Name: synthesis of a thiol building block for the crystallization of a semiconducting gyroidal metal-sulfur framework
Uploaded: 2018-04-09T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework at JoVE.com

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21471037), Guangdong Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholars (15ZK0307), Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2017A050506051), and the Research Grants Council of HKSAR [GRF 11303414].

Caution: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets before use. Methyl disulfide and sodium thiomethoxide are strongly malodorous and should be handled in a fume hood. Sodium metal is highly reactive and requires special safety precautions against potential fire and explosion hazards. In addition to the use of a fume hood, personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, full length pants, and closed-toe shoes) should be properly employed. Portions of the following procedures involve standard...

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The reaction between the bromo group and the thiomethoxide anion apparently first produced the methyl thioether, which was then demethylated by the excess thiomethoxide to provide the thiolate anion product. To ensure complete conversion to the desired thiolate anion (especially for a polybromide substrate like HBT), the vigorous conditions of prolonged heating (e.g., 240 &#176;C over 48 h) with a large excess of sodium thiomethoxide (e.g., over three times the moles of the bromo groups) are essential. ...

There is currently great interest in employing strong, polarizable metal-sulfur (e.g., metal-thiolate) links for constructing open framework materials with enhanced electrocatalytic and conductive properties1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. In addition to promoting electronic interaction and transport in the extended state, the soft and covalent metal-sulfur links also impart better stability for applications in aqueous environments. Among the sulfur-equipped building blocks, symmetrical, multidentate polycyclic aromatic building blocks like 2,3,6,7,10,11-triphenylene hexathiol (HTT)9,11,12,13,14 not only supply highly polarizable &#960;-electrons, but also offer distinct advantages with respect to framework design and synthesis. First, the rigid and symmetrical triphenylene core, in conjunction with the chelating dithiolene groups of HTT, serves to lock in metal ions in regular bonding motifs, simplifying the structural prediction of the prospective network7,15. Together with the rigid and open geometry of the sulfur linker, framework structures with substantial porosity features can often be achieved in the solid state.
One major challenge in assembling thiol-equipped metal orangic framework (MOF) materials is rooted in the synthesis of the organic linker molecules. In a classical protocol, the thiol group had to be derived from the phenol group using the Newman-Kwart rearrangement of the O-aryl thiocarbamate precursor16,17,18. This approach, however, involves elaborate preparative steps for the phenol precursor molecule as well as potential complications of a high-temperature solid phase transformation. Another way of making thiols utilizes reductive dealkylation of thioethers under the harsh conditions of, for example, sodium metal in liquid ammonia19,20,21,22, and is not compatible with the carboxyl and many other donor functions for network construction.
By comparison, the protocol presented here has multiple advantages: safety, convenience, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with other functional groups (e.g., carbonitrile and pyridinyl). By vigorously heating the generally inexpensive aromatic halide (e.g., hexabromotriphenylene) and thiomethoxide anion, the thiolate anion was generated (via the methyl thioether intermediate product) and then acylated to give the stable and easy-to-handle thioester product-all in one pot.
We will also describe a procedure for utilizing the thioester molecules as the masked form of the thiol linkers for accessing a single-crystalline semiconducting and porous metal-dithiolene network. Unlike the highly reactive free-standing thiols, which tend to decompose and complicate the crystallization of metal-thiolate open frameworks, the thioester can be readily cleaved (e.g., by NaOH or ethylenediamine) in situ to provide the thiol species, serving to mitigate the reaction between the mercaptan units and the metal centers, and to consequently improve the crystallization.
This protocol of preparing thiol/thioester has not been widely used by other groups for the emerging field of metal-sulfur frameworks, even though nucleophilic dealkylations of alkyl aryl thioethers by thiolate anions have already been well documented by organic chemists23,24,25,26. By showcasing this efficient synthetic method for thioesters and their use for facilitating the crystallization of metal-sulfur networks, we wish to promote further efforts to bridge the intellectual and practical divide between synthetic organic chemistry and solid state chemistry, so as to help the speedy and healthy development of porous frameworks.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="850">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:216px;">Bromine</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">DAMAO CHEMICAL REAGENT FACTORY</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">7726-95-6</td>
			<td style="width:167px;">Highly toxic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Triphenylene&#160;&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">HWRK Chem</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">HWG45510</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Iron powder</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">12310</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="24">
			<td height="24" style="height:24px;width:216px;">Nitrobenzene</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">DAMAO CHEMICAL REAGENT FACTORY</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">2934</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">Diethyl ether&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">DAMAO CHEMICAL REAGENT FACTORY</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">48</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">Dichloromethane</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">DAMAO CHEMICAL REAGENT FACTORY</td>
			<td>3067</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Sodium metal</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">J&#38;K</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">WM-NMS-54-25X-50G</td>
			<td>Air sensitive</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Tetrahydrofuran</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">J&#38;K</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">315353</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Dimethyl disulfide</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY USA</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">726415</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">1,3-Dimethyl-2-imadazolidinone</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">J&#38;K</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">50483</td>
			<td>Dried over 4&#197; sieves</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Valeryl&#160; chloride</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">J&#38;K</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">99590</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Methanol</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">Guangzhou Chemical Reagent Factory</td>
			<td>2334</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Sodium hydroxide</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">Guangzhou Chemical Reagent Factory</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1588</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ethylene diamine</td>
			<td style="width:348px;">Riedel-de Ha&#235;n</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">15070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Lead acetate trihydrate</td>
			<td>PEKING CHEMICAL WORKE</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">861218</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

