2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene as a probe for homoaromatic molecules of the Dewar-Hoffman type

The 2,6-dicyano-1,5-dimethylsemibullvalene (2d) synthesized via the bicyclo[3.3.0]octanedione 7 exists as a classical ground state which is lower in energy by less than 5 kcal/mole than the homoaromatic transition of the Cope rearrangement of 2d.     

A new route to achiral and chiral 1,2-bis(phosphino)ethanes, 1-arsino-2-phosphinoethanes, and 1,3-bis(phosphino)propanes and the molecular structure and catalytic activity of some rhodium(I) complexes derived thereof

A series of unsymmetrical 1,2-bis(phosphino)ethanes R(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PR'(2) and 1-arsino-2-phosphinoethanes R(2)AsCH(2)CH(2)PR'(2) mainly with bulky substituents R and R' were prepared from the cyclic sulfate by stepwise cleavage of the carbon-oxygen bonds by LiPR(2) and LiPR'(2) or LiAsR(2) and LiPR'(2), respectively. Analogously, racemic mixtures of R(2)PCH(2)CH(Me)PPh(2)(R =iPr, Cy ) as well as the enantiomers (R)-, (R)- and (R)-tBu(2)PCH(2)CH(Me)PPh(2)(R)- were obtained from the corresponding unsymmetrical cyclic sulfates and (S)-. On a similar route, the racemates of the 1,3-bis(phosphino)propanes R(2)PCH(2)CH(2)CH(Me)PPh(2)(R =iPr, tBu ), optically pure (R)- and (S,S)-iPr(2)PCH(Me)CH(2)CH(Me)PPh(2)(S,S)- were prepared. The reaction of [[RhCl([small eta](4)-C(8)H(12))](2)] with chelating ligands L-L, where L-L is R(2)PCH(2)P(men)(2)(R =iPr, Ph; men =(1S,2R,5S)-menthyl), Cy(2)AsCH(2)P(men)(2), or (R)-, (R)-, (R)-, (R)- and (S,S)-, in the presence of AgPF(6), gave the complexes [Rh(eta(4)-C(8)H(12))(L-L)]PF(6) which were used as pre-catalysts in the hydrogenation of the methyl ester of alpha-acetamidocinnamic acid (ACM). Depending on L-L, the solvent, the temperature and the pressure of H(2), optical yields of up to 69% ee were achieved. For two of the rhodium complexes, and, the molecular structures were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Computational study on mechanistic details of the aminoethanol rearrangement catalyzed by the vitamin B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia lyase: His and Asp/Glu acting simultaneously as catalytic auxiliaries

The rearrangement of aminoethanol catalyzed by ethanolamine ammonia lyase is investigated by computational means employing DFT (B3LYP/6-31G) and ab initio molecular orbital theory (QCISD/cc-pVDZ). The study aims at providing a detailed account on various crucial aspects, in particular a distinction between a direct intramolecular migration of the partially protonated NH(2) group vs elimination of NH(4)(+). Three mechanistic scenarios were explored: (i) According to the calculations, irrespective of the nature of the protonating species, intramolecular migration of the NH(3) group is energetically less demanding than elimination of NH(4)(+). However, all computed activation enthalpies exceed the experimentally derived activation enthalpy (15 kcal/mol) associated with the rate-determining step, i.e., the hydrogen abstraction from the 5'-deoxyadenosine by the product radical. For example, when imidazole is used as a model system for His interacting with the NH(3) group of the substrate, the activation enthalpy for the migration process amounts to 27.4 kcal/mol. If acetic acid is employed to mimic Asp or Glu, the activation enthalpy is somewhat lower, being equal to 24.2 kcal/mol. (ii) For a partial deprotonation of the substrate 2 at the OH group, the rearrangement mechanism consists of the dissociation of an NH(2) radical from C(2) and its association at C(1) atom. For all investigated proton acceptors (i.e., OH(-), HCOO(-), CH(3)COO(-), CH(2)NH, imidazole), the activation enthalpy for the dissociation step also exceeds 15 kcal/mol. Typical data are 20.2 kcal/mol for Ac(-) and 23.8 kcal/mol for imidazole. (iii) However, in a synergistic action of partial protonation of the NH(2) group and partial deprotonation of the OH group by the two conceivable catalytic auxiliaries Asp/Glu and His, the activation enthalpy computed is compatible with the experimental data. For imidazole and acetate as model systems, the activation enthalpy is equal to 13.7 kcal/mol. This synergistic action of the two catalytic groups is expected to take place in a physiologically realistic pH range of 6-9.5, and the present computational findings may help to further characterize the yet unknown structural details of the ethanolamine ammonia lyase's active site.     

