Stereoselectivity in the collision-activated reactions of gas phase salt complexes

The collision-activated dissociations (CAD) of gas phase salt complexes composed of chiral ions were studied in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. Because both partners in the salt are chiral, diastereomeric complexes can be formed (e.g., RR, RS). Two general types of complexes were investigated. In the first, the complex was composed of deprotonated binaphthol and a chiral bis-tetraalkylammonium dication. CAD of these complexes leads to the transfer of a proton or an alkyl cation to the binaphtholate leading to a singly-charged tetraalkylammonium cation. During CAD, diastereomeric complexes give significantly different product distributions indicating reasonable stereoselectivity in the process. In the second system, the complexes involved a peptide dianion and a chiral tetraalkylammonium cation. These systems may be viewed as very simple models for the interactions of peptides/proteins with small chiral molecules. Again, stereoselectivity was evident during CAD, but the extent was dependent on the nature of the peptide and not observable in some cases. To better understand the structural features needed to achieve stereoselectivity in gas phase salt complexes, representative transition states were modeled computationally. The results suggest that it is critical for the asymmetry of the nucleophile (i.e., anion) to be well represented in the vicinity of its reactive center.     

Preparative isolation of (+)-beta-eudesmol fromAmyris balsamifera

Summary Optically pure (+)-beta-eudesmol is a possible starting material for the synthesis of several termite defense compounds. A two step procedure for the isolation of gram quantities of (+)-beta-eudesmol from commercially availableAmyris balsamifera oil (syn. West Indian sandalwood oil), containing 8% beta-eudesmol, was developed. Step one consisted of an efficient vacuum distillation of the total oil. Step two was a medium pressure LC separation with an AgNO₃ impregnated silica gel stationary phase. Several other separation procedures failed due to the presence of many closely related sesquiterpene alcohols (75% of the oil).     

Facile syntheses of unsolvated UI3 and tetramethylcyclopentadienyl uranium halides

In the course of comparing the reaction chemistry of (C5Me5)3U, 1, and its slightly less crowded analogue (C5Me4H)3U, 2, new syntheses of UI3, (C5Me4H)3U, (C5Me4H)3UCl, 3, and (C5Me5)3UCl, 4, have been developed. Additionally, (C5Me4H)3UI, 5, and (C5Me4H)2UCl2, 6, have been identified for the first time. A facile synthesis of unsolvated UI3 is reported that proceeds in high yield with inexpensive equipment from iodine and hot uranium turnings. Both UI3 and UI3(THF)4 react with KC5Me4H in toluene to make unsolvated (C5Me4H)3U in higher yield than in previous reports that involve reduction of tetravalent (C5Me4H)3UCl, 3. A more atom-efficient synthesis of complex 3 is also reported that proceeds from reduction of t-BuCl, PhCl, or HgCl2 by 2. Similarly, (C5Me4H)3U reacts with PhI or HgI2 to generate (C5Me4H)3UI. These studies also provided a basis to improve the synthesis of (C5Me5)3UCl from 1 by employing t-BuCl or HgCl2 as the halide source. Like (C5Me5)3UCl, the (C5Me4H)3UCl complex reacts with HgCl2 to form (C5Me4H)2 and (C5Me4H)2UCl2, 6, but unlike (C5Me5)3UX (X = Cl or I), the less substituted (C5Me4H)3UX complexes do not reduce t-BuCl or PhX. The synthesis of 6 from (C5Me4H)MgCl x THF and UCl4 is also included.     

On the Reactivity and Stability of Iodide–Nitride–Sulfide Clusters of Neodymium and Dysprosium

The thermal decomposition of cluster Nd₃I₅(S₂)(S₂N₂)(THF)10 (I) at 50–400°C affords a mixture of products among which tetrahydrofuran (THF), sulfur, diiodine, HI, H₂S, CS₂, S₃N₆, S₃N₅, MeI, thiophene, tetrahydrothiophene, diiodobutane, iodobutene, and NdI₃ are identified. The treatment of Ln₃I₅(S₂)(S₂N₂)(THF)₁₀ (Ln = Nd (I), Dy (II)) with phenanthroline (Phen) in THF at room temperature results in the partial substitution of ТНF to form new complexes Ln₃I₅(S₂)(S₂N₂)(THF)₄(Phen)₃. The dissolution of compound I in pyridine gives a pyridine (Py) complex Ln₃I₅(S₂)(S₂N₂)(THF)3(Py)₇. The dissolution of compounds I and II in acetonitrile at 20°C is accompanied by the fast rearrangement and fragmentation of the complexes to form LnI₃(MeCN)₆, [LnI(S₂)(MeCN)], and [LnI(S₂N₂)(MeCN)]. Complex I in THF does not react with white phosphorus, carbon monoxide, fullerene C₆₀, and chromium hexacarbonyl.     

Gas-phase stereoselective binding to Mn/salen catalysts

Gas-phase equilibrium measurements have been used to determine the stereoselectivity of binding the enantiomers of 1-phenylethanol to manganese/salen asymmetric epoxidation catalysts. There is significant selectivity in the gas-phase binding, and the results are compared to data from condensed-phase epoxidations. The study demonstrates the utility of a novel internal standard approach that allows for rapid, accurate measures of the stereoselectivity of gas-phase ligand binding. Moreover, the data suggest that gas-phase binding stereoselectivity could be a potential predictor of condensed-phase enantioselectivity.     

Chemiluminescence in the reaction of LnI<Subscript>2</Subscript> (Ln = Dy,Nd) with water

Chemiluminescence (CL) upon the reaction of crystalline LnI₂ (Ln = Dy, Nd) with water was found. The CL emitters are the Ln³⁺* electron-excited ions (Dy³⁺*, λ_max = 470, 570 nm; Nd³⁺*, λ = 700–1200 nm) generated by the electron transfer from the Ln^II ions to the H₂O molecules. The identified reaction products are H₂, dissolved LnI₃, and insoluble LnI(OH)₂ (49–51% and 48–50% yield for DyI₂ and NdI₂, respectively). The treatment of NdI₂ with an H₂O solution in THF gives the NdI₂OH(thf)₂·3H₂O complex and hydrogen. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1890–1893, October, 2007.     

Ion/molecule reactions of the protonated serine octamer

The protonated homochiral octamer of serine exchanges all 33 of its labile hydrogens with CH(3)OD and undergoes ligand switching reactions with amines in a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer.