Comparative reductive desymmetrization of 2,2-disubstituted-cycloalkane-1,3-diones

Reductive desymmetrization of 2-methyl-2-substituted-cycloalkane-1,3-diones can be effected using either NaBH₄ in DME or lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride (LTBA) in THF at −60 °C. The former is a new approach that offers slightly greater diastereoselectivity in the reduction of 2,2-disubstituted-cyclopentane-1,3-diones while LTBA is superior with 2,2-disubstituted-cyclohexane-1,3-diones. Both conditions minimize subsequent reduction to diols thereby furnishing high yields of 1,3-ketols. Particularly rapid monoreductions are observed with 2-methyl-2-nitroethylcyclopentane-1,3-dione and 2-cyanoethyl-2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione when treated with NaBH₄ in DME at −60 °C. As expected, diastereoselectivity varies considerably with the substitution at C-2.     

Coupling of cyclopropylcarbene-chromium complex with ferrocenyl alkynes: synthesis of 5-ferrocenyl-5-hydroxy-2-cyclopentenones and 4-ferrocenyl-4-cyclopentene-1,3-diones

The coupling of ferrocenyl alkynes with cyclopropylcarbene-chromium complex leads to ferrocenyl-substituted 2-cyclopentenones with or without a hydroxy substituent, namely 4-cyclopentene-1,3-diones, 2-cyclobutenones, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in varying amounts. The reaction initially produces a cyclopentadienone intermediate, then to the double bond of which, bearing a ferrocenyl group, addition of water occurs to afford hydroxy-substituted 2-cyclopentenones. In all the products, the hydroxy group ends up α to the ferrocenyl moiety. In contrast, where no addition of water occurs, the alkenic bond is reduced to give 2-cyclopentenones. A secondary reaction product, namely 4-cyclopentene-1,3-dione, is formed by hydrolysis of the cyclopentadienone intermediates.     

High-temperature synthesis of highly hydrothermal stable mesoporous silica and Fe-SiO2 using ionic liquid as a template

Mesoporous silicas and Fe-SiO₂ with worm-like structures have been synthesized using a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-hexadecane-3-methylimidazolium bromide, as a template at a high aging temperature (150-190 °C) with the assistance of NaF. The hydrothermal stability of mesoporous silica was effectively improved by increasing the aging temperature and adding NaF to the synthesis gel. High hydrothermally stable mesoporous silica was obtained after being aged at 190 °C in the presence of NaF, which endured the hydrothermal treatment in boiling water at least for 10 d or steam treatment at 600 °C for 6 h. The ultra hydrothermal stability could be attributed to its high degree of polymerization of silicate. Furthermore, highly hydrothermal stable mesoporous Fe-SiO₂ has been synthesized, which still remained its mesostructure after being hydrothermally treated at 100 °C for 12 d or steam-treated at 600 °C for 6 h.     

Water mediated catalyst-free efficient domino synthesis of 9-(quinolin-2(1H)-one)-xanthene-1,8(5H,9H)-diones using parallel synthesizer

A facile and efficient method for the preparation of 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-9-(1,2-dihydro-2-oxoquinolin-3-yl)-2H-xanthene-1,8(5H,9H)-diones from substituted 2-chloro-3-formylquinoline and 1,3-cyclohexanedione or dimedone in water at 90 °C using parallel synthesizer is reported. The present methodology offers a tandem-cascade methodology, high yield, and operational simplicity.     

Unexpected epimerization and stereochemistry revision of IMDA adducts from sorbate-related 1,3,8-nonatrienes

Intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction of two sorbate-related 1,3,8-nonatrienes has been investigated in MeCN at 180 °C for 1.5 h under controlled microwave heating. On checking the crude product mixture before purification, partial epimerization of the major adduct was found during the reaction. After column chromatographic purification over silica gel, only two cis adducts were obtained and their structures have been thoroughly established by X-ray crystallographic analysis. It is concluded that the putative major trans adduct predicted by the IMDA reaction mechanism undergoes facile epimerization at high temperature or in the presence of silica gel. Structural revision on the adducts has been made.     

