DFT studies on tautomerism of C5-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles

DFT (B3LYP/6-311++G**, B3PW91/6-311++G**) Gibbs free energy and single point CCSD(T)/6-311++G**//DFT total energy calculations were performed to investigate stability and tautomerism of C5-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles. Three different tautomers are possible for the substituted 1,2,4-triazoles: N1–H, N2–H, and N4–H. Unlike for the 1,2,3-triazoles, where the most stable is the N2–H tautomer regardless of substituent applied, for the 1,2,4-triazoles, the electron donating substituents (–OH, –F, –CN, –NH₂, and –Cl) and the C5-cation stablize the N2–H tautomer, whereas the electron withdrawing substituents (–CONH₂, –COOH, –CHO, –BH₂, and –CFO) and the C5-anion stablize the N1–H tautomer. Except for the C5-anion and C5-cation, the N4–H form is the least stable tautomer. The relative stability of the C5-substituted 1,2,4-triazole tautomers is strongly influenced by attractive and/or repulsive intramolecular interactions between substituent and electron donor or electron acceptor centres of the triazole ring.     

DFT B3-LYP/3-21G geometry optimisation and effective charge values calculations for azodiazaphenanthrenes and acylaminodiazaphenanthrenes

For four azodiazaphenanthrenes 1–4 and three acylaminodiazaphenanthrenes 5–7 the geometry was optimised and their effective charge and dipole moment values were calculated using DFT B3-LYP/3-21G method. For 5–7 the results have been compared with those obtained by AM1 method. The UV experimental values of 1–4 are presented. With the use of DFT B3-LYP/6-31G^** optimised geometry the simulation of UV spectra of 5–7 by AM1 and ZINDO/S methods was made and correlations with experimental UV values have been performed.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine

The crystal structure of N-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl) salicylaldimine (C₁₃H₁₀NO₂Cl) was determined by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=12.967(2) Å, b=14.438(3) Å, c=6.231(3) Å, V=1166.5(6) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.41 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.315 mm⁻¹. The title compound is thermochromic and the molecule is nearly planar. Both tautomeric forms (keto and enol forms in 68(3) and 32(3)%, respectively) are present in the solid state. The molecules contain strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds, N1–H1O1/O2 (2.515(1) and 2.581(2) Å) for the keto form and O1–H01N1 for the enol one. There is also strong intermolecular O2–HO1 hydrogen bonding (2.599(2) Å) between neighbouring molecules. Minimum energy conformations AM1 were calculated as a function of the three torsion angles, θ₁(N1–C7–C6–C5), θ₂(C8–N1–C7–C6) and θ₃(C9–C8–N1–C7), varied every 10°. Although the molecule is nearly planar, the AM1 optimized geometry of the title compound is not planar. The non-planar conformation of the title compound corresponding to the optimized X-ray structure is the most stable conformation in all calculations.     

Supramolecular helical architecture from the self-assemblies of 2-chloro-5-nitro-benzoic acid and organic bases

Assembly of 2-chloro-5-nitro-benzoic acid (CNB) and organic bases containing nitrogen atom, 8-hydroxyquinaldine (purum), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (BPE), and 2-aminobenzimidazole, resulted in novel adducts with helical architecture. We present here an unprecedented single-stranded helix (left-handed and right-handed helices) in adduct 1. The helices are formed via three kinds of hydrogen bonding, O5–H5O1, C11–H11BO3, and C14–H14O1. But the two helices are linked by C9–H9O4 and C11–H11BO3 H-bonds. The interactions result in the cavity with dimensions of 8 × 10.5 Å, respectively. Interestingly, the different single-stranded helical structure in adduct 2 is generated via Cl1O1 interactions, where BPE linking the two helices by C9–H9O1 and O3–H3N2 H-bonds. The ring motifs and novel helical structures observed in the crystal packing suggest for further scopes in exploiting different substituent chloro-nitro-benzoic acid in a predictive manner or capturing useful nanoscale entities for self-assembly.     

