Latest ArticlesPolypeptoids have been explored as mimics of polypeptides, owing to polypeptoids' superior stability upon proteolysis. Polypeptoids can be synthesized from one-pot ring-opening polymerization of amino acid N-substituted N-carboxyanhydrides (NNCAs). However, the speed of polymerization of NNCAs can be very slow, especially for NNCAs bearing a bulky N-substitution group. This hindered the exploration on polypeptoids with more diverse structures and functions. Therefore, it is in great need to develop advanced strategies that can accelerate the polymerization on inactive NNCAs. Hereby, we report that lithium/sodium/potassium hexamethyldisilazide (Li/Na/KHMDS) initiates a substantially faster poly-merization on NNCAs than do commonly used amine initiators, especially for NNCAs with bulky N-substitution group. This fast NNCA polymerization will increase the structure diversity and application of polypeptoids as synthetic mimics of polypeptides.
An electron-deficient [CpERhCl2]2 catalyzed annulation of N-pentafluorophenylbenzamides with internal alkynes was successfully established under mild reaction conditions, with the assistance of Lewis acid silver salt. Particularly, electron-deficient benzamide substrates were smoothly transformed into the desired products in this catalytic system. The catalytic system showed a broad tolerance for different substituents on the aromatic rings or aryl, alkyl-substituted alkynes.
The recent electrocatalytic three-component annulation-halosulfonylation of 1, 6-enynes toward 1-indanones is highlighted.
Further enhancement in the energy density of rechargeable lithium batteries calls for high-voltage cathode materials and stable anodes, as well as matched high-voltage electrolytes without compromising the overall property of batteries. Sulfone-based electrolytes have aroused great interest in recent years owing to their wide electrochemical window and high safety. However, significant challenges such as the complexity of synthesis, high melting point (typically above room temperature), high viscosity, and their poor compatibility with graphite-based anodes have drastically impeded their practical applications. In this review, recent progress of sulfone solvents in high energy density rechargeable lithium batteries is summarized theoretically and experimentally. More importantly, general improvement methods of sulfone-based electrolytes, such as adding additives and cosolvents, structural modifications of sulfone, superconcentrated salt strategy are briefly discussed. We expect that this review provides inspiration for the future developments of sulfone-based high-voltage electrolytes (SHVEs) and their widespread applications in high specific energy lithium batteries.
Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) have received wide attention as a new type of clean energy device because of their high energy conversion efficiency, portability, non-toxicity and pollution-free. Anode catalysts are the key factors affecting the performance of DAFCs. Recently studies show that using the optical activity of semiconductor materials as the carriers of traditional precious metal electrocatalysts, under the illumination of light sources, can greatly improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability of electrodes. In this review, the research progress of photo-responsive metal/semiconductor hybrids as the electrocatalysts for DAFCs in recent years is summarized, including: (1) Mechanism and advantages of photo-assistant electrochemical alcohol oxidation reaction, (2) metal/semiconductor electrocatalyst for the different type of fuel cell reactions, (3) different kind of metals in photo-responsive metal/semiconductor hybrid nanostructure, (4) the personal prospects of the photo-responsive metal/semiconductor electrode for future application in DAFCs.
Benzo-21-crown-7 (B21C7) is one of the most important crown ethers, which not only shows excellent physicochemical properties but also exhibits promising binding capability with dialkylammonium salts. In this paper, we designed and synthesized a fixed-tetraphenylethylene (FTPE) motif bridged ditopic benzo-21-crown-7 molecule (H). The fixed tetraphenylethylene motif endows H with aggregation induced emission (AIE) property. In the presence of a ditopic dialkylammonium salt guest molecule (G), a fluorescent supramolecular polymer with golden luminescent property could be fabricated. This B21C7-based host-guest supramolecular polymer with golden fluorescence may have potential application in dynamic luminescent materials.
The asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) of a wide range of ketones catalyzed by manganese complex as well as chiral PxNy-type ligand under mild conditions was investigated. Using 2-propanol as hydrogen source, various ketones could be enantioselectively hydrogenated by combining cheap, readily available [MnBr(CO)5] with chiral, 22-membered macrocyclic ligand (R, R, R', R')-CyP2N4 (L5) with 2 mol% of catalyst loading, affording highly valuable chiral alcohols with up to 95% ee.
A Ru(Ⅱ)-catalyzed para-difluoroalkylation of aromatic aldehydes and ketones with a transient directing group has been developed. It utilizes less expensive ruthenium catalysts and allows facile access to challenging difluoroalkylated aldehydes. The mechanism studies suggest that the distinct coordination mode of ruthenium complex with imine moieties is responsible for para-selectivity.
The precise and real-time sensing of the temperature within the physiological range is of great significance in biology and medicine. Here, a Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF) named Zn-TCOMA is synthesized with good SHG performance due to its unique structure of the ligand and 3D frameworks. By encapsulating the two-photon fluorescent dye DMASE into the pores of Zn-TCOMA, the composite Zn-TCOMA⊃DMASE is obtained and simultaneously exhibits SHG response and two-photon fluorescence. Utilizing the intensity ratio between two-photon fluorescence of DMASE and SHG signal of Zn-TCOMA, Zn-TCOMA⊃DMASE exhibits ratiometric temperature sensing property at physiological temperature region of 20~60 ℃ with high sensitivity. This MOF thermometer also shows excellent repeatability, good biocompatibility, and high temperature resolution of 0.018 ℃, opening a new avenue to develop diverse optical thermometric or thermographic applications in biotechnology or other areas.
Disclosed herein is an efficient Ag-catalyzed [4+1] heteroannulation reaction of enamides with α-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides. The diastereoselective transformation provides a practical access to a diverse range of multi-functionalized oxazoline derivatives. The synthetic utility of the resultant tetra-substituted oxazolines is further demonstrated by a series of useful manipulations into valuable building blocks of pharmaceutical relevance.
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