synthesis of a thiol building block for the crystallization of a semiconducting gyroidal metal-sulfur framework

We present a method for preparing thioester molecules as the masked form of the thiol linkers and their utilization for accessing a semiconducting and porous metal-dithiolene network in the highly ordered single crystalline state. Unlike the highly reactive free-standing thiols, which tend to decompose and complicate the crystallization of metal-thiolate open frameworks, the thioester reacts in situ to provide the thiol species, serving to mitigate the reaction between the mercaptan units and the metal centers, and to improve crystallization consequently. Specifically, the thioester was synthesized in a one-pot procedure: an aromatic bromide (hexabromotriphenylene) reacted with excess sodium thiomethoxide under vigorous conditions to first form the thioether intermediate product. The thioether was then demethylated by the excess thiomethoxide to provide the thiolate anion that was acylated to form the thioester product. The thioester was conveniently purified by standard column chromatography, and then used directly in the framework synthesis, wherein NaOH and ethylenediamine serve to revert in situ the thioester to the thiol linker for assembling the single-crystalline Pb(II)-dithiolene network. Compared with other methods for thiol synthesis (e.g., by cleaving alkyl thioether using sodium metal and liquid ammonia), the thioester synthesis here uses simple conditions and economical reagents. Moreover, the thioester product is stable and can be conveniently handled and stored. More importantly, in contrast to the generic difficulty in accessing crystalline metal-thiolate open frameworks, we demonstrate that using the thioester for in situ formation of the thiol linker greatly improves the crystallinity of the solid-state product. We intend to encourage broader research efforts on the technologically important metal-sulfur frameworks by disclosing the synthetic protocol for the thioester as well as the crystalline framework solid.

The IR spectrum of the HVaTT molecule (collected by the KBr pellet method) features its strongest absorption at 1,700 cm-1, in accordance with the carbonyl stretching of the thioester functional group. The 1H-NMR spectrum of HVaTT (400 MHz, CDCl3) reveals a singlet at &#948; 8.47 from the aromatic hydrogens, together with 4 multiplets from the aliphatic protons: &#948; 8.47 (s, 6H, CHAr), 2.75 -2.72 (t, J = 7.4, 12H, CH2), 1.81-1.77 (m,...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework at JoVE.com

Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework

Here, we present a one-pot, transition-metal-free synthesis of thiols and thioesters from aromatic halides and sodium thiomethoxide, followed by the preparation of single crystals of a metal-dithiolene network using thiol species generated in situ from the more stable and tractable thioester.