Asymmetric and symmetric annellation effects—III Benzocoronenes

1:2–5:6-Dibenzocoronene (IV) was obtained from 1:2–4:5–8:9-tribenzopyrene (II) via the dianhydride (III). 1:2–4:5-Dibenzopyrene (V) condensed twice with maleic anhydride. The resulting dianhydride (VI) gave 1:2-benzocoronene (VII) on decarboxylation. 1:12-o-Phenyleneperylene (X) was obtained by a zinc dust melt from the quinone (VIII). The annellation effects passing from triphenylene and perylene to the benzocoronenes indicate the presence of a triphenylene complex within the electronic fine structure of coronene.     

Competition between π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding in (1:2) picrates of 1,5-diamino-3-oxapentane, 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane and 1,5-diamino-3-azapentane—solid state studies

Crystallographic studies of (2:1) salts of picric acid with 1,5-diamino-3-oxapentane (1OPICR), 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (2OPICR) and 1,5-diamino-3-azapentane (1NPICR) showed significant conformational change of the picrate ion due to numerous electrostatic, H-bonding and π–π stacking interactions present in the crystal lattice. In particular, intermolecular N–HO H-bonds were found to cause significant twisting of the o-NO₂ groups from the plane of the benzene ring, whereas overlapping of the picrate ions due to electrostatic interactions and π–π stacking caused flattening of the molecule. Analysis of the geometry of 74 picrate ions found in the Cambridge Crystallographic Database, in their various crystallochemical environments, showed that competition between essentially weak but numerous intermolecular interactions of different types led to systematic changes in geometric parameters within the picrate ion. In particular, relations found between the C1–C2–N–O (C1–C6–N–O) torsion angle and the endocyclic C1–C2–C3 (C1–C6–C5) valence angle can be explained on the basis of competition between resonance effects of the o-NO₂ group and π–π stacking.     

Photolysis of benzoyl esters of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylcarbinols in neutral and basic media

The photolysis of 2,2′-dinitrodiphenylmethylbenzoates (1a–1d) in 2-propanol gives dibenzo-[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-one-oxides (5a–5d) as the major product. Dibenzo[c, f]-[1,2]diazepin-11-ones (2a–2d), 2,2′-dinitrobenzophenones (3a–3d), 2-amino-2′-nitrobenzophenones (4a–4d) and N-hydroxyacridones (6a–6d) are also formed in the reaction. When the irradiation is carried out in benzene, 3-(2′-nitrophenyl)-2,1-benzisoxazoles (7a–7d) are also obtained together with the above products.     

Isolation and characterization of methoxylated flavones in the flowers of Primula veris by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Characterization of six flavones, which were named substances G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6 according to their R_F values in normal-phase thin-layer chromatography, is reported. The pure flavones were purified after maceration with methanol by normal-phase solid-phase extraction, normal-phase medium-pressure liquid chromatography, normal-phase preparative thin-layer chromatography and preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The collected fractions of several isolation steps were analyzed by normal-phase (NP) and RP-HPLC. Detection and identification of the substances G was accomplished by UV detection at 213–216 nm, diode array UV detection, or fluorescence detection (λ_ex=330 nm; λ_em=440 nm). The molecular mass, the elementary composition, and the structure of the six components was determined by electron-impact high-resolution mass spectrometry (EI-HRMS). Substance G4 was identified as 3′,4′,5′-trimethoxyflavone. The substances G1–G6 were shown to be mono-, di- tri- and pentamethoxyflavones. HPLC–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS–MS) of the flavones was carried out employing a 150×2 mm I.D. column packed with a 3 μm/100 Å octadecylsilica stationary phase and a mobile phase comprising 1.0% acetic acid in water–acetonitrile (50:50). Comparative RP-HPLC–ESI-MS of the raw methanol extract and the isolated substances G1–G6 proved that the isolated compounds were pure and were not artifacts. Finally, RP-HPLC–ESI-MS–MS was used to identify substances G1–G6 in phytopharmaceutical drugs.     

Steric control of regiochemistry in the reactions of methyl substituted pentadienyl cations with isobutene

The dienylic chlorides 1–5 react with isobutene in the presence of zinc chloride/ether in dichloromethane to give the acyclic adducts 6–10 in 64–91% yield. The orientation effects are in contrast to the predictions of perturbational molecular orbital theory and can be explained on the basis of steric effects.     

