D3h‐Symmetric Porphyrin‐Based Rigid Macrocyclic Ligands for Multicofacial Multinuclear Complexes in a One‐Nanometer‐Sized Cavity

The one‐step synthesis of D_3h‐symmetric cyclic porphyrin trimers 1 composed of three 2,2′‐[4,4′‐bis(methoxycarbonyl)]bipyridyl moieties and three porphyrinatozinc moieties was achieved from a nickel‐mediated reductive coupling of meso‐5,15‐bis(6‐chloro‐4‐methoxycarbonylpyrid‐2‐yl)porphyrinatozinc. Although cyclic trimers 1 were obtained as a mixture that included other cyclic and acyclic porphyrin oligomers, an extremely specific separation was observed only for cyclic trimers 1 when using columns of silica gel modified with pyrenylethyl, cyanopropyl, and other groups. Structural analysis of cyclic trimers 1 was carried out by means of NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. Treatment of an η³‐allylpalladium complex with a cyclic trimer gave a tris(palladium) complex containing three η³‐allylpalladium groups inside the space, which indicated that the bipyridyl moieties inside the ring could work as bidentate metalloligands.     

Site-Selective Supramolecular Complexation Activates Catalytic Ethane Oxidation by a Nitrido-Bridged Iron Porphyrinoid Dimer

Development of supramolecular methods to further activate a highly reactive intermediate is a fascinating strategy to create novel potent catalysts for activation of inert chemicals. Herein, a supramolecular approach to enhance the oxidizing ability of a high-valent oxo species of a nitrido-bridged iron porphyrinoid dimer that is a known potent molecular catalyst for light alkane oxidation is reported. For this purpose, a nitrido-bridged dinuclear iron complex of porphyrin-phthalocyanine heterodimer 3 ⁵⁺, which is connected through a fourfold rotaxane, was prepared. Heterodimer 3 ⁵⁺ catalyzed ethane oxidation in the presence of H₂O₂ at a relatively low temperature. The site-selective complexation of 3 ⁵⁺ with an additional anionic porphyrin (TPPS⁴⁻) through π–π stacking and electrostatic interactions afforded a stable 1:1 complex. It was demonstrated that the supramolecular post-synthetic modification of 3 ⁵⁺ enhances its catalytic activity efficiently. Moreover, supramolecular conjugates achieved higher catalytic ethane oxidation activity than nitrido-bridged iron phthalocyanine dimer, which is the most potent iron-oxo-based molecular catalyst for light-alkane oxidation reported so far. Electrochemical measurements proved that the electronic perturbation from TPPS⁴⁻ to 3 ⁵⁺ enhanced the catalytic activity.     

One step synthesis of 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals in an ionic liquid

Investigation of one step synthesis of 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals has been carried out using versatile aldehydes, tri- or di-fluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal in the presence of diethylaminotrimethylsilane (DEATMS) in an ionic liquid, and it was demonstrated that this route enabled us to successfully construct 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals with the high level selectivity of geometric isomers.     

C-Fe chains due to segregated carbon impurities on Fe(1 0 0)

Bulk carbon impurities segregate at the Fe(1 0 0) surface and, upon thermal annealing, can form metastable surface phases with local and long range order and peculiar electronic properties. We present a surface science study of C-segregated Fe(1 0 0) with scanning tunneling microscopy, angle resolved photoemission, and ab initio calculations of the surface structure and electron states. In particular the c(3√2 × √2) structure, observed for 0.67 atomic layers of C segregated at the iron surface, is found to be due to self-organized carbon stripes made of zig-zag chains. The strong hybridization between C and Fe was observed in ARPES spectra.     

Introduction of several trifluoromethyl groups onto the activated aromatic materials with CF3TMS-CuI-KF system

Trifluoromethylation onto the tetrafluorophthalonitrile and tetrafluoroisophthalonitrile has been carried out using CF₃TMS-CuI-KF system, and it was demonstrated that these trifluoromethylation enabled us to successfully construct di- and/or tri-trifluoromethylated benzonitriles via the decyanotrifluoromethylation.     

Internal Rotation of the Methyl Group in Cations of Toluene Derivatives

The potential of the internal rotation of the methyl group was determined for o-, m-, and p-fluorotoluene cations by pulsed field ionization spectroscopy. The potential of the internal rotational motion was also surveyed for other toluene derivative cations. It was found that the barrier height generally increases by ionization. The increase in the barrier height has been discussed in connection with the reduction of the internal rotational constant B by ionization. The geometrical distortion of the methyl group during the internal rotation has been suggested.