Simultaneous In Situ Monitoring of Trimethoxysilane Hydrolysis Reactions Using Raman, Infrared, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy Aided by Chemometrics and Ab Initio Calculations.

Sol-gels are found in many different scientific fields and have very broad applications. They are often prepared by the hydrolysis and condensation of alkoxysilanes such as trimethoxysilanes, which are commonly used as precursors in the preparation of silsequioxanes via the sol-gel process. The reaction rates of such reactions are influenced by a wide range of experimental factors such as temperature, pH, catalyst, etc. In this study, we combined multiple in situ spectroscopic techniques to monitor the hydrolysis and partial condensation reactions of methyltrimethoxysilane and phenyltrimethoxysilane. A rich set of kinetics information on intermediate species of the hydrolysis reactions were obtained and used for kinetics modeling. Raman and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provided the most information about hydrolysis and NMR provided the most information about condensation. A quantitative method based on Raman spectra to quantify the various transient intermediate hydrolysis products was developed using NMR as the primary method, which can be deployed in the field where it is impractical to carry out NMR measurements.

Driving Force Dependence of Electron Transfer from Electronically Excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 to Photo-Acid Generators.

We report the rates of electron transfer (ET) reactions of electronically excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 with onium salt photoacid generators (PAGs). The reduction potentials of the PAGs span a large electrochemical window that allows determination of the driving force dependence of the ET reactions. Rate constants of ET from electronically excited [Ir(COD)(µ-Me2pz)]2 to onium PAGs are determined by the reaction driving force until the diffusion limit in acetonitrile is reached.

Generation of powerful tungsten reductants by visible light excitation.

The homoleptic arylisocyanide tungsten complexes, W(CNXy)6 and W(CNIph)6 (Xy = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, Iph = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), display intense metal to ligand charge transfer (MLCT) absorptions in the visible region (400-550 nm). MLCT emission (λ(max) ≈ 580 nm) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) solution at rt is observed for W(CNXy)6 and W(CNIph)6 with lifetimes of 17 and 73 ns, respectively. Diffusion-controlled energy transfer from electronically excited W(CNIph)6 (*W) to the lowest energy triplet excited state of anthracene (anth) is the dominant quenching pathway in THF solution. Introduction of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate, [Bu(n)4N][PF6], to the THF solution promotes formation of electron transfer (ET) quenching products, [W(CNIph)6](+) and [anth](•-). ET from *W to benzophenone and cobalticenium also is observed in [Bu(n)4N][PF6]/THF solutions. The estimated reduction potential for the [W(CNIph)6](+)/*W couple is -2.8 V vs Cp2Fe(+/0), establishing W(CNIph)6 as one of the most powerful photoreductants that has been generated with visible light.

An efficient route to xanthine based A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonists and functional derivatives.

A one-pot route to 8-substituted xanthines has been developed from 5,6-diaminouracils and carboxaldehydes. Yields are good and the process applicable to a range of substrates including a family of A(2A) adenosine receptor antagonists. A new route to the KW-6002 family of antagonists is presented including a pro-drug variant, and application to related image contrast agents developed.

Synthesis, functionalization and photo-Bergman chemistry of enediyne bioconjugates.

Methodology is outlined for the chemical synthesis of versatile photo-Bergman enediyne building blocks and their conjugates. Routes to both mono and bis conjugated enediyne templates are detailed together with representative examples of their bioconjugates, nanoconjugates, PEG derivatives and water soluble salts. The immunocompetence of antibody conjugates is retained, and application in the form of reagents for photodynamic therapy (PDT) advanced.