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Institute
- Institut für Chemie (174) (remove)
Magnetic ionogels (MagIGs) were prepared from organosilane-coated iron oxide nanoparticles, N-isopropylacrylamide, and the ionic liquid trihexyl(tetradecyl)phosphonium dicyanamide. The ionogels prepared with the silane-modified nanoparticles are more homogeneous than ionogels prepared with unmodified magnetite particles. The silane-modified particles are immobilized in the ionogel and are resistant tonanoparticle leaching. The modified particles also render the ionogels mechanically more stable than the ionogels synthesized with unmodified nanoparticles. The ionogels respond to external permanent magnets and are therefore prototypes of a new soft magnetic actuator.
The switching kinetics of thin thermo-responsive hydrogel films of poly(monomethoxy-diethyleneglycol-acrylate) (PMDEGA) are investigated. Homogeneous and smooth PMDEGA films with a thickness of 35.9 nm are prepared on silicon substrates by spin coating. As probed with white light interferometry, PMDEGA films with a thickness of 35.9 nm exhibit a phase transition temperature of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type of 40 degrees C. In situ neutron reflectivity is performed to investigate the thermo-responsive behavior of these PMDEGA hydrogel films in response to a sudden thermal stimulus in deuterated water vapor atmosphere. The collapse transition proceeds in a complex way which can be seen as three steps. The first step is the shrinkage of the initially swollen film by a release of water. In the second step the thickness remains constant with water molecules embedded in the film. In the third step, perhaps due to a conformational rearrangement of the collapsed PMDEGA chains, water is reabsorbed from the vapor atmosphere, thereby giving rise to a relaxation process. Both the shrinkage and relaxation processes can be described by a simple model of hydrogel deswelling.
The scanning tunnelling microscope (STM)-induced switching of a single cyclooctadiene molecule between two stable conformations chemisorbed on a Si(100) surface is investigated using an above threshold model including a neutral ground state and an ionic excited state potential. Switching was recently achieved experimentally with an STM operated at cryogenic temperatures (Nacci et al 2008 Phys. Rev. B 77 121405(R)) and rationalized by a below threshold model using just a single potential energy surface (Nacci et al 2009 Nano Lett. 9 2997).
In the present paper, we show that experimental key findings on the inelastic electron tunnelling (IET) switching can also be rationalized using an above threshold density matrix model, which includes, in addition to the neutral ground state potential, an anionic or cationic excited potential. We use one and two-dimensional potential energy surfaces. Furthermore, the influence of two key parameters of the density matrix description, namely the electronic lifetime of the ionic resonance and the vibrational lifetimes, on the ground state potential are discussed.
The switching of single cyclooctadiene molecules chemisorbed on a Si(100) surface between two stable conformations, can be achieved with a scanning tunneling microscope [Nacci , Phys. Rev. B 77, 121405(R) (2008)]. Recently, it was shown by quantum chemical and quantum dynamical simulations that major experimental facts can be explained by a single-mode model with switching enforced by inelastic electron tunneling (IET) excitations and perturbed by vibrational relaxation [Nacci , Nano Lett. 9, 2997 (2009)]. In the present paper, we extend the previous theoretical work in several respects: (1) The model is generalized to a two-mode description in which two C2H4 units of COD can move independently; (2) contributions of dipole and, in addition, (cation and anion) resonance-IET rates are considered; (3) the harmonic-linear vibrational relaxation model used previously is generalized to anharmonic vibrations. While the present models highlight generic aspects of IET-switching between two potential minima, they also rationalize specific experimental findings for COD/Si(100): (1) A single-electron excitation mechanism with a linear dependence of the switching rate on tunneling current I, (2) the capability to switch both at negative and positive sample biases, and (3) a crossover temperature around similar to 60 K from an IET-driven, T-independent atom tunneling regime, to classical over-the-barrier isomerization with exponential T-dependence at higher temperatures for a bias voltage of +1.5 V and an average tunneling current of 0.73 nA.
The aim of this thesis is the quantum dynamical study of two examples of scanning tunneling microscope (STM)-controllable, Si(100)(2x1) surface-mounted switches of atomic and molecular scale. The first example considers the switching of single H-atoms between two dangling-bond chemisorption sites on a Si-dimer of the Si(100) surface (Grey et al., 1996). The second system examines the conformational switching of single 1,5-cyclooctadiene molecules chemisorbed on the Si(100) surface (Nacci et al., 2008). The temporal dynamics are provided by the propagation of the density matrix in time via an according set of equations of motion (EQM). The latter are based on the open-system density matrix theory in Lindblad form. First order perturbation theory is used to evaluate those transition rates between vibrational levels of the system part. In order to account for interactions with the surface phonons, two different dissipative models are used, namely the bilinear, harmonic and the Ohmic bath model. IET-induced vibrational transitions in the system are due to the dipole- and the resonance-mechanism. A single surface approach is used to study the influence of dipole scattering and resonance scattering in the below-threshold regime. Further, a second electronic surface was included to study the resonance-induced switching in the above-threshold regime. Static properties of the adsorbate, e.g., potentials and dipole function and potentials, are obtained from quantum chemistry and used within the established quantum dynamical models.
