Peroxide Coordination of Tellurium in Aqueous Solutions

Tellurium–peroxo complexes in aqueous solutions have never been reported. In this work, ammonium peroxotellurates (NH₄)₄Te₂(μ‐OO)₂(μ‐O)O₄(OH)₂ ( 1 ) and (NH₄)₅Te₂(μ‐OO)₂(μ‐O)O₅(OH)?1.28 H₂O?0.72 H₂O₂ ( 2 ) were isolated from 5 % hydrogen peroxide aqueous solutions of ammonium tellurate and characterized by single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis, by Raman spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The crystal structure of 1 comprises ammonium cations and a symmetric binuclear peroxotellurate anion [Te₂(μ‐OO)₂(μ‐O)O₄(OH)₂]^4?. The structure of 2 consists of an unsymmetrical [Te₂(μ‐OO)₂(μ‐O)O₅(OH)]^5? anion, ammonium cations, hydrogen peroxide, and water. Peroxotellurate anions in both 1 and 2 contain a binuclear Te₂(μ‐OO)₂(μ‐O) fragment with one μ‐oxo‐ and two μ‐peroxo bridging groups. ¹²⁵Te NMR spectroscopic analysis shows that the peroxo bridged bitellurate anions are the dominant species in solution, with 3–40 %wt H₂O₂ and for pH values above 9. DFT calculations of the peroxotellurate anion confirm its higher thermodynamic stability compared with those of the oxotellurate analogues. This is the first direct evidence for tellurium–peroxide coordination in any aqueous system and the first report of inorganic tellurium–peroxo complexes. General features common to all reported p‐block element peroxides could be discerned by the characterization of aqueous and crystalline peroxotellurates.     

Tuning the morphology and magnetic properties of single-domain SrFe8Al4O19 particles prepared by a citrate auto-combustion method

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Percolation Thresholds in Ternary Polymer Melt Blends with Separate Dispersions of the Inner Phases: Mathematical Model

A mathematical model based on a straightforward geometrical background is developed which enables predictions of a transition of one dispersed phase to a cocontinuous one (i.e., the percolation threshold) on addition of another dispersed phase during melt mixing in ternary polymer blends. The present work concerns only ternary blends with two separate dispersions of the inner phases in which no encapsulation takes place. In addition, in order to simplify the model, one of the inner phases was represented by hard, nondeformable microspheres The expression developed describes well an experimental relationship between the percolation threshold, the concentration above which the former dispersed phase transforms to a continuous one, and concentrations of both inner phases. The results agree well with the experimental data obtained in a previous work.     

Crystal structures of pyridinemonocarboxylic acid peroxosolvates

The crystal structures of new peroxosolvates of the following pyridinemonocarboxylic acids were studied: picolinic 2-C₅H₄NCOOH·H₂O₂ (1), nicotinic 3-C₅H₄NCOOH·H₂O₂ (2), and isonicotinic 4-C₅H₄NCOOH·2H₂O₂ (3). In these compounds, the acids exist exclusively as zwitterions, as opposed to non-solvated crystals. In compounds 1–3, the hydrogen peroxide molecules form two donor hydrogen bonds and, in some cases, one additional acceptor hydrogen bond. Peroxosolvate 2 can be considered as a novel drug formulation of vitamin B₃.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Theoretical Study of Trifluoromethyl Derivatives of C84(23) Fullerene

Trifluoromethylation of a higher fullerene mixture with CF₃I was performed in ampoules at 550 °C. HPLC separation followed by crystal growth and X‐ray diffraction study resulted in the structure elucidation of nine CF₃ derivatives of D_2d‐C₈₄ (isomer 23). The molecular structures of C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₄, C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₈, C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₀, C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₂, two isomers of C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₄, two isomers of C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₆, and C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₈ were discussed in terms of their addition patterns and the relative formation energies. Extensive theoretical DFT calculations were performed to identify the most stable molecular structures. It was found that the addition of CF₃ groups to the C₈₄(23) fullerene is governed by two main rules: no additions in positions of triple hexagon junctions and predominantly para additions in C₆(CF₃)₂ hexagons on the fullerene cage. The only exception with an isolated CF₃ group in C₈₄(23)(CF₃)₁₂ is discussed in more detail.     

