Intramolecular carboxylic group‐assisted cleavage of N‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalamic acid (7) and N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamic acid (8): Absence of intramolecular general acid catalysis due to 2‐OH in 7

The values of pseudo first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for the cleavage of N‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)phthalamic acid ( 7 ), obtained at 4.9 × 10^?2 M HCl, 35°C, and within CH₃CN content range 2–80% (v/v) in mixed aqueous solvent are smaller than k_obs for the cleavage of N‐(2‐methoxyphenyl)phthalamic acid ( 8 ), obtained under almost similar experimental conditions, by nearly 1.5‐ to 2‐fold. These observations show the absence of expected intramolecular general acid catalysis due to 2‐OH group in 7 . The values of k_obs for the cleavage of 7 and 8 decrease by more than 20‐fold with the increase in the content of CH₃CN from 2 to 80–82% (v/v) in mixed aqueous solvent. The kinetic data reveal that in acidic aqueous cleavage of 7 , N‐cyclization (leading to the formation of imide) and O‐cyclization (leading to the formation of phthalic anhydride) vary from ～10 to 15% and ～90 to 85%, respectively, with the increase in CH₃CN content from 2 to 80% (v/v). Similar increase in CH₃CN content causes increase in N‐cyclization from ～0 to 5% and decrease in O‐cyclization from ～100 to 95% in the acidic aqueous cleavage of 8 . Some speculative, yet conceivable, reasons for nearly 10 and 0% N‐cyclization in the cleavage of respective 7 and 8 at low content of CH₃CN have been described. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 746–758, 2006     

Effects of mixed CH3CN(SINGLEBOND)H2O solvents on rate of intramolecular general base-catalyzed cleavage of ionized phenyl salicylate in the presence of 3-aminopropan-1-ol, 1,2-diaminoethane,and glycine

The effects of mixed CH₃CN(SINGLEBOND)H₂O solvents on rates of aminolysis of ionized phenyl salicylate, PS⁻, reveal a nonlinear decrease in the nucleophilic second-order rate constants, k_n^ms, (for aminolysis) with increase in the content of CH₃CN until it becomes ∼50%, v/v. The values of k_n^ms remain almost unchanged with change in the CH₃CN content within 50 to 70 or 80%, v/v. The effects of mixed CH₃CN(SINGLEBOND)H₂O solvents on pK_a of leaving group, phenol, and protonated amine nucleophile have been concluded to be the major source for the observed mixed solvent effects on k_n^ms. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet: 30: 301–307, 1998.     

Effects of pure AcOH and mixed AcOH–CS (CS?=?CH3CN and THF) solvents on the rate of cleavage of phthalic anhydride (PAn)

The values of pseudo-first-order rate constants (k _obs) for the acetolysis of phthalic anhydride (PAn) increase from 6.60?×?10^?7 to 31.5?×?10^?7?s^?1 with the increase in temperature from 30 to 50?°C. These values of k _obs give activation parameters ?H* and ?S* as 14.4?±?0.4?kcal?mol^?1 and ?39.1?±?1.3?cal?K^?1?mol^?1, respectively. The values of k _obs remain essentially unchanged with the increase in the content of CS (CS?=?CH₃CN or THF) from 0 to 40?% v/v in mixed AcOH?CCS solvents. These observations have been explained qualitatively.     

Kinetics and mechanism of alkaline hydrolysis of 4‐nitrophthalimide in the absence and presence of cationic micelles

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for alkaline hydrolysis of 4‐nitrophthalimide (NPTH) decreased by nearly 8‐ and 6‐fold with the increase in the total concentration of cetyltrimethyl‐ammonium bromide ([CTABr]_T) from 0 to 0.02 M at 0.01 and 0.05 M NaOH, respectively. These observations are explained in terms of the pseudophase model and pseudophase ion‐exchange model of micelle. The increase in the contents of CH₃CN from 1 to 70% v/v and CH₃OH from 0 to 80% v/v in mixed aqueous solvents decreases k_obs by nearly 12‐ and 11‐fold, respectively. The values of k_obs increase by nearly 27% with the increase in the ionic strength from 0.03 to 3.0 M. The mechanism of alkaline hydrolysis of NPTH involves the reactions between HO^? and nonionized NPTH as well as between HO^? and ionized NPTH. The micellar inhibition of the rate of alkaline hydrolysis of NPTH is attributed to medium polarity effect. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 407–414, 2001     

