Low‐Energy‐Electron‐Induced Hydroamination of an Alkene

The smallest catalyst : A new strategy to control chemical synthesis by exposure to low‐energy electrons relies on the electrostatic attraction caused by the soft ionization of one of the reaction partners. This approach was used to induce a reaction between C₂H₄ and NH₃ yielding aminoethane. The reaction resembles a hydroamination except that the electron beam replaces the catalyst used in the organic synthesis.

     

The Thermal Rearrangement of an NHC‐Ligated 3‐Benzoborepin to an NHC‐Boranorcaradiene

An N‐heterocyclic‐carbene‐ligated 3‐benzoborepin with a bridged structure has been synthesized by double radical trans‐hydroboration of benzo[3,4]cycloundec‐3‐ene‐1,5‐diyne with an N‐heterocyclic carbene borane. The thermal reaction of the NHC‐ligated borepin at 150 °C gives an isolable NHC‐boranorcaradiene. Experiments and density functional theory calculations support a mechanism whereby the borepin initially rearranges to a boranorcaradiene by a thermal 6π‐electrocyclic reaction. This is followed by 1,5‐boron shift to give a rearranged boranorcaradiene. This shift occurs with stereoinversion at boron through a transition state with open‐shell diradical character. This is the first example of the isolation of a boranorcaradiene from a thermal reaction of a borepin.     

Magnetic‐Structure‐Stabilized Polarization in an Above‐Room‐Temperature Ferrimagnet

Above‐room‐temperature polar magnets are of interest due to their practical applications in spintronics. Here we present a strategy to design high‐temperature polar magnetic oxides in the corundum‐derived A₂BB′O₆ family, exemplified by the non‐centrosymmetric (R3) Ni₃TeO₆‐type Mn²⁺₂Fe³⁺Mo⁵⁺O₆, which shows strong ferrimagnetic ordering with T_C=337 K and demonstrates structural polarization without any ions with (n?1)d¹⁰ns⁰, d⁰, or stereoactive lone‐pair electrons. Density functional theory calculations confirm the experimental results and suggest that the energy of the magnetically ordered structure, based on the Ni₃TeO₆ prototype, is significantly lower than that of any related structure, and accounts for the spontaneous polarization (68 μC cm^?2) and non‐centrosymmetry confirmed directly by second harmonic generation. These results motivate new directions in the search for practical magnetoelectric/multiferroic materials.     

Synthesis of an 4‐oxo‐1,4‐dihydropyridinomethylidene substituted 2‐indolinone

The (Z)‐3‐substituted 2‐indolinone 6 was prepared using the aldehydes 4 and 8 unknown up to now and 2‐indolinone.     

Structure and Reactivity of an Isolable Seven‐Membered‐Ring trans‐Alkene

The isolation and characterization of a trans‐oxasilacycloheptene is reported. Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic studies indicate a high level of strain and deviation from ideal geometry. Reactions with several electrophiles demonstrated the nucleophilicity of the C?C double bond, affording oxasilacycloheptane and tetrahydrofuran products as single diastereomers.     

Rapid Synthesis of an Aluminum‐Rich MSE‐Type Zeolite by the Hydrothermal Conversion of an FAU‐Type Zeolite

An aluminum‐rich MSE‐type zeolite (Si/Al is as small as 7) has been successfully synthesized in a remarkably short crystallization period of only 3 days by the hydrothermal conversion of an FAU‐type zeolite, presumably by the assembly of four‐membered‐ring (4‐R) aluminosilicate oligomers supplied by the double 6‐R (D6R) components of the FAU framework with the aid of the structure‐directing agents and seed crystals. The dealuminated version of the aluminum‐rich MSE‐type zeolite showed a high level of coke durability in addition to a significant yield of propylene, which indicates that this novel zeolitic material is suitable for industrial applications as a highly selective and long‐lived catalyst.     

Light‐ and Humidity‐Induced Motion of an Acidochromic Film

A smart acidochromic agarose‐based film with 1,4‐bis(para‐hydroxystyryl)benzene as the pH‐responsive fluorophore was prepared. This film can simultaneously harness the chemical potential of light and aerial humidity gradients to convert them into mechanical work. The strong reversible hygroscopicity of the agarose matrix induces swift locomotion by mechanical deformation owing to exchange of water with the surroundings. Driven by humidity, a 20 mg composite film coupled to a piezoelectric bending transducer sensor generates a peak output of approximately 80 mV, which corresponds to a power density of 25 μW kg^?1. Excitation with UV light triggers isomerization of the chromophore, which appears as reshaping by spiraling, bending, or twisting of the film. The material also responds to changes in the pH value by reversible protonation of the fluorophore with rapid changes in color and fluorescence. The threefold sensing capability of this smart material could be utilized for the fabrication of multiresponsive actuating dynamic elements in biomedicine and soft robotics.