Taking advantage of ATRP and using functionalized initiators, different functionalities were introduced in both α and ω chain-ends of synthetic polymers. These functionalized polymers could then go through modular synthetic pathways such as click cycloaddition (copper-catalyzed or copper-free) or amidation to couple synthetic polymers to other synthetic polymers, biomolecules or silica monoliths. Using this general strategy and designing these co/polymers so that they are thermoresponsive, yet bioinert and biocompatible with adjustable cloud point values (as it is the case in the present thesis), the whole generated system becomes "smart" and potentially applicable in different branches. The applications which were considered in the present thesis were in polymer post-functionalization (in situ functionalization of micellar aggregates with low and high molecular weight molecules), hydrophilic/hydrophobic tuning, chromatography and bioconjugation (enzyme thermoprecipitation and recovery, improvement of enzyme activity). Different α-functionalized co/polymers containing cholesterol moiety, aldehyde, t-Boc protected amine, TMS-protected alkyne and NHS-activated ester were designed and synthesized in this work.
A unified model for quantitative description of harmonic spectra of gases obtained by wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) technique is presented. In the model, both intensity modulation (IM) and frequency modulation (FM) of the laser emission are taken into account using minimum number of parameters. For the first time, the static behavior of a laser is described as a limiting case of its dynamic response. Laser and its driver are considered as a single device converting applied bias to laser emission. This allows application of the model to any type of laser and the introduced parameters can be assigned to the corresponding laser and/or driver properties. The approach was tested using a distributed feedback (DFB) laser spectrometer. Correctness of the proposed model is justified by very good agreement between the measured and modeled/fitted spectra, which allowed evaluation of the setup performance and assessment of modulation parameters of the DFB laser. An algorithm to minimize the time of numerical calculation of harmonic spectra using numerically approximated Voigt lineshape function was developed. Absolute values of the absorption line parameters (line strength and line width) were obtained from a single calibration- and reference-free spectrum scan with accuracy better than 0.1%.
C-branched carbohydrates are of current interest for glycochemistry, are widely found in nature and serve as important subunits in many antibiotics, bacterial polysaccharides and macrolides. Among C-functionalized saccharides, 2-C-branched carbohydrates represent challenging structures for synthetic chemists, since in contrast to C-glycosides they are not easily accessible from glycosyl bromides or other simple precursors. In this perspective we want to summarize recent approaches to 2-C-branched carbohydrates over the past fifteen years. The two main strategies are based on ring-opening of 1,2-cyclopropanated carbohydrates by various reagents, as well as radical additions to glycals and further transformations, developed in our group. Both methods are characterized by high stereoselectivities and good yields and give access to a broad variety of functionalized carbohydrate 2-C-analogs.
Transparent, ion-conducting, luminescent, and flexible ionogels based on the room temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide [Bmim][N(Tf)(2)], a PtEu2 chromophore, and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) have been prepared. The thermal stability of the PMMA significantly increases with IL incorporation. In particular, the onset weight loss observed at ca. 229 degrees C for pure PMMA increases to 305 degrees C with IL addition. The ionogel has a high ionic conductivity of 10(-3) S cm(-1) at 373 K and exhibits a strong emission in the red with a long average luminescence decay time of tau = 890 mu s. The resulting material is a new type of soft hybrid material featuring useful thermal, optical, and ion transport properties.
Hydrogel systems based on hydroxyethyl starch-polyethylene glycol methacrylate (HES-P(EG)(6)MA) or hydroxyethyl starch methacrylate (HES-MA) were used to assess the protein release behavior. Here, we analyzed the in vitro release of FITC-anti-human antibodies incorporated in either HES-P(EG)(6)MA or HES-MA hydrogel delivery systems in PBS or human serum. In addition, hydrogel disks and microparticles prepared from the two polymers were subcutaneously implanted in BALB/c mice. The in vivo release of FITC-IgG was non-invasively monitored by an in vivo imaging system (IVIS 200) over a time period of up to 3 months. The imaging system allowed to asses individual animals over time, therefore only a small number of animals was required to obtain high quality data. The reduction in fluorescence intensity at the site of administration was compared to in vitro release profiles. These investigations demonstrated a sustained release from HES-MA hydrogel disks compared to rapidly degrading HES-P(EG)(6)MA disks and microparticles. The sustained release from HES-MA disks could be further optimized by using increased polymer concentrations. Human serum as in vitro release medium reflected better the in vivo release from HES-P(EG)(6)MA systems than PBS, suggesting that the presence of organic substances like proteins or lipids may play a significant role for the release kinetics.