Novel and efficient approach to (Z)-4-trifluoroethylidene-1,3-dioxolane derivatives via (trifluoromethyl)ethynylation of ketones and aldehydes

Perfluoroalkylated 4-trifluoroethylidene-1,3-dioxolanes 2a-p were prepared in quantitative yields from the reaction of new stable (trifluoromethyl)ethynylation reagent 1a with TBAF at −15 °C for 10 min, followed by treatment with phenyl perfluoroalkylated ketones at room temperature. The use of aldehydes under the same reaction condition afforded 1,3-dioxolanes 2q-r in good yields. The reaction of 1a with TBAF, followed by treatment with aldehydes or ketones at −15 °C for 10 min and then with trifluoroacetophenone at room temperature provided 1,3-dioxolane derivatives 2s-t in good yields. Tetrabutylammonium trifluoropropynylide [II] was treated with benzaldehyde derivatives at −15 °C for 10 min, followed by treatment with trifluoroacetophenone, to give the corresponding 1,3-dioxolanes 2u-z and 1,3-dioxines 3u-z with different reaction condition.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated polyimides derived from 1,3-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene and aromatic dianhydrides

A new structurally asymmetric diamine monomer containing flexible ether linkages and bulky trifluoromethyl substituents, namely 1,3-bis(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)naphthalene, was prepared from 1,3-dihydroxynaphthalene and 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzotrifluoride. New series of fluorinated polyimides were synthesized from the diamine with six commercially available aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides using a conventional two-stage process with thermal or chemical imidization. The resulting polyimides were highly soluble in a variety of organic solvents and could afford transparent and tough films via solution casting. These polyimides exhibited moderately high glass-transition temperatures (by DSC) of 236-268 °C and softening temperatures (by thermomechanical analysis) of 231-250 °C, and they did not show significant decomposition before 500 °C under either nitrogen or air atmosphere. Also, they revealed low moisture absorptions (0.32-0.78%), low dielectric constants (2.81-3.24 at 10 kHz), and high optical transparency (ultraviolet-visible absorption cutoff wavelengths of 377-426 nm).     

Silica-based monolithic capillary columns—Effect of preparation temperature on separation efficiency

The temperature effects during the sol–gel process and ageing of the silica-based monolith on the structure and separation efficiency of the capillary columns (100 μm i.d., 150 mm) for HPLC separations were studied. The tested columns were synthesized from a mixture of tetramethoxysilane, polyethylene glycol and urea under the acidic conditions. The temperature was varied from 40 °C to 44 °C and formation of bypass channels between the silica mold and the capillary wall was examined. The temperature of 43 °C was estimated as optimal for preparation of efficient silica capillary columns which were subsequently modified by octadecyldimethyl-N,N-diethylaminosilane or covered by poly(octadecyl methacrylate) and tested using standard mixture of alkylbenzenes under the isocratic conditions.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of the biodegradable aliphatic polyester, poly(propylene succinate)

The preparation of the biodegradable aliphatic polyester poly(propylene succinate) (PPSu) using 1,3-propanediol and succinic acid is presented. Its synthesis was performed by two-stage melt polycondensation in a glass batch reactor. The polyester was characterized by gel permeation chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It has a number average molecular weight 6880 g/mol, peak temperature of melting at 44 °C for heating rate 20 °C/min and glass transition temperature at −36 °C. After melt quenching it can be made completely amorphous due to its low crystallization rate. According to thermogravimetric measurements, PPSu shows a very high thermal stability as its major decomposition rate is at 404 °C (heating rate 10 °C/min). This is very high compared with aliphatic polyesters and can be compared to the decomposition temperature of aromatic polyesters. TG and Differential TG (DTG) thermograms revealed that PPSu degradation takes place in two stages, the first being at low temperatures that corresponds to a very small mass loss of about 7%, the second at elevated temperatures being the main degradation stage. Both stages are attributed to different decomposition mechanisms as is verified from activation energy determined with isoconversional methods of Ozawa, Flyn, Wall and Friedman. The first mechanism that takes place at low temperatures is auto-catalysis with activation energy E = 157 kJ/mol while the second mechanism is a first-order reaction with E = 221 kJ/mol, as calculated by the fitting of experimental measurements.     

