Galvanic Replacement Reactions of Active‐Metal Nanoparticles

We present a systemic investigation of a galvanic replacement technique in which active‐metal nanoparticles are used as sacrificial seeds. We found that different nanostructures can be controllably synthesized by varying the type of more noble‐metal ions and liquid medium. Specifically, nano‐heterostructures of noble metal (Ag, Au) or Cu nanocrystals on active‐metal (Mg, Zn) cores were obtained by the reaction of active‐metal nanoparticles with more noble‐metal ions in ethanol; Ag nanocrystal arrays were produced by the reaction of active‐metal nanoparticles with Ag⁺ ions in water; spongy Au nanospheres were generated by the reaction of active‐metal nanoparticles with AuCl₄^? ions in water; and SnO₂ nanoparticles were prepared when Sn²⁺ were used as the oxidant ions. The key factors determining the product morphology are shown to be the reactivity of the liquid medium and the nature of the oxidant–reductant couple, whereas Mg and Zn nanoparticles played similar roles in achieving various nanostructures. When microsized Mg and Zn particles were used as seeds in similar reactions, the products were mainly noble‐metal dendrites. The new approach proposed in this study expands the capability of the conventional nanoscale galvanic replacement method and provides new avenues to various structures, which are expected to have many potential applications in catalysis, optoelectronics, and biomedicine.     

Bacitracin‐Conjugated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis,Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

Bacitracin‐conjugated superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were prepared by click chemistry and their antibacterial activity was investigated. After functionalization with hydrophilic and biocompatible poly(acrylic acid), water‐soluble Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were obtained. Propargylated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were then synthesized by carbodiimide reaction of propargylamine with the carboxyl groups on the surface of the iron oxide nanoparticles. By further reaction with N₃‐bacitracin in a Cu^I‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition, the magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were modified with the peptide bacitracin. The functionalized magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by powder X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, TEM, zeta‐potential analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and vibrating‐sample magnetometry. Cell cytotoxicity tests indicate that bacitracin‐conjugated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles show very low cytotoxicity to human fibroblast cells, even at relatively high concentrations. In view of the antibacterial activity of bacitracin, the biofunctionalized Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles exhibit an antibacterial effect against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative organisms, which is even higher than that of bacitracin itself. The enhanced antibacterial activity of the magnetic nanocomposites allows the dosage and the side effects of the antibiotic to be reduced. Due to the antibacterial effect and magnetism, the bacitracin‐functionalized magnetic nanoparticles have potential application in magnetic‐targeting biomedical applications.     

Seed‐Mediated Growth of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals

Seed‐mediated growth is a powerful and versatile approach for the synthesis of colloidal metal nanocrystals. The vast allure of this approach mainly stems from the staggering degree of control one can achieve over the size, shape, composition, and structure of nanocrystals. These parameters not only control the properties of nanocrystals but also determine their relevance to, and performance in, various applications. The ingenuity and artistry inherent to seed‐mediated growth offer extensive promise, enhancing a number of existing applications and opening the door to new developments. This Review demonstrates how the diversity of metal nanocrystals can be expanded with endless opportunities by using seeds with well‐defined and controllable internal structures in conjunction with a proper combination of capping agent and reduction kinetics. New capabilities and future directions are also highlighted.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Benzylation of Azlactones

Asymmetric benzylation of prochiral azlactone nucleophiles enables the catalytic introduction of a benzyl group towards the synthesis of α,α‐disubstituted amino acids. Herein, we report an enantioselective palladium‐catalyzed process using chiral bis(diphenylphosphinobenzoyl)diamine (dppba) ligands. Naphthalene‐ and heterocycle‐based methyl carbonates react with a number of azlactones derived from both natural and unnatural amino acids. Monocyclic benzylic electrophiles, for which the barrier to ionization is higher, must employ a phosphate leaving group in order to react. Reaction conditions for electron‐rich and ‐neutral benzylic electrophiles have been developed, and the scope of the reaction has been explored with respect to both reaction partners. The high levels of asymmetric induction, as well as the reactivity pattern of the electrophiles, suggest an η³‐benzyl intermediate that arises through two distinct pathways.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Aminocarbonylation of Allylic Alcohols

