Quantum-chemical study of the molecular forms of vanillin

Equilibrium structural parameters, dipole moments, relative energies, vibration spectra, and ionization potentials of various conformers of benzoid (B), p- and o-quinoid (Q), and deprotonated anionic forms of vanillin in a vacuum and in a polarizable medium with dielectric properties of water were calculated by the quantum-chemical method (U)B3LYP/cc-pVTZ. The intramolecular hydrogen bond in free vanillin benzoid molecule B1 is characterized by the energy of 4 kcal mol⁻¹ and by the barrier of cleavage 8 kcal mol⁻¹ that correspond to the conformational transition B1 → B2. The energy of the optimal p-quinoid conformer (Q1) is 22 kcal mol⁻¹ larger than the energy of B1 in a vacuum and 15 kcal mol⁻¹ in water. The p-quinoid forms greatly exceeds the benzoid forms by dipole moment, electrophilicity, and nucleophilicity. The structure calculated for the anion is intermediate between benzoid and p-quinoid forms, and the calculated energy of polarization stabilization in water is 57 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Tautomers of 4,5-dihydroxy-1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene and related boron compounds: A quantum-chemical study

The quantum-chemical method PBE0/cc-pV(D,T)Z was applied to determine structural parameters, relative energies, and dipole moments of the prototropic tautomers of 4,5-dihydroxy-1,8-bis(dimethylamino) naphthalene. According to the calculations, this compound can exist in the gas phase as low-polar molecules with one asymmetric intramolecular hydrogen bond. In a polarizable medium a pair of zwitter-ionic tautomers dominate of similar energy with two asymmetric intramolecular hydrogen bonds. These tautomers and a hypothetic heterocyclic analog containing a BH ₂ ⁺ group instead of a proton between the nitrogen atoms are characterized by a high value of dipole moment and first hyperpolarizability. Mutual transformation of enantiomers (mirror antipodes) when transferring a proton from the hydroxy group to a neighboring atom in the O-boron-containing zwitter-ion is an example of strictly degenerate prototropic tautomerism.     

Ambident chemosensors based on benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>]chromen-2-one

Schiff bases derived from 7-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-oxobenzo[h]chromene-8-carbaldehyde in solution exist as equilibrium mixtures of benzoid and quinoid tautomers. The fraction of the quinoid tautomer increases with rise in solvent polarity. The Schiff base containing a benzo-15-crown-5 fragment on the nitrogen atom was shown to be a new ambident chemosensor capable of selectively binding transition metal cations via reaction at the o-hydroxyaldehyde imine fragment and alkaline-earth metals via host-guest interaction with the crown ether moiety. This compound exhibits a pronounced sensor activity toward Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺ ions and is a selective naked-eye fluorescent chemosensor for Cu²⁺ and Co²⁺ ions.     

Benzoid-quinoid tautomerism of schiff bases and their structural analogs: LIII. Schiff bases derived from 5-hydroxy- and 5-hydroxy-6-nitro-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzofuran-4-carbaldehydes

4-Aryl(alkyl)iminomethyl-5-hydroxy-and 4-aryl(alkyl)iminomethyl-5-hydroxy-6-nitro-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzofurans were synthesized and were shown to exist in solution as equilibrium mixtures of benzoid and quinoid tautomers. The fraction of the quinoid form increases with rise in the solvent polarity and in going from N-aryl to N-alkyl derivatives; introduction of an electron-acceptor substituent (nitro group) into the 6-position of the benzofuran system also favors formation of the quinoid tautomer. Complex formation of alkali and alkaline-earth metal cations with the 5-hydroxy-6-nitro-2,3-diphenyl-1-benzofuran-4-carbaldehyde imine having a benzo-15-crown-5 fragment on the nitrogen atom is accompanied by specific changes in the luminescence spectrum and in the state of tautomeric equilibrium, so that this system may be regarded as tautomeric fluorogenic chemosensor for metal cations.     

