Iron-Catalyzed Radical Relay Enabling the Modular Synthesis of Fused Pyridines from Alkyne-Tethered Oximes and Alkenes

We have rationally designed a new class of alkyne-tethered oximes and applied them in an unprecedented iron-catalyzed radical relay protocol for the rapid assembly of a wide array of structurally new and interesting fused pyridines. This method shows broad substrate scope and good functional-group tolerance and enabled the synthesis of several biologically active molecules. Furthermore, the fused pyridines could be diversely functionalized through various simple transformations, such as cyclization, C−H alkylation, and a click reaction. DFT calculation studies indicate that the reactions involve cascade 1,5-hydrogen atom transfer, 5-exo-dig radical addition, and cyclization processes. Moreover, preliminary biological investigations suggest that some of the fused pyridines exhibit good anti-inflammatory activity by restoring the imbalance of inflammatory homeostasis of macrophages in a lipopolysaccharide-induced model.     

A Green and Wide-Scope Approach for Chiroptical Sensing of Organic Molecules through Biomimetic Recognition in Water

Optical chirality sensing has attracted a lot of interest due to its potential in high-throughput screening in chirality analysis. A molecular sensor is required to convert the chirality of analytes into optical signals. Although many molecular sensors have been reported, sensors with wide substrate scope remain to be developed. Herein, we report that the amide naphthotube-based chirality sensors have an unprecedented wide scope for chiroptical sensing of organic molecules. The substrates include, but are not limited to common organic products in asymmetric catalysis, chiral molecules with inert groups or remote functional groups from their chiral centers, natural products and their derivatives, and chiral drugs. The effective chirality sensing is based on biomimetic recognition in water and on effective chirality transfer through guest-induced formation of a chiral conformation of the sensors. Furthermore, the sensors can be used in real-time monitoring on reaction kinetics in water and in determining absolute configurations and ee values of the products in asymmetric catalysis.     

Noninvasive prenatal paternity testing by maternal plasma DNA sequencing in twin pregnancies

SNPs, combined with massively parallel sequencing technology, have proven applicability in noninvasive prenatal paternity testing (NIPPT) for singleton pregnancies in our previous research, using circulating cell-free DNA in maternal plasma. However, the feasibility of NIPPT in twin pregnancies has remained uncertain. As a pilot study, we developed a practical method to noninvasively determine the paternity of twin pregnancies by maternal plasma DNA sequencing based on a massively parallel sequencing platform. Blood samples were collected from 15 pregnant women (twin pregnancies at 9–18 weeks of gestation). Parental DNA and maternal plasma cell-free DNA were analyzed with custom-designed probes covering 5226 polymorphic SNP loci. A mathematical model for data interpretation was established, including the zygosity determination and paternity index calculations. Each plasma sample was independently tested against the alleged father and 90 unrelated males. As a result, the zygosity in each twin case was correctly determined, prior to paternity analysis. Further, the correct biological father was successfully identified, and the paternity of all 90 unrelated males was excluded in each case. Our study demonstrates that NIPPT can be performed for twin pregnancies. This finding may contribute to development in NIPPT and diagnosis of certain genetic diseases.     

Mechanistic Study of Unprecedented Highly Regioselective Hydrocyanation of Terminal Alkynes: Insight into the Origins of the Regioselectivity and Ligand Effects

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to gain insight into the mechanism of the nickel-catalyzed hydrocyanation of terminal alkynes with Zn(CN)₂ and water to exclusively generate the branched nitrile with excellent Markovnikov selectivity. After precatalyst activation to give the LNi(0) active species, the transformation proceeds via the following steps: (1) oxidative addition of H₂O to the LNi(0) provides the intermediate LNi(II)H(OH); (2) ligand exchange of LNi(II)H(OH) with Zn(CN)₂ gives the intermediate LNi(II)H(CN); (3) alkyne insertion to the LNi(II)H(CN) forms the alkenyl nickel complex, followed by the reductive elimination step reaching the final product. This mechanism is kinetically and thermodynamically more favorable than that of the experimental proposed ones. On the basis of the experimental observations, more water molecules cannot further improve the reaction as it has also been rationalized. Furthermore, the origin of the high regioselectivity of the product, the variable effectiveness of the metal mediator as function of ligands, as well as the high yield of the alkyl-substituted alkynes substrates, is analyzed in detail. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Carbene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Aromatic N-Nucleophilic Addition of Heteroarenes to Ketones

The aromatic nitrogen atoms of heteroarylaldehydes are activated by carbene catalysts to react with ketone electrophiles. Multi-functionalized cyclic N,O-acetal products are afforded in good to excellent yields and optical purities. Our reaction involves the formation of an unprecedented aza-fulvene-type acylazolium intermediate. A broad range of N-heteroaromatic aldehydes and electron-deficient ketone substrates works effectively in this transformation. Several of the chiral N,O-acetal products afforded through this protocol exhibit excellent antibacterial activities against Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) and are valuable in the development of novel agrichemicals for plant protection.     

A Novel d-f Heterometallic CdII-EuIII Metal-organic Framework as a Sensitive Luminescent Sensor for the Dual Detection of Ronidazole and 4-Nitrophenol

A novel three-dimensional (3D) d-f heterometallic metal-organic framework (MOF) formulated as [EuCd_1.5L₂(H₂O)₃] · 2H₂O ( 1 ) [H₃L = 5-(4-(tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl)isophthalic acid] was successfully synthesized and characterized. Structural analysis displays that 1 features a 3D (3, 12)-connected framework constructed by [Eu₂Cd₃(tetrazole)₄(COO)₈] units. The powder X-ray diffraction measurement of 1 immersed in different solvents reveals that 1 possess good solvent stability. It is worth noting that 1 displays highly selective detection for ronidazole (RDZ) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) through luminescence quenching. The possible mechanism of luminescent sensing is also well discussed.     

Dicyclohepta[ijkl,uvwx]rubicene with Two Pentagons and Two Heptagons as a Stable and Planar Non-benzenoid Nanographene

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with hexagons/pentagons or hexagons/heptagons have been intensively investigated in recent years, but those with simultaneous presence of hexagons, pentagons and heptagons remain rare. In this paper, we report dicyclohepta[ijkl,uvwx]rubicene ( DHR ), a non-benzenoid isomer of dibenzo[bc,kl]coronene with two pentagons and two heptagons. We developed an efficient and scalable synthetic method for DHR by using Scholl reaction and dehydrogenation. Crystal structure of DHR shows that the benzenoid rings, two pentagons and two heptagons are coplanar. The bond lengths analysis and the ICSS(1)zz and LOL-π calculations indicate that the incorporation of two formal azulene moieties has an effect on the conjugated structure. The π-electrons of benzenoid and pentagon rings are more delocalized. Cyclic voltammetry studies indicate that DHR shows multiple oxidation and reduction potentials. Interestingly, DHR exhibits unusual S₀ to S₂ absorption and abnormal anti-Kasha S₂ to S₀ emission. Moreover, crystals of DHR exhibit semiconducting behaviour with hole mobility up to 0.082 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Approaching the Integer-Charge Transfer Regime in Molecularly Doped Oligothiophenes by Efficient Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling

A library of symmetrical linear oligothiophene was prepared employing decarboxylative cross-coupling reaction as the key transformation. Thiophene potassium carboxylate salts were used as cross-coupling partners without the need of co-catalyst, base, or additives. This method demonstrates complete chemoselectivity and is a comprehensive greener approach compared to the existing methods. The modularity of this approach is demonstrated with the preparation of discreet oligothiophenes with up to 10 thiophene repeat units. Symmetrical oligothiophenes are prototypical organic semiconductors where their molecular electrical doping as a function of the chain length can be assessed spectroscopically. An oligothiophene critical length for integer charge transfer was observed to be 10 thiophene units, highlighting the potential use of discrete oligothiophenes as doped conduction or injection layers in organic electronics applications.     

Enantioselective Construction of Axially Chiral Amino Sulfide Vinyl Arenes by Chiral Sulfide-Catalyzed Electrophilic Carbothiolation of Alkynes

The enantioselective construction of axially chiral compounds by electrophilic carbothiolation of alkynes is disclosed for the first time. This enantioselective transformation is enabled by the use of a Ts-protected bifunctional sulfide catalyst and Ms-protected ortho-alkynylaryl amines (Ts=tosyl; Ms=mesyl). Both electrophilic arylthiolating and electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolating reagents are suitable for this reaction. The obtained products of axially chiral vinyl–aryl amino sulfides can be easily converted into biaryl amino sulfides, biaryl amino sulfoxides, biaryl amines, vinyl–aryl amines, and other valuable difunctionalized compounds.     

Amidation-Dominated Re-Assembly Strategy for Single-Atom Design/Nano-Engineering: Constructing Ni/S/C Nanotubes with Fast and Stable K-Storage

An amidation-dominated re-assembly strategy is developed to prepare uniform single atom Ni/S/C nanotubes. In this re-assembly process, a single-atom design and nano-structured engineering are realized simultaneously. Both the NiO₅ single-atom active centers and nanotube framework endow the Ni/S/C ternary composite with accelerated reaction kinetics for potassium-ion storage. Theoretical calculations and electrochemical studies prove that the atomically dispersed Ni could enhance the convention kinetics and decrease the decomposition energy barrier of the chemically-absorbed small-molecule sulfur in Ni/S/C nanotubes, thus lowering the electrode reaction overpotential and resistance remarkably. The mechanically stable nanotube framework could well accommodate the volume variation during potassiation/depotassiation process. As a result, a high K-storage capacity of 608 mAh g⁻¹ at 100 mA g⁻¹ and stable cycling capacity of 330.6 mAh g⁻¹ at 1000 mA g⁻¹ after 500 cycles are achieved.