Kinetics of oxidation ofcis-, andtrans-chlorobis(ethylenediamine)isothiocyanatocobalt(III)ion with peroxodisulphate in aqueous alcoholic mixtures

Summary The effect of organic cosolvent on the rate constants and activation parameters of oxidation of coordinativelybound thiocyanate with peroxodisulphate was investigated in mixtures of water with methanol,i-propanol andt-butanol. The thermodynamic transfer functions, corresponding to the transfer of reactants and activated complex from water to the solvent mixtures were evaluated from kinetic measurements and from the solubilities of corresponding salts. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of the solvation of both the initial state and the activated complex.     

Proton NMR of isomorphous paramagnetic and diamagnetic monohydrates MeSO4.1 H2O Me = Mn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+ AND Mg2+

Nuclear magnetic resonance of protons of crystallization water in isomorphous paramagnetic and diamagnetic monohydrates MeSO₄. 1 H₂O with Me = Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Mg²⁺ is studied in the present paper. Proton NMR spectra in paramagnetic hydrates are asymmetric and their second moments, M₂, depend linearly on the square of the induction of the external magnetic field B₀. NMR spectrum of diamagnetic hydrate MgSO₄. 1 H₂O is symmetric and its shape and the second moment do not change with B₀. The parameters M₂₀ andK which characterize nuclear dipole-dipole interaction of protons and interaction of protons and paramagnetic ions, respectively, are derived from experimentally obtained dependences M₂ vs B ₀ ² and on the other hand, they are calculated by means of crystallographic data for substances studied. Calculations were realized in approximation where two nearest neighbour ions Me²⁺ to each water molecule are considered. The influence of the demagnetizing magnetic field of the sample was neglected.     

A Rhodium Nanoparticle–Lewis Acidic Ionic Liquid Catalyst for the Chemoselective Reduction of Heteroarenes

We describe a catalytic system composed of rhodium nanoparticles immobilized in a Lewis acidic ionic liquid. The combined system catalyzes the hydrogenation of quinolines, pyridines, benzofurans, and furan to access the corresponding heterocycles, important molecules present in fine chemicals, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The catalyst is highly selective, acting only on the heteroaromatic ring, and not interfering with other reducible functional groups.     

Regioselective Synthesis of 2-Trimethylsilyl-4H-pyran-4-ones from 1-Ethoxy(hydroxy)-5-(trimethylsilyl)pentenynones

Exclusive formation of 5-aryl-2-trimethylsilyl-4H-pyran-4-ones is accomplished by a regioselective cyclization of 2-aryl-1-ethoxy(hydroxy)-5-(trimethylsilyl)pent-1-en-4-yn-3-ones. This cyclization occurs in a 6-endo-dig mode through addition to the β-atom of the TMS substituted triple bond. The reaction was found to be general for a range of ethoxyenynones upon heating in glacial acetic acid and for analogous hydroxyenynones in diphenyl ether. Plausible mechanistic explanation and possible post-modifications of resulting pyranones are offered.     

Proteotypic peptides of hairs for the identification of common European domestic and wild animal species revealed by in-sample protein digestion and mass spectrometry analysis

The aim of this work is to offer an alternative or complementary analytical tool to the time-consuming and expensive methods commonly used for the recognition of animal species according to their hair. The paper introduces a simple and fast way for species differentiation of animal hairs called in-sample digestion. A total of 10 European animal species, including cat, cow, common degu, dog, fallow deer, goat, horse, sika deer, rabbit, roe deer, and 17 different breeds of dogs were examined using specific tryptic cleavage directly in hair followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time of flight. Principal component analysis was used for the subsequent mass spectrometric data evaluation. This novel approach demonstrates the ability to distinguish among individual animal species, which is supported by finding characteristic m/z values obtained by the mass spectrometry for each animal species. The approach was successfully tested on two “blind” samples. On the other hand, the attempt to distinguish among hairs of different dog breeds has not been successful due to the very similar protein composition and their amino acid sequences.     

Concise enantioselective total syntheses of (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine and (+)-norchelidonine by a Pd II-catalyzed ring-opening strategy

New enantioselective syntheses of the B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids (+)-homochelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamine, and (+)-norchelidonine are described. Our rapid and convergent route to this class of natural products involved the development and application of a Pd II-catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening reaction of a meso-azabicyclic alkene with an aryl boronic acid as the key step. By screening a variety of functionalized ortho-substituted aryl boronic acids, chiral ligands and reaction conditions we were able to prepare the requisite cis-1-amino-2-aryldihydronaphthalenes in high yield and in up to 90 % ee. Early attempts to complete the synthesis of (+)-homochelidonine using an N-Boc azabicyclic alkene are described in full. The successful route required a protecting group alteration followed by B ring formation and then stereoselective installation of the C-11 syn-hydroxy group by regioselective epoxide ring-opening using a hydride source. Ring-opening of the same epoxide intermediate with water ultimately led to the synthesis of (+)-chelamidine. The same strategy was then used to synthesize the other structurally similar B/C hexahydrobenzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, (+)-chelidonine, (+)-chelamidine, and (+)-norchelidonine.     

New bicyclic phosphonates of unsymmetrical structure

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Methyl trifluoropyruvate – a new solvent for the production of fluorinated organic resorcinol–formaldehyde aerogels

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Ageing of plasticized poly(lactic acid)/poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) blend films under artificial UV irradiation and under real agricultural conditions during their application as mulches

The paper is aimed on the investigation of natural ageing of plasticized poly(lactic acid)/poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) PLA/PHB blend films during their one-season application as mulches under real field conditions in the western part of Slovakia. Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) was used as the plasticizer. The analysis was performed on three differently exposed parts of the foil: i) buried in soil, ii) exposed to sunlight, and iii) shadowed by plants. In parallel, UV irradiation of the blend under laboratory controlled conditions (constant temperature of 30°C and relative humidity of 55 %) was carried out. The degradation effect was followed by changes in the molar mass, chemical and crystalline structures, as well as in thermal and mechanical properties. The ternary PLA/PHB/ATBC blend lost its tensile properties faster when buried in soil than when exposed to sunlight. This result is in agreement with the data obtained for the UV-irradiated materials. Young’s modulus values showed a significant mechanical degradation under the UV irradiation as well as during natural ageing. The study was also focused on the influence of mulches on the yield and quality of sweet pepper production, characterized by carotenoids and vitamin C content.