Elimination of methane from protonated acetaldehyde: The Ab initio transition state

The transition state (TS) for loss of CH₄ from protonated acetaldehyde has been located at the second-order Moller-Plesset (MP2)/6-31G(d,p) level of theory. The activation energy is predicted to be 263.9 kJ/mol starting from the more stable form (methyl and hydrogen E) and 261.6 kJ/mol starting from the less stable form (methyl and hydrogen Z) that is required for reaction. The products (methane and the formyl ion) are predicted to lie 136.6 kJ/mol below the TS for their formation. MP2 methods underestimate the heats of formation of both the TS and the reaction products by about 40 kJ/mol when compared with experiment. Restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) calculations give much more accurate relative energies. The MP2 TS leads directly to fragmentation and is described as a protonation of the methyl group by the acidic proton on oxygen. Under RHF theory the reaction is stepwise. An RHF TS similar to the MP2 TS leads to a nonclassical intermediate (which is stable at this level of theory) that has one of the C---H bonds protonated. This mechanism (protonation of an alkyl group) appears to be a general one for high energy 1,2 eliminations from organic cations. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 1994, 5, 1102-1106)     

Amidinoethylation—a new reaction—IV : The amidinoethylation of alcohols: a facile synthesis of 3-alkoxy-N,N'-substituted-propanamidines

The amidinoethylation of alcohols takes place by the addition of sodium alkoxides 2 (R¹ = Me, Et) to the CC double bond of a variety of N,N'-substituted-propenamidines 1 (Method A). This illustrates the activation of the CC double bond by the conjugated amidine function and provides a new class of Michael acceptors for alcohols. However, this activation is poorer than with other nucleophiles or Michael acceptors. The amidinoethylation makes available 3-alkoxy-N,N'-substituted-amidines not easily accessible by other classical methods. However, it is demonstrated that the general N,N'-substituted-amidine synthesis via the nitrilium salts can also apply to nitrile compounds having an alkoxygroup present on the molecule (method B). Since the cyanoethylation of alcohols (4) is a very fast and facile reaction the method B is the preferred strategy for the synthesis of 3-alkoxy-N,N'-substituted-propanamidines 3.     

Thermal decompositions of N-methylpyridinium,quinolinium, isoquinolinium and phenanthridinium salts in a mass spectrometer. Evidence for a specific HI elimination and for an oxidation to amides

The mass spectra of some N-methylpyridinium, quinolinium, isoquinolinium and phenanthridinium salts (R⁺X^?)

1 The salt will be represented by R⁺X^? or RX, R⁺ being the organic moiety, with its associated mass and X- the inorganic anion.

are analyzed (X^? = I^? or ClO₄^?). For X^? = I^?, thermal decomposition gives rise mainly to the superimposed spectra of CH₃I and the free base. Hence, iodide salts cannot be determined specifically by their mass spectra. When an α-methyl group is present, e.g. 2-methylpyridinium methiodide, elimination of HI becomes an important thermal process. For X^? = ClO₄^?, the same pattern is observed, but in addition a generally important peak at [R + 15] is present. This peak is due to the oxidation, mainly α to the nitrogen of the organic moiety by the ClO₄^? ion, giving rise to the corresponding amide. In some cases, chlorination of the organic moiety has been observed as well as double oxidation. The thermal processes for the perchlorate salts are characteristic and are useful in the elucidation of the quaternary structure.     

Dispersion phenomena in reactors for flow analysis

Both coiled open tubular reactors and packed-bed reactors can be used in flow analysis. Band broadening and pressure drop in these reactors are discussed. Theoretical analysis shows that packed-bed reactors are to be preferred. It is shown that for a given residence time and equal band-broadening values the pressure drop over a packed-bed reactor is lower than over a coiled open tubular reactor. Rules for optimal design are given for coiled tubular reactors and packed-bed reactors. The application of both reactors is shown for the spectrophotometric determination of phosphate with a vanadomolybdate reagent yielding a yellow colour.     

