Dimethyl carbonate synthesis and other oxidative reactions using alkyl nitrites

The oxidative reactions using the alkyl nitrites (RONO) as an oxidant have been developed by Ube Industries, Ltd. In the alkyl nitrite reactions, substrates such as CO andyor unsaturated- andyor carbonyl-compounds are oxidized over the palladium catalysts in no direct contact with molecular oxygen. The dimethyl carbonate (DMC), dialkyl oxalates and other useful chemicals are synthesized efficiently under moderate conditions by the alkyl nitrite reactions.     

An FTIR study of mechanisms for the HO radical initiated oxidation of C2H4 in the presence of NO: detection of glycolaldehyde

Using the long-path FTIR method, glycolaldehyde, CH₂(OH)CHO, was detected among the products in photolysis of mixtures containing C₂H₄, NO and RONO (R = alkyl group) at ppm concentrations in air. The results suggest the occurrence of both unimolecular dissociation and O₂ reaction of an oxy-radical, CH₂(OH)CH₂O, formed in the HO-initiated oxidation of C₂H₄ in the presence of NO.     

Hydroxy peroxy nitrites and nitrates from OH initiated reactions of isoprene

The reaction of hydroxy peroxy radicals (RO(2)) with NO represents one of the most crucial tropospheric processes, leading to terrestrial ozone formation or NO(x)() removal and chain termination. We investigate the formation of hydroxy peroxy nitrites (ROONO) and nitrates (RONO(2)) from the OH-isoprene reactions using DFT and ab initio theories and variational RRKM/master equation (vRRKM/ME) formalism. The binding energies of ROONO from NO addition to RO(2) are determined to be in the range of 20-22 kcal mol(-)(1), and the bond dissociation energies of ROONO to form an alkoxy radical (RO) and NO(2) range from 6 to 9 kcal mol(-)(1). Isomerization of ROONO to RONO(2) is exothermic by 22-28 kcal mol(-)(1). The entrance and exit channels of the RO(2)-NO reaction are found to be barrierless, and the rate constants to form ROONO are calculated to be 3 x 10(-)(12) to 2 x 10(-)(11) cm(3) molecule(-)(1) s(-)(1) using the canonical variational transition state theory. The vRRKM/ME analysis reveals negligible stabilization of excited ROONO and provides an assessment of ROONO isomerization to RONO(2).     

Ocean-atmosphere trace gas exchange

The oceans contribute significantly to the global emissions of a number of atmospherically important volatile gases, notably those containing sulfur, nitrogen and halogens. Such gases play critical roles not only in global biogeochemical cycling but also in a wide range of atmospheric processes including marine aerosol formation and modification, tropospheric ozone formation and destruction, photooxidant cycling and stratospheric ozone loss. A number of marine emissions are greenhouse gases, others influence the Earth's radiative budget indirectly through aerosol formation and/or by modifying oxidant levels and thus changing the atmospheric lifetime of gases such as methane. In this article we review current literature concerning the physical, chemical and biological controls on the sea-air emissions of a wide range of gases including dimethyl sulphide (DMS), halocarbons, nitrogen-containing gases including ammonia (NH(3)), amines (including dimethylamine, DMA, and diethylamine, DEA), alkyl nitrates (RONO(2)) and nitrous oxide (N(2)O), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) including isoprene and oxygenated (O)VOCs, methane (CH(4)) and carbon monoxide (CO). Where possible we review the current global emission budgets of these gases as well as known mechanisms for their formation and loss in the surface ocean.     

Heats of formation of C1?C4 alkyl nitrites (RONO) and their RO-NO bond dissociation energies

The heats of formation of C₃ and C₄ alkyl nitrites (RONO) have been determined via their heats of combustion by bomb calorimetry, thereby providing a complete set of values of ΔHº_f for C₁-C₄ alkyl nitrites. The experimental values are in excellent agreement with values derived from group additivity rules. For branched compounds these calculations involve corrections for gauche interactions. In these cases, the gauche interactions are reflected in the activation energies E₁ determined by recent kinetic studies, required for breaking the RO-NO bond. The heats of formation of the alkoxy radicals involved together with ΔHº_f(NO) = 21.6 kcal/mole leads to the result D(RO-NO) = 41.5 ± 1 kcal/mole. The concordance between D(thermochemical) and D(kinetic), unlike previous kinetic studies, implies that E₂ = 0 ± 1 kcal/mole.     

