Four-membered ring cyclic ketene –O,O–, –O,S–, –O,N–, –S,S–, –S,N–, and –N,N–acetals and their corresponding cations: a computational study

A systematic computational study of four-membered cyclic ketene –O,O–, –O,S–, –O,N–, –S,N– and –N,N-acetals as well as their protonated analogs have been performed at the second order M?ller Plesset level with a polarized triple zeta basis set. The main purpose of this study was to make predictions about the nucleophilicity of these systems and the variations in nucleophilicity with the hetero atoms. Our calculations suggest that all six target molecules are good nucleophiles, and that the N,N analog is the strongest and the S,S analog the weakest nucleophile. Our results include molecular geometries, bond lengths, proton affinities, vibrational frequencies, and calculated charges.     

Molecular Structure and Conformational Composition of 1-[(Methylthio)methyl]-2-nitrobenzene (MTMNB): A Theoretical and Experimental Study

The conformational composition of gaseous MTMNB and the molecular structures of the rotational forms have been studied by electron diffraction at 130^∘C aided by results from ab initio and density functional theory calculations. The conformational potential energy surface has been investigated by using the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method. As a result, six minimum-energy conformers have been identified. Geometries of all conformers were optimized using MP2/6-31G(d,p), B3LYP/6-31G(d,p), and B3LYP/cc-pVTZ methods. These calculations resulted in accurate geometries, relative energies, and harmonic vibrational frequencies for all conformers. The B3LYP/cc-pVTZ energies were then used to calculate the Boltzmann distribution of conformers. The best fit of the electron diffraction data to calculated values was obtained for the six conformer model, in agreement with the theoretical predictions. Average parameter values (r_a in angstroms, angle α in degrees, and estimated total errors given in parentheses) weighted for the mixture of six conformers are r(C–C) = 1.507(5), r(C–C)_{ring, av} = 1.397(3), r(C–S)_av = 1.814(4), r(C–N) = 1.495(4), r(N–O)_av = 1.223(3), ∠(C–C–C)_ring = 116.0–122.5, ∠ C6–C4–C7 = 118.2(4), ∠ C–C–S = 113.6(6), ∠ C–S–C = 98.5(12), ∠ N–C–C4 = 121.9(3), ∠(O–N–C)_av = 116.8(3), ∠ O–N–O = 127.0(4). Torsional angles could not be refined. Theoretical B3LYP/cc-pVTZ torsional angles for the rotation about C–N bond, φ_C−N, were found to be 30.5–36.5^∘ for different conformers. As to internal rotation about C–C and C–S bonds, values of φ_C−C = 68–118^∘ and φ_C−S = 66–71^∘ were obtained for the three most stable conformers with gauche orientation with respect to these bonds. Some conclusions of this work were presented in a short communication in Russ. J. Phys. Chem. 2005, 79, 1701.     

Theoretical study of group 11 metal–silonyl complexes: M–SiO and M–(SiO)2 (M = Cu, Ag, or Au)

 The spectroscopic properties of M–SiO and M–(SiO)₂ (1–1 and 1–2 complexes with M = Cu, Ag, or Au) have been theoretically studied. It has been shown that both M–SiO and M–(SiO)₂ compounds in their ground state are bent with a metal–Si bonded structure. The calculated M(ns) spin density agrees well with the electron spin resonance experimental data. From a topological analysis, it has been shown that a rather large charge transfer occurs from the metal towards the SiO moiety, and that the M–Si bond energy correlates with the electron density located at the M–Si bond path (bond critical point). Received: 6 July 2000 / Accepted: 11 October 2000 / Published online: 19 January 2001     

Constant-volume combustion energy of the lead salts of 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb and their effect on combustion characteristics of RDX–CMDB propellant

The constant-volume combustion energies of the lead salts of 2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (2HDNPPb) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitropyridine (4HDNPPb), ΔU _c (2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPP(s)), were determined as –4441.92±2.43 and –4515.74±1.92 kJ mol^–1 , respectively, at 298.15 K. Their standard enthalpies of combustion, Δ_c ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K), and standard enthalpies of formation, Δ_r ^m H θ(2HDNPPb(s) and 4HDNPPb(s), 298.15 K) were as –4425.81±2.43, –4499.63±1.92 kJ mol^–1 and –870.43±2.76, –796.65±2.32 kJ mol^–1 , respectively. As two combustion catalysts, 2HDNPPb and 4HDNPPb can enhance the burning rate and reduce the pressure exponent of RDX–CMDB propellant.     

