Pyridine-Stabilized Cationic Silanethione Tungsten Complexes: Synthesis,Structures, and Reactivity

Silanethione compounds, R₂Si=S, have been recognized as highly reactive species. One reliable way to stabilize silanethione is its coordination to transition metal fragments to convert silanethione-coordinated transition metal complexes. Herein, we report the synthesis, structure, and reactivity of a second cationic silanethione tungsten complex [Cp*(OC)₃W{S=SiR₂(py)}]TFPB (R=Me ( 5 a ), Ph ( 5 b ), Cp*: η⁵-C₅Me₅, py: pyridine, and TFPB⁻: [B{3,5-(CF₃)₂C₆H₃}₄]⁻). Complex 5 was obtained by H⁻ abstraction from the Si atom in the corresponding silylsulfanyl complex Cp*(OC)₃W(SSiR₂H) ( 4 ) with Ph₃CTFPB, followed by the addition of pyridine. The reaction of 5 with PhNCS and PMe₃ produced [Cp*(OC)₃W{SSiR₂N(Ph)C(PMe₃)₂}]TFPB (R=Me ( 6 a ), Ph ( 6 b )) via the elimination of pyridine and the addition of the 1,3-dipolar species PhNC(PMe₃)₂ ( A ) to the Si atom.     

Phosphorescent Ruthenium Complexes with a Nitroimidazole Unit that Image Oxygen Fluctuation in Tumor Tissue

Understanding oxygen fluctuation in a cancerous tumor is important for effective treatment, especially during radiotherapy. In this paper, ruthenium complexes bearing a nitroimidazole group are shown to report the oxygen status in tumor tissue directly. The nitroimidazole group was known to be accumulated in hypoxic tumor tissues. On the other hand, the ruthenium complex showed strong phosphorescence around 600 nm. The emission of ruthenium is quenched instantaneously by molecular oxygen due to energy transfer between triplet states of oxygen and ruthenium complex, but the emission is then recovered by the removal of oxygen. Thus, we could observe oxygen fluctuation in tumor tissue in a real‐time manner by monitoring the phosphorescence of the ruthenium complex. The versatility of the probe is demonstrated by monitoring oxygen fluctuation in living cells and tumor tissue planted in mice. The ruthenium complex promptly penetrated plasma membrane and accumulated in cells to emit its oxygen‐dependent phosphorescence. In vivo experiments revealed that the oxygen level in tumor tissue seems to fluctuate at the sub‐minute timescale.     

Aerobic Toluene Oxidation Catalyzed by Subnano Metal Particles

Subnanocatalysts (SNCs) containing various noble metals (Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, or Pt) with sizes of approximately 1 nm were synthesized using dendritic poly(phenylazomethine)s as a macromolecular template. These materials exhibit high catalytic performance during toluene oxidation without the use of harmful solvents or explosive oxidants, resulting in the formation of valuable organic products, including benzoic acid as the major product. In particular, Pt₁₉ SNC with a narrow particle size distribution exhibits extraordinary catalytic activity, with a turnover frequency of 3238 atom^?1 h^?1, which is 1700 times greater than that obtained by commercial Pt/C catalysts.     

Recent topics of the metallacycles composed of the heavier group 14 elements

This Letter reviews recent advance of metallacycles with chelating Si-, Ge-, and Sn-ligands. Dehydrogenative bond-forming reactions of organosilanes, -germanes, and -stannanes promoted by Pd and Pt complexes afford four- and five-membered metallacycles composed of heavier group 14 elements. It has a couple of advantages such as easier preparation of the starting compounds and reaction procedure than the common metathesis reactions of dianions with transition metal dihalide complexes. These metallacycles are regarded as possible intermediates in catalytic dehydrocoupling polymerizations or as convenient precursors to form discrete oligomers.     

Enantiodifferentiating Photodimerization of a 2,6-Disubstituted Anthracene Assisted by Supramolecular Double-Helix Formation with Chiral Amines

A novel 2,6-anthrylene-linked bis(m-terphenylcarboxylic acid) strand ( 1 ) self-associates into a racemic double-helix. In the presence of chiral mono- and diamines, either a right- or left-handed double-helix was predominantly induced by chiral amines sandwiched between the carboxylic acid strands with accompanying stacking of the two prochiral anthracene linker units in an enantiotopic face-selective way, as revealed by circular dichroism and NMR spectral analyses. The photoirradiation of the optically active double helices complexed with chiral amines proceeded in a diastereo- (anti or syn) and enantiodifferentiating way to afford the chiral anti-photodimer with up to 98 % enantiomeric excess when (R)-phenylethylamine was used as a chiral double-helix inducer. The resulting optically active anti-photodimer can recognize the chirality of amines and diastereoselectively complex with chiral amines.     

Serine‐Selective Aerobic Cleavage of Peptides and a Protein Using a Water‐Soluble Copper–Organoradical Conjugate

The site‐specific cleavage of peptide bonds is an important chemical modification of biologically relevant macromolecules. The reaction is not only used for routine structural determination of peptides, but is also a potential artificial modulator of protein function. Realizing the substrate scope beyond the conventional chemical or enzymatic cleavage of peptide bonds is, however, a formidable challenge. Here we report a serine‐selective peptide‐cleavage protocol that proceeds at room temperature and near neutral pH value, through mild aerobic oxidation promoted by a water‐soluble copper–organoradical conjugate. The method is applicable to the site‐selective cleavage of polypeptides that possess various functional groups. Peptides comprising D ‐amino acids or sensitive disulfide pairs are competent substrates. The system is extendable to the site‐selective cleavage of a native protein, ubiquitin, which comprises more than 70 amino acid residues.     

High‐Quality Three‐Dimensional Nanoporous Graphene

We report three‐dimensional (3D) nanoporous graphene with preserved 2D electronic properties, tunable pore sizes, and high electron mobility for electronic applications. The complex 3D network comprised of interconnected graphene retains a 2D coherent electron system of massless Dirac fermions. The transport properties of the nanoporous graphene show a semiconducting behavior and strong pore‐size dependence, together with unique angular independence. The free‐standing, large‐scale nanoporous graphene with 2D electronic properties and high electron mobility holds great promise for practical applications in 3D electronic devices.     

Enantiodifferentiating Photodimerization of a 2,6‐Disubstituted Anthracene Assisted by Supramolecular Double‐Helix Formation with Chiral Amines

A novel 2,6‐anthrylene‐linked bis(m‐terphenylcarboxylic acid) strand ( 1 ) self‐associates into a racemic double‐helix. In the presence of chiral mono‐ and diamines, either a right‐ or left‐handed double‐helix was predominantly induced by chiral amines sandwiched between the carboxylic acid strands with accompanying stacking of the two prochiral anthracene linker units in an enantiotopic face‐selective way, as revealed by circular dichroism and NMR spectral analyses. The photoirradiation of the optically active double helices complexed with chiral amines proceeded in a diastereo‐ (anti or syn) and enantiodifferentiating way to afford the chiral anti‐photodimer with up to 98 % enantiomeric excess when (R)‐phenylethylamine was used as a chiral double‐helix inducer. The resulting optically active anti‐photodimer can recognize the chirality of amines and diastereoselectively complex with chiral amines.