Modulation of excited-state intramolecular proton transfer by viscosity in protic media

3-Hydroxyquinolones undergo excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), resulting in a dual emission highly sensitive to H-bonding perturbations. Here, we report on the strong effect of viscosity on the dual emission of 2-(2-thienyl)-3-hydroxyquinolone in protic solvents. An increase in viscosity significantly decreases the formation of the ESIPT product, thus changing dramatically the ratio of the two emission bands. Time-resolved studies suggest the presence of solvated species characterized by decay times close to the solvent relaxation times in viscous media. The intramolecular H bond in this species is probably disrupted by the solvent, and therefore, its ESIPT requires a reorganization of the solvation shell for restoring this intramolecular H bond. Thus, the ESIPT reaction of this dye and its dual emission depend on solvent relaxation rates and, therefore, on viscosity. The present results suggest a new physical principle for the fluorescence ratiometric measurement of local viscosity.     

Ionic liquid functionalized cellulose as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the facile and green synthesis of benzoxazine,pyrazine and quinoxaline derivatives in aqueous media

Immobilization of acidic ionic liquid, 1-methyl-3-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) imidazolium hydrogen sulfate on cellulose (Cell-[pmim]HSO₄) as an efficient heterogenous catalyst for the simple and environmentally benign synthesis of benzoxazine, pyrazine and quinoxaline derivatives in aqueous media at room temperature is described. The catalyst was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction pattern. This method provides several advantages such as mild reaction conditions, environmentally friendly catalyst, good to excellent yields and simple work-up procedure.     

Bitumen-clay interactions in aqueous media studied by zeta potential distribution measurement

A new method of measuring the amount of coalescence that occurs between drops during the emulsification process is proposed. The method uses a hydrophobic fluorescent probe, which is introduced into a fraction of the oil phase that is to be homogenized. The ratio of the intensity of the excimer peak to the intensity of the monomer peak in the fluorescent emission spectrum is sensitive to the concentration of the probe in the oil phase. Random coalescence events between oil drops lead to redistribution of the probe and its effective dilution in the oil phase. Coalescence results in a decrease in the intensity ratio in the fluorescence spectrum obtained from the ensemble of drops. Monte Carlo simulation is used to relate the change in intensity ratio to the coalescence rate. It is experimentally verified that the signal change is only due to coalescence and is not affected by the drop size of the distribution.     

Efficient synthesis of functionalized butenolides mediated by vinyltriphenylphosphonium salts in aqueous media

An efficient synthesis of 5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-3-furancarboxylate derivatives via reaction of dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate with triphenylphosphine（Ph₃P） in the presence of activated carbonyl compounds such as ethyl pyruvate,benzil,benzoylcyanide, biacetyle or N-alkylisatins is described.     

Dynamics of strained ring systems as studied by ESR and saturation transfer sensitive spectroscopic techniques

Effective spin-lattice relaxation rates for the cyclopentyl-1-carboxylic acid radical in X-irradiated 1,1-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid measured by saturation-recovery and electron spin echo techniques are found to be determined by van Vleck and Raman mechanisms. Analysis of ESR, ELDOR, ENDOR, and passage spectra permitted characterization of the temperature dependence of the ring inversion frequency as τ_c^?1 = 3.35 × 10¹¹ exp(?1540/T), implying a barrier to ring inversion of 3 kcal. The magnetic resonance and double resonance spectra at low temperatures are characterized by nearly isotropic beta hyperfine couplings of 56 and 112 MHz which are averaged by the dynamic ring puckering to yield a value of 84 MHz at ambient temperatures. The gamma couplings are not resolved in the ENDOR spectra but from the linewidth of the ENDOR line at the free proton frequency a value of 3 MHz is established as the upper limit for these couplings.     

