Multifunctional organic nitrates as constituents in European and US urban photo-smog

Air samples of the atmospheric ground layer in the cities of Ulm in Germany, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the US were analyzed for organic nitrates. The air samples were taken around noon in summer at sunny weather conditions. 43 (C6-C13) alkyl mononitrates, 24 (C3-C6) alkyl dinitrates, and 19 (C2-C6) hydroxy alkyl nitrates have been identified. The analytical protocol included high-volume-sampling, NP-HPLC group separation, high resolution capillary gas chromatography, and detection by the highly selective mass spectrometer detector (SIM mode, m/z = 46). The levels of the sum of 15 (C6-C10) alkyl mononitrates ranged from 2.9 to 11.0 parts per trillion (ppt(v)). The levels of the sum of 21 (C3-C6) alkyl dinitrates ranged from 2.3 to 10.5 ppt(v), and the levels of the sum of 7 (C2-C4) hydroxy alkyl nitrates ranged from 7.3 to 28 ppt(v), respectively, in the urban air samples. These results emphazise the contribution of the alkyl dinitrates and hydroxy alkyl nitrates besides the alkyl mononitrates to the budget of NO(Y) compounds. No major differences in levels and pattern of the organic nitrates are present in air of the German and the US cities.     

Practical Synthesis of N‐Alkyl‐N‐alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl Prodrug Derivatives of Acetaminophen,Theophylline, and 6‐Mercaptopurine

We report a novel synthesis of N‐alkyl‐N‐alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl (NANAOCAM) prodrugs of acetaminophen, theophylline, and 6‐mercaptopurine by alkylation of the corresponding drug molecule with N‐alkyl‐N‐alkyloxycarbonylaminomethyl chlorides in good yield. Most of the alkylating agents were efficiently synthesized by chloromethylation of N‐alkyl carbamic acid alkyl esters, which in turn were made from alkyl amines and alkyl chloroformates. In cases where the alkyl chloroformates were not available, synthesis of N‐alkyl carbamic acid alkyl esters was accomplished by converting an alcohol to a chloroformate or to an activated acylating agent such as acyl imidazoles or p‐nitrophenylcarbonate esters, followed by their reaction with alkyl amines.     

Langmuir monolayers of the long-chain alkyl derivatives of a nucleoside analogue and the formation of self-assembled nanoparticles

The long-chain alkyl derivatives of a nucleoside analogue-acyclovir were prepared in the paper. One is stearyl-glycero-succinyl-acyclovir (SGSA) with a single 18-carbon length (C18) alkyl chain. Another is dioctadecyl-aspartate-succinyl-acyclovir (DASA) with double C18 alkyl chains. They were prepared by the esterification of succinyl-acyclovir with the lipids, and sodium salts of them were also prepared. Guanine moieties and alkyl moieties bring the derivatives intermolecular hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction in water separately. The forces are influenced by the number of alkyl chains and the charged state, and determine the solubility and the self-assembly behavior of the derivatives. The double alkyl-chain derivatives (DASA and DASA-Na) formed rigid Langmuir monolayers on air/water surface, while the single alkyl chain derivatives (SGSA and SGSA-Na) did not. However, cholesterol (Chol) could assist SGSA to form rigid monolayers through inserting into the alkyl chains of SGSA to mimic the second alkyl chain. SGSA self-aggregates in water were prepared by the injection method with tetrahydrofuran as solvent. Cuboid-like shape and nanoscale size demonstrated that SGSA self-aggregates were self-assembled nanoparticles. Shape, particle size, zeta potential and phase transition of the nanoparticles were characterized. And they showed an average size of 83.2 nm, a negative surface charge of -31.3-mV zeta potential and a gel-liquid crystalline phase transition of 50.38 degrees C. The formation mechanism of self-assembled nanoparticles was analyzed. Hydrophobic interaction of alkyl chains improves SGSA molecules to form bilayers, and then cuboid-like nanoparticles were obtained by layer-by-layer aggregation based on inter-bilayers hydrogen bonding. However, the charged guanine moieties make SGSA-Na lose the function of hydrogen bonding so that SGSA-Na only forms vesicles in water based on hydrophobic interaction. Strong hydrophobicity and wide-open rigid double alkyl chains of DASA and DASA-Na restrict self-assembly in water media, and no homogeneous suspensions were obtained. Therefore, the molecular self-assembly behavior of the long-chain alkyl derivatives of nucleoside analogues on water surface or in water media is determined by the number of alkyl chains and the charged state.     