Influence of Decreasing Solvent Polarity (1,4‐Dioxane/Water Mixtures) on the Acid–Base and Copper(II)‐Binding Properties of Guanosine 5′‐Diphosphate

The acidity constants of twofold protonated guanosine 5′‐diphosphate, H₂(GDP)^?, and the stability constants of the [Cu(H;GDP)] and [Cu(GDP)]^? complexes were determined in H₂O as well as in 30 or 50% (v/v) 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O by potentiometric pH titrations (25°; I=0.1M , NaNO₃). The results showed that in H₂O one of the two protons of H₂(GDP)^? is located mainly at the N(7) site and the other one at the terminal β‐phosphate group. In contrast, for 50% 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O solutions, a micro acidity‐constant evaluation evidenced that ca. 75% of the H₂(GDP)^? species have both protons phosphate‐bound, because the basicity of pyridine‐type N sites decreases with decreasing solvent polarity whereas the one of phosphate groups increases. In the [Cu(H;GDP)] complex, the proton and the metal ion are in all three solvents overwhelmingly phosphate‐bound, and the release of this proton is inhibited by decreasing polarity of the solvent. Based on previously determined straight‐line plots of log K vs. pK (where R represents a non‐interacting residue in simple diphosphate monoesters ROP(O^?)(?O)? O? P(?O)(O^?)₂, R? DP^3?), which were now extended to mixed solvents (based on analogies), it is concluded that, in all three solvents, the [Cu(GDP)]^? complex is more stable than expected based on the basicity of the diphosphate residue. This increased stability is attributed to macrochelate formation of the phosphate‐coordinated Cu²⁺ with N(7) of the guanine residue. The formation degree of this macrochelate amounts in aqueous solution to ca. 75% (being thus higher than that of the Cu²⁺ complex of adenosine 5′‐diphosphate) and in 50% (v/v) 1,4‐dioxane/H₂O to ca. 60%, i.e., the formation degree of the macrochelate is only relatively little affected by the change in solvent, though it needs to be emphasized that the overall stability of the [Cu(GDP)]^? complex increases with decreasing solvent polarity. By including previously studied systems in the considerations, the biological implications are shortly discussed, and it is concluded that Nature has here a tool to alter the structure of complexes by shifting them on a protein surface from a polar to an apolar region and vice versa.     

Exceptional Crystallization Diversity and Solid‐State Conversions of CdII Coordination Frameworks with 5‐Bromonicotinate Directed by Solvent Media

A series of nine coordination polymers {[Cd(L)₂(solvent)_x](solvent)_y}_n have been prepared from Cd(NO₃)₂ and 5‐bromonicotinic acid (HL) in different solvents through a layered diffusion method. By using CH₃OH/H₂O at different volume ratios of 1:1 and 1:3, a one‐dimensional (1D) coordination species ( 1 a ) and a three‐dimensional (3D) (3,6)‐connected framework ( 2 a?g₁ ) can be obtained. A similar self‐assembly process in C₂H₅OH/H₂O or H₂O/1,4‐dioxane gives 2 a?g₂ or 2 a?g₃ , which are isomorphic to 2 a?g₁ but with different lattice solvents. Replacement of the mixed solvents with DMF/H₂O (v/v 1:1 or 1:3) also gives a 1D chain complex ( 1 b ) or a 3D microporous framework ( 2 b?g₁ ). Similarly, MOF 2 b?g₂ can be assembled from CH₃CN/H₂O as an isomorphic solvate of 2 b?g₁ . Significantly, the 3D MOF families of 2 a?g _n and 2 b?g _n are supramolecular isomers even though they are topologically equivalent. Also, if a mixture of CH₃OH/CH₂Cl₂ (v/v 1:1 or 3:1) is used, a pair of distinct MOFs ( 3 a?g ) and ( 3 b ) are generated as pseudo‐polymorphs that show a two‐dimensional (2D) sheet and a 3D coordination framework, respectively. Furthermore, mutual solvent‐induced conversions were realized between 1 a and 1 b and between 2 a?g₁ , 2 a?g₂ , and 2 a?g₃ following the size‐dependent rule of the solvent. These results are of great significance in recognizing the solvent effect upon coordination assemblies and their crystal transformations.     

