Ling-Bao Xing

Organogelators based on TTF supramolecular assemblies: synthesis, characterization, and conductive property.

A closely related family of organogelators 1-2 appended one or two electroactive tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) residues, has been designed and readily synthesized by Sonogashira reactions. These compounds can gelate a variety of organic solvents in view of multiple intermolecular interactions, and compounds 2 with two TTF subunits exhibit higher gelation ability than their corresponding 1. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigation of the xerogels from toluene gave a visual image showing that fibrillar aggregates are entangled in three-dimensional network structures. The columnar TTF cores stacking in the fiber, evidenced by the mixed-valence states absorption at around 2000 nm in ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared (UV-vis-NIR) spectra, provide an efficient pathway for the electron conduction. Upon oxidized by iodine, these xerogels exhibit semiconductive behaviors with moderate levels of conductivity. Additionally, the electrical conductivity of doped-xerogels 2 is 1 order of magnitude higher than that of 1 under identical conditions.

Reversible Sol-to-Gel Transformation of Uracil Gelators: Specific Colorimetric and Fluorimetric Sensor for Fluoride Ions

A new type of anthracene organogelator based on uracil was obtained using organic aromatic solvents, cyclohexane, DMSO, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. It was further characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Specifically, the resulting organogels were demonstrated to be promising colorimetric and fluorescent sensors toward fluoride ions with high sensitivity and selectivity, accompanying the disruption of the gelators. Spectroscopic study and (1)H NMR titration experiment revealed that the deprotonation of the hydrogen atom on the N position of uracil moiety by fluoride ions is responsible for the recognition events, evidenced by immediate transformation from the sol phase to the gel state upon adding a small amount of a proton solvent, methanol. The process is reversible, with zero loss in sensing activity and sol-to-gel transformation ability even after five runs.

Multistimuli Responsive Micelles Formed by a Tetrathiafulvalene-Functionalized Amphiphile

An electroactive tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-functionalized amphiphile 1 was designed and synthesized to investigate its self-assembling behavior in water. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), (1)H NMR, fluorescence spectrum, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) studies revealed that amphiphile 1 can form micelle-like aggregates via direct dissolution into water, and the micellar architectures could be disrupted either by addition of chemical oxidant Fe(ClO(4))(3) or by complexation with electron-deficient cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) tetracation cyclophane (CBPQT(4+)) to release encapsulated hydrophobic dye Nile Red from the interior of micelles.

A beryllium-selective microcantilever sensor modified with benzo-9-crown-3 functionalized polymer brushes

Benzo-9-crown-3 functionalized polymer brushes were prepared via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization on the gold surface of microcantilevers for the selective detection of Be2+. Other metal ions, such as Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+, have minimal effect on the deflection response of the microcantilevers. The microcantilever sensor exhibits high sensitivity for beryllium ions with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 10−10 M. The mechanism of bending is discussed as well.

Conformation-Controlled Diplatinum(II)-Ferrocene Dyads to Achieve Long-Lived Charge-Separated States.

Square-planar polypyridyl platinum(II) complexes possess a rich range of structural and spectroscopic properties that are ideal for designing artificial photosynthetic centers. Taking advantage of the directionality in the charge-transfer excitation from the metal to the polypyridyl ligand, we describe here diplatinum(II)-ferrocene dyads, open-butterfly-like dyad 1 and closed-butterfly-like dyad 2, which were designed to understand the conformation and orientation effects to prolong the lifetime of charge-separated state. In contrast to the open-butterfly-like dyad 1, the closed-butterfly-like dyad 2 shows three-times long lifetime of charge separated state upon photoexcitation, demonstrating that the orientation in the rigid structure of dyad 2 is a very important issue to achieve long-lived charge separated state.

Self-assembled vesicles from amphiphilic platinum(II) terpyridyl complex in water

A new cationic amphiphile (1) functionalised with platinum(II) terpyridyl unit was designed and synthesised to realize self-assembly in water. Using UV–vis and emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and time-correlated single-photon counting technique, we have demonstrated that amphiphile 1 can self-assemble into stable vesicular aggregates upon direct dissolution in water, which is rarely observed in the literature.