtBu)2] (2b, M = Sb; 2c, M = Bi), and the bisboraamidinates LiM[PhB(NtBu)2]2 (3a, 3a.OEt2, M = As; 3b, M = Sb; 3c.OEt2, M = Bi), respectively. The 2:3 complexes 2b and 2c were also observed in the reactions carried out in a 1:2 molar ratio at room temperature. All complexes have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 7Li, 11B, and 13C) and by single-crystal X-ray structural determinations. The molecular units of the mono-boraamidinates 1a-c are isostructural, but their crystal packing is distinct as a result of stronger intermolecular close contacts going from 1a to 1c. In the novel 2:3 bam complexes 2b and 2c, each metal center is N,N'-chelated by a bam ligand and these two [M(bam)]+ units are bridged by the third [bam]2- ligand. The structures of the unsolvated bis-boraaminidate complexes 3a and 3b consist of [Li(bam)]- and [M(bam)]+ monomeric units linked by Li-N and M-N bonds to give a tricyclic structure. Solvation of the Li+ ion by diethyl ether results in a bicyclic structure composed of four-membered BN2As and six-membered BN3AsLi rings in 3a.OEt2. In contrast, the analogous bismuth complex 3c.OEt2 exhibits a tetracyclic structure. Variable-temperature NMR studies reveal that the nature of the fluxional behavior of 3a-c in solution is dependent on the group 15 center.     

Alkylation of catechol with methanol to guaiacol over sulphate-modified zirconia solid acid catalysts

A series of sulphate-promoted ZrO₂ solid acid catalysts with different contents of SO₄ ²⁻ were calcined at 450°C in air for 4 h and tested for the liquid-phase alkylation of catechol to guaiacol in a fixed-bed down-flow reactor. The 5 wt.% SO₄ ²⁻ on ZrO₂ showed the best conversion (82%) and selectivity for guaiacol (84%) at 200°C and 1 bar pressure. A smooth correlation was observed between the catalytical activity and surface acidity of sulphated zirconia. Based on our results, a surface mechanism is proposed.     

Photoactive Titania Float for Disinfection of Water; Evaluation of Cell Damage by Bioanalytical Techniques

A photoactive float was fabricated with the modified titania to cause a feasible disinfection of water, contaminated with E. coli. The commercially available titania was doped with neodymium by pulverization technique to enhance its activity in sunlight and a multiapproach technique was used to evaluate the extended efficiency of the doped sample. X‐ray diffraction patterns depicted the retention of anatase phase on doping and the existence of neodymium was confirmed by the energy dispersive atomic X‐ray analysis and the X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy and Bruner–Emmett–Teller analysis depicted a marginal increase in the particle size and a decrease in the surface area, respectively. Doping induces semiconductor behavior with lower band energy that could respond to visible light and exhibit better disinfection activity. The “f” and “d” transitions of the lanthanide in doped sample caused new electronic behavior of trapping/detrapping effect together with bandgap narrowing. The amount of malondialdehyde, protein, DNA and RNA released on destruction of E. coli was observed to be 0.915 × 10^?3 μg mL^?1, 859.912 μg mL^?1, 20.173 μg mL^?1 and 1146.073 μg mL^?1, respectively. The above analytical methods along with standard plate count method substantiated the enhanced disinfection efficiency of the doped sample in sunlight.     

Siloxane polymers containing azo moieties synthesized by click chemistry for photo responsive and liquid crystalline applications

Three new types of siloxane‐based photoactive liquid crystalline polymers containing azo side groups were synthesized through the click chemistry route. The polymers having molecular weight range of 14,000–34,000 g mol^?1 were soluble in most of the polar solvents like chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and dichloromethane. The photoresponsive trans–cis photoisomerization under UV radiation and cis–trans relaxation process in dark for the polymers were studied. The isomerization rate constants were found to be 0.01–0.04 sec^?1 and 1.16*10^?4–4.67*10^?4 sec^?1, respectively. It has been noted that the polymers showed high intensity absorption for n‐π* in chloroform. Both trans and cis forms of azide monomers having azo moiety exhibited molar extinction coefficient ( ? _max) in the range of 22,000–33,000 L mol^?1 cm^?1. The thermotropic behavior of the polymers was studied by polarizing optical microscope (POM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments. Polymer P1 showed liquid crystalline textures of nematic droplets, whereas P2 showed smectic focal conic texture and nematic droplets. Polymer P1 was also studied for photomechanical bending on exposure to UV radiation. The polymers showed initial degradation temperature in the range of 210–275°C. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Click chemistry‐based synthesis of azo polymers for second‐order nonlinear optics

Four linear polymers containing pendant azo moiety were synthesized through click chemistry for second‐order nonlinear optical study. The polymers were found soluble in most of the polar organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, and dimethyl formamide (DMF). The polymers showed thermal stability up to 300 °C and glass transition temperatures (T_g) in the range of 120–140 °C. The molecular weights (M_w) of these polymers (measured by gel permeation chromatography) were in the range 37,900–55,000 g/mol. The polymers were found to form optically transparent films by solution casting from THF solution. Order parameters were calculated from UV–vis absorption spectra. The morphology changes in the films after poling were characterized by atomic force microscopy. The angular dependence, temperature dependence, and time dependence of second harmonic generation (SHG) intensity were obtained by using 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The SHG intensity remained unchanged up to 95 °C. At room temperature, it remained stable up to 8 days after initial drop of about 14%. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012