Systematic study on chemical oxidative and solid‐state polymerization of poly(3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene)

Systematic research on the synthesis, chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene (EDTT) in the presence of surfactants or not, and solid‐state polymerization of 2,5‐dibromo‐3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene (DBEDTT) and 2,5‐diiodo‐3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene (DIEDTT) under solventless and oxidant‐free conditions has been investigated. Effects of oxidants (Fe³⁺ salts, persulfate salts, peroxides, and Ce⁴⁺ salts), solvents (H₂O, CH₃CN/H₂O, and CH₃CN), surfactants, and so forth on polymerization reactions and properties of poly(3,4‐ethylenedithiathiophene) (PEDTT) were discussed. Characterizations indicated that FeCl₃ was more suitable oxidant for oxidative polymerization of EDTT, while CH₃CN was a better solvent to form PEDTT powders with higher yields and electrical conductivities. Dispersing these powders in aqueous polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSH) solution showed better stability and film‐forming property than sodium dodecylsulfate and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. Oxidative polymerization of EDTT in aqueous PSSH solutions formed the solution processable PEDTT dispersions with good storing stability and film‐forming performance. Solvent treatment showed indistinctive effect on electrical conductivity of free‐standing PEDTT films. As‐formed PEDTT synthesized from solid‐state polymerization showed similar electrical conductivity, poorer stability, but better thermoelectric property than oxidative polymerization. Contrastingly, PEDTT synthesized from DIEDTT showed higher electrical conductivity (0.18 S cm^?1) than DBEDTT which showed better thermoelectric property with higher power factor value (6.7 × 10^?9 W m^?1 K^?2). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Atmospheric chemistry of n‐CH3(CH2)xCN (x = 0–3): Kinetics and mechanisms

Smog chamber/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques were used to measure the kinetics of the reaction of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) with Cl atoms and OH radicals: k(CH₃CN + Cl) = (1.04 ± 0.25) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + Cl) = (9.20 ± 3.95) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + Cl) = (2.03 ± 0.23) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + Cl) = (6.70 ± 0.67) × 10⁻¹¹, k(CH₃CN + OH) = (4.07 ± 1.21) × 10⁻¹⁴, k(CH₃CH₂CN + OH) = (1.24 ± 0.27) × 10⁻¹³, k(CH₃(CH₂)₂CN + OH) = (4.63 ± 0.99) × 10⁻¹³, and k(CH₃(CH₂)₃CN + OH) = (1.58 ± 0.38) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ at a total pressure of 700 Torr of air or N₂ diluents at 296 ± 2 K. The atmospheric oxidation of alkyl nitriles proceeds through hydrogen abstraction leading to several carbonyl containing primary oxidation products. HC(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, ClC(O)OONO₂, and HCN were identified as the main oxidation products from CH₃CN, whereas CH₃CH₂CN gives the products HC(O)CN, CH₃C(O)CN, NCC(O)OONO₂, and HCN. The oxidation of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 2–3) leads to a range of oxygenated primary products. Based on the measured OH radical rate constants, the atmospheric lifetimes of n‐CH₃(CH₂)_xCN (x = 0–3) were estimated to be 284, 93, 25, and 7 days for x = 0,1, 2, and 3, respectively.     

