A new approach to highly electrooptically active materials using cross-linkable, hyperbranched chromophore-containing oligomers as a macromolecular dopant

A new, practical approach to a variety of highly electrooptically active polymers for device development is described. It involves the use of a new thermally cross-linkable, hyperbranched oligomer containing nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores as a macromolecular dopant in a common host polymer. A series of NLO polymeric blends were readily formulated and showed large and stable electrooptic (EO) coefficients (up to 65 pm/V). In comparison with previously studied linear NLO polyimides and guest-host polymers doped with molecular chromophores and even linear NLO analogous oligomers, this new approach offers clear advantages for device development in terms of improved poling efficiency, larger EO coefficients, good temporal stability, and versatile material formulation.     

NH4I/1,10-phenanthroline catalyzed direct sulfenylation of N-heteroarenes with ethyl arylsulfinates

An efficient synthesis of N-heterocyclic aryl sulfides via NH₄I/1,10-phenanthroline-catalyzed direct sulfenylation reactions was reported. In this reaction, heteroarenes such as indoles, and pyrroles serve as nucleophiles by installing a arylthio group at the C3 and C2 position of heterocycles, respectively. With readily accessible and free of unpleasant odor ethyl arylsulfinates as sulfur reagents, the metal-free-catalyzed direct sulfenylation of N-heteroarenes has been developed. 3-Arylthio-indoles and 2-arylthio-pyrroles derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields, even on gram scale. The reaction was general for a broad scope of substrates and demonstrated good tolerance to a variety of functional groups.     

Cover Picture: A Stepwise Annulation for the Transformation of Cyclic Ketones to Fused 6 and 7‐Membered Cyclic Enimines and Enones (Chin. J. Chem. 4/2019)

The cover picture shows a typical building within the Campus of Xiamen University displaying Chen Jiageng (Tan Kah Kee)'s style. Just like many beautiful buildings designed and constructed by human, Nature “designs and constructs” a huge number of useful molecules with fascinating structures called natural products. Many natural products possess a fused six or seven‐membered carbocyclic unity. On page 315–322, the Huang's group disclosed a three‐step “[2+n]” annulation method for the construction of fused six and seven‐membered carbocyclic enimines and enones. The method starts from simple cyclic ketones and terminal olefinic amides, and relies on both the Suzuki coupling reaction and the olefin‐amide based Friedel‐Crafts type acylating reaction, a method developed by Huang and coworkers.

     

A novel and efficient route for the preparation of atorvastatin

A novel and efficient synthetic method of atorvastatin was described.The key step of the synthesis was the construction of the olefin linkage between the chiral side chain and skeleton via a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction,resulting in the advanced intermediate of atorvastatin under hydrogenation of the olefin over Pd/C.This novel method is more useful for the practical synthesis of atorvastatin than its document reported methods.     

Modified capillary electrophoresis based measurement of the binding between DNA aptamers and an unknown concentration target

The recognition of targets such as biomacromolecules, viruses and cells by their aptamers is crucial in aptamer-based biosensor platforms and research into protein function. However, it is difficult to evaluate the binding constant of aptamers and their targets that are hard to purify and quantify, especially when the targets are undefined. Therefore, we aimed to develop a modified capillary electrophoresis based method to determine the dissociation constant of aptamers whose targets are hard to quantify. A protein target, human thrombin, and one of its aptamers were used to validate our modified method. We demonstrated that the result calculated by our method, only depending on the aptamer’s concentrations, was consistent with the classical method, which depended on the concentrations of both the aptamers and the targets. Furthermore, a series of DNA aptamers binding with avian influenza virus H9N2 were confirmed by a four-round selection of capillary electrophoresis–systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, and we identified the binding constant of these aptamers by directly using the whole virus as the target with the modified method. In conclusion, our modified method was validated to study the interaction between the aptamer and its target, and it may also advance the evaluation of other receptor–ligand interactions.     