The underlying motivation for the work carried out for this thesis was the growing need for more sustainable technologies. The aim was to synthesize a “palette” of functional nanomaterials using the established technique of hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The incredible diversity of HTC was demonstrated together with small but steady advances in how HTC can be manipulated to tailor material properties for specific applications. Two main strategies were used to modify the materials obtained by HTC of glucose, a model precursor representing biomass. The first approach was the introduction of heteroatoms, or “doping” of the carbon framework. Sulfur was for the first time introduced as a dopant in hydrothermal carbon. The synthesis of sulfur and sulfur/nitrogen doped microspheres was presented whereby it was shown that the binding state of sulfur could be influenced by varying the type of sulfur source. Pyrolysis may additionally be used to tune the heteroatom binding states which move to more stable motifs with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Importantly, the presence of aromatic binding states in the as synthesized hydrothermal carbon allows for higher heteroatom retention levels after pyrolysis and hence more efficient use of dopant sources. In this regard, HTC may be considered as an “intermediate” step in the formation of conductive heteroatom doped carbon. To assess the novel hydrothermal carbons in terms of their potential for electrochemical applications, materials with defined nano-architectures and high surface areas were synthesized via templated, as well as template-free routes. Sulfur and/or nitrogen doped carbon hollow spheres (CHS) were synthesized using a polystyrene hard templating approach and doped carbon aerogels (CA) were synthesized using either the albumin directed or borax-mediated hydrothermal carbonization of glucose. Electrochemical testing showed that S/N dual doped CHS and aerogels derived via the albumin approach exhibited superior catalytic performance compared to solely nitrogen or sulfur doped counterparts in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) relevant to fuel cells. Using the borax mediated aerogel formation, nitrogen content and surface area could be tuned and a carbon aerogel was engineered to maximize electrochemical performance. The obtained sample exhibited drastically improved current densities compared to a platinum catalyst (but lower onset potential), as well as excellent long term stability. In the second approach HTC was carried out at elevated temperatures (550 °C) and pressure (50 bar), corresponding to the superheated vapor regime (htHTC). It was demonstrated that the carbon materials obtained via htHTC are distinct from those obtained via ltHTC and subsequent pyrolysis at 550 °C. No difference in htHTC-derived material properties could be observed between pentoses and hexoses. The material obtained from a polysaccharide exhibited a slightly lower degree of carbonization but was otherwise similar to the monosaccharide derived samples. It was shown that in addition to thermally induced carbonization at 550 °C, the SHV environment exhibits a catalytic effect on the carbonization process. The resulting materials are chemically inert (i.e. they contain a negligible amount of reactive functional groups) and possess low surface area and electronic conductivity which distinguishes them from carbon obtained from pyrolysis. Compared to the materials presented in the previous chapters on chemical modifications of hydrothermal carbon, this makes them ill-suited candidates for electronic applications like lithium ion batteries or electrocatalysts. However, htHTC derived materials could be interesting for applications that require chemical inertness but do not require specific electronic properties. The final section of this thesis therefore revisited the latex hard templating approach to synthesize carbon hollow spheres using htHTC. However, by using htHTC it was possible to carry out template removal in situ because the second heating step at 550 °C was above the polystyrene latex decomposition temperature. Preliminary tests showed that the CHS could be dispersed in an aqueous polystyrene latex without monomer penetrating into the hollow sphere voids. This leaves the stagnant air inside the CHS intact which in turn is promising for their application in heat and sound insulating coatings. Overall the work carried out in this thesis represents a noteworthy development in demonstrating the great potential of sustainable carbon materials.
The chemistry of water on alpha-alumina kinetics and nuclear quantum effects from first principles
(2012)
Water adsorption on an alumina (alpha-Al2O3) surface is studied here from first principles using periodic density functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation. Two different coverage regimes, low and high, are considered. For the low-coverage regime (with a coverage of 1/4 with respect to the number of coordinatively unsaturated Al sites), possible reactions at the surface such as dissociation, rotation, and diffusion of water and its fragments are investigated, using first principles thermodynamics and kinetics. A microkinetic model is set up with rates calculated from Eyring's transition state theory in order to cover a wide range of time scales. Special emphasis of this study is on the magnitude of quantum effects and on anharmonic corrections, particularly for reactions and dynamics. These have often been neglected in the past for water/alumina systems but can influence the system. This is particularly true for processes involving hydrogen atoms, where, for example, tunneling corrections to reaction rates are found to be important even at room temperature. For a higher-coverage regime (with a coverage of 2 ML), hydrogen dynamics becomes even more complex and is characterized, e.g., by concerted atom motion, strong anharmonicity, and delocalization. In this regime, classical molecular dynamics becomes questionable as well as quantum mechanical treatments based on the harmonic approximation.
Ionic liquids (ILs) on the basis of metal containing anions and/or cations are of interest for a variety of technical applications e.g., synthesis of particles, magnetic or thermochromic materials. We present the synthesis and the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analyses of a series of some new potential ionic liquids based on tetrachloridocuprates(II), [CuCl4](2-), with different sterically demanding cations: hexadecyltrimethylammonium 1, tetradecyltrimethylammonium 2, tetrabutylammonium 3 and benzyltriethylammonium 4. The cations in the new compounds were used to achieve a reasonable separation of the paramagnetic Cu(II) ions for EPR spectroscopy. The EPR hyperfine structure was not resolved. This is due to the exchange broadening, resulting from still incomplete separation of the paramagnetic Cu(II) centers. Nevertheless, the principal values of the electron Zeemann tensor (g parallel to and g perpendicular to) of the complexes could be determined. Even though the solid substances show slightly different colors, the UV/Vis spectra are nearly identical, indicating structural changes of the tetrachloridocuprate moieties between solid state and solution. The complexes have a promising potential e.g., as high temperature ionic liquids, as precursors for the formation of copper chloride particles or as catalytic paramagnetic ionic liquids.
Building blocks for oligospiroketal (OSK) rods and evaluation of their influence on rod rigidity
(2012)
We report on the synthesis of three new sleeves and their incorporation in OSK rods. The structures of these sleeves are based on neo-inositol, terephthalaldehyde diacetals, and indacene. To quantify the influence of the sleeves on rod rigidity, we applied the worm-like chain (WLC) model on the new rods and found that this approach is rather disappointing. As the chief cause of this result, we assume that the rigidity of typical molecular rods largely exceeds the rigidity of polymers, which were successfully described by the WLC model. Alternatively, we suggest quantifying the rigidity of molecular rods by fitting an empirical function on the end-to-end distance distribution curve obtained by MD simulations. After checking various function types, the Levy-Martin function proved to be most suitable for this purpose. On the basis of this function, we defined the Levy-Martin parameter and suggest using this parameter for the characterization of the rigidity of molecular rods.