Biosynthesis and antioxidant activity of 4NRC β-glycoside

This Letter describes glycosylation of 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NRC) the major secondary metabolite from Pothomorphe peltata and Pothomorphe umbellata showing remarkable antioxidant, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-HIV activities. One step biosynthesis was catalyzed by Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9245 and the reaction was undertaken in PDSM medium at 27 °C, 200 rpm for 96 h. After purification by silica gel flash column chromatography the 4-NRC β-glycoside was identified by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry.     

Applications on the monitoring of oxidative modification of LDL by capillary electrophoresis: a comparison with spectrophotometer assay

The aim of this work is the application of Stocks and Miller capillary electrophoresis (CE) method in order to evaluate the human LDL susceptibility to Cu²⁺-induced oxidation. Lipid peroxidation determines a change in the relative electrophoretic mobility (REM) of lipoprotein that can be monitored by capillary electrophoresis using uncoated fused silica capillaries and tricine-methylglucamine as electrophoretic buffer.We have evaluated the differences in the susceptibility to oxidation of LDL subjected to different preparations (dialysis or gel filtration, after ultracentrifugation, to remove EDTA), and different storage (4 °C for 1 week or lyophilization) by measuring REM and lipid hydroperoxides (ROOH) with a spectrophotometer assay. Our results indicate that gel filtration is a more convenient procedure than dialysis for the isolation of LDL and that lyophilised samples are less prone to oxidation than those stored at 4 °C. Moreover, REM appears to be a more sensitive and easier method than spectrophotometer assay both to monitor the oxidative modification of LDL and to evaluate oxidative state of native LDL.     

An NMR study of the species produced by the reactions of dialkyl magnesium and HCl with calcined silica and the polymerisation performance of Ziegler-Natta catalysts produced from this support material

The effect of calcinations on the silica surface groups and thereby on the activity of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in ethylene homopolymerisation has been studied. Silica was calcined at different temperatures and treated with MgR₂ and HCl. Silica surface groups were identified by using ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C and ²⁹Si CP MAS NMR techniques. Magnesium, titanium and chlorine were measured by elemental analysis. Ziegler-Natta catalysts were prepared from these supports and subsequently used in ethylene homopolymerisation. Maximum activity was obtained with the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica. The results indicate that MgR₂ reacts with siloxane-groups (Si-O-Si) in the 300 °C calcined silica, leaving the hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl-groups unreacted. Low activity Si-O-Ti(Cl)₂-O-Si species are formed after reacting with TiCl₄. The higher activity in the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica can be explained by the formation of -Si(R)-O-Si-O-TiCl₃ groups, originating from the siloxane bridges which cannot form in 300 °C calcined silica. Other explanations for the higher activity are a higher Mg/Ti ratio or small amounts of crystal water formed in the 590 °C calcined silica.     

P(RNCH2CH2)N: efficient catalysts for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes and ketones

The 1,2-addition of trialkylsilylcyanides to aldehydes and ketones produces the corresponding protected cyanohydrins in good to excellent yields when carried out at 0 °C to room temperature in the presence of catalytic amounts of the nonionic strong base P(RNCH₂CH₂)N (R = Me, i-Pr) in THF. These catalysts are easily removed from the product by hydrolysis or column filtration through silica gel.     

Solvent-free sonochemical one-pot three-component synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11-triones and 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-diones

A rapid and efficient one-pot three-component protocol for the synthesis of 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11-triones 4 and 1H-pyrazolo[1,2-b]phthalazine-5,10-diones 6 has been developed by domino coupling of phthalhydrazide, 1,3-diketones, and aldehydes under solvent-free conditions at 80 °C as well as under solvent-free ultrasound irradiation at room temperature promoted by (S)-camphorsulfonic acid.     

Reactions of selenium dichloride and dibromide with divinyl sulfone: synthesis of novel four- and five-membered selenium heterocycles

The reactions of selenium dichloride and dibromide with divinyl sulfone leading to novel selenium heterocycles, 2,4-bis(halomethyl)-1,3-thiaselenetane-1,1-diones and 5-halo-2-halomethyl-1,3-thiaselenolane-1,1-diones, have been studied. Under the action of silica gel or pyridine, 5-halo-2-halomethyl-1,3-thiaselenolane-1,1-diones undergo facile regioselective dehydrohalogenation into 5-halo-2-methylene-1,3-thiaselenolane-1,1-diones.     

