Dihydrocytosines and cytokines from 3-aminopropionitriles

The synthesis of dihydrocytosines 4 from 3-aminopropionitriles 1 has been broadened and the dihydrocytosines themselves have now been successfully converted to cytosines 9 . Unsubstituted 3-(H, alkyl or aryl) aminopropionitriles ( 1 , X = H) convert with cyanate to 1-(H, alkyl or aryl)-1-(2-cyanoethyl)ureas ( 2 , X = H), which in turn easily cyclize with anhydrous strong acid or base to 1-(H, alkyl or aryl)-5,6-dihydrocytosines ( 4 , X = H). The 1-arylaminopropionitriles ( 1 , X = H) which are poorly reactive with cyanic acid combine readily with benzoylureas to form 3-benzoyl-1-(2-cyanoethyl)-1-arylureas ( 3 , X = H). These benzoylureas likewise cyclize with strong acid or base but with simultaneous elimination of the benzoyl moiety to yield the 1-aryldihydrocytosines 4 (X = H). Amines have successfully been added to 2-chloroacrylonitrile to yield 2-chloro-3-(amino and substituted amino)propionitriles ( 1 , X = Cl). These 2-chloropropionitriles also could be converted with cyanate or benzoylisocyanate to ureas and benzoylureas, respectively (1-(H or alkyl)-1-(2-chloro-2-cyanoethyl)ureas ( 2 , X = Cl) or 1-(H or alkyl)-1-(2-chloro-2-cyanoethyl)-3-benzoylureas ( 3 , X = Cl). The chlorine substituted ureas were unstable especially to base and to heat but with anhydrous acid were cyclized in high yield to 1-(H or alkyl)-5-chloro-5,6-dihydro-cytosines ( 4 , X = Cl). Direct chlorination of unsubstituted dihydrocytosines 4 (X = H) did not afford these same 5-chlorodihydrocytosines 4 (X = Cl) under any conditions investigated. 1-Ethyl-5,6-dihydrocytosine ( 4b ) as the cation (hydrobromide) is converted directly in good yield to 1-ethylcytosine hydrobromide ( 7 ) by bromine in nitrobenzene at 140-160° in a concomitant bromination dehydrobromination reaction. 1-(Alkyl or aryl)-5,6-dihydrocytosines ( 4 , X = H) are halogenated at low temperature in the presence of base to form (N³ or N⁴)halogenodihydrocytosines ( 8 , R = H). The N-chlorodihydrocytosines 8 are stable. The N-bromo and N-iodo compounds isomerize spontaneously to 5-halogeno-5,6-dihydrocytosines ( 4 , X = Br, I; R = H). The 5-halogeno-5,6-dihydrocytosines 4 (X = Cl, Br, I) whether from cyclization or direct halogenation are readily dehydrohalogenated to the corresponding cytosines 9.     

{Ln(III)[mu(5)-kappa(2),kappa(1),kappa(1),kappa(1),kappa(1)-1,2-(CO2)(2)C6H4][isonicotine][H2O]}(2)Cu(I) x X (Ln = Eu, Sm, Nd; X = ClO4-, Cl-): a new pillared-layer approach to heterobimetallic 3d-4f 3d-network solids

A new series of heterometallic lanthanide(III)-copper(I) coordination polymers Ln2(bdc)2(ina)2(H2O)2Cu x X (Hina = isonicotinic acid; H2bdc = 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid; Ln = Eu (1), Sm (2), Nd (3), X = ClO4-; Ln = Nd (4), X = Cl-) have been hydrothermally synthesized in the presence/absence of HClO4. Both compounds are isostructural and contained two distinct units of 2D Ln-bdc layers and linear [Cu(ina)2]-. The linear [Cu(ina)2]- complexes act as pillars and further link the Ln-bdc layers resulting in four heterometallic metal-organic frameworks, which represent the first pillared-layer 3d-4f framework with two distinct types of channels along the b and c axes. The compounds can be specified by the Schl?fli symbol (47.63)(47.68) as a novel 3D (5,6)-connected net. Furthermore, the IR, TGA, PXRD, and UV-vis spectral and luminescent properties of 1-4 were also studied.     

