Synthesis of bromodifluoromethyl phenyl sulfide,sulfoxide and sulfone [1]

Sodium thiophenoxide reacts with dibromodifluoromethane to give bromodifluoromethyl phenyl sulfide. Peracid oxidation of the sulfide gives the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone. The formation of the sulfide is suggested to proceed $\text{via}$ attack of thiophenoxide on halogen to produce difluorocarbene. Capture of carbene by thiophenoxide followed by a second positive halogen abstraction reaction yields the sulfide, PhSCF₂Br. The use of excess sodium thiophenoxide yields difluorobis(thiophenyl)methane, (PhS)₂CF₂, $\text{via}$ a similar mechanistic scheme.     

IR laser ablative degradation of poly(phenylene ether-sulfone): Deposition of films containing ether, sulfone, sulfoxide and sulfide groups

Pulsed infrared laser-induced ablation of poly(1,4-phenylene ether-sulfone) (PES) results in the extrusion of SO₂, CO and hydrocarbon molecules and allows deposition of dark solid paramagnetic carbonaceous films that were analysed by FTIR, UV, XP, Raman and EPR spectroscopy and by electron microscopy and revealed as poor in S and containing CO, SO₂, -SO- and C-S-C units. The films show pronounced conjugation of sp²-C atoms and their EPR spectra are sensitive function of the presence of molecular oxygen. The laser process differs from the conventional pyrolysis of PES which yields SO₂ and phenol as major volatile products and a carbonaceous char.     

Structure and conformational processes of bis(o-cumyl)sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone

The NMR solution spectra of the title sulfide and sulfone show decoalescence of the geminal methyl signals of the isopropyl groups at low temperature (−178 °C for the ¹³C signal of sulfide at 150.8 MHz and −147 °C for the ¹H signal of sulfone at 600 MHz). The barriers for the related dynamic processes were measured (4.3 and 7.0 kcal mol⁻¹ for the sulfide and sulfone, respectively). The preferred conformer of sulfide has a propeller shape with a C₁ symmetry, as suggested by Molecular Mechanics (MM) calculations. In the case of sulfone the preferred conformer has a propeller shape with a C₂-anti symmetry, as indicated by calculations and supported by X-ray crystallographic determination. The computed contour map of the potential energy shows that in both cases the dynamic processes take place via correlated rotations (cogwheel mechanism) of the two aromatic substituents about the Ar-S bonds. Dynamic processes could not be observed by NMR in the title sulfoxide, which was also found to adopt a propeller shaped conformation, as indicated by MM calculations and X-ray diffraction.     

Synthesis and properties of poly(oxyethylene)s containing thioether,sulfoxide, or sulfone groups

Poly[oxy(ethylthiomethyl)ethylene] (ETE) was prepared from poly[oxy (chloromethyl)ethylene] (CE) by reaction with sodium ethanethiolate. Sulfoxide and sulfone analogues were synthesized by oxidation of the poly[oxy(ethylthiomethyl)ethylene]. By changing the chloromethyl/sodium ethanethiolate ratio, poly[oxy (chloromethyl)ethylene-co-oxy(ethylthiomethyl)ethylene] (CE-ETEs) were easily made. Poly[oxy(ethylsulfinylmethyl)ethylene] (ESXE), poly[oxy(chloromethyl)ethylene-co-oxy(ethylsulfinylmethyl)ethylene] (CE-ESXEs), poly[oxy(ethylsulfonylmethyl)ethylene] (ESE), and poly[oxy(chloromethyl)ethylene-co-oxy(ethylsulfonylmethyl)ethylene] (CE-ESEs) were obtained by oxidation of ETE or CE-ETEs. There was little if any chain degradation. The (co)polymer structures were confirmed by FTIR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopic studies. Their thermal properties were studied by DSC and TGA. T_gs of ETE, ESXE, and ESE were -57, 36, and 57°C, respectively, and T_d,os (initial decomposition temperature, TGA) were 331, 198, and 308°C, respectively. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 793–801, 1998     

The photochemistry of cyclic nonenolizable α-diketones and ketones influence of remotely positioned sulfide,sulfone, and sulfoxide functionalities

The photochemistry of 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1-thiacycloheptane-4,5-dione has been examined along with that of the corresponding S-oxide and S,S-dioxide. The chief photochemical process in the first mentioned compound is ring contraction affording 3,3-dimethyl-1-thia-cyclobutan-2-one, isobutene, and carbon monoxide. In addition a small amount of 3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-1-thiacyclohexan-4-one is formed along with two isomeric unsaturated aldehydes. On independent irradiation this thiacyclohexanone affords the same products as its 7-membered diketone counterpart. Similar products are obtained for the S-dioxides investigated save that the ring contraction process was absent. The S-oxides gave no identifiable products. All the results are rationalized in terms of a generalized mechanism involving biradical intermediates.     

