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Although synthesis, reactivity, and bonding of U(IV) and Th(IV) complexes have been extensively studied, direct comparison of fully analogous compounds is rare. Herein, we report corresponding complexes 1-U and 1-Th , in which U(IV) and Th(IV) are supported by the tetradentate pyridine-decorated dianionic ligand N 2 NN' (1,1,1-trimethyl- N -(2-(((pyridin-2-ylmethyl)(2-((trimethylsilyl)amino)benzyl)amino)methyl)phenyl)silanamine). Although 1-U and 1-Th are structurally very similar, they display disparate reactivities with TMS 3 SiK (tris(trimethylsilyl)silylpotassium). The reaction of (N 2 NN')UCl 2 ( 1-U ) and 1 equiv of TMS 3 SiK in THF unexpectedly formed [Cl(N 2 NN')U] 2 O ( 2-U ) featuring an unusual bent U-O-U moiety. In contrast, a salt elimination reaction between (N 2 NN')ThCl 2 ( 1-Th ) and 1 equiv of TMS 3 SiK led to thorium complex 2-Th , in which the pyridyl group has undergone a 1,4-addition nucleophilic attack. Complex 2-Th serves as a synthon for preparing dimetallic bis-azide complex 3-Th by reaction with NaN 3 . The complexes were characterized by X-ray crystal diffraction, solution NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. Computations of the formation mechanism of 2-U from 1-U suggest reduced U(III) as a key intermediate for promoting the cleavage of the C-O bonds of THF. The inaccessible nature of Th(III) as an intermediate oxidation state explains the very different reactivity of 1-Th versus 1-U . Given that reactants 1-U and 1-Th and products 2-U and 2-Th all comprise tetravalent actinides, this is an unusual case of very disparate reactivity despite no net change in the oxidation state. Complexes 2-U and 3-Th provide a basis for the synthesis of other dinuclear actinide complexes with novel reactivity and properties.

A new family of low-coordinate mononuclear Dy III single-molecule magnets [(Trapen TMS )Dy(L B )] (Trapen = tris(2-aminobenzyl)amine; TMS = SiMe 3 ; L B = THF 1, pyridine 2, ONMe 3 3) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The five-coordinate Dy III ions exhibit distorted triangular bipyramidal geometries, among the different neutral ligands L B on the apex and the same Trapen TMS ligand, making the pyramid base of the trigonal bipyramid. Magnetic data analysis reveals that 1-3 are characteristic of SMM behaviors without a dc field, accompanying an unambiguous quantum tunneling of magnetization. Under an extra dc field of 500 Oe, field-induced slow magnetic relaxation behaviors occur with Raman and/or QTM processes. Ab initio calculations were also performed to rationalize the observed discrepancy in the magnetic behaviors, and the result illustrates that the SMM behavior could be effectively manipulated by the axial symmetry of the triangular bipyramidal Dy III motifs.

Herein we present a new metalloligand, Th 6 L 12 [IHEP-10; L = 4-pyrazolecarboxylic acid (H 2 PyC)], which can be used to generate a novel multicomponent heterometallic metal-organic framework (MOF), [[Cu 3 (μ 3 -OH)(NO 3 )(H 2 O) 2 ] 2 Th 6 (μ 3 -O) 4 (μ 3 -OH) 4 (PyC) 6 (HPyC) 6 (H 2 O) 6 ](NO 3 ) 2 (IHEP-11), through further assembly with second [Cu 3 (μ 3 -OH)(PyC) 3 ] clusters. In IHEP-11, six Cu 3 clusters are connected by six NO 3 - anions to form an unprecedented annular Cu 18 cluster, which can be viewed as a 12-connected node to link with 12 Th 6 clusters, resulting a 4,12-connected shp net. Benefiting from the cationic framework and 3D porous structure, IHEP-11 can efficiently remove ReO 4 - (an analogue of radioactive 99 TcO 4 - ) from aqueous solution in a wide pH range. This work highlights the feasibility of constructing multicomponent MOFs through a step-by-step synthesis strategy based on metalloligands.

