Electrochemical reduction of uracil in dimethyl sulfoxide: Autoprotonation of the anion radical

The electrochemical reduction of uracil in dimethyl sulfoxide was investigated, using d.c.and a.c. polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and controlled potential electrolysis. Uracil is reduced in a one-electron step (E_1/2=?2.3 V); the apparent number of electrons transferred (n) decreases from one at infinite dilution to one-half at concentrations above 1mM. The concentration dependent n-value is due to proton transfer by the parent compound to the radical anion formed on reduction. Such a proton transfer, which has been observed for 2-hydroxypyrimidine, deactivates part of the uracil, which would otherwise be available for reduction, by formation of the more difficultly reducible conjugate base. The uracil anion forms insoluble mercury salts, producing two oxidation waves (E_1/2 of ?0.1 and ?0.3 V); the latter wave is due to formation of a passivating film on the electrode. Digital simulations indicate that the protonation rate exceeds 10⁵M^?1 s^?1 and that, at low uracil concentration, some of the free radical formed on protonation is further reduced. At concentrations exceeding 1 mM, all of the free radical dimerizes. The effect of added acids and base on the electrochemical behavior is described.     

The atomic absorption spectroscopy of lead

Lead can be determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy at 3 wavelengths. The relative sensitivities are 1:1.5:300. No interferences were found from the cations studied. Anionic interferences were numerous and extensive, but were removed by adding EDTA. The use of a “T” -piece increased the sensitivity of atomic absorption when flame atomizers were used. However, extreme care was necessary in controlling flame conditions both with respect to oxygen-fuel ratio and the type of solvent used. The absorption by combustion products in the flame was high, and in many cases, much greater than that of the lead itself.The most sensitive conditions for the determination of lead appeared to be as follows: wavelength, 2170 A; solvent, aqueous or organic; flame, oxy-hydrogen, with the hydrogen atomizing the sample (reversed from normal). Aflame adapter enabled detection limits of 0.013 p.p.m. to be reached.     

New Routes to Synthetically Useful, Sterically Encumbered Arylaluminum Halides and Hydride Halides

The synthesis and structural characterization of the compounds MesAlCl(2)(THF) (1), MesAlCl(2) (2), MesAl(H)Cl(THF) (3a), MesAl(H)Cl (4a), and (MesAlH(2))(2) (5) (Mes = 2,4,6-t-Bu(3)C(6)H(2)(-)) are described as well as those for two compounds 3b and 4b that are analogs of 3a and 4a but have H:Cl ratios that are less than 1:1. All compounds were characterized by (1)H, (13)C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, and 1, 2, 3a, and 4b were additionally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Compound 1 is best synthesized by the reaction of [(THF)(2)LiH(3)AlMes](2) (6) with 6 equiv of Me(3)SiCl. A more conventional route involving the addition of (THF)(2)LiMes to 2 equiv of AlCl(3) in toluene usually affords a mixture of 1 and AlCl(3).THF. Recrystallization of 1 from n-hexane results in a species that has less than 1 equiv of THF per MesAlCl(2). The THF free complex 2 may be obtained in quantitative yield by heating 1 for 20 min at 90 degrees C under reduced pressure. Compound 3a may be obtained by treating a 1:1 mixture of MesLi(THF)(2) and LiAlH(4) with 2 equiv of Me(3)SiCl or by the addition of slightly less than 4 equiv of Me(3)SiCl to 6. The THF can be removed from 3a by sublimation to give 4a. The related compounds 3b and 4b, which display an aluminum-bound H:Cl ratio that is deficient in H, can be obtained by reactions with slightly more than 2 equiv of Me(3)SiCl. Crystal data at 130 K with Cu Kalpha (lambda = 1.541 78 ?) radiation: 1, C(22)H(37)AlCl(2)O, a = 11.889(3) ?, b = 9.992(3) ?, c = 19.704(5) ?, orthorhombic, space group Pca2(1), Z = 4, R = 0.068 for 1556 (I > 2sigma(I)) data; 2, C(18)H(29)AlCl(2), a = 12.147(5) ?, b = 18.042(6) ?, c = 17.771(7) ?, beta = 95.77(3) degrees, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n,Z = 8, R = 0.032 for 4610 (I > 2sigma(I)) data; 3a, C(22)H(38)AlClO, a = 16.887(7) ?, b = 16.333(6) ?, c = 8.739(3) ?, beta = 101.41(3) degrees, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, Z = 4, R = 0.073 for 2752 (I > 2sigma(I)) data; 4b, C(18)H(29.64)AlCl(1.36), a = 12.077(3) ?, b = 17.920(3) ?, c = 17.634(5) ?; beta = 95.21(2) ?, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n,Z = 8, R = 0.070 for 4261 (I > 2sigma(I)) data.     

