Theoretical studies on the electrocyclic reactions of bis(allene) and vinylallene. Role of allene group

The reaction mechanisms of the electrocyclic ring closure of bis(allene) and vinylallene were studied by ab initio MO methods. The conrotatory and disrotatory pathways of the electrocyclic reactions from bis(allene) to bis(methylene)cyclobutene were determined by a CASSCF method. The transition state on the conrotatory pathway is 26.8 kcal/mol above bis(allene) and about 23 kcal/mol lower than that on the disrotatory pathway at a MRMP calculation level. The activation energy on the conrotatory pathway is lower by 23 kcal/mol than that of the electrocyclic reaction of butadiene. This lower energy barrier comes from the interactions of the "side pi orbitals" of the allene group. The interaction of the "vertical pi orbitals" of the allene group is predominant at the early stage of the reaction. The activation energy of the electrocyclic reaction of vinylallene is about 8.5 kcal/mol higher than that on the conrotatory pathway of bis(allene).     

Thermal decomposition of 7-isopropylidene-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: Evidence for allene oxide and cyclopropanone intermediates

The saturated endoperoxide derived from 6,6-dimethylfulvene was shown to be a unique source of an allene oxide and a cyclopropanone: inter- and intramolecular trapping experiments provided permissive evidence that such intermediates are indeed operative in the thermal isomerizations of fulvene endoperoxides.     

Solvent-free protocol for amide bond formation via trapping of nascent phosphazenes with carboxylic acids

A solvent-free synthesis of amides via the coupling of phosphazenes with carboxylic acids is reported. Increasing the rate of heating either by microwave irradiation or conventional heating results in multifold increase in the rate of amide bond formation. Synthesis of a library of amides including a potent antitumour candidate has been accomplished.     

Single crystal experiments on grains of polycrystalline materials: oxide formation on Zr and Ta

Passivation on polycrystalline Zr (hcp) and Ta (bcc) depends on the crystallographic orientation of the individual grains, determined by electron back scattering diffraction (EBSD). Microelectrochemical experiments yield characteristic data, such as oxide formation potentials, formation factors, capacities, and thicknesses, of local oxide formation on single grains. Strong differences occur on Zr, for Ta only a small influence of crystallographic orientation is observed. The rate of oxide formation, determined from potentiodynamic and capacitive measurements, and EBSD pattern quality, increases with decreasing surface atom density. The dominating influence can be described by the Euler angle phi, the second angle phi2 has a smaller influence. The differences in surface atom density lead to a specific current-dependent potential drop during oxide growth and therefore to a shift in the oxide formation potential. Furthermore the crystallinity and epitaxy of the oxides can depend on the orientation of the base metal causing a variation in ion conductivity.     

Thermochemical studies on the formation and constitution of the zinc oxide—aluminium oxide system

This study is based on thermogravimetric (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and chemical analysis of the ZnOAl₂O₃ system. The coprecipitation from mixed nitrate salt solutions of zinc and aluminium results in the formation of zinc basic carbonate and aluminium hydroxide, and is also a precursor to aluminate spinel (2ZnO·3Al₂O₃) only in the samples in which aluminium is present in near or above stoichiometric quantities. Grinding of the mixtures of individual precipitates maintains the similarity with coprecipitates in forming a “precursor”, but to a lesser extent. The endothermic peak in DTA at 275°C in some coprecipitated and mixed samples hints at the formation of a precursor since the individual precipitate does not have a peak at this temperature. The “precursor” to spinel obtained in the precipitation stage in some coprecipitated samples is freely soluble in 1 M HCl, and that obtained at 450°C is partially soluble which cannot be detected by the usual X-ray technique due to its highly disordered structure in amorphous state. The “precursor” is converted around 800°C to an actual spinel structure, which is almost insoluble in M HCl and is detectable by X-rays.     

Magic angle spinning NMR experiments for structural studies of differentially enriched protein interfaces and protein assemblies

Protein-protein interactions play vital roles in numerous biological processes. These interactions often result in formation of insoluble and noncrystalline protein assemblies. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is rapidly emerging as a premier method for structural analysis of such systems. We introduce a family of two-dimensional magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR experiments for structural studies of differentially isotopically enriched protein assemblies. Using 1-73((13)C,(15)N)/74-108((15)N) labeled thioredoxin reassembly, we demonstrate that dipolar dephasing followed by proton-assisted heteronuclear magnetization transfer yields long-range (15)N-(13)C correlations arising exclusively from the interfaces formed by the pair of differentially enriched complementary fragments of thioredoxin. Incorporation of dipolar dephasing into the (15)N proton-driven spin diffusion and into the (1)H-(15)N FSLG-HETCOR sequences permits (1)H and (15)N resonance assignments of the 74-108((15)N) enriched C-terminal fragment of thioredoxin alone. The differential isotopic labeling scheme and the NMR experiments demonstrated here allow for structural analysis of both the interface and each interacting protein. Isotope editing of the magnetization transfers results in spectral simplification, and therefore larger protein assemblies are expected to be amenable to these experiments.     