Does Addition of NO2 to Carbon-Centered Radicals Yield RONO or RNO2? An Investigation Using Distonic Radical Ions

Nitrogen dioxide is used as a “radical scavenger” to probe the position of carbon-centered radicals within complex radical ions in the gas phase. As with analogous neutral radical reactions, this addition results in formation of an [M + NO₂]⁺ adduct, but the structural identity of this species remains ambiguous. Specifically, the question remains: do such adducts have a nitro- (RNO₂) or nitrosoxy- (RONO) moiety, or are both isomers present in the adduct population? In order to elucidate the products of such reactions, we have prepared and isolated three distonic phenyl radical cations and observed their reactions with nitrogen dioxide in the gas phase by ion-trap mass spectrometry. In each case, stabilized [M + NO₂]⁺ adduct ions are observed and isolated. The structure of these adducts is probed by collision-induced dissociation and ultraviolet photodissociation action spectroscopy and a comparison made to the analogous spectra of authentic nitro- and nitrosoxy-benzenes. We demonstrate unequivocally that for the phenyl radical cations studied here, all stabilized [M + NO₂]⁺ adducts are exclusively nitrobenzenes. Electronic structure calculations support these mass spectrometric observations and suggest that, under low-pressure conditions, the nitrosoxy-isomer is unlikely to be isolated from the reaction of an alkyl or aryl radical with NO₂. The combined experimental and theoretical results lead to the prediction that stabilization of the nitrosoxy-isomer will only be possible for systems wherein the energy required for dissociation of the RO-NO bond (or other low energy fragmentation channels) rises close to, or above, the energy of the separated reactants.      

Separation, detection and occurrence of (C2–C8)-alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates as trace compounds in clean and polluted air

Nitric acid, HNO₃, and nitrous acid, HNO₂, are forming stable esters with alcohols, the alkyl nitrates and alkyl nitrites. Both groups of compounds are used as fuel additives, explosives and pharmaceuticals. Alkyl nitrates are also formed as complex mixtures during incomplete combustion and the abiotic transformation of alkanes, alkenes and aldehydes in air. Organic nitrates can be assigned to anthropogenic and natural sources alike. Here the synthesis of reference mixtures of alkyl nitrates is described starting with alcohols, alkyl bromides, alkyl iodides or alkanes, respectively, sampling techniques in air analysis, and the separation of alkyl nitrates and alkyl dinitrates by high resolution capillary gas chromatography using various stationary phases and electron capture (HRGC/ECD) as well as mass spectrometric detection (HRGC/MSD). A highly selective detection mode for alkyl nitrates and alkyl di- and trinitrates — in general in the presence of other organic trace compounds — is the single ion monitoring of 46 amu in GC/MS. The separation and occurrence of alkyl- and phenyl-alkyl nitrates in polluted air is reported using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and ion trap MS detection. The reaction of alkanes with nitric acid at room temperature simulates in a good approximation the pattern of alkyl nitrates formed in air chemistry.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic and benzylic Grignard reagents and their application to tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Details of cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic Grignard reagents are disclosed. A combination of cobalt(II) chloride and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) is suitable as a precatalyst and allows secondary and tertiary alkyl halides--as well as primary ones--to be employed as coupling partners for allyl Grignard reagents. The reaction offers a facile synthesis of quaternary carbon centers, which has practically never been possible with palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts. Benzyl, methallyl, and crotyl Grignard reagents can all couple with alkyl halides. The benzylation definitely requires DPPE or DPPP as a ligand. The reaction mechanism should include the generation of an alkyl radical from the parent alkyl halide. The mechanism can be interpreted in terms of a tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reaction. In addition, serendipitous tandem radical cyclization/cyclopropanation/carbonyl allylation of 5-alkoxy-6-halo-4-oxa-1-hexene derivatives is also described. The intermediacy of a carbon-centered radical results in the loss of the original stereochemistry of the parent alkyl halides, creating the potential for asymmetric cross-coupling of racemic alkyl halides.     

