The photo-dehydro-Diels-Alder (PDDA) reaction

The photo-dehydro-Diels-Alder (PDDA) reaction is a valuable extension of the classical Diels-Alder (DA) reaction. The PDDA reaction differs from the DA reaction by the replacement of one of the C-C-double bonds of the diene moiety by a C-C triple bond and by the photochemical triggering of the reaction. This entails that, in contrast to the DA reaction, the PDDA reaction proceeds according to a multistage mechanism with biradicals and cycloallenes as intermediates. The PDDA reaction provides access to a considerable variety of compound classes. For example, 1-phenylnaphthlenes, 1,1'-binaphthyls, N-heterocyclic biaryls, and naphthalenophanes could be obtained by this reaction.     

负载型Heck反应催化剂的研究进展

Heck反应是一类重要的C-C偶联反应,传统的均相Heck反应催化剂存在分离和回收困难等问题;近年来负载型Heck反应催化剂的研究引起了人们的广泛关注.本文综述了钯基和非钯基负载型Heck反应催化剂的研究进展,评述了不同载体上催化活性组分对Heck反应的特点,并展望了其发展趋势.     

Catalytic effect of copper on the hexacyanoferrate(III)-cyanide redox reaction-I The uncatalysed and catalysed reactions

A kinetic study of the hexacyanoferrate(III)-cyanide redox reaction has been made in connection with development of a new catalytic method for copper. The reaction kinetics change with time from first- to second-order dependence with respect to hexacyanoferrate(III). The reaction is nearly inverse first-order with respect to hexacyanoferrate(II) and first-order with respect to cyanide. The reaction shows a strong positive primary salt effect, but a very small increase in the reaction rate with temperature is found. A parallel reaction proceeds with a first-order dependence with respect to hydroxide. A tentative mechanism is proposed for the first reaction, involving the formation of cyanogen radicals. The second reaction corresponds to the well-known decomposition of hexacyanoferrate(III) in alkaline medium. The catalysed reaction exhibits similar kinetics with respect to hexacyanoferrate(II) and (III) but is zero-order with respect to cyanide and hydroxide and first-order with respect to catalyst. The proposed mechanism involves two consecutive interactions of the hexacyanoferrate(III) with copper(I) and with copper(II) cyanide complexes respectively, followed by a 2-electron oxidation of a co-ordinatively bridging cyanide group.     

Copper-catalyzed enantioselective Henry reactions of alpha-keto esters: an easy entry to optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters and beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters

The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of alpha-keto esters with nitromethane has been developed. The reaction conditions have been optimized by the screening of different chiral Lewis acids, solvents, and bases, and it was found that the copper(II)-tert-butyl bisoxazoline complex in combination with triethylamine catalyzed a highly enantioselective reaction giving optically active beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and with excellent enantiomeric excesses. The scope of the reaction is demonstrated by the reaction of a variety of different alpha-keto esters. The catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction of beta,gamma-unsaturated-alpha-keto esters proceeds as a 1,2-addition reaction exclusively, in contrast to the uncatalyzed reaction where both the 1,2- and 1,4-addition products are formed. It is demonstrated that the beta-nitro-alpha-hydroxy esters can be converted into, e.g., Boc-protected beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy esters in high yields and without loss of optical purity. The mechanism for the reaction is discussed, and it is postulated that both the alpha-keto ester and nitromethane/nitronate is coordinated to the metal center during the reaction course.     

A new way of probing reaction networks: analyzing multidimensional parameter space

Technically relevant partial oxidation reactions represent complex reaction networks. Establishing a kinetic model for a system of multiple consecutive and parallel reaction steps is a challenging goal. The synthesis of acrylic acid by oxidation of propane using MoVTeNb mixed oxide as catalyst is such a reaction network. In an on-going study, a 10- fold parallel reactor set-up is used to vary systematically reaction conditions in a broad range over a single, well-defined MoVTeNb oxide. Selectivity and product yield in a multidimensional parameter space can give insight into the reaction network. Apparent activation energies and reaction orders of propane are derived for several conditions. Optimum reaction conditions within the investigated parameter space are specified. The results presented within this contribution contain about 200 data points measured in steady states each corresponding to reaction conditions that differ in temperature, contact time, and propane feed concentration. The fact that this data was collected in less than two months shows clearly the advantage of parallel screening of reaction conditions for mechanistic studies.     