NMR studies of complex formation between N-methyl morpholine and sulphur dioxide

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of methylene dichloride solutions containing N-methyl morpholine and sulphur dioxide have been studied as a function of temperature. Complex formation reduces the rate of interchange of magnetic sites via inversion at nitrogen but increases the rate of ring inversion. The conformational preference of the complex is discussed. It is suggested that interaction with SO₂ may be a useful general method of studying nitrogen inversion.     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic studies of metal cyclam complexes with thiocyanate. Evidence for mixed ligand complex formation

Complexes of Ni^II, Co^II and Cu^II containing the macrocyclic ligand, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam), and their ability to form mixed ligand complexes with thiocyanate have been studied. These complexes in a 1:2 mole ratio, exhibit new absorption peaks at 450, 538 and 512 nm respectively. Addition of thiocyanate to the nickel–cyclam complex (1:2:5 mole ratio) led to the formation of a purple complex, exhibiting three distinct new absorption peaks at 330, 455 and 662 nm. A purple complex (1:2:10 mole ratio) separated, having absorption peaks at 352, 503 and 693 nm in CHCl₃. The Co^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate in the same mole ratio exhibits two absorption peaks at 437 and 519 nm without appearance of any precipitate. The Cu^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate did not form a mixed ligand complex. Electrochemical studies also confirmed the complex formation of Ni^II–cyclam with the thiocyanate with the appearance of two new oxidation peaks close to 1.25 and 1.60 V versus Ag/AgCl in H₂O and CHCl₃. The Co^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate exhibited an oxidation peak at 1.2 V versus Ag/AgCl, while no peak was observed for the Cu^II–cyclam complex with thiocyanate. Based on spectroscopic and electrochemical studies the geometry of the complex has been evaluated.     

Evidence of formation of ammonium perfluorononanoate/2H2O multilamellar vesicles: morphological analysis by rheology and rheo-2H NMR experiments

Rheology and rheo-(2)H NMR measurements are presented for 30 wt % ammonium perfluorononanoate (APFN)/(2)H(2)O mixture in the temperature range 20-70 °C. A first-order lamellar-to-nematic transition occurs at 42 °C, and a first-order nematic-to-isotropic transition occurs at 49 °C. Different rheological behaviors of the lamellar phase were observed with increasing the temperature. The lamellar structure at low temperature (Lα(-)) has a clear gel-like viscoelasticity, while at high temperature the lamellar structure (Lα(+)) has a liquid-like response. In this study we have observed for the first time, along with the lamellar phase of a surfactant containing fluorinated fatty acid, the formation of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) ("onions") induced by shear. With the aid of nonlinear rheology and rheo-NMR techniques, onion formation was found to occur in both temperature regimes of the lamellar phase, but at different strain units. It is suggested that the lamellar phase consists of smectic structures in both Lα(-) and Lα(+), but with different percentages of defect density.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of 4-pyridinol: Evidence for dimer anion formation

Rate constants for the reactions of 4-pyridinol with e^-_aq and OH/O^- species were determined at different pHs. The spectral and kinetic characteristics of product transient species formed have been assessed. It has been found that semireduced 4-pyridinol forms dimer anions on reaction with the parent molecule. Equilibrium constant for the dimer formation has been determined to be 97 dm³ mol^-1. Reactions of 4-pyridinol with radiolytic species have been compared with those of 2- and 3-pyridinols investigated and reported earlier.     

Integrated sieving microstructures on microchannels for biological cell trapping and droplet formation

We have developed a single step microfabrication method to prepare constriction microstructures on a PCB master by controlling the etching time of two microchannels separated by a finite distance that is easily attainable using imagesetters widely available in the printing industry. PDMS replica of the constriction structures present sieving microstructures (microsieves) that could be used for size-dependent trapping of microspheres, biological cells and the formation of water-in-oil droplets.     

Ab initio studies on the mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between ketene and allene

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between ketene and allene to form methylene–cyclobutanones has been studied theoretically by HF /3–21G and MP2 /3–21G . These two reactions are believed to be unsynchronous and concerted, taking place through the twisted transition states. Four orbitals are mainly involved in each reaction, which is a “2 × [1 + 1]”-type cycloaddition. The activated barrier for the two reactions are 27.2 and 27.1 kcal/mol, respectively, at the level of MP 2/6–31G * based on the MP 2/3–21G geometries, i.e., these two reactions are compatible. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

