Bis‐clickable Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Straightforward Preparation of Light‐Actuated Nanomachines for Controlled Drug Delivery with Active Targeting

Bis(clickable) mesoporous silica nanospheres (ca. 100 nm) were obtained by the co‐condensation of TEOS with variable amounts (2–5 % each) of two clickable organosilanes in the presence of CTAB. Such nanoparticles could be easily functionalized with two independent functions using the copper‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction to transform them into nanomachines bearing cancer cell targeting ligands with the ability to deliver drugs on‐demand. The active targeting was made possible after anchoring folic acid by CuAAC click reaction, whereas the controlled delivery was performed by clicked azobenzene fragments. Indeed, the azobenzene groups are able to obstruct the pores of the nanoparticles in the dark whereas upon irradiation in the UV or in the blue range, their trans‐to‐cis photoisomerization provokes disorder in the pores, enabling the delivery of the cargo molecules. The on‐command delivery was proven in solution by dye release experiments, and in vitro by doxorubicin delivery. The added value of the folic acid ligand was clearly evidenced by the difference of cell killing induced by doxorubicin‐loaded nanoparticles under blue irradiation, depending on whether the particles featured the clicked folic acid ligand or not.     

Eosin Y (EY) Photoredox‐Catalyzed Sulfonylation of Alkenes: Scope and Mechanism

Alkyl‐ and aryl vinyl sulfones were obtained by eosin Y (EY)‐mediated visible‐light photooxidation of sulfinate salts and the reaction of the resulting S‐centered radicals with alkenes. Optimized reaction conditions, the sulfinate and alkene scope, and X‐ray structural analyses of several reaction products are provided. A detailed spectroscopic study explains the reaction mechanism, which proceeds through the EY radical cation as key intermediate oxidizing the sulfinate salts.     

Stereoselective Ketone Rearrangements with Hypervalent Iodine Reagents

The first stereoselective version of an iodine(III)‐mediated rearrangement of arylketones in the presence of orthoesters is described. The reaction products, α‐arylated esters, are very useful intermediates in the synthesis of bioactive compounds such as ibuprofen. With chiral lactic acid‐based iodine(III) reagents product selectivities of up to 73 % ee have been achieved.     

Intramolecular Nitrene Insertion into Saturated C−H-Bond-Mediated C−N Bond Cleavage of a Coordinated NHC Ligand

Ruthenium(II) complexes bearing a tridentate bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand reacted with iminoiodanes (PhI=NR) resulting in the formation of isolable ruthenium(III)–amido intermediates, which underwent cleavage of a C−N bond of the tridentate ligand and formation of an N-substituted imine group. The Ru^III–amido intermediates have been characterized by ¹H NMR, UV/Vis, ESI-MS, and X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations were performed to provide insight into the reaction mechanism.     

Ranking Oxidant Sensitiveness: A Guide for Synthetic Utility

Common oxidants used in chemical synthesis, including newly developed perruthenates, were evaluated in the context of understanding (and better appreciating) the sensitiveness and associated potential hazards of these reagents. Analysis using sealed cell differential scanning calorimetry (scDSC) facilitated Yoshida correlations, which were compared to impact sensitiveness and electrostatic discharge experiments (ESD), that enabled sensitiveness ranking. Methyltriphenylphoshonium perruthenate (MTP3, 8 ), isoamyltriphenylphosphonium perruthenate (ATP3, 7 ) and tetraphenylphosphonium perruthenate (TP3, 9 ) were found to be the most sensitive followed by 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX, 2 ) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO, 10 ), whereas the most benign were observed to be Oxone ( 12 ), manganese dioxide (MnO₂, 13 ), and N-bromosuccinimide (NBS, 17 ).     

Late-Stage Direct o-Alkenylation of Phenols by PdII-Catalyzed C−H Functionalization

o-Alkenylation of unprotected phenols has been developed by direct C−H functionalization catalyzed by Pd^II. This work features phenol group as a directing group and realizes highly site-selective C−H bond functionalization of phenols to achieve the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields at 60 °C. The advantages of this reaction include unprecedented C−H functionalization using phenol as a directing group, high regioselectivity, good substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and high efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a regioselective C−H alkenylation of unprotected phenols utilizing phenolic hydroxyl group as a directing group. The alkenylation of unprotected tyrosine and intramolecular cyclization are also successfully carried out under this catalytic system in good yields. Furthermore, this novel method enables a late-stage modification of complex phenol-containing bioactive molecules toward a diversity-oriented drug discovery.     

Cytochrome P450 119 Compounds I Formed by Chemical Oxidation and Photooxidation Are the Same Species

Compound I from cytochrome P450 119 prepared by the photooxidation method involving peroxynitrite oxidation of the resting enzyme to Compound II followed by photooxidation to Compound I was compared to Compound I generated by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) oxidation of the resting enzyme. The two methods gave the same UV/Visible spectra, the same products from oxidations of lauric acid and palmitic acid and their (ω-2,ω-2,ω-3,ω-3)-tetradeuterated analogues, and the same kinetics for oxidations of lauric acid and caprylic acid. The experimental identities between the transients produced by the two methods leave no doubt that the same Compound I species is formed by the two methods.     

Isolation and Crystallographic Characterization of Two,Nonisolated Pentagon Endohedral Fullerenes: Ho3N@C2(22010)-C78 and Tb3N@C2(22010)-C78

Purified samples of Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ have been isolated by two distinct processes from the rich array of fullerenes and endohedral fullerenes present in carbon soot from graphite rods doped with Ho₂O₃ or Tb₄O₇. Crystallographic analysis of the endohedral fullerenes as cocrystals with Ni(OEP) (in which OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin) shows that both molecules contain the chiral C₂(22010)-C₇₈ cage. This cage does not obey the isolated pentagon rule (IPR) but has two sites where two pentagons share a common C−C bond. These pentalene units bind two of the metal ions, whereas the third metal resides near a hexagon of the cage. Inside the cages, the Ho₃N or Tb₃N unit is planar. Ho₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ and Tb₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ use the same cage previously found for Gd₃N@C₂(22010)-C₇₈ rather than the IPR-obeying cage found in Sc₃N@D_3h-C₇₈.     

Low-Valent Group 14 NHC-Stabilized Phosphinidenide ate Complexes and NHC-Stabilized K/P-Clusters

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilized phosphinidenide, SIMesPK [SIMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolidine-2-ylidene], was used as an (NHC)P-transfer reagent for the synthesis of the low-valent Group 14 ate complexes K[(SIMesP)₃E] (E=Ge: 2 , Sn: 3 , Pb: 4 ), which were characterized by ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, IR spectroscopy as well as elemental and X-ray analysis. Furthermore, SIMesPK was used in reactions with potassium amides and alkoxides to form the molecular phosphorus–potassium clusters [K₄(SIMesP)₂(hmds)₂] [ 5 , hmds=N(SiMe₃)₂] and [K₆(SIMesP)₂(OtBu)₄] ( 6 ). Finally, the reaction of SIMesPK with Li[Al(OC₄F₉)₄] led to the potassium-rich ionic compound [(SIMesP)₄K₅][Al(OC₄F₉)₄] ( 7 ).     

Rational Synthesis of Iron/Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Catalyst through a Spatial Isolation Strategy for Efficient Oxygen Reduction in Acidic and Alkaline Media

It remains challenging to rationally synthesize iron/nitrogen-doped carbon (Fe/N-C) catalysts with rich Fe−N_x atomic active sites for improved oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysis. A highly efficient Fe/N-C catalyst, which has been synthesized through a spatial isolation strategy, is reported. Derived from bioinspired polydopamine (PDA)-based hybrid microsphere precursors, it is a multifunctional carrier that loads atomically dispersed Fe³⁺/Zn²⁺ ions through coordination interactions and N-rich melamine through electrostatic attraction and covalent bonding. The Zn²⁺ ions and melamine in the precursor efficiently isolate Fe³⁺ atoms upon pyrolysis to form rich Fe−N_x atomic active sites, and generate abundant micropores during high-temperature treatment; as a consequence, the resultant Fe-N/C catalyst contains rich catalytically active Fe−N_x sites and a hierarchical porous structure. The catalyst exhibits improved ORR activity that is superior to and close to that of Pt/C in alkaline and acidic solutions, respectively.