Preparation and properties of water‐absorbent composites of chloroprene rubber,starch, and sodium acrylate

The effects of the amounts of starch, sodium acrylate (NaAA) and dicumyl peroxide (DCP) on the properties of chloroprene rubber (CR)/starch/NaAA composites prepared by melting method were investigated. The results showed that the addition of starch improved the mechanical properties, but decreased the water‐absorbing capacity of the composite, most likely due to the decrease in the local concentration of the main water‐absorbing material sodium polyacrylate and the increase in crosslinking density of the composite resulting from the reaction between starch and CR. This reaction was verified by the vulcanized curves, DSC curves, and the cut surface morphology. The as‐prepared composite demonstrated higher water‐absorbing capacity, resulting from the incorporation of NaAA. The mechanical properties decreased with increasing the DCP loading, and the water‐absorbing ratio is the maximum at 1.0 phr DCP. The tensile strength of the composite decreased significantly after water immersion, due to the absorbed water acting as a plasticizer. The extracted component from composites after water immersion is mainly sodium polyacrylate according to Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy analysis. The morphology of the composites before and after water immersion was observed by optical transmission microscopy (OTM). The results indicated that the starch exhibits a good dispersion state, and the water‐absorbing capacity results primarily from sodium polyacrylate. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inclusion Complexes of Coenzyme Q10 with Polyamine‐Modified β‐Cyclodextrins: Characterization,Solubilization, and Inclusion Mode

The inclusion‐complexation behavior of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) with the three polyamine‐modified β‐cyclodextrins (CDs) 1 – 3 was investigated in both solution and the solid state by means of NMR, XRD, and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The results showed that the apparent solubility of CoQ10 increased linearly upon addition of hosts 1 – 3 , giving A_L‐type phase‐solubility curves. These hosts 1 – 3 were able to solubilize CoQ10 to high levels, up to 1.35, 1.52, and 1.44 mg/ml (calculated as CoQ10), respectively. The host 2 with a moderate‐length chain is the most suitable for inclusion complexation of CoQ10. Accroding to the ROESY experiments, the MeO groups of CoQ10 and the tether of 2 can be co‐included into the cavity of β‐CD through the induced‐fit interaction between host and guest. The binding ability of modified β‐CDs 1 – 3 upon complexation with CoQ10 are discussed from the viewpoints of the size/shape‐matching relationship and the induced‐fit concept between host CDs and guest CoQ10 molecule.     

Organocatalytic asymmetric one-pot sequential reaction: synthesis of highly substituted spirocyclohexanepyrazolones with six contiguous stereogenic carbons

An atom-economical synthesis of chiral polyfunctionalized spiropyrazolone derivatives based on the development of a new organocatalytic enantioselective one-pot sequential Michael/Michael/Aldol reaction of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with unsaturated pyrazolones and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The notable features of this one-pot sequential process include the generation of up to six consecutive stereogenic carbon centers including one quaternary stereocenter and five tertiary stereocenters with high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) and excellent diastereoselectivities (>99:1 d.r.).     

Effect of Arylmethylene Substitutions on Molecular Structure,Optoelectronic Properties and Photovoltaic Performance of Dithienocyclopentafluorene-Based Small-Molecule Acceptors

Two dithienocyclopentafluorene-based small-molecule acceptors (SMAs) were developed that feature methylene-functionalized conjugated side chains, to study the effect of arylmethylene substitution and its number on structure, optoelectronic properties and device performance. Results showed that two SMAs have better absorption properties and planarity, lower bandgaps and higher LUMOs compared with the control SMA without conjugated side chains. The synthesized SMAs were tested in polymer solar cells for examples of their applicability. This work argues that the introduction of methylene-functionalized conjugated side chains has great potential in tuning molecular structure, optoelectronic properties, device physics and photovoltaic performance of SMAs.     

Structural and Electronic Influences on Rates of Tertpyridine−Amine CoIII−H Formation During Catalytic H2 Evolution in an Aqueous Environment

In this work, the differences in catalytic performance for a series of Co hydrogen evolution catalysts with different pentadentate polypyridyl ligands (L), have been rationalized by examining elementary steps of the catalytic cycle using a combination of electrochemical and transient pulse radiolysis (PR) studies in aqueous solution. Solvolysis of the [Co^II−Cl]⁺ species results in the formation of [Co^II(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]²⁺. Further reduction produces [Co^I(κ⁴-L)(OH₂)]⁺, which undergoes a rate-limiting structural rearrangement to [Co^I(κ⁵-L)]⁺ before being protonated to form [Co^III−H]²⁺. The rate of [Co^III−H]²⁺ formation is similar for all complexes in the series. Using E_1/2 values of various Co species and pK_a values of [Co^III−H]²⁺ estimated from PR experiments, we found that while the protonation of [Co^III−H]²⁺ is unfavorable, [Co^II−H]⁺ reacts with protons to produce H₂. The catalytic activity for H₂ evolution tracks the hydricity of the [Co^II−H]⁺ intermediate.