We present a method for preparing thioester molecules as the masked form of the thiol linkers and their utilization for accessing a semiconducting and ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to synthesize thiol linker molecules and to prepare single crystals of porous, metal-sulfur frameworks from these thiol species. This method can help answer key questions in the field of materials chemistry as to how to better prepare crystalline networks from metal ions and mercaptan molecules. The main advantage of this technique is provided by the convenient and reduced-time synthesis which utilize the relative stable thioester as the precursor for framework assembly.Demonstrating the procedure will be Mr.He Yonghe, a graduate student in my laboratory. To begin the procedure, connect a 200 milliliter Schlenk flask, equipped with a stir bar, to a vacuum-gas manifold. Evacuate and backfill the flask with nitrogen gas three times.From then on, keep the flask filled with flowing nitrogen gas at a slight positive pressure. Next, remove a block of metallic sodium from the mineral oil in which it was stored. Wipe away residual mineral oil with a paper towel and scrape off the oxide layer with a knife.Quickly weigh out approximately 6.7 grams of metallic sodium, and note the weight. Cut the sodium into small pieces and transfer the pieces to the Schlenk flask under a counter-flow of nitrogen gas. Immediately seal the flask with a septum.Add 80 milliliters of anhydrous air-free tetrahydrofuran to the flask via cannula transfer. Then, draw 14.0 milliliters of nitrogen-purged dimethyl disulphide into a syringe. Add the DMDS to the mixture drop wise under a nitrogen atmosphere.Replace the septum with a ground-glass stopper. Then, stir the mixture at room temperature for 24 hours under a flow of nitrogen gas. Then, stir the mixture at 60 degrees celsius for three hours.Ensure that the vacuum manifold is equipped with a cold trap in-line with the gas outlet. With the mixture stirring at 60 degrees celsius, evaporate the THF and excess DMDS under a steady stream of nitrogen gas until a solid has formed. Remove the residual THF and DMDS from the solid under vacuum for two hours to obtain sodium thiomethoxide as a light yellow solid.Store the product under a nitrogen atmosphere in the absence of light. To begin the HVaTT synthesis, connect a 50 milliliter Schlenk flask, equipped with a stir bar, to a vacuum manifold and purge the flask. Quickly measure out approximately 0.664 grams of sodium thiomethoxide and note the weight.Under a counter-flow of nitrogen gas, quickly load the sodium thiomethoxide into the reaction flask, and stopper the flask. Add 0.216 grams of HBT to the flask under a counter-flow of nitrogen gas and seal the flask with a septum. Add 10 milliliters of anhydrous air-free DMEU to the flask via cannula transfer.Afterwards, replace the septum with a ground-glass stopper. Heat the mixture to 240 degrees celsius with a salt bath and stir the mixture under a nitrogen atmosphere for 48 hours. When ready to check the reaction progress, while under a flow of nitrogen gas, use a glass pipette to transfer about 0.1 milliliters of the reaction mixture to a plastic micro-centrifuge vial containing 0.1 milliliters of neat valeroyl chloride.Quickly close the vial. Shake the mixture for one minute. Then, add to the turbid, gray-white mixture 0.4 milliliters of deionized water and 0.1 milliliters of ethyl acetate.Shake the mixture for a few more seconds and allow the mixture to separate. If an insoluble white substance is between the layers, the reaction is likely incomplete. If nothing is observed between the water and ethyl acetate layers, the reaction is potentially complete and the sample may be further examined by thin-layer chromatography.Spot the upper layer on a TLC plate. Develop the plate with a 1 to 4 mixture of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether as the eluent, and visualize the plate with UV light. Examine the plate to determine whether the reaction is complete.Once the reaction is complete, remove the flask from the salt bath and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature. Then cool the mixture to zero degrees celsius with an ice bath. Replace the stopper with a rubber septum.Draw 1.5 milliliters of valeroyl chloride into a syringe. Add the valeroyl chloride to the mixture drop wise over about two minutes while under a nitrogen atmosphere. Replace the septum with a ground-glass stopper and stir the mixture at zero degrees celsius for two hours.Then dilute the mixture with 50 milliliters of ice water. Extract the product into 30 milliliter portions of ethyl acetate three times. Wash the combined organic layers with 60 milliliter portions of deionized water six times.Dry the washed organic fractions over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. Filter off the magnesium sulfate and remove volatiles from the filtrate with a rotary evaporator. Isolate the oily crude product by column chromatography with a 1 to 10 mixture of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether as the eluent.Remove volatiles with a rotary evaporator to obtain a light yellow oil. Combine the oil with five milliliters of methanol, sonicate the mixture for two minutes, and collect the resultant off-white solid product by vacuum filtration. To begin the HTT-Pb synthesis, dissolve 5.7 milligrams of lead two acetate trihydrate in 1.0 milliliters of ethylene diamine in a five milliliter vial.Place 4.6 milligrams of HVaTT, 1.0 milliliters of a degassed 140 millimolar solution of sodium hydroxide in methanol, and 0.7 milliliters of ethylene diamine in a 10 milliliter Schlenk tube. Crystals of various sizes can be obtained by adjusting the solvents and the basicity of the reaction mixture. For example, by varying the ethylene diamine methanol volume ratio between one to two and one to one, and the HVaTT sodium hydroxide molar ratio between one to 14 and one to 28.Sonicate the HVaTT mixture for five minutes. Then add the lead two acetate solution to the HVaTT mixture. Bubble nitrogen gas through the mixture for one minute without stirring.Seal the Schlenk tube with a screw cap and heat the mixture in an oven at 90 degrees celsius for 48 hours. Then allow the mixture to cool to room temperature to grow yellow-orange octahedral single crystals, suitable for single-crystal x-ray diffraction. Use a pipette to remove the solution from the crystals and wash the crystals with methanol several times.Store the washed single crystals in five milliliters of air-free methanol. Next, obtain an aqueous solution of 0.1%by weight paraquot diiodide. Transfer a few HTT-Pb single crystals from the methanol stock to a petri dish.Use laboratory tissue or filter paper to soak up excess methanol in the dish. Carefully apply a few drops of the paraquot diiodide solution to the crystals. Observe the color change of the crystals under a microscope or with the naked eye.The proton NMR spectrum of HVaTT showed a singlet from the aromatic hydrogens and multiplets from the aliphatic protons. Aliphatic C-H stretching was also observed in the HVaTT IR spectrum. The strong absorption at 1700 reciprocal centimeters was attributed to carbonyl stretching from the carbonyls protecting the thioester groups.This carbonyl stretching was correspondingly absent in the IR spectrum of crystalline HTT-Pb. The HTT-Pb also lacked the aliphatic C-H stretching observed in HVaTT. Powder x-ray diffraction of crystalline HTT-Pb was consistent with the reported HTT-Pb single crystal structure.Demonstrating the crystalline-phase purity of the product. The HTT-Pb crystals were highly responsive to paraquot diiodide in water, with the crystals changing color within one to two minutes of contact with an aqueous paraquot diiodide solution. This behavior was attributed to strong charge transfer interactions between the electron-rich HTT-Pb framework and the highly electron-deficient paraquot guest.This technique paves the way for researchers of open framework materials to explore the construction of various metal-thiolate networks for studies of their electronic and catalytic properties. This procedure will facilitate deeper studies on these important metal-sulfur framework materials. Aromatic thioester can also be prepared for molecular chemistry and solution chemistry identification using this procedure.

