Aqueous media carboxylative cyclization of propargylic amines with CO2 catalyzed by amphiphilic dendritic N-heterocyclic carbene–gold(I) complexes

We prepared amphiphilic dendritic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)–gold(I) complexes having poly(ethylene glycol) units at the peripheral layer. By employing 1 mol % of the dendritic NHC–gold(I) catalyst, the aqueous media carboxylative cyclization of propargylic amines proceeded smoothly to provide the corresponding 2-oxazolidinone under atmospheric pressure of CO₂ at room temperature.     

Hermite–Padé approximation,isomonodromic deformation and hypergeometric integral

We develop an underlying relationship between the theory of rational approximations and that of isomonodromic deformations. We show that a certain duality in Hermite’s two approximation problems for functions leads to the Schlesinger transformations, i.e. transformations of a linear differential equation shifting its characteristic exponents by integers while keeping its monodromy invariant. Since approximants and remainders are described by block-Toeplitz determinants, one can clearly understand the determinantal structure in isomonodromic deformations. We demonstrate our method in a certain family of Hamiltonian systems of isomonodromy type including the sixth Painlevé equation and Garnier systems; particularly, we present their solutions written in terms of iterated hypergeometric integrals. An algorithm for constructing the Schlesinger transformations is also discussed through vector continued fractions.     

Indium-catalyzed annulation of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers: concise synthesis and photophysical properties of diverse aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles

Treatment of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles with propargyl ethers in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium nonafluorobutanesulfonate [In(ONf)(3)] gave aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles in good yields. The synthetically attractive feature is reflected by its applicability to a wide range of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles. In the annulation reaction, propargyl ethers act as C3 sources (HC[triple bond]C-CH(2)OR). Among these, two carbon atoms are incorporated into the product as members of a newly constructed aromatic ring and the remaining carbon atom forms a methyl group on the aromatic ring, where the methyl group is always located next to the C3 position of the indole nucleus. The methyl group can be easily removed through SeO(2) oxidation followed by decarbonylation with RhCl(CO)(PPh(3))(2)-Ph(2)P(CH(2))(3)PPh(2) as a catalyst. The new annulation strategy is applicable also to symmetrical dimers such as bithiophene and bifuran derivatives. Mechanistic studies suggest that the first step is addition reaction initiated by regioselective nucleophilic attack of the C3 of 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles to the internal carbon atom of the C[triple bond]C bond in propargyl ethers. The next stage is ring-closing S(N)2 process kicking out the alkoxy group and then aromatization via a 1,3-hydrogen shift is the final step. The two carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions achieved in one-pot contribute largely to the reduction in the number of steps for the synthesis of aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles. Furthermore, utilization of the Fischer indole synthesis for efficient supply of the substrates, 2-aryl- and 2-heteroarylindoles, is another important factor shortening the overall process. The development of the annulation with a wide substrate scope provided a unique opportunity to evaluate photophysical properties of a series of aryl- and heteroaryl-annulated[a]carbazoles. Almost all the compounds evaluated in this study were found to emit purple to green light in the visible region. Some interesting structure-property correlations are also described.     

Carrier Dynamics and Surface Reaction Boosted by Polymer-based Single-atom Photocatalysts

Carrier dynamics and surface reaction are two critical processes for determining the performance of photocatalytic reaction. Highly designable polymer-based photocatalysts have shown promising protectives in energetic and environmental applications. In this prospective, we first distinguished the differences of physiochemical properties between polymer-based semiconductors and traditional inorganic semiconductors. Then, the effects of single-atom sites on the charge dynamics and reaction kinetics of polymer-based photocatalysts are further elaborated. Time(excitation)-space(wavefunction) population analysis, which can provide relevant information to clarify the structure-excitation relationships after introducing the single atom sites was also reviewed. In the future, with the further development of artificial intelligence, the establishment of an energy function with a regression accuracy close to or reaching the level of density functional theory is highly desired to infer the energetic diagram of the photocatalytic systems at the excited states. Furthermore, coordination structures, interaction with inorganic semiconductors, photocatalytic stability and solvent effects should also be carefully considered in the future studies of polymer-based photocatalyst.     

Thermodynamic and kinetic considerations on the morphological stability of “hamburger-like” composite polymer particles prepared by seeded dispersion polymerization

Micrometer-sized, monodisperse, “hamburger-like” polystyrene (PS)/poly(2-ethylhexyl methacrylate)/decane composite particles were obtained by seeded dispersion polymerization of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate with PS seed particles in the presence of decane. The morphological stability of the hamburger-like particles was investigated based on thermodynamic and kinetic aspects. The hamburger-like morphology was maintained at 60 °C (above glass transition temperature (T _g)) for at least 1 week in spite of less thermodynamic stability than hemispherical morphology. T _g of the particles gradually increased throughout the polymerization due to monomer consumption. Geometric calculation result indicates that the degree of reduction of the interfacial free energy at the early stage of the morphological development is significantly low. From these results, it is concluded the morphological stability of the hamburger-like particles is considerably high because the development from hamburger-like to hemispherical morphologies is retarded by the gradual increase in viscosity inside the particles and the significantly lower interfacial free energy reduction.     

A simple catalyst system for the palladium-catalyzed coupling of aryl halides with terminal alkynes

A convenient catalyst system consisting of Pd(OAc)₂, PPh₃, K₃PO₄ and DMSO was found to be effective for the coupling reaction of aryl halides with terminal alkynes as well as the deacetonative coupling reaction using a 4-aryl-2-methylbut-3-yn-2-ol as a terminal alkyne precursor. An iminophosphine as a ligand worked more effectively for some combination of substrates than triphenylphosphine.     

Nickel-catalysed addition of organoboronates to 1,3-dienes

Aryl- and alkenylboronates were found to add to 1,3-dienes in the presence of a catalytic amount of bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel, where a proton source in combination with a solvent considerably controls the regioselectivity.     

Nickel-catalyzed acylstannylation and alkynylstannylation of 1,2-dienes

Carbostannylation of 1,2-dienes using acyl- and alkynylstannanes was achieved by means of nickel catalysis. In particular, acylstannylation of 1,2-dienes could be carried out with bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)nickel [Ni(cod)₂] and acylstannanes to give selectively α-acylmethyl(vinyl)stannanes. The reaction was also applicable to acylstannanes prepared in situ by protonolysis of α-alkoxyalkenylstannanes or by reactions of α-silyloxyvinylstannanes with aldehyde acetals. For alkynylstannylation, a combination of Ni(cod)₂ and 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp) was found to be effective to afford α-alkynylmethyl(vinyl)stannanes, whereas the Ni(cod)₂-1,3-bis(dimethylphosphino)propane (dmpp) catalyst switched the regioselectivity to give (Z)-α-alkynylmethyl(alkenyl)stannanes. The acylstannylation products were successfully converted into various conjugated or unconjugated enones by a combination of cross-coupling and NaH-catalyzed isomerization. The alkynylstannylation products were transformed by cross- or homo-coupling reactions to various enynes or 2,3-bis(alkynylmethyl)-1,3-dienes, versatile precursors for variously substituted polycyclic compounds.     

Indium triflate-catalysed double addition of heterocyclic arenes to alkynes

Indium triflate was found to be a prominent catalyst for addition of heterocyclic arenes to alkynes to afford 2:1 adducts, where two heterocyclic arenes regioselectively attacked the same carbon atom of alkynes.