N-Heterocyclic Olefins as Electron Donors in Combination with Triarylborane Acceptors: Synthesis,Optical and Electronic Properties of D–π–A Compounds

N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), relatives of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), exhibit high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character. To investigate their π-electron donating ability, NHOs were attached to triarylborane π-acceptors (A) giving donor (D)–π–A compounds 1 – 3 . In addition, an enamine π-donor analogue ( 4 ) was synthesized for comparison. UV–visible absorption studies show a larger red shift for the NHO-containing boranes than for the enamine analogue, a relative of cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbenes (CAACs). Solvent-dependent emission studies indicate that 1 – 4 have moderate intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) behavior. Electrochemical investigations reveal that the NHO-containing boranes have extremely low reversible oxidation potentials (e.g., for 3 , =−0.40 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium, Fc/Fc⁺, in THF). Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show that the HOMOs of 1 – 3 are much more destabilized than that of the enamine-containing 4 , which confirms the stronger donating ability of NHOs.     

Cs3[Tb10(C2)2]Cl21, ein neuer Formel- und Strukturtyp mit isolierten,dimeren Clustern

Cs₃[Tb₁₀(C₂)₂]Cl₂₁, A New Formula and Structure Type with Isolated Dimeric Clusters Cs₃[Tb₁₀(C₂)₂]Cl₂₁ is obtained via the metallothermic reduction of TbCl₃ with caesium in the presence of graphite as black single crystals. The crystal structure (monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4; a = 2318.72(13); b = 1245.8(9); c = 1502.0(13) pm; β = 98.13(6)°; R = 0.089; R_w = 0.049) contains dimeric clusters that are built from two octahedra connected via one common edge and filled with C₂ units. These isolated [Tb₁₀(C₂)₂] clusters are surrounded by 26 chloride ligands which are then connected via i—a and a—a bridges in a way that voids for Cs⁺ of coordination number 10 are formed.     

Dithiol proteins as guardians of the intracellular redox milieu in parasites: old and new drug targets in trypanosomes and malaria-causing plasmodia

Parasitic diseases such as sleeping sickness, Chagas' heart disease, and malaria are major health problems in poverty-stricken areas. Antiparasitic drugs that are not only active but also affordable and readily available are urgently required. One approach to finding new drugs and rediscovering old ones is based on enzyme inhibitors that paralyze antioxidant systems in the pathogens. These antioxidant ensembles are essential to the parasites as they are attacked in the human host by strong oxidants such as peroxynitrite, hypochlorite, and H2O2. The pathogen-protecting system consists of some 20 thiol and dithiol proteins, which buffer the intraparasitic redox milieu at a potential of -250 mV. In trypanosomes and leishmania the network is centered around the unique dithiol trypanothione (N1,N8-bis(glutathionyl)spermidine). In contrast, malaria parasites have a more conservative dual antioxidative system based on glutathione and thioredoxin. Inhibitors of antioxidant enzymes such as trypanothione reductase are, indeed, parasiticidal but they can also delay or prevent resistance against a number of other antiparasitic drugs.     

Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer

The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increases to 2.1 nm. Order as a function of film thickness depends on the interaction of the polymer with the substrate and free surface. These interactions give rise to a typical correlation length of perturbations in smectic ordering.     

Homologies cyclique et de Hochschild de certains espaces homogènes quantiques

Nous quantifions certaines inclusions d'algèbres de Lie semi-simpleshg. Nous calculons les homologies associées aux quantifications, surC((h)), d'une part des algèbres de fonctions formelles surG/H, pourHG une inclusion de groupes de Lie semi-simples associée, et d'autre part des fonctions algébriques sur SL(2,C)/T.We quantize certain inclusions of semisimple Lie algebrashg. We compute the cyclic and Hochschild homologies for theC((h))-quantizations of

Electron correlation as the driving force for charge transfer: charge migration following ionization in N-methyl acetamide

A hole charge created in a molecule, for instance, by ionization, can migrate through the system solely driven by electron correlation. The migration of a hole charge following ionization in N-methyl acetamide (a molecular system containing a peptide bond) is investigated. The initial hole charge is localized at one specific site of the molecule. Ab initio calculations show that nearly 90% of the hole migrates to a remote site of the molecule in 4.2 fs. This migration of charge is highly efficient and ultrafast. The underlying mechanism for this migration of a hole charge is identified and compared with a simple model.     

Backbone-controlled LUMO energy induces intramolecular C–H activation in ortho-bis-9-borafluorene-substituted phenyl and o-carboranyl compounds leading to novel 9,10-diboraanthracene derivatives

The choice of backbone linker for two ortho-bis-(9-borafluorene)s has a great influence on the LUMO located at the boron centers and, therefore, the reactivity of the respective compounds. Herein, we report the room temperature rearrangement of 1,2-bis-(9-borafluorenyl)-ortho-carborane, C₂B₁₀H₁₀-1,2-[B(C₁₂H₈)]₂ ([2a]) featuring o-carborane as the inorganic three-dimensional backbone and the synthesis of 1,2-bis-(9-borafluorenyl)benzene, C₆H₄-1,2-[B(C₁₂H₈)]₂ (2b), its phenylene analog. DFT calculations on the transition state for the rearrangement support an intramolecular C–H bond activation process via an S_EAr-like mechanism in [2a], and predicted that the same rearrangement would take place in 2b, but at elevated temperatures, which indeed proved to be the case. The rearrangement gives access to 3a and 3b as dibora-benzo[a]fluoroanthene isomers, a form of diboron polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that had yet to be explored. The isolated compounds 2b, 3a, and 3b were fully characterized by NMR, HRMS, cyclic voltammetry (CV), single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and photophysical measurements, supported by DFT and TD-DFT calculations.

The backbone linker for two ortho-bis-(9-borafluorene)s influences the LUMO at the boron centers and the reactivity of the respective compounds.     

Alkene insertion reactivity of a o-carboranyl-substituted 9-borafluorene

The synthesis of 9-borafluorene with an electron-withdrawing o-carboranyl substituent and its reactions with a series of alkenes are described. The o-carboranyl substituent is bonded via one of the cluster carbon atoms to the boron atom of the 9-borafluorene moiety. In all cases, the reactions afford partly saturated analogs of borepins (i.e. 6,7-dihydroborepins) by unprecedented alkene insertion into the endocyclic B–C bond of the borole ring. Comparative studies with 9-bromo-9-borafluorene illustrate the superior insertion reactivity of the carboranyl-substituted derivative. A suite of experimental and computational techniques disclose the unique properties of the 9-borafluorene and provide insight into how the 9-carboranyl substituent affects its chemical reactivity.

A 9-carboranyl-substituted 9-borafluorene is reported, which is capable of undergoing efficient ring expansion to 6,7-dihydroborepins by a previously unknown alkene insertion.     

Lignin and Lignin-Derived Compounds for Wood Applications—A Review

Improving the environmental performance of resins in wood treatment by using renewable chemicals has been a topic of interest for a long time. At the same time, lignin, the second most abundant biomass on earth, is produced in large scale as a side product and mainly used energetically. The use of lignin in wood adhesives or for wood modification has received a lot of scientific attention. Despite this, there are only few lignin-derived wood products commercially available. This review provides a summary of the research on lignin application in wood adhesives, as well as for wood modification. The research on the use of uncleaved lignin and of cleavage products of lignin is reviewed. Finally, the current state of the art of commercialization of lignin-derived wood products is presented.