Reaction mechanism of the mandelate anion racemization catalyzed by mandelate racemase enzyme: a QM/MM molecular dynamics free energy study

The present work studies the reaction mechanism of the racemization of mandelate substrate by mandelate racemase enzyme. The reaction has some intriguing aspects such as the deprotonation of a nonacid hydrogen and the achievement of the pseudosymmetry necessary to obtain the racemic mixture. We will make use of a QM/MM potential energy surface to compute the free energy profiles associated with the reaction. The most favorable reaction mechanism consists of two proton transfers and the configuration inversion of the stereogenic carbon taking place in a concerted manner. We have also designed a suitable reaction coordinate to compute the free energy profiles for this rather complicated reaction. In addition, analysis of the electrostatic effects and bond distances along the reaction will explain how the enzyme accomplishes the catalysis. Finally, the enzymatic reaction will be compared to a model of the uncatalyzed reaction and the catalytic effect of mandelate racemase will be evaluated.     

Understanding the physics and chemistry of reaction mechanisms from atomic contributions: a reaction force perspective

Studying chemical reactions involves the knowledge of the reaction mechanism. Despite activation barriers describing the kinetics or reaction energies reflecting thermodynamic aspects, identifying the underlying physics and chemistry along the reaction path contributes essentially to the overall understanding of reaction mechanisms, especially for catalysis. In the past years the reaction force has evolved as a valuable tool to discern between structural changes and electrons' rearrangement in chemical reactions. It provides a framework to analyze chemical reactions and additionally a rational partition of activation and reaction energies. Here, we propose to separate these energies further in atomic contributions, which will shed new insights in the underlying reaction mechanism. As first case studies we analyze two intramolecular proton transfer reactions. Despite the atom based separation of activation barriers and reaction energies, we also assign the participation of each atom in structural changes or electrons' rearrangement along the intrinsic reaction coordinate. These participations allow us to identify the role of each atom in the two reactions and therfore the underlying chemistry. The knowledge of the reaction chemistry immediately leads us to suggest replacements with other atom types that would facilitate certain processes in the reaction. The characterization of the contribution of each atom to the reaction energetics, additionally, identifies the reactive center of a molecular system that unites the main atoms contributing to the potential energy change along the reaction path.     

Kinetics of phenol oxidation with ozone in a thin layer on a solid surface

Ozone has been reacted with phenol in thin supported layers, and the dynamics of this reaction has been investigated. The stoichiometry of this reaction coincides with the stoichiometry of the same reaction in solution. Specific reaction rate (β) has been determined for various phenol conversions. The effective rate constant of the reaction, estimated by extrapolating β to zero reaction time, is significantly higher than the rate constant of the reaction in solution. The reaction between ozone and phenol is diffusion-controlled. The reaction products form a barrier layer, which protects the deeper phenol layers against ozone. The barrier layer is as thick as 8–15 phenol monolayers.     

Chemoselective Schmidt reaction mediated by triflic acid: selective synthesis of nitriles from aldehydes

An excellent utility of Schmidt reaction of aldehydes to access corresponding nitriles in an instantaneous reaction is demonstrated. The reaction of aldehydes with NaN(3) and TfOH furnishes the corresponding nitriles in near quantitative yields and tolerates a variety of electron-withdrawing and electron-donating substituents on the substrates. Formanilides, a common side product in Schmidt reaction, is not observed in this reaction. Besides these advantages, the salient feature of this reaction is that it exhibits a remarkable chemoselectivity, as acid and ketone functionalities are well tolerated under the reaction conditions. The reaction is easily scalable, high yielding, and nearly instantaneous.     

