Racemic but tropos (chirally flexible) BIPHEP ligands for Rh(I)-complexes: highly enantioselective ene-type cyclization of 1,6-enynes

[reaction: see text] The tropos (chirally flexible) or atropos (chirally rigid) nature of BIPHEP-Rh complexes at room temperature critically depends on the amines complexed. The aliphatic DPEN complex is atropos, whereas the aromatic DABN complex is tropos. BIPHEP-Rh chirality can thus be controlled by DABN at room temperature. The amine-free BIPHEP-Rh complex is tropos. At 5 degrees C, even amine-free BIPHEP-Rh complexes are atropos and hence can be used as enantiopure catalysts to give high enantioselectivity in ene-type cyclization of 1,6-enynes.     

A highly efficient asymmetric Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction catalyzed by cationic chiral palladium(ii) complexes

Cationic chiral palladium(ii) complexes are shown to catalyze the asymmetric coupling reaction of aryl boronates and aryl halides within a short period of time in good yield and enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis and properties of multiblock copoly(arylene ether)s containing superacid groups for fuel cell membranes

A series of block copoly(arylene ether)s containing pendant superacid groups were synthesized, and their properties were investigated for fuel cell applications. Two series of telechelic oligomers, iodo‐substituted oligo(arylene ether ketone)s and oligo(arylene ether sulfone)s, were synthesized. The degree of oligomerization and the end groups were controlled by changing the feed ratio of the monomers. The nucleophilic substitution polymerization of the two oligomers provided iodo‐substituted precursor block copolymers. The iodo groups were converted to perfluorosulfonic acid groups via the Ullmann coupling reaction. The high degree of perfluorosulfonation (up to 83%) was achieved by optimizing the reaction conditions. Tough and bendable membranes were prepared by solution casting. The ionomer membranes exhibited characteristic hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase separation with large hydrophilic clusters (ca. 10 nm), which were different from that of our previous random copolymers with similar molecular structure. The block copolymer structure was found to be effective in improving the proton‐conducting behavior of the superacid‐modified poly(arylene ether) ionomer membranes without increasing the ion exchange capacity (IEC). The highest proton conductivity was 0.13 S/cm at 80 °C, 90% relative humidity, for the block copolymer ionomer membrane with IEC = 1.29 mequiv/g. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Mathematical analogy of a beam on elastic supports as a beam on elastic foundation

This paper presents the mathematical hypothesis that a beam on equidistant elastic supports (BOES) can be considered as a beam on an elastic foundation (BOEF) in static and free vibration problems. This modeling of BOES as BOEF is presumed to be applicable to a limited range of support stiffness, spacing and flexural rigidity of the beam. The authors investigate the applicability of the modeling of BOEF from the property of characteristic solutions obtained from governing equations of both BOES and BOEF. In this study, the formulation of BOES leads to governing difference equations, and the motions of BOEF are expressed by differential equations. This is because exact solutions must be employed in order to verify their analogy accurately. The characteristic solutions obtained from these two governing equations are compared to each other in order to investigate the relationship between them.     

Structural modeling of beams on elastic foundations with elasticity couplings

A new simplified structural model and its governing equations for beams on elastic foundations with elastic coupling are proposed. This modeling system is simple but appropriate for the initial structural design of large-scale submerged floating-beam structures moored by tension legs spaced at uniform interval along the beam. The model is actually for beam on discrete elastic supports rather than on continuous elastic foundations. Therefore, the governing equations are based on finite difference calculus and solutions for beams on discrete elastic supports with elasticity coupling are also proposed. To clarify the applicability limit of the proposed model, the equivalence between a beam on discrete elastic supports and that on continuous elastic foundation is investigated by comparisons of characteristic solutions.     

Ligand effect of bulky 2,2-dialkyl-1-phosphaethenes on Au-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,6-enynes and lactonization of pent-4-ynoic acids

2,2-Dimethyl- and 2-benzyl-2-methyl-1-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-phosphaethenes were employed as ligand of mononuclear chlorogold(I) complexes, which catalyzed cycloisomerization of 1,6-enyne affording vinylcyclopentene exclusively in the absence of silver co-catalyst. The reaction mechanisms are discussed based on DFT calculations. In addition to the cycloisomerization, the phosphaalkene-chlorogold(I) complexes catalyzed cyclization of pent-4-ynoic acids providing γ-methylene-γ-lactones under basic conditions.     

Solvent-dependent conformational switching of the aromatic N-methyl amides depending upon the acceptor properties of solvents

An aromatic N-methyl amide containing N-(2-pyridyl) and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide moieties switches its conformation from cis to trans depending upon the acceptor number of solvents.     

Synthesis of fully substituted polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines via Cope-House cyclization

Total synthesis of the proposed structure of (-)-hyacinthacine C(5) and its epimers at C6 and C7 is described. A key step of the synthesis was the construction of the bicyclic pyrrolizidine system by means of a nucleophilic addition of a dithiane to a cyclic nitrone followed by a Cope-House cyclization.