A benign and efficient palladium‐catalyzed aminocarbonylation reaction of allylic alcohols is presented. The generality of this novel process is demonstrated by the synthesis of β,γ‐unsaturated amides including aliphatic, cinnamyl, and terpene derivatives. The choice of ligand is crucial for optimal carbonylation processes: Whereas in most cases the combination of PdCl₂ with Xantphos ( L6 ) gave best results, sterically hindered substrates performed better in the presence of simple triphenylphosphine ( L10 ), and primary anilines gave the best results using cataCXium® PCy ( L8 ). The reactivity of the respective catalyst system is significantly enhanced by addition of small amounts of water. Mechanistic studies and control experiments revealed a tandem allylic alcohol amination/C?N bond carbonylation reaction sequence.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Chain‐Growth Polycondensation of AB‐type Monomers: High Catalyst Turnover and Polymerization Rates

Chain‐growth catalyst‐transfer polycondensations of AB‐type monomers is a new and rapidly developing tool for the preparation of well‐defined π‐conjugated (semiconducting) polymers for various optoelectronic applications. Herein, we report the Pd/PtBu₃‐catalyzed Negishi chain‐growth polycondensation of AB‐type monomers, which proceeds with unprecedented TONs of above 100 000 and TOFs of up to 280 s^?1. In contrast, related AA/BB‐type step‐growth polycondensation proceeds with two orders of magnitude lower TONs and TOFs. A similar trend was observed in Suzuki‐type polycondensation. The key impact of the intramolecular (vs. intermolecular) catalyst‐transfer process on both polymerization kinetics and catalyst lifetime has been revealed.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Regiodivergent Substitution of Propargylic Carbonates

The palladium(0)‐catalyzed, ligand‐controlled, regioselective addition of diaryl acetonitrile pronucleophiles to propargylic carbonates is reported. Selective formation of either terminal 1,3‐dienyl or propargylated products is proposed to arise from a change in reaction mechanism controlled by the denticity of the coordinating ligand.     

Influence of the Crystallinity of Silver Nanoparticles on Their Magnetic Properties

The magnetic properties of noble-metal nanoparticles are a puzzling phenomenon, tentatively often explained as a size effect or a ligand effect. Many experimental studies performed to date have attempted to vary these readily available parameters without reaching a definitive conclusion. In an attempt at better understanding the role of core crystallinity on these magnetic properties, we have compared the behavior of silver nanoparticles, which were either single-crystalline or multi-twinned, of almost identical sizes and with the same ligand coating. Our results indicate that single-crystalline nanoparticles tend to behave as classical paramagnetic materials, whereas multi-twinned ones exhibit a combination of para- and ferro-magnetic behaviors. Our hypothesis is that lattice defects within the core bear magnetic moments which couple through conduction electrons, with dipolar interactions also playing a local and macroscopic role.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Substitution of Allylic Fluorides

As unusual substrates for the Tsuji–Trost allylation reaction, allylic fluorides are responsive to palladium‐catalyzed substitution. Their activity towards this reaction fits in the series OCO₂Me>OBz? F ?OAc. The classic stereoretention mechanism that involves sequential inversions does not operate in this case. Several distinct cases are considered.

     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct Cyclopropylation of Heterocycles

Many 1,3‐azoles and thiophenes are directly cyclopropylated in the presence of a simple palladium catalyst. The relative configuration on the three‐membered rings is retained in the products. Thus, the cyclopropyl–halide bond undergoes concerted oxidative addition to palladium(0) and cyclopropyl radicals are not involved in the productive pathway.     

