Conformational and stereoelectronic investigation in 1,2-difluoropropane: The gauche effect

The effect of attaching an additional fluorine atom at C-2 in 1-fluoropropane (FP), giving 1,2-difluoropropane (DFP), on its conformational equilibrium, is theoretically evaluated. This substitution causes critical implications on the conformer stabilities of DFP (TG, GT and GG conformations) and the steric and electrostatic interactions should favor the conformer with fluorine atoms trans. However, the gauche effect plays a major role in describing the energies balance in DFP, shifting the equilibrium towards the conformation in which the two fluorine atoms are gauche. The origin of this effect is discussed through an NBO analysis, which allows the evaluation of both classical and non-classical (hyperconjugation and bent bonds) interactions as the prevailing factors governing the conformational equilibrium of molecules containing the 1,2-difluoroethane fragment.     

Implications of hyperconjugative effects on bond lengths of allylic systems. An NBO investigation

The influence of hyperconjugative interactions on bond lengths of some allylic compounds (H₂CCH–CH₂–M(CH₃)₃; M=C, Si, Ge) has been investigated through NBO calculations using ab initio and density functional methods. The optimized structural parameters, at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) and HF/6-31+G(d,p) levels, showed a good agreement with the resonance theory. Partial geometry optimization with orbital interactions removed confirmed the observations and revealed that σ→σ* interactions, together with the more common σ→π* ones, play an important role in determining the variations in bond lengths on going from C to Ge.     

Synthesis of 4-aminotropones from [(sulfinyl or sulfonyl)methyl]-substituted p-quinamines

An efficient synthesis of 4-aminotropones has been achieved in excellent yields by simple treatment of 4-amino-4-[(p-tolylsulfinyl)methyl]-2,5-cyclohexadienones (p-quinamines) with NaH. The method allowed regiocontrolled access to 3-methyl, 5-methyl- and 3,5-dimethyl-substituted derivatives starting from p-quinamines with adequate substituents at the cyclohexadienone moiety and/or at the carbon linked to the sulfur function. The p-quinamines in turn were easily accessible from N-Boc p-anisidines (Boc=tert-butoxycarbonyl) by electrochemical oxidation in MeOH to quinone imine monoketals, followed by addition of a alpha-lithium sulfinyl carbanion to the imino group, and ketal hydrolysis. Oxidation of the sulfoxide gave the sulfonyl-substituted p-quinamines that, upon basic treatment, behave similarly. The p-quinamine 55 and bis-p-quinamine 56, resulting in the addition of the anion derived from dimethyl sulfone to the p-quinonimine ketal 14, also gave the 4-aminotropone. The mechanism involves the initial formation of a alpha-sulfonyl carbanion, which intramolecularly attacks the cyclohexadienone giving a norcaradiene-like enolate intermediate, the evolution of which through a ring-expansion process, pushes off a methyl sulfinate anion or SO2. This efficient process fulfils the criteria of atom economy. The introduction of a proline substituent in the nitrogen of the starting p-quinamine allowed the synthesis of an enantiopure 4-aminotropone, the asymmetric Diels-Alder reactions of which with maleimide occurred in a highly endo and pi-facial diastereoselective manner.     

Structural studies of spiroarsoranes derived from 2-aminophenols

This paper describes the structural studies of 2-phenyl-9,9′-dimethyl-2,2′-spirobis(1,3,2-λ⁵-benzoxazarsoline) 5, 2-phenyl-8,8′-dimethyl-2,2′-spirobis(1,3,2-λ⁵-benzoxazarsoline) 6 by ¹H,¹³C,¹⁵N NMR in [²H₆]DMSO and CDCl₃. The solid state studies were made by X-ray experiments. Infrared spectroscopy was obtained in CDCl₃ and the vibrational signals were assigned using DFT calculations. The nature of the As–N, As–C and As–O bonds in these compounds was established by NBO studies.     

Conformational flexibility of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and its aza analogs

The conformational flexibility of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and its analogs — pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives— was studied by HF/6-31G** ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The potential surface calculations and normal vibration shape analysis show that the molecules exhibit two weakly coupled ring deformation modes. One of the modes may be described as rotation around the C(sp₃)-C(sp₂) bond leading to a transition state of the ring inversion process. The other mode involves flattening of the butadiene fragment and a loss of planarity for endocyclic double bonds without any pronounced changes in the conformation of the saturated part of the molecule. An accurate calculation of the ring inversion barrier demands inclusion of electron correlation effects. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 41, No. 3, pp. 474-479, May-June, 2000.     

Conformational analysis of phorboxazole bis-oxazole oxane fragment analogs by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling simulations

We present a detailed conformational study of a simplified synthetic analog of the bis-oxazole oxane fragment found in the cytostatic agents phorboxazole A and B based on results from NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling simulations. Complete 1H and 13C resonance assignments for the bis-oxazole oxane system were carried out through the use of COSY, HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY, and HSQC-TOCSY experiments, and its conformational preferences in solution were investigated by analysis of 3J(HH) coupling constants and NOE enhancements obtained from 1D and 2D NOESY experiments. In order to solve inconsistencies from our preliminary structural studies, simulated annealing studies were performed to thoroughly sample the phase space available to the molecule. Our results reveal that the six-membered oxane ring, which constitutes the most important moiety regarding the three-dimensional (3D) structure and flexibility of the analog, exists in rapid equilibrium between its two accessible chair conformers in an approximate ratio of 70:30. The information gathered from these studies will be of critical importance in our efforts to prepare novel compounds with phorboxazole-like structure and activity.     

