The preparation of 7-substituted norbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydrides and an experimental and theoretical study of their reactivity

Four new substituted methano-bridged or heteroatom-bridged norbornadienomaleic anhydrides have been prepared and converted to sesquinorbornadiene anhydrides by reaction with cyclic 1,3-dienes. The versatility of parity reversal, in conjunction with N-substituent steric effects, has been used to produce all three possible stereoisomers of the N,O-sesquinorbornadiene anhydrides in separate, stereoselective cycloadditions. The anhydrides have been synthesized by cyclization of their diacids (in situ production) or by flash vacuum pyrolysis of their furan adducts (yielding crystalline products); further fragmentation occurs at these or higher temperatures to produce five-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic anhydrides. Activation energies have been evaluated for the fragmentation and cycloaddition processes using DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G∗) and these calculations correctly predict, which reaction can be intercepted at the norbornadienomaleic anhydride stage and preferred stereochemistry of cycloadducts.     

High-vacuum pyrolysis of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-bromo-2-chloroethane. IR spectrum of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethyl radical in an argon matrix

The products of high-vacuum pyrolysis of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-bromo-2-chloroethane were studied by matrix IR spectroscopy. The decomposition of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-bromo-2-chloroethane was shown to occur predominantlyvia two directions: to form the 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethyl radical and trifluoromethylcarbene isomerizing to trifluoroethylene. The CF₃CHCl radical has been detected in the matrix for the first time. The bands observed in the IR spectrum were calculated by the quantum-chemical B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) method and assigned to normal vibrations of the radical. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2085–2088, October, 1998.     

The photoisomerization mechanism of azobenzene: a semiclassical simulation of nonadiabatic dynamics

We have simulated the photoisomerization dynamics of azobenzene, taking into account internal conversion and geometrical relaxation processes, by means of a semiclassical surface hopping approach. Both n-->pi* and pi-->pi* excitations and both cis-->trans and trans-->cis conversions have been considered. We show that in all cases the torsion around the N==N double bond is the preferred mechanism. The quantum yields measured are correctly reproduced and the observed differences are explained as a result of the competition between the inertia of the torsional motion and the premature deactivation of the excited state. Recent time-resolved spectroscopic experiments are interpreted in the light of the simulated dynamics.     

Theoretical studies on the metathesis processes, (Tp(PH3)MR(eta 2-H[bond]CH3)]-->[Tp(PH3)M(CH3)(eta 2-H[bond]R)] (M=Fe,Ru, and Os; R=H and CH3)

Theoretical calculations on the metathesis process, [Tp(PH3)MR(eta 2-H[bond]CH3)] --> [Tp(PH3)M(CH3)(eta 2-H[bond]R)] (M=Fe, Ru, and Os; R=H and CH3), have been systematically carried out to study their detailed reaction mechanisms. Other than the one-step mechanism via a four-center transition state and the two-step mechanism through an oxidative addition/reductive elimination pathway, a new one-step mechanism, with a transition state formed under oxidative addition, has been found. Based on the intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations, we found that the trajectories of the transferring hydrogen atom in the metathesis processes studied are similar to each other regardless of the nature of reaction mechanisms.     

Kraftfeldrechnungen an linearen Oligopyrrolen: 2,2′-Bipyrrol, 2,2′-Furylpyrrol und Prodigiosen

Using a specific force field model, relative stabilities of 2,2-bipyrrole and 2,2-furylpyrrole conformers as well as of prodigiosene tautomers, configurations, and conformations, are studied. 2,2-Bipyrrole adopts anantiperiplanar conformation in accord with other theoretical calculations and experimental findings. Its rotational barrier calculated by this method compares favourably to the one derived by other means. For the parent prodigiosene the (Z)sp,sp arrangement is found to be the most stable one. The two possible tautomers within its dipyrrin fragment do not show a significant energy difference.

     

Covalent Inorganic Azides

The chemistry of covalent inorganic azides originated with the synthesis of aqueous HN₃ solutions by Tony Curtis in 1890. A little later, in 1900, it proved possible to prepare iodine azide, IN₃, as the first member of the meanwhile complete series of halogen azides. Since then it has been possible to synthesize, in addition to HN₃ and the stable salt H₂NSbF, azide compounds of elements from Groups 13 to 17. In these compounds the N₃ moiety acts as a pseudohalogen and is primarily covalently coordinated to the nonmetal. Only a few organic azides, however, as well as HN₃, H₂N, and all halogen azides have been thoroughly studied with respect to structure and bonding. The combined application of diffraction methods (X-ray and electron diffraction) and microwave spectroscopy together with quantum chemical approaches such as ab initio SCF and density functional calculations have led in the last few years to an improved understanding of the molecular properties of numerous nonmetal azides, almost all of which are explosive. This interaction of theory and experiment has greatly enhanced the development of azide chemistry and has led to realistic expectations for the synthesis of as yet unknown nonmetal azides.     

