Magnetic dilution effect on the charge transfer phase transition and the ferromagnetic transition for an iron mixed-valence complex, (n-C3H7)4N[FeII1−xZnIIxFeIII(dto)3] (dto = C2O2S2)

Iron mixed-valence complex, (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (dto = C₂O₂S₂) shows a new-type of phase transition coupled with spin and charge around 120 K, where the charge transfer between the Fe^II and Fe^III sites occurs reversibly, and shows the ferromagnetic transition at 7 K. To investigate the magnetic structure and its dimensionality of (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃], we have synthesized a mixed crystal system, (n-C₃H₇)₄N[Fe^II_1?xZn^II_xFe^III(dto)₃], and measured its magnetic properties. In this system, the magnetic moment is reduced with increasing of Zn ratio. Moreover, the ferromagnetic interaction changes to the antiferromagnetic one and the remnant magnetization disappears between x = 0.48 and 0.96, while the charge transfer between the Fe^II and Fe^III sites disappears above x = 0.26. In this paper, we present the magnetic dilution effect on the charge transfer phase transition and the ferromagnetic transition by means of magnetic susceptibility measurement and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of photo-sensitive organic–inorganic hybrid system, (SP)[Fe(II)Fe(III)(dto)3](dto = C2O2S2, SP = spiropyran)

A photo-sensitive organic–inorganic hybrid system (SP)[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (SP = spiropyran, dto = C₂O₂S₂), has recently been developed, where the photo-isomerization of the intercalated spiropyran in solid state triggers the change of the magnetic properties, including the ferromagnetic transition temperature from 5 to 22 K. We performed ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer measurement in order to probe the microscopic states of iron ions in (SP)[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] and have investigated the photo-induced effect on them. The sample without UV-irradiation shows the charge transfer phase transition between 200 and 70 K and the higher and lower temperature phases coexist below 70 K, whereas the UV-irradiated sample does not undergo the charge transfer phase transition and the higher temperature phase is stable between 200 and 6 K.     

Chiral zinc(II) and copper(II)-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reactions of meso-epoxides with aniline and indole derivatives

The ring-opening reactions of meso-epoxides with aniline and indole derivatives proceeded smoothly in water in the presence of Zn(II) and Cu(II) surfactant-type catalysts to afford the corresponding products in moderate to high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities. Opposite enantiomers were obtained by using Sc(III) and Zn(II) or Cu(II) with the same chiral ligand. Crystal structures of these catalysts may explain the reversal of the enantioselectivity. Some reactions were also tested in dichloromethane (DCM), and it was revealed that the reactions proceeded faster in water than in DCM. Finally, several non-linear effect experiments suggested unique structure of these chiral catalysts.     

Relaxation structure analysis of Li inserted γ-Fe2O3

γ-Fe₂O₃ has a spinel structure with cation vacancy and is expected to perform as a favorable electrode material for secondary lithium-ion battery. When lithium is inserted electrochemically into γ-Fe₂O₃, prolonged potential change is observed after the insertion. In this study, we inserted various amount of Li into γ-Fe₂O₃ (x = 0.66, 1.1, 1.5 in terms of Li_XFe₂O₃), then made the circuit open, measured X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns at various elapsed time, and analyzed the crystal structure change of γ-Fe₂O₃ with time by the Rietveld method. The X-ray Rietveld analysis revealed that the iron occupancy of 8a site decreased and that of 16c site increased with lithium insertion process and after lithium insertion, the iron occupancy of 8a site increased and that of 16c site decreased gradually with relaxation time. It is indicated that lithium prefer 8a site to occupy kinetically, on the other hand, prefer 16c site thermodynamically.     

