Phosphahelicenes with (Thio)Phosphinic Acid and Ester Functions by the Oxidative Photocyclisation Approach

Phosphahelicenes with thiophosphinic acid and ester functions have been obtained by the oxidative photocyclisation of olefins bearing both a benzophenanthrene and a benzophosphole unit. When the method has been extended to olefins bearing a partially saturated benzophospholene unit, a divergent regioselectivity of the photocyclisation step has been observed, leading to new helicenes in which the phosphorus function is located on the external rim of the helical backbone. The observed regioselectivity correlates well with the free-valence numbers of the atoms involved in the photocyclisation reaction (DFT calculations).     

Approaches to the Synthesis of Perfluoroalkyl-Modified Carbohydrates and Derivatives: Thiosugars,Iminosugars, and Tetrahydro(thio)pyrans

Fluoroalkyl-substituted carbohydrates play relevant roles in diverse areas such as supramolecular chemistry, glycoconjugation, liquid crystals, and surfactants, with direct applications as wetting, antifreeze, and coating agents. In light of these promising applications, new methodologies for the late-stage incorporation of fluoroalkyl R_F groups into carbohydrates and derivatives are herein presented as they are relevant to the synthetic carbohydrate community. Previously reviewed protocols for the installation of R_F groups onto carbohydrates and derivatives will be succinctly summarized in the light of the new achievements. Fluoroalkyl-substituted iminosugars, on the other hand, are also interesting glycomimetic derivatives with prominent roles as glycosidases and glycosyltransferases inhibitors, as has recently been demonstrated. Also, they positively contribute to the study of sugar–protein interactions and enzyme mechanisms. New advances in the syntheses of fluoroalkyl-substituted iminosugars will also be presented here.     

Quantum histories without contrary inferences

In the consistent histories formulation of quantum theory it was shown that it is possible to retrodict contrary properties. We show that this problem do not appear in our formalism of generalized contexts for quantum histories.     

An improvement on geometrical parameterizations by transfinite maps

We present a method to generate a non-affine transfinite map from a given reference domain to a family of deformed domains. The map is a generalization of the Gordon–Hall transfinite interpolation approach. It is defined globally over the reference domain. Once we have computed some functions over the reference domain, the map can be generated by knowing the parametric expressions of the boundaries of the deformed domain. Being able to define a suitable map from a reference domain to a desired deformation is useful for the management of parameterized geometries.     

Spin–Orbit Charge-Transfer Intersystem Crossing (ISC) in Compact Electron Donor–Acceptor Dyads: ISC Mechanism and Application as Novel and Potent Photodynamic Therapy Reagents

Spin–orbit charge-transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) is useful for the preparation of heavy atom-free triplet photosensitisers (PSs). Herein, a series of perylene-Bodipy compact electron donor/acceptor dyads showing efficient SOCT-ISC is prepared. The photophysical properties of the dyads were studied with steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopies. Efficient triplet state formation (quantum yield Φ_T=60 %) was observed, with a triplet state lifetime (τ_T=436 μs) much longer than that accessed with the conventional heavy atom effect (τ_T=62 μs). The SOCT-ISC mechanism was unambiguously confirmed by direct excitation of the charge transfer (CT) absorption band by using nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy. The factors affecting the SOCT-ISC efficiency include the geometry, the potential energy surface of the torsion, the spin density for the atoms of the linker, solvent polarity, and the energy matching of the ¹CT/³LE states. Remarkably, these heavy atom-free triplet PSs were demonstrated as a new type of efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) reagents (phototoxicity, EC₅₀=75 nm ), with a negligible dark toxicity (EC₅₀=78.1 μm ) compared with the conventional heavy atom PSs (dark toxicity, EC₅₀=6.0 μm, light toxicity, EC₅₀=4.0 nm ). This study provides in-depth understanding of the SOCT-ISC, unveils the design principles of triplet PSs based on SOCT-ISC, and underlines their application as a new generation of potent PDT reagents.     

