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Contents list for Chemical Communications, issue 47, 2008
Front cover
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6249
DOI: 10.1039/b819949n
Contents and Chemical Science
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6251
DOI: 10.1039/b819951p
Feature Article
Reactions over catalysts confined in carbon nanotubes
Xiulian Pan and Xinhe Bao,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6271
DOI: 10.1039/b810994j
Carbon nanotubes provide an intriguing confinement environment for catalysis due to their well defined nanochannel morphology and unique electron structure with deformed sp2 hybridization.
Communications
The doping effect of fluorinated aromatic hydrocarbon solvents on the performance of common olefin metathesis catalysts: application in the preparation of biologically active compounds
Cezary Samoj
owicz, Micha Bieniek, Andrzej Zarecki, Renat Kadyrov and Karol Grela,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6282
DOI: 10.1039/b816567j
Enhanced HTML article available
Aromatic fluorinated solvents allow higher yields to be obtained in the olefin metathesis of challenging substrates, including natural and biologically active compounds.
Synthesis and structural characterisation of a soluble, metastable indium(I) halide complex, [InBr(tmeda)]
Shaun P. Green, Cameron Jones and Andreas Stasch,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6285
DOI: 10.1039/b814658f
The first example of a structurally characterised indium(I) halide complex, [InBr(tmeda)], has been prepared by the dissolution of InBr in a tmeda–toluene mixture. The metastable compound decomposes to either InBr or [In2Br4(tmeda)2] in solution.
Reversible colorimetric ion sensors based on surface initiated polymerization of photochromic polymers
Kristen Fries, Satyabrata Samanta, Sara Orski and Jason Locklin,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6288
DOI: 10.1039/b818042c
The authors have synthesized spiropyran-containing polymer brushes for use as reversible, photoswitchable optical sensors that show selectivity for different metal ions. Different metal complexation was also used to create surfaces with drastic changes in wettability.
A cavitand with a fluorous rim acts as an amine receptor
Richard J. Hooley, Per Restorp and Julius Rebek Jr,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6291
DOI: 10.1039/b814069c Enhanced HTML article available
A deep cavitand presents two domains for the control of guest binding. The combination provides selectivity for amines and small guests that other self-folding cavitands cannot.
Wet-chemical approach for the halogenation of hydrogenated boron-doped diamond electrodes
Mei Wang, Manash R. Das, Vera G. Praig, Francois LeNormand, Musen Li, Rabah Boukherroub and Sabine Szunerits,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6294
DOI: 10.1039/b810975c
Brominated and chlorinated boron-doped diamond electrodes are prepared in a controlled way through a radical substitution reaction using N-halogenosuccinimide in the presence of benzoyl peroxide.
Preparation of active and robust palladium nanoparticle catalysts stabilized by diamine-functionalized mesoporous polymers
Rong Xing, Yueming Liu, Haihong Wu, Xiaohong Li, Mingyuan He and Peng Wu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6297
DOI: 10.1039/b815186e
Animo group-functionalized mesoporous phenolic resins capture effectively the anionic palladium species which form highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles (NPs) confined inside the mesopores after reduction; the Pd NPs serve as efficient and reusable catalysts for Heck reaction and alkene hydrogenation.
One-phase synthesis of small gold nanoparticles coated by a horizontal porphyrin monolayer
Junya Ohyama, Yutaka Hitomi, Yasuhiro Higuchi, Masashi Shinagawa, Hidefumi Mukai, Masahito Kodera, Kentaro Teramura, Tetsuya Shishido and Tsunehiro Tanaka,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6300
DOI: 10.1039/b815100h Enhanced HTML article available
A porphyrin-cored tetradentate passivant gives horizontal porphyrin monolayer-coated gold nanoparticles, whose particle size is smaller than those made using monodentate passivants under identical conditions.
An aggregation-induced blue shift of emission and the self-assembly of nanoparticles from a novel amphiphilic oligofluorene
Linna Zhu, Chuluo Yang and Jingui Qin,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6303
DOI: 10.1039/b815431g
An aggregation-induced blue shift of emission was observed from a novel amphiphilic trifluorene, and tentatively attributed to a similar TICT mechanism. Its optical properties and self-assembly behaviors are presented.
Rapid screening of atom transfer radical polymerization catalysts by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Fabio di Lena and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6306
DOI: 10.1039/b813466a
An ESI-MS-based strategy provides an effective tool for the rapid assay of ATRP catalyst performance without prior polymerization experiments, using only a few milligrams of compounds, and with no reaction workup necessary.
