Si-Fluoro substituted quasisilatranes (N → Si) FYSi(OCH2CH2)2NR

The reaction of fluorosilanes XYSiF₂ (X = Y = F; X = F, Y = Ph; X = Ph, Y = Me) with diethanolamines and their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives affords novel Si-fluoro substituted quasisilatranes 3, 5 and 9. These compounds were characterized by the multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Experimental and theoretically calculated electron density distribution functions in crystal structure of 9 have shown that the N → Si coordination bond corresponds to polar bond with pronounced ionic contribution. Calculated N → Si bond order in the compound 9 does not exceed 1/3 of the normal Si-N bond. A strong N → Si coordination bond exists in compounds 3, 5 and 9 the length of which varies in the range 1.98-2.175 Å.     

Dual fluorescence from an isonido ReIII rhenacarborane phosphine complex, [7,10-mu-H-7-CO-7,7-(PPh3)2-isonido-7,8,9-ReC2B7H9

The complex [7,10-mu-H-7-CO-7,7-(PPh3)2-isonido-7,8,9-ReC2B7H9] has been synthesized by treatment of the complex salt [NHMe3][3,3-Cl2-3,3-(CO)2-closo-3,1,2-ReC2B9H11] with PPh3 in refluxing THF (tetrahydrofuran) and isolated as intensely colored orange-red microcrystals. Spectroscopic NMR and IR data have suggested that the product has a highly asymmetric structure with two inequivalent PPh3 ligands and a single CO ligand. Measurement of 11B NMR spectra in particular have indicated seven distinct boron vertexes, although the resulting cage degradation by removal of two BH vertexes was confirmed only following X-ray crystallographic analysis, which revealed the pentadecahedral isonido-7,8,9-ReC2B7 architecture. The 11B NMR resonances span an enormous chemical shift range (Deltadelta = 113), and this appears to be a direct consequence of the deshielding of the boron vertex directly opposite the quadrilateral |ReCCB| aperture. The new complex has been shown by electrochemical measurements to undergo a reversible one-electron oxidation. Digitally simulated cyclic voltammograms support a proposed square scheme (E(1/2) = 0.58, 0.69 V vs ferrocene) involving a reversible isonido-closo transition of the metallacarborane cage. Most unusually for a metallacarborane complex, ambient temperature solutions in CH2Cl2 and DMF have been shown to be intensely turquoise-blue fluorescent (lambda(em) = 442 nm, Phi = 0.012). Fluorescence spectroscopy measurements in MeTHF (2-methyltetrahydrofuran) glass at 77 K have indicated that the likely cause of such a broad emission is dual fluorescence (lambda(em) = 404, 505 nm), with both emissions displaying vibronic structure. Following excited-state lifetime decay analysis, the emissive behavior has been accredited to metal-perturbed 1IL states, with the lower energy emission arising from a slight geometric distortion of the initially excited complex.     

Heats of displacement of hydrogen from palladium by noble gases

It has been observed that noble gases, such as helium, neon and argon produce heat evolution when contacted with Pd powder partially saturated with hydrogen. These phenomena have been studied with flow-through adsorption microcalorimetry. The observed exothermic effects are comparable to those usually associated with the heat of sorption of hydrogen in palladium. It is suggested that the noble gases displace the adsorbed H species from the surface of Pd, causing their reabsorption in the Pd lattice with the exothermic heat of PdH bonds formation, or the formation of H₂, both heat evolutions being observed with a flow-through microcalorimeter.     

Enzymatic electrodes nanostructured with functionalized carbon nanotubes for biofuel cell applications

Nanostructured bioelectrodes were designed and assembled into a biofuel cell with no separating membrane. The glassy carbon electrodes were modified with mediator-functionalized carbon nanotubes. Ferrocene (Fc) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) diammonium salt (ABTS) bound chemically to the carbon nanotubes were found useful as mediators of the enzyme catalyzed electrode processes. Glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger AM-11 and laccase from Cerrena unicolor C-139 were incorporated in a liquid-crystalline matrix-monoolein cubic phase. The carbon nanotubes–nanostructured electrode surface was covered with the cubic phase film containing the enzyme and acted as the catalytic surface for the oxidation of glucose and reduction of oxygen. Thanks to the mediating role of derivatized nanotubes the catalysis was almost ten times more efficient than on the GCE electrodes: catalytic current of glucose oxidation was 1 mA cm⁻² and oxygen reduction current exceeded 0.6 mA cm⁻². The open circuit voltage of the biofuel cell was 0.43 V. Application of carbon nanotubes increased the maximum power output of the constructed biofuel cell to 100 μW cm⁻² without stirring of the solution which was ca. 100 times more efficient than using the same bioelectrodes without nanotubes on the electrode surface.     

