A density functional theory study of the chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the domino cycloaddition reactions of nitroalkenes with substituted alkenes

The chemoselectivity and regioselectivity of the domino intermolecular [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitroalkenes with substituted alkenes, vinyl ethers as electron-rich alkenes and vinyl ketones as electron-poor alkenes, have been studied using density functional theory (DFT) methods with the B3LYP functional and the 6-31G^* basis set. These domino processes comprise two consecutive cycloaddition reactions: the first one is an intermolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of the vinyl ether to the nitroalkene to give a nitronate intermediate, which then affords the final nitroso acetal adduct through an intermolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with the vinyl ketone. The two consecutive cycloadditions present total chemoselectivity and ortho regioselectivity. While first [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction takes place along the attack of the electron-rich alkene to nitroalkene, the [3 + 2] one takes place along the attack of the electron-poor alkene to the corresponding nitronate intermediate. This DFT study is in complete agreement with the experimental results. Received: 16 September 1999 / Accepted: 3 February 2000 / Published online: 2 May 2000     

Convergence of boundary optimal controls in mixed elliptic problems

We consider a steady-state heat conduction problem P_α withmixed boundary conditions for the Poisson equation in a bounded multidimensional domain Ω depending of a positive parameter α which represents the heat transfer coefficient on a portion Γ₁ of the boundary of Ω. We consider, for each α > 0, a cost function J_α and we formulate boundary optimal control problems with restrictions over the heat flux q on a complementary portion Γ₂ of the boundary of Ω. We obtain that the optimality conditions are given by a complementary free boundary problem in Γ₂ in terms of the adjoint state. We prove that the optimal control q and its corresponding system state u and adjoint state p for each α are strongly convergent to q_op, u and p in L²(Γ₂), H¹(Ω), and H¹(Ω) respectively when α → ∞. We also prove that these limit functions are respectively the optimal control, the system state and the adjoint state corresponding to another boundary optimal control problem with restrictions for the same Poisson equation with a different boundary condition on the portion Γ₁. We use the elliptic variational inequality theory in order to prove all the strong convergences. In this paper, we generalize the convergence result obtained in Ben Belgacem-El Fekih-Metoui, ESAIM:M2AN, 37 (2003), 833-850 by considering boundary optimal control problems with restrictions on the heat flux q defined on Γ₂ and the parameter α (which goes to infinity) is defined on Γ₁. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis of isoindoloisoquinoline alkaloids. A revision of the structure of (±)-nuevamine

An easy and efficient method for the synthesis of isoindoloisoquinolines, and the assignment of a new structure for the alkaloid (±)-nuevamine are reported.     

Surface enhanced vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy in the design of chemosensors based on ester functionalized p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene hosts

Surface-enhanced IR (SEIR) and Raman scattering (SERS) have been employed to study the adsorption of ester functionalized tert-butyl calix[4]arenes on Ag and Au nanostructured surfaces as well as their complexes with pyrene. The influence of adsorption and complexation with pyrene on the host calixarene structure was tested for two different calixarene molecules bearing carboethoxy groups (CH(3)CH(2)COOCH(2)-) in the low rim at positions 1,3- and 1,2,3,4-. The results obtained with SEIR were compared to those obtained with SERS, to better understand the interaction mechanism of the studied calixarenes with the metallic surfaces and the ligand as well as to investigate the structure/selectivity relationship of these two surface techniques in the analysis of recognition problems in which these ester functionalized calixarene molecules are involved.     

Synthesis and structure of new carborane-substituted cyclotriphosphazenes

The reactions of [N(3)P(3)Cl(6)] with one, two, or three equivalents of the difunctional 1,2-closo-carborane C(2)B(10)H(10)[CH(2)OH](2) and K(2)CO(3) in acetone have been investigated. These reactions led to the new spiro-closo-carboranylphosphazenes gem-[N(3)P(3)Cl(6-2n)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)](n)] (n=1 (1), 2 (2)) and the first fully carborane-substituted phosphazene gem-[N(3)P(3)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)](3)] (3). A bridged product, non-gem-[N(3)P(3)Cl(4)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)]] (4), was also detected. The reaction of the well-known spiro derivatives [N(3)P(3)Cl(2)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)] and [N(3)P(3)Cl(4)(O(2)C(12)H(8))] with the same carborane-diol and K(2)CO(3) in acetone gave the new compounds gem-[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(3-n)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)](n)] (n=1 (5) or 2 (6), respectively), without signs of intra- or intermolecularly bridged species. Upon treatment with NEt(3) in acetone, compound 5 was converted into the corresponding nido-carboranylphosphazene. However, the reaction of gem-[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)]] (5) with NEt(3) in ethanol instead of acetone proceeded in a different manner to give the new compound (NHEt(3))(2)[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)(O)[OCH(2)C(2)B(9)H(10)CH(2)OCH(2)CH(3)]] (7). For compounds with two 2,2'-dioxybiphenyl units, gem-[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(10)H(10)]] (5), (NHEt(3))[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)[(OCH(2))(2)C(2)B(9)H(10)]] (8), and (NHEt(3))(2)[N(3)P(3)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)(O)[OCH(2)C(2)B(9)H(10)CH(2)OCH(2)CH(3)]] (7), a mixture of different stereoisomers may be expected. However, for 5 and 7 only the meso compounds seem to be formed, with the same (R,S)-configuration as in the precursor [N(3)P(3)Cl(2)(O(2)C(12)H(8))(2)]. The reaction of 5 to give 8 seems to proceed with a change of configuration at one phosphorus center, giving a racemic mixture. The crystal structures of the nido-carboranylphosphazenes 7 and 8 have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Photogeneration of o-quinone methides from o-cycloalkenylphenols

