This account reports an overview of our findings in homogeneous Pd-catalyzed reactions. Herein we describe the new design in reactions of Group 14 element compounds and in homogeneous nanosize Pd catalysts. In the early stages of our study, we developed Pd-catalyzed transformations of allylic esters with disilanes, silylcyanides and acylsilanes to the corresponding silylation, cyanation and acylation products, respectively. We also developed a Pd-catalyzed three component coupling reaction of Group 14 element compounds involving 1,3-diene and acid chlorides to form β,γ-unsaturated ketone as a single product. Recently, we focus our attention on modifying the catalytic environment by nanosize Pd in order to improve the performance of Pd catalysts. These nanosystems realize efficient catalytic environment with remarkable enhancement in catalytic activity and unprecedented selectivity.

Analyzed are recent advances in design of novel boronared conjugates of synthetic and natural porphyrins and chlorins. These compounds showed high efficacy as cytotoxic agents for tumor cells in culture and as phototoxins in photodynamic therapy of tumor xenografts. Thus, boronated porphyrins and chlorins emerge as promising class of anticancer agents with potentially multiple advantages: the chemotherapeutic drugs alone and photo- and radiosensitizers in binary treatments.

Analyzed are recent advances in design of novel boronared conjugates of synthetic and natural porphyrins and chlorins. These compounds showed high efficacy as cytotoxic agents for tumor cells in culture and as phototoxins in photodynamic therapy of tumor xenografts. Thus, boronated porphyrins and chlorins emerge as promising class of anticancer agents with potentially multiple advantages: the chemotherapeutic drugs alone and photo- and radiosensitizers in binary treatments.

New liquid crystalline (biphenylcarbonyloxy)benzoates with an achiral swallow-tail derived from 3-alkoxy-2- (alkoxymethyl)-1-propanol [(ROCH2)2CHCH2OH, R = Me, Et, Pr, Bu] were prepared. These liquid crystals exhibited the phase sequence (I-SmA-SmCalt-(SmCX)-Cr) and showed antiferroelectric-like Smectic C phase (SmCalt) at temperature lower, and temperature range broader than do the compounds containing a branched alkyl group as a swallow-tail. The temperature ranges of antiferroelectric phase were found to be 30-90 oC and crystallization temperatures were 4-60 oC. The binary mixture of an achiral swallow-tailed liquid crystal and a chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal, (S)-MHPOBC showed antiferroelectric smectic C phase at temperature much lower than the single chiral antiferroelectric liquid crystal does.

Two fluorene-based conjugated copolymers containing hexyl-thiophene derivatives, PF-1T and PF-4T, were synthesized via the palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. The number-average molecular weights (Mn) of PF-1T and PF-4T were found to be 19,100 and 13,200, respectively. These polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, chlorobenzene, toluene, etc. The UV-vis absorption maximum peaks of PF-1T and PF-4T in the film state were found to be 410 nm and 431 nm, respectively. Electrochemical characterization revealed that these polymers have low highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels, indicating good resistance against oxidative doping. Thin film transistor devices were fabricated using the top contact geometry. PF-1T showed much better thin-film transistor performance than PF-4T. A thin film of PF- 1T gave a saturation mobility of 0.001-0.003 cm2 V?1 s?1, an on/off ratio of 1.0 × 105, and a small threshold voltage of ?8.3 V. To support TFT performance, we carried out DSC, AFM, and XRD measurements.

