Templated ceramic microstructures by using the breath-figure method

We describe the synthesis of two cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt-containing poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) and their use as precursors for stable ceramic surface coatings. Organometallic PPEs were shaped into hexagonally ordered assemblies by using the breath-figure method. Such breath figures can be washed away with an appropriate solvent. Upon pyrolysis at 500 degrees C under either nitrogen or air, the bubble arrays persist as ceramics and are insoluble in organic solvents or water. The formed pyrolyzed bubble arrays were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The composition of the ceramic materials is discussed based on EDX and IR data.     

Three‐Component Self‐Assembly of a Series of Triply Interlocked Pd12 Coordination Prisms and Their Non‐Interlocked Pd6 Analogues

Template‐assisted formation of multicomponent Pd₆ coordination prisms and formation of their self‐templated triply interlocked Pd₁₂ analogues in the absence of an external template have been established in a single step through Pd? N/Pd? O coordination. Treatment of cis‐[Pd(en)(NO₃)₂] with K₃tma and linear pillar 4,4′‐bpy (en=ethylenediamine, H₃tma=benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylic acid, 4,4′‐bpy=4,4′‐bipyridine) gave intercalated coordination cage [{Pd(en)}₆(bpy)₃(tma)₂]₂[NO₃]₁₂ ( 1 ) exclusively, whereas the same reaction in the presence of H₃tma as an aromatic guest gave a H₃tma‐encapsulating non‐interlocked discrete Pd₆ molecular prism [{Pd(en)}₆(bpy)₃(tma)₂(H₃tma)₂][NO₃]₆ ( 2 ). Though the same reaction using cis‐[Pd(NO₃)₂(pn)] (pn=propane‐1,2‐diamine) instead of cis‐[Pd(en)(NO₃)₂] gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}₆(bpy)₃(tma)₂]₂[NO₃]₁₂ ( 3 ) along with non‐interlocked Pd₆ analogue [{Pd(pn)}₆(bpy)₃(tma)₂](NO₃)₆ ( 3′ ), and the presence of H₃tma as a guest gave H₃tma‐encapsulating molecular prism [{Pd(pn)}₆(bpy)₃(tma)₂(H₃tma)₂][NO₃]₆ ( 4 ) exclusively. In solution, the amount of 3′ decreases as the temperature is decreased, and in the solid state 3 is the sole product. Notably, an analogous reaction using the relatively short pillar pz (pz=pyrazine) instead of 4,4′‐bpy gave triply interlocked coordination cage [{Pd(pn)}₆(pz)₃(tma)₂]₂[NO₃]₁₂ ( 5 ) as the single product. Interestingly, the same reaction using slightly more bulky cis‐[Pd(NO₃)₂(tmen)] (tmen=N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethylene diamine) instead of cis‐[Pd(NO₃)₂(pn)] gave non‐interlocked [{Pd(tmen)}₆(pz)₃(tma)₂][NO₃]₆ ( 6 ) exclusively. Complexes 1 , 3 , and 5 represent the first examples of template‐free triply interlocked molecular prisms obtained through multicomponent self‐assembly. Formation of the complexes was supported by IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectroscopy. Formation of guest‐encapsulating complexes ( 2 and 4 ) was confirmed by 2D DOSY and ROESY NMR spectroscopic analyses, whereas for complexes 1 , 3 , 5 , and 6 single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction techniques unambiguously confirmed their formation. The gross geometries of H₃tma‐encapsulating complexes 2 and 4 were obtained by universal force field (UFF) simulations.     

Designing a safer process for the reaction of TFA with sodium borohydride in THF by calorimetric technique

Reaction of TFA with sodium borohydride in THF is a loss of thermal control involving the evolution of Hydrogen gas. The investigation of the process by RC1e and ARSST showed that the criticality class of the reaction is dependant on the addition of TFA. Heat of reaction (Q _r), adiabatic temperature rise (ΔT _ad), and MTSR data are obtained from RC1e experiment. Exothermic onset temperature, Pressure rise, and self heat rate data are obtained from ARSST experiments. The correlation of these data was utilized to define the criticality class of the reaction under different conditions. The reaction with uncontrolled addition of TFA falls in the undesirable criticality class 5. Vent size data are obtained from the adiabatic calorimeter for undesirable reaction. The criticality class can be changed to class 2 with controlled addition. Accordingly, interlock system to control the undesired reaction and appropriate vent relief system are provided.     