Random copolymers of 4-vinylbenzyl tri(oxyethylene) and tetra(oxyethylene) ethers, as well as alternating copolymers of 4-vinylbenzyl methoxytetra(oxyethylene) ether and a series of N-substituted maleimides, were synthesised by conventional free radical polymerisation, reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) and atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP). Their thermosensitive behaviour in aqueous solution was studied by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering. Depending on the copolymer composition, a LCST type phase transition was observed in water. The transition temperature of the obtained random as well as alternating copolymers could be varied within a broad temperature window. In the case of the random copolymers, transition temperatures could be easily fine-tuned, as they showed a linear dependence on the copolymer composition, and were additionally modified by the nature of the polymer end-groups. Alternating copolymers were extremely versatile for implementing a broad range of variations of the phase transition temperatures. Further, while alternating copolymers derived from 4-vinylbenzyl methoxytetra(oxyethylene) ether and maleimides with small hydrophobic side chains underwent macroscopic phase separation when dissolved in water and heated above their cloud point, the incorporation of maleimides bearing larger hydrophobic substituents resulted in the formation of mesoglobules above the phase transition temperature, with hydrodynamic diameters of less than 100 nm.
The copolymerization of an excess of a functionalized styrene monomer, 4-vinylbenzyl methoxytetrakis(oxyethylene) ether, with various N-substituted maleimides yields tapered diblock copolymers in a one-step procedure, when applying reversible deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) methods, such as ATRP and RAFT. The particular chemical structure of the diblock copolymers prepared results in reversible temperature-responsive two-step aggregation behavior in dilute aqueous solution. In this way, a double hydrophilic block copolymer is transformed step by step into an amphiphilic macrosurfactant, and finally into a double hydrophobic copolymer, as followed by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering. Copolymers in which the maleimide repeat units bear short hydrophobic side chains are freely water-soluble at low temperature and form micellar aggregates above their cloud point. Further heating above the phase transition temperature of the second block results in secondary aggregation. Copolymers with maleimides that bear strongly hydrophobic substituents undergo two thermally induced aggregation steps upon heating, too, but show in addition intramolecular hydrophobic association in water already at low temperatures, similar to the behavior of polysoaps.
Small fluorescent organic molecules based on [1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxole (DBD) could be used as probes for lipophillic microenvironments in aqueous solutions by indicating the critical micelles concentration of detergents and staining cell organelles. Their fluorescence lifetime decreases drastically by the amount of water in their direct environment. Therefore they are potential probes for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM).
Background: Magnetic composites of thermosensitive shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) allow noncontact actuation of the shape-memory effect in an alternating magnetic field. In this study, we investigated whether the magnetic heating capability of cross-linked poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/MNP composites (cPCLC) could be improved by covalent coating of MNPs with oligo(epsilon-caprolactone) (OCL).
Methods: Two different types of cPCLC containing uncoated and OCL-coated MNP with identical magnetite weight content were prepared by thermally induced polymerization of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) diisocyanatoethyl methacrylate. Both cPCLCs exhibited a melting transition at T-m = 48 degrees C, which could be used as switching transition.
Results: The dispersion of the embedded nanoparticles within the polymer matrix could be substantially improved, when the OCL-coated MNPs were used, as visualized by scanning electron microscopy. We could further demonstrate that in this way the maximal achievable bulk temperature (T-bulk) obtained within the cPCLC test specimen in magnetic heating experiments at a magnetic field strength of H = 30 kA.m(-1) could be increased from T bulk = 48 degrees C to T bulk = 74 degrees C.
The surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) was functionalized with azide-terminated poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). Functionalization was confirmed by dispersibility, Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Raman spectra show disordering of the SWCNTs, thus, strongly suggesting that PVDF was covalently attached to SWCNTs. Functionalized SWCNTs were mixed with commercially available PVDF in a twin-screw extruder and thin films were obtained by melt-pressing. Films containing 0.5 and 1 wt% PVDF-functionalized SWCNTs exhibited significantly improved electrical conductivity compared to PVDF films containing pristine SWCNTs.
The synthesis of block copolymers consisting of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and polystyrene (PS) is reported. Firstly, a propargyl-functionalized alkoxyamine initiator (PgOTIPNO) was prepared and subsequently used for the preparation of a propargyl-terminated PS homopolymer of different chain lengths with low dispersities via nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization. A tailored PVDF homopolymer with iodine end groups originating from iodine transfer polymerization was transformed to PVDF with azide end group. Then, alkyne-terminated PS with different molecular weights and azide-terminated PVDF were joined together via copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide coupling. The block copolymers were characterized using H-1-NMR, F-19-NMR, IR, SEC, and DSC.
Purpose: Previous investigations have shown that poly(ether imide) (PEI) membranes can be functionalized with aminated macromolecules. In this study we explored whether the characterization of PEI functionalized with oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) or linear, side chain methylated oligoglycerols (OGMe), by angle-dependent X-ray induced photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) can be used to prove the functionalization, give insight into the reaction mechanism and reveal the spatial distribution of the grafts.
