Fine-tuning of packing architecture: symmetrically bridge-disubstituted tetramethoxycalix[4]arenes

Three acetonitrile solvates of tetramethoxycalix[4]arenes equally substituted on opposite methylene bridges are described with respect to their conformation and packing behaviour. All of the host molecules adopt a 1,2-alternate conformation, their packing architecture seems to be affected by the spatial demand of the bridge substituents only. This results in the synthetically implemented fine-tuning of the molecular arrangement. The engineering of the relevant packing motif, the “synthon” may be discussed most appropriate by the term “synthon engineering” following the expression of crystal engineering.     

Crystal Engineering of Room Temperature Phosphorescence in Organic Solids

We report a series of highly emissive azatriangulenetrione (TANGO) solids in which the luminescent properties are controlled by engineering the molecular packing by adjusting the steric size of substituents. The co‐alignment of “phosphorogenic” carbonyl groups within the π‐stacks results in an almost pure triplet emission in HTANGO, TCTANGO, TBTANGO and TITANGO, while their rotation by ≈60° in the sterically hindered tBuTANGO leads to an almost pure singlet emission. Despite strong π‐interactions, aggregation‐induced quenching and triplet–triplet annihilation are avoided in HTANGO and TCTANGO which display efficient phosphorescence in the solid state. To our knowledge, HTANGO with the solid‐state phosphorescence quantum yield of 42 % at room temperature is the most efficient phosphor composed of the 1^st/2^nd raw elements only.     

Mechanism of Formation of Aromatic Vinylphosphonium Salts via the Peterson Olefination

The mechanism of the reaction of tributyl[(trimethylsilyl)methylene]phosphorane with benzaldehyde and its p‐substituted analogues has been examined. It has been found that the electronic nature of the p‐substituents in aromatic aldehydes strongly influences the stereochemical and kinetic outcome of the Peterson olefination whereas temperature substantially affects their Hammett correlation. This indicates that the Peterson olefination is a multistep reaction involving the formation of at least an oxyanion/betaine and a carbanion as intermediates. In turn, moderate Z‐selectivity might be the result of “steric approach intermediate control”; however, E‐selectivity seems to result from the silicon–oxygen interaction and interactions of steric substituents in competing erythro‐ and threo‐betaines.     

Cross‐linked resins functionalized with triorganotin carboxylates: synthesis,characterization and preliminary catalytic screening in transesterification

Cross‐linked polymers containing triorganotin carboxylate functionalities were synthesized from ionic exchange resins bearing carboxylic groups. The organic tin substituents selected were methyl and butyl in order to ensure different accessibility at the metal centre. The functionalization degree depends on the different substituents and strongly affects the thermal stability of the final product. Catalytic screenings were performed in order to assess the activity of the above resins in transesterification reactions, using ethyl acetate as a substrate, together with differently hindered alcohols. The results obtained point to a negligible role of the bulkiness of tin substituents with a small contribution of the metal atom Lewis acidity in the conversion of the primary alcohol, whereas with secondary and tertiary alcohols the steric hindrance of the reagent strongly affects the conversion of the reacting alcohol. The transesterification process takes place at the liquid–solid interface, so that the catalyst grafted to an insoluble solid support can be completely removed by simple filtration. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“Proton Sponges” and the Geometry of Hydrogen Bonds: Aromatic Nitrogen Bases with Exceptional Basicities

Certain aromatic diamines (the “proton sponges”) are found to have exceptionally high basicity constants: this is due to spatial interaction of the basic centers, which are in close proximity. The two factors which are most important in causing this effect are, on the one hand, the extreme steric strain in these systems and the destabilizing effect of the overlap of the nitrogen lone pairs of the neutral diamines and, on the other, the strong N?H?N hydrogen bonds which are formed on monoprotonation and which lead to a considerable relaxation of the steric strain. By the systematic variation of the structures of such aromatic diamines we have been able to study these effects as a function of steric factors, in particular of the geometry and the bond length of the N?H?N hydrogen bonds, by means of X-ray structural analysis. The hydrophobic shielding of the basic centers and the N?H?N hydrogen bonds, which was characteristic of the “proton sponge” compounds studied previously, is indeed responsible for the extremely low rate of protonation and deprotonation of these compounds; however, it apparently has no influence on their high thermodynamic basicity. The recent synthesis and basicity determination of a new type of “proton sponge” with no hydrophobic shielding whatever show that not only very strong but also kinetically active bases are accessible using the “proton sponge” concept. Their unusual properties, which are discussed here as the result of steric interactions between two basic centers, provide examples of the fact that cooperative steric interactions of reactive structural elements can lead to properties which cannot be derived from an isolated consideration of the various functional groups. Such “proximity effects” are certainly of general importance in chemistry and biochemistry; the study of their structure-function relationships is worthy of closer consideration.     