(M)‐ and (P)‐8‐[(1S,2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐2‐phenylethyl]‐8‐methyl‐8,9‐dihydro‐7H‐dinaphth[2,1‐c:1′,2′‐e]azepinium bromide solvates

The title compounds are diastereoisomers with antipodean axial chirality. The M isomer crystallizes as a (1/3) acetone solvate, C₃₂H₃₀NO⁺·Br^?·3C₃H₆O, while the P isomer crystallizes as a (1/1) di­chloro­methane solvate, C₃₂H₃₀NO⁺·Br^?·CH₂Cl₂. In each structure, O—H?Br hydrogen bonds link the cations and anions to give ion pairs. The seven‐membered azepinium ring adopts the usual twisted‐boat conformation and its ring strain causes a slight curvature of the plane of each naphthyl ring.     

Controlled Synthesis of Heterotrimetallic Single‐Chain Magnets from Anisotropic High‐Spin 3 d–4 f Nodes and Paramagnetic Spacers

By using the node‐and‐spacer approach in suitable solvents, four new heterotrimetallic 1D chain‐like compounds (that is, containing 3d–3d′–4f metal ions), {[Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)Fe(Tp*)(CN)₃] ? 2 CH₃CN ? CH₃OH}_n (H₂L=N,N′‐bis(3‐methoxysalicylidene)‐1,3‐diaminopropane, Tp*=hydridotris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazol‐1‐yl)borate; Ln=Gd ( 1 ), Dy ( 2 ), Tb ( 3 ), Nd ( 4 )), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. All of these compounds are made up of a neutral cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged heterotrimetallic chain, with a {? Fe? C?N? Ni(? O? Ln)? N?C? }_n repeat unit. Within these chains, each [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? entity binds to the Ni^II ion of the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ motif through two of its three cyanide groups in a cis mode, whereas each [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit is linked to two [(Tp*)Fe(CN)₃]^? ions through the Ni^II ion in a trans mode. In the [Ni(L)Ln(NO₃)₂(H₂O)]⁺ unit, the Ni^II and Ln^III ions are bridged to one other through two phenolic oxygen atoms of the ligand (L). Compounds 1 – 4 are rare examples of 1D cyanide‐ and phenolate‐bridged 3d–3d′–4f helical chain compounds. As expected, strong ferromagnetic interactions are observed between neighboring Fe^III and Ni^II ions through a cyanide bridge and between neighboring Ni^II and Ln^III (except for Nd^III) ions through two phenolate bridges. Further magnetic studies show that all of these compounds exhibit single‐chain magnetic behavior. Compound 2 exhibits the highest effective energy barrier (58.2 K) for the reversal of magnetization in 3d/4d/5d–4f heterotrimetallic single‐chain magnets.     

Temperature‐dependent kinetics study of the gas‐phase reactions of atomic chlorine with acetone, 2‐butanone,and 3‐pentanone

A laser flash photolysis–resonance fluorescence technique has been employed to study the kinetics of the reactions of atomic chlorine with acetone (CH₃C(O)CH₃; k₁), 2‐butanone (C₂H₅C(O)CH₃; k₂), and 3‐pentanone (C₂H₅C(O)C₂H₅; k₃) as a function of temperature (210–440 K) and pressure (30–300 Torr N₂). No significant pressure dependence is observed for any of the reactions studied. Arrhenius expressions (units are 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1) obtained from the data are k₁(T) = (1.53 ± 0.19) exp[(?594 ± 33)/T], k₂(T) = (2.77 ± 0.33) exp[(+76 ± 33)/T], and k₃(T) = (5.66 ± 0.41) exp[(+87 ± 22)/T], where uncertainties are 2σ and represent precision only. The accuracy of reported rate coefficients is estimated to be ±15% over the entire range of pressure and temperature investigated. The room temperature rate coefficients reported in this study are in good agreement with a majority of literature values. However, the activation energies reported in this study are in poor agreement with the literature values, particularly for 2‐butanone and 3‐pentanone. Possible explanations for discrepancies in published kinetic parameters are proposed, and the potential role of Cl + ketone reactions in atmospheric chemistry is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 259–267, 2008     