Methods: PEI membranes were functionalized under alkaline conditions using an aqueous solution with 2 wt% of alpha-amino-methoxy oligo(ethylene glycol) (M-n = 1,320 g.mol(-1)) or linear, side chain methylated monoamine oligoglycerols (M-n = 1,120, 1,800 or 2,270 g.mol(-1)), respectively. The functionalized membranes were investigated using XPS measurements at different detector angles to enable comparison between the signals related to the bulk and surface volume and were compared with untreated and alkaline-treated PEI membranes.
Results: While at a perpendicular detector angle the bulk signals of the PEI were prominent, at larger surface volume-related detector angles, the signals for OGMe and OEG were determinable.
Conclusion: The surface functionalization of PEI with OEG and OGMe could be verified by the angle-dependent XPS. The observations proved the functionalization at the PEI surface, as the polyethers were detected at angles providing signals of the surface volume. Furthermore, the chemical functions determined verified a covalent binding via the nucleophilic addition of the amine functionalized OGMe and OEG to the PEI imide function.
Improving Hemocompatibility of poly(ether imide) by surface functionalization with polyethers
(2012)
A polymer-clay based composite adsorbent was prepared from locally obtained kaolinite clay and polyvinyl alcohol. The composite adsorbent was used to remove lead (II) ions from aqueous solution in a fixed bed mode. The increase in bed height and initial metal ion concentration increased the adsorption capacity of lead (II) and the volume of aqueous solution treated at 50% breakthrough. However, the adsorption capacity was reduced by almost 16.5% with the simultaneous presence of Ca2+/Pb2+ and Na+/Pb2+ in the aqueous solution. Regeneration of the adsorbent with 0.1 M of HCl also reduced its adsorption capacity to 75.1%. Adsorption of lead (II) ions onto the polymer-clay composite adsorbent in the presence of Na+ and Ca2+ electrolyte increased the rate of mass transfer, probably due to competition between cationic species in solution for adsorption sites. Regeneration further increased the rate of mass transfer as a result of reduced adsorption sites after the regeneration process. The length of the mass transfer zone was found to increase with increasing bed height but did not change with increasing the initial metal ion concentration. The models of Yoon-Nelson, Thomas, and Clark were found to give good fit to adsorption data. On the other hand, Bohart-Adams model was found to be a poor predictor for the column operation. The polymer-clay composite adsorbent has a good potential for the removal of lead (II) ions from highly polluted aqueous solutions.
The chelating dithioether 1,2-bis(2-methoxyethylthio)benzene. a novel solvent extractant for Pd(II), is aimed to be utilised in the selective recovery of palladium from spent automotive catalysts. For that, the extraction system has been further customised, including the choice of an appropriate diluent (1,2-dichlorobenzene) as well as an effective stripping agent (0.5 M thiourea in 0.1 M HCl), which both have been selected from a number of potential agents. It is shown in batch experiments that the selectivity for Pd(II) is maintained when the organic phase (10(-2) M 1,2-bis(2-methoxyethylthio)benzene in 1,2-dichlorobenzene) is used several times to extract an oxidising leach solution. According to the McCabe-Thiele plot two theoretical stages are needed to extract more than 98% of the Pd(II) contained in that solution. The calculation of the thermodynamic quantities Delta H degrees. Delta S degrees and Delta G degrees reveals that the reaction is entropy driven - the temperature has only a slight influence on the extraction yield. It is demonstrated that the mono-oxidised extractant has a catalytic effect on the extraction kinetics when the aqueous phase contains highly concentrated hydrochloric acid. HPLC measurements prove the presence of small quantities of 1-(2-methoxyethylsulfinyl)-2-(2-methoxyethylthio) benzene in the organic phase.
There is a demand for new and robust PdII extractants due to growing recycling rates. Chelating dithioethers are promising substances for solvent extraction as they form stable square-planar complexes with PdII. We have modified unsaturated dithioethers, which are known to coordinate PdII, and adapted them to the requirements of industrial practice. The ligands are analogues of 1,2-dithioethene with varying electron-withdrawing backbones and polar end-groups. The crystal structures of several ligands and their palladium complexes were determined as well as their electro- and photochemical properties, complex stability and behaviour in solution. Solvent extraction experiments showed the superiority of some of our ligands over conventionally used extractants in terms of their very fast reaction rates. With highly selective 1,2-bis(2-methoxyethylthio)benzene (4) it is possible to extract PdII from a highly acidic medium in the presence of other base and palladium-group metals.
As an extension of recent findings on the recovery of palladium with dithioether extractants, single crystals of the chelating vicinal thioether sulfoxide ligand rac-1-[(2-methoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-2-[(2-methoxyethyl)sulfinyl]benzene, C12H18O3S2, (I), and its square-planar dichloridopalladium complex, rac-dichlorido{1-[(2-methoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-2-[(2-methoxyethyl)sulfinyl]benzene-?2S,S'}palladium(II), [PdCl2(C12H18O3S2)], (II), have been synthesized and their structures analysed. The molecular structure of (II) is the first ever characterized involving a dihalogenidePdII complex in which the palladium is bonded to both a thioether and a sulfoxide functional group. The structural and stereochemical characteristics of the ligand are compared with those of the analogous dithioether compound [Traeger et al. (2012). Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. pp. 23412352]. The sulfinyl O atom suppresses the electron-pushing and mesomeric effect of the SC...;CS unit in ligand (I), resulting in bond lengths significantly different than in the dithioether reference compound. In contrast, in complex (II), those bond lengths are nearly the same as in the analogous dithioether complex. As observed previously, there is an interaction between the central PdII atom and the O atom that is situated above the plane.