Pd nanoparticles as catalysts for green and sustainable oxidation of functionalized alcohols in aqueous media

The previously described catalyst system for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols, comprising palladium(II) acetate in combination with neocuproine in a 1:1 mixture of water and a water-miscible cosolvent such as ethylene carbonate or dimethylsulfoxide, was shown to involve palladium nanoparticles as the active catalyst. The latter are formed in situ or can be preformed by reduction of the palladium-neocuproine complex with hydrogen and they are stabilized by both the neocuproine ligand and the cosolvent. This catalyst system was successfully used for the selective aerobic oxidation of the steroidal secondary alcohols, nandrolone and 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one, to the corresponding ketones.     

N-Benzyl-norephedrine derivatives as new,efficient ligands for ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of functionalized ketones

Significant catalytic activities (up to 600 h⁻¹ at 20°C) and enantiomeric excesses ranging from 56 to 89% for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of β-ketoesters, methoxyacetone and 2-acetylpyridine to the corresponding alcohols are achieved in the presence of catalytic combinations of [RuCl₂(η⁶-arene)]₂ and N-substituted derivatives of (1S,2R)-norephedrine such as N-benzyl-norephedrine and N-(4-biphenyl)methyl-norephedrine.     

Photoinduced electron transfer between C70 fullerene and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine studied by electron paramagnetic resonance

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in situ spectroscopy was applied in the study of photoinduced electron transfer between 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) and C70 in different solvent systems. The changes found in UV-vis spectra pointed at ground state charge transfer complex formation [C70-TMB] in benzonitrile. Upon selective excitation of C70 using steady-state monochromatic irradiation with a wavelength of 546 nm, two EPR singlets were observed, which were assigned to C70 mono- and di-anion. In the photochemical and cathodic in situ reductions, identical EPR spectra of anion radicals were obtained. C70 mono-anion was investigated also in frozen 1,2-dichlorobenzene solutions within the temperature range from 110 to 210 K, and at 110 K the anisotropic EPR spectrum of C70 mono-anion was simulated assuming an axially symmetric g-matrix with gparallel - gperpendicular = 0.00165.     

Electron transfer between trans-dihydroxotetraoxoosmate(VIII) and thiosulfate. A kinetic study in aqueous alkaline media

The kinetics of oxidation of thiosulfate to tetrathionate by trans-dihydroxotetraoxoosmate(VIII) in aqueous alkaline media have been studied. The oxidation follows a rate expression where K_Os is the formation constant of trans-dihydroxotetraoxoosmate (VIII), and K₂ and k₃, respectively, represent the formation constants of the intermediate complex involving Os(VIII) and S₂O and its decomposition constant. The K_Os, K₂, and k₃ values have been computed to be (19.5 ± 3) dm³/mol, (6.12 ± 0.5) and (3.32 ± 0.3) × 10^?1 dm³/mol s at 303 K, and I = 0.32 mol/dm³, respectively. The rate law is consistent with a mechanism envisaging the equilibrium formation of an intermediate complex involving Os(VIII) and S₂O, followed by a rate-determining decomposition of the complex with concomitant electron transfer.     

Electron transfer to trans-dihydroxotetraoxoosmate(VIII). II. Kinetics of the oxidation of dimethylsulfoxide in aqueous alkaline media

The kinetics of the oxidation of dimethylsulfoxide by oxohydroxoosmate(VIII) complex ions in alkaline media follow pseudo-first-order disappearance in Os(VIII). The values of the observed pseudo-first-order rate constant are linearly dependent on initial dimethylsulfoxide concentrations in a fortyfold range, and increase with increasing [OH^?], leveling off at higher relative [OH^?]. The results are interpreted in terms of outer sphere interactions involving dimethylsulfoxide and various species of the Os(VIII) complex. The more nucleophilic dihydroxotetraoxoosmate(VIII) ion reacts about 50 times faster than the trihydroxotrioxoosmate(VIII) species.     

