Ru on covaltent triazine frameworks (CTF) are highly active and selective catalysts for the conversion of xylitol to glycols (80% C-yield) in basic media.

We have synthesized a series of new fluorescent boron systems 1a-c and 2a-d based on nitrogen (NNN) or nitrogen and oxygen (ONO)-containing tridentate ligands. These novel dyes are characterized by high thermal and chemical stability. They show large Stokes shifts (mostly above 3200 cm(-1)) and quantum yields in solution and in the solid state up to 40%. The easy, modular synthesis facilitates the convenient variation of the axial substituent on the central boron atom, allowing the functionalization of this dye for biochemical use. Introducing a long alkyl chain with a phenyl spacer at this axial position enables the self-assembly of the boron compound 2d to form a fluorescent vesicle, which is able to encapsulate small molecules such as sulforhodamine. Additionally, boron compound 2d was found to serve as a dye for cell imaging since it has the capability of binding to the nuclear membranes of HeLa cells. With phospholipids such as DOPC, giant unilamelar vesicles (GUV) are formed. These results demonstrate the wide applicability of this new boron system in supramolecular and medicinal chemistry.

Glycerol can be converted to propylene glycol via metal and base catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The nature of the base has a profound influence on the outcome of the reaction. We have tested a range of alkaline (LiOH, NaOH and CsOH) and alkaline earth (Mg(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , Sr(OH) 2 and Ba(OH) 2 ) metal hydroxides in combination with Pt/C. The data reveal that alkaline earth metal hydroxides exhibit a much higher activity and improved selectivity. DFT calculations confirm that the coordination of reactive intermediates to divalent cations is responsible for the observed behavior. In the study, the effect of the cation on hydrogenolysis was elucidated for the first time.

A series of novel benzene centered mono-, bis-and tris-1,3,5-triazapentadiene ligands 6a-e was synthesized and investigated with respect to their reactivity towards triphenylborane. The resulting blue-fluorescent boron complexes 14a-e with a six-membered ring chelate structure show excellent thermal and chemical stability. All title compounds were completely characterized including X-ray diffraction studies for 14a-c and 14e. Whereas the absorption spectra of all three classes of compounds are similar, the fluorescence spectra show distinct differences. Thus, the emission spectra of 14a,b show Stokes shifts of 4100-6700 cm −1 with low quantum yields both in solution and in the solid state. However, the more bulky compounds 14c-e show markedly larger molar extinction coefficients and smaller bathochromic shifts compared to 14a,b. For all compounds, we observe significantly more intense red-shifted fluorescence in the solid state compared to that in dichloromethane solutions. For the interpretation of the absorption properties TD-DFT studies were performed based on DFT geometry optimizations.