Synthesis and properties of nucleic acid analogues consisting of a benzene-phosphate backbone

[Chemical reaction: See text] The synthesis and properties of a nucleic acid analogue consisting of a benzene-phosphate backbone are described. The building blocks of the nucleic acid analogue are composed of bis(hydroxymethyl)benzene residues connected to nucleobases via the biaryl-like axis. Stabilities of the duplexes were studied by thermal denaturation. It was found that the thermal stabilities of the duplexes composed of the benzene-phosphate backbone are highly dependent on their sequences. The duplexes with the benzene-phosphate backbone comprised of the mixed sequences were thermally less stable than the natural DNA duplexes, whereas that composed of the homopyrimidine and homopurine sequences was thermally and thermodynamically more stable than the corresponding natural DNA duplex. It was suggested that the analogues more efficiently stabilize the duplexes in a B-form duplex rather than in an A-form duplex. Thus, the duplexes consisting of the benzene-phosphate backbone, especially composed of the homopyrimidine and homopurine sequences, may offer a novel structural motif useful for developing novel materials applicable in the fields of bio- and nanotechnologies.     

Lipophilicity Behavior of Model and Medicinal Compounds containing a suilfide,sulfoxide, or sulfone moiety

This study was designed to unravel lipophilicity changes associated with the oxidation state of the S-atom in model compounds, drugs, and metabolites, special attention being given both to intermolecular and intramolecular effects. The methods used were experimental (potentiometry, CPC, and shake-flask techniques to measure lipophilicity, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy to investigate tautomeric equilibria) and computational (quenched molecular dynamics and molecular lipophilicity potential). Simple, monofunctional model compounds were used to assess intermolecular forces, as revealed by the Δlog P_oct–alk and Δlog P_oct–chf parameters. Drugs and their metabolites proved to be good probes to study intramolecular effects in both neutral and anionic forms, as revealed by the difference between calculated and experimental log P_oct values (the diff(log P^exp–calc) parameter). Sulindac and its metabolites showed a normal partitioning behavior, whereas the lipophilicity of sulfmpyrazone and its metabolites' was markedly affected by tautomeric and conformational equilibria.     

Separation of aldicarb,aldicarb sulfoxide,and aldicarb sulfone on unmodified silica with reverse-phase eluents

Summary Aldicarb, aldicarb sulfoxide, and aldicarb sulfone were chromatographed on an octyl-silica bonded-phase column and on an unmodified silica column using acetonitrile/water mobile phases. The elution order of the analytes from the silica column was different from that using the octyl-silica bonded phase and allowed confirmation of residues of aldicarb sulfoxide in citrus nectar. Isocratic elution of the unmodified silica column allowed rapid sample throughput.     

Linking molecular models with ion mobility experiments. Illustration with a rigid nucleic acid structure

Ion mobility spectrometry experiments allow the mass spectrometrist to determine an ion's rotationally averaged collision cross section Ω_EXP. Molecular modelling is used to visualize what ion three‐dimensional structure(s) is(are) compatible with the experiment. The collision cross sections of candidate molecular models have to be calculated, and the resulting Ω_CALC are compared with the experimental data. Researchers who want to apply this strategy to a new type of molecule face many questions: (1) What experimental error is associated with Ω_EXP determination, and how to estimate it (in particular when using a calibration for traveling wave ion guides)? (2) How to generate plausible 3D models in the gas phase? (3) Different collision cross section calculation models exist, which have been developed for other analytes than mine. Which one(s) can I apply to my systems? To apply ion mobility spectrometry to nucleic acid structural characterization, we explored each of these questions using a rigid structure which we know is preserved in the gas phase: the tetramolecular G‐quadruplex [dTGGGGT]₄, and we will present these detailed investigation in this tutorial. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Mass Spectrometry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Analogues of a locked nucleic acid with three-carbon 2',4'-linkages: synthesis by ring-closing metathesis and influence on nucleic acid duplex stability and structure

