Formation of Glyoxylic Acid in Interstellar Ices: A Key Entry Point for Prebiotic Chemistry

With nearly 200 molecules detected in interstellar and circumstellar environments, the identification of the biologically relevant α‐keto carboxylic acid, glyoxylic acid (HCOCOOH), is still elusive. Herein, the formation of glyoxylic acid via cosmic‐ray driven, non‐equilibrium chemistry in polar interstellar ices of carbon monoxide (CO) and water (H₂O) at 5 K via barrierless recombination of formyl (HCO) and hydroxycarbonyl radicals (HOCO) is reported. In temperature‐programmed desorption experiments, the subliming neutral molecules were selectively photoionized and identified based on the ionization energy and distinct mass‐to‐charge ratios in combination with isotopically labeled experiments exploiting reflectron time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. These studies unravel a key reaction path to glyoxylic acid, an organic molecule formed in interstellar ices before subliming in star‐forming regions like SgrB2(N), thus providing a critical entry point to prebiotic organic synthesis.     

A permeation method for the determination of average concentrations of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere

A simple, inexpensive and reliable method for the determination of average concentrations of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere is described. Silver p-sulfa-moylbenzoic acid is used as the colorimetric reagent in a specially designed permeation device. The calibration graphs are linear up to 80 p.p.m. carbon monoxide, and the limit of detection is 2 p.p.m. for a 24-h exposure. Tests under field conditions are discussed.     

Autoxidation of terpenic aldehydes—II

The influence of steric factors on the autoxidation of aldehydes having tertiary formyl groups has been investigated. These afford nor-derivatives by loss of carbon monoxide, and carboxylic acids. Steric interactions have been shown to affect strongly the ratio between carboxylic acid and nor-derivatives and, in addition, to increase the autoxidation rate. For the first time, formation of formates from aldehydes by autoxidation conditions, has been demonstrated.     

Excited State Photoreaction between the Indole Side Chain of Tryptophan and Halocompounds Generates New Fluorophores and Unique Modifications

Photoreaction of indole containing compounds with chloroform and other trichlorocompounds generates products with redshifted fluorescence. In proteins, this reaction can be used for the fluorescent detection of proteins. Little characterization of products generated through the photochemical reaction of indoles with halocompounds has been done, yet is fundamental for the development of other fluorophores, protein labeling agents, and bioactive indole derivatives. Here, we have characterized which isomers form in the photoreaction between tryptophan and chloroform using ¹H‐NMR of tryptophan and methylated derivatives to reveal that the two major products that are formed result from modification at the 4‐ and 6‐carbon positions of the indole ring. Reaction at position 6 generates 6‐formyl tryptophan and the reaction at position 4 generates an imine because the formyl derivative that is initially formed reacts further with the tryptophan amine group. The spectroscopic properties and product molecular weights of photoproducts formed from photoreaction of tryptophan with other trihalo and monohalocompounds are also determined. The indole ring of tryptophan can be modified with various additions from halocompounds, including the addition of labels to the indole ring via methylene groups. This opens possibilities for generating novel tryptophan based fluorophores and protein labeling strategies using this photochemistry.     

The interaction of formohydroxamic acid with carbon monoxide: FTIR matrix isolation and quantum chemistry studies

Argon matrix infrared spectra of the complexes formed between formohydroxamic acid (HCONHOH) and carbon monoxide have been recorded. The experimental results indicate formation of three isomeric complexes. In two complexes the NH or OH groups of formohydroxamic acid are attached to the carbon atom of the CO molecule and in the third complex the NH group interacts with the oxygen atom of CO. The formohydroxamic acid complex with two CO molecules is also trapped in the matrix. One of the two CO molecules interacts with the NH group and the second one with the OH group of HCONHOH, in both cases the site of interaction is the carbon atom of CO. Theoretical studies of the structure and spectral characteristics of the complexes were carried out on the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. The calculated vibrational frequencies for the complexes present in the matrices are in good agreement with the experimental data. The calculations show also an additional potential energy minimum corresponding to the complex in which the OH group of formohydroxamic acid is attached to the oxygen atom of carbon monoxide.     

