A Mixed‐Ligand Chiral Rhodium(II) Catalyst Enables the Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Piperarborenine B

A novel, mixed‐ligand chiral rhodium(II) catalyst, Rh₂(S‐NTTL)₃(dCPA), has enabled the first enantioselective total synthesis of the natural product piperarborenine B. A crystal structure of Rh₂(S‐NTTL)₃(dCPA) reveals a “chiral crown” conformation with a bulky dicyclohexylphenyl acetate ligand and three N‐naphthalimido groups oriented on the same face of the catalyst. The natural product was prepared on large scale using rhodium‐catalyzed bicyclobutanation/ copper‐catalyzed homoconjugate addition chemistry in the key step. The route proceeds in ten steps with an 8 % overall yield and 92 % ee.     

Synthesis of “Clickable” Nano Metal‐organic Framework by Generic Postsynthetic Modification Route

Organic azides have been somewhat popularized due to their pivotal role in the emerging field of “click chemistry”. A simple approach has been used for the synthesis of uniform nano Fe‐MIL‐88B‐NH₂, and a generic postsynthetic modification route has been developed for the synthesis of azide‐modified nano Fe‐MIL‐88B‐N₃. The approach also has been used to synthesize the azide‐modified IRMOF‐3(‐N₃). These new azide‐modified Fe‐MIL‐88B‐N₃ nanocrystals hold promising potential for the applications in the fields of “click chemistry”, nanotechnology devices and nano composite membranes.     

“Click” Dielectrics: Use of 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions to Generate Diverse Core‐Shell Nanoparticle Structures with Applications to Flexible Electronics

We have synthesized a “universal ligand” incorporating a phosphonate surface anchor and a terminal alkyne moiety which binds to TiO₂ nanoparticles and exhibits excellent dispersity in organic solvents. The alkyne functionality permits attachment of azide terminated polymer shells using “click” chemistry. Thus TiO₂ core nanoparticles have been encapsulated with both polystyrene and poly(t‐butyl acrylate) shells. The TiO₂‐poly(t‐butyl acrylate) core shell nanoparticles are amenable to further chemical transformation into TiO₂‐poly(acrylic acid) nanoparticles through ester hydrolysis. These TiO₂‐polyacrylic acid nanoparticles are dispersible in aqueous solution. The resulting core‐shell nanoparticles have been incorporated as high K dielectric films in capacitor and organic thin film transistor devices and are promising new materials for flexible electronics applications.

     

Using “Threading Followed by Shrinking” to Synthesize Highly Stable Dialkylammonium‐Ion‐Based Rotaxanes

Herein, we report a “threading followed by shrinking” approach for the synthesis of rotaxanes by using an “oxygen‐deficient” macrocycle that contained two arylmethyl sulfone units and the dumbbell‐shaped salt bis(3,5‐dimethylbenzyl)ammonium tetrakis(3,5‐trifluoromethylphenyl)borate as the host and guest components, respectively. The extrusion of SO₂ from both of the arylmethyl sulfone units of the macrocyclic component in the corresponding [2]pseudorotaxane resulted in a [2]rotaxane that was sufficiently stable to maintain its molecular integrity in CD₃SOCD₃ at 393 K for at least 5 h.     

Synthesis of a novel graft copolymer with hyperbranched poly(glycerol) as core and “Y”‐shaped polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)2 as side chains

