Published papers

Further advances in magnesium ion batteries (MIBs) require the development of electrolyte solutions with highly optimized properties. Here we report the design, synthesis and electrolytic properties of a new family of Mg salts of carba-closo-dodecaborate anions (CCAs). Detailed calculations suggested that modification at the boron vertices, previously considered inappropriate for MIB electrolytes, would be effective. Experimental studies showed that simple halogenation at the 12-B vertex of CCA drastically improves the solubility in low viscosity solvents without compromising the chemical and redox stability, and the ionic conductivity reached 6.2 mS/cm. The synthesized electrolytes showed low overpotential (≤200 mV) for Mg deposition and excellent reversible magnesium deposition/stripping with high Coulombic efficiency (≥95%). This journal is

We have developed a safe, convenient, and inexpensive method for preparation of the widely used oxidizing agent 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one 1-oxide (IBX), by treatment of 2-iodobenzoic acid with aqueous sodium hypochlorite under CO2 at room temperature. As the only by-product is NaCl, this reaction can be utilized for one-pot synthesis of 1,1,1-triacetoxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (Dess-Martin reagent) in excellent yield.

Hypervalent halogen species such as organoiodine(III and V) compounds have long been used as electrophiles/oxidants in organic synthesis, but recent years have seen the emergence of a new class of hypervalent halogen species, organobromine(III) and organochlorine(III) compounds (also termed organo-λ3bromanes and λ3-chloranes). In this review, we will cover recent developments in the synthesis and synthetic applications of functionalized λ3-chloranes.

An unprecedented boron-containing fluorophore, π-extended cis-stilbene, obtained via alkynylboration reaction of alkynamide is reported. Boron-containing π-extended cis-stilbenes emit fluorescence with high quantum yields in the solid state and exhibit aggregation-induced emission enhancement. The broad substrate scope of the alkynylboration reaction offers facile access to electronically diverse structures, enabling fine-tuning of light absorption/emission characteristics. The boron-containing π-extended cis-stilbene with a diphenylamino group displays solvatofluorochromism via an intramolecular charge-transfer transition.

Transition-metal-catalyzed cycloisomerization reactions with skeletal rearrangement of 1,n-enynes to afford cyclic dienes (particularly exo-cyclization products) have been well studied. However, there are few reports on the nonmetal-catalyzed skeletal rearrangement of enynes and skeletal rearrangement of electron-deficient enynes such as n-en-2-ynones. Here, we describe BF3·MeCN-catalyzed synthesis of 3-alkylidenecyclohexenes from 7-en-2-ynones, representing the first nonmetal-catalyzed skeletal rearrangement of 1,6-enynes to endo-type cyclic dienes.

Lolitrems are tremorgenic indole diterpenes that exhibit a unique 5/6 bicyclic system of the indole moiety. Although genetic analysis has indicated that the prenyltransferase LtmE and the cytochrome P450 LtmJ are involved in the construction of this unique structure, the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. Herein, we report the reconstitution of the biosynthetic pathway for lolitrems employing a recently established genome-editing technique for the expression host Aspergillus oryzae. Heterologous expression and bioconversion of the various intermediates revealed that LtmJ catalyzes multistep oxidation to furnish the lolitrem core. We also isolated the key reaction intermediate with an epoxyalcohol moiety. This observation allowed us to establish the mechanism of radical-induced cyclization, which was firmly supported by density functional theory calculations and a model experiment with a synthetic analogue.

An environmentally benign Chennat-type synthesis of 4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl esters was achieved by heating aldehyde, methyl propiolate and an amine salt in water. Excess amine salt accelerated the reaction, while stoichiometric amounts of reagents resulted in lower yield. Various 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) derivatives, some of which would be difficult to synthesize in organic solvents, could be obtained in up to 74 % isolated yield. The reaction utilizes a hydrogen-bonding network with water to accelerate hydroxyl group elimination from the reaction intermediate. Free amine and protons in water might be act as a nucleophile and electrophilic catalyst, respectively.

Sterically hindered three-dimensional (3D) alkyl halides are promising precursors for various reactions; however, they are difficult to synthesize via conventional reactions. We present an efficient and practical method for decarboxylative bromination of sterically hindered 3D aliphatic carboxylic acids using commercially available (diacetoxyiodo)benzene and potassium bromide, one of the most stable and cheapest bromine sources in nature. The present method features a metal-free/Br2-free system, mild reaction conditions, one-pot operation under air at room temperature, wide functional group compatibility, and gram-scale synthetic capability. This highly efficient reaction cleanly converts a broad range of carboxylic acids, the most inexpensive and readily available sources of highly strained/naturally occurring/drug-related scaffolds, into the corresponding alkyl bromides in good to high yields.

Brasilane-type sesquiterpenes have been known for a long time, but their biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms remain elusive. Recently, two groups independently characterized a Trichoderma terpene cyclase that produces trichobrasilenol, a brasilane-type sesquiterpene, and a plausible biosynthetic pathway was proposed based on isotopic labeling experiments. In the proposed mechanism, the characteristic brasilane-type 5/6 bicyclic skeleton is synthesized from a 5/7/3 tricyclic intermediate via a complicated concerted reaction, including six chemical events of C-C σ bond metathesis and rearrangements, ring-contraction, πbond formation, and regioselective hydroxylation. However, our density functional theory (DFT) calculations do not support this mechanism. On the basis of DFT calculations, we propose a new pathway for trichobrasilenol biosynthesis, involving a multistep carbocation cascade in which cyclopropylcarbinyl cations in equilibrium with homoallyl cations play a pivotal role. This pathway and mechanism is in good agreement with previous biosynthetic studies on brasilane-type compounds and related terpenoids, including isotope-labeling experiments and byproducts analysis.