Electrophilicity Scale of Activated Amides: 17O NMR and 15N NMR Chemical Shifts of Acyclic Twisted Amides in N−C(O) Cross-Coupling

The structure and properties of amides are of tremendous interest in organic synthesis and biochemistry. Traditional amides are planar and the carbonyl group non-electrophilic due to n_N→π*_C=O conjugation. In this study, we report electrophilicity scale by exploiting ¹⁷O NMR and ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts of acyclic twisted and destabilized acyclic amides that have recently received major attention as precursors in N-C(O) cross-coupling by selective oxidative addition as well as precursors in electrophilic activation of N-C(O) bonds. Most crucially, we demonstrate that acyclic twisted amides feature electrophilicity of the carbonyl group that ranges between that of acid anhydrides and acid chlorides. Furthermore, a wide range of electrophilic amides is possible with gradually varying carbonyl electrophilicity by steric and electronic tuning of amide bond properties. Overall, the study quantifies for the first time that steric and electronic destabilization of the amide bond in common acyclic amides renders the amide bond as electrophilic as acid anhydrides and chlorides. These findings should have major implications on the fundamental properties of amide bonds.     

Reversible Activation of Water by an Air- and Moisture-Stable Frustrated Rhodium Nitrogen Lewis Pair

[Cp*Rh(κ³N,N′,P- L )][SbF₆] (Cp*=C₅Me₅), bearing a guanidine-derived phosphano ligand L , behaves as a “dormant” frustrated Lewis pair and activates H₂ and H₂O in a reversible manner. When D₂O is employed, a facile H/D exchange at the Cp* ring takes place through sequential C(sp³)−H bond activation.     

Two Types of σ-Allenyl Complexes from Reactions of Silylenes and Germylenes with Chromium Fischer Alkynyl(alkoxy)carbenes

The reactivity of amidinatotetrylenes of the type E(tBu₂bzm)R¹ (E=Si, Ge; tBu₂bzm=N,N′-bis(tertbutyl)benzamidinate; R¹=alkyl or aryl) with the chromium Fischer alkynylcarbene complexes [Cr{C(OEt)C₂R²}(CO)₅] (R²=Ph; ferrocenyl, Fc) has been studied. At room temperature, two different reaction pathways have been identified: (a) attack of the amidinatotetrylene to the alkynyl C² atom (γ-attack), which leads to σ-allenyl complexes in which the original C_carbene atom maintains its attachment to the Cr(CO)₅ and OEt groups (compounds 3 ), and (b) attack of the amidinatotetrylene to the C_carbene atom (α-attack), which ends in σ-allenyl complexes in which the original C_carbene atom is not attached to the metal atom and has been inserted into an E−N bond of the amidinatotetrylene forming an E-C-N-C-N five-membered ring (compounds 4 ). It has been found that compounds 3 are thermodynamically less stable than their corresponding 4 isomers and that some of the former (E=Ge; R¹=CH₂SiMe₃) can be transformed into the latter upon heating. At high temperatures (>70 °C) the reactions involving bulky amidinatotetrylenes (R¹=Mes, tBu) end in the carbene-substitution products [Cr{E(tBu₂bzm)R¹}(CO)₅].     

Engineering Multifunctional Gold Decorated Dendritic Mesoporous Silica/Tantalum Oxide Nanoparticles for Intraperitoneal Tumor‐Specific Delivery

Nonspecific high‐energy radiation for treatment of metastatic ovarian cancer is limited by damage to healthy organs, which can be mitigated by the use of radiosensitizers and image‐guided radiotherapy. Gold (Au) and tantalum oxide (TaO_x) nanoparticles (NPs), by virtue of their high atomic numbers, find utility in the design of bimetallic NP systems capable of high‐contrast computed tomography (CT) imaging as well as a potential radiosensitizing effect. These two radio‐dense metals are integrated into dendritic mesoporous silica NPs (dMSNs) with radial porous channels for high surface‐area loading of therapeutic agents. This approach results in stable, monodispersed dMSNs with a uniform distribution of Au on the surface and TaO_x in the core that exhibits CT attenuation up to seven times greater than iodine or monometallic dMSNs without either TaO_x or Au. Tumor targeting is assessed in a metastatic ovarian cancer mouse model. Ex vivo micro‐CT imaging of collected tumors shows that these NPs not only accumulate at tumor sites but also penetrate inside tumor tissues. This study demonstrates that after intraperitoneal administration, rationally designed bimetallic NPs can simultaneously serve as targeted contrast agents for imaging tumors and to enhance radiation therapy in metastatic ovarian cancer.