Highly Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Ketones with Chiral (NH)2P2 Macrocyclic Iron(II) Complexes

Bis(isonitrile) iron(II) complexes bearing a C₂‐symmetric diamino (NH)₂P₂ macrocyclic ligand efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of polar bonds of a broad scope of substrates (ketones, enones, and imines) in high yield (up to 99.5 %), excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99 % ee), and with low catalyst loading (generally 0.1 mol %). The catalyst can be easily tuned by modifying the substituents of the isonitrile ligand.     

The vibrational energy pattern in acetylene VII: (12)C(13)CH2

In (12)C(13)CH(2) 129 vibrational term values up to 10,000 cm(-1) are merged, about 60% of which are newly reported. They are fitted using an effective Hamiltonian with a standard deviation of 0.22 cm(-1). The vibrational assignments and vibrational constants are listed and discussed. The energy pattern is found to be very similar to the one in (12)C2H2 with additional anharmonic resonances arising from the lack of u/g character in the asymmetric isotopolog.     

Asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions of 2-cyclohexen-1-one catalyzed by chiral biaryl-based bis(thiourea) organocatalysts

Newly-developed bis(thiourea) 1d was found to be an efficient organocatalyst for the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. High enantioselectivities were obtained in the reaction of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with both aromatic aldehydes (up to 84% ee) and aliphatic aldehydes (up to 96% ee).     

Liquid phase separation of polyaromatics on [Cu2(BDC)2(dabco)

The porous coordination polymer (PCP) [Cu(2)(BDC)(2)(dabco)] is capable of selectively adsorbing up to 25 wt % of either 1-methylnaphthalene or 2-methylnaphthalene. Uptakes of unsubstituted naphthalene and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene are significantly lower (7-13 wt %), suggesting that monomethyl substituted polyaromatics can be separated from the other fractions. Furthermore, this PCP can perform the difficult separation of 1-methylnaphthalene from 2-methylnaphthalene with separation factors as high as 2.6, proving that specific interactions of the methyl group with the lattice play an important role in determining the adsorption selectivity.     

Copper(II) complexes of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-thione derivatives for asymmetric Henry reactions

The preparation of a new series of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-thione derivatives is described. Their corresponding copper(II) complexes were found to be highly enantioselective catalysts for asymmetric Henry reactions (up to 98% ee). Immobilization of these complexes by anchoring onto Merrifield? resin with respect to their use as recyclable catalysts was subsequently performed. The heterogeneous catalysts prepared in this way were tested in the asymmetric Henry reactions and showed high catalytic activity; they can be easily recycled, although their enantioselectivities were only moderate (～50% ee).     

Preparation of enantiomerically pure (3E)-alkyl-4-(hetero-2-yl)-2-hydroxybut-3-enoates by Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 mediated deracemisation and determination of the absolute configuration of (3E)-ethyl-4-(thiophene-2-yl)-2-hydroxybut-3-enoate

Deracemisation of racemic (3E)-alkyl-4-(hetero-2-yl)-2-hydroxybut-3-enoates using Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 resulted in the formation of one enantiomer in high enantiomeric excess [up to >99% ee] and isolated yields [up to 79%]. The absolute configuration of the enantiomerically pure (3E)-ethyl-4-(thiophene-2-yl)-2-hydroxybut-3-enoate as determined by ¹H NMR of the Mosher esters was found to be (S).     

Water line lists close to experimental accuracy using a spectroscopically determined potential energy surface for H2(16)O, H2(17)O, and H2(18)O

Line lists of vibration-rotation transitions for the H(2) (16)O, H(2) (17)O, and H(2) (18)O isotopologues of the water molecule are calculated, which cover the frequency region of 0-20 000 cm(-1) and with rotational states up to J=20 (J=30 for H(2) (16)O). These variational calculations are based on a new semitheoretical potential energy surface obtained by morphing a high accuracy ab initio potential using experimental energy levels. This potential reproduces the energy levels with J=0, 2, and 5 used in the fit with a standard deviation of 0.025 cm(-1). Linestrengths are obtained using an ab initio dipole moment surface. That these line lists make an excellent starting point for spectroscopic modeling and analysis of rotation-vibration spectra is demonstrated by comparison with recent measurements of Lisak and Hodges [J. Mol. Spectrosc. (unpublished)]: assignments are given for the seven unassigned transitions and the intensity of the strong lines are reproduced to with 3%. It is suggested that the present procedure may be a better route to reliable line intensities than laboratory measurements.     

Extractive-spectrophotometric determination of trace iron(II) with di-2-pyridylmethanone 2-(5-nitro)pyridylhydrazone

The optimum conditions for the extractive-spectrophotometric determination of trace iron(II) with di-2-pyridylmethanone 2-(5-nitro)pyridylhydrazone have been established. Iron(II) reacts with this reagent at pH 2.0-7.5 to form an uncharged 1:2 (metal-to-ligand) complex, which can be extracted with toluene. Beer's law is obeyed over the range up to 0.84 mug/ml of iron(II) at 505 nm. The molar absorptivity of the extracted species is 5.83 x 10(4) 1.mole(-1).cm(-1). The proposed method is extremely sensitive and reproducible, and has been satisfactorily applied to the determination of total iron in freshwater samples by adding ascorbic acid to reduce iron(III).     

