Mechanistic Investigation of Catalyst‐Transfer Suzuki–Miyaura Condensation Polymerization of Thiophene–Pyridine Biaryl Monomers with the Aid of Model Reactions

We have investigated the requirements for efficient Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura catalyst‐transfer condensation polymerization (Pd‐CTCP) reactions of 2‐alkoxypropyl‐6‐(5‐bromothiophen‐2‐yl)‐3‐(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)pyridine ( 12 ) as a donor–acceptor (D –A) biaryl monomer. As model reactions, we first carried out the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of X–Py–Th–X′ (Th=thiophene, Py=pyridine, X, X′=Br or I) 1 with phenylboronic acid ester 2 by using tBu₃PPd⁰ as the catalyst. Monosubstitution with a phenyl group at Th‐I mainly took place in the reaction of Br–Py–Th–I ( 1 b ) with 2 , whereas disubstitution selectively occurred in the reaction of I–Py–Th–Br ( 1 c ) with 2 , indicating that the Pd catalyst is intramolecularly transferred from acceptor Py to donor Th. Therefore, we synthesized monomer 12 by introduction of a boronate moiety and bromine into Py and Th, respectively. However, examination of the relationship between monomer conversion and the M_n of the obtained polymer, as well as the matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) mass spectra, indicated that Suzuki–Miyaura coupling polymerization of 12 with (o‐tolyl)tBu₃PPdBr initiator 13 proceeded in a step‐growth polymerization manner through intermolecular transfer of the Pd catalyst. To understand the discrepancy between the model reactions and polymerization reaction, Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions of 1 c with thiopheneboronic acid ester instead of 2 were carried out. This resulted in a decrease of the disubstitution product. Therefore, step‐growth polymerization appears to be due to intermolecular transfer of the Pd catalyst from Th after reductive elimination of the Th‐Pd‐Py complex formed by transmetalation of polymer Th–Br with (Pin)B–Py–Th–Br monomer 12 (Pin=pinacol). Catalysts with similar stabilization energies of metal–arene η²‐coordination for D and A monomers may be needed for CTCP reactions of biaryl D–A monomers.     

Total synthesis of borrelidin

The total synthesis of borrelidin has been achieved. The best feature of our synthetic route is macrocyclization at C11-C12 for the construction of an 18-membered ring after esterification between two segments. A detailed examination of the macrocyclization led us to the samarium(II) iodide-mediated intramolecular Reformatsky-type reaction as the most efficient synthetic approach. The two key segments were synthesized through regioselective methylation, directed hydrogenation, stereoselective Reformatsky-type reaction, and MgBr2.Et2O-mediated chelation-controlled allylation.     

Surfactant-mixing effects on the interfacial tension and the microemulsion formation in water/supercritical CO2 system

The effects of surfactant mixing on interfacial tension and on microemulsion formation were examined for systems of air/water and water/supercritical CO2 (scCO2) interfaces and for water/scCO2 microemulsions. A fluorinated surfactant, sodium bis(1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl)-2-sulfosuccinate (8FS(EO)2), was mixed with the three hydrocarbon surfactants, Pluronic L31, Tergitol TMN-6, and decyltrimethylammonium chloride (DeTAC), at equimolar ratio. For all the cases, the interfacial tension was significantly lowered by the mixing. The positive synergistic effect suggests that the mixed surfactants tend to pack more closely on the interface than the pure constituents. It was found, however, that the microemulsion formation in scCO2 was never facilitated by the mixing, except for the case of TMN-6. This is probably due to the segregation of the surfactants into hydrocarbon-rich and fluorocarbon-rich phases on the microemulsion surface.     

Tetraalkylammonium Picrates in the Dichloromethane–Water System: Ion-Pair Formation and Liquid–Liquid Distribution of Free Ions and Ion Pairs