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Organic Chemistry

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Unit 1

Ethers, Epoxides, Sulfides

SCIENTISTS IN ACTION

Preparation and Use of Samarium Diiodide (SmI2) in Organic Synthesis: The Mechanistic Role of HMPA and Ni(II) Salts in the Samarium Barbier Reaction

Although initially considered an esoteric reagent, SmI2 has become a common tool for synthetic organic chemists. SmI2 is generated through the addition of molecular iodine to samarium metal in THF.1,2-3 It is a mild and selective single electron reductant and its versatility is a result of its ability to initiate a wide range of reductions including C-C bond-forming and cascade or sequential reactions. SmI2 can reduce a variety of functional groups including sulfoxides and sulfones, phosphine oxides, epoxides, alkyl and aryl halides, carbonyls, and conjugated double bonds.2-12 One of the fascinating features of SmI-2-mediated reactions is the ability to manipulate the outcome of reactions through the selective use of cosolvents or additives. In most instances, additives are essential in controlling the rate of reduction and the chemo- or stereoselectivity of reactions.13-14 Additives commonly utilized to fine tune the reactivity of SmI2 can be classified into three major groups: (1) Lewis bases (HMPA, other electron-donor ligands, chelating ethers, etc.), (2) proton sources (alcohols, water etc.), and (3) inorganic additives (Ni(acac)2, FeCl3, etc).3
Understanding the mechanism of SmI2 reactions and the role of the additives enables utilization of the full potential of the reagent in organic synthesis. The Sm-Barbier reaction is chosen to illustrate the synthetic importance and mechanistic role of two common additives: HMPA and Ni(II) in this reaction. The Sm-Barbier reaction is similar to the traditional Grignard reaction with the only difference being that the alkyl halide, carbonyl, and Sm reductant are mixed simultaneously in one pot.1,15 Examples of Sm-mediated Barbier reactions with a range of coupling partners have been reported,1,3,7,10,12 and have been utilized in key steps of the synthesis of large natural products.16,17 Previous studies on the effect of additives on SmI2 reactions have shown that HMPA enhances the reduction potential of SmI2 by coordinating to the samarium metal center, producing a more powerful,13-14,18 sterically encumbered reductant19-21 and in some cases playing an integral role in post electron-transfer steps facilitating subsequent bond-forming events.22 In the Sm-Barbier reaction, HMPA has been shown to additionally activate the alkyl halide by forming a complex in a pre-equilibrium step.23
Ni(II) salts are a catalytic additive used frequently in Sm-mediated transformations.24-27 Though critical for success, the mechanistic role of Ni(II) was not known in these reactions. Recently it has been shown that SmI2 reduces Ni(II) to Ni(0), and the reaction is then carried out through organometallic Ni(0) chemistry.28
These mechanistic studies highlight that although the same Barbier product is obtained, the use of different additives in the SmI2 reaction drastically alters the mechanistic pathway of the reaction. The protocol for running these SmI2-initiated reactions is described.

