Pd/P(t-Bu)(3): a mild and general catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides

Pd/P(t-Bu)(3) serves as an unusually reactive catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl chlorides and bromides, providing solutions to a number of long-standing challenges. An unprecedented array of aryl chlorides can be cross-coupled with a range of organotin reagents, including SnBu(4). Very hindered biaryls (e.g., tetra-ortho-substituted) can be synthesized, and aryl chlorides can be coupled in the presence of aryl triflates. The method is user-friendly, since a commercially available complex, Pd(P(t-Bu)(3))(2), is effective. Pd/P(t-Bu)(3) also functions as an active catalyst for Stille reactions of aryl bromides, furnishing the first general method for room-temperature cross-couplings.     

Determination of cadmium in mixtures with metal ions

A method for the determination of cadmium microamounts in mixtures with metallic ions withE _1/2 near toE _1/2 of cadmium is discussed. For higher selectivity cadmium was extracted in the form of the pyridin-thiocyanate complexes prior to polarography.

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Bestimmung von Cadmium(II) neben anderen Metallionen

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine polarographische Methode zur Bestimmung von Cd(II) neben anderen Metallionen mitE _1/2 naheE _1/2(Cd) diskutiert. Zur Erhöhung der Selektivität und Genauigkeit wird eine Pyridin-Thiocyanat-Extraktion vorgeschalten.

     

Conformationally controlled (entropy effects), stereoselective vibrational quenching of singlet oxygen in the oxidative cleavage of oxazolidinone-functionalized enecarbamates through solvent and temperature variations

On photooxygenation (methylene blue as sensitizer) of E/Z enecarbamates, equipped with the oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary, the oxidative cleavage of the alkenyl functionality releases the enantiomerically enriched methyldesoxybenzoin (MDB) product. The extent (% ee) as well as the sense (R vs S) of the stereoselectivity in the MDB formation depends on the choice of the alkene configuration; the efficacy of stereocontrol may be tuned by appropriate solvent and temperature conditions. Highlighted is the finding that the formation of the preferred MDB enantiomer (R or S) depends for the E isomer on the chosen solvent and temperature, but not for the corresponding Z isomer. The activation parameters for the various solvents disclose that differential entropy effects (ΔΔS^‡) dominate the conformationally more flexible E diastereomers. As mechanistic rationale for this unprecedented conformationally imposed stereochemical behavior, we propose the competitive action of stereoselective vibrational quenching of the attacking singlet oxygen by the enecarbamate versus sterically controlled stereoselective oxidative cleavage of its double bond.     

Ortho effect in the mass spectrometric behaviour of N(pyrimidin-4-yl)aminobenzoic acids and their methyl esters

Ortho-. meta- and para-isomers of N-(pyrimidin-4-yl)aminobenzoic acid and their methyl esters were investigated by electron impact mass Spectrometry. Their fragmentation was found to be strongly dependent on the position of the substituent in the aminobenzoic moiety. Two different kinds of ortho effect were studied and confirmed with the aid of deuterium-labelled derivatives.     

Synthesis, structure determination, and spectroscopic/computational characterization of a series of Fe(II)-thiolate model complexes: implications for Fe-S bonding in superoxide reductases

A combined synthetic/spectroscopic/computational approach has been employed to prepare and characterize a series of Fe(II)-thiolate complexes that model the square-pyramidal [Fe(II)(N(His))(4)(S(Cys))] structure of the reduced active site of superoxide reductases (SORs), a class of enzymes that detoxify superoxide in air-sensitive organisms. The high-spin (S = 2) Fe(II) complexes [(Me(4)cyclam)Fe(SC(6)H(4)-p-OMe)]OTf (2) and [FeL]PF(6) (3) (where Me(4)cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetramethylcyclam and L is the pentadentate monoanion of 1-thioethyl-4,8,11-trimethylcyclam) were synthesized and subjected to structural, magnetic, and electrochemical characterization. X-ray crystallographic studies confirm that 2 and 3 possess an N(4)S donor set similar to that found for the SOR active site and reveal molecular geometries intermediate between square pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal for both complexes. Electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD), and variable-temperature variable-field MCD (VTVH-MCD) spectroscopies were utilized, in conjunction with density functional theory (DFT) and semiemperical INDO/S-CI calculations, to probe the ground and excited states of complexes 2 and 3, as well as the previously reported Fe(II) SOR model [(L(8)py(2))Fe(SC(6)H(4)-p-Me)]BF(4) (1) (where L(8)py(2) is a tetradentate pyridyl-appended diazacyclooctane macrocycle). These studies allow for a detailed interpretation of the S-->Fe(II) charge transfer transitions observed in the absorption and MCD spectra of complexes 1-3 and provide significant insights into the nature of Fe(II)-S bonding in complexes with axial thiolate ligation. Of the three models investigated, complex 3 exhibits an absorption spectrum that is particularly similar to the one reported for the reduced SOR enzyme (SOR(red)), suggesting that this model accurately mimics key elements of the electronic structure of the enzyme active site; namely, highly covalent Fe-S pi- and sigma-interactions. These spectral similarities are shown to arise from the fact that 3 contains an alkyl thiolate tethered to the equatorial cyclam ring, resulting in a thiolate orientation that is very similar to the one adopted by the Cys residue in the SOR(red) active site. Possible implications of our results with respect to the electronic structure and reactivity of SOR(red) are discussed.     