Measurements of Rayleigh scattering and relativistic calculations of incoherent scattering functions

Recent measurements of Rayleigh scattering employing neutron capture γ-rays are presented. Experimental conditions are achieved such that the Rayleigh contribution is dominant and much larger than the other competing coherent processes. A detailed comparison with the modified relativistic form factor (MRFF) approximation is made and it is concluded that the latter overestimates the cross-section by 3–4%. New calculations of S, the incoherent scattering function, are presented in the relativistic treatment of Ribberfors and Berggren, using multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock relativistic wavefunctions. Tables of S, for Z=1–110, are shown on a momentum transfer mesh identical to previous non-relativistic calculations. S has been calculated at a representative angle θ=60° and energies compatible with the presentation mesh. For other scattering angles, the values presented in the tables are accurate to within 1–2% for momentum transfers larger than 0.1 Å⁻¹. In the region below 0.1 Å⁻¹ the accuracy worsens with decreasing momentum transfer, reaching 6% at 0.01 Å⁻¹ and 10% at 0.005 Å⁻¹. The same multiconfiguration wave functions were used to evaluate new MRFFs. The new elastic scattering cross sections differ by 3–6% compared with calculations based on single configuration wave functions.     

Olefin polymerization by (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium(IV) complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl2(N=CBu2)-methylaluminoxane (MAO) catalyst systems

Effects of substituents on cyclopentadienyl group for homopolymerization of ethylene, 1-hexene, and for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization using a series of nonbridged (cyclopentadienyl)(ketimide)titanium complexes of the type, Cp′TiCl₂(N=C^tBu₂) [Cp′ = Cp (1), ^tBuC₅H₄ (2), C₅Me₅ (Cp^*, 3), and indenyl (4)] have been explored in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) cocatalyst. Complexes 1–3 showed the similar catalytic activities for ethylene polymerization although the activity by 4 was somewhat low, whereas the activity for 1-hexene polymerization increased in the order 1 > 4 2 > 3. These complexes showed significant activities for ethylene/1-hexene copolymerization affording high molecular weight poly(ethylene-co-1-hexene)s with unimodal molecular weight distributions, and the activity increased in the order: 4 > 1 2, 3. The r_Er_H values in the polymerization by 1–3 at 40 °C were 0.35–0.52 which clearly indicate that the 1-hexene incorporation in the copolymerization did not proceed in a random manner. The r_E values by 1–3 were 6.0–6.4 and the values were independent upon the cyclopentadienyl fragment employed; the r_E values by 4 at 40 °C were 10.2–10.9 which were close to those by ansa-metallocene complex catalysts. These values were influenced by the polymerization temperature, and the 1-hexene incorporation by 1–4 became inefficient at higher temperature, although the observed activities especially by 1, 4 were highly remarkable.     

Viscometric and light scattering studies on azrechtic acid

Results are reported for viscometric and light scattering studies on azrechtic acid (ARA) in pure aqueous medium, in 0–02 N KCl and in a mixture of 0–02 N KCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂. The investigations reveal the polyelectrolyte character of the azrechtic acid molecule. The corrected average value of the molecular weight from light scattering measurements is 1–7 × 10⁶. Assuming the polydisperse random coil as a suitable model for ARA molecules, the root-mean-square end-to-end distances have been calculated as 2570 Å in water, 1410 Å in 0–02 N KCl and 1180 Å in a mixture of 0–02 N KCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂. The contraction of the molecules in the presence of neutral salts has been attributed to partial reduction of electrostatic repulsion due to similarly charged ions.     

