New Insights into Sulfur Deposition on Gold Using Dithiobisphthalimide as a New Precursor

Dithiobisphthalimide is used as a new precursor for the spontaneous deposition of sulfur on gold surfaces in acetonitrile. Characterization of the modified surfaces is achieved using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemistry and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The reported results indicate that the sulfur deposition is an efficient and fast process and that high coverages can be reached very quickly. Sequential high‐resolution STM in air allows the direct observation, for the first time, of the mobility of the usually observed rectangular structures as individual units. It also shows the reversible association/dissociation of these rectangles. The nature of these structures is highly debated in the literature and the present work provides new insights into their nature through the use of a new sulfur precursor under non‐traditional conditions. To explain our results we consider these structures as simple sulfur adlayers on the gold surface.     

Molecular tectonics: infinite cationic double stranded helical coordination networks

Upon crystallisation of two bismonodentate tectons based on two pyridine units, interconnected at the meta position by a tetra- or hexa-ethylene glycol fragment and Ag+ cation, double stranded helical infinite coordination networks were formed and structurally characterised. The cationic double helical architectures obtained may be regarded as analogues of DNA in terms of topology.     

An unprecedented highly efficient solvent-free oxidation of alkynes to α,β-acetylenic ketones with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by water-soluble copper complex

The catalytic system composed of CuCl₂ and 2,2′-biquinoline-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid dipotassium salt (BQC) was found to be highly efficient for the selective α-oxidation of internal alkynes to the corresponding α,β-acetylenic ketones, with aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide under mild conditions. For the first time, full conversions of alkynes were reached with excellent selectivities, and propargylic tert-butylperoxy ethers were observed and suggested as the reaction intermediates. In the case of terminal alkynes, the oxidations are sluggish and low yields ranging from 32% to 40% were obtained.     

Regioselective bond cleavage in the dissociative electron transfer to benzyl thiocyanates: the role of radical/ion pair formation

Important aspects of the electrochemical reduction of a series of substituted benzyl thiocyanates were investigated. A striking change in the reductive cleavage mechanism as a function of the substituent on the aryl ring of the benzyl thiocyanate was observed, and more importantly, a regioselective bond cleavage was encountered. A reductive alpha-cleavage (CH(2)-S bond) was seen for cyano and nitro-substituted benzyl thiocyanates leading to the formation of the corresponding nitro-substituted dibenzyls. With other substituents (CH(3)O, CH(3), H, Cl, and F), both the alpha (CH(2)-S) and the beta (S-CN) bonds could be cleaved as a result of an electrochemical reduction leading to the formation of the corresponding substituted monosulfides, disulfides, and toluenes. These final products are generated through either a protonation or a nucleophilic reaction of the two-electron reduction-produced anion on the parent molecule. The dissociative electron transfer theory and its extension to the formation/dissociation of radical anions, as well as its extension to the case of strong in-cage interactions between the produced fragments ("sticky" dissociative electron transfer (ET)), along with the theoretical calculation results helped rationalize (i) the observed change in the ET mechanism, (ii) the dissociation of the radical anion intermediates formed during the electrochemical reduction of the nitro-substituted benzyl thiocyanates, and more importantly (iii) the regioselective reductive bond cleavage.     

Unexpected formation of N,N-disubstituted formamidines from aromatic amines, formamides and trifluoroacetic anhydride

An intriguing selectivity towards the formation of the formamidine was observed upon the reaction of an amine with sodium hydride and trifluoroacetic anhydride in dimethyl formamide. Various aromatic amines were reacted with a series of N,N-disubstituted formamides as a solvent under the influence of trifluoroacetic anhydride to thoroughly probe this behaviour. A trend in selectivity is discussed and a proposed mechanism for the reaction is also presented.     

Utility of 2‐[4‐(3‐oxobenzo[f]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl]ethanenitrile in heterocyclic synthesis

Pyrazolo[4,3‐d]pyrimidines, pyrazolo[4,3‐d]triazolino[4,3‐a]pyrimidines, 3‐(2‐thiazolyl)thiophenes, thiazolo[3,2‐a]pyridine and pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines were synthesized from 2‐[4‐(3‐oxobenzo[f]‐2H‐chromen‐2‐yl)‐1,3‐thiazol‐2‐yl]ethanenitrile. The newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis, spectral data, chemical transformation and alternative synthesis route whenever possible.     

Comparative Study of Surface Functionalization of Hydroxyapatite by One‐pot Grafting of Organophosphonates Species

The ability to graft apatite surface by specific ligand fields creates powerful new technology applications. Thus, grafted organophosphonate can provide an effective route to modify the surface properties of apatite materials. The ability to decorate the apatite surface with the desired functionality requires covalent attachment to solid interface; most commonly achieved using organophosphonate self‐assembly. The current study shows that various phosphonates can react with calcium ions and control the formation of the porous apatite with high surface areas as well as the porosity. The structural and surface properties are given some importance in this review.     

Design and Synthesis of New Differentiated Concurrent Mono‐ and Tridentate Ligands (Tectons) Based on Pyridine,Terpyridine, and Dihydrooxazole Units

The design, synthesis, and characterization of the 10 linear and bent acentric ligands 1 – 10 (tectons) based on the differentiation of two divergently disposed coordinating poles is reported. The nature of the two poles and their distance are varied by the use of different linear spacers. For these molecules, a monodentate coordinating site, i.e., a pyridine ring, and a tridentate coordinating site, i.e., a pyridine moiety bearing at the 2 and 6 positions either two thioether groups or two dimethylamino units (PySMe and PyN(Me₂)₂ type, resp.), a terpyridine, or a pyridine ring bearing two optically pure dihydrooxazole units, are combined.