Enhancement of photocatalytic activity of P25 TiO2 by vanadium-ion implantation under visible light irradiation

An ion-implantation method was used to prepare V-ion-implanted P25 TiO2 photocatalysts. Their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of formic acid under visible light irradiation (lambda>450 nm) was investigated. Upon implantation of V ions into the lattice of P25 TiO2, the photoactivity was remarkably enhanced. HRTEM images showed that the implanted V ions existed in the form of VO2(T) in the lattice of P25 TiO2. The intensity of photoluminescence (PL) spectra of V-ion-implanted P25 TiO2 decreased with the increase of the amount of implanted V ions, indicating the decrease of electron-hole pair recombination. It was also observed that the lower the PL intensity of V-ion-implanted P25 TiO2, the higher the photoactivity.     

Synthesis of novel dendritic 2,2'-bipyridine ligands and their application to Lewis acid-catalyzed diels-alder and three-component condensation reactions

A series of dendritic ligands with a 2,2'-bipyridine core was synthesized through the coupling of 4,4'-dihydroxy-2,2'-bipyridine with poly(aryl ether) dendrons. The corresponding dendritic Cu(OTf)2 catalysts were used for Diels-Alder and three-component condensation reactions. The dendritic Cu(OTf)2-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction proceeded smoothly, and these dendritic catalysts could be recycled without deactivation by reprecipitation. Three-component condensation reactions such as Mannich-type reactions also proceeded not only in dichloromethane but also in water. Furthermore, a positive dendritic effect on chemical yields was observed in both Diels-Alder reactions and aqueous-media three-component condensation reactions.     

Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrones and methacrolein catalyzed by chiral bis-titanium lewis acid: a dramatic effect of N-substituent on nitrone

Highly stereoselective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of methacrolein and nitrones could be realized by the use of bis-titanium chiral Lewis acid catalyst. Key to the success is the introduction of bulky N-substituent on nitrone to attenuate the undesired Lewis acid-nitrone complexation.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of polar organic functionalities based on Ru-mediated heterolytic dihydrogen cleavage

This article highlights Ru complexes, which effect catalytic hydrogenation of polar organic functionalities containing C-O bonds other than aldehydes or ketones. The unique ability of Ru complexes to undergo heterolytic dihydrogen cleavage seems to play a key role in these catalyses.     

Laser induced amplified spontaneous emission from the B2Pi, L2Pi, and I2Sigma+ valence states of NO

Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from single rovibrational levels of valence (non-Rydberg) states of NO molecules has been investigated. The B2Pi (v=24 and 25), L2Pi (v=5 and 6), and I2Sigma+ (v=6) levels have been populated through laser optical-optical double resonance excitation via the Rydberg A2Sigma+ state. Term values for the 2Pi states have been determined with an accuracy of +/-0.03 cm(-1). Analyses of rotationally resolved dispersed ASE spectra in the near infrared region have shown that all the lower states belonged to the Rydberg states. The valence approximately Rydberg coupling in the upper manifolds has driven ASE systems from the valence to the Rydberg levels where they benefit from the strong intensities of inter-Rydberg transitions with Deltav=0. The experimentally predicted valence approximately Rydberg interactions have been compared with theoretical treatments.     

Preparation, structure, and magnetic interaction of a Mn(hfac)2-bridged [2-(3-pyridyl)(nitronyl nitroxide)-Mn(hfac)2]2 chain complex

A new one-dimensional chain complex, Mn(hfac)(2)-bridged [2-(3-pyridyl)(nitronyl nitroxide)Mn(hfac)(2)](2), was prepared and its structure and magnetic properties were elucidated; the complex exhibited a large antiferromagnetic interaction of J(1)=-185 K between the three Mn(ii) atoms and the two nitronyl nitroxides to give S=13/2 spin units and a small ferromagnetic interaction of J(3)'=+0.02 K between these spin units at low temperatures (50-1.9 K), compatible with the theoretical analysis for model compounds.     

Photoresponsive double-stranded helices composed of complementary strands

A photoresponsive single-handed double helical supramolecule composed of complementary strands bearing azobenzene moieties underwent a reversible trans-cis-isomerization regulated by photoirradiation, resulting in a change in its molecular length.     