Selective growth of ZnO nanodots prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on focused-ion beam-nanopatterned substrates

Selective formation of ZnO nanodots grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) was achieved on focused-ion beam (FIB)-nanopatterned SiO₂ and Si substrates. The selective formation characteristics, dimension, and density of ZnO nanodots on FIB-nanopatterned substrates strongly depended on the FIB-patterning and MOCVD-growth conditions. The mechanism of the selective formation of ZnO nanodots on FIB-nanopatterned SiO₂ substrates is attributed to a surfactant effect of the implanted Ga which leads to the formation of the preferred nucleation sites for the growth of ZnO nanodots, while that of ZnO nanodots on nanopatterned Si substrates is mainly considered in terms of the generation of surface atomic steps and kinks, which are created by Ga⁺ ion sputtering, on the patterned Si areas.     

Study on the pressure induced charge transfer phase transition in (C5H11)4N(FeFe(C2O2S2)3) by means of μSR spectroscopy

We have investigated the magnetic properties of iron mixed-valence complexes, (n-C_nH_2n+1)₄N[Fe^IIFe^III(dto)₃] (dto = C₂O₂S₂, n = 3, 5), in which not only a ferromagnetic transition but also a novel charge transfer phase transition (CTPT) take place [1]. This CTPT can be observed under ambient pressure for n = 3, while it appears abruptly above 0.5 GPa for n = 5 [2]. Recently, we have measured the muon spin relaxation (μSR) for the CTPT of n = 3, which revealed the dynamical process of electron-transfer between Fe^II and Fe^III and its frequency was estimated at about 0.1 MHz [3]. To investigate the pressure induced CTPT for n = 5, we carried out the μSR measurement for n = 5 at 150 K between 0.30 and 0.64 GPa with the ⁴He gas-operated pressure system. The asymmetry of the muon spin relaxation for n = 5 with Cu-Be pressure cell was almost constant up to 0.55 GPa, while it rapidly decreased with increasing pressure above 0.60 GPa. This result shows that the applied pressure causes the spin fluctuation due to the CTPT, which induces the decrease of the asymmetry of muon spin relaxation. This experiment can correctly decide the phase transition pressure from the absence to the appearance of the CTPT for n = 5.     

Copper-catalyzed γ-selective and stereospecific allylic alkylation of ketene silyl acetals

Copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation of ketene silyl acetals proceeded with excellent γ-E-selectivity. Efficient α-to-γ chirality transfer with anti-selectivity occurred in the reaction of enantioenriched secondary allylic phosphates, affording enantioenriched β-branched γ,δ-unsaturated esters. Excellent functional group compatibility was observed.     

Preparation and Acid‐Responsive Photophysical Properties of T‐Shaped π‐Conjugated Molecules Containing a Benzimidazole Junction

T‐shaped π‐conjugated molecules with an N‐methyl‐benzimidazole junction have been synthesized and their acid‐responsive photophysical properties owing to the change in the π‐conjugation system are discussed. T‐shaped π‐conjugated molecules consist of two orthogonal π‐conjugated systems including a phenyl thiophene extended from the 2‐position and alkyl phenylenes connected through various π‐spacers from the 4,7‐positions of the N‐methyl‐benzimidazole junction. The π‐spacers, such as thiophene, ethyne, and ethane, have an effect on the acid response of photophysical properties in terms of changes in conformation, excited‐state energy and charge‐transfer (CT) characteristics. In particular, the π‐conjugated molecule with ethynyl spacers exhibited a marked redshift in the fluorescence spectrum with a large Stokes shift upon the addition of acid, whereas the other molecules showed substantial quenching. The redshift in emission was studied in detail by temperature‐dependent fluorescence measurements, which indicated the transition to a CT state over the finite activation energy at the excited state. The change in the frontier molecular orbitals upon acid addition was further discussed by means of DFT calculations.     

Total synthesis of siomycin A

We have succeeded in the total synthesis of siomycin A, a representative compound of the thiostrepton family of peptide antibiotics, featuring the one-pot cyclization-elongation of our strategic intermediates and the late-stage formations of the thiazoline and dehydroamino acid moieties.