Equilibrium constants and kinetics of carbon monoxide insertion in alkyl complexes of ruthenium(II)

The equilibrium constants of the reaction of cis, trans-[Ru(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂(CH₃)I] (Mc) with carbon monoxide to give cis, trans[Ru(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂ (COMe)i] (Ac) and trans, trans[Ru(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂(COMe)I] (At) were measured at various temperatures in toluene. The thermodynamic parameters are compared with those obtained for the isoelectronic complexes of iron, and the trend is discussed. The kinetics of the carbonylation reaction of Mc, as well as those of the inverse decarbonylation reaction of At were measured. The kinetics of the carbonylation of the new complex trans, trans-[Ru(CO)₂(PMe₃)₂(CH₃)I] (Mt) were also investigated. All the results afford further support to the previously proposed CO insertion mechanism occurring via methyl migration. The comparison of these kinetic results with those of isoelectronic complexes of iron indicates that ruthenium is more reactive than iron, which is reflected by its greater aptitude to act as catalyst in many processes.     

Towards the bio-production of trans-carveol and carvone from limonene: induction after cell growth on limonene and toluene

Rhodococcus opacus PW4 cells were found to produce trans- and cis-carveol and/or carvone as result of limonene metabolism, depending on the type and concentration of the carbon source used for cell growth. In aqueous systems, cells grown on ethanol and toluene only produced trans-carveol, whilst cells grown on limonene and on toluene with a larger head-space available produced both trans-carveol and carvone. In biphasic systems, limonene was converted to trans- and cis-carveol as well as to carvone, regardless of the carbon source used, although carveol and carvone production rates were higher in toluene and limonene grown cells, respectively. A good and stable emulsion was obtained in a magnetically stirred two-phase reactor but both trans-carveol and carvone were produced at low rates: 0.08 and 0.02 nmol/min mg prot, respectively. No cis-carveol was formed. When (−)-carveol was added, carvone production increased 4.7 fold to 0.12 nmol/min mg prot. Using an aerated two-phase reactor, carvone production was enhanced even with cells grown on toluene. The highest trans- and cis-carveol and carvone production rates were attained with cells grown on limonene by continuously supplying limonene to the reactor through the air stream, carvone production reaching 0.58 nmol/min mg prot. The best trans-/cis-carveol ratio (2.26) was observed with cells grown on toluene when limonene was supplied in the gas phase. When 50 mM limonene was added initially, carvone was produced 27.9 and 141.4 times faster than trans-carveol with cells grown on toluene and limonene, respectively.     

A highly regio- and stereo-selective hydrostannation reaction of various fluorine-containing internal acetylene derivatives

The hydrostannation reaction of various fluoroalkylated acetylene derivatives with tributyltin hydride was investigated using a variety of catalysts in toluene. Among them, the Et₃B-induced hydrostannation reaction gave the highest regio- and stereo-selectivity. Their selectivity was mostly influenced upon the difference of the substituent X at the aromatic ring of the aryl-substituted internal acetylenes. Thus, the acetylenes having a halogen atom or an electron-donating group as X reacted smoothly with tributyltin hydride, affording the vinylstannane 4Z exclusively, while the acetylenes having an electron-withdrawing group (X=CO₂Et, NO₂) resulted in the preferential formation of 5E. The plausible mechanism of the formation of these products was discussed.     

Synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives: synthetic application of meso aziridinium ions prepared from β-amino alcohols

Methods of synthesis of new chiral amino ether derivatives through the opening of aziridinium ions, prepared in situ using trans-(±)-2-(1-N,N-dialkylamino)cyclohexyl mesylate with (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol, are described. The (R,R,R)-diastereomer was obtained as the major product and isolated as an enantiopure salt, and characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The C₂-chiral (R,R,R,R,R)-diamino ether was obtained as the major product by opening of the aziridinium ion, prepared using trans-(±)-2-(1-pyrrolidino)cyclohexyl mesylate and (R)-(+)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol in the presence of aq NaOH. This was also characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Stereochemical studies of optically active 2-hydroxy-5-alkyl-δ-valerolactone derivatives as chiral dopant for ferroelectric liquid crystals

Both (2S, 5R)- and (2R, 5R)-2-hydroxy-5-alkyl-δ-valerolactone derivatives, cis and trans, respectively, show almost the same magnitude of spontaneous polarization (P_s) when added to a non-chiral smectic C mixture. The stereochemistry of these chiral dopants was studied using ¹H NMR. Trans derivatives seem to have a half-chair conformation with the 2, 5-diequatorial substituents and the cis derivatives have rather a flat conformation in solution. However in the liquid-crystalline phase, the cis and trans derivatives appear to change their conformation or the distribution of their conformations as the alkyl chain length is varied. The difference in the effect as a chiral dopant depends upon lateral interactions between chiral molecules through the solvent liquid crystal phase.     

