Palladium/Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Arylation of Terminal Alkenes with Aroyl Hydrazides

An unprecedented oxidative arylation reaction of terminal alkenes with simple aroyl hydrazides has been developed under aerobic conditions for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes. A range of aroyl hydrazides underwent palladium/copper‐catalyzed oxidative Mizoroki–Heck reaction with terminal alkenes open to air in a 1:1 mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile to give structurally diverse 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes in moderate to excellent yields with excellent regio‐ and E‐selectivity. The reaction tolerated a wide variety of functional groups, such as alkoxy, hydroxy, amino, fluoro, chloro, bromo, cyano, nitro, ester, amide, imide, phosphine oxide, and sulfone groups, and, moreover, molecular oxygen and dimethyl sulfoxide were demonstrated to serve as terminal oxidants. This study provides a useful method for the stereoselective synthesis of 1,2‐disubstituted alkenes through direct transformation of the vinylic C?H bonds in terminal alkenes.     

Mechanistic Insights into RNA Transphosphorylation from Kinetic Isotope Effects and Linear Free Energy Relationships of Model Reactions

Phosphoryl transfer reactions are ubiquitous in biology and the understanding of the mechanisms whereby these reactions are catalyzed by protein and RNA enzymes is central to reveal design principles for new therapeutics. Two of the most powerful experimental probes of chemical mechanism involve the analysis of linear free energy relations (LFERs) and the measurement of kinetic isotope effects (KIEs). These experimental data report directly on differences in bonding between the ground state and the rate‐controlling transition state, which is the most critical point along the reaction free energy pathway. However, interpretation of LFER and KIE data in terms of transition‐state structure and bonding optimally requires the use of theoretical models. In this work, we apply density‐functional calculations to determine KIEs for a series of phosphoryl transfer reactions of direct relevance to the 2′‐O‐transphosphorylation that leads to cleavage of the phosphodiester backbone of RNA. We first examine a well‐studied series of phosphate and phosphorothioate mono‐, di‐ and triesters that are useful as mechanistic probes and for which KIEs have been measured. Close agreement is demonstrated between the calculated and measured KIEs, establishing the reliability of our quantum model calculations. Next, we examine a series of RNA transesterification model reactions with a wide range of leaving groups in order to provide a direct connection between observed Brønsted coefficients and KIEs with the structure and bonding in the transition state. These relations can be used for prediction or to aid in the interpretation of experimental data for similar non‐enzymatic and enzymatic reactions. Finally, we apply these relations to RNA phosphoryl transfer catalyzed by ribonuclease A, and demonstrate the reaction coordinate–KIE correlation is reasonably preserved. A prediction of the secondary deuterium KIE in this reaction is also provided. These results demonstrate the utility of building up knowledge of mechanism through the systematic study of model systems to provide insight into more complex biological systems such as phosphoryl transfer enzymes and ribozymes.     

Highly Curved Bowl‐Shaped Fragments of Fullerenes: Synthesis,Structural Analysis,and Physical Properties

Highly curved buckybowls 3 , 4 , and 5 were synthesized from planar precursors, fluoranthenes 8 , benzo[k]fluoranthenes 10 and naphtho[1,2‐k]‐cyclopenta[cd]fluoranthenes 12 , respectively, using straightforward palladium‐catalyzed cyclization reactions. These fluoranthene‐based starting materials were easily prepared from 1,8‐bis(arylethynyl)naphthalenes 6 . Both buckybowls 3 and 4 are fragments of C₆₀, whereas 5 is a unique subunit of C₇₀. The curved structures were identified by X‐ray crystallography, and they are deep bowls. The maximum π‐orbital axis vector (POAV) pyramidalization angle in both 3 and 4 is 12.8°. Such a high curvature is very rarely obtained. Buckybowls 5 are less curved than the others because they have a lower density of five‐membered rings, analogous to the tube portion of C₇₀. Cyclopentaannulation increases the bowl depths of 3 and 4 , but not the maximum POAV pyramidalization angle. Among the eight buckybowls studied herein, five form polar crystals. The bowl‐to‐bowl inversion dynamics of these buckybowls can be classified into two types; one has a planar transition structure, whereas the other has an S‐shaped transition structure. A larger longitudinal length of these buckybowls corresponds to a stronger preference for the latter. The photophysical properties of these buckybowls were examined and compared with those of C₆₀ and C₇₀. Buckybowls 5 have absorption bands at wavelengths greater than 450 nm, which are similar to those of C₇₀. The chiral resolution of the mono‐substituted buckybowl 4 ac was also studied by using HPLC with a chiral column.     

Highly Enantioselective Catalytic System for Asymmetric Copolymerization of Carbon Dioxide and Cyclohexene Oxide

A new ligand can be easily prepared, and its intramolecular dinuclear zinc complexes act as a high performance catalyst for the asymmetric alternating copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and CO₂ under very mild conditions (1 atm CO₂, room temperature), affording completely alternating polycarbonates with up to 93.8 % enantiomeric excess (ee) and 98 % yield. A high M_n value of 28 600 and a relatively narrow polydispersity (M_w/M_n ratio) of 1.43 were also achieved.     