The strength of parallel-displaced arene-arene interactions in chloroform

[reaction: see text] Triptycene-derived compounds have been prepared to serve as conformational equilibrium reporters for direct measurements of arene-arene interactions in the parallel-displaced orientation. A series of such compounds bearing arenes with different substituents were synthesized, and the ratios of the syn and anti conformers were determined by variable-temperature NMR spectroscopy. The syn conformer allows attached arenes to interact with each other while the anti conformer does not. The free energies derived from the syn/anti ratios in chloroform range from slightly positive (0.2 kcal/mol) to considerably negative (-0.98 kcal mol) values. The interactions between the arenes bearing electron-donating groups (EDG) are either negligible or slightly repulsive, while the interactions between arenes bearing electron-withdrawing groups (EWG) are attractive. Intermediate free energy values are obtained for those compounds bearing arenes with one EDG and one EWG.     

Cautions regarding the physical interpretation of statistically based separation of the ortho substituent effect into inductive,mesomeric, and steric components—III : Some remarks concerning the significance of steric effects in acidic and alkaline ester hydrolyses

It is demonstrated that acidic and alkaline hydrolyses of o-substituted benzoates and acidic esterification of o-substituted benzoic acids depend upon inductive, “mesomeric”, and steric effects. The “mesomeric” contribution is essentially connected with the nitro and the methoxy groups exerting special effects. The rate data of some acidic and alkaline reactions which may be regarded as being comparable yielded regression equations indicating that steric effects are the same in both reactions. The Taft-Ingold assumption seems to be correct for these reactions, whereas the averaging procedure applied by Taft is questionable. The results taken as a whole lend strong support to the hypothesis that the so-called ortho effect is essentially connected with the size of the substituents and not strictly electrical in nature.     

Late-Stage C(sp2)−H Functionalization: A Powerful Toolkit To Arm Natural Products for In Situ Proteome Profiling?

The comprehensive investigation of target interactions from native cellular environments is of paramount importance for natural products and related bioactive compounds in drug discovery and chemical biology. Current chemoproteomic tools, such as in situ proteome profiling can do so effectively, but rely heavily on “tagged” probes that are accessible through traditional organic synthesis at the reactive sites of a compound, which may often be required for target binding. Late-stage functionalization may resolve such limitations by tagging compounds in a single step at biologically inert C−H bonds. Herein, recent advances in late-stage C(sp²)−H functionalization of (hetero)arenes, which are present in many natural products, are summarized, and new toolkits for more widespread use of such strategies to install natural products with next-generation “minimalist” linkers for in situ proteome profiling are suggested.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed regiospecific borylation of methyl C-H bonds

We report the regiospecific, ruthenium-catalyzed borylation of saturated terminal C-H bonds. Alkylboronates were obtained in 78-98% yields. The borylations of alkanes, trialkylamines, protected alcohols, and fluoroalkanes occurred regiospecifically at the methyl group that is least sterically hindered. In contrast to most organometallic C-H activation, the reactions of alkanes occurred in higher yields than the reactions of arenes. Reactions were conducted that probed steric and electronic effects on the alkyl borylation. These reactions showed that the borylation occurred preferentially at the methyl group that is least sterically hindered and most electron-deficient. Ruthenium compounds containing boryl ligands were synthesized, and one was characterized by X-ray crystallography. One of these compounds contained a rare bridging boryl ligand and served as a catalyst precursor for the borylation of octane.     

A hierarchic collision detection algorithm for simple Brownian dynamics

We describe an algorithm to avoid steric violation (bumps) between bodies arranged in a hierarchy. The algorithm recursively directs the focus of a bump-detector towards the interactions of children whose parents are in collision. This has the effect of concentrating available computer resources towards maintaining good steric interactions in the region where bodies are colliding. The algorithm was implemented and tested under two programming environments: a graphical environment, OpenGL under Java3D, and a non-graphical environment in “C”. The former used a built-in collision detection system whereas the latter used a simple algorithm devised previously for the interaction of “soft” bodies. This simpler system was found to run much faster (by 50-fold) even after allowing for time spent on graphical activity and was also better at preventing steric violations. With a hierarchy of three levels of 100, the non-graphical implementation was able to simulate a million atomic bodies for 100,000 steps in 12 h on a laptop computer.     

13C FT-NMR spectra of alkyl substituted furans. A study of the influence of steric interactions

The ¹³C FT-NMR spectra of thirteen furans, monodi- or trisubstituted with methyl and/or t-butyl groups, were studied in detail. Substituent effects of methyl and t-butyl groups on the chemical shifts of ring carbon atoms are additive in nonsterically hindered furans. Steric shifts for the ring carbon atoms are found in furans with bulky neighbouring substituents, but the hybridisation of the carbon atoms in these hindered furans is not changed. The chemical shifts of the substituents are calculated according to the Grant-Cheney formula. No simple relationship between steric shift and steric hindrance can be ascertained.     

