Chiroptical properties of α-substituted succinic acids : Conformation and absolute configuration

The effect of conformational preference on the chiroptical properties of α-substituted succinic acids and esters 2 has been investigated using variable-temperature CD in solvents of different polarity. All available evidence indicates that when R' in 2 is alkyl or halogen, the preferred conformation is 1e with the -CH₂COOR group eclipsed by the CO bond, while when R' in 2 is hydroxy, methoxy or amino, the major conformer is 1d in which the heteroatom is eclipsed by the CO bond. In both cases, conformation 1f appears to be the least favored, mainly on steric grounds. The results when R' = chloro or bromo do not support previously proposed conclusions and an alternative explanation is advanced. In the resultant octant projection (Fig, 2) it is shown that the sign of the Cotton effect for 1 will be determined by the position of the groups X and Y in the back octants, and since one of these is always H in the two favored conformations, the sign is actually determined by the position of the other group. This octant projection predicts successfully the sign of the ellipticity of the n→π^* transition for any α-substituted succinic acid or ester with the appropriate substituent R', and appears to apply also to simple alkanoic acids and esters with the same substituents.     

Kinetic determination of magnesium and calcium by stopped-flow injection analysis

A kinetic method for the simultaneous determination of magnesium and calcium ions in solution is described. The method is based on the dissociation reactions of cryptand (2.2.2) complexes; a stopped-flow injection technique is used with spectrophotometric monitoring of the phthalein complexone complexes of the released metal ions. Analyses were done at a rate of 80 h^?1, with injected sample volumes of 80 μl. A microcomputer system for data acquisition and control of the system is described.     

Selenirene as an intermediate in the pyrolysis of 1,2,3-selenadiazole. Microwave spectra of 13C labelled selenoketene

Microwave Spectra of ¹³CH₂¹²C^80,78Se and ¹²CH₂¹³C^80,78Se (selenoketene) are recorded. B 5-¹³C-1,2,3-selenadiazole all four species are formed. The ¹³C scrambling may take place via a three-membered ring, selenirene, but as expected its microwave spectrum was not observed.     

Background and line interference corrections in quantitative GD-OES – New approaches to an old problem

The origin of radiative background in GD-OES is discussed, in connection with the problem of multi-matrix measurements in depth profile analysis. Backed by some experimental evidence in the form of line scans, it is argued that line emission from sample material and the plasma gas (Ar) make up the dominating contributions to the radiative background. The contribution from Ar, in this work termed Matrix-independent Background (MIB), is investigated in more detail. It is shown that, at constant voltage and current, the Ar emission intensity is nearly constant and independent of the pressure, but somewhat matrix-dependent. It is suggested that the MIB can be expressed as a linear function of the intensity of an Ar reference line. This idea is tested experimentally by making intensity measurements on a large set of calibration standards of varying composition. The results are fitted to a calibration function which allows optional definitions of the MIB. It is shown that with a MIB defined as a linear function of the Ar intensity, the different contributions to the spectral background can be more accurately determined than with the MIB defined as a constant.     

Molecular structure of gaseous vanadyl(V) fluoride as studied by electron diffraction,and its modified valence force field

The molecular structure of gaseous OVF₃ has been determined by electron diffraction to be: r_g(V-O) = 1.570(5) Å, r_g(V-F) = 1.729(2) Å and ∠_α(OVF) = 107.5(4)°. A modified force field has been fitted to results from spectroscopic as well as diffractional studies. A similar attempt to determine the force field for OVCl₃ was not as successful as for OVF₃, probably because the Coriolis constants are less accurately determined for that molecule.     

Approaching supramolecular functionality

Functional molecules require a high degree of complexity which is difficult to achieve by covalent synthesis. This article discusses supramolecular approaches to the creation of larger architectures through noncovalent bonds, self-assembly, and template strategies. It highlights selected examples for the structural and conformational control of function and attempts to identify difficulties and challenges which may arise in future.     

Computational studies of carbon nanotube-hydrocarbon bond strengths at nanotube ends: effect of link heteroatom and hydrocarbon structure

Semiempirical and density functional electronic structure theory methods were used to study SWNT-X--R bond strengths, where the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) had an armchair or zigzag structure, the link heteroatom X was O, N(H), or S and the hydrocarbon chain R was CH(2)CH(3), CH(OH)CH(3), CHCH(2), or CH(CF(3))CH(3). In all systems the hydrocarbon was bonded to the end of the nanotube. The SWNT-X--R bond (that is, the bond joining the link atom to the hydrocarbon) is more than 0.4 eV stronger for armchair than for zigzag nanotubes with the same diameters, irrespective of whether O, N, or S are used as link atoms or whether OH, C==C, or CF(3) groups are present in the hydrocarbon chain. This raises the possibility for selective manipulation of armchair/zigzag nanotubes using a variety of link atoms and hydrocarbon structures. The SWNT-O--CH(CF(3))CH(3) bond is weaker than the SWNT-O--CH(2)CH(3) bond (for both armchair and zigzag nanotubes), while inclusion of a double bond in the ethyl chain increases the bond strengths. Also, SWNT-S--CH(2)CH(3) and SWNT-N(H)--CH(2)CH(3) bonds are stronger than SWNT-O--CH(2)CH(3) bonds.     

A photochemical route for efficient cyclopeptide formation with a minimum of protection and activation chemistry

An elaborated protocol is described which allows the efficient transformation of di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides into cyclopeptides with a minimum of protection and activation chemistry using the photoinduced electron transfer initiated decarboxylation of N-phthaloyl peptides resulting in C-C coupling between the initially formed carbon radicals.     

Calculation of photoionization cross sections of Na2–8 and K2–8 clusters

Analysis of free metal clusters studied with photoionization mass spectrometry or photoelectron spectroscopy requires theoretical predictions of the photoionization cross sections to gain a deeper physical understanding. Calculated energy-dependent photoionization cross sections of Na_2–8 and K_2–8 clusters are presented in this study. The ground state electronic structure of the clusters are calculated using the Local Spin Density method (LSD) which is also the starting point for the cross section calculation with the continuum multiple scattering method. A basic analysis of the photoionization process is given within the independent electron picture. Strong resonances are predicted in the UV cross sections (5–10 eV) of K_3–8 but not for Na_3–8, interpreted as shape resonances, i.e. quasibound states in which electrons are trapped by a potential barrier. Unfortunately experimental data are only known close to the ionization threshold and a comparison between our values and experimental data in a broad energy range is not possible.     

Copper(II) Complexes of ω‐Hydroxy‐Functionalized N‐Salicylidenehydrazides show pH‐Controlled Switching between Dicationic Dimers and Neutral One‐Dimensional Coordination Polymers

New copper(II) complexes of the hydrazone ligands H₂salhyhb, H₂salhyhp, and H₂salhyhh, derived from salicylaldehyde and ω‐hydroxy carbonic acid hydrazides, have been synthesized and physically characterized. Two fundamental structures were found in solid state depending on the pH‐value of the reaction solution. Acidic conditions lead to the formation of the di‐μ‐phenoxo‐bridged dicationic complex dimers [{Cu(Hsalhyhb)}₂]²⁺ ( 1a ), [{Cu(Hsalhyhp)}₂]²⁺ ( 2a ), and [{Cu(Hsalhyhh)}₂]²⁺ ( 3a ), isolated as perchlorate salts. The dimeric complexes show strong antiferromagnetic coupling with J = ?399 ( 1a ), ?410 ( 2a ), and ?311 cm^?1 ( 3a ). Higher pH‐values resulted in the aggregation of neutral copper ligand fragments to the one‐dimensional coordination polymers [{Cu(salhyhb)}_n] ( 1b ), [{Cu(salhyhp)}_n] ( 2b ), and [{Cu(salhyhh)}_n] ( 3b ). 3b has been examined by means of X‐ray crystallography and represents the first example of a structurally characterized neutral copper(II) N‐salicylidenehydrazide complex without additional ligands. The magnetic interactions in the polymers are also antiferromagnetic with J = ?125 ( 1b ), ?136 ( 2b ), and ?148 cm^?1 ( 3b ), but strongly reduced compared to the corresponding dimeric complexes. The two basic structure types can be reversibly interconverted simply by pH‐control.