Interfacial properties of cetyltrimethylammonium-coated SiO(2) nanoparticles in aqueous media as studied by using different indicator dyes

In this paper, we compare the properties of SiO(2)/water interface modified by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with those of CTAB spherical micelles. The suspension of uniform silica nanoparticles coated with CTAB adlayer was investigated by using a set of acid-base indicators. The study of the colloidal system has been provided using electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering methods; the diameter of the initial SiO(2) particles in dried state was ca. 40 nm. The increase in the zeta-potential value of nanoparticles from -34 to +(37-54) mV on going from pure silica suspension to the CTAB-containing system points on the silica surface recharging and formation of surfactant bilayer (or multilayer) on the silica/water interface. To obtain further information about the interfacial surfactant adlayer, the behavior of different indicator dyes has been studied in CTAB-modified SiO(2) suspension. Comparison of the indices of apparent ionization constants, i.e., pK(a)(a) values of phenol red, bromothymol blue, and fluorescein with those determined in CTAB micellar solutions have confirmed the supposition about certain similarity between CTAB-covered silica nanoparticles and common spherical surfactant micelles. However, the experiments on kinetics of bromophenol blue fading, as well as the spectral properties of methyl orange and solvatochromic Reichardt's indicator and some other data revealed the specificity of surfactant-coated silica nanoparticles, presumably, originating from their surface morphology.     

Inhibition of DNA restrictive endonucleases by aqueous nanoparticle suspension of methanophosphonate fullerene derivatives and its mechanisms

Aqueous nanoparticle suspension of fullerene and its derivatives are currently attracting much attention. To determine the effects of aqueous nanoparticle suspension of a mono-methanophosphonate fullerene and bis-methanophosphonate fullerene (denoted as n-MMPF and n-BMPF, respectively) on the activities of DNA restrictive endonucleases, plasmid pEGFP-N1 was cleaved at a single but differently restrictive site by EcoR I, BamH I, and isozymes Cfr9 I and Xma I, respectively. Both n-MMPF and n-BMPF inhibited the activity of EcoR I, while n-BMPF exhibited stronger inhibition than n-MMPF. Addition of n-BMPF into reaction mixtures inhibited the activities of all the four enzymes, and IC₅₀ values for EcoR I, BamH I, Cfr9 I and Xma I were 4.3, >30, 11.7 and 8.3 μmol/L, respectively. When EcoR I was completely inhibited by n-BMPF, addition of excess amounts of pEGFP-N1 could not produce the product linear plasmid; however, increase of EcoR I amounts antagonized EcoR I inhibition of n-BMPF. Two scavengers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mannitol and sodium azide at the concentrations of 2–10 mmol/L, did not reverse inhibition of n-BMPF, implying that this inhibition probably is not correlated to ROS. These results suggested that aqueous nano-fullerenes might act as inhibitors of DNA restrictive endonucleases. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20672012) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 20822020)     

Convenient, enantioselective hydrosilylation of imines in protic media catalyzed by a Zn-trianglamine complex

Chiral hexamine macrocycle derived from trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) in a complex with diethylzinc efficiently catalyzes the asymmetric hydrosilylation of N-phosphorylated aryl-alkyl or aryl-aryl ketimines in protic media with enantiomeric excess of the product approaching 100%. The cyclic structure of the trianglamine ligand increases the enantioselectivity and/or the yield of the reaction, in comparison to the catalysis by acyclic N,N'-dibenzyl-DACH ligands. Density functional theory (DFT) computations on the structure of the model ligand-zinc complex and on the structures of the pre-organized reactants together with the calculations of possible transition states allow rationalization of the direction of the asymmetric induction of the hydrosilylation reaction. This is the first example of asymmetric catalysis of the hydrosilylation reaction of ketimines with the use of a readily available and inexpensive macrocyclic trianglamine ligand.     