New methods for the preparation of 1-phenyl-trans-cyclohexane-1,2-diol

In contrast with previous reports, it was found that the reaction of 1-phenylcyclohexene with peroxyformic acid is not entirely stereospecific, but gives some trans-1-phenylcyclohexane-1, 2-diol (IV) beside the cis-isomer (III). The reaction of 1-phenylcyclohexene oxide (II) with formic acid yielded a similar mixture of III and IV, while addition of trichloroacetic acid in benzene was entirely cis-stereospecific. Reaction of the epoxide II with potassium hydroxide took place only under very drastic conditions to give a small yield of III, while sodium 2-dimethylaminoethoxide added exclusively in a trans way, leading to the amino ether X, which was easily transformed into the trans-glycol IV. The latter compound was also the main product of the borohydride reduction of 2-hydroxy-2-phenylcyclohexanone (IX). Possible explanations of the observed stereochemical results are discussed.     

Reactivity of ruthenium complexes with uninegative (X,S)-donor ligands (X = S,P)—II. Phosphine substitution in [Ru(S,S)2(PR3)2] derivatives. Crystal structure of trans-bis(O-ethyldithiocarbonate)bis(dimethylphenylphosphine)-ruthenium(II)

The complexes [Ru(S,S)₂(PPh₃)₂] [S,S = EtCOCS₂⁻, (CH₂)₄NCS₂⁻] react with a variety of tertiary phosphines with the substitution of triphenylphosphine and the formation of [Ru(S,S)₂(PR₃)₂]. The reaction occurs with the formation ofthe cis isomer, except for the complex with PMe₂Ph that gives rise to the trans isomer as the crystal structure shows. The effect of the different phosphines on the ruthenium complex is analysed in terms of the spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of the isolated compounds. The cyclic voltammetric studies of the cis complexes show that isomerization to the trans isomer occurs on oxidation. This isomerization is not observed in the trans-[Ru(S,S)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂] complexes that give rise to stable trans-ruthenium(II)/ruthenium(III) couples. In a similar way the diphosphine complexes afford a quasi-reversible cis-ruthenium(II)/ruthenium(III) process.     

A simple synthesis of tetraethynylethenes and representative molecular structures of some dicobalt derivatives

Palladium–copper catalysed cross-coupling reactions of tetracholoroethene with terminal acetylenes RCCH (R=SiMe₃, C₆H₅, C₆H₄CN-4) in refluxing triethylamine afford the corresponding tetraethynylethenes in 30–60% isolated yields. The reaction of 1,6-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne with [Co₂(CO)₆(L₂)] [L₂=(CO)₂ or μ-dppm] affords complexes in which one or two (trans) acetylene moieties are coordinated by a dicobalt fragment.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and electronic properties of a series of copper(II) complexes with 3,5-halogen-substituted Schiff base ligands and their solutions

We have systematically investigated the structural features, electronic properties, thermally-induced structural phase transitions and absorption spectra depending on the solvent for ten Cu(II) complexes with 3,5-halogen-substituted Schiff base ligands. Structural characterization of two new complexes, bis(N-R-1-phenylethyl- and N-R,S-2-butyl-5-bromosalicydenaminato-κ²N,O)copper(II), reveals that they afford a compressed tetrahedral trans-[CuN₂O₂] coordination geometry with trans-N–Cu–N = 159.4(2)° and trans-O–Cu–O = 151.7(3)° for the 1-phenylethyl complex and trans-N–Cu–N = 157.9(3)° and trans-O–Cu–O = 151.0(3)° for the 2-butyl one. All the complexes exhibit a structural phase transition by heating in the solid state regardless of their structures at room temperature. The absorption spectra of a series of ten complexes exhibit a slight shift of the d–d band at 16 000–20 000 cm⁻¹ and remarkable shift of the π–π* band at 24 000–28 000 cm⁻¹, which suggests that the dipole moment of the solvents presumably affects the conformation of the π-conjugated moieties of the ligands rather than the coordination environment. We have also attempted ‘photochromic solute-induced solvatochromism’ by a system of bis(N-R-1-phenylethyl-3,5-dichlorosalicydenaminato-κ²N,O)copper(II) and photochromic 4-hydroxyazobenzene in chloroform solution. We successfully observed a change of the d–d and π–π* bands of the complex in the absorption spectra caused by cis–trans photoisomerization of 4-hydroxyazobenzene.     