Effect of an S1/S0 conical intersection on the chemistry of nitramide in its ground state. A comparative CASPT2 study of the nitro-nitrite isomerization reactions in nitramide and nitromethane

The potential energy surfaces for the dissociation of nitramide (NH(2)NO(2) --> NH(2) + NO(2)) and nitromethane (CH(3)NO(2) --> CH(3) + NO(2)) and the nitro-nitrite rearrangement of these nitrocompounds (RNO(2) --> RONO) as well as the dissociations of the nitrite isomers (RONO --> RO + NO) have been studied with the second-order multiconfigurational perturbation theory (CASPT2) by computation of numerical energy gradients for stationary points. It is found that multiconfigurational methods [CASPT2 and complete active space SCF (CAS-SCF)] predict that the isomerization of nitramide to NH(2)ONO occurs in a two-step mechanism: (i) NH(2)NO(2) --> NH(2) + NO(2) and (ii) NH(2) + NO(2) --> NH(2)ONO, the second step involving surmounting an activation barrier. Contrastingly, Hartree-Fock based approaches give isomerization as a one-step reaction. Additionally, both mono- and multiconfigurational methods predict that nitro-nitrite rearrangement of CH(3)NO(2) is a one-step process. The difference in the reaction mechanisms of these two isoelectronic molecules arises from the presence of an S(1)/S(0) conical intersection in nitramide which is absent in nitromethane.     

Effect of Alkyl Aluminums on Ethylene Polymerization Reactions with a Cr‐V Bimetallic Catalyst

The effect of introducing various types of alkyl aluminums directly into the catalyst and/or in the polymerization process as cocatalyst on the efficiency of a Cr‐V bimetallic catalyst for ethylene polymerization is systematically investigated. Results indicate that polymerization activity, kinetic behavior, and polymer properties of the Cr‐V catalyst are strongly affected by using alkyl aluminums in different stages of polymerization, due to the different responses and sensitivities of the two metal centers to alkyl aluminum. When employed as cocatalyst, triisobutyl aluminum gives high activity and polyethylene with relatively low molecular weight, while diethylaluminum chloride cocatalyzes the production of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene but with very low activity. On the other hand, the pre‐reduction of the bimetallic catalyst by alkyl aluminums has a marked promotion effect on catalyst efficiency. It is suggested that the addition of alkyl aluminum to the catalyst and to the reactor as cocatalyst are more or less equivalent in their effects on the improvement of polymerization activity, but they behave in different ways to affect polymer properties.     

Preparation of polyfunctional zinc organometallics using an Fe- or Co-catalyzed Cl/Zn-exchange

A new Fe- or Co-catalyzed Cl/Zn-exchange reaction allows the direct transformation of aryl, heteroaryl, and also alkyl chlorides into the corresponding zinc reagents. The method tolerates functional groups such as a nitrile or an ester. Remarkably, secondary and tertiary alkyl chlorides are suitable substrates for the Cl/Zn exchange.     

An ftir study of the reaction between nitrogen dioxide and alcohols

The reaction 2NO₂ + ROH = RONO + HNO₃ (R = CH₃ or C₂H₅) has been studied using the FTIR method at reactant pressures from 0.1 to 1.0 torr at 25°C. The termolecular rate constant for the forward reaction was determined to be (5.7 ± 0.6) × 10^?37 cm⁶/molec²·s for CH₃OH and (5.7 ± 0.8) × 10^?37 cm⁶/molec²·s for C₂H₅OH, that is, d[RONO]/dt = k[NO₂]²[ROH]. The corresponding equilibrium constants were measured as 1.36 ± 0.06 and 0.550 ± 0.025 torr^?1, respectively. These results are consistent with those of a previous study based on the NO₂ decay measurements at reactant pressures from 1 to 10 torr.     