Functionalized platinum(II) terpyridyl alkynyl complexes as colorimetric and luminescence pH sensors

A series of platinum(II) terpyridyl alkynyl complexes that have been derivatized with basic amino functionalities, [Pt(tpy)(C[triple bond]C-C6H4-NR2-4]X (X = OTf-, R = CH3 1, R = CH2CH2OCH3 2, R = H 3; X = Cl-, R = CH3 4, R = CH2CH2OCH3 5, R = H 6) (tpy = 2,2':6',2' '-terpyridine), have been synthesized and characterized. Their photophysical responses at various acid concentrations were studied. The abilities of the complexes to function as colorimetric and luminescence pH sensors were demonstrated with dramatic color changes and luminescence enhancement upon introduction of acid.     

Protonation, electrochemical properties and molecular structures of halogen-functionalized diiron azadithiolate complexes related to the active site of iron-only hydrogenases

Diiron complexes [{(micro-SCH2)2NCH2C6H4X}{Fe(CO)2L}2] (L = CO, X = 2-Br, 1; 2-F, 2; 3-Br, 3; L = PMe(3), X = 2-Br, 4) were prepared as biomimetic models of the iron-only hydrogenase active site. The N-protonated species [(NH)]+ClO(4)(-), [(NH)](+)ClO(4)(-) and the micro-hydride diiron complex [4(FeHFe)]+PF(6)(-) were obtained in the presence of proton acids and well characterized. The protonation process of 4 was studied by in-situ IR and NMR spectroscopy, which suggests the formation of the diprotonated species [4(NH)(FeHFe)](2+) in the presence of an excess of proton acid. The molecular structures of 1, [(NH)]+ClO(4)(-), 4 and [4(FeHFe)]+PF(6)(-) were determined by X-ray crystallography. The single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals that an intramolecular H...Br contact (2.82 A) in the crystalline state of [1(NH)]+ClO(4)(-). In the presence of 1-6 equiv of the stronger acid HOTf, complex 1 is readily protonated on the bridged-N atom and can electrochemically catalyze the proton reduction at a relatively mild potential (ca.-1.0 V). Complex 4 is also electrocatalytic active at -1.4 V in the presence of HOTf with formation of the micro-hydride diiron species.     

Electronic effects on atom tunneling: conformational isomerization of monomeric para-substituted benzoic acid derivatives

We present the first generation and spectroscopic identification of the higher-lying E conformer of the simplest aromatic carboxylic acid, benzoic acid (1a), as its O-deuterated isotopologue (E)-d(1)-1a using matrix-isolation techniques; the parent (E)-1a could not be observed because of fast H-tunneling to the more stable conformer (Z)-1a. Even deuterated (E)-d(1)-1a converts quickly back to (Z)-d(1)-1a through D-tunneling with a half-life (τ) of ～12 min in Ar at 11 K. Tunneling computations using an Eckart barrier in conjunction with a CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ//MP2/cc-pVDZ + ZPVE intrinsic reaction path revealed that τ of (E)-1a is only ～10(-5) min, in marked contrast to those of simple aliphatic acids, which are in the range of minutes. The electronic substituent effects on D-tunneling in para-substituted benzoic acid derivatives (p-X-PhCOOD, d(1)-1) were systematically studied in Ar matrices at 11 K to derive the first Hammett relationships for atom tunneling. σ-Electron donors (X = alkyl) increase the half-life of d(1)-1, while σ-acceptor/π-donor groups (X = OD, NH(2), halogen) and to an even greater extent a σ-/π-acceptor group (X = NO(2)) decrease τ. The latter finding is in line with the smaller E-to-Z reaction barriers and narrower reaction widths for the isomerization. Tunneling substituent constants (σ(t)) for this conformational isomerization were derived experimentally and computationally.     

