Cobalt-mediated approach for the synthesis of terpene-based hybrids

[structure: see text] Dicobalt-beta-pinene hybrids of types I and II have been prepared using a Nicholas reaction between propargyl derivatives, obtained from commercial (1R)-(-)-myrtenal, and different aromatic nucleophiles. The method is suitable for the preparation of densely functionalized bio-organometallic natural product-based hybrids, as demonstrated by the preparation of a beta-pinene-neoclerodane hybrid.     

Energy decomposition in molecular complexes: implications for the treatment of polarization in molecular simulations

This study examines the contribution of electrostatic and polarization to the interaction energy in a variety of molecular complexes. The results obtained from the Kitaura-Morokuma (KM) energy decomposition analysis at the HF/6-31G(d) level indicate that, for intermolecular distances around the equilibrium geometries, the polarization energy can be determined as the addition of the polarization energies of interacting blocks, as the mixed polarization term is typically negligible. Comparison of KM and QM/MM results shows that the electrostatic energy determined in the KM method is underestimated (in absolute value) by QM/MM methods. The reason of such underestimation can be attributed to the simplified representation of treating the interaction between overlapping charge distribution by the interaction of a QM molecule with a set of point charges. Nevertheless, the polarization energies calculated by KM and QM/MM methods are in close agreement. Finally, a consistent, automated strategy to derive charge distributions that include implicitly polarization effects in pairwise, additive force fields is presented. The strategy relies in the simultaneous fitting of electrostatic and polarization energies computed by placing a suitable perturbing particle at selected points around the molecule. The suitability of these charges to describe molecular interactions is discussed.     

Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 2-aminothiophenol as a new sorbent for on-line preconcentration of cadmium and copper

A new functionalized resin has been applied in an on-line preconcentration system for copper and cadmium determination. Amberlite XAD-2 was functionalized by coupling it to 2-aminothiophenol (AT-XAD) by means of an NN spacer. This resin was packed in a minicolumn and used as sorbent in the on-line system. Metal ions were sorbed in the minicolumn, from which it could be eluted directly to the nebulizer-burner system of the flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). Elution of Cd(II) and Cu(II) from minicolumn can be made with 0.50 mol l⁻¹ HCl or HNO₃. The enrichment factors obtained were 28 (Cd) and 14 (Cu), for 60 s preconcentration time, and 74 (Cd) and 35 (Cu), if used 180 s preconcentration time. The proposed procedure allowed the determination of cadmium and copper with detection limits of 0.14 and 0.54 μg l⁻¹, respectively, when used preconcentration periods of 180 s. The effects of foreign ions on the adsorption of these metal ions are reported. The validation of the procedure was carried out by analysis of certified reference material. This procedure was applied to cadmium and copper determination in natural, drink and tap water samples.     

Spectrophotometric study of the system Hg(II)-thymol blue-H2O and its evidence through electrochemical means

The detailed analysis of the experimental spectrophotometric data obtained from solutions containing the acid-base indicator thymol blue (TB) and mercury(II) (Hg(II)) coupled with data processing by means of the SQUAD program, a chemical model was determined that includes the formation of complexes indicator-metal ion (HgTB and HgOTB), dimer species (H3TB2 and H4TB2) and monomer species (HTB and TB). The values of the overall formation constants (log beta) were calculated for the chemical equilibria involved: TB+Hg<-->HgTB log beta=16.047 +/- 0.043, TB+Hg+H2O<-->HgOHTB+H log beta=7.659 +/- 0.049, 2TB+4H<-->H4TB2 log beta=31.398 +/- 0.083, 2TB+3H<-->H3TB2 log beta=29.953 +/- 0.084 and H+TB<-->HTB-log beta=8.900. To compliment the present research, the values of the absorptivity coefficients are included for all the species involved, within a wide range of wavelengths (250-700 nm). The latter were used subsequently to carry simulations of the absorption spectra at various pH values, thus corroborating that the chemical model proposed is fully capable to describe the experimental information. Voltammetric study performed evidenced the formation of a complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry Hg(II):TB.     

Effects of ion-pairing reagents on the electrospray signal suppression of sulphonated dyes and intermediates

High-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) analysis of anionic species such as sulphonic acid dyes and intermediates requires volatile ion-pairing mobile phase additives. Six di- and trialkylammonium acetates were compared with tetraalkylammonium salts and ammonium acetate in the concentration range 0-20 mmol l(-1) as mobile phase additives for HPLC/MS of polysulphonated compounds. The effects of the structure and concentration of the ion-pairing reagents on the electrospray response of mono-, di- and tetrasulphonic aromatic acids and acid dyes were studied in detail. Further, five different mass analysers and instrument geometries were compared. A higher signal decrease is observed with linear geometry instruments in comparison to orthogonal or even Z-spray geometry mass spectrometers. The concentration of mobile phase additives has a significant influence on the abundance ratios of multiply charged ions in the mass spectra of polysulphonated compounds. The competing ions of sulphonic acids may also cause significant signal suppression.     

