A Convenient Stereoselective Synthesis of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(Neopentyloxy)isoborneol

A convenient preparation of (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(neopentyloxy)isoborneol (= (1R,2S,3R,4S)-3-(2,2-dimethyl-propoxy)-1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-ol; 1a ), a valuable chiral auxiliary, is described. The synthesis involves six steps starting from the readily available camphorquinone ( 5 ) and gives 1a in 48% overall yield. The key step is the chemoselective hydrolysis of the less hindered 1,3-dioxolane moiety in the camphorquinone di-acetal 4 .     

Insertion reactions of [M(SR)3(PMe2Ph)2] with CS2 (M = Ru, Os; R = C6F4H-4, C6F5). X-ray structures of [Ru(S2CSC6F4H-4)2(PMe2Ph)2], trans-thiolates [M(SR)2(S2CSR)(PMe2Ph)2] (M = Ru; R = C6F5 and M = Os; R = C6F4H-4), and trans-thiolate-phosphine [Os(SC6F5)2(S2CSC6F5)(PMe2Ph)2

Reactions of [M(SR)(3)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (M = Ru, Os; R = C(6)F(4)H-4, C(6)F(5)) with CS(2) in acetone afford [Ru(S(2)CSR)(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (R = C(6)F(4)H-4, 1; C(6)F(5), 3) and trans-thiolates [Ru(SR)(2)(S(2)CSR)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (R = C(6)F(4)H-4, 2; C(6)F(5), 4) or the isomers trans-thiolates [Os(SR)(2)(S(2)CSR)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (R = C(6)F(4)H-4, 5; C(6)F(5), 7) and trans-thiolate-phosphine [Os(SR)(2)(S(2)CSR)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] (R = C(6)F(4)H-4, 6; C(6)F(5), 8) through processes involving CS(2) insertion into M-SR bonds. The ruthenium(III) complexes [Ru(SR)(3)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] react with CS(2) to give the diamagnetic thiolate-thioxanthato ruthenium(II) and the paramagnetic ruthenium(III) complexes while osmium(III) complexes [Os(SR)(3)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] react to give the paramagnetic thiolate-thioxanthato osmium(III) isomers. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1, 4, 5, and 8 show distorted octahedral structures. (31)P [(1)H] and (19)F NMR studies show that the solution structures of 1 and 3 are consistent with the solid-state structure of 1.     

Conformational analysis of trans-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes. A tool for discriminating between steric and electronic effects in the position of

The conformation of several $\text{trans}$-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes has been studied using ¹H NMR techniques. $\text{Trans}$-2,3-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)-1,4-dioxane and $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane have been found to be predominantly ( ≈98%) in diaxial conformation in CDCl₃). On the other hand, $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane exists in the same conditions as a 66:33 mixture of diaxial and diequatorial conformers. An explanation based on the fulfilment of the exo-anomeric effect is provided.     

Modular bis(oxazoline) ligands for palladium catalyzed allylic alkylation: unprecedented conformational behaviour of a bis(oxazoline) palladium eta3-1,3-diphenylallyl complex

New families of enantiopure bis(oxazolines) with 4,5-trans (5 a-g) or 4,5-cis (6 c) stereochemistry at the individual rings have been prepared in high yield. Their eta(3)-allyl palladium complexes (8 a-g, 9 c and 10) have been used as catalytic precursors in allylic alkylation reactions with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 96 %) for the trans oxazoline derivatives, while Pd/6 c system was inactive. NMR studies on palladium eta(3)-1,3-diphenylallyl intermediates (11 a, c and e) showed the presence of syn/syn- and syn/anti-allyl isomers in solution; this resembles the first example of eta(3)-eta(1)-eta(3) isomerism in Pd allylic complexes containing bis(oxazolines) derived from malonic acid.     

