Conducting materials prepared by the oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone

p-Phenylenediamine was oxidized with p-benzoquinone in the aqueous solutions of methanesulfonic acid (MSA). The conductivity of the products increased with increasing concentration of MSA from 1.5?×?10^?12 S cm^?1 in 0.1 M MSA up to 3.4?×?10^?4 S cm^?1 in 5 M MSA. The low-molecular-weight products are basically composed of one p-benzoquinone and two p-phenylenediamine molecules. Their molecular structure is discussed on the basis of mass, Fourier-transform infrared, Raman, NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The formation of 2,5-di(p-phenylenediamine)-p-benzoquinone protonated with methanesulfonic acid best complies with the information provided by spectroscopic techniques. Its conversion to hydroquinone tautomer explains the formation of unpaired spins observed by EPR and their potential contribution to the conduction.     

Photolysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-benzoquinone and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-chloranil in aqueous sodium sulfite solution

Photosubstitution of the sulfo group for hydrogen (chlorine in chloranil) is observed under irradiation of sulfonated derivatives of hydroquinone formed upon dissolving of p-benzoquinone and p-chloranil in aqueous solutions of sodium sulfite. The quantum yield of the photochemical reaction is 0.18 ± 0.02 for p-benzoquinone. The rate constant of the thermal reaction of substitution is 5.5 × 10⁻⁴ l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹. The substitution reaction is sensitized by eosin upon irradiation with visible light. During the course of irradiation of sulfohydroquinones, the formation of a product with an absorption maximum at 235 nm was found. The product decays with a rate constant of 0.005 s⁻¹.     

Molecular structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine

The molecular structures of N-(o-and p-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were investigated by NMR spectroscopy, x-ray structure analysis, and molecular modeling. It was found that NMR resonances of the OH and aromatic protons in N-(o-hydroxybenzyl)cytisine were doubled because of the presence of two conformers in solution. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 165–168, March–April, 2008.     

Kinetics of ruthenium(III) catalyzed and uncatalyzed oxidation of monoethanolamine by <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-bromosuccinimide

Kinetics of uncatalyzed and ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of monoethanolamine by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) has been studied in an aqueous acetic acid medium in the presence of sodium acetate and perchloric acid, respectively. In the uncatalyzed oxidation the kinetic orders are: the first order in NBS, a fractional order in the substrate. The rate of the reaction increased with an increase in the sodium acetate concentration and decreased with an increase in the perchloric acid concentration. This indicates that free amine molecules are the reactive species. Addition of halide ions results in a decrease in the kinetic rate, which is noteworthy. Both in absence and presence of a catalyst, a decrease in the dielectric constant of the medium decreases the kinetic rate pointing out that these are dipole—dipole reactions. A relatively higher oxidation state of ruthenium i.e., Ru(V) was found to be the active species in Ru(III) catalyzed reactions. A suitable mechanism consistent with the observations has been proposed and a rate law has been derived to explain the kinetic orders.     

Nickel catalysis for hydrogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-dinitrobenzene to <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine

The activity of supported nickel catalysts (5–20% Ni) in the hydrogenation of p-dinitrobenzene to p-phenylenediamine was investigated. The catalysts were obtained by ureainduced precipitation. Activated carbon, alumina, titania, and silica gel were evaluated as supports. The most active catalysts, 5%Ni/TiO₂ and 20%Ni/SiO₂, provided 50–54% yields of p-phenylenediamine at complete dinitrobenzene conversion.     

Micelle-assisted cerium(IV) oxidation of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">L</Emphasis>-sorbose in aqueous sulfuric acid

Spectrophotometric kinetic technique has been used to investigate the effect of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants on the redox reaction of cerium(IV)+l-sorbose in aqueous sulfuric acid media. The anionic SDS has no effect, whereas the reaction rate increases in the presence of cationic CTAB, which is due to favorable conditions provide by the cationic micelles. The reaction rate decreases with [H₂SO₄], and no acid-dependent path has been observed. At constant [H₂SO₄], the rate of the reaction is dependent on the first powers of the l-sorbose and cerium(IV) concentrations. The CTAB-assisted reaction is retarded by addition of electrolytes (Na₂SO₄, NaNO₃, and NaCl), which is attributed to the competition between electrolyte anions and cerium(IV)-sulfato species. Bromide ion (of CTAB or externally added in the form of NaBr) is not oxidized by the cerium(IV) (as a main or side reaction).     

