Catalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Halocyclopropanes

A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of halocyclopropanes is described. The developed method is based on a carbenoid cyclopropanation of 2‐haloalkenes with tert‐butyl α‐cyano‐α‐diazoacetate using a chiral rhodium catalyst that permits access to a broad range of highly functionalized chiral halocyclopropanes (F, Cl, Br, and I) in good yields, moderate diastereoselectivity, and excellent enantiomeric ratios. The reported methodology represents the first general catalytic enantioselective approach to halocyclopropanes.     

Anomalous Light‐Induced Spin‐State Switching for Iron(II) Spin‐Crossover Molecules in Direct Contact with Metal Surfaces

Light‐induced spin‐state switching is one of the most attractive properties of spin‐crossover materials. In bulk, low‐spin (LS) to high‐spin (HS) conversion via the light‐induced excited spin‐state trapping (LIESST) effect may be achieved with a visible light, while the HS‐to‐LS one (reverse‐LIESST) requires an excitation in the near‐infrared range. Now, it is shown that those phenomena are strongly modified at the interface with a metal. Indeed, an anomalous spin conversion is presented from HS state to LS state under blue light illumination for Fe^II spin‐crossover molecules that are in direct contact with metallic (111) single‐crystal surfaces (copper, silver, and gold). To interpret this anomalous spin‐state switching, a new mechanism is proposed for the spin conversion based on the light absorption by the substrate that can generate low energy valence photoelectrons promoting molecular vibrational excitations and subsequent spin‐state switching at the molecule–metal interface.     

Radial Symmetry of Overdetermined Boundary-Value Problems in Exterior Domains

In this paper, we extend a classical result by J. Serrin [15] to exterior domains , where Ω is a bounded domain. We prove, under some hypotheses on f, that if there exists a solution of satisfying the overdetermined boundary conditions that and u are constant on , and such that , then the domain Ω is a ball. Under different assumptions on f, this result has been obtained by W. Reichel in [13]. The main result here covers new cases like with . When Ω is a ball, almost the same proof allows us to derive the symmetry of positive bounded solutions satisfying only the Dirichlet condition that u is constant on . Our method relies on Kelvin transforms, various forms of the maximum principle and the device of moving planes up to a critical position. (Accepted May 30, 1997)     

Straightforward Synthesis of 3‐Aminothiophenes Using Activated Amides

Herein, we describe a facile approach towards the synthesis of diversely substituted 3‐aminothiophenes. A wide range of functional groups can be incorporated at the C(2), C(4), and C(5) positions of the thiophenes, and this route is also suitable for the synthesis of fused bicyclic heterocycles such as 3‐aminotetrahydrobenzothiophenes. This methodology relies on a 6π‐electrocyclization involving a vinyl sulfide linked to a keteniminium salt, the latter being formed in‐situ through activation of the corresponding amide with triflic anhydride.     

Carbonyl-inserted organo-hybrids of a Dawson-type phosphovanadotungstate: scope and chemoselective oxidation catalysis

The Dawson-type polyoxometalate (POM) [P(2)V(3)W(15)O(62)](9-) is a prototype for inclusion of carbonyls of amides, ureas, carbamates, and thiocarbamates into polyoxometallic structures. The carbonyl-inserted POMs catalyze the oxidation of sulfides. Chemoselectivity depends primarily on the proton content of the POM, but it is also influenced by the organic substituent.     

Photoinduced magnetism in core/shell Prussian blue analogue heterostructures of K(j)Ni(k)[Cr(CN)6]l·nH2O with Rb(a)Co(b)[Fe(CN)6]c·mH2O

Core/shell and core/shell/shell particles comprised of the Prussian blue analogues K(j)Ni(k)[Cr(CN)(6)](l)·nH(2)O (A) and Rb(a)Co(b)[Fe(CN)(6)](c)·mH(2)O (B) have been prepared for the purpose of studying persistent photoinduced magnetization in the heterostructures. Synthetic procedures have been refined to allow controlled growth of relatively thick (50-100 nm) consecutive layers of the Prussian blue analogues while minimizing the mixing of materials at the interfaces. Through changes in the order in which the two components are added, particles with AB, ABA, BA, and BAB sequences have been prepared. The two Prussian blue analogues were chosen because B is photoswitchable, and A is ferromagnetic with a relatively high magnetic ordering temperature, ~70 K, although it is not known to exhibit photoinduced changes in its magnetic properties. Magnetization measurements on the heterostructured particles performed prior to irradiation show behavior characteristic of the individual components. On the other hand, after irradiation with visible light, the heterostructures undergo persistent photoinduced changes in magnetization associated with both the B and A analogues. The results suggest that structural changes in the photoactive B component distort the normally photoinactive A component, leading to a change in its magnetization.     

Synthesis of 3-aryl-2-arylamidobenzofurans based on the Curtius rearrangement

The synthesis of novel 3-aryl-2-arylamidobenzofurans has been accomplished via a Curtius rearrangement strategy in four steps from benzofuran-2-carboxylic acids. The requisite Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, with benzyl 3-bromobenzofuran-2-ylcarbamate or 2-arylamido-3-bromobenzofurans, revealed an unusual reductive debromination process due to the presence of the free NH group. This dehalogenation can be suppressed by N-alkylation. DMAP is an efficient reagent for the one-pot conversion of benzyl benzofuran-2-ylcarbamates into the corresponding benzofuran-2-arylamides through aroylation, thus acting both as an acyl transfer reagent and a deprotecting agent of the Cbz group. A mechanism is postulated.