Highly regioselective synthesis of trifluoromethyl derivatives of pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines bearing fused cycloalkane rings using (2-ethoxycycloalkenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanones

8-Trifluoromethyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-1,4,8a-triaza-s-indacene and 9-trifluoromethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolines were efficiently generated by condensation of 5(3)-aminopyrazoles with (2-ethoxycycloalkenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethanones and isolated in excellent yields. The regiochemistry of the prepared compounds was established by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Transformations of 5-(2-arylethynyl)-2-methyl-2H-tetrazoles under superelectrophilic activation

Reaction of 5-arylethynyl-2-methyl-2H-tetrazoles (acetylene tetrazoles) with arenes under the action of Brønsted superacid CF₃SO₃H or acidic zeolite HUSY CBV-720 gives rise to E-/Z-5-(2,2-diarylethenyl)-2-methyl-2H-tetrazoles, as products of hydroarylation of acetylene bond, in yields up to 98% with predominant formation of E-isomers. Cationic intermediates of these reactions have been studied theoretically by DFT calculations. Addition of CF₃SO₃H to the triple bond of acetylene tetrazoles leads to the corresponding E-/Z-vinyl triflates in high yields. Hydration of triple bond in these tetrazoles in H₂SO₄ results in the formation of 5-(2-aryl-2-oxoethyl)-2-methyl-2H-tetrazoles. Tandem hydroarylation-ionic hydrogenation of acetylene tetrazoles in the systems acid(CF₃SO₃H or AlCl₃)-arene-cyclohexane affords 5-(2,2-diarylethyl)-2-methyl-2H-tetrazoles.     

Analysis of Phosphorescence Decay in Heterogeneous Systems: Consequences of Finite Excitation Flash Duration

Analysis of phosphorescence lifetimes using the Stern-Volmer equation is a reliable means of determining quencher concentration for a uniform sample. Methods of analysis for heterogeneous systems are based on the assumption that the excitation is produced by a momentary flash. This condition is an idealization because a real flash has a finite duration and a complex time profile. In the case of a heterogeneous quencher concentration, an excitation flash produces different initial intensities and different times of peak intensity from compartments having different concentrations of quencher. We formulated a model to explore the effects of flash duration on the shape of the emission curve obtained from systems in which the heterogeneity is continuous. We developed mathematical models that can be used to recover fitting parameters of continuous distributions of reciprocal lifetimes approximated as rectangular or Gaussian distributions, or an arbitrary histogram. We also formulated a procedure to convert the distribution of reciprocal lifetimes into a volume distribution of quencher concentration. We found that (1) the Stern-Volmer ratio of phosphorescence intensities cannot be employed for interpretation of pulse phosphorometric data in terms of a volume distribution of quencher; (2) shortening the flash duration decreases the difference of initial intensities between compartments having high and low quencher concentration; (3) the parameters of the volume distribution of quencher concentration can be recovered correctly only after taking account of the difference in initial intensities; and (4) calibration of the initial intensities for a given fitting delay and flash function is necessary.     

On spherical expansions of zonal functions on Euclidean spheres

This paper describes a new approach to the problem of computing spherical expansions of zonal functions on Euclidean spheres. We derive an explicit formula for the coefficients of the expansion expressing them in terms of the Taylor coefficients of the profile function rather than (as done usually) in terms of its integrals against Gegenbauer polynomials. Our proof of this result is based on a polynomial identity equivalent to the canonical decomposition of homogeneous polynomials and uses only basic properties of this decomposition together with simple facts concerning zonal harmonic polynomials. As corollaries, we obtain direct and apparently new derivations of the so-called plane wave expansion and of the expansion of the Poisson kernel for the unit ball. Received: 26 January 2007     

Reaction of 2-trifluoroacetyl-1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene with strong organic bases: Deprotonation of 1-NMe2 group resulting in the formation of Benzo[g]indole derivatives versus nucleophilic addition to CO group

A novel approach to pyrrole ring closure in 2-trifluoroacetyl- and 2-ethoxycarbonyl-1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalenes via treatment with 2-lithium-1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene producing the corresponding benzo[g]indole derivatives, was examined with different alkyl- and aryllithium compounds as well as with LDA. It was found that the highest yields of benzo[g]indoles (up to 70%) are obtained with aryllithium reagents when they contain NMe₂ group in ortho-position to the carbanionic centre. In all other cases the formation of acyclic alcohol arising from ordinary intermolecular addition of the carbanion to the CO group strongly prevails. The dramatic facilitation of deprotonation of the N-Me group in substrate followed by pyrrolic cyclization in the case of 2-lithium-N,N-dimethylanilines was explained through a specific structure of the reaction transition state.