The graft copolymers composed of “Y”‐shaped polystyrene‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)₂ (PS‐b‐PEO₂) as side chains and hyperbranched poly(glycerol) (HPG) as core were synthesized by a combination of “click” chemistry and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) via “graft from” and “graft onto” strategies. Firstly, macroinitiators HPG‐Br were obtained by esterification of hydroxyl groups on HPG with bromoisobutyryl bromide, and then by “graft from” strategy, graft copolymers HPG‐g‐(PS‐Br) were synthesized by ATRP of St and further HPG‐g‐(PS‐N₃) were prepared by azidation with NaN₃. Then, the precursors (Bz‐PEO)₂‐alkyne with a single alkyne group at the junction point and an inert benzyl group at each end was synthesized by sequentially ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of EO using 3‐[(1‐ethoxyethyl)‐ethoxyethyl]‐1,2‐propanediol (EEPD) and diphenylmethylpotassium (DPMK) as coinitiator, termination of living polymeric species by benzyl bromide, recovery of protected hydroxyl groups by HCl and modification by propargyl bromide. Finally, the “click” chemistry was conducted between HPG‐g‐(PS‐N₃) and (Bz‐PEO)₂‐alkyne in the presence of N,N,N′,N″,N”‐pentamethyl diethylenetriamine (PMDETA)/CuBr system by “graft onto” strategy, and the graft copolymers were characterized by SEC, ¹H NMR and FTIR in details. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthese,Strukturen, NMR‐ und EPR‐Untersuchungen der binuklearen Bis(N,N,N‴,N‴‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(selenoureato))‐Komplexe des NiII und CuII

Synthesis, Structures, NMR and EPR Investigations of Binuclear Bis(N,N,N‴,N‴‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(selenoureato)) Complexes of Ni^II and Cu^II The synthesis of binuclear Cu^II and Ni^II complexes of the quadridentate ligand N,N,N‴,N‴‐tetraisobutyl‐N′,N″‐isophthaloylbis(selenourea) and their crystal structures are reported. The complexes crystallize monoclinic, P2₁/c (Z = 2). In the EPR spectra of the binuclear Cu^II complex exchange‐coupled Cu^II‐Cu^II pairs were observed. In addition the signals of a mononuclear Cu^II species are observed what will be explained with the assumption of an equilibrium between the binuclear Cu^II‐complex (Cu^II‐Cu^II pairs) and oligomeric complexes with “isolated” Cu^II ions. Detailed ¹³C and ⁷⁷Se NMR investigations on the ligand and the Ni^II complex allow an exact assignment of all signals of the heteroatoms.     

2‐(1 H‐1,2,3‐Triazol‐4‐yl)‐Pyridine Ligands as Alternatives to 2,2′‐Bipyridines in Ruthenium(II) Complexes

The synthesis of a variety of 2‐(1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)‐pyridines by click chemistry is demonstrated to provide straightforward access to mono‐functionalized ligands. The ring‐opening polymerization of ε‐caprolactone initiated by such a mono‐functionalized ligand highlights the synthetic potential of this class of bidentate ligands with respect to polymer chemistry or the attachment onto surfaces and nanoparticles. The coordination to Ru^II ions results in homoleptic and heteroleptic complexes with the resultant photophysical and electrochemical properties strongly dependent on the number of these ligands attached to the Ru^II core.     

Tunable Self‐Assembly of Triazole‐Linked Porphyrin–Polymer Conjugates

The convergence of supramolecular chemistry and polymer science offers many powerful approaches for building functional nanostructures with well‐defined dynamic behaviour. Herein we report the efficient “click” synthesis and self‐assembly of AB₂‐ and AB₄‐type multitopic porphyrin–polymer conjugates (PPCs). PPCs were prepared using the copper(I)‐catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, and consisted of linear polystyrene, poly(butyl acrylate), or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) arms attached to a zinc(II) porphyrin core via triazole linkages. We exploit the presence of the triazole groups obtained from CuAAC coupling to direct the self‐assembly of the PPCs into short oligomers (2–6 units in length) via intermolecular porphyrinatozinc–triazole coordination. By altering the length and grafting density of the polymer arms, we demonstrate that the association constant of the porphyrinatozinc–triazole complex can be systematically tuned over two orders of magnitude. Self‐assembly of the PPCs also resulted in a 6 K increase in the glass transition temperature of the bulk material compared to a non‐assembling PPC. The modular synthesis and tunable self‐assembly of the triazole‐linked PPCs thus represents a powerful supramolecular platform for building functional nanostructured materials.     