Strategies for multi-site GLP studies

 A GLP study can be performed at more than one site. This is called a multi-site study. Although, the study is performed at different sites, it is still one study and must completely comply with the GLP principles. The fact that different activities are conducted at different sites implies that the planning, the organization and the communication are crucial for the success of the study. This means that all the staff involved should know their responsibilities and should have the knowledge and skills to realize all the phases of the study according to the GLP principles. To achieve a well managed multi-site study, several strategies for setting up such a study can be followed. This paper focuses on the responsibilities, communication, and collaboration of the personnel, which are involved in a multi-site study. Several case studies are highlighted, and we concluded that the basic communication triangle in a single-site GLP study between test facility management, study director, and the quality assurance unit should be extended to the communication among test facility and test site management, study director, principle investigator(s), and the quality assurance units at the test sites. Introduction Received: 14 August 2002 Accepted: 26 November 2002     

A microwave-assisted click chemistry synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via a copper(I)-catalyzed three-component reaction

A microwave-assisted three-component reaction was used to prepare a series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles from corresponding alkyl halides, sodium azide, and alkynes. This procedure eliminates the need to handle organic azides, as they are generated in situ, making this already powerful click process even more user-friendly and safe.     

Conformational analysis of dimethylmethylphosphonate

The results of a CNDO/2 conformation analysis on dimethylmethylphosphonate are reported. Six stable conformers were found; their relative stabilities can be understood in terms of steric hindrance and gauche effect. Calculated barriers to internal rotation around P—O and O—C bonds are tabulated.     

Occurrence of chain folding in micelles : A C NMR relaxation and photophysical study

¹³CT₁ relaxation times for the different carbons of the sodium dodecyl sulphate chain in micellar systems have been measured, using Gd³⁺ as a paramagnetic relaxation reagent. The fluorescence decay of ω-(-naphthyl) dodecanoic acid, solubflized in the sodium dodecyl sulphate micelles was obtained in the presence of various amounts of counterion quencher Both series of experiments point to the occurrence of chain folding and to the fact that the terminal group can approach the Stern region of the micelle.     

The molecular structure of gaseous methyl vinyl ether at room temperature, studied by molecular orbital constrained electron diffraction and microwave spectroscopy

The gas phase molecular structure of methyl vinyl ether at room temperature has been studied by joint analysis of electron diffraction and microwave data. Constraints on geometrical and thermal parameters were derived from the geometry and force field of the s-cis form, obtained by ab-initio calculations (4–21 G basis set) after complete geometry relaxation. A range of models was investigated that fits all available data (infrared, microwave and electron diffraction). The following r_g/r-parameters were obtained: C=C: 1.337 Å, C(sp²)---O: 1.359 Å, C(sp³)---O: 1.427 Å, : 1.102 Å C=C---O : 127.3° and COC: 116.8°. Experimental r_g---r_e (ab initio) corrections are given for C=C, C(sp²)---O and Csp³)---O.

This investigation demonstrates that molecular orbital constrained electron diffraction is sufficiently reliable and in such a manner that it can be applied to more complicated problems.     

Mass spectrometric analysis of ceramide perturbations in brain and fibroblasts of mice and human patients with peroxisomal disorders

In this study, the levels and composition of ceramides in brains of newborn mice lacking peroxisomes (Pex5-/-, Zellweger mice) were analyzed using normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC/APCI-MS). Total ceramide compositions were found to be comparable to that of control animals. However, a minor ceramide species, containing hexacosanoic/hexacosenoic acid as the amide fatty acid, was 9-fold increased. Also, in the sphingomyelin-derived ceramides this species was elevated. Subsequent analysis of extracts from fibroblasts of Pex5-/- mice and mice with a defective peroxisomal beta-oxidation (lacking D-specific multifunctional protein 2 (MFP2)), revealed, again, a similar rise in this particular ceramide. Further, this ceramide was elevated in human X-ALD fibroblasts as well. Whether C26:1/0-ceramide is linked to some of the pathology seen in Zellweger syndrome remains to be investigated. However, an increase in this sphingolipid can be considered as a diagnostic criterion for diseases caused by defects in peroxisome biogenesis or peroxisomal beta-oxidation.