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A combined experimental and density functional computational study was used to probe the mechanism for the reduction of indoles using simple borane BH₃·DMS (DMS = dimethyl sulfide). Experimental and computational studies all steer to the formation of the reduced species 1-BH₂-indolines as the resting state for this reaction, as opposed to the historically presumed formation of the unreduced 1-BH₂-indoles, before the addition of a proton source to form the final product indolines. Furthermore, it was observed that molecular H₂ was generated and consumed in the reaction. Computations put forward hydroboration followed by protodeborylation as the very reasonable mechanistic route for the formation of experimentally observed major intermediate 1-BH₂ indolines. For the H₂ consumption in the reaction, computations suggest the frustrated Lewis pair-type heterolytic splitting of H₂ by a bis(3-indolinyl)borane intermediate.

Over the past decades, the need for rare earth elements (REEs) has increased substantially, mostly because these elements are used as valuable additives in advanced technologies. However, the difference in ionic radius between neighboring REEs is small, which renders an efficient sized‐based separation extremely challenging. Among different types of extraction methods, solid‐phase extraction (SPE) is a promising candidate, featuring high enrichment factor, rapid adsorption kinetics, reduced solvent consumption and minimized waste generation. The great challenge remains yet to develop highly efficient and selective adsorbents for this process. In this regard, ordered mesoporous materials (OMMs) possess high specific surface area, tunable pore size, large pore volume, as well as stable and interconnected frameworks with active pore surfaces for functionalization. Such features meet the requirements for enhanced adsorbents, not only providing huge reactional interface and large surface capable of accommodating guest species, but also enabling the possibility of ion‐specific binding for enrichment and separation purposes. This short personal account summarizes some of the recent advances in the use of porous hybrid materials as selective sorbents for REE separation and purification, with particular attention devoted to ordered mesoporous silica and carbon‐based sorbents.

A practical and scalable metal-free catalytic method for the borylation and borylative dearomatization of heteroarenes has been developed. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and conveniently synthesizable bench-stable precatalysts of the form 1-NHR₂-2-BF₃-C₆H₄, commercially and synthetically accessible heteroarenes as substrates, and pinacolborane as the borylation reagent. The preparation of several borylated heterocycles on 2 and 50 g scales was achieved under solvent-free conditions without the use of Schlenk techniques or a glovebox. A kilogram-scale borylation of one of the heteroarene substrates was also achieved using this cost-effective green methodology to exemplify the fact that our methodology can be conveniently implemented in fine chemical industries.

A combined experimental and density functional computational study was used to probe the mechanism for the reduction of indoles using simple borane BH₃·DMS (DMS = dimethyl sulfide). Experimental and computational studies all steer to the formation of the reduced species 1-BH₂-indolines as the resting state for this reaction, as opposed to the historically presumed formation of the unreduced 1-BH₂-indoles, before the addition of a proton source to form the final product indolines. Furthermore, it was observed that molecular H₂ was generated and consumed in the reaction. Computations put forward hydroboration followed by protodeborylation as the very reasonable mechanistic route for the formation of experimentally observed major intermediate 1-BH₂ indolines. For the H₂ consumption in the reaction, computations suggest the frustrated Lewis pair-type heterolytic splitting of H₂ by a bis(3-indolinyl)borane intermediate.

While the dearomatization of indoles by carbon–boron bond forming reactions is new and quite promising, they are so far mainly metal-catalyzed. Here, we establish the use of metal-free catalysts in promoting such reactions in an atom-efficient way. The in situ generated ambiphilic aminoborane catalyst (1-Pip-2-BH2-C6H4)2 (Pip = piperidyl) promotes borylative dearomatization of various 1-arylsulfonyl indoles with pinacolborane in a syn addition fashion, with H and Bpin groups added respectively to the 2 and 3 positions of indoles. Catalysis proceeds with good to excellent conversion and essentially with complete regio- and diastereoselectivity. From mechanistic insights and DFT computations, we realized and established that prototypical boranes can also catalyze this borylative dearomatization.

The potential application of thorium (Th) as nuclear fuel, as well as the environmental and public health concerns associated with it, promotes the development of economic and sustainable materials for the separation and removal of Th(IV) from minerals and environmental samples. In this work, centimeter-size, porous silica monoliths exhibiting hierarchical macroporosity–mesoporosity and a robust silica skeleton were prepared using a sol–gel process combined with post-synthetic hydrothermal treatment in ammonium hydroxide. Upon functionalization with diglycolamide (DGA), the resulting monolithic hybrid material was used as a column-type fixed bed sorbent for continuous flow extraction. An enhanced Th(IV) uptake from aqueous solution was achieved with a high enrichment factor and selectivity in the presence of competitive ions such as rare earth elements (REEs) and uranium (U). Systematic mechanistic studies show that the hierarchical pore system is crucial for enhanced adsorption kinetics and capacity. Two mineral leachates were used to assess the performances of the hybrid material, and despite the complex ion matrix and high ionic composition, the sorbent shows highly efficient recovery of Th(IV). The material was able to undergo 10 extraction–stripping–regeneration cycles, which bodes well for potential industrial applications.

Over the past decades, the need for rare earth elements (REEs) has increased substantially, mostly because these elements are used as valuable additives in advanced technologies. However, the difference in ionic radius between neighboring REEs is small, which renders an efficient sized‐based separation extremely challenging. Among different types of extraction methods, solid‐phase extraction (SPE) is a promising candidate, featuring high enrichment factor, rapid adsorption kinetics, reduced solvent consumption and minimized waste generation. The great challenge remains yet to develop highly efficient and selective adsorbents for this process. In this regard, ordered mesoporous materials (OMMs) possess high specific surface area, tunable pore size, large pore volume, as well as stable and interconnected frameworks with active pore surfaces for functionalization. Such features meet the requirements for enhanced adsorbents, not only providing huge reactional interface and large surface capable of accommodating guest species, but also enabling the possibility of ion‐specific binding for enrichment and separation purposes. This short personal account summarizes some of the recent advances in the use of porous hybrid materials as selective sorbents for REE separation and purification, with particular attention devoted to ordered mesoporous silica and carbon‐based sorbents.

A practical and scalable metal-free catalytic method for the borylation and borylative dearomatization of heteroarenes has been developed. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and conveniently synthesizable bench-stable precatalysts of the form 1-NHR₂-2-BF₃-C₆H₄, commercially and synthetically accessible heteroarenes as substrates, and pinacolborane as the borylation reagent. The preparation of several borylated heterocycles on 2 and 50 g scales was achieved under solvent-free conditions without the use of Schlenk techniques or a glovebox. A kilogram-scale borylation of one of the heteroarene substrates was also achieved using this cost-effective green methodology to exemplify the fact that our methodology can be conveniently implemented in fine chemical industries.

While the dearomatization of indoles by carbon–boron bond forming reactions is new and quite promising, they are so far mainly metal-catalyzed. Here, we establish the use of metal-free catalysts in promoting such reactions in an atom-efficient way. The in situ generated ambiphilic aminoborane catalyst (1-Pip-2-BH2-C6H4)2 (Pip = piperidyl) promotes borylative dearomatization of various 1-arylsulfonyl indoles with pinacolborane in a syn addition fashion, with H and Bpin groups added respectively to the 2 and 3 positions of indoles. Catalysis proceeds with good to excellent conversion and essentially with complete regio- and diastereoselectivity. From mechanistic insights and DFT computations, we realized and established that prototypical boranes can also catalyze this borylative dearomatization.