Preparation and Use of Samarium Diiodide SmI2 in Organic Synthesis: The Mechanistic Role of HMPA and NiII Salts in the Samarium Barbier Reaction

A straightforward procedure for the preparation of samarium diiodide (SmI2) in THF is described. The role of two main additives namely hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) and Ni(acac)2 in Sm mediated reactions is demonstrated in the Sm-Barbier reaction.

Although initially considered an esoteric reagent, SmI2 has become a common tool for synthetic organic chemists. SmI2 is generated through the addition of ...

Synthesis and Purification of Iodoaziridines Involving Quantitative Selection of the Optimal Stationary Phase for Chromatography

The highly diastereoselective preparation of cis-N-Ts-iodoaziridines through reaction of diiodomethyllithium with N-Ts aldimines is described. Diiodomethyllithium is prepared by the deprotonation of diiodomethane with LiHMDS, in a THF/diethyl ether mixture, at -78 &#176;C in the dark. These conditions are essential for the stability of the LiCHI2 reagent generated. The subsequent dropwise addition of N-Ts aldimines to the preformed diiodomethyllithium solution affords an amino-diiodide intermediate, which is not isolated. Rapid warming of the reaction mixture to 0 &#176;C promotes cyclization to afford iodoaziridines with exclusive cis-diastereoselectivity. The addition and cyclization stages of the reaction are mediated in one reaction flask by careful temperature control.
Due to the sensitivity of the iodoaziridines to purification, assessment of suitable methods of purification is required. A protocol to assess the stability of sensitive compounds to stationary phases for column chromatography is described. This method is suitable to apply to new iodoaziridines, or other potentially sensitive novel compounds. Consequently this method may find application in range of synthetic projects. The procedure involves firstly the assessment of the reaction yield, prior to purification, by 1H NMR spectroscopy with comparison to an internal standard. Portions of impure product mixture are then exposed to slurries of various stationary phases appropriate for chromatography, in a solvent system suitable as the eluent in flash chromatography. After stirring for 30 min to mimic chromatography, followed by filtering, the samples are analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Calculated yields for each stationary phase are then compared to that initially obtained from the crude reaction mixture. The results obtained provide a quantitative assessment of the stability of the compound to the different stationary phases; hence the optimal can be selected. The choice of basic alumina, modified to activity IV, as a suitable stationary phase has allowed isolation of certain iodoaziridines in excellent yield and purity.

A protocol for the diastereoselective one-pot preparation of cis-N-Ts-iodoaziridines is described. The generation of diiodomethyllithium, addition to N-Ts aldimines and cyclization of the amino gem-diiodide intermediate to iodoaziridines is demonstrated. Also included is a protocol to rapidly and quantitatively assess the most appropriate stationary phase for purification by chromatography.

The highly diastereoselective preparation of cis-N-Ts-iodoaziridines through reaction of diiodomethyllithium with N-Ts aldimines is described. ...

