Modular and Selective Arylation of Aryl Germanes (C−GeEt3) over C−Bpin,C−SiR3 and Halogens Enabled by Light‐Activated Gold Catalysis

Selective C –C couplings are powerful strategies for the rapid and programmable construction of bi‐ or multiaryls. To this end, the next frontier of synthetic modularity will likely arise from harnessing the coupling space that is orthogonal to the powerful Pd‐catalyzed coupling regime. This report details the realization of this concept and presents the fully selective arylation of aryl germanes (which are inert under Pd⁰/Pd^II catalysis) in the presence of the valuable functionalities C?BPin, C?SiMe₃, C?I, C?Br, C?Cl, which in turn offer versatile opportunities for diversification. The protocol makes use of visible light activation combined with gold catalysis, which facilitates the selective coupling of C?Ge with aryl diazonium salts. Contrary to previous light‐/gold‐catalyzed couplings of Ar–N₂⁺, which were specialized in Ar–N₂⁺ scope, we present conditions to efficiently couple electron‐rich, electron‐poor, heterocyclic and sterically hindered aryl diazonium salts. Our computational data suggest that while electron‐poor Ar–N₂⁺ salts are readily activated by gold under blue‐light irradiation, there is a competing dissociative deactivation pathway for excited electron‐rich Ar–N₂⁺, which requires an alternative photo‐redox approach to enable productive couplings.     

Optimal control methods applied on the ionization processes of alkali dimers

We present two novel optimization methods by employing shaped fs-laser pulses in a closed feedback loop. The first describes control pulse cleaning where extraneous features were removed by applying genetic pressure on certain pulse components. The second reports parametric optimization with intuitive parameters such as subpulse distances, chirps, phase differences, and spectral peak patterns. These methods were conducted on the ionization process of alkali dimers produced in a molecular beam and improved the performances of the optimized pulses compared with short pulses at the same pulse energy. Moreover, we attempt to analyze the obtained pulse shapes regarding the underlying optimized processes. Further investigations concerning isotope selective fragmentation and optimal control of excitation processes of ultracold rubidium dimers in a magneto-optical trap (MOT) are also shown.     

A Modular Class of Fluorescent Difluoroboranes: Synthesis,Structure, Optical Properties,Theoretical Calculations and Applications for Biological Imaging

Ten borylated bipyridines (BOBIPYs) have been synthesized and selected structural modifications have been made that allow useful structure–optical property relationships to be gathered. These systems have been further investigated using DFT calculations and spectroscopic measurements, showing blue to green fluorescence with quantum yields up to 41 %. They allow full mapping of the structure to determine where selected functionalities can be implemented, to tune the optical properties or to incorporate linking groups. The best derivative was thus functionalised with an alkyne linker, which would enable further applications through click chemistry and in this optic, the stability of the fluorophores has been evaluated.     

A Boron‐Fluorinated Tris(pyrazolyl)borate Ligand (FTp*) and Its Mono‐ and Dinuclear Copper Complexes [Cu(FTp*)2] and [Cu2(FTp*)2]: Synthesis,Structures, and DFT Calculations

Reaction of [Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₄] ( 1 ) with [Cu(MeCN)₄][BF₄] ( 2 ) gave the mono‐ and dinuclear copper complexes [Cu₂(^FTp*)₂] ( 3 ) and [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). Both complexes contain the so‐far unprecedented boron‐fluorinated ^FTp* ligand ([FB(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃]^? with pz=pyrazolyl) originating from 1 , acting as a pyrazolyl transfer reagent, and the [BF₄]^? counter anion of 2 , serving as the source of the {BF} entity. The solid‐state structures as well as the NMR and EPR spectroscopic characteristics of the complexes were elaborated. Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) experiments revealed that 3 retains (almost entirely) its dimeric structure in benzene, whereas dimer cleavage and formation of acetonitrile adducts, presumably [Cu(^FTp*)(MeCN)], is observed in acetonitrile. The short Cu???Cu distance of 269.16 pm in the solid‐state is predicted by DFT calculations to be dictated by dispersion interactions between all atoms in the complex (the Cu?Cu dispersion contribution itself is only very small). As revealed by cyclic voltammetry studies, 3 shows an irreversible (almost quasi‐reversible at higher scan rates) oxidation process centred at E^pa=?0.23 V (E⁰_1/2=?0.27 V) (vs. Fc/Fc⁺). Oxidation reactions on a preparative scale with one equivalent of the ferrocenium salt [Fc][BF₄] (very slow reaction) or air (fast reaction) furnished blue crystals of the mononuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(^FTp*)₂] ( 4 ). As expected for a Jahn–Teller‐active system, the coordination sphere around copper(II) is strongly distorted towards a stretched octahedron, in accordance with EPR spectroscopic findings.     

Titanium(IV) Cations with Trigonal Monopyramidal Geometry: Unusual Lewis Acids Supported by a Triaryl Triamidoamine Ligand

Protonolysis of the titanium alkyl complex [Ti(CH₂SiMe₃)(Xy-N₃N)] (Xy-N₃N=[{(3,5-Me₂C₆H₃)NCH₂CH₂}₃N]³⁻) supported by a triamidoamine ligand, with [NEt₃H][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] or [PhNMe₂H][B(C₆F₅)₄] afforded the cations [Ti(Xy-N₃N)][A] (A⁻=[B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄]⁻ ( 1[B(Ar^Cl)₄] ; B(Ar^Cl)₄=tetrakis(3,5-dichlorophenyl)borate); A⁻=[B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ ( 1[B(Ar^F)₄] ; B(Ar^F)₄=tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate). These Lewis acidic cations were reacted with coordinating solvents to afford the cations [Ti(L)(Xy-N₃N)][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 2-L ; L=Et₂O, pyridine and THF). XRD analysis revealed a trigonal monopyramidal (TMP) geometry for the tetracoordinate cations in 1[B(Ar^X)₄] and trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) geometry for the pentacoordinate cations in 2-L . Variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy showed a dynamic equilibrium for 2-Et₂O in solution, involving the dissociation of Et₂O. Coordination to the titanium(IV) center activated the THF molecule, which, in the presence of NEt₃, underwent ring-opening to give the titanium alkoxide [Ti(O(CH₂)₄NEt₃)(Xy-N₃N)][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] ( 3 ). Hydride abstraction from C_β,eq of the triamidoamine ligand arm in [Ti(CH₂SiMe₃)(Xy-N₃N)] or [Ti(NMe₂)(Xy-N₃N)] with [Ph₃C][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] led to the diamidoamine–imine complex [Ti(R){(Xy-N=CHCH₂)(Xy-NCH₂CH₂)₂N}][B(3,5-Cl₂C₆H₃)₄] (R=CH₂SiMe₃ ( 4 a ); R=NMe₂ ( 4 b )). Hydride addition to 4 b with [Li(THF)][HBPh₃] gave [Ti(NMe₂)(Xy-N₃N)], whereas KH deprotonated further to give [Ti(NMe₂){(Xy-NCH=CH)(Xy-NCH₂CH₂)₂N}] ( 5 ). XRD on single crystals of 3 and 4 b confirmed the proposed structures.