Inside Cover: Dual Roles of Polyhydroxy Matrices in the Homocoupling of Arylboronic Acids Catalyzed by Gold Nanoclusters under Acidic Conditions (Chem. Asian J. 1/2012)

Abstract

… plays dual roles as a stabilizer of nanogold and as an activator of arylboronic acids in homocoupling reactions in acidic aqueous media. In their Communication on page 55 ff., H. Sakurai et al. demonstrate, by using 11 B NMR spectroscopy, that the tetra-coordinated boronate species are generated inside the chitosan (or starch) matrix even under acidic conditions, resulting in a high reactivity and selectivity for aerobic homocoupling of arylboronic acid. The result could expedite the development of designer catalysts consisting of combinations of functionalized polymers and metal nanoclusters.