The hydroxyl radical reaction rate constant and products of 3,5‐dimethyl‐1‐hexyn‐3‐ol

A bimolecular rate constant,k_DHO, of (29 ± 9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 was measured using the relative rate technique for the reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with 3,5‐dimethyl‐1‐hexyn‐3‐ol (DHO, HC?CC(OH)(CH₃)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂) at (297 ± 3) K and 1 atm total pressure. To more clearly define DHO's indoor environment degradation mechanism, the products of the DHO + OH reaction were also investigated. The positively identified DHO/OH reaction products were acetone ((CH₃)₂C?O), 3‐butyne‐2‐one (3B2O, HC?CC(?O)(CH₃)), 2‐methyl‐propanal (2MP, H(O?)CCH(CH₃)₂), 4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone (MIBK, CH₃C(?O)CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), ethanedial (GLY, HC(?O)C(?O)H), 2‐oxopropanal (MGLY, CH₃C(?O)C(?O)H), and 2,3‐butanedione (23BD, CH₃C(?O)C(?O)CH₃). The yields of 3B2O and MIBK from the DHO/OH reaction were (8.4 ± 0.3) and (26 ± 2)%, respectively. The use of derivatizing agents O‐(2,3,4,5,6‐pentalfluorobenzyl)hydroxylamine (PFBHA) and N,O‐bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) clearly indicated that several other reaction products were formed. The elucidation of these other reaction products was facilitated by mass spectrometry of the derivatized reaction products coupled with plausible DHO/OH reaction mechanisms based on previously published volatile organic compound/OH gas‐phase reaction mechanisms. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 534–544, 2004     

A structural hierarchy in the hydrogen‐bonded adduct N,N′‐di­methyl­piperazine–tartaric acid–water (1/2/2): an N‐component N‐dimensional structure (N = 3) with substructures having N = 1 and 2

In the hydrated adduct N,N′‐di­methyl­piperazine‐1,4‐diium bis(3‐carboxy‐2,3‐di­hydroxy­propanoate) dihydrate, [MeNH(CH₂CH₂)₂NHMe]²⁺·2(C₄H₅O₆)^?·2H₂O or C₆H₁₆N₂²⁺·2C₄H₅O₆^?·2H₂O, formed between racemic tartaric acid and N,N′‐di­methyl­piperazine (triclinic P, Z′ = 0.5), the cations lie across centres of inversion. The anions alone form chains, and anions and water mol­ecules together form sheets; the sheets are linked by the cations to form a pillared‐layer framework. The supramolecular architecture thus takes the form of a family of N‐dimensional N‐component structures having N = 1, 2 or 3.     

A three‐dimensional mixed‐valence CuII/CuI coordination polymer constructed from biphenyl‐3,4′,5‐tricarboxylate and 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene ligands