(R)-Oxynitrilase catalyzed synthesis of (R)-ketone cyanohydrins

(R)-Oxynitrilase from almonds (Prunus amygdalus) catalyzes the enantioselective addition of HCN to ethyl alkyl ketones 1 in diisopropyl ether yielding (R)-ethyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-2, which are hydrolyzed under acid catalysis to give the -hydroxy acids (R)-3. This (R)-oxynitrilase also catalyzes the enantioselective addition in aqueous citrate buffer (50 mM, pH 4.0), as demonstrated for the preparation of (R)-methyl alkyl ketone cyanohydrins (R)-5 which are obtained in high enantiomeric excesses comparable to those in diisopropyl ether as solvent.     

The structure of 2,4-dibromomenthone

A three-dimensional X-ray diffraction study has shown that the product obtained by bromination of - or -menthone is 2,4-dibromomenthone [2(a), 6(e)-dibromo-2(e)-isopropyl-5(e)methyl cyclohexanone]. The two Br atoms are trans, and the isopropyl and methyl groups are also trans. There are four molecules in the unit cell, which has symmetry P2₁2₁2₁ and dimensions a = 13·58, b = 13·81 and c = 6·25 Å. One intermolecular Br … Br contact of 3·52 ± 0·01 Å occurs, a distance which is about 0·4 Å shorter than the van der Waals distance.     

Snthesis and x-ray structure of an isomeric cyclophosphazene complex containing antimony(III)

The monosilylated acyclic phosphazene ligand Me₃SiNP(NMe₂)₂NP(NMe₂)₂ NH₂ (3) has been synthesized and characterized. The reaction of 3 with antimony triacetate, Sb(OOCMe₃), in refluxing toluene forms a cyclic phosphazene derivative, [N{P(NMe₂)₂NH}₂Sb(OOCMe)₂ (4), which is characterized by elemental analyses, mass, IR and NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis. Complex 4 crystallizes in the form of a cis and trans isomeric chain in the solid state.     

Cyclopropyl carbanions derived from esters of 2-phenylcyclopropylcarboxylic acids: Configurational stability and reaction with electrophiles

The base-catalyzed cis-trans isomerization of cis and trans-alkyl 2-phenylcyclopropylcarboxylates was studied in several aprotic solvents. It was found that contact ion-pain of the derived carbanion lithium salts were configurationally more stable than the solvent-separated ones. Reaction of either the cis or the trans esters with MeI, and the reaction of the cis ester with Ph₂C = O, resulted in the corresponding I-substituted derivatives having cis geometry only. This was explained as due to steric hindrance to elctrophilic attack exerted by the 2-phenyl group in the case of the trans substrate. The trans esters did not react with Ph₂C=O. Inhibition of the trans-to-cis isomerization of the carbanion salt of the trans substrate in presence of Ph₂C=O could lead to this result.     

Dipolar coupling study of the conformations and ordering of 4-chloroethoxybenzene in a nematic solvent

The observed dipolar couplings of 4-chloroethoxybenzene in a nematic solvent are used to study the internal rotations about the O-C(H₂) bond. Accurate theoretical reproductions of these couplings are obtained using the standard three state (trans, gauche^±) rotational isomer model with gauche rotation angle φ^g = 96° and the trans—gauche energy difference E_tg, = 5·52kJ mol^-1. The probabilities and ordering matrix components of the trans and gauche forms are calculated.     

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols

Synthesis of (2R,3S,4S)-4-aryl-3-hydroxyprolinols has been established starting from 2-benzyloxymethylpyrrolidin-2-one framework, which is derived from commercially available trans-(2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline. The single diastereomer having a trans–cis relative configuration with C₂ and C₃ and C₃ and C₄ is constructed in two one-pot functional group transformations of Grignard addition/dehydration and epoxidation/isomerization as the key steps in moderate yield.     