碳铂类似物的合成,表征及对大鼠W—256肉瘤的抑制作用

合成了十八种〔PtA_2X〕·yH_2O,其中A分别为NH_3、CH_3NH_2、1/2乙二胺和1/2(2,3-二甲基-2,3-丁二胺),X分别为1,1-环丙烷二羧酸根(CPrDCA)、2-甲-1,1-环丙烷二羧酸根(2-M-CPrDCA)、2-甲-1,1-环丁烷二羧酸根(2-M-CBDCA)、1,2-环戊烷二羧酸根(CPDCA)和1,1-环已烷二羧酸根(CHDCA),并进行了表征。测定了配合物抑制大鼠W-256肉瘤的活性,发现配合物〔Pt(NH_3)_2X〕系列按X不同有以下的活性次序:CPrDCA>2-M-CPrDCA>CPDCA>CBDCA(碳铂)≥2-M-CBDCA。     

Building blocks for coordination polymers: self-assembled cleft-like and planar discrete metallo-macrocyclic complexes

Discrete dinuclear metallo-macrocyclic complexes have been prepared from the flexible amide ligand N-6-[(3-pyridylmethylamino)carbonyl]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (L1-CH(3)), and its more rigid analogue, N-6-[(3-pyridylamino)carbonyl]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (L3-CH(3)). With ligands L1-CH(3) and L3-CH(3), discrete dinuclear metallo-macrocyclic complexes with the generic formula [Cu(2)(L1-CH(3))(2)(X)(2)(Y)(2)] (7, X = NO(3); 8, X = Cl, Y = H(2)O; 9, X = ClO(4), Y = CH(3)OH) and [Cu(2)(L3-CH(3))(2)(X)(2)(Y)(2)] (10, X = NO(3), Y = H(2)O; 11, X = ClO(4), Y = CH(3)OH) are obtained. For complexes 7-9, containing the more flexible link L1-CH(3), these complexes are cleft-shaped and hinged at the methylene spacer, which allows the cleft to widen and contract to accommodate different packing modes in the solid-state. In contrast, the rigid link L3-CH(3) gives near planar metallo-macrocyclic structures. These metallo-macrocyclic compounds may be useful building blocks for coordination polymers.     

Molecular design of specific metal-binding peptide sequences from protein fragments: theory and experiment

A novel strategy is presented for designing peptides with specific metal-ion chelation sites, based on linking computationally predicted ion-specific combinations of amino acid side chains coordinated at the vertices of the desired coordination polyhedron into a single polypeptide chain. With this aim, a series of computer programs have been written that 1) creates a structural combinatorial library containing Z(i)-(X)(n)-Z(j) sequences (n=0-14; Z: amino acid that binds the metal through the side chain; X: any amino acid) from the existing protein structures in the non-redundant Protein Data Bank; 2) merges these fragments into a single Z(1)-(X)(n(1) )-Z(2)-(X)(n(2) )-Z(3)-(X)(n(3) )--Z(j) polypeptide chain; and 3) automatically performs two simple molecular mechanics calculations that make it possible to estimate the internal strain in the newly designed peptide. The application of this procedure for the most M(2+)-specific combinations of amino acid side chains (M: metal; see L. Rulísek, Z. Havlas J. Phys. Chem. B 2003, 107, 2376-2385) yielded several peptide sequences (with lengths of 6-20 amino acids) with the potential for specific binding with six metal ions (Co(2+), Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+) and Hg(2+)). The gas-phase association constants of the studied metal ions with these de novo designed peptides were experimentally determined by MALDI mass spectrometry by using 3,4,5-trihydroxyacetophenone as a matrix, whereas the thermodynamic parameters of the metal-ion coordination in the condensed phase were measured by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), chelatometry and NMR spectroscopy methods. The data indicate that some of the computationally predicted peptides are potential M(2+)-specific metal-ion chelators.     