Synthesis and Exfoliation of Discotic Zirconium Phosphates to Obtain Colloidal Liquid Crystals

Due to their abundance in natural clay and potential applications in advanced materials, discotic nanoparticles are of interest to scientists and engineers. Growth of such anisotropic nanocrystals through a simple chemical method is a challenging task. In this study, we fabricate discotic nanodisks of zirconium phosphate [Zr(HPO4)2&#183;H2O] as a model material using hydrothermal, reflux and microwave-assisted methods. Growth of crystals is controlled by duration time, temperature, and concentration of reacting species. The novelty of the adopted methods is that discotic crystals of size ranging from hundred nanometers to few micrometers can be obtained while keeping the polydispersity well within control. The layered discotic crystals are converted to monolayers by exfoliation with tetra-(n)-butyl ammonium hydroxide [(C4H9)4NOH, TBAOH]. Exfoliated disks show isotropic and nematic liquid crystal phases. Size and polydispersity of disk suspensions is highly important in deciding their phase behavior.

A two dimensional model material of discotic zirconium phosphate was developed. The inorganic crystal with lamellar structure was synthesized by hydrothermal, reflux, and microwave-assisted methods. On exfoliation with organic molecules, layered crystals can be converted to monolayers, and nematic liquid crystal phase was formed at sufficient concentration of monolayers.

Due to their abundance in natural clay and potential applications in advanced materials, discotic nanoparticles are of interest to scientists and ...

Synthesis of Programmable Main-chain Liquid-crystalline Elastomers Using a Two-stage Thiol-acrylate Reaction

This study presents a novel two-stage thiol-acrylate Michael addition-photopolymerization (TAMAP) reaction to prepare main-chain liquid-crystalline elastomers (LCEs) with facile control over network structure and programming of an aligned monodomain. Tailored LCE networks were synthesized using routine mixing of commercially available starting materials and pouring monomer solutions into molds to cure. An initial polydomain LCE network is formed via a self-limiting thiol-acrylate Michael-addition reaction. Strain-to-failure and glass transition behavior were investigated as a function of crosslinking monomer, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) (PETMP). An example non-stoichiometric system of 15 mol% PETMP thiol groups and an excess of 15 mol% acrylate groups was used to demonstrate the robust nature of the material. The LCE formed an aligned and transparent monodomain when stretched, with a maximum failure strain over 600%. Stretched LCE samples were able to demonstrate both stress-driven thermal actuation when held under a constant bias stress or the shape-memory effect when stretched and unloaded. A permanently programmed monodomain was achieved via a second-stage photopolymerization reaction of the excess acrylate groups when the sample was in the stretched state. LCE samples were photo-cured and programmed at 100%, 200%, 300%, and 400% strain, with all samples demonstrating over 90% shape fixity when unloaded. The magnitude of total stress-free actuation increased from 35% to 115% with increased programming strain. Overall, the two-stage TAMAP methodology is presented as a powerful tool to prepare main-chain LCE systems and explore structure-property-performance relationships in these fascinating stimuli-sensitive materials.

A novel methodology is presented to synthesize and program main-chain liquid-crystalline elastomers using commercially available starting monomers. A wide range of thermomechanical properties was tailored by adjusting the amount of crosslinker, while the actuation performance was dependent on the amount of applied strain during programming.

This study presents a novel two-stage thiol-acrylate Michael addition-photopolymerization (TAMAP) reaction to prepare main-chain liquid-crystalline ...

Synthesis of Cd-free InP/ZnS Quantum Dots Suitable for Biomedical Applications

Fluorescent nanocrystals, specifically quantum dots, have been a useful tool for many biomedical applications. For successful use in biological systems, quantum dots should be highly fluorescent and small/monodisperse in size. While commonly used cadmium-based quantum dots possess these qualities, they are potentially toxic due to the possible release of Cd2+ ions through nanoparticle degradation. Indium-based quantum dots, specifically InP/ZnS, have recently been explored as a viable alternative to cadmium-based quantum dots due to their relatively similar fluorescence characteristics and size. The synthesis presented here uses standard hot-injection techniques for effective nanoparticle growth; however, nanoparticle properties such as size, emission wavelength, and emission intensity can drastically change due to small changes in the reaction conditions. Therefore, reaction conditions such temperature, reaction duration, and precursor concentration should be maintained precisely to yield reproducible products. Because quantum dots are not inherently soluble in aqueous solutions, they must also undergo surface modification to impart solubility in water. In this protocol, an amphiphilic polymer is used to interact with both hydrophobic ligands on the quantum dot surface and bulk solvent water molecules. Here, a detailed protocol is provided for the synthesis of highly fluorescent InP/ZnS quantum dots that are suitable for use in biomedical applications.