An efficient synthetic-route to prepare [2,3,6-tri-O-(2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl]-β-cyclodextrin)

The efficient approach for the synthesis of [2,3,6-tri-O-(2-bromo-2-methylpropionyl]-β-cyclodextrin) (21Br-β-CD) is described. The reaction between 2-bromoisobutyric bromide and β-cyclodextrin was performed directly in 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidione solvent, leading to much less complicated procedures and higher yield (up to 89.5%) compared with those reported previously (17% yield). The product is an extremely useful initiator in synthesizing star polymers with well-defined structures using atom transfer radical polymerization for biomedical applications.     

Preparation of 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-formylpyrrole from furfural

The products of the condensation of furfural with p-nitroaniline in an acidic medium in various solvents were investigated. It was established that the well-known method gives 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-formylpyrrole in no higher than 55% yield and 2,3-bis(4-nitrophenylamino)-2-formylpyrrole in 27% yield. A method based on a previously described method is recommended (the products are obtained in up to 72% yields).Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1062–1066, August, 1981.     

Fast catalytic epoxidation with H(2)O(2) and [gamma-SiW(10)O(36)(PhPO)(2)](4-) in ionic liquids under microwave irradiation

Olefin epoxidation by [gamma-SiW10O36(PhPO)2]4- and H2O2 occurs in hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs), with yields and selectivity up to >99%. The catalytic IL phase is recyclable. Under MW irradiation the reaction occurs with up to 200 turnovers per minute. Simultaneous cooling is instrumental for quantitative H2O2 conversion.     

Synthesis, properties, and OFET characteristics of 5,5'-di(2-azulenyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (DAzBT) and 2,5-di(2-azulenyl)-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (DAzTT)

Two azulene-based π-conjugated systems, 5,5'-di(2-azulenyl)-2,2'-bithiophene and 2,5-di(2-azulenyl)-thieno[3,2-b]thiophene, were constructed via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions. The crystal structures of both revealed an edge-to-face orientation in a well-defined herringbone packing. The molecules stood nearly perpendicular to the substrate in the film form, with features of an organic field-effect transistor at hole mobilities of up to 5.0 × 10(-2) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1).     

Oxidation chemistry of poly(ethylene glycol)-supported carbonylruthenium(II) and dioxoruthenium(VI) meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin

[Ru(II)(F(20)-tpp)(CO)] (1, F(20)-tpp=meso-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrinato dianion) was covalently attached to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) through the reaction of 1 with PEG and sodium hydride in DMF. The water-soluble PEG-supported ruthenium porphyrin (PEG-1) is an efficient catalyst for 2,6-Cl(2)pyNO oxidation and PhI==NTs aziridination/amidation of hydrocarbons, and intramolecular amidation of sulfamate esters with PhI(OAc)(2). Oxidation of PEG-1 by m-CPBA in CH(2)Cl(2), dioxane, or water afforded a water-soluble PEG-supported dioxoruthenium(VI) porphyrin (PEG-2), which could react with hydrocarbons to give oxidation products in up to 80 % yield. The behavior of the two PEG-supported ruthenium porphyrin complexes in water was probed by NMR spectroscopy and dynamic light-scattering measurements. PEG-2 is remarkably stable to water. The second-order rate constants (k(2)) for the oxidation of styrene and ethylbenzene by PEG-2 in dioxane-water increase with water content, and the k(2) values at a water content of 70 % or 80 % are up to 188 times that obtained in ClCH(2)CH(2)Cl.     

Fullerene-like (IF) Nb(x)Mo(1-x)S2 nanoparticles

IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a vapor-phase reaction involving the respective metal halides with H2S. The IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles, containing up to 25% Nb, were characterized by a variety of experimental techniques. Analysis of the powder X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and different electron microscopy techniques shows that the majority of the Nb atoms are organized as nanosheets of NbS2 within the MoS2 host lattice. Most of the remaining Nb atoms (3%) are interspersed individually and randomly in the MoS2 host lattice. Very few Nb atoms, if any, are intercalated between the MoS2 layers. A sub-nanometer film of niobium oxide seems to encoat the majority of the nanoparticles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in the chemically resolved electrical measurement mode (CREM) and scanning probe microscopy measurements of individual nanoparticles show that the mixed IF nanoparticles are metallic independent of the substitution pattern of the Nb atoms in the lattice of MoS2 (whereas unsubstituted IF-MoS2 nanoparticles are semiconducting). Furthermore the IF-Mo1-xNbxS2 nanoparticles are found to exhibit interesting single electron tunneling effects at low temperatures.     