Filling a Niche in “Ligand Space” with Bulky,Electron-Poor Phosphorus(III) Alkoxides

The chemistry of phosphorus(III) ligands, which are of key importance in coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry and catalysis, is dominated by relatively electron-rich species. Many of the electron-poor P^III ligands that are readily available have relatively small steric profiles. As such, there is a significant gap in “ligand space” where more sterically bulky, electron-poor P^III ligands are needed. This contribution discusses the coordination chemistry, steric and electronic properties of P^III ligands bearing highly fluorinated alkoxide groups of the general form PR_n(OR^F)_3−n, where R=Ph, R^F=C(H)(CF₃)₂ and C(CF₃)₃; n=1–3. These ligands are simple to synthesize and a range of experimental and theoretical methods suggest that their steric and electronic properties can be “tuned” by modification of their substituents, making them excellent candidates for large, electron-poor ligands.     

The Formazanate Ligand as an Electron Reservoir: Bis(Formazanate) Zinc Complexes Isolated in Three Redox States

The synthesis of bis(formazanate) zinc complexes is described. These complexes have well‐behaved redox‐chemistry, with the ligands functioning as a reversible electron reservoir. This allows the synthesis of bis(formazanate) zinc compounds in three redox states in which the formazanate ligands are reduced to “metallaverdazyl” radicals. The stability of these ligand‐based radicals is a result of the delocalization of the unpaired electron over four nitrogen atoms in the ligand backbone. The neutral, anionic, and dianionic compounds (L₂Zn^0/?1/?2) were fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, spectroscopic methods, and DFT calculations. In these complexes, the structural features of the formazanate ligands are very similar to well‐known β‐diketiminates, but the nitrogen‐rich (NNCNN) backbone of formazanates opens the door to redox‐chemistry that is otherwise not easily accessible.     

Ill‐defined chemical concepts: The problem of quantification

From time to time, ill‐defined concepts leads to never‐ending discussions in the chemical literature. “Is there a quadruple bond in the C₂ molecule? What about the boron–boron triple bond? Can we uniquely define concepts like aromaticity or bond order at all?” With this tutorial review I would like to point out that some of the contemporary publications in chemistry are characterized by a confusion of ideas and concepts, and in part ill definitions. And, that exactly those ill‐defined concepts lead to never ending controversies in the literature. Examples of well‐ and ill‐defined concepts in chemistry are discussed.     

2,3,7,8,12,13‐Hexaaryltruxenes: An ortho‐Substituted Multiarm Design and Microwave‐Accelerated Synthesis toward Starburst Macromolecular Materials with Well‐Defined π Delocalization

We present herein a novel design and the efficient synthesis towards a “homogeneous” starburst fluorene system based on the novel 2,3,7,8,12,13‐hexaaryltruxene scaffold. Controlled microwave heating provides a facile and powerful approach for each step in the synthesis of these bulky materials with large steric hindrance, suggesting an avenue to access structurally well‐defined complex organic semiconductors (OSCs) rapidly and conveniently with high yield and purity. The resulting materials exhibited good thermal stability and an excellent glassy structure as revealed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as well as wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) studies. Moreover, compared with their corresponding three‐arm‐substituted counterparts T1 – T4 , the introduction of the ortho substituents around the truxene core in Tr1 – Tr4 results in significant blueshifts (of 7–24 nm) of the absorption maxima λ_max and higher energy optical gaps (E_g). Comparative studies with corresponding linear, rod‐shaped oligofluorene counterparts (OFX) have revealed that the longest para‐conjugated segment in the TrX (X=1–4) structures plays the dominant role in determining their electronic properties. UV/Vis data and cyclic voltammetry (CV) investigations have indicated that there is little electronic interaction between the arms, even for the shortest armed oligomer Tr1 . A clear linear relationship of both 1/λ_max and E_g with the inverse of (n+1) for these branched systems was found. Our findings highlight a novel molecular design comprising an ortho‐substituted, multiarmed architecture that would allow the introduction of isotropic physical and/or mechanical properties, while at the same time maintaining most of the important electronic properties of the rod‐shaped constituents of a fully conjugated system.     