Dehydration of Alkanones by Bare FeO+ Involves the ω/(ω − 1) Positions: Exclusion of Iron Carbenes as Intermediates. Preliminary Communication

Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron-resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometry has been used to uncover the mechanisms by which FeO⁺ dehydrates heptan-4-one ( 5a ) and nonan-5-one ( 6a ) in the gas phase. The study of isotopomeric ketones provides evidence that H₂O loss is not due to a 1,1-elimination, thus ruling out the intermediacy of high-valent iron-carbene species. Rather, H₂O is generated in a formal 1,2-elimination involving the ω/ω ? 1 positions of the alkyl chain (‘remote C? H bond activation’). In the consecutive alkene/H₂O elimination, the olefins (ethylene from 5a and propene from 6a ) originate from the terminal part of one alkyl chain, and the H-atom is transferred to the FeO⁺ moiety in the course of this process, builds up together with an H-atom from the ω/ω-1 position of the other alkyl chain the H₂O molecule. In either case, the O-atom of H₂O is provided by the FeO⁺ species.     

Does ionized diacetylene have a positive proton affinity?

Singly and doubly charged C₄H₃^+/2+ ions generated upon electron ionization (EI) of the neutral precursors 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and exo-methylene cyclopropane, respectively, are examined by sector-field mass-spectrometry. Charge stripping of the mass-selected monocations affords the corresponding dications and charge exchange of the C₄H₃²⁺ dications allows for the reverse redox process. Refined analysis and additional MS/MS studies suggest that the monocations are mixtures of isomeric ions formed upon ionization, whereas only a single type of dication seems to be formed. As an average of energy-resolved measurements, a vertical ionization energy of IE_v(C₄H₃⁺)=16.5±0.4 eV is derived. In addition to the experimental work, density functional theory is used for a computational exploration of the mono- and dicationic species. The best theoretical estimates are IE_a(C₄H₃⁺)=16.33 eV and IE_v(C₄H₃⁺)=16.49 eV for the most stable isomer H₂C=C---CCH⁺. Combination of the experimental and theoretical findings leads to the conclusion that the diacetylene cation C₄H₂⁺ has indeed a positive proton affinity of PA(C₄H₂⁺)=1.50±0.42 eV.     

Preparation,Characterisation, and Structure of N-Methylated Derivatives of 1,3,5-Triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol: Polyalcohols with Unusual Acidity

1,3,5-Trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(dimethylamino)-cis-inositol (TDCI) and 1,3,5-trideoxy-1,3,5-tris(trimethylammonio)-cis-inositol (TTCI) were prepared by methylation of 1,3,5-triamino-1,3,5-trideoxy-cis-inositol (TACI). The ability of TDCI to form both intermolecular and intramolecular H-bonds, as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, is probably responsible for the good solubility of TDCI in almost every common solvent. TTCI was found to be a polyol of unusual high acidity (pK₁ = 8.14 ± 0.02, pK₂ = 13.0 ± 0.2). This phenomenon could be explained by electrostatic interactions between the charged substituents of the cyclohexane residue.     

Elektronenstruktur,Spektren und Magnetismus von Chinon-π-Komplexen des Nickels

Zusammenfassung Die Elektronenstrukturen von Bis-durochinon-nickel(0) und der Komplexe vom Typ Olefin-Ni(0)-Chinon werden im Rahmen der LCAO-MO-Näherung diskutiert und zur Deutung der Absorptionsspektren herangezogen. Den im freien Durochmon auftretenden Übergängen lassen sich in den Komplexspektren jeweils nur wenig verschobene Banden zuordnen. Darüber hinaus wird eine intensive Charge-Transfer-Bande beobachtet, die einem Übergang vom höchsten besetzten Nickelzustand zum tiefsten unbesetzten Chinon-Orbital entspricht. Aus der Intensität der Bande, die im freien Chinon dem b _3g 2b ₂ g-Übergang zugeordnet wird, ergibt sich für das gelöste Bis-durochinon-nickel(0)-Molekül die Symmetrie D _2h . Während die Komplexe mit Durochinon in Übereinstimmung mit der Theorie diamagnetisch sind, weisen die analogen Verbindungen der Dimethylchinone magnetische Momente von 1,52 bzw. 2,75 B. M. auf, woraus auf eine Mitbeteiligung polarer Strukturen am Grundzustand dieser Komplexe geschlossen wird.

