Exts and the AGT Relations

We prove the connection between the Nekrasov partition function of \({\mathcal{N}=2}\) super-symmetric U(2) gauge theory with adjoint matter and conformal blocks for the Virasoro algebra, as predicted by the Alday–Gaiotto–Tachikawa relations. Mathematically, this is achieved by relating the Carlsson–Okounkov Ext vector bundle on the moduli space of rank 2 sheaves with Liouville vertex operators. Our approach is geometric in nature, and uses a new method for intersection-theoretic computations of the Ext operator.     

Fully Borylated Methane and Ethane by Ruthenium‐Mediated Cleavage and Coupling of CO

Many transition‐metal complexes and some metal‐free compounds are able to bind carbon monoxide, a molecule which has the strongest chemical bond in nature. However, very few of them have been shown to induce the cleavage of its C?O bond and even fewer are those that are able to transform CO into organic reagents with potential in organic synthesis. This work shows that bis(pinacolato)diboron, B₂pin₂, reacts with ruthenium carbonyl to give metallic complexes containing borylmethylidyne (CBpin) and diborylethyne (pinBC≡CBpin) ligands and also metal‐free perborylated C₁ and C₂ products, such as C(Bpin)₄ and C₂(Bpin)₆, respectively, which have great potential as building blocks for Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling and other reactions. The use of ¹³CO‐enriched ruthenium carbonyl has demonstrated that the boron‐bound carbon atoms of all of these reaction products arise from CO ligands.     

Photoassisted Synthesis of Complex Molecular Architectures: Dearomatization of Benzenoid Arenes with Aza‐o‐xylylenes via an Unprecedented [2+4] Reaction Topology

A new method was developed for the photoinduced dearomatization of arenes through an intramolecular cycloaddition with aza‐o‐xylylenes generated by excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) in the readily available photoprecursors. The [2+4] topology of this cycloaddition is unprecedented for photo‐dearomatizations of benzenoid aromatic carbocycles. It provides rapid access to novel heterocycles, cyclohexadieno‐oxazolidino‐quinolinols, as valuable synthons for a broad range of post‐photochemical transformations.     

Branched Multimeric Peptides as Affinity Reagents for the Detection of α-Klotho Protein

α-Klotho, an aging-related protein found in the kidney, parathyroid gland, and choroid plexus, acts as an essential co-receptor with the fibroblast growth factor 23 receptor complex to regulate serum phosphate and vitamin D levels. Decreased levels of α-Klotho are a hallmark of age-associated diseases. Detecting or labeling α-Klotho in biological milieu has long been a challenge, however, hampering the understanding of its role. Here, we developed branched peptides by single-shot parallel automated fast-flow synthesis that recognize α-Klotho with improved affinity relative to their monomeric versions. These peptides were further shown to selectively label Klotho for live imaging in kidney cells. Our results demonstrate that automated flow technology enables rapid synthesis of complex peptide architectures, showing promise for future detection of α-Klotho in physiological settings.     

The first example of enamine-Lewis acid cooperative bifunctional catalysis: application to the asymmetric aldol reaction

(-)-Sparteine directed lithiation of N-Boc-pyrrolidine, alkylation with chloromethylboronate pinacol ester and acid-based deprotection provides homoboroproline HX salt in 94% ee, which is then an efficient enamine-type pyrrolidine catalyst in an asymmetric aldol reaction when neutralised and especially when esterified in situ with a tartrate ester, for example, providing 90% ee of the aldol adduct derived from acetone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde.     

Viral capsids as templates for the production of monodisperse Prussian blue nanoparticles

The use of a viral template has allowed the synthesis of monodisperse Prussian blue nanoparticles with a diameter of 18 +/- 1.7 nm and their organization into hexagonal patterns on mica and hydrophilic carbon surfaces.     

Carbon-rich molecules: synthesis and isolation of aryl/heteroaryl terminal bis(butadiynes) (HC[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-Ar-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]CH) and their applications in the synthesis of oligo(arylenebutadiynylene) molecular wires

The synthesis, isolation and characterisation are reported for a series of terminal aryl/heteroaryl bis(butadiynes) (HC[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-Ar-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]CH) 4a-e including the X-ray molecular structure of the 2,5-pyridylene derivative 4d; compound 4a and the mono-protected analogue [HC[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-Ar-C[triple bond]C-C[triple bond]C-C(OH)Me2] 5a serve as convenient precursors for the synthesis of highly-conjugated oligo(arylenebutadiynylene)s.