Eta2-dba complexes of Pd(0): the substituent effect in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling

The influence of aryl substituents in dibenzylidene acetone (dba) ligands, for Pd(0) complexes, has been evaluated for Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. Electron-withdrawing substituents such as NO(2) or CF(3) deactivate the catalyst species whereas strongly donating substituents such as OMe increase catalytic activity over that of unsubstituted dba ligands. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis and molecular structure of new acyclic analogues of nucleotides with a 1,2-alkadienic skeleton

Reaction of 1-chloro-4-(diethoxyphosphonyl)alka-2,3-dienes 14,15 with purine and pyrimidine heterocyclic bases in the presence of cesium carbonate afforded new acyclic analogues of nucleotides containing a 1,2-alkadienic skeleton 18-23. Dealkylation of 18-23 furnished phosphonic acids 2a-f. In contrast, alkylation reaction with 1-chloro-4-(diethoxyphosphonyl)octa-2,3-diene 16 led to Z- and E-1,3-alkadienic phosphonates 25a,b and 26a,b. A similar reaction with 1-chloro-4-(diethoxyphosphonyl)-2-methylbuta-2,3-diene 17 led to the elimination of hydrochloride and formation of 4-(diethylphosphonyl)-2-methylbut-1-en-3-yne 24. Molecular structures of new acyclic nucleotides 18 and 2f are determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Organic matter transformation in the environment investigated by quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy: studies on lignins

The lignins separated from angiosperm and gymnosperm trees, peat and xylitic brown coal were investigated by quantitative EPR. Observed free radicals in lignins are sensitive to alkaline environment. Gaseous ammonia interacting with solid lignins in resonance cavity shifts quinone-hydroquinone equilibria towards formation of semiquinone anions. Complexation of copper(II) by lignins causes drastic decrease of the semiquinones in the matrices. Formation of lignin-Pb(II) complexes yielded radicals characterised by unusually low g-value (1.9999-2.0003). Monomeric structural units of the investigated lignins were recognised by pyrolysis with in situ methylation by tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Although for the natural lignins the mixture of normal semiquinone signals at g about 2.0034 and signals at g 1.9999 were observed, some monomeric components of lignins (e.g., caffeic acid, pyrogallol) gave pure lines at g = 1.9999. The bacterial oxidative biodegradation of lignin monomeric components and their Pb(II) complexes resulted in increase of the radical signals.     

Co60 γ-radiation-induced copolymerization of ethylene and carbon monoxide

The γ-radiation-induced free-radical copolymerization of ethylene and CO has been investigated over a wide range of pressure, initial gas composition, radiation intensity, and temperature. At 20°C., concentrations of CO up to 1% retard the polymerization of ethylene. Above this concentration the rate reaches a maximum between 27.5 and 39.2% CO and then decreases. The copolymer composition increases only from 40 to 50% CO when the gas mixture is varied from 5 to 90% CO. A relatively constant reactivity ratio is obtained at 20°C., indicating that CO adds 23.6 times as fast as an ethylene monomer to an ethylene free-radical chain end. For a 50% CO gas mixture, the above value of 23.6 and the copolymerization rate decrease with increasing temperature to 200°C. The kinetic data indicate a temperature-dependent depropagation reaction. Infrared examination of copolymers indicates a polyketone structure containing ? CH₂? CH₂? and ? CO? units. The crystalline melting point increases rapidly from 111 to 242°C., as the CO concentration in the copolymer increases from 27 to 50%. Molecular weight of copolymer formed at 20°C. increased with increasing CO, indicating M?_n values >20,000. Increasing reaction temperature results in decreasing molecular weight. Onset of decomposition for a 50% CO copolymer was measured at ≈250°C.     

On the origin of geminal regioselectivity in the ene reaction of singlet oxygen with substituted alkenes

The geminal regioselectivity observed in the ene reaction between singlet oxygen and alkenes with anion-stabilizing groups is rationalized on the basis of a perepoxide intermediate, in which in analogy to the nucleophilic attack on protonated epoxides, the perepoxide is opened preferentially at the C---O bond weakened by the substituent.