Solvent-shared radical ion pairs [pyrene·⊖Na⊕(C2H5)2]∞: ESR evidence for two different aggregates in solution,room temperature crystallization,and structural proof of another polymorphic modification

The reduction of pyrene with sodium in aprotic diethyl ether allows to crystallize the extremely air-sensitive radical ion pair pyrene-sodium-diethylether. The single-crystal structure determination at 130 K shows that each sodium counter cation, solvated by one diethyl-ether molecule, is η³- and η⁶-coordinated to one of the short-axis six-membered rings of two pyrene radical anions. The resulting dibenzene-sodium sandwiches form a string, in which the hydrocarbon planes are canted to each other by 62°. In the pyrene radical-anion skeleton, no distortion due to its negative charge can be detected relative to that of the neutral molecule. From the temperature-dependent signal multiplets of preceding ESR investigations, the solvent-separated pyrene radical anion as well as two different contact radical-ion pairs had been identified and their structures in solution approximated by potential-energy estimates. Referring to the recently discovered long-axis Na⊕ contact ion pair polymorph, crystallized at lower temperatures, the structure reported here represents the second and probably thermodynamically more stable one. Both the ESR and the structural results provide some insight into the multidimensional networks of equilibria in aprotic solution, which are activated by alkali-metal reduction of unsaturated organic compounds.     

Crystalline polymorphism and molecular structure of sodium pravastatin

In this work different crystallization processes of sodium pravastatin are explored and a new polymorph is obtained. The analytical results of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and thermal analysis for this new polymorph indicate that it is different from the polymorphs previously reported. This new crystal form shows different physical-chemical properties than the previous forms, such as crystallographic structure, thermal behavior, and melting point, 181.5 degrees C. Besides, all crystallization processes previously reported use an aprotic solvent as antisolvent. However, we propose a new crystallization process for sodium pravastatin that uses only protic solvents, overcoming industrial scaling and environmental problems. Variable-temperature PXRD experiments show a transformation between different crystal forms in the range of 80-120 degrees C. Solid-state 13C NMR, reported in this work for the first time, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies of some polymorphs show some differences in intermolecular interactions, especially with carboxylate and hydroxyl groups. Quantum mechanical calculations of the pravastatin molecule are also presented for the first time, obtaining a molecular structure similar to the experimental structure existing within the crystal lattice of the tert-octylamonium salt of pravastatin.     

Electrochemical reduction of triorganohalo-silanes and -germanes

The electrochemical reduction of triorganohalo-silanes and -germanes in 1,2-dimethoxyethane has been investigated by polarography, cyclic voltammetry, controlled potential coulometry, and macroscale electrolysis. The reduction of the silicon compounds exhibits a single irreversible wave. The polarograms for the germanium compounds exhibit two irreversible waves. The second wave shifts to more anodic potentials with addition of phenol or acetic acid. Dimer (i.e. disilanes or digermanes) are the main product of macroscale electrolysis in aprotic solvent but the hydrides are the principal products in protic solution.The results are interpreted in terms of the coexistence of two separate processes. The first involves a one electron reduction followed by dimerization of the radical. At higher cathodic potential a two electron charge transfer step occurs to form an anion, which in aprotic solvents reacts with the starting halogeno compound to form dimer, and in protic solutions gives the hydride.     

Oligomers and Polymers of Polyethers and Polyformals

Linear high molecular weight aromatic polyformals are readily obtained from biphenols and excess methylene chloride with solid sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst or an aprotic dipolar solvent. By control of the stoichiometry bifunctional oligomers can be obtained which can subsequently be incorporated into a variety of block copolymers.     

Kinetics and mechanism of urethane reactions: Phenyl isocyanate–alcohol systems

Urethane reactions of phenyl isocyanate alcohol systems with toluene as solvent and various aprotic polar solvents (including tertiary amines) as additives were carried out at constant temperature of 10–40°C. Analysis of the variation of the second order rate constants of these systems and those available in the literature indicates that formation of the hydrogen bonding complexes (alcohol with phenyl isocyanate and with aprotic solvent) and electron donor number (DN) of the aprotic solvent are the two factors allowing satisfactory explanation of the catalysis and inhibition effects of the wide range of aprotic solvents (including amines, amides, etc.). Based on these considerations, an ion-pair mechanism and the resulting kinetic equation for the urethane reaction are proposed. Verification on the kinetic equation with experimental results for the systems of phenyl isocyanate with alcohol in toluene (for the self catalysis of the alcohol), with dimethyl formamide and dimethyl sulfoxide in toluene (for the catalysis of the aprotic solvents), and with triethylamine in toluene (for the catalysis of the tertiary amines) shows satisfactory. In the mechanism, the aprotic solvent is considered to solvate the complex of phenyl isocyanate/alcohol at the active hydrogen to form an ion-pair which can undergo the urethane reaction more easily.     

