Continuous organocatalysis : Fast aldol and Mannich reactions require less catalyst when conducted in a microreactor. A proline tetrazole derivative (5–10 mol %) catalyzes asymmetric aldol reactions between various aromatic aldehydes and ketones in microreactor at 60 °C with reaction times ranging from 10 to 30 min.
Doing the hula twist? A photochemically stimulated inversion of an sp2‐hybridized oxygen atom upon simultaneous rotation of two adjacent bonds may be possible in a pure singlet excited potential energy surface in uninhibited fluid media (see scheme).
Perfluorination: The fully fluorinated analogue of pentaphenylborole (see structure; B gray, C black, F green) has been prepared using successive transmetallation reactions involving Zr and Sn heterocycles. The highly moisture‐sensitive borole is a new member of the perfluoroaryl borane family, a class of antiaromatic compounds of fundamental significance to concepts of aromaticity.
A cholesterol‐based membrane tether…? system has been developed, for the attachment of lipid bilayer membranes at silica and gold surfaces, by S. D. Evans et al. in their Full Paper on page 6363 ff. Arrays of membrane have been produced by using deep UV lithography on both metallic and insulating substrates. Their response to electric fields demonstrates the formation of highly resistive, fluid membranes.
It makes sense : Conjugated polymer nanoparticles doped with a platinum porphyrin dye exhibit bright phosphorescence that is highly sensitive to the concentration of molecular oxygen. The small size, extraordinary brightness, excellent sensitivity, and ratiometric emission, together with the demonstration of single‐particle sensing and cellular uptake, indicate the potential of the nanoparticle sensors for quantitative mapping of local molecular oxygen concentration.
Golden capillaries : A gold‐immobilized capillary column reactor allows oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds using molecular oxygen. These capillary columns (see picture) can be used for at least four days without loss of activity.
