Hyperpolarized 13C Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Fumarate Metabolism by Parahydrogen-induced Polarization: A Proof-of-Concept in vivo Study

Hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]fumarate is a promising magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarker for cellular necrosis, which plays an important role in various disease and cancerous pathological processes. To demonstrate the feasibility of MRI of [1-¹³C]fumarate metabolism using parahydrogen-induced polarization (PHIP), a low-cost alternative to dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization (dDNP), a cost-effective and high-yield synthetic pathway of hydrogenation precursor [1-¹³C]acetylenedicarboxylate (ADC) was developed. The trans-selectivity of the hydrogenation reaction of ADC using a ruthenium-based catalyst was elucidated employing density functional theory (DFT) simulations. A simple PHIP set-up was used to generate hyperpolarized [1-¹³C]fumarate at sufficient ¹³C polarization for ex vivo detection of hyperpolarized ¹³C malate metabolized from fumarate in murine liver tissue homogenates, and in vivo ¹³C MR spectroscopy and imaging in a murine model of acetaminophen-induced hepatitis.     

In vivo multispectral imaging of the absorption and scattering properties of exposed brain using a digital red–green–blue camera

Optical Review - To evaluate multi-spectral images of the absorption and scattering properties in the cerebral cortex of rat brain, we investigated spectral reflectance images estimated by the...     

Solvent‐Dependent Cation Exchange in Metal–Organic Frameworks

We investigated which factors govern the critical steps of cation exchange in metal–organic frameworks by studying the effect of various solvents on the insertion of Ni²⁺ into MOF‐5 and Co²⁺ into MFU‐4l. After plotting the extent of cation insertion versus different solvent parameters, trends emerge that offer insight into the exchange processes for both systems. This approach establishes a method for understanding critical aspects of cation exchange in different MOFs and other materials.     

An Isotope‐Coded Fluorogenic Cross‐Linker for High‐Performance Target Identification Based on Photoaffinity Labeling

A photoaffinity labeling (PAL)‐based method for the rapid identification of target proteins is presented in which a high‐performance chemical tag, an isotope‐coded fluorescent tag (IsoFT), can be attached to the interacting site by irradiation. Labeled peptides can be easily distinguished among numerous proteolytic digests by sequential detection with highly sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Subsequent MS/MS analysis provides amino acid sequence information with a higher depth of coverage. The combination of PAL and heterogeneous target‐selecting techniques significantly reduces the amount of time and protein required for identification. An additional photocleavable moiety successfully accelerated proteomic analysis using cell lysate. This method is a widely applicable approach for the rapid and accurate identification of interacting proteins.     

Sila- and Germacarboxylic Acids: Precursors for the Corresponding Silyl and Germyl Radicals

Silicon-containing compounds are widely used as synthetic building blocks, functional materials, and bioactive reagents. In particular, silyl radicals are important intermediates for the synthesis and transformation of organosilicon compounds. Herein, we describe the first protocol for the generation of silyl radicals by photoinduced decarboxylation of silacarboxylic acids, which can be easily prepared in high yield on a gram scale and are very stable to air and moisture. Irradiation of silacarboxylic acids with blue LEDs (455 nm) in the presence of a commercially available photocatalyst releases silyl radicals, which can further react with various alkenes to give the corresponding silylated products in good-to-high yields with broad functional-group compatibility. This reaction proceeds in the presence of water, enabling efficient deuterosilylation of alkenes with D₂O as the deuterium source. Germyl radicals were similarly obtained.     

Rhodium-Catalyzed Highly Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of a Configurationally Stable S-Shaped Double Helicene-Like Molecule

An S-shaped double helicene-like molecule (>99 % ee), possessing stable helical chirality, has been synthesized by the rhodium(I)/difluorphos complex-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective intramolecular double [2+2+2] cycloaddition of a 2-naphthol- and benzene-linked hexayne. The collision between two terminal naphthalene rings destabilizes the helical chirality of the S-shaped double helicene-like molecule, but the introduction of two additional fused benzene rings significantly increases the configurational stability. Thus, no epimerization and racemization were observed even at 100 °C. The enantiopure S-shaped double helicene-like molecule forms a trimer through the multiple C−H⋅⋅⋅π and C−H⋅⋅⋅O interactions in the solid-state. The trimers stack to form columnar packing structures, in which neighboring stacks have opposite dipole directions. The accumulation of helical structures in the same direction in the S-shaped double helicene-like molecule enhanced the chiroptical properties.     

Intense Red-Blue Luminescence Based on Superfine Control of Metal–Metal Interactions for Self-Assembled Platinum(II) Complexes

A series of assembled Pt^II complexes comprising N-heterocyclic carbene and cyanide ligands was constructed using different substituent groups, [Pt(CN)₂(R-impy)] (R-impyH⁺=1-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazolium, R=Me ( Pt-Me ), Et ( Pt-Et ), ⁱPr ( Pt- ⁱ Pr ), and ^tBu ( Pt- ^t Bu )). All the complexes exhibited highly efficient photoluminescence with an emission quantum yield of 0.51–0.81 in the solid state at room temperature, originating from the triplet metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer (³MMLCT) state. Their emission colors cover the entire visible region from red for Pt-Me to blue for Pt- ^t Bu . Importantly, Pt- ^t Bu is the first example that exhibits blue ³MMLCT emission. The ³MMLCT emission was proved and characterized based on the temperature dependences of the crystal structures and emission properties. The wide-range color tuning of luminescence using the ³MMLCT emission presents a new strategy of superfine control of the emission color.     

Continuous Synthesis of Aryl Amines from Phenols Utilizing Integrated Packed-Bed Flow Systems

Aryl amines are important pharmaceutical intermediates among other numerous applications. Herein, an environmentally benign route and novel approach to aryl amine synthesis using dehydrative amination of phenols with amines and styrene under continuous-flow conditions was developed. Inexpensive and readily available phenols were efficiently converted into the corresponding aryl amines, with small amounts of easily removable co-products (i.e., H₂O and alkanes), in multistep continuous-flow reactors in the presence of heterogeneous Pd catalysts. The high product selectivity and functional-group tolerance of this method allowed aryl amines with diverse functional groups to be selectively obtained in high yields over a continuous operation time of one week.     

Silaboration of [1.1.1]Propellane: A Storable Feedstock for Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Derivatives

The silaboration of [1.1.1]propellane enables direct introduction of B and Si functional groups onto the bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) scaffold in high yield under mild, additive‐free conditions. The silaborated BCP can be obtained on a gram‐scale in a single step without the need for column‐chromatographic purification, and is storable and easy to handle, providing a versatile synthetic intermediate for BCP derivatives. We also describe various conversions of the C?B/C?Si bonds on the BCP scaffold, including development of a modified Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction at the highly sterically hindered bridgehead sp³ carbon center of the BCP skeleton using a combination of highly activated BCP boronic esters, copper(I) oxide, and a PdCl₂(dppf) catalyst system.