Oxidation of alcohols by “activated” dimethyl sulfoxide. a preparative,steric and mechanistic study

The oxidation of primary, secondary, allylic, benzylic, hindered and bicyclic alcohols with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) “activated” by numerous electrophiles was studied: yields of carbonyls, by-products and recovered alcohols were quantitatively determined. Pathways for carbonyl and by-product formation are presented. Generally, yields of carbonyls increase with increased steric hindrance in the alcohols. Steric effects of tertiary amines, used for basification, were also investigated, and the results are consistent with the suggested reaction pathways. Among previously unreported “activators,” oxalyl chloride is the most generally effective; yields of carbonyls are typically over 95%. Thionyl chloride is also a satisfactory “activator” although yields of carbonyls are not quite as high. An improved method of preparation of alkyl methylthiomethyl ethers, by-products of the oxidation process, is reported.     

Correlation of viscoelastic properties of stable and flocculated suspensions with their interparticle interactions

This review starts with a general introduction on the properties of concentrated suspensions. The distinction between “dilute”, “solid” and “concentrated” suspensions is given in terms of the balance between Brownian, hydrodynamic and interparticle interactions. A section is given on interparticle interactions and their combinations. The four different types of interactions, namely hard-sphere, electrostatic, steric and van der Waals are described. The flocculation of both electrostatically and sterically stabilized suspensions is also discussed. The next section covers the principles of rheological measurements. Transient (static), dynamic (oscillatory), shear wave propagation and steady state measurements are described. The last part of the review deals with the viscoelastic properties of concentrated suspensions. Four different systems were described and examples were given: (a) Suspensions with hard-sphere interactions; (b) Stable systems with soft (electrostatic) interaction; (c) Sterically stabilised systems; (d) Flocculated and coagulated systems. Both weakly and strongly flocculated systems were discussed.In the above review, particular emphasis was given to the relationship between the viscoelastic properties of concentrated suspensions and their interparticle interactions. As far as was possible, the results obtained from rheological measurements were quantitatively analysed in terms of such interparticle forces. The review demonstrated that such correlation is generally followed and this illustrated the powerful use of rheology for studying interparticle interactions.     

Recherches sur le benzofuranne. LX. Orientation de la dégradation alcaline des aroyl-3 éthyl-2 benzofurannes,selon la nature de leur groupe aroyle

Through alkaline degradation followed by acid-catalyzed recyclization, 3-aroyl-2-ethylbenzofurans lead to 2-arylbenzo-furans with yields depending more particularly on the steric effect of the aroyl group substituents. This process is especially convenient for the synthesis of benzofurans substituted by a hindered phenyl at the 2-position.     

A DTA study of phenols

A comprehensive DTA study is reported of 17 halophenols and of the corresponding p-nitrobenzoylchloride 3,5-dinitrobenzoylchloride and p-phenylazobenzoylchloride derivatives, prepared “in-situ”by heating intimate mixtures of phenol and acid chloride in the DTA system. The thermal analysis data, in particular, the derivative formation temperatures, are interpreted in terms of the inductive, mesomeric and steric effects associated with the ring substituents of the phenol and acid chloride and the extent of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding existing in these systems. The DTA data collectively provide a reference base for the identification and characterization of halophenols via thermal analysis.     

Origin of anomeric effect: a density functional steric analysis

The anomeric effect (the tendency of heteroatomic substituents adjacent to a heteroatom within the cyclohexane ring to prefer the axial orientation instead of the sterically less hindered equatorial position) is traditionally explained through either the dipole moment repulsion or the hyperconjugation effect. In this work, by employing our recent work in density functional steric analysis, we provide a novel two-component explanation, which is consistent with the common belief in chemistry that the effect has a stereoelectronic origin. With α-D-glucopyranose as the prototype, we systematically explore its conformational space and generate 32 isomers, leading to a total of 80 axial-equatorial conformation pairs. The energy difference analysis of these pairs shows that while statistically speaking the tendency is valid, the anomeric effect is not always true and can be violated. Three energy components, exchange-correlation, classical electrostatic, and density functional steric, are found to be directly proportional to the total energy difference between axial and equatorial isomers. We also found that the total dipole moment change, not the hyperconjugation effect, is a reasonable indicator of the total energy difference. However, all these correlations alone are not strong enough to provide a compellingly convincing explanation for the general validity of the effect. With the help of strong correlations between energy components, an explanation with two energy components, steric and electrostatic, was proposed in this work. We show that the axial-equatorial energy difference in general, with the anomeric effect as a special case, is dictated by two factors of the stereoelectronic origin, steric hindrance and classical electrostatic interactions, synchronously working together. Another explanation in terms of exchange-correlation and electrostatic interactions has also been obtained in this work.