An efficient method for synthesis of phenacyl derivatives under homogeneous phase transfer catalyst condition in aqueous media

In this letter,a mild and efficient procedure for synthesis of phenacyl derivatives under homogenous catalysis in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide in aqueous media is described.The nucleophilic substitution reactions were performed under ecofriendly conditions and gave the corresponding products in high yields and short reaction times.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of anthraquinone derivatives catalyzed by alum in aqueous media

Abstract

Alum (KAl(SO₄)₂·12H₂O) performs as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of anthraquinone derivatives from phthalic anhydride and substituted benzenes in good to excellent yields (70–96%) using water as a solvent at ambient temperature. Several solvents were examined for this reaction; however, in terms of reaction yield and time, water was found to be the optimum solvent. The remarkable advantages offered by this method are an inexpensive and easily available catalyst, a simple procedure, mild conditions, and much faster (60–120 min) reactions.     

Iron-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles are active and magnetically recyclable olefin and alkyne hydrogenation catalysts in protic and aqueous media

We report for the first time the use of iron-iron oxide core-shell nanoparticles for the hydrogenation of olefins and alkynes under mild conditions in ethanol and in an aqueous medium. This catalyst proves robust towards the presence of oxidants, such as oxygen and water, is magnetically recoverable and shows selectivity towards the less activated double bonds.     

The convenient synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives catalyzed by I2 in aqueous media

In the presence of catalytic amount of iodine, in THF‐H₂O, the condensation of aldehydes with 1,2‐phenylenediamine gave the benzimidazole derivatives under mild conditions in good yields. The method can be used for the synthesis of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles or 1,2‐disubstituted benzimidazoles.     

FIA titrations of phenothiazine derivatives in aqueous micellar and non-aqueous media

New methods of flow injection analysis (FIA) neutralization titrations of phenothiazine derivatives in aqueous micellar medium of a cationic surfactant using potentiometric and spectrophotometric detection were proposed; titrations with a mixing gradient chamber and high-speed titrations were compared. The FIA titration method in non-aqueous media based on an official method of determination (titration with perchloric acid in anhydrous acetic acid) was also developed. Under optimized reaction conditions and flow-through parameters, the calibration range and equations, the sensitivity, and the repeatability of all methods were found and discussed. All titrations were assayed for medicinal forms.     

Isostructural self-assembly of 2'-deoxyguanosine derivatives in aqueous and organic media

We report the self-assembly of a hydrophilic 8-(m-acetylphenyl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (mAG) derivative into a discrete and thermally stable hexadecameric supramolecule in aqueous media. We demonstrate that this hexadecamer is isostructural to the one formed by a related lipophilic derivative in organic media. This mAG moiety represents a rare example of a small-molecule recognition motif that is capable of assembling isostructurally and with high fidelity in both organic and aqueous media.     

Reversibility of electron transfer in tryptophan-tyrosine peptide in acidic aqueous solution studied by time-resolved CIDNP

Time-resolved chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) has been used to study electron transfer reactions in tryptophan-tyrosine peptide under strongly acidic conditions. It is demonstrated that a decrease in pH from 2.4 to 1.6 reduces the overall efficiency of intramolecular electron transfer from the tyrosine residue to the oxidized tryptophan residue. A detailed analysis of the CIDNP kinetics revealed that the rate constant of this reaction k(f) stays unchanged upon pH variation, whereas the rate constant of electron transfer in the opposite direction k(r) increases with decreasing pH. The values of the rate constants extracted from model simulations are as follows: k(f) = (5.5 +/- 0.5) x 10(5) s(-1); k(r) = (5.5 +/- 1.0) x 10(4) s(-1) at pH 2.4, (1.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(5) s(-1) at pH 2.0, and (3.2 +/- 0.4) x 10(5) s(-1) at pH 1.6. The pH dependence of log K = log(k(f)/k(r)) is linear and allows for the determination of the difference between the one-electron reduction potentials of the tryptophanyl and tyrosyl radicals in the peptide. The efficiency of IET in acidic aqueous solution containing 10 M urea-d(4) was estimated.