Analysis of acidic drugs in the effluents of sewage treatment plants using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Azaspiracid poisoning (AZP) is a new human toxic syndrome that is caused by the consumption of shellfish that have been feeding on harmful marine microalgae. A liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method has been developed for the determination of the three most prevalent toxins, azaspiracid (AZA1), 8-methylazaspiracid (AZA2) and 22-demethylazaspiracid (AZA3) as well as the isomeric hydroxylated analogues, AZA4 and AZA5. Separation of five azaspiracids was achieved on a C₁₈ column (Luna-2, 150×2 mm, 5 μm) with isocratic elution using acetonitrile–water containing trifluoroacetic acid and ammonium acetate as eluent modifiers. Using an electrospray ionisation (ESI) source with an ion-trap mass spectrometer, the spectra showed the protonated molecules, [M+H]⁺, with most major product ions due to the sequential loss of two water molecules. A characteristic fragmentation pathway that was observed in each azaspiracid was due to the cleavage of the A-ring at C₉–C₁₀ for each toxin. It was possible to select unique ion combinations to distinguish between the isomeric azaspiracids, AZA4 and AZA5. Highly sensitive LC–MS³ analytical methods were compared and the detection limits were 5–40 pg on-column. Linear calibrations were obtained for AZA1 in shellfish in the range 0.05–1.00 μg/ml (r²=0.9974) and good reproducibility was observed with a relative standard deviation (%RSD) of 1.8 for 0.9 μg AZA1/ml (n=5). The %RSD values for the minor toxins, AZA4 and AZA5, using LC–MS³ (A-ring fragmentation) were 12.3 and 8.1 (0.02 μg/ml; n=7), respectively. The selectivity of toxin determination was enhanced using LC–MS–MS with high energy WideBand activation.     

Comparison of calculated DFT/B3LYP and experimental C and O NMR chemical shifts, ab initio HF/6-31G* optimised structures, and single crystal X-ray structures of some substituted methyl 5β-cholan-24-oates

Single crystal X-ray structures (monoclinic space group P2₁) for methyl 3-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate and methyl 3,12-dioxo-5β-cholan-24-oate have been solved and compared with HF/6-31G* optimised structures. In the crystalline packings the side chains are connected with weak OC(sp³)HO-type of interactions between C25–H and C24–O–C25 and the keto ends with weak C(sp³)HO=C-type of interactions between C4–H and O=C3. The orientations of the side chains, which steric configurations are of great importance to the biological activity of the molecules, are compared with the experimental structure of methyl 3-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oate. Probable reasons for the observed differences are discussed. In addition, ¹³C and ¹⁷O NMR chemical shifts of methyl 3-oxo-5β-cholan-24-oate and methyl 3,12-dioxo-5β-cholan-24-oate as well as the epimeric methyl 3-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oate and methyl 3β-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oate have been calculated (DFT/B3LYP/6-311G*) and compared with the experimental values by linear regression analyses. In general, the correspondence between the theoretical and experimental parameters is good or excellent.     

Highly stereoselective reduction of methyl ketone complexes of the chiral Lewis acid [(η-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)] by K(s-C4H9)3BH; synthesis of optically active secondary alcohols and derivatives

Reaction of optically active ketone complexes (+)-(R)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)-(PPh₃)(η¹-O=C(R)(CH₃)]⁺ BF₄⁻ (R = CH₂CH₃, CH(CH₃)₂m C(CH₃)₃, C₆H₅) with K(s-C₄H₉)₃BH gives alkoxide complexes (+)-(RS)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)-(OCH(R)CH₃) (73–90%) in 80–98% de. The alkoxide ligand is then converted to Mosher esters (93–99%) of 79–98% de.     

Pressurized solvent extraction and monolithic column-HPLC/DAD analysis of anthocyanins in red cabbage

The aim of this work was to develop a fast method for extraction and analysis of anthocyanins in red cabbage. Pressurized hot water containing 5% of ethanol was used as an extremely efficient extraction solvent. HPLC/DAD with a monolithic column was used to accomplish a fast analysis—24 anthocyanin peaks within 18 min. Statistical design was used to optimize the studied extraction parameters: temperature (80–120 °C); sample amount (1–3 g); extraction time (6–11 min); concentration of formic acid in the extraction solvent (0–5 vol.%). The best extraction conditions for a majority of the anthocyanin peaks were 2.5 g of sample, 99 °C (at 50 bar), 7 min of extraction and a solvent composition of water/ethanol/formic acid (94/5/1, v/v/v).     

