Dramatic Influence of an Anionic Donor on the Oxygen‐Atom Transfer Reactivity of a MnV–Oxo Complex

Addition of an anionic donor to an Mn^V(O) porphyrinoid complex causes a dramatic increase in 2‐electron oxygen‐atom‐transfer (OAT) chemistry. The 6‐coordinate [Mn^V(O)(TBP₈Cz)(CN)]^? was generated from addition of Bu₄N⁺CN^? to the 5‐coordinate Mn^V(O) precursor. The cyanide‐ligated complex was characterized for the first time by Mn K‐edge X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and gives Mn?O=1.53 Å, Mn?CN=2.21 Å. In combination with computational studies these distances were shown to correlate with a singlet ground state. Reaction of the CN^? complex with thioethers results in OAT to give the corresponding sulfoxide and a 2e^?‐reduced Mn^III(CN)^? complex. Kinetic measurements reveal a dramatic rate enhancement for OAT of approximately 24 000‐fold versus the same reaction for the parent 5‐coordinate complex. An Eyring analysis gives ΔH^≠=14 kcal mol^?1, ΔS^≠=?10 cal mol^?1 K^?1. Computational studies fully support the structures, spin states, and relative reactivity of the 5‐ and 6‐coordinate Mn^V(O) complexes.     

Halotriazolium Axle Functionalised [2]Rotaxanes for Anion Recognition: Investigating the Effects of Halogen‐Bond Donor and Preorganisation

The anion‐templated synthesis of three novel halogen‐bonding 5‐halo‐1,2,3‐triazolium axle containing [2]rotaxanes is described, and the effects of altering the nature of the halogen‐bond donor atom together with the degree of inter‐component preorganisation on the anion‐recognition properties of the interlocked host investigated. The ability of the bromotriazolium motif to direct the halide‐anion‐templated assembly of interpenetrated [2]pseudorotaxanes was studied initially; bromide was found to be the most effective template. As a consequence, bromide anion templation was used to synthesise the first bromotriazolium axle containing [2]rotaxane, the anion‐binding properties of which, determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopic titration experiments, revealed enhanced bromide and iodide recognition relative to a hydrogen‐bonding protic triazolium rotaxane analogue. Two halogen‐bonding [2]rotaxanes with bromo‐ and iodotriazolium motifs integrated into shortened axles designed to increase inter‐component preorganisation were also synthesised. Anion ¹H NMR spectroscopic titration experiments demonstrated that these rotaxanes were able to bind halide anions even more strongly, with the iodotriazolium axle integrated rotaxane capable of recognising halides in aqueous solvent media. Importantly, these observations suggest that a halogen‐bonding interlocked host binding domain, in combination with increased inter‐component preorganisation, are requisite design features for a potent anion receptor.     

Comparative Studies of Thermally Induced Homolytic CarbonCarbon Bond Cleavage Reactions of Strained Dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and Their Ring‐Opened Oligomers and Polymers

Reactivity studies of dicarba[2]ferrocenophanes and also their corresponding ring‐opened oligomers and polymers have been conducted in order to provide mechanistic insight into the processes that occur under the conditions of their thermal ring‐opening polymerisation (ROP) (300 °C). Thermolysis of dicarba[2]ferrocenophane rac‐[Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂] (rac‐ 14 ; 300 °C, 1 h) does not lead to thermal ROP. To investigate this system further, rac‐ 14 was heated in the presence of an excess of cyclopentadienyl anion, to mimic the postulated propagating sites for thermally polymerisable analogues. This afforded acyclic [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)‐CH₂Ph] ( 17 ) through cleavage of both a Fe?Cp bond and also the C?C bond derived from the dicarba bridge. Evidence supporting a potential homolytic C?C bond cleavage pathway that occurs in the absence of ring‐strain was provided through thermolysis of an acyclic analogue of rac‐ 14 , namely [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CHPh)₂‐C₅H₅] ( 15 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which also afforded ferrocene derivative 17 . This reactivity pathway appears general for post‐ROP species bearing phenyl substituents on adjacent carbons, and consequently was also observed during the thermolysis of linear polyferrocenylethylene [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)₂(CHPh)₂]_n ( 16 ; 300 °C, 1 h), which was prepared by photocontrolled ROP of rac‐ 14 at 5 °C. This afforded ferrocene derivative [Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄CH₂Ph)₂] ( 23 ) through selective cleavage of the ?H(Ph)C?C(Ph)H? bonds in the dicarba linkers. These processes appear to be facilitated by the presence of bulky, radical‐stabilising phenyl substituents on each carbon of the linker, as demonstrated through the contrasting thermal properties of unsubstituted linear trimer [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₄)(CH₂)₂(η⁵‐C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵‐C₅H₅)] ( 29 ) with a ?H₂C?CH₂? spacer, which proved significantly more stable under analogous conditions. Evidence for the radical intermediates formed through C?C bond cleavage was detected through high‐resolution mass spectrometric analysis of co‐thermolysis reactions involving rac‐ 14 and 15 (300 °C, 1 h), which indicated the presence of higher molecular weight species, postulated to be formed through cross‐coupling of these intermediates.     

Synthesis of New Lipid‐Inspired Ionic Liquids by Thiol‐ene Chemistry: Profound Solvent Effect on Reaction Pathway

The synthesis of a series of new lipid‐inspired ionic liquids through thiol‐ene “click” reaction with a single‐step process. This synthesis offers considerable promise as an efficient and orthogonal method to construct structurally diverse imidazolium‐type ionic liquids with linear and branched cationic tails, as well as versatility in the placement of the sulfur heteroatom. Profound solvent effect in this ene reaction regioselectivity has been observed.     

