Solubility‐Parameter‐Guided Solvent Selection to Initiate Ostwald Ripening for Interior Space‐Tunable Structures with Architecture‐Dependent Electrochemical Performance

Despite significant advancement in preparing various hollow structures by Ostwald ripening, one common problem is the intractable uncontrollability of initiating Ostwald ripening due to the complexity of the reaction processes. Here, a new strategy on Hansen solubility parameter (HSP)‐guided solvent selection to initiate Ostwald ripening is proposed. Based on this comprehensive principle for solvent optimization, N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was screened out, achieving accurate synthesis of interior space‐tunable MoSe₂ spherical structures (solid, core–shell, yolk‐shell and hollow spheres). The resultant MoSe₂ structures exhibit architecture‐dependent electrochemical performances towards hydrogen evolution reaction and sodium‐ion batteries. This pre‐solvent selection strategy can effectively provide researchers great possibility in efficiently synthesizing various hollow structures. This work paves a new pathway for deeply understanding Ostwald ripening.     

3,4‐Diethyl‐2,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐dione

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C₈H₁₁NO₂, three distinct mol­ecules are present in the asymmetric unit. The mol­ecules are organized in two different hydrogen‐bonded tapes, which form a complex layered structure. A structural comparison with the crystal structures of related maleimide derivatives unravels a stepwise evolution of morphological complexity with increasing mol­ecular complexity for this class of compounds.     

Dispiro[indene‐2,5′‐indeno[2,1‐a]fluorene‐6′,2′′‐indene]‐1,1′′,3,3′′,11′,12′‐hexaone: a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded framework

The title compound, C₃₆H₁₆O₆, (I), was obtained as a new and unexpected oxidation product of 1,2′‐biindene‐1′,3,3′(2H)‐trione. The molecules of (I) exhibit approximate, but noncrystallographic, twofold rotation symmetry and the central ring of the fused pentacyclic portion is distinctly puckered, with a conformation intermediate between half‐chair and screw‐boat. Six independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules into a three‐dimensional framework structure of considerable complexity. Comparisons are drawn between the crystal structure of (I) and those of several simpler analogues, which show wide variation in their patterns of supramolecular aggregation.     

Molecular Hybridization‐Guided Construction of Convolutamydine A‐fused β‐Ionone Scaffolds and their Biological Evaluation for Anticancer Activities

Described herein is a facile and efficient methodology toward the synthesis of novel convolutamydine A‐incorporated β‐ionone scaffold 3 from an Aldol addition event of β‐ionone to isatins via enamine Et₂NH catalysis. Products featuring a quaternary carbon center were smoothly obtained in good yields (up to 96% yield). This protocol also represents the first construction of ionone skeleton‐fused oxindole molecules, thus leading to new knowledge in the fields of both molecular complexity and diversity‐oriented synthesis and the lead compound discovery. Furthermore, their biological activities against human leukemia cells K562 have been preliminarily demonstrated by in vitro assays. The results demonstrated that most of these compounds obtained by this protocol showed comparable with or even much better than the positive control of Cisplatin.     

Azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles. Synthesis and properties

Several derivatives belonging to a new compound class, namely azulene‐1‐azo‐2′‐thiazoles, were prepared by the diazotization of 2‐aminothiazoles in the presence of HNO₃/H₃PO₄ followed by the coupling of diazonium salts with azulenes in buffered medium. The reactions proved to be general for this class, the yields are, however, considerably influenced by the substituents at thiazole moiety. For the first time a N‐oxide provided from an amino substituted five‐member nitrogenous heterocycle was diazotized and coupled. The structure of the obtained compounds was assigned and their physico‐chemical properties were discussed. The new azulene azo derivatives exhibit a strong bathochromic shift in UV‐Vis due to the intense push‐pull effect of aromatic system and to the intrinsic properties of thiazole moiety.     

