Long-lived triplet charge-separated state in naphthalenediimide based donor–acceptor systems

1,4,5,8-Naphthalenediimides (NDIs) are widely used motifs to design multichromophoric architectures due to their ease of functionalisation, their high oxidative power and the stability of their radical anion. The NDI building block can be incorporated in supramolecular systems by either core or imide functionalization. We report on the charge-transfer dynamics of a series of electron donor–acceptor dyads consisting of a NDI chromophore with one or two donors linked at the axial, imide position. Photo-population of the core-centred π–π* state is followed by ultrafast electron transfer from the electron donor to the NDI. Due to a solvent dependent singlet–triplet equilibrium inherent to the NDI core, both singlet and triplet charge-separated states are populated. We demonstrate that long-lived charge separation in the triplet state can be achieved by controlling the mutual orientation of the donor–acceptor sub-units. By extending this study to a supramolecular NDI-based cage, we also show that the triplet charge-separation yield can be increased by tuning the environment.

Ultrafast electron transfer from singlet and triplet excited states in equilibrium results in the population of both singlet and triplet charge-separated states.     

Flow injection system with in-line Winkler's procedure using 16-way valve and spectrofluorimetric determination of dissolved oxygen in environmental waters

Flow injection spectrofluorimetry with in-line Winklers procedure was developed for the dissolved oxygen (DO) determination. 2-Thionaphthol reacted with iodine produced by Winkler’s method to form fluorescence inactive disulfide compound. To automate the process completely, a 5-channel flow system with a newly designed 16-way valve was assembled. The system consisted of a dispersion coil (DC), a precipitate formation coil (PFC), a precipitate dissolving coil (PDC), and extraction coil (EC). A calibration can be constructed by using a standard iodine solution for dissolved oxygen. The calibration graph was linear over the range 1.2×10⁻⁴∼6.0×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ iodine (1.96∼9.80 mg O l⁻¹)). The relative standard deviation (n=6) was below 0.3% for the 4×10⁻⁴ mol l⁻¹ iodine (6.27 mg O l⁻¹) determination. The sample throughput was 12/h.     

A systematic preparation of new contracted Gaussian-type orbital sets. VIII. MINI-1 and MIDI-1 sets for Ga through Cd

Minimal contracted Gaussian basis sets are presented for Ga through Cd. Characteristically these Gaussian-based minimal sets give far better d orbital energies than those by minimal STO basis sets. These new basis sets were tested on Br₂ for which a new benchmark calculation was also performed. The test result is satisfactory in that these basis sets produce good general agreement with the near Hartree–Fock calculation with respect to the molecular spectroscopic constants.     

The Reactivity of Bis(para‐methoxyphenyl)telluroxide towards Triflic Acid and Diphenylphosphinic Acid. Theoretical Considerations of the Protonation and Hydration Process of Diorganotelluroxanes

The reaction of (p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂TeO with two equivalents of HO₃SCF₃ and HO₂PPh₂ provided the tetraorganoditelluroxanes (F₃CSO₃)(p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂TeOTe(p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂(O₃SCF₃) ( 1 ) and (Ph₂PO₂)(p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂TeOTe(p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂(O₂PPh₂)·2 Ph₂PO₂H ( 2 ) in good yields. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by solution and solid‐state ³¹P and ¹²⁵Te NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, electrospray mass spectrometry, conductivity measurements and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In solution, compound 1 undergoes an electrolytic dissociation and reversibly reacts with traces of water to give the mononuclear cation [(p‐MeOC₆H₄)₂TeOH]⁺ and triflate anions. Theoretical aspects of the protonation and hydration of model telluroxanes R₂TeO (R = H, Me, Ph) were investigated by preliminary DFT calculations and compared to the corresponding selenoxanes R₂SeO. The tellurium dihydroxides R₂Te(OH)₂ seem to be more stable than the hydrogen‐bonded complexes R₂TeO·H₂O.     

