Uncontrolled pseudoliving free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of butyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinones

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by dicyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate in the presence of tri-n-butylboron and butyl-p-benzoquinone or 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone occurred with no induction period. The yields and molecular masses of the polymers linearly increased with an increase in the conversion degree, which suggests the free-radical mechanism of “living” chain polymerization. The poly(methyl methacrylate) macrochains of the prepolymers contained sterically hindered aromatic structures with labile C-O bonds. The latter underwent reversible homolytic dissociation to give a growth-inducing radical and sterically hindered aryloxyls. Pseudoliving free-radical polymerization in the presence of the prepolymer (macroinitiator) was studied at 45, 60, and 80 °C. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1119–1122, June, 2007.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butyl (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolylsulfonyloxy)propionate — a suitable reagent for the direct alkylation of indole derivatives

A new method is proposed for the synthesis of indole derivatives containing a chiral substituent at the nitrogen atom, which includes the direct alkylation of indole derivatives with tert-butyl (2S)-(p-tolylsulfonyloxy)propionate, obtained from commercial ethyl (S)-lactate with subsequent conversion to the corresponding p-toluenesulfonyloxy derivative by hydrolysis, and esterification. Dedicated to Academician B. A. Trofimov on his 70^th birthday. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, 1391–1398, September, 2008.     

Electrochemical preparation of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylene) thin films

We report the electrochemical preparation of poly(p-phenylene) (PPP) thin films with a polymerization degree of approximately 20 using biphenyl as starting material. The PPP films are prepared directly on a tin oxide electrode, presenting a positive charge carrier mobility of 5×10⁻⁷ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Alkylation of 2,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylphenol with methyl acrylate catalyzed by potassium 2,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylphenoxide

The kinetics of catalytic alkylation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (ArOH) with methyl acrylate (MA) in the presence of potassium 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide (ArOK) depends on the method for the preparation of ArOK. The reaction of ArOH with KOH at temperatures > 180 °C affords monomeric ArOK, whose properties differ from those in the case of potassium 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide synthesized by the earlier methods. The regularities of ArOH alkylation depend on the ArOK concentration, the ArOH: MA ratio, and the effect of microadditives of polar solvents. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1971–1974, October, 2007.     

Reaction sites of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N′</Emphasis>-substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine antioxidants

The geometries of N,N′-diphenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (DPPD), N-phenyl-N′-(1-phenylethyl)benzene-1,4-diamine (SPPD), N-(4-methylpentan-2-yl)-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (6PPD), N-propan-2-yl-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (IPPD), N-(2-methoxybenzyl)-N′-phenylbenzene-1,4-diamine (MBPPD), and N-phenyl-N′-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)benzene-1,4-diamine (CPPD) as well as of their dehydrogenation products were optimized by the semiempirical AM1 method. The results support the idea of stable N_B=C_X structures formation during the consecutive dehydrogenation of SPPD, 6PPD, IPPD, and MBPPD antioxidants. The biradicals formed during the second step of dehydrogenation of substituted phenylenediamines might be important for their antioxidant effectiveness. Dedicated to Professor Vladimír Kvasnička, DrSc., in honour of his 65th birthday     

Annelation of drotaverine by <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinones to form hydroxyindolo- and hydroxybenzindoloisoquinoline derivatives

1-(3, 4-Diethoxybenzyl)-6, 7-diethoxy-3, 4-dihydroisoquinoline (drotaverine, 1a) reacts with p-benzoquinone (2) and p-naphthoquinone (3) in nitromethane or during fusion to give 5-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-7, 8-diethoxy-3-hydroxy-5a, 10, 11, 12-tetrahydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline (4) and 7-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-9, 10-diethoxy-5-hydroxy-7a, 12, 13, 14-tetrahydrobenz[g]indolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline (5), respectively. Compounds 4 and 5 are smoothly alkylated at the oxygen atom in the presence of bases. The structure of one alkylation product, viz., 3-allyloxy-5-(3, 4-diethoxyphenyl)-7, 8-diethoxy-5a, 10, 11, 12-tetrahydroindolo[2, 1-a]isoquinoline, was established by X-ray diffraction analysis.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 761–769, March, 2005.     

