Synthesis and Characterization of [XeOXe]2+ in the Adduct‐Cation Salt, [CH3CN‐ ‐ ‐XeOXe‐ ‐ ‐NCCH3][AsF6]2

Acetonitrile and [FXeOXe‐ ‐ ‐FXeF][AsF₆] react at ?60 °C in anhydrous HF (aHF) to form the CH₃CN adduct of the previously unknown [XeOXe]²⁺ cation. The low‐temperature X‐ray structure of [CH₃CN‐ ‐ ‐XeOXe‐ ‐ ‐NCCH₃][AsF₆]₂ exhibits a well‐isolated adduct‐cation that has among the shortest Xe?N distances obtained for an sp‐hybridized nitrogen base adducted to xenon. The Raman spectrum was fully assigned by comparison with the calculated vibrational frequencies and with the aid of ¹⁸O‐enrichment studies. Natural bond orbital (NBO), atoms in molecules (AIM), electron localization function (ELF), and molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEPS) analyses show that the Xe?O bonds are semi‐ionic whereas the Xe?N bonds may be described as strong electrostatic (σ‐hole) interactions.     

DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl = 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis‐alcohol Adduct

Protocatechuic acid esters (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5 equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2 equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o‐quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4 equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester ( 4 ), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate ( 1 ) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) or o‐chloranil (= 3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorocyclohexa‐3,5‐diene‐1,2‐dione) in CD₃OD/(D₆)acetone 3 : 1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o‐chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis‐methanol adduct ( 7 ), which could scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o‐quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o‐quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o‐quinone is a key reaction for the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents.     

Theoretical studies of spin state‐specific [2 + 2] and [5 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions of n‐(1‐penten‐5‐yl)maleimide

N‐alkenyl maleimides are found to exhibit spin state‐specific chemoselectivities for [2 + 2] and [5 + 2] photocycloadditions; but, reaction mechanism is still unclear. In this work, we have used high‐level electronic structure methods (DFT, CASSCF, and CASPT2) to explore [2 + 2] and [5 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction paths of an N‐alkenyl maleimide in the S₁ and T₁ states as well as relevant photophysical processes. It is found that in the S₁ state [5 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction is barrierless and thus overwhelmingly dominant; [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction is unimportant because of its large barrier. On the contrary, in the T₁ state [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction is much more favorable than [5 + 2] photocyclo‐addition reaction. Mechanistically, both S₁ [5 + 2] and T₁ [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reactions occur in a stepwise, nonadiabatic means. In the S₁ [5 + 2] reaction, the secondary C atom of the ethenyl moiety first attacks the N atom of the maleimide moiety forming an S₁ intermediate, which then decays to the S₀ state as a result of an S₁ → S₀ internal conversion. In the T₁ [2 + 2] reaction, the terminal C atom of the ethenyl moiety first attacks the C atom of the maleimide moiety, followed by a T₁ → S₀ intersystem crossing process to the S₀ state. In the S₀ state, the second C C bond is formed. Our present computational results not only rationalize available experiments but also provide new mechanistic insights. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Order‐Order Transition of C → sdG → sL → S in ABC Triblock Copolymer Thin Film Induced by Solvent Vapor

The morphology transition of polystyrene‐block‐poly(butadiene)‐block‐poly(2‐vinylpyridine) (SBV) triblock thin film induced in benzene vapor showing weak selectivity for PS is investigated. The order‐order transitions (OOT) in the sequence of core‐shell cylinders (C), sphere in ‘diblock gyroid’ (sdG), sphere in lamella (sL) and sphere (S) are observed. The projection along (111) direction in Gyroid phase (sdG(111)) is found to epitaxially grow from C(001) in the film. Instead of sdG(111), sdG(110)_0.1875 develops to the phase of sL. Consequently, the film experiences the transition sequence of sdG(111) → sdG(211) → sdG(110)_0.25 → sdG(110)_0.1875 between C and sL. The mechanism is analyzed from the total surface area of the blocks.

     

Selective Reduction of CO2 to a Formate Equivalent with Heterobimetallic Gold‐ ‐ ‐Copper Hydride Complexes

A series of heterobimetallic complexes containing three‐center, two‐electron Au−H−Cu bonds have been prepared from addition of a parent gold hydride to a bent d¹⁰ copper(I) fragment. These highly unusual heterobimetallic complexes represent a missing link in the widely investigated series of neutral and cationic coinage metal hydride complexes containing Cu−H−Cu and M−H−M⁺ moieties (M=Cu, Ag). The well‐defined heterobimetallic hydride complexes act as precatalysts for the conversion of CO₂ into HCO₂Bpin with HBpin as the reductant. The selectivity of the heterobimetallic complexes for the catalytic production of a formate equivalent surpasses that of the parent monomeric Group 11 complexes.     