Investigation of Functionalized α‐Chloroalkyllithiums for a Stereospecific Reagent‐Controlled Homologation Approach to the Analgesic Alkaloid (−)‐Epibatidine

Four putative functionalized α‐chloroakyllithiums RCH₂CHLiCl, where R=CHCH₂ ( 18 a ), CCH ( 18 b ), CH₂OBn ( 18 c ), and CH[O(CH₂)₂O] ( 18 d ), were generated in situ by sulfoxide–lithium exchange from α‐chlorosulfoxides, and investigated for the stereospecific reagent‐controlled homologation (StReCH) of phenethyl and 2‐chloropyrid‐5‐yl ( 17 ) pinacol boronic esters. Deuterium labeling experiments revealed that α‐chloroalkyllithiums are quenched by proton transfer from their α‐chlorosulfoxide precursors and it was established that this effect compromises the yield of StReCH reactions. Use of α‐deuterated α‐chlorosulfoxides was discovered to ameliorate the problem by retarding the rate of acid‐base chemistry between the carbenoid and its precursor. Carbenoids 18 a and 18 b showed poor StReCH efficacy, particularly the propargyl group bearing carbenoid 18 b , the instability of which was attributed to a facile 1,2‐hydride shift. By contrast, 18 d , a carbenoid that benefits from a stabilizing interaction between O and Li atoms gave good StReCH yields. Boronate 17 was chain extended by carbenoids 18 a , 18 b , and 18 d in 16, 0, and 68 % yield, respectively; α‐deuterated isotopomers D ‐ 18 a and D ‐ 18 d gave yields of 33 and 79 % for the same reaction. Double StReCH of 17 was pursued to target contiguous stereodiads appropriate for the total synthesis of (?)‐epibatidine ( 15 ). One‐pot double StReCH of boronate 17 by two exposures to (S)‐D ‐ 18 a (≤66 % ee), followed by work‐up with KOOH, gave the expected stereodiad product in 16 % yield (d.r.～67:33). The comparable reaction using two exposures to (S)‐D ‐ 18 d (≤90 % ee) delivered the expected bisacetal containing stereodiad (R,R)‐DD ‐ 48 in 40 % yield (≥98 % ee, d.r.=85:15). Double StReCH of 17 using (S)‐D ‐ 18 d (≤90 % ee) followed by (R)‐D ‐ 18 d (≤90 % ee) likewise gave (R,S)‐DD ‐ 48 in 49 % yield (≥97 % ee, d.r.=79:21). (R,S)‐DD ‐ 48 was converted to a dideuterated isotopomer of a synthetic intermediate in Corey’s synthesis of 15 .     

In Situ Electrodeposition of an Asymmetric Sol–Gel Membrane Based on an Octadecyltrimethoxysilane Langmuir Film

The unique properties of Langmuir film formation were utilized in assembling a thin skin of an asymmetric membrane. An octadecyltrimethoxysilane (ODTMS) Langmuir monolayer was formed at the air–water interface and served as the substrate for growing a bulky sol–gel polymer in situ. The latter was based on the electrochemical deposition of tetramethoxysilane dissolved in the water subphase by means of horizontal touch electrochemistry. The resultant asymmetric layer that consisted of a thin hydrophobic ODTMS Langmuir film connected to a bulk hydrophilic sol–gel network was studied in situ and ex situ by using various techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and goniometry. We found that a porous hydrophilic film grew on top of a hydrophobic layer as was evident from TEM, contact angle, and EIS analyses. The film thickness and film permeability could be controlled by changing the deposition conditions such as the potential window applied and its duration. Hence, this method offers an alternative approach for assembling asymmetric films for various applications     

Transalkylation of Higher Trifluoromethylated Fullerenes with C70: A Pathway to New Addition Patterns of C70(CF3)8

We report three new isomers of C₇₀(CF₃)₈, structurally related to p⁷mp‐C₇₀(CF₃)₁₀, that are inaccessible by direct trifluoromethylation, but can be easily identified among the products of the transalkylation of higher trifluoromethylfullerenes with C₇₀. The reported compounds are characterized by UV/Vis, 1 D and 2 D COSY ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. A rather unusual addition pattern is observed in p⁶,i‐C₇₀(CF₃)₈ in which one addend is attached remotely from the others; polarization of the adjacent unsaturated bonds by the addend makes the molecule readily oxidizable.     

Simulating ion channel activation mechanisms using swarms of trajectories

Atomic-level studies of protein activity represent a significant challenge as a result of the complexity of conformational changes occurring on wide-ranging timescales, often greatly exceeding that of even the longest simulations. A prime example is the elucidation of protein allosteric mechanisms, where localized perturbations transmit throughout a large macromolecule to generate a response signal. For example, the conversion of chemical to electrical signals during synaptic neurotransmission in the brain is achieved by specialized membrane proteins called pentameric ligand-gated ion channels. Here, the binding of a neurotransmitter results in a global conformational change to open an ion-conducting pore across the nerve cell membrane. X-ray crystallography has produced static structures of the open and closed states of the proton-gated GLIC pentameric ligand-gated ion channel protein, allowing for atomistic simulations that can uncover changes related to activation. We discuss a range of enhanced sampling approaches that could be used to explore activation mechanisms. In particular, we describe recent application of an atomistic string method, based on Roux's “swarms of trajectories” approach, to elucidate the sequence and interdependence of conformational changes during activation. We illustrate how this can be combined with transition analysis and Brownian dynamics to extract thermodynamic and kinetic information, leading to understanding of what controls ion channel function. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.