Redox-Active Macrocycles for Organic Rechargeable Batteries.

Organic rechargeable batteries, composed of redox-active molecules, are emerging as candidates for the next generation of energy storage materials because of their large specific capacities, cost effectiveness, and the abundance of organic precursors, when compared with conventional lithium-ion batteries. Although redox-active molecules often display multiple redox states, precise control of a molecule's redox potential, leading to a single output voltage in a battery, remains a fundamental challenge in this popular field of research. By combining macrocyclic chemistry with density functional theory calculations (DFT), we have identified a structural motif that more effectively delocalizes electrons during lithiation events in battery operations-namely, through-space electron delocalization in triangular macrocyclic molecules that exhibit a single well-defined voltage profile-compared to the discrete multiple voltage plateaus observed for a homologous macrocyclic dimer and an acyclic derivative of pyromellitic diimide (PMDI). The triangular macrocycle, incorporating three PMDI units in close proximity to one another, exhibits a single output voltage at 2.33 V, compared with two peaks at (i) 2.2 and 1.95-1.60 V for reduction and (ii) 1.60-1.95 and 2.37 V for oxidation of the acyclic PMDI derivative. By investigating the two cyclic derivatives with different conformational dispositions of their PMDI units and the acyclic PMDI derivative, we identified noticeable changes in interactions between the PMDI units in the two cyclic derivatives under reducing conditions, as determined by differential pulse voltammetry, solution-state spectroelectrochemistry, and variable-temperature UV-Vis spectra. The numbers and relative geometries of the PMDI units are found to alter the voltage profile of the active materials significantly during galvanostatic measurements, resulting in a desirable single plateau for the triangular macrocycle. The present investigation reveals that understanding and controlling the relative conformational dispositions of redox-active units in macrocycles are key to achieving high energy density and long cycle-life electrodes for organic rechargeable batteries.

Semiconducting single crystals comprising segregated arrays of complexes of C60.

Although pristine C60 prefers to adopt a face-centered cubic packing arrangement in the solid state, it has been demonstrated that noncovalent-bonding interactions with a variety of molecular receptors lead to the complexation of C60 molecules, albeit usually with little or no control over their long-range order. Herein, an extended viologen-based cyclophane­ExBox2(4+)­has been employed as a molecular receptor which, not only binds C60 one-on-one, but also results in the columnar self-assembly of the 1:1 inclusion complexes under ambient conditions. These one-dimensional arrays of fullerenes stack along the long axis of needle-like single crystals as a consequence of multiple noncovalent-bonding interactions between each of the inclusion complexes. The electrical conductivity of these crystals is on the order of 10(-7) S cm(-1), even without any evacuation of oxygen, and matches the conductivity of high-quality, unfunctionalized C60-based materials that typically require stringent high-temperature vaporization techniques, along with the careful removal of oxygen and moisture, prior to measuring their conductance.

Thermal Dehydrogenation of Base-Stabilized B2H5(+) Complexes and Its Role in C-H Borylation.

Thermally induced dehydrogenation of the H-bridged cation L2B2H5(+) (L=Lewis base) is proposed to be the key step in the intramolecular C-H borylation of tertiary amine boranes activated with catalytic amounts of strong "hydridophiles". Loss of H2 from L2B2H5(+) generates the highly reactive cation L2B2H3(+), which in its sp(2)-sp(3) diborane(4) form then undergoes either an intramolecular C-H insertion with B-B bond cleavage, or captures BH3 to produce L2B3H6(+). The effect of the counterion stability on the outcome of the reaction is illustrated by formation of LBH2C6F5 complexes through disproportionation of L2B2H5(+) HB(C6F5)3(-) .

Relative contractile motion of the rings in a switchable palindromic [3]rotaxane in aqueous solution driven by radical-pairing interactions.

Artificial muscles are an essential component for the development of next-generation prosthetic devices, minimally invasive surgical tools, and robotics. This communication describes the design, synthesis, and characterisation of a mechanically interlocked molecule (MIM), capable of switchable and reversible linear molecular motion in aqueous solution that mimics muscular contraction and extension. Compatibility with aqueous solution was achieved in the doubly bistable palindromic [3]rotaxane design by using radical-based molecular recognition as the driving force to induce switching.

