Near-Infrared-Absorbing Chiral Open [60]Fullerenes

Though [60]fullerene is an achiral molecular nanocarbon with I_h symmetry, it could attain an inherent chirality depending upon a functionalization pattern. The conventional chiral induction of C₆₀ relies mainly upon a multiple addition affording a mixture of achiral and chiral isomers while their chiral function would be largely offset by the existence of pseudo-mirror plane(s). These are major obstacles to proceed further study on fullerene chirality and yet leave its understanding elusive. Herein, we showcase a carbene-mediated synthesis of C₁-symmetric chiral open [60]fullerenes showing an intense far-red to near-infrared absorption. The large dissymmetry factor of |g_abs|=0.12 was achieved at λ=820 nm for circular dichroism in benzonitrile. This is, in general, unachievable by other small chiral organic molecules, demonstrating the potential usage of open [60]fullerenes as novel types of chiral chromophores.     

Direct visualization of chirality in two dimensions

Surface science techniques have been used to investigate 2D chirality induced by molecular adsorption at the Cu(1 1 0) surface. Particular emphasis has been devoted to presenting molecular resolution scanning tunnelling microscope images which provide direct, real-space access to chiral behaviour at the nanoscale. The systems chosen demonstrate the gamut of chiral organization: conglomerates, racemates and solid solutions. They show the creation of chirality from achiral adsorbates, and the enantiospecific hosting of an intrinsic chiral guest. In short, chirality at surfaces manifests its full range of behaviours, and STM provides the means by which that behaviour can be captured.     

Synthesis and asymmetric catalytic application of chiral imidazolium–phosphines derived from (1R,2R)-trans-diaminocyclohexane

Reaction between a chiral imidazole–amine precursor derived from (1R,2R)-trans-diaminocyclohexane and P¹Cl (where P¹ = PPh₂, P(1,3,5-Me₃C₆H₃)₂, P(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-biphenyl), P((R)-(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-binaphthyl))) and P((S)-(2,2′-O,O′-(1,1′-binaphthyl)))) followed by RX (where R = ⁿPr, ⁱPr, CHPh₂, X = Br; R = ⁱPr, X = I), respectively, gives a selection of chiral imidazolium–phosphine compounds. Deprotonation of the imidazolium salt gives the corresponding NHC–P ligands that can be used in metal-mediated asymmetric catalytic applications. Catalytic reactions show that NHC–P ligands give a significantly greater rate of reaction for a palladium catalysed allylic substitution reaction in comparison to analogous di-NHC or NHC–imine ligands and that NHC–P hybrids are also effective for iridium catalysed transfer hydrogenation.     

Formation of chiral ionic liquids and imidazol-2-ylidene metal complexes from the proteinogenic aminoacid l-histidine

Treatment of the amino acid derivative Bz-His-OMe with excess n-propyl bromide gave the corresponding histidinium salt [Bz-His(n-propyl)₂-OMe⁺Br⁻]. It features a melting point of 39 °C and may serve as a useful readily available optically active ionic liquid. Its subsequent treatment with silver oxide gave the corresponding l-histidine derived chiral N-heterocyclic carbene complex [“(carbene)₂Ag · AgBr₂”]. Transmetallation by treatment with Pd(CH₃CN)₂Cl₂ or [Rh(cod)Cl]₂ led to the formation of the respective chiral late metal imidazol-2-ylidene complexes [“(carbene)₂PdCl₂”] and [“(carbene)RhCl(cod)”], respectively. Four diastereomers of the square planar palladium system were observed. Due to the additional chirality center in the l-histidine-derived “Arduengo-carbene ligand” two diastereomers of the rhodium carbene complex were formed.     

The spectroscopic characterization of the sulphate mineral ettringite from Kuruman manganese deposits,South Africa

The mineral ettringite has been studied using a number of techniques, including XRD, SEM with EDX, thermogravimetry and vibrational spectroscopy. The mineral proved to be composed of 53% of ettringite and 47% of thaumasite in a solid solution. Thermogravimetry shows a mass loss of 46.2% up to 1000 °C. Raman spectroscopy identifies multiple sulphate symmetric stretching modes in line with the three sulphate crystallographically different sites. Raman spectroscopy also identifies a band at 1072 cm⁻¹ attributed to a carbonate symmetric stretching mode, confirming the presence of thaumasite. The observation of multiple bands in the ν₄ spectral region between 700 and 550 cm⁻¹ offers evidence for the reduction in symmetry of the sulphate anion from T_d to C_2v or even lower symmetry. The Raman band at 3629 cm⁻¹ is assigned to the OH unit stretching vibration and the broad feature at around 3487 cm⁻¹ to water stretching bands. Vibrational spectroscopy enables an assessment of the molecular structure of natural ettringite to be made.     

