Intermolecular Methoxycarbonylation of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by Palladium(II) Bis(oxazoline) Complexes

Boxing clever : Direct conversion of a terminal alkyne group into a β‐methoxyacrylate is realized with the aid of the bis(oxazoline) ligand (box). Acetyl and ketal protecting groups, free hydroxy groups, and acid‐sensitive glycosidic bonds are not affected under the reaction conditions. The one‐pot synthesis of (±)‐dihydrokawain from the homopropargyl alcohol is also achieved. tfa=trifluoroacetate

     

Nucleophilic addition to 2,3-disubstituted butanal derivatives and their application to natural product synthesis

The reaction of 2,3-anti-2-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-3-substituted butanal derivative [anti-B, (±)-10 and (±)-16] derived from trans-(2,3)-epoxy butanoate (1) with carbon nucleophiles [α-furyl anion, acetate anion, and indium (In)-assisted allyl anion] has been investigated to give selectively the anti-, anti-adduct D. This anti-stereoselection could be explained by the Felkin-Anh transition state model. Thus obtained anti-, anti-adducts (±)-17 and (±)-38 were formally converted to natural products, (±)-asperlin (2) and (±)-olivose (4), respectively. The major anti-, anti-adduct (±)-26 was converted to (±)-digitoxose (3), while the minor anti-, syn-adduct (±)-27 was also converted to (±)-olivose (4). The reaction of (±)-10 with tert-butyl acetate anion gave predominantly afforded the anti-, anti-adduct (±)-23, which was converted to (±)-1,5-dideoxyhexitol (25). Alternately, the reaction of 2,3-syn-2-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy-3-p-methoxyphenoxy butanal derivative [syn-B, (±)-14] derived from trans-(2,3)-epoxy butanoate (1) with carbon nucleophile (In-assisted allyl anion) afforded a ca. 1 : 1 mixture of the syn-, anti-adduct E [(±)-32 or (±)-34] and syn-, syn-adduct F [(±)-33 or (±)-35]. After separation of this mixture, (±)-34 and (±)-35 were separately converted to (±)-oliose (5) and (±)-boivinose (6), respectively.     

Electronic charge transfer between Au nano-particles and TiO2-terminated SrTiO3(0 0 1) substrate

The interaction between Au nano-particles and oxide supports is recently discussed in terms of the catalytic activities. This paper reports the electronic charge transfer between Au nano-particles and TiO₂-terminated SrTiO₃(0 0 1) substrate, which is compared with that for stoichiometric(S)-, pseudo-stoichiometric(S¹)- and reduced(R)-TiO₂(1 1 0) supports. We observed the photoelectron spectra of Au 4f, O 2s, Ti 3p, and Sr 4p lines and also measured the work functions for Au/oxides supports using synchrotron-radiation light. As the results, all the O 2s, Ti 3p, and Sr 4p lines for Au/SrTiO₃(0 0 1) show lower binding energy shifts in a quite same manner and abrupt increase in the work function is seen in an initial stage. This clearly evidences an electronic charge transfer from the substrate to Au probably due to a much larger work function of Au than SrTiO₃(0 0 1), which leads to an upward band bending (0.3 eV) just like a Schottky contact. Electronic charge transfers also take place at Au/S- and Au/S¹-TiO₂(1 1 0) and Au/R-TiO₂(1 1 0) interfaces, where electrons are transferred from Au to S- and S¹-TiO₂ and from R-TiO₂ to Au, as predicted by ab initio calculations.     

Relationship between Separation Behavior and Structural Flexibility in Inclusion Crystal of Cholic Acid

Selective incorporation of two aromatic compounds, benzene and ethylbenzene,into an inclusion crystal of cholic acid was investigated. Addition of an excessamount of 1:1 mixture of benzene and ethylbenzene into saturated solution ofcholic acid in 1-butanol led to a spontaneous formation of an inclusion crystal.The co-crystal contained benzene and ethylbenzene at the constant molar ratioof 8:2 irrespective of the relative concentrations of guest and host in the feedsolution, indicating that the resulting crystal consists of the two guests mixedin a single host framework. The resulting ternary crystal had thermal behaviorsimilar to a binary crystal obtained from benzene. In contrast to the guest/hostratio, the benzene/ethylbenzene ratio in the feed solution affected that in theinclusion crystal. Benzene was basically preferred in the cholic acid crystalover ethylbenzene, but the selectivity reversed at an excess amount of ethylbenzene.This separation behavior can be understood in terms of the structural flexibility ofhost frameworks.     

