Control of chain ends of polyesters in polycondensation of AA and BB monomers by use of solid‐phase reagent

For selective synthesis of linear polyester having a functional group at one end, polycondensation between 1,4‐butanediol ( 1a ) and sebacoyl chloride ( 2a ) and between 1,12‐dodecanediol ( 1b ) and isophthaloyl chloride ( 2b ) was conducted in the presence of oxime resin or oxime silica gel, followed by cleavage of the formed polyester from the solid‐phase support with aniline. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectra and ¹H NMR spectra of the cleaved polyester showed that the products contained not only polyester with anilide at one end ( poly 1 ), but also polyester with anilides at both ends ( poly 2 ). The product ratio of poly 1 to poly 2 ( poly 1 / poly 2 ) was dependent on monomers, monomer concentration, feed ratio of monomer to oxime moiety in the support, oxime content in the support, reaction solvent, and the nature of the support. Polyester with a high poly 1 / poly 2 ratio of 81/21 and moderate molecular weight (M_n = 1430 g/mol) was obtained by polycondensation of 1b and 2b in the presence of oxime silica gel in dichloromethane. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1379–1386     

Reversible and Stepwise Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation of a Platinum(II) Complex with Vapochromic Luminescence

The vapochromic single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation of a highly luminescent Pt^II complex bearing an N-heterocyclic carbene [Pt(CN)₂(tBu-impy)] (tBu-impyH⁺=1-tert-butyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazolium) is reported. The trihydrate form of the complex, which exhibits blue ³MMLCT emission owing to weak Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt interactions, changed its luminescence color from blue to yellowish-green upon the desorption of water molecules while keeping the high emission quantum yield of more than 0.45. Variable-temperature and continuous in-situ tracking of single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the SCSC transformation proceeds reversibly by the release and reabsorption of water molecules, thereby changing the stacked structure slightly. As a result, the dynamics of vapor-induced SCSC transformation were elucidated: that the anhydrous form returned to the original trihydrate form in a two-step process under a water vapor atmosphere. In addition, the Pt^II complex exhibited a similar SCSC response accompanied by a luminescence color change in the presence of methanol vapor, while being inactive toward ethanol vapor.     

Synthesis of Porphyrinquinone and Doubly‐Fused Diporphyrin Quinone Through Oxidation of Diarylporphyrins Using a Hypervalent Iodine Compound

Treatment of a meso‐diarylporphyrin with PhI(OAc)₂ in the presence of BF₃ ? OEt₂ and propionic acid affords the corresponding porphyrinquinone in a high yield (91%). A novel quinone derived from meso‐meso β–β doubly‐fused diporphyrin was obtained as the sole byproduct (16% yield), which exhibits strong panchromatic absorption between 300 and 1000 nm. It has a low HOMO‐LUMO gap owing to expanded and low‐symmetry π‐planes.     

A Structurally Robust Chiral Borate Ion: Molecular Design,Synthesis, and Asymmetric Catalysis

Catalysis by chiral weakly‐coordinating anions (WCAs) remains underdeveloped due to the lack of a molecular design strategy for exploiting their characteristics, such as the non‐nucleophilic nature. Here, we report the development of a chiral borate ion comprising an O,N,N,O‐tetradentate backbone, which ensures hitherto unattainable structural robustness. Upon pairing with a proton, the hydrogen borate acts as an effective catalyst for the asymmetric Prins‐type cyclization of vinyl ethers, providing access to structurally and stereochemically defined dihydropyrans. The key to selectivity control is the distinct ability of the borate ion to discriminate the prochiral faces of the acyclic oxonium ion intermediate and dictate the regiochemical outcome. We anticipate that this study paves the way for exploring the untapped potential of WCA catalysis for selective chemical synthesis.     

Hydrophobic Monomers Recognize Microenvironments in Hydrogel Microspheres during Free-Radical-Seeded Emulsion Polymerization

The three-dimensional structure of nanocomposite microgels was precisely determined by cryo-electron micrography. Several nanocomposite microgels that differ with respect to their nanocomposite structure, which were obtained from seeded emulsion polymerization in the presence of microgels, were used as model nanocomposite materials for cryo-electron micrography. The obtained three-dimensional segmentation images of these nanocomposite microgels provide important insights into the interactions between the hydrophobic monomers and the microgels, that is, hydrophobic styrene monomers recognize molecular-scale differences in polarity within the microgels during the emulsion polymerization. This result led to the formation of unprecedented multi-layered nanocomposite microgels, which promise substantial potential in colloidal applications.     

Redox-Induced Modulation of Exchange Interaction in a High-Spin Ground-State Diradical/Triradical System

A triplet ground-state diradical molecule, bis(nitronyl nitroxide)-substituted diphenyldihydrophenazine ( 1 ^..), that can be converted into a one-electron oxidized species, 1 ^{… +} , in the quartet ground state has been developed. Surprisingly, these species, 1 ^.. and 1 ^{… +} , can be used under ambient conditions because they are reasonably stable under aerobic conditions, even in solution. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities reveal that 1 ^.. and 1 ^{… +} are in the triplet state, with a weak exchange interaction (J₁/k_B = +3.1 K) and quartet ground state with a strong exchange interaction (J₂/k_B = +160 K), respectively. The interconversion between the neutral and one-electron oxidized species can be realized through electrochemical reactions. Significantly different absorption bands in the near-IR region newly appeared in the electronic spectra acquired during electrochemical oxidation/reduction.     

Total Synthesis of Terpioside B

The first total synthesis of terpioside B ( 1 ) has been accomplished. Key steps include the stereoselective installments of a set of challenging 1,2-cis-glycosidic linkages. Thus, α(1,4)-linked d -galactoside was effectively constructed from a 1,2-anhydrogalactose donor and an unprotected 1,6-anhydrogalactose acceptor by using a boron-mediated aglycon delivery (BMAD) method. In addition, α-l -fucofuranosides were stereoselectively and simultaneously constructed by remote group-assisted 1,2-cis-α-stereoselective glycosylations.     

Effect of Alkynyl Group on Reactivity in Photoaffinity Labeling with 2-Thienyl-Substituted α-Ketoamide

Minimalist photo-reactive probes, which consist of a photo-reactive group and a tag for detection of target proteins, are useful tools in chemical biology. Although several diazirine-based and aryl azide-based minimalist probes are available, no keto-based minimalist probe has yet been reported. Here we describe minimalist probes based on a 2-thienyl-substituted α-ketoamide bearing an alkyne group on the thiophene ring. The 3-alkyne probe showed the highest photo-affinity labeling efficiency.     

Dynamic Lone Pair Expression as Chemical Bonding Origin of Giant Phonon Anharmonicity in Thermoelectric InTe

Loosely bonded (“rattling”) atoms with s² lone pair electrons are usually associated with strong anharmonicity and unexpectedly low thermal conductivity, yet their detailed correlation remains largely unknown. Here we resolve this correlation in thermoelectric InTe by combining chemical bonding analysis, inelastic X-ray and neutron scattering, and first principles phonon calculations. We successfully probe soft low-lying transverse phonons dominated by large In¹⁺ z-axis motions, and their giant anharmonicity. We show that the highly anharmonic phonons arise from the dynamic lone pair expression with unstable occupied antibonding states induced by the covalency between delocalized In¹⁺ 5s² lone pair electrons and Te 5p states. This work pinpoints the microscopic origin of strong anharmonicity driven by rattling atoms with stereochemical lone pair activity, important for designing efficient materials for thermoelectric energy conversion.