A new synthetic strategy based on the acid-base catalyzed sol-gel method was developed for the preparation of a series of mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles. A key feature of the method involves a gradual change in pH (0.8- 9) during the sol-gel transition, which guarantees easy introduction of mesoporosity without relying on the well-established sonochemical or template approach. In addition, this method leads to the exclusive formation of the anatase phase stable enough to the calcination temperature up to 600 oC. The physicochemical properties of the particles in the series were characterized by various spectroscopic and analytical techniques such as wide-angle XRD, SAXRD, BET surface area, FE-SEM, TEM, FT-IR, TGA, and XPS. The photocatalytic efficiency of these materials was investigated for the oxidation of toluene under UV-irradiation. All but T-ad in the series exhibited high photocatalytic activity pushing the reaction into completion within 3 h. The reaction followed the first order kinetics, and the rate reaches as high as 3.9 × 10?2/min which exceeds the one with the commercially available Degussa P-25 by a factor of 3.2. When comparison is made among the catalysts, the reactivity increases with increase in the calcination temperature which in turn increases the crystallinity of the anatase phase, thus revealing the following rate orders: T-3 < T-4 < T-5 < T-6.

The title complex, Ir(H)(CO)(PEt3)2(η 2-C60) (2), has been prepared by the reaction of excess C60 (4 equiv) with a tetrairidium complex Ir4(CO)8(PEt3)4 (1) in refluxing chlorobenzene in 40% yield as green crystals. Compound 2 has been characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), spectroscopic methods (mass, IR, 1H and 31P NMR), and a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. The molecular structure reveals that the iridium atom of 2 is coordinated by two axial ligands of a hydrogen atom and a carbonyl group, and three equatorial ligands of two phosphorus atoms and an η 2-C60 moiety. The CV study exhibits three reversible one-electron redox waves for the successive reductions of 2, together with additional four redox waves due to free C60 reductions, which was formed by decomposition of 2 in the reduced states. The three reversible redox waves of 2 are shifted to more negative potentials by ca. 270 mV compared to free C60, reflecting both metal-to-C60 π-back-donation and the electron-donating nature of the two phosphorus ligands.

Carbosilane dendrimers with silafluorenyl groups on the periphery were prepared by the reaction of 2,2'- dilithiumbiphenyl and dichlorosilyl groups on the carbosilane dendrimers at low temperature. The 1st to 4th generation of dendrimers with silafluorenyl groups were obtained with high yields and the products were purified by column chromatography. The unified properties of the dendrimers were measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and displayed very low and regular polydispersity index (PDI) value. The silafluorenyl moieties on dendritic periphery accepted the potassium fluoride ions which were stabilized by criptand [222], and it proved strong photoluminescent properties.

Photophysical properties of a newly-synthesized porphyrin derivative, trans-bis(ferrocene carboxylato)- (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato)tin(IV) [Sn(TPP)(FcCOO)2] were investigated by means of steady-state and fs-time resolved laser spectroscopic techniques, and compared with those of a standard molecule, trans-dichloro( 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-porphrinato)tin(IV) [Sn(TPP)Cl2]. The fluorescence spectrum of Sn(TPP)- (FcCOO)2 was observed to exhibit dual emission bands originating from the S2-state and the S1-state, which was greatly quenched as compared to those of Sn(TPP)Cl2. The fs-time resolved fluorescence and transient absorption spectroscopic measurements revealed that the fluorescence quenching is due to formation of the long-lived charge transfer state by intramolecular electron transfer from ferrocene to the S2-excited SnTPP in addition to the enhanced non-radiative deactivation processes.

Novel organic dyes, JK-34, JK-35 and JK-36 containing bis-dimethylfluorenyl amino coumarin unit are designed and synthesized. Nanocrystalline TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using these dyes. Under standard global AM 1.5 solar condition, the JK-34 sensitized cell gave a short circuit photocurrent density of 10.05 mA cm?2, open circuit voltage of 0.65 V, and a fill factor of 0.68, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency η of 4.54%. We found that the power conversion efficiency was shown to be quite sensitive to the structural modifications of bridging thiophene moiety.