We investigate the effect of intermode coupling and anharmonicity on the excitation and relaxation dynamics of CO on Cu(100). The nonadiabatic coupling of the adsorbate to the surface is treated perturbatively using a position-dependent state-resolved transition rate model. Using the potential energy surface of Marquardt et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 132, 074108 (2010)], which provides an accurate description of intermode interactions, we propose a four-dimensional model that represents simultaneously the diffusion and the desorption of the adsorbate. The system is driven by both rational and optimized infrared laser pulses to favor either selective mode and state excitations or lateral displacement along the diffusion coordinate. The dissipative dynamics is simulated using the reduced density matrix in its Lindblad form. We show that coupling between the degrees of freedom, mediated by the creation and annihilation of electron-hole pairs in the metal substrate, significantly affects the system excitation and relaxation dynamics. In particular, the angular degrees of freedom appear to play an important role in the energy redistribution among the molecule-surface vibrations. We also show that coherent excitation using simple IR pulses can achieve population transfer to a specific target to some extent but does not allow enforcement of the directionality to the diffusion motion.
Pure and europium (Eu3+) doped ZrO2 synthesized by an oil-in-water microemulsion reaction method were investigated by in situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), ex situ Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. Based on the Raman spectra excited at three different wavelengths i.e. 488, 514 and 633 nm and measured in the spectral range of 150-4000 cm(-1) the correlation between the phonon spectra of ZrO2 and luminescence of europium is clearly evidenced. The PL investigations span a variety of steady-state and time resolved measurements recorded either after direct excitation of the Eu3+ f-f transitions or indirect excitation into UV charge-transfer bands. After annealing at 500 degrees C, the overall Eu3+ emission is dominated by Eu3+ located in tetragonal symmetry lattice sites with a crystal-field splitting of the D-5(0)-F-7(1) emission of 20 cm(-1). Annealing of ZrO2 at 1000 degrees C leads to a superposition of Eu3+ emissions from tetragonal and monoclinic lattice sites with monoclinic crystal-field splitting of 200 cm(-1) for the D-5(0)-F-7(1) transition. At all temperatures, a non-negligible amorphous/disordered content is also measured and determined to be of monoclinic nature. It was found that the evolutions with calcination temperature of the average PL lifetimes corresponding to europium emission in the tetragonal and monoclinic sites and the monoclinic phase content of the Eu3+ doped ZrO2 samples follow a similar trend. By use of specific excitation conditions, the distribution of europium on the amorphous/disordered surface or ordered/crystalline sites can be identified and related to the phase content of zirconia. The role of zirconia host as a sensitizer for the europium PL is also discussed in both tetragonal and monoclinic phases.
The well-known cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used as a model carrier to study drug-carrier interactions with fluorescence probes (5-hexadecanoylaminofluorescein (HAF) and 2,10-bis-(3-aminopropyloxy)dibenzo[aj]perylene-8,16-dione (NIR 628) by applying ensemble as well as single molecule fluorescence techniques. The impact of the probes on the micelle parameters (critical micelle concentration, average aggregation number, hydrodynamic radius) was investigated under physiological conditions. In the presence of additional electrolytes, such as buffer, the critical micelle concentration decreased by a factor of about 10. In contrast, no influence of the probes on the critical micelle concentration and on average aggregation number was observed. The results show that HAF does not affect the characteristics of CTAB micelles. Analyzing fluorescence correlation spectroscopy data and time-resolved anisotropy decays in terms of the "two-step" in combination with the "wobbling-in-cone" model, it was proven that HAF and NIR 628 are differently associated with the micelles. Based on ensemble and single molecule fluorescence experiments, intra- and intermicellar energy transfer process between the two dyes were probed and characterized.
The sensing potential of CuO nanoparticles synthesized via. precipitation from a water/ionic liquid precursor (ILP) mixture was investigated. The particles have a moderate surface area of 66 m(2)/g after synthesis, which decreases upon thermal treatment to below 5 m(2)/g. Transmission electron microscopy confirms crystal growth upon annealing, likely due to sintering effects. The as-synthesized particles can be used for ethanol sensing. The respective sensors show fast response and recovery times of below 10 s and responses greater than 2.3 at 100 ppm of ethanol at 200 degrees C, which is higher than any CuO-based ethanol sensor described so far.
Reliability tests for wavelength-stabilized compact diode laser systems emitting at 671 nm are presented. The devices were mounted on microoptical benches with the dimensions of 13 mm x 4 mm. Reflecting Bragg gratings were used for wavelength stabilization and emission width narrowing. The reliability tests were performed at 25 degrees C and at an output power up to 10 mW per micrometer stripe width of the gain medium. Reliable operation could be demonstrated over a test time up to 14 500 h at an output power up to 1.0 W. Environmental tests using random vibrations with acceleration up to 29 g were performed without deterioration of the devices.
This Letter describes four new 4-trimethylammonio-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yloxyls bearing camphorsulfonate, triflate, tosylate, or lactate as counter ions. These spin probes were made by anion metathesis of 4-trimethylammonio-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yloxyl iodide using the corresponding silver salts. The latter is made by the alkylation of 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yloxyl. Furthermore, the Letter gives an improved synthetic way to 4-sulfonamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yloxyl using chlorosulfuric acid trimethylsilylester and 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-yloxyl. All the spin probes are highly interesting for the investigation of ionic liquids.