A facile synthetic method for 2-fluoroindolizines from 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-133a) and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a)

In the presence of KOH and Et₃N, pyridinium and isoquinolinium N-ylides generated in situ from their bromides react with 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-133a, bp 6 °C) or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a, bp −27 °C) to give the corresponding 2-fluoroindolizines via 1,3-dipolar [3+2] cycloaddition at 80-100 °C in DMSO at atmospheric pressure in normal glassware.     

Determination of aniline in silica gel sorbent by one-step in situ microwave-assisted desorption coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction and GC-FID

Microwave-assisted desorption (MAD) coupled to in situ headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) was first proposed as a possible alternative pretreatment of samples in absorbent collected from workplace monitoring. Aniline collected on silica gel was investigated. Under microwave irradiation, the aniline was desorbed from silica gel and directly absorbed onto the SPME fiber in the headspace. Having been sampled on the SPME fiber, and desorbed in the GC injection port, aniline was analyzed using a GC-FID system. Parameters that affect the proposed extraction efficiency, including the extraction media and its pH, the microwave irradiation power and the irradiation time as well as desorption parameters of the GC injector, were investigated. Experimental results revealed that the extraction of a 150-mg silica gel sample using a 0.8-ml aqueous solution (pH 12) and a PDMS/DVB fiber under medium-high-powered irradiation (345 W) for 3 min maximized the efficiency of extraction. Desorption of aniline from the SPME fiber was optimal at 230 °C held for 3 min. The detection limit was 0.09 ng. The proposed method provided a simple, fast, and organic solvent-free procedure to analyze aniline from a silica gel matrix.     

Investigation of homopolymerization rate of perfluoro-4,5-substituted-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane derivatives and properties of the polymers

Five perfluoro-4,5-substituted-2-methylene-1,3-dioxolane monomers were synthesized. These monomers were found to readily polymerized by a free radical initiator in bulk and/or in solutions. Homopolymerization rates were determined using in situ ¹⁹F NMR measurements and found to be 0.25 to 1.66 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ s⁻¹ in 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane at 41 °C using the perfluorodibenzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The rates depend on the substituents on the 4 and 5 positions of the dioxolane. The purified polymers were thermally stable (up to 350 °C). They show low refractive indexes (1.33-1.36 at 532 nm). They are transparent from UV to near IR region and have high glass transition temperatures (100-170 °C).     

Anodic alumina supported dual-layer microporous silica membranes

We present a new processing scheme for the deposition of microporous, sol–gel derived silica membranes on inexpensive, commercially available anodic alumina (Anodisk™) supports. In a first step, a surfactant-templated mesoporous silica sublayer (pore size 2–6 nm) is deposited on the Anodisk support by dip-coating, in order to provide a smooth transition from the pore size of the support (20 or 100 nm) to that of the membrane (3–4 Å). Subsequently, the microporous gas separation membrane layer is deposited by spin-coating, resulting in a defect-free dual-layer micro-/mesoporous silica membrane exhibiting high permeance and high selectivity for size selective gas separations. For example, in the case of CO₂:N₂ separation, the CO₂ permeance reached 3.0 MPU (1 MPU = 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹) coupled with a CO₂:N₂ separation factor in excess of 80 at 25 °C. This processing scheme can be utilized for laboratory-scale development of other types of microporous or dense inorganic membranes, taking advantage of the availability, low cost and low permeation resistance of anodic alumina (or other metal oxide) meso- and macroporous supports.     

Novel inorganic morphologies formed in polyimide/silica hybrid films

2-(4-Aminophenyl)-5-aminobenzimidazole was used to prepare polyimide/silica hybrid films via sol-gel process. At 40 wt.% silica content, hybrid films were still translucent. No noticeable silica particle has been observed. Unexpectedly, after treating at 800 °C, novel morphologies of silica were observed on the surface of inorganic films, which changed from homogeneous to sea-island and to co-continuous structure with increasing silica content in the matrix. Hydrogen bonding between NH in imidazole and silanol group results that silica tends to linear structures, which is considered as the main reason for this morphological change.