Weakly stabilized primary borenium cations and their dicationic dimers.

Hydride abstraction from monocationic hydride bridged salts [H(H2B-L)2](+) [B(C6F5)4]¯ (L = Lewis base) generates an observable primary borenium cation for L = iPr2NEt, but with L = Me3N, Me2NPr, or several N-heterocyclic carbenes, highly reactive dicationic dimers are formed.

Borenium ion catalyzed hydroboration of alkenes with N-heterocyclic carbene-boranes.

Treatment of alkenes such as 3-hexene, 3-octene, and 1-cyclohexyl-1-butene with the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-derived borane 2 and catalytic HNTf(2) (Tf = trifluoromethanesulfonyl (CF(3)SO(2))) effects hydroboration at room temperature. With 3-hexene, surprisingly facile migration of the boron atom from C(3) of the hexyl group to C(2) was observed over a time scale of minutes to hours. Oxidative workup gave a mixture of alcohols containing 2-hexanol as the major product. A similar preference for the C(2) alcohol was observed after oxidative workup of the 3-octene and 1-cyclohexyl-1-butene hydroborations. NHC-borenium cations (or functional equivalents) are postulated as the species that accomplish the hydroborations, and the C(2) selective migrations are attributed to the four-center interconversion of borenium cations with cationic NHC-borane-olefin π-complexes.

Phosphine Modulation for Enhanced CO2 Capture: Quantum Mechanics Predictions of New Materials.

It is imperative to develop efficient CO2 capture and activation technologies to combat the rising levels of deleterious greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Using Quantum Mechanics methods (Density Functional Theory), we propose and evaluate several metal-free and metal-containing phosphines that provide strong CO2 binding under ambient conditions. Depending on the electron donating capacity of the phosphine and the ability of the P-bound ligands to hydrogen bond to the CO2, we find that the CO2 binding can be as strong as -18.6 kcal/mol downhill, which should be quite adequate for ambient conditions. We explore some modifications of the phosphine to improve CO2 binding, and we elucidate which chemical descriptors correlate directly with CO2 binding energy. Specifically, we find that charge accumulation on the CO2 unit of the CO2-bound adduct has the greatest correlation with CO2 binding affinity. Finally, we probe the mechanism for CO2 reduction to CO and methanol in aqueous media.

Application of Soxhlet Extractor for Ultra-clean Graphene Transfer.

Surface contamination experienced during polymer-assisted transfer is detrimental for optical and electrical properties of 2D materials. This contamination is usually due to incomplete polymer removal and also due to impurities present in organic solvents. Here, we report a simple, economical, and highly efficient approach for obtaining pristine graphene on a suitable substrate (e.g., SiO2/Si) by utilizing Soxhlet extraction apparatus for delicate removal of the polymer with a freshly distilled ultrapure solvent (acetone) in a continuous fashion. Excellent structural and morphological qualities of the material thus produced were confirmed using optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Compared to the conventional protocol, graphene produced by the current approach has a lower residual polymer content, leading to a root mean square roughness of only 1.26 nm. The amount of strain and doping was found to be similar, but the D-band, which is indicative of the defects, was less pronounced in the samples prepared by Soxhlet-assisted transfer. The new procedure is virtually effortless from the experimental point of view, utilizes much less solvent compared to the conventional washing procedure, and allows for easy scale-up. Extension of this process to other 2D materials would not only provide samples with superior intrinsic properties but also enhance their suitability for advanced technological applications.

N-Directed aliphatic C-H borylation using borenium cation equivalents.

Highly electrophilic boron cations derived from hindered amine borane complexes have been shown to undergo intramolecular aliphatic C-H borylation.

Superelectrophilic intermediates in nitrogen-directed aromatic borylation.