Adding to the confusion! Synthesis and metalation of pyrazole analogues of the porphyrins
Timothy D. Lash, Alexandra M. Young, Amber L. Von Ruden and Gregory M. Ferrence,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6309
DOI: 10.1039/b816057k Enhanced HTML article available
N-substituted pyrazole dialdehydes are shown to react with a tripyrrane under 
3 + 1
conditions to give aza-analogues of the N-confused porphyrins; these novel porphyrinoids show borderline aromatic properties and readily afford organometallic derivatives (M = Ni or Pd).
Palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling of aromatic acids with aryl halides or unactivated arenes using microwave heating
Adelina Voutchkova, Abigail Coplin, Nicholas E. Leadbeater and Robert H. Crabtree,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6312
DOI: 10.1039/b813998a
An efficient microwave-assisted protocol for decarboxylative couplings of aromatic acids to either aryl iodides or simple arenes is described.
Asymmetric organocatalytic Michael addition of ketones to vinyl sulfone
Qiang Zhu, Lili Cheng and Yixin Lu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6315
DOI: 10.1039/b816307c Enhanced HTML article available
Organocatalytic Michael addition of ketones to vinyl sulfone catalyzed by a cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amine is reported for the first time. Excellent enantioselectivities (88–97% ee) were achieved, and the methodology was applied to the synthesis of sodium cyclamate.
The synthesis and applications of a micro-pine-structured nanocatalyst
Vivek Polshettiwar, Mallikarjuna N. Nadagouda and Rajender S. Varma,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6318
DOI: 10.1039/b814715a Enhanced HTML article available
Dendritic nanoferrites with a micro-pine morphology have been synthesized for the first time under microwave irradiation conditions without using any reducing or capping reagent; the nanoferrites were then functionalized and coated with Pd metal, which catalyzes various organic transformations.
meso-Octamethylcalix[4]pyrrole: an old yet new transmembrane ion-pair transporter
Christine C. Tong, Roberto Quesada, Jonathan L. Sessler and Philip A. Gale,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6321
DOI: 10.1039/b814988g Enhanced HTML article available
The first example of lipid bilayer membrane transport of a salt by a calix[4]pyrrole is reported.
Polyaniline hollow fibres for organic solvent nanofiltration
Xun Xing Loh, Malladi Sairam, Joachim Hans Georg Steinke, Andrew Guy Livingston, Alexander Bismarck and Kang Li,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6324
DOI: 10.1039/b815632h
Intrinsically-skinned asymmetric PANi hollow fibres, fabricated using a process of directly adding large organic acids to PANi solutions, show stability in a wide variety of organic solvents and have shown promising nanofiltration properties, giving high rejections of nanosolutes in acetone.
Secure route to the epoxybicyclo[7.3.0]dodecadienediyne core of the kedarcidin chromophore
Kouki Ogawa, Yasuhito Koyama, Isao Ohashi, Itaru Sato and Masahiro Hirama,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6327
DOI: 10.1039/b814595d Enhanced HTML article available
The construction of the epoxybicyclo[7.3.0]dodecadienediyne core of the kedarcidin chromophore was realized via highly chemoselective reductive olefination in the presence of the epoxide.
Caesium fluoride-promoted Stille coupling reaction: an efficient synthesis of 9Z-retinoic acid and its analogues using a practical building block
Takashi Okitsu, Kinya Iwatsuka and Akimori Wada,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6330
DOI: 10.1039/b813760a Enhanced HTML article available
A highly efficient and rapid total synthesis of 9Z-retinoic acid was accomplished by CsF-promoted Stille coupling reaction. Using a common building block, their analogues were also prepared without isomerisation of the Z-double bond.
Highly efficient copper-catalyzed cascade synthesis of quinazoline and quinazolinone derivatives
Cheng Huang, Yuan Fu, Hua Fu, Yuyang Jiang and Yufen Zhao,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6333
DOI: 10.1039/b814011a Enhanced HTML article available
We have developed a general and highly efficient copper-catalyzed method for synthesis of quinazoline and quinazolinone derivatives via cascade reactions of amidines with substituted 2-halobenzaldehydes, 2-halophenylketones, or methyl 2-halobenzoates.
