Optical control over photoconductivity in polyferrocenylsilane films.

We report the study and elucidate the origin of the photoconductivity of polyferrocenylsilanes achieved through photooxidation performed by ultraviolet irradiation in the presence of chloroform. The persistence over months of the changes in the optoelectronic properties allowed more detailed studies of the charge photogeneration process. The photocurrent spectrum mimics that of the absorption indicating that the photooxidized material is not a mechanical mixture of oxidized and unoxidized polymer units. Photomodulation spectroscopy revealed the existence of long-lived photoexcited states with a lifetime in the millisecond range. They have been interpreted as trapped excitons at the oxidized sites where the polymer is deformed due to the presence of the chloroform derived counter ions. Because of the relatively long lifetime of the trapped excitons they can dissociate and the formed charge carriers can be separated in an externally applied electric field. The effect of the polymer chain deformation around the oxidized unit extends over the neighboring polymer units. In light of the potential applications of this class of polymers in various electronic and photonic devices, the clarification of such a basic process as the photocurrent generation will be a key factor for further technological development.

Rhodium-catalyzed dehydrocoupling of the sterically encumbered phosphine-borane adduct tBu(2)PH.BH(3): synthesis of the linear dimers tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(3) and tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(2)Cl.

The dehydrocoupling of the sterically hindered phosphine-borane adduct tBu(2)PH.BH(3) above 140 degrees C is catalyzed by the rhodium complexes [Rh(1,5-cod)(2)][OTf] or Rh(6)(CO)(16) to give the four-membered chain tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(3) (1), which was isolated in 60% yield and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Thermolysis of 1 in the temperature range 175-180 degrees C led to partial decomposition and the formation of tBu(2)PH.BH(3). When the dehydrocoupling of tBu(2)PH.BH(3) was performed in the presence of [[Rh(mu-Cl)(1,5-cod)](2)] or RhCl(3) hydrate, the chlorinated compound tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(2)Cl (2) was formed which could not be obtained free of 1. The molecular structures of tBu(2)PH.BH(3), tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(3) (1), and tBu(2)PH-BH(2)-tBu(2)P-BH(2)Cl (2) together with 1 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Supramolecular organometallic polymer chemistry: multiple morphologies and superstructures from the solution self-assembly of polyferrocene-block-polysiloxane-block-polyferrocene triblock copolymers.

The solution self-assembly of an organometallic-inorganic triblock copolymer, poly(ferrocenyldimethylsilane)-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly-(ferrocenyldimethylsilane) (PFDMS-b-PDMS-b-PFDMS, 3b; block ratio 1:13:1; Mn = 2.88 x 10(4) gmol(-1), polydispersity (PDI) 1.43 (gel permeation chromatography, GPC)) was studied in n-hexane, a PDMS block selective solvent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and TEM with negative staining analysis of these micellar solutions after solvent evaporation revealed the presence of multiple micellar morphologies including spheres, cylinders, and novel flower-like supramolecular aggregates. TEM analysis of samples fractionated by ultracentrifugation and preparative size-exclusion chromatography suggest that the formation of multiple morphologies is a consequence of compositional variations. When micellar solutions were prepared at 50 degrees C (above the glass transition of the PFDMS core-forming block) flower-like micellar aggregates similar to those present in micellar solutions prepared at room temperature also formed. However, after solvent evaporation, TEM analysis of micellar solutions prepared in decane at about 150 degrees C, above the melt temperature of the PFDMS core (ca. 120-145 degrees C), revealed the presence of spherical micelles (when decane solutions at 150 degrees C were rapidly cooled to room temperature) and rod-like cylindrical micelles (when decane solutions at 150 degrees C were slowly cooled to room temperature). In contrast, poly(ferrocenylmethylethylsilane)block-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(ferrocenylmethylethylsilane) (PFMES-b-PDMS-b-PFMES, 4; block ratio 1:16:1; Mn=2.90x10(4)g mol(-1), PDI= 1.42 (GPC)) and poly(ferrocenylmethylphenylsilane)-block-poly(dimethylsiloxane)-block-poly(ferrocenylmethylphenylsilane) (PFMPS-b-PDMS-b-PFMPS, 5; block ratio 1:15:1; Mn=3.00 x 10(4) gmol(-1), PDI = 1.38 (GPC)), which possess completely amorphous organometallic core-forming blocks, formed only spherical micelles in hexane at room temperature. These observations indicate that crystallinity of the insoluble polyferrocenylsilane block is a critical factor in the formation of the nonspherical micelle morphologies.

