Biomimetic Synthesis of Metal Ion‐Doped Hierarchical Crystals Using a Gel Matrix: Formation of Cobalt‐Doped LiMn2O4 with Improved Electrochemical Properties through a Cobalt‐Doped MnCO3 Precursor

We have synthesized spinel type cobalt‐doped LiMn₂O₄ (LiMn_2?yCo_yO₄, 0≤y≤0.367), a cathode material for a lithium‐ion battery, with hierarchical sponge structures via the cobalt‐doped MnCO₃ (Mn_1‐xCo_xCO₃, 0≤x≤0.204) formed in an agar gel matrix. Biomimetic crystal growth in the gel matrix facilitates the generation of both an homogeneous solid solution and the hierarchical structures under ambient condition. The controlled composition and the hierarchical structure of the cobalt‐doped MnCO₃ precursor played an important role in the formation of the cobalt‐doped LiMn₂O₄. The charge–discharge reversible stability of the resultant LiMn_1.947Co_0.053O₄ was improved to ca. 12 % loss of the discharge capacity after 100 cycles, while pure LiMn₂O₄ showed 24 % loss of the discharge capacity after 100 cycles. The parallel control of the hierarchical structure and the composition in the precursor material through a biomimetic approach, promises the development of functional materials under mild conditions.     

1-Acyl-5-methoxy-8-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinoline: a biologically useful photolabile precursor of carboxylic acids

The synthesis, photochemistry, and biological application of 1-acyl-5-methoxy-8-nitro-1,2-dihydroquinoline (MNDQ-caged carboxylic acid) are described. Optimization experiments were carried out on three acetyl derivatives (3a-c), and the most appropriate analogue for application to the caging of glutamate was determined to be 3c. Thus, a MNDQ-caged glutamate (MNDQ-Glu) was synthesized, and the photochemical release of glutamate by uncaging of MNDQ-Glu was confirmed by NMR, MS, and HPLC analysis. When MNDQ-Glu was tested with pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices, whole-field UV illumination resulted in a large inward current due to the release of l-glutamate. A short two-photon uncaging of MNDQ-Glu at single dendritic spines induced a transient current that exhibited similar kinetic properties to miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSC).     

A Pentacene‐based Nanotube Displaying Enriched Electrochemical and Photochemical Activities

Unlike previously well‐studied, acyclic pentacene oligomers, the first synthesis of a cyclic pentacene trimer with a fixed tubular conformation is reported. A short‐step synthesis starting from common pentacenequinone yielded the target molecule with a 1.5 nanometer length and a subnanometer pore. Steady‐state spectroscopic analyses revealed that the close proximity of the non‐conjugated, three pentacene chromophores allows the nanotube to display stepwise electrochemical/chemical oxidation characteristics. Furthermore, time‐resolved transient absorption measurements elucidated the generation of an excited triplet state of the nanotube, with high quantum yield reaching about 180 % through intramolecular singlet fission and a very long triplet lifetime.     

The Canonical Decompositions of Some Family of Compact Orientable Hyperbolic 3-Manifolds with Totally Geodesic Boundary

L. Paoluzzi and B. Zimmermann constructed a family of compact orientable hyperbolic 3-manifolds with totally geodesic boundary, and classified them up to homeomorphism. Our main purpose is to determine the canonical decompositions of these manifolds. Using the result, we can obtain an alternative proof of the classification theorem of these manifolds and determine their isometry groups. We also determine their unknotting tunnels. Some of these manifolds are related to certain spatial graphs, so-called Suzukis Brunnian graphs. The properties of these manifolds enable us to obtain those of the graphs. Moreover, we give an affirmative answer to Kinoshitas problem concerning these graphs. In the Appendix, we calculate the volume of these manifolds.     

Catalytic cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals and thioacetals. Unprecedented activation of the platinum catalyst by olefins. Scope and mechanism of the reaction

A general protocol for the synthesis of functionalized indenes from o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals and thioacetals has been elaborated. Acetals uniformly give cyclization products having the alkyl group from the starting acetylene migrated to the alpha-position, whereas the cyclization of the corresponding thioacetals proceeds without alkyl migration. Optimization of the catalytic system for the cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals revealed an unknown activation effect: PtCl(2) was found to be a better catalyst for the cyclization of acetals in the presence of olefins than without. A similar catalytic system (PtCl(2)/benzoquinone) has been found to be appropriate for the cyclization of cyclic acetals, whereas the optimal catalyst for the reaction of thioacetals is PdI(2). NMR monitoring of two reactions, acetal 3a + Pd(CH(3)CN)Cl(2) in CD(3)CN and thioacetal 5j + PdI(2) in CD(2)Cl(2), revealed that in both reactions similar cationic species are formed at the early stage of the transformation. Computational data (B3LYP/SDD level of theory) suggest that the difference in the reaction pathways for acetals and thioacetals can be rationalized by taking into account the relative stabilities of the corresponding vinylpalladium intermediates (22 vs 20 and 19 vs 21), which suggests a reversible thermodynamically controlled alkyl migration in the intermediate vinylcationic species.     

