[2.2]- and [3.3]Paracyclophane as Bridging Units in Organic Dyads for Visible-Light-Driven Dye-Sensitized Hydrogen Production

Novel donor–acceptor dyads containing [2.2]- and [3.3]paracyclophane (PCP) as the bridging moiety were synthesized and used to effectively fabricate dye-sensitized hydrogen production systems. All the prepared compounds had a phenothiazine and a cyanoacrylic acid/pyridinyl acrylonitrile moiety acting as an electron donor and acceptor, respectively. Although cyclic voltammetry measurements showed similar electron-donating properties among all the synthesized dyads, the lowest absorption energy of the [2.2]PCP moiety was lower than that of the [3.3]PCP one; this was due to its shorter distance between benzene rings, which could effectively drive the charge transfer between the donor and acceptor chromophores. Under visible light (>395 nm), a dyad-loaded photocatalyst in a 0.5 M aqueous glycerol solution generated detectable hydrogen gases. The optimal turnover number and photocurrent order exhibited the same trend as the hydrogen production rate since the suggested number of excited photons played a critical role in hydrogen production.     

Adducts of acetylene and dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate at sulfurs in sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters

Reactions are reported of sulfur-bridged incomplete cubane-type tungsten clusters having W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3) cores with acetylene and its derivative dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). The reaction of the isothiocyanate tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (5) with acetylene in 0.1 M HCl afforded a novel complex having two acetylene molecules in different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (6), and the presence of two kinds of intermediates [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(micro(3)-SCH=CHS)(NCS)(9)](5)(-) (7) and [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) was observed. The reaction of the diethyldithiophosphate (dtp) tungsten cluster [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(3)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)(CH(3)CN)] (10) with DMAD in acetonitrile containing acetic acid resulted in the formation of another complex having two DMAD molecules of different adduct formation modes, [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-SC(CO(2))=CH(CO(2)CH(3)))(micro(3)-SC(CO(2)CH(3))=C(CO(2)CH(3))S)(micro-OAc)(dtp)(3)] (11), where hydrolysis of one of the four ester groups of the two DMAD groups occurred and the resultant carboxylic group coordinated to tungsten. The conformation of the micro-SCH=CH(2) moiety in 6 is different from that of the corresponding moiety in [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-O)(micro-S)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (4). Introduction of the second acetylene molecule to the intermediate [W(3)(micro(3)-S)(micro-S)(2)(micro-SCH=CH(2))(NCS)(9)](4)(-) (8) resulted in the formation of 6. The clusters were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (for (Hpy)(4).6.1.33py.0.5H(2)O and 11.CH(3)CN), and the formation of 6 and 11 was examined in detail from a mechanistic point of view.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed C-H/CO/Olefin coupling reaction of N-arylpyrazoles. Extraordinary reactivity of N-arylpyrazoles toward carbonylation at C-H bonds

The reaction of 1-arylpyrazoles with CO and ethylene in the presence of Ru(3)(CO)(12) resulted in regioselective carbonylation at the ortho C-H bonds. While it is found that the pyrazole ring also functions as the directing group for C-H bond cleavage, the efficiency of the reaction depends on the position of the pyrazole ring.     

Improvement of dissolution properties of a new Helicobacter pylori eradicating agent (TG44) by inclusion complexation with beta-cyclodextrin

The interaction of a newly developed Helicobacter pylori eradicating agent (TG44, 4-methylbenzyl-4'-[trans-4-(guanidinomethyl)cyclohexylcarbonyloxy]biphenyl-4-carboxlylate monohydrochloride) with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) in aqueous solution and in solid state was studied to gain insight into the high in-vivo H. pylori eradicating activity of TG44/beta-CyD complex. The interaction was studied by the solubility method, spectroscopic methods, powder X-ray diffractometry and differential scanning colorimetry (DSC). TG44 gave A(L)-type phase solubility diagram with beta-CyD in water, showing a linear increase in solubility of the drug up to 8 mM beta-CyD concentration. The solubility of TG44 (0.04 mM in water at 25 degrees C) increased about 70-folds at 8 mM beta-CyD. Ultraviolet, circular dichroism, fluorescence and (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies indicated that TG44 forms the inclusion complex with beta-CyD in a 1:1 stoichiometry and the biphenyl moiety of TG44 is preferably included in the beta-CyD cavity in water. The Giordano plot made by monitoring changes in the fusion enthalpy of TG44 (about 184 degrees C) suggested that TG44 forms the 1:1 complex with beta-CyD in the solid state. The TG44/beta-CyD solid complex in a 1:1 stoichiometry was prepared by the grinding and spray-drying methods and confirmed by powder X-ray diffractometry and DSC that the complex is in an amorphous state. The initial dissolution rate of TG44/beta-CyD complex was significantly faster than those of the drug alone and the physical mixture of both components, maintaining higher supersaturated concentrations of the drug for a long time. The results suggested that the higher eradicating activity of TG44/beta-CyD complex to Helicobacter pylori, compared with that of the drug alone, is attributable at least partly to the faster dissolving property of the complex and its ability to maintain the supersaturated state of the drug in the gastric fluid.     

