“My first experiment was the Wittig reaction to prepare chiral allenes. If I wasn′t a scientist, I would be a historian. …?” This and more about Yoshiaki Nishibayashi can be found on page 4276.
Preferred protonation : Does electrospray ionization mass spectrometry produce gas‐phase or liquid‐phase structures? The preferred protonation site in p‐aminobenzoic acid depends upon the medium, and the structure of its conjugate acid varies with the solvent used during spraying.
Standing room only : Dense polymer brushes can be prepared by adsorbing a diblock copolymer comprising a neutral block and a polyelectrolyte block to an oppositely charged polyelectrolyte brush (see picture). The density of the resulting neutral brush is determined by charge compensation, leading to brush densities well over 1 nm?2. The diblock copolymer can be desorbed by changing the solution conditions.
“My biggest motivation is to see my students′ progress. When I was eighteen I wanted to be unexcitingly, a chemist…︁!” This and more about Stefan Mecking can be found on page 3213.
How are dihydropyridines like indoles? Both groups of compounds have similar nucleophilicity parameters N and are therefore suitable substrates for iminium‐catalyzed reactions of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. The N parameters of 1,4‐dihydropyridines were derived from the rates of hydride transfer reactions to benzhydrylium ions (see scheme).
Weaving an intricate web : A stereoselective synthesis of (?)‐agelastatin A has been developed, which requires 11 steps from commercially available starting material. The application of a Rh‐catalyzed intramolecular olefin aziridination reaction and the subsequent manipulation of the resulting tricyclic intermediate (see scheme) punctuate this study.
“The most exciting thing about my research is to create new molecules and new concepts. When I was eighteen I wanted to be an industrial chemist. …?” This and more about Koop Lammertsma can be found on page 4670.
Electron by electron : β‐Diketiminato nickel(I) complex fragments are capable of activating N2 through coordination. The resulting complex can be reduced in two single‐electron steps, which further activates the N? N bond. The picture shows the structure of the singly reduced complex with μ‐η1:η1‐bound N2.
Changing channels : The novel dynamic gas‐separation mechanism is demonstrated by a GC study for a flexible single crystal [Cu2(bza)4(pyz)]n, 1 . The single‐crystal host 1 , because of its flexibility, can separate various gases by adjusting its channel structure according to the features of the guest gaseous molecules.
All ways lead to Rome? Computer modeling and kinetic measurements identified a distinct residue in Phe/Tyr ammonia lyases (PAL/TAL) which controls whether the Friedel–Crafts or an E1cB reaction mechanism takes place. Hence, Glu484 in pcPAL favors the Friedel–Crafts reaction (see picture, MIO=4‐methylidene imidazol‐5‐one) whereas an Asn in TAL gives an elimination reaction. These mechanistic investigations also reveal activity of a PAL mutant and a TAL towards an amino alcohol.
Stuck on sulfur : The first transition‐metal complexes with S? Br units are surprisingly stable. Solid 3 is stable for at least six months and under vacuum solid 2 does not lose Br2. The formation of the first structurally characterized transition‐metal arenesulfenyl bromide complex 3 occurs with a change of the spin ground state from S=2 to S=0.
Getting the sizes sorted out : In recent years, there have been increasing numbers of reports about self‐assembled nano‐ or microtubular structures because of their potential uses in a variety of technical applications, which are largely determined by the tube sizes. This Focus Review highlights microsized self‐assembled organic tubular structures formed in aqueous solutions and organic solvents.
Linked to the Pentagon : The addition of molybdate to [HBW11O39]8? ions leads to the formation of mixed pentagonal units {W(Mo5)} and {W(WMo4)} trapped as linkers in the resulting modular assemblies, thus establishing the first link between the conventional Keggin ion derivatives and the giant molybdenum oxide and keplerate ions.
When one ring is not enough : A new double cyclization of stilbene derivatives results in benzo[b]fluorenes via dihydronaphthalenes. The presence of a selenium electrophile and a Lewis acid are crucial for the formation of the C? C bonds.
Fleetingly formyl : A new rhodium‐catalyzed hydroformylation reaction of N‐allyl oxazolidines, carried out under a CO/H2 atmosphere, followed by a diastereoselective deformylative cyclization affords hexahydropyrrolo[2,1‐b]oxazoles in good yields. The reaction proceeds by a unique hydroformylation–deformylation sequence in which the formyl group virtually substitutes for the {CH2? O} fragment of the oxazolidine heterocycle.
