Preparation of polyurea capsules using electrocapillary emulsification

Polyurea capsules have been prepared using the electrocapillary emulsification method in order to control the particle size within the submicron range. The polyurea capsules have been synthesized via the interfacial polycondensation between tetraethylenepentamine (TEP) dissolved in an aqueous phase and toluenediisocyanate (TDI) dissolved in a mixture of cyclohexane and chloroform. The oil phase contains a lipophilic nonionic surfactant (sorbitan sesquioleate, SO-15) as an emulsion stabilizer. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations reveal that the capsule size is decreased as (i) the amount of the aqueous phase injected into the oil phase is decreased and (ii) the dropping rate of the aqueous phase is decreased. Indeed, the mole ratio of the two monomers makes a significant impact on the capsule size. Under the best experimental condition examined in this study, we obtained polyurea capsules with a diameter of approximately 200 nm, which should be useful in developing bioreactors or carriers.     

Cyclophane-type imidazolium salts with planar chirality as a new class of N-heterocyclic carbene precursors

Cyclophane-type imidazolium salts with planar chirality were synthesized from enantiopure 2-amino alcohols, of which the N(1) and N(3) positions were connected with a bridge. The structural profiles of the imidazolium salts and their derivative N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) were investigated by means of several analyses. The chiral NHCs derived from these imidazolium salts were found to catalyze the asymmetric cross-annulation of an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde with a ketone by means of the "conjugated" umpolung of the enal to give the target gamma-lactone with good to excellent enantioselectivity (up to 94% ee). Based on the expected structure of the NHCs and their intermediates, together with the absolute configuration of the products, a plausible mechanism for the stereocontrol was proposed.     

One-pot synthesis of macrocyclic compounds possessing two cyclobutane rings by sequential inter- and intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions

Sensitized photocycloaddition reactions of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[1,3-bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrone (1) with electron-poor α,ω-diolefins such as ethylene diacrylate (2a) and polyoxyethylene dimethacrylates (2b-d) afforded site- and stereoselective macrocyclic dioxatetralactones (3a-d) and (4b) having 18- to 25-membered rings across the C5-C6 and C5′-C6′ double bonds, or C5-C6 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. Similar photoreactions of 1 with electron-rich α,ω-diolefins such as poly(ethylene glycol)divinyl ether (2e and 2f) afforded crown ether-type macrocyclic compounds (5e and 5f) having 18- and 21-membered rings across the C3-C4 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. The stereochemical features of 3b, 5e-xx, and 5e-nn were determined by the X-ray crystal analysis. The reaction mechanism was inferred by MO methods.     

Asymmetric synthesis of an N-acylpyrrolidine for inhibition of HCV polymerase

A practical asymmetric synthesis of a highly substituted N-acylpyrrolidine on multi-kilogram scale is described. The key step in the construction of the three stereocenters is a [3+2] cycloaddition of methyl acrylate and an imino ester prepared from l-leucine t-butyl ester hydrochloride and 2-thiazolecarboxaldehyde. The cycloaddition features novel asymmetric catalysis via a complex of silver acetate and a cinchona alkaloid, particularly hydroquinine, with complete diastereomeric control and up to 87% enantiomeric control. The alkaloid serves as a ligand as well as a base for the formation of the azomethine ylide or 1,3-dipole. Experiments have shown that the hydroxyl group of hydroquinine is a critical element for the enantioselectivities observed. The cycloaddition methodology is also applicable to methylvinyl ketone, providing access to either alpha- or beta-epimers of 4-acetylpyrrolidine depending on the reaction conditions utilized. The synthesis also highlights an efficient N-acylation, selective O- versus N-methylation, and a unique ester reduction with NaBH4-MeOH catalyzed by NaB(OAc)3H that not only achieves excellent chemoselectivity but also avoids formation of the undesired but thermodynamically favored epimer. The highly functionalized target is synthesized in seven linear steps from l-leucine t-butyl ester hydrochloride with all three isolated intermediates being highly crystalline.     