An HPLC chiral stationary phase (CSP) which has only two ureide functional groups was prepared starting from (1S,2S)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane. The CSP was successful in the resolution of various N-(3,5- dinitrobenzoyl)-α-amino acids, the separation (α) and the resolution factors (RS) being within the range of 1.11-1.35 and 2.19-5.17, respectively with the use of 20% 2-propanol in hexane containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid as a mobile phase. However, ethyl esters of N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)-α-amino acids were not resolved or resolved with only marginal separation and resolution factors on the CSP under the identical mobile phase condition. From these results, the complexation of the carboxylate anions of analytes inside the double-ureide pocket of the CSP was expected to play some important role for the chiral recognition. In contrast, N-(3,5- dinitrobenzoyl)-α-amino acid N-propylamides were resolved on the CSP with reasonable separation and resolution factors. Enantioselective hydrogen bonding interactions between analytes and the CSP were presumed to be responsible for these resolutions.

Ordered mesoporous silica (MCM-41) materials with different textural properties were prepared using alkyl (dodecyl, cetyl, eicosane) trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB, CTAB, ETAB, respectively) as structure directing surfactants, functionalized with amine groups and used as adsorbent for the toxic metal ions, Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II). Amino functionalization of mesoporous MCM-41 was achieved by cocondensation of N-[3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyl] aniline with tetraethyl orthosilicate. Adsorption isotherm and adsorption capacity of the amine functionalized materials for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions were followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results demonstrate that amine functionalized MCM-41 prepared with ETAB showed higher adsorption capacity for Cr (VI), As (V), Pb (II) and Hg (II) ions in comparison to MCM-41 prepared with CTAB and DTAB. The higher adsorption capacity for MCM-41(ETAB) was correlated with amine content in the material (determined by CHN analysis) and relative decrease in pore volume and pore diameter. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, nitrogen adsorptiondesorption measurements and Fourier Transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) were used to follow the changes in the textural parameters and surface properties of the mesoporous materials as a result of amine functionalization to correlate with the adsorption characteristics. The adsorption process was found to depend on the pH of the medium.

A substitution effect on the electronic transition of bi-substituted benzyl-type radicals was discovered. The origin of the electronic D1 → D0 transition of benzyl-type radicals was red-shifted upon substitution to the benzene ring. For symmetric bi-substituted benzyl-type radicals, it was found that the predicted shift obtained from mono-substituted benzyl-type radicals agreed well with the observation. The reason for this agreement is believed that the substituent contributes independently to the electronic energy. The substitution effect was applied to the symmetric bi-substituted difluoro-, dichloro- and dimethylbenzyl radicals.

The redox behavior of a [Ni6(μ3-Se)2(μ4-Se)3(Fe(η 5-C5H4P-Ph2)2)3] (= [Ni-Se-dppf], dppf = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino) ferrocene) cluster was studied using platinum (Pt) and glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) in nonaqueous media. The cluster showed electrochemical activity at the potential range between +1.6 and ?1.6 V. In the negative region (0 to ?1.6 V), the cluster exhibited two-step reductions. The first step was one-electron reversible, while the second step was a five-electron quasi-reversible process. On the other hand, in the positive region (0 to +1.6 V), the first step involved one-electron quasi-reversible process. The applicability of the cluster was found towards the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 and was evaluated by experiments using rotating ring disc electrode (RRDE). RRDE experiments demonstrated that two electrons were involved in the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO at the Se-Ni-dppf-modified electrode.

The aminolysis of diphenyl thiophosphinic chloride (2) with substituted anilines in acetonitrile at 55.0 oC is investigated kinetically. Kinetic results yield large Hammett ρX (ρnuc = ?3.97) and Bronsted βX (βnuc = 1.40) values. A concerted mechanism involving a partial frontside nucleophilic attack through a hydrogen-bonded, four-center type transition state is proposed on the basis of the primary normal kinetic isotope effects (kH/kD = 1.0-1.1) with deuterated aniline (XC6H4ND2) nucleophiles. The natural bond order charges on P and the degrees of distortion of 42 compounds: chlorophosphates [(R1O)(R2O)P(=O)Cl], chlorothiophosphates [(R1O)(R2O)P(=S)Cl], phosphonochloridates [(R1O)R2P(=O)Cl], phosphonochlorothioates [(R1O)R2P(=S)Cl], chlorophosphinates [R1R2P(=O)Cl], and chlorothiophosphinates [R1R2P(=S)Cl] are calculated at the B3LYP/ 6-311+G(d,p) level in the gas phase.