Synthesis and structural analysis of 5‐cyanodihydropyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridines

Several new 3‐aryl‐5‐cyanopyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridines were easily prepared from 3‐amino‐5‐arylpyrazoles and α‐cyanochalcones. Structural analysis using NMR solution studies revealed the 2H‐tautomers as the preferred tautomer in solution (DMSO‐d₆). X‐ray diffraction confirmed the 2H‐tautomers as the unique tau‐tomer species in the crystalline state as well. Geometry optimization of 1H and 2H‐tautomers at semi‐empirical levels (AM1, MINDO/3) were performed, indicating that in all cases the 2H‐tautomers are more stable than the corresponding 1H‐tautomers.     

Electronic structure of π-systems. Studies of electronic structures and tautomeric transformations of a series of 4-methyl-8-(R-phenylazo)dihydrofuro[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">h</Emphasis>]coumarin-9-ones

Tautomeric transformations of a series of 4-methyl-8-(R-phenylazo)dihydrofuro[2,3-h]-coumarin-9-ones were studied by ¹H NMR, IR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and quantum chemistry methods. The obtained results suggest that (p-R-phenyl)-derivatives exist in the quinone hydrazone form, while (o-R-phenyl)derivatives exist as a mixture of quinone hydrazone and azo enol tautomers with domination of the former. The anti-quinone hydrazone tautomers with a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond are more favorable than the syn-quinone hydrazone tautomers.     

Rare Tautomers of 1‐Methyluracil and 1‐Methylthymine: Tuning Relative Stabilities through Coordination to PtII Complexes

We have computationally explored how the relative stabilities of 1‐methyluracil (1‐MeUH) tautomers can be tuned through coordination of these tautomers to Pt^II complexes with a particular set of ligands. This has been done using density functional theory at the BP86/TZ2P level. Thus, we have examined the water/1‐MeUH exchange reactions of [Pt^II(A)(B)(C)(OH₂)]^q + 1‐MeUH to uncover: i) which tautomers are best stabilized by the Pt^II complex, and ii) how the net charge q in the complex affects the reaction energy. The net charge q depends on the ligands A, B, and C, which can be the neutral NH₃ or anionic Cl^?. To reveal the effect of solvation, all reaction systems are studied both in the gas phase and in water. Also the stabilization of tautomers of 1‐methylthymine (1‐MeTH) by cisplatin is investigated. The calculations reveal that relative energies of the metal (here: Pt^II)‐complexed forms of the various tautomers (here: of 1‐MeUH and 1‐MeTH) do not parallel those of the free tautomers. Rather, a rare nucleobase tautomer, despite its low natural abundance, may become favored over the predominant one when complexed to a metal ion.     

Quantum chemical studies on tautomerism of barbituric acid in gas phase and in solution

Ab initoand density functional theory (DFT) methods were used to study the tautomers of barbituric acid in the gas phase and in a polar medium. In the gas phase, the tautomers were optimized at the HF/6-31G^*, MP2/6-31G^*and B3LYP/6-31G^*, B3PW91/6-31G^*levels of theory. The self-consistent reaction field theory (SCRF) at the HF/6-31G^*level of theory has been used to optimize the tautomers in a polar medium. The relative stability of the tautomers was compared in the gaseous and polar mediums. The ability of maximum hardness principle to predict the stable tautomer has been studied. The ¹³C-NMR chemical shift for carbon atoms in the tautomers was calculated and the results are discussed.     

Free-electron model for hyperpolarizability of the π-electron system in benzene

The hyperpolarizabilities of benzene have been calculated using a free-electron model for the π-electron system. The first hyperpolarizability is identically zero. For the second hyperpolarizability only the components γ_zzzz; γ_xxxx; γ_yyyy; γ_zzxx; γ_zzyy; γ_xxyy are non-zero. Some of these γ quantities show dispersion near the characteristic absorption band of the benzene molecule. The polarizability α of the π-electron system also shows similer dispersion.     