Two bicyclic 2'-deoxynucleoside analogues containing a saturated and an unsaturated three-carbon 2',4'-linkage, respectively, have been synthesized using a ring-closing metathesis-based linear strategy starting from uridine. Both analogues have been incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotide sequences and increased the stability of DNA:RNA hybrid duplexes (DeltaT(m) approximately 2.5-5.0 degrees C per modification) and decreased the stability of dsDNA duplexes (DeltaT(m) approximately 2.5-1.0 degrees C per modification). CD spectroscopy revealed that the bicyclic nucleosides induced formation of A-type-like duplexes albeit to a lesser degree than found for locked nucleic acid (LNA) monomers. From the CD data and UV melting analysis, we propose that the 2'-oxygen atom of the bicyclic moiety is essential for the formation of stabilized A-type-like dsDNA but not for the formation of a stabilized A-type DNA:RNA hybrid.     

Squaric acid N-hydroxylamides: synthesis, structure, and properties of vinylogous hydroxamic acid analogues

The synthesis of squaric acid N-hydroxylamide esters 5 and amides 6 from dimethyl squarate 2a is described. These derivatives are analogues of the naturally occurring iron(III) chelator hydroxamic acid. On the basis of a comparative reactivity study, a concerted retro-Cope mechanism for the formation of the N-hydroxylamide esters 5 by reaction of dimethyl squarate with hydroxylamines is proposed. A preliminary iron(III) binding study of these hydroxamic acid analogues is presented, demonstrating binding of iron(III) to amides 6 in aqueous solutions, while the esters 5 did not show any sign of metal ion binding. 13C NMR spectroscopic data (chemical shift and spin-lattice relaxation time determination) of these and related derivatives delineate the resonance structures predominant in these molecules. The resonance structures of the derivatives rationalize their spectroscopic data, chemical reactivity, and iron(III) binding properties. Single-crystal X-ray structure analyses of squaric acid N-hydroxylamide ester 5b and squaric acid N-hydroxylamide amide 6c confirm their connectivity and provide structural evidence supporting the spectroscopically derived conclusions. The squaric acid N-hydroxylamides are potentially useful in the construction of chemosensors for iron(III).     

Theoretical model study of the reactivity of benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide with the amino groups of the nucleic acid bases

A quantum-mechanical model study, aided by classical potential calculations, of the formation of adducts between the candidate ultimate carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide and the amino groups of guanine, adenine, and cytosine is presented. An explanation for the preferential reactivity of guanine is proposed and conformational aspects of adduct formation are discussed for both nucleosides and B-DNA.     

Photoreactions of p-quinones with dimethyl sulfide and dimethyl sulfoxide in aqueous acetonitrile. goerner@mpi-muelheim.mpg.de

The effects of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on the photoreactions of 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ), 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) and several derivatives in acetonitrile/water were studied. The observed triplet state of the quinones is quenched and the rate constant is close to the diffusion-controlled limit for reactions of most quinones with DMS and lower with DMSO. Semiquinone radical anions (Q*-) produced by electron transfer from sulfur to the triplet quinone were detected. For both DMS and DMSO the yield of Q*- is similar, being generally low for BQ and NQ, substantial for AQ and largest for chloranil. The specific quencher concentrations and the effects of quinone structure and redox potentials on the time-resolved photochemical properties are discussed.     

Coordination silver polymer with the bridging anion of oxadiazolylacrylic acid: Synthesis,crystal structure,and luminescence properties

Metal complex [AgL] (I) is synthesized by the reaction of AgNO₃ with 3-(5-furyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)acrylic acid (HL, C₉H₆N₂O₄), and its crystal structure is determined (CIF file CCDC no. 1426528). The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a = 4.946(1), b = 20.084(1), c = 9.015(1) Å, β = 92.32(1)°, V = 894.482 ų, ρ_calcd = 2.442 g/cm3, Z = 4. In structure I, pairs of centrosymmetric silver atoms are bound by bidentate-bridging oxygen atoms of two anions L into dimeric blocks. The Ag–Ag distance in the dimer is 2.854(1) Å. The coordination sphere of Ag⁺ contains two oxygen atoms, one silver atom, and one nitrogen atom of the diazolyl fragment of the adjacent anion. The coordination polyhedron of Ag⁺ is a strongly distorted tetrahedron. The molecular packing of crystal I is built of infinite ribbons (AgL)n extended along the direction [001]. The photoluminescence spectrum of compound I contains intense bands about 550 nm corresponding to the green spectral range and less intense bands at 425 and 485 nm.     