Kinetics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-propylmercaptan oxidation by cobalt(III) octahydroxyphthalocyanine in an alkali medium

The specific features of the association of cobalt octahydroxyphthalocyanine in aqueous alkaline solutions have been investigated by electron spectroscopy. The kinetic parameters of the oxidation of n-propylmercaptan by the phthalocyanine complex of cobalt in the absence of oxygen have been determined. The association leads to a decrease in the activity of the complex and to changes in activation parameters.     

4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript> resonances in photoionization from 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>4<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> levels in neutral zinc

In neutral zinc the 4p ² configuration lies above the 3d ¹⁰4s ionization limit and its levels become perturbers in the continuum. Lines have been identified in the Zn I spectrum for the multiplet, whereas no lines have been found for transitions to 4p ^{2 1} D or ¹ S. In this paper, cross sections for photoionization from 4s4p levels are reported that reveal the positions and widths of the 4p ² resonances. Calculations were performed using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) and B-spline R-matrix (BSR) method. Results from Breit–Pauli calculations that ignore the background continua are also presented. Included in the latter are energies for the levels and transition data (transition energies, line strengths, f-values, and A-rates) for all E1 transitions between these levels. Transition energies and the agreement in the length and velocity values, particularly for allowed transitions, indicate the accuracy of the computational model. Line widths are compared with other estimates. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Reaction of 1,3,4,6-tetraketones with <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-toluidine and benzaldehyde

Reactions of 1,6-diphenylhexane-1,3,4,6-tetraone, octane-2,4,5,7-tetra-one, and decane-3,5,6,8-tetraone with a mixture of p-toluidine and benzaldehyde afforded, respectively, 2-[4-benzoyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl]-1-phenylethanone, (1E)-1-[4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-5-phenyl-1,5-dihydro-2H-pyrrol-2-ylidene]propan-2-one, and 2-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-2-(2-oxobutyl)-4-propanoyl-5-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrol-3-one.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">bis</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-diethylnicotinamide) <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-chlorobenzoate complexes of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)

Three novel mixed ligand complexes of Ni(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) with p-chlorobenzote and N,N-diethylnicotinamide were synthesised and characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopic analysis, solid state UV-Vis spectrometric and magnetic susceptibility data. The thermal behavior of the complexes was studied by simultaneous TG-DTA methods in static air atmosphere and the mass spectra data were recorded. According to microanalytical results, formulas of complexes are C₃₄H₄₀N₄O₈ClNi, C₃₄H₄₀N₄O₈ClZn and C₃₄H₄₄N₄O₁₀ClCd. The complexes contain two moles of coordination waters, two moles p-chlorobenzoate and two mole N,N-diethylnicotinamide (dena) ligands per formula unit. In these complexes, the p-chlorobenzoate and N,N-diethylnicotinamide behave as monodentate ligand through acidic oxygen and nitrogen of pyridine ring. The decomposition pathways and the stability of the complexes are interpreted in the terms of the structural data. The final decomposition products were found to be as metal oxides.     

Electrosynthesis of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylene) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylene/pyrrole) films under controlled humidity

Poly(p-phenylene/pyrrole) (PPP-PPY) films were electrochemically synthesised on transparent indium-tin-oxide-covered glass (ITO) electrodes. The presence of two monomers, p-phenylene and pyrrole, in the polymerisation medium facilitated the synthesis process, yielding electroactive, uniform and stable films. In order to obtain materials with improved quality, PPP, PPY and PPP-PPY films were prepared in a mild, dry atmosphere. The morphological, electrochemical and optical properties were compared for different films obtained by varying the number of cycles with and without controlling humidity.     

Cytotoxicity of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenylenediamine)

Although poly(p-phenylenediamine) is an electric non-conductor, it exhibits, analogously to conducting polymers, redox activity and could, therefore, find applications in biomedicine. In the current work, the cytotoxicity of poly(p-phenylenediamine) polymer powder produced by the chemical oxidation of p-phenylenediamine with ammonium peroxydisulfate in acidic aqueous media has been studied. Primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts were used for this purpose. Interestingly, the standard methods for the determination of polymer cytotoxicity based on international standard EN ISO 10993-5 could not be applied. The reason was the interaction of polymer extracts with MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay. On the basis of the evaluation of flow cytometry and micrographs taken by fluorescence microscopy on cells treated with extracts of poly(p-phenylenediamine), it can be concluded that the powder polymer possesses severe cytotoxicity. The results suggest that practical application of the polymer within biomedicine is, at the current state of knowledge, difficult, and modification of the preparation techniques and/or subsequent purification of poly(p-phenylenediamine) is needed.     