Photo-induced interfacial electron transfer from CdSe quantum dots to surface-bound <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone and anthraquinone

Here we report transient spectral red-shift and transient absorption enhancement of p-benzoquinone radical in the presence of CdSe quantum dots after 355 nm pulse laser excitation. The spectral shift was caused by surface-bound p-benzoquinone molecules while the transient absorption increase was due to interfacial electron transfer from CdSe quantum dots to p-benzoquinone molecules. In contrast, spectral shift and absorption increase were much less significant for anthraquinone in the presence of CdSe quantum dots due to their weak adsorption abilities.     

Synthesis of magnesium catecholate and <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-semiquinone complexes by oxidation of the metal with 3,6-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

Oxidation of amalgamated magnesium metal with 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone (1) in different aprotic organic solvents afforded magnesium catecholate and bis-o-semiquinolate complexes. The catecholate derivatives of magnesium CatMgL₂ (Cat is the 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone dianion, L = THF or Py) were synthesized in high yields in pyridine and tetrahydrofuran, respectively. The reactions in diethyl ether or dimethoxyethane produced hexacoordinated metal bis-o-semiquinolates SQ₂MgL_n (SQ is the 3,6-di-tert-butyl-o-benzoquinone radical anion, L = Et₂O, n = 2; L = DME, n = 1). The reaction with the use of toluene as the solvent gave a magnesium bis-o-semiquinolate complex containing the coordinated unreduced o-quinone molecule. The molecular structures of the [CatMgPy₂]₂ and SQ₂Mg·DME complexes were established by X-ray diffraction. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 1, pp. 92–98, January, 2007.     

Micelle formation induced by photolysis of a poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butoxystyrene)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">block</Emphasis>-polystyrene diblock copolymer

We found the novel photolysis-induced micellization of the poly(tert-butoxystyrene)-block-polystyrene diblock copolymer (PBSt-b-PSt). PBSt-b-PSt with a molecular weight of Mn(PBSt-b-PSt) = 15,000-b-97,000 showed no self-assembly in dichloromethane and existed as isolated copolymers with a hydrodynamic diameter of 16.6 nm. Dynamic light scattering demonstrated that the copolymer produced micelles with a 63.0 nm hydrodynamic diameter when the copolymer solution was irradiated with a high-pressure mercury lamp at room temperature in the presence of bis(alkylphenyl) iodonium hexafluorophosphate, a photoacid generator. The ¹H NMR analysis revealed that the micellization resulted from the photolysis of the PBSt blocks into insoluble poly(vinyl phenol) blocks based on the fact that the signal intensity of the tert-butyl protons decreased over time during the irradiation. It was found that the micellization rapidly proceeded as the degree of the photolysis reached over 50% and was completed at 90%.     

Molecular and crystal structure of 5-amino-3-(N-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methylbenzoyl-N-<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-toluenesulfonyl)amino-1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole

It has been established by X-ray structural analysis that the initial product of the interaction of 5-amino-1-phenyl-3-p-toluenesulfonylamino-1,2,4-triazole with p-methylbenzoyl chloride is 5-amino-3-(N-pmethylbenzoyl-N-p-toluenesulfonyl)amino-1-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 917–921, June, 2007.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> study of aniline and <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-propylamine associates with nitrobenzene and <Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis>-cresol

An ab initio (6-31G**) study of binary associates of aniline and n-propylamine with nitrobenzene and m-cresol has been carried out. The structures corresponding to the total energy minimum of the system have been found for the associates, and their geometrical and energy characteristics have been determined. Basic types of intermolecular interactions have been established, and their effects on the reactivity of the amino group have been investigated.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by I. A. Novakov, V. V. Korolkov, A. I. Pavlyuchko, B. S. Orlinson, and L. A. GribovTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 595–601, July–August, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Intramolecular co-operative hydrogen bond in calix[<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>]arenes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 4, 6, 8) bearing bulky substituents

Based on the Fourier transform IR spectroscopy together with the published NMR and X-ray data, it was shown that cyclic co-operative intramolecular hydrogen bond in calix[n]arene (n = 4, 6, 8) molecules is mainly responsible for their conformational state irrespective of the presence or absence of bulky substituents at the upper rim of the molecules. In accordance with the size of a macrocycle (n = 4, 6, 8), the stable conformation, secured by such a hydrogen bond, constitutes a cone, a pinched cone, and a pleated loop, respectively. The new, potentially competing system of hydrogen bonds in calix[6]arenes with 3-carboxymethyl-1-adamantyl substituents does not affect the conformational state of the macrocycle and its H-bonding. Six carboxy groups at the upper rim form in pairs three cyclic dimers, which does not disturb the hydrogen bonds of the hydroxy groups and the conformation of the macrocycle. In addition, the cavity of the molecule is considerably enlarged. The removal or rearrangement of the guest molecules in the solid calixarene by heating up to 180 °C only slightly affects the conformational state of macrocycles bearing bulky substituents, whereas in calixarenes devoid of such substituents, the similar procedure leads to somewhat of a distortion of the macrocycles (judging from the IR spectral indications of hydrogen bonding). Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1062–1068, June, 2007.     

