Low‐temperature electrochemical oxidation of thioglycosides gave glycosyl triflates from which glycosyl sulfonium ions were produced (see scheme). The latter were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and cold‐spray mass spectrometry as a mixture of α‐ and β‐isomers (45:55). The α‐glycosyl sulfonium ion exhibited higher reactivity than the β‐glycosyl sulfonium ion in the reaction with methanol, which gave a mixture of α‐ and β‐methyl glycosides (41:59).
Going through the phases : The title reaction was found to proceed by an initial base‐mediated isomerization to allenyl esters and subsequent phase transfer catalyzed alkylation at the α position of the ester (see scheme).
Cutting ties : Strand scission and base release in hydroxy‐radical adducts of 3′‐uridine monophosphate (UMP) have been explored by using density functional theory. The presence of the ribose 2′‐OH group and the resultant formation of low‐barrier hydrogen bonds with oxygen atoms of the 3′‐phosphate linkage are highly important for hydrogen transfer and the subsequent bond‐breakage reactions (see picture).
Pressing the configurational switch : Use of enantiomeric Ir catalysts allows the vinylpiperidine building blocks 2 a and 2 b to be synthesized with high selectivity. Total syntheses of the dendrobate alkaloid (+)‐241 D, its C6‐epimer, and a spruce alkaloid are presented as applications.
Kinetic refinery : A practical, highly stereoselective, two‐step catalytic protocol for the α‐allylation of aldehydes, starting from crotyltrichlorosilanes, has been developed (see scheme). In each reaction step, one of the stereoisomers reacted faster than the other, which resulted in a kinetic stereochemical (E/Z) self‐refinement of the system and led to the formation of virtually enantiomerically and geometrically pure linear homoallylic alcohols in high yield.
Leading light : A series of zinc(II) bis‐terpyridine complexes (see picture) is investigated by means of DFT calculations combined with Bader's quantum theory of atoms in molecules. Raman spectroscopy experiments and studies of the electro‐optical properties of the complexes in solution and the solid state are also performed to examine their potential as new emissive materials in light‐emitting devices.
Efficiency simplified : A synthetic strategy has been developed to prepare single‐crystalline hollow Pd/Pt nanocubes (right, see picture; left: nanocubes). Compared to the solid Pd/Pt nanocubes of similar sizes, the hollow Pd/Pt nanocubes increase accessible surface area and therefore improve electrocatalytic activity in formic acid oxidation.
Epoxidation made easy : Subnanometer gold clusters immobilized on amorphous alumina result in a highly active and selective catalyst for propene epoxidation. The highest selectivity is found for gas mixtures involving oxygen and water, thus avoiding the use of hydrogen. Ab initio DFT calculations are used to identify key reaction intermediates and reaction pathways. The results confirm the high catalyst activity owing to the formation of propene oxide metallacycles. Al green, Au yellow, O red, and C gray.
A boost from the branches : Incorporation of the dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]phosphole system as a core in oligo(phenylenevinylene) dendrimers (an example is shown here) provides materials that exhibit energy‐transfer features relaying incoming photons from the dendrons towards the core, which in turn shows enhanced emission intensity. The optical properties and self‐assembly features of the dendrimers can be impacted by the terminal groups (‐H, ‐CF3, or ‐NPh2) employed.
Once difficult to obtain , the title compounds can be prepared in virtually enantiomerically pure form with a bis(triorganostannyl) zinc reagent (see scheme). Subsequent diastereoselective thermal (left) and Lewis acid promoted reactions (right) illustrate the synthetic potential of these compounds.