Oxidation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Xylene

The review discusses the main procedures for producing terephthalic acid from p-xylene (primarily the Amoco process with the participation of Co, Mn, and Br salts), the oxidation mechanisms, alternative processes, and perspectives.     

Synthesis of oxo derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolysulfonyl)hexahydrocycloalka[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]indoles

Hydroxymercuration-demercuration of N-p-tolysulfonyl-4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-3H-carbazoles and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,3a,4,8b-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]indoles leads to the formation of the corresponding N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-2-ols and N-p-tolyl(or methyl)sulfonyl-1,2,3,3a,4,8b-hexahydrocyclopenta[b]indol-2-ols. The latter are oxidized to 2-oxo derivatives with potassium dichromate. The oxidation of 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolylsulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-ol under analogous conditions gives 2-methoxy-8-methyl-N-p-tolysulfonyl-2,3,4,4a,9,9a-hexahydro-1H-carbazol-1-one.     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of aquaethylenediaminetetraacetatocobaltate(II) by <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-bromosuccinimide in aqueous acidic solution

The oxidation of aquaethylenediaminetetraacetatocobaltate(II) [Co(EDTA)(H₂O)]⁻² by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in aqueous solution has been studied spectrophotometrically over the pH 6.10–7.02 range at 25 °C. The reaction is first-order with respect to complex and the oxidant, and it obeys the following rate law:

Kinetics and mechanism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis>-isoleucine oxidation by alkaline diperiodatoargentate(III)

The oxidation of L-isoleucine by alkaline diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) at 298 K and a constant ionic strength of 0.80 mol dm⁻³ was studied spectrophotometrically. The stoichiometry is [L-isoleucine]: [DPA] = 1:2. The reaction is first order in [DPA] and has less than unit order in both [L-isoleucine] and [alkali] and retarding effect in The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a L-isoleucine–DPA complex, which further reacts with one molecule of DPA in a rate determining step followed by other fast steps to give the products. Spot test and IR were used to identify the main products. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanism are calculated. The activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism are computed and discussed, and thermodynamic quantities are also determined. The probable active species of oxidant have been identified. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-conformers of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-chloroacetylcytisine

N-Chloroacetylcytisine was synthesized by acylation of (–)-cytisine. Stable Z- and E-conformers with respect to rotational isomerism around the N-12–CO bond were found in PMR spectra at room temperature. The point at which PMR resonances of the Z- and E-conformers coalesced upon heating was measured. The transition barrier between the conformers was estimated.     

Kinetics of Formation of Octa(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Bromophenyl)tetraazaporphine Complexes with <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Bases in Benzene-Dimethyl Sulfoxide System

The acid-base interaction of octa(p-bromophenyl)tetraazaporphine with nitrogen-containing organic bases in benzene-DMSO system is studied. The structures of the proton-transfer complexes formed in the reaction are suggested. The reaction rate, activation parameters, and mechanism of intermolecular transfer of protons of the NH groups of octa(p-bromophenyl)tetraazaporphine to a base were shown to be determined by the nature of the proton-acceptor molecules. The dielectric permeability of a binary solvent was found to significantly affect the kinetic parameters of the process.     

Stability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>-element diphosphates in water

The mean atomic Gibbs energies of formation of (Δ _f ? _at ⁰ ) of s-, p-, and d-element diphosphates have been calculated using ion increments of the Gibbs energy (Δ _f G ⁰). The diphosphate hydrolysis kinetics is considered, and a correlation between the Δ _f ? _at ⁰ values and the hydrolysis rate constants is presented.     

Halogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-substituted <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinone monoimines and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-quinone monooxime ethers: XV. Synthesis and bromination of 4-(cinnamoyloxyimino)-cyclohexa-2,5-dienones

New 4-(cinnamoyloxyimino)cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-ones were synthesized, and their bromination afforded bromine addition products to the syn- and anti-C=C bonds of the quinoid ring. In all cases, bromine addition to the C=C double bond of the cinnamoyl fragment was observed.