Dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) reduce cytochrome c (Cyt-c) when simply mixed in Tris buffer. Atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy show that SWCNTs are individually dispersed and are highly n-doped in Tris buffer, which accounts for the reducing ability. Because the size of Cyt-c is significantly larger than the diameter of SWCNT, each SWCNT can be modeled as a 1D array of reacting segments. The kinetic study reveals that the early stage follows the Langmuir adsorption model, implying that each reacting segment is equivalent and reacts independently. Several hours later, a number of adsorbed Cyt-c reaches significant to change the kinetics to logarithmic. The velocity starts to decrease exponentially, indicating a high sensitivity of the 1D system to adsorption and suggesting autocatalytic adsorption. The reaction ceases after 40 h due to saturated adsorption, corresponding to a poisoning effect in catalysis.

9-(3-Acetoxy-1-methylpropyl)-8,13-difluoro-1,4-dimethyltriptycene and 9-(1-methyl-2-propenyl)-8,13-difluoro-1,4-dimethyl- and 1,2,3,4-tetrachloro-triptycenes were prepared. Their barriers to internal rotation around the C(9)–C(alkyl) bonds were measured by the classical kinetics. The barrier was affected a little by the substituent, being ca. 25–26 kcal mol-1. Rotamer distributions in these compounds and possible causes for these indifferent barriers to rotation are discussed.