A series of photoactive triads have been synthesized and investigated in order to elucidate photoinduced electron transfer and hole migration mechanism across nanosized, rigid helical foldamers. The triads are comprised of a central helical oligoamide foldamer bridge with 9, 14, 18, 19, or 34 8-amino-2-quinolinecarboxylic acid repeat units, and of two chromophores, an N-terminal oligo(para-phenylenevinylene) electron donor and a C-terminal perylene bis-imide electron acceptor. Time-resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopic studies showed that, following photoexcitation of the electron acceptor, fast electron transfer occurs initially from the oligoquinoline bridge to the acceptor chromophore on the picosecond time scale. The oligo(para-phenylenevinylene) electron donor is oxidized after a time delay during which the hole migrates across the foldamer from the acceptor to the donor. The charge separated state that is finally generated was found to be remarkably long-lived (>80 μs). While the initial charge injection rate is largely invariant for all foldamer lengths (ca. 60 ps), the subsequent hole transfer to the donor varies from 1 × 10 s for the longest sequence to 17 × 10 s for the shortest. In all cases, charge transfer is very fast considering the foldamer length. Detailed analysis of the process in different media and at varying temperatures is consistent with a hopping mechanism of hole transport through the foldamer helix, with individual hops occurring on the subpicosecond time scale (k = 2.5 × 10 s in CHCl). This work demonstrates the possibility of fast long-range hole transfer over 300 Å (through bonds) across a synthetic modular bridge, an achievement that had been previously observed principally with DNA structures.
Heterogeneous palladium nanoparticle catalysts that are supported on amphiphilic carbon spheres (Pd@CSP) have been utilized for water-mediated Heck coupling reactions of aryl halides with different alkenes under phosphine free as well as aerobic conditions. Furthermore, a variety of Heck coupling reactions using different bases and solvents, including organic polar and non-polar solvents, have been explored. Aryl bromides are also well activated in Heck coupling reactions in organic polar solvent and as well as in water. In addition, Ullmann coupling reactions of aryl iodides have been catalyzed in water with the aid of phase transfer catalysts (PTC) in moderate yields. A plausible mechanism for the catalytic activity of Pd@CSP in the case of the Ullmann reaction is also established. It has been demonstrated that the hydrophobic effects of the catalyst surface play an important role in catalyst activity in water. In addition, the E-factor analysis verified that our present protocol is significantly comparable with other catalytic systems and explains the improved greenness. Moreover, the catalyst described in this process is not only greener, but also retains its significant activity for up to four catalytic cycles for the Heck coupling reactions. The surface polarity of the amphiphilic carbon spheres results in higher activity under these conditions. † Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See
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