Metal-Free Cyanation of gem-Difluoroalkenes via Azide-Mediated C-C Double Bond Fragmentation.

Activation and cleavage of C-C double bonds are long-standing challenges in synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report an unprecedented azide-mediated C-C double bond fragmentation of gem-difluoroalkenes under mild and metal-free conditions, enabling the efficient synthesis of structurally diverse aromatic nitriles in moderate to good yields. This protocol is also amenable to the cyanation of gem-dichloro and dibromo alkenes. This reaction features simple operation and good functional group compatibility and can be implemented at a gram scale.

Organo-cyanamides: convenient reagents for catalytic amidation of carboxylic acids.

An unprecedented DMAP-catalysed amidation of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids with organo-cyanamides has been developed. Unlike the use of N-cyano-N-phenyl-p-methylbenzenesulfonamide (NCTS) as an electrophilic cyanating reagent, an unusual desulfonylation/decyanation reaction model has been disclosed for the first time. Remarkable features of this reaction include readily available substrates, simple operation and broad scope, enabling the efficient synthesis of structurally diverse amides. The synthetic utility of this protocol was demonstrated by the late-stage amidation of bioactive carboxylic acids and a scale-up reaction.

Porphyrin derivative-based tandem response nanochannels triggered by Zn2+ and NO.

We describe tandem response solid nanochannels tailored with a porphyrin derivative that show Zn2+ and NO gating behaviors with good selectivity, stability, and reversibility. EXAFS and fluorescence experiments showed that zinc coordinated with the porphyrin derivative as the ratio of 1 : 1 with the binding constant for 3.39 × 105 M-1. These studies are beneficial for simulating the physiological functions of ion/gas in organisms and have the potential for designing complicated logic circuits and fabricating novel biosensors.

Rhomboidal Pt(II) Metallacycle-Based Hybrid Viral Nanoparticles for Cell Imaging.

Supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) have emerged as anticancer agents. Tracking the movement of these metallic anticancer agents plays an important role in the field of biomedicines. Herein, we describe a method for tracking the movement of a rhomboidal Pt(II) metallacycle agent using the quantum dots encapsidation in vitro self-assembly system of viral proteins. When incubated with living Vero cells, self-assembly of hybrid viral nanoparticles were employed for simultaneous cell imaging and visual transmission of the Pt(II) metallacycle agent. Considering these results, we believe that the multifunctional biomaterials consisting of a supramolecular coordination complex and quantum dots provide a new alternative for probing of the delivery of Pt(II) metallacycle drugs.