In this paper, LaCoO 3 powders were prepared by the urea combustion method and used as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The effect of the potential window and the current density on the performance degradation of LaCoO 3 electrodes during the cycling test was analyzed. The degradation mechanism of LaCoO 3 -based symmetric supercapacitors was discussed. The results of the cycling test show that: with the increase in potential window and current density, the performance degradation in the cycling test becomes more intense. The results of cyclic voltammetry tests, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy tests and KOH electrolyte concentration measurements before and after the cycling test show that the degradation of the supercapacitors is mainly caused by the occurrence and accumulation of irreversible redox reactions during the charge and discharge process, which reduces the ratio of Co 2+ /Co 3+ and the number of oxygen vacancies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

A synergistic strategy for enhancing U(vi) capture under highly acidic conditions (2 M HNO 3 ) by radiation resistant phosphonate-functionalized two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks with tailor-made binding sites bearing a strong affinity was described. The combination of the radiation resistant characteristic with a strong acid-resistant property endows COFs with practical capabilities for actinide capture from real radioactive liquid waste.

An efficient and convenient uranyl-catalyzed reductive hydrosilylation reaction of para-quinone methides (p-QMs) was developed by employing silane as the reductant. The hydrosilylation procedure using the UO2(NO3)2·6H2O/Et3SiH catalytic system proceeded smoothly and provided an expedient method for the construction of various diarylmethane derivatives in one step with good to excellent yields.

The development of the uranyl cation as a powerful photocatalyst is seriously delayed in comparison with the advances in its fundamental and structural chemistry. However, its characteristic high oxidative capability in the excited state ([UO 2 ] 2+ * (+2.6 V vs. SHE; SHE=standard hydrogen electrode) combined with blue-light absorption (hv=380-500 nm) and a long-lived fluorescence lifetime up to microseconds have reveals that the uranyl cation approaches an ideal photocatalyst for visible-light-driven organic transformations. Described herein is the successful use of uranyl nitrate as a photocatalyst to enable C(sp 3 )-H activation and C-C bond formation through hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) under blue-light irradiation. In particular, this operationally simple strategy provides an appropriate approach to the synthesis of diverse and valuable diarylmethane motifs. Mechanistic studies and DFT calculations have provided insights into the detailed mechanism of the photoinduced HAT pathway. This research suggests a general platform that could popularize promising uranyl photocatalytic performance., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Despite that two-dimensional transition metal carbides and carbonitrides (MXenes) are burgeoning candidates for remediation of environmental pollutants, the construction of robust functionalized MXene nanosheets with a high affinity for target heavy metal ions and radionuclides remains a challenge. Here we report the successful placement of amidoxime chelating groups on Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene surface by diazonium salt grafting. The introduction of amidoxime functional groups significantly enhances the selectivity of Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets for uranyl ions and also greatly improves their stability in aqueous solution, enabling efficient, rapid, and recyclable uranium extraction from aqueous solutions containing competitive metal ions. Benefiting from the excellent conductivity of MXenes, the amidoxime functionalized Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets show outstanding electrochemical performance such that when loaded on carbon cloth the application of an electric field increases the uranium adsorption capacity from 294 to 626 mg/g, outperforming all organic electrochemical sorption materials reported previously. The present work provides an effective strategy to functionalize MXene nanosheets with fundamental implications for the design of MXene-based selective electrosorption electrode materials.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Xiaobo Yang at the Shenyang Normal University. The image depicts the covalent organic frameworks photocatalyst (2D-COF-1) acting as a bridge between the substrate and product. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201903523., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A practical and scalable protocol for visible-light-accelerated arylation and alkylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with hydrazines is reported. In this protocol, a hydrazone-based two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D-COF-1) was employed as the heterogeneous photocatalyst (PC). Due to its excellent photocatalytic properties, good chemical stability and heterogeneous nature, the present method exhibits high efficiency, good functional group tolerance, easy scalability and remarkable catalyst reusability. More importantly, it provides an alternative way that allows rapid access to various C3 arylated or alkylated quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones in a greener and sustainable manner., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A new type of axially chiral cyclo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2,2'-diol (CYCNOL) ligands with adjustable dihedral angles have been developed by varying the bridge chain length. Eight-, nine- and ten-membered cyclo-ligands were prepared and evaluated by using two representative examples: enantioselective additions of diethylzinc to aldehydes and organometallic reagents to enones. The results revealed that the fine regulation of dihedral angles through variation of the bridge chain length was effective in the asymmetric synthesis., (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