We have developed a versatile, high-yield synthesis of diarylchloroniums/λ3-chloranes through the reaction of various chloroarenes with readily prepared mesityldiazonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate under mild conditions. The scope of the reaction is broad, including ArCl, ArBr, and ArI. The diarylchloroniums/λ3-chloranes prepared here show unique reactivity in various respects, enabling intermolecular electrophilic arylation reaction of weak nucleophiles, and chlorane-halogane exchange reaction.

Bis(amido)argentate (TMP)2Ag(CN)Li2 (3, TMP-Ag-ate; TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidido) was designed as a tool for chemoselective aromatic functionalization via unprecedented directed ortho argentation (DoAg). X-Ray crystallographic analysis showed that 3 takes a structure analogous to that of the corresponding Lipshutz cuprate. DoAg with this TMP-Ag-ate afforded multifunctional aromatics in high yields in processes that exhibited high chemoselectivity and compatibility with a wide range of functional groups. These included organometallics- A nd transition metal-susceptible substituents such as methyl ester, aldehyde, vinyl, iodo, (trifluoromethanesulfonyl)oxy and nitro groups. The arylargentates displayed good reactivity with various electrophiles. Chalcogen (S, Se, and Te) installation and azo coupling reactions also proceeded efficiently.

We achieved the first synthesis of N-alkynylpyridinium salts, by reacting pyridines with alkynyl-λ3-iodanes. The N-alkynylpyridiniums exhibit highly electron-accepting character with extended π-conjugation. The electrophilic alkynyl groups were readily susceptible to Michael addition and 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to afford various N-alkenylpyridiniums. Ring-fused pyridiniums were synthesized through intramolecular cyclization, demonstrating the utility of N-alkynylpyridiniums for the design of various electron-deficient cationic nitrogen-embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with unique optical and electrochemical properties.

1-Boraphenalenes, a class of boron-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbons, were synthesized by nucleophilic diboration reaction of alkynes. Activation of diboron reagents with a highly basic sp2-carbanion results in very fast successive C−B bond formations to construct the boracycle. This methodology is characterized by high chemoselectivity, affording a wide variety of 1-boraphenarenes with diverse polar substituents. The endocyclic boron can be arylated conveniently in one pot, and the peripheral boron is available for various chemical transformations. Highly diastereoselective diboration gives pseudo-enantio-enriched boraphenarene, which emits circularly polarized fluorescence (CPL).

We have developed a one-pot annulation reaction of monocarba-closo-dodecaborate with cyclic diaryliodonium salts to afford biaryl-fused derivatives. Aryl functionalities are introduced at both the 1-carbon and unreactive ortho-boron vertices of the “σ-aromatic” carborane cage without the need for pre-functionalization. DFT calculations revealed that the palladium-catalyzed C−B bond-formation step in this process proceeds through a concerted metalation–deprotonation (CMD)-type pathway for the B−H bond disconnection on the aromatic cage, though such bonds are generally regarded as hydridic.

Hypervalent iodine(III) compounds have emerged as reagents of choice for α-oxidation of various ketones under mild reaction conditions. We report herein a simple method for α-hydroxylation of a β-oxime ester, which involves an oxidative α-acetoxylation using PhI(OAc)2 with a catalytic amount of Sc(OTf)3 or Sc2O3-TMSOTf, followed by careful hydrolysis. The scandium(III) salt serves as an excellent reusable catalyst in this system.

Stannylation of calcium carbide followed by Sn–hypervalent iodine(III) exchange reaction cleanly afforded the electrophilic ethynylating agent ethynyl(phenyl)-λ3-iodane in high yield. This two-step method uses very inexpensive materials and is readily operable without any special precautions.

An S-shaped double helicene-like molecule (>99 % ee), possessing stable helical chirality, has been synthesized by the rhodium(I)/difluorphos complex-catalyzed highly diastereo- and enantioselective intramolecular double [2+2+2] cycloaddition of a 2-naphthol- and benzene-linked hexayne. The collision between two terminal naphthalene rings destabilizes the helical chirality of the S-shaped double helicene-like molecule, but the introduction of two additional fused benzene rings significantly increases the configurational stability. Thus, no epimerization and racemization were observed even at 100 °C. The enantiopure S-shaped double helicene-like molecule forms a trimer through the multiple C-H⋅⋅⋅π and C-H⋅⋅⋅O interactions in the solid-state. The trimers stack to form columnar packing structures, in which neighboring stacks have opposite dipole directions. The accumulation of helical structures in the same direction in the S-shaped double helicene-like molecule enhanced the chiroptical properties.

Diatomic carbon (C2) is historically an elusive chemical species. It has long been believed that the generation of C2 requires extremely high physical energy, such as an electric carbon arc or multiple photon excitation, and so it has been the general consensus that the inherent nature of C2 in the ground state is experimentally inaccessible. Here, we present the chemical synthesis of C2 from a hypervalent alkynyl-λ3-iodane in a flask at room temperature or below, providing experimental evidence to support theoretical predictions that C2 has a singlet biradical character with a quadruple bond, thus settling a long-standing controversy between experimental and theoretical chemists, and that C2 serves as a molecular element in the bottom-up chemical synthesis of nanocarbons such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, and C60.

A practical method for the preparation of (diacetoxyiodo)arene ArI(OAc) 2 is described. The use of commercially available sodium hypochlorite pentahydrate (NaClO·5H 2 O) enabled safe, rapid, and inexpensive oxidation of iodoarenes with electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents. The method allows tandem divergent access to synthetically useful organo-λ 3 -iodanes such as hydroxyl(tosyloxy)iodobenzene, iodosylbenzene, iodonium ylide, etc.