Yes / The syntheses of three series of complexes designed with self-complementary motifs for formation of halogen bonds between an iodotetrafluorophenyl ligand and a halide ligand at square-planar nickel are reported, allowing structural comparisons of halogen bonding between all four halides C6F4I⋯X–Ni (X = F, Cl, Br, I). In the series trans-[NiX(2,3,5,6-C6F4I)(PEt3)2] 1pX and trans-[NiX(2,3,4,5-C6F4I)(PEt3)2] (X = F, Cl, Br, I) 1oX, the iodine substituent on the benzene ring was positioned para and ortho to the metal, respectively. The phosphine substituents were varied in the series, trans-[NiX(2,3,5,6-C6F4I)(PEt2Ph)2] (X = F, I) 2pX. Crystal structures were obtained for the complete series 1pX, and for 1oF, 1oCl, 1oI and 2pI. All these complexes exhibited halogen bonds in the solid state, of which 1pF exhibited unique characteristics with a linear chain, the shortest halogen bond d(C6F4I⋯F–Ni) = 2.655(5) Å and the greatest reduction in halogen bond distance (I⋯F) compared to the sum of the Bondi van der Waals radii, 23%. The remaining complexes form zig-zag chains of halogen bonds with distances also reduced with respect to the sum of the van der Waals radii. The magnitude of the reductions follow the pattern F > Cl ∼ Br > I, 1pX > 1oX, consistent with the halogen bond strength following the same order. The variation in the I⋯X–Ni angles is consistent with the anisotropic charge distribution of the halide ligand. The temperature dependence of the X-ray structure of 1pF revealed a reduction in halogen bond distance of 0.055(7) Å on cooling from 240 to 111 K. Comparison of three polymorphs of 1oI shows that the halogen bond geometry may be altered significantly by the crystalline environment. The effect of the halogen bond on the 19F NMR chemical shift in the solid state is demonstrated by comparison of the magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of 1pF and 1oF with that of a complex incapable of halogen bond formation, trans-[NiF(C6F5)(PEt3)2] 3F. Halogen bonding causes deshielding of δiso in the component of the tensor perpendicular to the nickel coordination plane. The results demonstrate the potential of fluoride ligands for formation of halogen bonds in supramolecular structures. / We acknowledge an Overseas Research Scholarship from the University of York to VT. We also acknowledge support from EPSRC (grants EP/J012955/1 and EP/ J012998/1).