In this protocol, the synthesis of Cd-free InP/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) is detailed. InP-based QDs are gaining popularity due to the toxicity of Cd2+ ions that may be released through nanoparticle degradation. After synthesis, QDs are solubilized in water using an amphiphilic polymer for use in biomedical applications.

Fluorescent nanocrystals, specifically quantum dots, have been a useful tool for many biomedical applications. For successful use in biological systems, ...

HKUST-1 as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Vanillin

Vanillin (4-hydoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is the main component of the extract of vanilla bean. The natural vanilla scent is a mixture of approximately 200 different odorant compounds in addition to vanillin. The natural extraction of vanillin (from the orchid Vanilla planifolia, Vanilla tahitiensis and Vanilla pompon) represents only 1% of the worldwide production and since this process is expensive and very long, the rest of the production of vanillin is synthesized. Many biotechnological approaches can be used for the synthesis of vanillin from lignin, phenolic stilbenes, isoeugenol, eugenol, guaicol, etc., with the disadvantage of harming the environment since these processes use strong oxidizing agents and toxic solvents. Thus, eco-friendly alternatives on the production of vanillin are very desirable and thus, under current investigation. Porous coordination polymers (PCPs) are a new class of highly crystalline materials that recently have been used for catalysis. HKUST-1 (Cu3(BTC)2(H2O)3, BTC = 1,3,5-benzene-tricarboxylate) is a very well known PCP which has been extensively studied as a heterogeneous catalyst. Here, we report a synthetic strategy for the production of vanillin by the oxidation of trans-ferulic acid using HKUST-1 as a catalyst.

The conversion of trans-ferulic acid to vanillin was achieved by heterogeneous catalysis. HKUST-1 was employed in this synthesis and the essential step in the catalytic process was the generation of unsaturated metal sites. Thus, when the catalyst was activated under vacuum, full vanillin conversion (yield of 95%) was obtained.

Vanillin (4-hydoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is the main component of the extract of vanilla bean. The natural vanilla scent is a mixture of approximately ...

Sulfate Separation by Selective Crystallization with a Bis-iminoguanidinium Ligand

A simple and effective method for selective sulfate separation from aqueous solutions by crystallization with a bis-guanidinium ligand, 1,4-benzene-bis(iminoguanidinium) (BBIG), is demonstrated. The ligand is synthesized as the chloride salt (BBIG-Cl) by in situ imine condensation of terephthalaldehyde with aminoguanidinium chloride in water, followed by crystallization as the sulfate salt (BBIG-SO4). Alternatively, BBIG-Cl is synthesized ex situ in larger scale from ethanol. The sulfate separation ability of the BBIG ligand is demonstrated by selective and quantitative crystallization of sulfate from seawater. The ligand can be recycled by neutralization of BBIG-SO4 with aqueous NaOH and crystallization of the neutral bis-iminoguanidine, which can be converted back into BBIG-Cl with aqueous HCl and reused in another separation cycle. Finally, 35S-labeled sulfate and &#946; liquid scintillation counting are employed for monitoring the sulfate concentration in solution. Overall, this protocol will instruct the user in the necessary skills to synthesize a ligand, employ it in the selective crystallization of sulfate from aqueous solutions, and quantify the separation efficiency.

A protocol for in situ aqueous synthesis of a bis(iminoguanidinium) ligand and its utilization in selective separation of sulfate is presented.

A simple and effective method for selective sulfate separation from aqueous solutions by crystallization with a bis-guanidinium ligand, ...

Synthesis of a Water-soluble Metal&#8211;Organic Complex Array

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of a water-soluble multimetallic peptidic array containing a predetermined sequence of metal centers such as Ru(II), Pt(II), and Rh(III). The compound, named as a water-soluble metal-organic complex array (WSMOCA), is obtained through 1) the conventional solution-chemistry-based preparation of the corresponding metal complex monomers having a 9-fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-protected amino acid moiety and 2) their sequential coupling together with other water-soluble organic building units on the surface-functionalized polymeric resin by following the procedures originally developed for the solid-phase synthesis of polypeptides, with proper modifications. Traces of reactions determined by mass spectrometric analysis at the representative coupling steps in stage 2 confirm the selective construction of a predetermined sequence of metal centers along with the peptide backbone. The WSMOCA cleaved from the resin at the end of stage 2 has a certain level of solubility in aqueous media dependent on the pH value and/or salt content, which is useful for the purification of the compound.