Structural analysis of 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]-phenyltin derivatives using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry was applied to the structural analysis of 23 2,6-[bis(alkyloxy)methyl]phenyltin(IV) derivatives. The mass spectra were measured in both polarity modes and multistage tandem mass spectrometric (MS(n)) measurements were performed on the ion trap analyser for positively charged tin-containing ions. The sum of complementary ions observed in the positive-ion mode (i.e. [M-R(3)](+) ion) and in the negative-ion mode (i.e. [R(3)](-) ion) permits molecular mass determination in spite of the fact that the molecular adducts were often missing even in the first-order mass spectra. The subsequent fragmentation of [M-R(3)](+) ions studied by MS(n) and the correlation of observed fragment ions with the expected structures of synthesized organotin(IV) compounds allowed us to understand the fragmentation behaviour and the mechanism of the ion formation for studied compounds. The typical neutral losses are alkenes, alcohols and aldehydes. The fragmentation pattern of one selected compound was supported by MS(n) measurements of an isotopically labelled analogue to confirm unusual ion-molecule reactions of some fragment ions with water in the ion trap.     

2-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-b]pyrroles: synthesis and reactions

The synthesis and reactions of methyl 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylate (1a) are described. Upon reaction with methyl iodide, benzyl chloride, or acetic anhydride, this compound gave N-substituted products 1b-d. By hydrolysis of compounds 1a-c, the corresponding acids 2a-c were formed, or by reaction with hydrazine-hydrate, the corresponding carbohydrazides 3a-c were formed. By heating 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenly]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole-5-carboxylic acid (2a) in acetic anhydride, 4-acetyl-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-b]pyrrole (4) was formed. By hydrolysis of 4, 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4H-furo[3,2-b]pyrrole (5a) was formed, and reactions with methyl iodide or benzyl chloride gave N-substituted products 5b-c. The reaction of 4 with dimethyl butynedioate gave substituted benzo[b]furan 6. Compound 3a reacted with triethyl orthoesters giving 7a-c, which afforded with phosphorus (V) sulphide the corresponding thiones 8a-c. The thiones 8a-c reacted with hydrazine hydrate to form hydrazine derivatives 9a-c. The reaction of triethyl orthoformiate with compounds 9a-c led to furo[2′,3′: 4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines 10a-c. Hydrazones 11a-c were formed from 3a-c and 5-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-2-carboxaldehyde. The effect of microwave irradiation on some condensation reactions was compared with “classical” conditions. The results showed that microwave irradiation shortens the reaction time while affording comparable yields.     

Analytical characterization of diterpenoid resins present in pictorial varnishes using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with on line trimethylsilylation

A procedure based on the technique of the pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) has been applied, in this work, in order to determine the composition of diterpenoid resin employed in art works. The method is based on the on line derivatization of these resins using hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS). Results obtained were compared with those previously reported in literature from Venice turpentine, Strasbourg turpentine, colophony, sandarac and Manila copal using this same method and with those others from in situ thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation with tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH). Canada balsam, copper resinate and Copaiba balsam have been also analyzed extending the scope of this method in the field of the analysis of artwork materials. Several non-reported trimethylsilylated derivatives of compounds present in the diterpenoid resins have been identified. An improvement in sensitivity has been obtained by using HMDS as derivatizing reagent, together with a better resolution of the most representative peaks. Additionally, this method reduces the number of pyrolytic fragmentation, recombination, dehydration and isomerization products formed during the pyrolysis process and, in consequence, more simplified chromatograms are obtained. Finally, the reported procedure has been successfully used for characterizing two diterpenoid resin-based varnishes present in the canvas painting "The Betrothal of the Virgin" (Anonymous, 17th century) which is included in the pictorial collection of Saint Joseph Church in Taormina (Italy) and the Magdalena Tryptich (Master of Alzira, 16th century, Valencia, Spain).     

Influence of Al2O3 Nanoparticles on the Thermal Stability of Ultra-Fine Grained Copper Prepared by High Pressure Torsion

Summary.  Ultra-fine grained (UFG) Cu (grain size 80 nm) containing 0.5 wt.% Al₂O₃ nanoparticles (size 20 nm) was prepared by high pressure torsion (HPT). Positron lifetime spectroscopy was employed to characterize the microstructure of this material, especially with respect to types and concentration of lattice defects. The evolution of microstructure with increasing temperature was studied by positron lifetime spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements. The thermal stability of the Cu + 0.5 wt.% Al₂O₃ nanocomposite was compared with that of pure UFG Cu prepared by the same technique. The processes taking place during thermal recovery of the initial nanoscale structure in both studied materials are described. Received October 5, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 20, 2001     

Coordination compounds of nickel with trithiocyanuric acid. Part IV. Structure of [Ni(pmdien)(ttcH)] (pmdien = N,N,N′,N′,N′′-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine,ttcH3 = trithiocyanuric acid)

Ni^II mixed-ligand complexes of compositions [Ni(pmdien)(ttcH)] (1), [Ni(baphen)₂(ttcH)] · 4H₂O (2), [Ni-(dpa)(ttcH)(H₂O)] (3), [Ni(cyclam)(ttcH)] · 2H₂O (4), [Ni(hexaa)](ttcH) (5) and [Ni(hexab)(ttcH)] · 2H₂O (6), (baphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, dpa = 2,2-dipyridylamine, cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, hexaa = 1,3,6,9,11,14-hexaazatricyclo[12.2.1.1^6,9]-octadecane, hexab = 1,8-dimethyl-1,3,6,8,10,13-hexaazacyclotetradecane) have been prepared and characterized by means of i.r., u.v.–vis. spectroscopies and magnetochemical measurements. The redox properties of the complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The crystal and molecular structure of [Ni(pmdien)(ttcH)] was determined. The nickel atom is penta-coordinated by three N atoms of pmdien, and by S and N atoms of trithiocyanurate(2–) anion.