Molecular characteristics of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers as studied with translational diffusion and viscometry

 The generation of dendrimers based on poly(propylene imine) with CN end groups [DAB–dend–(CN) _x ] and with palmitoyl end groups [DAB–dend–(C15) _x ] was studied by methods of translational diffusion and viscometry. The volumes of the DAB–dend–(CN) _x and DAB–dend–(C15) _x dendrimers and the previously studied DAB–dend–(lacto) _x dendrimer were compared to evaluate the volumes of the end groups in hybrid dendrimers. The volume of the hybrid dendrimers compared to that of the initial dendrimers increases proportionally to the number of end groups: this means that the end groups are predominantly located on the periphery of each molecule, thus ensuring this volume will increase. It is shown that the volume of the end groups for DAB–dend–(C15) _x is 3.5 times greater, and for DAB–dend–(lacto) _x it is 5.0 times greater than that occupied by free mole- cules corresponding to the end groups. The values of the intrinsic viscosity were compared with the values of the diffusion coefficient and the chemical formula molecular weight. Received: 7 August 2001 Accepted: 2 November 2001     

Basis of the 'duplication' strategy for enhancing the enantiomeric excess in chiral resolutions: proof of the equivalence of rate and product ratios

The 'duplication' strategy for the further enrichment of an already enantiomerically-enriched mixture consists of the formation of all the three possible 'dimeric' diastereomers, i.e., (R)–X–(R), (R)–X–(S) and (S)–X–(S), where X is an appropriate spacer that can be readily cleaved to yield the original enantiomers. The mixture of (R)–X–(R) and (S)–X–(S) thus obtained would be of higher enantiomeric excess (e.e.) as compared to the original mixture, on the basis of a simple kinetic scheme. The success of the strategy is experimentally well-established, but is apparently based on the (unproven) assumption that the theoretically-derived rate ratios are identical to the experimentally observed product ratios. Although the detailed kinetic treatment for a system such as the above is extremely complex, it is possible to show (mathematically) that the above assumption is indeed justified when all the three diastereomers are formed without chiral discrimination (as assumed in the strategy).     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Behavior of Some 1H-3-Methyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-(benzylidenehydrazino)pyrazoles

1H-3-Methyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-(benzylidenehydrazino)pyrazoles are key intermediates in obtaining various heterocyclic systems including pyrazolotriazoles. We present the voltammetric behavior of these compounds in nonaqueous media, with the following para substituents grafted on the benzene ring: –N(CH₃)₂, –OH, –OCH₃, –F, –Cl, –CF₃, –NO₂, as well as of the novel compounds with –Br, –I, and –SCH₃ in the para position, in order to elucidate the influence of the various substituents on the mechanism of anodic oxidation.     

Mixed conductivity and stability of A-site-deficient Sr(Fe,Ti)O<Subscript>3–δ</Subscript> perovskites

