Photo‐promoted Skeletal Rearrangement of Phosphine–Borane Frustrated Lewis Pairs Involving Cleavage of Unstrained C−C σ‐Bonds

An unprecedented photo‐promoted skeletal rearrangement reaction of phosphine–borane frustrated Lewis pairs, o‐(borylaryl)phosphines, involving cleavage of an unstrained sp²C–sp³C σ‐bond is reported. The reaction realizes an efficient synthesis of cyclic phosphonium borate compounds. The reaction mechanism via a boranorcaradiene intermediate is proposed based on theoretical calculations. This work sheds light on the new photoreactivity of phosphine–borane FLPs.     

Kinetic study of the gas‐phase reaction of the nitrate radical with methyl‐substituted thiophenes

The gas‐phase reactions of the NO₃ radical with 2‐methylthiophene, 3‐methylthiophene, and 2,5‐dimethylthiophene have been studied, using relative and absolute methods at 298 K. Determination of relative rate was performed using Teflon collapsible bag as the reaction chamber and gas chromatography as the analytical tool. For the absolute method, experiments were carried out using fast‐flow‐discharge technique with detection of NO₃ by laser‐induced fluorescence. The temperature dependence was studied by the absolute technique for the reactions of NO₃ with 2‐methylthiophene and 3‐methylthiophene in the range 263–335 K. The proposed Arrhenius expressions for the reaction of the nitrate radical with 2‐methylthiophene and 3‐methylthiophene are k = (4 ± 2) × 10^?16 exp[?(2200 ± 100)/T]] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 and k = (3 ± 2) × 10^?15 exp[?(1700 ± 200)/T]] cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 286–293, 2003     

(E)‐2‐[2‐(1‐Naphthyl)­vinyl]‐3‐tosyl‐2,3‐di­hydro‐1,3‐benzo­thia­zole

The title compound, C₂₆H₂₁NO₂S₂, which consists of a benzo­thia­zole skeleton with α‐naphthyl­vinyl and tosyl groups at positions 2 and 3, respectively, was prepared by palladium–copper‐catalyzed heteroannulation. The E configuration of the mol­ecule about the vinyl C=C bond is established by the benzothiazole–naphthyl C—C—C—C torsion angle of 177.5 (4)°. The five‐membered heterocyclic ring adopts an envelope conformation with the Csp³ atom 0.380 (6) Å from the C₂NS plane. The two S—C [1.751 (4) and 1.838 (4) Å] and two N—C [1.426 (5) and 1.482 (5) Å] bond lengths in the thia­zole ring differ significantly.     

Synthesis,structure, characterization and biological evaluation of 3‐substituted 1‐pyridin‐2‐ylimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine‐based copper(I)–phosphine complexes for anticancer drug screening

Copper(I) complexes of the types [Cu(N–N)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃ (LC41–LC44) and [Cu(N–N)(PPh₃)(NO₃)] (LC45) carrying 3‐substituted 1‐pyridine‐2‐ylimidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine (N–N) derivatives and triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) ligands have been prepared. The synthesized copper(I)–phosphine complexes were fully characterized by NMR, IR, ESI‐MS and UV–visible spectroscopy as well as by cyclic voltammetry. Selected structures such as LC42, LC43 and LC45 were additionally analysed by single‐crystal X‐ray method, which show that copper(I) centre adopts a highly distorted tetrahedral geometry. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data of the complexes throw light on the nature of metal–ligand bonding. They display dπ–π* metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transition and show quasireversible Cu^I/Cu^II metal oxidation. Among the copper(I)–phosphine complexes, LC41–LC44 exhibit moderate cytotoxicity (IC₅₀: 24 h, 67–74 μM; 48 h, 58–70 μM) against human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma A549 cells, whereas LC45 displays the best activity (IC₅₀: 24 h, 42 μM; 48 h, 34 μM) for A549 cancer cell line, which is better than that of the commercial antitumor drug cisplatin. All the complexes also displayed excellent selectivity by being relatively inactive against the human lung epithelial L132 normal cell line with selectivity index (SI) values ranging from 3.4 to 7.4. The complexes block cell cycle progression of A549 cells in G₀/G₁ phase. FACSVerse analyses are suggestive of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and apoptotic cell death induced by the LC41, LC43 and LC45. The induction of apoptosis in A549 cells was shown by Annexin V with propidium iodide (PI) and 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole (DAPI) staining methods and established the ability of LC41, LC43 and LC45 to accumulate in the cell nuclei.     