Sequential deprotonation of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins in DMF: from hyperporphyrins to sodium porphyrin complexes

Sequential deprotonations of meso-(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrins (p-OHTPPH2) in DMF + H2O (V/V = 1:1) mixture have been verified to result in the appearance of hyperporphyrin spectra. However, when the deprotonations of these p-OHTPPH2 are carried out in DMF, the spectral changes differ considerably from those in the mixture mentioned above. At low [OH-], the optical spectra in the visible region are still considered to have characteristics of hyperporphyrin spectra. Further deprotonation at much higher basicity makes the optical spectra form three-banded spectra similar to those in the acidic solution. To clarify the molecular origins of these changes, UV-vis, resonance Raman (RR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) experiments are carried out. Our data give evidence that p-OHTPPH2 in DMF can be further deprotonated of pyrrolic-H by higher concentrated NaOH, due to an aprotic medium like DMF effectively weakening the basicity of the porphyrin relative to that of the NaOH, and coordinates with two sodium ions (except the sodium ions that interact with the peripherial phenoxide anions) to form the sodium complexes of p-OHTPPH2 (Na2P, to lay a strong emphasis on the sodium ions that coordinate with the central nitrogen atom), which can be regarded as the porphyrin anions being perturbed by the sodium cations due to their highly ionic character. The negative centers generated by deprotonation of pyrrolic-H and phenolic-H are not thoroughly delocalized between the substituents and the porphyrin ring. Thus the negative centers generated by deprotonation of pyrrolic-H only act as electron-donating groups on the porphyrin pi system, and the negative charges of the phenoxide anion are also mainly localized on the peripheral substituents. As a result, the porphyrin pi orbitals cross over the phenoxide anion pi orbital and turn into HOMOs, which turns hyperporphyrin spectra of deprotonated phenolic-H of p-OHTPPH2 into three-banded spectra of regular metalloporphyrins.     

Sodium hydride-initiated polymerizations of vinyl monomers in aprotic solvents

Polymerizations of several vinyl monomers at 25°C in aprotic solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, and hexamethylphosphoric triamide) using sodium hydride dispersion as initiator yield low to intermediate molecular weight polymers. The molecular weight of the resulting polymer as well as the mode of initiation depends on the monomer and aprotic solvent used. Initiation of polymerization of monomers with available α hydrogens (methyl acrylate, acrylonitrile) involves monomer anion, while initiation of a monomer with no α hydrogen (methyl methacrylate) proceeds by a more complex mechanism. In contrast, initiation of styrene and α-methylstyrene proceeds by dimsyl anion addition to monomer in dimethylsulfoxide. Although the triad tacticities and number-average molecular weights of poly(methyl methacrylate) samples obtained from all three aprotic solvents are nearly the same, poly(methyl methacrylates) prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide and N,N-dimethylacetamide give polymers having polydispersities of ～3, while a very polydisperse polymer is obtained in hexamethylphosphoric triamide.     

Study on the structure–activity of dihydromyricetin and its new production

Myricetin (MY) was firstly synthesized from dihydromyricetin (DMY), and its antioxidant activity was analyzed. FTIR, NMR, and TG measurements confirmed that the DMY turned to MY. Scanning electron microscope observation showed that the 2,3-single bond offered great flexibility on the stage of crystallization to form imperfect crystalline regions; hence, DMY tends to form larger columnar crystals than MY. It has been found that the antioxidative efficiency of DMY was superior to MY, based on the measurement of radical scavenging activity by DPPH and the oxidation induction time of PP-antioxidant samples. The 2,3-double bond in MY structure, known as one of the characteristic determinants, was not an important requirement for antioxidant capacity or even negative correlation observed. Such a deduction was further supported by UV–Vis absorption spectra change when the pH was raised to pH 9. It was concluded that the ortho-trihydroxyl group in the B ring provides an antioxidant defense, and the 2,3-single band of C ring provides the structural stability.     

