Pentiptycene-Derived Fluorescence Turn-Off Polymer Chemosensor for Copper(II) Cation with High Selectivity and Sensitivity.

Fluorescent conjugated polymers (FCPs) have been explored for selective detection of metal cations with ultra-sensitivity in environmental and biological systems. Herein, a new FCP sensor, tmeda-PPpETE (poly[(pentiptycene ethynylene)-alt-(thienylene ethynylene)] with a N,N,N'-trimethylethylenediamino receptor), has been designed and synthesized via Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction with the goal of improving solid state polymer sensor development. The polymer was found to be emissive at λmax ~ 459 nm under UV radiation with a quantum yield of 0.119 at room temperature in THF solution. By incorporating diamino receptors and pentiptycene groups into the poly[(phenylene ethynylene)-(thiophene ethynylene)] (PPETE) backbone, the polymer showed an improved turn-off response towards copper(II) cation, with more than 99% quenching in fluorescence emission. It is capable of discriminating copper(II) cation from sixteen common cations, with a detection limit of 16.5 nM (1.04 ppb).

Electrically conducting polymers as templating interfaces for fabrication of copper nanotubes.

Submicrometer tubes have been fabricated by a polymer-based template approach using electroless deposition. The copper was deposited on polystyrene fibers functionalized with an interfacial electrically conducting polyaniline thin film layer. Thermal degradation of the functionalized fiber templates resulted in copper tubes of diameter 1600 ± 50 nm with wall thicknesses ranging between 100 and 200 nm. The morphology and elemental analysis of copper coaxial fibers was analyzed using SEM and EDS. Electrical properties were analyzed using FTIR and PXRD was used to study crystal structure of copper nanotubes.

Synthesis of novel 2H,5H-Dihydrofuran-3-yl Ketones via ISNC reactions.

Unique 1-[2H,5H-dihydrofur-3-yl]ketones have been synthesized from propargylic nitroethers via intramolecular cycloadditions involving silyl nitronates. Various substituent groups were placed on the 2 and 5 positions of the dihydrofuran rings. We examined the scope of the long-range coupling in proton NMR of the oxo-dihydrofuran products. The identities of the diastereomers resulting from the Michael Addition/cycloaddition reactions were tentatively assigned for the first time. CAChe MNDO PM5 and CONFLEX programs were engaged to assist with the identification of these stereoisomers. The reaction times and conditions for these oxo-dihydrofurans were found to be different than that of the published dihydrofuranals, which led us to propose a different mechanism.