Molecular modeling of intercalation complexes of antitumor active 9-aminoacridine and a [d,e]-anellated isoquinoline derivative with base paired deoxytetranucleotides

Summary Intercalators are molecules capable of sliding between DNA base pairs without breaking up the hydrogen bonds between the DNA bases. On the basis of molecular mechanics calculations structural, models of B-DNA tetranucleotide intercalation complexes of some cytostatic active 9-aminoacridines and of a [d, e]-anellated isoquinoline derivative are presented. The drug complexes are stabilized by energetically favouredvan der Waals interactions and by selective hydrogen bonds between the side chains of the drugs and the DNA bases. Semiempirical quantum chemistry calculations revealed that the chromophoric system of the intercalators is able to form ,-charge-transfer interactions with the purine bases of the base paired deoxytetranucleotides. The theoretical findings are of interest for a more specific drug design of cytostatically active agents.

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Molecular Modeling von Interkalationskomplexen antitumoraktiver 9-Aminoacridine sowie eines [d, e]-anellierten Isochinolinderivates mit basengepaarten Desoxytetranukleotiden

Zusammenfassung Interkalatoren sind Moleküle, die in der Lage sind, sich zwischen DNA-Basenpaare einzulagern, ohne die Wasserstoffbrücken zwischen den DNA-Basen aufzubrechen. Auf der Basis von molekülmechanischen Rechnungen werden Tetranukleotid-Interkalationskomplexe von verschiedenen zytostatisch aktiven 9-Aminoacridinen und von einem [d, e]-anellierten Isochinolinderivat präsentiert. Die Komplexe werden durch energetisch günstigevan der Waals-Interaktionen sowie durch selektive Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen zwischen den Seitenketten der Wirkstoffe und den DNA-Basen stabilisiert. Semiempirische quantenchemische Rechnungen ergaben, daß der Chromophor der Interkalatoren in der Lage ist, ,-charge-transfer Wechselwirkungen mit den Purinbasen der basengepaarten Desoxytetranukleotide auszubilden. Die theoretischen Ergebnisse sind für ein spezifischeres Wirkstoffdesign zytostatisch aktiver Verbindungen von Interesse.

     

Absolute rate calculations: atom and proton transfers in hydrogen-bonded systems.

We calculate energy barriers of atom- and proton-transfer reactions in hydrogen-bonded complexes in the gas phase. Our calculations do not involve adjustable parameters and are based on bond-dissociation energies, ionization potentials, electron affinities, bond lengths, and vibration frequencies of the reactive bonds. The calculated barriers are in agreement with experimental data and high-level ab initio calculations. We relate the height of the barrier with the molecular properties of the reactants and complexes. The structure of complexes with strong hydrogen bonds approaches that of the transition state, and substantially reduces the barrier height. We calculate the hydrogen-abstraction rates in H-bonded systems using the transition-state theory with the semiclassical correction for tunneling, and show that they are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. H-bonding leads to an increase in tunneling corrections at room temperature.     

Association of model peptides and dehydropeptides: N-acetyl-l-alanine- and dehydroalanine N′,N′-dimethylamides

The comparative studies on the association of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ and Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ in carbon tetrachloride were performed by the analysis of their average molecular weight, dipole moments and FTIR spectra. To aid spectroscopic interpretation and gain some deeper insight into the nature of associates, the geometries of the minimum energy of the dimers of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ and Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ were calculated by the B3LYP/6-31+G** method. The average molecular weight in the studied concentration range, for the ΔAla and l-Ala peptide, as determined by the osmometric method, did not exceed 1.5 and 1.2 of the monomeric mass, respectively. Accordingly, the percentage of the monomeric form (α) decreased as concentration was increased more significantly for the ΔAla analogue than for its saturated counterpart. In the studied concentrations, the dipole moment of the unsaturated compound decreases and that of its counterpart is almost constant. We identified a wider range of dimeric forms of Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ than those of Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂. While Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ mainly forms cyclic dimers, built of open conformers H/F, specific for α,β-dehydroamino acids, Ac-l-Ala-NMe₂ forms cyclic and linear dimers, characteristic for the usual amino acids. Ac-ΔAla-NMe₂ has a greater tendency to associate than its saturated variant, which is the result of stronger hydrogen bonds.