Inorganic Sol-Gel Preparation of Medium Sized Microparticles of Li2TiO3 from TiCl4 as Tritium Breeding Material for Fusion Reactors

Microspheres of Li₂TiO₃ were fabricated by a classical, inorganic sol-gel process from commercially available TiCl₄. Elaborated process consists of the following main steps: (1) dissolving of TiCl₄ in concentrated aqueous HCl and addition of LiOH; (2) formation of sol emulsion in 2-ethylhexanol-1 containing the surfactant SPAN-80 (EH); (3) gelation of emulsion drops by extraction of water with partially dehydrated EH; (4) impregnation of gel to Li:Ti molar ratio MR = 2; (5) thermal treatment at 1200°C in order to receive chloride free product. This temperature can be significantly lowered (to 750°C) by dechlorination starting solution TiCl₄ by chemical treatment of the with nitric acid to form of nitrate-stabilized titania sols. Tritium release from sol-gel made Li₂TiO₃ microspheres were found very close to that observed for other traditional materials, however for the first sample process starts slightly earlier.     

Approaching exponential growth with a self-replicating peptide

Self-replicating peptide systems hold great promise for a wide range of technological applications, as well as to address fundamental questions pertaining to the molecular origins of life. The development of self-replicating compounds capable of high efficiency, however, has remained elusive. Here we disclose a successful strategy whereby modulation of coiled-coil stability results in remarkable catalytic efficiency for self-replication. By shortening the peptide to the minimum length necessary for coiled-coil formation a highly efficient self-replicating system was obtained due to very low background reaction rates, bringing the efficiency close to naturally occurring enzymes.     

Formation of (E) 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes from corresponding propargyl ethers; vicarious nucleophilic substitution in alkoxyallenes

Propargyl ethers treated with dimsyl anion in DMSO at 80-100°C undergo terminal methylenation to afford corresponding (E) 1-alkoxy-1,3-butadienes. The reaction proceeds via an alkoxy-allene.     

Supramolecular phthalocyanine dimers based on the secondary dialkylammonium cation/dibenzo-24-crown-8 recognition motif

[formula: see text] New unsymmetrically substituted DB24C8-phthalocyanines, which are able to form complexes with suitable dialkylammonium cations, have been prepared. These complexes most probably have a pseudorotaxane geometry.     

Total synthesis of 3-deoxy and 3,6-dideoxy-dl-hexoses

Synthesis of stereoisomeric 3-deoxy-hexoses 24–27 and 3,6-dideoxy-hexoses 28–31 is reported. Butyl (E)-2,6-dihydroxy-hex-4-enoate (2) was used as the starting material for the synthesis of 3-deoxy-hexoses. For the synthesis of 3,6-dideoxy-hexoses, butyl (E)-2-acetoxy-hex-4-enoate (7) was employed. The synthesis involved the following successive steps: cis or trans hydroxylation of the double bond in 2 or 7, lactonisation of the resulting aldonic acid esters followed by acetylation and chromatographical separation of γ-lactones, reduction of lactones 16–23 to lactols with disiamylborane, and acetylation of lactols to free sugars. All compounds were obtained as pure diastereomers in racemic form.     

Diastereoselective assembling of 21-C-alkylated nickel(II) complexes of inverted porphyrin on a platinum(II) template

Reaction of 21-C-methyl and 21-C-benzyl nickel(II) complexes of inverted meso-tetratolylporphyrin with platinum(II) dichloride or its bis(benzonitrile) complex yields a chloroplatinum(II) species containing two nickel(II) carbaporphyrinoids in a cis arrangement. One of the carbaporphyrinoids coordinates to the platinum ion with the external nitrogen while the other is bound with the external nitrogen and one ortho-carbon of the adjacent meso-aryl ring. The reaction is highly chemoselective. (1)H and (13)C NMR experiments in solution show the diastereoselectivity of the reaction. Single-crystal X-ray data confirm the presence of the diastereomer with opposite configurations of the Ni(II)-coordinated carbons in the subunits of the dimer. Cyclovoltammetric measurements reveal an anodic shift of the nickel(II) oxidation potentials of dimers with respect to those of the parent monomers and two different reduction couples. Reaction of unsubstituted inverted porphyrin with Pt(PhCN)(2)Cl(2) in chlorobenzene yields a monomeric platinum(II) complex of inverted porphyrin. This complex displays a markedly upfield (195)Pt NMR shift compared to tetraphenylporphyrinatoplatinum(II). Under strongly basic conditions deprotonation of the external nitrogen of inverted porphyrin and both electrochemical and chemical oxidation of platinum(II) center are observed.     

Carbazole-Based Colorimetric Anion Sensors

Owing to their strong carbazole chromophore and fluorophore, as well as to their powerful and convergent hydrogen bond donors, 1,8-diaminocarbazoles are amongst the most attractive and synthetically versatile building blocks for the construction of anion receptors, sensors, and transporters. Aiming to develop carbazole-based colorimetric anion sensors, herein we describe the synthesis of 1,8-diaminocarbazoles substituted with strongly electron-withdrawing substituents, i.e., 3,6-dicyano and 3,6-dinitro. Both of these precursors were subsequently converted into model diamide receptors. Anion binding studies revealed that the new receptors exhibited significantly enhanced anion affinities, but also significantly increased acidities. We also found that rear substitution of 1,8-diamidocarbazole with two nitro groups shifted its absorption spectrum into the visible region and converted the receptor into a colorimetric anion sensor. The new sensor displayed vivid color and fluorescence changes upon addition of basic anions in wet dimethyl sulfoxide, but it was poorly selective; because of its enhanced acidity, the dominant receptor-anion interaction for most anions was proton transfer and, accordingly, similar changes in color were observed for all basic anions. The highly acidic and strongly binding receptors developed in this study may be applicable in organocatalysis or in pH-switchable anion transport through lipophilic membranes.     

Helicenophyrins: Expanded Carbaporphyrins Incorporating Aza[5]helicene and Heptacyclic S‐Shaped Aza[5]helicene Motifs

Incorporation of phenanthrene into a hexaphyrin(1.1.1.1.1.0) frame resulted in intramolecular ring fusion, thus giving rise to chiral helicenophyrins. These molecules contain helicene and porphyrin features by incorporating either an aza[5]helicene or heptacyclic S‐shaped aza[5]helicene.