Stereoselective formation of phenylthio groups substituted 1-metalla-3-titanacyclobutanes

Desulfurizative titanation of group 14 metal compounds bearing two or four bis(phenylthio)methyl groups with the low-valent titanium reagent Cp₂Ti[P(OEt)₃]₂ produced phenylthio groups substituted 1-metalla-3-titanacyclobutanes stereoselectively. The molecular structures of the titanacycles were unambiguously confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

An indium-TMSCl promoted reaction of diphenyl diselenide and diorganyl disulfides with aldehydes: novel routes to selenoacetals, thioacetals and alkyl phenyl selenides

The reactions of diphenyl diselenide and dialkyl disulfides with aldehydes in the presence of In-TMSCl have been investigated. Aliphatic aldehydes provide the corresponding selenoacetals and aromatic aldehydes lead predominantly to benzyl phenyl selenides on reaction with diphenyl diselenide. However, the reaction of dimethyl disulfide and diphenyl disulfide with both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes produce dithioacetals. This provides a novel route to the synthesis of selenoacetals, thioacetals and selenides from aldehydes.     

Synthesis in ionic liquids only: access to α-oxo-γ-thio-esters via Mukaiyama coupling

Ionic liquids are solvents general enough to conduct a multi-step process in organic synthesis. We show that both the preparation of starting materials (thioacetals and enoxysilane) as well as their coupling can be realized in such medium.     

Synthesis of spiroacetals using functionalised titanium carbenoids

Alkylidenation of lactones with functionalised titanium carbenoid reagents (Schrock carbenes) followed by acid-induced cyclisation of the resulting enol ethers constitutes a new method for the preparation of [4.4], [4.5] and [5.5] spiroacetals (1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonanes, 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decanes and 1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecanes, respectively, sometimes termed 5,5-, 5,6- and 6,6-spiroketals). The titanium carbenoids are easily generated from readily available thioacetals.     

A highly selective and ratiometric fluorescence probe for the detection of Hg and pH change based on coumarin in aqueous solution

A simple but highly selective coumarin-based fluorescence probe 1, 8-(1,3-dithiane)-7-hydroxycoumarin was designed and synthesized for both the ratiometric detection of Hg²⁺ and the on–off response to pH change in aqueous solution. The sensor detected Hg²⁺ selectively via Hg²⁺-promoted thioacetal deprotection reaction within five minutes and reflected pH in the range from 7.8 to 11.9 as a result of the equilibrium between weak-fluorescent acid form and strong-fluorescent base form. In addition, the probe has an excellent selectivity towards Hg²⁺ over other competitive metal ions for biomedical and environmental applications. The sensing behavior of our probe was studied by UV–visible absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra.     

Synthesis and Degradation of Vinyl Polymers with Evenly Distributed Thioacetal Bonds in Main Chains: Cationic DT Copolymerization of Vinyl Ethers and Cyclic Thioacetals

We report a novel method to synthesize degradable poly(vinyl ether)s with cleavable thioacetal bonds periodically arranged in the main chains using controlled cationic copolymerization of vinyl ethers with a 7-membered cyclic thioacetal ( 7-CTA ) via degenerative chain transfer (DT) to the internal thioacetal bonds. The thioacetal bonds, which are introduced into the main chain by cationic ring-opening copolymerization of 7-CTA with vinyl ethers, serve as in-chain dormant species to allow homogeneous propagation of vinyl ethers for all internal segments to afford copolymers with controlled overall and segmental molecular weights. The obtained polymers can be degraded into low- and controlled-molecular-weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions via hydrolysis. Various vinyl ethers with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and functional pendants are available. Finally, one-pot synthesis of multiblock copolymers and their degradation into diblock copolymers are also achieved.