合成气在Rh（111）上转化为乙醇的机理的键级守恒研究

Rh上乙醇的生成机理,目前主要有两类.一是Ichikawa等为代表提出的“CO解离—CH_x(x=2或3)—乙酰基—乙醇”机理;另一是蔡启瑞等的“CO缔合—甲酰基(金属氧卡宾)—卡宾—乙烯酮—乙酰基—乙醇”机理.本文用Shustorovich的键级守恒—Morse势(BOC-MP)法对其进行了研究     

Reactivity and stability of platinum(II) formyl complexes based on PCP-type ligands. The significance of sterics

The synthesis and characterization of several Pt(ii) complexes, including formyl complexes, based on the PCP-type pincer ligands C(6)H(4)[CH(2)P(iPr)(2)](2) ((iPr)PCP) and C(6)H(4)[CH(2)P(tBu)(2)](2) ((tBu)PCP) are described. The chloride complex ((iPr)PCP)PtCl (6) and the unsaturated cationic complexes [(PCP)Pt](+)X(-) (X = OTf(-), BF(4)(-)) (1, 7), based on both PCP ligands, were prepared and the latter reacted with carbon monoxide to give the corresponding cationic carbonyl complexes [(PCP)Pt(CO)](+)X(-) (X = OTf(-), BF(4)(-)) (2, 8a). Hydride nucleophilic attack on both carbonyl complexes resulted in rare neutral platinum formyl complexes ((iPr)PCP)Pt(CHO) (3) and ((tBu)PCP)Pt(CHO) (9). Complex 3 undergoes decarbonylation to the corresponding hydride complex within hours at room temperature, while the bulkier complex 9 is more stable and undergoes complete decarbonylation only after 3-4 d. This observation demonstrates the very significant steric effect of the ligand on stabilization of the corresponding formyl complexes. Reaction of complex 9 with triflic acid resulted in the carbonyl complex [((tBu)PCP)Pt(CO)](+) OTf(-) (8b) with liberation of H(2), an unusual transformation for a metal formyl. Reaction with methyl triflate resulted in the Fischer carbene-type complex, the methoxy-methylidene [((tBu)PCP)Pt(CHOCH(3))](+)OTf(-) (11). The X-ray structures of complexes 2, 6, 8a and 11 were determined.     

Reactive collisions between CH+ and O-

Integral cross sections were measured for two reactions occurring in CH+ + O- collisions: the formation of the carbon monoxide cation CO+ via a reactive ionization process and the formation of the (iso)formyl cation HCO+ (HOC+) via the associative ionization process. Both carbon monoxide and formyl cations are present in the interstellar medium, the latter one being quite abundant in dense clouds. Provided the oxygen anion would also be present in the interstellar environment, the large efficiency of the two reactive processes reported here would justify their inclusion in astrochemical models. The whole set of data was obtained by means of a merged-beam setup operating with keV beams.     

Synthesis of alkyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-carboxylates via palladium-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β-bromovinyl aldehydes in alcohols

β-Bromovinyl aldehydes reacts with carbon monoxide and alcohols at 125 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium catalyst along with a base to give the corresponding carbonylative cyclized alkyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-carboxylates in good yields. A reaction pathway involving intramolecular addition of acylpalladium to formyl group is proposed as a key step of this catalytic process.     

General chemistry,readings from scientific american : J.B. Ifft and J.E. Hearst,W.H. Freeman and Company,San Francisco, 1973, pp. iv + 434, price: cloth £6.30, paper £3.10

The MINDO/2 method has been used to generate a complete set of force constants for some simple carbonyl compounds i.e. carbon dioxide, formyl cation, formaldehyde and ketene. Results for carbon monoxide are also recorded. The predicted vibrational frequencies are compared with experiment, and the general usefulness of the method is discussed.     

The mass spectra of styryl sulfoxides and sulfones

A variety of rearrangement reactions have been documented in the gas phase ion chemistry of styryl sulfoxides and sulfones. The styryl group rearranges from sulfur to oxygen as evidenced by loss of SCH₃ from methyl styryl sulfoxide and loss of SOCH₃ from the corresponding sulfone. The resulting m/e 119 ion loses carbon monoxide in one fragmentation route and alternatively loses a hydrogen atom from the aromatic nucleus to produce the benzofuran molecule ion via an electrophilic aromatic ring closure reaction. Styryl sulfoxides lose both carbon monoxide and formyl radicals directly from their molecule ions, but the corresponding sulfones do not fragment in this manner. The mechanisms of the above reactions, as well as others, were investigated using substituent and deuterium labeling. The styryl group has been shown to migrate in preference to a phenyl or substituted phenyl group by investigation of the mass spectra of appropriate aryl styryl sulfoxides and sulfones.     

Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular α-arylation of aliphatic ketone, formyl, and nitro groups

Intramolecular arylation of properly designed substrates bearing a ketone, formyl, or nitro terminating group was achieved by use of a PdCl₂(Ph₃P)₂-Cs₂CO₃ reaction system to form a variety of carbocyclic compounds. Arylation in ketone compounds afforded benzene-annulated bridged or spirocycloalkanone derivatives, depending on the structure of the cyclization precursors. Arylation in formyl compounds occurred at the α-position (α-arylation) or at the carbonyl carbon (carbonyl-arylation) depending on the structure of the cyclization precursors and on the reaction solvent. An α-arylated secondary nitro group was partially transformed to ketone in the manner of the Nef reaction, whereas a tertiary nitro group was partially eliminated to afford a styrene-type olefin.     

Formation of carbon oxides during tobacco combustion: Pyrolysis studies in the presence of isotopic gases to elucidate reaction sequence

During the combustion of tobacco, carbon monoxide is formed by the thermal decomposition of tobacco with primary products such as carbon dioxide and water. These three processes occur in parallel and are interdependent. The temperature ranges over which each process occurs, and their relative importance have been assessed by pyrolysing tobacco in the presence of various isotopically labelled gases. Non-isothermal pyrolyses were conducted at a heating rate of 1.6 K s^?1 up to 1000°C, with the products analysed by mass spectrometer.Pyrolysis in the presence of oxygen-18 indicates that combustion of tobacco starts at 180°C. Carbon dioxide and water are formed by combustion at 180°C, while carbon monoxide is not formed as a combustion product until 460°C. The quantities of carbon monoxide and dioxide formed by thermal decomposition of tobacco above 400°C are significantly reduced by the occurrence of combustion.Pyrolysis in the presence of carbon-13 dioxide or carbon dioxide-18 shows that its major reaction, endothermic reduction to form carbon monoxide begins at 450°C. Pyrolysis in an oxygen-18/carbon-13 dioxide atmosphere has shown that this endothermic reduction of carbon dioxide occurs in parallel with the strongly exothermic oxidising reactions. 30% of the total carbon monoxide formed was produced by thermal decomposition of the tobacco. 36% was produced by combustion of the tobacco, and at least 23% was produced via carbon dioxide. The remainder was produced by an interaction of the carbon dioxide reduction and the oxidation. Similar proportion would be expected inside the reaction zone of a burning cigarette.Pyrolysis in the presence of heavy water has shown that the major reaction of the water is to quantitatively produce carbon monoxide and hydrogen above 600°C. Considerable isotopic exchange reactions also occur. Pyrolysis in the presence of carbon monoxide-18 has shown that carbon monoxide reacts with tobacco to a small extent at temperatures above 220°C mainly to abstract oxygen combined in the tobacco and produce carbon dioxide.A sequence of general chemical steps for the production of the carbon oxides and water during tobacco combustion has been deduced. This is based on the present work together with considerations of previously published studies on graphite and coal reactions.     

Electrochemical oxidation of carbon monoxide, methanol, formic acid, ethanol, and acetic acid on a platinum electrode under hot aqueous conditions

Using a pressure cell equipped with an Ag AgCl 0.1 M KCl external pressure-balanced reference electrode (EPBRE), hydrogen, methanol, formic acid, carbon monoxide, ethanol, acetic acid, and glucose were electrochemically oxidized on a Pt electrode under hot aqueous conditions (365−525 K), and the polarization curves were obtained at a sweep rate of 1 or 10 mV s⁻¹. The potential measured versus EPBRE was corrected to the RHE scale based on the experimentally or theoretically calculated pH of the solution at high temperature. During methanol and carbon monoxide oxidation, a strongly adsorbed intermediate presumably CO, was formed but it was oxidized at a lower potential than under ambient temperature. Formic acid was rapidly oxidized around 0 V versus RHE without formation of this adsorbed intermediate. Using a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, it was confirmed that the surface coverage by CO was decreased dramatically with a temperature increase from 425 to 475 K under hot aqueous conditions. Ethanol and acetic acid were also satisfactorily oxidized, but the trial to measure the electrochemical oxidation behavior of glucose was not successful due to the adhesion of char-like compounds to the electrode.     