Raman spectroscopic study of the hydration of short-chain poly(oxyethylene)s C <Subscript>1</Subscript>E<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript>C <Subscript>1</Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>=1−4)

The hypothesis that the degree of hydration of poly(oxyethylene) (POE) in aqueous solution depends on the mole ratio of water molecules to ether oxygen atoms in the molecule has been verified by studying the isotropic Raman spectra in the O−H stretching region for four short-chain POEs (C ₁E _n C ₁ withn=1−4). Excellent coincidence of the O−H stretching Raman band for all four POEs studied in the range of mole ratio H₂O/O _ether from 25 to 0.6 was observed, thus confirming the assumption stated above. A conclusion that all ether oxygen atoms in the POE molecule participate in hydrogen bonding with water molecules has been made.     

Functionalization of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones: amino-substituted 3,6-di(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones

New sterically hindered functionalized o-quinones were synthesized by the 1,4-nucleophilic addition of secondary cyclic amines to 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-o-benzoquinone. The ability of these o-quinones to form o-semiquinone complexes with transition and main-group metals was studied by ESR spectroscopy in solution. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1786–1793, September, 2007.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

Stereoselective synthesis of spiro derivatives of 2,4-dimethyl-2,3,4,4a,5,6-hexahydro-6<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>]quinolizine

The reactions of 2-(3,5-dimethylpiperidino)benzaldehyde with Meldrum's acid and cyclohexane-1,3-dione occur as a tandem of the Knoevenagel condensation and cyclization promoted by the tert-amino effect. The cyclization yields only one isomer with the axial hydrogen atoms in positions 4 and 4a of the benzoquinolizine ring. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1492–1494, June, 2005.     

Aryltetralin Lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum mucronatum</Emphasis> Bertol. ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mucronatum</Emphasis>

The dried and aerial part of Linum mucronatum ssp. mucronatum was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Two aryltetralin lignans, podophylloyoxin, 6-methoxypodophylloyoxin, and β-peltatin, were identified. This is the first report of the analysis of L. mucronatum ssp. mucronatum.__________Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 24–25, January–February, 2005.     

Formation and structures of 2,5-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylcyclopentadienone dimers

The structures of dimers formed from 2,5-di-tert-butylcyclopentadienone in the reaction with alkaline metals and in the Diels-Alder reaction were studied. A photochemical rearrangement with ring contraction was found for the second dimer. Spectral features of the dimers related to steric hindrance were studied by 1D and 2D NMR procedures.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2179–2183, October, 2004.     

Synthesis of 2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis> Stereomeric Emetamines <Emphasis Type="Italic">via Reissert</Emphasis> Compounds

Summary. Alkylation of Reissert compounds with certain benzoquinolizinone derivatives followed by hydrolytic cleavage afforded the core of the title compounds in a two step sequence. Finally, the lactam intermediates were reduced with DIBAH giving the target compounds, the structural and stereochemical assignments of which were achieved by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Part of PhD thesis, LMU München, D     

Experimental and Theoretical Studies on (<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-methoxyphenyl)thiosemicarbazide

The title compound, (p-methoxyphenyl)thiosemicarbazide, has been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ab initio calculations of the structure, atomic charges, natural bond orbital, topological analysis, and thermodynamic functions of the title compound were performed at HF/6-311G^** and B3LYP/6-311G^** levels of theory. The calculated results show that the sulfur atom and nitrogen atoms have bigger negative charges, which result in that they are the potential sites to react with the metallic ions. Electronic absorption spectra were calculated by the time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) and configuration interaction single-excitation (CIS) methods and they are corresponding to the experimental values. The calculation of the second-order optical nonlinearity was carried out, and the molecular hyperpolarizability was 2.592×10⁻³⁰ esu, indicating it is a potential candidate as second-order nonlinear optical material.