6-Alkylidenecyclohexa-2,4-dienones (o-quinone methides II) have been generated by photolysis of 2-(2'-cycloalkenyl)phenols 1 and trapped by methanol to give the ring-opened products 2. The best results have been obtained with the cyclohexenyl derivatives 1a, 1e, and 1f. In the case of the cyclopentenyl derivative 1b, photoproduct 2b was not observed, whereas only small amounts of 2c and 2d were formed from the seven- and eight-membered ring analogues 1c and 1d. Thus, ring size appears to be a key factor in the formation of o-quinone methides. This experimental result has been rationalized by means of density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. On the other hand, phenol substitution also appears to play a role in the process. Thus, electron-withdrawing groups such as CF(3) (1f) accelerate the reaction, whereas the opposite is true for electron-donating groups such as OCH(3) (1e). This is explained by an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) mechanism, as the above results are consistent with the excited-state acidities of the different phenols. The lack of reactivity in the case of ketone 1g, where the intersystem crossing quantum yield is close to unity, allows us to rule out a mechanism involving the triplet state.     

Theoretical calculations on the cycloreversion of oxetane radical cations

The molecular mechanism for the cycloreversion of oxetane radical cations has been studied at the UB3LYP/6-31G* level. Calculations support that the cycloreversion takes place via a concerted but asynchronous process, where C-C bond breaking at the transition state is more advanced than O-C breaking. This allows a favorable rearrangement of the spin electron density from the oxetane radical cation (with the spin density located mainly on the oxygen atom) to the alkene radical cation which is one of the final products. Inclusion of solvent effects does not modify the gas-phase results.     

Characterization of proteins from Spirulina platensis microalga using capillary electrophoresis-ion trap-mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis-time of flight-mass spectrometry

In this work, a new capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) procedure is developed to analyze proteins in Spirulina platensis microalgae. It is demonstrated that a fine optimization of several separation parameters is essential in order to achieve suitable CE-MS analysis of these proteins in natural extracts from microalgae. Namely, optimization of the composition of the separation buffer, electrospray conditions, and washing routine between runs are required in order to obtain reliable and reproducible CE-MS analyses of the main proteins found in this microalga (namely, allophycocyanin-alpha chain, allophycocyanin-beta, c-phycocyanin-alpha, and c-phycocyanin-beta). The relative molecular mass of these biopolymers is determined using two different MS instruments coupled to CE, i.e., CE-ion trap-MS and CE-time of flight-MS (CE-TOF-MS). A comparison between the results obtained with both instruments is carried out. The high resolution of the TOF-MS enables the distinction of small modifications in proteins and, thus, a more accurate mass determination. Interestingly, molecular mass values obtained by both CE-MS procedures agree very well while these experimental values are only in partial agreement with those theoretically expected (i.e., genetically derived masses). Some protein modifications due to amino acids exchange induced by nucleotide codon mutations are proposed to explain this difference.     

Enhancing reactivity of carbonyl compounds via hydrogen-bond formation. A DFT study of the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction between butadiene derivative and acetone in chloroform

To examine how hydrogen-bond (HB) formation involving chloroform solvent molecules influences the chemical reactivity of ketones, the hetero-Diels-Alder reaction of N,N-dimethyl-1-amino-3-methoxy-1,3-butadiene and acetone has been studied by using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G level. The effects of the chloroform on the activation energies have been modeled by means of discrete-continuum models. In the gas phase, the formation of specific HB between acetone and one and two chloroform molecules decreases the activation barriers from 19.3 to 13.6 and 8.5 kcal/mol, respectively. Inclusion of solvent effects by means of combined discrete and polarizable continuum models yields a change of molecular mechanism from a concerted to a two-step mechanism, and the first nucleophilic step is the rate-limiting step. The corresponding values of activation barriers in chloroform are 18.6 kcal/ mol (no HB), 13.5 kcal/mol (one HB), and 9.6 kcal/mol (two HBs). These theoretical results account for the experimental observation that chloroform accelerates the reaction more markedly than more polar aprotic solvent such as acetonitrile. A DFT analysis of the global electrophilicity power of the reagents provides a sound explanation about the catalytic effects of chloroform.     

Multi-stimuli Photo and Redox-active Nanostructured Mesoporous Silica Films on Transparent Electrodes

Silica matrices hosting transition metal guest complexes may offer remarkable platforms for the development of advanced functional devices. We report here the elaboration of ordered and vertically oriented mesoporous silica thin films containing covalently attached tris(bipyridine)iron derivatives using a combination of electrochemically assisted self-assembly (EASA) method and Huisgen cycloaddition reaction. Such a versatile approach is primarily used to bind nitrogen-based chelating ligands such as (4-[(2-propyn-1-yloxy)]4’-methyl-2,2’-bypiridine, bpy’) inside the nanochannels. Further derivatization of the bpy’-functionalized silica thin films is then achieved via a subsequent in-situ complexation step to generate [Fe(bpy)₂(bpy’)]²⁺ inside the mesopore channels. After giving spectroscopic evidences for the presence of such complexes in the functionalized film, electrochemistry is used to transform the confined diamagnetic (S=0) species to paramagnetic (S=1/2) oxidized species in a reversible way, while blue light irradiation (λ=470 nm) enables populating the short-lived paramagnetic (S=2) excited state. [Fe(bpy)₂(bpy’)]²⁺-functionalized ordered films are therefore both electro- and photo-active through the manipulation of the oxidation state and spin state of the confined complexes, paving the way for their integration in optoelectronic devices.