A breakthrough in the asymmetric hydroboration of notoriously difficult 1,1‐disubstituted alkenes using a new family of highly effective hydroboration reagents is described (see scheme). The intermediate boranes can be oxidized to alcohols or used in Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions.
Inorganic enzyme? Ceria nanoparticles exhibit unique oxidase‐like activity at acidic pH values. These redox catalysts can be used in immunoassays (ELISA) when modified with targeting ligands (see picture; light blue and yellow structures are nanoparticles with attached ligands). This modification allows both for binding and for detection by the catalytic oxidation of sensitive colorimetric dyes (e.g. TMB).
Nice coat! Organically modified silica (ormosil) is used for the ultrathin nanoprecise coating of individual multiwall carbon nanotubes using a soft‐chemistry approach. The coating layer has a uniform thickness of about 3 nm. The ormosil coating demonstrates the favorable electrical insulating properties of individual multiwall carbon nanotubes.
A stereocontrolled total synthesis of the cytotoxic spiroacetal‐containing polyketide (?)‐spirangien A is described. This utilizes an aldol‐based strategy to construct a common stereotetrad intermediate that was elaborated into the spiroacetal core, followed by the introduction of the unstable pentaene‐containing side chain, performed with exclusion of light, using sequential Stille cross‐coupling reactions.
Perlen auf Gold : Neuartige multifunktionelle Nanopartikel bestehen aus einzelnen Amin‐modifizierten Goldnanostäbchen, an denen Fe3O4‐„Perlen“ mit Carboxyendgruppe angebracht sind. Die Partikel eignen sich zur simultanen Erkennung, dualen Bildgebung und photothermischen Ablation von Brustkrebszellen.
Mark us bent! The synthesis, structure, and single‐ and two‐photon spectroscopic properties of a series of pyrimidine‐based (bent‐shaped) molecules are reported. These allow structure‐property relationships and guidelines for both the development and application of TPA compounds to be derived.
Undue influence : N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were found to reduce the strength of the B? H bonds of borane by a surprisingly large amount upon the formation of NHC–BH3 complexes. This property was exploited in the development of a suite of NHC–borane complexes for the reduction of xanthates in radical‐mediated Barton–McCombie‐type deoxygenation reactions (see scheme). AIBN=azobisisobutyronitrile, Bn=benzyl.
Unstable? We're able! 1,n‐Glycols serve as synthetic equivalents to unstable dialdehydes in two‐directional carbonyl allylation from the alcohol oxidation level under iridium‐catalyzed transfer hydrogenation conditions. Iterative asymmetric allylation employing 1,3‐propanediol enables the rapid assembly of protected 1,3‐polyol substructures with exceptional levels of stereocontrol.
It′s a fine line : Methyltrioxorhenium(VII) (MTO) readily forms 1:1 adducts with several N‐(salicylidene)aniline derived Schiff bases. Steric and electronic effects of the ligands play a major role when it comes to stability and catalytic activity. Good donors on the Schiff base ligands, in general, lead to shorter Re? O(Schiff base) bridges and lower catalytic activity, while it is the opposite for acceptor ligands on the Schiff bases.
Bright funnels : A series of dendritic systems, which are capable of funneling energy from the periphery to the core, have been synthesized. The photophysical properties of dendrimers have been determined. Selective excitation of the donor leads to an efficient energy transfer (>90 %) to the acceptor. The approach provides a facile synthesis for the modification of near‐infrared BF2‐Azadipyrromethenes.
Pass the salt, please! State‐of‐the‐art computations indicate that the stacking complex of a guanine quartet and an adenine quartet (G4A4) can function as a potent ditopic receptor for NaCl in aqueous solution (see picture; Na+, Cl? yellow, O red, N blue, C black, H white).
Why beat about the bush? An operationally simple and mild reaction based on the direct fixation of 11CO2 with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) has been developed for the synthesis of 11C‐labeled carbamates at 75 °C within 10 minutes in radiochemical yields above 70 % (see scheme). This strategy should be immediately useful for the construction of new radiotracers for positron emission tomography and other applications.
Alkynes of reactions : Recent breakthroughs in metal‐catalyzed alkyne reactions, which expand the synthetic utility of alkynes, have been achieved. These approaches broaden the range of alkynes that are accessible by C? N and C? C bond‐forming reactions and demonstrate that the use of bifunctional heterobimetallic catalysts can lead to new reactivity and excellent enantioselectivity (see scheme).
Thin is in! Recent advance in solution‐phase synthesis has led to the formation of ultrathin single‐crystalline Au nanowires with diameters of less than 10 nm. This Focus Review summarizes these syntheses and provides an exciting example of the electron transport in the ultrathin Au nanowires to demonstrate their great potential for nanoelectronic applications.
Intelligent design : The total synthesis of the cytotoxic (?)‐FR182877 relies on 1) tandem Diels–Alder reactions to close rings A–D (see scheme), 2) a palladium‐mediated 7‐exo‐trig reaction, and 3) an iridium‐mediated isomerization followed by epimerization and stereoselective reduction.
Discriminating elimination : A new method for the synthesis of methyl‐branched trisubstituted Z olefins, a structural motif in many polyketides with anticancer activity, relies on an ?OH‐induced decarboxylative Grob‐type fragmentation (see scheme; Ms=mesyl). The starting materials are β‐mesyloxy lactones with a quaternary α center, which are prepared by aldol reactions in a diastereo‐ and enantioselective manner.
Amorphization tunes acidity : Pseudo‐bridging silanols, suggested as versatile Brønsted acid groups by molecular modeling studies, are obtained by shifted hydrolysis of Si? O? Al bridges formed by the thermal treatment of silica deposited on γ‐Al2O3 (100), and appear under given pretreatment conditions. Demixing of part of the silica from the aluminosilicate phase is predicted upon excess water adsorption.
Shining metal cups : A luminescent tube of triangular cross‐section and stoppered by a silver ion (see picture: Re yellow, N blue, O red) is formed in two steps from commercial materials. The silver ion can be removed to give a tube, and both species are potential hosts for small ions and molecules; a change in luminescence is triggered by the encapsulation of silver.
Sensitive functional groups such as COR, CHO, or CH2OH can be present in benzylic indium reagents prepared by the direct insertion of indium in the presence of LiCl. These reagents undergo palladium‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions in the presence of a protic cosolvent after activation with iPrMgCl⋅LiCl (see scheme). Remarkable chemoselectivities are achieved by using various electrophiles containing NH or OH groups.
A light touch is all that is required to cleave a maleimide C? N bond to effect a [5+2] photocycloaddition with a sterically encumbered C?N moiety (see scheme).
