Cycloaddition profile of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyrylium betaine: experimental and theoretical investigations

A detailed investigation on the effect of solvent polarity, temperature, and microwave irradiation on periselectivity in cycloaddition reactions of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyrylium betaine is described. The base catalyzed generation of 3-oxidopyrylium betaine in CHCl₃ resulted in the exclusive formation of [6+3] adducts. With increase in solvent polarity and temperature, mixtures of [6+3] and [3+2] adducts were formed, where as under microwave irradiation, [3+2] adducts were formed exclusively. The experimental results have been rationalized on the basis of theoretical calculations.     

Synthesis of new cholesterol- and sugar-anchored squaraine dyes: further evidence of how electronic factors influence dye formation

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of new quinaldine-based squaraine dyes linked to cellular recognition elements that exhibit near-infrared absorption (>740 nm) are described. Both product analysis and theoretical calculations substantiate the interesting electronic effects of various substituents in the dye formation reaction. These results are useful in the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical squaraine dyes that can have potential biological and photodynamic therapeutical applications.     

Mesoporous and nanowire Co3O4 as negative electrodes for rechargeable lithium batteries

The conversion reactions associated with mesoporous and nanowire Co(3)O(4) when used as negative electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries have been investigated. Initially, Li is intercalated into Co(3)O(4) up to x approximately 1.5 Li in Li(x)Co(3)O(4). Thereafter, both materials form a nanocomposite of Co particles imbedded in Li(2)O, which on subsequent charge forms CoO. The capacities on cycling increase on initial cycles to values exceeding the theoretical value for Co(3)O(4) + 8 Li(+) + 8e(-) --> 4 Li(2)O + 3 Co, 890 mAhg(-1), and this is interpreted as due to charge storage in a polymer layer that forms on the high surface area of nanowire and mesoporous Co(3)O(4). After 15 cycles, the capacity decreases drastically for the nanowires due to formation of grains that are separated one from another by a thick polymer layer, leading to electrical isolation. In contrast, the mesoporous Co(3)O(4) losses its mesoporosity and forms a morphology similar to bulk Co(3)O(4) (Co particles imbedded in Li(2)O matrix) with which it exhibits a similar capacity on cycling. In contrast to mesoporous lithium intercalation compounds, which show superior capacity at high rates compared to bulk materials, mesoporosity does not seem to improve the capacity of conversion reactions on extended cycling. If, however, mesoporosity could be retained during the conversion reaction, then higher capacities could be obtained in such systems.     

Synthesis of novel quinaldine-based squaraine dyes: effect of substituents and role of electronic factors

[reaction: see text] Condensation of squaric acid with quinaldinium salts containing electron-donating substituents gave only the semisquaraines. However, with salts possessing electronegative and electron-withdrawing groups, the squaraine dyes were isolated in quantitative yields. The semisquaraines formed undergo condensation with highly nucleophilic salts yielding the unsymmetrical squaraine dyes. These results demonstrate the role of electronic factors and provide valuable information for the design of efficient squaraine-based sensitizers that can have potential applications in photodynamic therapy.     

Chiral supramolecular assemblies of a squaraine dye in solution and thin films: concentration-, temperature-, and solvent-induced chirality inversion

We prepared novel cholesterol-appended squaraine dye 1 and model squaraine dye 2 and investigated their aggregation behavior in solution and thin films using photophysical, chiroptical, and microscopic techniques. Investigations on the dependence of aggregation on solvent composition (good/poor, CHCl3/CH3CN) demonstrated that squaraine dye 1 forms two novel H-type chiral supramolecular assemblies with opposite chirality at different good/poor solvent compositions. Model compound 2 formed J-type achiral assemblies under similar conditions. The supramolecular assembly of 1 observed at lower fractions of the poor solvent could be assigned to the thermodynamically stable form, while a kinetically controlled assembly is formed at higher fractions of the poor solvent. This assignment is evidenced by temperature- and concentration-dependent experiments. With increasing temperature, the chirality of the kinetically controlled aggregate was lost and, on cooling, the aggregate with the opposite chirality was formed. On further heating and cooling the aggregates thus formed resulted in no significant changes in chirality, that is they are thermodynamically stable. Similarly, at lower concentrations, the thermodynamically stable form exists, but at higher concentration aggregation was found to proceed with kinetic control. Based on these observations it can be assumed that formation of the kinetically controlled assembly might be largely dependent on the presence of the nonpolar cholesterol moiety as well as the amount of poor solvent present. However, under solvent-free conditions, structurally different aggregates were observed when drop cast from solutions containing monomer, whereas a left-handed CD signal corresponding to the thermodynamically controlled assemblies was observed from pre-aggregated solutions.