Highly efficient near-infrared-emitting lanthanide(III) complexes formed by heterogeneous self-assembly of Ag(I), Ln(III), and thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate in aqueous solution (Ln(III) = Nd(III), Yb(III)).

Heterogeneous self-assembly of thiacalix[4]arene-p-tetrasulfonate (TCAS), Ag(I), and Ln(III) (= Nd(III), Yb(III)) in aqueous solutions conveniently afforded ternary complexes emitting Ln(III)-centered luminescence in the near-infrared (NIR) region. A solution-state study revealed that the Ag(I)-Nd(III)-TCAS system gave a complex Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) in a wide pH range of 6-12. In contrast, the Ag(I)-Yb(III)-TCAS system gave Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2) at a pH of around 6 and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) at a pH of approximately 9.5. The structures of the Yb(III) complexes were proposed based on comparison with known Ag(I)-Tb(III)-TCAS complexes that show the same self-assembly behavior. In Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2), two TCAS ligands sandwiched a cyclic array of a Ag(I)-Ag(I)-Yb(III)-Yb(III) core. In Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2), Yb(III) was accommodated in an O(8) cube consisting of eight phenolate O(-) groups from two TCAS ligands linked by two S-Ag-S linkages. Crystallographic analysis of Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) revealed that the structure was similar to Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) but that it had four instead of two S-Ag-S linkages. The number of water molecules coordinating to Ln(III) (q) estimated on the basis of the luminescent lifetimes was as follows: Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2), 0; Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2), 2.4; and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2), 0. These findings were compatible with the solution-state structures. The luminescent quantum yield (Φ) for Ag(I)(4)·Nd(III)·TCAS(2) was 4.9 × 10(-4), which is the second largest value ever reported in H(2)O. These findings suggest that the O(8) cube is an ideal environment to circumvent deactivation via O-H oscillation of coordinating water. The Φ values for Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)(2)·TCAS(2) and Ag(I)(2)·Yb(III)·TCAS(2) were found to be 3.8 × 10(-4) and 3.3 × 10(-3), respectively, reflecting the q value. Overall, these results indicate that the ternary systems have the potential for a noncovalent strategy via self-assembly of the multidentate ligand, Ln(III), and an auxiliary metal ion to obtain a highly efficient NIR-emissive Ln(III) complex that usually relies on elaborate covalent linkage of a chromophore and multidentate ligands to expel coordinating water.

Unusual bonding in trisilaallene and related heavy allenes.

The synthesis, X-ray and spectroscopic analysis, and unusual bonding and structure among heavy group-14 element congeners of allene (heavy allenes) [R(2)M=M'=MR(2); M = M' = Si (1a), M = Si, M' = Ge (1b), M = Ge, M' = Si (1c), and M = M' = Ge (1d)] are comparatively discussed. Using DFT calculations and PMO theory, the origin of the bent and fluxional skeleton of the heavy allenes is ascribed to the Jahn-Teller distortion associated with the effective pi-sigma* mixing (pi-sigma* distortion). This type of distortion is suggested to be a key concept for qualitative description of the unusual bonding of unsaturated compounds of heavy main-group elements.

Total synthesis and structure revision of the (-)-maduropeptin chromophore.

The proposed structure of the maduropeptin chromophore, the biologically active component of the highly potent chromoprotein antitumor antibiotics, was stereoselectively synthesized but did not satisfy the spectra of the natural product. We demonstrated that the correct structure is diastereomeric, which possesses an antipodal sugar moiety.

Eta3-silapropargyl/alkynylsilyl molybdenum complexes: synthesis, structure, and reactivity toward methanol.

Novel eta(3)-silapropargyl/alkynylsilyl complexes Cp*(CO)(2)Mo(eta(3)-Ph(2)SiCCR) (3a, R = (t)Bu; 3b, R = (i)Pr) were synthesized by the reactions of Cp*(CO)(2)(MeCN)MoMe (1) with alkynylsilanes HPh(2)SiC[triple bond]CR. The structures of 3a and 3b were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The reaction of 3a with MeOH at room temperature gave the stable four-membered metallacycle Cp*(CO)(2)MoC(=CH(t)Bu)SiPh(2)OMe (5a), while the corresponding reaction of 3b led to the formation of the eta(3)-allyl complex Cp*(CO)(2)Mo{eta(3)-(MeOPh(2)Si)HCCHCMe(2)} (7) via Cp*(CO)(2)MoC(=CH(i)Pr)SiPh(2)OMe (5b).

Introduction of clutch function into a molecular gear system by silane-silicate interconversion.

Introduction of the clutch-declutch mechanism into a new gear system, bis(4-methyl-9-triptycyl)difluorosilane 1, is achieved by the reversible attachment of fluoride ion giving the corresponding fluorosilicate 2. Although the phase isomers of 1 (1(dl) and 1(meso)) cannot be separated because of the equilibrium via a slow gear slippage process (DeltaH(double dagger) = 17.2 +/- 0.2 kcal x mol(-1) and DeltaS(double dagger) = 0.9 +/- 0.9 cal x mol(-1) x K(-1)), 1 works as meshed molecular gears in solution at room temperature. On the other hand, silicate 2 in the solid state has quite an unusual TBP structure having two organic triptycyl groups at the apical positions and three electronegative fluorine atoms at the equatorial positions against the Muetterties rule. Rotation of the two triptycyl groups around Si-C bonds in 2 is facile and independent to each other in solution. Silicate 2 is reverted to the corresponding silane mixture by treating with excess water.

8-Nitroguanosines as chemical probes of the protein S-guanylation.

Azido- and fluoro- derivatives of 8-nitroguanosine were developed, and will contribute to the exploration of protein S-guanylation by endogenous nitrated nucleosides.

A missing allene of heavy Group 14 elements: 2-germadisilaallene.

The first stable 2-germadisilaallene was synthesized by the reduction of a 2 ratio 1 mixture of a stable dialkylsilylene and dichlorogermylene-dioxane complex with KC8; the 2-germadisilaallene showed dynamic disorder similar to the corresponding trisilaallene in the solid state.

Intramolecular charge-transfer fluorescence of 1-phenyltridecamethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octasilane.

1-Phenyltridecamethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octasilane (1) is prepared by the reaction of the corresponding 1-chlorotridecamethylbicyclo[2.2.2]octasilane with phenyllithium in the presence of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine and the molecular structure of is determined by X-ray crystallography. Phenyloligosilane shows dual fluorescence even in non-polar hexane though the TICT-like mechanism is not applicable.

Inclusion behavior of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate toward water-miscible organic molecules studied by salting-out and X-ray crystallography.

[reaction: see text] Inclusion ability of thiacalix[4]arenetetrasulfonate (TCAS) toward water-miscible organic molecules such as alcohols, ketones, cyclic ethers, and so on was studied by salting-out of the inclusion complex. NMR spectra of the recovered precipitates showed size selectivity to include the guest molecules. X-ray crystallographic analyses of TCAS salts including acetone and 1,4-dioxane suggested that guests are retained with the aid of cation coordination and H-bonding.

A novel and efficient chiral palladium-phosphinooxazolidine catalyst for the enantioselective Diels-Alder reaction.

An efficient ruthenium-catalyzed transfer dehydrogenation of amines to imines was acheived under mild conditions using 2,6-dimethoxy benzoquinone (2) or cat. 2/MnO2 as oxidant.

'Thiacalix[4]aniline' as a highly specific extractant for Au(III) and Pd(II) ions.

Thiacalix[4]aniline (4), a cyclic tetramer of p-tert-butylaniline bridged with four sulfides, extracted Au(III) and Pd(II) ions specifically from acidic solutions among 41 metal ions including soft metal ions such as Hg(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Cu(II).

Novel and efficient chiral sulfideoxathiane ligands for palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation.

Easily prepared, chiral sulfideoxathiane ligands are described which give excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee) in the Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with a range of alkyl malonate nucleophiles.

Unique inclusion properties of crystalline powder p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene toward alcohols and carboxylic acids.

Powdery crystals of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (2) selectively include EtOH from 1:1 mixtures of MeOH-EtOH and EtOH-PrOH, and EtCO(2)H from HCO(2)H-EtCO(2)H. On the other hand, no acid is included from HCO(2)H-MeCO(2)H, even though MeCO(2)H is included from the neat acid. The origins of these phenomena are discussed based on X-ray analysis of inclusion crystals prepared separately by crystallization.

Ligand dependence of pi-complex character in disilene-palladium complexes.

The synthesis and structures of new 16-electron disilene palladium complexes with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide and phenyldimethylphosphine ligands [L(1)L(2)Pd{(t-BuMe(2)Si)(2)Si=Si(SiMe(2)Bu-t)(2)}, where L(1) = L(2) = PhMe(2)P; L(1) = (cyclohexyl)(3)P, L(2) = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide; L(1) = L(2) = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide] are described. Comparison of the X-ray structural parameters around the disilene moiety among these complexes and related bis(trimethylphosphine)(disilene)palladium and 14-electron (tricyclohexylphosphine)(disilene)palladium revealed that the pi-complex character is sensitive to the residual ligands and increases with decreasing the strength of sigma-donation from the ligands.

Synthesis, structure, and bonding of stable dialkylsilaketenimines.

Stable (N-aryl)- and (N-alkyl)dialkylsilaketenimines R2SiCNR' [R = 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butane-1,4-diyl, R' = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl (2a) and 1-adamantyl (2b)] were synthesized as blue and red crystals by the reactions of isolable dialkylsilylene 3 with 2,6-diisopropylphenyl isocyanide and 1-adamantyl isocyanide. X-ray single-crystal analysis disclosed that molecular structures of 2a and 2b were close to each other and were characterized to be allenic rather than zwitterionic or a silylene-isocyanide complex. The bonding characteristics of silaketenimines are found to be affected strongly by the substituents on silicon and nitrogen atoms. Remarkable red-shift of the pi(Si=C) --> pi*(C=N) band of 2a [lambdamax/nm (epsilon) 647(156)] compared with that of 2b [465 nm (109)] is ascribed to lowering of the pi*(C=N) orbital level due to significant interaction between pi*(C=N) and pi*(N-aryl) orbitals.

Largest discrete supramolecular architecture based on a lanthanide ion: [lanthanum(III)18{N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis(D-alaninate)}18(H2O)36]18+.

The largest discrete octadecameric architecture based on a lanthanide ion has been found in the crystal structure of a La{N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis(D-alaninate)} complex.

Synthesis, properties, and reactions of a series of stable dialkyl-substituted silicon-chalcogen doubly bonded compounds.

The first dialkyl-substituted silicon-chalcogen doubly bonded compounds [R2Si=X; R2=1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butane-1,4-diyl, X = S (4), Se (5), and Te (6)]were synthesized by the reactions of an isolable dialkylsilylene R2Si: (3) with phosphine sulfide, elemental selenium, and elemental tellurium, respectively. Systematic changes of characteristics of silicon-chalcogen double bonds are elucidated by X-ray analysis, UV-vis spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. In the solid state, the unsaturated silicon atom in 4-6 adopts planar geometry and the extent of the shortening of Si=X double bonds from the corresponding Si-X single bonds decreases in the order 4 > 5 > 6. In the absorption spectra of 4-6, pi -->pi* transition bands are observed distinctly in addition to n -->pi* transition bands. Both the n -->pi* and pi -->pi* transitions are red-shifted in the order 4 < 5 < 6, and the difference between the energies of the two transitions is kept almost constant among 4-6. The tendency is explained using the qualitative perturbation theory and is reproduced by the DFT calculations for model silanechalcogenones. Addition reactions of water, methanol, and isoprene to 4-6 are reported.

Chiral discrimination of secondary alcohols by both 1H-NMR and HPLC after labeling with a chiral derivatization reagent, 2-(2,3-anthracenedicarboximide)cyclohexane carboxylic acid.

Enantiomeric discrimination of chiral secondary alcohols was performed by both reversed-phase HPLC and 1H-NMR after labeling with a chiral fluorescent derivatization reagent, 2-(2,3-anthracenedicarboximide)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid. It was possible to discriminate by HPLC the chirality of alcohols up to C30 having a chiral hydroxyl group at the middle of the straight alkyl chain, and, by 1H-NMR, alcohols up to C16. For alcohols having one straight alkyl and one isoalkyl group with the same carbon numbers at both sides of a hydroxyl group, it was possible to discriminate the chiralities of alcohols up to C19 by both 1H-NMR and HPLC. The 1H-NMR methods also made it possible to determine absolute configurations empirically.