Propagation rate coefficients for homogeneous phase VDF-HFP copolymerization in supercritical CO2
(2012)
For the first time, propagation rate coefficients, kp,COPO, for the copolymerizations of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene have been determined. The kinetic data was determined via pulsed-laser polymerization in conjunction with polymer analysis via size-exclusion chromatography, the PLP-SEC technique. The experiments were carried out in homogeneous phase with supercritical CO2 as solvent for temperatures ranging from 45 to 90 degrees C. Absolute polymer molecular weights were calculated on the basis of experimentally determined MarkHouwink constants. The Arrhenius parameters of kp,COPO vary significantly compared with ethene, which is explained by the high electronegativity of fluorine and less intra- and intermolecular interactions between the partially fluorinated macroradicals.
New hybrid materials have been prepared by grafting synthetic peptides in the interlayer spacing of Cu(II) and Co(II) layered simple hydroxides (LSHs). The interlayer spacing of the hybrids depends on the peptide chain length; the dependence is specific for the copper and cobalt-based hybrids. This suggests a metal-or LSH-specific interaction of the peptides with the respective inorganic layers. When tyrosine is present in the peptide, its fluorescence is quenched after grafting the peptide to the LSH. Studies of the luminescence vs. pH indicate deprotonation of the tyrosine moieties to tyrosinate at high pH, accompanied by the onset of luminescence. The luminescence increases with increasing OH- concentration, suggesting an application of the hybrids as chemical sensors. Moreover, the peptides influence the magnetic properties of the hybrids. The copper-based hybrids behave antiferromagnetically and the cobalt-based hybrids are ferrimagnets.
Two novel and simple approaches to N-triflyl guanidines are elaborated. Owing to very strong conjugation the formally double C=N bond of TIN=C(NHR)(2) is longer than the formally single N-C bonds. Energetic effect of the triflylgroup on the conjugation in the N-C=N moiety is estimated to be >= 150 kcal/mol.
4,4-Dimethyl-1-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,4-azasilinane 1 and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)- 1,4,2,6-oxazadisilinane 2 were studied by variable temperature dynamic 1H, 13C, 19F NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations at the DFT (density functional theory) and MP2 (Moller-Plesset 2) levels of theory. Both kinetic (barriers to ring inversion) and thermodynamic data (frozen conformational equilibria) could be obtained for the two compounds. The computations revealed two minima on the potential energy surface for molecules 1 and 2 corresponding to the rotamers with the CF3SO2 group directed inward and outward the ring, the latter being 0.20.4 kcal/mol (for 1) and 1.1 kcal/mol (for 2) more stable than the former. The vibrational calculations at the DFT and MP2 levels of theory give the values of the free energy difference Delta G degrees for the 'inward' reversible arrow 'outward' equilibrium consistent with those determined from the experimentally measured ratio of the rotamers. The structure of crystalline compound 2 was ascertained by X-ray diffraction analysis.
4,4-Dimethyl-1-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,4-azasilinane 1 and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,4,2,6-oxazadisilinane 2 were studied by variable temperature dynamic 1H, 13C, 19F NMR spectroscopy and theoretical calculations at the DFT (density functional theory) and MP2 (Moller-Plesset 2) levels of theory. Both kinetic (barriers to ring inversion) and thermodynamic data (frozen conformational equilibria) could be obtained for the two compounds. The computations revealed two minima on the potential energy surface for molecules 1 and 2 corresponding to the rotamers with the CF3SO2 group directed inward and outward the ring, the latter being 0.20.4 kcal/mol (for 1) and 1.1 kcal/mol (for 2) more stable than the former. The vibrational calculations at the DFT and MP2 levels of theory give the values of the free energy difference Delta G degrees for the 'inward' reversible arrow 'outward' equilibrium consistent with those determined from the experimentally measured ratio of the rotamers. The structure of crystalline compound 2 was ascertained by X-ray diffraction analysis.
The conformational equilibria of 1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 1, 3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane 2, 1-methyl-1- phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 3, and 3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane 4 have been studied for the first time by low temperature C-13 NMR spectroscopy at 103 K. Predominance of the equatorial conformer of compound 1 (Ph-eq/Ph-ax=78%:22%) is much less than in its carbon analog, phenylcyclohexane (nearly 100% of Ph-eq). And in contrast to 1-methyl-1- phenylcyclohexane, the conformers with the equatorial Ph group are predominant for compounds 3 and 4: at 103 K, Ph-eq/Ph- ax ratios are 63%:37% (3) and 68%:32% (4). As the Si-C bonds are elongated with respect to C-C bonds, the barriers to ring inversion are only between 5.2-6.0 (ax -> eq) and 5.4-6.0 (eq -> ax) kcal mol(-1). Parallel calculations at the DFT and MP2 level of theory (as well as the G2 calculations for compound 1) show qualitative agreement with the experiment. The additivity/nonadditivity of conformational energies of substituents on cyclohexane and silacyclohexane derivatives is analyzed. The geminally disubstituted cyclohexanes containing a phenyl group show large deviations from additivity, whereas in 1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane and 3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane the effects of the methyl and phenyl groups are almost additive. The reasons for the different conformational preferences in carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds are analyzed using the homodesmotic reactions approach.