Theoretical insights on O2 and CO adsorption on neutral and positively charged gold clusters

With the aim of understanding the elementary steps governing the oxidation of CO catalyzed by dispersed or supported gold nanoclusters, the adsorption of molecular species, such as O2 and CO, on model neutral and positively charged clusters (Au(n)(m+) n = 1, 9, and 13; m = 0, 1, and 3) has been studied using an ab initio approach. The computed structural and thermodynamic data related to the binding process show that molecular oxygen interacts better with neutral clusters, acting as an electron acceptor, while CO more strongly binds to positively charged species, thus acting as an electron donor.     

Hydrated Electron Transfer to Nucleobases in Aqueous Solutions Revealed by Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations

We present an ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulation study into the transfer dynamics of an excess electron from its cavity‐shaped hydrated electron state to a hydrated nucleobase (NB)‐bound state. In contrast to the traditional view that electron localization at NBs (G/A/C/T), which is the first step for electron‐induced DNA damage, is related only to dry or prehydrated electrons, and a fully hydrated electron no longer transfers to NBs, our AIMD simulations indicate that a fully hydrated electron can still transfer to NBs. We monitored the transfer dynamics of fully hydrated electrons towards hydrated NBs in aqueous solutions by using AIMD simulations and found that due to solution‐structure fluctuation and attraction of NBs, a fully hydrated electron can transfer to a NB gradually over time. Concurrently, the hydrated electron cavity gradually reorganizes, distorts, and even breaks. The transfer could be completed in about 120–200 fs in four aqueous NB solutions, depending on the electron‐binding ability of hydrated NBs and the structural fluctuation of the solution. The transferring electron resides in the π*‐type lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of the NB, which leads to a hydrated NB anion. Clearly, the observed transfer of hydrated electrons can be attributed to the strong electron‐binding ability of hydrated NBs over the hydrated electron cavity, which is the driving force, and the transfer dynamics is structure‐fluctuation controlled. This work provides new insights into the evolution dynamics of hydrated electrons and provides some helpful information for understanding the DNA‐damage mechanism in solution.     

Metrical oxidation states of 2-amidophenoxide and catecholate ligands: structural signatures of metal-ligand π bonding in potentially noninnocent ligands

Catecholates and 2-amidophenoxides are prototypical "noninnocent" ligands which can form metal complexes where the ligands are best described as being in the monoanionic (imino)semiquinone or neutral (imino)quinone oxidation state instead of their closed-shell dianionic form. Through a comprehensive analysis of structural data available for compounds with these ligands in unambiguous oxidation states (109 amidophenolates, 259 catecholates), the well-known structural changes in the ligands with oxidation state can be quantified. Using these correlations, an empirical "metrical oxidation state" (MOS) which gives a continuous measure of the apparent oxidation state of the ligand can be determined based on least-squares fitting of its C-C, C-O, and C-N bond lengths to this single parameter (a simple procedure for doing so is provided via a spreadsheet in the Supporting Information). High-valent d(0) metal complexes, particularly those of vanadium(V) and molybdenum(VI), have ligands with unexpectedly positive, and generally nonintegral, MOS values. The structural effects in these complexes are attributed not to electron transfer, but rather to amidophenoxide- or catecholate-to-metal π bonding, an interpretation supported by the systematic variation of the MOS values as a function of the degree of competition with the other π-donating groups in the structures.     

Thermodynamic and structural characteristics of aqueous diamine solutions

Thermodynamic characteristics are calculated for aqueous diamine solutions prepared by substituting an amino group for the hydroxyl group of amino alcohols. Patterns are revealed in the change of the structural properties of the mixtures. The correlation between the entropy and enthalpy characteristics of the water–diamine systems and the excess packing coefficients suggests that the universal interactions determine the structural and energy properties of aqueous solutions of the studied diamines. The form of the concentration dependences of the structural and thermodynamic characteristics in the studied systems is found to be symbatic with the data for the mixtures of water with aprotic amides. The reasons for this are discussed by comparing the results with our previously published data for aqueous solutions of aprotic amides.     

