Expedient Synthesis of C‐Aryl Carbohydrates by Consecutive Biocatalytic Benzoin and Aldol Reactions

The introduction of aromatic residues connected by a C?C bond into the non‐reducing end of carbohydrates is highly significant for the development of innovative structures with improved binding affinity and selectivity (e.g., C?aril‐sLex). In this work, an expedient asymmetric “de novo” synthetic route to new aryl carbohydrate derivatives based on two sequential stereoselectively biocatalytic carboligation reactions is presented. First, the benzoin reaction of aromatic aldehydes to dimethoxyacetaldehyde is conducted, catalyzed by benzaldehyde lyase from Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar I. Then, the α‐hydroxyketones formed are reduced by using NaBH₄ yielding the anti diol. After acetal hydrolysis, the aldol addition of dihydroxyacetone, hydroxyacetone, or glycolaldehyde catalyzed by the stereocomplementary D ‐fructose‐6‐phosphate aldolase and L ‐rhamnulose‐1‐phosphate aldolase is performed. Both aldolases accept unphosphorylated donor substrates, avoiding the need of handling the phosphate group that the dihydroxyacetone phosphate‐dependent aldolases require. In this way, 6‐C‐aryl‐L ‐sorbose, 6‐C‐aryl–L ‐fructose, 6‐C‐aryl–L ‐tagatose, and 5‐C‐aryl‐L ‐xylose derivatives are prepared by using this methodology.     

Solid‐State Molecular Nanomagnet Inclusion into a Magnetic Metal–Organic Framework: Interplay of the Magnetic Properties

Single‐ion magnets (SIMs) are the smallest possible magnetic devices and are a controllable, bottom‐up approach to nanoscale magnetism with potential applications in quantum computing and high‐density information storage. In this work, we take advantage of the promising, but yet insufficiently explored, solid‐state chemistry of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to report the single‐crystal to single‐crystal inclusion of such molecular nanomagnets within the pores of a magnetic MOF. The resulting host–guest supramolecular aggregate is used as a playground in the first in‐depth study on the interplay between the internal magnetic field created by the long‐range magnetic ordering of the structured MOF and the slow magnetic relaxation of the SIM.     

Revisiting Molecular Weight Distribution of Polystyrenes Using Adsorption High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A repeatable separation of polystyrenes according to MW, from 1920 to 520000 u.m.a, has been obtained under adsorption conditions...