Brønsted acidic ionic liquids and their zwitterions: synthesis, characterization and pKa determination

Imidazolium chlorides with one or two carboxylic acid substituent groups, 1-methyl-3-alkylcarboxylic acid imidazolium chloride, [Me[(CH2)nCOOH]im]Cl (n=1, 3), and 1,3-dialkylcarboxylic acid imidazolium chloride, [[(CH2)nCOOH]2im]Cl (n=1, 3), have been synthesized via their corresponding acid esters. Deprotonation of the carboxylic acid functionalized imidazolium chlorides with triethylamine affords the corresponding zwitterions [Me[(CH2)nCOO]im] (n=1, 3) and [[(CH2)nCOOH][(CH2)nCOO]im] (n=1, 3). Subsequent reaction of the zwitterions with strong acids gives the new imidazolium salts [Me[(CH2)nCOOH]im]X (n=1, 3; X=BF4, CF3SO3) and [[(CH2)nCOOH]2im]X (n=1, 3; X=BF4, CF3SO3), which exhibit melting points as low as -61 degrees C. The solid-state structures of two of the carboxylic acid functionalized imidazolium salts have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Extensive hydrogen bonding is present between the chloride and the imidazolium, with eight Cl.H interactions below 3 A. The pK(a) values of all the salts, determined by potentiometric titration, lie between 1.33 and 4.59 at 25 degrees C.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Biological Properties of Five Enkephalin-like Pentapeptides Containing p-Nitrophenylalanine

Five pentapeptides with the amino acid sequence L -tyrosyl-D -alanyl-glycyl-L -p-nitrophenylalanyl-X, wherein X = L -leucine, L -leucine amide, L -methionine amide, L -1-adamantylalanine amide, and L -neopentylglycine amide were prepared by chemical synthesis in solution and characterized chemically and physically. The effect of the incorporation of the unnatural amino acids adamantylalanine and neopentylglycine, ‘fat’-analogues of leucine and methionine, on the inhibition of electrically evoked contractions of the myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation from guinea pig ileum was studied. Their activities relative to the peptides with X = Leu · OH, Leu-NH₂, and Met-NH₂ (X = Neo-NH₂ is particularly potent) are discussed in terms of hydrophobic and steric factors, and resistance towards enzymic degradation.     

Substituent effects on the ring-chain tautomerism of some 1,3-oxazolidine derivatives

The 14 and 70 eV electron ionization mass spectra of five sets (R1 = Me, Et, i-Pr, t-Bu and Ph) of seven 2-aryl-4-R1-substituted (Ar = C6H4X; X = p-NO2, m-Br, p-Cl, H, p-Me, p-OMe and p-NMe2) (1-5) and of seven 2-aryl-5-phenyl-substituted 1,3-oxazolidines (6; for Ar, see above) were recorded to study their ring-chain equilibria in the gas phase. These equilibria were also studied by 1H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl3 for compounds 5 and 6. A few 2,4- and 2,5-dimethyl-2-aryl derivatives (7, 8: Ar = C6H4X; X = m-Br, H and p-OMe) were studied both in CDCl3 and in the gas phase. The main characteristics of the ring-chain equilibria expressed by the variable SigmaRA% of the ring and of the chain form proved to be a strong dependence on the nature of the substituents on C-2 and C-4. The results in the gas phase are compared with those in CDCl3.     

Combination effects of cation and anion of ionic liquids on the cadmium metal-organic frameworks in ionothermal systems

The effects of cation and/or anion of two groups of ionic liquids ([EMI]X and [PMI]X, where EMI = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium; PMI = 1-propyl-3-methylimidazolium; X = Cl, Br, and I) on the ionothermal reactions between Cd(NO 3) 2.4H 2O and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (H 3BTC) were studied. Three different Cd-BTC metal-organic frameworks, [EMI][Cd2(BTC)Cl2](1), [EMI][Cd(BTC)](2), and [PMI][Cd(BTC)](3), were formed into crystalline phases. 1 was obtained from reactions in [EMI]Cl, while the same reactions with Cl replaced by Br or I produced a known compound 2. The replacement of EMI(+) by PMI(+) produced 3, irrespective of the nature of X.     

