Ladder‐Type Heteroarene‐Based Organic Semiconductors

The fusion of heteroaromatic rings into ladder‐type heteroarenes can stabilize frontier molecular orbitals and lead to improved physicochemical properties that are beneficial for applications in various optoelectronic devices. Thus, ladder‐type heteroarenes, which feature highly planar backbones and well‐delocalized π conjugation, have recently emerged as a promising type of organic semiconductor with excellent device performance in organic photovoltaics (OPVs) and organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). In this Focus Review, we summarize the recent advances in ladder‐type heteroarene‐based organic semiconductors, such as hole‐ and electron‐transporting molecular semiconductors, and fully ladder‐type conjugated polymers towards their applications in OPVs and OFETs. The recent use of ladder‐type small‐molecule acceptor materials has strikingly boosted the power conversion efficiency of fullerene‐free solar cells, and selected examples of the latest developments in ladder‐type fused‐ring electron acceptor materials are also elaborated.     

A Phosphine‐Coordinated Boron‐Centered Gomberg‐Type Radical

The P‐coordinated boryl radical [Ph₂P(naphthyl)BMes]^. (Mes=mesityl) was prepared by (electro)chemical reduction of the corresponding borenium salt or bromoborane. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis in solution and DFT calculations indicate large spin density on boron (60–70 %) and strong P–B interactions (P→B σ donation and B→P negative hyperconjugation). The radical is persistent in solution and participates in a Gomberg‐type dimerization process. The associated quinoid‐type dimer has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Three Keggin‐Type Transition Metal‐Substituted Polyoxometalates as Pure Inorganic Photosensitizers for p‐Type Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

In light of the serious challenge of severe global energy shortages, p‐type dye‐sensitized solar cells (p‐DSSCs) have attracted increasing levels of interest. The potential of three Keggin‐type transition metal‐substituted polyoxometalates, TBA₈Na₂[SiW₉O₃₇{Co(H₂O)₃}]? 11 H₂O (SiW₉Co₃), TBA₄[(SiO₄)W₁₀Mn^III₂O₃₆H₆]?1.5 CH₃CN? 2 H₂O (SiW₁₀Mn^III₂), and TBA_3.5H_5.5[(SiO₄)W₁₀Mn^III/IV₂O₃₆]? 10 H₂O?0.5 CH₃CN (SiW₁₀Mn^III/IV₂) has been explored as pure inorganic dye photosensitizers for p‐DSSCs (TBA=(n‐C₄H₉)₄N⁺). The three dyes show overall conversion efficiencies of 0.038, 0.029, and 0.027 %, respectively, all of which are higher than that of coumarin 343 (0.017 %). These polyoxometalates are the first three pure inorganic dyes reported for use with p‐DSSCs and therefore demonstrate a new strategy for designing efficient dyes, especially pure inorganic dyes. Moreover, they broaden the range of applications for polyoxometalates.     

CrB‐Type Phases in the Tb‐Zr‐Al‐Si System

The crystal structures of Tb(Al_0.15Si_0.85), (Tb_0.70Zr_0.30)(Al_0.17Si_0.83) and Zr(Al_0.22Si_0.78) have been refined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data. The three compounds crystallize with CrB‐type structures (Pearson symbol oS8, space group Cmcm): Tb(Al_0.15Si_0.85): a = 4.2715(5), b = 10.5595(15), c = 3.8393(5) Å; (Tb_0.70Zr_0.30)(Al_0.17Si_0.83): a = 4.163(2), b = 10.423(5), c = 3.8543(18) Å; Zr(Al_0.22Si_0.78): a = 3.7824(6), b = 10.0164(16), c = 3.7795(5) Å. The existence of a significant CrB‐type solid solution in the quaternary system Tb‐Zr‐Al‐Si, based on the ternary compound Tb(Al_0.15Si_0.85) and extending toward the solid solution based on the binary compound ZrSi in the Zr‐Al‐Si system, cannot be excluded.     

Approaches toward High‐Mannose‐Type Glycan Libraries

Asparagine‐linked (N‐linked) sugar chains are widely found in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which has attracted renewed attention because of its participation in the glycoprotein quality control process. In the ER, newly formed glycoproteins are properly folded to higher‐order structures by the action of a variety of lectin chaperones and processing enzymes and are transported into the Golgi, while terminally misfolded glycoproteins are carried into the cytosol for degradation. A group of proteins related to this system are known to recognize subtle differences in the high‐mannose‐type oligosaccharide structures of glycoproteins; however, their molecular foundations are still unclear. In order to gain a more precise understanding, our group has established a strategy for the systematic synthesis of high‐mannose‐type glycans. More recently, we have developed “top‐down” chemoenzymatic approaches that allow expeditious access to theoretically all types of high‐mannose glycans. This strategy comprehensively delivered 37 high‐mannose‐type glycans, including G1M9–M3 glycans, and opened up the possibility of the elucidation of structure–function relationships with a series of high‐mannose‐type glycans.     