Highly efficient, regioselective, and stereospecific oxidation of aliphatic C-h groups with h(2)o(2), catalyzed by aminopyridine manganese complexes

Aminopyridine manganese complexes [LMn(II)(OTf)(2)] having a similar coordination topology catalyze the oxidation of unactivated aliphatic C-H groups with H(2)O(2), demonstrating excellent efficiency (up to TON = 970), site selectivity, and stereospecificity (up to >99%).     

Enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with arylidene malonates catalyzed by iPr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)2

The cheap and simple (i)Pr-bisoxazoline-Cu(OTf)(2) proves to be an efficient catalyst in the asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole with arylidene malonates. In (i)BuOH, the S-enantiomer was obtained in up to 97% ee, while the opposite enantiomer was obtained in up to 78% ee in CH(2)Cl(2) or TTCE.     

Extraction and coordination studies of the unexplored bifunctional ligand carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide (CMSO) with uranium(VI) and cerium(III) nitrates. Synthesis and structures of [UO2(NO3)2(PhSOCH2CON(i)Bu2)] and [Ce(NO3)3(PhSOCH2CONBu2)2

The bifunctional carbamoyl methyl sulfoxide ligands, PhCH(2)SOCH(2)CONHPh (L1), PhCH(2)SOCH(2)CONHCH(2)Ph (L2), PhSOCH(2)CON(i)Pr(2)(L3), PhSOCH(2)CONBu(2)(L4), PhSOCH(2)CON(i)Bu(2)(L5) and PhSOCH(2)CON(C(8)H(17))(2)(L6) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods. The selected coordination chemistry of L1, L3, and L5with [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)] and [Ce(NO(3))(3)] has been evaluated. The structures of the compounds [UO(2)(NO(3))(2)(PhSOCH(2)CON(i)Bu(2))](10) and [Ce(NO(3))(3)(PhSOCH(2)CONBu(2))(2)](12) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Preliminary extraction studies of ligand L6 with U(VI), Pu(IV) and Am(III) in tracer level showed an appreciable extraction for U(VI) and Pu(IV) in up to 10 M HNO(3) but not for Am(III). Thermal studies on compounds 8 and 10 in air revealed that the ligands can be destroyed completely on incineration. The electron spray mass spectra of compounds 8 and 10 in acetone show that extensive ligand distribution reactions occur in solution to give a mixture of products with ligand to metal ratios of 1: 1 and 2 :1. However, 10 retains its solid state structure in CH(2)Cl(2).     

Selective monobenzoylation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols catalyzed by Me2SnCl2 in water (organic solvent free) under mild conditions

We have developed an efficient method for selective monobenzoylation of 1,2- and 1,3-diols in water catalyzed by Me(2)SnCl(2). Treatment of 1,2- and 1,3-diols with benzoyl chlorides, DMT-MM, and potassium carbonate in the presence of a catalytic amount of Me(2)SnCl(2) and DMAP in water at room temperature gave monobenzoates in up to 97% yield.     

B(2)A(')-X(2)A(') detection of vibrationally excited HCO produced by the O((3)P)+C(2)H(4) reaction

The distribution of rotational and vibrational energy in HCO produced by the O((3)P)+C(2)H(4) reaction has been measured using laser-induced fluorescence detection via the B(2)A(')-X(2)A(') transition. Over a detection wavelength range of 248-290 nm, our experiments have shown that HCO is formed in both the ground state and in at least six vibrationally excited states with up to two quanta of energy in the C-O stretch and the bending mode. Dispersed fluorescence experiments were conducted to positively assign all of the HCO vibrational bands. The experiments confirmed that many bands, including the B(000)-X(000) band, are affected by overlap with other HCO bands. Spectral modeling was used to separate the contributions of overlapping HCO B-X bands and to determine a nascent HCO rotational temperature of approximately 600 K, corresponding to approximately 6% of the total energy from the O((3)P)+C(2)H(4) reaction. HCO vibrational distributions were determined for two different average collision energies and were fit with vibrational temperatures of 1850+/-80 K and 2000+/-100 K, corresponding to approximately 15% of the total energy. The observed Boltzmann distribution of vibrational energy in HCO indicates that HCO and CH(3) are formed by the dissociation of an energized intermediate complex.     

Diastereoselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan catalyzed by bismuth triflate

We have developed an efficient vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of 2-(trimethylsilyloxy)furan with various aromatic aldehydes mediated by bismuth triflate in low catalyst loading (1 mol %). The reaction proceeds rapidly and affords the corresponding 5-(hydroxy(aryl)methyl)furan-2(5H)-ones in high yields with good to very good diastereoselectivities (dr up to >98:2). Such selectivities, albeit previously reported with other Lewis acids, could this time be achieved with a much lower catalyst loading. 5-(Hydroxy(alkyl)methyl)furan-2(5H)-ones derived from ketones could also be obtained with good diastereoselectivities.