Sonochemical synthesis of MOF-5
Won-Jin Son, Jun Kim, Jaheon Kim and Wha-Seung Ahn,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6336
DOI: 10.1039/b814740j
High quality MOF-5 crystals of 5–25 
m in size were prepared for the first time using a sonochemical method in substantially reduced synthesis time (ca. 30 min) compared with conventional solvothermal synthesis (24 h).
Highly sensitive and selective Pd2+ sensor of naphthalimide derivative based on complexation with alkynes and thio-heterocycle
Liping Duan, Yufang Xu and Xuhong Qian,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6339
DOI: 10.1039/b815298e Enhanced HTML article available
N-butyl-4-(p-methyloxy)-phenylethynyl-5-thiophenemethylamino-1,8-naphthalimide ( 1) showed highly selective on–off fluorescence and chromogenic changes for Pd2+ in buffer solution.
Direct observation of space charge induced hydrogen ion insertion in nanoscale anatase TiO2
Wing K. Chan, Wouter J. H. Borghols and Fokko M. Mulder,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6342
DOI: 10.1039/b812311j
Nanoscale TiO2 in an acidic environment shows significant hydrogen densities induced by space charge effects, as is observed by neutron diffraction. Modelling reproduces the hydrogen position and reveals that, consistent with experimental results in fuel cells, these ions show rapid self diffusion.
A protein-supported fluorescent reagent for the highly-sensitive and selective detection of mercury ions in aqueous solution and live cells
Li-Jun Ma, Yue Li, Lei Li, Jian Sun, Chunjuan Tian and Yuqing Wu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6345
DOI: 10.1039/b815281k Enhanced HTML article available
Hg2+ strongly quenched sodium dansyl-L-aspartic acid ( 1) in aqueous solution, while in the presence of BSA it induced both blue shift and enhancement of the fluorescence emission of 1, supplying a highly-sensitive and selective detection of Hg2+ in aqueous solution and in live cells.
Novel three-dimensional 3d–4f microporous magnets exhibiting selective gas adsorption behavior
Cui-Jin Li, Zhuo-jia Lin, Meng-Xia Peng, Ji-Dong Leng, Ming-Mei Yang and Ming-Liang Tong,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6348
DOI: 10.1039/b815024a
Three stable 3D Ln-Co microporous magnets having hydrophilic channels that exhibit a size-selective adsorption ability for H2 over N2 and CO2 over N2 were obtained from hydrothermal reactions of Ln(NO3)3·6H2O (Ln = Sm, Eu and Gd), Co(NO3)2·6H2O and H3pyta.
Construction of polyrotaxanes via reversible chain exchange between acylhydrazone bonds
Yi Jiang, Jieli Wu, Lin He, Chunlai Tu, Xinyuan Zhu, Qun Chen, Yefeng Yao and Deyue Yan,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6351
DOI: 10.1039/b816395b
Polyrotaxanes form spontaneously via chain exchange between reversible covalent bonds, by simply heating mixtures of 
-cyclodextrins and dumbbell-like poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives at 120 °C.
Catalytic direct-type substitution reaction of -alkyl enolates: a Pd/Brřnsted base-catalysed approach to the decarboxylative allylation of sulfonylimidates
S. B. Jennifer Kan, Ryosuke Matsubara, Florian Berthiol and Sh
Kobayashi,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6354
DOI: 10.1039/b815845b Enhanced HTML article available
A mild and efficient process for the direct-type catalytic allylation of sulfonylimidates has been developed. This reaction represents the first example of Brřnsted base-catalysed, in situ generation and use of -alkyl enolates in substitution reactions.
In-source photocatalytic reduction of disulfide bonds during laser desorption ionization
Liang Qiao, Hongyan Bi, Jean-Marc Busnel, Baohong Liu and Hubert H. Girault,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6357
DOI: 10.1039/b813283f
A photosensitive plate based on TiO2 nanoparticles has been developed to carry out photo-induced reductions using glucose as a hole scavenger during laser desorption ionization process, where in-source cleavage of disulfide bridges is employed to demonstrate the concept.
Rhenium- and manganese-catalyzed insertion of acetylenes into 
-keto esters: synthesis of 2-pyranones
Yoichiro Kuninobu, Atsushi Kawata, Mitsumi Nishi, Hisatsugu Takata and Kazuhiko Takai,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6360
DOI: 10.1039/b814694b Enhanced HTML article available
Rhenium- and manganese-catalyzed reactions between -keto esters and acetylenes, followed by treatment with tetrabutylammonium fluoride, gave 2-pyranone derivatives regioselectively.