长链分子超极化率的单元平均值和差分值的不同渐近性质

由于电子离域, 长链体系的轴向超极化率随链长增长而增加, 直到达到饱和. 由于不能计算无限长体系的超极化率, 需要对有限的数据用函数拟合, 再根据拟合函数外推求得饱和值. 每单元超极化率有两种表示方法, 于是有两个拟合函数γ(n)/n＝a＋b/n＋c/n²和γ(n)－γ(n－1)＝a＋b/n＋c/n². 用聚乙烯、氢分子链、聚乙炔和长链硅烷为例, 表明后者在链增长时没有正确的渐近行为. 其原因是后者与γ(n)的一个含有对数项的拟合函数等价, 而这个对数项是不需要的.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Monolithic Column Separation of Isomers and Analogues of Vanillin by Capillary Electrochromatography

A vanillin imprinted capillary monolithic column was synthesized by in situ polymerization reaction using ethylene-glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linking monomer and methacrylic acid as functional monomer. Under the optimum conditions of capillary electrochromatography, this molecularly imprinted polymer （MIP）-based column showed high selectivity and could recognize not only template molecule vanillin but also positional isomer o-vanillin from their structural analogues.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of inter‐ and intramolecular proton transfer in N′‐acetyl formohydrazide tautomers

Nine tautomers and eleven possible tautomeric interconversions of N′‐acetyl formohydrazide have been studied at B3LYP/6‐311++G** level of theory. From these calculations, optimized geometries, molecular parameters, IR frequencies, NMR chemical shifts, and energetic results are obtained. In all tautomers except tautomers 4, E isomer is more stable than Z isomer. Energetic data were used to calculate the energy barriers of tautomeric interconversions and very high energy barriers were obtained for all tautomeric interconversions. Moreover, study of solvent effects on relative stabilities of tautomers and transition states showed that they are similar to those in the gas phase. In addition, intermolecular proton transfer with the assistance of one to three water molecules has been studied and the results showed that activation barriers in water‐assisted tautomerism are in general lower than those in the gas phase. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Hyperpolarizabilities of hydrogen-bonded complexes of phenol derivatives with ammonia: PM3 and ab initio studies

Polarizability and first hyperpolarizability values of the hydrogen-bonded complexes formed by nitrosubstituted phenols with ammonia have been calculated using PM3 and ab initio (STO-3G) methods. It has been shown that enhancement of the polarizability (Δα) as well as the first hyperpolarizability (Δβ) of the complex arises from the hydrogen bond interaction between the phenol derivative and ammonia.     

A biotechnological process involving filamentous fungi to produce natural crystalline vanillin from maize bran

A new process involving the filamentous fungi Aspergillus niger and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus has been designed for the release of ferulic acid by enzymic degradation of a cheap and natural agricultural byproduct (autoclaved maize bran) and its biotransformation into vanillic acid and/or vanillin with a limited number of steps. On the one hand, the potentialities of A. niger I-1472 to produce high levels of polysaccharide-degrading enzymes including feruloyl esterases and to transform ferulic acid into vanillic acid were successfully combined for the release of free ferulic acid from autoclaved maize bran. Then vanillic acid was recovered and efficiently transformed into vanillin by P. cinnabarinus MUCL 39533, since 767 mg/L of biotechnologic vanillin could be produced in the presence of cellobiose and XAD-2 resin. On the other hand, 3-d-old high-density cultures of P. cinnabarinus MUCL39533 could be fed with the autoclaved fraction of maize bran as a ferulic acid source and a. niger I-1472 culture filtrate as an extracellular enzyme source. Under these conditions, P. cinnabarinus MUCL39533 was shown to directly biotransform free ferulic acid released from the autoclaved maize bran by A. niger I-1472 enzymes into 584 mg/L of vanillin. These processes, involving physical, enzymic, and fungal treatments, permitted us to produce crystallin vanillin from autoclaved maize bran without any purification step.     

Vanillin and O-Ethyl Vanillin Esters in Reactions with 2-Naphtylamine and Cyclopentanone

4-(2,3-Dihydro-1H-benzo[f]cyclopenta[c]quinolin-4-yl)-2-alkoxyphenyl esters of carboxylic acids have been synthesized by the three-component condensation of esters derived from vanillin and O-ethyl vanillin with 2-naphtylamine and cyclopentanone in the presence of HCl as a catalyst.

