Tackling blocks : The isoprene‐assisted radical coupling (I‐ARC) of polymers prepared by cobalt‐mediated radical polymerization (see picture) is the first efficient radical coupling method that is not restricted to short chains. When applied to AB diblock copolymers, I‐ARC constitutes a straightforward approach to the preparation of novel symmetrical ABA triblock copolymers.
A mimic for nature's solar cells : Simple mixing of nonaporphyrin macrocycle N‐( 1 –Zn)3 and acceptor ligand C60–ZnP–Tripod affords a supramolecular architecture (see scheme), in which the excitation energy collected by the macrocycle is transferred efficiently to the central ZnP acceptor, inducing charge separation between the ZnP and C60 sites.
Let's stick together : The gelation ability of a dendritic gelator has been enhanced by its complexation with a polyelectrolyte (see figure). This concept provides a route to construct novel functional or ordered materials by complexation of other low‐molecular‐mass functional species with polyelectrolytes.
Fully loaded : Noncovalent anchoring of liposomes into polymer multilayered films with cholesterol‐modified polymers allows the preparation of capsosomes—liposome‐compartmentalized polymer capsules (see picture). A quantitative enzymatic reaction confirmed the presence of active cargo within the capsosomes and was used to determine the number of subcompartments within this novel biomedical carrier system.
Retained : An N‐heterocyclic carbene with eight cyclohexyl groups (see figure) provides increased electron density for a highly active olefin metathesis catalyst as well as sufficient steric bulk to allow the efficient separation of such a complex from the organic products in the solvent‐resistant nanofiltration.
Which form to take? The interconversion between the G‐quadruplex and duplex DNA forms in the bcl‐2 promoter could be induced by fluctuations in the pH value or DNA and NH4+ concentrations, by adding CH3OH, and by introducing small molecules (cationic porphyrin and dehydrocorydaline; see scheme).
New Pd ‐ and Pt‐biscarbenes : The synthesis by the stoichiometric transmetalation reactions from Fischer alkoxy‐chromium(0) carbene complexes of stable mononuclear (palladium and platinum) alkoxy‐biscarbene complexes is reported. The structure, bonding situation, and the electronic and redox properties of these complexes are studied by a combination of experimental and computational (DFT) methods.
Si takes a rest : A bulky σ‐bound terphenyl substituent and a π‐bound Cp* ligand enable the isolation and full characterization of the first aryl‐substituted, monomeric silicon(II) compound 1 , which can be regarded as the “resting state” of a true silylene containing a σ‐bound Cp* group. The conformation of the aryl group prevents aryl–Si π back‐bonding.
Economic and practical advantages are offered by the iron(III)‐catalyzed and air‐mediated tandem coupling/hydroarylation/dehydrogenation of simple readily available aldehydes, alkynes, and amines for the synthesis of 2, 4‐disubstituted quinolines (see scheme).
Breaking point: Switchable peptide surfactants are used to demonstrate that the extent of cross‐linking in an interfacial surfactant layer can control the rate of emulsion coalescence. Pictured is the rupture of an aqueous thin film where the peptide layer lacks sufficient strength to prevent hole formation, but nonetheless dramatically slows the rate of hole expansion.
Reacting in the 'Ni'ck of time : The title reaction is realized by using an isolated NiII complex ( 1 ). The catalysis tolerates a wide range of important functional groups that are often incompatible with Grignard reagents in cross‐coupling reactions.
Silica scaffolding : By employing functionalized mesoporous SBA‐15 silica, novel fluorescent cruciform‐silica hybrid materials are generated which preserve the desirable solution properties of cruciforms in the solid state for potential use in sensory schemes.
The design and elaboration of a series of macrocyclic templates that exhibit a propensity to adopt a β‐strand‐like peptide‐backbone conformation led to potent and selective inhibitors of calpain 2. Macrocycle 1 retarded calcium‐induced opacification in an ovine‐lens culture assay and is a lead compound for the development of a drug for cataract treatment. Cbz=carbobenzyloxy.
Give me an “O”! Mononuclear nonheme iron(IV) oxo complexes have been generated using water as an oxygen source and cerium(IV) as an oxidant. The high‐yield oxygenation of organic substrates in this system (see picture, Fe green, O red, N blue, C gray) is catalyzed by iron(II) complexes. The source of oxygen in the iron(IV) oxo complexes and the oxygenated products has been assigned unambiguously by isotopic labeling experiments.
Available in small print : Block copolymer lithography has great potential for reducing the size and fabrication time of integrated circuits. Hydrogen‐bonding‐mediated molecular recognition in self‐assembly processes can be used to produce highly ordered square arrays of block copolymers on the surface of a silicon substrate (see picture).
Not blue but red‐brown : A [1]ferrocenophanium ion has been synthesized and isolated as a red‐brown crystalline salt, surprisingly different in color from characteristically blue‐green unstrained ferrocenium ions. Compared to the neutral iron(II) counterpart, the [1]ferrocenophanium ion displays a considerably higher ring tilt and an increased propensity for ring‐opening reactions.
Easy and direct : Regioselective Mizoroki–Heck‐coupling reactions using heteroaromatic tosylates as electrophiles were achieved, thus providing direct and easy access to highly functionalized α‐heteroarylvinyl amides and ethers.