Catalytic aziridination of electron-deficient olefins with an N-chloro-N-sodio carbamate and application of this novel method to asymmetric synthesis
Satoshi Minakata, Yuta Murakami, Ryoji Tsuruoka, Shinsuke Kitanaka and Mitsuo Komatsu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6363
DOI: 10.1039/b812978a Enhanced HTML article available
A new method for the aziridination of electron-deficient olefins using an N-chloro-N-sodio carbamate is described. The reaction was promoted by phase-transfer catalysis and afforded aziridines from ,-unsaturated ketones, esters, sulfones and amides. This process was applied to asymmetric synthesis using Cinchona alkaloid derivatives as catalysts.
From branched self-assemblies to branched mesoporous silica nanoribbons
Baozong Li, Yuanli Chen, Huanyu Zhao, Xianfeng Pei, Lifeng Bi, Kenji Hanabusa and Yonggang Yang,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6366
DOI: 10.1039/b812016a
Branched left-handed twisted mesoporous silica nanoribbons were prepared via a template method.
Versatile one-step introduction of multiple hydrogen-bonding sites onto extended 
-conjugated systems
Fu-Chuan Fang, Cheng-Che Chu, Chih-Hao Huang, Guillaume Raffy, André Del Guerzo, Ken-Tsung Wong and Dario M. Bassani,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6369
DOI: 10.1039/b813704h Enhanced HTML article available
A new synthon allows the one-step introduction of biuret hydrogen-bonding units onto -conjugated structures, affording materials that display interpenetrated networks in which energy transfer is highly efficient.
Solvothermal synthesis of N-doped TiO2 nanotubes for visible-light-responsive photocatalysis
Zheng Jiang, Fan Yang, Nianjun Luo, Bryan T. T. Chu, Deyin Sun, Huahong Shi, Tiancun Xiao and Peter P. Edwards,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6372
DOI: 10.1039/b815430a
Thermally stable and visible-light-responsive N-doped TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized via a low-temperature solvothermal treatment of protonated titanate nanotubes in NH4Cl/ethanol/water solution, and subsequent calcination.
Mixed antimonate-phosphonate ligands as polydentate bridging oxygen donors
Shoaib Ali, Viswanathan Baskar, Christopher A. Muryn and Richard E. P. Winpenny,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6375
DOI: 10.1039/b815270e
The synthesis of two new Sbx–O–Py pro-ligands are described; both pro-ligands react with cobalt acetate to give new polymetallic cage complexes, for example the {Co4} butterfly shown.
Post-assembly error-checking in subphthalocyanine based M3L2 metallosupramolecular capsules
Christian G. Claessens, M. Jesús Vicente-Arana and Tomás Torres,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6378
DOI: 10.1039/b815898c
A kinetic mixture of self-assembled subphthalocyanine-based capsules was shown to gradually reorganize into its more stable symmetrical components by electrospray mass spectrometry.
A snapshot of a coordination polymer self-assembly process: the crystallization of a metastable 3D network followed by the spontaneous transformation in water to a 2D pseudopolymorphic phase
Thierry Bataille, Ferdinando Costantino, Andrea Ienco, Annalisa Guerri, Fabio Marmottini and Stefano Midollini,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6381
DOI: 10.1039/b813222d
A metastable Cu(II) 3D hybrid with 4,4
-bipy and pc2p2- undergoes a spontaneous, quantitative transformation to a stable 2D polymorphic species either in water or after thermal dehydration followed by hydration.
Photochemistry and photophysics of the tetrahedral silver(I) complex with diphosphine ligands: [Ag(dppb)2]PF6 (dppb = 1, 2-bis[diphenylphosphino]benzene)
Masahisa Osawa and Mikio Hoshino,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6384
DOI: 10.1039/b813844c
The photophysical and photochemical properties of [Ag(dppb)2]PF6 having a tetrahedral coordination geometry have been described.
Efficient mono- and bis-functionalization of 3,6-dichloropyridazine using (tmp)2Zn·2MgCl2·2LiCl
Stefan Wunderlich and Paul Knochel,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6387
DOI: 10.1039/b815903c
3,6-Dichloropyridazine undergoes a smooth metallation using (tmp)2Zn·2MgCl2·2LiCl. The resulting bis-organozinc species react with various electrophiles providing the desired products in good to excellent yields. Subsequent functionalization via a second metallation proceeds readily.
