Structure and redox tuning of gas adsorption properties in calixarene-supported Fe(ii)-based porous cages

We describe the synthesis of Fe(ii)-based octahedral coordination cages supported by calixarene capping ligands. The most porous of these molecular cages has an argon accessible BET surface area of 898 m² g⁻¹ (1497 m² g⁻¹ Langmuir). The modular synthesis of molecular cages allows for straightforward substitution of both the bridging carboxylic acid ligands and the calixarene caps to tune material properties. In this context, the adsorption enthalpies of C₂/C₃ hydrocarbons ranged from −24 to −46 kJ mol⁻¹ at low coverage, where facile structural modifications substantially influence hydrocarbon uptakes. These materials exhibit remarkable stability toward oxidation or decomposition in the presence of air and moisture, but application of a suitable chemical oxidant generates oxidized cages over a controlled range of redox states. This provides an additional handle for tuning the porosity and stability of the Fe cages.

We describe the synthesis of Fe(ii)-based coordination cages whose stability and gas adsorption properties can be tuned through structural modifications and redox reactivity.     

Synthesis and characterization of iron complexes with monoanionic and dianionic N,N',N' '-trialkylguanidinate ligands

Trisubstitued N,N',N' '-tri(alkyl)guanidinate anions have been used in the synthesis of a family of Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes. Complexes FeCl[((i)PrN)(2)C(HN(i)Pr)](2) (1), [Fe[micro-((i)PrN)(2)C(HN(i)Pr)][((i)PrN)(2)C(HN(i)Pr)]](2) (2), and [Fe[mgr;-(CyN)(2)C(HNCy)][(CyN)(2)C(HNCy)]](2) (3) were prepared from the reaction of the appropriate lithium tri(alkyl)guanidinate and FeCl(3) or FeBr(2). The complex [FeBr[micro-(CyN)(2)C(HNCy)]](2) (4), an apparent intermediate in the formation of 3, has also been isolated and characterized. Complexes 1 and 2 react with alkyllithium reagents to yield products that depend on the identity of the reagent as well as the reaction stoichiometry. Reaction of 2 with MeLi (1:2 ratio) produces Li(2)[Fe[micro-((i)PrN)(2)C=N(i)Pr][((i)PrN)(2)C(HN(i)Pr)]](2) (5). Reaction of 1 with an equimolar amount of LiCH(2)SiMe(3) results in reduction to Fe(II) and generation of 2 while reaction with 4 LiCH(2)SiMe(3) proceeds by a combination of reduction, substitution, and deprotonation of guandinate to yield Li(4)(THF)(2)[Fe[((i)PrN)(2)CN(i)Pr](CH(2)SiMe(3))(2)](2) (7). Both complexes 5 and 7 posssess dianionic guanidinate ligands. The reaction of 2 with 1 equiv of LiCH(2)SiMe(3) generated Fe(2)[micro-((i)PrNCN(i)Pr)(2)(N(i)Pr)][((i)PrN)(2)C(HN(i)Pr)](2) (6). Compound 6 has a dianionic biguanidinate ligand derived from the coupling of the two bridging guanidinate ligands of 2.     

A novel crown ether generation containing different heteroaromatic cations: synthesis, characterization, solid-phase (13)C NMR, X-ray crystal structure, and selective amino acid recognition

The synthesis and structural characterization of a novel generation of crown ethers, 3, 5 and 6 containing pyrilium, thiopyrilium, and pyridinium subunits, respectively, are reported. The crown ether unit is potentially capable of forming host-guest complexes with inorganic and organic cations, while the heteroaromatic cationic unit is suitable to bind with anions. A variety of physicochemical methods including electrospray mass spectrometry, UV-vis spectroscopy, solution and solid-phase NMR, and X-ray crystallography were applied for structural characterization of the new crown ether derivatives. The (1)H and (13)C NMR studies indicate rapid rotation of the B9C3 unit about the C-C bond that connects the two units to each other. Single crystals for 3, 4, and 5 were successfully obtained, and their X-ray crystal structures were resolved. The perchlorate anion in 3 (orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1)) and 5 (orthorhombic, space group P2(1)) is far from O(+) and close to S(+). The solid-phase structure of 3 and 5 show small deviation from planarity for the four aromatic rings, whereas two of the aromatic rings in 4 are out of heteroaromatic ring. Spectrophotometric studies in methanol solution revealed that the ligand 3 can be successfully applied to selective amino acid recognition.     