Bayesian force reconstruction with an uncertain model

This paper presents a Bayesian approach for force reconstruction which can deal with both measurement noise and model uncertainty. In particular, an uncertain model is considered for inversion in the form of a matrix of frequency response functions whose modal parameters originate from either measurements or a finite element model. The model uncertainty and the regularization parameter are jointly determined with the unknown force through Monte Carlo Markov chain methods. Bayesian credible intervals of the force are built from its posterior probability density function by taking into account the quantified model uncertainty and measurement noise. The proposed approach is illustrated and validated on numerical and experimental examples.     

Efficient Synthesis of Polycyclic γ-Lactams by Catalytic Carbonylation of Ene-Imines via Nickelacycle Intermediates

The nickel(0)-catalyzed carbonylative cycloaddition of 1,5- and 1,6-ene-imines with carbon monoxide (CO) is reported. Key to this reaction is the efficient regeneration of the catalytically active nickel(0) species from nickel carbonyl complexes such as [Ni(CO)₃L]. A variety of tri- and tetracyclic γ-lactams were thus prepared in excellent yields with 100 % atom efficiency. Preliminary results on asymmetric derivatives promise potential in the synthesis of enantioenriched polycyclic γ-lactams.     

Phase diagram and dielectric relaxation studies of n-octyl-isothiocyanato-biphenyl (8BT) in the crystalline E phase under high pressure

The pressure-temperature phase diagram of n-octyl-isothiocyanato-biphenyl (8BT) in the pressure range up to 250 MPa (2.5 kbar) and the temperature range 250-400 K was established with the aid of DTA. At 1 atm the substance exhibits exclusively CrE polymorphism. At pressures above 190 MPa, the clearing line splits showing an additional phase which is not yet identified. Dielectric relaxation measurements on the CrE phase of 8BT were performed in the pressure range 0.1-120 MPa and the temperature range 304-345 K. A Debye-type relaxation process was observed in the frequency range 100 Hz-1 MHz. The longitudinal relaxation time τ, characterizing the molecular reorientations around the short axis, was analysed with respect to the pressure and temperature, yielding the activation volume, Δ^# V = RT(? ln τ/?p)_T, and activation enthalpy, Δ^# H = R(? ln τ/? T^-1)_p, respectively. The results are compared with analogous data obtained recently for similar compounds having other liquid crystalline phases (N, SmA).     

Janus Gold Nanostars–Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for NIR-Light-Triggered Drug Delivery

Janus gold nanostar–mesoporous silica nanoparticle ( AuNSt–MSNP ) nanodevices able to release an entrapped payload upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) light were prepared and characterized. The AuNSt surface was functionalized with a thiolated photolabile molecule ( 5 ), whereas the mesoporous silica face was loaded with a model drug (doxorubicin) and capped with proton-responsive benzimidazole-β-cyclodextrin supramolecular gatekeepers ( N 1 ). Upon irradiation with NIR-light, the photolabile compound 5 photodissociated, resulting in the formation of succinic acid, which induced the opening of the gatekeeper and cargo delivery. In the overall mechanism, the gold surface acts as a photochemical transducer capable of transforming the NIR-light input into a chemical messenger (succinic acid) that opens the supramolecular nanovalve. The prepared hybrid nanoparticles were non-cytotoxic to HeLa cells, until they were irradiated with a NIR laser, which led to intracellular doxorubicin release and hyperthermia. This induced a remarkable reduction in HeLa cells viability.     

On the role of kinesthetic thinking in computational geometry

Computational geometry is a new (about 30 years) and rapidly growing branch of knowledge in computer science that deals with the analysis and design of algorithms for solving geometric problems. These problems typically arise in computer graphics, image processing, computer vision, robotics, manufacturing, knot theory, polymer physics and molecular biology. Since its inception many of the algorithms proposed for solving geometric problems, published in the literature, have been found to be incorrect. These incorrect algorithms rather than being ‘purely mathematical’ often contain a strong kinesthetic component. This paper explores the relationship between computational geometric thinking and kinesthetic thinking, the effect of the latter on the correctness and efficiency of the resulting algorithms, and their implications for education.