C−H Acetoxylation‐Based Chemical Synthesis of 17 β‐Hydroxymethyl‐17 α‐methyl‐18‐norandrost‐13‐ene Steroids

Palladium‐catalyzed C?H acetoxylation has been proposed as a key transformation in the first chemical synthesis of steroids bearing a unique 17β‐hydroxymethyl‐17α‐methyl‐18‐nor‐13‐ene D ‐fragment. This C?H functionalization step was crucial for inverting the configuration at the quaternary stereocenter of a readily available synthetic intermediate. The developed approach was applied to prepare the metandienone metabolite needed as a reference substance in anti‐doping analysis to control the abuse of this androgenic anabolic steroid.     

Bifunktionalisierte 1 H‐Phosphiren‐ und g1‐1‐Phosphaallen‐Wolframkomplexe

Bifunctionalized 1 H‐Phosphirene and g¹‐1‐Phosphaallene Tungsten Complexes The tungsten(0) complex [{(Me₃Si)₂HCPC(Ph)=N}W(CO)₅] 1 reacts upon heating with acetylene derivatives 2 a–d in toluene to form benzonitrile and the complexes [{(Me₃Si)₂HCPC(R)=COEt} · W(CO)₅] 5 a–d ( 5 a : R = SiMe₃; 5 b : R = SiPh₃; 5 c : R = SnMe₃; 5 d : R = SnPh₃) and [{(Me₃Si)₂HCP=C=C(OEt)R} · W(CO)₅] 6 a, b ( 6 a : R = SnMe₃; 6 b : R = SnPh₃), which have been isolated by chromatography; complexes 5 c and 6 a have been characterized as mixtures. Spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data are discussed. The crystal structure of the compound 5 a was determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis ( 5 a : space group P2₁/n, Z = 4, a = 977.6(2) pm, b = 1814.6(4) pm, c = 1628.0(4) pm, β = 93.95(2)°).     

Medium‐sized phosphorus cluster cations P+2m+1 (6 ≤ m ≤ 32) studied by collision‐induced dissociation mass spectrometry

Medium‐sized phosphorus cluster cations were generated by laser ablation of red phosphorus and investigated by the method of collision‐induced dissociation mass spectrometry. Experimental results show that the primary dissociation channels of phosphorus cluster cations of P ⁺ _2m+1 (6 ≤ m ≤ 11) are all characterized by the loss of P₄ unit. For larger cluster cations, their dissociation pathways were more complex. For those magic cations of P ⁺ _8k+1 observed previously, their dissociation pathways progressively change from the loss of P₄ unit (for k = 3) to the loss of P₈ unit (for k = 4, 5). A new dissociation pathway characterized by the loss of P₁₀ unit was also indentified for larger cations of P ⁺ _8k+1 (6 ≤ k ≤ 8). Theoretical calculation also shows that, for cations of P ⁺ _2m+1 (4 ≤ m ≤ 10), the dissociation channel characterized by the loss of P₄ unit is more energetically favorable than other dissociation channels, which is in good agreement with the experimental results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Derivatization of sialic acids for stabilization in matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and concomitant differentiation of α(2 → 3)‐ and α(2 → 6)‐isomers

Sialylated carbohydrates usually decompose by loss of sialic acid when ionized by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) as the result of the labile carboxylic proton. Stabilization has previously been achieved by forming methyl esters with methyl iodide, a procedure that eliminates the labile proton. In this paper, we describe an alternative procedure for methyl ester formation that provides information on the sialic acid linkage directly from the MALDI spectrum. The sugars were desalted, dissolved in methanol, and treated with 4‐(4,6‐dimethoxy‐1,3,5‐triazin‐2‐yl)‐4‐methylmorpholinium chloride (DMT‐MM). After removal of the solvent, the products were transferred directly to the MALDI target and examined from 2,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. Small amounts of N‐glycans derived from biological sources benefited from an additional clean‐up stage involving Nafion 117. α(2 → 6)‐Linked sialic acid produced only methyl esters whereas α(2 → 3)‐linked sialic acids were converted into their lactones providing a 32 Da difference in mass. Negative ion collision‐induced decomposition (CID) mass spectra of these neutralized glycans provided information, in many cases, on the antenna of N‐linked glycans to which the variously linked sialic acids were attached. The method was applied to N‐linked glycans released from bovine fetuin and porcine thyroglobulin. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structure and further fragmentation of significant [a3 + Na − H]+ ions from sodium‐cationized peptides