Preparation of microporous polymer-encapsulated Pd nanoparticles and their catalytic performance for hydrogenation and oxidation

Palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) encapsulated by conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) were prepared by the Pd-catalyzed polymerization followed by a thermal treatment with N₂ or H₂. The Pd catalysts were embedded in the porous network during polymerization and used as a precursor for the generation of Pd NPs in CMP. Although no Pd NPs were formed in the as-synthesized Pd/CMPs, Pd NPs with 1.6–3.5 nm size were formed after the thermal treatment. The obtained Pd/CMP-N₂ and -H₂ catalysts were highly selective in the hydrogenation of 4-nitrostyrene to 4-ethylnitrobenzene, whereas Pd NPs supported on carbon (Ketjen black) gave a fully reduced product, 4-ethylaniline. Substituents in CMP framework could change the catalytic activity of Pd NPs; hydroxy-substituted CMP encapsulated Pd NPs showed higher catalytic activity than Pd/CMP-H₂ for benzyl alcohol oxidation.     

A Solvato‐Fluorochromic Macrocycle of Multiple Anthracene Fluorophores in Close Proximity

A fluorescent macrocycle containing four anthracene panels linked by meta‐phenylene spacers and amino hinges was synthesized. The macrocycle adopts a twisted, compressed conformation that places embedded anthracene fluorophores in close contact. Emission from the convoluted macrocycle is highly solvatochromic and significantly enhanced as compared with that of the partial structures.     

Size-Controlled Synthesis of Gold Clusters as Efficient Catalysts for Aerobic Oxidation

This article summarizes our recent research on the size-controlled synthesis of Au clusters stabilized by a polymer or supported by a solid, and related work reported by others. Small Au clusters have excellent, size-specific catalytic activity in the aerobic oxidation of alcohols and alkanes.     

Highly Efficient and Selective Oxidation of Ethanol to Acetaldehyde by a Hybrid Photocatalyst Consisting of SnO2 Nanorod and Rutile TiO2 with Heteroepitaxial Junction

Single-crystal SnO₂ nanorods were grown on rutile TiO₂ with a heteroepitaxial relation of SnO₂{001}/TiO₂{001} (SnO₂-NR#TiO₂) by a hydrothermal reaction. Resulting compressive lattice strain in the SnO₂-NR near the interface induces a continuous increase in the a-axis length extending over 60 nm to relax towards the [001] direction from the root to the tip. UV-light irradiation of the robust SnO₂-NR#TiO₂ stably progresses the selective oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde with an external quantum yield of 25.6 % at excitation wavelength (λ_ex)=365 nm under ambient temperature and pressure. Spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory simulation results suggested that the extremely high photocatalytic activity stems from the smooth interfacial electron transfer from TiO₂ to SnO₂-NR through the high-quality junction and subsequent efficient charge separation due to the lattice strain-induced unidirectional potential gradient of the conduction band minimum in the SnO₂-NR.     

Regiospecific Intermolecular Aminohydroxylation of Olefins by Photoredox Catalysis

A simple and regiospecific aminohydroxylation of olefins by photoredox catalysis has been developed. N‐protected 1‐aminopyridinium salts are the key compounds and serve as amidyl radical precursors by the action of Ir photocatalysts, fac‐[Ir(ppy)₃] and [Ir(ppy)₂(dtbbpy)](PF₆) (ppy=2‐pyridylphenyl, dtbbpy=4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine). The present photocatalytic system allows for synthesis of vicinal aminoalcohol derivatives from olefins with various functional groups under mild reaction conditions with easy handling.     

A Ferroelectric Metallomesogen Exhibiting Field-Induced Slow Magnetic Relaxation

Magnetoelectric (ME) materials exhibiting coupled electric and magnetic properties are of significant interest because of their potential use in memory storage devices, new sensors, or low-consumption devices. Herein, we report a new category of ME material that shows liquid crystal (LC), ferroelectric (FE), and field-induced single molecule magnet (SMM) behaviors. Co(II) complex incorporating alkyl chains of type [Co(3C₁₆-bzimpy)₂](BF₄)₂ ( 1 ; 3C₁₆-bzimpy=2,2’-(4-hexadecyloxy-2,6-diyl)bis(1-hexadecyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole)) displayed a chiral smectic C mesophase in the temperature range 321 K–458 K, in which distinct FE behavior was observed, with a remnant polarization (88.3 nC cm⁻²). Complex 1 also exhibited field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behavior that reflects the large magnetic anisotropy of the Co(II) center. Furthermore, the dielectric property of 1 was able to be tuned by an external magnetic field occurring from both spin-lattice coupling and molecular orientational variation. Clearly, this multifunctional compound, combining LC, FE, and SMM properties, represents an entry to the development of a range of next-generation ME materials.