The conformational equilibria of 1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 1, 3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane 2, 1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane 3, and 3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane 4 have been studied for the first time by low temperature C-13 NMR spectroscopy at 103 K. Predominance of the equatorial conformer of compound 1 (Ph-eq/Ph-ax=78%:22%) is much less than in its carbon analog, phenylcyclohexane (nearly 100% of Ph-eq). And in contrast to 1-methyl-1-phenylcyclohexane, the conformers with the equatorial Ph group are predominant for compounds 3 and 4: at 103 K, Ph-eq/Ph-ax ratios are 63%:37% (3) and 68%:32% (4). As the Si-C bonds are elongated with respect to C-C bonds, the barriers to ring inversion are only between 5.2-6.0 (ax -> eq) and 5.4-6.0 (eq -> ax) kcal mol(-1). Parallel calculations at the DFT and MP2 level of theory (as well as the G2 calculations for compound 1) show qualitative agreement with the experiment. The additivity/nonadditivity of conformational energies of substituents on cyclohexane and silacyclohexane derivatives is analyzed. The geminally disubstituted cyclohexanes containing a phenyl group show large deviations from additivity, whereas in 1-methyl-1-phenyl-1-silacyclohexane and 3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,3-thiasilacyclohexane the effects of the methyl and phenyl groups are almost additive. The reasons for the different conformational preferences in carbocyclic and heterocyclic compounds are analyzed using the homodesmotic reactions approach.
Structure and the conformational properties of 1,3,3-trimethyl-1,3-azasilinane have been studied. According to gas electron diffraction (GED), the molecule exists in a slightly distorted chair conformation with the N-Me group in equatorial position. High-level quantum chemical calculations excellently, reproduce the experimental geometry. Employing variable temperature H-1 and C-13 NMR spectroscopy down to 103 K, the conformational equilibrium could be frozen and the barrier to ring inversion determined.
1-Isopropyl-3-methyl-3-phenyl-1,3-azasilinane 1 and 1-isopropyl-3,3-dimethyl-1,3-azasilinane 2 were synthesized and a detailed analysis of their NMR spectra, conformational equilibria and ring inversion processes is presented. Low temperature H-1/C-13 NMR spectroscopy, iteration of the H-1 NMR spectra and quantum chemical calculations showed slight predominance of the PheqMeax over the PhaxMeeq conformer of 1 at low temperature. The barrier for the chair to chair interconversion of both compounds was measured to be 8.25 kcal/mol.
1,3-Dimethyl-3-phenyl-1,3-azasilinane was synthesized and its conformational behavior was studied by the low temperature NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. The compound was shown to exist as an equilibrium mixture of the PhaxMeeq and PheqMeax chair conformers with the N-methyl substituent in equatorial position. The barrier to ring inversion was also determined.
Structuring overmany length scales is a design strategy widely used in Nature to create materials with unique functional properties. We here present a comprehensive analysis of an adult sea urchin spine, and in revealing a complex, hierarchical structure, showhow Nature fabricates a material which diffracts as a single crystal of calcite and yet fractures as a glassy material. Each spine comprises a highly oriented array of Mg-calcite nanocrystals in which amorphous regions and macromolecules are embedded. It is postulated that this mesocrystalline structure forms via the crystallization of a dense array of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) precursor particles. A residual surface layer of ACC and/or macromolecules remains around the nanoparticle units which creates the mesocrystal structure and contributes to the conchoidal fracture behavior. Nature's demonstration of howcrystallization of an amorphous precursor phase can create a crystalline material with remarkable properties therefore provides inspiration for a novel approach to the design and synthesis of synthetic composite materials.
Analytical and numerical analysis of imaging mechanism of dynamic scanning electron microscopy
(2012)
The direct observation of small oscillating structures with the help of a scanning electron beam is a new approach to study the vibrational dynamics of cantilevers and microelectromechanical systems. In the scanning electron microscope, the conventional signal of secondary electrons (SE, dc part) is separated from the signal response of the SE detector, which is correlated to the respective excitation frequency for vibration by means of a lock-in amplifier. The dynamic response is separated either into images of amplitude and phase shift or into real and imaginary parts. Spatial resolution is limited to the diameter of the electron beam. The sensitivity limit to vibrational motion is estimated to be sub-nanometer for high integration times. Due to complex imaging mechanisms, a theoretical model was developed for the interpretation of the obtained measurements, relating cantilever shapes to interaction processes consisting of incident electron beam, electron-lever interaction, emitted electrons and detector response. Conclusions drawn from this new model are compared with numerical results based on the Euler-Bernoulli equation.
Enantioselective total syntheses of both enantiomers of the recently isolated decanolide natural product seimatopolide A are described. The C-2-symmetric building blocks (R,R)-hexa-1,5-diene-3,4-diol (derived from D-mannitol) and its enantiomer (derived from L-(+)-tartrate) serve as key starting materials, which are elaborated in a bidirectional way using a selective mono-cross-metathesis, regio- and stereoselective epoxidation, and regioselective reductive epoxide opening to furnish the first fragment. Both enantiomers of the second fragment, 3-hydroxypent-4-enoic acid, were conveniently obtained through a lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution and merged with the first fragment via Shiina esterification. An E-selective ring-closing metathesis was used to access the 10-membered lactone. A comparison of the specific optical rotations of synthetic seimatopolides with those reported for the natural product suggests that the originally assigned (3R,6R,7R,9S)-configuration should be corrected to (3S,6S,7S,9R).