Reaction of sulfenes with heterocyclic N,N-disubstituted α-aminomethyleneketones. XII. Synthesis of [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin derivatives

The 1,4-cycloaddition of sulfene to N,N-disubstituted (E)-4-aminomethylene-3,4-dihydro[1]benzothiepin-5(2H)-ones I occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to give in good yield 4-dialkylamino-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides, which are derivatives of the new heterocyclic system [1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin. Also the reaction of I with chlorosulfene occurred only in the case of aliphatic N,N-disubstitution to afford chiefly trans-4-dialkylamino-3-chloro-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides III in satisfactory yield. Adducts III were dehydrochlorinated with DBN to 4-dialkylamino-5,6-dihydro[1]benzothiepino[4,5-e][1,2]oxathiin 2,2-dioxides in good yield.     

Exploiting Synergistic Effects in Organozinc Chemistry for Direct Stereoselective C‐Glycosylation Reactions at Room Temperature

Pairing a range of bis(aryl) zinc reagents ZnAr₂ with the stronger Lewis acidic [(ZnAr^F₂)] (Ar^F=C₆F₅), enables highly stereoselective cross‐coupling between glycosyl bromides and ZnAr₂ without the use of a transition metal. Reactions occur at room temperature with excellent levels of stereoselectivity, where ZnAr^F₂ acts as a non‐coupling partner although its presence is crucial for the execution of the C(sp²)–C(sp³) bond formation process. Mechanistic studies have uncovered a unique synergistic partnership between the two zinc reagents, which circumvents the need for transition‐metal catalysis or forcing reaction conditions. Key to the success of the coupling is the avoidance of solvents that act as Lewis bases versus diarylzinc compounds (e.g. THF).     

Synthesis of Densely Packaged,Ultrasmall Pt02 Clusters within a Thioether‐Functionalized MOF: Catalytic Activity in Industrial Reactions at Low Temperature

The gram‐scale synthesis, stabilization, and characterization of well‐defined ultrasmall subnanometric catalytic clusters on solids is a challenge. The chemical synthesis and X‐ray snapshots of Pt⁰₂ clusters, homogenously distributed and densely packaged within the channels of a metal–organic framework, is presented. This hybrid material catalyzes efficiently, and even more importantly from an economic and environmental viewpoint, at low temperature (25 to 140 °C), energetically costly industrial reactions in the gas phase such as HCN production, CO₂ methanation, and alkene hydrogenations. These results open the way for the design of precisely defined catalytically active ultrasmall metal clusters in solids for technically easier, cheaper, and dramatically less‐dangerous industrial reactions.     

Determination of Phenolic Endocrine Disruptors in Cosmetics by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

An analytical method for the simultaneous determination of bisphenol A, 4-t-octylphenol, 4-n-octylphenol, and 4-n-nonylphenol in cosmetic samples has been developed. These compounds have toxic effects on human health as they have shown to produce endocrine disrupting properties. Therefore, their presence in cosmetics should be avoided according to the current European Regulations on cosmetic products. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) detection. Standard addition calibration was used to avoid matrix effects. The limits of detection values ranged between 7 and 15?ng?mL^?1 (threefold of the residual standard deviation of regression lines). The proposed method was validated, and good recovery (90–106%) and repeatability values (2.7–8.2%) were obtained. Finally, the method was successfully applied to ten commercially available cosmetic samples. The good analytical features of the proposed method make it useful to carry out the quality control of cosmetic products and raw materials to assure the safety of users.     

Novel structures of cyclometallated complexes of palladium(II) derived from terdentate ligands. Crystal and molecular structure of [Pd{C6H4C(H)=NCH2CH2CH2NMe2}(X)] (X=Cl, Br, I)

