The fragmentation of isotetronic acids under electron impact

The mass spectral fragmentation of eleven α-hydroxybutenolide compounds (isotetronic acids) are reported. The main features are carboxyl and consecutive carbon monoxide expulsions. Masses were determined using high resolution techniques, metastable transitions were detected by defocusing experiments, and pathways were further documented by isotopic labelling experiments.     

An NMR relaxation study of hydrogen exchange and its deuterium isotope effects in aqueous carboxylic acid solutions

Exchange-rate measurements of water protons and deuterons in aqueous solutions of acetic, malonic and glutaric acid by the NMR T₂ Carr-Purcell method, employing oxygen-17-enriched water, are reported. In contrast to previous results on acetic-acid solutions, intermolecular proton exchange via solvent between COOH and COO^? groups is found to contribute considerably to the exchange rate for all three acids investigated. The rate constants necessary for the calculation of the proton residence time in the COOH groups have been determined. Observed deuterium isotope effects on the rate constants for hydrogen-ion and acetic-acid-catalyzed exchange are discussed in terms of fractionation-factor theory.     

Secondary deuterium isotope effects on the acidity of carboxylic acids and phenols

Secondary deuterium isotope effects (IEs) on acidities have been accurately measured by an NMR titration method applicable to a mixture of isotopologues. Deuteration definitely decreases the acidity of carboxylic acids and phenols, by up to 0.031 in the DeltapK per D. For aliphatic acids, the IEs decrease as the site of deuteration becomes more distant from the OH, as expected, but a surprising result is that IEs in both phenol and benzoic acid do not decrease as the site of deuteration moves from ortho to meta to para. The experimental data are supported by ab initio computations, which, however, substantially overestimate the IEs. The discrepancy does not seem to be due to solvation. The IEs originate in isotope-sensitive vibrations whose frequencies and zero-point energies are lowered upon deprotonation. In the simplest case, formate, the key vibration can be recognized as the C-H stretch, which is weakened by delocalization of the oxygen lone pairs. For the aromatic acids, delocalization cannot account for the near constancy of IEs from ortho, meta, and para deuteriums, but the observed IEs are consistent with calculated vibrational frequencies and electron densities. Moreover, the ability of the frequency analysis to account for the IEs is evidence against an inductive origin.     

Efficient photolytic esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols in perhalogenated methane

Condensation of carboxylic acids and alcohols to give esters was accomplished with selectivity under photolytic conditions in 66-99% yields by use of CCl₄ or BrCCl₃ at room temperature.     

Kinetic resolution of racemic alcohols with chiral carboxylic acids and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide

The DCC-esterification method has been used to kinetically resolve racemic mixtures of alcohols. With simple chiral carboxylic acids, such as O-aryl lactic acids, in the presence of various basic catalysts, mixtures of the enantiomerically enriched alcohols (e.e. <50%) and the corresponding esters (d.e.<70%) have been obtained.     

Halogen-magnesium exchange on unprotected aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids

The magnesiation of halogenated aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids is accomplished by their treatment with MeMgCl in the presence of LiCl and subsequent reaction with i-PrMgCl.LiCl; the resulting double-magnesiated species react with a variety of electrophiles in up to 97% yield.     

Cyclic mechanism in the trapping of carbonyl oxides with alcohols and carboxylic acids

The reaction of diphenylcarbonyl oxide with alcohols and carboxylic acids, which has been classified as a nucleophilic trapping, is shown to be in the reactivity order: AcOH ? MeOH > CF₃CH₂OH > EtOH ? t-BuOH. A laser-flash spectroscopy indicated that the reaction of carboxylic acids is very fast, that is, one-tenth of the diffusion rate. These results suggest that the hydroxyl compounds react as an acid and a nucleophile at the same time and the major reaction is via the seven- and five-membered cyclic mechanism for RCO₂H and ROH, respectively.     