A template-free nano-wrapping technique for the fabrication of copper hollow nanospheres smaller than 20 nm
Frank Leung-Yuk Lam, Tommy Chi-Yan Martin and Xijun Hu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6390
DOI: 10.1039/b812651h
A new template-free 
nano-wrapping
method has been developed for the fabrication of copper hollow nanospheres with the smallest size of around 15 nm and its significance is highlighted to its composition tunability of the metal encapsulated inside the copper nanoshell.
Evaluation of aspirin metabolites as inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor hydroxylases
Benoit M. Lienard, Ana Conejo-García, Ineke Stolze, Christoph Loenarz, Neil J. Oldham, Peter J. Ratcliffe and Christopher J. Schofield,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6393
DOI: 10.1039/b814440k Enhanced HTML article available
Known and potential aspirin metabolites were evaluated as inhibitors of oxygen-sensing hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) hydroxylases; some of the metabolites were found to stabilise HIF- in cells.
Direct coupling of alcohols with alkenylsilanes catalyzed by indium trichloride or bismuth tribromide
Yoshihiro Nishimoto, Masayuki Kajioka, Takahiro Saito, Makoto Yasuda and Akio Baba,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6396
DOI: 10.1039/b816072d
Indium halides or bismuth halides catalyzed the coupling of various alcohols with alkenylsilanes to give the corresponding alkenes stereospecifically without any other activators.
Chiral recognition of -phenylethylamine by sucrose-based macrocyclic receptors
Bartosz Lewandowski and Slawomir Jarosz,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6399
DOI: 10.1039/b816476b Enhanced HTML article available
Sucrose-based aza-crown ethers display unprecedented enantioselectivity as supramolecular receptors for phenylethylamine derivatives.
Iodide ions control galvanic replacement growth of uniform rhodium nanotubes at room temperature
Yingpu Bi and Gongxuan Lu,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6402
DOI: 10.1039/b814335h
Hollow rhodium nanotubes with uniform and perfect structures have been successfully synthesized through the replacement reaction between Ag nanowires and RhCl3 in saturated NaI solutions at room temperature, and the main effect of iodide ions is found to reduce the redox potential of Ag species and resolve the formed AgI precipitation.
Gold catalysed reactions with cyclopropenes
Jürgen T. Bauer, Maximillian S. Hadfield and Ai-Lan Lee,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6405
DOI: 10.1039/b815891f Enhanced HTML article available
A gold(I) catalysed addition of alcohols to cyclopropenes to yield tert-allylic ethers is described. The reaction is highly regioselective, mild and facile. Gold(I) catalysts were found to be unique and superior in terms of reactivity and regioselectivity.
Total synthesis of (-)-spirangien A and its methyl ester
Ian Paterson, Alison D. Findlay and Christian Noti,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6408
DOI: 10.1039/b816229h Enhanced HTML article available
The first total synthesis of (-)-spirangien A, a cytotoxic and antifungal polyketide of myxobacterial origin, is reported; this exploits a Stork–Wittig olefination and double Stille cross-coupling sequence to install the sensitive pentaene side chain onto a fully elaborated spiroacetal core, leading initially to the methyl ester of spirangien A.
A new catalytic oxidative cleavage reaction to furnish lactones
Stefanie Roth and Christian B. W. Stark,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6411
DOI: 10.1039/b815135k Enhanced HTML article available
A highly efficient catalytic oxidative cleavage reaction of THF and THP alcohols to 
- and 
-lactones using PCC (1 mol%) and periodic acid as terminal oxidant is presented.
The self-assembly and magnetic properties of a Ni(II)8(µ4-hydroxo)6 cube with µ2-pyrazolate as an exogeneous ancillary ligand
Jing-Yuan Xu, Xin Qiao, Hai-Bin Song, Shi-Ping Yan, Dai-Zheng Liao, Song Gao, Yves Journaux and Joan Cano,
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6414
DOI: 10.1039/b813705f
A novel octanuclear hydroxonickel(II) complex possessing a unprecedented cube molecular structure has been synthesized and its magnetic properties investigated.
Back matter
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6417
DOI: 10.1039/b820155m
Back cover
Chem. Commun., 2008, 6419
DOI: 10.1039/b819953c
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