On the aggregation of bilirubins using vapor pressure osmometry

Bilirubin and its analogs are carboxylic acids that engage in intramolecular hydrogen bonding and are thus thought to be monomelic in solution, although the evidence for the molecularity in solution is indirect. Contrastingly, the dimethyl esters favor intermolecular hydrogen bonding and are thought to be dimeric, yet they, like the bilirubin (acids), exhibit essentially no concentration dependence of their NH nmr chemical shifts upon dilution from 10^?2 to 10^?5 (or even 10^?6) M in chloroform‐d. Vapor phase osmometry (vpo) studies of chloroform solutions of eight bilirubins and their dimethyl esters clearly indicate that the former are monomelic, while the latter are dimeric — except when a β‐methyl group (but not an α*‐methyl) is present in each methyl propionate chain. Bilirubin mono‐esters might be monomelic or dimeric in solution. Using vpo to study some seven mono‐esters or mono acids, we found that the pigments were monomelic in chloroform.     

Solvent-modulated chemoselective deprotections of trialkylsilyl esters and chemoselective esterifications

A series of trialkylsilyl esters were deprotected or transesterificated into their corresponding carboxylic acids or methyl esters under a catalytic amount of CBr₄ in alcohol reaction system. This method enables to desilylate secondary sp³-carbon, sp²-carbon, sp-carbon and aryl tethered trialkylsilyl esters to carboxylic acids, whereas primary sp³-carbon tethered trialkylsilyl esters were further converted into their methyl esters under CBr₄/MeOH reaction conditions. The highly chemoselective deprotections can be modulated and achieved by the introduced protecting trialkylsilyl groups and the used alcohols such as MeOH and EtOH under this photochemically-induced reaction conditions.     

GC—MS analysis of carboxylic acids in petroleum after esterification with fluoroalcohols

The GC–MS characteristics of carboxylic acid esters prepared from fluorine-containing alcohols were compared to those of methyl esters. The GC retention of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl (TFE) esters was less than, and 2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluoro-1-butyl (HFB) esters was approximately equivalent to that of methyl esters. Mass spectra of TFE and HFB aliphatic esters show significantly more intense molecular and key fragment ions than those of methyl esters. Also, owing to their significantly higher molecular weights, TFE or HFB ester molecular ions and most fragment ions of interest occur at significantly higher m/z values than most potential interfering ions. Data for about 70 individual TFE and HFB esters are reported. Application of the methodology to a petroleum-derived carboxylic acid concentrate resulted in identification of straight chain, isoprenoid, methyl-substituted straight chain (2-, 3-, 5-,10-, 12-positions along chain), and dimethyl-substituted straight chain acids containing from 11 to 22 carbons. Benzoic acid and homologs with up to 3-carbons in alkyl substitutents were minor components in the sample. The procedure provided for forming TFE and HFB esters from free acids requires less time and effort than a previously reported method, while retaining its capability for achieving essentially quantitative conversion. Free hydroxyl groups in alcohols and phenols are converted to trifluoroacetate esters concurrently with formation of TFE/HFB carboxylic acid esters. The reaction products, including compounds with two functional groups (diacids, salicylic acid, etc.), chromatograph well on conventional nonpolar GC stationary phases.     

Phosphonic-Acid Analogues of the N-Acetyl-2-deoxyneiiraniinic Acids: Synthesis and Inhibition of Vibrio cholerae Sialidase

The phosphonic acids 3 and 4 were prepared to compare their inhibitory activity on Vibrio cholerae sialidase with the one of the corresponding N-acetyl-2-deoxyneuraminic acids 5 and 6 . Thus, hydrogenation and benzylation of methyl N-acetyl-2,3-didehydro-2-deoxyneuraminate (1MeNeu2en5Ac; 7) gave a mixture of the fully O-benzylated benzyl and methyl esters 9 and 10 , the partially O-benzylated benzyl and methyl esters 11 and 12 , and the fully O-and N-benzylated benzyl and methyl esters 13 and 14 (Scheme 1). Transesterification of 9 to 10 and hydrolysis of 10 gave the acid 15 . Oxidative decarboxylation of 15 with Pb(OAc)₄ gave a 1:9 mixture of the α-and β-D-glycero-D-galacto-acetates 16 and 17 . Phosphonoylation of 17 with P(OMe)₃ and Me₃SiOTf gave a 1.3:1 mixture of the phosphonates 18 and 19 , which were deprotected to give the (4-acetamido-2,4-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-and β-D-galacto-octopyranosyl)phosphonic acids 3 and 4 , respectively. The acid 6 was obtained by epimerization of the tert-butyl ester 23 with lithium N-cyclohexylisoproylamide and deprotection. The phosphonic acids 3 (K_i 5.5 10_-5 M) and 4 (K_i 2.3.10^?4 M ) are stronger inhibitors of Vibrio cholerae sialidase than the anomeric N-acetyl-2-deoxyneuraminic acids 5 (K_i 2.3 10^?3 M ) and 6 . Both 3 and 4 inhibit the Vibrio cholerae sialidase, while only the carboxylic acid 5 , possessing an equatorial COOH group is an inhibitor.     

Cl3CCONH2/PPh3: A Versatile Reagent for Synthesis of Esters

Cl₃CCONH₂/PPh₃ was a versatile reagent to convert carboxylic acids into their corresponding acid chlorides. This intermediate was clearly confirmed by spectroscopic methods (IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR). This one-pot reaction of in situ acid chloride generated with various alcohols successfully furnished the corresponding esters in moderate to excellent yields.     

A model study for coatings containing hexamethoxymethylmelamine

Using a model reaction we have studied the crosslinking chemistry of hydroxy-functional polymers and hexamethoxymethylmelamine. The transetherification of optically active monofunctional alcohols and hexamethoxymethylmelamine was monitored with polarimetry and ¹H-NMR. The reaction rate constants for both the forward (k₁) and the backward (k_?1) reaction of the sulphonic-acid-catalyzed alcoholysis were determined. Primary and secondary alcohols showed the same reaction rate and activation energy (E_a = 96 kJ/mol) for the forward reaction. However, the backward reaction in the equilibrium is considerably slower for primary alcohols than for secondary alcohols, with activation energies of E_a = 96 and 79 kJ/mol, respectively. When amine salts of sulphonic acids are used as catalysts, the E_a is increased from 97 to 116 kJ/mol in the case of primary alcohols. In concentrated aprotic solutions the reaction order in acid is 2.5. The same order in acid is found for the alcoholysis of acetaldehyde diethyl acetal. All the results strongly support the statement that the crosslinking reaction proceeds by an Sn-1 mechanism. The results of this model study are compared with results obtained in network-forming reactions. The important role of the evaporation of the condensation product methanol is discussed.     

Substituent effects in 13C NMR spectroscopy: Methyl,ethyl, 2-propyl and 2-methyl-2-propyl carboxylates

The ¹³C chemical shifts of the 28 carboxylic esters have been determined by high-resolution NMR spectroscopy with the aid of proton decoupling. A linear relationship is shown to exist between the ¹³C chemical shifts of the carbinyl carbon (C-1) of the esters and the pK_a values of the acids from which they are derived. This is a consequent of the polar character of the

bond. Similarly, if the carboxyl group is kept constant, but the alcoholic part of the ester is varied from primary to secondary and tertiary alcohols, the esterification effect on C-1 can be correlated with the increasing stability of the +δ charge on the carbinyl carbon. The smallest esterification effect at C-1 (1.3 ppm, relative to the parent alcohol) is observed for methyl pivalate (pK_a 5.03 for the parent acid), and the highest effect (17.7 ppm) for 2-methyl-2-propyl trichloroacetate (pK_a 0.70). In contrast, the C-2 esterification effect has been found to be essentially constant (?3.8±0.7 ppm), which is in agreement only with a conformation of the ester group in which the carbinyl carbon is cis with respect to the CO group.     

