Copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation of d-alpha-tocopherol by oxygen in aqueous solution

alpha-Tocopherol (alpha-Toc) was solubilized in aqueous solutions using 13 solubilizing agents and the products of oxidation by oxygen in the presence and the absence of Cu(II) were analyzed by HPLC. In the presence of Cu(II), the oxidation was accelerated and 5-formyl-7,8-dimethyltocol and alpha-tocoquinone were the major oxidation products. Their yields greatly increased in the presence of Cu(II). The yields and the rates of formation of the products were dependent on the properties of solubilizing agents and other conditions as well as the presence of Cu(II) or other metal ions. It is suggested that slight changes in the structure of the solubilizing agents affect the course of the reaction.     

Borderline of hydrogen bonding of silanols

Two new silanols bearing very bulky silyl groups, (i-Pr₃ Si)₃SiOH and (t − BuMe₂Si)₃SiOH were prepared by peracidoxidation of their respective silanes. The X − ray crystallographic analysis revealed that (t − BuMe₂Si)₃ SiOH forms a dimeric structure with hydrogen bonding, while (i − Pr₃ Si)₃ SiOH exists as a monomer in the crystal. The effects of the size of the substituents as well as the reactivity of these silanols are discussed.     

Thermochromic and solvatochromic zinc biladienones: dynamic equilibria of a metal complex having a flexible framework sensitive to environment

Dehydration of zinc biladienone was catalyzed by zinc acetate, while the reverse reaction was catalyzed by triethylamine. The transformation can be performed thermally without catalyst, and the ratio of the hydrated form to the dehydrated form depended on the solvents: the dehydrated form is favored in CHCl₃ and CH₂Cl₂, while the hydrated form is favored in hexane, pyridine, and DMF. Kinetic studies on the thermal transformation of zinc biladienone from its hydrated blue form to the dehydrated yellow-brown form were performed in toluene and THF. The rate law was half order with respect to the zinc biladienone concentration in toluene, while first order in THF, leading to a slow transformation in concentrated solution in toluene.     

Reactions of hydropolysilanes with alcohols catalysed by tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium

[RhCl(PPh₃)₃] is a very effective catalyst for the cleavage of Si-Si bonds by alcohols.     

Total synthesis of (+)-pederine. A simple synthetic method for N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides

A mild one-pot method for the synthesis of acyclic N-(1-methoxyalkyl)amides starting from carboxylic acids and methyl imidates had been developed and applied to the total synthesis of the insect poison pederine $\text{1}$.