V-Shaped Tröger Oligothiophenes Boost Triplet Formation by CT Mediation and Symmetry Breaking.

A new family of molecules obtained by coupling Tröger's base unit with dicyanovinylene-terminated oligothiophenes of different lengths has been synthesized and characterized by steady-state stationary and transient time-resolved spectroscopies. Quantum chemical calculations allow us to interpret and recognize the properties of the stationary excited states as well as the time-dependent mechanisms of singlet-to-triplet coupling. The presence of the diazocine unit in Tröger's base derivatives is key to efficiently producing singlet-to-triplet intersystem crossing mediated by the role of the nitrogen atoms and of the almost orthogonal disposition of the two thiophene arms. Spin-orbit coupling-mediated interstate intersystem crossing (ISC) is activated by a symmetry-breaking process in the first singlet excited state with partial charge transfer character. This mechanism is a characteristic of these molecular triads since the independent dicyanovinylene-oligothiophene branches do not display appreciable ISC. These results show how Tröger's base coupling of organic chromophores can be used to improve the ISC efficiency and tune their photophysics.

Evaluation of automated clean-up for large scope pesticide multiresidue analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Clean-up step is essential during the multiresidue sample preparation process to remove undesired matrix components that may cause analytical interferences or suppression effect. However, its application generally by specific sorbents entails time-consuming work producing low recoveries for some compounds. Moreover, it usually needs to be adapted to the different co-extractives from the matrix present in the samples by using different chemical sorbents increasing the number of validation procedures. Therefore, the development of a more efficient and automated and unified clean-up procedure means a significant time reduction and laboratory work with improved performance. In this study, extracts from different matrices (tomato, orange, rice, avocado and black tea) were purified by manual dispersive clean-up (different procedures according to the matrix group) in parallel with an automated µSPE clean-up workflow, in both cases based on QuEChERS extraction. The latter procedure employed clean-up cartridges containing a mixture of sorbent materials (anhydrous MgSO4/PSA/C18/CarbonX) suitable for multiple matrices. All the samples were analysed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and the results obtained from both procedures have been compared in terms of the extract cleanness, performance, interferences, and sample workflow. At the levels studied, similar recoveries were achieved by both techniques (manual and automated) except for reactive compounds when PSA was used as the sorbent material producing low recoveries. However, the µSPE recoveries were between 70-120%. Furthermore, closer calibration line slopes were provided when µSPE was applied to the different matrix groups studied. It is important to note that up to 30% more samples per day can be analysed using an automated µSPE compared to the manual method (which requires shaking, centrifuging, then taking the supernatant and adding formic acid in ACN); it also provides good repeatability - an RSD (%) < 10%. Consequently, this technique is a very useful option for routine analyses, greatly simplifying the work of muti-residue methods.

Photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants through conjugated poly(azomethine) networks based on terthiophene-naphthalimide assemblies.

A conjugated poly(azomethine) network based on ambipolar terthiophene-naphthalimide assemblies has been synthesized and its electrochemical and UV-vis absorption properties have been investigated. The network has been found to be a promising candidate for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous media.

Oxygen reduction using a metal-free naphthalene diimide-based covalent organic framework electrocatalyst.

A novel naphthalene diimide-based covalent organic framework (NDI-COF) has been synthesized and successfully exfoliated into COF nanosheets (CONs). Electrochemical measurements reveal that the naphthalene diimide units incorporated into NDI-CONs act as efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction in alkaline media, showing its potential for the development of metal-free fuel cells.

Catalytically Active Imine-based Covalent Organic Frameworks for Detoxification of Nerve Agent Simulants in Aqueous Media.

A series of imine-based covalent organic frameworks decorated in their cavities with different alkynyl, pyrrolidine, and N-methylpyrrolidine functional groups have been synthetized. These materials exhibit catalytic activity in aqueous media for the hydrolytic detoxification of nerve agents, as exemplified with nerve gas simulant diisopropylfluorophosphate (DIFP). These preliminary results suggest imine-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as promising materials for detoxification of highly toxic molecules.