Patents by Inventor Tobin J. Marks

Tobin J. Marks has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20030080324
    Abstract: The new fluorocarbon-functionalized and/or heterocycle-modified polythiophenes, in particular, &agr;,&ohgr;-diperfluorohexylsexithiophene DFH-6T can be straightforwardly prepared in high yield and purity. Introduction of such modifications to a thiophene core affords enhanced thermal stability and volatility, and increased electron affinity versus the unmodified compositions of the prior art. Evaporated films behave as n-type semiconductors, and can be used to fabricate thin film transistors with FET mobilities 0.01 cm2/Vs—some of the highest reported to date for n-type organic semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Antonio Facchetti
  • Patent number: 6549685
    Abstract: A new electro-optic (EO) phase modulator constructed from a combination of a low-loss passive polymer waveguide and a self-assembled chromophore superlattice (SAS) with an intrinsically polar microstructure. In contrast to typical polymer-based modulators, the present invention utilizes a siloxane SA methodology that enables the acentric alignment of constituent chromophores during film growth without the need for post-deposition electric field poling. The guiding layer is constructed of the SAS and the glassy polymer Cyclotene™. The use of SiO2, Cytop™ and Cyclotene™ glassy polymers, results in a straightforward device fabrication process that is compatible with the thermally and photochemically robust SAS. Thus, nanoscale control of the film architecture results in greatly simplified macroscopic device fabrication. The present invention provides a SAS-based electro-optic modulator demonstrating excellent electro-optic response properties and a &pgr; phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Seng-Tiong Ho, Milko E. van der Boom, Yi-Guang Zhao, Wei-Kang Lu
  • Patent number: 6544922
    Abstract: A catalyst system useful to polymerize and co-polymerize polar and non-polar olefin monomers is formed by in situ reduction with a reducing agent of a catalyst precursor comprising {Cp*MRR′n}+{A}− wherein Cp* is a cyclopentadienyl or substituted cyclopentadienyl moiety; M is an early transition metal; R is a C1-C20 hydrocarbyl; R′ are independently selected from hydride, C1-C20 hydrocarbyl, SiR″3, NR″2, OR″, SR″, GeR″3, and SnR″3 containing groups (R″=C1-C10 hydrocarbyl); n is an integer selected to balance the oxidation state of M; and A is a suitable non-coordinating anionic cocatalyst or precursor. This catalyst system may form stereoregular olefin polymers including syndiotactic polymers of styrene and methylmethacrylate and isotactic copolymers of polar and nonpolar olefin monomers such as methylmethacrylate and styrene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Lubin Luo, Sung Cheol Yoon
  • Publication number: 20020131663
    Abstract: A new electro-optic (EO) phase modulator constructed from a combination of a low-loss passive polymer waveguide and a self-assembled chromophore superlattice (SAS) with an intrinsically polar microstructure. In contrast to typical polymer-based modulators, the present invention utilizes a siloxane SA methodology that enables the acentric alignment of constituent chromophores during film growth without the need for post-deposition electric field poling. The guiding layer is constructed of the SAS and the glassy polymer Cyclotene™. The use of SiO2, Cytop and Cyclotene™ glassy polymers, results in a straightforward device fabrication process that is compatible with the thermally and photochemically robust SAS. Thus, nanoscale control of the film architecture results in greatly simplified macroscopic device fabrication. The present invention provides a SAS-based electro-optic modulator demonstrating excellent electro-optic response properties and a &pgr; phase shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Seng-Tiong Ho, Milko E. van der Boom, Yi-Guang Zhao, Wei-Kang Lu
  • Patent number: 6403733
    Abstract: Organo-Lewis acids of the formula BR′R″2 wherein B is boron, R′ is fluorinated biphenyl, and R″ is a fluorinated phenyl, fluorinated biphenyl, or fluorinated polycyclic fused ring group, and cationic metallocene complexes formed therewith. Such complexes are useful as polymerization catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6403732
    Abstract: The organo-Lewis acids are novel triarylboranes which are are highly fluorinated. Triarylboranes of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These organoboranes have a Lewis acid strength essentially equal to or greater than that of the corresponding organoborane in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine, or have greater solubility in organic solvents. Another type of new organoboranes have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups. When used as a cocatalyst in the formation of novel catalytic complexes with d- or f-block metal compounds having at least one leaving group such as a methyl group, these triorganoboranes, because of their ligand abstracting properties, produce corresponding anions which are capable of only weakly, if at all, coordinating to the metal center, and thus do not interfere in various polymerization processes such as are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6399221