     

Quantum-chemical study of photoisomerization and photoinduced proton transfer in hydroxystyrylquinolines

The structures of 2-(4-hydroxystyryl)quinoline 1 and 2-(2-hydroxystyryl)quinoline 2 have been optimized by the semiempirical methods PM3 and PM3-CI(8 × 8) with configuration interaction for the ground (S₀) and the excited singlet (S₁) states, respectively. The relative stability of the E- and Z-isomers, the quinoid tautomers, and the spiropyran form for compound 2 was calculated. It was found that hydroxyl-containing tautomers were more stable in the S₀ state, and the quinoid tautomers are more stable in the S₁ state. The calculations predict the possibility of photoisomerization and photoinduced proton transfer in hydroxystyrylquinolines.     

Conversion of Isoeugenol to Vanillin by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psychrobacter</Emphasis> sp. Strain CSW4

To screen strains of halotolerant or halophile bacteria which are able to convert isoeugenol to vanillin, 36 different strains of bacteria isolated from the salty environments in Iran were investigated. During growth on isoeugenol, a moderately halotolerant Gram-negative coccobacil showed capability of converting isoeugenol to vanillin. Based on morphological, physiological, and phylogenetic studies, strain CSW4 was classified as a bacterium belonging to the genus Psychrobacter. The bioconversion products were confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, and spectral data obtained from UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, and mass-spectroscopy. Using growing cells, vanillin reached its maximum level of 88.18 mg L⁻¹ after 24 h of reaction time in the presence of 1 g L⁻¹ isoeugenol, resulting in a molar yield of 10.2%. The use of resting cells led to the optimal yield of vanillin (16.4%) which was obtained after 18-h reaction using 1 g L⁻¹ isoeugenol and 3.1 g of dry weight of cells per liter harvested at the end of the exponential growth phase. To improve vanillin yield, the effect of substrate concentration on vanillin production under resting cells conditions was also investigated. Using 10 g L⁻¹ isoeugenol, the maximal vanillin concentration (1.28 g L⁻¹) was achieved after a 48-h reaction, without further optimization. The present study brings the first evidence for biotransformation of isoeugenol to vanillin in the genus Psychrobacter.     

A Theoretical Study of NBO,NICS, and 14N NQR Parameters of Adenine Tautomers in the Gas Phase via DFT

The natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS), and ¹⁴N NQR parameters of the most stable tautomers of adenine in the gas phase were predicted using density functional theory method. The NBO analysis revealed that the resonance interaction between lone pair of the nitrogen atom and empty non‐Lewis NBO increases with increasing the p character of the nitrogen lone pair. The present investigation indicated the π clouds in both the considered heterocyclic rings containing six electrons, and these tautomers has the aromatic character. The NICS study utilizing the gauge‐invariant atomic orbital method showed that there are diatropic currents in the heterocyclic rings of the tautomers, so we determined the order of overall aromaticity of these tautomers. The results of NQR parameter calculations showed three parameters are effective on nuclear quadrupole coupling constant; the p character value of lone pair electrons of nitrogens, and the related occupancies and whenever, the lone pair electrons of nitrogens participate in the formation of chemical bond and/or π system of the ring, the q_zz and consequently its χ decreases.     

Synthesis of hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives containing an isoxazole heteroring

5-Phenyl(p-tolyl)isoxazole-3-carboxylic acids were synthesized starting from 3-hydroxyiminomethyl-5-phenyl(p-tolyl)isoxazoles, and their reactions with p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, isovanillin, o-vanillin, and ethyl vanillin gave the corresponding esters. The latter were brought into condensation with aromatic amines to obtain Schiff bases which were reduced to amines.     

Acylaminoacetyl derivatives of active methylene compounds. 4

Meldrum's acid has been found to be effectively acylated using the imidazolides of N-protected glycines, X-NHCH₂COOH (X = -COPh, -COMe, -Z, -Boc, -COOMe and -COOEt). The corresponding C-acylation compounds were isolated in high yields and were readily converted to the N-protected tetramic acids. It was shown by pmr spectroscopy that these acids exist as the enol tautomers in DMSO-d₆ solution, whereas in deuteriochloroform solution both the enol and keto tautomers can be observed.