Aerobic Double Dehydrogenative Cross Coupling between Cyclic Saturated Ketones and Simple Arenes

The synthesis of 3‐aryl‐2‐cyclohexenones is a topic of current interest as they are not only privileged structures in bioactive molecules, but they are also relevant feedstocks for the synthesis of substituted phenols or anilines, which are ubiquitous structural elements both in drug design and medicinal chemistry. A simple and sustainable one‐pot aerobic double dehydrogenative reaction under mild conditions for the introduction of arenes in the β‐position of cyclic ketones has been developed. Starting from the corresponding saturated ketone, this reaction sequence proceeds under relatively low Pd catalyst loading and involves catalytic amounts of electron‐transfer mediators (ETMs) under ambient oxygen pressure.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed One‐Pot Three‐ or Four‐Component Coupling of Aryl Iodides,Alkynes, and Amines through CN Bond Cleavage: Efficient Synthesis of Indole Derivatives

An efficient synthesis of N‐substituted indole derivatives was realized by combining the Pd‐catalyzed one‐pot multicomponent coupling approach with cleavage of the C(sp³)?N bonds. Three or four components of aryl iodides, alkynes, and amines were involved in this coupling process. The cyclopentadiene–phosphine ligand showed high efficiency. A variety of aryl iodides, including cyclic and acyclic tertiary amino aryl iodides, and substituted 1‐bromo‐2‐iodobenzene derivatives could be used. Both symmetric and unsymmetric alkynes substituted with alkyl, aryl, or trimethylsilyl groups could be applied. Cyclic secondary amines such as piperidine, morpholine, 4‐methylpiperidine, 1‐methylpiperazine, 2‐methylpiperidine, and acyclic amines including secondary and primary amines all showed good reactivity. Further application of the resulting indole derivatives was demonstrated by the synthesis of benzosilolo[2,3‐b]indole.     

Development of a New Benzylating Reagent Spontaneously Releasing Benzyl Cation Equivalents at Room Temperature

A new O‐benzylating reagent, that is, 4‐(4,6‐diphenoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐benzylmorpholinium trifluoromethanesulfonate (DPT‐BM), has been developed. Benzyl cation equivalents are generated from DPT‐BM by dissolving the compound in a solvent at room temperature under non‐acidic conditions. The benzylation of various alcohols by using a combination of DPT‐BM and magnesium oxide provided the benzyl ethers in good yields.     

A Novel Bismuth‐Based Metal–Organic Framework for High Volumetric Methane and Carbon Dioxide Adsorption

Solvothermal reaction of H₄L (L=biphenyl‐3,3′,5,5′‐tetracarboxylate) and Bi(NO₃)₃ ? (H₂O)₅ in a mixture of DMF/MeCN/H₂O in the presence of piperazine and nitric acid at 100 °C for 10 h affords the solvated metal–organic polymer [Bi₂(L)_1.5(H₂O)₂] ? (DMF)_3.5 ? (H₂O)₃ (NOTT‐220‐solv). A single crystal X‐ray structure determination confirms that it crystallises in space group P2/c and has a neutral and non‐interpenetrated structure comprising binuclear {Bi₂} centres bridged by tetracarboxylate ligands. NOTT‐220‐solv shows a 3,6‐connected network having a framework topology with a {4 ? 6²}₂{4² ? 6⁵ ? 8⁸}{6² ? 8} point symbol. The desolvated material NOTT‐220a shows exceptionally high adsorption uptakes for CH₄ and CO₂ on a volumetric basis at moderate pressures and temperatures with a CO₂ uptake of 553 g L^?1 (20 bar, 293 K) with a saturation uptake of 688 g L^?1 (1 bar, 195 K). The corresponding CH₄ uptake was measured as 165 V(STP)/V (20 bar, 293 K) and 189 V(STP/V) (35 bar, 293 K) with a maximum CH₄ uptake for NOTT‐220a recorded at 20 bar and 195 K to be 287 V(STP)/V, while H₂ uptake of NOTT‐220a at 20 bar, 77 K is 42 g L^?1. These gas uptakes have been modelled by grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which confirm the experimental data and give insights into the nature of the binding sites of CH₄ and CO₂ in this porous hybrid material.     

Simple Synthetic Receptors for Aspirin

Shallow methylene‐bridged cavitands appended with simple H‐bond donor/acceptor groups are shown to bind aspirin. The structural features needed in a synthetic receptor for aspirin binding are defined.     

Stereoelectronic Basis for the Kinetic Resolution of N‐Heterocycles with Chiral Acylating Reagents

The kinetic resolution of N‐heterocycles with chiral acylating agents reveals a previously unrecognized stereoelectronic effect in amine acylation. Combined with a new achiral hydroxamate, this effect makes possible the resolution of various N‐heterocycles by using easily prepared reagents. A transition‐state model to rationalize the stereochemical outcome of this kinetic resolution is also proposed.     

Noble Metals Can Have Different Effects on Photocatalysis Over Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): A Case Study on M/NH2‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au)

M‐doped NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were prepared by using the wetness impregnation method followed by a treatment with H₂ flow. The resultant samples were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses, N₂‐sorption BET surface area, and UV/Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic reaction carried out in saturated CO₂ with triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial agent under visible‐light irradiations showed that the noble metal‐doping on NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) promoted the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Unlike that over pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), in which only formate was produced, both hydrogen and formate were formed over Pt‐ and Au‐loaded NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti). However, Pt and Au have different effects on the photocatalytic performance for formate production. Compared with pure NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti), Pt/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) showed an enhanced activity for photocatalytic formate formation, whereas Au has a negative effect on this reaction. To elucidate the origin of the different photocatalytic performance, electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti).The photocatalytic mechanisms over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) (M=Pt and Au) were proposed. For the first time, the hydrogen spillover from the noble metal Pt to the framework of NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) and its promoting effect on the photocatalytic CO₂ reduction is revealed. The elucidation of the mechanism on the photocatalysis over M/NH₂‐MIL‐125(Ti) can provide some guidance in the development of new photocatalysts based on MOF materials. This study also demonstrates the potential of using noble metal‐doped MOFs in photocatalytic reactions involving hydrogen as a reactant, like hydrogenation reactions.     

Propane‐1,2‐diols from Dilactides,Oligolactides, or Poly‐L‐lactic Acid (PLLA): From Plastic Waste to Chiral Bulk Chemicals

The preparation of racemic or enantioenriched propane‐1,2‐diol from dilactides, oligolactides, or poly‐L ‐lactic acid (PLLA) is described. The transformation is carried out as tandem reactions in MeOH, covering hydrolysis and subsequent hydrogenation by using copper chromite as a catalyst. The starting material present undesired side products of the PLLA synthesis or PLLA waste.     

Synthesis of Unsymmetric Bipyridine–PtII–Alkynyl Complexes through Post‐Click Reaction with Emission Enhancement Characteristics and Their Applications as Phosphorescent Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Two unsymmetric bipyridine–platinum(II)–alkynyl complexes have been synthesised by a post‐click reaction. These metal complexes are found to exhibit emission enhancement properties. The photoluminescence quantum yield can be significantly increased from 0.03 in solution to 0.72 in solid‐state thin films. Efficient solution‐processable organic light‐emitting diodes have been fabricated by utilizing these complexes as phosphorescent dopants. A high external quantum efficiency of up to 5.8 % has been achieved.