Balancing the Rate of Cluster Growth and Etching for Gram‐Scale Synthesis of Thiolate‐Protected Au25 Nanoclusters with Atomic Precision

We report a NaOH‐mediated NaBH₄ reduction method for the synthesis of mono‐, bi‐, and tri‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ nanoclusters (NCs) with precise control of both the Au core and thiolate ligand surface. The key strategy is to use NaOH to tune the formation kinetics of Au NCs, i.e., reduce the reduction ability of NaBH₄ and accelerate the etching ability of free thiolate ligands, leading to a well‐balanced reversible reaction for rapid formation of thermodynamically favorable Au₂₅ NCs. This protocol is facile, rapid (≤3 h), versatile (applicable for various thiolate ligands), and highly scalable (>1 g Au NCs). In addition, bi‐ and tri‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ NCs with adjustable ratios of hetero‐thiolate ligands were easily obtained. Such ligand precision in molecular ratios, spatial distribution and uniformity resulted in richly diverse surface landscapes on the Au NCs consisting of multiple functional groups such as carboxyl, amine, and hydroxy. Analysis based on NMR spectroscopy revealed that the hetero‐ligands on the NCs are well distributed with no ligand segregation. The unprecedented synthesis of multi‐thiolate‐protected Au₂₅ NCs may further promote the practical applications of functional metal NCs.     

Isocyanide‐Based Multicomponent Reactions: Concise Synthesis of Spirocyclic Oxindoles with Molecular Complexity by Using a [1,5]‐Hydrogen Shift as the Key Step

A concise multicomponent reaction of isocyanide, α‐substituted allenoate, and methyleneindolinone has been disclosed. This protocol provides a fast and straightforward approach to synthesize unusual tricyclic oxindoles in an efficient and atom‐economic manner. Mechanistically, the present cycloaddition may proceed through a cascade sequence involving double Michael addition, double cyclization, double [1,5]‐hydrogen shift, and group migration. The introduction of a special alkyl group to the allenoate is believed to play a key role in the cascade reaction. This method also features a broad substrate scope, which is particularly useful for the delivery of a large number of compounds.     

Clickable Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas: Synthesis,Click Reactions,and Adsorption of Antibiotics

Pharmaceutical antibiotics are not easily removed from water by conventional water‐treatment technologies and have been recognized as new emerging pollutants. Herein, we report the synthesis of clickable azido periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) and their use as adsorbents for the adsorption of antibiotics. Ethane‐bridged PMOs, functionalized with azido groups at different densities, were synthesized by the co‐condensation of 1,2‐bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane (BTME) and 3‐azidopropyltrimethoxysilane (AzPTMS), in the presence of nonionic‐surfactant triblock‐copolymer P123, in an acidic medium. Four different alkynes were conjugated to azide‐terminated PMOs by means of an efficient click reaction. The clicked PMOs showed improved adsorption capacity (241 μg g^?1) for antibiotics (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) compared with azido‐functionalized PMOs because of the enhanced π–π stacking interactions. These results indicate that click reactions can introduce multifunctional groups onto PMOs, thus demonstrating the great potential of PMOs for environmental applications.     

Aliphatic Organoimido Derivatives of Polyoxometalates Containing a Bioactive Ligand

A series of aliphatic organoimido derivatives of hexamolybdate based on amantadine, namely (nBu₄N)₂[Mo₆O₁₈(?NC₁₀H₁₅)] ( 1 ), (nBu₄N)₂ {cis‐[Mo₆O₁₇(?NC₁₀H₁₅)₂]} ( 2 ), (nBu₄N)₂{trans‐[Mo₆O₁₇(?NC₁₀H₁₅)₂]} ( 3 ), and (nBu₄N)₂[Mo₆O₁₆(?NC₁₀H₁₅)₃] ( 4 ), was synthesized in reasonable yield by dehydration with N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). They were characterized by IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, ESI mass spectrometry, and single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. The spectral and structural similarities and differences between monosubstituted, cis‐disubstituted, and trans‐disubstituted organoimido derivatives were elucidated and may provide guidance for related work on organoimido‐functionalized Lindqvist‐type polyoxometalates. In addition, trans‐disubstituted and polysubstituted derivatives containing aliphatic organoimido ligands have not yet been reported, and the crystal structure of the trans isomer may lead us to a deeper understanding of disubstituted derivatives. Furthermore, proliferation and morphology of MCF‐7 cells were studied with compound 1 . The present results show that the DCC‐dehydrating protocol could be an efficient approach to covalently graft bioactive ligands such as amantadine onto POMs and enhance their application in clinical cancer treatment.     

