Rate constants for cyclizations of α-hydroxy radical clocks

The 1-hydroxy-1-methyl-6,6-diphenyl-5-hexenyl radical (4a) and the 1-hydroxy-1-methyl-7,7-diphenyl-6-heptenyl radical (4b) were prepared from the corresponding PTOC esters (anhydrides of a carboxylic acid and N-hydroxypyridine-2-thione). The key step in the synthetic method for the precursors was a coupling reaction of the respective carboxylic acids with the thiohydroxamic acid, which was conducted for ca. 5 min and followed rapidly by chromatography. Rate constants for cyclizations of radicals 4a and 4b in acetonitrile and in THF were measured directly between -30 and 60 °C by laser flash photolysis methods. The Arrhenius functions in acetonitrile are log k = 9.9-2.6/2.303RT and log k = 8.9-4.4/2.303RT (kcal mol(-1)) for 4a and 4b, respectively. Rate constants for cyclizations at room temperature of 9 × 10(7) s(-1) and 4 × 10(5) s(-1) are somewhat larger than the rate constants for cyclizations of analogous alkyl radicals. Crude rate constants at room temperature for H-atom trapping of 4a by thiophenol and 4b by t-butylthiol were k(T) = 1.2 × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) and k(T) = 2 × 10(7) M(-1) s(-1), respectively, which are modestly larger than rate constants for reactions of alkyl radicals with the same trapping agents.     

Gold-catalysed synthesis of amino acid-derived 2,5-disubstituted oxazoles

Amino acid-derived propargylic amides are cyclised in a one-pot, Au(III)-catalysed operation to yield 5-bromomethyl oxazoles. These compounds are further elaborated to bis-heterocycles, dipeptide mimics and more.     

Iodination of anilines and phenols with 18-crown-6 supported ICl2-

A highly crystalline iodinating reagent, {[K·18-C-6]ICl(2)}(n), was synthesized in high yield (93%). The trihalide is supported by an 18-crown-6 macrocycle and forms a coordination polymer in the solid state. This reagent iodinates anilines and phenols efficiently under mild conditions. Controlled mono-iodination with anilines was easily achieved while poly-iodination was observed with phenols.     

Molecular recognition probes of solvation thermodynamics in solvent mixtures

High-throughput UV-Vis experiments using four molecular recognition-based probes, made by the combination of two hydrogen bond acceptors, tri-n-butylphosphine oxide and N,N'-bis(2-ethylhexyl)acetamide, and two hydrogen bond donors, 4-phenylazophenol and 4-nitrophenol, were performed. The association constants for the 1 : 1 H-bond interaction involved in each probe system were measured in mixtures of a polar and non-polar solvent, di-n-hexyl ether and n-octane, respectively. Similar behaviour was observed for all four systems. When the concentration of the polar solvent was low, the association constant was identical to that observed in pure n-octane. However, once the concentration of the polar solvent exceeded a threshold, the association constant decreased linearly with the concentration of di-n-hexyl ether. Selective solvation in mixtures can be understood based on the competition between the multiple competing equilibria in the system. In this case, solvation thermodynamics are dominated by competition of the ether for solvation of H-bond donors. For the more polar solute, 4-nitrophenol, the selective solvation starts at lower concentrations of the polar solvent compared with the less polar solute, 4-phenylazophenol. Thus the speciation and hence the properties of systems containing multiple solutes and multiple solvents can be estimated from the H-bond properties and the concentrations of the individual functional groups.     

Graphite oxide: a selective and highly efficient oxidant of thiols and sulfides

The selective oxidation of thiols to disulfides and sulfides to sulfoxides using graphite oxide (GO), a heterogeneous carbocatalyst obtained from low cost, commercial starting materials is described. The aforementioned oxidation reactions were found to proceed rapidly (as short as 10 min in some cases) and in good yield (51-100%) (19 examples). No over-oxidation of the substrates was observed, and GO's heterogeneous nature facilitated isolation and purification of the target products.     

Nickel(II) and iron(II) triple helicates assembled from expanded quaterpyridines incorporating flexible linkages

In the present study the interaction of Fe(II) and Ni(II) with the related expanded quaterpyridines, 1,2-, 1,3- and 1,4-bis-(5'-methyl-[2,2']bipyridinyl-5-ylmethoxy)benzene ligands (4-6 respectively), incorporating flexible, bis-aryl/methylene ether linkages in the bridges between the dipyridyl domains, was shown to predominantly result in the assembly of [M(2)L(3)](4+) complexes; although with 4 and 6 there was also evidence for the (minor) formation of the corresponding [M(4)L(6)](8+) species. Overall, this result contrasts with the behaviour of the essentially rigid 'parent' quaterpyridine 1 for which only tetrahedral [M(4)L(6)](8+) cage species were observed when reacted with various Fe(II) salts. It also contrasts with that observed for 2 and 3 incorporating essentially rigid substituted phenylene and biphenylene bridges between the dipyridyl domains where reaction with Fe(II) and Ni(II) yielded both [M(2)L(3)](4+) and [M(4)L(6)](8+) complex types, but in this case it was the latter species that was assigned as the thermodynamically favoured product type. The X-ray structures of the triple helicate complexes [H(2)O?Ni(2)(4)(3)](PF(6))(4)·THF·2.2H(2)O, [Ni(2)(6)(3)](PF(6))(4)·1.95MeCN·1.2THF·1.8H(2)O, and the very unusual triple helicate PF(6)(-) inclusion complex, [(PF(6))?Ni(2)(5)(3)](PF(6))(3)·1.75MeCN·5.25THF·0.25H(2)O are reported.     

