Total Synthesis of cis‐Clavicipitic Acid from Asparagine via Ir‐Catalyzed CH bond Activation as a Key Step

4‐Substituted tryptophan derivatives and the total synthesis of cis‐clavicipitic acid were achieved in reactions in which Ir‐catalyzed C?H bond activation was a key step. The starting material for these reactions is asparagine, which is a cheap natural amino acid. The reductive amination step from the 4‐substituted tryptophan derivative gave cis‐clavicipitic acid with perfect diastereoselectivity.     

Reversible Modulation of Surface Plasmons in Gold Nanoparticles Enabled by Surface Redox Chemistry

Switchable surface redox chemistry is demonstrated in gold@iron/iron oxide core–shell nanoparticles with ambient oxidation and plasmon‐mediated reduction to modulate the oxidation state of shell layers. The iron shell can be oxidized to iron oxide through ambient oxidation, leading to an enhancement and red‐shift of the gold surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This enhanced gold SPR can drive reduction of the iron oxide shell under broadband illumination to reversibly blue‐shift and significantly dampen gold SPR absorption. The observed phenomena provide a unique mechanism for controlling the plasmonic properties and surface chemistry of small metal nanoparticles.     

Synthesis and EPR/UV/Vis‐NIR Spectroelectrochemical Investigation of a Persistent Phosphanyl Radical Dication

The reaction of the bis(imidazoliumyl)‐substituted P^I cation [(2‐Im^Dipp)P(4‐Im^Dipp)]⁺ ( 10 ⁺) (2‐Im=imidazolium‐2‐yl; 4‐Im=imidazolium‐4‐yl; Dipp=2,6‐di‐isopropylphenyl) with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (HOTf) or methyl trifluoromethylsulfonate (MeOTf) yields the corresponding protonated [(2‐Im^Dipp)PH(4‐Im^Dipp)]²⁺ ( 11 ²⁺) and methylated [(2‐Im^Dipp)PMe(4‐Im^Dipp)]²⁺ ( 12 ²⁺) dications, respectively. EPR/UV/Vis‐NIR spectroelectrochemical investigation of the low‐coordinated P^I cation 10 ⁺ predicted a stable and “bottleable” P‐centered radical dication [(2‐Im^Dipp)P(4‐Im^Dipp)]^2+. ( 13 ^2+.). The reaction of 10 ⁺ with the nitrosyl salt NO[OTf] yields the persistent phosphanyl radical dication 13 ^2+. as triflate salt in crystalline form. Quantum chemical investigation revealed an exceptional high spin density at the P atom.     

An Accurate In Vitro Model of the E. coli Envelope

Gram‐negative bacteria are an increasingly serious source of antibiotic‐resistant infections, partly owing to their characteristic protective envelope. This complex, 20 nm thick barrier includes a highly impermeable, asymmetric bilayer outer membrane (OM), which plays a pivotal role in resisting antibacterial chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the OM molecular structure and its dynamics are poorly understood because the structure is difficult to recreate or study in vitro. The successful formation and characterization of a fully asymmetric model envelope using Langmuir–Blodgett and Langmuir–Schaefer methods is now reported. Neutron reflectivity and isotopic labeling confirmed the expected structure and asymmetry and showed that experiments with antibacterial proteins reproduced published in vivo behavior. By closely recreating natural OM behavior, this model provides a much needed robust system for antibiotic development.     

Isolation of Elusive HAsAsH in a Crystalline Diuranium(IV) Complex

The HAsAsH molecule has hitherto only been proposed tentatively as a short‐lived species generated in electrochemical or microwave‐plasma experiments. After two centuries of inconclusive or disproven claims of HAsAsH formation in the condensed phase, we report the isolation and structural authentication of HAsAsH in the diuranium(IV) complex [{U(Tren^TIPS)}₂(μ‐η²:η²‐As₂H₂)] ( 3 , Tren^TIPS=N(CH₂CH₂NSiPrⁱ₃)₃; Prⁱ=CH(CH₃)₂). Complex 3 was prepared by deprotonation and oxidative homocoupling of an arsenide precursor. Characterization and computational data are consistent with back‐bonding‐type interactions from uranium to the HAsAsH π*‐orbital. This experimentally confirms the theoretically predicted excellent π‐acceptor character of HAsAsH, and is tantamount to full reduction to the diarsane‐1,2‐diide form.     

Locating Gases in Porous Materials: Cryogenic Loading of Fuel‐Related Gases Into a Sc‐based Metal–Organic Framework under Extreme Pressures

An alternative approach to loading metal organic frameworks with gas molecules at high (kbar) pressures is reported. The technique, which uses liquefied gases as pressure transmitting media within a diamond anvil cell along with a single‐crystal of a porous metal–organic framework, is demonstrated to have considerable advantages over other gas‐loading methods when investigating host–guest interactions. Specifically, loading the metal–organic framework Sc₂BDC₃ with liquefied CO₂ at 2 kbar reveals the presence of three adsorption sites, one previously unreported, and resolves previous inconsistencies between structural data and adsorption isotherms. A further study with supercritical CH₄ at 3–25 kbar demonstrates hyperfilling of the Sc₂BDC₃ and two high‐pressure displacive and reversible phase transitions are induced as the filled MOF adapts to reduce the volume of the system.     

Radical Formation in the Gas‐Phase Ozonolysis of Deprotonated Cysteine

Although the deleterious effects of ozone on the human respiratory system are well‐known, many of the precise chemical mechanisms that both cause damage and afford protection in the pulmonary epithelial lining fluid are poorly understood. As a key first step to elucidating the intrinsic reactivity of ozone with proteins, its reactions with deprotonated cysteine [Cys?H]^? are examined in the gas phase. Reaction proceeds at near the collision limit to give a rich set of products including 1) sequential oxygen atom abstraction reactions to yield cysteine sulfenate, sulfinate and sulfonate anions, and significantly 2) sulfenate radical anions formed by ejection of a hydroperoxy radical. The free‐radical pathway occurs only when both thiol and carboxylate moieties are available, implicating electron‐transfer as a key step in this reaction. This novel and facile reaction is also observed in small cys‐containing peptides indicating a possible role for this chemistry in protein ozonolysis.     

Recent trends in nanomaterial-based microanalytical systems for the speciation of trace elements: A critical review

Trace element speciation in biomedical and environmental science has gained increasing attention over the past decade as researchers have begun to realize its importance in toxicological studies. Several nanomaterials, including titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), have been used as sorbents to separate and preconcentrate trace element species prior to detection through mass spectrometry or optical spectroscopy. Recently, these nanomaterial-based speciation techniques have been integrated with microfluidics to minimize sample and reagent consumption and simplify analyses. This review provides a critical look into the present state and recent applications of nanomaterial-based microanalytical systems in the speciation of trace elements. The adsorption and preconcentration efficiencies, sample volume requirements, and detection limits of these nanomaterial-based speciation techniques are detailed, and their applications in environmental and biological analyses are discussed. Current perspectives and future trends into the increasing use of nanomaterial-based microfluidic techniques for trace element speciation are highlighted.     

A Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed C?H Activation Cascade Sequence for Polyheterocycle Formation

Polyheterocycles are found in many natural products and are useful moieties in functional materials and drug design. As part of a program towards the synthesis of Stemona alkaloids, a novel palladium(II)‐catalyzed C H activation strategy for the construction of such systems has been developed. Starting from simple 1,3‐dienyl‐substituted heterocycles, a large range of polycyclic systems containing pyrrole, indole, furan and thiophene moieties can be synthesized in a single step.