Plasma deposition of thin films from a fluorine-containing cyclosiloxane

Thin films have been deposited from radio-frequency glow discharges fed with vapors of a silicon- and fluorine-containing organic compound, namely 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) (methyl)] cyclotrisiloxane, in mixture with argon. 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)(methyl)]cyclotrisiloxane A triode reactor has been utilized to deposit films by independently changing substrate temperature and bias-induced ion-bombardment. Laser interferometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been used to monitor film growth rate and composition. Results unambiguously show an activating effect of the ion-bombardment, which confirm the validity of the ion-assisted deposition model utilized for the plasma deposition of both teflon- and silicone-like films. In our experiments, low substrate temperature and bias conditions results in films with a “monomer-like” stoichiometry, while drastic conditions give origin to materials with a completely different composition and a markedly increased hardness. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Environmental effects on vibrational properties of carotenoids: experiments and calculations on peridinin

Carotenoids are employed in light-harvesting complexes of dinoflagellates with the two-fold aim to extend the spectral range of the antenna and to protect it from radiation damage. We have studied the effect of the environment on the vibrational properties of the carotenoid peridinin in different solvents by means of vibrational spectroscopies and QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations. Three prototypical solvents were considered: cyclohexane (an apolar/aprotic solvent), deuterated acetonitrile (a polar/aprotic solvent) and methanol (a polar/protic solvent). Thanks to effective normal mode analysis, we were able to assign the experimental Raman and IR bands and to clarify the effect of the solvent on band shifts. In the 1500-1650 cm(-1) region, seven vibrational modes of the polyene chain were identified and assigned to specific molecular vibrations. In the 1700-1800 cm(-1) region a strong progressive down-shift of the lactonic carbonyl frequency is observed passing from cyclohexane to methanol solutions. This has been rationalized here in terms of solvent polarity and solute-solvent hydrogen bond interactions. On the basis of our data we propose a classification of non-equivalent peridinins in the Peridinin-Chlorophyll-Proteins, light-harvesting complexes of dinoflagellates.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric identification of the phototransformation products of tebuconazole on titanium dioxide

Tebuconazole is a widely used fungicide. The formation of by-products on irradiated titanium dioxide as a photocatalyst was evaluated. Several species derived from tebuconazole degradation were identified and characterized by HPLC/MS(n). A pattern of reactions accounting for the observed intermediates is proposed. Different parallel pathways are operating (and through these pathways the transformation of the molecule proceeds), leading to a wide range of intermediate compounds. All these molecules are more hydrophylic than tebuconazole. The main steps involved are (1) the hydroxylation of the molecule with the formation of three species having [M + H](+) 324; the hydroxylation occurs on the C-1 carbon and on the aromatic ring in the two ortho-positions; (2) the cleavage of a C--C bond with the release of the tert-butyl moiety and the formation of a species having m/z 250; analogously to step 1, also on this species a further hydroxylation reaction occurs; (3) through the loss of the triazole moiety with the formation of a structure with m/z 257.     

Molecular evaluation of soil organic matter characteristics in three agricultural soils by improved off-line thermochemolysis: The effect of hydrofluoric acid demineralisation treatment

The molecular composition of soil organic matter (SOM) in three agricultural fields under different managements, was evaluated by off-line thermochemolysis followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (THM-GC-MS). While this technique enabled the characterization of SOM components in coarse textured soil, its efficiency in heavy textured soils was seriously affected by the interference of clay minerals, which catalyzed the formation of secondary artifacts in pyrolysates. Soil demineralization with hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions effectively improved the reliable characterization of organic compounds in clayey soils by thermochemolysis, while did not alter significantly the results of coarse textured soil. A wide range of lignin monomers and lipids molecules, of plant and microbial origin, were identified in the pyrograms of HF treated soils, thereby revealing interesting molecular differences between SOM management practices. Our results indicated that clay removal provided by HF pretreatment enhanced the capacity of thermochemolysis to be a valuable and accurate technique to study the SOM dynamics also in heavy-textured and OC-depleted cultivated soils.     