Conducting dimerized cobalt complexes with tetrathiafulvalene dithiolate ligands

To obtain novel single-component molecular metals, we attempted to synthesize several cobalt complexes coordinated by TTF (tetrathiafulvalene)-type dithiolate ligands. We succeeded in the syntheses and structure determinations of ((n)Bu(4)N)(2)[Co(chdt)(2)](2) (1), ((n)Bu(4)N)(2)[Co(dmdt)(2)](2) (2), [Co(dmdt)(2)](2) (3), and [Co(dt)(2)](2) (4) (chdt = cyclohexeno-TTF-dithiolate, dmdt = dimethyl-TTF-dithiolate, and dt = TTF-dithiolate). Structure analyses of complexes 1-4 revealed that two monomeric [Co(ligand)2]- or [Co(ligand)(2)](0) units are connected by two Co-S bonds resulting in dimeric [Co(ligand)(2)](2)(2-) or [Co(ligand)(2)](2) molecules. Complex 1 has a cation-anion-intermingled structure and exhibited Curie-Weiss magnetic behavior with a large Curie constant (C = 2.02 K x emu x mol(-1)) and weak antiferromagnetic interactions (theta = -8.3 K). Complex 2 also has a cation-anion-intermingled structure. However, the dimeric molecules are completely isolated by cations. Complexes 3 and 4 are single-component molecular crystals. The molecules of complex 3 form two-dimensional molecular stacking layers and exhibit a room-temperature conductivity of sigmart = 1.2 x 10(-2) S.cm(-1) and an activation energy of E(a) = 85 meV. The magnetic behavior is almost consistent with Curie-Weiss law, where the Curie constant and Weiss temperature are 8.7 x 10(-2) K x emu x mol(-1) and -0.85 K, respectively. Complex 4 has a rare chair form of the dimeric structure. The electrical conductivity was fairly large (sigmart = 19 S.cm(-1)), and its temperature dependence was very small (sigma(0.55K)/sigma(rt) = ca. 1:10), although the measurements were performed on the compressed pellet sample. Complex 4 showed an almost constant paramagnetic susceptibility (chi(300) (K) = 3.5 x 10(-4) emu x mol(-1)) from 300 to 50 K. The band structure calculation of complex 4 suggested the metallic nature of the system. Complex 4 is a novel single-component molecular conductor with a dimeric molecular structure and essentially metallic properties down to very low temperatures.     

Ruthenium(salen)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative desymmetrization of meso-diols and its kinetics

Chiral (nitrosyl)ruthenium(salen) complexes were found to be efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidative desymmetrization of meso-diols under photoirradiation to give optically active lactols. The scope of the applicability of this reaction ranges widely from acyclic diols to mono-cyclic diols, although fine ligand-tuning of the ruthenium(salen) complexes was required to attain high enantioselectivity (up to 93% ee). In particular, the nature of the apical ligand was found to affect not only enantioselectivity but also kinetics of the desymmetrization reaction. Spectroscopic analysis of the oxidation disclosed that irradiation of visible light is indispensable not only for dissociation of the nitrosyl ligand but also for single electron transfer from the alcohol-bound ruthenium ion to dioxygen.     

Reversible O-O bond cleavage and formation of a peroxo moiety of a peroxocarbonate ligand mediated by an iron(III) complex

A mononuclear iron(III) complex containing a peroxocarbonate ligand, [Fe(qn)2(O2C(O)O)]- (qn = quinaldinate), underwent the reversible O-O bond cleavage and reformation of the peroxo group via the formation of FeIV=O or FeV=O species, which was confirmed by the resonance Raman and ESI-TOF/MS measurements.     

Stereoselective hydrothiolation of alkynes catalyzed by cesium base: facile access to (Z)-1-alkenyl sulfides

Treatment of alkyne with alkanethiol in the presence of a catalytic amount of cesium carbonate and a radical inhibitor in DMSO provides the corresponding adduct, (Z)-1-alkenyl alkyl sulfide, in good yield with high selectivity.     

Grand canonical monte carlo simulation study of methane adsorption at an open graphite surface and in slit-like carbon pores at 273 K

Grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulation was used for the systematic investigation of the supercritical methane adsorption at 273 K on an open graphite surface and in slit-like micropores of different sizes. For both considered adsorption systems the calculated excess adsorption isotherms exhibit a maximum. The effect of the pore size on the maximum surface excess and isosteric enthalpy of adsorption for methane storage at 273 K is discussed. The microscopic detailed picture of methane densification near the homogeneous graphite wall and in slit-like pores at 273 K is presented with selected local density profiles and snapshots. Finally, the reliable pore size distributions, obtained in the range of the microporosity, for two pitch-based microporous activated carbon fibers are calculated from the local excess adsorption isotherms obtained via the GCMC simulation. The current systematic study of supercritical methane adsorption both on an open graphite surface and in slit-like micropores performed by the GCMC summarizes recent investigations performed at slightly different temperatures and usually a lower pressure range by advanced methods based on the statistical thermodynamics.