Tuning the strain and polymerizability of organometallic rings: the synthesis, structure, and ring-opening polymerization behavior of [2]ferrocenophanes with C-SI, C-P, and C-S bridges.

A series of novel [2]ferrocenophanes with unsymmetrical C-E bridges has been prepared in which the covalent radius of the second-row element, E, and hence the ring strain present is varied. Species [Fe(eta-C(5)Me(4))(eta-C(5)H(4))CH(2)ER(x)] (7, ER(x) = SiMe(2); 8a, ER(x) = PPh; 8b, ER(x) = PMes; 9, ER(x) = S) were synthesized via reaction of the PMDETA (N,N,N',N' ',N' '-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) adduct of [(eta-C(5)H(4)Li)Fe(eta-C(5)Me(4))CH(2)Li] with Cl(2)ER(x) (E = Si or P) or S(SO(2)Ph)(2). Studies of 7-9 by single-crystal X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of ring-tilted structures: for 7, alpha (angle between the planes of the Cp rings) = 11.8(1) degrees; for 8a, alpha(average) = 14.9(3) degrees; for 8b, alpha(average) = 18.2(2) degrees; and for 9, alpha = 18.5(1) degrees. The least tilted compound, 7, was found to be resistant to thermal, anionic, and transition metal catalyzed ROP. In contrast, the significantly more tilted compounds 8a, 8b, and 9 were all found to polymerize thermally with small negative values of DeltaH(ROP) of ca. 10-20 kJ.mol(-1) determined by DSC. Whereas thermal ROP of 8a yielded the soluble high molecular weight polycarbophosphaferrocene [(eta-C(5)Me(4))Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))CH(2)PPh](n) (11), species 9 formed the insoluble polycarbothiaferrocene [(eta-C(5)Me(4))Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))CH(2)S](n) (14). Attempted anionic ROP of 8a and 9 with (n)BuLi was unsuccessful and treatment of 8a with CF(3)SO(3)Me resulted in the formation of the novel phosphonium salt [(eta-C(5)Me(4))Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))CH(2)PMePh][CF(3)SO(3)] (13), which was found to be resistant to thermal ROP as a result of its less strained structure (for 13, alpha = 11.4(7) degrees ). Treatment of 9 with CF(3)SO(3)Me or BF(3).Et(2)O resulted in the first example of cationic ROP for a transition metal-containing heterocycle to yield polycarbothiaferrocene 14. In the presence of excess 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine as a selective proton trap, ROP of 9 was only observed with CF(3)SO(3)Me, and not BF(3).Et(2)O, which indicated that Me(+) and H(+) are the probable cationic initiators, respectively. Thermal copolymerization of 9 with trimethylene sulfide resulted in the isolation of the soluble, high molecular weight, random copolymer [(eta-C(5)Me(4))Fe(eta-C(5)H(4))CH(2)S](n)[(CH(2))(3)S](m), 15.

Synthesis and reactivity of perhalogenated acyclic and metallacyclic tantalum(V) phosphoraniminato complexes: discovery of an unexpected ligand coupling reaction to form the novel phosphazenium salt.

The reaction of TaCl5 with a single equivalent of Cl3P=NSiMe3 resulted in the isolation of the perhalogenated (phosphoraniminato) tantalum(V) complex TaCl4(N=PCl3) (1). Reaction of 1 with an excess of THF and subsequent cooling produced crystals of TaCl4(N=PCl3)(THF) (1.THF), which possesses a distorted octahedral Ta center with a THF molecule coordinated trans to the phosphoraniminato ligand. The reaction of 1 with the aminophosphoranimine, (Me3Si)2NPCl2=NSiMe3, resulted in a [3 + 1] cyclocondensation reaction to form the metallacyclic complex, TaCl3(N=PCl3)[N(SiMe3)PCl2N(SiMe3)] (2), which contains a TaNPN four-membered ring and a phosphoraniminato ligand (N=PCl3). The analogous [3 + 1] cyclocondensation reaction between (Me3Si)2NPCl2=NSiMe3 and TaCl5 led to the isolation of TaCl4[N(SiMe3)PCl2N(SiMe3)] (3). An attempt to cleave the NPN ligand from the Ta center in 2 via protonolysis with HCl led to an unusual phosphoraniminato ligand coupling reaction to yield the novel phosphazenium salt [N(PCl2NH2)2][TaCl6] (4). All new compounds (1.THF and complexes 1-4) were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Selective ring-opening reactions of