Synthesis and complete NMR spectral assignment of thiophene-substituted sulfinyl monomers

This paper describes the synthesis of thiophene-substituted sulfinyl monomers. It comprises a four-step reaction by which the thiophene unit is built in via Suzuki coupling. These monomers could be used as building blocks for the preparation of conducting polymers via a new concept: the sulfinyl precursor route i.e. via thiophene substituted poly(p-phenylenevinylene) precursors. Furthermore, the complete 1H and 13C NMR signal assignment is presented. In addition to being essential for the characterization of the polymers concerned, it offers useful input information for further improvement of chemical shift prediction software. Furthermore, the T1C relaxation decay times are demonstrated to have the potential of being a fast and robust criterion for the spectral assignment of analogous monomers.     

Calculated structures of thiopyrylium-S-fluoride and S-trifluoride and attempts of their preparation

Structures and energies of cyclo-C₅H₅SF and cyclo-C₅H₅SF₃ have been calculated. In both cases the 2- and 4-CF-isomers are more stable than the SF and SF₃ isomers. The fluxional behavior of the sulfur bonded fluorides has been calculated also. In cyclo-C₅H₅SF an ellipsoidal rotation of the sulfur bonded fluorine atom is observed with a barrier of a few kcal mol⁻¹. In sulfur bonded cyclo-C₅H₅SF₃ the (Turnstile) rotation is predicted to occur without noticeable barrier, in agreement with previous work.Attempts to isolate the sulfur bonded isomers failed entirely: always 2 or 4-carbon-fluorides were obtained for cyclo-C₅H₅SF. The acyclic SF₅⁻ carrying precursors for the synthesis of cyclo-C₅H₅SF₃ failed in crucial steps of the reactions.     

NMR-spectroscopic investigation of o-nitrosobenzoic acid

The synthesis of o-nitrosobenzoic acid 2 has been known for more than 100 years, and the photochemical preparation from o-nitrobenzaldehyde 1 became a textbook example for [1,5]-hydrogen shifts. However, neither the (1)H-NMR spectra nor the (13)C--{(1)H}-NMR of this compound have been reported so far. This fact can most likely be attributed to the monomer-dimer equilibrium of the nitrosobenzoic acid, which leads to rather complex, concentration-dependent NMR spectra. In this paper, we report a thorough investigation of these spectra. In the (13)C-{(1)H}-NMR spectra, all 21 lines could be assigned to the monomeric form, the E-dimer, and the Z-dimer.     

Molecular and electronic structures, infrared spectra, and vibrational assignment for ap and sc conformers of hexafluoro-iso-propanol

Comprehensive studies of the molecular structures, vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities of the antiperiplanar (ap) and synclinal (sc) conformers of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) have been performed by the density functional (B3LYP) method using the extended 6-311++G(df,pd) basis set. The detailed natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis has revealed the nature of the hyperconjugative interactions, which stabilize each conformer, in the gas phase. The mid-infrared spectra of HFIP in carbon tetrachloride solution were measured, and the experimental intensities of each conformer were obtained by the curve–resolution procedure. The relative abundance of the two conformers, calculated from the relative intensities, shows nearly equimolar ratio (N_sc/N_ap ≈ 1), in this solution. The DFT-predicted frequencies show very good agreement with the experimental data. The clear-cut vibrational assignment for each conformer is reported on the basis of the calculated potential energy distributions. Several controversies in an earlier assignment of HFIP have been elucidated.     

Theoretical investigation of isotopic scrambling mechanisms in 2-chloroethyl methyl sulfide

Ab initio and semiempirical molecular orbital calculations have been applied to study the concerted and stepwise isotopic scrambling mechanisms of 2-chloroethyl methyl sulfide in the gas phase and in aqueous solution. The calculations reveal the structural details of the reactants, transition structures, and intermediates involved in this reaction and provide relative energy estimates. The concerted mechanism is found to be competitive with the stepwise mechanism in the gas phase, but the stepwise mechanism is favored in aqueous solution as no true transition structure for the concerted mechanism could be found using the solvation models. A combined approach of evaluating solvation energies with the generalized-Bom-plus-surface-tensions SM _x solvation models of Cramer and Truhlar at ab initio optimized geometries is found to deliver the best agreement with experimentally determined reaction barriers. Together with the recent experimental results of McManus and co-workers, the present study provides insights into the controlling factors involved in the elementary reaction steps of sulfur mustards and a solid foundation for investigations into more complex reactions of related compounds.     