Photophysical Evidence of Charge‐Transfer‐Complex Pairs in Mixed‐Linker 5‐Amino/5‐Nitroisophthalate CAU‐10

The photochemistry of two isostructural metal–organic frameworks based on 5‐amino/5‐formamidoisophthalate (CAU‐10‐NH₂/NHCHO) or mixed‐linker 5‐amino/5‐formamido‐ and 5‐nitroisophthalate (CAU‐10‐NO₂/NH₂/NHCHO) has been studied using laser flash photolysis. 355 nm excitation of CAU‐10‐NH₂/NHCHO leads to a transient absorption spectrum characterized by a broad continuous absorption from 380 to 800 nm that was attributed to the presence of holes (440 nm) and electrons (600 nm) based on iPrOH and N₂O quenching, respectively. In contrast, no transients were observed for the isostructural mixed‐linker CAU‐10‐NO₂/NH₂/NHCHO, data that is compatible with the uniform distribution of linkers 5‐amino/5‐formamido/5‐nitroisophthalate as charge‐transfer complex pairs. The same effect of quenching of 5‐aminoisophthalate transients by 5‐nitroisophthalate was also observed in aqueous solution (pH 9) but with much lower strength. Using a simple Stern–Volmer formalism allowed the estimation of the interaction of 5‐aminoisophthalate with 5‐nitroisophthalate in MOF to be 5.2×10⁴ times stronger than in the aqueous phase.     

Tieftemperatur‐Oxidation in flüssigem Ammoniak: [Eu2(Ind)4(NH3)6], das erste Indolat eines Selten‐Erd‐Elementes

Low‐Temperature Oxidation in Liquid Ammonia: [Eu₂(Ind)₄(NH₃)₆], the First Indolate of a Rare Earth Element Intensively yellow to orange coloured, transparent crystals of [Eu₂(Ind)₄(NH₃)₆] were obtained by low‐temperature oxidation of europium metal with indole (C₈H₆NH) in liquid ammonia at —50 °C and subsequent melting of the reaction mixture in excess indole at 120 °C. [Eu₂(Ind)₄(NH₃)₆] has a dimeric structure and contains divalent Eu. The coordination sphere around the europium atoms consists of five N atoms of two cisoid indolate anions and three NH₃ molecules as well as an η⁵‐coordinating π‐system of another indolate ligand, bridging to the next Eu atom with an sp²‐orbital.     

Substituent effects on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐enes: a systematic computational study

The effects of several substituents (? BH₂, ? BF₂, ? AlH₂, ? CH₃, ? C₆H₅, ? CN, ? COCH₃, ? CF₃, ? SiH₃, ? NH₂, ? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? PH₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? SH, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) on the Bergman cyclization of (Z)‐1,5‐hexadiyne‐3‐ene (enediyne, 3 ) were investigated at the Becke–Lee–Yang–Parr (BLYP) density functional (DFT) level employing a 6‐31G* basis set. Some of the substituents (? NH₃⁺, ? NO₂, ? OH, ? OH₂⁺, ? F, ? Cl, ? Br) are able to lower the barrier (up to a minimum of 16.9 kcal mol^?1 for difluoro‐enediyne 7rr ) and the reaction enthalpy (the cyclization is predicted to be exergonic for ? OH₂⁺ and ? F) compared to the parent system giving rise to substituted 1,4‐dehydrobenzenes at physiological temperatures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1605–1614, 2001     

Visible‐Light‐Driven Palladium‐Catalyzed Radical Alkylation of C−H Bonds with Unactivated Alkyl Bromides

Reported herein is a novel visible‐light photoredox system with Pd(PPh₃)₄ as the sole catalyst for the realization of the first direct cross‐coupling of C(sp³)−H bonds in N‐aryl tetrahydroisoquinolines with unactivated alkyl bromides. Moreover, intra‐ and intermolecular alkylations of heteroarenes were also developed under mild reaction conditions. A variety of tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl bromides undergo reaction to generate C(sp³)−C(sp³) and C(sp²)−C(sp³) bonds in moderate to excellent yields. These redox‐neutral reactions feature broad substrate scope (>60 examples), good functional‐group tolerance, and facile generation of quaternary centers. Mechanistic studies indicate that the simple palladium complex acts as the visible‐light photocatalyst and radicals are involved in the process.     