Synthesis, structure, bridge-terminal exchange kinetics, and molecular orbital calculations of pyrazolate-bridged digallium complexes containing bridging phenyl groups

Gallium complexes containing bridging phenyl groups were prepared and characterized. Treatment of triphenylgallium with 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 3,5-diphenylpyrazole, or 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the phenyl-bridged complexes (C6H5)2Ga(mu-Me2pz)(mu-C6H5)Ga(C6H5)2 (62%), (C6H5)2Ga(mu-Ph2pz)(mu-C6H5)Ga(C6H5)2.C7H8 (62%), or (C6H5)2Ga(mu-tBu2pz)(mu-C6H5)Ga(C6H5)2 (40%), respectively, as colorless or off-white crystalline solids. These complexes were characterized by spectral and analytical methods, X-ray crystallography, bridge-terminal exchange kinetics, and molecular orbital calculations for simplified models. The molecular structure of (C6H5)2Ga(mu-Me2pz)(mu-C6H5)Ga(C6H5)2 consists of a dimethylpyrazolato ligand with a diphenylgallium group bonded to each nitrogen atom. A phenyl group acts as a bridge between the two gallium atoms. The kinetics of bridge-terminal phenyl exchange was determined by 13C NMR spectroscopy between -30 and +30 degrees C, and afforded the following range of activation parameters: DeltaH = 6.0-8.9 kcal/mol, DeltaS = -23.1 to -32.0 eu, and DeltaG(298) = 15.5-15.8 kcal/mol. The large, negative values of DeltaS imply ordered transition states relative to the ground state, and rotation along the N-GaPh3 vector without gallium-nitrogen bond cleavage. Molecular orbital calculations were conducted at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level of theory on the simplified model H2Ga(mu-pz)(mu-C6H5)GaH2. The predicted out-of-plane phenyl group orientation arises from electronic interactions, in which hybridized orbitals on the phenyl group create delocalized molecular orbitals. However, the energy difference between a planar Ga2N2C ring and one with the bent carbon atom is only 1.77 kcal/mol, implying that the molecular orbitals provide little stabilization to the out-of-plane phenyl ligand. The combined results suggest that the close proximity of the gallium atoms is the principal determinant of the bridging phenyl interactions, and that complexes of the heavier group 13 elements with bridging hydrocarbon ligands are likely to be more accessible than the current state of the literature would suggest.     

Synthesis, structure, and bridge-terminal alkyl exchange kinetics of pyrazolate-bridged dialuminum complexes containing bridging n-alkyl groups

Treatment of triethylaluminum with 3,5-diphenylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the ethyl-bridged complex Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ (79%) as a colorless crystalline solid. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in a 2:1 stoichiometry afforded the n-propyl-bridged complex (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ (63%) and the dimeric complex [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (3%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. Treatment of tri-n-propylaluminum (1 equiv.) or triisobutylaluminum (1 or 2 equiv.) with 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole afforded exclusively the dimeric complexes [(nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (68%) or [(iBu)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)]₂ (96%), respectively, as colorless crystalline solids. The solid state structures of Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂ consist of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolato ligands with a di-n-alkylalumino group bonded to each nitrogen atom. An ethyl or n-propyl group acts as a bridge between the two aluminum atoms. The kinetics of the bridge-terminal exchange was determined for the bridging n-alkyl complexes by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and afforded ΔH^‡ = 1.5 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.8 ± 39.0 cal/K mol, and for Et₂Al(μ-Ph₂pz)(μ-Et)AlEt₂ and ΔH^‡ = 1.7 ± 0.1 kcal/mol, ΔS^‡ = −46.6 ± 43.4 cal/K mol, and for (nPr)₂Al(μ-tBu₂pz)(μ-nPr)Al(nPr)₂. The negative values of ΔS^‡ imply ordered transition states relative to the ground states, and rotation along the N-AlR₃ vector without aluminum-nitrogen bond cleavage is proposed.     

New synthesis of a spin-labeled peptide nucleic acid and its interactions with nucleic acids

A new combined solid-liquid phase synthesis method for a spin labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is developed. The methodology involved initial preparation of a protected PNA on solid phase, followed by efficient solution phase coupling to a spin label containing a reactive carboxylic group. This strategy allows to maintain the integrity of the nitroxide moiety during the various steps of chemical synthesis assuring in the same time the fidelity of the hybridization assay. This compound can be used as a reporter molecule to investigate the binding of peptide nucleic acids to oligonucleotide sequences (DNA or RNA) by EPR spectroscopy.