Conformational and receptor-binding properties of the insect neuropeptide proctolin and its analogues

Summary Proctolin (Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr) was the first insect neuropeptide to be chemically characterised. It plays an essential role in insect neurophysiology and is involved in muscular contraction and neuromodulation. Elements of secondary structure in solution have been studied by comparing data obtained from NMR and molecular dynamics simulations. Different secondary structural requirements are associated with agonist and antagonist activities. A favoured conformation of proctolin has an inverse -turn, comprising an intramolecular hydrogen bond near the C-terminal end between Thr NH and Leu CO. Antagonists have a more compact structure resembling a paperclip loop, containing an intramolecular hydrogen bond between Tyr NH and Pro CO, possibly stabilised by a salt bridge between the N- and C-terminal groups. A cyclic analogue retains antagonist activity and resembles a -bulge loop, also comprising intramolecular hydrogen bonds between Tyr NH and Pro CO and Thr CO. These models may offer feasible starting points for designing novel compounds with proctolinergic activity.     

Synthetic study toward 17-thiasteroids: synthesis of the 1-thiahydrinden-5-one subunit using a new annulation procedure and investigation of its reduction

The enantioselective syntheses of ketones 6 and 7 featuring the CD subunit of 17-thiasteroid are described. The key bicyclic 1-thiahydrindenone (S)-5 was assembled in three steps from Michael adduct (S)-12 via β-keto ester 15 using a one-pot sequential process involving cleavage of both the ketal group and the tert-butyl ester group, decarboxylation, and finally intramolecular aldol condensation. Hydridoalkyl cuprate-induced conjugate reduction of 1-thiahydrindenone (S)-5 and its corresponding sulfone (S)-23 gave 1-thiahydrindanones 6 and 7, respectively, which display unexpectedly the unnatural cis-ring junctions.     

NMR spectra of a hydrocarbon-soluble organosodium compound and its lithium analogs

¹H,²³Na, and⁷Li NMR spectra of 2-ethyl hexylsodiurn, 2-ethylhexyllithium, and isobutyllithium obtained in the reaction of the corresponding alkyl chlorides and metals have been recorded. The¹H N MR signal for the protons of the CH₂Na group is shifted upheld compared with that for the protons of the CH₂Li group (doublets at -0.88 and -0.83, respectively). The composition of the products of reaction of 2-ethylhexyl chloride with sodium depends on the form of the metal reagent employed. The use of sodium balls with diameter up to 2 mm results in the formation of products containing ionic chlorine (30–50 % with respect to Na); the reaction with the dispersion proceeds faster and the reaction product is chlorine-free. The²³Na NMR spectra of these substances are also different, which is explained by the formation of 2-ethylhexylsodium complexes with NaCl in the former case.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 883–885, April, 1996.     

Luminescent compounds diphenylboron analogs of Alq3 and its methyl substituents: A theoretical investigation of their electronic and spectroscopic properties

The absorption and emission energies for diphenylboron analogs of Alq₃ (Ph₂Bq) and its methyl substituents (Ph₂Bmq) were systematically investigated at the Zerner's intermediate neglect of differential overlap (ZINDO), configuration interaction singles (CIS), and time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) levels of theory. The lowest excited‐state geometries were optimized at the ab initio CIS level. The TD‐DFT method provides the most reliable results for the absorption and emission transition energies, compared with other methods. Moreover, the TD‐DFT calculations reliably estimate the changes of absorption and emission λ_max values upon methyl substitution, with errors of 1.2% and 1.8%, respectively. The Stokes shifts are well reproduced by TD‐DFT calculations. Various density functional theory methods have been tested and the B3LYP functional clearly seems to be the best choice for this class of compounds. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Conformational isomerism of 1,2-diformyl-, diacetyl-, and di(trifluoroacetyl) hydrazines and their methyl analogs

Conclusion The PMR method was used to determine the conformations of the 1,2-diformyl-, diacetyl-, and di(trifluoroacetyl)hydrazines and their 1-methyl and 1,2-dimethyl analogs. The effect of the structure and the medium, on the population of the conformers was discussed.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1428–1430, June, 1982.     

Theoretical investigation on the structure and stability of some neutral noble gas compounds containing Xe-Xe bond

DFT calculations are performed to investigate the structure, stability, and nature of chemical bonding of some neutral noble gas insertion compounds containing a Xe-Xe bond; including HXeXeR, FXeXeR as well as RXeXeR (R = CN, NC, CCH, and BS). Geometry optimization of the considered molecules anticipate the existence of just four stable compounds (HXeXeCN, HXeXeNC, FXeXeCN, and FXeXeCCH); and rest of the molecules dissociate during the structural optimization. The results of NBO and AIM calculations show that a H(F)XeXeR molecule has a covalent H(F)-Xe bond in the H(F)XeXe⁺ fragment, which is bonded to R⁻ mainly through columbic interaction. Thermodynamic study indicates that all of the considered unimolecular dissociation channels for decomposition of H(F)XeXeR molecules to neutral fragments are both exothermic and exorergic; but dissociation to ionic species (H(F)XeXe⁺ and R⁻) is endothermic. Also kinetic study of the most probable dissociation reaction shows that FXeXeR molecules are metastable with respect to the global minimum F-R + 2Xe. Therefore, FXeXeCN molecule is more kinetically protected against the decomposition reaction than the other molecules and its experimental detection is more likely.