Density functional theoretical study of pKa of RCOOH (RH,CH3, and C2H5) using the combination of the extended clusters‐continuum model

The accurate pK_a determinations for three carboxylic acids have been investigated using the combination of the extended clusters‐continuum model at B3LYP/6‐31+g(d,p) and B3LYP/6‐311++g(d,p) levels. To take into account of the effect of the water combined with carboxylic acids in different positions, eleven molecular clusters were considered. Among these clusters, the one involving the carboxylic acid wrapped up with water molecules and saturated with hydrogen bonds (four hydrogen bonds around ? COOH) leads to the best B3LYP pK_a results compared to the experimental data. For those clusters saturated with hydrogen bonds, when n = 3 (the number of water molecules), the average absolute errors between the calculated pK_a results and experimental data of these three carboxylic acids were 0.19 (0.23) and 0.12 (0.22) pK_a at B3LYP/6‐31+g(d,p)//PCM (IEFPCM) and B3LYP/6‐311++g(d,p)//PCM (IEFPCM) levels, respectively; when n = 4, they are 0.53 (1.23) and 1.09 (1.03) pK_a, respectively. On the basis of the above results, the molecular cluster saturated with four hydrogen bonds formed by three waters and one carboxylic acid molecule was the chief existence in the carboxylic acid solution. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

CeCl3-Catalyzed Reduction of Methyl Esters of Carboxylic Acids to Corresponding Alcohols with Sodium Borohydride

A wide range of methyl esters, including esters of aromatic carboxylic acids, alkenyl carboxylic acids, aliphatic carboxylic acids, and protected amino acids, were reduced to the corresponding alcohols with NaBH₄ in ethanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of CeCl₃. The reaction was completed within 24 h at ambient temperature and showed high functional group compatibility and chemoselectivity. With esters containing nitro, methoxyl, halogen, alkenyl, and protected amino functionalities, only the ester group was reduced. The alcohols were isolated after evaporation of the solvent and routine aqueous workup in good yields (75–95%).     

Solvatochromism in Binary Solvent Mixtures by Means of a Penta‐tert‐butyl Pyridinium N‐Phenolate Betaine Dye

The solvatochromic behavior of a penta‐tert‐butyl prydinium N‐phenolate betaine dye was studied using UV‐visible spectrophotometry in several binary mixture solvents. The solvent polarity parameter, E_T (1) (kcal. mol^?1) was calculated from the position of the longest‐wavelength intramolecular charge transfer absorption band of this penta‐tert‐butyl betaine dye. For binary solvent mixtures, all plots of E_T (1) versus the mole fraction of a more polar component are nonlinear owing to preferential solvation of the probe by one component of the binary solvent mixture. In the computation of E_T (1) it was assumed that the two solvents mixed interact to form a common structure with an E_T (1) value not always intermediate between those of the two solvents mixed. The results obtained are explained by the strong synergism observed for some of the binary mixtures with strong hydrogen bond donors (HBD) solvents such as alcohols.     

Esterification‐nitration of Ortho‐hydroxyphenyl Carboxylic Acids and Benzoic Acids with Cerium(IV) Ammonium Nitrate (CAN)

A convenient and useful esterification was realized, and this reaction proceeded without a dehydrating reagent or water removal equipment. A series of ortho‐hydroxyphenyl carboxylic acids and benzoic acids were transformed to their corresponding methyl esters under CAN/CH₃OH reaction conditions. Whereas in an aprotic solvent, acetonitrile, sp³‐C tethered ortho‐hydroxyphenyl carboxylic acids undergo simultaneous o,p‐dinitration and intramolecular esterification reactions in good yields. Also, 2‐((1 E)‐2‐nitrovinyl)‐4‐nitro‐phenol ( 3e ) showed selective cytotoxicities toward MCF‐7, HEP G2, and HEP 3B cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 23.50, 7.33, and 7.59 ug/mL, respectively.     

Improved QSAR Analysis of the Toxicity of Aliphatic Carboxylic Acids

The results of a QSPR study of the toxicity of carboxylic acids in aqueous solution are reported. The molecular set comprises 35 carboxylic acids with the corresponding pK _a values in water. The set of molecular and topological parameters includes electrotopological state of the carboxy and methyl groups, molar refractivity, refractive index, n-octanol-water partition coefficient logKo/w, surface tension, and polarizability. Quite reasonable estimates are obtained, which improve the results of previous theoretical calculations.     

