Pressure effects in a [2+2] photocycloaddition and -reversion

Evidence is presented to support the conclusion that the [2+2] photocycloaddition of acrylonitrile to naphthalene has a late transition state similar in volume to those in concerted thermal cycloadditions.     

The characterization of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers in air

Surface micromachined, capacitive ultrasonic transducers have been fabricated using a low thermal budget, CMOS-compatible process. They exhibit interesting properties for transduction in air at frequencies in excess of 1 MHz, when driven from a standard ultrasonic voltage source. Experiments are described using 1 mm square devices in air, operating in both pitch-catch and pulse-echo modes. The dependence on d.c. bias voltage is examined, together with calibration measurements using 1/8 in. microphones. The radiated beam profile, and the farfield directivity pattern, have been measured for both broad bandwidth and one-burst excitation, using a scanned miniature receiver. A 16 element square array is also presented, which has been used to measure the beam cross-sections from a focussed source.     

Catalytic Asymmetric [3+1]-Cycloaddition Reaction of Ylides with Electrophilic Metallo-enolcarbene Intermediates

The first asymmetric [3+1]-cycloaddition was successfully achieved by copper(I) triflate/double-sidearmed bisoxazoline complex catalyzed reactions of β-triisopropylsilyl-substituted enoldiazo compounds with sulfur ylides. This methodology delivered a series of chiral cyclobutenes in good yields with high enantio- and diastereoselectivities (up to 99 % ee, and >20:1 d.r.). Additionally, the [3+1]-cycloaddition of catalytically generated metallo-enolcarbenes was successfully extended to reaction with a stable benzylidene dichlororuthenium complex.     

H2 separation using defect-free, inorganic composite membranes

Defect-free, microporous Al(2)O(3)/SAPO-34 zeolite composite membranes were prepared by coating hydrothermally grown zeolite membranes with microporous alumina using molecular layer deposition. These inorganic composite membranes are highly efficient for H(2) separation: their highest H(2)/N(2) mixture selectivity was 1040, in contrast with selectivities of 8 for SAPO-34 membranes. The composite membranes were selective for H(2) for temperatures up to at least 473 K and feed pressures up to at least 1.5 MPa; at 473 K and 1.5 MPa, the H(2)/N(2) separation selectivity was 750. The H(2)/CO(2) separation selectivity was lower than the H(2)/N(2) selectivity and decreased slightly with increasing pressure; the selectivity was 20 at 473 K and 1.5 MPa. The high H(2) selectivity resulted either because most of the pores in the Al(2)O(3) layer were slightly smaller than 0.36 nm (the kinetic diameter of N(2)) or because the Al(2)O(3) layer slightly narrowed the SAPO-34 pore entrance. These composite membranes may represent a new class of inorganic membranes for gas separation.     

Highly CO2-selective organic molecular cages: what determines the CO2 selectivity

A series of novel organic cage compounds 1-4 were successfully synthesized from readily available starting materials in one-pot in decent to excellent yields (46-90%) through a dynamic covalent chemistry approach (imine condensation reaction). Covalently cross-linked cage framework 14 was obtained through the cage-to-framework strategy via the Sonogashira coupling of cage 4 with the 1,4-diethynylbenzene linker molecule. Cage compounds 1-4 and framework 14 exhibited exceptional high ideal selectivity (36/1-138/1) in adsorption of CO(2) over N(2) under the standard temperature and pressure (STP, 20 °C, 1 bar). Gas adsorption studies indicate that the high selectivity is provided not only by the amino group density (mol/g), but also by the intrinsic pore size of the cage structure (distance between the top and bottom panels), which can be tuned by judiciously choosing building blocks of different size. The systematic studies on the structure-property relationship of this novel class of organic cages are reported herein for the first time; they provide critical knowledge on the rational design principle of these cage-based porous materials that have shown great potential in gas separation and carbon capture applications.     

Ring‐Opening Lithiation–Borylation of 2‐Trifluoromethyl Oxirane: A Route to Versatile Tertiary Trifluoromethyl Boronic Esters

Stereogenic trifluoromethyl‐substituted carbon centers are highly sought‐after moieties in pharmaceutical and agrochemical discovery. Here, we show that lithiation–borylation reactions of 2‐trifluoromethyl oxirane give densely functionalized and highly versatile trifluoromethyl‐substituted α‐tertiary boronic esters. The intermediate boronate complexes undergo the desired 1,2‐rearrangement of the carbon‐based group with complete retentive stereospecificity, a process that was only observed in non‐polar solvents in the presence of TESOTf. Although the trifluoromethyl group adversely affects subsequent transformations of the α‐boryl group, Zweifel olefinations provide trifluoromethyl‐bearing quaternary stereocenters substituted with alkenes, alkynes and ketones.     

Visible‐Light‐Driven Strain‐Increase Ring Contraction Allows the Synthesis of Cyclobutyl Boronic Esters

There are a limited number of ring‐contraction methodologies which convert readily available five‐membered rings into strained four‐membered rings. Here we report a photo‐induced radical‐mediated ring contraction of five‐membered‐ring alkenyl boronate complexes into cyclobutanes. The process involves the addition of an electrophilic radical to the electron‐rich alkenyl boronate complex, leading to an α‐boryl radical. Upon one‐electron oxidation, ring‐contractive 1,2‐metalate rearrangement occurs to give a cyclobutyl boronic ester. A range of radical precursors and vinyl boronates can be employed, and chiral cyclobutanes can be accessed with high levels of stereocontrol. The process was extended to the preparation of benzofused cyclobutenes and the versatility of the boronic ester was demonstrated by conversion to other functional groups.