Solubilities of isobutane and cyclopropane in ionic liquids

In this work, we presented the solubilities of isobutane and cyclopropane in 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([HMIM][Tf₂N]) and trihexyl tetradecylphosphonium bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate ([P(14)666][TMPP]) from T = (302 to 344) K up to 1.16 MPa. Henry’s constants for isobutane and cyclopropane in [HMIM][Tf₂N] and [P(14)666][TMPP] were calculated from experimental results. Solubilities of isobutane and cyclopropane in [HMIM][Tf₂N] are apparently smaller than those in [P(14)666][TMPP]. The effects of temperature, pressure and the number of carbon atoms in the hydrocarbons on the solubility were investigated in detail. A modified Krichevsky–Kasarnovsky equation was successfully applied to correlate the experimental results. The mean absolute relative deviations and the maximum absolute relative deviations are less than (2.4 and 4.6)%, respectively.     

Application of the thioimidate cyclopropane rearrangement to heterocyclic synthesis. Preparation of diaryl pyrrolines

Substituent effects on the thioimidate cyclopropane rearrangement and factors affecting regioselectivity are reported. Palladium-mediated coupling of the pyrrolothiomethylimidate rearrangement products with Grignard reagents provides diaryl pyrrolines in good yields.     

Total synthesis of naturally occurring chiral cyclopropane fatty acids and related compounds

Cyclopropane fatty acids (CFAs) and related compounds containing CFAs commonly occur in various natural sources, including plants or microorganisms. Some CFAs exhibit intriguing biological activities such as antifungal or immunosuppressive activities. Due to their biological importance and structural features, a number of synthetic studies have been conducted to date. These total syntheses have helped to elucidate their structural determinants or biological activities. Herein the total syntheses of naturally occurring CFAs and related compounds are summarized.     

Non-alkane behavior of cyclopropane and its derivatives: characterization of unconventional hydrogen bond interactions

Eight cyclopropane derivatives (Δ − R) have been modeled, with R = −H, −CH₃, −NH₂, −C ≡ CH, −C ≡ CCH₃, −OH, −F and −C ≡ N. All geometries have been fully optimized at the MP2/ AUG-cc-pVTZ level of calculations. Natural bond orbital analyses reveal extra p character (sp^λ, λ > 3) in the C-C bonds of the cyclopropyl rings. The banana-like σ _CC bonds in the rings are described in detail. Alkene-like complexes between Δ − R molecules and hydrogen fluoride are identified. These weakly bonded complexes are formed through unconventional hydrogen bond interactions between the hydrogen atom in the HF molecule and the carbon–carbon bonds in the cyclopropane ring. A topological analysis of the electronic charge density and its Laplacian has been used to characterize the interactions. The possible relevance of such complexes in the modeling of substrate–receptor interactions in some anti-AIDS drugs is discussed. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

A new strategy of the chemical route to the cyclopropane structure: direct transformation of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile into 1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes

The new reaction was found: the direct formation of cyclopropanes from activated olefins and C-H acids. The action of free halogen or active halogen containing compounds on the equal amounts of benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile in basic alcohol solutions results in the formation of 3-aryl-1,1,2,2-tetracyanocyclopropanes in 65-95% yields. Thus, the new simple and efficient way to 3-aryl substituted tetracyanocyclopropanes was found directly from such simple and reasonable starting compounds as benzylidenemalononitriles and malononitrile.     

Total synthesis of (±)-bruguierol A via an intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropane 1,1-diester

Total synthesis of natural product (±)-bruguierol A was accomplished in 10-steps and with an overall 16.8% yield. The embedded unique 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core skeleton in this natural product was constructed via a novel Sc(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition of cyclopropane, which was developed recently in this laboratory. This general synthetic strategy can be potentially applied to the synthesis of a broad range of structurally related natural products.     

Arsenic sorption by modified clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuffs

Recent works show that modified natural zeolites improve the remotion of anionic or non-polar organic pollutants from water. In this work the arsenic sorption from aqueous solutions onto clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuffs modified with lanthanum, hexadecyltrimethylammonium or iron was investigated considering the arsenic chemical species and the pH of the arsenic solutions. Clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuffs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The elemental composition of the zeolitic samples was also determined. According to the Langmuir isotherm model the arsenic (V) sorption capacity of the zeolites was 75.4 μg As/g at pH 3, 3.9 μg As/g at pH 5 and 53.6 μg As/g at pH 6, for the lanthanum, HDTMA and iron modified clinoptilolite–heulandite rich tuff from Chihuahua (México), respectively. In general, the results suggested that the arsenic retention depends on the precedence of zeolitic material, the nature of arsenic chemical species, pH as well as the characteristics of modified natural zeolites. In this work the arsenic adsorption mechanisms are also discussed.     

A theoretical study on the cyclopropane adsorption onto the copper surfaces by density functional theory and quantum chemical molecular dynamics methods

We report a theoretical study on the cyclopropane adsorption onto Cu(1 1 1) surfaces by density functional theory (DFT) and quantum chemical molecular dynamics methods. The equilibrium geometry of the physisorbed species was obtained using both periodic and cluster models by DFT methods that employ Cambridge serial total energy package (CASTEP), DMol ab initio quantum chemistry software of Accelrys’ materials studio (DMol), and Amsterdam density functional (ADF) program. It was found that the adsorbate molecule was tilted towards the metal surface with one C---C bond (upwards) parallel to the surface and that the physisorption occurred via a third carbon atom pointing (downwards) towards the surface. The electronic distribution and geometrical structure of physisorbed cyclopropane were slightly deviated from its gas phase molecule. The calculated vibrational frequencies and adsorption energies are close to experimental data, confirming the reliability of our DFT results. The adsorption process was simulated using our novel tight-binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics program, ‘Colors’. The calculation results indicated that both the adsorption and desorption processes of cyclopropane took place molecularly. The electron transfer and structural properties of equilibrium position obtained by ‘Colors’ are consistent with those by the first principles DFT methods.     