Reactivity of copper(II)-alkylperoxo complexes

Copper(II) complexes 1a and 1b, supported by tridentate ligand bpa [bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine] and tetradentate ligand tpa [tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine], respectively, react with cumene hydroperoxide (CmOOH) in the presence of triethylamine in CH(3)CN to provide the corresponding copper(II) cumylperoxo complexes 2a and 2b, the formation of which has been confirmed by resonance Raman and ESI-MS analyses using (18)O-labeled CmOOH. UV-vis and ESR spectra as well as DFT calculations indicate that 2a has a 5-coordinate square-pyramidal structure involving CmOO(-) at an equatorial position and one solvent molecule at an axial position at low temperature (-90 °C), whereas a 4-coordinate square-planar structure that has lost the axial solvent ligand is predominant at higher temperatures (above 0 °C). Complex 2b, on the other hand, has a typical trigonal bipyramidal structure with the tripodal tetradentate tpa ligand, where the cumylperoxo ligand occupies an axial position. Both cumylperoxo copper(II) complexes 2a and 2b are fairly stable at ambient temperature, but decompose at a higher temperature (60 °C) in CH(3)CN. Detailed product analyses and DFT studies indicate that the self-decomposition involves O-O bond homolytic cleavage of the peroxo moiety; concomitant hydrogen-atom abstraction from the solvent is partially involved. In the presence of 1,4-cyclohexadiene (CHD), the cumylperoxo complexes react smoothly at 30 °C to give benzene as one product. Detailed product analyses and DFT studies indicate that reaction with CHD involves concerted O-O bond homolytic cleavage and hydrogen-atom abstraction from the substrate, with the oxygen atom directly bonded to the copper(II) ion (proximal oxygen) involved in the C-H bond activation step.     

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines: intramolecular hydrogenation of imines

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines takes place initially at the reactive phenolic O-H bond to give an activated boron-containing imine and dihydrogen. In some cases a subsequent intramolecular hydrogenation step is observed and the C=N imine bond is reduced to the corresponding amine. Reactions with dimesitylborane in THF are unique in that the reduced amine product is the major product observed in solution.     

Varying spin state composition by the choice of capping ligand in a family of molecular chains: detailed analysis of magnetic properties of chromium(III) horseshoes

We report a detailed physical analysis on a family of isolated, antiferro-magnetically (AF) coupled, chromium(III) finite chains, of general formula (Cr(RCO(2))(2)F)(n) where the chain length n = 6 or 7. Additionally, the chains are capped with a selection of possible terminating ligands, including hfac (= l,l,l,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate(l-)), acac (= pentane-2,4-dionate(l-)) or (F)(3). Measurements by inelastic neutron scattering (INS), magnetometery and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy have been used to study how the electronic properties are affected by n and capping ligand type. These comparisons allowed the subtle electronic effects the choice of capping ligand makes for odd member spin 3/2 ground state and even membered spin 0 ground state chains to be investigated. For this investigation full characterisation of physical properties have been performed with spin Hamiltonian parameterisation, including the determination of Heisenberg exchange coupling constants and single ion axial and rhombic anisotropy. We reveal how the quantum spin energy levels of odd or even membered chains can be modified by the type of capping ligand terminating the chain. Choice of capping ligands enables Cr-Cr exchange coupling to be adjusted by 0, 4 or 24%, relative to Cr-Cr exchange coupling within the body of the chain, by the substitution of hfac, acac or (F)(3) capping ligands to the ends of the chain, respectively. The manipulation of quantum spin levels via ligands which play no role in super-exchange, is of general interest to the practise of spin Hamilton modelling, where such second order effects are generally not considered of relevance to magnetic properties.     

Synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and urea with gold-based catalysts

The reaction of glycerol with urea to form glycerol carbonate is mostly reported in the patent literature and to date there have been very few fundamental studies of the reaction mechanism. Furthermore, most previous studies have involved homogeneous catalysts whereas the identification of heterogeneous catalysts for this reaction would be highly beneficial. This is a very attractive reaction that utilises two inexpensive and readily available raw materials in a chemical cycle that overall, results in the chemical fixation of CO(2). This reaction also provides a route to up-grade waste glycerol produced in large quantities during the production of biodiesel. Previous reports are largely based on the utilisation of high concentrations of metal sulfates or oxides, which suffer from low intrinsic activity and selectivity. We have identified heterogeneous catalysts based on gallium, zinc, and gold supported on a range of oxides and the zeolite ZSM-5, which facilitate this reaction. The addition of each component to ZSM-5 leads to an increase in the reaction yield towards glycerol carbonate, but supported gold catalysts display the highest activity. For gold-based catalysts, MgO is the support of choice. Catalysts have been characterised by XRD, TEM, STEM and XPS, and the reaction has been studied with time-on-line analysis of products via a combination of FT-IR spectroscopy, HPLC, (13)C NMR and GC-MS analysis to evaluate the reaction pathway. Our proposed mechanism suggests that glycerol carbonate forms via the cyclization of a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl carbamate and that a subsequent reaction of glycerol carbonate with urea yields the carbamate of glycerol carbonate. Stability and reactivity studies indicate that consecutive reactions of glycerol carbonate can limit the selectivity achieved and reaction conditions can be selected to avoid this. The effect of the catalyst in the proposed mechanism is discussed.