Electronic communication through pi-conjugated wires in covalently linked porphyrin/C60 ensembles

Novel photo- and electroactive triads, in which pi-conjugated p-phenylenevinylene oligomers (oPPVs) of different length are connected to a photoexcited-state electron donor (i.e., zinc tetraphenylporphyrin) and an electron acceptor (i.e., C(60)), were designed, synthesized, and tested as electron-transfer model systems. A detailed physicochemical investigation, concentrating mainly on long-range charge separation and charge recombination and kinetics, revealed small attenuation factors beta of 0.03+/-0.005 A(-1). Energy matching between the HOMO levels of C(60) and oPPVs emerged as a key parameter for supporting molecular-wire-like behavior: It favors rapid and efficient electron or hole injection into the oPPV wires. Large electronic coupling values were determined as a result of paraconjugation in the oPPV moieties.     

Synthesis and characterization of methyl-phenyl-substituted cyclopentadienyl zirconium complexes

The trisubstituted methyl-phenyl-silyl-cyclopentadienes [Me-Ph-C₅H₃(SiMe₂X)] (X = Me, Cl, NHt-Bu) and [(Me-Ph-C₅H₃)₂SiMe₂] and the lithium salts Li₂[Me-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂Nt-Bu)] and Li₂[(Me-Ph-C₅H₂)₂SiMe₂] have been isolated by conventional methods and characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Desilylation of [Me-Ph-C₅H₃(SiMe₃)] with ZrCl₄(SMe₂)₂ gave the monocyclopentadienyl complex [Zr(η⁵-1-Ph-3-Me-C₅H₃)Cl₃]. The ansa-metallocene [Zr{(η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂)SiMe₂(η⁵-2-Ph-4-Me-C₅H₂)}Cl₂] was obtained from the mixture of isomers formed by transmetallation of Li₂[(Me-Ph-C₅H₂)₂SiMe₂] to ZrCl₄ and characterized as the meso-diastereomer by X-ray diffraction methods. Similar transmetallation of Li₂[Me-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂Nt-Bu)] gave the silyl-η-amido complex [Zr{η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂-η-Nt-Bu)}Cl₂] that was further alkylated to give [Zr{η⁵-2-Me-4-Ph-C₅H₂(SiMe₂-η-Nt-Bu)}R₂] (R = Me, CH₂Ph) and used as a catalyst precursor, activated with MAO, for ethene and propene polymerization. All of the new compounds were characterized by elemental analysis and NMR spectroscopy.     

New mono- and tricyclopalladated dendritic systems with encapsulated catalytic sites

The preparation of a series of new macrocyclic carbodiazasilane molecules functionalized with the monoanionic [2,6-(CH2NMe2)2C6H3](-)[triple bond]N,C,N-pincer ligand has been accomplished. Palladation of these systems was possible through oxidative addition with [Pd(dba)2] affording exclusive formation of the meso diastereoisomer. The X-ray crystal structures of these novel ligands and of the palladium(II) complex 10 were determined and confirmed the stereochemistry of the organopalladium cage. Attachment of the para-OH functionalized carbodiazasilane macrocycle 16 to a central core led to the formation of the dendritic structure 18 which was palladated to afford the novel multimetallic dendritic system with encapsulated catalytic sites 1. This cyclopalladated carbosilane dendrimer (1) as well as the mononuclear organopalladium cage 10 can be conveniently converted into active Lewis acid catalysts for the aldol condensation reaction. The catalytic data showed higher reaction rates for the dendritic structure than for the corresponding mononuclear systems.     

Stereospecific synthesis of highly functionalized tricyclic beta-lactams by radical cyclizations using titanocene monochloride

The reductive opening of epoxyimonobactams 1 with titanoncene (III) chloride gives rise to radicals that can be trapped by intramolecular pi systems (i.e., conjugated alkenes and lactone and amide carbonyls) in a stereospecific way to give new carbocyclic compounds such as tribactam 2.     

Determination of vanillin by using gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode modified with graphene quantum dots and Nafion

A voltammetric analytical assay for the selective quantification of vanillin is described. It is based on the use of a gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with graphene quantum dots (GQD) in a Nafion matrix. The GQD were synthesized by an acidic thermal method and characterized by UV-Vis, photoluminescence, and FTIR spectroscopy. The modified SPCE displays a strongly enhanced response to vanillin. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were applied to optimize the methods. The analytical assay has linear responses in the 13 to 660 μM and 0.66 to 33 μM vanillin concentration ranges. The detection limits are 3.9 μM and 0.32 μM when using LSV and DPV, respectively. The analytical assay is selective and stable. It was applied to the determination of vanillin in several food samples with satisfactory results. Recoveries from spiked samples ranged between 92.1 and 113.0%.

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Graphical abstract The selective and sensitive quantification of vanillin is carried out by the use of a gold nanoparticle-modified screen-printed carbon electrode modified with graphene quantum dots in a Nafion matrix.

     

Chromium arene complexes in organic synthesis

The complexation of an arene to a chromium tricarbonyl unit changes its chemical behavior, giving rise to unprecedented transformations. The electron-withdrawing effect of the unit allows efficient nucleophilic attack (S(N)Ar and dearomatization reactions), stabilizes negative charges in benzylic positions and activates C(Ar)-halogen bonds for cross-coupling reactions. In addition, the Cr(CO)(3) moiety exerts great facial control so it can be used as an auxiliary that can easily be removed. The 1,2- and 1,3-unsymmetrically disubstituted complexes are planar chiral and there are various ways to prepare them in enantiomerically pure form. Planar chiral chromium complexes are becoming useful intermediates and ligands for asymmetric catalysis. This mature field of organometallic chemistry has given rise to several synthetic applications of chromium arene complexes in the synthesis of natural products. This chemistry is overviewed in this tutorial review, giving special attention to the most recent and outstanding contributions in the area.     

A rigid lanthanide binding tag for NMR structural analysis of carbohydrates

The first synthesis of a carbohydrate molecule covalently bound to a rigid lanthanide binding tag is reported. This derivative has been designed as a new tool to provide long-range restraints for structural elucidation and molecular recognition studies of carbohydrates, thus extending the methodology already developed for proteins.