A DFT Study on the Reaction Pathways for Carbon?Carbon Bond‐Forming Reactions between Propargylic Alcohols and Alkenes or Ketones Catalyzed by Thiolate‐Bridged Diruthenium Complexes

The reaction pathways of two types of the carbon? carbon bond‐forming reactions catalyzed by thiolate‐bridged diruthenium complexes have been investigated by density‐functional‐theory calculations. It is clarified that both carbon? carbon bond‐forming reactions proceed through a ruthenium–allenylidene complex as a common reactive intermediate. The attack of π electrons on propene or the vinyl alcohol on the ruthenium–allenylidene complex is the first step of the reaction pathways. The reaction pathways are different after the attack of nucleophiles on the ruthenium–alkynyl complex. In the reaction with propene, the carbon? carbon bond‐forming reaction proceeds through a stepwise process, whereas in the reaction with vinyl alcohol, it proceeds through a concerted process. The interactions between the ruthenium–allenylidene complex and propene or vinyl alcohol have been investigated by applying a simple way of looking at orbital interactions.     

pH‐Controllable Supramolecular Systems

Proton, all that matters! This Focus Review surveys representative examples of pH‐controllable supramolecular systems with interesting features and state‐of‐the‐art applications, which can lead to the construction of meaningful molecular machines for electronic and biological applications that can be controlled by simple perturbation with acid and base.

     

Transition‐Metal‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [2+2+2] Cycloadditions for the Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryls

Tying up loose ends : Recent advances towards a development of novel transition‐metal‐catalyzed enantioselective [2+2+2] cycloadditions for the synthesis of biaryls are summarized in this Focus Review. Additionally, the enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral biaryls possessing non‐biaryl axial chirality is also presented. These novel asymmetric aromatization reactions allow the production of various axially chiral biaryl compounds with high enantioselectivity.

     

π-Stacking Stopper-Macrocycle Stabilized Dynamically Interlocked [2]Rotaxanes

The synthesis of mechanically interlocked molecules is valuable due to their unique topologies. With π-stacking intercomponent interaction, e.g., phenanthroline and anthracene, novel [2]rotaxanes have been synthesized by dynamic imine clipping reaction. Their X-ray crystal structures indicate the π-stackings between the anthracene moiety (stopper) on the thread and the (hetero)aromatic rings at the macrocycle of the rotaxanes. Moreover, the length of glycol chains affects the extra π-stacking intercomponent interactions between the phenyl groups and the dimethoxy phenyl groups on the thread. Dynamic combinatorial library has shown at best 84% distribution of anthracene-threaded phenanthroline-based rotaxane, coinciding with the crystallography in that the additional π-stacking intercomponent interactions could increase the thermodynamic stability and selectivity of the rotaxanes.     

各种三角分解法计算特性的分析比较

通过对LR、LDU、CU3种三角分解法的计算原理和计算过程,包括中间变量的计算、所需计算元素的个数、所需元素的总数等进行详细地比较分析,并将3种三角分解法分别编程用于求解IEEE-30、-57、-118节点系统的节点阻抗矩阵,比较其"分解"及"分解+回代"过程所需的计算时间。原理分析和计算结果均表明,LR、CU与LDU三角分解法相比,计算过程更为简洁,计算速度远快于LDU三角分解法,且CU三角分解法的计算速度略快于LR三角分解法,计算原理和方式非常接近高斯消元法。因此,在用三角分解法求解常系数的线性方程组时,应该首选CU三角分解法而不是其它三角分解法。 更多还原     

Highly Elastic and Deformable Hydrogel Formed from Tetra‐arm Polymers

After decades of efforts by many researchers, we have succeeded in realizing a near‐ideal polymer network. This network, the Tetra network, is made by cross‐end‐coupling of tetra‐arm polymer modules. The mechanical energy dissipation was extremely low (tan δ ≈ 10⁻⁴). The macroscopic stress–strain relationship of the Tetra network was in good agreement with that of microscopic elastic blobs. The maximum breaking strength was extremely high (≥27 MPa). These results indicate that the Tetra network is closer to an ideal polymer network than any other conventional model networks. Because the Tetra network can be treated as uniformly packed elastic blobs, it should help apply the knowledge of single polymer chains seamlessly to the design of polymer materials and help further develop the theory of rubber elasticity.

     

Electric-field-induced polar biaxial order in a nontilted smectic phase of an asymmetric bent-core liquid crystal

A polarization reorientation process has been studied by means of optical second-harmonic generation in an optically uniaxial smectic phase of an asymmetric bent-core liquid crystal. A nontilted polar smectic order with a biaxial order is induced by applying an electric field to the uniaxial nonpolar smectic phase. This phenomenon was well simulated by the two-dimensional Langevin process, i.e., electric-field-induced continuous molecular reorientation against thermal agitation. The simulation suggests that about 200s of molecules form a polar domain and cooperatively respond to the applied field. The existence of the polar domains and their reorientation are consistent to the dielectric measurement; a high dielectric constant of about 60 at the kHz range is markedly suppressed by applying a bias field.     

Efficient Conversion of Carbon Dioxide with Si‐Based Reducing Agents Catalyzed by Metal Complexes and Salts

Homogeneous metal complex and salt catalysts were developed for the reductive transformation of CO₂ with Si‐based reducing agents. Cu‐bisphosphine complexes were found to be excellent catalysts for the hydrosilylation of CO₂ with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). The Cu complexes also showed high catalytic activity and a wide substrate scope for formamide synthesis from amines, CO₂, and PMHS. Simple fluoride salts such as tetrabutylammonium fluoride acted as good catalysts for the reductive conversion of CO₂ to formic acid in the presence of hydrosilane, disilane, and metallic Si. Based on the kinetics, isotopic experiments, and in‐situ NMR measurements, the reaction mechanism for both catalyst systems, the Cu complex and the fluoride salt, have been proposed.     

Nickel-catalyzed N-arylation of amines with arylboronic acids under open air

In this study, a well-defined, novel NHC-Ni complex was developed and used to catalyze the N-arylation of alkyl- and arylamines with arylboronic acids in a rare version of Chan-Lam coupling. Although the same coupling using copper catalysts has been widely studied, the nickel-catalyzed version is rare and normally requires 10–20?mol% catalyst loading. This novel NHC-Ni complex in combination with 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, however, proved to be an effective catalyst that lowered the required catalyst loading to only 2.0?mol%.