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids

Au(I) complexes-catalyzed transfer vinylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids has been achieved. The catalyst system consists of 2 mol % AuClPPh₃ and 2 mol % AgOAc. Primary alcohols and secondary alcohols were converted into corresponding vinyl ethers in good yield (64-93%); however, tertiary alcohols showed poor reactivities. Carboxylic acids were also transformed into corresponding vinyl esters in good yield (78-96%).     

Regioselective deuteration of aromatic and α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids via rhodium(III) chloride catalysed exchange with deuterium oxide

$\text{Ortho}$-deuterated aromatic carboxylic acids and β-deuterated α,β-unsaturated caroboxylic acids may be prepared with high regioselectivity by exchange deuteration of the unlabelled acids in the presence of rhodium(III) chloride.     

A facile method for oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids and its application in glycosaminoglycan syntheses

A convenient two-step, one-pot procedure was developed for the conversion of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids. The alcohol was first treated with NaOCl and TEMPO under phase-transfer conditions, followed by NaClO2 oxidation in one pot. This reaction is applicable to a wide range of alcohols and the mild reaction conditions are compatible with many sensitive functional groups, including electron-rich aromatic rings, acid-labile isopropylidene ketal and glycosidic linkages, and oxidation-prone thioacetal, p-methoxybenzyl, and allyl moieties. Several glycosaminoglycans such as heparin, chondroitin, and hyaluronic acid oligosaccharides have been synthesized in high yields by using this new oxidation protocol.     

The mass spectrometric behaviour of benzohydroxaraic and benzothiohydroxamic acids under electron impact

Primary fragmentation reactions in benzohydroxamic and benzothiohydroxamic acids have been studied and compared with those in benzamides and benzothioamides. Mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectra, collisional activation spectra and spectral data from labelled compounds were used to elucidate fragment ion structures and reaction mechanisms. The mass spectra are shown to be dependent on ion source temperature. Losses of O and H₂O are proved to be thermal in origin. The formation of an S… HO bond, which is analogous to an intramolecular hydrogen bond in solution chemistry, directs many fragmentation pathways. This seems to be the major factor determining the differences between the mass spectra of benzothiohydroxamic acids and those of the corresponding carbonyl compounds.     

Fragmentation of alkyl esters of chlorine-substituted phosphonic acids under electron impact

Conclusions The main direction in the fragmentation of alkyl trichloromethylphosphonates, 7,7,7-trichloroheptylphosphonates, and p-trichloromethylphenylphosphonates depends on the presence and on the nature of the hydrocarbon fragment linking the trichloromethyl and phosphate groups.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1814–1818, August, 1981.     

O-diphenylmethylation of alcohols and carboxylic acids using diphenylmethyl diphenyl phosphate as alkylating agent

Diphenylmethyl diphenyl phosphate reacts quickly under mild conditions with various alcohols and carboxylic acids towards diphenylmethyl ethers and esters respectively while hydroxyacids can be selectively alkylated at the alcohol site.     

Selective oxoammonium salt oxidations of alcohols to aldehydes and aldehydes to carboxylic acids

The oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes using stoichiometric 4-acetamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxoammonium tetrafluoroborate (1) in CH(2)Cl(2) at room temperature is a highly selective process favoring reaction at the carbinol center best able to accommodate a positive charge. The oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids by 1 in wet acetonitrile is also selective; the rate of the process correlates with the concentration of aldehyde hydrate. A convenient and high yield method for oxidation of alcohols directly to carboxylic acids has been developed.     

Study of exchange of hydrogen for deuterium and tritium in α-aminoalkylphosphonous acids

The kinetics of isotope exchange of hydrogen for deuterium in -aminoalkylphosphonous acids as a function of the pH were investigated by PMR spectroscopy. Tritiumlabeled -aminoalkylphosphonous acids were obtained as a result of direct hydrogen- tritium exchange between T₂O and hydrophosphoryl compounds.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1966–1969, September, 1990.