Solvent-Induced Deuterium Isotope Effects in 13C- and 15N-NMR. Spectra of Enaminones

The effect of deuterium on the ¹³C and ¹⁵N chemical shifts of enaminones has been investigated. D/H isotope shifts are reported for neutral and protonated species, i.e., when the isotope is exchanged on the C(2)-, N-, or O-atoms. In cases of slow exchange the isotope shifts were obtained from solutions containing both isotopomers, whereas for fast exchange (acidic solutions) either separate NMR. sample tubes (¹⁵N-NMR.) or coaxial tubes (¹³C-NMR.) were used. In neutral molecules the isotope effects δ_C(D, H) are intrinsic in nature. In acidic solutions, the enaminocarbonyl cations formed exhibit δ_C(D, H)- and δ_N(D, H)-values which are discussed in terms of the proton transfer. The mesomeric character of the cations is reflected by characteristic features in the δ_C(D, H)- and δ_N(D, H)-values, which can be ascribed to isotopic perturbation of resonance. O-Protonation shifts in the ¹⁵N-resonance, observed for the first time, are large and positive (+60 to +76 ppm), in contrast to amides, where the effects are of the same sign but an order of magnitude smaller. Both protonation shifts and solvent-induced isotope effects are discussed in connection with the nucleophilic character of the reactive centers in the enaminone synthon.     

NMR determination of absolute site-specific natural isotope ratios of hydrogen in organic molecules. Analytical and mechanistic applications

It has been shown that the “internal” isotope distribution within a given molecular species at the natural abundance level is accessible by a new method, SNIF-NMR, which is based on deuterium NMR. Relative internal factors, R_i/j,have been defined which enable the isotope content of a given site, i, to be compared to that of another molecular site, j, taken as the reference. Several referencing methods intended to provide direct access to relative $\text{externals}$, T_i , and $\text{absolute}$, (D/H)_i , site-specific parameters, are now discussed from both the theoretical and the experimental points of view. In the $\text{intramolecular referencing method}$, which involves a time-consuming chemical transformation of the sample, the risk exists of more or leas systematic errors resulting from discriminating fractionation effects. However this technique offers, conversely, an interesting way of investigating kinetic isotope effects without the need for specific labelling. In spite of its lower spectral precision the $\text{external referencing method}$ has the advantage of being fast and less sensitive to systematic errois and may be used for direct rough routine determinations of the site-specific isotope contents. More precise results can be obtained, at the price of contaminating the sample, when an $\text{intermolecular reference}$ is added and signal heights are used, remembering however that the intensity parameters then have no strict physical meaning in terms of absolute isotope contents. The site-specific parameters, T_i and (D/H)_i thus accessible, provide new information on the mechanisms of the fractionation effects occurring in natural conditions and examples are considered.     

Analysis of carbon-13 longitudinal relaxation times and nuclear overhauser enhancements in alkyl chains

A simple procedure is proposed which yields, from carbon-13 longitudinal relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancements, information concerning the local mobility of a given CH vector in an alkyi chain. This method is based on the definition of an effective rotation axis related to internal motions and makes use of Woessner's equations. It yields a correlation time τ_R characteristic of the overall reorientation. In addition, for each carbon C_i a correlation time τ_Gi, associated with the fast motion of the C_iH vector, and an angle θ_i, between C_iH and an effective rotation axis, are determined. The effect of cross-correlation spectral densities is discussed. This model is used for analysing relaxation data of decylammonium chloride micelles. It is further checked by interpreting experimental results at two different observation frequencies.     

Iron Borohydride Pincer Complexes for the Efficient Hydrogenation of Ketones under Mild,Base‐Free Conditions: Synthesis and Mechanistic Insight