Coordination polymers (CPs) built by coordination bonds between metal ions/clusters and multidentate organic ligands exhibit fascinating structural topologies and potential applications as functional solid materials. The title coordination polymer, poly[diaquabis(μ₄‐biphenyl‐3,4′,5‐tricarboxylato‐κ⁴O³:O^3′:O^4′:O⁵)tris[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene‐κ²N³:N^3′]dicopper(II)dicopper(I)], [Cu^II₂Cu^I₂(C₁₅H₇O₆)₂(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)₃(H₂O)₂]_n, was crystallized from a mixture of biphenyl‐3,4′,5‐tricarboxylic acid (H₃bpt), 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)benzene (1,4‐bib) and copper(II) chloride in a water–CH₃CN mixture under solvothermal reaction conditions. The asymmetric unit consists of two crystallographically independent Cu atoms, one of which is Cu^II, while the other has been reduced to the Cu^I ion. The Cu^II centre is pentacoordinated by three O atoms from three bpt³⁻ ligands, one N atom from a 1,4‐bib ligand and one O atom from a coordinated water molecule, and the coordination geometry can be described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal. The Cu^I atom exhibits a T‐shaped geometry (CuN₂O) coordinated by one O atom from a bpt³⁻ ligand and two N atoms from two 1,4‐bib ligands. The Cu^II atoms are extended by bpt³⁻ and 1,4‐bib linkers to generate a two‐dimensional network, while the Cu^I atoms are linked by 1,4‐bib ligands, forming one‐dimensional chains along the [20] direction. In addition, the completely deprotonated μ₄‐η¹:η¹:η¹:η¹ bpt³⁻ ligands bridge one Cu^I and three Cu^II cations along the a (or [100]) direction to form a three‐dimensional framework with a (10³)₂(10)₂(4².6.10².12)₂(4².6.8².10)₂(8) topology via a 2,2,3,4,4‐connected net. An investigation of the magnetic properties indicated a very weak ferromagnetic behaviour.     

A novel two‐dimensional cadmium(II) complex: poly[diaquatris(μ4‐cyclohexane‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis[2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole]tricadmium(II)

The title compound, [Cd₃(C₈H₁₀O₄)₃(C₁₂H₉N₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n or [Cd₃(chdc)₃(4‐PyBIm)₂(H₂O)₂]_n, was synthesized hydrothermally from the reaction of Cd(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O with 2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazole (4‐PyBIm) and cyclohexane‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (1,4‐chdcH₂). The asymmetric unit consists of one and a half Cd^II cations, one 4‐PyBIm ligand, one and a half 1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands and one coordinated water molecule. The central Cd^II cation, located on an inversion centre, is coordinated by six carboxylate O atoms from six 1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands to complete an elongated octahedral coordination geometry. The two terminal rotationally symmetric Cd^II cations each exhibits a distorted pentagonal–bipyramidal geometry, coordinated by one N atom from 4‐PyBIm, five O atoms from three 1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands and one O atom from an aqua ligand. The 1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands possess two conformations, i.e.e,e‐trans‐chdc²⁻ and e,a‐cis‐chdc²⁻. The cis‐1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands bridge the Cd^II cations to form a trinuclear {Cd₃}‐based chain along the b axis, while the trans‐1,4‐chdc²⁻ ligands further link adjacent one‐dimensional chains to construct an interesting two‐dimensional network.     

Synthesis of 3‐(ω‐Hydroxyalkoxy)isobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐ones by Trifluoroacetic Acid‐Mediated Lactonization of tert‐Butyl 2‐(1,3‐Dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 2‐(1,3‐Dioxan‐2‐yl)benzoates

An efficient two‐step method for the preparation of 3‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐ or 3‐(3‐hydroxypropoxy)isobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐ones 3 has been developed. Thus, the reaction of 1‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 1‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)‐2‐lithiobenzenes, generated in situ by the treatment of 1‐bromo‐2‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 1‐bromo‐2‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)benzenes 1 with BuLi in THF at ?78°, with (Boc)₂O afforded tert‐butyl 2‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 2‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)benzoates 2 , which can subsequently undergo facile lactonization on treatment with CF₃COOH (TFA) in CH₂Cl₂ at 0° to give the desired products in reasonable yields.     

Racemic (1,4‐dioxan‐2‐yl)diphenylmethanol

The title compound, C₁₇H₁₈O₃, prepared by microwave irradiation of benzophenone and dioxane, crystallizes in a racemic mixture that forms one‐dimensional chains via strong hydrogen bonding of the hydroxy group to the adjacent symmetry‐generated 1,4‐dioxan‐2‐yl group; the O—H...O distance is 1.99 (3) Å and the O—H...O angle is 160 (2)°.     

