Cooperative Catalysis and Activation with N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

N‐Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysis has emerged as a powerful stratagem in organic synthesis to construct complex molecules primarily by polarity reversal (umpolung) approaches. These unique Lewis bases have been used to generate acyl anions, enolates, and homoenolates in catalytic fashion. Recently, a new strategy has emerged that dramatically expands the synthetic utility of carbene catalysis by leveraging additional activation modes: cooperative catalysis. The careful selection and balance of cocatalysts have led to enhanced reactivity, increased yields, and improved stereoselectivity. In certain cases, these catalytic additives have changed the regioselectivity or diastereoselectivity. This Minireview highlights new advances in NHC cooperative catalysis and surveys the evolution of this field.     

Control over the Self‐Assembly Modes of PtII Complexes by Alkyl Chain Variation: From Slipped to Parallel π‐Stacks

We report the self‐assembly of a new family of hydrophobic, bis(pyridyl) Pt^II complexes featuring an extended oligophenyleneethynylene‐derived π‐surface appended with six long (dodecyloxy ( 2 )) or short (methoxy ( 3 )) side groups. Complex 2 , containing dodecyloxy chains, forms fibrous assemblies with a slipped arrangement of the monomer units (d_Pt???Pt≈14 Å) in both nonpolar solvents and the solid state. Dispersion‐corrected PM6 calculations suggest that this organization is driven by cooperative π–π, C?H???Cl and π–Pt interactions, which is supported by EXAFS and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis. In contrast, nearly parallel π‐stacks (d_Pt???Pt≈4.4 Å) stabilized by multiple π–π and C?H???Cl contacts are obtained in the crystalline state for 3 lacking long side chains, as shown by X‐ray analysis and PM6 calculations. Our results reveal not only the key role of alkyl chain length in controlling self‐assembly modes but also show the relevance of Pt‐bound chlorine ligands as new supramolecular synthons.     

Solvent-free direct regioselective ring opening of epoxides with imidazoles

The reaction of different epoxides with commercially available imidazole at 60 °C leads to the formation of the corresponding 1-(β-hydroxyalkyl)imidazoles in a regioselective manner. When the reaction is applied to a chiral epoxide [(R)-styrene oxide], the expected chiral alcohol is isolated with the same enantiomeric excess. The use of benzimidazole as the heterocyclic component in the same process also allows the simple preparation of the corresponding 1-(β-hydroxyalkyl)benzimidazoles.     

Synthesis of 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentane derivatives via intramolecular nucleophilic attack at silicon

Metalation of (HSiMe₂)₃CH with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) in THF gives (HSiMe₂)₃CLi, which reacts with ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, 1,2-epoxy butane, 1,2-epoxy pentane, 1,2-epoxy hexane, and epichlorohydrin to give the corresponding 1-oxa-2-silacyclopentane derivatives. Then, glycidylmethacrylate (GM) random copolymers with styrene (St) (in a 1:1 and 1:3 mol ratio) were synthesized by solution free radical polymerization at 70(±1) °C using α,α′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) (AIBN) as an initiator. Both types of copolymers were treated with (HSiMe₂)₃CLi to give new modified copolymers. The reaction of (HSiMe₂)₃CLi with epoxides on the side chains of the copolymers does not lead to intramolecular nucleophilic attack contrary to simple epoxides. All the products have been characterized by spectroscopic techniques.     

Ion–Water Cooperative Interactions in Aqueous Solutions of MgCl2 by Dielectric Spectroscopy

The dielectric constant of aqueous MgCl₂ solution has been determined in the frequency range 0.2 MHz to 20 GHz at 298 K using the dielectric relaxation spectroscopy method. The behavior is well described according to four Cole-Cole terms whose evolution with composition is analyzed. The static dielectric constant and relaxation times decreases with the increasing aqueous MgCl₂ solution concentrations. Only one H-bonded water cluster with the aqueous MgCl₂ solution relaxes is reported during the cutoff relaxation time. A distinct ion–water cooperative interaction is observed, and water molecules perturbed by ion contribution on dielectric constant beyond the first hydration shell are obtained.     

小组合作学习在“化学化工专业英语”实践教学活动中存在的问题及解决策略

小组合作学习作为一种主动学习模式被引入到化学化工专业英语课程教学活动中,在具体教学实践中往往存在诸如分组随意、参与度低、分工不明确、缺乏有效评价、流于形式等诸多问题。对采用小组合作学习的班级进行问卷调查并分析统计结果,在此基础上提出合理分组、细致分工、适当指导、及时评价等解决方案,以期对小组合作学习实践教学活动提供相应的理论依据和实践基础。     

用DSC研究1,2-丙二醇及其水溶液的协同松弛行为

为了验证基于位形熵的非线性Adam-Gibbs协同松弛模型(AGV)能否用于描述小分子氢键液体的协同松弛行为, 利用差示扫描量热法(DSC)测量了连续升降温条件下1,2-丙二醇及其四种水溶液在115～230 K之间的比热容, 利用曲线拟合技术获得AGV模型参数. 结果表明, AGV模型可以重现体系的实验比热容数据. 1,2-丙二醇表现出与其水溶液明显不同的松弛行为, 但水含量的变化对松弛行为的影响并不明显. 利用AGV方法和Johari方法分别对协同重排活化能(Δμ')和协同重排域(CRR)尺寸(z*)作了分析. 只有选择比聚合物大得多的某一协同重排位形数, 以AGV方法得到的z*才不至于没有物理意义. Johari方法的分析结果表明, T_g温度下1,2-丙二醇的CRR内有约3个分子, 但对应的协同重排位形数(W*)却较聚合物高出很多. Donth的基于热力学温度波动理论的分析表明, 1,2-丙二醇及其水溶液的CRR尺寸随组分的变化趋势可与Δμ'和非指数参数的分析结果相吻合, 但得到的1,2-丙二醇的CRR内有约350个分子, 从而和Johari的分析结果产生巨大差别.     

Organo-Polyoxometalate-Based Hydrogen-Bond Catalysis

Several urea-inserted organo-polyoxometalates (POMs) derived from polyoxotungstovanadate [P₂V₃W₁₅O₆₁]⁹⁻ were prepared. The insertion of the carbonyl into the polyoxometallic framework activates the urea toward Hydrogen-bond catalysis. This was shown on the Friedel-Crafts arylation of trans-β-nitrostyrene. Modelling shows that the most stable form of the organo-POMs features a cis-trans arrangement of the two N−H bonds, but that the likely catalytically active trans-trans form is accessible at room temperature. Finally, it is possible that the oxo substituents next to the vanadium atoms may help the approach of the nucleophile via H-bonding.     

Nucleophilic Activation of Sulfur Hexafluoride by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and N-Heterocyclic Olefins: A Computational Study

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) is considered as a potent greenhouse gas, whose effective degradation is challenging. Here we report a computational study on the nucleophilic activation of sulfur hexafluoride by N-heterocyclic carbenes and N-heterocyclic olefins. The result shows that the activation of SF₆ is both thermodynamically and kinetically favorable at mild condition using NHOs with fluoro-substituted azolium and sulfur pentafluoride anion being formed. The Gibbs free energy barrier during the activation of SF₆ has a linear relationship with the energy of HOMO of substrates, which could be a guideline for applying those compounds that feature higher energy in HOMO to activate SF₆ in high efficiency.