A novel and efficient visible-light photoredox method for the synthesis of internal alkynes containing quaternary carbons has been developed via coupling reactions of N-phthalimidoyl oxalates of tert-alcohols with 1-(2-(arylsulfonyl)ethynyl)benzenes. The reactions proceeded well at room temperature with good functional group tolerability.

β-Alkoxy sulfides are widely used as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a convenient and efficient method for oxysulfenylation of alkenes. In this communication, an easy and efficient metal-free approach to β-alkoxy sulfides has been developed. The protocol uses readily available 1-(arylthio)pyrrolidine-2,5-diones and alcohols as the oxysulfenylating agents, chloroform as the solvent, and no ligand, additive and exclusion of air were required. Therefore, the present method provides a useful strategy for synthesis of β-alkoxy sulfides.

A novel, efficient, and practical method for the synthesis of imidazopyridine derivatives has been developed through the copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H functionalization of substituted pyridines with N-(alkylidene)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines. The procedure occurs by cleavage of the N-N bond in the N-(alkylidene)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines and activation of an aryl C-H bond in the substituted pyridines. This is the first example of the preparation of imidazopyridine derivatives by using pyridines as the substrates by transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization. This method should provide a novel and efficient strategy for the synthesis of other nitrogen heterocycles., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Efficient copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidative C-H and C-C functionalization of 1-[2-(arylamino)aryl]ethanones leading to acridones has been developed. The procedure involves cleavage of aromatic C-H and acetyl C-C bonds with intramolecular formation of a diarylketone bond. The protocol uses inexpensive Cu(O2CCF3)2 as catalyst, pyridine as additive, and economical and environmentally friendly oxygen as the oxidant, and the corresponding acridones with various functional groups were obtained in moderate to good yields., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The diastereospecific formation of δ-hydroxyalkylbutenolide phosphonate has been achieved via a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction. The reaction was performed using α-ketophosphonate 1 and 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan 2 mediated by Cu(OTf)(2) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol as additive in CH(2)Cl(2). The reaction proceeds rapidly and affords the corresponding 5-(hydroxy(aryl)methyl) furan-2(5H)-one phosphonates 3 in high yields with good to excellent diastereoselectivities (d.r. up to >99 : 1). 5-(Hydroxy(alkyl)methyl)furan-2(5H)-one phosphonates could also be obtained with good diastereoselectivities.

An enantioselective Biginelli reaction has been developed by using a bifunctional primary amine-thiourea-TfOH (BPAT·TfOH) as a chiral phase-transfer catalyst and t-BuNH(2)·TFA as an additive in saturated brine at room temperature. The corresponding dihydropyrimidines were obtained in moderate-to-good yields with up to 99% ee under mild conditions. A plausible transition state has been proposed to explain the origin of the activation and the asymmetric induction.

The diastereospecific formation of β-N-glycoside-linked α-amino-2(5H)-furanone has been achieved with high yield via a vinylogous Mannich reaction. The reaction was performed by using O-pivaloylated galactosylamine 1 as a chiral template and ZnCl(2)·Et(2)O as a promoter in Et(2)O. Imines 3 of aromatic compounds and trimethylsiloxyfuran 4 were converted to N-galactosyl α-amino-2(5H)-furanone 5, giving ratios of diastereomers higher than 20:1. This procedure provides rapid access to biologically important γ-butenolide derivatives.