Catalytic oxidative carboncarbon bond cleavage of ketones with dioxygen: assessment of some metal complexes. Some alternatives for preparing α, ω-dicarboxylic acids

Metal-Catalyzed Abiotic Cleavage of C═C Bonds for Effective Fluorescence Imaging of Cu(II) and Fe(III) in Living Systems

Imaging abnormal copper/iron with effective fluorescent tools is essential to comprehensively put insight into many pathological events. However, conventional coordination-based detection is mired in the fluorescence quenching induced by paramagnetic Cu(II)/Fe(III). Moreover, the strong chelating property of the probe will consume dissociative metal ions and inevitably interfere with the physiological microenvironment. Here, a new strategy is developed by employing this aberrant Cu(II)/Fe(III) to catalyze bond cleavage for fluorescent imaging of them. A short series of near-infrared fluorescent molecules (NIRB1-NIRB6) is devised as substrates, wherein the specific C═C bonds can be effectively cleaved to activate red fluorophore by Cu(II)/Fe(III) catalyzing. Representatively, NIRB1 is applied for fluorescent imaging of Cu(II)/Fe(III) in living cells, zebrafish, and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-afflicted mouse brains which is of significance to monitor metal safety. The successful cleavage of C═C bonds catalyzed by Cu(II)/Fe(III) enriches the application of abiotic bond cleavage reactions in metal detection, and may also inspire the development of fluorescent tools for the future diagnosis and therapy of diseases.

Iron-Catalyzed Cyanide-Free Synthesis of Alkyl Nitriles: Oxidative Deconstruction of Cycloalkanones with Ammonium Salts and Aerobic Oxidation

A sustainable, cyanide-free synthesis of alkyl nitriles via the aerobic oxidative deconstruction of unstrained cycloalkanones with ammonium salts has been developed. Using inexpensive and stable ammonium salts as the nitrogen source, a variety of alkyl nitriles containing a distal carbonyl group were obtained in good yields under visible-light-promoted iron catalysis. This protocol is characterized by mild conditions, abundant and environmentally benign materials, and high atom and step economy with minimal waste generation. The primary mechanism study revealed that 1O2 is likely to be involved in this reaction.

Selective C-C Bond Cleavage of Cycloalkanones by NaNO2/HCl

A novel selective fragmentation of cycloalkanones by NaNO₂/HCl has been established. The C-C bond cleavage reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions, selectively affording versatile keto acids or oxime acids. The methodology can streamline the synthesis of valuable chiral molecules and isocoumarins from readily available feedstocks.

Visible Light-Driven, Copper-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Cycloalkanones

A visible light-driven, copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative cleavage of cycloalkanones has been presented. A variety of cycloalkanones with varying ring sizes and various α-substituents reacted well to give the distal keto acids or dicarboxylic acids with moderate to good yields.

Transfer of metals in the liquids of electronic cigarettes

Objectives: E-cigarettes are electronic devices containing a liquid that usually consists of a mixture of glycerol, propylene glycol and nicotine, with or without flavorings, in various concentrations. A vapor or aerosol is produced, and inhaled from the user, when this liquid is heated by a heating coil. This work examines the impact of three parameters (e-liquid composition, nicotine content and air flow) on the transfer of metals' from the heating coils to the e-liquids.Materials and methods: A distillation unit was used, where 20ml of an e-liquid were boiled with two commercial heating elements. Four e-liquids: 100% Propylene Glycol, 100% Glycerol, 50/50% Propylene Glycol/Glycerol, 33.3/33.3/33.3% Propylene Glycol/Glycerol/Water, three nicotine contents: 0, 0.4 and 0.8% per volume and three air flows: 0, 0.5 and 1.0 L/min, were used. The liquids were analyzed by Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry to determine the final content of metals.Results and discussion: Five metals, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb, were found to be transferred from the heating coils to the e-liquids. The transfer of those metals increases with air flow and nicotine concentration, while e-liquid composition also has a significant impact. Glycerol enhances the transfer of metals compared to propylene glycol and their mixtures. The boiling temperature of the e-liquids increases significantly the transfer of metals in the e-liquids.Conclusions: There is a transfer of metals from the heating coils to the e-liquids. This transfer depends on the e-liquid composition and on the boiling temperature.

Anion Effects in Oxidative Aliphatic Carbon-Carbon Bond Cleavage Reactions of Cu(II) Chlorodiketonate Complexes

Aliphatic oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage reactions involving Cu(II) catalysts and O2 as the terminal oxidant are of significant current interest. However, little is currently known regarding how the nature of the Cu(II) catalyst, including the anions present, influence the reaction with O2. In previous work, we found that exposure of the Cu(II) chlorodiketonate complex [(6-Ph2TPA)Cu(PhC(O)CClC(O)Ph)]ClO4 (1) to O2 results in oxidative aliphatic carbon-carbon bond cleavage within the diketonate unit, leading to the formation of benzoic acid, benzoic anhydride, benzil, and 1,3-diphenylpropanedione as organic products. Kinetic studies of this reaction revealed a slow induction phase followed by a rapid decay of the absorption features of 1. Notably, the induction phase is not present when the reaction is performed in the presence of a catalytic amount of chloride anion. In the studies presented herein, a combination of spectroscopic (UV-vis, EPR) and density functional theory (DFT) methods have been used to examine the chloride and benzoate ion binding properties of 1 under anaerobic conditions. These studies provide evidence that each anion coordinates in an axial position of the Cu(II) center. DFT studies reveal that the presence of the anion in the Cu(II) coordination sphere decreases the barrier for O2 activation and the formation of a Cu(II)-peroxo species. Notably, the chloride anion more effectively lowers the barrier associated with O-O bond cleavage. Thus, the nature of the anion plays an important role in determining the rate of reaction of the diketonate complex with O2. The same type of anion effects were observed in the O2 reactivity of the simple Cu(II)-bipyridine complex [(bpy)Cu(PhC(O)C(Cl)C(O)Ph)ClO4] (3).

[Ag6(PMo10V2O40)](CH3COO)·8H2O: A 3D Macrocationic Polyoxometallic Keggin Complex

Silver atoms and strongly interlinking Keggin units ensure the tridimensionnal macrocationic structure of [Ag(6)(PMo(10)V(2)O(40))](CH(3)COO).8H(2)O, which catalyzes O(2)-based oxidation of p-methoxytoluene in acetic acid by air.