Synthesis and characterization of luminescent zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes with N,S-chelating Schiff base ligands

The reactions of zinc(II) acetate with a variety of 2-substituted benzothiazolines afforded tetrahedral mononuclear complexes with a N 2S 2 donor set, [Zn(RPhC(H) NC 6H 4 S) 2]. The obtained zinc(II) complexes can be divided into three groups based on the characteristics of the absorption spectra; Group 1 (R = 2,4,6-triMe ( 1), 2,6-diCl ( 2)) showing an intense band at 250-300 nm and a weak band at 400-450 nm, Group 2 (R = 4-Cl ( 3), H ( 4), 4-Et ( 5), 4-OMe ( 6)) showing two intense bands at 250-300 nm and a weak band at 400-450 nm, and Group 3 (R = 4-NMe 2 ( 7), 4-NEt 2 ( 8)) showing an intense band at 250-300 nm and two very intense bands at 350-450 nm. The Group 2 and Group 3 complexes exhibited a strong emission on irradiating with ultraviolet light while the Group 1 complexes were not emissive at room temperature. However, all the zinc(II) complexes were luminescent in CH 2Cl 2/toluene glass at 77 K, and their emission peak energies were found to correlate with the Hammett constant of the substituent at para position of a pendent phenyl ring in each complex. Similar reactions of cadmium(II) acetate with 2-substituted benzothiazolines were also carried out to synthesize corresponding cadmium(II) complexes. While [Cd(RPhC(H) NC 6H 4 S) 2] (R = 2,4,6-triMe ( 9)) with bulky substituents at ortho positions of a pendent phenyl ring had a tetrahedral mononuclear structure, other cadmium(II) complexes [Cd 2(RPhC(H) NC 6H 4 S) 4] (R = 4-Et ( 10), 4-OMe ( 11), 4-NMe 2 ( 12)) possessed S-bridged dinuclear structures. These cadmium(II) complexes, which are assumed to have a mononuclear structure in solution, showed photophysical properties similar to those of the corresponding zinc(II) complexes.     

Rapid and efficient synthesis of dysiherbaine and analogues to explore structure-activity relationships

A rapid and efficient total synthesis of dysiherbaine (1), a potent and subtype-selective agonist for ionotropic glutamate receptors, has been accomplished. A key intermediate 15 was synthesized by two approaches. The first synthetic route utilized compound 9, an advanced intermediate in our previous total synthesis of neodysiherbaine A, as the starting point, and the cis-oriented amino alcohol functionality on the tetrahydropyran ring was installed by using an intramolecular S(N)2 cyclization of N-Boc-protected amino alcohol 20. An alternative and even more efficient synthetic approach to 15 featured stereoselective introduction of an amino group at C8 by iodoaminocyclization prior to constructing the bicyclic ether skeleton. The amino acid appendage was efficiently constructed by a catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide ester 36. The synthetic route developed here provided access to several dysiherbaine analogues, including 9-epi-dysiherbaine (38), 9-deoxydysiherbaine (39), 9-methoxydysiherbaine (40), and N-ethyldysiherbaine (41). The preliminary structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the presence and stereochemistry of the C9 hydroxy group in dysiherbaine is important for high-affinity and selective binding to glutamate subtype receptors.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles

Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of N-Boc-protected pyrroles proceeded with high enantioselectivity by using a ruthenium catalyst modified with a trans-chelating chiral bisphosphine PhTRAP. The ruthenium catalyst prepared from Ru(eta3-methallyl)2(cod) and (S,S)-(R,R)-PhTRAP in the presence of triethylamine was the most enantioselective for the asymmetric hydrogenation of methyl pyrrole-2-carboxylate, giving the desired (S)-proline derivative with 79% ee in 92% yield. Moreover, 2,3,5-trisubstituted pyrroles bearing a large substituent at the 5-position were hydrogenated with 93-99.7% ee. The asymmetric reduction of 4,5-dimethylpyrrole-2-carboxylate gave only all-cis isomer and created three chiral centers with high degree of stereocontrol in a single process. This is the first highly enantioselective reduction of pyrroles.