The new, structurally characterized hydrido carbonyl tetrahydridoborate iron pincer complex [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)(CO)(η¹‐BH₄)] ( 1 ) catalyzes the base‐free hydrogenation of ketones to their corresponding alcohols employing only 4.1 atm hydrogen pressure. Turnover numbers up to 1980 at complete conversion of ketone were reached with this system. Treatment of 1 with aniline (as a BH₃ scavenger) resulted in a mixture of trans‐[(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)₂(CO)] ( 4 a ) and cis‐[(iPr‐PNP)Fe(H)₂(CO)] ( 4 b ). The dihydrido complexes 4 a and 4 b do not react with acetophenone or benzaldehyde, indicating that these complexes are not intermediates in the catalytic reduction of ketones. NMR studies indicate that the tetrahydridoborate ligand in 1 dissociates prior to ketone reduction. DFT calculations show that the mechanism of the iron‐catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones involves alcohol‐assisted aromatization of the dearomatized complex [(iPr‐PNP*)Fe(H)(CO)] ( 7 ) to initially give the Fe⁰ complex [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(CO)] ( 21 ) and subsequently [(iPr‐PNP)Fe(CO)(EtOH)] ( 38 ). Concerted coordination of acetophenone and dual hydrogen‐atom transfer from the PNP arm and the coordinated ethanol to, respectively, the carbonyl carbon and oxygen atoms, leads to the dearomatized complex [(iPr‐PNP*)Fe(CO)(EtO)(MeCH(OH)Ph)] ( 32 ). The catalyst is regenerated by release of 1‐phenylethanol, followed by dihydrogen coordination and proton transfer to the coordinated ethoxide ligand.     

Application of urea adduction technique to polluted urban aerosols for the determination of hydrogen isotopic composition of n-alkanes

We examined an applicability of an improved urea adduction technique for the determination of hydrogen isotopic composition (δD) of homologous series of n-alkanes present in polluted urban aerosols using GC/TC/IRMS. Unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of hydrocarbons that interferes with accurate isotope measurements of n-alkanes was removed from n-alkane fraction by a urea adduction method. Recoveries of C₂₀ to C₃₀ n-alkanes during the urea adduction procedure were greater than 90% when the concentrations of total n-alkanes exceed 6.1?µg?mL^?1. Our compound-specific D/H ratios confirm the absence of significant hydrogen isotope fractionation in n-alkanes during urea adduction and recovery of the purified n-alkane fraction. We applied this technique to the urban aerosols that contain a large quantity of UCM to measure δD of C₂₀ to C₃₅ n-alkanes in urban aerosols from Tokyo and Sapporo with an accuracy less than 10‰. We found that the δD values widely ranged from ?38 to ?179‰. Based on the δD values of individual n-alkanes in aerosol samples, we can obtain further information on the sources of aerosol n-alkanes and their source regions, and the atmospheric processes such as long-range transport and atmospheric mixing of air masses of different origin.     

Probing substrate-product relationships by natural abundance deuterium 2D NMR spectroscopy in liquid-crystalline solvents: epoxidation of linoleate to vernoleate by two different plant enzymes

Natural abundance deuterium 2D NMR spectroscopy in weakly ordering, polypeptide chiral liquid crystals is a powerful technique that enables determination of enantiotopic isotopic ratios (²H/¹H) _i at the methylene groups of long-chain fatty acids. This technique has been used to study the bioconversion of linoleic acid to vernoleic acid with the objective of establishing the in-vivo site-specific fractionation of ²H associated with this process. The fractionation pattern was investigated in Euphorbia lagascae and Vernonia galamensis, plants that use different enzyme systems to perform the Δ¹²-epoxidation: a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase in the former and a di-iron dioxygenase in the latter. The specific interest in this study was to ascertain whether different (²H/¹H) _i isotopic ratios in substrate and product might reflect distinct features of the nature of the reaction centre. However, both the linoleate (substrate) samples and both vernoleate (product) samples isolated from the seed oils of the two plants had remarkably similar ²H isotope profiles, with selection against ²H in the positions around the Δ¹²-epoxidation site. This is interpreted as indicating that, despite differences in the form in which the activated Fe is presented and in the architecture of the active site, the (²H/¹H) _i isotopic pattern is determined by features common to the reaction. It is suggested that the effects acting as the overall determinants of the final (²H/¹H) _i distribution in the product are the encumbrance of the active site pocket and constraints to conformational readjustment during the linoleate to vernoleate transformation.     

