Quantum mechanical studies of the protonation and NBr bond dissociation of the biologically important N-bromosuccinimide

N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS) is a brominating and oxidizing agent that is used as a source of bromine. The proton affinities, the tautomeric forms and NBr bond dissociation of NBS have been computed using the B3LYP functional as implemented in the density functional approach. The electronic structures of all possible tautomeric forms of NBS have been thoroughly investigated. The keto form of NBS has been shown to be more stable than any other tautomeric forms. The geometries and relative energies for various stationary structures were determined. The results indicate clearly that O-site protonation is strongly favored over N-site protonation for the studied compound in case of mono- and di-protonation. The bond dissociation energies (BDEs), involving the formation of the bromine radical, cation, and anion, of the NBr bond have been investigated. The NBr BDE of the Br radical formation is lower than that of the Br anion or cation. These conclusions are in good agreement with the experimental results.     

Homogeneous and supported copper(II) acetate as catalyst for CO coupling reactions

The reactivity of copper(II) acetate as catalyst in a standard CO coupling reaction has been systematically evaluated. Optimization of the reaction conditions resulted in a protocol involving stoichiometric amounts of reagents, a substoichiometric amount of base and 20 mol% catalyst, at 50 °C in 1,2-dichloroethane and under 1 atm O₂. Next, the reactivity of polymer-supported copper(II) acetate was evaluated. Although it is found that, in contrast to previous results obtained in related CN coupling reactions, the polymer-supported catalyst is in this case less efficient than the corresponding homogeneous one, the catalyst turns out to be conveniently recovered from the reaction mixture by simple filtration.     

Blue-shifting intramolecular CH O(S) contacts in sterically strained systems

A group of model systems which may form chelate-type structures with intramolecular CH  Y (Y = O, S) contact is investigated computationally. The existence of several conformers permits to identify a reference molecule without the CH  Y intramolecular contact and to establish the blue-shifting character of this interaction. The CH stretching frequency in chelate forms is found to increase with respect to its value in the reference system. A parallel decrease of the CH bond distance is also established. The blue-shifting character of the intramolecular CH  Y contact is interpreted in terms of the sterically enforced repulsion between the hydrogen atom in CH and the electron donor Y. This interpretation is supported by the negative (repulsive) estimates of the energy contribution due to CH  Y contacts.     

The structure of p-chlorophenol and barrier to internal OH rotation in the S1-state

The structure and barrier to internal rotation of 4-chlorophenol in the ground state and the electronically excited S₁-state has been examined by rotationally resolved laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of 4-³⁵Cl-phenol, 4-³⁷Cl-phenol, 4-³⁵Cl-phenol-d₁, and 4-³⁷Cl-phenol-d₁. The overlapping spectra have been assigned simultaneously using a genetic algorithm approach. The rotationally resolved spectrum of the electronic origin of 4-chlorophenol is comprised of two subbands, which are split by 60 MHz due to the internal rotation of the hydroxy group. The torsional barrier in the electronically excited state could be estimated to be 1400 cm⁻¹, only about 250 cm⁻¹ higher than in the ground state. The CCl bond lengths decreases by approximately 6 pm upon electronic excitation and the aromatic ring is distorted quinoidally.     

CN bond rotation and E–Z isomerism in some N-benzyl-N-methylcarbamoyl chlorides: A DFT study

The electronic and geometrical structures of thiosulfinic acids, RSSOH, 1, (1a, R = H; 1b, R = CH₃; 1c, R = t-C₄H₉; 1d, R = C₆H₅; 1e, R = F) and their anions have been investigated by the ab initio and density functional methods. The calculations show that the stability of the thiolo-tautomers of 1, RS(O)SH, and the thiono-tautomers, RS(S)OH, is almost the same in the gas phase, the energy of the thiolo-tautomers being slightly lower. The tautomers of 1 having the thiosulfone structure, RS(O)(S)H, were found to be the least stable. The thiosulfinate anions show ambident character with the negative charge dispersed over terminal O and S atoms and are stabilized by electronegative substituents.     

,-Difluoroketone inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase

The rationale for a new class of HMG CoA reductase inhibitors, represented by ,ga-difluoroketones 3 and 4, is described. The syntheses of 3, 4, and their nonfluorinated analogue 5 are presented.     

Evaluation of the origin of rotational barrier in NH2X (X = NO, NS)

The origin of rotational barrier in N-thionitrosamine NH₂NS (TNA) has been examined with the aid of topological theory of atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses and has been compared with N-nitrosamine NH₂NO (NA). Frequency calculations show that the rotational barrier for TNA is greater than NA. This can be attributed to the more charge transfer from nitrogen of amino group to sulfur in TNA than from nitrogen to oxygen in NA. NBO analysis reveals pyramidalization of nitrogen atom of NH₂ group leads to decrease of delocalization energy contribution and increase of Lewis energy contribution on total energy.     

Boron trifluoride-catalyzed degradation of poly--caprolactone at ambient temperature

Poly--caprolactone (PCL) can be accelerated to degrade in the presence of boron trifluoride at ambient temperature. The degradation behaviors were studied by using the inherent viscosity measurement, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), infrared analysis (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR), and thermal analysis (DSC). With increasing the addition amount of boron trifluoride, the molecular weight of PCL decreases; the molecular weight distribution is broadened; and the degree of crystallinity of PCL increases at first at low BF₃ level, then decreases when BF₃ content exceeds to 2.64 wt%. The results of IR, ¹HNMR and GPC reveal that -caprolactone monomer does not occur and the main degradation products are the oligomers of PCL with low molecular weight. The mechanism for boron trifluoride-catalyzed degradation of PCL is discussed.     

Ion transfer across liquidliquid interfaces from transition-state theory and stochastic molecular dynamics simulations

We investigate the kinetics and dynamics of ion transfer across liquidliquid interfaces. We calculate the potential of mean force (pmf) of ion transfer from Monte Carlo simulations of a lattice–gas model, assuming independent chemical and electrostatic contributions. The shape of the pmf justifies considering the transfer as activated. The kinetics are obtained from transition-state theory and independently from stochastic molecular dynamics simulations. Both methods yield consistent results, with straight Tafel plots and friction effects in line with Kramers’ theory, but stronger than for a diffusing particle. A higher friction makes barrier recrossing more likely.     

-mononitroalkyl derivatives of indium

Dealkylation of trialkylindium by -mononitroalkane leads to the formation of the previously unknown -nitroalkyl derivatives of indium. An investigation of the chemical properties and of the ¹¹⁵In nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra of these compounds has been undertaken. An analysis of the data obtained from these investigations suggests the existence of intramolecular O→In coordination in the -nitroalkyl derivatives of indium.     

-Fluoro decalones as chiral epoxidation catalysts: fluorine effect

Three rigid monofluorinated trans-decalones 4a, 5e, and 6e (90% ee) have been synthesized from commercially available (−)-(R)-methyl naphthalenone (90% ee). Their structures have been fully characterized (NMR, X-ray): ketones 4a and 5e are Me,F-disubstituted to the carbonyl with the fluorine axial and equatorial, respectively, while ketone 6e is F-monosubstituted to the carbonyl with the fluorine equatorial. The use of these ketones as chiral catalysts for the epoxidation of trans-olefins (such as stilbene, β-methylstyrene and p-methoxy cinnamate) through the formation of dioxiranes shows (i) that dioxiranes with an equatorial fluorine to the dioxirane ring are less reactive and provide lower ee’s than dioxiranes with an axial fluorine and having the same chirality and (ii) that an axial methyl to the dioxirane ring is significantly less efficient than a fluorine. The results corroborate Armstrong and Houk’s theoretical model and our first hypothesis to rationalize the inverted enantioselectivities observed using -fluorinated cyclohexanones having the same chirality, i.e.: rapid ring inversion (Curtin–Hammett principle) allows the dioxirane conformation to have the fluorine axial (even if less populated than the other) to contribute significantly to the epoxidation reaction.     

Phase controllable synthesis of unusual -Ga2O3 single crystals with promising luminescence property

A new synthetic approach to unusual -Ga₂O₃ with improved luminescence properties was developed by taking advantage of a microwave-assisted synthesis followed by calcinations at appropriate temperatures. Upon control of crystallinities of GaOOH precursors and the followed calcination temperature, the single crystalline -Ga₂O₃ nanorods can be synthesized in a large scale. The resulting products were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and cathodoluminescence. The luminescence property of this unusual Ga₂O₃ phase was investigated for the first time.     