Bis(2-bromoethyl) selenium dibromide as the selenium-introducing reagent: One-pot preparation of 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)tetrahydroselenophenes by the cyclization of 1,5-hexadiene

The reaction of bis(2-bromoethyl)selenium dibromide (1a) with 1,5-hexadiene (2) in methanol or ethanol affords 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)tetrahydroselenophene-1,1-dibromides (R = CH₃ (3b), R = C₂H₅ (3c)) via 2,5-bis(bromomethyl)tetrahydroselenophene-1,1-dibromide (3a). The reaction of 1a with 2 in 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol or 1-butanol in the presence of sodium carbonate gave 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)tetrahydroselenophene (R = C₃H₇ (4a), R = (CH₃)₂CHCH₂ (4b) and R = C₄H₉ (4c)) via 3a. The ratios of the trans and cis isomers of 3a–3c are 3:2. In addition, the structure of trans-2,5-bis(methoxymethyl)tetrahydroselenophene-1,1-dibromide (trans-3b) was determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Studies on lactams—V 3-azido-2-azetidinones

A convenient synthesis of -amino-β-lactams has been devised with the aim of preparing derivatives and analogs of penicillin and cephalosporin C. It has been found that -azido-β-lactams can be obtained from the reaction of -azido acid chlorides with imines in presence of triethylamine. The azido group undergoes facile catalytic reduction to afford -amino-β-lactams. The sequence of addition of the reactants influences the stereochemistry of the azido-β-lactam formed. The slow addition of azidoacetyl chloride to a solution of benzaliniline and triethylamine in methylene chloride favors the cis product, while the trans stereochemistry is favored when triethylamine is added to a mixture of the Schiff base and azidoacetyl chloride. Prolonged heating in presence of triethylamine did not result in the interconversion of cis- and trans- 1-phenyl-3-azido-4-(p-nitrophenyl)-azetidin-2-one.

1-Cholestanyl-3,3-dimethylazetidine-2-one has been prepared as an analog of the β-lactam-substituted steroid alkaloids reported recently.     

Monitoring supercritical fluid extraction by thermal lens spectrometry with pulsed laser excitation

A dual-beam thermal lens spectrometer (TLS) with a pulse pump–probe coaxial configuration was coupled to commercially available supercritical fluid extraction equipment using a high-pressure flow cell interface. Because of its feasible critical parameters, moderate cost and good thermooptical properties, carbon dioxide was used as supercritical solvent. Using trans-β-carotene as analyte, several factors related with the extraction process under continuos flow conditions were studied in order to establish their influence in the thermal lens signal magnitude. Under the optimum experimental conditions, the relative TLS signal area showed a linear relationship with the concentration of trans-β-carotene from 1.5×10⁻⁶ to 8×10⁻⁸ M (n=5, r=0.998) in the supercritical phase. Thus, the viability of on-line detection for supercritical fluid extraction with a pulse thermal lens spectrometer was demonstrated.     

Properties of semidilute polymer solutions: Investigation of an optically labeled three-component system

A three-component system containing a polymer (2), a good solvent (1) for that polymer, and a second polymer (3) that is compatible with component (2) and isorefractive with the solvent (1) has been studied by static and dynamic light-scattering methods. In concentrated toluene (1) solutions of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (3), where appreciable chain overlap occurs and excluded-volume effects are reduced, polystyrene (2) may be studied in the dilute-solution limit. Consequently, these light-scattering measurements provide an explicit measure of both thermodynamic and hydrodynamic changes that occur as the total polymer concentration is increased from dilute to concentrated solution. Precise numerical coefficients, correct scaling exponents, the radius of gyration, and the effective hydrodynamic radius can be measured directly along with the observation of long-wave single-chain reptation motions and short-range cooperative motions in semidilute and concentrated solutions.     

N,N'-二-[3-羟基-4-(2-苯并噻唑)苯基]脲的光谱实验与密度泛函理论研究

利用实验观测与密度泛函理论(DFT)计算方法考察了新化合物N, N'-二-[3-羟基-4-(2-苯并噻唑)苯基]脲(4-DHBTU)的红外、核磁与紫外吸收光谱性质.与单体2-(4-氨基-2-羟苯基)苯并噻唑(4-AHBT)相比, 4-DHBTU的实验紫外吸收强度显著增强,最大吸收峰发生了明显红移,并呈现出双吸收峰特征.结合实验光谱数据与密度泛函理论计算分析表明, 4-DHBTU分子最稳定的基态异构体为cis-C₁₁和trans-C₁₁,而导致上述紫外光谱差异的主要原因是4-DHBTU样品中cis-C₁₁, trans-C₁₁, cis-C₂₂, trans-C₂₂等多种异构体共存.此外, 4-DHBTU与溶剂二甲基亚砜(DMSO)间氢键作用使得核磁实验中4-DHBTU的15H、16H氢谱化学位移显著增大.