Oxygen Activated,Palladium Nanoparticle Catalyzed,Ultrafast Cross‐Coupling of Organolithium Reagents

The discovery of an ultrafast cross‐coupling of alkyl‐ and aryllithium reagents with a range of aryl bromides is presented. The essential role of molecular oxygen to form the active palladium catalyst was established; palladium nanoparticles that are highly active in cross‐coupling reactions with reaction times ranging from 5 s to 5 min are thus generated in situ. High selectivities were observed for a range of heterocycles and functional groups as well as for an expanded scope of organolithium reagents. The applicability of this method was showcased by the synthesis of the [¹¹C]‐labeled PET tracer celecoxib.     

Quantitative Evaluation of the Total Magnetic Moments of Colloidal Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Kinetics‐based Method

A kinetics‐based method is proposed to quantitatively characterize the collective magnetization of colloidal magnetic nanoparticles. The method is based on the relationship between the magnetic force on a colloidal droplet and the movement of the droplet under a gradient magnetic field. Through computational analysis of the kinetic parameters, such as displacement, velocity, and acceleration, the magnetization of colloidal magnetic nanoparticles can be calculated. In our experiments, the values measured by using our method exhibited a better linear correlation with magnetothermal heating, than those obtained by using a vibrating sample magnetometer and magnetic balance. This finding indicates that this method may be more suitable to evaluate the collective magnetism of colloidal magnetic nanoparticles under low magnetic fields than the commonly used methods. Accurate evaluation of the magnetic properties of colloidal nanoparticles is of great importance for the standardization of magnetic nanomaterials and for their practical application in biomedicine.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed anti‐Markovnikov Oxidation of Terminal Alkenes

The palladium‐catalyzed oxidation of alkenes, the Wacker–Tsuji reaction, is undoubtedly a classic in organic synthesis and provides reliable access to methyl ketones from terminal alkenes under mild reaction conditions. Methods that switch the selectivity of the reaction to provide the aldehyde product are desirable because of the access they provide to a valuable functional group, however such methods are elusive. Herein we survey both the methods which have been developed recently in achieving such selectivity and discuss common features and mechanistic insight which offers promise in achieving the goal of a general method for anti‐Markovnikov‐selective olefin oxidations.     

Growth of Shape‐ and Size‐Selective Zinc Oxide Nanorods by a Microwave‐Assisted Chemical Bath Deposition Method: Effect on Photocatalysis Properties

Herein, we demonstrate the shape‐ and size‐selective growth of ZnO nanostructures on indium tin oxide‐coated glass substrates by using a microwave‐assisted chemical bath deposition method. By systematically controlling the deposition parameters, it is possible to produce shape‐ and size‐selective nanostructures with high alignment and uniformity. Specifically, the pH of the bath can be used to control the shape of rods from bundled structures to tapered and flat tips. Furthermore, the deposition temperature can be used to control the size of the ZnO array from 770 to 125 nm. The prepared rods were active catalysts in the degradation of methylene blue under UV radiation, and exhibited size‐dependent activity.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Aryliodination of Internal Alkynes

A completely atom economical palladium‐catalyzed addition reaction has been developed to stereoselectively access functionalized tetrasubstituted alkenyl iodides. The palladium catalyst, which bears an electron‐poor bidentate ligand rarely employed in catalysis, is essential to promote the high yielding and chemoselective intermolecular reaction between equimolar amounts of an alkyne and an aryl iodide. This new carbohalogenation reaction is an attractive alternative to traditional synthetic methods, which rely on multistep synthetic sequences and protecting‐group manipulations.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Isomerization and Hydroformylation of Olefins

A novel selective palladium catalyst system based on bidentate 2,2′‐heteroarylarylphosphines and p‐TsOH has been developed for hydroformylation reactions (see scheme). By applying optimal conditions good to excellent regioselectivity is obtained for the hydroformylation of aliphatic and aromatic olefins. It is shown that a low acid concentration is crucial for obtaining high degrees of the linear isomer.