The reactivity of strained [1]ferrocenophanes, [Fe(eta-C5H4)2ERx] (ERx = SiMe2, 1a: SiMePh, 1b; SnR2, 1c), towards boron halides has been investigated and has been shown to provide a facile pathway to ferrocene derivatives functionalized with Lewis acidic boron centers. The boron halides RBX2 (R = Cl, Ph, fc; X = Cl, Br) (fc = Fe(eta-C5H4)2) lead to selective cleavage of the Si-Cp bonds in 1a and 1b to give, depending on the reaction stoichiometry, functionalized mono- or diferrocenylboranes RnB [(eta-C5H4)Fe(eta-C5H4SiMe2Cl)](3-n) (2a: R = Cl, n = 2; 2b: R = Cl, n = 1; 2c: R = Ph, n = 1) and RnB[(eta-C5H4)Fe(eta-C5H4SiMePhCl)](3-n) (2d: R = Cl, n = 2) in high yields. Compounds 2a-d were characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for 2b). Most likely due to steric constraints, a triferrocenylborane was not obtained even from the reaction of BCl3 with an excess of 1a, whereas facile formation of the diferrocenylphenylborane 2c from PhBCl2 and two equivalents of 1a was observed. Selective hydrolysis of the B-Cl bonds of chlorodiferrocenylborane 2b in the presence of trace amounts of water led to the silylated tetranuclear ferrocene complex [(ClMe2Sifc)2B-O-B(fcSiMe2Cl)2] (3) without cleavage of the Si-Cl bonds. The structure of 3 was confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study. Studies of the reactivity of the higher Group 14 homologue of 1a and 1b, the tin-bridged [1]ferrocenophane 1c, revealed that facile addition of B-Cl bonds occurs across the Sn-Cp bonds to yield the 1-stannyl-1'-borylferrocenes [(ClMes2Sn)fc(BClR)] (4a: R = Cl; 4b: R = Ph; Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2). The new synthetic methodology can be extended to bifunctional Lewis acids such as the bis(boryl)ferrocene 1,1'-fc(BBr2)2, which affords the linear boron-bridged ferrocene trimer 1,1'-[fc[B(Br)fcSiMe2Br]2] 5 in 54% isolated yield. In order to incorporate the functionalized ferrocenylboranes into polymer structures, compound 2c was reduced with Li[BEt3H] to give the silicon-hydride functionalized species [PhB[(eta-C5H4)Fe(eta-C5H4SiMe2H)]2] (6), which was then used as a capping reagent in the transition metal catalyzed polymerization of 1a. This process leads to the incorporation of the ferrocenylborane unit into the main chain of a poly(ferrocenylsilane) to afford [PhB-[(fcSiMe2)(n-1)fcSiMe2H]2] (7).

Phosphorescent oxygen sensors utilizing sulfur-nitrogen-phosphorous polymer matrixes: synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of poly(thionylphosphazene)-b-poly(tetrahydrofuran) block copolymers

We examine the use of thionylphosphazene-based block copolymers as matrixes for oxygen sensor applications. Poly(aminothionylphosphazene)-b-poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PATPy-PTHFx) block copolymers were prepared via reaction of ring-opened poly(chlorothionylphosphazene) with THF and subsequently with excess n-butylamine (to form PBATPy-PTHFx) or methylamine (to form PMATPy-PTHFx). The block copolymers were characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. Films of PBATPy-PTHFx block copolymers containing platinum octaethylporphyrin or [Ru(dpp)3]Cl2 (dpp = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) as the oxygen-sensitive chromophore were prepared, and time-scan experiments were carried out to determine the diffusion coefficients, Do2, and solubilities, So2, of oxygen therein. Despite microphase separation, the data fit well to a simple Fick's law description of oxygen diffusion and gave Do2 values smaller than that for the n-butylamino-substituted PBATP635. For films freshly annealed above the melting point of PTHFx, the Do2 values were 35-50% (dye-dependent) larger than after aging 3 days at room temperature. Films with [Ru(dpp)3]Cl2 as the dye were evaluated as media for phosphorescent pressure-sensing. The dye-containing polymer films exhibit linear Stern-Volmer-like plots, even at high dye concentrations, as well as good photostability, and significantly higher sensitivity to oxygen quenching than simple mixtures of the analogous homopolymers.