A good understanding of gas‐phase fragmentation chemistry of peptides is important for accurate protein identification. Additional product ions obtained by sodiated peptides can provide useful sequence information supplementary to protonated peptides and improve protein identification. In this work, we first demonstrate that the sodiated a₃ ions are abundant in the tandem mass spectra of sodium‐cationized peptides although observations of a₃ ions have rarely been reported in protonated peptides. Quantum chemical calculations combined with tandem mass spectrometry are used to investigate this phenomenon by using a model tetrapeptide GGAG. Our results reveal that the most stable [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is present as a bidentate linear structure in which the sodium cation coordinates to the two backbone carbonyl oxygen atoms. Due to structural inflexibility, further fragmentation of the [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion needs to overcome several relatively high energetic barriers to form [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ ion with a diketopiperazine structure. As a result, low abundance of [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is detected at relatively high collision energy. In addition, our computational data also indicate that the common oxazolone pathway to generate [b₂ + Na ? H]⁺ from the [a₃ + Na ? H]⁺ ion is unlikely. The present work provides a mechanistic insight into how a sodium ion affects the fragmentation behaviors of peptides. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene against breast cancer cells

This paper describes the synthesis of (Z + E)‐1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐hydroxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. Two synthetic pathways were explored. The best pathway consisted of the alkylation of 1,2‐bis‐[4‐(tert‐butyl‐dimethylsilyloxy)phenyl]‐1‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐1‐ene with BrCH₂COOEt. The ester obtained was transformed into the Weinreb amide by reaction with HN(OMe)Me–HCl. The reaction of lithium manganese tricarbonylcyclopentadienide with the Weinreb amide produced 1‐[4‐(2‐(cyclopentadienyltricarbonylmanganese)‐2‐oxo‐ethoxy)phenyl]‐1,2‐di(p‐tert‐butyldimethylsiloxyphenyl)‐but‐1‐ene. The deprotection of phenolic functions of the latter compound led to the formation of the final compound. The Z and E isomers could be separated but the isomerization of these isomers from one to another is an easy process. The Z + E compound 2 was tested against the hormone‐dependent MCF‐7 and hormone‐independent MDA‐MB‐231 breast cancer cell lines. The IC₅₀ values of compound 2 were 4.80 ± 2.00 µm and 4.79 ± 0.70 µm for MCF‐7 cells and MDA‐MB‐231 cells, respectively, which was three times better than the ferrocenyl analogue. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and DNA‐Binding Properties of the Chiral Ruthenium(II) Complexes Δ‐ and Λ‐[Ru(bpy)2(dmppd)]2+ (dmppd = 10,12‐Dimethylpteridino[6,7‐f] [1,10]phenanthroline‐11,13(10H,12H)‐dione; bpy = 2,2′‐Bipyridine)

Two novel chiral ruthenium(II) complexes, Δ‐[Ru(bpy)₂(dmppd)]²⁺ and Λ‐[Ru(bpy)₂(dmppd)]²⁺ (dmppd = 10,12‐dimethylpteridino[6,7‐f] [1,10]phenanthroline‐11,13(10H,12H)‐dione, bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H‐NMR and ES‐MS. The DNA‐binding behaviors of both complexes were studied by UV/VIS absorption titration, competitive binding experiments, viscosity measurements, thermal DNA denaturation, and circular‐dichroism spectra. The results indicate that both chiral complexes bind to calf‐thymus DNA in an intercalative mode, and the Δ enantiomer shows larger DNA affinity than the Λ enantiomer does. Theoretical‐calculation studies for the DNA‐binding behaviors of these complexes were carried out by the density‐functional‐theory method. The mechanism involved in the regulating and controlling of the DNA‐binding abilities of the complexes was further explored by the comparative studies of [Ru(bpy)₂(dmppd)]²⁺ and of its parent complex [Ru(bpy)₂(ppd)]²⁺ (ppd = pteridino[6,7‐f] [1,10]phenanthroline‐11,13 (10H,12H)‐dione).     

[2 + 2] Cycloaddition Reactions of Butadienyl Ketene with 1,4‐Diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes: Synthesis of Functionalized Butadienyl‐4‐iminomethyl‐azetidin‐2‐ones and Butenylidene‐butadienyl‐[2,2′‐biazetidine]‐4,4′‐diones

The reactions of butadienylketene with variety of 1,4‐diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes are studied. The reactions resulted in the formation of previously unknown functionalized cis butadienyl‐4‐iminomethyl‐azetidin‐2‐ones and butenylidene‐butadienyl‐[2,2′‐biazetidine]‐4,4′‐ diones. Butadienyl ketene reacts in [2+2] cycloaddition fashion with both iminic portion of 1,4‐ diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes and competitive [4+2] cycloaddition reaction of 1,4‐diazabuta‐1,3‐dienes as 4π component with butadienyl ketene as 2π component are not observed.     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .