Structure,magnetism, and electrochemistry of the multinickel polyoxoanions [Ni6As3W24O94(H2O)2]17-, [Ni3Na(H2O)2(AsW9O34)2]11-, and [Ni4Mn2P3W24O94(H2O)2]17-

The three novel, multi-nickel-substituted heteropolytungstates [Ni(6)As(3)W(24)O(94)(H(2)O)(2)](17)(-) (1), [Ni(3)Na(H(2)O)(2)(AsW(9)O(34))(2)](11)(-) (2), and [Ni(4)Mn(2)P(3)W(24)O(94)(H(2)O)(2)](17)(-) (3) have been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, electrochemistry, and magnetic studies. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on Na(16.5)Ni(0.25)[Ni(6)As(3)W(24)O(94)(H(2)O)(2)].54H(2)O, which crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 17.450(4) A, b = 17.476(4) A, c = 22.232(4) A, alpha = 85.73(3) degrees, beta = 89.74(3) degrees, gamma = 84.33(3) degrees, and Z = 2, Na(11)[Ni(3)Na(H(2)O)(2)(AsW(9)O(34))(2)].30.5H(2)O, which crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 12.228(2) A, b = 16.743(3) A, c = 23.342(5) A, alpha = 78.50(3) degrees, beta = 80.69(3) degrees, gamma = 78.66(3) degrees, and Z = 2, and Na(17)[Ni(4)Mn(2)P(3)W(24)O(94)(H(2)O)(2)].50.5H(2)O, which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, with a = 17.540(4) A, b = 22.303(5) A, c = 35.067(7) A, beta = 95.87(3) A, and Z = 4. Polyanion 1 consists of two B-alpha-(Ni(3)AsW(9)O(40)) Keggin moieties linked via a unique AsW(6)O(16) fragment, leading to a banana-shaped structure with C(2)(v)() symmetry. The mixed-metal tungstophosphate 3 is isostructural with 1. Polyanion 2 consists of two lacunary B-alpha-[AsW(9)O(34)](9)(-) Keggin moieties linked via three nickel(II) centers and a sodium ion. Electrochemical studies show that 1-3 exhibit a unique and reproducible voltammetric pattern and that all three compounds are stable in a large pH range. An investigation of the magnetic properties of 1-3 indicates that the exchange interactions within the trimetal clusters are ferromagnetic. However, for 1 and 3 intra- and intermolecular interactions between different trinuclear clusters are also present.     

Confirmation of the semivacant Wells-Dawson polyoxotungstate skeleton. The structures of [Ce{X(H4)W17O61}2]19- (X = P, As) indicate the probable location of internal protons

Reaction of Ce(III) with lacunary versions of [H(4)XW(18)O(62)](7-) (X = P, As) yields the 1:2 complexes [Ce(H(4)XW(17)O(61)](19-) (X = As, 1; P, 2) in good yield, characterized in solution and the solid state by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallographic analysis, respectively. The structures confirm a syn C(2) conformation that is analogous to that observed for [Ln(alpha(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61))(2)](17-) but with "empty" O(4) tetrahedra that are in positions remote from the cerium atom. Bond valence sum calculations for these structures show that the four protons that are required for charge balance in all salts of the XW(18) anions and their lacunary derivatives are almost certainly bound to the oxygen atoms of the empty tetrahedra.     

Photocatalytic property and electronic structure of triple-layered perovskite tantalates, MCa2Ta3O10 (M = Cs, Na, H, and C6H13NH3)

The Dion-Jacobson series of triple-layered perovskite tantalates (MCa2Ta3O10, M = Cs, Na, H, and C6H13NH3) were synthesized to evaluate their photocatalytic activity for overall water splitting to evolve H2/O2 under UV irradiation. The photocatalytic activity was susceptible to the hydration of interlayer space. The hydrous Na phase exhibited much higher activity (H2: 308 micromol.h(-1)) compared to the anhydrous Cs phase (24 micromol.h(-1)) and the hydrous H phase (22 micromol.h(-1)) in the presence of 0.5 wt % Ni impregnated. H2O/D2O isotopic experiment suggested that the hydrated interlayer plays as an active site for water splitting, where the high mobility of water molecule in the interlayer should correlate with the total photocatalytic activity. The FLAPW electronic structure calculation demonstrated that the terminating oxygen site, O4, which faces to the interlayer space, contributes largely to the top of the valence band. Judging from comparison with the double-layered tantalates, MLaTa2O7, in our previous study, the contribution of terminating oxygen site to the band structure is supposed to depend on the number of perovskite layers.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of cis-1-diethylphosphonomethyl-2-hydroxymethylcyclohexane. Application to enantioselective synthesis of 1-diethylphosphonomethyl-2-(5′-hydantoinyl)cyclohexane

A kinetic resolution of cis-1-diethylphosphonomethyl-2-hydroxymethylcyclohexane1 by lipase has been developed. The transesterification of (±)−1 with vinyl acetate in the presence of Lipase AK without solvent proceeded to give (+)−1 and the corresponding acetate (+)−5 in good yield and high enantiomeric ratio. The alcohol (+)−1 was transformed to the optically active hydantoins 12 and 13, possible intermediates for the synthesis of conformational constrained analogues of AP-5.     

