A Novel Production of γ-Butyrolactone Catalyzed by Homogeneous Ruthenium Complexes

γ-Butyrolactone (hereafter abbreviated GBL) is produced by the two-stage hydrogenation of maleic anhydride(MAH) in the liquid phase: the hydrogenation of MAH to succinic anhydride(SAH) in the first stage and the subsequent hydrogenation of SAH to GBL in the second stage. A novel ruthenium catalyst system consisting of Ru salts, trialkylphosphine and p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TsOH) was found very effective for the hydrogenation of SAH affording GBL, which exhibited excellent catalyst performance, exceeding 97% selectivity for GBL and high activity.     

Natural monocrystalline chalcopyrite and galena as electrochemical sensors in non-aqueous solvents. Part I: potentiometric titrations of weak acids in γ-butyrolactone and propylene carbonate

Natural monocrystalline chalcopyrite and galena as new indicator electrodes for the potentiometric titrations of benzoic, anthranilic, -nitroso--naphthol and salicylic acids in -butyrolactone (GBL) and propylene carbonate have been used. Potassium hydroxide in methanol was employed as the titrating agent. The results are compared with those obtained using a glass electrode. The investigated electrodes showed a linear dynamic response for p-toluensulfonic acid concentrations in the range from 0.1 to 0.001 M, with a Nernstian slope of 63 mV for chalcopyrite, 66 mV per decade for galena in GBL, 77 mV for chalcopyrite and 98 mV per decade for galena in propylene carbonate. Both electrodes showed a relatively fast response time and can be used without any time limit or without considerable divergence in potentials. The standard deviation of the determination of the investigated acids was less than 0.5%.     

Binding forces in complexation ofp-alkylphenols withβ-cyclodextrin and methylatedβ-cyclodextrins

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to determine the binding constants (K) for inclusion complexes of six kinds ofp-Akyphenols with-cyclodextrin (-CDx), heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)--CDx (DMe--CDxg), and heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)--CDx (TMe--CDx). The stability of the inclusion complex of each cyclodextrin increases with increasing alkyl chain length of thep-alkylphenol. TheK values decrease in the order of DMe--CDx,-CDx, and TMe--CDx for each guest. In complexation of 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanol (3) with-CDx as well as with DMe--CDx, negative enthalpy (H) and positive entropy changes (S) have been obtained, suggesting both van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions as binding forces. The inclusion of 3 by TMe--CDx, however, is an enthalpically favorable but entropically unfavorable process. The van der Waals interactions may be the main binding forces for complexing3 with TMe--CDx.     

Synthesis ofN-chioroacetyl-β-glycopyranosylamines,derivatives of monosaccharides and lactose

N-Chloroacetyl--glycopyranosylimines were synthesized from various monosaccharide (hexoses, pentoses, deoxysugars, uronic acids, and sugar phosphates) and a disaccharide (lactose) byN-acylation of the corresponding -glycosylamines with chloroacetic anhydride in DMF In some cases, treatment of rnonosacc harides with NH₃ in the presence of (NH₄)₂CO₃ in MeOH or aqueous MeOH was more efficient than the methods previously described, as it gave -glycosylarnines in higher yields.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1848–1851, July, 1996.     

Artificial hydrolase using modified dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin

The first successful method for modification of dimethyl--cyclodextrin (-DMCD) was demonstrated by the synthesis of a new artificial hydrolase (2) and the enzymatic activities of 2 were investigated.2 caused an 1100-fold increase in the rate of hydrolysis ofp-nitrophenyl acetate at pH 7.2, whereas unmodified-DMCD depressed the reaction. The kinetic pK _a of2 was 7.2, and theK _m of2 was independent of pH values.2 hadpara-selectivity for the hydrolysis of nitrophenyl acetate isomers.     

Charge-transfer complexes betweenp-toluidine and iodine in solution: A kinetic study

The kinetics of charge-transfer interaction betweenp-toluidine and iodine in methylene chloride was investigated in depth. Thethermal process of formation of theinner complex was found to proceed to an equilibrium. Thephotochemical process follows a different reaction coordinate, going through the formation of an exciplex between the excitedouter complex and the amine ground state. In both cases the same ionic complex (Am ₂I⁺I ₃ ^– , whereAm stands forp-toluidine) was detected as the final product.