FICA,a new chiral derivatizing agent for determining the absolute configuration of secondary alcohols by 19F and 1H NMR spectroscopies

Optically active 1-fluoroindan-1-carboxylic acid (FICA) was designed and prepared as its methyl ester for determining the absolute configuration of chiral molecules by both ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopies. Enantiomerically pure isomers of FICA methyl esters (FICA Me esters) were obtained by chromatographic separation using HPLC with a Daicel Chiralcel OJ-H column. The absolute configuration of the (+)-FICA Me ester was deduced to be (S) by X-ray crystallographic analysis of the (+)-FICA amide of (R)-α-phenethylamine. Both enantiomers were derived to the diastereomeric esters of chiral secondary alcohols by an ester exchange reaction. In the ¹H NMR spectra, the signs of Δδ_H (δ_R ? δ_S) were consistent on each side of the FICA molecular plane. Therefore, the concept of the modified Mosher’s method could be successfully applied to the FICA-based procedure. Moreover, the consistency in the signs of Δδ_F (δ_R ? δ_S) values suggests that the FICA method would be reliable in assigning the absolute configurations of secondary alcohols based on ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy.     

Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous tetrahydrofuran,dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane,and 1,2-dimethoxyethane at temperatures from 278.15 K to 393.15 K and at the pressure 0.35 MPa

We determined apparent molar volumes V_? at 278.15 ? (T/K) ? 368.15 and apparent molar heat capacities C_p,? at 278.15 ? (T/K) ? 393.15 at p = 0.35 MPa for aqueous solutions of tetrahydrofuran at m from (0.016 to 2.5) mol · kg^?1, dimethyl sulfoxide at m from (0.02 to 3.0) mol · kg^?1, 1,4-dioxane at m from (0.015 to 2.0) mol · kg^?1, and 1,2-dimethoxyethane at m from (0.01 to 2.0) mol · kg^?1. Values of V_? were determined from densities measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter, and values of C_p,? were determined with a twin fixed-cell, differential, temperature-scanning calorimeter. Empirical functions of m and T for each compound were fitted to our V_? and C_p,? results.     

Apparent molar volumes and apparent molar heat capacities of aqueous KI,HIO3, NaIO3, and KIO3 at temperatures from 278.15 K to 393.15 K and at the pressure 0.35 MPa

We determined apparent molar volumes V_? at 298.15 ? (T/K) ? 368.15 and apparent molar heat capacities C_p,? at 298.15 ? (T/K) ? 393.15 for aqueous solutions of HIO₃ at molalities m from (0.015 to 1.0) mol · kg^?1, and of aqueous KIO₃ at molalities m from (0.01 to 0.2) mol · kg^?1 at p = 0.35 MPa. We also determined V_? at the same p and at 298.15 ? (T/K) ? 368.15 for aqueous solutions of KI at m from (0.015 to 7.5) mol · kg^?1. We determined C_p,? at the same p and at 298.15 ? (T/K) ? 393.15 for aqueous solutions of KI at m from (0.015 to 5.5) mol · kg^?1, and for aqueous solutions of NaIO₃ at m from (0.02 to 0.15) mol · kg^?1. Values of V_? were determined from densities measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter, and values of C_p,? were determined with a twin fixed-cell, differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. Empirical functions of m and T were fitted to our results for each compound. Values of K_a, Δ_rH_m, and Δ_rC_p,m for the proton ionization reaction of aqueous HIO₃ are calculated and discussed.     

55Mn nuclear spin relaxation in the truly axial single-molecule magnet Mn12-t-butylacetate thermally-activated down to 400 mK

We report on the measurements of the spin–lattice relaxation time, T₁, of Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CCH₂Bu^t)₁₆(CH₃OH)₄ · CH₃OH, a truly axial symmetry Mn₁₂ single-molecule magnet (SMM), with the view to examining the role of point symmetry and lattice-solvate molecules in this Mn₁₂ SMM. The measurements were made over 0.390–1.8 K, on freshly prepared single crystals which afforded much higher spectral resolution than magnetically aligned powder. The measured T₁ is found to be thermally activated, and follows either a T² or exponential behavior over 0.390–0.7 K, in contrast to the temperature-independent behavior for Mn₁₂-acetate, where Jahn–Teller isomers are thought to be the origin of the temperature-independent nuclear relaxation mechanism.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous l-methionine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.0125 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of l-methionine,methioninium chloride,and sodium methioninate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of l-methionine, l-methionine plus equimolal HCl, and l-methionine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.0125 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0 as solubilities allowed, and at p = 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic l-methionine. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for methioninium chloride {H₂Met⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium methioninate {Na⁺Met⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. Values are given for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous l-methionine as functions of T and m.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous glycine at temperatures from 278.15 to 393.15 K,molalities from 0 to 1.0 mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of glycine,glycinium chloride,and sodium glycinate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of glycine, glycine plus equimolal HCl, and glycine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, molalities 0.01 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at p = 0.35 MPa, using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a fixed-cell differential scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values of V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), NaCl(aq) from the literature to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic glycine. We then integrated this value of Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) in an iterative algorithm, using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on the observed V_ϕ and C_p,ϕ of the solutions. This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for glycinium chloride {H₂Gly⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and sodium glycinate {Na⁺Gly⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. We have then calculated values of Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, Δ_rV_m, and pQ_a for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous glycine as functions of T and m.     

