Iridium Complex-Catalyzed C2-Extension of Primary Alcohols with Ethanol via a Hydrogen Autotransfer Reaction.

The development of a C2-extension of primary alcohols with ethanol as the C2 source and catalysis by [Cp*IrCl2]2 (where Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadiene) is described. This new extension system was used for a range of benzylic alcohol substrates and for aliphatic alcohols with ethanol as an alkyl reagent to generate the corresponding C2-extended linear alcohols. Mechanistic studies of the reaction by means of intermediates and deuterium labeling experiments suggest the reaction is based on hydrogen autotransfer.

Catalytic Amplification of Electrochemical Signal in Homogeneous Solution Using an Entropy-driven DNA Circuit.

The electrochemical signal from ferrocene on a DNA probe was successfully modulated in a homogeneous solution by the template-directed formation and dissociation of an inclusion complex with ß-cyclodextrin on another probe. The electrochemical response was amplified by combining with a DNA circuit, in which the target DNA served as a catalyst. This system did not require any modification of a complementary DNA with the ferrocene-modified probe on the electrode surface to separate the bound/free probe for the detection of 200 nM target DNA.