π–π Stacking Interaction in an Oxidized CuII–Salen Complex with a Side-Chain Indole Ring: An Approach to the Function of the Tryptophan in the Active Site of Galactose Oxidase

In order to gain new insights into the effect of the π–π stacking interaction of the indole ring with the Cu^II–phenoxyl radical as seen in the active form of galactose oxidase, we have prepared a Cu^II complex of a methoxy-substituted salen-type ligand, containing a pendent indole ring on the dinitrogen chelate backbone, and characterized its one-electron-oxidized forms. The X-ray crystal structures of the oxidized Cu^II complex exhibited the π–π stacking interaction of the indole ring mainly with one of the two phenolate moieties. The phenolate moiety in close contact with the indole moiety showed the characteristic phenoxyl radical structural features, indicating that the indole ring favors the π–π stacking interaction with the phenoxyl radical. The UV/Vis/NIR spectra of the oxidized Cu^II complex with the pendent indole ring was significantly different from those of the complex without the side-chain indole ring, and the absorption and CD spectra exhibited a solvent dependence, which is in line with the phenoxyl radical–indole stacking interaction in solution. The other physicochemical results and theoretical calculations strongly support that the indole ring, as an electron donor, stabilizes the phenoxyl radical by the π–π stacking interaction.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Domino CH/NH Functionalization: An Efficient Approach to Nitrogen‐Bridged Heteroacenes

Palladium‐catalyzed domino C?H/N?H functionalization for the synthesis of novel nitrogen‐bridged thienoacenes and 10H‐benzo[4,5]thieno[3,2‐b]indole derivatives from dihaloarene is reported. This domino sequence consists of initial C?H functionalization of the benzo[b]thiophene moiety, followed by Buchwald–Hartwig coupling. This transformation is also useful for the synthesis of highly π‐extended compounds.     

Synthesis of nonplanar bipyridyls bridged by disilane and disiloxane and their phosphorescent copper complexes

Disilane- and disiloxane-bridged bipyridyls ( DSBPy and DSOBPy ) were prepared and their optical properties were investigated in comparison with those of previously reported monosilane- and monogermane-bridged counterparts. The UV–visible absorption and photoluminescence bands of DSBPy and DSOBPy were blue-shifted as a result of elongation of the bridging units from monosilane and monogermane to disilane and disiloxane, likely due to the enhanced twisting of the bipyridyl units. Phosphorescent complexes DSBPy–Cu and DSOBPy–Cu were prepared by the interaction of DSBPy and DSOBPy with Cu₂I₂(PPh₃)₂. X-ray diffraction studies of their single-crystal structures revealed polymeric structures composed of repeat units of DSBPy or DSOBPy and [Cu^II(PPh₃)]₂. Organic light-emitting diodes with the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ DSBPy–Cu or DSOBPy–Cu :PCTSQ/TAZ/Al structure were fabricated to examine the applications of the complexes as electroluminescent materials. The devices emitted yellow light with emission maxima at approximately 600 nm, and maximal luminance reached 120 and 190 cd m⁻² for devices based on DSBPy–Cu and DSOBPy–Cu , respectively. The performance of the DSOBPy–Cu -based device was improved by using TAZ as the dopant of the emissive layer, and luminance was increased to 390 cd m⁻².     

Upper Limit of Nitrogen Content in Carbon Materials

Nitrogen‐doped carbon materials (NDCs) play an important role in various fields. A great deal of effort has been devoted to obtaining carbon materials with a high nitrogen content; however, much is still unknown about the structure of the nitrogen‐doped materials and the maximum nitrogen content possible for such compounds. Here, we demonstrate an interesting relationship between the N/C molar ratio and the N content of NDCs. The upper limit for the nitrogen content of NDCs that might be achieved was estimated and found to strongly depend on the carbonization temperature (14.32 wt % at 1000 °C and 21.66 wt % at 900 °C), irrespective of the precursor or preparation conditions. Simulations suggest that, especially in the carbon architectures obtained at high temperatures, nitrogen atoms are always located on separate hexagon moieties in a graphitic configuration, thereby yielding a critical N/C molar ratio very close to the value estimated from the experimental results.     

Creation of Chiral Thixotropic Gels through a Crown–Ammonium Interaction and their Application to a Memory‐Erasing Recycle System

A unique class of oligothiophene‐based organogelator bearing two crown ethers at both ends was synthesized. This compound could gelatinize several organic solvents, forming one‐dimensional fibrous aggregates. From the observation of circular dichroism, it was confirmed that the helical handedness of the fibrous assembly is controllable by the chirality of 1,2bisammonium guests, thus suggesting that one guest molecule bridges two gelator molecules through the crown–ammonium interaction. Interestingly, we have found that such chirality is created by thermal gelation, whereas it disappears by thixotropic gelation. The new finding implies that the present organogel system is applicable as a reversible switching memory device, featuring memory creation by a heat mode and memory erasing by a mechanical mode.     

Side chain type ionic liquid crystalline polymers having high Preliminary communication molecular weight

Side chain type ionic liquid crystalline polymers having a 4-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)pyridinium structure in their mesogenic side chain were synthesized. These polymers exhibited the smectic A phase. The molecular weights of these ionic liquid crystalline polymers are very high, e.g. for compound 7 - 2 M _w = 486 000.     

Monocyclic rod-type liquid crystals; 2,5-dialkanoyloxytropones and 5-alkanoyloxy-2-alkoxytropones

Two kinds of monocyclic troponoid mesogens, 2,5-dialkanoyloxytropones (4) and 5-alkanoyloxy2-alkoxytropones (5), were prepared. The former showed monotropic smectic A phases and the virtual isotropic liquid-smectic A transitions of the latter were determined by extrapolation of results in a binary phase diagram. Comparing the mesogenic properties between the tropones 4 and the 2-alkanoyloxy-5-alkoxytropones (1), the alkanoyloxy group at C-5 enhances both the melting points and the transition temperatures of the smectic A phases. From the comparison between 5 and 1, the alkanoyloxy group at C-2 lowers the melting points.