PREPARATION,DERIVATIZATION WITH TRIMETHYLSILYLDIAZOMETHANE,AND GC/MS ANALYSIS OF A “POOL” OF ALKYL METHYLPHOSPHONIC ACIDS FOR USE AS QUALITATIVE STANDARDS IN SUPPORT OF COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION

There are hundreds of nerve agents in the class of alkyl methylphosphonofluoridates covered by Schedule 1 of the CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention). Hydrolysis of these sarin-like nerve agents results in an equal number of alkyl methylphosphonic acids. These alkyl methylphosphonic acids are persistent and provide good evidence of specific agent production or use. In order to support the CWC and counterterrorism activities, it is desirable to have ready access to each of these hydrolysis products for use as qualitative standards. A means for simultaneously producing multiple alkyl methylphosphonates from methylphosphonic acid and the corresponding alcohols was developed. Derivatization of these alkyl methylphosphonic acids with trimethylsilyldiazomethane yields the corresponding methyl esters which are suitable for GC/MS analysis.     

Influence of spacer in the formation of nanorings by templateless electropolymerization

In this original work, we want to control the shape of the resulting porous structures by templateless electropolymerization, by adjusting the spacer (flexible alkyl chains or rigid aromatic groups) between thieno[3,4-b]thiophene and carbazole used as the monomer and the substituent, respectively. A huge change is especially observed from ribbon-like structures to nanorings as the alkyl spacer increases. The presence of a significant amount of water is necessary for the formation of these porous structures because it allows releasing a high amount of gas bubbles. The size and number of nanorings are dependent on both the alkyl spacer and electrochemical parameters such as the number of deposition scans. These surfaces could be used in the future in various potential applications such as in water harvesting, oil/water separation membranes, optical devices, sensors or photocatalysis.     

Lyotropic mesomorphism of alkyl esters of acyl-L-carnitines

The lyotropic polymorphism of a series of alkyl esters of acyl-L-carnitine has been studied by optical polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The different structures observed as a function of concentration and temperature have been characterized and their topology determined. As a result, two different phase sequence patterns have been detected: esters of normal alcohols bearing an alkyl chain of 6 or more carbon atoms in the acyl substituent display only a lamellar phase, while compounds which bear a relatively short alkyl chain (4 or less carbon atoms) show in addition non-lamellar type I hexagonal and cubic Q²³⁰ phases. From the analysis of the areas-per-molecule at the polar/apolar interface, the ability of the compounds investigated to form not only non-lamellar phases, but also direct micelles in isotropic solution has been related to the structural characteristics of the molecules. Curved, convex interfaces (in micelles and in non-lamellar phases) are possible only for the most polar acylcarnitines which have a relatively short alkyl chain, so that they behave like single chain surfactants; the most paraffinic derivatives, which have a relatively long alkyl chain, are effective double chain surfactants and then generate only quasi-planar interfaces.     

烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷的合成与性能

以D-葡萄糖为原料,经全乙酰化、在SnCl_4催化下与脂肪醇糖苷化、脱保护3步反应合成了7种不同碳链长度的烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷。利用核磁共振、表面张力仪和偏光显微镜等对其进行结构、表面张力和热致液晶等性能测试,结果表明,当烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷烷基链长(n)为6~9时,均有发泡和乳化性能,其中正壬基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷具有最佳的发泡和乳化性能;烷基糖苷(n=6~9)的表面张力(γ_(CMC))及临界胶束浓度(CMC)均比较低;饱和吸附量(Γ_(max))随烷基链的增长而减小,饱和吸附面积(A_(min))随烷基链增长而增大;形成胶束时的标准自由能(ΔG_(mic))和吸附自由能(ΔG_(ads))均为负值,其绝对值随烷基链增长而越来越大,其中正辛基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷的表面活性最好;烷基糖苷(n=4~9)对皮肤均无急性刺激作用;所合成的烷基糖苷均具有热致液晶行为,随烷基链长的增加,液晶相的温度范围变宽,液晶相的稳定性越好。     