On triazoles. XII. The carbamoylation and thiocarbamoylation of 5-amino-1,2,4-triazoles

The reaction of 5-amino-3-R-1H-1,2,4-triazoles 1 with isocyanates 2 (X = O) and isothiocyanates 2 (X = S) was studied. It was stated that with isocyanates 3a (X = O) type ring-carbamoylated products were formed which did not rearrange to the corresponding exo-carbamoylated derivatives 6a (X = O). On the other hand the thiocarbamoylation of derivatives 1 provided at mild conditions lead to derivatives 3a (X = S) which could be rearranged by heating to derivatives 6a (X = S). In one case the isomeric 4a (X = S) type derivative was also isolated. The comparison of the ir, uv, pmr and cmr spectra of the isomers isolated with the corresponding spectra of the carbamoylated and thiocarbamoylated 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole derivatives helped to prove unequivocally the isomeric and tautomeric structure of compounds obtained giving a possibility to correct many confusions in the literature.     

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy, gas-phase acidity, and thermochemistry of the peroxyl radicals CH(3)OO and CH(3)CH(2)OO

Methyl, methyl-d(3), and ethyl hydroperoxide anions (CH(3)OO(-), CD(3)OO(-), and CH(3)CH(2)OO(-)) have been prepared by deprotonation of their respective hydroperoxides in a stream of helium buffer gas. Photodetachment with 364 nm (3.408 eV) radiation was used to measure the adiabatic electron affinities: EA[CH(3)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.161 +/- 0.005 eV, EA[CD(3)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.154 +/- 0.004 eV, and EA[CH(3)CH(2)OO, X(2)A' '] = 1.186 +/- 0.004 eV. The photoelectron spectra yield values for the term energies: Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CH(3)OO] = 0.914 +/- 0.005 eV, Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CD(3)OO] = 0.913 +/- 0.004 eV, and Delta E(X(2)A' '-A (2)A')[CH(3)CH(2)OO] = 0.938 +/- 0.004 eV. A localized RO-O stretching mode was observed near 1100 cm(-1) for the ground state of all three radicals, and low-frequency R-O-O bending modes are also reported. Proton-transfer kinetics of the hydroperoxides have been measured in a tandem flowing afterglow-selected ion flow tube (FA-SIFT) to determine the gas-phase acidity of the parent hydroperoxides: Delta(acid)G(298)(CH(3)OOH) = 367.6 +/- 0.7 kcal mol(-1), Delta(acid)G(298)(CD(3)OOH) = 367.9 +/- 0.9 kcal mol(-1), and Delta(acid)G(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OOH) = 363.9 +/- 2.0 kcal mol(-1). From these acidities we have derived the enthalpies of deprotonation: Delta(acid)H(298)(CH(3)OOH) = 374.6 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1), Delta(acid)H(298)(CD(3)OOH) = 374.9 +/- 1.1 kcal mol(-1), and Delta(acid)H(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OOH) = 371.0 +/- 2.2 kcal mol(-1). Use of the negative-ion acidity/EA cycle provides the ROO-H bond enthalpies: DH(298)(CH(3)OO-H) = 87.8 +/- 1.0 kcal mol(-1), DH(298)(CD(3)OO-H) = 87.9 +/- 1.1 kcal mol(-1), and DH(298)(CH(3)CH(2)OO-H) = 84.8 +/- 2.2 kcal mol(-1). We review the thermochemistry of the peroxyl radicals, CH(3)OO and CH(3)CH(2)OO. Using experimental bond enthalpies, DH(298)(ROO-H), and CBS/APNO ab initio electronic structure calculations for the energies of the corresponding hydroperoxides, we derive the heats of formation of the peroxyl radicals. The "electron affinity/acidity/CBS" cycle yields Delta(f)H(298)[CH(3)OO] = 4.8 +/- 1.2 kcal mol(-1) and Delta(f)H(298)[CH(3)CH(2)OO] = -6.8 +/- 2.3 kcal mol(-1).     

D.C. electrical conductivity and conduction mechanism of some azo sulfonyl quinoline ligands and uranyl complexes

Supramolecular coordination of dioxouranium(VI) heterochelates 5-sulphono-7-(4'-X phenylazo)-8-hydroxyquinoline HL(n) (n=1, X=CH(3); n=2, X=H; n=3, X=Cl; n=4, X=NO(2)) have been prepared and characterized with various physico-chemical techniques. The infrared spectral studies showed a monobasic bidentate behavior with the oxygen and azonitrogen donor system. The temperature dependence of the D.C. electrical conductivity of HL(n) ligands and their uranyl complexes has been studied in the temperature range 305-415 K. The thermal activation energies E(a) for HL(n) compounds were found to be in the range 0.44-0.9 eV depending on the nature of the substituent X. The complexation process decreased E(a) values to the range 0.043-045 eV. The electrical conduction mechanism has been investigated for all samples under investigation. It was found to obey the variable range hopping mechanism (VRH).     