Sensitive Phenol Detection Using Tyrosinase‐Based Phenol Oxidation Combined with Redox Cycling of Catechol

This paper reports sensitive phenol detection using (i) tyrosinase (Tyr)‐based oxidation of phenol to catechol, combined with (ii) electrochemical‐chemical‐chemical (ECC) redox cycling involving Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, catechol, and tris(2‐carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP). Phenol is converted into catechol by Tyr in the presence of dissolved O₂. Catechol then reacts with Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, generating o‐benzoquinone and Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺. o‐Benzoquinone is reduced back to catechol by TCEP, and Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺ is accumulated over the course of the incubation. When Ru(NH₃)₆²⁺ is electrochemically oxidized to Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺, ECC redox cycling occurs. For simple phenol detection, bare ITO electrodes are used without modifying the electrodes with Tyr. The detection limit for phenol in tap water using Tyr‐based oxidation combined with ECC redox cycling is ca. 10^?9 M, while that using only Tyr‐based oxidation is ca. 10^?7 M.     

(2S,3S)‐2,6‐Dimethylheptane‐1,3‐diol,the oxygenated side chain of 22(S)‐hydroxycholestrol,and its synthetic precursor (R)‐4‐benzyl‐3‐[(2R,3S)‐3‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethylheptanoyl]‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one

(2S,3S)‐2,6‐Dimethylheptane‐1,3‐diol, C₉H₂₀O₂, (I), was synthesized from the ketone (R)‐4‐benzyl‐3‐[(2R,3S)‐3‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethylheptanoyl]‐1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one, C₁₉H₂₇NO₄, (II), containing C atoms of known chirality. In both structures, strong hydrogen bonds between the hydroxy groups form tape motifs. The contribution from weaker C—H...O hydrogen bonds is much more evident in the structure of (II), which furthermore contains an example of a direct short Osp³...Csp² contact that represents a usually unrecognized type of intermolecular interaction.     

3‐Benzyl­oxy‐16‐[(N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl­amino)­methyl­idene]­estra‐1,3,5(10)‐trien‐17‐one

In the title compound, C₃₃H₃₅NO₂, the five‐membered ring adopts a half‐chair conformation. The N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl‐substituted keto–enamine moiety shows a comparatively long Csp²—N bond.     

Microtubing‐Reactor‐Assisted Aliphatic C−H Functionalization with HCl as a Hydrogen‐Atom‐Transfer Catalyst Precursor in Conjunction with an Organic Photoredox Catalyst

Chlorine radical, which is classically generated by the homolysis of Cl₂ under UV irradiation, can abstract a hydrogen atom from an unactivated C(sp³)?H bond. We herein demonstrate the use of HCl as an effective hydrogen‐atom‐transfer catalyst precursor activated by an organic acridinium photoredox catalyst under visible‐light irradiation for C?H alkylation and allylation. The key to success relied on the utilization of microtubing reactors to maintain the volatile HCl catalyst. This photomediated chlorine‐based C?H activation protocol is effective for a variety of unactivated C(sp³)?H bond patterns, even with primary C(sp³)?H bonds, as in ethane. The merit of this strategy is illustrated by rapid access to several pharmaceutical drugs from abundant unfunctionalized alkane feedstocks.     

Defluorinative C(sp3)−P Bond Construction for the Synthesis of Phosphorylation gem‐Difluoroalkenes under Catalyst‐ and Oxidant‐Free Conditions

Defluorinative C(sp³)?P bond formation of α‐trifluoromethyl alkenes with phosphine oxides or phosphonates have been achieved under catalyst‐ and oxidant‐free conditions, giving phosphorylation gem‐difluoroalkenes as products. α‐Trifluoromethyl alkenes bearing various of aryl substituents such as halogen, cyano, ester and heterocyclic groups are available in this transformation. The results of control experiments demonstrated that the mechanism of dehydrogenative/defluorinative cross‐coupling reactions was not a radical route, but might be an S_N2′ process involving phosphine oxide anion.     

