Efficient Separation of cis‐ and trans‐1,2‐Dichloroethene Isomers by Adaptive Biphen[3]arene Crystals

Reported here is the highly efficient separation of industrially important cis‐ and trans‐1,2‐dichloroethene (cis‐DCE and trans‐DCE) isomers by activated crystalline 2,2′,4,4′‐tetramethoxyl biphen[3]arene (MeBP3) materials, MeBP3α. MeBP3 can be synthesized in excellent yield (99 %), and a cyclic pentamer is also obtained when using 1,2‐dichloroethane as the solvent. The structure of MeBP3 in the CH₃CN@MeBP3 crystal displays a triangle‐shape topology, forming 1D channels through window‐to‐window packing. Desolvated crystalline MeBP3 materials, MeBP3α, preferentially adsorb cis‐DCE vapors over its trans isomer. MeBP3α is able to separate cis‐DCE from a 50:50 (v/v) cis/trans‐isomer mixture, yielding cis‐DCE with a purity of 96.4 % in a single adsorption cycle. Single‐crystal structures and powder X‐ray diffraction patterns indicate that the uptake of cis‐DCE triggers a solid‐state structural transformation of MeBP3, suggesting the adaptivity of MeBP3α materials during the sorption process. Moreover, the separation can be performed over multiple cycles without loss of separation selectivity and capacity.     

Enantioselective Copper‐Catalyzed Intermolecular Amino‐ and Azidocyanation of Alkenes in a Radical Process

Asymmetric copper‐catalyzed intermolecular amino‐ and azidocyanation reactions of alkenes have been developed that proceed via a radical process in which a key benzylic radical intermediate is enantioselectively trapped by a chiral Box/Cu^II cyanide complex. A variety of enantiomerically enriched β‐amino/azido alkylnitriles were efficiently synthesized. The β‐azido alkylnitriles could be converted into a series of highly valuable optically active amine‐based building blocks and bioactive compounds.     

Selective Functionalization of Styrenes with Oxygen Using Different Electrode Materials: Olefin Cleavage and Synthesis of Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives

Electrode materials can have a significant impact on the course of an electrolysis reaction. Of particular interest is that different electrodes can generate different products from the same substrate. The electrode‐material‐selective transformations of styrene derivatives with molecular oxygen are reported. Platinum electrodes afford carbonyl products via cleavage of olefins, whereas tetrahydrofuran formation is achieved with carbon electrodes. A variety of different styrenes are available for both reactions. Electrolysis allows straightforward and mild chemical conversions that are metal‐ and oxidant‐free. Electrochemical measurements illuminate the different effects of platinum and carbon electrodes on styrenes. The key to the differing reactions is probably that the oxidation potentials of the substrates are lower (higher HOMO energy) on carbon electrodes than on platinum electrodes. The adsorption of the substrates on carbon electrodes can also promote tetrahydrofuran formation.