The aminolysis of diphenyl thiophosphinic chloride (2) with substituted anilines in acetonitrile at 55.0 oC is investigated kinetically. Kinetic results yield large Hammett ρX (ρnuc = ?3.97) and Bronsted βX (βnuc = 1.40) values. A concerted mechanism involving a partial frontside nucleophilic attack through a hydrogen-bonded, four-center type transition state is proposed on the basis of the primary normal kinetic isotope effects (kH/kD = 1.0-1.1) with deuterated aniline (XC6H4ND2) nucleophiles. The natural bond order charges on P and the degrees of distortion of 42 compounds: chlorophosphates [(R1O)(R2O)P(=O)Cl], chlorothiophosphates [(R1O)(R2O)P(=S)Cl], phosphonochloridates [(R1O)R2P(=O)Cl], phosphonochlorothioates [(R1O)R2P(=S)Cl], chlorophosphinates [R1R2P(=O)Cl], and chlorothiophosphinates [R1R2P(=S)Cl] are calculated at the B3LYP/ 6-311+G(d,p) level in the gas phase.

The article reports the synthesis of a novel bispyridino-18-crown-6 ether, 7-{[(5S,15S)-5,15-diphenyl- 3,6,14,17-tetraoxa-23,24-diazatricyclo[17.3.1.18,12]tetracosa-1(23),8(24),9,11,19,21-hexaen-10-yl]oxy}heptylferrocenamide 6, bearing the C2-symmetric diphenyl substituents as chiral barriers and the ferrocenyl groups serving as an electrochemical sensor, and its electrochemical study with D- and L-AlaOMe·HCl as the guest by cyclovoltametry.

The article reports the synthesis of a novel bispyridino-18-crown-6 ether, 7-{[(5S,15S)-5,15-diphenyl- 3,6,14,17-tetraoxa-23,24-diazatricyclo[17.3.1.18,12]tetracosa-1(23),8(24),9,11,19,21-hexaen-10-yl]oxy}heptylferrocenamide 6, bearing the C2-symmetric diphenyl substituents as chiral barriers and the ferrocenyl groups serving as an electrochemical sensor, and its electrochemical study with D- and L-AlaOMe·HCl as the guest by cyclovoltametry.

Homogeneous zinc tetrahalide complexes, highly active catalysts for the coupling reactions of alkylene oxide and CO2 produce alkylene carbonates, were heterogenized due to their tendency to decompose produced alkylene carbonates during the distillation process. Heterogenization of homogeneous zinc tetrahalide complexes was achieved by polymerizing 1-alkyl-3-vinylimidazolium zinc tetrahalides. These polymerized zinc tetrahalide catalysts displayed similar activities to their corresponding monomeric analogues for the coupling reactions of carbon dioxide with ethylene oxide (EO) or propylene oxide (PO) to produce ethylene carbonate (EC) or propylene carbonate (PC). TGA studies showed that the polymer-supported zinc tetrahalide catalysts are thermally stable up to 320 oC. The catalyst recycle test showed that the supported catalysts could be reused over six times. After removal of the polymer-supported catalyst through a simple filtration, EC was able to be isolated without decomposition.

Hydrotalcite, layered double hydroxides (LDH), with hexagonal morphology has been rapidly synthesized by microwave reaction within 1 hour by urea hydrolysis from homogeneous solution. Different synthesis parameters, Mg/Al molar ratio, microwave reaction temperature and microwave power were systematically investigated. Pure hydrotalcite phase was obtained for Mg/Al ratios of 2:1 and 3:1, and higher reaction temperature gave higher crystallinity. The hydrotalcite synthesized at 600W power shows the highest crystallinity and more homogeneous crystal size distribution. The hydrotalcite samples were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), simultaneous thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and Scanning electron micrograph (SEM).