新型复合共沉淀法制备高能量/高功率型锂离子二次电池用5V正极材料LiNi_(0.5)Mn_(1.5)O_4及其电化学性能

在传统的固相法的基础上开发了新型复合共沉淀法制备LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4材料.新型复合共沉淀法采用(NH4)2CO3和(NH4)2C2O4共同作为沉淀剂,通过控制共沉淀反应条件,得到了具有均匀球形形貌的沉淀物颗粒.再通过与饱和氢氧化锂溶液的水热反应及高温反应,最终制备出具有球形次级形貌和纯相尖晶石结构的LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4材料.电化学测试表明,制备的LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4具有优异的电化学性能,其初始容量达到了141.4mAh·g-1.在0.3C、1C和3C倍率下经过200次循环后的容量分别为136.0 mAh·g-1(96.3%)、128.6 mAh·g-1(94.4%)和113.9 mAh·g-1(91.1%).通过高温反应及特殊的冷却处理,LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4在4.0 V低压区平台的容量损失得到了有效抑制.更重要的是,通过控制合成过程中的关键步骤,可实现半定量化控制材料结构中的原子有序排布程度,进而得到具有高能量密度和高功率密度的两种LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4材料,其能量密度和功率密度分别达到了648.6 mWh·g-1和7000 mW·g-1以上.     

A Borinic Acid Polymer with Fluoride Ion‐ and Thermo‐responsive Properties that are Tunable over a Wide Temperature Range

A new type of smart borinic acid polymer with luminescence and multiple stimuli‐responsive properties is reported. In DMSO with small amounts of water, the homopolymer PBA shows a tunable upper critical solution temperature (UCST). As the amount of water increases from 0 to 2.5 % (v/v), the UCST rises linearly from 20 °C to 100 °C (boiling point of water). Thus, the thermal responsive behavior can be tuned over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, polymer solutions in DMSO show a reversible response to fluoride ions, which can be correlated to the presence of the Lewis acidic borinic acid groups. Upon addition of fluoride, the polymer becomes soluble because the functional R₂BOH groups are converted into ionic [R₂BF₂]^? groups, but turns insoluble again upon addition of H₂O, which reverses this process.     

Exceedingly Fast Copper(II)‐Promoted ortho CH Trifluoromethylation of Arenes using TMSCF3

The direct ortho‐trifluoromethylation of arenes, including heteroarenes, with TMSCF₃ has been accomplished by a copper(II)‐promoted C? H activation reaction which completes within 30 minutes. Mechanistic investigations are consistent with the involvement of C? H activation, rather than a simple electrophilic aromatic substitution (S_EAr), as the key step.     

Synthesis of Two‐Dimensional Transition‐Metal Phosphates with Highly Ordered Mesoporous Structures for Lithium‐Ion Battery Applications

Materials with ordered mesoporous structures have shown great potential in a wide range of applications. In particular, the combination of mesoporosity, low dimensionality, and well‐defined morphology in nanostructures may exhibit even more attractive features. However, the synthesis of such structures is still challenging in polar solvents. Herein, we report the preparation of ultrathin two‐dimensional (2D) nanoflakes of transition‐metal phosphates, including FePO₄, Mn₃(PO₄)₂, and Co₃(PO₄)₂, with highly ordered mesoporous structures in a nonpolar solvent. The as‐obtained nanoflakes with thicknesses of about 3.7 nm are constructed from a single layer of parallel‐packed pore channels. These uniquely ordered mesoporous 2D nanostructures may originate from the 2D assembly of cylindrical micelles formed by the amphiphilic precursors in the nonpolar solvent. The 2D mesoporous FePO₄ nanoflakes were used as the cathode for a lithium‐ion battery, which exhibits excellent stability and high rate capabilities.     

Construction of a Live‐Attenuated HIV‐1 Vaccine through Genetic Code Expansion

A safe and effective vaccine against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) is urgently needed to combat the worldwide AIDS pandemic, but still remains elusive. The fact that uncontrolled replication of an attenuated vaccine can lead to regaining of its virulence creates safety concerns precluding many vaccines from clinical application. We introduce a novel approach to control HIV‐1 replication, which entails the manipulation of essential HIV‐1 protein biosynthesis through unnatural amino acid (UAA*)‐mediated suppression of genome‐encoded blank codon. We successfully demonstrate that HIV‐1 replication can be precisely turned on and off in vitro.     

Highly Enantioselective Kinetic Resolution of Axially Chiral BINAM Derivatives Catalyzed by a Brønsted Acid

A highly efficient strategy for the kinetic resolution of axially chiral BINAM derivatives involving a chiral Brønsted acid‐catalyzed imine formation and transfer hydrogenation cascade process was developed. The kinetic resolution provides a convenient route to chiral BINAM derivatives in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities.