A novel efficient method for the synthesis of substituted olefins; cross coupling of two different alcohols using NaHSO4/SiO2.

Simple and efficient cross coupling of alcohols was developed in the presence of NaHSO4/SiO2 to give the corresponding substituted olefins. Direct coupling of alcohols and alkenes was also achieved to give substituted olefins. NaHSO4/SiO2 could be recycled 7 times without loss of catalytic activity.

Photobiocatalyzed asymmetric reduction of ketones using Chlorella sp. MK201.

Aromatic ketones were reduced using suspension culture of Chlorella sp. MK201 under fluorescent light illumination producing the corresponding chiral alcohols in high yields with excellent enantiomeric excess (ee). For example, 2',3',4',5',6'-pentafluoroacetophenone at 0.25 mg/ml was converted to the corresponding (S)-alcohol in 80 % yield with >99 % ee by 1 mg dry wt of Chlorella/ml in 12 h illumination (2,000 lux).

Asymmetric synthesis of gamma-hydroxy alpha-enones by 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene-catalyzed stereoselective rearrangement of chiral alpha-sulfinyl enones.

The asymmetric rearrangement of optically active alpha-sulfinyl enone 1 induced by catalytic DBU and triphenylphosphine gave optically active gamma-hydroxy alpha-enone derivatives (up to 99% ee) in good yield following treatment with aqueous hydrogen peroxide.

Non-covalent switch for intramolecular energy transfer.

The axially coordinated complex of phenylazopyridine and a Zn-porphyrin/free-base porphyrin conjugate provides a switch for intramolecular energy transfer, with reversible complexation/decomplexation as a switching protocol.

Synthesis and structural, electrochemical, and optical properties of Ru(II) complexes with azobis(2,2'-bipyridine)s.

Two new ditopic ligands, 5,5"-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (5,5"-azo) and 5,5"-azoxybis(2,2'-bipyridine) (5,5"-azoxy), were prepared by the reduction of nitro precursors. Mononuclear and dinuclear Ru(II) complexes having one of these bridging ligands and 2,2'-bipyridine terminal ligands were also prepared, and their properties were compared with previously reported Ru(II) complexes having 4,4"-azobis(2,2'-bipyridine) (4,4"-azo). The X-ray crystal structure showed that 5,5"-azo adopts the trans conformation and a planar rodlike shape. The X-ray crystal structure of [(bpy)(2)Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4) (Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru) showed that the bridging ligand is in the trans conformation and nearly planar also in the complex and the metal-to-metal distance is 10.0 A. The azo or azoxy ligand in these complexes exhibits reduction processes at less negative potentials than the terminal bpy's due to the low-lying pi level. The electronic absorption spectra for the complexes having 5,5"-azo or 5,5"-azoxy exhibit an extended low-energy metal-to-ligand charge-transfer absorption. The ligands, 5,5"-azo and 5,5"-azoxy, and the mononuclear complex, [(bpy)(2)Ru(5,5"-azo)](2+), isomerize reversibly upon light irradiation. The low-energy MLCT state sensitizes the isomerization of the azo moiety in this complex. While [(bpy)(2)Ru(4,4"-azo)Ru(bpy)(2)](PF(6))(4) exhibits light switch properties, namely, significant electrochromism and a large luminescence enhancement, upon reduction, Ru(5,5"-azo)Ru does not show these properties. The radical anion formation upon reduction of these complexes has been confirmed by ESR spectroscopy.