The first examples of borylation under conditions of borenium ion generation from hydrogen-bridged boron cations are described. The observable H-bridged cations are generated by hydride abstraction from N,N-dimethylamine boranes Ar(CH(2))(n)NMe(2)BH(3) using Ph(3)C(+) (C(6)F(5))(4)B(-) (TrTPFPB) as the hydride acceptor. In the presence of excess TrTPFPB, the hydrogen-bridged cations undergo internal borylation to afford cyclic amine borane derivatives with n = 1-3. The products are formed as the corresponding cyclic borenium ions according to reductive quenching experiments and (11)B and (1)H NMR spectroscopy in the case with Ar = C(6)H(5) and n = 1. The same cyclic borenium cation is also formed from the substrate with Ar = o-C(6)H(4)SiMe(3) via desilylation, but the analogous system with Ar = o-C(6)H(4)CMe(3) affords a unique cyclization product that retains the tert-butyl substituent. An ortho-deuterated substrate undergoes cyclization with a product-determining isotope effect of k(H)/k(D) 2.8. Potential cationic intermediates have been evaluated using B3LYP/6-31G* methods. The computations indicate that internal borylation from 14a occurs via a C-H insertion transition state that is accessible from either the borenium pi complex or from a Wheland intermediate having nearly identical energy. The Ar = o-C(6)H(4)SiMe(3) example strongly favors formation of the Wheland intermediate, and desilylation occurs via internal SiMe(3) migration from carbon to one of the hydrides attached to boron.

Flexible ferroelectric organic crystals.

Flexible organic materials possessing useful electrical properties, such as ferroelectricity, are of crucial importance in the engineering of electronic devices. Up until now, however, only ferroelectric polymers have intrinsically met this flexibility requirement, leaving small-molecule organic ferroelectrics with room for improvement. Since both flexibility and ferroelectricity are rare properties on their own, combining them in one crystalline organic material is challenging. Herein, we report that trisubstituted haloimidazoles not only display ferroelectricity and piezoelectricity-the properties that originate from their non-centrosymmetric crystal lattice-but also lend their crystalline mechanical properties to fine-tuning in a controllable manner by disrupting the weak halogen bonds between the molecules. This element of control makes it possible to deliver another unique and highly desirable property, namely crystal flexibility. Moreover, the electrical properties are maintained in the flexible crystals.

Electrophilic C-H Borylation and Related Reactions of B-H Boron Cations.

Catalytic procedures are described for aminedirected borylation of aliphatic and aromatic tertiary amine boranes. Sequential double borylation is observed in cases where two or more C-H bonds are available that allow 5-center or 6-center intramolecular borylation. The HNTf2 catalyzed borylation of benzylamine boranes provides a practical means for the synthesis of ortho-substituted arylboronic acid derivatives, suitable for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling applications.

Rat serum carboxylesterase partly hydrolyses gamma-butyrobetaine esters.

Although described some time ago, gamma-butyrobetaine esters and related compounds have not gained much attention from researchers, and their physiological function remains obscure. Formerly we detected GBB-esterase enzymatic activity in rat blood serum using phenylated gamma-butyrobetaine as an artificial substrate of the enzyme and HPLC. The aim of the present work was to develop an assay that would enable spectrophotometric or colorimetric determination of the reaction products of GBB-esterase activity and to reveal individual proteins performing GBB-esterase activity in rat blood serum. For this purpose gamma-butyrobetaine 1-naphthyl ester was synthesised. Hydrolysis of this ester releases 1-naphthol, which increases the optical absorbance at 322 nm. We have shown that the enzymatic hydrolysis of GBB 1-naphthyl ester to 1-naphthol in rat blood serum is due to GBB-esterase activity. An attempt was done to purify the enzyme from rat blood serum. By combining DEAE Sepharose at pH 4.2 and affinity chromatography with procainamide we achieved a 68-fold enrichment of GBB-esterase activity in our preparations. Separation of fraction proteins in 2D protein electrophoresis with following mass-spectrometry indicated that GBB esterase activity in rat blood serum is performed in part by carboxylesterase.