Computational Insight into Nickel‐Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon versus Carbon–Boron Coupling Reactions of Primary,Secondary, and Tertiary Alkyl Bromides

The nickel‐catalyzed alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling (C?C bond formation) and borylation (C?B bond formation) of unactivated alkyl halides reported in the literature show completely opposite reactivity orders in the reactions of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl bromides. The proposed Ni^I/Ni^III catalytic cycles for these two types of bond‐formation reactions were studied computationally by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP level. These calculations indicate that the rate‐determining step for alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling is the reductive elimination step, whereas for borylation the rate is determined mainly by the atom‐transfer step. In borylation reactions, the boryl ligand involved has an empty p orbital, which strongly facilitates the reductive elimination step. The inability of unactivated tertiary alkyl halides to undergo alkyl–alkyl cross‐coupling is mainly due to the moderately high reductive elimination barrier.     

Synthesis, characterization and coordination properties of bis(alkyl)selenosalen ligands

New bis (alkyl) selenosalen podand ligands having Se2N2 donor sites have been synthesized by the condensation of unsymmetrical o-formylphenyl alkyl selenide (1-3) with ethylenediamine. The reaction of bis(alkyl)selenosalen podands with Pd(II) and Pt(II) afforded selenoether-selenolate coordination complexes 7-10via cleavage of one of the two Se-C(alkyl) bonds of bis(alkyl)selenosalen podands upon complexation. DFT calculations revealed that the cleavage of Se-C(alkyl) bonds occurred possibly via S(N)2 mechanism instead of a sequence of oxidative addition and reductive elimination reactions. The spectral data and elemental analyses confirmed the formation of selenoether-selenolate complexes. The structures of the podands N,N'-bis[(2-methylseleno)phenylmethylene]-1,2-ethanediamine (4), N,N'-bis[(2-decylseleno)phenylmethylene]-1,2-ethanediamine (5) and the selenoether-selenolate complex 8 have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The crystal structure of 5 showed SeH interaction with a ladder like 3D supramolecular arrangement via interdigitation of long alkyl chains. Comparison of crystal packing of podands 4 and 5 indicates that the alkyl chain length has significant impact on the crystal packing. The platinum selenolate complex 8 shows a square planar arrangement around the Pt centre, where the Se atoms in the selenolate and the selenoether have nearly equal Pt-Se bond length.     

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic and benzylic Grignard reagents and their application to tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reactions

Details of cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides with allylic Grignard reagents are disclosed. A combination of cobalt(II) chloride and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (DPPE) or 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (DPPP) is suitable as a precatalyst and allows secondary and tertiary alkyl halides--as well as primary ones--to be employed as coupling partners for allyl Grignard reagents. The reaction offers a facile synthesis of quaternary carbon centers, which has practically never been possible with palladium, nickel, and copper catalysts. Benzyl, methallyl, and crotyl Grignard reagents can all couple with alkyl halides. The benzylation definitely requires DPPE or DPPP as a ligand. The reaction mechanism should include the generation of an alkyl radical from the parent alkyl halide. The mechanism can be interpreted in terms of a tandem radical cyclization/cross-coupling reaction. In addition, serendipitous tandem radical cyclization/cyclopropanation/carbonyl allylation of 5-alkoxy-6-halo-4-oxa-1-hexene derivatives is also described. The intermediacy of a carbon-centered radical results in the loss of the original stereochemistry of the parent alkyl halides, creating the potential for asymmetric cross-coupling of racemic alkyl halides.     

烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷的合成与性能

以D-葡萄糖为原料,经全乙酰化、在SnCl_4催化下与脂肪醇糖苷化、脱保护3步反应合成了7种不同碳链长度的烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷。利用核磁共振、表面张力仪和偏光显微镜等对其进行结构、表面张力和热致液晶等性能测试,结果表明,当烷基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷烷基链长(n)为6~9时,均有发泡和乳化性能,其中正壬基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷具有最佳的发泡和乳化性能;烷基糖苷(n=6~9)的表面张力(γ_(CMC))及临界胶束浓度(CMC)均比较低;饱和吸附量(Γ_(max))随烷基链的增长而减小,饱和吸附面积(A_(min))随烷基链增长而增大;形成胶束时的标准自由能(ΔG_(mic))和吸附自由能(ΔG_(ads))均为负值,其绝对值随烷基链增长而越来越大,其中正辛基-α-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷的表面活性最好;烷基糖苷(n=4~9)对皮肤均无急性刺激作用;所合成的烷基糖苷均具有热致液晶行为,随烷基链长的增加,液晶相的温度范围变宽,液晶相的稳定性越好。     

Pronounced Dependence of All-Polymer Solar Cells Photovoltaic Performance on the Alkyl Substituent Patterns in Large Bandgap Polymer Donors

For all-polymer solar cells which are composed of polymer donors and polymer acceptors, the effect of alkyl side chains on photovoltaic performance is a matter of some debate, and this effect remains difficult to forecast. In this concise contribution, we demonstrate that three alkyls namely branched alkyl 2-butyloctyl (2BO), long linear alkyl n-dodecyl (C12), and double-short linear alkyl n-hexyls (DC6) incorporated into the side chains of large bandgap polymer donor PBDT-TTz can induce considerable, of significance, and different electronic, optical, and morphological parameters. Systematic studies shed light on the critical role of the double-short linear alkyl n-hexyls (DC6) in (i) producing large ionization potential value, (ii) increasing propensity of the polymer to order along the π-stacking direction, (iii) generating polymer crystallites with more preferential “face-on” orientation, consequently, (iv) improvement of carriers transportation, (v) suppression of charge recombination, (vi) reduction of energy loss in all-polymer devices. In parallel, we unearth that the PBDT-TTz with double-short linear alkyl n-hexyls (DC6) represents the highest efficiency of 8.3 %, whereas, the other two PBDT-TTz analogues (2BO, C12) yield efficiencies of less than 3 % in optimized all-polymer solar cells. Though branched or long linear alkyl side chains (2BO, C12) have been applied to provide the solution processability of conjugated polymers, motifs bearing multiple short linear alkyl substituents (DC6) are proved critical to the development of high performing polymers.     

Iron-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Electrophiles with Olefins

In terms of its abundance and its minimal toxicity, iron has advantages relative to other transition metals. Although alkyl–alkyl bond construction is central to organic synthesis, examples of iron-catalyzed alkyl–alkyl couplings of alkyl electrophiles are relatively sparse. Herein we report an iron catalyst that achieves cross-coupling reactions of alkyl electrophiles wherein olefins, in the presence of a hydrosilane, are used in place of alkylmetal reagents. Carbon–carbon bond formation proceeds at room temperature, and the method employs commercially available components (Fe(OAc)₂, Xantphos, and Mg(OEt)₂); interestingly, this set of reagents can be applied directly to a distinct hydrofunctionalization of olefins, hydroboration. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the generation of an alkyl radical from the alkyl electrophile, as well as with reversibility for elementary steps that precede carbon–carbon bond formation (olefin binding to iron and β-migratory insertion).     

Transition state for alkyl group hydrogenation on Pt(111)

Substituent effects have been used to probe the characteristics of the transition state to hydrogenation of alkyl groups on the Pt(111) surface. Eight different alkyl and fluoroalkyl groups have been formed on the Pt(111) surface by dissociative adsorption of their respective alkyl and fluoroalkyl iodides. Coadsorption of hydrogen and alkyl groups, followed by heating of the surface, results in hydrogenation of the alkyl groups to form alkanes, which then desorb into the gas phase. Temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy was used to measure the barriers to hydrogenation, DeltaE(H)(double dagger), which are dependent on the size of the alkyl group (polarizability) and the degree of fluorination (field effect). This example is one of only two surface reactions for which the influence of the substituents on DeltaE(H)(double dagger) has been correlated with both the field and the polarizability substituent constants of the alkyl groups in the form of a linear free energy relationship. Increasing both the field and the polarizability constants of the alkyl groups increases the value of DeltaE(H)(double dagger). The substituent effects are quantified by a field reaction constant of rho(F) = 27 +/- 4 kJ/mol and a polarizability reaction constant of rho(alpha) = 19 +/- 3 kJ/mol. These suggest that the transition state for hydrogenation is slightly cationic with respect to the alkyl group on the Pt(111) surface, RC + H <--> {RC(delta+)...H}(double dagger).     

Photoinduced charge separation in three-layer supramolecular nanohybrids: fullerene-porphyrin-SWCNT

Photoinduced charge separation processes of three-layer supramolecular hybrids, fullerene-porphyrin-SWCNT, which are constructed from semiconducting (7,6)- and (6,5)-enriched SWCNTs and self-assembled via π-π interacting long alkyl chain substituted porphyrins (tetrakis(4-dodecyloxyphenyl)porphyrins; abbreviated as MP(alkyl)(4)) (M = Zn and H(2)), to which imidazole functionalized fullerene[60] (C(60)Im) is coordinated, have been investigated in organic solvents. The intermolecular alkyl-π and π-π interactions between the MP(alkyl)(4) and SWCNTs, in addition, coordination between C(60)Im and Zn ion in the porphyrin cavity are visualized using DFT calculations at the B3LYP/3-21G(*) level, predicting donor-acceptor interactions between them in the ground and excited states. The donor-acceptor nanohybrids thus formed are characterized by TEM imaging, steady-state absorption and fluorescence spectra. The time-resolved fluorescence studies of MP(alkyl)(4) in two-layered nanohybrids (MP(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT) revealed efficient quenching of the singlet excited states of MP(alkyl)(4) ((1)MP*(alkyl)(4)) with the rate constants of charge separation (k(CS)) in the range of (1-9) × 10(9) s(-1). A nanosecond transient absorption technique confirmed the electron transfer products, MP˙(+)(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT˙(-) and/or MP˙(-)(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT˙(+) for the two-layer nanohybrids. Upon further coordination of C(60)Im to ZnP, acceleration of charge separation via(1)ZnP* in C(60)Im→ZnP(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT is observed to form C(60)˙(-)Im→ZnP˙(+)(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT and C(60)˙(-)Im→ZnP(alkyl)(4)/SWCNT˙(+) charge separated states as supported by the transient absorption spectra. These characteristic absorptions decay with rate constants due to charge recombination (k(CR)) in the range of (6-10) × 10(6) s(-1), corresponding to the lifetimes of the radical ion-pairs of 100-170 ns. The electron transfer in the nanohybrids has further been utilized for light-to-electricity conversion by the construction of proof-of-concept photoelectrochemical solar cells.     

Partition coefficients of nonionic surfactants in water/n-alkane systems

In water/oil systems, surfactants partition between the water phase and the oil phase according to their solubility in both phases. The ratio between the concentration of the surfactant in the oil phase and in the water phase at equilibrium is known as the partition or distribution coefficient (K(p)). The partition coefficient (K(p)) is an important fundamental parameter essential to understanding and controlling phenomena in water-oil-surfactant systems under both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions. In the present work we report on the partitioning of three different classes of nonionic surfactants in the pre-cmc regime, namely polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers (C(i)E(j)), alkyl dimethyl phosphine oxides (C(n)DMPO) and alkyl glycosides (β-C(n)G(m)) between water and different n-alkanes. We focus on the influence of the surfactant's molecular structure (alkyl chain length, head group size and type), and oil chain length on K(p) to derive systematic structure-property relationships. Moreover, we discuss the influence of the surfactant purity on partition coefficients of technical grade alkyl glycosides and polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, respectively.     

Influence of alkyl chain length on phosphate self-assembled monolayers

A series of alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths ranging from C10 to C18 have been synthesized. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these molecules were prepared on titanium oxide surfaces by immersion of the substrates in alkyl phosphate solutions of 0.5 mM concentration in n-heptane/isopropanol. The SAMs were characterized by means of dynamic water contact angle (dCA) measurements, variable-angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and polarization-modulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A higher degree of order and packing density within the monolayers was found for alkyl phosphates with alkyl chain lengths exceeding 15 carbon atoms. This is reflected in a lower dCA hysteresis, as well as a film thickness measured by VASE and XPS close to the expected values for SAMs with an average alkyl chain tilt angle of 30 degrees to the surface normal. Additionally a shift of the symmetric and antisymmetric C-H stretching modes in the PM-IRRAS spectra to lower wave numbers was observed. These findings imply a higher two-dimensional crystallinity of the films derived from alkyl phosphates with a longer alkyl chain length.     

Photolysis of alpha-azidoacetophenones: direct detection of triplet alkyl nitrenes in solution

We report the first detection of triplet alkyl nitrenes in fluid solution by laser flash photolysis of alpha-azido acetophenone derivatives, 1. Alphazides 1 contain an intramolecular triplet sensitizer, which ensures formation of the triplet alkyl nitrene by bypassing the singlet nitrene intermediate. At room temperature, azides 1 cleave to form benzoyl and methyl azide radicals in competition with triplet energy transfer to form triplet alkyl nitrene. The major photoproduct 3 arises from interception of the triplet alkyl nitrene with benzoyl radicals. The triplet alkyl nitrene intermediates are also trapped with molecular oxygen to yield the corresponding 2-nitrophenylethanone. Laser flash photolysis of 1 reveals that the triplet alkyl nitrenes have absorption around 300 nm. The triplet alkyl nitrenes were further characterized by obtaining their UV and IR spectra in argon matrices. (13)C and (15)N isotope labeling studies allowed us to characterize the C-N stretch of the nitrene intermediate at 1201 cm(-)(1).     