Attaining control by design over the hydrolytic stability of Fe-TAML oxidation catalysts

The iron(III) complexes of tetra amidato macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs) ([Fe{1-X1-2-X2C6H2-4,5-(NCOCMe2NCO)2CR2}(OH2)]- , 1: X1 = X2 = H, R2 = Me2 (a), R2 = (CH2)2 (b); X1 = X2 = Cl, R2 = F2 (c), etc.), which the proton is known to demetalate at pH < 3, are also subject to catalyzed demetalation by Br?nsted acid buffer components at pH 4-9 such as H2PO4-, HSO3-, and CH3CO2H, HO2CCH2CO2-. Buffers based on pyridine (py) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) are catalytically inactive. Where reactions proceed, the products are demetalated TAMLs and iron species of variable composition. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for the demetalation (kobs) are linear functions of the acid concentrations, and the effective second-order rate constants k1,eff have a hyperbolic dependence on [H+] (k1,eff = a1[H+]/(b1+[H+]). The rate of demetalation of 1a in H2PO4-/HPO42- buffer is appreciable, but the kobs values for 1b and 1c are immeasurably low, showing that the rates are strongly affected by the CR2 or "tail" fragments, which are known to potently affect the TAML basicity. The reactivities of 1 depend insignificantly on the aromatic ring or "head" group of 1. The proposed mechanism involves precoordination of the acidic buffer species followed by hydrolysis. The demetalating abilities of buffer species depend on their structures and acidities. Thus, although pyridine-2-carboxylic (picolinic) acid catalyzes the demetalation, its 3- and 4-isomers (nicotinic and isonicotininc acids) are inactive. The difference is rationalized to result from the ability that only coordinated picolinic acid has to deliver a proton to an amidato nitrogen in an intramolecular manner. The reaction order in picolinic acid equals one for 1a and two for 1b. For 1b, "inactive" pyridine and nicotinic acid speed up the demetalation in the presence of picolinic acid, suggesting that the second order arises from the axial binding of two pyridine molecules, one of which must be picolinic acid. The binding of pyridine- and imidazole-type ligands was confirmed by UV/vis equilibrium measurements and X-ray crystallography. The implications of these mechanistic findings for designing superior Fe-TAML oxidation catalysts and catalyst formulations are discussed using the results of DFT calculations.     

Molecular structure and magnetic properties of 1-ethyl-2-(1-oxy-3-oxo-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-yl)-3-methylimidazolium arylcarboxylates and other salts

1-Ethyl-2-(1-oxy-3-oxo-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-yl)-3-methylimidazolium bromide, [EMINN](+)[Br](-), carrying nitronylnitroxide (NN) in the cation unit, was prepared as a parent molecule and converted to seven salts, [EMINN](+)[X](-) (X = I, TFSI (bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide), BPh4 (tetraphenylborate), [EMINN](+)(1-3)[BA(1-3)]((1-3)-); BA1 (benzoic acid), BA2 (terephthalic acid), and BA3 (trimesic acid), and [EMINN](+)[BANN](-); BANN (4-NN-benzoic acid)), by the ion-exchange reaction. The molecular structure of the cation units for all salts revealed by X-ray crystallography is similar, where the dihedral angles between the imidazolium ring and the NN planes are 51-58 degrees. In the crystal structure, [EMINN](+)[X](-) (X = Br, I, TFSI, and BPh4) formed head-to-tail dimers, while the uniquely shaped dimers consisting of two [EMINN](+)[carboxylate](-) units were connected by the hydrogen bonding of water molecules to form a tape structure for [EMINN](+)[BANN](-) and 2D sheet structure for [EMINN](+)2[BA2](2-) and [EMINN](+)3[BA3](3-). In the crystalline state, [EMINN](+)[X](-) showed behavior typical of a paramagnetic species with S = 1/2. The chi(mol)T vs T plot for [EMINN](+)[BANN](-) was analyzed using a four-spin model to give J1/kB = -0.27 and J2/kB = -0.16 K. The plots for [EMINN](+)2[BA2](2-) and [EMINN](+)3[BA3](3-) were analyzed using an antiferromagnetic chain model to give J/kB = -62.1 and -86.5 K, respectively. In aqueous solution, on the other hand, the ESR spectra for all salts showed similar five-line signals due to the isolated NN moiety. The relaxivities (r1 and r2; 25 degrees C, 0.59 T, and 25 MHz) for [EMINN](+)[Br](-), [EMINN](+)[BA](-), [EMINN](+)[BANN](-), [EMINN](+)2[BA2](2-), and [EMINN](+)3[BA3](3-), are r1 = 0.13, 0.14, 0.32, 0.26, and 0.40 and r2 = 0.17, 0.13, 0.31, 0.30, and 0.46 mM(-1) s(-1), respectively.     