Strong antiferromagnetism in the dinuclear 2-pyridone complex with N–C–O bridges: A paddle-wheel analogue of the dinuclear tetracarboxylates

A novel dinuclear complex [Cu₂(μ-L)₄(HL)₂] (1) was isolated from starting 2-pyridone (HL) via a resonance and a tautomeric transformation. Each copper centre is in a square-pyramidal coordination sphere, defined by two oxygen atoms (Cu–O4 1.978(5), Cu–O11 1.964(4) Å) and two nitrogen atoms (Cu–N2 2.003(5), Cu–N3 2.007(5) Å) of four bridging deprotonated pyridin-2-olates and an oxygen atom on the top from a neutral 2-pyridone (Cu–O2 2.227(5) Å), analogous to tetracarboxylate paddle-wheel complexes. Compound 1 was compared with mixed pyridin-2-olato/methanoato analogues [Cu₂(μ-HCO₂)₂(μ-L)₂(HL)₂] · 2CH₃CN (2) and [Cu₂(μ-HCO₂)₂(μ-L)₂(HL)₂] (2a) (2a is an air stable form obtained from 2 outside mother-liquid). The EPR spectra of air stable 1 and 2a show three signals H_z1, H₂ and H_z2, typical for the binuclear systems with spin S = 1, both revealing strong antiferromagnetism 2J = −334 (1) and −324 cm⁻¹ (2a). Interestingly, only for 1 additional H₁ signal at 100 mT is noticed (D(1) = 0.293 cm⁻¹ < hν = 0.320 cm⁻¹ < D(2a) = 0.347 cm⁻¹). On the other hand, several broad signals in the 100–450 mT region, only in the high temperature spectrum for 2a are observed. These results are in agreement with the magnetic susceptibility analysis.     

Analysis of acrylamide in different foodstuffs using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Acrylamide levels over a wide range of different food products were analysed using both liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS–MS) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS–MS). Two different sample preparation methods for HPLC–MS–MS analysis were developed and optimised with respect to a high sample throughput on the one hand, and a robust and reliable analysis of difficult matrices on the other hand. The first method is applicable to various foods like potato chips, French fries, cereals, bread, and roasted coffee, allowing the analysis of up to 60 samples per technician and day. The second preparation method is not as simple and fast but enables analysis of difficult matrices like cacao, soluble coffee, molasses, or malt. In addition, this method produces extracts which are also well suited for GC–MS–MS analysis. GC–MS–MS has proven to be a sensitive and selective method offering two transitions for acrylamide even at low levels up to 1 μg kg⁻¹. For the respective methods the repeatability (n=10), given as coefficient of variation, ranged from 3% (acrylamide content of 550 μg kg⁻¹) to 12% (acrylamide content of 8 μg kg⁻¹) depending on the food matrix. The repeatability (n=3) for different food samples spiked with acrylamide (5–1500 μg kg⁻¹) ranged from 1 to 20% depending on the spiking level and the food matrix. The limit of quantification (referred to a signal-to-noise ratio of 9:1) was 30 μg kg⁻¹ for HPLC–MS–MS and 5 μg kg⁻¹ for GC–MS–MS. It could be demonstrated that measurement uncertainties were not only a result of analytical variability but also of inhomogeneity and stability of the acrylamide in food.     

Comparison of an instrumental and modified Kjeldahl technique for determination of nitrogen in niobium and tantalum alloys

Results obtained for the determination of nitrogen in two tantalum alloys and six niobium alloys by modified Kjeldahl and Leco TC-30 nitrogen—oxygen determinator are compared. In the 5–25 ppm range, for tantalum alloys, the relative standard deviation was 3–9% by the Kjeldahl procedure and 9–11% by the instrumental technique. In the range 30–80 ppm, for niobium alloys, the relative standard deviation was 2–8% by the Kjeldahl procedure and 5–7% by the instrumental technique.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) with 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO(2).PAPS) and tartaric acid with 5-NO(2).PAPS-niobium(V) complex

Spectrophotometric determinations of palladium(II) and tartaric acid were respectively investigated by using the color reactions between 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO₂.PAPS) and palladium(II) in strong acidic media, and between 5-NO₂.PAPS, niobium(V) tartaric acid in weak acidic media. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0–25 μg/10 ml palladium(II), with an apparent molecular coefficient () of 6.2×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, and 0–23 μg/10 ml tartaric acid with =1.08×10⁶ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, respectively. The proposed methods were selective and sensitive in comparison with other chelating pyridylazo dyes–palladium(II) or metavanadic acid–tartaric acid method, and the effect of foreign ions such as copper(II) was negligible for the assay of palladium(II) with 5-NO₂.PAPS.