Characterization of Highly Coordinated Allylgermanes: Pivotal Players for Enhanced Nucleophilicity and Stereoselectivity

Allylgermanes with a 4‐, 5‐, and 6‐coordinated germanium center were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. Cationic 6‐coordinated group 14 allylmetals, which were hitherto assumed to be a transition‐state structure of allylations, were successfully isolated. Forming high coordination states significantly enhanced the reactivity of the allylgermanes. In contrast to the 4‐coordinated allylgermanes with low reactivity, the highly coordinated species readily reacted with several aldehydes. Furthermore, the high coordination states exerted a significant effect on the E/Z selectivity of allylation depending on external additives. The coordination structure had a dramatic influence on the electronic and steric environments around the Ge center, enabling the geometrically controlled allylation of aldehydes.     

Liquid crystal formation of RecA-DNA filamentous complexes

Spontaneous optical birefringence of RecA-bound linear and closed circular single-stranded DNA filaments, as well as RecA self-assembled polymer, was observed in aqueous buffer solutions, which demonstrates the formation of lyotropic liquid crystalline phases.     

Encapsulation with the Protrusion of Cruciform 9,10‐Bis(arylethynyl)anthracene Derivatives in a Self‐Assembled Boronic Ester Cavitand Capsule: Photochemical and Photophysical Properties

The self‐assembled boronic ester cavitand capsule 3 quantitatively and tightly encapsulates 2,6‐diacetoxy‐9,10‐bis(arylethynyl)anthracene derivatives 4 a – 4 c as highly fluorescent cruciform guests to form complexes 4 a @ 3 , 4 b @ 3 , and 4 c @( 3 )₂. The structural features of capsule 3 , which possesses two polar bowl‐shaped aromatic cavity ends and four large equatorial windows connected by dynamic boronic ester bonds, made it possible to encapsulate cruciform 4 with protection of the reactive anthracene core inside the capsule and with two protruding arylethynyl groups, the π‐conjugated arms of compound 4 , through two of the equatorial windows of the capsule. Thus, complexes 4 a @ 3 , 4 b @ 3 , and 4 c @( 3 )₂ show greater resistance to photochemical reactions in solution and fluorescence quenching in the powder state compared to free guests 4 . In addition to the improved photostability, restriction of the free rotation of the arylethynyl groups of guests 4 upon encapsulation results in sharpening of the UV/Vis absorption peaks with a red‐shift and a significant increase in some of the two‐photon‐absorption peaks of complexes 4 a @ 3 , 4 b @ 3 , and 4 c @( 3 )₂ compared with free guests 4 .     

Enantiodivergent syntheses of (−)- and (+)-dysibetaine CPa and N-desmethyl analog

The first total syntheses of (−)-dysibetaine CPa and the antipode have been achieved using enantioselective solvolysis of meso-cyclic anhydride mediated by quinine derivative as an organocatalyst. The synthesis features a demonstration of an enantiodivergent organic synthesis of both enantiomers of dysibetaine CPa whereby the absolute configurations of natural product were elucidated as (3R,4R). Application of the present methodology to an enantiomerically pure novel GABA analog is also reported.     

Practical method to estimate the standard deviation in absorption coefficients measured with THz time-domain spectroscopy

A model of standard deviation in the intensity spectrum of electric field observed with the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) is proposed to estimate the random error in the transmittance and absorption coefficients from a single or a few measurements of a sample. The proposed standard deviation which is derived on the basis of the statistical standard deviation and noise floor of intensity spectrum of reference fits well to the standard deviation of transmittance as well as absorption coefficient computed statistically. This study contributes the simple and computationally efficient method to demonstrate the accuracy in optical constants like imaginary part of refractive index and absorption coefficients measured using the THz-TDS.     

Remarkable potassium selectivity of ion sensors based on supramolecular gel membranes made from low-molecular-weight gelators without any ionophore

Supramolecular gels formed by low-molecular-weight gelators bearing diamide groups were used as ion-sensing membranes for the first time. Even though no special ionophore was added to the membranes, excellent ion selectivities for K(+) over alkali metal ions were realized with the sensor systems.     

Double-stranded helical polymers consisting of complementary homopolymers

Two complementary homopolymers of chiral amidines and achiral carboxylic acids with m-terphenyl-based backbones were synthesized by the copolymerization of a p-diiodobenzene derivative with the diethynyl monomers bearing a chiral amidine group and a carboxyl group using the Sonogashira reaction, respectively. Upon mixing in THF, the homopolymer strands assembled into a preferred-handed double helix through interstrand amidinium-carboxylate salt bridges, as evidenced by its absorption, circular dichroism, and IR spectra. In contrast, when mixed in less polar solvents, such as chloroform, the complementary strands kinetically formed an interpolymer complex with an imperfect double helical structure containing a randomly hybridized cross-linked structure, probably because of strong salt bridge formations. This primary complex was rearranged into the fully double helical structure by treatment with a strong acid followed by neutralization with an amine. High-resolution atomic force microscopy revealed the double-stranded helical structure and enabled the determination of the helical sense.     

Aerobic Direct Dioxygenation of Terminal/Internal Alkynes to α-Hydroxyketones by an Fe Porphyrin Catalyst

We herein report a new synthetic method for the preparation of α-hydroxyketones by the dioxygenation of alkynes. The reaction proceeds at room temperature under the action of Fe porphyrin and pinacolborane under air as a green oxidant to produce α-hydroxyketones. The mild reaction conditions allow chemoselective oxidation with functional group tolerance. Terminal alkynes in addition to internal alkynes are applicable, affording unsymmetrical α-hydroxyketones that are difficult to obtain by any reported dioxygenation of unsaturated C−C bonds.