Analysis of dammar resin with MALDI‐FT‐ICR‐MS and APCI‐FT‐ICR‐MS

Comprehensive analysis of high‐resolution mass spectra of aged natural dammar resin obtained with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT‐ICR‐MS) using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) is presented. Dammar resin is one of the most important components of painting varnishes. Dammar resin is a terpenoid resin (dominated by triterpenoids) with intrinsically very complex composition. This complexity further increases with aging. Ten different solvents and two‐component solvent mixtures were tested for sample preparation. The most suitable solvent mixtures for the MALDI‐FT‐ICR‐MS analysis were dichloromethane‐acetone and dichloromethane‐ethanol. The obtained MALDI‐FTMS mass spectrum contains nine clusters of peaks in the m/z range of 420–2200, and the obtained APCI‐FTMS mass spectrum contains three clusters of peaks in the m/z range of 380–910. The peaks in the clusters correspond to the oxygenated derivatives of terpenoids differing by the number of C₁₅H₂₄ units. The clusters, in turn, are composed of subclusters differing by the number of oxygen atoms in the molecules. Thorough analysis and identification of the components (or groups of components) by their accurate m/z ratios was carried out, and molecular formulas (elemental compositions) of all major peaks in the MALDI‐FTMS and APCI‐FTMS spectra were identified (and groups of possible isomeric compounds were proposed). In the MALDI‐FTMS and APCI‐FTMS mass spectrum, besides the oxidized C₃₀, triterpenoids also peaks corresponding to C₂₉ and C₃₁ derivatives of triterpenoids (demethylated and methylated, correspondingly) were detected. MALDI and APCI are complementary ionization sources for the analysis of natural dammar resin. In the MALDI source, preferably polar (extensively oxidized) components of the resin are ionized (mostly as Na⁺ adducts), whereas in the APCI source, preferably nonpolar (hydrocarbon and slightly oxidized) compounds are ionized (by protonation). Either of the two ionization methods, when used alone, gives an incomplete picture of the dammar resin composition. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strong σ‐Hole Activation on Icosahedral Carborane Derivatives for a Directional Halide Recognition

Crystal engineering based on σ‐hole interactions is an emerging approach for realization of new materials with higher complexity. Neutral inorganic clusters derived from 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane, substituted with ‐SeMe, ‐TeMe, and ‐I moieties on both skeletal carbon vertices are experimentally demonstrated herein as outstanding chalcogen‐ and halogen‐bond donors. In particular, these new molecules strongly interact with halide anions in the solid‐state. The halide ions are coordinated by one or two donor groups (μ₁‐ and μ₂‐coordinations), to stabilize a discrete monomer or dimer motifs to 1D supramolecular zig‐zag chains. Crucially, the observed chalcogen bond and halogen bond interactions feature remarkably short distances and high directionality. Electrostatic potential calculations further demonstrate the efficiency of the carborane derivatives, with V_s,max being similar or even superior to that of reference organic halogen‐bond donors, such as iodopentafluorobenzene.     

Picomole‐Scale Real‐Time Photoreaction Screening: Discovery of the Visible‐Light‐Promoted Dehydrogenation of Tetrahydroquinolines under Ambient Conditions

The identification of new photocatalytic pathways expands our knowledge of chemical reactivity and enables new environmentally friendly synthetic applications. However, the development of miniaturized screening procedures/platforms to expedite the discovery of photochemical reactions remains challenging. Herein, we describe a picomole‐scale, real‐time photoreaction screening platform in which a handheld laser source is coupled with nano‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. By using this method, we discovered an accelerated dehydrogenation pathway for the conversion of tetrahydroquinolines into the corresponding quinolines. This transformation is readily promoted by an off‐the‐shelf [Ru(bpy)₃]Cl₂?6 H₂O complex in air at ambient temperature in direct sunlight, or with the aid of an energy‐saving lamp. Moreover, radical cations and trans‐dihydride intermediates captured by the screening platform provided direct evidence for the mechanism of the photoredox reaction.     

Shock‐tube spectroscopic water measurements and detailed kinetics modeling of 1‐pentene and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene

To understand the effects of the chemical structure of two C₅ alkene isomers on their combustion properties, and to highlight the major chemical reactions occurring during their high‐temperature oxidation, water time histories were measured behind reflected shock waves for the oxidation of 1‐pentene (C₅H₁₀‐1) and 3‐methyl‐1‐butene (3M1B) in 99.5% Ar. The experiments were carried out at three different equivalence ratios (φ = 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0) at pressures and temperatures ranging from 1.29 to 1.47 atm and 1 331 to 1 877 K, respectively. The H₂O quantification extends the database for 1‐pentene and provides new insights for 3M1B. These unique results were used to validate and to develop a new detailed kinetics model. Numerical predictions are presented, and the new model was able to capture the results with suitable accuracy, with 3M1B being notably more reactive than C₅H₁₀‐1. Sensitivity and rate‐of‐production analyses were performed to help explain the results. Under the present conditions, the reactivity is rapidly initiated by molecular dissociation of a fraction of the pentene isomers. The initiation phase then induces H‐atom abstraction by active radicals (H, OH, O, HO₂, and CH₃) to first produce alkenyl C₅H₉ radicals (or an alkyl radical and an alkenyl radical by breaking a C─C bond) and subsequent, smaller fragments. The difference in terms of reactivity between the isomers is essentially due to the fact that 3M1B has one particularly weak tertiary allylic C─H bond, which allows for fast H‐atom abstraction compared with 1‐pentene.     