Temperature vs. time sequences to palliate deactivation in parallel and in series-parallel with the main reaction: parametric study

The calculation of temperature vs. time sequences to palliate catalyst deactivation in an integral reactor has been studied either by maintaining constant the conversion at the reactor outlet in a simple reaction or by maintaining constant the concentration of a given component at the outlet in a complex reaction system. The experimental systems studied, which are a simple one (dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol) and a complex one (isomerization of cis-butene), have kinetic models of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type for the main reaction and deactivation, with deactivation by coke dependent on the concentration of the reaction components. In the reaction of dehydration of 2-ethylhexanol deactivation occurs in parallel with the main reaction and in the isomerization of cis-butene deactivation occurs in series-parallel with the main reaction. A parametric study has been carried out for both reaction systems. The sequences calculated have been experimentally proven in an automated reaction apparatus.     

Multichannel quench-flow microreactor chip for parallel reaction monitoring

This paper describes a multichannel silicon-glass microreactor which has been utilized to investigate the kinetics of a Knoevenagel condensation reaction under different reaction conditions. The reaction is performed on the chip in four parallel channels under identical conditions but with different residence times. A special topology of the reaction coils overcomes the common problem arising from the difference in pressure drop of parallel channels having different length. The parallelization of reaction coils combined with chemical quenching at specific locations results in a considerable reduction in experimental effort and cost. The system was tested and showed good reproducibility in flow properties and reaction kinetic data generation.     

Quantum chemical study of σ-dimerization reaction of 1-silacycloprop-2-enes

The PBE/TZ2P method was used to study a concerted σ-dimerization reaction of 1-silacycloprop-2-enes having substituents with different electron effects. The corresponding reaction channels were founds in all the cases, that indicated a general character of this reaction. The reaction barriers varied from moderately high to extremely low. The suggestions made earlier on a possibility for this process to take place in the course of the reaction of silylenes with alkynes at elevated temperature were quantitatively confirmed for the first time. The influence of substituents on the barrier heights and exothermicity of σ-dimerization of 1-silacycloprop-2-enes was studied. The σ-dimerization reaction of 1-silacycloprop-2-enes is one of a few examples of metathesis of s-bonds in the absence of transition metal complexes.     

Feedback Kinetics in Mechanochemistry: The Importance of Cohesive States

Although mechanochemical synthesis is becoming more widely applied and even commercialised, greater basic understanding is needed if the field is to progress on less of a trial‐and‐error basis. We report that a mechanochemical reaction in a ball mill exhibits unusual sigmoidal feedback kinetics that differ dramatically from the simple first‐order kinetics for the same reaction in solution. An induction period is followed by a rapid increase in reaction rate before the rate decreases again as the reaction goes to completion. The origin of these unusual kinetics is found to be a feedback cycle involving both chemical and mechanical factors. During the reaction the physical form of the reaction mixture changes from a powder to a cohesive rubber‐like state, and this results in the observed reaction rate increase. The study reveals that non‐obvious and dynamic rheological changes in the reaction mixture must be appreciated to understand how mechanochemical reactions progress.     

Diffusion and trapping in a suspension of spheres with simultaneous reaction in the continuous phase

Much progress has been made in modeling the reaction of Brownian particles with spherical traps. Previously, work has focused on the effective reaction rate of systems of particles that diffuse freely until they are trapped by spheres in the dispersion. A particularly effective and efficient method to describe the reacting system is based on first-passage time distributions, from which an effective reaction rate coefficient of the suspension can be determined. The analysis presented here addresses reaction and diffusion in systems in which particles can undergo reaction in the continuous phase as well as reaction at the sphere surface. The first-passage method is extended to allow reaction or decay of the diffusing species in the continuous phase. The diffusion path is divided into a series of first-passage regions and is considered the probability of the particle being consumed in each of these regions. This allows the determination of the total reaction rate of the suspension (continuous phase reaction plus trapping) and the relative consumption rate in each phase. The extended method is applied to a model system of concentric spheres with a known continuum solution. It is shown to be accurate for consumption of reactant in the continuous phase from approximately 0 to approximately 100%. The method then is applied to a suspension of spheres.     