Acene Size-Dependent Transition of The Radical Centers From the Metal to The Acene Parts In Monocationic Dinuclear (Diethynylacene)diyl Complexes

Controlling radical localization/delocalization is important for functional materials. The present paper describes synthesis and results of electrochemical, spectroscopic, and theoretical studies of diruthenium (p-diethynylacene)diyl complexes, Me₃Si-(C≡C)₂-Ru(dppe)₂-C≡C−Ar-C≡C−Ru(dppe)₂-(C≡C)₂-SiMe₃ ( 1–6 ) (dppe: 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), and their monocationic radical species ([ 1 ]⁺–[ 6 ]⁺). The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps can be finely tuned by the acene rings in the bridging ligands installed, as indicated by the absorption maxima of the electronic spectra of 1–6 ranging from the UV region even to the NIR region. The cationic species [ 1 ]⁺–[ 6 ]⁺ show two characteristic NIR bands, which are ascribed to the charge resonance (CR) and π-π* transition bands, as revealed by spectroelectrochemistry. Expansion of the acene rings in [ 1 ]⁺–[ 6 ]⁺ causes (1) blue shifts of the CR bands and red shifts of the π-π* transition bands and (2) charge localization on the acene parts as evidenced by the ESR, DFT and TD-DFT analyses. Notably, the monocationic complexes of the larger acene derivatives are characterized as the non-classical acene-localized radicals.     

Mono-Gold(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Intermolecular Reaction of Ynones with Styrenes: Tandem Diels–Alder and Ene Sequence

Gold-catalyzed intermolecular reaction leading to dihydronaphthalene derivatives in one pot from two equivalents of ynones with respect to styrene is uncovered. The [4+2] Diels–Alder cycloaddition of ynones and styrenes is catalyzed by a mono-gold(I) complex and the conjugated acid to provide an unstable 3,8a-dihydronaphthalene to subsequently undergo an intermolecular ene-type reaction with the π-activated ynone to afford multi-component coupling dihydronaphthalene products. Linear relationships between chiral ligand-gold complexes and chiral dihydronaphthalene products proves mono-gold catalysis that triggers an asymmetric tandem Diels–Alder and ene reaction sequence.     

Polyol-responsive pseudopolyrotaxanes based on phenylboronic acid-modified polyethylene glycol and cyclodextrins

Phenylboronic acid (PBA), which reacts with polyols to form cyclic esters, was attached to the amino terminal of polyethylene glycol (PEG) via amide bonds. PBA-PEG was used to prepare pseudopolyrotaxanes (pPRXs) by combining it with cyclodextrins (CyDs). In the case of α-CyD, a single stranded pPRX formed that disintegrated in the presence of catechol (CA), d-fructose (Fru), and d-glucose (Glc). The order of response was CA?>?Fru?>?Glc, which corresponds with the affinities between the PBA moiety and the polyols. In contrast, a pPRX using γ-CyD, which has a double-stranded structure, showed sugar-induced disintegration but did not show a response to CA. We explained these apparently curious responses of the pPRXs using a mechanism based on the penetrability of the polyol-bound PBA toward the cavities of the CyDs. The pPRXs, which are a class of molecular machine, show two selectivities; one is derived from polyol selectivity, and the other is based on the penetrability for CyDs.     

Chelation-mediated aqueous synthesis of metal oxyhydroxide and oxide nanostructures: combination of ligand-controlled oxidation and ligand-cooperative morphogenesis

We have synthesized nanostructures of iron and cobalt oxyhydroxides and manganese oxides in aqueous solution containing a chelating agent. Nanosheets of FeOOH and NaxMnO2 and nanoflakes of CoOOH were generated from the corresponding divalent metal salts and ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) by one-pot synthesis under ambient conditions. The chelating agent fulfilled multiple roles in the reaction process and morphogenesis leading to two-dimensional nanostructures. Coordination to the divalent metal ions inhibited rapid precipitation of metal hydroxides and mediated oxidation to tri- and tetravalent species by dissolved oxygen. Along with the deposition, the two-dimensional and single-crystal nanostructures were also associated with interactions of the chelating agent. Therefore, this approach can be regarded as a combination of ligand-controlled oxidation and ligand-cooperative morphogenesis. Parallel control of the reaction and the morphology was achieved by a simple approach. The model cases suggest that tailoring chelation can facilitate the design of other metal oxide nanomaterials.     

Redox-active polyiron complexes with tetra(ethynylphenyl)ethene and [2,2]paracyclophane spacers containing ethynylphenyl units: extension to higher dimensional molecular wire

Redox active polyiron complexes with higher dimensional spacers, the tetrairon complex with the two-dimensional tetra(ethynylphenyl)ethene spacer, (C=C)[p-C(6)H(4)-C triple bond C-FeCp*(dppe)](4), and the diiron complex with the three-dimensional spacer (pseudo-m-[2,2]paracyclophane)[C triple bond C-FeCp*(dppe)](2), are prepared, and their performance as molecular wires is evaluated on the basis of their comproportionation constants for the mixed valence state.