Treatment of N-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (1) and N-(2-bromo-3,4-(MeO)₂-benzylidene)-N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (20) with tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0) in toluene gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complexes [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Cl)] (2) and [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Br)] (21), respectively, via oxidative addition reaction with the ligand as a C,N,N terdentate ligand. Reaction of 2 with sodium bromide or iodide in an acetone–water mixture gave the cyclometallated analogues of 2, [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(Br)] (3) and [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(I)] (4), by halogen exchange. The X-ray crystal structures of 2, 3 and 4 were determined and discussed. Treatment of 2, 3, 4 and 21 with tertiary monophosphines in acetone gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complexes [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(L)(X)] (6: L=PPh₃, X=Cl; 7: L=PPh₃, X=Br; 8: L=PPh₃, X=I; 9: L=PMePh₂, X=Cl; 10: L=PMe₂Ph, X=Cl) and [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(L)(Br)] (22: L=PPh₃; 23: L=PMePh₂; 24: L=PMe₂Ph). A fluxional behaviour due to an uncoordinated CH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂ could be determined by variable temperature NMR spectroscopy. Treatment of 2, 3 and 4 with silver trifluoromethanesulfonate followed by reaction with triphenylphosphine gave the mononuclear complex [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(PPh₃)][F₃CSO₃] (11) where the Pd–NMe₂ bond was retained. Reaction of 2, 3 and 4 with ditertiary diphosphines in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 2:1 molar ratio gave the binuclear complexes [{Pd[C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂](X)}₂(μ-L–L)][L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₄PPh₂(dppb) (13, X=Cl; 14, X=Br; 15, X=I; L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₅PPh₂(dpppe): 16, X=Cl; 17, X=Br; 18, X=I) with palladium–NMe₂ bond cleavage. Treatment of 2, 3 and 4 with ditertiary diphosphines, in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 2:1, molar ratio and AgSO₃CF₃ gave the binuclear cyclometallated complexes [{Pd[C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂]}₂(μ-L–L)][F₃CSO₃]₂ (11: L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₄PPh₂(dppb), X=Cl; 12: L–L=PPh₂(CH₂)₅PPh₂ (dpppe), X=Cl). Reaction of 2 with the ditertiary diphosphine cis-dppe in a cyclometallated complex–diphosphine 1:1 molar ratio followed by treatment with sodium perchlorate gave the mononuclear cyclometallated complex [Pd{C₆H₄C(H)=NCH₂CH₂CH₂NMe₂}(cis-PPh₂CH=CHPPh₂–P,P)][ClO₄] (19).     

Highly sensitive electrochemical detection of living cells based on diamond microelectrode arrays

The new boron-doped nanocrystalline diamond microelectrode arrays (BNCD-MEAs) with 16 channels were designed to detect biological signals from some activated cancer cells. Upon recordings of the released H₂O₂ from cancer cells stimulated by ascorbic acid (AA), it can readily detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) released from target cells, which will be helpful for the cancer cell recognition and also beneficial for further studying the cause of relevant disease.     

Aqueous micro and nanoreactors based on alternating copolymers of phenylmaleimide and vinylpyrrolidone bearing pendant l‐proline stabilized with PEG grafted chains

Proline may work efficiently in water as catalyst of aldol reactions if it is hydrophobically activated. In this work, we have maximized this hydrophobic activation by the preparation of linear alternating copolymers of hydrophobic phenylmaleimide and a vinylpyrrolidone derivative bearing proline. These copolymers were water soluble above pH 5.0 and, unlike the free proline, exhibited efficient catalysis at pH 7.0. Moreover, they catalyzed and presented enantioselectivity in an aggregated form at pH 4.0 (close to the isoelectric point, IEP, of the polymer). This enantioselectivity has been related to the exclusion of water at this IEP. To control the size and stabilize the aggregates, PEG grafted copolymers were prepared by the incorporation of a PEG‐macromer (2–10 mol%), which rendered stable nano‐aggregates in water at the IEP. At this pH they catalyzed the aldol reaction in a higher rate than the non‐grafted polymer, but the enantioselectivity was decreased. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 55, 1228–1236     

A quantum theory atoms in molecules investigation of Lewis base protonation

This investigation uses atomic properties derived from the quantum theory of atoms in molecules formalism to rationalize the infrared intensity of the stretching vibration that arises as a Lewis base (B) is protonated (B‐H mode). Moreover, the interacting quantum atom (IQA) partition is employed to evaluate the energetics of protonation. All calculations are performed at the CCSD/cc‐pVQZ level except by the IQA analysis, which is carried out by means of the B3LYP/cc‐pVQZ//CCSD/cc‐pVQZ treatment. First, an efficiency scale is established for Lewis bases in terms of the electronic charge transfer potential. Next, this study shows that the intensity of the B‐H stretching depends mostly on the electronic charge amount transferred to the proton. Thus, intensity data provide empirical assessment of Lewis base charge transfer efficiency. Finally, the group separation observed during correlation of proton affinities and electronic charge transfer potential is explained by the interaction energy between fragments of the protonated system.