Syntheses and unusual segregated-alternated hybrid stacking structure of hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer complexes composed of bis[2,3-pyridinedithiolate]metal complexes

We report the syntheses of new planar electron donor inorganic molecules [bis(2,3-pyridinedithiolate)metal(II)]; [MII(Hpydt)2] (M = Ni(1), Pd(2), Pt(3)) and their anions; [MII(pydt)2]2- (M = Ni(4), Pd(5)), which are equipped with both a highly lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) perpendicular to the plane and hydrogen-bonding capability in the plane. In addition, we present two novel hydrogen-bonded charge-transfer (HBCT) complexes, [M(Hpydt)2]TCNQ (M = Ni, Pd), with 7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). All the neutral and ionic inorganic molecules and the HBCT complexes were successfully characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The HBCT complexes show an unusual segregated-alternated hybrid stacking structure in which each component interacts parallel to the stacks with neighboring donors and acceptors. Furthermore, the structural network is expanded as a result of a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonding chain formed between donors and acceptors perpendicular to the stacking direction. The theoretical electronic structures of the HBCT complexes are also reported.     

Selective Guest Uptake from Solvent Mixtures in the Clathrate Phase of Syndiotactic Polystyrene

Summary: Selective absorption uptake during the guest‐exchange processes in the δ form of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. When films of the δ form were immersed in hexane/decane or chloroform/decane mixtures, decane molecules were incorporated preferentially in the δ form. Sorbate uptake by the δ form was greatly accelerated when the sorbate was mixed with a solvent penetrable to the amorphous region of sPS.

Concentration changes in a δ‐form film during sorption processes: sorption of a chloroform(D)/decane(H) mixture (1:1 molar ratio).     

In Situ Generation of Ruthenium Carbonyl Phosphine Complexes as a Versatile Method for the Development of Enantioselective C−O Bond Arylation

We report here a method for in situ generation of various ruthenium carbonyl phosphine catalysts for arylation via cleavage of inert aromatic carbon–oxygen bonds. The use of catalyst systems consisting of [RuCl₂(CO)(p-cymene)], CsF, styrene, and phosphines enabled facile screening of phosphine ligands. Asymmetric C–O arylation was also achieved for atropo-enantioselective biaryl synthesis using a chiral monodentate phosphine ligand.     

Room-temperature regioselective C-H/olefin coupling of aromatic ketones using an activated ruthenium catalyst with a carbonyl ligand and structural elucidation of key intermediates

Mechanistic studies of the ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of aromatic ketones with olefins are presented. Treatment of the original catalyst, RuH(2)(CO)(PPh(3))(3), with trimethylvinylsilane at 90 °C for 1-1.5 h afforded an activated ruthenium catalyst, Ru(o-C(6)H(4)PPh(2))(H)(CO)(PPh(3))(2), as a mixture of four geometric isomers. The activated complex showed high catalytic activity for C-H/olefin coupling, and the reaction of 2'-methylacetophenone with trimethylvinylsilane at room temperature for 48 h gave the corresponding ortho-alkylation product in 99% isolated yield. The activated catalyst was thermally robust and showed excellent catalytic activity under refluxing toluene conditions. (1)H and (31)P NMR studies of the C-H/olefin coupling at room temperature suggested that an ortho-ruthenated complex, P,P'-cis-C,H-cis-Ru(2'-(6'-MeC(6)H(4)C(O)Me))(H)(CO)(PPh(3))(2), participated in the reaction as a key intermediate. Isotope labeling studies using acetophenone-d(5) indicated that the rate-limiting step was the C-C bond formation, not the C-H bond cleavage, and that each step prior to the reductive elimination was reversible. The rate of C-H/olefin coupling was found to exhibit pseudo first-order kinetics and to show first-order dependence on the ruthenium complex concentration.