Deficiency in the A sublattice of perovskite-type Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ (y=0–0.06) leads to suppression of oxygen-vacancy ordering and to increasing oxygen ionic conductivity, unit cell volume, thermal expansion, and stability in CO₂-containing atmospheres. The total electrical conductivity, predominantly p-type electronic in air, decreases with increasing A-site deficiency at 300–700 K and is essentially independent of the cation vacancy concentration at higher temperatures. Oxygen ion transference numbers for Sr_{1– y} Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ in air, estimated from the faradaic efficiency and oxygen permeation data, vary in the range from 0.002 to 0.015 at 1073–1223 K, increasing with temperature. The maximum ionic conductivity was observed for Sr_0.97Fe_0.8Ti_0.2O_3–δ ceramics. In the system Sr_0.97Fe_{1– x} Ti _x O_3–δ (x=0.1–0.6), thermal expansion and electron-hole conductivity both decrease with x. Moderate additions of titanium (up to 20%) in Sr_0.97(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ result in higher ionic conductivity and lower activation energy for ionic transport, owing to disordering in the oxygen sublattice; further doping decreases the ionic conduction. It was shown that time degradation of the oxygen permeability, characteristic of Sr(Fe,Ti)O_3–δ membranes and resulting from partial ordering processes, can be reduced by cycling of the oxygen pressure at the membrane permeate side. Thermal expansion coefficients of Sr_{1– y} Ti_{1– x} Fe _x O_3–δ (x=0.10–0.60, y=0–0.06) in air are in the range (11.7–16.5)×10^–6 K^–1 at 350–750 K and (16.6–31.1)×10^–6 K^–1 at 750–1050 K. Electronic Publication     

Synthesis and Electrochemical Behavior of Some 1H-3-Methyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-(benzylidenehydrazino)pyrazoles

Summary. 1H-3-Methyl-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-(benzylidenehydrazino)pyrazoles are key intermediates in obtaining various heterocyclic systems including pyrazolotriazoles. We present the voltammetric behavior of these compounds in nonaqueous media, with the following para substituents grafted on the benzene ring: –N(CH₃)₂, –OH, –OCH₃, –F, –Cl, –CF₃, –NO₂, as well as of the novel compounds with –Br, –I, and –SCH₃ in the para position, in order to elucidate the influence of the various substituents on the mechanism of anodic oxidation.     

Kinetic parameters determination in non-isothermal conditions for the crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass

Two integral isoconversional methods (Flynn–Wall–Ozawa and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose) and the invariant kinetic parameters method (IKP) were used in order to examine the kinetics of the non-isothermal crystallisation of a silica-soda-lead glass. The objective of the paper is to show the usefulness of the IKP method to determine both the activation parameters and the kinetic model of the investigated process. Thismethod associated with the criterion of coincidence of kinetic parameters for all heating rates and some procedures of the evaluation of the parameter from Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Erofeev–Kolmogorov (JMAEK) equation led us to the following kinetic triplet: activation energy, E=170.5±2.5 kJ mol^–1 , pre-exponential factor, A=1.178±0.350·10 10 min^–1 and JMAEK model (A _m) m=1.5.     

Comparison of Prediction of Phase Equilibria in the Ag–In–Sb System at 200°C with Experimental Data

Summary. Binary thermodynamic data, successfully used for phase diagram calculations of binary systems Ag–In, Ag–Sb, and In–Sb, were used for prediction of phase equilibria in ternary Ag–In–Sb system at 200°C. Symmetrical Redlich–Kister–Muggianu model for ternary thermodynamic function calculation was proved to be best valid in this ternary system. Predicted equilibria were compared with experimentally (SEM, EDX) determined composition of phases in chosen alloys after long term annealing and with the results of DTA measurements.     

Comparison of Prediction of Phase Equilibria in the Ag–In–Sb System at 200°C with Experimental Data

Binary thermodynamic data, successfully used for phase diagram calculations of binary systems Ag–In, Ag–Sb, and In–Sb, were used for prediction of phase equilibria in ternary Ag–In–Sb system at 200°C. Symmetrical Redlich–Kister–Muggianu model for ternary thermodynamic function calculation was proved to be best valid in this ternary system. Predicted equilibria were compared with experimentally (SEM, EDX) determined composition of phases in chosen alloys after long term annealing and with the results of DTA measurements.     