    Abstract: New organic light-emitting diodes and related electroluminescent devices and methods for fabrication, using siloxane self-assembly techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Joshua E. Malinsky, Bernard Kippelen, Nasser Peyghambarian, Ghassan E. Jabbour
  • Patent number: 6388114
    Abstract: The (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium are novel weakly coordinating anions which are highly fluorinated. (Polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium have greater solubility in organic solvents, or have a coordinative ability essentially equal to or less than that of the corresponding (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, or indium in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine. Another type of new (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, and indium have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Publication number: 20020053666
    Abstract: The new fluorocarbon-functionalized polythiophenes, in particular, &agr;,&ohgr;-diperfluorohexylsexithiophene DFH-6T (1) can be straightforwardly prepared in high yield and purified by gradient sublimation. Introduction of perfluorocarbon chains on the thiophene core affords enhanced thermal stability and volatility, and increased electron affinity versus the fluorine-free analog 2. Evaporated films of 1, for example, behave as n-type semiconductors, and can be used to fabricate thin film transistors with FET mobilities on the order of ˜0.01 cm2/Vs—some of the highest reported to date for n-type organic semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Antonio Facchetti, Henning Sirringhaus, Richard H. Friend
  • Publication number: 20020010080
    Abstract: Organo-Lewis acids of the formula BR′R″2 wherein B is boron, R′ is fluorinated biphenyl, and R″ is a fluorinated phenyl, fluorinated biphenyl, or fluorinated polycyclic fused ring group, and cationic metallocene complexes formed therewith. Such complexes are useful as polymerization catalysts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6316679
    Abstract: A process for treating a composition containing a substantial proportion of trimethyflolpropane bis-monolinear formal (TMP-BMLF) or trimethylolethane bis-monolinear formal (TME-BMLF), e.g., a heavy ends residue obtained from the purification of a crude trimethylolpropane (TMP) or trimethylolethane (TME) product, wherein the composition is contacted at an elevated temperature with a strong acid catalyst, e.g., methanesulfonic acid, to produce a composition containing significantly increased amounts of TMP and trimethylolpropane monocyclic formal (TMP-MCF) or TME and trimethylolethane monocyclic formal (TME-MCF) respectively. Also disclosed is a process for reacting TMP-MCF or TME-MCF, either in substantially pure form or as present in the light ends overhead stream obtained in a finishing treatment of crude TMP or TME, with a monohydric or dihydric alcohol, e.g., ethylene glycol, in the presence of a strong acid catalyst to obtain additional TMP or TME and an acetal by-product, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Celanese International Corporation
    Inventors: Carolyn Supplee, Jerry A. Broussard, Tobin J. Marks, William E. Slinkard, Edwards G. Zey
  • Publication number: 20010034424
    Abstract: The organo-Lewis acids are novel triarylboranes which are are highly fluorinated. Triarylboranes of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These organoboranes have a Lewis acid strength essentially equal to or greater than that of the corresponding organoborane in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine, or have greater solubility in organic solvents. Another type of new organoboranes have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups. When used as a cocatalyst in the formation of novel catalytic complexes with d- or f-block metal compounds having at least one leaving group such as a methyl group, these triorganoboranes, because of their ligand abstracting properties, produce corresponding anions which are capable of only weakly, if at all, coordinating to the metal center, and thus do not interfere in various polymerization processes such as are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6291695