Efficient catalytic systems, where Ni or Pd is introduced in a supporting material of nanoporous carbon, have been developed for a liquid-phase hydrogenation of carboxylic acids and ketones at room temperature. It has been found that the catalysts reliably show high activities and selectivities for the hydrogenation to alcohols even in acidic conditions, and the catalytic activities depend on the preparative method of catalysts, the hydrogen pressure, the agitation rate, and the catalytic species. The hydrogenation of carboxylic acids and ketones clearly shows that the reaction rate is affected by the electronic and the steric effects, and a plausible reaction mechanism using metal hydrides as catalytic species is proposed.

The reactions of mercury(II) chloride with O3S2-donor macrocyclic ligands with (L1) and without (L2) dibenzosubunit afforded respective exo- (1) and endo-coordinated (2) complexes depending on the ring rigidity of the ligands. From the X-ray crystal structures and comparative NMR studies for the complexes 1 and 2, it is confirmed that the resulting species with different coordination modes exist not only in solid state but also in solution state.

The reactions of mercury(II) chloride with O3S2-donor macrocyclic ligands with (L1) and without (L2) dibenzosubunit afforded respective exo- (1) and endo-coordinated (2) complexes depending on the ring rigidity of the ligands. From the X-ray crystal structures and comparative NMR studies for the complexes 1 and 2, it is confirmed that the resulting species with different coordination modes exist not only in solid state but also in solution state.

The solvent effect on sulfur ylide mediated epoxidation reaction was studied systematically. While higher trans/cis ratio of the epoxide was obtained in the more polar solvent, protic solvent produced the lower trans/ cis ratio than any aprotic solvent.

A successful combination of “oxygen-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process” and Co catalyst nanoparticles to grow highly pure single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) was demonstrated. Recently, it was reported that addition of small amounts of oxygen during CVD process dramatically increased the purity and yield of carbon nanotubes. However, this strategy could not be applied for discrete Fe nanoparticle catalysts from which appropriate yields of SWNTs could be grown directly on solid substrates, and fabricated into field effect transistors (FETs) quite efficiently. The main reason for this failure is due to the carbothermal reduction which results in SiO2 nanotrench formation. We found that the oxygen-assisted CVD process could be successfully applied for the growth of highly pure SWNTs by switching the catalyst from Fe to Co nanoparticles. The topological morphologies and p-type transistor electrical transport properties of the grown SWNTs were examined by using atomic force microscope (AFM), Raman, and from FET devices fabricated by photolithography.

The first efficient synthesis of biologically interesting nigrolineabenzopyran A, blandachromene II, and daurichromene D with the benzopyran moiety has been accomplished using ethylenediamine diacetatecatalyzed reaction as a key step. The key step in these synthetic strategies involves the formation of benzopyran moiety via an electrocyclization reaction.

The nanoscale morphologies on a series of new anthraquinone substitutes have been carried out. Among the substitutes, only bis[2-(1-anthraquinonoxy)-ethyl]ether in a mixture of dichloromethane/acetone (1/1) slowly forms uniform nanowires with 80-120 nm diameters. The same compound in a mixture of dichloromethane/tetrahydrofuran (1/1) slowly produces uniform nanobelts with 400-600 nm widths. Thus, both the spacer lengths and the solvent effects of the compounds are important factors for the formation of nanoscale morphologies. The nano patterns seem to be formed by the π-π interactions between the anthraquinone moieties.

