Facile preparation of water-soluble fluorescent silver nanoclusters using a polyelectrolyte template

We report a new approach for the synthesis of fluorescent and water-soluble Ag nanoclusters, using the common polyelectrolyte poly(methacrylic acid) as the template.

The first soluble conjugated poly(2,6-anthrylene): synthesis and properties

The first soluble conjugated poly(2,6-anthrylene) with 9,10-diphenyl-anthracene as the repeating unit is reported; photophysical studies reveal that this polymer represents a novel well-conjugated system.

An effective method for enhancing metal-ions' selectivity of ionic liquid-based extraction system: Adding water-soluble complexing agent

Selective extraction-separation of yttrium(Ill) from heavy lanthanides into 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C(8)mim][PF6]) containing Cyanex 923 was achieved by adding a water-soluble complexing agent (EDTA) to aqueous phase. The simple and environmentally benign complexing method was proved to be an effective strategy for enhancing the selectivity of [C(n)mim] [PF6]/[Tf2N]-based extraction system without increasing the loss of [C(n)mim](+). (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphonate-Functionalized Polyfluorene as a Highly Water-Soluble Iron(III) Chemosensor

An anionic, phosphonate-functionalized polyfluorene, i.e., poly(9,9-bis(3'-phosphatepropyl)fluorene-alt-1,4-phenylene) sodium salt (PFPNa), has been synthesized by copolymerization of phosphonic acid-substituted 2,7-dibromofluorene and phenyldiboronic ester via direct Suzuki polycondensation reaction in DMF/water. Polymer PFPNa is highly soluble and emissive in water with a solubility of 60 mg/mL and a photoluminescence quantum yield of 75%. The absorption and fluorescence spectra of PFPNa are strongly dependent on pH value owing to the partial protonation of phosphate groups and the aggregation of the polymer chains.

A soluble nonionic surfactant as electron injection material for high-efficiency inverted bottom-emission organic light emitting diodes

A soluble nonionic surfactant, polyethylenimine 80% ethoxylated (PEIE) solution, was used as the electron injection material in inverted bottom-emission organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). The transparent PEIE film was formed on indium-tin-oxide cathode by simple spin-coating method and it was found that the electron injection was greatly enhanced. The devices with PEIE electron injection layer had achieved significant enhancement in luminance and efficiency. The maximum luminance reached 47 000 cd/m(2), and the maximum luminance efficiency and power efficiency arrived at 19.7 cd/A and 10.6 lm/W, respectively.

A new oxidation state of aniline pentamer observed in water-soluble electroactive oligoaniline-chitosan polymer

A novel water-soluble electroactive polymer, aniline pentamer crosslinked chitosan (Pentamer-c-Chi), was prepared by condensation polymerization of the terminal carboxyl groups in aniline pentamer with the amino side groups in chitosan in aqueous solution. The carboxyl groups were activated by N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (I)CC). The electrochemical behavior of aniline pentamer in this kind of crosslinked polymer was studied in acidic aqueous solution by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV-vis, and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.

Self-assembly of single-stranded RNA on carbon nanotube: Polyadenylic acid to form a duplex structure

All messenger-RNA (mRNA) molecules in eukaryotic cells have a polyadenylic acid [poly (rA)] tail at the 3'-end and human poly (rA) polymerase (PAP) has been considered as a tumor-specific target. A ligand that is capable of recognizing and binding to the poly(M) tail of mRNA might interfere with the full processing of mRNA by PAP and can be a potential therapeutic agent. We report here for the first time that single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can cause single-stranded poly (M) to self-structure and form a duplex structure, which is studied by UV melting, atomic force microscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and NMR spectrometry.