Spin–orbit corrections to the indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants in XH4 (X=C, Si, Ge, and Sn)

Summary.  Using the quadratic response function at the ab initio SCF level of approximation we have calculated the relativistic corrections from the spin–orbit Hamiltonian, H ^SO, to the indirect nuclear spin–spin coupling constants of XH₄ (X=C, Si, Ge, and Sn). We find that the spin–orbit contributions to J _X–H are small, amounting only to about 1% for J _Sn–H. For the geminal H–H coupling constants the relativistic corrections are numerically smaller than for J _X–H, but in some cases relatively larger compared to the actual magnitude of J _H–H. We also investigate the use of an effective one-electron spin–orbit Hamiltonian rather than the full H ^SO in the calculation of these corrections. Received July 12, 1996 / Final revision received September 12, 1996 / Accepted September 17, 1996     

The effect of CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>, F and NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> substituents on the individual hydrogen bond energies in the adenine–thymine and guanine–cytosine base pairs

The substituent effects on the geometrical parameters and the individual hydrogen bond (HB) energies of base pairs such as X–adenine–thymine (X–A–T), X–thymine–adenine (X–T–A), X–guanine–cytosine (X–G–C), and X–cytosine–guanine (X–C–G) have been studied by the quantum mechanical calculations at the B3LYP and MP2 levels with the 6–311++G(d,p) basis set. The electron withdrawing (EW) substituents (F and NO₂) increase the total binding energy (ΔE) of X–G–C derivatives and the electron donating (ED) substituent (CH₃) decreases it when they are introduced in the 8 and 9 positions of G. The effects of substituents are reversed when they are located in the 1, 5, and 6 positions of C, with exception of CH₃ in the 1 position and F in the 5 position, which in both cases the ΔE value decreases negligibly small. With minor exceptions (X=8–CH₃, 8–F, and 9–NO₂), both ED and EW substituents increase slightly the ΔE values of X–A–T derivatives. The individual HB energies (∆E _HBs) have been estimated using electron densities that calculated at the hydrogen bond critical points (HBCPs) by the atoms in molecules (AIM) method. Most of changes of individual HBs are in consistent with the ED/EW nature of substituents and the role of atoms entered H-bonding. The remarkable change is observed for NO₂ substituted derivative in each case.     

Thermophysical Investigations of the Polymorphous Phases of Calcium Carbonate

1. Results of thermodynamic and kinetic investigations for the different crystalline calcium carbonate phases and their phase transition data are reported and summarized (vaterite: V; aragonite: A; calcite: C). A→C: T _tr=455±10°C, Δ_tr H=403±8 J mol^–1 at T _tr, V→C: T _tr=320–460°C, depending on the way of preparation,Δ_tr H=–3.2±0.1 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr,Δ_tr H=–3.4±0.9 kJ mol^–1 at 40°C, S _V ^Θ= 93.6±0.5 J (K mol)^–1, A→C: E _A=370±10 kJ mol^–1; XRD only, V→C: E _A=250±10 kJ mol^–1; thermally activated, iso- and non-isothermal, XRD 2. Preliminary results on the preparation and investigation of inhibitor-free non-crystalline calcium carbonate (NCC) are presented. NCC→C: T _tr=276±10°C,Δ_tr H=–15.0±3 kJ mol^–1 at T _tr, T _tr – transition temperature, Δ_tr H – transition enthalpy, S ^Θ – standard entropy, E _A – activation energy. 3. Biologically formed internal shell of Sepia officinalis seems to be composed of ca 96% aragonite and 4% non-crystalline calcium carbonate. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of fused benzene rings on tautomerizations and inversions of benzo, azabenzo, and oxabenzocycloheptatrienes at theoretical levels

Biologically important bicyclic species, including 6H-, 6H-6-aza-, and 6-oxabenzocycloheptatrienes (in which the benzene moiety is fused meta with respect to the tetrahedral constituents: –CH₂–, –NH–, and –O–, respectively), show strong shifts of tautomerizations in favor of the corresponding tricyclic benzonorcaradienes (with ΔH values of −11.49, −14.55, and −19.20 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively), at B3LYP/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-31G*, and MP2/6-311++G**//MP2/6-31G* levels, and at 298 K. In contrast, such shifts are strongly disfavored by the isomeric bicyclic species in which the benzene moieties are fused ortho or para with respect to –CH₂–, –NH–, and –O–, respectively. Hence for species with ortho benzene rings including 5H-, 5H-5-aza- and 5-oxabenzocycloheptatrienes, tautomerization ΔH values are 30.76, 31.89, and 25.27 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively, while for species with para fused benzene moieties including 7H-, 7H-7-aza-, and 7-oxabenzocycloheptatrienes, tautomerization ΔH values are 24.12, 26.00, and 19.55 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively. NICS calculations are successfully used to rationalize these results. The calculated energy barriers for inversion of the seven-membered rings of bicyclic species predict a dynamic nature for all the structures except for the virtually planar 6H-6-aza- and 6-oxabenzocycloheptatrienes. Finally, our theoretical data are compared to the experimental results where available. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Carbon supported electrocatalysts prepared by the sol–gel method and their utilization for the oxidation of methanol in acid media

One of the key objectives in fuel-cell technology is to improve the performance of the anode catalyst for the alcohol oxidation and reduce Pt loading. Here, we show the use of six different electrocatalysts synthesized by the sol–gel method on carbon powder to promote the oxidation of methanol in acid media. The catalysts Pt–PbO _x and Pt–(RuO₂–PbO _x ) with 10% of catalyst load exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic activity toward the methanol oxidation reaction as compared to Pt–(RuO₂)/C and Pt/C electrodes. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that the electrocatalysts Pt–PbO _x /C and Pt–(RuO₂–PbO _x )/C started the oxidation process at extremely low potentials and that they represent a good novelty to oxidize methanol. Furthermore, quasi-stationary polarization experiments and cronoamperometry studies showed the good performance of the Pt–PbO _x , Pt–(RuO₂–PbO _x )/C and Pt–(RuO₂–IrO₂)/C catalysts during the oxidation process. Thus, the addition of metallic Pt and PbO _x onto high-area carbon powder, by the sol–gel route, constitutes an interesting way to prepare anodes with high catalytic activity for further applications in direct methanol fuel cell systems.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of luminescent mononuclear and dinuclear gold(I) complexes with ethynyl-substituted phenanthrolines

A novel asymmetric dinuclear gold(I) complex with 3,6-diethynylphenanthroline, 3,6-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen, has been synthesized from Au(PPh₃)Cl (PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine) and 3,6-diethynyl-1,10-phenanthroline. The asymmetrical dinuclear gold(I) complex, 3,6-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen, demonstrated a weak phosphorescence assignable to the metal-perturbed ³ π–π* transition in the long wavelength region compared to an intense emission of the symmetrical dinuclear complex with 3,8-diethynylphenanthroline, 3,8-bis{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}₂-phen. A similar tendency of phosphorescent bands for the mononuclear gold(I) complexes with 5-ethynylphenanthroline, 5-{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}-phen, and 3-ethynylphenanthroline, 3-{(PPh₃)–Au–C≡C}-phen was observed. The absorption bands assignable to the π–π*(C≡Cphen) transition and phosphorescent emission assignable to the metal-perturbed ³ π–π* transition for these four gold(I) complexes were reasonably consistent with the results calculated by DFT and TD-DFT.     

New oligomeric proanthocyanidin glycosides platanoside-A and platanoside-B from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platanus orientalis</Emphasis> trunk bark

Two new oligomeric proanthocyanidin glycosides were isolated from trunk bark of Platanus orientalis. Their structures and relative configurations were found to be 7-O-β-D-Glcp-(–)-epicatechin-(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate (platanoside-A) and 7-O-β-D-Glc \textp\xrightarrow6 {\text{p}}\xrightarrow{6} galloyl-(+)-catechin-3-O-gallate(4α-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β-8)-(–)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4β-8)-5-O-β-D-Glcp-(–)epicatechin-3-O-gallate (platanoside-B).