    Abstract: The organo-Lewis acids are novel triarylboranes which are highly fluorinated. Triarylboranes of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These organoboranes have a Lewis acid strength essentially equal to or greater than that of the corresponding organoborane in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine, or have greater solubility in organic solvents. Another type of new organoboranes have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups. When used as a cocatalyst in the formation of novel catalytic complexes with d- or f-block metal compounds having at least one leaving group such as a methyl group, these triorganoboranes, because of their ligand abstracting properties, produce corresponding anions which are capable of only weakly, if at all, coordinating to the metal center, and thus do not interfere in various polymerization processes such as are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6274752
    Abstract: Organo-Lewis acids of the formula BR′R″2 wherein B is boron, R′ is fluorinated biphenyl, and R″ is a fluorinated phenyl, fluorinated biphenyl, or fluorinated polycyclic fused ring group, and cationic metallocene complexes formed therewith. Such complexes are useful as polymerization catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6268445
    Abstract: A catalyst activator particularly adapted for use in the activation of metal complexes of metals of Group 3-10 for polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomers, especially olefins, comprising two Group 13 metal or metalloid atoms and a ligand structure including at least one bridging group connecting ligands on the two Group 13 metal or metalloid atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignees: The Dow Chemical Company, Northwestern University
    Inventors: Mark H. McAdon, Peter N. Nickias, Tobin J. Marks, David J. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6262200
    Abstract: The (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium are novel weakly coordinating anions which are are highly fluorinated. (Polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium have greater solubility in organic solvents, or have a coordinative ability essentially equal to or less than that of the corresponding (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, or indium in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine. Another type of new (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, and indium have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6235918
    Abstract: Novel heterogeneous catalysts for the which hydrogenation of olefins and arenes with high conversion rates under ambient conditions and the polymerization of olefins have been developed. The catalysts are synthesized from Ziegler-type precatalysts by supporting them on sulfate-modified zirconia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Hongsang Ahn
  • Patent number: 6229034
    Abstract: A trityl perfluorophenyl alumninate such as tris(2,2′,2″-nonafluorobiphenyl)-fluoroaluminate (PBA⊖) and its role as a cocatalyst in metallocene-mediated olefin polymerization is disclosed. Gallium and indium analogs are also disclosed, as are analogs with different anyl groups or different numbers of flourine atoms thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6218332
    Abstract: The (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium are novel weakly coordinating anions which are highly fluorinated. (Polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of one such type contain at least one ring substituent other than fluorine. These (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanions of aluminum, gallium, and indium have greater solubility in organic solvents, or have a coordinative ability essentially equal to or less than that of the corresponding (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, or indium in which the substituent is replaced by fluorine. Another type of new (polyfluoroaryl)fluoroanion of aluminum, gallium, and indium have 1-3 perfluorinated fused ring groups and 2-0 perfluorophenyl groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, You-Xian Chen
  • Patent number: 6159890
    Abstract: A ruthenium-containing metathesis catalyst system which contains a ruthenium compound (A), a phosphorus, arsenic, or antimony compound (B), and a compound (C) containing at least one carbon-to-carbon triple bond. The mole ratio of compounds A:B:C is typically in the range of about 1.0:0.01-100:0.01-500. The ruthenium compound (A) is a Ru(II), Ru(III), or Ru(IV) compound containing an anionic ligand (X) and optionally an arene ligand and optionally a phosphorus, arsenic, or antimony compound ligand. The compound (B) is optional if the ruthenium compound (A) contains a phosphorus-, arsenic-, or antimony-containing ligand. Hydrogen gas is used as an activator. A process for metathesis of olefins involves reacting at least one olefin with the catalyst system described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: BP Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Philip O. Nubel, Craig Lane Hunt, David S. Choi, Tobin J. Marks