Molecular dynamics simulation study of xyloglucan adsorption on cellulose surfaces: effects of surface hydrophobicity and side-chain variation

The effect of surface hydrophobicity and side-chain variation on xyloglucan adsorption onto cellulose microfibrils (CMF) is investigated via molecular dynamics simulations. A molecular model of CMF with (100), (010), (1–10), (110) and (200) crystal faces was built. We considered xylogluco-oligosaccharides (XGO) with three repeating units, namely (XXXG)_3, (XXLG)₃, and (XXFG)₃ (where each (1,4)-β-d-glucosyl residue in the backbone is given a one-letter code according to its substituents: G = β-d-Glc; X = α-d-Xyl-(1,6)-β-d-Glc; L = β-d-Gal-(1,2)-α-d-Xyl-(1,6)-β-d-Glc; F = α-l-Fuc-(1,2)-β-d-Gal-(1,2)-α-d-Xyl-(1,6)-β-d-Glc). Our work shows that (XXXG)₃ binds more favorably to the CMF (100) and (200) hydrophobic surfaces than to the (110), (010) and (1–10) hydrophilic surfaces. The origin of this behavior is attributed to the topography of hydrophobic CMF surface, which stabilizes (XXXG)₃ in flat conformation. In contrast, on the rough hydrophilic CMF surface (XXXG)₃ adopts a less favorable random-coil conformation to facilitate more hydrogen bonds with the surface. Extending the xyloglucan side chains from (XXXG)₃ to (XXLG)₃ hinders their stacking on the CMF hydrophobic surface. For (XXFG)₃, the interaction with the hydrophobic surface is as strong as (XXXG)₃. All three XGOs have similar binding to the hydrophilic surface. Steered molecular dynamics simulation was performed on an adhesive model where (XXXG)₃ was sandwiched between two CMF hydrophobic surfaces. Our analysis suggests that this sandwich structure might help provide mechanical strength for plant cell walls. Our study relates to a recently revised model of primary cell walls in which extensibility is largely determined by xyloglucan located in limited regions of tight contact between CMFs.     

A Flexible Solution to Anion Transport: Powerful Anionophores Based on a Cyclohexane Scaffold

Transmembrane anion carriers (anionophores) have potential for biological activity, including the treatment of channelopathies such as cystic fibrosis. A new family of anionophores has been synthesized, in which three thiourea groups are mounted on a cyclohexane‐based scaffold. Though conceptually related to earlier polycyclic systems, these molecules are simpler and far more accessible. Preorganization is somewhat reduced compared to earlier systems, and anion affinities are correspondingly lower. However, transport activities set new records. This surprising performance suggests a role for controlled flexibility in the design of transmembrane anion carriers.     

The Assembly‐Disassembly‐Organization‐Reassembly Mechanism for 3D‐2D‐3D Transformation of Germanosilicate IWW Zeolite

Hydrolysis of germanosilicate zeolites with the IWW structure shows two different outcomes depending on the composition of the starting materials. Ge‐rich IWW (Si/Ge=3.1) is disassembled into a layered material (IPC‐5P), which can be reassembled into an almost pure silica IWW on treatment with diethoxydimethylsilane. Ge‐poor IWW (Si/Ge=6.4) is not completely disassembled on hydrolysis, but retains some 3D connectivity. This structure can be reassembled into IWW by incorporation of Al to fill the defects left when the Ge is removed.     

On the Formation of a Protic Ionic Liquid in Nature

The practical utility of ionic liquids (ILs) makes the absence (heretofore) of reported examples from nature quite puzzling, given the facility with which nature produces many other types of exotic but utilitarian substances. In that vein, we report here the identification and characterization of a naturally occurring protic IL. It can be formed during confrontations between the ants S. invicta and N. fulva. After being sprayed with alkaloid‐based S. invicta venom, N. fulva detoxifies by grooming with its own venom, formic acid. The mixture is a viscous liquid manifestly different from either of the constituents. Further, we find that the change results as a consequence of formic acid protonation of the N centers of the S. invicta venom alkaloids. The resulting mixed‐cation ammonium formate milieu has properties consistent with its classification as a protic IL.     

Catalytic Enantioselective Addition of Thioacids to Trisubstituted Nitroalkenes

The first example of a catalytic enantioselective addition to and nitronate protonation of trisubstituted nitroalkenes to produce highly enantioenriched products with a tetrasubstituted carbon is reported. Thioacids added in excellent yields and with high enantioselectivities to both activated and unactivated nitroalkenes. The 1,2‐nitrothioacetate products can be readily converted in two steps to biomedically relevant 1,2‐aminosulfonic acids without loss of enantiopurity.     

A Dual‐Color Far‐Red to Near‐Infrared Firefly Luciferin Analogue Designed for Multiparametric Bioluminescence Imaging

Red‐shifted bioluminescent emitters allow improved in vivo tissue penetration and signal quantification, and have led to the development of beetle luciferin analogues that elicit red‐shifted bioluminescence with firefly luciferase (Fluc). However, unlike natural luciferin, none have been shown to emit different colors with different luciferases. We have synthesized and tested the first dual‐color, far‐red to near‐infrared (nIR) emitting analogue of beetle luciferin, which, akin to natural luciferin, exhibits pH dependent fluorescence spectra and emits bioluminescence of different colors with different engineered Fluc enzymes. Our analogue produces different far‐red to nIR emission maxima up to λ_max=706 nm with different Fluc mutants. This emission is the most red‐shifted bioluminescence reported without using a resonance energy transfer acceptor. This improvement should allow tissues to be more effectively probed using multiparametric deep‐tissue bioluminescence imaging.