Equilibria concerning picrates of tetraalkylammonium ions (Me₄N⁺, Et₄N⁺, Pr₄N⁺, Bu₄N⁺, Bu₃MeN⁺) in a dichloromethane−water system have been investigated at 25 ^∘C. The 1:1 ion-pair formation constants (K _IP,o ^o) in dichloromethane at infinite dilution were conductometrically determined. The distribution constants (K _D ^o) of the ion pairs and the free cations between the solvents were determined by a batch-extraction method. The K _IP,o ^o value varies in the cation sequence, Bu₄N⁺ ≈ Pr₄N⁺ ≈ Et₄N⁺ < Bu₃MeN⁺ < < Me₄N⁺; this trend is explained by the electrostatic cation−anion interaction taking into account the structures of the ion pairs determined by density functional theory calculations. For the ion pairs of the symmetric R₄N⁺ cations, there is a linear positive relationship between log₁₀ K _D ^o and the number of methylene groups in the cation (N _{CH 2}). The ion pair of asymmetric Bu₃MeN⁺ has a higher distribution constant than that expected from the above log₁₀ K _D ^o versus N _{CH 2} relationship. These cation dependencies of log₁₀ K _D ^o for the ion pairs are explained theoretically by using the Hildebrand-Scatchard equation. For all the cations, the log₁₀ K _D ^o value of the free cation increases linearly with N _{CH 2}; the variation of log₁₀ K _D ^o is discussed by decomposing the distribution constant into the Born-type electrostatic contribution and the non-Born one, and attributed to the latter that is governed by the differences in the molar volumes of the cations. The cation dependencies of the ion-pair extractability and ion pairing in water are also discussed. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Synthesis, structures, and properties of meso-phosphorylporphyrins: self-organization through P-oxo-zinc coordination

The synthesis, structures, and optical and electrochemical properties of meso-phosphorylporphyrins are described. The copper-catalyzed carbon-phosphorus cross-coupling reaction of a meso-iodoporphyrin with di-n-butyl phosphite and diphenylphosphane oxide has proved to be an efficient and general method for the synthesis of meso-phosphorylporphyrins. Zinc phosphorylporphyrins thus obtained readily undergo self-organization through P-oxo-Zn coordination to form noncovalently linked, cofacial porphyrin dimers or linear oligomers, which have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analyses. In toluene, CH(2)Cl(2), and CHCl(3), the zinc phosphorylporphyrins exist mostly as dimers or monomers, depending on their concentrations, the temperature, and the presence of additives. The self-association constants for dimerization in toluene have been determined by UV/Vis absorption titration measurements. The meso-diphenylphosphorylporphyrin dimer displays excitonic coupling of the Soret band with a splitting energy of 940 cm(-1). Fluorescence lifetimes of the zinc phosphorylporphyrins have been found to be affected only slightly by the concentration of the solution, and by the addition of triphenylphosphane oxide, suggesting that the effect of dimerization on their photodynamics in the S(1) state is negligible. On the other hand, the effect of dimerization is clearly reflected in their electrochemical oxidation processes, as the initially produced radical cations are efficiently delocalized over the two porphyrin rings. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of meso-phosphorylporphyrins as new models for the special pair in photosynthesis and as new building blocks for porphyrin-based supramolecular materials.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of Silacyclopentanes

A variety of functionalized silacyclopentanes were synthesized by highly enantioselective β‐eliminations of silacyclopentene oxides followed by stereospecific transformations. The reaction mechanism of the β‐elimination was elucidated by DFT calculations. An in vitro biological assay with an oxy‐functionalized silacyclopentane showed substantial binding to a serotonin receptor protein.     

Glass Formation of a Coordination Polymer Crystal for Enhanced Proton Conductivity and Material Flexibility

The glassy state of a two‐dimensional (2D) Cd²⁺ coordination polymer crystal was prepared by a solvent‐free mechanical milling process. The glassy state retains the 2D structure of the crystalline material, albeit with significant distortion, as characterized by synchrotron X‐ray analyses and solid‐state multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. It transforms to its original crystal structure upon heating. Thus, reversible crystal‐to‐glass transformation is possible using our new processes. The glass state displays superior properties compared to the crystalline state; specifically, it shows anhydrous proton conductivity and a dielectric constant two orders of magnitude greater than the crystalline material. It also shows material flexibility and transparency.     

Preparation of telechelic oligomers by thermal degradation of propylene copolymers

The reactive end groups of nonvolatile oligomers obtained by controlled thermal degradation of poly(propylene-ran-ethylene) and poly(propylene-ran-1-butene) were determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The molar ratio of unsaturated to saturated end groups was found to be about 9:1. The average number of unsaturated end groups per molecule was between 1.6 and 1.8, indicating that 60–80 mol% of the oligomer molecules were telechelic, having two terminal unsaturated end groups. These oligomers had a lower polydispersity than the raw material, despite their lower molecular weight and melting temperature. Although the end groups resulting from each monomer unit could be detected by ¹³C NMR, the end group composition differed from that of the main chains of the raw materials. The end group composition was satisfactorily explained by the differences in bond dissociation energy and activation energy of elementary reactions that occurred during thermal degradation, based on the monomer composition of the raw materials.