负载于二氧化硅上的小尺寸氧化亚铜物种促进丙烯选择性氧化生成丙烯醛

氧化物负载的含铜材料是丙烯选择性氧化制备丙烯醛的理想催化剂,一直以来都受到人们的广泛关注.然而,对于该催化体系的结构与性能之间的关系仍不是很清楚.因此,我们以碳酸钠为沉淀剂,通过沉积沉淀法将铜负载于高比表面的二氧化硅载体上,从而得到了均匀分散且小尺寸的Cu/SiO2催化剂.另外,采用浸渍法制得了相同负载量的分散不均匀、大尺寸的Cu/SiO2催化剂.丙烯选择性氧化反应活性测试发现,沉积沉淀法制备的催化剂比浸渍法制备的更有利于丙烯醛的生成,表现出了优异的催化性能:在300℃反应时,丙烯的转化率达到25.5%,丙烯醛的选择性达到66.8%,对应的丙烯醛的生成速率高达10.5 mmol·h^-1·gcat.^-1或111.2 mmol·h^-1·gCu^-1,远远超出了浸渍法制备的催化剂性能(1.7 mmol·h^-1·gcat.^-1或17.2mmol·h^-1·gCu^-1)和文献中报道的结果.结合高角度环形暗场扫描透射电子显微镜(HAADF-STEM)和X射线吸收精细结构(XAFS)技术,对沉积沉淀法制备的催化剂进行表征,发现在反应后铜物种的结构发生了明显的变化,由小尺寸的氧化铜(CuO)团簇转变为氧化亚铜(Cu2O)团簇,并且铜物种的尺寸没有明显的增大.为了进一步探索铜物种在预处理(氢气还原)以及催化反应时(丙烯+氧气)的结构变化,对不同方法合成的两种催化剂进行了原位X射线粉末衍射测试,发现不同尺寸的铜物种在还原和反应时都经历了从氧化铜(CuO)变为金属Cu再到Cu2O的结构变化,并且Cu2O在320 min的反应过程中可以稳定存在,说明它是该催化反应的活性物种.另外,通过原位双光束傅里叶变换红外光谱追踪反应时气体分子在催化剂表面的吸脱附状态,发现丙烯可以有效地吸附在小尺寸Cu/SiO2催化剂表面,随着Cu2O的形成,检测到了烯丙基中间体(CH2=CHCH2*)的产生,该物种可以与邻近Cu2O上的一个氧发生反应,从而生成丙烯醛,因此结合N2O滴定实验,我们可认为,高度分散的小尺寸的Cu2O物种是丙烯进行高效选择性氧化反应生成丙烯醛的活性物种.     

NMR experiments on acetals—XXXIX: Conformational insights through NMR studies at 300 MHz of 2-methyl-4-halogenomethyl-1,3-dioxolanes

NMR spectra of cis- and trans-2-methyl-4-halogeno-methyl-1,3-dioxolanes have been analysed at 300 MHz. Some of the extracted parameters facilitate easy distinction between these 1,3-dioxolanes and the corresponding structurally isomeric 2-Methyl-5-halogeno-1,3-dioxanes. Criteria enabling configurational assignments to be made for the cis-trans isomers of the dioxolane series are tested. The Me-2 group causes an upfield shift (0·2 to 0·3 ppm) of a trans proton at position 5, but the reversed shift for the corresponding cis proton. This competes with, or even overwhelms the effect of the CH₂X-4 substituent, which by virtue of its pronounced preferential rotameric orientation and in comparison with a simple Me-group, has no large upfield effect on the shift of the syn-adjacent proton. Shift criteria and coupling constants J_{H-4, H-5} in cis- and trans derivatives allow further conformational insights into these 1,3-dioxolanes.     

Structural reassignment of cytosporolides A-C via biomimetic synthetic studies and reinterpretation of NMR data

A structure revision for the recently isolated fungal meroterpenoids, cytosporolides A-C, is suggested based on biosynthetic speculation and reinterpretation of existing spectroscopic data. The structure revision is supported by a biomimetic synthetic study, featuring a [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction between a presumed o-quinone methide intermediate and β-caryophyllene.     

On the question of carbonyl oxide intermediates in the oxygen transfer by furan endoperoxides and bicyclic ozonides: intramolecular trapping experiments

On heating the furan endoperoxide ($\text{2}$) rearranges into the enol ester ($\text{4}$) and the bicyclic ozonide ($\text{3}$) affords instead the rearranged ozonide ($\text{7}$). The process ($\text{2}$) → ($\text{4}$) represents an intramolecular Baeyer-Villiger rearrangement presumably via the dioxirane (D-2), while the process ($\text{3}$) → ($\text{7}$) represents intramolecular trapping of the carbonyl oxide (C-3).     

Electrochemical formation of anodic oxide films on Nb surfaces: ellipsometric and Raman spectroscopical studies

Electrochemical formation of anodic oxide films on niobium (Nb) surfaces in 1 M H₂SO₄ solutions was studied using ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy. By in situ ellipsometric measurements, the coefficient of film thickness growth and the complex index of refraction of anodic oxide films in the voltage range between 0 and 100 V were determined. The Raman spectra reveal that the thin passive films are amorphous. In the beginning of crystallization, the anodic oxide films consist of mixtures of NbO₂ and Nb₂O₅, while NbO₂ is completely transformed to Nb₂O₅ for thicker and well-crystallized films.     

A 300 MHz NMR. Evidence for the Configuration of Roxburghine B

The 300 MHz ¹H-NMR. spectrum of the alkaloid Roxburghine B is completely analysed. The coupling constant values give evidence for the configuration, which is revised to epi-allo: H(3β), H(15α), H(20α) and C(18β).