The ground-state rotational spectrum of the dimethyl ether dimer, (DME)(2), has been studied by molecular beam Fourier transform microwave and free jet millimeter wave absorption spectroscopies. The molecular beam Fourier transform microwave spectra of the (DME-d(6))(2), (DME-(13)C)(2), (DME-d(6))...(DME), (DME-(13)C)...(DME), and (DME)...(DME-(13)C) isotopomers have also been assigned. The rotational parameters have been interpreted in terms of a C(s) geometry with the two monomers bound by three weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds, each with an average interaction energy of about 1.9 kJ/mol. The experimental data combined with high-level ab initio calculations show this kind of interaction to be improper, blue-shifted hydrogen bonding, with an average shortening of the C-H bonds involved in the hydrogen bonding of 0.0014 A. The length of the C-H...O hydrogen bonds, r(O...H), is in the range 2.52-2.59 A.

A four-step synthesis of the C3-symmetric parent 1,5,9-triazacoronene (TAC) and its derivatives was achieved using a three-fold Bischler-Napieralski cyclization as the key step. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction of 1b (R = n-Bu) demonstrates that the azacoronene core is perfectly co-planar and the molecules adopt a favorable 2-D "brick-wall" arrangement with strong π-π interactions. The unique stacking, tunable photophysical and electronic properties, and high thermal stability should make them promising candidates for emissive and electron-transport materials.

An unexpected rhodium-catalyzed regioselective C-H chlorination of 7-azaindoles was developed using 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) as a chlorinating agent and 7-azaindole as the directing group. This protocol provides an efficient access to ortho-chlorinated azaindoles with operational simplicity, good functional group tolerance, and a wide substrate scope.

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of dibenzothiophenes from 2-biphenylthiols is described. This highly efficient reaction employs a simple PdCl/DMSO catalytic system, in which PdCl is the sole metal catalyst and DMSO functions as an oxidant and solvent. This transformation has broad substrate scope and operational simplicity and proceeds in high yield. The synthetic utility was demonstrated by the facile synthesis of helical dinapthothiophene 3 and an eminent organic semiconductor DBTDT 4. Importantly, highly strained trithiasumanene 5, a buckybowl of considerable synthetic challenge, was observed under this catalytic system.

A synthesis of tellurium-embedded π-extended aromatics from tellurium powder and readily available cyclic diaryliodonium salts has been developed. The versatility of this method has been demonstrated by the synthesis of various functionalized dibenzotellurophenes (DBTe’s), a ladder-type π-system, and a heterosumanene. These compounds demonstrated good air/moisture stability and high thermal stability. Remarkably, many DBTe’s exhibited interesting tunable room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) in the solid state.

Colour changing food spoilage sensors for protein-based food products, such as fish and beef, are mostly based on the halochromic behaviour of pH indicators. However, due to their reversible halochromic nature, these sensors can be manipulated by chemical treatment hiding the true history and quality of deteriorated meat. Therefore, there is a need to create an irreversible and reliable food spoilage sensor, which clearly indicates to consumers if any food degradation or improper storage has occurred, and avoid nefarious food processing companies from disguising spoiled meat as fresh meat. Here, a simple irreversible and halochromic sensor showing spoilage of seafood and meat products is developed. Specifically, chlorophenol red (CPR)-fatty acid particles are dispersed within an ammonia-permeable polymer matrix to form a nontoxic film sensor that shows obvious halochromic behaviour towards bioamine or total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) given off by deteriorated seafood or meat products. After removal of TVB-N, this sensor does not revert back to its original colour, due to a loss of pi-pi stacking of the original sulfonephthalein molecules. These features make this sensor applicable as a novel and reliable spoilage sensor for protein-based food products.

An efficient palladium-catalyzed oxidative annulation reaction was developed through sequential isocyanide insertions into N-H and O-H bonds of hydrazides, which provides an efficient access to valuable 2-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazoles and their derivatives.

An efficient and mild synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine derivatives has been developed from readily available pyrimidyl arylamines or enamines through a hypervalent iodine‐promoted intramolecular C–H bond cycloamination reaction. This protocol allows for the facile construction of biologically active bicyclic imidazo[1,2‐a]pyrimidine skeletons as well as other imidazo[1,2‐a]‐type fused heterocycles.