4‐Methoxyanilinium tetrafluoroborate–dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 (1/1)

In the structure of the complex of dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 [systematic name: 2,5,8,15,18,21‐hexaoxatricyclo[20.4.0.0^9,14]hexacosa‐1(26),9,11,13,22,24‐hexaene] with 4‐methoxyanilinium tetrafluoroborate, C₇H₁₀NO⁺·BF₄⁻·C₂₀H₂₄O₆, the protonated 4‐methoxyanilinium (MB‐NH₃⁺) cation forms a 1:1 supramolecular rotator–stator complex with the dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 molecule via N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The MB‐NH₃⁺ group is attached from the convex side of the bowl‐shaped crown, in contrast with similar ammonium cations that nest in the curvature of the bowl. The cations are associated via C—H...π interactions, while the cations and anions are linked by weak C—H...F hydrogen bonds, forming cation–crown–anion chains parallel to [011].     

Gas‐phase functionalized carbon‐carbon coupling reactions catalyzed by Ni (II) complexes

Gas‐phase C―C coupling reactions mediated by Ni (II) complexes were studied using a linear quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Ternary nickel cationic carboxylate complexes, [(phen)Ni (OOCR¹)]⁺ (where phen = 1,10‐phenanthroline), were formed by electrospray ionization. Upon collision‐induced dissociation (CID), they extrude CO₂ forming the organometallic cation [(phen)Ni(R¹)]⁺, which undergoes gas‐phase ion‐molecule reactions (IMR) with acetate esters CH₃COOR² to yield the acetate complex [(phen)Ni (OOCCH₃)]⁺ and a C―C coupling product R¹‐R². These Ni(II)/phenanthroline‐mediated coupling reactions can be performed with a variety of carbon substituents R¹ and R² (sp³, sp², or aromatic), some of them functionalized. Reaction rates do not seem to be strongly dependent on the nature of the substituents, as sp³‐sp³ or sp²‐sp² coupling reactions proceed rapidly. Experimental results are supported by density functional theory calculations, which provide insights into the energetics associated with the C―C bond coupling step.     

The Role of Alkali Metal in α‐MnO2 Catalyzed Ammonia‐Selective Catalysis

The unexpected phenomenon and mechanism of the alkali metal involved NH₃ selective catalysis are reported. Incorporation of K⁺ (4.22 wt %) in the tunnels of α‐MnO₂ greatly improved its activity at low temperature (50–200 °C, 100 % conversion of NO_x vs. 50.6 % conversion over pristine α‐MnO₂ at 150 °C). Experiment and theory demonstrated the atomic role of incorporated K⁺ in α‐MnO₂. Results showed that K⁺ in the tunnels could form a stable coordination with eight nearby O atoms. The columbic interaction between the trapped K⁺ and O atoms can rearrange the charge population of nearby Mn and O atoms, thus making the topmost five‐coordinated unsaturated Mn cations (Mn_5c, the Lewis acid sites) more positive. Therefore, the more positively charged Mn_5c can better chemically adsorb and activate the NH₃ molecules compared with its pristine counterpart, which is crucial for subsequent reactions.     