Rates of addition of tert-butyl and pivaloyl radicals to acrylonitrile measured by modulated ESR and μSR spectroscopy

For the rate constant of addition of tert-butyl radicals to acrylonitrile at T = 300 K in solution modulated ESR spectroscopy and muon spin rotation yield 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1 and 2.4 × 10⁶ M^?1 s^?1. The addition of pivaloyl radical to acrylonitrile proceeds with Arrhenius parameters log A/M^?1 s^?1 = 7.7 and E_a = 11.5 kJ/ mol. The results are discussed in terms of polar effects in radical addition reactions.     

Domino Rhodium/Palladium‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenation Reactions of Alcohols to Acids by Hydrogen Transfer to Inactivated Alkenes

The combination of the d⁸ Rh^I diolefin amide [Rh(trop₂N)(PPh₃)] (trop₂N=bis(5‐H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5‐yl)amide) and a palladium heterogeneous catalyst results in the formation of a superior catalyst system for the dehydrogenative coupling of alcohols. The overall process represents a mild and direct method for the synthesis of aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids for which inactivated olefins can be used as hydrogen acceptors. Allyl alcohols are also applicable to this coupling reaction and provide the corresponding saturated aliphatic carboxylic acids. This transformation has been found to be very efficient in the presence of silica‐supported palladium nanoparticles. The dehydrogenation of benzyl alcohol by the rhodium amide, [Rh]N, follows the well established mechanism of metal–ligand bifunctional catalysis. The resulting amino hydride complex, [RhH]NH, transfers a H₂ molecule to the Pd nanoparticles, which, in turn, deliver hydrogen to the inactivated alkene. Thus a domino catalytic reaction is developed which promotes the reaction R‐CH₂‐OH+NaOH+2 alkene→R‐COONa+2 alkane.     

Preparation of Functionalized Esters of Carboxylic Acids

The synthesis of simple esters (methyl, ethyl, etc.) of carboxylic acids is generally a trivial synthetic transformation due to the great variety of mehtods available (CH₂N₂, MeOH-H⁺,Me₂SO₄-Base, copper salts-alkylhalides¹, and CaO with alkylhalides²). However, what was sought in this laboratory were methods for preparation of functionalized esters. Specifically, Investigations are underway to develop methods for intra molecular transfer or intramolecular reaction of the functionalized (“R”) portion of the carboxylic acid ester (as illustrated below).     

Reaction of H + ketene to formyl methyl and acetyl radicals and reverse dissociations

Thermochemical properties for reactants, intermediates, products, and transition states important in the ketene (CH₂?C?O) + H reaction system and unimolecular reactions of the stabilized formyl methyl (C·H₂CHO) and the acetyl radicals (CH₃C·O) were analyzed with density functional and ab initio calculations. Enthalpies of formation (ΔH_f°₂₉₈) were determined using isodesmic reaction analysis at the CBS‐QCI/APNO and the CBSQ levels. Entropies (S°₂₉₈) and heat capacities (C_p°(T)) were determined using geometric parameters and vibrational frequencies obtained at the HF/6‐311G(d,p) level of theory. Internal rotor contributions were included in the S and C_p(T) values. A hydrogen atom can add to the CH₂‐group of the ketene to form the acetyl radical, CH₃C·O (E_a = 2.49 in CBS‐QCI/APNO, units: kcal/mol). The acetyl radical can undergo β‐scission back to reactants, CH₂?C?O + H (E_a = 45.97), isomerize via hydrogen shift (E_a = 46.35) to form the slight higher energy, formyl methyl radical, C·H₂CHO, or decompose to CH₃ + CO (E_a = 17.33). The hydrogen atom also can add to the carbonyl group to form C·H₂CHO (E_a = 6.72). This formyl methyl radical can undergo β scission back to reactants, CH₂?C?O + H (E_a = 43.85), or isomerize via hydrogen shift (E_a = 40.00) to form the acetyl radical isomer, CH₃C·O, which can decompose to CH₃ + CO. Rate constants are estimated as function of pressure and temperature, using quantum Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel analysis for k(E) and the master equation for falloff. Important reaction products are CH₃ + CO via decomposition at both high and low temperatures. A transition state for direct abstraction of hydrogen atom on CH₂?C?O by H to form, ketenyl radical plus H₂ is identified with a barrier of 12.27, at the CBS‐QCI/APNO level. ΔH_f°₂₉₈ values are estimated for the following compounds at the CBS‐QCI/APNO level: CH₃C·O (?3.27), C·H₂CHO (3.08), CH₂?C?O (?11.89), HC·CO (41.98) (kcal/mol). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 20–44, 2003     