Multiple Reaction Pathways in Rhodium‐Catalyzed Hydrosilylations of Ketones

A detailed density functional theory (DFT) computational study (using the BP86/SV(P) and B3LYP/TZVP//BP86/SV(P) level of theory) of the rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of ketones has shown three mechanistic pathways to be viable. They all involve the generation of a cationic complex [L_nRh^I]⁺ stabilized by the coordination of two ketone molecules and the subsequent oxidative addition of the silane, which results in the Rh–silyl intermediates [L_nRh^III(H)SiHMe₂]⁺. However, they differ in the following reaction steps: in two of them, insertion of the ketone into the Rh? Si bond occurs, as previously proposed by Ojima et al., or into the Si? H bond, as proposed by Chan et al. for dihydrosilanes. The latter in particular is characterized by a very high activation barrier associated with the insertion of the ketone into the Si? H bond, thereby making a new, third mechanistic pathway that involves the formation of a silylene intermediate more likely. This “silylene mechanism” was found to have the lowest activation barrier for the rate‐determining step, the migration of a rhodium‐bonded hydride to the ketone that is coordinated to the silylene ligand. This explains the previously reported rate enhancement for R₂SiH₂ compared to R₃SiH as well as the inverse kinetic isotope effect (KIE) observed experimentally for the overall catalytic cycle because deuterium prefers to be located in the stronger bond, that is, C? D versus M? D.     

Precise and accurate compound-specific carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of RDX by GC-IRMS

A new analytical method is presented for the compound-specific carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis of a thermo-labile nitramine explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) by gas chromatograph coupled to an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (GC-IRMS). Two main approaches were used to minimise thermal decomposition of the compound during gas chromatographic separation: programmed temperature vaporisation (PTV) as an injection technique and a high-temperature ramp rate during the GC run. δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values of RDX measured by GC-IRMS and elemental analyser (EA)-IRMS were in good agreement within a standard deviation of 0.3‰ and 0.4‰ for nitrogen and carbon, respectively. Application of the method for the isotope analysis of RDX during alkaline hydrolysis at 50°C revealed isotope fractionation factors ε _carbon?=??7.8‰ and ε _nitrogen?=??5.3‰.     

Radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by an enolizable ketone–carbon black system

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by an enolizable ketone (R₁? CO? CH₂? CO? R₂)-carbon black system was investigated. Although enolizable ketone itself could not do so, the polymerization of MMA was initiated by enolizable ketone in the presence of carbon black. In addition, a chloranil-enolizable ketone system was able to initiate the polymerization of MMA. It was found that the enol form of the ketone and quinonic oxygen groups on the carbon black surface played an important role in the initiation system; namely, it was considered that the polymerization was begun by the ketone radical (R₁? CO? CH? CO? R₂) formed by a one-electron transfer reaction from enolate ion to quinonic oxygen groups. The effect of solvent on the process was also studied. The rate of the polymerization increased, depending on the solvent used, in the following order: benzene < 1,4-dioxane < dimethyl sulfoxide < N,N-dimethylformamide < N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Furthermore, it became apparent that during the polymerization poly(methyl methacrylate) was grafted onto the carbon black surface (grafting ratio was ca. 40% when benzene was used as solvent) and the carbon black obtained gave a stable colloidal dispersion in organic solvent.     

Electrochemically Driven C−H Hydrogen Abstraction Processes with the Tetrachloro‐Phthalimido‐N‐Oxyl (Cl4PINO) Catalyst

The radical redox mediator tetrachloro‐phthalimido‐N‐oxyl (Cl₄PINO) is generated at a glassy carbon electrode and investigated for the model oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols with particular attention to reaction rates and mechanism. The two‐electron oxidation reactions of a range of primary, secondary, and cyclic alcohols are dissected into an initial step based on C−H hydrogen abstraction (rate constant k₁, confirmed by kinetic isotope effect) and a fast radical‐radical coupling of the resulting alcohol radical with Cl₄PINO to give a ketal that only slowly releases the aldehyde/ketone and redox mediator precursor back into solution (rate constant k₂). In situ electrochemical EPR reveals Cl₄PINO sensitivity towards moisture. DFT methods are applied to confirm and predict C−H hydrogen abstraction reactivity.     

Theoretical studies of the g factors and local structures of the Ni3+ centers in Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O and K2Zn(SO4)2·6H2O crystals

The local structures and the g factors g_i (i = x, y, z) for Ni³⁺ centers in Na₂Zn(SO₄)₂·4H₂O (DPPH) and K₂Zn(SO₄)₂·6H₂O (PHZS) crystals are theoretically studied by using the perturbation formulas of the g factors for a 3d⁷ ion with low spin (S = 1/2) in orthorhombically compressed octahedra. In these formulas, the contributions to g factors from both the spin-orbit coupling interactions of the central ion and ligands are taken into account, and the required crystal-field parameters are estimated from the superposition model and the local geometry of the systems. Based on the calculations, the Ni-O bonds are found to suffer the axial compression δz (or Δz) of about 0.111 Å (or 0.036 Å) along the z-axis for Ni³⁺ centers in DPPH (or PHZS) crystals. Meanwhile, the Ni-O bonds may experience additional planar bond length variation δx (≈0.015 Å) along x- and y-axes for the orthorhombic Ni³⁺ center in DPPH. The theoretical g factors agree well with the experimental data. The obtained local structural parameters for both Ni³⁺ centers are discussed.     