Synthesis and mesomorphism of novel multi-arm liquid crystals with cholic acid as chiral centre linking Schiff base moieties as mesogens

A new series of multi-arm chiral liquid crystals (LCs) D1–D3 were synthesised and characterised. Cholic acid was used as the core and ω-[4-(p-alkoxybenzoloxy)phenoxycarbonyl]valeric acid (B1–B3) was used as the mesogenic arms, containing different terminal substituent X (B1: X= -OCH₃, B2:X= -CH₃, B3: X= -Cl). Their structures and mesomorphic properties were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance hydrogen spectrometer, differential scanning calorimetry, polarised optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The mesogenic B1–B3 displayed smectic B phase. The multi-arm LC D1 displayed cholesteric, while D2 and D3 exhibited nematic phase. The formation of cholesteric phase of D1 was affected by both the chiral core – the bulky cholic acid and the polarity of the terminal substituent of the mesogenic arm. That D1 displayed cholesteric phase but D2–D3 did not indicated that the stronger polarity of the terminal group OCH₃ of D1 played an important part in stabilising the cholesteric phase. The multi-arm LCs D1–D3 all showed ultraviolet activity. The wavelength of maximum absorption of D1–D3 was affected by the terminal substituent of the mesogenic arm.     

Phosphino imidazoles and imidazolium salts for Suzuki C-C coupling reactions

The consecutive syntheses of imidazoles 1-(4-X-C(6)H(4))-4,5-R(2)-(c)C(3)HN(2) (3a, X = Br, R = H; 3b, X = I, R = Me; 3c, X = H, R = Me; 5, X = Fc, R = H; 7, X = C≡CFc, R = H; 9, X = C(6)H(5), R = Me; Fc = Fe(η(5)-C(5)H(4))(η(5)-C(5)H(5))), phosphino imidazoles 1-(4-X-C(6)H(4))-2-PR'(2)-4,5-R(2)-(c)C(3)N(2) (11a-k; X = Br, I, Fc, FcC≡C, Ph; R = H, Me; R' = Ph, (c)C(6)H(11), (c)C(4)H(3)O), imidazolium salts [1-(4-X-C(6)H(4))-3-R'-4,5-R(2)-(c)C(3)HN(2)]I (16a; X = Br, R = H, R' = n-Bu; 16b, X = Br, R = H, R' = n-C(8)H(17); 16c, X = I, R = Me, R' = n-C(8)H(17), 16d, X = H, R = Me, R' = n-C(8)H(17)) and phosphino imidazolium salts [1-C(6)H(5)-2-PR'(2)-3-n-C(8)H(17)-4,5-Me(2)-(c)C(3)N(2)]PF(6) (17a, R' = C(6)H(5); 17b, R' = (c)C(6)H(11)) or [1-(4-P(C(6)H(5))(2)-C(6)H(4))-3-n-C(8)H(17)-4,5-Me(2)-(c)C(3)HN(2)]PF(6), (20) and their selenium derivatives 1-(4-X-C(6)H(4))-2-P([double bond, length as m-dash]Se)R'(2)-4,5-R(2)-(c)C(3)N(2) (11a-Se-f-Se; X = Br, I; R = H, Me; R' = C(6)H(5), (c)C(6)H(11), (c)C(4)H(3)O) are reported. The structures of 11a-Se and [(1-(4-Br-C(6)H(4))-(c)C(3)H(2)N(2)-3-n-Bu)(2)PdI(2)] (19) in the solid state were determined. Cyclovoltammetric measurements were performed with the ferrocenyl-containing molecules 5 and 7 showing reversible redox events at E(0) = 0.108 V (ΔE(p) = 0.114 V) (5) and E(0) = 0.183 V (ΔE(p) = 0.102 V) (7) indicating that 7 is more difficult to oxidise. Imidazole oxidation does not occur up to 1.3 V in dichloromethane using [(n-Bu)(4)N][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] as supporting electrolyte, whereas an irreversible reduction is observed between -1.2 - -1.5 V. The phosphino imidazoles 11a-k