Conformational analysis of polypropylene chains bound to model catalytic sites

The models of catalytic sites for isospecific Ziegler-Natta polymerization proposed previously (edges and reliefs on lateral surfaces of violet TiCl₃) are compared in order to verify their validity in the presence of long alkyl groups and of analyzing the conformational constraints imposed by the TiCl₃ surface on the growing chain. Our results indicate that sites on edges of lateral surfaces parallel or nearly parallel to the c axis may be not suitable for the coordination of long alkyl chains; the coordination of long alkyl chains at less hindered sites, such as edges of inclined lateral surfaces or reliefs, do not involve any increase of repulsive interactions for an isobutyl group. Further, these latter sites allow the optimum spiralization of the chain at a very early stage of growth, and their isospecific behaviour is not affected by the presence of configuration defects in the growing chain.     

Relative thermodynamic stabilities of isomeric alkyl allyl and alkyl (Z)-propenyl ethers

The relative thermodynamic stabilities of ten allyl ethers (ROCH₂CH=CH₂) and the corresponding isomeric (Z)-propenyl ethers (where R is an alkyl group, or a methoxysubstituted alkyl group) have been determined by chemical equilibration in DMSO solution with t-BuOK as catalyst. From the variation of the equilibrium constant with temperature, the values of the thermodynamic parameters ΔGΘ, ΔHΘ and ΔSΘ of isomerization at 298.15 K were evaluated. The propenyl ethers are highly favored at equilibrium, the values of both ΔGΘ and ΔHΘ for the allyl → propenyl reaction being ca. −18 to −25 kJ mol⁻¹. The favor of the propenyl ethers is increased by bulky alkyl substituents, and decreased by methoxy-substituted alkyl groups. In most cases the entropy contribution is negligible; however, for R = (MeO)₂CH and R = (MeO)₃C the values of ΔSΘ are ca. −5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹.     

Primary photochemical processes in the photolysis of alkyl nitrites at 366 NM and 23°c in the presence of 15NO

The alkyl nitrites, C₂H₅ONO, n-C₃H₇ONO, n-C₄H₉ONO, and i-C₄H₉ONO were photolyzed at 23°C in the presence of ¹⁵NO at 366-nm incident radiation. The quantum yields of the corresponding isotopically-enriched alkyl nitrites were measured by mass spectrometry. The results indicated that only part of the absorption leads to photodecomposition. The remainder forms an electronically excited state which isotopically exchanges with ¹⁵NO. The indicated reactions of the electronically excited state RONO*, are where k₃/k₂ = 0.50 ± 0.10, 0.62 ± 0.20, 0.42 ± 0.06, and 0.24 ± 0.03 torr, and that k_2a/k₂ = 1.0, 1.0, 0.64 ± 0.04, and 0.56 ± 0.03, respectively, for C₂H₅ONO, n-C₃H₇ONO, n-C₄H₉ONO, and i-C₄H₉ONO.     

Structure-function relationships in high-density docosylsilane bonded stationary phases by Raman spectroscopy and comparison to octadecylsilane bonded stationary phases: effects of aromatic compounds

The effects of four aromatic compounds on alkyl chain conformational order for a series of high-density docosylsilane (C22) stationary phases with surface coverage ranging from 3.61 to 6.97 micromol/m2 are investigated using Raman spectroscopy. Aromatic compounds studied include benzene-d6, toluene-d8, aniline-d7 and anisole-d8. In general, these aromatic solvents decrease the conformational order of the C22 phases relative to air suggesting partitioning of the aromatics into the alkyl chains of these stationary phases. Changes in alkyl chain conformational order are linearly dependent on the solvent hydrophobicity parameter, log K ow, and are also dependent on stationary phase properties (i.e. polymerization method and surface coverage). A comparison is made between C22 and C18 bonded phase systems. The conformational order of the alkyl chains in a mixed solute/mobile phase system is also studied using 80% methanol/water as the mobile phase and aniline-d7, anisole-d8 or toluene-d8 as solutes. Collectively, the Raman spectroscopic evidence at the molecular level suggests interaction of these aromatic species with the bonded alkyl chains through partitioning.