Facile one‐pot/one‐step technique for preparation of side‐chain functionalized polymers: Combination of SET‐RAFT polymerization of azide vinyl monomer and click chemistry

An azido‐containing functional monomer, 11‐azido‐undecanoyl methacrylate, was successfully polymerized via ambient temperature single electron transfer initiation and propagation through the reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (SET‐RAFT) method. The polymerization behavior possessed the characteristics of “living”/controlled radical polymerization. The kinetic plot was first order, and the molecular weight of the polymer increased linearly with the monomer conversion while keeping the relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.22). The complete retention of azido group of the resulting polymer was confirmed by ¹H NMR and FTIR analysis. Retention of chain functionality was confirmed by chain extension with methyl methacrylate to yield a diblock copolymer. Furthermore, the side‐chain functionalized polymer could be prepared by one‐pot/one‐step technique, which is combination of SET‐RAFT and “click chemistry” methods. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Chiral Dicopper Complexes with a Doubly Asymmetric Ligand as Models for the Tyrosinase Active Site: Synthesis,Structure, O2‐Reactivity and Comparison with Their Symmetric Analogs

In order to model the asymmetric active site of the type‐3 copper enzyme tyrosinase the “doubly asymmetric” binucleating ligand 1‐[bis‐N,N‐(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)aminomethyl]‐3‐[N‐(pyrid‐2‐ylmethyl)‐N‐(2‐pyrid‐2‐ylethyl)aminomethyl]benzene (“unsDMPA”) is synthesized and coordinated to copper(I). The O₂‐reactivity of the Cu^I(unsDMPA) complex and its analog derived from the symmetric counterpiece of unsDMPA, DMPA, is investigated. Oxygenation in methanol leads to dicopper(II) bis(μ‐hydroxo) and bis(μ‐methanolato) complexes; the dicopper(II) bis(μ‐hydroxo) complex of the unsDMPA ligand is chiral. Oxygenation in dichloromethane leads to oxidative N‐dealkylation. This is attributed to a tendency of DMPA and unsDMPA complexes to form dicopper bis(μ‐oxo) intermediates, as evidenced by DFT. The implications of these results with respect to the design of tyrosinase model systems are discussed.     

Ambident PCN Heterocycles: N‐ and P‐Phosphanylation of Lithium 1,3‐Benzazaphospholides

Synthetic and structural aspects of the phosphanylation of 1,3‐benzazaphospholides 1_Li , ambident benzofused azaphosphacyclopentadienides, are presented. The unusual properties of phospholyl‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholes inspired us to study the coupling of 1_Li with chlorodiazaphospholene 2 , which led to the N‐substituted product 3 . Reaction of 1_Li with chlorodiphenyl‐ and chlorodicyclohexylphosphane likewise gave N‐phosphanylbenzazaphospholes 4 and 5 , whereas with the more bulky di‐tert‐butyl‐ and di‐1‐adamantylchlorophosphanes, the diphosphanes 6 and 7 are obtained; in the case of 7 they are isolated as a dimeric LiCl(THF) adduct. Structural information was provided by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and solution NMR spectroscopy experiments. 2D exchange spectroscopy confirmed the existence of two rotamers of the aminophosphane 5 at room temperature; variable‐temperature NMR spectroscopy studies of 6 revealed two dynamic processes, low‐temperature inversion at ring phosphorus (ΔH^≠=22 kJ mol^?1, ΔS^≠=2 J K^?1 mol^?1) and very low‐temperature rotation of the tBu₂P group. Quantum chemical studies give evidence that 2‐unsubstituted benzazaphospholides prefer N‐phosphanylation, even with bulky chlorophosphanes, and that substituents at the 2‐position of the heterocycle are crucial for the occurrence of P–N rotamers and for switching to alternative P‐substitution, beyond a threshold steric bulk, by both P‐ and 2‐position substituents.     

Cyclometalated Ruthenium(II) Complexes Featuring Tridentate Click‐Derived Ligands for Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cell Applications