Synthesis of a Water-soluble Metal&amp;#8211;Organic Complex Array

A potential general method for the synthesis of water-soluble multimetallic peptidic arrays containing a predetermined sequence of metal centers is presented.

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of a water-soluble multimetallic peptidic array containing a predetermined sequence of metal centers such as ...

Electrophoretic Crystallization of Ultrathin High-performance Metal-organic Framework Membranes

We report the synthesis of thin, highly intergrown, polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes on a wide range of unmodified porous and non-porous supports (polymer, ceramic, metal, carbon, and graphene). We developed a novel crystallization technique, which is termed the ENACT approach: the electrophoretic nuclei assembly for the crystallization of highly intergrown thin films (ENACT). This approach allows for a high density of heterogeneous nucleation of MOFs on a chosen substrate via the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) directly from the precursor sol. The growth of well-packed MOF nuclei leads to a highly intergrown polycrystalline MOF film. We show that this simple approach can be used for the synthesis of thin, intergrown zeolite imidazole framework (ZIF)-7 and ZIF-8 films. The resulting 500 nm-thick ZIF-8 membranes show a considerably high H2 permeance (8.3 x 10-6 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1) and ideal gas selectivities (7.3 for H2/CO2, 15.5 for H2/N2, 16.2 for H2/CH4, and 2655 for H2/C3H8). An attractive performance for C3H6/C3H8 separation is also achieved (a C3H6 permeance of 9.9 x 10-8 mol m-2 s-1 Pa-1 and a C3H6/C3H8 ideal selectivity of 31.6 at 25 &#176;C). Overall, the ENACT process, owing to its simplicity, can be extended to synthesize intergrown thin films of a wide range of nanoporous crystalline materials.

A simple, reproducible, and versatile approach for the synthesis of intergrown, polycrystalline metal-organic framework membranes on a wide range of unmodified porous and non-porous supports is presented.

We report the synthesis of thin, highly intergrown, polycrystalline metal-organic framework (MOF) membranes on a wide range of unmodified porous and ...

Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates

Maleimide-bearing bifunctional probes have been employed for decades for the site-selective modification of thiols in biomolecules, especially antibodies. Yet maleimide-based conjugates display limited stability in vivo because the succinimidyl thioether linkage can undergo a retro-Michael reaction. This, of course, can lead to the release of the radioactive payload or its exchange with thiol-bearing biomolecules in circulation. Both of these processes can produce elevated activity concentrations in healthy organs as well as decreased activity concentrations in target tissues, resulting in reduced imaging contrast and lower therapeutic ratios. In 2018, we reported the creation of a modular, stable, and easily accessible phenyloxadiazolyl methyl sulfone reagent &#8212; dubbed &#8216;PODS&#8217; &#8212; as a platform for thiol-based bioconjugations. We have clearly demonstrated that PODS-based site-selective bioconjugations reproducibly and robustly create homogenous, well-defined, highly immunoreactive, and highly stable radioimmunoconjugates. Furthermore, preclinical experiments in murine models of colorectal cancer have shown that these site-selectively labeled radioimmunoconjugates exhibit far superior in vivo performance compared to radiolabeled antibodies synthesized via maleimide-based conjugations. In this protocol, we will describe the four-step synthesis of PODS, the creation of a bifunctional PODS-bearing variant of the ubiquitous chelator DOTA (PODS-DOTA), and the conjugation of PODS-DOTA to the HER2-targeting antibody trastuzumab.

In this protocol, we will describe the synthesis of PODS, a phenyoxadiazolyl methyl sulfone-based reagent for the site-selective attachment of cargos to the thiols of biomolecules, particularly antibodies. In addition, we will describe the synthesis and characterization of a PODS-bearing bifunctional chelator and its conjugation to a model antibody.

Maleimide-bearing bifunctional probes have been employed for decades for the site-selective modification of thiols in biomolecules, especially antibodies. ...