Ruthenocene‐Type Complexes of N‐Fused Porphyrins

Ruthenocene‐type hybrid complexes with N‐fused porphyrinato ligands, [Ru(NFp)Cp] (NFp=N‐fused porphyrin, Cp=cyclopentadienyl), have been prepared and characterized by NMR and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry, and X‐ray crystallography. [Ru(NFp)Cp] is a common low‐spin ruthenium(II) complex and shows strong aromaticity. The Ru–Cp distance (1.833 Å) in [Ru(NFp)Cp] is comparable to that in [RuCp₂] (1.840 Å). DFT calculations on [Ru(NFp)Cp] showed the unequivocal contribution of the RuCp moiety as well as the NFp moiety to both the HOMO and LUMO, constructing a three‐dimensional d–π conjugated system. The HOMO–LUMO gaps of [Ru(NFp)Cp] are insensitive to the substituents on the NFp ligand, which is illustrated spectroscopically as well as theoretically. This is in sharp contrast to the ligand precursor, the N‐fused porphyrin, in which the HOMO–LUMO gap is affected by substituents in a similar manner to standard porphyrins and related macrocycles.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Alder‐Ene Type Cycloisomerization Reactions

An overview of the recent literature on palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular Alder‐ene (IMAE) reaction of a variety of 1,n‐unsaturated systems is presented. The reaction which was first reported by Trost and Lautens provided an efficient alternative to the thermal or Lewis acid catalyzed cycloisomerizations involving ene‐type reaction. The IMAE cyclization of enynes and dienes has emerged as an important area and found significant applications in building up of complex molecular architectures and in the synthesis of several bioactive natural products. Since highly impactful reviews on this subject have covered the literature till 2015, this article focuses on summarizing the works subsequent to 2015.     

Ti‐Catalyzed Barbier‐Type Allylations and Related Reactions

Versatility of titanium : Titanocene(III) complexes catalyze Barbier‐type allylations, intramolecular crotylations (cyclizations), and prenylations of a wide range of aldehydes and ketones. These reactions take place at RT under mild conditions compatible with many functional groups; provide good yields of open‐chain and cyclic homoallylic alcohols, including heterocyclic derivatives; and can be conducted enantioselectively by using enantiomerically pure titanium catalysts.

     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Heck‐Type Cross‐Couplings of Unactivated Alkyl Iodides

A palladium‐catalyzed, intermolecular Heck‐type coupling of alkyl iodides and alkenes is described. This process is successful with a variety of primary and secondary unactivated alkyl iodides as reaction partners, including those with hydrogen atoms in the β position. The mild catalytic conditions enable intermolecular C? C bond formations with a diverse set of alkyl iodides and alkenes, including substrates containing base‐ or nucleophile‐sensitive functionality.     

Optoelectronic Properties of Dicyanofluorene‐Based n‐Type Polymers

Three new donor–acceptor‐type copolymers ( P1 , P2 , P3 ) consisting of dicyanofluorene as acceptor and various donor moieties were designed and synthesized. Optoelectronic properties were studied in detail by means of UV‐visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, space‐charge‐limited current (SCLC), flash‐photolysis time‐resolved microwave conductivity (FP‐TRMC), and density functional theory (DFT). All polymers showed strong absorption in the UV‐visible region and the absorption maximum undergoes redshift with an increasing number of thiophene units in the polymer backbone. SCLC analysis showed that the electron mobilities of the polymers in the bulk state were 1 to 2 orders higher than that of the corresponding hole mobilities, which indicated the n‐type nature of the materials. By using FP‐TRMC, the intrapolymer charge‐carrier mobility was assessed and compared with the interpolymer mobility obtained by SCLC. The polymers exhibited good electron‐accepting properties sufficiently high enough to oxidize the excited states of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT (donor)), as evident from the FP‐TRMC analysis. The P3 polymer exhibited the highest FP‐TRMC transients in the pristine form as well as when blended with P3HT. Use of these polymers as n‐type materials in all‐polymer organic solar cells was also explored in combination with P3HT. In accordance with the TRMC results, P3 exhibited superior electron‐transport and photovoltaic properties to the other two polymers, which is explained by the distribution of the energy levels of the polymers by using DFT calculations.     

Few‐Layer Nanosheets of n‐Type SnSe2

Layered p‐block metal chalcogenides are renowned for thermoelectric energy conversion due to their low thermal conductivity caused by bonding asymmetry and anharmonicity. Recently, single crystalline layered SnSe has created sensation in thermoelectrics due to its ultralow thermal conductivity and high thermoelectric figure of merit. Tin diselenide (SnSe₂), an additional layered compound belonging to the Sn‐Se phase diagram, possesses a CdI₂‐type structure. However, synthesis of pure‐phase bulk SnSe₂ by a conventional solid‐state route is still remains challenging. A simple solution‐based low‐temperature synthesis is presented of ultrathin (3–5 nm) few layers (4–6 layers) nanosheets of Cl‐doped SnSe₂, which possess n‐type carrier concentration of 2×10¹⁸ cm^?3 with carrier mobility of about 30 cm² V^?1 s^?1 at room temperature. SnSe₂ has a band gap of about 1.6 eV and semiconducting electronic transport in the 300–630 K range. An ultralow thermal conductivity of about 0.67 Wm^?1 K^?1 was achieved at room temperature in a hot‐pressed dense pellet of Cl‐doped SnSe₂ nanosheets due to the anisotropic layered structure, which gives rise to effective phonon scattering.     

Non‐Heme‐Type Ruthenium Catalyzed Chemo‐ and Site‐Selective C−H Oxidation

Herein, we developed a Ru(II)(BPGA) complex that could be used to catalyze chemo‐ and site‐selective C?H oxidation. The described ruthenium complex was designed by replacing one pyridyl group on tris(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine with an electron‐donating amide ligand that was critical for promoting this type of reaction. More importantly, higher reactivities and better chemo‐, and site‐selectivities were observed for reactions using the cis‐ruthenium complex rather than the trans‐one. This reaction could be used to convert sterically less hindered methyne and/or methylene C?H bonds of a various organic substrates, including natural products, into valuable alcohol or ketone products.