Influence of solvents on the conformational order of C18 alkyl modified silica gels

The influence of solvents on the conformational order of C(18) alkyl modified silica gels is studied by means of variable temperature FTIR spectroscopy. Symmetric and anti-symmetric CH(2) stretching modes were utilized for getting qualitative information about the changes in alkyl chain conformational order as a function of both protonated and perdeuterated solvents. It was found that interaction between the C(18) alkyl modified silica gels and the mobile phase results in pronounced changes of the alkyl chain conformational order. Furthermore, it was observed that some perdeuterated solvents exhibit isotope effects, which again is reflected by a different alkyl chain conformational order as compared to the corresponding stationary phases with protonated solvents.     

Synthesis of alkenyl sulfides through the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of vinyl halides with thiols

We report here the iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkyl vinyl halides with thiols. While many works are devoted to the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl iodides, interestingly, the known S-vinylation of vinyl bromides and chlorides is limited to 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene. Investigation on the coupling reaction of challenging alkyl vinyl bromides and chlorides with thiols is rare. Since the coupling of 1-(2-bromovinyl)benzene and 1-(2-chlorovinyl)benzene with thiols can be performed in the absence of any catalyst, here we focus on the coupling of thiols with alkyl vinyl halides. This system is generally reactive for alkyl vinyl iodides and bromides to provide the products in good yields. 1-(Chloromethylidene)-4-tert-butyl-cyclohexane was also coupled with thiols, giving the targets in moderate yields.     

Reactivity studies of a corrole germanium hydride complex with aldehydes, olefins and alkyl halides

The tris(pentafluorophenyl) corrole germanium hydride complex (TPFC)Ge-H was prepared by the reduction of (TPFC)Ge-OCH(3) with NaBH(4). The reactivity of (TPFC)Ge-H with series of aldehydes, olefins and alkyl halides to produce α-hydroxy alkyl and alkyl complexes was studied.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions using Polyacrylamide-Based phase transfer catalyst in organic and aqueous media

Poly [N-(2-aminoethyl) acrylamido] trimemethyl ammonium chloride was prepared and used as an effective heterogeneous phase-transfer catalyst. This modified polyacrylamide catalyzed nucleophilic displacement of alkyl halides for easy preparation of alkyl thiocyanates, alkyl cyanides, alkyl azides, and alkyl aryl ethers in high yields and short reaction times in organic and aqueous media under two-phase and triphase conditions. The catalyst can be recovered and reused several times.     

Characterization of alkyl polyglycosides by both reversed-phase and normal-phase modes of high-performance liquid chromatography

Alkyl polyglycosides today represent the most important sugar surfactant. Nonionic sugar surfactants produced via different synthetic routes are mixtures of alkyl homologues, oligomers, anomers and isomers. Alkyl homologues and oligomers of alkyl mono- and diglucosides were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with methanol-water as the mobile phase using a gradient elution. The gradient was optimized in respect to a simultaneous separation of alkyl glycosides according to their alkyl chain length and alkyl polyoxyethylene glucosides with regard to their length of the polyoxyethylene spacer. The separation of alkyl glycosides into alpha- and beta-anomers was carried out by normal-phase HPLC with isooctane-ethyl acetate (60:40, v/v)-2-propanol in the gradient mode. Light scattering detection was used. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectra of alkyl glucosides and dodecyl glucosides with oxyethylene spacer groups are presented.     

Enzymatic synthesis of alkyl α-2-deoxyglucosides by alkyl alcohol resistant α-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger

Aspergillus niger α-glucosidase (ANGase) was used for an efficient syntheses of alkyl α-d-2-deoxyglucosides (A2DGs) and for regioselectivity studies of alkoxy-hydro additions of d-glucal in the presence of alkyl alcohols. ANGase showed a high stability with respect to the high concentration of alkyl alcohols. The reaction conditions were optimized for pH, temperature, alkyl alcohol concentration, and d-glucal concentration. On the basis of MS and NMR analyses, A2DGs were confirmed to have only an α-2-deoxyglucosidic bond and the two-dimensional NMR (HMBC) spectra showed to be made up of 2-deoxyglucosyl and alkyl moieties.