Phosphate‐Tether‐Mediated Ring‐Closing Metathesis for the Preparation of Complex 1,3‐anti‐Diol‐Containing Subunits

An array of examples of diastereoselective, phosphate‐tether‐mediated ring‐closing metathesis reactions, which highlight the importance of product ring size and substrate stereochemical compatibility, as well as complexity, is reported. Studies focus primarily on the formation of bicyclo[n.3.1]phosphates, involving the coupling of C₂‐symmetric dienediol subunits with a variety of simple, as well as complex, alcohol partners.     

Divergent Coordination Chemistry: Parallel Synthesis of [2×2] Iron(II) Grid‐Complex Tauto‐Conformers

The coordination of iron(II) ions by a homoditopic ligand L with two tridentate chelates leads to the tautomerism‐driven emergence of complexity, with isomeric tetramers and trimers as the coordination products. The structures of the two dominant [Fe^II₄ L ₄]⁸⁺ complexes were determined by X‐ray diffraction, and the distinctness of the products was confirmed by ion‐mobility mass spectrometry. Moreover, these two isomers display contrasting magnetic properties (Fe^II spin crossover vs. a blocked Fe^II high‐spin state). These results demonstrate how the coordination of a metal ion to a ligand that can undergo tautomerization can increase, at a higher hierarchical level, complexity, here expressed by the formation of isomeric molecular assemblies with distinct physical properties. Such results are of importance for improving our understanding of the emergence of complexity in chemistry and biology.     

Hypervalent‐Iodine‐Mediated Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage and Dearomatization of 9H‐Fluoren‐9‐ols

A transition‐metal‐free synthesis of spiro compounds from 9H‐fluoren‐9‐ols mediated by hypervalent iodine is reported. In this reaction, an unprecedented β‐carbon elimination of tertiary alkoxyliodine(III) to form new diaryliodonium salts is proposed. The obtained phenol intermediates undergo oxidative dearomatization to furnish a class of oxo‐spiro compounds. This domino reaction significantly increases the complexity of these molecules and shows excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of 2‐substituted‐3‐nitroimidazo[1,2‐b]pyridazines as potential biologically active agents

A new heterocyclic reductive alkylating agent, 6‐chloro‐2‐chloromethyl‐3‐nitroimidazo[1,2‐b]pyridazine, was synthesized for the first time. It was shown to react under phase‐transfer catalysis conditions with 2‐nitropropane anion by an S_RN1 mechanism to give excellent yield of isopropylidene derivative formed from a base‐promoted nitrous acid elimination of C‐alkylation product. Extension of this S_RN1 reaction to various nitronate anions led to a new class of 3‐nitroimidazo[1,2‐b]pyridazine derivatives bearing a trisub‐stituted double bond at the 2‐position.     

Synthesis,structure and electrocatalytic properties of a water‐soluble copper complex supported by 2‐ethyl‐2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)propane‐1,3‐diol ligand

The reaction of 2‐ethyl‐2‐(2‐hydroxybenzylideneamino)propane‐1,3‐diol (H₃L) with CuCl₂⋅2H₂O affords a new copper complex, [ClCu(H₂L)], which has been determined using X‐ray crystallography. In the solid, copper atom is four‐coordinated by two oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom from the ligand and one chlorine atom. Electrochemical studies show that the complex can act as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution from a dimethylformamide solution of acetic acid and a neutral buffer (pH = 7.0) with a turnover frequency of 46.2 and 482 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per hour at an overpotential of 941.6 and 837.6 mV, respectively.     

Magnetic Graphene Oxide Anchored Sulfonic Acid as a Novel Nanocatalyst for the Synthesis of N‐aryl‐2‐amino‐1,6‐naphthyridines

Magnetic graphene oxide functionalized with sulfonic acid (Fe₃O₄‐GO‐SO₃H) was used as a new recyclable nanocatalyst for one‐pot synthesis of N‐aryl‐2‐amino‐1,6‐naphthyridine derivatives under solvent free conditions. The catalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by an external magnet and reused without significant decrease in activity even after 4 runs. This nanocatalyst exhibited better activities to other commercially available sulfonic acid catalysts.     

Guest‐Switchable Multi‐Step Spin Transitions in an Amine‐Functionalized Metal–Organic Framework

Materials with hysteretic multi‐step spin‐crossover (SCO) have potential application in high‐order data storage. Here, an unprecedented hysteretic four‐step SCO behavior with the sequence of LS↔HS_0.25LS_0.75↔HS_0.5LS_0.5↔ HS_0.75LS_0.25↔HS is found in a three‐dimensional (3D) Hofmann‐type metal–organic framework (MOF), which is evidenced by magnetic, differential scanning calorimetry, and crystal data. Further experiments involving guest exchange leads to the first reversible modulation of four‐, two‐, and one‐stepped SCO behaviors, which provides a new strategy for developing multi‐step SCO materials.     