Chemistry of thienopyridines. XXIII. Mass spectra of some N-oxides,sulfoxides, and sulfones

The mass spectral fragmentation patterns of a series of thienopyridine N-oxides, S-oxides, and S,S-dioxides were elaborated as a means of structural determination. Observation of a significant (M-16) peak is diagnostic for the presence of either an N-oxide or an S-oxide function (indistinguishable from one another by this method) but does not occur for an S,S-dioxide function. For a substituted thieno[2,3-b]pyridine 7-oxide, structural rearrangement to a pyridone (followed by emission of carbon monoxide or formyl radical) or side-chain fission may be competitive with de-N-oxygenation. For two tricyclic parent S-oxides, rearrangement and de-S-oxygenation are competing initial processes. For parent S,S-dioxides structural rearrangement precedes fragmentation, wherein the oxygen is ejected in such forms as sulfur monoxide, carbon monoxide, formyl or cyanate radicals, and ketene.     

Gasometric determination of formic and oxalic acids

A method for the determination of formic and oxalic acids ( > 2.5 μmol) is based on the catalytic dehydration of formic and oxalic acids with acetic anhydride and measurement of the volume of liberated carbon monoxide. Formic acid (0.8–4.0 mg) can be determined in admixture with oxalic acid if the latter is first oxidized with permanganate in acidic medium. The error of a single determination of one acid does not exceed 3% (95% confidence).     

Photoelectric detection and estimation of carbon monoxide with granules coated with palladous silicomolybdate

A colorimetric method for continuous detection and spot-test estimation of carbon monoxide in air is described. Measurements are made of the decrease in photoelectric current when the incident light changes after contact with translucent granules of silica gel coated with palladous silicomolybdate, which changes its color from yellow to green and blue in the presence of carbon monoxide. The scale of a microammeter in a specially designed instrument, incorporating a photoelectric cell and mechanical devices for exposing the granules simultaneously to gas and light, is calibrated in terms of the volume percentage of carbon monoxide. Concentrations, from one down to about 0.001 % can be estimated with an accuracy of about 10%. A measurement may be made in one minute.     

Photometric microdetermination of acetyl groups in organic compounds

A method for the microdetermination of acetyl groups is described which combines features of the known transesterification and the hydroxamate methods. All acetyl groups attached to oxygen or nitrogen are converted to methyl acetate which is distilled off and determined photometrically as the iron complex of the acethydroxamic acid. A slightly modified technique permits the selective determination of acetyl groups in the presence of formyl groups.     

Study of the mutual influence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in their joint oxidation on palladium

The joint oxidation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in excess oxygen on palladium was investigated in a reactor for separate calorimetry and a gradientless microreactor at atmospheric pressure. An initiating influence of hydrogen m the oxidation of carbon monoxide, as well as inhibitory effect of carbon monoxide on the heterogeneous-homogeneous oxidation of hydrogen, was detected. The conditions of transition of the reactions into the volume according to a heterogeneous-homogeneous mechanism were determined. It is suggested that the joint oxidation of CO and H₂ occurs with the participation of the same active intermediate products formed from hydrogen and oxygen.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 21, No. 4, pp. 504–508, July–August, 1985.     

Quantitative GC determination of carbon monoxide by calibration via the production of CO from formic acid

Summary Carbon monoxide, produced from the dehydration of formic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid is proposed for the quantitative determination of the gas in the parts-per-million range. In this method the standard solution of formic acid in acidified water is introduced with a total-volume syringe from the injector and passes through a precolumn packed with sulfuric acid on diatomite support. The produced carbon monoxide is converted to methane over nickel and determined with a flame-ionization detector. The accuracy of this method is about 5% in the experimental range.