Chemoselective Chromium(II)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Dichlorinated Heteroaromatics with Functionalized Aryl Grignard Reagents

Chromium(II) chloride catalyzes the chemoselective cross‐coupling reaction of dichloropyridines with a range of functionalized (hetero)aromatic Grignard reagents at room temperature. Functional groups, such as esters and acetals, are well tolerated in this transformation. Previously challenging substrates, quinolines and isoquinolines, participate in the selective Cr‐catalyzed cross‐coupling in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as the solvent. The effective purging of Cr salts is demonstrated by using various solid supports.     

Square‐Planar Ruthenium(II) Complexes: Control of Spin State by Pincer Ligand Functionalization

Functionalization of the PNP pincer ligand backbone allows for a comparison of the dialkyl amido, vinyl alkyl amido, and divinyl amido ruthenium(II) pincer complex series [RuCl{N(CH₂CH₂PtBu₂)₂}], [RuCl{N(CHCHPtBu₂)(CH₂CH₂PtBu₂)}], and [RuCl{N(CHCHPtBu₂)₂}], in which the ruthenium(II) ions are in the extremely rare square‐planar coordination geometry. Whereas the dialkylamido complex adopts an electronic singlet (S=0) ground state and energetically low‐lying triplet (S=1) state, the vinyl alkyl amido and the divinyl amido complexes exhibit unusual triplet (S=1) ground states as confirmed by experimental and computational examination. However, essentially non‐magnetic ground states arise for the two intermediate‐spin complexes owing to unusually large zero‐field splitting (D>+200 cm^?1). The change in ground state electronic configuration is attributed to tailored pincer ligand‐to‐metal π‐donation within the PNP ligand series.     

Extraordinary transport behavior of gases in isothermally annealed poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) membranes

Poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) (PMP) membranes were modified through isothermal annealing to investigate the change of their crystalline structure and rigid and mobile amorphous fractions (RAF and MAF), assuming a three‐phase model, affected the gas transport behavior. The crystalline structure was characterized by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) techniques, and the free volume properties were analyzed by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Compared with the pristine membrane, the annealed membranes show higher crystallinity; the crystals undergo partial structural change from form III to form I. The lamellar crystal thickness, rigid amorphous fraction thickness, and long period in the lamellar stacks increase with crystallinity. The annealed PMP membranes exhibit higher permeability due to the increase in larger size free volumes in MAF and higher selectivity due to the increase in smaller size free volumes in RAF, respectively. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2368–2376     

Radical Cyclisation of α‐Halo Aluminium Acetals: A Mechanistic Study

α‐Bromo aluminium acetals are suitable substrates for Ueno–Stork‐like radical cyclisations affording γ‐lactols and acid‐sensitive methylene‐γ‐lactols in high yields. The mechanistic study herein sets the scope and limitation of this reaction. The influence of the halide (or chalcogenide) atom X (X=Cl, Br, I, SPh, SePh) in the precursors α‐haloesters, as well as influence of the solvent and temperature was studied. The structure of the aluminium acetal intermediates resulting from the reduction of the corresponding α‐haloesters has been investigated by low‐temperature ¹³C‐INEPT diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) experiments and quantum calculations, providing new insights into the structures of these thermally labile intermediates. Oxygen‐bridged dimeric structures with a planar Al₂O₂ ring are proposed for the least hindered aluminium acetals, while monomeric structures seem to prevail for the most hindered species. A comparison against the radical cyclisation of aluminium acetals derived from allyl and propargyl alcohols with the parent Ueno–Stork has been made at the BHandHLYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory, highlighting mechanistic similarities and differences.     

Study of electron-vibrational interaction and concentration quenching effect of Cu+ ions in lithium based sulphate phosphors

The objective of this work is to study electron-vibrational interaction (EVI) and concentration quenching and their manifestation in experimental photoluminescence spectra of Cu⁺ ion in various lithium based phosphors namely, Li₂SO₄, LiNaSO₄ and LiKSO₄. The main parameters of EVI, such as the Stokes shift, Huang-Rhys factor and zero-phonon line positions, were estimated. The studied systems shows strong electron lattice coupling. The validity of results was established by modeling the shape of the emission spectra, which was found to be in good agreement with experimental photoluminescence spectra. The concentration quenching study is also carried out for these compounds. The studied systems correspond to the nearest neighbor energy transfer mechanism.     

Simple and Precise Quantification of Iron Catalyst Content in Carbon Nanotubes Using UV/Visible Spectroscopy

Iron catalysts have been used widely for the mass production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with high yield. In this study, UV/visible spectroscopy was used to determine the Fe catalyst content in CNTs using a colorimetric technique. Fe ions in solution form red–orange complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline, producing an absorption peak at λ=510 nm, the intensity of which is proportional to the solution Fe concentration. A series of standard Fe solutions were formulated to establish the relationship between optical absorbance and Fe concentration. Many Fe catalysts were microscopically observed to be encased by graphitic layers, thus preventing their extraction. Fe catalyst dissolution from CNTs was investigated with various single and mixed acids, and Fe concentration was found to be highest with CNTs being held at reflux in HClO₄/HNO₃ and H₂SO₄/HNO₃ mixtures. This novel colorimetric method to measure Fe concentrations by UV/Vis spectroscopy was validated by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy, indicating its reliability and applicability to asses Fe content in CNTs.     

(3S,4S)-4-氨基-3-羟基-6-甲基庚酸的合成

价廉易得的L-亮氨酸先以苄基同时保护氨基及羧基得(S)-2-(二苄胺基)-4-甲基戊酸苄酯,进而在碱性条件下与乙腈发生亲核取代反应得(S)-4-(二苄胺基)-6-甲基-3-氧代庚腈,再经硼氢化钠选择性还原羰基得(3S,4S)-4-(二苄胺基)-3-羟基-6-甲基庚腈,用双氧水氧化得(3S,4S)-4-(二苄胺基)-3-羟基-6-甲基庚酸,最后在Pd(OH)2/C-H2作用下脱掉苄基得到(3S,4S)-4-氨基-3-羟基-6-甲基庚酸,即(3S,4S)-statine。整个合成路线总产率为33.6%。