and the imidazolium salts 17a,b and 20, respectively, were applied in the Suzuki C-C cross-coupling of 2-bromo toluene with phenylboronic acid applying [Pd(OAc)(2)] as palladium source. Depending on the electronic character of 11a-k, 17a,b and 20 the catalytic performance of the in situ generated catalytic active species can be predicted. As assumed, more electron-rich phosphines with their higher donor capability show higher activity and productivity. Additionally, 11e was applied in the coupling of 4-chloro toluene with phenylboronic acid showing an excellent catalytic performance when compared to catalysts used by Fu, Beller and Buchwald. Furthermore, 11e is eligible for the synthesis of sterically hindered biaryls under mild reaction conditions. C-C Coupling reactions with the phosphino imidazolium salts 17b and 20 in ionic liquids [BMIM][PF(6)] and [BDMIM][BF(4)] were performed, showing less activity than in common organic solvents.     

Luminescence Properties of Platinum(II) Dithiooxamide Compounds

Tight contact ion pairs of general formula {Pt(H(2)-R(2)-dto)(2)(2+),(X(-))(2)} have been prepared, and their absorption spectra and luminescence properties (at room temperature in dichloromethane fluid solution and at 77 K in butyronitrile rigid matrix) have been studied (dto = dithiooxamide; R = methyl, X = Cl (1); R = butyl, X = Cl (2); R = benzyl, X = Cl (3); R = cyclohexyl, X = Cl (4); R = cyclohexyl, X = Br (5); R = cyclohexyl, X = I (6)). The absorption spectra of all the compounds are dominated by moderately strong Pt(dpi)/S(p) to dithiooxamide (pi) charge transfer (Pt/S --> dto CT) bands in the visible region (epsilon in the 10(4)-10(5) M(-)(1) cm(-)(1) range). Absorption features are also present at higher energies, due to pi-pi transitions centered in the dto ligands (ligand centered, LC). All the compounds exhibit a unstructured luminescence band in fluid solution at room temperature, with the maximum centered in the 700-730 nm range. The luminescence bands are blue-shifted about 4000 cm(-)(1) on passing to the rigid matrix at 77 K. Luminescence lifetimes are on the 10(-)(8)-10(-)(7) s time scale at room temperature and 1 order of magnitude longer at 77 K. Luminescence is assigned to triplet Pt/S --> dto CT excited states in all cases. Compounds 3-6 also exhibit a second higher-energy luminescence band at room temperature, centered at about 610 nm, attributed to a LC excited state. Charge transfer interactions between halides and dto ligands destabilize dto-centered orbitals, affecting the energy of Pt/S --> dto CT transitions and states. The X counterions and X --> dto CT levels are proposed to play a role in promoting excited state conversion between LC and Pt/S --> dto CT levels. The R substituents on the nitrogen atoms of the dto ligands influence the absorption and photophysical properties of the compounds, by affecting proximity of the ion pairs. The possibility to functionalize the R substituents may open the way to interface these luminescent compounds with desired substrates and to construct supramolecular assemblies.