Catalyst-Free Arylation of Tertiary Phosphines with Diaryliodonium Salts Enabled by Visible Light

The visible-light-induced arylation of tertiary phosphines with aryl(mesityl)iodonium triflates to produce the quaternary phosphonium salts occurs under mild, metal, and catalyst-free conditions. Photo-excited EDA complexes between diaryliodonium salts and phosphines supposedly enable this transformation, which is difficult to achieve through the traditional ground-state reactions. Demonstrating high functional group tolerance, broad scope, and complete selectivity of the aryl group transfer, the method is particularly compatible with sterically congested phosphines, which are challenging under metal-based catalytic methods.     

Ionic Pd/NHC Catalytic System Enables Recoverable Homogeneous Catalysis: Mechanistic Study and Application in the Mizoroki–Heck Reaction

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands are ubiquitously utilized in catalysis. A common catalyst design model assumes strong M–NHC binding in this metal–ligand framework. In contrast to this common assumption, we demonstrate here that lability and controlled cleavage of the M−NHC bond (rather than its stabilization) could be more important for high-performance catalysis at low catalyst concentrations. The present study reveals a dynamic stabilization mechanism with labile metal–NHC binding and [PdX₃]⁻[NHC-R]⁺ ion pair formation. Access to reactive anionic palladium intermediates formed by dissociation of the NHC ligands and plausible stabilization of the molecular catalyst in solution by interaction with the [NHC-R]⁺ azolium ion is of particular importance for an efficient and recyclable catalyst. These ionic Pd/NHC complexes allowed for the first time the recycling of the complex in a well-defined form with isolation at each cycle. Computational investigation of the reaction mechanism confirms a facile formation of NHC-free anionic Pd in polar media through either Ph–NHC coupling or reversible H–NHC coupling. The present study formulates novel ideas for M/NHC catalyst design.     

Lone pairs vs. covalent bonds: conformational effects in bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives

Structural Chemistry - Investigations on the relative energy of two least-strain conformers for bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane 1, bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one 2, and their heteroanalogues:...     

Jørgensen complex within a molecular container: selective encapsulation of trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ into cucurbit[8]uril and influence of inclusion on guest's properties

The unprecedented selective encapsulation of trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ from the mixture of trans and cis isomers into the cavity of macrocyclic cavitand cucurbit[8]uril (C48H48N32O16, CB[8]) leads to the inclusion compound {trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]@CB[8]}Cl.17H2O (1). Single-crystal X-ray analysis, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS spectra confirm the formation of host-guest complex 1 in both solid state and solution. The geometry of the complex cation alters significantly upon inclusion, which causes appreciable hypsochromic shifts of the absorption bands of the guest complex. According to TGA data, inclusion of trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ dramatically stabilizes the complex toward thermal decomposition. Encapsulation of trans-[Co(en)2Cl2]+ into the CB[8] cavity also increases the stability of the metal complex toward isomerization into the cis form. The supramolecular adduct {cis-[Co(en)2(H2O)2](CB[8])6}Cl3.ca109.5H2O (2) was isolated only after prolonged heating of an aqueous solution of 1 at 120 degrees C in an evacuated tube; it was characterized by X-ray crystallography, IR, and elemental analysis.     

A new expression for the direct quantum mechanical evaluation of the thermal rate constant

Based on the formalism of Miller, Schwartz, and Tromp [J. Chem. Phys. 79, 4889(1983)], we derive a new expression for the thermal rate constant for a chemical reaction. The expression involves an unperturbed, i.e., reactant or product channel Boltzmann operator for the imaginary time propagation, making it possible to compute efficiently the rate constant for a range of temperatures. We illustrate numerical aspects with an extensive study of the one-dimensional Eckart barrier problem, as well as a study of the three-dimensional (J = 0) D + H2 problem.     

Dipole solvation in dielectrics

This paper presents an exact solution for the free energy of linear solvation of a dipolar solute in an arbitrary dielectric material with a microscopic spectrum of polarization fluctuations. The solution is given in terms of wave vector-dependent longitudinal and transverse structure factors of the polarization fluctuations in the pure dielectric. Good agreement with computer simulations of dipole solvation in dipolar and dipolar--quadrupolar liquids is achieved.     

Pristine graphite oxide

Graphite oxide (GO) is a lamellar substance with an ambiguous structure due to material complexity. Recently published GO-related studies employ only one out of several existing models to interpret the experimental data. Because the models are different, this leads to confusion in understanding the nature of the observed phenomena. Lessening the structural ambiguity would lead to further developments in functionalization and use of GO. Here, we show that the structure and properties of GO depend significantly on the quenching and purification procedures, rather than, as is commonly thought, on the type of graphite used or oxidation protocol. We introduce a new purification protocol that produces a product that we refer to as pristine GO (pGO) in contrast to the commonly known material that we will refer to as conventional GO (cGO). We explain the differences between pGO and cGO by transformations caused by reaction with water. We produce ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic, thermogravimetric, and scanning electron microscopic analytical evidence for the structure of pGO. This work provides a new explanation for the acidity of GO solutions and allows us to add critical details to existing GO models.     

Electronic, spectroscopic, and ion-sensing properties of a dehydro[m]pyrido[14]- and [15]annulene isomer library

An isomeric series of dehydro[m]pyrido[n]annulenes incorporating strained 1,4-buta-1,3-diyne units have been synthesized, where m = 2, n = 14 (1a-d); m = 2, n = 15 (2a,b); and m = 3, n = 15 (3). The number of pyridine rings and annulene ring π-electrons are denoted by m and n, respectively. The X-ray crystal structures of 1b and 1c confirmed their cyclic formulation. All macrocycles were found to be luminescent chromophores with differing isomer-dependent proton and metal ion-sensory emission responses, which appear collectively as analyte-specific color patterns. Within the series studied, 1a was singular in displaying the highest luminescence quantum yield and sharing the strongest emission energy and molar absorption changes upon protonation and Hg(II) binding. Spectroscopic and electrochemical results were supported by density functional theory calculations in showing 1a, 2a, and 3 to be low bandgap materials with lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals delocalized over the 1,4-di(pyridin-4-yl)buta-1,3-diyne bridges that provide a pathway for electronic communication between the nitrogens. Overall, the investigations suggest that 1a, 2a, and 3 would be excellent ligands for the construction of novel conjugated hybrid metallosupramolecular nanostructures, polymers, and ion-sensory systems.