An Mo theoretical study on the reaction of benzocyclobutene with ethylene. Concerted vs stepwise

In an attempt to determine the reaction mechanism of the Diels-Alder type cycloaddition reaction of benzocyclobutene with dienophiles, the stabilities for the assumed intermediate structures were examined by using MINDO/3, STO-3G, and 4-31G methods. The potential energies of the ring-opening reaction of the benzocyclobutene and cycloaddition reaction of quinodimethane with a dienophile were obtained by MINDO/3 and discussed in relation to the controversial reaction mechanism of the cycloaddition, concerted vs stepwise mechanisms. The results lead to a conclusion that the reaction involves a biradical intermediate followed by a stepwise cycloaddition.     

Solvent reduced wittig olefination reactions with halo containing conjugated phosphoranes

The Wittig reaction of carbaldehydes with alkoxycarbonylhalomethylidenetriphenylphosphoranes can be performed with ease in solventless systems. The analogous reaction of carbaldehydes with acylhalomethylidenetriphenylphosphoranes requires a small amount of solvent, such as chloroform, in order for the reaction to proceed. The products of the reaction are versatile precursors for further transformations, such as the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction.     

Acid-free aza Diels-Alder reaction of Danishefsky's diene with imines

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient aza Diels-Alder reaction of Danishefsky's diene with imines was found to occur in methanol in the absence of any acids at room temperature to give corresponding 2-substituted dihydro-4-pyridone derivatives in high yields. This reaction can be also carried out in a three-component one-pot reaction manner. The reaction was found to proceed through a Mannich-type condensation mechanism.     

Nucleophilic addition of nitrones to ketones: development of a new catalytic asymmetric nitrone-aldol reaction

A new organic reaction has been discovered in which nitrones react with carbonyl compounds in an aldoltype reaction to give functionalized beta-hydroxynitrones. The alpha-carbon atom of the nitrone undergoes a nucleophilic addition reaction to electron-deficient ketones, such as alpha-ketoesters, alpha,beta-diketones, and trifluoromethyl ketones, to afford the products in moderate to good yields. The scope and potential of the reaction have been investigated and developed. The reaction can also be catalyzed by secondary amines. The use of chiral cyclic amines, such as L-proline leads to optically active beta-hydroxynitrones in moderate yield and with moderate to high enantiomeric excess. The reaction mechanism was studied by kinetic measurements, intermediate and product analysis, and determination of the absolute configuration of the product; based on these investigations a mechanism for the new reaction is proposed.     

Kinetics of Reaction of Bromo-epoxy Resin with Oleic Acid catalyzed by Dimethyl benzyl amine

The kinetics of reaction of bromo-epoxy resin with oleic acid in the presence of dimethylbenzylamine catalyst was studied. The reaction is a zero order reaction with respect to oleic acid, first order with respect to epoxy group and 0. 74 order with respect to dimethylbenzylamine. The reaction rate constants at various temperatures and activation energy were determined. The mechanism of this reaction was discussed. Keywords Tetrabromobisphenol-A, Bromo-epoxy resin, Oleic acid kinetics, Reaction mechanism     

Thermolysis of polyethylene hydroperoxides in the melt, Part 12: Mechanisms and kinetics of thermolysis

The thermolysis of polyethylene hydroperoxides is attributed to the reaction of two hydroperoxide groups. This bimolecular reaction appears as a first-order reaction with the mean values of the hydroperoxide concentrations that can be used for the experimental verification of the kinetics. In low molecular mass liquids and solutions these findings would be irreconcilable. However, in polymer melts, this contradiction is more apparent than real. It is a consequence of the heterogeneous kinetics valid in polymer melts. The bimolecular reaction involves the decomposition of pairs of hydroperoxide groups that are relatively close in the elementary oxidation volumes. By diffusion these hydroperoxide groups can come close enough for reaction. From the chemical point of view the decomposition is a bimolecular reaction. However, from the kinetic point of view it is a first-order reaction of the hydroperoxide pairs. The dependency of the first-order rate on the initial hydroperoxide concentration is explained by the heterogeneous kinetics. The activation energy of the overall process can be related to the sum of the activation energies pertaining to the chemical reaction and to the diffusion process.