Palladium/Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Arylation of Terminal Alkenes with Aroyl Hydrazides

An unprecedented oxidative arylation reaction of terminal alkenes with simple aroyl hydrazides has been developed under aerobic conditions for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes. A range of aroyl hydrazides underwent palladium/copper‐catalyzed oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction with terminal alkenes open to air in a 1:1 mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile to give structurally diverse 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes in moderate to excellent yields with excellent regio‐ and E‐selectivity. The reaction tolerated a wide variety of functional groups, such as alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, ester, amide, imide, phosphine oxide, and sulfone groups, and, moreover, molecular oxygen and dimethyl sulfoxide were demonstrated to serve as terminal oxidants. This study provides a useful method for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes through direct transformation of the vinylic C?H bonds in terminal alkenes.     

Direct X‐ray Observation of Trapped CO2 in a Predesigned Porphyrinic Metal–Organic Framework

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging microporous materials that are promising for capture and sequestration of CO₂ due to their tailorable binding properties. However, it remains a grand challenge to pre‐design a MOF with a precise, multivalent binding environment at the molecular level to enhance CO₂ capture. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and direct X‐ray crystallographic observation of a porphyrinic MOF, UNLPF‐2, that contains CO₂‐specific single molecular traps. Assembled from an octatopic porphyrin ligand with [Co₂(COO)₄] paddlewheel clusters, UNLPF‐2 provides an appropriate distance between the coordinatively unsaturated metal centers, which serve as the ideal binding sites for in situ generated CO₂. The coordination of Co^II in the porphyrin macrocycle is crucial and responsible for the formation of the required topology to trap CO₂. By repeatedly releasing and recapturing CO₂, UNLPL‐2 also exhibits recyclability.     

Chemical and Toxicological Investigations of a Previously Unknown Poisonous European Mushroom Tricholoma terreum

The established tradition of consuming and marketing wild mushrooms has focused attention on mycotoxicity, which has become a global issue. In the present study, we describe the toxins found in a previously unknown poisonous European mushroom Tricholoma terreum. Fifteen new triterpenoids terreolides A–F ( 1 – 6 ) and saponaceolides H–P ( 8 – 16 ) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the toxic mushroom T. terreum. Terreolides A–C ( 1 – 3 ) possessed a unique 5/6/7 trioxaspiroketal system, whereas terreolides D–F ( 4 – 6 ) possessed an unprecedented carbon skeleton. Two abundant compounds in the mushroom, saponaceolide B ( 7 ) and saponaceolide M ( 13 ), displayed acute toxicity, with LD₅₀ values of 88.3 and 63.7 mg kg^?1 when administered orally in mice. Both compounds were found to increase serum creatine kinase levels in mice, indicating that T. terreum may be the cause of mushroom poisoning ultimately leading to rhabdomyolysis.     

Amine‐Catalyzed Enantioselective 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of Aldehydes to C,N‐Cyclic Azomethine Imines

Amine‐catalyzed enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloadditions of aldehydes to C,N‐cyclic azomethine imines were developed. The reactions between diversely substituted C,N‐cyclic azomethine imines and aldehydes proceeded smoothly in the presence of chiral prolinol silyl ether catalyst and gave the C‐1‐substituted tetrahydroisoquinolines in a highly stereoselective manner. These tetrahydroisoquinolines could be efficiently transformed to several other useful polycyclic frameworks.     

Reactivity of Oxygen Radical Anions Bound to Scandia Nanoparticles in the Gas Phase: CH Bond Activation

The activation of C?H bonds in alkanes is currently a hot research topic in chemistry. The atomic oxygen radical anion (O^?.) is an important species in C?H activation. The mechanistic details of C?H activation by O^?. radicals can be well understood by studying the reactions between O^?. containing transition metal oxide clusters and alkanes. Here the reactivity of scandium oxide cluster anions toward n‐butane was studied by using a high‐resolution time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer coupled with a fast flow reactor. Hydrogen atom abstraction (HAA) from n‐butane by (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters was observed. The reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–18) clusters is significantly sizedependent and the highest reactivity was observed for N=4 (Sc₈O₁₃^?) and 12 (Sc₂₄O₃₇^?). Larger (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? clusters generally have higher reactivity than the smaller ones. Density functional theory calculations were performed to interpret the reactivity of (Sc₂O₃)_NO^? (N=1–5) clusters, which were found to contain the O^?. radicals as the active sites. The local charge environment around the O^?. radicals was demonstrated to control the experimentally observed size‐dependent reactivity. This work is among the first to report HAA reactivity of cluster anions with dimensions up to nanosize toward alkane molecules. The anionic O^?. containing scandium oxide clusters are found to be more reactive than the corresponding cationic ones in the C?H bond activation.     

Highly N2‐Selective Coupling of 1,2,3‐Triazoles with Indole and Pyrrole

Hydrogen‐bond mediated coupling of 1,2,3‐triazoles to indoles and pyrroles results in N2 selective functionalization of the triazole moiety in moderate to excellent yields. The reaction was tolerant of un‐, mono‐ and disubstituted triazoles and was applied to synthesize tryptophan derived fluorescent amino acids.