Structural and spectroscopic studies of silylated cyclo- and bicyclosilanes

A number of cyclo-and bicyclosilanes have been prepared and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. 1,1,4,4- and 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)octamethylcyclohexasilanes were found to exhibit unusual twist- and twisted boat-conformations. The UV absorption properties of all compounds were studied and found to show absorption maxima red shifted compared to the parent compound dodecamethylcyclohexasilane. Dedicated to Prof. Mitsuo Kira on the occasion of his reception of the Wacker Silicon Award 2005 and in recongnition of his numerous outstanding achievements in organosilicon chemistry.     

A new approach to β-amino acids: biotransformation of N-protected β-amino nitriles

A number of novel N-protected β-amino nitriles were prepared as substrates for two nitrile-converting microorganisms, Rhodococcus sp. R312 and Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540. The respective biotransformation products, β-amino acids, are known to be pharmacological very potent compounds.     

Synthesis and microbial transformation of β-amino nitriles

Rhodococcus equi A4, Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540 and Rhodococcus sp. R312 were investigated towards their ability to produce β-amino amides and acids from β-amino nitriles. The microorganisms show comparable trends: five-membered alicyclic 2-amino nitriles were transformed significantly faster than the six-membered compounds and the products of trans-2-amino nitriles (amides and acids) were formed considerably faster than the cis-counterparts (amides). The trans-five membered nitriles gave the amides (1b, 5b) in excellent enantiomeric excess (94-99%), the biotransformation of trans-six membered substrates resulted in the formation of the acid (3c, 7c) in excellent ee (87-99%). The ee's of the cis-compounds were throughout lower. Fifteen new substances were synthesized and characterized in the course of this work.     

Thermal and structural study on the lattice compound 1,4-diammoniumbutane bis(theophyllinate)

Crystalline title compound (1) prepared from aqueous solution of theophylline and 1,4-diaminobutane has been structurally and thermally characterized. Both the two-step TG decomposition curve and elemental analysis of the hexagonal crystals show that it consists of theophylline and 1,4-diaminobutane in 2:1 molar ratio. Actually, presence of one type of both theophyllinate anions and 1,4-diammoniumbutane dication have been indicated by FTIR spectroscopy. The molecular structure of lattice compound (1) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction, where the hydrogen positions have been obtained from differential Fourier maps. It has confirmed that the crystal is really built up from these ionic constituents bound together with an extensive net of hydrogen bonds. The coupled TG-FTIR analysis of the evolved gases has revealed that the diamine is released as a whole molecule in the first decomposition step. Clathrate 1 and the proton migration in it might serve as a structural model of solid aminophylline whose crystal structure is still unknown.     

Oligodeoxynucleotide analogues containing 3′-deoxy-3′-C-threo-hydroxymethylthymidine: Synthesis, hybridization properties and enzymatic stability

Novel Oligodeoxynucleotide analogues containing 3′-C-threo-methylene phosphodiester internucleoside linkages were synthesized on automated DNA-synthesizers using the phosphoramidite approach. The sugar modified phosphoramidite building block 5 was obtained by phosphitylation of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-5-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-3-C-hydroxymethyl-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (4) which was synthesized in only three steps from 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)thymidine (1). The hybridization properties and enzymatic stability of the oligonucleotide analogues were studied by UV experiments. 17-Mers having one or three modifications in the middle or two modifications in each end hybridized to DNA with moderate lowered affinity compared to unmodified 17-mers (ΔT_m 1–3°C per modification). Furthermore, the end-modified and all-modified oligonucleotides were stable towards snake venom phosphodiesterase.     

The Cyclohexasilanes Si6H11X and Si6Me11X with X=F,Cl, Br and I: A Quantum Chemical and Raman Spectroscopic Investigation of a Multiple Conformer Problem

The conformers of the monohalocyclohexasilanes, Si₆H₁₁X (X=F, Cl, Br or I) and the haloundecamethylcyclohexasilanes, Si₆Me₁₁X (X=F, Cl, Br or I) are investigated by DFT calculations employing the B3LYP density functional and 6‐31+G* basis sets for elements up to the third row, and SDD basis sets for heavier elements. Five minima are found for Si₆H₁₁X—the axial and equatorial chair conformers, with the substituent X either in an axial or equatorial position—and another three twisted structures. The equatorial chair conformer is the global minimum for the X=Cl, Br and I, the axial chair for X=F. The barrier for the ring inversion is ～13 kJ mol^?1 for all four compounds. Five minima closely related to those of Si₆H₁₁X are found for Si₆Me₁₁X. Again, the equatorial chair is the global minimum for X=Cl, Br and I, and the axial chair for X=F. Additionally, two symmetrical boat conformers are found as local minima on the potential energy surfaces for X=F, Cl and Br, but not for X=I. The barrier for the ring inversion is ～14–16 kJ mol^?1 for all compounds. The conformational equilibria for Si₆Me₁₁X in toluene solution are investigated using temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy. The wavenumber range of the stretching vibrations of the heavy atoms X and Si from 270–370 cm^?1 is analyzed. Using the van′t Hoff relationship, the enthalpy differences between axial and equatorial chair conformers (H_ax?H_eq.) are 1.1 kJ mol^?1 for X=F, and 1.8 to 2.8 kJ mol^?1 for X=Cl, Br and I. Due to rapid interconversion, only a single Raman band originating from the “averaged” twist and boat conformers could be observed. Generally, reasonable agreement between the calculated relative energies and the experimentally determined values is found.     

Liquid-Liquid Equilibrium of Copolymer Solutions with Broad and Asymmetric Chemical Distributions

ABSTRACT

A solution of a random copolymer showing polydispersity only with respect to chemical composition is considered. A model distribution very flexible in its breadth and in its asymmetry is used to describe the polydispersity. Based on continuous thermodynamics, equations for the cloud-point curve, the shadow curve, the spinodal, the critical point, and the heterogeneous double critical point are derived. the activity coefficients are calculated with the aid of Huggins' χ-parameter concept assuming χ to depend linearly on the average chemical composition of the copolymer. the influence of the breadth and the asymmetry of the distribution on the liquid-liquid equilibrium of the copolymer solution is discussed.     

Do halogen and methyl substituents have electronic effects on the structures of simple disilanes? An experimental and theoretical study of the molecular structures of the series X3SiSiMe3 (X = H, F, Cl and Br)

The gas-phase molecular structures of a series of halogen-substituted disilanes [X₃SiSiMe₃ (X = H, F, Cl and Br)], 1,1,1-trimethyldisilane (H₃SiSiMe₃), 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (F₃SiSiMe₃), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Cl₃SiSiMe₃) and 1,1,1-tribromo-2,2,2-trimethyldisilane (Br₃SiSiMe₃), have been determined in the gas phase by electron diffraction. Ab initio calculations at the HF and MP2 level were used to support the experimental investigation using the SARACEN method. All of the investigated structures were determined to adopt a staggered structure with C _3v symmetry. The effect of substitution on the Si–Si bond and the Si–Si–X bond angle was investigated and these results were compared to results obtained from a recent study of halogen-substituted disilanes [X₃SiSiXMe₂ (X = F, Cl, Br and I)] to consider the effect of the methyl groups on the substituted disilanes.