Dynamic relaying properties of a β-turn peptide in long-range electron transfer

The relay stations play a significant role in long-range charge hopping transfer in proteins. Although studies have clarified that many more protein structural motifs can function as relays in charge hopping transfers by acting as intermediate charge carriers, the relaying properties are still poorly understood. In this work, taking a β-turn oligopeptide as an example, we report a dynamic character of a relay with tunable relaying properties using the density functional theory calculations. Our main finding is that a β-turn peptide can serve as an effective electron relay in facilitating long-range electron migration and its relay properties is vibration-tunable. The vibration-induced structural transient distortions remarkably affect the lowest occupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy, vertical electron affinity and electron-binding mode of the β-turn oligopeptide and the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) energy of the corresponding electron adduct and thus the relaying properties. Different vibration modes lead to different structural distortions and thus have different effects on the relaying properties and ability of the β-turn peptide. For the relaying properties, there approximately is a linear negative correlation of electron affinity with the LUMO energy of the β-turn or the SOMO energy of its electron adduct. Besides, such relaying properties also vary in the vibration evolution process, and the electron-binding modes may be tunable. As an important addition to the known static charge relaying properties occurring in various protein structural motifs, this work reports the dynamic electron-relaying characteristics of a β-turn oligopeptide with variable relaying properties governed by molecular vibrations which can be applied to different proteins in mediating long-range charge transfers. Clearly, this work reveals molecular vibration effects on the electron relaying properties of protein structural motifs and provides new insights into the dynamics of long-range charge transfers in proteins. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electron Transfer‐Initiated Epoxidation and Isomerization Chain Reactions of β‐Caryophyllene

The abundant sesquiterpene β‐caryophyllene can be epoxidized by molecular oxygen in the absence of any catalyst. In polar aprotic solvents, the reaction proceeds smoothly with epoxide selectivities exceeding 70 %. A mechanistic study has been performed and the possible involvement of free radical, spin inversion, and electron transfer mechanisms is evaluated using experimental and computational methods. The experimental data—including a detailed reaction product analysis, studies on reaction parameters, solvent effects, additives and an electrochemical investigation—all support that the spontaneous epoxidation of β‐caryophyllene constitutes a rare case of unsensitized electron transfer from an olefin to triplet oxygen under mild conditions (80 °C, 1 bar O₂). As initiation of the oxygenation reaction, the formation of a caryophyllene‐derived radical cation via electron transfer is proposed. This radical cation reacts with triplet oxygen to a dioxetane via a chain mechanism with chain lengths exceeding 100 under optimized conditions. The dioxetane then acts as an in situ‐formed epoxidizing agent. Under nitrogen atmosphere, the presence of a one‐electron acceptor leads to the selective isomerization of β‐caryophyllene to isocaryophyllene. Observations indicate that this isomerization reaction is a novel and elegant synthetic pathway to isocaryophyllene.     

Reactions of oxiranes with alkali metals: intermediacy of radical-anions

Reaction of oxiranes with alkali metals in aprotic solvents yields a variety of products depending on the nature of the metal and the structure of the oxirane. Deoxygenation to olefins is the major reaction in case of lithium. Rearrangement to carbonyl compounds, reduction to alcohols and formation of dimeric products occur when oxiranes are treated with sodium. All the reactions could be rationalised by a mechanism involving an initial single electron transfer leading to the formation of a radical-anion intermediate.     

The atomic structural dynamics of γ-Al2O3 supported Ir-Pt nanocluster catalysts prepared from a bimetallic molecular precursor: a study using aberration-corrected electron microscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

This study describes a prototypical, bimetallic heterogeneous catalyst: compositionally well-defined Ir-Pt nanoclusters with sizes in the range of 1-2 nm supported on γ-Al(2)O(3). Deposition of the molecular bimetallic cluster [Ir(3)Pt(3)(μ-CO)(3)(CO)(3)(η-C(5)Me(5))(3)] on γ-Al(2)O(3), and its subsequent reduction with hydrogen, provides highly dispersed supported bimetallic Ir-Pt nanoparticles. Using spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (C(s)-STEM) and theoretical modeling of synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements, our studies provide unambiguous structural assignments for this model catalytic system. The atomic resolution C(s)-STEM images reveal strong and specific lattice-directed strains in the clusters that follow local bonding configurations of the γ-Al(2)O(3) support. Combined nanobeam diffraction (NBD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) data suggest the polycrystalline γ-Al(2)O(3) support material predominantly exposes (001) and (011) surface planes (ones commensurate with the zone axis orientations frequently exhibited by the bimetallic clusters). The data reveal that the supported bimetallic clusters exhibit complex patterns of structural dynamics, ones evidencing perturbations of an underlying oblate/hemispherical cuboctahedral cluster-core geometry with cores that are enriched in Ir (a result consistent with models based on surface energetics, which favor an ambient cluster termination by Pt) due to the dynamical responses of the M-M bonding to the specifics of the adsorbate and metal-support interactions. Taken together, the data demonstrate that strong temperature-dependent charge-transfer effects occur that are likely mediated variably by the cluster-support, cluster-adsorbate, and intermetallic bonding interactions.     

Determination of ionic liquids solvent properties using an unusual probe: the electron donor-acceptor complex between 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)-benzophenone and tetracyanoethene

Michler's ketone (MK) and tetracyanoethene (TCNE) may be used as a UV-vis probe to investigate the solvent properties of ionic liquids (ILs). In molecular solvents, MK and TCNE give an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex, a zwitterionic species or a radical ion pair, depending on the aprotic or protic nature of the solvent and on its ionizing power. In agreement with the behavior observed in aprotic solvents, only the EDA complex was detected in ILs bearing low donor anions (beta < 0.7). The formation constant determined in [bmim][Tf(2)N] (K(c) = 5.6 (0.5) M(-1)) is similar to that measured in 1,2-dichloroethane at 25 degrees C. The visible absorption maximum (nu(max,CTC)) of the EDA complex is quantitatively described by a multiple correlation using the Kamlet-Taft pi, beta, and alpha parameters of the solvents. The H-bond donating capacity of ILs is not sufficient to determine the transformation of the EDA complex into the zwitterionic species, but the Kamlet-Taft alpha parameter seems to affect the position of the absorption band. The high ionization power of ILs, moreover, favors the slow dissociation of the EDA complex into its corresponding radical ion pair; this behavior generally characterizes highly polar and highly ionizing protic solvents, such as TFE and HFI. Finally, since the formation of the EDA complex is strongly affected by the presence of impurities, traces of nucleophiles (chloride or amines) or water may be easily detected through the change of the solution color.     

Self-Assembling Synthetic Oligopeptide-Based Gelators

Synthetic self-assembling oligopeptide gelators are an important class of compounds which form thermoreversible gels in various organic solvents as well as in aqueous medium. These gels are soft, viscoelastic materials which are envisaged for useful applications in biological and material sciences. The terminally protected self-assembling synthetic tripeptide Boc-Ala-Aib-β-Ala-OMe 1 (Aib: α-aminoisobutyric acid i.e. dimethyl glycine and β-Ala: β-Alanine) forms gels in various organic solvents, whereas its structural analog i.e. the peptide Boc-Ala-Gly-β-Ala-OMe 2 (another self-assembling synthetic tripeptide) fails to form gels under similar conditions and this issue has been addressed. The terminally protected tripeptide Boc-Ala-Val-Ala-OMe 3 has been found to form gels in different aromatic organic solvents. Several structural analogs of peptide 3 [using small structural changes either in protecting groups (at the N or C-terminal position) or in amino acid side chains] have been synthesized, characterized and studied for gelation to address the question how structural changes can regulate the gelation property. Results of the gelation studies indicate that some structural changes are useful to make new peptide gelators with some variations in gelation property and efficiency, while a few structural changes in the protecting groups are really detrimental, leading to abolition the gelation property. These gels are studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and ¹H NMR studies.     

Electronic states and structural stability of supported Au clusters

The quantized energy levels of electrons in supported nanometer-size Au clusters have been resolved at room temperature using field emission techniques. By studying the time dependence of the electron emission current from an individual supported cluster, information about the structural stability of the cluster can also be obtained. Studies show abrupt jumps between different emission rates that are revisited as time progresses. This phenomenon can be attributed to a rearrangement of the cluster structure and/or orientation on the substrate and provides new evidence of multiple ‘isomeric’ structures for small clusters of metallic atoms.     

还原-氧化预处理对双孔道钴基催化剂催化性能的影响

以双介孔分布MCM-41分子筛为载体,采用等体积浸渍法制备了钴基催化剂,并考察了还原-氧化预处理方式对催化剂结构及费托合成催化性能的影响。新鲜催化剂经预处理之后,XRD结果显示钴物种主要以单质钴形式存在,且主要以面心立方钴晶型出现,晶粒粒径由原来的8.4nm增加到22.6nm,由于晶粒粒径的增大,拉曼峰呈现蓝移特征。SEM及TEM表征表明,预处理后催化剂中钴物种在载体中有较好的分散性。H₂-TPR结果表明,新鲜催化剂经还原-氧化预处理后钴物种的还原温度降低,钴物种-载体间作用力增强。费托合成反应结果显示,经预处理后催化剂较新鲜催化剂活性低,甲烷选择性提高,但C_5~18的选择性明显提高,尤其是C_5~11的选择性可达到新鲜催化剂的两倍。