Energetic Hydrazine‐Based Salts with Nitrogen‐Rich and Oxidizing Anions

1,1,1‐Trimethylhydrazinium iodide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]I, 1 ) was reacted with a silver salt to form the corresponding nitrate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][NO₃], 2 ), perchlorate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][ClO₄], 3 ), azide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][N₃], 4 ), 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazolate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][H₂N? CN₄], 5 ), and sulfate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]₂[SO₄]?2H₂O, 6 ?2H₂O) salts. The metathesis reaction of compound 6 ?2H₂O with barium salts led to the formation of the corresponding picrate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][(NO₂)₃Ph ‐ O], 7 ), dinitramide ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][N(NO₂)₂], 8 ), 5‐nitrotetrazolate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][O₂N? CN₄], 9 ), and nitroformiate ([(CH₃)₃N? NH₂][C(NO₂)₃], 10 ) salts. Compounds 1 – 10 were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, infrared/Raman spectroscopy, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N). Additionally, compounds 1 , 6 , and 7 were also characterized by low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction techniques (XRD). Ba(NH₄)(NT)₃ (NT=5‐nitrotetrazole anion) was accidentally obtained during the synthesis of the 5‐nitrotetrazole salt 9 and was also characterized by low‐temperature XRD. Furthermore, the structure of the [(CH₃)₃N? NH₂]⁺ cation was optimized using the B3LYP method and used to calculate its vibrational frequencies, NBO charges, and electronic energy. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to assess the thermal stabilities of salts 2 – 5 and 7 – 10 , and the sensitivities of the materials towards classical stimuli were estimated by submitting the compounds to standard (BAM) tests. Lastly, we computed the performance parameters (detonation pressures/velocities and specific impulses) and the decomposition gases of compounds 2 – 5 and 7 – 10 and those of their oxygen‐balanced mixtures with an oxidizer.     

Metal–Organic Gel Material Based on UiO‐66‐NH2 Nanoparticles for Improved Adsorption and Conversion of Carbon Dioxide

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) including the UiO‐66 series show potential application in the adsorption and conversion of CO₂. Herein, we report the first tetravalent metal‐based metal–organic gels constructed from Zr^IV and 2‐aminoterephthalic acid (H₂BDC‐NH₂). The ZrBDC‐NH₂ gel materials are based on UiO‐66‐NH₂ nanoparticles and were easily prepared under mild conditions (80 °C for 4.5 h). The ZrBDC‐NH₂‐1:1‐0.2 gel material has a high surface area (up to 1040 m² g^?1) and showed outstanding performance in CO₂ adsorption (by using the dried material) and conversion (by using the wet gel) arising from the combined advantages of the gel and the UiO‐66‐NH₂ MOF. The ZrBDC‐NH₂‐1:1‐0.2 dried material showed 38 % higher capture capacity for CO₂ at 298 K than microcrystalline UiO‐66‐NH₂. It showed high ideal adsorbed solution theory selectivity (71.6 at 298 K) for a CO₂/N₂ gas mixture (molar ratio 15:85). Furthermore, the ZrBDC‐NH₂‐1:1‐0.2 gel showed activity as a heterogeneous catalyst in the chemical fixation of CO₂ and an excellent catalytic performance was achieved for the cycloaddition of atmospheric pressure of CO₂ to epoxides at 373 K. In addition, the gel catalyst could be reused over multiple cycles with no considerable loss of catalytic activity.     

Unexpected beauty and diversity in the structures of three homologous 4,5‐dialkoxy‐1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitrobenzenes: the subtle interplay between intermolecular C—H…O hydrogen bonds and alkyl chain length

The synthesis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra, and X‐ray structures are described for three dialkoxy ethynylnitrobenzenes that differ only in the length of the alkoxy chain, namely 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipropoxybenzene, C₁₄H₁₇NO₄, 1,2‐dibutoxy‐4‐ethynyl‐5‐nitrobenzene, C₁₆H₂₁NO₄, and 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipentoxybenzene, C₁₈H₂₅NO₄. Despite the subtle changes in molecular structure, the crystal structures of the three compounds display great diversity. Thus, 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipropoxybenzene crystallizes in the trigonal crystal system in the space group , with Z = 18, 1,2‐dibutoxy‐4‐ethynyl‐5‐nitrobenzene crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system in the space group P 2₁/c , with Z = 4, and 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipentoxybenzene crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system in the space group , with Z = 2. The crystal structure of 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipropoxybenzene is dominated by planar hexamers formed by a bifurcated alkoxy sp‐C—H…O,O′ interaction, while the structure of the dibutoxy analogue is dominated by planar ribbons of molecules linked by a similar bifurcated alkoxy sp‐C—H…O,O′ interaction. In contrast, the dipentoxy analogue forms ribbons of molecules alternately connected by a self‐complementary sp‐C—H…O₂N interaction and a self‐complementary sp²‐C—H…O₂N interaction. Disordered solvent was included in the crystals of 1‐ethynyl‐2‐nitro‐4,5‐dipropoxybenzene and its contribution was removed during refinement.