Aluminium speciation : Aluminium speciation in NTf2 ionic liquids has a strong influence on its electrodeposition from the liquid mixture. This work probed the nature of these species and proposes that the electroactive species involved are either [AlCl3(NTf2)]? or [AlCl2(NTf2)2]? (e.g., see figure).
π–π assisted : Photoinduced electron transfer from cofacial porphyrin dimers to electron acceptors is prominently accelerated, whereas the back electron transfer is decelerated, relative to the corresponding porphyrin monomer (see figure).
Ultrafast light‐induced processes in a series of π‐conjugated mono‐, bis‐, tris‐ and tetrakis(terpyridine) derivatives are investigated by femtosecond time‐resolved spectroscopy. Non‐exponential excited‐state dynamics involving singlet–triplet intersystem crossing are observed which span from picoseconds to nanoseconds (see figure).
One stereocenter makes all the difference : The synthesis and biological evaluation of 17‐epi‐cortistatin A is reported from a common intermediate used to procure natural cortistatin A. The synthesis features a unique stereocontrolled Raney‐Ni reduction process that can be employed to reliably produce both α‐ and β‐configured D‐ring aryl steroids. Biological evaluations of these “cortalogs” are reported for the first time.
Metal clamping in operation! Deprotonation of [η6‐2‐(9‐triptycyl)indene]tricarbonylchromium induces a haptotropic shift of the organometallic fragment from the six‐membered to the five‐membered ring, as in a→b . In the anion, rotation of the molecular paddlewheel is blocked by the bulky tripod. X‐ray crystal structures provide pictures of the system in both its “ON” and “OFF” states.
As easy as 1, 2, 3 : A palladium‐catalyzed three‐component coupling generates α,β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids in a single step (see scheme). The reaction is believed to involve migration of a vinyl substituent to a highly electrophilic palladium carbene. Unlike previous synthetic approaches, this synthesis provides access to γ‐amino acids with non‐natural side chains.
Changing employment : Receptor 1 binds β‐N‐acetylglucosaminyl (β‐GlcNAc) up to 100 times more strongly than it does glucose. This synthetic lectin shows affinities similar to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a natural lectin used to bind GlcNAc. Remarkably, 1 is more selective than WGA. It favors especially the glycoside unit in glycopeptide 2 , a model of the serine‐O‐GlcNAc posttranslational protein modification.
It's as simple as that : An in situ prepared chiral catalyst from the commercially available compounds Ti(OiPr)4 and (R)‐binol catalyzes the highly enantioselective ring‐opening of meso‐aziridines 1 with anilines 2 and furnishes valuable chiral 1,2‐diamines 3 in high yields and up to 99 % ee.(R)‐binol=(R)‐2,2′‐dihydroxy‐1,1′‐binaphthyl.
Guest Effect : The differences of nitrogen atom positions and the bridge bonds linked to two pyridine rings of some bipyridine guests can significantly affect the binding abilities and inclusion geometries of β‐cyclodextrin with the guests in both the solution and solid states.