Conformational Analysis and CD Calculations of Methyl‐Substituted 13‐Tridecano‐13‐lactones

Conformational models covering an energy range of 3 kcal/mol were calculated for (13S)‐tetradecano‐13‐lactone ( 3 ), (12S)‐12‐methyltridecano‐13‐lactone ( 4 ), and (12S,13R)‐12‐methyltetradecano‐13‐lactone ( 8 ), starting from a semiempirical Monte‐Carlo search with AM1 parametrization, and subsequent optimization of the 100 best conformers at the 6‐31G*/B3LYP and then the TZVP/B3LYP level of density‐functional theory. CD Spectra for these models were calculated by the time‐dependent DFT method with the same functional and basis sets as for the ground‐state calculations and Boltzmann weighting of the individual conformers. The good correlation of the calculated and experimental spectra substantiates the interpretation of these conformational models for the structure–odor correlation of musks. Furthermore, the application of the quadrant rule in the estimation of the Cotton effect for macrolide conformers is critically discussed.     

Efficient synthesis of NK(1) receptor antagonist aprepitant using a crystallization-induced diastereoselective transformation

An efficient stereoselective synthesis of the orally active NK(1) receptor antagonist Aprepitant is described. A direct condensation of N-benzyl ethanolamine with glyoxylic acid yielded a 2-hydroxy-1,4-oxazin-3-one which was activated as the corresponding trifluoroacetate. A Lewis acid mediated coupling with enantiopure (R)-1-(3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)ethan-1-ol afforded a 1:1 mixture of acetal diastereomers which was converted into a single isomer via a novel crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation. The resulting 1,4-oxazin-3-one was converted via a unique and highly stereoselective one-pot process to the desired alpha-(fluorophenyl)morpholine derivative. Interesting and unexpected [1,2]-Wittig and [1,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements were identified during the optimization of these key steps. In the final step, a triazolinone side chain was appended to the morpholine core. The targeted clinical candidate was thus obtained in 55% overall yield over the longest linear sequence.     

pH-dependent behavior of surface-immobilized artificial leucine zipper proteins

The coiled-coil protein motif occurs in over 200 proteins and has generated interest for a range of applications requiring surface immobilization of the constituent peptides. This paper describes an investigation of the environment-responsive behavior of a monolayer of surface-immobilized artificial proteins, which are known to assemble to form coiled-coil structures in bulk solution. An extended version of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) are independently employed to characterize the adsorption of the proteins to a gold surface. The data suggest that the molecules arrange in a closely packed layer orientated perpendicular to the surface. QCM-D measurements are also employed to measure pH-induced changes in the resonant frequency (f) and the energy dissipation factor (D) of a gold-coated quartz crystal functionalized with the formed monolayer. Exposure of the protein monolayer to a pH 4.5 solution results in a shift of 43 Hz in f and a shift of -0.7 x 10(-6) in D as compared to pH 7.4. In contrast, increasing the pH to 11.2, results in f and D shifts of -17 Hz and 0.6 x 10(-6), respectively. The magnitude of the observed shifts suggests that the proteins form a rigid layer at low pH that can be hydrated to a fluid layer as the pH is increased. These observations correlate with spectroscopic changes that indicate a reduction in the helical content of the protein in bulk solutions of high pH.     

