Helen L. Ngo

Hybrid organic-inorganic solids for heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis

This paper provides a short review of recent progress in the design and synthesis of chiral organic–inorganic hybrid solids and their applications in heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis. Homochiral hybrid solids containing catalytic sites can be readily prepared by linking appropriately designed chiral bridging ligands with metal ion or metal cluster nodes. Heterogeneous asymmetric catalysts with enantioselectivity as high as 99.2 and turnover number (TON) as high as 20,000 have been obtained based on these hybrid organic–inorganic solids. The modular nature of the present approach promises to lead to a variety of practically useful heterogeneous asymmetric catalysts for many organic transformations.

Highly enantioselective catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of β-keto esters in room temperature ionic liquids

Polar phosphonic acid-derived Ru-BINAP systems were used to catalyze asymmetric hydrogenation of beta-keto esters in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) with complete conversions and ee values higher than those obtained from homogeneous reactions in MeOH (up to 99.3%), and were recycled by simple extraction and used for four times without the loss of activity and enantioselectivity.

Homochiral 3D open frameworks assembled from 1- and 2-D coordination polymersElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: synthesis of compounds 1 and 2, removal and reintroduction of guest molecules, and Figs. S1–S6. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b2/b211916a/

Homochiral 3D open frameworks have been assembled from 1- and 2-D coordination structures via hydrogen bonding and are stable towards the removal of included guest molecules.

Catalytic synthesis of biodiesel from high free fatty acid-containing feedstocks

Recyclable and reusable heterogeneous diarylammonium catalysts are highly effective in catalyzing the esterification of the free fatty acid (FFA) present in greases to methyl esters to reduce the FFA content from 12-40 wt% to 0.5-1 wt%; the resulting ester-glyceride mixture (pretreated grease) could then be readily converted to methyl esters by base-catalyzed transesterification.

Homochiral 3D lanthanide coordination networks with an unprecedented 4966 topology

Homochiral 3D metal-organic open frameworks based on enantiopure atropisomeric dicarboxylic acid bridging ligands and dilanthanide secondary building units exhibit an unprecedented 4(9)6(6) topology, and possess ethoxy-protected BINOL functionalities that are pointing toward the open channels.

Inactivation of Gram-Positive Bacteria by Novel Phenolic Branched-Chain Fatty Acids

Novel phenolic branched-chain fatty acids (PBC-FAs) were evaluated for their antimicrobial properties against both gram-positive ( Listeria innocua , Bacillus subtilis , Enterococcus faecium ) and gram-negative ( Escherichia coli , Salmonella Typhimurium, and Pseudomonas tolaasii ) bacteria. In addition, PBC-FA derivatives, such as PBC-FA methyl ester mixture, methyl-branched fatty acid mixtures, and trimethylsilyl-PBC-FA methyl esters, were synthesized to study the structure activity relationship. Results showed that PBC-FAs were a potent antimicrobial against gram-positive bacteria with MICs of 1.8 to 3.6 μg/ml. The compounds were less effective against gram-negative bacteria. Derivatives of PBC-FAs and an equimolar mixture of oleic acid and phenol all had MICs above 233 μg/ml against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Comparison of antimicrobial activities of the PBC-FAs with those of the derivatives suggests that the carboxylic group in the fatty acid moiety and the hydroxyl group on the phenol moiety were responsible for the antimicrobial efficacy. Growth curves of L. innocua revealed that PBC-FAs prevented bacterial growth, while MBC-FAs only delayed the onset of rapid growth of L. innocua . Our results demonstrated that the novel PBC-FAs have potential for use as antimicrobials against gram-positive bacteria.

A homochiral triple helix constructed from an axially chiral bipyridine

A homochiral triple helix was self-assembled from an axially chiral bipyridine and a linear metal-connecting point, which further assembles into a 2D network via infinite pi...pi stacking interactions and acts as a host for the inclusion of guest molecules.