Effect of carbon chain length of monocarboxylic acids on cloud point temperature of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)

The temperature-induced phase transition of poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) aqueous solution under mixing with a series of small carboxylic acids has been studied by turbidity measurements and laser light scattering. It has been found that cloud point temperature (T _cp) of the PEtOx was changed to varying degrees depending upon the pH, ionic strength, molar ratio of acids to 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline unit, and carbon chain length of small carboxylic acids. Significant change in T _cp was observed in the case of hexanoic acid. At acidic pH, an increase in the molar ratio of hexanoic acid to the 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline unit gradually decreased the phase transition temperature of the polymer as compared to the T _cp of pure PEtOx. At original pH 6 (pH?>?pK _a), T _cp shifts to higher value than that of pure PEtOx for lower molar ratios and decreased later on with increasing the molar ratio. The shift in the T _cp is described based on the differences in the driving force of phase transition, including hydrogen bonding between small carboxylic acids and PEtOx polymer and hydrophobic interaction.     

pH Dependence of T1 for 13C-Labelled Small Molecules Commonly Used for Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Hyperpolarization is a method to enhance the nuclear magnetic resonance signal by up to five orders of magnitude. However, the hyperpolarized (HP) state is transient and decays with the spin-lattice relaxation time (T₁), which is on the order of a few tens of seconds. Here, we analyzed the pH-dependence of T₁ for commonly used HP ¹³C-labelled small molecules such as acetate, alanine, fumarate, lactate, pyruvate, urea and zymonic acid. For instance, the T₁ of HP pyruvate is about 2.5 fold smaller at acidic pH (25 s, pH 1.7, B₀=1 T) compared to pH close to physiological conditions (66 s, pH 7.3, B₀=1 T). Our data shows that increasing hydronium ion concentrations shorten the T₁ of protonated carboxylic acids of most of the analyzed molecules except lactate. Furthermore it suggests that intermolecular hydrogen bonding at low pH can contribute to this T₁ shortening. In addition, enhanced proton exchange and chemical reactions at the pK_a appear to be detrimental for the HP-state.     

Kinetics of the thermal isomerization of 1,1,2,2‐tetramethylcyclopropane

Reaction rates for the structural isomerization of 1,1,2,2‐tetramethylcyclopropane to 2,4‐dimethyl‐2‐pentene have been measured over a wide temperature range, 672–750 K in a static reactor and 1000–1120 K in a single‐pulse shock tube. The combined data from the two temperature regions give Arrhenius parameters E_a=64.7 (±0.5) kcal/mol and log₁₀(A, s^?1) = 15.47 (±0.13). These values lie at the upper end of the ranges of E_a and log A values (62.2–64.7 kcal/mol and 14.82–15.55, respectively) obtained from three previous experimental studies, each of which covered a narrower temperature range. The previously noted trend toward lower E_a values for structural isomerization of methylcyclopropanes as methyl substitution increases extends only through the dimethylcyclopropanes (1,1‐ and 1,2‐); E_a then appears to increase with further methyl substitution. In contrast, the pre‐exponential factors for isomerization of cyclopropane and all of the methylcyclopropanes through tetramethylcyclopropane lie within ±0.3 of log₁₀(A, s^?1) = 15.2 and show no particular trend with increasing substitution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 483–488, 2006