Unimolecular photochemistry of n-alkenes studied by photodissociation-photoionization mass spectrometry

The 193-nm unimolecular photochemistry of n-alkenes from C₅ to C₁₄ is studied by photodissociation-photoionization mass spectrometry (PDPI/MS). In PDPI/MS, a UV laser induces neutral unimolecular photodissociation. The resulting neutral fragments and any remaining parent molecules are then softly ionized with coherent vacuum UV radiation and mass analyzed. Photodissociation of n-alkenes is dominated by cleavage of the β C?C bond. Products of α- and γ-cleavage are typically less than 20% as abundant as the β-cleavage fragments. Secondary fragmentation of the primary products occurs both by neutral fragmentation during photodissociation and by ionic fragmentation during photoionization. The energetics of the neutral secondary reactions indicate that between 400 and 500 kJ/mol is consumed during photodissociation. The abundances of many secondary fragmentation products decrease with increasing molecular size. Because neutral fragmentation occurs without significant isomerization, PDPI/MS provides structural information that is not available from ionic fragmentation in conventional mass spectrometric experiments.     

An EELS and EXELFS study of amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide

A series of thin films of amorphous hydrogenated silicon carbide (a-SiCH) produced by RF plasma decomposition of propane and silane has been studied by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and extended energy-loss fine structure (EXELFS) studies. The composition of the films has been determined by EELS and the nearest neighbour spacings have been determined by EXELFS. These results, along with the energy of the plasmon loss peaks, have been compared with the deposition conditions for each film. The results show that for a large gas ratio (C₃H₈/(C₃H₈+SiH₄)) the films have a high proportion of carbon and are similar to a-CH in structure, whereas those films prepared with Y = 0.4 or 0.5 have nearest neighbour spacings consistent with those for tetrahedrally bonded carbon. The films prepared with lowest Y have nearest neighbour spacings similar to those for amorphous silicon carbide. The results for a-SiCH have been compared with the results of EELS and EXELFS of CVD diamond films, amorphous carbon and amorphous silicon.     

Stochastic flows,reaction — Diffusion processes,and morphogenesis

Recently, anexact procedure has been introduced [C. A. Walsh and J. J. Kozak,Phys. Rev. Lett. 47:1500 (1981)] for calculating the expected walk length 〈n〉 for a walker undergoing random displacements on a finite or infinite (periodic)d-dimensional lattice with traps (reactive sites). The method (which is based on a classification of the symmetry of the sites surrounding the central deep trap and a coding of the fate of the random walker as it encounters a site of given symmetry) is applied here to several problems in lattice statistics for each of whichexact results are presented. First, we assess the importance of lattice geometry in influencing the efficiency of reaction-diffusion processes in simple and multiple trap systems by reporting values of 〈n〉 for square (cubic) versus hexagonal lattices ind=2, 3. We then show how the method may be applied to variable-step (distance-dependent) walks for a single walker on a given lattice and also demonstrate the calculation of the expected walk length 〈n〉 for the case of multiple walkers. Finally, we make contact with recent discussions of “mixing” by showing that the degree of chaos associated with flows in certain lattice systems can be calibrated by monitoring the lattice walks induced by the Poincaré map of a certain parabolic function.     

Electrochemical synthesis and study of polydiphenylamine

The electrochemical oxidation of diphenylamine in acetonitrile produces an adherent conducting polymer film at the electrode. Conductivity measurements on pressed pellets of this polymer give a room temperature conductivity of 10 S cm⁻¹. The polymer can be cycled between 25 and 200°C without deterioration in the conductivity. Preliminary SEM/EDS studies suggest that there is one BF⁻₄ counter ion for every four monomer units in the oxidised polymer film.