Tandem oxy-Cope/transannular ene reaction of 1,2-divinylcyclohexanols

[reaction: see text] The syntheses via tandem oxy-Cope/transannular ene reaction of 1,2-divinylcyclohexanols to bi- and tricyclic skeletons are described. This strategy generates a rapid method for the preparation of advanced polycyclic intermediates with high diastereoselectivity.     

Metal Complexes of Mesitylphosphine: Synthesis, Structure, and Spectroscopy

A series of primary phosphine homoleptic complexes [ML(4)](n)()(+)X(n)() (1, M = Ni, n = 0; 2, M = Pd, n = 2, X = BF(4); 3, M = Cu, n = 1, X = PF(6); 4, M = Ag, n = 1, X = BF(4); L = PH(2)Mes, Mes = 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2)] was prepared from mesitylphosphine and Ni(COD)(2), [Pd(NCMe)(4)][BF(4)](2), [Cu(NCMe)(4)]PF(6), and AgBF(4), respectively. Reactions of 1-4 with MeC(CH(2)PPh(2))(3) (triphos) or [P(CH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(3)] (tetraphos) afforded the derivatives [M(L')L](n)()(+)X(n)() (L' = triphos; 6, M = Ni, n = 0; 7, M = Cu, n = 1, X = PF(6); 8, M = Ag, n = 1, X = BF(4); L' = tetraphos; 9, M = Pd, n = 2, X = BF(4)). Addition of NOBF(4) to 1 yielded the nitrosyl compound [NiL(3)(NO)]BF(4), 5. The solution structure and dynamics of 1-9 were studied by (31)P NMR spectroscopy (including the first reported analyses of a 12-spin system for 1-2). Complexes 1, 3, 6, and 7.solvent were characterized crystallographically. The structural and spectroscopic studies suggest that the coordination properties of L are dominated by its relatively small cone angle and that the basicity of L is comparable to that of more commonly used tertiary phosphines.     

A proteomic analysis of secreted proteins from xylan-induced Bacillus sp. strain K-1

The expression level of extracellular proteins in an alkaliphilic bacterium, Bacillus sp. strain K-1, grown in a xylan-containing medium, is significantly increased when compared with that grown in the nonxylan culture medium. A proteomic approach has been efficiently applied to separate and characterize these differentially expressed secretory proteins. Eight prominent protein spots were identified and subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The results show that three spots share considerable similarity with the xylanolytic enzymes and that two spots share considerable similarity with the GltC regulatory protein and 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase, respectively. In addition, the three other proteins show little similarity with the known proteins in the database. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the proteomic approach is a highly efficient method to rapidly study the differential expression of the secreted proteins by Bacillus sp. strain K-1 grown under xylan-induced condition.     

Nickel nitrosyl complexes in a sulfur-rich environment: The first poly(mercaptoimidazolyl)borate derivatives

The diamagnetic nickel mononitrosyl complexes (Tm^R)Ni(NO) (R = Bu^t, p-Tol) and (Bm^R)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) (R = Me, Bu^t) have been readily prepared from Ni(PPh₃)₂(NO)Br and the appropriate Na(Tm^R) or Na(Bm^R) reagents, respectively. These species constitute the first nickel nitrosyl complexes supported by these ligand systems. An X-ray diffraction study of (Tm^p-Tol)Ni(NO) confirmed its pseudo-tetrahedral geometry and the presence of a nearly linear nitrosyl ligand. In contrast, (Bm^Me)Ni(PPh₃)(NO) can be best described as having a trigonal pyramidal geometry, a spatial arrangement unprecedented in nickel nitrosyl chemistry, which is facilitated by the disposition of the Bm^Me ligand and the presence of a weak intramolecular Ni?H–B interaction opposite to the apical triphenylphosphine ligand.