An Experimental Evidence of a Metal−Metal Bond in μ‐Carbonylhexacarbonyl[μ‐(5‐oxofuran‐2(5H)‐ylidene‐κC,κC)]‐dicobalt(Co−Co)[Co2(CO)6(μ‐CO)(μ‐C4O2H2)]

The orthorhombic crystal structure of [Co₂(CO)₆(μ‐CO)(μ‐C₄O₂H₂)] ( 1 ) was determined at 150 K (Fig. 1). Two C−H⋅⋅⋅O bonds connect the molecules, forming waving ribbons along the b axis. The experimental electron density, determined with the aspherical‐atom formalism, was analyzed with the topological theory of molecular structure. The presence of the Co−Co bond critical point indicates for the first time the existence of a metal−metal bond in a system with bridged ligands. The bond critical properties of the intramolecular bonds and of the intermolecular interactions show features similar to those found in [Mn₂(CO)₁₀], confirming our previously established bonding classification for organometallic and coordination compounds.     

Profiling of grape monoterpene glycosides (aroma precursors) by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF)

A ‘suspect screening analysis’ method for grape metabolomics by ultra‐high performance‐liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and high‐resolution quadrupole‐time of flight (QTOF) mass spectrometry was recently developed. This method was applied to study grape monoterpene glycosides, the main grape aroma precursors. Since standard compounds were not available, they were tentatively identified by overlapping various analytical approaches, in agreement with the indications recommended in mass spectrometry (MS)‐based metabolomics. Accurate mass and isotopic pattern, MS/MS fragmentation, correlation between fragments observed and putative structures and between liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry signals were studied. Seventeen monoterpene glycosides were identified without performing the hydrolytic artifacts commonly used to study these compounds which may affect sample profile. This is the first time that a detailed study of these aroma precursors has been carried out by direct LC/MS analysis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A New Dimeric Copper(II) Complex of Hexyl Bis(pyrazolyl)acetate Ligand as an Efficient Catalyst for Allylic Oxidations

A new dimeric copper(II) bromide complex, [Cu(L^OHex)Br(μ-Br)]₂ (1), was prepared by a reaction of CuBr₂ with the hexyl bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate ligand (L^OHex) in acetonitrile solution and fully characterized in the solid state and in solution. The crystal structure of 1 was also determined: the complex is interlinked by two bridging bromide ligands and possesses terminal bromide ligands on each copper atom. The two pyrazolyl ligands in 1 coordinate with the nitrogen atoms to complete the Cu coordination sphere, resulting in a five-coordinated geometry—away from idealized trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal geometries—which can better be described as distorted square pyramidal, as measured by the τ and χ structural parameters. The pendant hexyloxy chain is disordered over two arrangements, with final site occupancies refined to 0.705 and 0.295. The newly synthesized complex was evaluated as a catalyst in copper-catalyzed C–H oxidation for allylic functionalization through a Kharasch–Sosnovsky reaction without any external reducing agent. Using 0.5 mol% of this catalyst, and tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (Luperox) as an oxidant, allylic benzoates were obtained with up to 90% yield. The general reaction time was only slightly decreased to 24 h but a very significant decrease in the alkene:Luperox ratio to 3:1 was achieved. These factors show relevant improvements with respect to classical Kharasch–Sosnovsky reactions in terms of rate and amount of reagents. The present study highlights the potential of copper(II) complexes containing functionalized bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate ligands as efficient catalysts for allylic oxidations.     

Selective synthesis of 2-substituted 4-carboxy oxazoles, thiazoles and thiazolidines from serine or cysteine amino acids

The synthesis of new 4-carboxy oxazoles, thiazoles and thiazolidines by condensation of serine or cysteine with aldehydes or acids is described. Due to the optimization of a mild and selective procedure, which takes advantage of the positive effect of microwave irradiation on the MnO₂ mediated oxidation step, the 2-substituted-4-carboxy derivatives can be obtained in multi-gram scale. Examples of coordination chemistry to Ni(II) and Co(II) are described.     

Computational <Superscript>19</Superscript>F NMR. 1. General features

Fluorine-19 NMR chemical shifts have been calculated for a wide variety of fluorine-containing inorganic and organic molecules by relativistic DFT methods. The agreement with experimental values, spanning the whole range from ClF to FOOF, is satisfactory but somewhat less accurate than for comparable light nuclei. ¹⁹F shifts in uranium chlorofluorides have been analyzed in detail, and the poor agreement with experiment is partly rationalized.