Shaped ceramics with tunable magnetic properties from metal-containing polymers

A shaped, magnetic ceramic was obtained from a metal-containing polymer network, which was synthesized by thermal polymerization of a metal-containing organosilicon monomer. Pyrolysis of a cylinder, shape, or film of the metal-containing polymer precursor produced a low-density magnetic ceramic replica in high yield. The magnetic properties of the shaped ceramic could be tuned between a superparamagnetic and ferromagnetic state by controlling the pyrolysis conditions, with the particular state dependent on the size of iron nanoclusters homogeneously dispersed throughout the carbosilane-graphitic-silicon nitride matrix. These results indicate that cross-linked metal-containing polymers may be useful precursors to ceramic monoliths with tailorable magnetic properties.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Formation of Phosphorus-Boron Bonds: Synthesis of the First High Molecular Weight Poly(phosphinoborane).

An inorganic analogue of polystyrene, poly(phenylphosphinoborane) represents the first high molecular weight, well-characterized polymer with a backbone of alternating phosphorus and boron atoms. It is accessible by metal-catalyzed "dehydrocoupling" of a primary phosphane-borane adduct (see scheme).

Supramolecular Organometallic Polymer Chemistry: Self-Assembly of a Novel Poly(ferrocene)-b-polysiloxane-b-poly(ferrocene) Triblock Copolymer in Solution.

Micelles with unprecedented flowerlike arrangements of the poly(ferrocene) cores (shown in the TEM image) are among the supramolecular architectures generated in the self-assembly of a novel organometallic triblock copolymer from silicon-bridged [1]ferrocenophane monomers and [Me(2)SiO](3) in hexane, a solvent selective for the central polysiloxane block.

Study of the Molecular Geometry, Electronic Structure, and Thermal Stability of Phosphazene and Heterophosphazene Rings with ab Initio Molecular Orbital Calculations.

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations at the MP2/6-31G level of theory have been used to study the molecular geometry, electronic structure, and the thermal stability of six-membered phosphazene and heterophosphazene rings. The studies included the phosphazene ring [NPCl(2)](3), the carbophosphazene ring [(NCCl)(NPCl(2))(2)], and three thionylphosphazene rings [(NSOX)(NPCl(2))(2)] (X = F, Cl) and [(NSOF)(NPF(2))(2)] and their cations [(NPCl)(NPCl(2))(2)](+), [(NC)(NPCl(2))(2)](+), and [(NSO)(NPY(2))(2)](+) (Y = F, Cl). The ring skeleton of the phosphazene ring, the carbophosphazene ring and of all cation rings adopt a planar conformation; the ring skeletons of the thionylphosphazene rings adopt an envelope conformation. The valence electron charge density of the molecules indicates strong charge separations along their skeleton and is in agreement with Dewar's island delocalization model. The electrostatic potential in the vicinity of the neutral heterophosphazene rings which results from their electronic structure, and the position of the HOMO indicate that a heterolytic cleavage of a ligand and the opening of the ring involving a reaction with a electrophilic cation will most likely occur at the nitrogen atoms close to the heteroatom. The thermal stability of the phosphazene ring with respect to a cleavage of chlorine from phosphorus and the thermal stability of the heterophosphazene rings with respect to the cleavage of the halogen ligand bonded to the heteroatom were studied with several model reactions. Most of the reactions are exothermic. A comparison of isodesmic reactions shows that the thionylphosphazenes molecules are the least thermally stable rings with respect to ionization and that the carbophosphazene molecules are the most thermally stable rings with respect to ionization. The energy gains during the ionization reaction of the rings correlate well with the conformational changes which occur during the reactions.