Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of conducting polymers in supercritical carbon dioxide

This contribution reports the first synthesis of conducting polymers (CPs), specifically, polyaniline (PAn) and polypyrrole (PPy), in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). CPs synthesized electrochemically in scCO2 were characterized with cyclic voltammetry (CV), four-point probe conductivity, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. Preliminary data indicate that CPs synthesized by this method exhibit novel morphology and high conductivity comparable to that synthesized by traditional methods.     

o-hydroxylmethylphenylchalcogens: synthesis, intramolecular nonbonded chalcogen...OH interactions, and glutathione peroxidase-like activity

[Structure: see text]. The synthesis and characterization of a series of organochalcogen (Se, Te) compounds derived from benzyl alcohol 13 are described. The synthesis of the key precursor dichalcogenides 15, 22, and 29 was achieved by the ortho-lithiation route. Selenide 18 was obtained by the reaction of the dilithiated derivative 14 with Se(dtc)2. Oxidation of 15 and 22 with H2O2 afforded the corresponding cyclic ester derivatives 17 and 24, respectively. Oxidation of selenide 18 with H2O2 affords the spirocyclic compound 19. The presence of intramolecular interactions in dichalcogenides 15 and 22 has been proven by single-crystal X-ray studies. The cyclic compounds 17 and 19 have also been characterized by single-crystal X-ray studies. GP(X)-like antioxidant activity of selenium compounds has been evaluated by the coupled bioassay method. Density functional theory calculations at the mPW1PW91 level on ditelluride 22 have identified a fairly strong nonbonding interaction between the hydroxy oxygen and tellurium atom. The second-order perturbation energy obtained through NBO analysis conveys the involvement of n(O) --> sigma(Te-Te) orbital overlap in nonbonding interaction. Post wave function analysis with the Atoms in Molecules (AIM) method identified distinct bond critical point in 15 and 22 and also indicated that the nonbonding interaction is predominantly covalent. Comparison between diselenide 15 and ditelluride 22 using the extent of orbital interaction as well as the value of electron density at the bond critical points unequivocally established that a ditelluride could be a better acceptor in nonbonding interaction, when the hydroxy group acts as the donor.     

Development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals

The development of an effective chiral auxiliary for hydroxyalkyl radicals is delineated. Both the 2-tetrahydropyranyl (THP) and tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl (GLU) auxiliaries resulted in diastereoselective radical additions to methyl acrylate at -78 degrees C (ds = 6/1 and 11/1, respectively). The developing stereochemistry at the radical center was completely under auxiliary control. Correlation experiments showed that the D-GLU auxiliary led to attack on the radical Si-face. The selectivity of these radical additions dropped-off considerably when the more reactive 2-nitropropene trap was employed. Computational studies suggested that the observed facial selectivity was due primarily to entropic factors in the transition state but that a smaller temperature-dependent enthalpic contribution was also involved. It was hypothesized that incorporation of a quaternary center at C-6 (THP numbering) would restore the facial selectivity with more reactive radical traps by restricting the orientations available to the incoming alkene. In the event, the trans-6-tert-butyltetrahydropyranyl (tBu-THP) auxiliary resulted in very good diastereoselection with 2-nitropropene (ds = 35/1 at -78 degrees C, 15/1 at 0 degrees C, and 8/1 at RT) as did the tri-O-benzyl-6,6-dimethyl-2-alpha-D-deoxyglucopyranosyl (diMe-GLU) auxiliary during additions to ethyl alpha-trifluoroacetoxyacrylate (ds = 10/1 at 0 degrees C). A protocol for recovery of the sugar-derived chiral auxiliaries was also established. This work sets the stage for the development of a novel approach to 1, 3, 5.(2n + 1) polyols based on iterative radical homologation as well as the application of these pyranosidic auxiliaries to other synthetically important reactions.     

Floating spherical gaussian orbital (FSGO) studies with a model potential: some open-shell systems

A gaussian based model potential is used within the FSGO formalism to study a series of open-shell systems (e.g. LiH⁺, NaH⁺, Li⁺₂ and LiNa⁺). Results for calculated equilibrium geometries and dissociation energies are compared to the corresponding quantities from available all-electron ab initio studies and other more elaborate theoretical estimates. The overall agreement is quite satisfactory.     

Stereoselective routes to substituted β-amino carbonyl compounds via heterodiene [4π+2π] cycloadditions of auxiliary-based C2 symmetric ketene acetals

Heterodiene [4π+2π] cycloadditions of (S,S)-4,5-diaryl-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolanes 1 to a series of β-amido-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are diastereoselective (d.r.≥4:1). The products can be purified by trituration or crystallisation and hydrolysed with acid to generate the corresponding β-amido carbonyl compounds, the overall sequence effecting an auxiliary-based enantioselective conjugate addition of an acetate enolate, leading to β-aminoacid derivatives.     

Chemically assisted ion beam etching of silicon and silicon dioxide using SF6

A chemical flux of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) in conjunction with low-energy Ar-ion bombardment has been used for chemically assisted ion beam etching (CAIBE) of silicon and silicon dioxide. The study has shown a large degree of independent control over the selectivity and anisotropy in dry etching. The total etch rate could be controlled by varying either the Ar-ion milling parameters or the chemical flux of SF₆. Etch rate enhancement of 7–8 for silicon and 3–4 for silicon dioxide have been obtained over pure physical etching.     

Electron Impact Induced Fragmentation of Aromatic Alkoxyimines II [5]. Formation and Transformation of Heterocyclic Radical Cations in the Gas Phasea

 The molecular ion 1 of N-(n-propoxy)benzaldimine I rearranges by an 1,5-H-shift to the δ-distonic ion 2 which subsequently cyclizes to the α-distonic ion 3. Homolytic cleavage of the N–O bond in 3 results in the δ-distonic ion 4 which expels CH₂O leading to the β-distonic ion 5. Ion 5 is also formed from the molecular ions of tetrahydrooxazines II and III and from M^+• of phenylazetidine IVa. In a subsequent step, ion 5 cyclizes to the N-protonated 3,4-dihydroisoquinolinium ion 6. The syntheses of II–IV and their derivatives are described.     

MPW1K Performs Much Better than B3LYP in DFT Calculations on Reactions that Proceed by Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer (PCET)

DFT calculations have been performed with the B3LYP and MPW1K functional on the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of ethenoxyl with ethenol and of phenoxyl with both phenol and alpha-naphthol. Comparison with the results of G3 calculations shows that B3LYP seriously underestimates the barrier heights for the reaction of ethenoxyl with ethenol by both proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms. The MPW1K functional also underestimates the barrier heights, but by much less than B3LYP. Similarly, comparison with the results of experiments on the reaction of phenoxyl radical with alpha-naphthol indicates that the barrier height for the preferred PCET mechanism is calculated more accurately by MPW1K than by B3LYP. These findings indicate that the MPW1K functional is much better suited than B3LYP for calculations on hydrogen abstraction reactions by both HAT and PCET mechanisms.     

Electron impact induced fragmentation of aromatic N-alkoxy-imines I. Ring closure in (M-CH2O)+• ions by intramolecular aromatic substitution

Summary N-Butoxy- and N-propoxy-imines derived fromo-,m-, andp-substituted benzaldehydes (X = F, Cl, Br, I) decompose upon electron impact to the respective aldoximes by loss of C _n H_2n and competitivelyvia 1,5-distonic radical cations by loss of CH₂O to 1,3-distonic ions which eliminate H and/or a halogen atom in the course of homolytic aromatic substitution, giving rise to cyclic (M-CH₂O-H)⁺ or (M-CH₂O-X )⁺ ions.Dedicated with warm regards to Prof. Dr.D. Seebach, Zürich, on the occasion of his 60^th birthday     

Ultrafast proton-coupled electron-transfer dynamics in pyrene-modified pyrimidine nucleosides: model studies towards an understanding of reductive electron transport in DNA.

5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine (PydU) and 5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxycytidine (PydC) were used as model nucleosides for DNA-mediated reductive electron transport (ET) in steady-state fluorescence and femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy studies. Excitation of the pyrene moiety in PydU and PydC leads to an intramolecular electron transfer that yields the pyrenyl radical cation and the corresponding pyrimidine radical anion (dU.- and dC.-. By comparing the excited state dynamics of PydC and PydU, we derived information about the energy difference between the two pyrimidine radical anion states. To determine the influence of protonation on the rates of photoinduced intramolecular ET, the spectroscopic investigations were performed in acetonitrile, MeCN, and in water at different pH values. The results show a significant difference in the basicity of the generated pyrimidine radical anions and imply an involvement of proton transfer during electron hopping in DNA. Our studies revealed that the radical anion dC.- is being protonated even in basic aqueous solution on a picosecond time scale (or faster). These results suggest that protonation of dC.- may also occur in DNA. In contrast, efficient ET in PydU could only be observed at low pH values (< 5). In conclusion, we propose--based on the free energy differences and the different basicities--that only dT.- but not dC.- can participate as an intermediate charge carrier for excess electron migration in DNA.