Patterning of biomolecules on a poly(-caprolactone) film surface functionalized by ion implantation

Biomolecule patterning is important due to its potential applications in biodevices, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. In this study, we developed a new method for a biomolecular patterning on poly(-caprolactone) (PCL) films based on ion implantation. Ion implantation on a PCL film surface resulted in the formation of carboxylic acid groups. The generated carboxylic acid groups were used for the covalent immobilization of amine-functionalized p-DNA, followed by hybridization with fluorescently tagged c-DNA. Biotin-amine was also covalently immobilized on the carboxylic acid generated PCL surfaces. Successful biotin-specific binding of streptavidin further confirmed the potential of this strategy for patterning of various biomolecules.     

-Halogenoketones—XIII Chromone epoxides; their synthesis and acid-catalysed rearrangement

The chromone epoxide ring system has been synthesised. Base-catalysed cyclization and dehydrobromination of -bromo-o-acyl (aroyl) oxyacetopheones or 2-bromo-1, 3-diones yielded 3-substituted chromone epoxides. Acid-catalysed rearrangement of a 2-methylchromone epoxide in an aprotic solvent gave a 2-methylenech-romanonol, while a 3-methoxymethylchromone epoxide fragmented to chromonol under these conditions; in alchols, chromone epoxides gave 2-alkoxychromanonols.     

Flame retardant polyamide 6 by in situ polymerization of ε-caprolactam in the presence of melamine derivatives

An improved method for preparing melamine cyanurate （MCA） based flame retardant polyamide 6 （FRPA6） materials has been proposed. This processing method, i.e., improved in situ polymerization, was used to synthesize flame retardant PA6. In situ formed MCA nanoparticles were supposed to be linked to PA6 chains in the ε-caprolactam hydrolytic polymerization system to obtain startype polymers for the first time. Through TEM photographs, it can be found that the in situ formed MCA nanoparticles with diametric size of less than 50 nm, are nanoscaled, highly uniformly dispersed in the PA6 matrix. Synthesized flame retardant PA6 have good fire performance which can achieve UL-94 V-0 rating at 1.6 mm thickness with the presence of 7.34 wt.% MCA in the matrix.     

Distribution of Sorbitan Monooleate in poly(l-lactide-co--caprolactone) nanofibers from emulsion electrospinning

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Sorbitan Monooleate (Span80) in poly(l-lactide-co--caprolactone) (PLLACL) nanofibers from emulsion electrospinning. The hypothesis was that PLLACL/Span80 nanofibrous mats would have some Span80 on the surface of the composite nanofibers. To test the hypothesis, the electrospinning of emulsions made of PLLACL, chloroform, Span80, and distilled water to prepare PLLACL/Span80 nanofibers was systematically investigated. The morphology of PLLACL/Span80 nanofibers was investigated by atomic force microscopy. The surface hydrophilicity of the nanofibrous mats were examined by water contact angle test. The distribution of Span80 on the surface of nanofibrous mats was also confirmed by the performance of pig iliac endothelium cells on the nanofibrous mats.     

-(1-phenylhydrazino)-alkanone phenylhydrazones: The reaction with carbonyl compounds

The unsymmetrically disubstituted hydrazines 1 were condensed with carbonyl compounds. Some of the expected condensation products were isolated, but some were formed as unstable intermediates which underwent 1,4-elimination: The phenylhydrazone of the carbonyl compound used was obtained, together with the corresponding phenylazo-alkene 11 or alternatively, the 1,4-addition product of a different protic nucleophile to 11.     

Bonding trends in MCH2 systems: Simple orbital interpretation and evidence for double bonds

MCH₂ systems, where M is a metal from 4th up to 7th period, are studied at DFT level using B3LYP functional and small-core quasirelativistic pseudopotential or fully relativistic four-component methodology. We obtained structural data for 44 elements, M, and our results can be used to infer double-bond lengths for these elements. Our results also suggest that the bonding of these MCH₂ systems can be understood by a simple pictorial approach, even when spin–orbit effects are present.     

Degradation of copolymers obtained by ring-opening polymerization of glycolide and -caprolactone: A high resolution NMR and ESI-MS study

Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) have been used to investigate the hydrolytic degradation of copolymers obtained by bulk ring-opening copolymerization of glycolide and -caprolactone with monomer ratios ranging from 70/30 to 30/70. NMR allows changes of the average sequence distribution and composition of the components to be followed. In contrast, ESI-MS is able to reveal the detailed chemical structures of various sequences despite the molecular weight limit of 2000 Da. Combination of ESI-MS with NMR can thus provide information to describe microstructure changes during degradation. The distribution of various oligomers shown in the form of planar projections is of great interest for the design of biodegradable system aimed at medical applications.