Enhancing chemical analysis with signal derivatization using simple available software packages

Derivative techniques for analytical signal processing are useful for solving some noise and signal resolution problems in various fields of study such as titrimetry, spectrophotometry, chromatography and electrochemistry. The broad use of these techniques, however, is often limited by costly inflexible built-in software packages in commercial analytical instruments. We propose here the application of commercial simple software packages such as Microsoft® Excel and Microcal Origin for signal smoothing and fitting, and for obtaining derivative analytical signals in batch and flow-based analyses, including potentiometric titration, spectrophotometry, chromatography, voltammetry and sequential injection analysis (SIA). The worldwide (especially Excel) software packages are easy-to-use for less experienced users and have also capabilities for advanced users, and therefore employing such packages can result in expansion of useful derivative techniques. We demonstrate application of the available package-aided derivative capabilities for enhancing some chemical analyses, including potentiometric acid–base titration, Bradford assay of protein, chromatographic separation of ajmaline and reserpine and anodic stripping voltammetry of copper. The derivative signals from smoothed and fitted curves offer better accuracy and precision, even for non-resolving peaks and tailing peaks. In some cases, the optimization of experimental conditions is not further required, which can lead to fast method development.     

Determination of molecular weight distribution of nylon 12 by gel permeation chromatography

Molecular weight distribution of Nylon 12 was determined with hexafluoroisopropanol/toluene mixture as eluent by gel permeation chromatography. Calibration curve for Nylon 12 was easily obtained from that of polystyrene because the method of universal calibration was applicable among these polymers. The molecular weight distributions of Nylon 12 were always broader than expected by the theory of polymerization, i.e., most probable distribution. This result was not caused by broadening effect in gel permeation chromatography, but by polymerization itself.     

Photo-switchable ion and enzyme sensors. Photoinduced potentiometric response of glassy carbon electrode coated with polymer or polymer/enzyme dual membrane

Photo-switchable ion and enzyme sensors were fabricated by the use of glassy carbon electrode coated with nonactindoped or enzyme modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes. The ion sensor with nonactin-doped PVC membrane, which contained spirobenzopyran as the photosensitive dye, exhibited a potentiometric photoresponse to NH4+ ion in the solution. The dynamic range of the NH4+ ion sensor was 10(-7)--10(-3) M. Urea, adenosine, and asparagine sensors were prepared by coating the surface of the NH4+-ion sensor with urease, adenosine deaminase, and asparaginase membranes, respectively. These enzyme sensors could be used for determining the substrates at the micro mole level. The performance characteristics of these sensors were compared with those previously prepared membrane electrode sensors.     

Stereoselective adduct formation of α-acylcamphorato-copper(II) chelates with some chiral Lewis bases

The formation constants of the mono-adducts of α-acylcamphorato-copper(II) chelates such as (+)-Cu(facam)₂, (?)-Cu(facam)₂, (+)-Cu(hfbc)₂ and (?)-Cu(hfbc)₂ with some chiral Lewis bases were determined spectrophotometrically in benzene. In order to compare the adduct formation constants obtained with the (+)- and (?)-forms, some pairs of chiral Lewis bases such as 1-amino-2-propanol [(R)(?), (S)(+)], 1-(α-naphthyl)ethylamine [(R)(+), (S)(?)], α-phenyl ethylamine [(R)(+), (S)(?)] and also quinine and quinidine were examined as neutral ligands. Although not very pronounced, the effects of combinations obtained for (+)- or (?)-Cu(II) chelates and (+)- or (?)-ligands indicate that formation constants obtained by the formation of adducts with the ligands having different directions of the optical rotation seems to be superior to those with the same direction.     

Electron-density-dependent fused-sphere surfaces derived from pseudopotential calculations

Fused-sphere surfaces can be used to mimic a molecular boundary associated with a constant value of the electron density. The simplest of such fused-sphere models are constructed by using the atomic radii for the spherical isodensity surfaces of individual atoms. In this work, we discuss the extension of this model to molecules containing atoms beyond the second row. In these many- electron systems, the computation of electron densities is usually simplified by adopting a pseudopotential (or effective-core potential) approach. Here, we discuss the performance of large- and small-core pseudo-potential calculations as a tool to derive atomic radii. Our results provide an optimum set of variable radii that can be used to build fused-sphere surfaces. This continuum of surfaces provides a simple approximation to the low-electron-density regions around molecules with heavy atoms.