Kinetics of Bulk Free‐Radical Polymerization of Butyl Methacrylate Isomers Studied by Reaction Calorimetry

The kinetics of bulk free‐radical polymerizations of n‐butyl methacrylate (n‐BMA), iso‐butyl methacrylate (i‐BMA), and tert‐butyl methacrylate (t‐BMA) are studied by differential scanning calorimetry and with the aid of a mathematical model previously reported by the authors. In all the cases, the rate of polymerization (R_p) evolution curve exhibits a minimum at low conversions and the characteristic maximum of the autoacceleration effect. It is found that the monomer conversion x_min at which the minimum is observed, follows the order n‐BMA > i‐BMA > t‐BMA and that for monomer conversions (x) smaller than x_min, the termination rate coefficient (k_t) shows a plateau. According to the model results it is obtained that for x > x_min, the termination reaction is chemically controlled whereas for x > x_min, it is diffusion‐controlled and that the x_min values are related to the value of the termination rate coefficient of the chemical step (k_t0) of every isomer, which is highly influenced by the steric hindrance of the alkyl substituent group.     

Photochemical reactions. 72. Photofragmentation of 14-beta-hydroxy-20-oxo-delta(16)-steroids

On UV. irradiation in i-octane or t-butyl alcohol the α,β-unsaturated δ-hydroxy ketone 2 undergoes fragmentation to the novel 14,15-seco-steroid 3 .     

Polyethers. I. Polymerization of 2-methyl-2-butene oxide

2-Methyl-2-butene oxide (2,3-epoxy-2-methylbutane) was polymerized with modified alkylaluminum initiators a t low temperatures to a high-melting, crystalline, film-forming polymer. High yields and comparatively high molecular weights were obtained with Al(i-Bu)₃?xH₂O initiators in inert diluents. When such initiators were modified with acetylacetone they became ineffective. Ammonia could be substituted for water in formulating an active initiator. Attempts to prepare an active initiator in the presence of the monomer were unsuccessful indicsting competition with the water for Al(i-Bu)₃. Thermal decomposition of the polymer produced methyl isopropyl ketone with some pivaldehyde.     

The Electronic State of Hydrogen in the α Phase of the Hydrogen‐Storage Material PdH(D)x: Does a Chemical Bond Between Palladium and Hydrogen Exist?

The palladium–hydrogen system is one of the most famous hydrogen‐storage systems. Although there has been much research on β‐phase PdH(D)_x, we comprehensively investigated the nature of the interaction between Pd and H(D) in α‐phase PdH(D)_x (x<0.03 at 303 K), and revealed the existence of Pd?H(D) chemical bond for the first time, by various in situ experimental techniques and first‐principles theoretical calculations. The lattice expansion, magnetic susceptibility, and electrical resistivity all provide evidence. In situ solid‐state ¹H and ²H NMR spectroscopy and first‐principles theoretical calculations revealed that a Pd?H(D) chemical bond exists in the α phase, but the bonding character of the Pd?H(D) bond in the α phase is quite different from that in the β phase; the nature of the Pd?H(D) bond in the α phase is a localized covalent bond whereas that in the β phase is a metallic bond.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering from binary liquid-crystalline mixtures of polar and non-polar compounds

The phase diagrams of several binary mixtures consisting of cyanobiphenyls and different terminally non-polar mesogenic compounds exhibit induced smectic A phases. The smectic A layer spacing, d, of these induced phases have been investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering as a function of the molar fraction x_i . Large deviations of the layer spacings from the additivity rule d _mix = σ x_id_i , have been observed in all mixed systems. Assuming a dimerization of the terminally polar compounds, the degree of association β(x) was calculated as a function of composition for different dimerization constants. The theoretical relations d _mix(x) obtained from the calculated β(x) values do not fit the experimental curves for d(x). This fact can be interpreted by the formation of weak complexes between the polar and the terminally non-polar molecules of the binary mixtures. This kind of complexing seems to be responsible for the formation of induced smectic phases of the S_Ad-type and might disturb the monomer-dimer equilibrium 2M _p D _p of the polar compounds.     