Lewis acid promoted reactions of γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species with various carbonyl compounds

The reactions of γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species with carbonyl compounds in the presence of Lewis acid are reported. The reactivity of γ,γ-dialkoxyallylic zirconium species and reaction pathway were strongly dependent on the structure and electrostatic nature of the carbonyl compounds.     

Reorientational Dynamics of Water Confined in Zeolites

We present a detailed molecular‐dynamics study of water reorientation and hydrogen‐bond dynamics in a strong confinement situation, within the narrow pores of an all‐silica Linde type A (LTA) zeolite. Two water loadings of the zeolite are compared with the bulk case. Water dynamics are retarded in this extreme hydrophobic confinement and the slowdown is more pronounced at higher water loading. We show that water reorientation proceeds mainly by large‐amplitude angular jumps, whose mechanism is similar to that determined in the bulk. The slowdown upon hydrophobic confinement arises predominantly from an excluded‐volume effect on the large fraction of water molecules lying at the interface with the zeolite matrix, with an additional minor contribution coming from a structuring effect induced by the confinement.     

Dynamics and mechanism of iodine sorption by polyacetylene

Sorption of iodine by bulk polyacetylene was studied under various I₂ gas pressures at 25°C. The sorption dynamics show that the penetration of iodine into PA is not Fickian and the diffusion coefficient increases with time of sorption. A discontinuous increase in the sorption isotherm is observed at P/P₀ = 0.25 (P is the pressure of the I₂ gas and P₀ is the saturation value at 25°C). It is due to iodine penetration into PA crystals, as evidenced by x-ray analysis. The distribution of iodine within crystals is apparently inhomogeneous: some unit cells are changed into “iodine-PA” cells, while others remain unchanged. The electrical conductivity depends not only on the amount of iodine but also on the I₂ gas pressure under which sorption is carried out. At given iodine content, the conductivity of a sample doped under higher I₂ pressure is greater than that of a sample doped under lower pressure.     

Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed smooth tandem [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening of donor-acceptor cyclopropane 1,1-diesters with enol silyl ethers

Catalyzed by Lewis acids, donor-acceptor cyclopropane 1,1-diesters reacted with enol silyl ethers to afford 1,6-dicarbonyl compounds in moderate to excellent yields. This supplied a mild carbon-carbon bond-forming method from the ring opening of cyclopropanes. A smooth tandem [3+2] cycloaddition/ring opening process has been clearly proved by an independent experiment.     

The influence of adamantane on the reaction of n -heptane over H-Y, H-β and H-mordenite zeolites

The effect of adamantane (Ad) on the activity and selectivity of acidic zeolites Y, β and mordenite (M) in the isomerization and cracking ofn-heptane (C₇) in He at 443 K was studied.Ad was found to promote the isomerization of C₇. TheAd uptake of the zeolites, and the IR spectra obtained from the zeolite-boundAd were determined. It was found thatAd did not remain completely unconverted under the conditions of the C₇ reaction. The activity of the catalysts in the conversion ofAd increased in the sequence of H-Y<H-β<H-M. Existing data suggest that a fraction of theAd, responsible for the cocatalytic effect, can participate in hydride transfer processes and remain unconverted, while another fraction, depending on catalyst acidity, is converted to dimer and oligomers.     

3D Study of the Morphology and Dynamics of Zeolite Nucleation

The principle aspects and constraints of the dynamics and kinetics of zeolite nucleation in hydrogel systems are analyzed on the basis of a model Na‐rich aluminosilicate system. A detailed time‐series EMT‐type zeolite crystallization study in the model hydrogel system was performed to elucidate the topological and temporal aspects of zeolite nucleation. A comprehensive set of analytical tools and methods was employed to analyze the gel evolution and complement the primary methods of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. TEM tomography reveals that the initial gel particles exhibit a core–shell structure. Zeolite nucleation is topologically limited to this shell structure and the kinetics of nucleation is controlled by the shell integrity. The induction period extends to the moment when the shell is consumed and the bulk solution can react with the core of the gel particles. These new findings, in particular the importance of the gel particle shell in zeolite nucleation, can be used to control the growth process and properties of zeolites formed in hydrogels.     

Impact of Xylose on Dynamics of Water Diffusion in Mesoporous Zeolites Measured by NMR

Zeolites are known to be effective catalysts in biomass converting processes. Understanding the mesoporous structure and dynamics within it during such reactions is important in effectively utilizing them. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T₂ relaxation and diffusion measurements, using a high-power radio frequency probe, are shown to characterize the dynamics of water in mesoporous commercially made 5A zeolite beads before and after the introduction of xylose. Xylose is the starting point in the dehydration into furfural. The results indicate xylose slightly enhances rotational mobility while it decreases translational motion through altering the permeability, K, throughout the porous structure. The measurements show xylose inhibits pure water from relocating into larger pores within the zeolite beads where it eventually is expelled from the bead itself.     

Use of monoterpenes, 3-carene and 2-carene, as synthons in the stereoselective synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-disubstituted cyclopropanes

The current review represents a systematic survey of the use of 2- and 3-carenes in the synthesis of chiral non-racemic organic compounds containing a 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-disubstituted cyclopropane fragment. The synthetic approaches to the cyclopropane derivatives are classified on the basis of the retention of their parent carane bicyclic skeleton in the final product or cleavage of the six-membered ring along the synthetic route.