The 27Al multiple quantum magic angle spinning (MQMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of mordenite zeolites were simulated using the point charge model (PCM). The spectra simulated by the PCM considering nearest neighbor atoms only (PCM-n) or including atoms up to the 3rd layer (PCM-m) were not different from those generated by the Hartree-Fock (HF) molecular orbital calculation method. In contrast to the HF and density functional theory methods, the PCM method is simple and convenient to use and does not require sophisticated and expensive computer programs along with specialists to run them. Thus, our results indicate that the spectral simulation of the 27Al MQMAS NMR spectra obtained with the PCM-n is useful, despite its simplicity, especially for porous samples like zeolites with large unit cells and a high volume density of pores. However, it should be pointed out that this conclusion might apply only for the atomic sites with small quadrupole coupling constants.

Oligomerization of isobutene has been investigated using a few solid acid catalysts in order to produce efficiently triisobutenes that are useful chemical feedstocks for heavy alkylates and neo-acids. Several reaction conditions such as space velocity and isobutene concentration are evaluated, and a few cation exchange resins with various acid capacities were compared in the reaction. High trimers selectivity and high conversion can be obtained over a catalyst containing high acid capacity at low space velocity and relatively low isobutene concentration. The stability of a catalyst for the reaction is high when the acid capacity of the catalyst is high (for example Amberlyst-35).

Photonic crystals containing rugate structure result in a mirror with high reflectivity in a specific narrow spectral region and are prepared by applying a computer-generated pseudo-sinusoidal current waveform. Well defined 1-dimentional photonic polymer replicas showing a reflectivity at 534 nm have been successfully obtained by the removal of rugate porous silicon (PSi) template from the polystyrene composite film. XRD measurement indicates that the oxidized rugate PSi has been completely removed from the composite films. Polymer replicas exhibit a sharp resonance in the reflectivity spectrum. Optical characteristics of photonic polymer replicas indicate that the surface of polymer film has a negative structure of rugate PSi. These replicas are stable in aqueous solutions for several days without any degradation. The methods have been provided for the construction of photonic structures with polymers.

Biosensor based on rugate PSi interferometer for the detection of avidin has been described. Rugate PSi fabricated by applying a computer-generated pseudo-sinusoidal current waveform has been prepared for the application as a label-free biosensor based on porous silicon interferometer. The fabrication, optical characterization, and surface derivatization of a rugate PSi has been described. The method to fabricate biotinderivatized rugate PSi has been investigated. The surface and cross sectional morphology of rugate PSi are obtained with SEM. FT-IR spectroscopy is used to characterize the oxidation and functionalization reaction of rugate PSi sample. Binding of the avidin into the biotin-derivatized rugate PSi induces a change in refractive index. A red-shift of reflectivity by 18 nm in the reflectivity spectrum is observed, when the biotin-modified rugate PSi was exposed to a flow of avidin.

Tantalum-containing metal oxides, well known for their efficiency in water splitting and H2 production, have never been used in visible light driven photodecomposition of H2S and H2 production. The present work is an attempt in this direction and investigates their efficiency. A mixed metal oxide, ZnFe2Ta2O9, with the inclusion of Fe2O3 to impart color, was prepared by the conventional ceramic route in single- and double-calcinations (represented as ZnFe2Ta2O9-SC and ZnFe2Ta2O9-DC respectively). The XRD characterization shows that both have identical patterns and reveals tetragonal structure to a major extent and a minor contribution of orthorhombic crystalline system. The UV-visible diffuse reflection spectra demonstrate the intense, coherent and wide absorption of visible light by both the catalysts, with absorption edge at 650 nm, giving rise to a band gap of 1.9 eV. Between the two catalysts, however, ZnFe2Ta2O9-DC has greater absorption in almost the entire wavelength region, which accounts for its strong brown coloration than ZnFe2Ta2O9-SC when viewed by the naked eye. In photocatalysis, both catalysts decompose H2S under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm) and produce solar H2 at a much higher rate than previously reported catalysts. Nevertheless, ZnFe2Ta2O9-DC distinguishes itself from ZnFe2Ta2O9-SC by exhibiting a higher efficiency because of its greater light absorption. Altogether, the tantalum-containing mixed metal oxide proves its efficient catalytic role in H2S decomposition and H2 production process also.