Heterotri- and -tetrametallic alkoxides of chromium(III) containing aluminium(III), gallium(III) and niobium(V)

CrCl₃ · 3THF reacts with two equivalents of potassium alkoxometallates K{M(OPr ⁱ ) _x } [M = Al(A), Ga(B), x = 4; M = Nb(C), x = 6] to give heterobimetallic chloride isopropoxides [Cr{M(OPr ⁱ ) _x }₂Cl(THF)] [M = Al(A – 1), Ga(B – 1), and Nb(C – 1)], in which the replacement of the chloride with an appropriate alkoxometallate (tetraisopropoxoaluminate, tetraisopropoxogallate, or hexaisopropoxoniobate) results in the formation of novel heterotrimetallic derivatives. The 'single pot synthesis of an heterotetrametallic isopropoxide [Cr{Nb(OPr ⁱ )₆}{Al(OPr ⁱ )₄}{Ga(OPr ⁱ )₄}] (7) has been carried out by the sequential addition of (A), (B), and (C) to a benzene suspension of CrCl₃ · 3THF. Alcoholysis of [Cr{Al(OPr ⁱ )₄}₂{Nb(OPr ⁱ )₆}] (1) and [Cr{Al(OPr ⁱ )₄}₂{Ga(OPr ⁱ )₄}] (5) with t-BuOH has also been studied and the derivatives characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight determinations, spectroscopic [Electronic, i.r., ²⁷Al-n.m.r.] and magnetic susceptibility studies.     

H/D isotope effect on charge‐inverted hydrogen‐bonded systems: Systematic classification of three different types in H3XH…YH3 (X = C,Si, or Ge,and Y = B,Al, or Ga) with multicomponent calculation

Three different H/D isotope effect in nine H₃XH(D)^…YH₃ (X = C, Si, or Ge, and Y = B, Al, or Ga) hydrogen‐bonded (HB) systems are classified using MP2 level of multicomponent molecular orbital method, which can take account of the nuclear quantum nature of proton and deuteron. First, in the case of H₃CH(D)^…YH₃ (Y = B, Al, or Ge) HB systems, the deuterium (D) substitution induces the usual H/D geometrical isotope effect such as the contraction of covalent R(C? H(D)) bonds and the elongation of intermolecular R(H(D)^…Y) and R(C^…Y) distances. Second, in the case of H₃XH(D)^…YH₃ (X = Si or Ge, and Y = Al or Ge) HB systems, where H atom is negatively charged called as charge‐inverted hydrogen‐bonded (CIHB) systems, the D substitution leads to the contraction of intermolecular R(H(D)^…Y) and R(X^…Y) distances. Finally, in the case of H₃XH(D)^…BH₃ (X = Si or Ge) HB systems, these intermolecular R(H(D)^…Y) and R(X^…Y) distances also contract with the D substitution, in which the origin of the contraction is not the same as that in CIHB systems. The H/D isotope effect on interaction energies and spatial distribution of nuclear wavefunctions are also analyzed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Defect Chemistry of Singly and Doubly Doped Ceria: Correlation between Ion Transport and Energetics

Earlier studies have shown a strong correlation between the enthalpy of formation, ΔH_f,ox, and the ionic conductivity, σ_i, near room temperature in doped ceria systems, which are promising solid electrolytes for intermediate‐temperature solid oxide fuel cells (IT‐SOFCs). The present work demonstrates that this correlation holds at the operating temperature of IT‐SOFCs, 600–700 °C. Solid solutions of Ce_1?xNd_xO_2?0.5x, Ce_1?xSm_xO_2?0.5x, and Ce_1?xSm_0.5xNd_0.5xO_2?0.5x are studied. The ΔH_f,ox at 702 °C is determined by considering the excess heat content between 25 and 702 °C combined with the value of ΔH_f,ox at 25 °C. Both σ_i and ΔH_f,ox show maxima at x=0.15 and 0.20 for the singly and doubly doped ceria, respectively, suggesting that the number of mobile oxygen vacancies in these solid solutions reaches a maximum near those compositions. An increase in temperature results in a shift of the maximum in both ΔH_f,ox and σ_i towards higher concentrations. This shift results from a gradual increase in dissociation of the defect associates.