Since their discovery over two decades ago, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have become one of the most investigated nanomaterials in materials science. Their exotic optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical properties afford them amazing potential in a variety of different fields. Current SWNT synthetic processes produce heterogeneous mixtures of both semiconducting and metallic SWNTs. The mixed electronic nature of these materials, combined with their limited solubility, has significantly hampered the realization of many applications and necessitates the development of post-synthetic purification techniques. Conjugated polymers offer a significant advantage over other proposed strategies in that not only do they provide a cheaper and scalable route towards the isolation of SWNTs, but they also allow for the preparation of materials with novel properties. Polyfluorenes have been extensively investigated in the literature due to their preference towards dispersing semiconducting SWNTs; however, these dispersions are often quite dilute, and the polyfluorene structure is incompatible with certain device applications for SWNTs. Poly(2,7-carbazole)s offer a viable alternative to polyfluorenes for the purification of bulk SWNT material. At the time of this thesis, there have been relatively few reports investigating the interactions of poly(2,7-carbazole)s with SWNTs, and the majority of examples in the literature have suffered from poor stability and complex dispersal procedures due to the inherent insolubility of the 2,7-carbazole structure. The work presented in this thesis involved the preparation and characterization of a novel poly(2,7-carbazole) structure that displayed excellent solubility in a variety of organic solvents, allowing for the preparation of extremely stable and relatively concentrated dispersions of SWNTs. Thorough characterization of the supramolecular complexes through absorbance, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopies determined that this polymer preferentially disperses semiconducting SWNTs. A second objective of this work was to investigate how modification of various parameters (including polymer structure, molecular weight and the type of SWNTs) can influence the quality of the resultant composite dispersions. One important study performed was to investigate how the electronic nature of the polymer backbone can affect the separation of SWNTs by electronic type. We demonstrate for the first time that by incorporating an electron-poor functionality into a polyfluorene it is possible to change from dispersing only semiconducting SWNTs to solubilizing both electronic types. This investigation highlights the potential importance of incorporating electron-poor functionalities in the development of polymeric systems that can selectively discriminate metallic SWNTs, which remains a challenging endeavor at the time of this thesis publication. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The present work describes the synthesis and structural elucidation of ten new tellurium halide starting from diaryl ditellurides (aryl group = 2-piridine or N,N-dimethylbenzilamine). The compounds and starting material had their structures elucidated with monocrystal X ray diffraction and as an additional analysis another technique was used like infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, 1H and 125Te Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and elemental analysis. Different methodologies were used to get tellurium II and tellurium IV compounds due the tellurium atom versatility which it behaved like neutral molecules and zwitterionic molecules (molecules that have an internal positive and negative charge). The compounds showed Te∙∙∙X secondary bonds or Te∙∙∙X and X∙∙∙X interactions (X = halogen atom) due to lone electron pair around the tellurium atom localization and to the tellurium-halogen affinity. In the solid state, these bonds make the compounds show a supramolecular arrangements which can be a pseudo-dimeric or pseudo-polymeric and it depends of the halogen atom attached to the tellurium atom. / O presente trabalho apresenta a síntese e caracterização estrutural de dez haletos de telúrio inéditos derivados de diteluretos de diarila (onde o grupamento arila pode ser a 2-piridina ou a N,N-dimetilbenzilamina). Os compostos tiveram sua estrutura elucidada por difração de raios X em monocristal assim como por espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho, espectroscopia Raman, espectroscopia por ressonância magnética nuclear de 1H, 125Te e análise elementar. Devido à versatilidade do átomo de telúrio em alterar seu número de coordenação e oxidação, utilizou-se diferentes metodologias para obter compostos com o átomo de telúrio possuindo número de oxidação II e IV, os quais comportaram-se como moléculas neutras ou moléculas zwitteriônicas (moléculas que possuem internamente uma carga positiva e uma carga negativa). Em virtude da localização dos pares de elétrons não ligantes ao redor do átomo de telúrio e da afinidade do átomo com os elementos do grupo 17 da tabela periódica, os compostos apresentaram ligações secundárias Te∙∙∙X ou interações Te∙∙∙X e X∙∙∙X (onde X é um átomo de halogênio) e estas, fazem com que os compostos, no estado sólido, apresentem um arranjo estrutural supramolecular cujo comportamento pode ser de um pseudo-dímero ou pseudo-polímero dependendo do átomo de halogênio ligado ao átomo de telúrio.

Nous avons étudié les comportements dynamiques d'auto-assemblage des tensioactifs cationiques non-chiral en présence du contre-anion chiral.Lorsque le nucléotide anionique chiral est ajouté à des vésicules cationiques, la transition morphologique se produit et transforme in situ des vésicules sphériques en hélices micrométriques.D'autres types de Gemini tensioactifs cationiques forment des rubans nanométriques hélicoïdaux, en présence de tartrate contre-anions. La forme et l'hélicité de ces rubans peuvent être contrôlés in situ par la variation de l'excès énantiomérique.En outre, les nanohélices organiques peuvent être transcrite en nanohélices 3D de silice via une polycondensation sol-gel.Ces nanohélices de silice fonctionnalisées avec des groupes aminés peuvent interagir fortement avec des nanoparticules d'or (GNPs; 1 ~ 20 nm). Le réseau 3D de -nanohélices GNPs/silice sont potentiellement utilisables pour des applications de capteurs basée sur les SERS comme ceux chimiques et biologiques ultra-sensibles en phase liquide. / We have studied the dynamic self-assembly behaviors of non-chiral cationic surfactants in thepresence of chiral counter-anion.When the chiral anionic nucleotides are added to cationic vesicles, morphology transitionoccurs and spherical vesicles transform in situ to micrometric helices.Other types of cationic surfactant, gemini surfactants form nanometric helical ribbons in thepresence of tartrate counter-anion. The shape and helicity of these self-assembled structurescan be controlled in situ by the variation of enantiomeric excess.In both cases, they form gels in water by creating extended networks of nanometric tomicrometric chiral fibers.Additionally, the organic nanohelices can be transcribed to 3D silica nanostructures via solgelpolycondensation. These silica nanohelices functionalized with amino group can interactstrongly with gold nanoparticles (1 ~ 20 nm). The 3D network of GNPs/silica-nanohelices canpotentially be used for SERS-based sensing applications such as ultra-sensitive chemical andbiological sensors in liquid phase.

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