Rhodium-catalysed cyclisation reaction of allenynes with arylboronic acids

Allenynes having malonate-based tethers reacted with arylboronic acids in the presence of a rhodium(I) catalyst to sequentially form three carbon-carbon bonds, and arylated bicyclic skeletons were constructed in a stereoselective manner.     

Nucleation process in the cavity of a 48-tungstophosphate wheel resulting in a 16-metal-centre iron oxide nanocluster

The 16-Fe(III)-containing 48-tungsto-8-phosphate [P(8)W(48)O(184)Fe(16)(OH)(28)(H(2)O)(4)](20-) (1) has been synthesised and characterised by IR and ESR spectroscopy, TGA, elemental analyses, electrochemistry and susceptibility measurements. Single-crystal X-ray analyses were carried out on Li(4)K(16)[P(8)W(48)O(184)Fe(16)(OH)(28)(H(2)O)(4)]66 H(2)O2 KCl (LiK-1, orthorhombic space group Pnnm, a=36.3777(9) A, b=13.9708(3) A, c=26.9140(7) A, and Z=2) and on the corresponding mixed sodium-potassium salt Na(9)K(11)[P(8)W(48)O(184)Fe(16)(OH)(28)(H(2)O)(4)].100 H(2)O (NaK-1, monoclinic space group C2/c, a=46.552(4) A, b=20.8239(18) A, c=27.826(2) A, beta=97.141(2) degrees and Z=4). Polyanion 1 contains--in the form of a cyclic arrangement--the unprecedented {Fe(16)(OH)(28)(H(2)O)(4)}(20+) nanocluster, with 16 edge- and corner-sharing FeO(6) octahedra, grafted on the inner surface of the crown-shaped [H(7)P(8)W(48)O(184)](33-) (P(8)W(48)) precursor. The synthesis of 1 was accomplished by reaction of different iron species containing Fe(II) (in presence of O(2)) or Fe(III) ions with the P(8)W(48) anion in aqueous, acidic medium (pH approximately 4), which can be regarded as an assembly process under confined geometries. One fascinating aspect is the possibility to model the uptake and release of iron in ferritin. The electrochemical study of 1, which is stable from pH 1 through 7, offers an interesting example of a highly iron-rich cluster. The reduction wave associated with the Fe(III) centres could not be split in distinct steps independent of the potential scan rate from 2 to 1000 mV s(-1); this is in full agreement with the structure showing that all 16 iron centres are equivalent. Polyanion 1 proved to be efficient for the electrocatalytic reduction of NO(x), including nitrate. Magnetic and variable frequency EPR measurements on 1 suggest that the Fe(III) ions are strongly antiferromagnetically coupled and that the ground state is tentatively spin S=2.     

Concentration-resolved 2D correlation gel permeation chromatography study of aggregate-aggregate interactions in the polymerization products of triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene silane-coupling agent

Concentration-resolved 2D correlation gel permeation chromatography (GPC) has been used to examine the intricate details of the HCl-catalyzed polymerization of a polymeric silane-coupling agent (SCA), triethoxysilyl-terminated polystyrene (TESiPS). The concentration-resolved 2D correlation GPC maps directly reflect the marked difference in the aggregate-aggregate interactions of dilute and concentrated monomeric units, which govern the differences in the polymerized products. There is an optimum concentration of SCA for the enhancement of interfacial strength and subsequent polymerization. Thus, the concentration-resolved 2D correlation GPC technique can be used as a powerful tool for elucidation of aggregate-aggregate interactions and reaction mechanisms in a surface- or interface-enhanced reaction system. It has been shown that the yield value of polymerization products can be improved to a marked extent by choosing a high initial monomer concentration, due to the increase in the production of oligomers. Multiple reaction processes are promoted by the self-assembly of the monomeric and oligomeric components.     

Zinc-mediated allylation and alkylation of aminals in the presence of TMSCl and diisopropylamine

An alkylation of aminals with organozinc reagents derived from allyl bromide, benzyl bromide, alpha-bromoacetate, and alpha-bromonitrile proceeded efficiently in the presence of TMSCl and diisopropylamine. This reaction system was applied to the synthesis of an antispasmodic: butaverine.     

Minimalist Design of Wireframe DNA Nanotubes: Tunable Geometry,Size, Chirality,and Dynamics

DNA nanotubes (NTs) have attracted extensive interest as artificial cytoskeletons for biomedical, synthetic biology, and materials applications. Here, we report the modular design and assembly of a minimalist yet robust DNA wireframe nanotube with tunable cross-sectional geometry, cavity size, chirality, and length, while using only four DNA strands. We introduce an h-motif structure incorporating double-crossover (DX) tile-like DNA edges to achieve structural rigidity and provide efficient self-assembly of h-motif-based DNA nanotube ( H-NT ) units, thus producing programmable, micrometer-long nanotubes. We demonstrate control of the H-NT nanotube length via short DNA modulators. Finally, we use an enzyme, RNase H, to take these structures out of equilibrium and trigger nanotube assembly at a physiologically relevant temperature, underlining future cellular applications. The minimalist H-NTs can assemble at near-physiological salt conditions and will serve as an easily synthesized, DNA-economical modular template for biosensors, plasmonics, or other functional materials and as cost-efficient drug-delivery vehicles for biomedical applications.