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Kinetische Untersuchung der Charge-Transfer-Komplexe zwischenp-Toluidin und Jod

Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Charge-Transfer-Wechselwirkung zwischenp-Toluidin und Jod in Methylenchlorid wurde ausführlich untersucht. Derthermische Prozeß, der zur Bildung desinner-Komplexes führt, geht bis zu einem Gleichgewicht. Derphotochemische Prozeß folgt einer unterschiedlichen Reaktionskoordinate und verläuft über die Bildung eines Exziplexes zwischen dem angeregtenouter-Komplex und dem Amin im Grundzustand. In beiden Fällen wurde derselbe ionische Komplex (Am ₂I⁺I ₃ ^– , wobeiAm fürp-Toluidin steht) als Endprodukt festgestellt.

     

Linear and cyclic N-acetyl-α-aryl-glycines: Synthesis and chemiluminescence studies

Summary A series of N-acetyl--arylglycines (IIa,IIb) was prepared by acid-induced electrophilic -amidoalkylation reactions; compounds of typeIIb were transformed into the corresponding 3-acetylaminobenzo[b]furan-2(3H)ones (III) by treatment with acetic anhydride. It was found that most of these new compounds (lactones as well as open chain derivatives) undergo base induced oxidation in the presence of oxygen with the emission of visible light. Preliminary structure-activity relationships for these novel chemiluminescence class are proposed.

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Lineare und cyclische N-Acetyl--aryl-glycine: Synthese und Chemilumineszenz-Untersuchungen

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe von N-Acetyl--arylglycinen (IIa,IIb) konnte durch sauer induzierte elektrophile -Amidoalkylierung hergestellt werden; die Behandlung von Verbindungen des TypsIIb mit Acetanhydrid führte zu den entsprechenden 3-Acetylaminobenzo[b]furan-2(3H)onen (III). Es zeigt sich, daß die Mehrzahl dieser neuen Verbindungen (sowohl Lactone als auch offenkettige Derivate) bei basisch induzierter Oxidation mit (Luft-)Sauerstoff sichtbares Licht emittieren. Erste Struktur-Aktivitäts-Beziehungen für diese neue chemilumineszenzierende Klasse werden vorgeschlagen.

     

Disposition of copper(II) inβ-cyclodextrin

Distances of glucose protons in-cyclodextrin (BCD) from copper(II) in copper(II)--cyclodextrin have been determined from¹H NMR spin-lattice relaxation time (T ₁) measurements for the first time. Very lowT _1p /T _2p values indicated the dipolar mechanism to be the most dominant one in determining the paramagnetic contribution to relaxation. The distances of copper(II) from BCD glucose protons indicated copper(II) to be present almost in the centre, inside the cavity in the same plane as H-1 and H-4. An average distance of about 5.0–5.9 Å was obtained for copper(II) from the H-2, H-3, H-1, H-4 and H-6 a and b protons in BCD.     

peri-Naphthylenediamines. 38. Naphthalene and acenaphthene “proton sponges” with +M substituents in ortho positions with respect to peri-dimethylamino groups

Previously unknown 4,5,6,7-tetrakis(dimethylamino)acenaphthene, which is the first acenaphthene derivative containing four vicinal dialkylamino groups, was synthesized based on 5,6-bis(dimethylamino)-4,7-dinitroacenaphthene. The total synthesis of 1,2,7,8-tetrakis(dimethylamino)naphthalene was carried out starting from 3,6-dinitronaphthalic anhydride. Other proton sponges of this type, viz., 1,7,8-tris(dimethylamino)-2-methoxy- and 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-2,7-dipiperidinonaphthalenes, were prepared by the nucleophilic substitution in 2,7-dimethoxy-1,8-dinitronaphthalene. In solutions, 1,2,7,8-tetrakis(dimethylamino)naphthalene and its analogs can form di- and trications in the presence of acids. The basicity constants pK _a ¹ of the compounds measured in DMSO depend in a complex way on their structures but correlate with the basicity index B, which is determined by changes in the chemical shifts _H after the addition of the first proton. Due to low C-nucleophilicity of ortho-disubstituted proton sponges in combination with high basicity, these compounds hold considerable promise as reagents in organic synthesis.     

Heterogeneous Asymmetric Reactions, 22. β-Isocinchona Alkaloids in Enantioselective Hydrogenations

The enantioselective hydrogenation of ethyl pyruvate to (S)-ethyl lactate over Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst was investigated using the new modifier -isocinchonine (40% ee) which has oxazatwistane structure. These studies supply additional evidence for the widely accepted reaction mechanism.