---

The electronic structures of bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) and complexes of the type olefine-Ni(0)-quinone are discussed in the MO-LCAO approximation and used for an interpretation of the absorption spectra. The transitions of the free duroquinone can be correlated with transitions of the complexes at nearly the same wavelengths. In addition, an intense charge transfer band is observed which corresponds to a transition from the highest occupied nickel orbital to the lowest unoccupied quinone orbital. From the intensity of the band which corresponds to b _3g 2b_2g in the free quinone, the symmetry D _2h for the dissolved bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) molecule is deduced. Whereas the duroquinone complexes are diamagnetic in agreement with theory, analogous compounds of the diméthylquinones exhibit magnetic momenta of 1.52 and 2.75 B. M. suggesting the participation of polar structures in the ground state of these complexes.

---

Résumé Les structures électroniques du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0) et des complexes du type oléfine-Ni(0)-quinone sont discutées dans le cadre del'approximationMO-LCAO et utilisées pour l'interprétation des spectres d'absorption. Aux transitions de la duroquinone libre peuvent être attribuées des bandes peu déplacées dans les spectres des complexes. En outre on observe une bande intense correspondant à une transition de la plus haute orbitale occupée du nickel à la plus basse orbitale libre de la quinone. L'intensité de la bande nommée b _3g 2b _2g dans la quinone libre indique la symétrie D _2h pour la molécule dissoute du bis-duroquinone-nickel(0). Tandis que les complexes de la duroquinone sont diamagnétiques en accord avec la théorie, des composés analogues des diméthylquinones présentent des moments magnétiques de 1,52 et de 2,75 B. M. d'où l'on infère la participation de structures polaires à l'état fondamental de ces complexes.

---

---

6. Mitteilung über Komplexe vom Typ des Bis-durochinon-nickel(0). 5. Mitt. vgl. [11].     

Nachweis von Farbstoffen auf alten Textilien

A simple method of identifying the more important natural dyes that have found widespread use for dyeing textiles is described. This involves thin-layer chromatographic comparison on Mikropolyamid F 1700 (Schl. & Sch.). The reliability of dye recognition is increased by combining various methods of identification on the chromatogram by employing the following procedure: (1) The normal coloration, (2) the fluorescent colour in UV light, (3) the change in shade with ammoniacal steam, and (4) the colour reaction with aluminium salts or, where hydroxyflavones have already been identified by reaction (3), with iron(III) chloride. In addition, various specific reactions for identifying individual natural colours are given. Furthermore, methods are indicated whereby identification can be effected by comparing infra-red spectra after a simple preparation of the sample.     

Basische metalle : XXXVII. Zur reaktivität der ethylen(hydrido)rhodium-komplexe [C5H5RhH(C2H4)PR3]X gegenüber nucleophilen: insertion versus substitution

The complex [C₅H₅RhH(C₂H₄)PMe₃]BF₄ (I) reacts with NaF and NaCN by deprotonation to give C₅H₅Rh(PMe₃)C₂H₄ but with NaCl, NaBr and NaI the ethylrhodium compounds C₅H₅RhC₂H₅(PMe₃)X (II–IV) are obtained. The reactions of I with CO and PPrⁱ₃ yield the BF₄ salts of the cations [C₅H₅RhH(CO)PMe₃]⁺ and [C₅H₅RhH(PPrⁱ₃)PMe₃]⁺ (V, VI), respectively, from which the uncharged complexes C₅H₅Rh(CO)PMe₃ (VII) and C₅H₅Rh(PPRⁱ₃)PMe₃ (VIII) are prepared. The carbonyl compound VII is also accessible either from C₅H₅Rh(CO)₂ and PMe₃ or from C₅H₅Rh(PMe₃)₂ and CO. The reaction of I with ethylene leads to the BF₄ salt of the cation [C₅H₅RhC₂H₅(PMe₃)C₂H₄]⁺ (X) which on treatment with PMe₃ forms the complex [C₅H₅RhC₂H₅(PMe₃)C₂H₄PMe₃]BF₄ (XI). The compound [C₅H₅RhH(C₂H₄)PPrⁱ₃]BF₄ (XII) reacts with NaI by insertion to yield C₅H₅RhC₂H₅(PPrⁱ₃)I (XIII) whereas with PPrⁱ₃ the salt [C₅H₅RhH(PPrⁱ₃)₂]BF₄ (XIV) is produced. The bis(triisopropylphosphine) complex C₅H₅Rh(PPrⁱ₃)₂ (XVI) is obtained from XIV and NaH.