Effects of CH3OH‐H2O and CH3OH solvents on rate of reaction of phthalimide with piperidine

Pseudo‐first‐order rate constants (k_obs) for the cleavage of phthalimide in the presence of piperidine (Pip) vary linearly with the total concentration of Pip ([Pip]_T) at a constant content of methanol in mixed aqueous solvents containing 2% v/v acetonitrile. Such linear variation of k_obs against [Pip]_T exists within the methanol content range 10%–∼80% v/v. The change in k_obs with the change in [Pip]_T at 98% v/v CH₃OH in mixed methanol‐acetonitrile solvent shows the relationship: k_obs = k[Pip]_T + k[Pip], where respective k and k represent apparent second‐order and third‐order rate constants for nucleophilic and general base‐catalyzed piperidinolysis of phthalimide. The values of k_obs, obtained within [Pip]_T range 0.02–0.40 M at 0.03 M NaOH and 20 as well as 50% v/v CH₃OH reveal the relationship: k_obs = k₀/(1 + {k_n[Pip]/k_OX[⁻OX]_T}), where k₀ is the pseudo‐first‐order rate constant for hydrolysis of phthalimide, k_n and k_OX represent nucleophilic second‐order rate constants for the reaction of Pip with phthalimide and for the XO⁻‐catalyzed cyclization of N‐piperidinylphthalamide to phthalimide, respectively, and [⁻OX]_T = [NaOH] + [⁻OX_re], where [⁻OX_re] = [⁻OH_re] + [CH₃O_re⁻]. The reversible reactions of Pip with H₂O and CH₃OH produce ⁻OH_re and CH₃O_re⁻ ions. The effects of mixed methanol‐water solvents on the rates of piperidinolysis of PTH reveal a nonlinear decrease in k with the increase in the content of methanol. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 29–40, 2001     

Rate constants for the elementary reactions between CN radicals and CH4, C2H6, C2H4, C3H6, and C2H2 in the range: 295 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 700

Pulsed laser photolysis, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence experiments have been carried out on the reactions of CN radicals with CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂. They have yielded rate constants for these five reactions at temperatures between 295 and 700 K. The data for the reactions with methane and ethane have been combined with other recent results and fitted to modified Arrhenius expressions, k(T) = A′(298) (T/298)ⁿ exp(?θ/T), yielding: for CH₄, A′(298) = 7.0 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 2.3, and θ = ?16 K; and for C₂H₆, A′(298) = 5.6 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = 1.8, and θ = ?500 K. The rate constants for the reactions with C₂H₄, C₃H₆, and C₂H₂ all decrease monotonically with temperature and have been fitted to expressions of the form, k(T) = k(298) (T/298)ⁿ with k(298) = 2.5 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.24 for CN + C₂H₄; k(298) = 3.4 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.19 for CN + C₃H₆; and k(298) = 2.9 × 10^?10 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, n = ?0.53 for CN + C₂H₂. These reactions almost certainly proceed via addition-elimination yielding an unsaturated cyanide and an H-atom. Our kinetic results for reactions of CN are compared with those for reactions of the same hydrocarbons with other simple free radical species. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and Characterization of β‐Diketiminate Aluminum Compounds and Their Use in the Ring‐Opening Polymerization of ε‐Caprolactone

Four aluminum alkyl compounds, [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}₂AlMe₂] ( 1 ), [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}₂AlEt₂] ( 2 ), [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2‐iPrC₆H₄}₂AlMe₂] ( 3 ), and [CH{(CH₃)CN‐2‐iPrC₆H₄}₂AlEt₂] ( 4 ), bearing β‐diketiminate ligands [CH{(Me)CN‐2,4,6‐MeC₆H₂}]₂ (L¹H) and [CH{(Me)CN‐2‐ⁱPrC₆H₄}]₂ (L²H) were obtained from the reactions of trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum with the corresponding β‐diketiminate, respectively. All compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis, and elemental analysis. Compounds 1 – 4 were found to catalyze the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (ε‐CL) with good activity.