New theoretically predicted RDX‐ and β‐HMX‐based high‐energy‐density molecules

Theoretically new high‐energy‐density materials (HEDM) in which the hydrogens on RDX and β‐HMX (hexahydro‐1,3,5‐trinitro‐1,3,5‐triazine and octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine, respectively) were sequentially replaced by (N NO₂)x functional groups were designed and evaluated using density functional theory calculations in combination with the Kamlet–Jacobs equations and an atoms‐in‐molecules (AIM) analysis. Improved detonation properties and reduced sensitivity compared to RDX and β‐HMX were predicted. Interestingly, the RDX and β‐HMX derivatives having one attached N NO₂ group [RDX‐(NNO₂)1 and HMX‐(NNO₂)1] showed excellent detonation properties (detonation velocities: 9.529 and 9.575 km·s⁻¹, and detonation pressures: 40.818 and 41.570 GPa, respectively), which were superior to the parent compounds. Sensitivity estimations obtained by calculating impact sensitivities and HOMO‐LUMO gaps indicated that RDX‐(NNO₂)1 and HMX‐(NNO₂)1 were less stable than RDX and HMX but more stable than any of the other derivatives. This method of sequential NNO₂ group attachment on conventional HEDMs offers a firm basis for further studies on the design of new explosives. Furthermore, the newly found structures may be promising candidates for better HEDMs.     

Thermally Triggered Solid‐State Single‐Crystal‐to‐Single‐Crystal Structural Transformation Accompanies Property Changes

The 1D complex [(CuL_0.5H₂O) ? H₂O]_n ( 1 ) (H₄L=2,2′‐bipyridine‐3,3′,6,6′‐tetracarboxylic acid) undergoes an irreversible thermally triggered single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal (SCSC) transformation to produce the 3D anhydrous complex [CuL_0.5]_n ( 2 ). This SCSC structural transformation was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns, variable‐temperature powder X‐ray diffraction (VT–PXRD) patterns, and IR spectroscopy. Structural analyses reveal that in complex 2 , though the initial 1D chain is still retained as in complex 1 , accompanied with the Cu‐bound H₂O removed and new O(carboxyl)?Cu bond forming, the coordination geometries around the Cu^II ions vary from a distorted trigonal bipyramid to a distorted square pyramid. With the drastic structural transition, significant property changes are observed. Magnetic analyses show prominent changes from antiferromagnetism to weak ferromagnetism due to the new formed Cu1‐O‐C‐O‐Cu4 bridge. The catalytic results demonstrate that, even though both solid‐state materials present high catalytic activity for the synthesis of 2‐imidazolines derivatives and can be reused, the activation temperature of complex 1 is higher than that of complex 2 . In addition, a possible pathway for the SCSC structural transformations is proposed.     

Ethyl 4‐do­decyl‐3,5‐di­methyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxyl­ate: intermolecular interactions in an amphiphilic pyrrole

The title compound, C₂₁H₃₇NO₂, is a new amphiphilic pyrrole with a long hydro­carbon chain, which will be used as a precursor for the synthesis of Langmuir–Blodgett films of porphyrins. Molecules related by an inversion centre are joined head‐to‐head into dimers by strong N—H?O hydrogen bonds. The dimers pack in the structure with their carbon chains parallel to one another, thereby forming alternating layers of carbon chains and pyrrole heads. The structure is further stabilized by two weak C—H?π intermolecular interactions, thereby saturating the hydrogen‐bonding capability of the aromatic π‐electron clouds.     

Self‐Supporting Metal–Organic Layers as Single‐Site Solid Catalysts

Metal–organic layers (MOLs) represent an emerging class of tunable and functionalizable two‐dimensional materials. In this work, the scalable solvothermal synthesis of self‐supporting MOLs composed of [Hf₆O₄(OH)₄(HCO₂)₆] secondary building units (SBUs) and benzene‐1,3,5‐tribenzoate (BTB) bridging ligands is reported. The MOL structures were directly imaged by TEM and AFM, and doped with 4′‐(4‐benzoate)‐(2,2′,2′′‐terpyridine)‐5,5′′‐dicarboxylate (TPY) before being coordinated with iron centers to afford highly active and reusable single‐site solid catalysts for the hydrosilylation of terminal olefins. MOL‐based heterogeneous catalysts are free from the diffusional constraints placed on all known porous solid catalysts, including metal–organic frameworks. This work uncovers an entirely new strategy for designing single‐site solid catalysts and opens the door to a new class of two‐dimensional coordination materials with molecular functionalities.