Assunta De Nisi

Novel iron(III) catalyst for the efficient and selective coupling of carbon dioxide and epoxides to form cyclic carbonates

“Re-cycling carbon dioxide with iron”. The synthesis of cyclic organic carbonates in high yield, stereo- and chemo-selectivity was accomplished through the coupling of carbon dioxide and epoxides, catalysed by a novel air-stable and easy-to-handle thioether-triphenolate iron(III) complex.

Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Dearomative [2+2]‐Cycloaddition of Indoles with Activated Allenes: A Combined Experimental–Computational Study

The gold-catalyzed synthesis of methylidene 2,3-cyclobutane-indoles is documented through a combined experimental/computational investigation. Besides optimizing the racemic synthesis of the tricyclic indole compounds, the enantioselective variant is presented to its full extent. In particular, the scope of the reaction encompasses both aryloxyallenes and allenamides as electrophilic partners providing high yields and excellent stereochemical controls in the desired cycloadducts. The computational (DFT) investigation has fully elucidated the reaction mechanism providing clear evidence for a two-step reaction. Two parallel reaction pathways explain the regioisomeric products obtained under kinetic and thermodynamic conditions. In both cases, the dearomative CC bond-forming event turned out to be the rate-determining step.

New opportunities in the stereoselective dearomatization of indoles

Abstract The regio- and stereoselective dearomatization of indoles is realized for the first time by combining readily available indolyl precursors and electron-rich allenes, namely allenamides and aryloxyallenes. Inter- as well as intramolecular condensations were realized under gold and Brønsted acid catalysis providing a range of densely functionalized indoline and indolenine cores in high yields and excellent stereochemical outcome. Chemodivergent reaction profiles (Micheal-type addition vs. [2+2]-cycloaddition) were realized by a tailored design of both reaction conditions and functionalization of the reaction partners.

Photocatalyst-free, visible light driven, gold promoted Suzuki synthesis of (hetero)biaryls

A visible‐light driven Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction was performed with colored and bench‐stable arylazosulfones in the presence of Ph3PAuCl (5 mol %) as the catalyst. The absence of a photocatalyst, along with the use of commercially available and easy‐to‐handle arylboronic acids underline the novelty and synthetic usefulness of the protocol. A reaction mechanism involving the generation of an aryl radical as the key intermediate has been proposed on the basis of experimental investigations.

Graphene Oxide Promotes Site-Selective Allylic Alkylation of Thiophenes with Alcohols

The graphene oxide (GO) assisted allylic alkylation of thiophenes with alcohols is presented. Mild reaction conditions and a low GO loading enabled the isolation of a range of densely functionalized thienyl and bithienyl compounds in moderate to high yields (up to 90%). The cooperative action of the Brønsted acidity, epoxide moieties, and π-surface of the 2D-promoter is highlighted as crucial in the reaction course of the present Friedel-Crafts-type protocol.

A new copper(I) coordination polymer from 2,6-bis(1H-benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine: Synthesis, characterization, and use as additive in transparent submicron UV filters

Abstract The use of a new copper(I) coordination polymer (CP) as additive in transparent composite films of 190 nm of thickness for ultraviolet (UV) shielding is presented. The luminescent 1-D Cu(I) CP was easily synthesized through a self-assembly process between Cu(I) iodide and 2,6-bis(1H-benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L). The CP, [Cu2(μ − I)2(μ − L)2]n, was structurally characterized by infrared, UV–visible diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence spectroscopy, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, and relativistic density functional theory calculations. The CP was dispersed and immobilized into a polymeric matrix in the presence of Sudan I, yielding a composite material that exhibits a reduction of 49% of the UV transmittance at 350 nm. Thus, the use of a new Cu(I) CP in polymeric composite films appears as a novel approach toward ultrathin and transparent UV shielding films, which have potential applications as protection layers of paints and coatings that tend to degrade when exposed to UV radiation.

Phenylene-Bridged OSSO-Type Titanium Complexes in the Polymerization of Ethylene and Propylene

The dichloro titanium complexes (OSSOtBu)TiCl2 (1) and (OSSOCum)TiCl2 (2) bearing o-phenylene-bridged OSSO-type ligands [OSSOtBu-H = 6,6′-((1,2-phenylenebis(sulfanediyl))bis(methylene))bis(2,4-di-tert-butyphenol) and OSSOCum-H = 6,6′-((1,2-phenylenebis(sulfanediyl))bis(methylene))bis(2,4-bis(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)phenol)] were prepared and characterized. The X-ray structure of 1 revealed that Ti atom has an octahedral coordination geometry with an fac–fac wrapping of the [OSSO] ligand. In solution at 25 °C, 1 mainly retains the C2 symmetric structure, whereas 2 shows an equilibrium between C2- and C1-symmetric stereoisomers. Activation of 2 with (Ph3C)[B(C6F5)4] led to a highly active catalytic system with an activity of 238 kgPE·molcat–1·bar–1·h–1; linear polyethylene with a Tm of 122 °C and Mw of 107 kDa were obtained under these conditions. Catalyst 1 displayed the moderate activity of 59 kgPE·molcat–1·bar–1·h–1. Gel permeation chromatography analysis revealed the formation of high-molecular-weight polyethylenes with very large distributions of the molecular weights, indicating a low control of the polymerization process, probably becaue of the presence of different active species in solution. Density functional theory investigation provides a rational for the relative high-molecular-weight polymers obtained with these complexes. The precatalyst 2 was also active in propylene polymerization producing atactic oligomers terminated with unsaturated end groups.