Mesoscale Graphene-like Honeycomb Mono- and Multilayers Constructed via Self-Assembly of Coclusters.

Honeycomb structure endows graphene with extraordinary properties. But could a honeycomb monolayer superlattice also be generated via self-assembly of colloids or nanoparticles? Here we report the construction of mono- and multilayer molecular films with honeycomb structure that can be regarded as self-assembled artificial graphene (SAAG). We construct fan-shaped molecular building blocks by covalently connecting two kinds of clusters, one polyoxometalate and four polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes. The precise shape control enables these complex molecules to self-assemble into a monolayer 2D honeycomb superlattice that mirrors that of graphene but on the mesoscale. The self-assembly of the SAAG was also reproduced via coarse-grained molecular simulations of a fan-shaped building block. It revealed a hierarchical process and the key role of intermediate states in determining the honeycomb structure. Experimental images also show a diversity of bi- and trilayer stacking modes. The successful creation of SAAG and its stacks opens up prospects for the preparation of novel self-assembled nanomaterials with unique properties.

A mild and efficient direct α-amination of ß-dicarbonyl compounds using iodosobenzene and p-toluenesulfonamide catalyzed by perchlorate zinc hexahydrate.

A direct α-amination of ß-dicarbonyl compounds has been achieved by using iodosobenzene (PhIO) as an oxidant and p-toluenesulfonamide (TsNH(2)) as an aminating reagent in the presence of a catalytic amount of perchlorate zinc hexahydrate. The present amination reaction proceeds quickly at rt (<30 min needed for most tested substrates) to provide the corresponding α-N-tosylamido ß-dicarbonyl compounds in high to excellent yields.