Direct lactonization of α-amino γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters via olefin activation: stereo- and regioselective production of homoserine lactone scaffolds having contiguous stereocenters

Triflic acid-mediated stereoselective direct lactonization of a variety of α-amino γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters and the construction of new γ-butyrolactone structural motifs are reported. Several α-amino γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters underwent stereo- and regioselective 1,5-cyclization and afforded a variety of highly substituted homoserine lactone scaffolds having contiguous stereocenters. The direct lactonization of the chiral α-amino γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters with triflic acid led to the enantioselective synthesis of the novel homoserine lactones. A plausible mechanism for the direct lactonization of α-amino γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters is presented. The stereochemistry of major isomers 3f, 7a, 7b, and 7d was unambiguously established from the X-ray structure analysis.     

Synthesis of Peptide Cysteine Dimedone Using Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH: Glutathione Cysteine Dimedone as a Probe in Investigating the Sulfenic Acid Mediated Oxidation of Glutathione

Dimedone is the most widely used chemical probe for detection of cysteine sulfenic acid in peptides and proteins. The reaction of dimedone with cysteine sulfenic acid results in the formation of unique cysteine dimedone motif containing thioether bridge. Based on the structure of cysteine dimedone residue in polypeptide, a new building block of Fmoc-Cys(Dmd)-OH was developed for solid phase synthesis of peptide cysteine dimedone. Mass spectrometric sequencing of synthetic peptides have confirmed successful incorporation of cysteine dimedone in peptide chain using HBTU/HOBt as a coupling agent. The new method permits synthesis of peptides containing both cysteine thiol and cysteine dimedone in the same sequence which was difficult to achieve by conventional methods. The synthetic peptide of glutathione cysteine dimedone was used as a standard in probing the air-mediated oxidation of thiol to disulfide form of glutathione. The co-elution of standard peptide and reaction mixture of oxidation of glutathione in presence of dimedone using RP-HPLC have confirmed the formation of glutathione cysteine sulfenic as an intermediate in the air-mediated oxidation of glutathione. The synthetic peptides of cysteine dimedone may find application in the field of redox proteomics and generation of antibodies against modified cysteine residue.     

Studies on the synthesis of apoptolidin: synthesis of a C1-C27 fragment of apoptolidin D

Synthesis of a C(1)-C(27) fragment, a key intermediate in the synthesis of apoptolidin D, is reported. The synthesis involves a combination of Heck coupling and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction for the C(1)-C(7) trienoate portion and an efficient Suzuki cross-coupling protocol for the C(10)-C(13) diene portion.     

Effect of chemical structure on the crosslinking behavior of bismaleimides: Rheological study

The effect of molecular structure on the cure characteristics of bismaleimides (BMIs) was investigated by rheological measurements. BMI resins of different chemical structures were used, prepared from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and N-(3-carboxy phenyl) maleimide or N-(4-carboxy phenyl) maleimide. Temperature dependence of the rheological data was correlated to the Arrhenius equation, from which the activation energy of crosslinking was calculated.Upon heating in dynamic curing, viscosity passed through a minimum then sharply increased due to increasing amount of the crosslinking reaction. The temperature at minimum viscosity increased as the chain length became longer. After passing the minimum point, viscosity increased much faster for meta BMIs (3BE1, 3BE2) than para BMIs, however, the difference in the chain length did not show any appreciable difference in the viscosity increase rate (dη^∗/dT). Nonetheless, the final viscosity was lower for longer chains, because their crosslinking density would be lower.In isothermal curing, the final crosslinking density was expected to increase with temperature, which was shown via the increase in the final viscosity. The gelation time decreased with temperature, and the activation energy of the crosslinking reaction was obtained. Using the reaction kinetics parameters obtained from dynamic scanning calorimeter and Arrhenius type equation, the viscosity change during the isothermal curing was simulated and compared with the measurements.     

Fifty years of light scattering: A perspective

It is 50 years since Debye first described the use of light scattering for the characterization of polymer solution. Ben Chu has been a leader in its subsequent development. Significant advances in theory, experimental techniques, their interpretation, and application during this period are described. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High chelation control of three contiguous stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky reactions of indium enolates with alpha-hydroxy ketones: unexpected stereochemistry of lactone formation

[reaction: see text] A boat-type of chelated bicyclic transition state involving highly diastereoselective construction of three contiguous stereogenic centers in the Reformatsky reaction of indium enolates with alpha-alkoxy/hydroxy ketones is proposed. alpha-Hydroxy ketones with indium enolates furnished highly diastereoselective lactones, while alpha-alkoxy ketones gave acyclic esters in moderate selectivities. X-ray structure analyses of key products unequivocally revealed the unexpected stereochemistry of products and the reaction pathway.