Thermodynamic study of (heptane + amine) mixtures. II. Excess and partial molar volumes at 298.15 K

Excess molar volumes V^E at 298.15 K were determined by means of a vibrating tube densimeter for binary mixtures of heptane + primary n-alkyl (C₃ to C₁₀) and branched amines (iso-propyl-, iso-, sec-, and tert-butyl-, iso-, tert-pentyl-, and pentan-3-amine) in the whole composition range. The apparent molar volumes of solid dodecyl- and tetradecylamine in heptane dilute solution were also determined. The V^E values were found positive for mixtures involving C₃ to C₈ linear amines, with V^E decreasing with chain lengthening. Heptane + nonyl and decylamine showed s-shaped, markedly asymmetric, curves. Mixtures with branched C₃ to C₅ amines displayed positive V^E’s larger than those observed in the mixtures of the corresponding linear isomers. Partial molar volumes V° at infinite dilution in heptane were evaluated for the examined amines and compared with those of alkanes and alkanols taken from the literature. An additivity scheme, based on the intrinsic volume approach, was applied to estimate group (CH₃, CH₂, CH, C, NH₂, and OH) contributions to V°. The effect of branching on V° and the limiting slope of the apparent excess molar volumes were evaluated and discussed in terms of solute–solvent and solute–solute interactions.     

Stereocontrolled self-assembly of luminescent lanthanide helicates and their enantiodifferentiation using Δ-TRISPHAT as the NMR resolving agent

Self-assembled supramolecular lanthanide constructs have great potential in luminescent bioprobes/sensors. Stereoselectivity on the lanthanide assemblies is needed to facilitate chiroptical probes and sensors. Herein we report the stereocontrolled synthesis of M₂L₃-type (M = metal ion, L = organic ligand) lanthanide triple-helicates using a chiral-induction strategy, where the periphery point-chirality [(R,R) or (S,S)] of the organic ligands was transferred into the metal centered chirality (ΔΔ or ΛΛ), thus leading to the formation of topological chiral (P or M) helicates. Moreover, commercially available Δ-TRISPHAT proved to be an effective NMR chiral resolving agent to differentiate between the two enantiomers of the helicate.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel intramolecularly O,C,O-coordinated heteroleptic organostannylenes and their tungstenpentacarbonyl complexes

The syntheses are reported of the novel heteroleptic organostannylenes [2,6-(ROCH₂)₂C₆H₃]SnCl (1, R = Me; 2, R = t-Bu) and of their tungstenpentacarbonyl complexes [2,6-(ROCH₂)₂C₆H₃](X)SnW(CO)₅ (3, X = Cl, R = Me; 4, X = Cl, R = t-Bu; 5, X = H, R = Me). The compounds were characterized by means of elemental analyses, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopies, electrospray mass spectrometry and in case of 3 and 4 also by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. For the two latter compounds the substituents bound at the ether oxygen atom control the strength of intramolecular O → Sn coordination. Thus, the O–Sn distances amount to 2.391(5)/2.389(5) (3) and 2.464(3)/2.513(3) Å (4).     

Macroscopic Chirality of Supramolecular Gels Formed from Achiral Tris(ethyl cinnamate) Benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxamides

A C₃‐symmetric benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxamide substituted with ethyl cinnamate was found to self‐assemble into supramolecular gels with macroscopic chirality in a DMF/H₂O mixture. The achiral compound simultaneously formed left‐ and right‐handed twists in an unequal number, thus resulting in the macroscopic chirality of the gels without any chiral additives. Furthermore, ester–amide exchange reactions with chiral amines enabled the control of both the handedness of the twists and the macroscopic chirality of the gels, depending on the structures of the chiral amines. These results provide new prospects for understanding and regulating symmetry breaking in assemblies of supramolecular gels formed from achiral molecular building blocks.     

Thermodynamics of proton dissociations from aqueous alanine at temperatures from (278.15 to 393.15) K,molalities from (0.0075 to 1.0) mol · kg−1, and at the pressure 0.35 MPa: Apparent molar heat capacities and apparent molar volumes of alanine,alaninium chloride,and sodium alaninate

We have measured the densities of aqueous solutions of alanine, alanine plus equimolal HCl, and alanine plus equimolal NaOH at temperatures 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 368.15, at molalities 0.0075 ⩽ m/mol · kg⁻¹ ⩽ 1.0, and at the pressure p = 0.35 MPa using a vibrating tube densimeter. We have also measured the heat capacities of these solutions at 278.15 ⩽ T/K ⩽ 393.15 and at the same m and p using a twin fixed-cell differential temperature-scanning calorimeter. We used the densities to calculate apparent molar volumes V_ϕ and the heat capacities to calculate apparent molar heat capacities C_p,ϕ for these solutions. We used our results and values from the literature for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for HCl(aq), NaOH(aq), and NaCl(aq) and the molar heat capacity change Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for ionization of water to calculate parameters for Δ_rC_p,m(T, m) for the two proton dissociations from protonated aqueous cationic alanine. We integrated these results in an iterative algorithm using Young’s Rule to account for the effects of speciation and chemical relaxation on V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m). This procedure yielded parameters for V_ϕ(T, m) and C_p,ϕ(T, m) for alaninium chloride {H₂Ala⁺Cl⁻(aq)} and for sodium alaninate {Na⁺Ala⁻(aq)} which successfully modeled our observed results. Values are given for Δ_rC_p,m, Δ_rH_m, pQ_a, Δ_rS_m, and Δ_rV_m for the first and second proton dissociations from protonated aqueous alanine as functions of T and m.     

Novel chiral copper complexes of N,P-ferrocenyl ligands with central and planar chirality as efficient catalyst for asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to imines

A new type of chiral copper complexes of N,P-ferrocenyl ligands with central and planar chirality as efficient catalyst was applied to the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to N-diphenylphosphinoylimines. The (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the addition reaction were obtained for this transformation. In the presence of 6 mol % of bidentate ligand 1 and 12 mol % of Cu(OTf)₂, the asymmetric addition process affords N-diphenylphosphinoylamides in up to 97% ee and 95% yields.     

Diorganotin(IV) compounds containing 2-(Et2NCH2)C6H4 moieties: Configurational stability in solution and solid state structures

Hypercoordinated diorganotin(IV) dichloride, [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂SnCl₂ (1), was prepared by reacting [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]Li with SnCl₄. Halide-exchange reactions between 1 and the appropriate potassium halides gave [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂SnX₂ [X = F (2), Br (3), I (4)]. Reaction of 1 with excess of Na₂S gave the cyclo-[{2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄}₂SnS]₂ (5). The solution behavior of the title compounds in solution was investigated by multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectroscopy, including variable temperature studies. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed for all compounds intramolecular N → Sn coordination thus resulting in distorted octahedral (C,N)₂SnX₂ configurations. Planar chirality is observed as result of the non-planarity of the SnC₃N rings; all compounds, however, crystallizing as racemates. The isomers are linked by extensive hydrogen bonds to give different supramolecular architectures in the crystals of compounds 1, 3 and 4.     

The estimation of the heat capacity of NpO2

The heat capacity C_{p, m}of NpO₂was estimated for temperatures between 300 K and 1400 K. The C_{p, m}was evaluated as a sum of three terms, phonon vibration C_{ph, m}, dilation C_{d, m}, and Schottky specific heat C_{s, m}. The C_{ph, m}and C_d,mwere calculated using the Debye temperature, Grüneisen constant and thermal expansion data obtained by high-temperature X-ray diffractometry. The coefficient of the linear thermal expansion (l.t.e.) for NpO₂was given as a polynomial function up to T =  1573 K. The estimated C_p,mwas compared with that of previous studies. The present result at T =  300 K was 66.87 J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1, which agreed well with previous results, 66.22 J · K ^− 1· mol ^− 1, measured by using calorimetry. The thermodynamic functions were given as a function of temperature.     

Enantiomeric recognition of amino acid derivatives by chiral schiff bases of calix[4]arene

Novel calix[4]arene Schiff bases bearing chiral substituents both on the upper and the lower rims have been developed. These chiral receptors exhibit good chiral recognition ability towards α-amino acid ester hydrochlorides (up to K_D/K_L = 4.36, ΔΔG₀ = − 3.65 kJ mol⁻¹) in CHCl₃. The molecular recognition abilities and enantioselectivities for guests are also discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.