A series of heteroleptic bis(tridentate) Ru^II complexes featuring N^C^N‐cyclometalating ligands is presented. The 1,2,3‐triazole‐containing tridentate ligands are readily functionalized with hydrophobic side chains by means of click chemistry and the corresponding cyclometalated Ru^II complexes are easily synthesized. The performance of these thiocyanate‐free complexes in a dye‐sensitized solar cell was tested and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of up to 4.0 % (J_sc=8.1 mA cm^?2, V_oc=0.66 V, FF=0.70) was achieved, while the black dye ((NBu₄)₃[Ru(Htctpy)(NCS)₃]; Htctpy=2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine‐4′‐carboxylic acid‐4,4′′‐dicarboxylate) showed 5.2 % (J_sc=10.7 mA cm^?2, V_oc=0.69 V, FF=0.69) under comparable conditions. When co‐adsorbed with chenodeoxycholic acid, the PCE of the best cyclometalated dye could be improved to 4.5 % (J_sc=9.4 mA cm^?2, V_oc=0.65 V, FF=0.70). The PCEs correlate well with the light‐harvesting capabilities of the dyes, while a comparable incident photon‐to‐current efficiency was achieved with the cyclometalated dye and the black dye. Regeneration appeared to be efficient in the parent dye, despite the high energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital. The device performance was investigated in more detail by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Ultimately, a promising Ru^II sensitizer platform is presented that features a highly functionalizable “click”‐derived cyclometalating ligand.     

A Water‐Containing Organopotassium Compound Based on Bis(4,6‐tBu‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)methanide and Its Unexpected Stability to Hydrolysis

The bulky bis(4,6‐t Bu‐benzoxazol‐2‐yl)methane ligand system enabled the synthesis of the water‐containing organometallic potassium complex [(18‐crown‐6)K{(4,6‐t Bu‐OCNC₆H₂)₂CH}⋅H₂O] ( 2 ), which is an unprecedented example of a water‐stable reactive organopotassium compound. Furthermore, 2 is a rare example of a bis(benzoxazol‐2‐yl)methanide ligand displaying solely O‐coordination to a metal ion. Compound 2 was fully characterized through its solid‐state structure. Furthermore, its behavior in solution was investigated by NMR titration DOSY experiments. These revealed full protonation of the complex only after seven days and the addition of 114 equivalents of water.     

In Situ Formation of Frustrated Lewis Pairs in a Water‐Tolerant Metal‐Organic Framework for the Transformation of CO2

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) consist of sterically hindered Lewis acids and Lewis bases, which provide high catalytic activity towards non‐metal‐mediated activation of “inert” small molecules, including CO₂ among others. One critical issue of homogeneous FLPs, however, is their instability upon recycling, leading to catalytic deactivation. Herein, we provide a solution to this issue by incorporating a bulky Lewis acid‐functionalized ligand into a water‐tolerant metal‐organic framework (MOF), named SION‐105 , and employing Lewis basic diamine substrates for the in situ formation of FLPs within the MOF. Using CO₂ as a C1‐feedstock, this combination allows for the efficient transformation of a variety of diamine substrates into benzimidazoles. SION‐105 can be easily recycled by washing with MeOH and reused multiple times without losing its identity and catalytic activity, highlighting the advantage of the MOF approach in FLP chemistry.     

Oligosilane‐ and Oligosiloxane‐bridged Phosphines – Synthesis,Structures, and Metalation

The range of molecular silicon phosphorus compounds has been extended by some new species containing oligosilane ((R₂Si)_n; n ≥ 2) or oligosiloxane ((R₂SiO)_mSiR₂; m ≥ 1) fragments bound to phosphorus atoms. Primary and secondary compounds of these types allow for the synthesis of metal derivatives. Such metalated species usually form oligomers and exhibit a versatile structural chemistry with cyclic, polycyclic, and cage‐like patterns. The main results obtained in the field of oligosilane‐ and oligosiloxane‐bridged phosphines will be presented below and the structures of the metal derivatives will be discussed. Moreover, the synthesis of an inorganic ligand on the basis of siloxane‐bridged phosphines will be presented. This compound opens up a new chapter in host‐guest chemistry.     

Stanna‐closo‐dodecaborate: A New Ligand in Coordination Chemistry

Most of the divalent compounds of tin have a lone pair and hence can act as donors. In tin‐transition metal chemistry neutral molecules as well as anions have been studied as ligands. This research report summarizes recent research on coordination compounds with a closo‐heteroborate cage compound stanna‐closo‐dodecaborate [SnB₁₁H₁₁]^2?. The syntheses of the first coordination compounds and studies on the ligand abilities of this tin borate are discussed in this article.