Assembly of supramolecular compounds with water-soluble calix[4]arenes

Three new copper compounds, Cu-2[C12H8N2](2)[C28H2OS4O16][H2O](11.9) (1), Cu-2[C12H8N2](3)[C28H20S4O16][H2O](5) (2), and Cu-2[C12H8N2](4)[C24H12S8O16][H2O](10.5) (3), were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally determined by X-ray diffraction and TG-DTA analyses. Interestingly, Compounds 1 and 2 were synthesized in a one-pot reaction. Complexes 1 and 3 contain capsule units, which are further assembled into three-dimensional (3-D) architectures with a-Po-related topology by pi-pi stacking and/or hydrogen-bonding interactions.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Aryl Bromides To Form Intermolecular and Intramolecular Carbon-Oxygen Bonds

A highly efficient Cu-catalyzed C-O bond-forming reaction of alcohol and aryl bromides has been developed. This transformation was realized through the use of copper(I) iodide as a catalyst, 8-hydroxyquinoline as a ligand, and K3PO4 as a base. A variety of functionalized substrates were found to react under these reaction conditions to provide products in good to excellent yields.

3D metal-organic frameworks incorporating water-soluble tetra-p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

Water-soluble tetra-p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene, acting as a four-connected node, bridges the rare earth cations into a 3D porous MOF in which 1D smaller circular hydrophilic channels and larger quadratic ones are lined up along the c axis and interconnected to each other by the calixarene cavities and other interstices.

Macroscopic single-crystal tubes assembled with porous supramolecular architecture of water-soluble calixarene and phenanthroline

Single-crystal tubular products on the millimetre scale have been synthesized from water-soluble calixarene and phenanthroline in the presence of lanthanides by a hydrothermal method, in which the extended structures contain some 1D infinite channels.

Synthesis of Soluble Poly(arylene ether sulfone) Ionomers with Pendant Quaternary Ammonium Groups for Anion Exchange Membranes

A new bisphenol monomer, 2,2'-dimethylaminemetllylene-4,4'-biphenol (DABP), was easily prepared by Mannich reaction of dimethylamine and formaldehyde with 4,4'-biphenol. Novel partially fluorinated poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with pendant quaternary ammonium groups were prepared by copolymerization of DABP, 4,4'-biphenol, and 3,3',4,4'- tetrafluorodiphenylsulfone, followed by reaction with iodomethane. The resulting copolymers PSQNI-x (where x represents the molar fraction of DABP in the feed) with high molecular weight exhibited outstanding solubility in polar aprotic solvents; thus, the flexible and tough membranes of PSQNI-x with varying ionic content could be prepared by casting from the DMAc solution. Novel anion exchange membranes, PSQNOH-x, were obtained by an anion exchange of PSQNI-x with 1 N NaOH.

Synthesis and properties of soluble poly[bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinones)] based on novel aromatic tetraamine monomers

Four aromatic tetraamine monomers possessing flexible ether linkages were successfully synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of hydroquinone, 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, 2,2'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, and 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene with 5-chloro-2-nitroaniline, followed by reduction, respectively. With these monomers, a new class of soluble poly[ bis(benzimidazobenzisoquinolinones)] was prepared by a one-step, high-temperature solution polycondensation. The resulting polymers were completely soluble in phenolic solvents and had high inherent viscosities ranging from 1.2 to 1.5 g dL(-1). These polymers had glass transition temperatures in the range of 427-449 degrees C. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all polymers were thermally stable, with 5% weight loss recorded above 510 degrees C in nitrogen.

Implantation of Nafion (R) ionomer into polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan composites to form novel proton-conducting membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

A series of cost-effective, proton-conducting composite membranes, comprising of Nafion (R) ionomer, chitosan (CS). and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), is successfully prepared. By taking advantage of the strong electrostatic interactions between Nafion (R) ionomer and CS component, Nafion ionomer is effectively implanted into the PVA/CS composite membranes, and improves proton conductivity of the PVA/CS composite membranes. Furthermore, this effect dramatically depends on the composition ratio of PVA/CS, and the optimum conductivity is obtained at the PVA/CS ratio of 1:1. The developed composite membranes exhibit much lower methanol permeability compared with the widely used Nafion (R) membrane, indicating that these novel membranes have great potential for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).