Stereoselective synthesis of several azido/amino- and diazido/diamino-myo-inositols and their phosphates from p-benzoquinone

A practical route is described for the preparation of azido-myo-inositols, amino-myo-inositols and azido-conduritol B derivatives. Starting from p-benzoquinone, optically pure compounds in both forms can be prepared via enzymatic resolution of a derived diacetoxy conduritol B derivative. Selective introduction of nitrogen-containing functional groups in four of the six possible positions in the cyclitol moiety is followed by further functionalization to yield the target compounds.     

Investigations of nitrogen diffusion in austenitic CrNi steels

Parameters of the diffusion of N (up to 0.3 wt.%) in austenitic stainless steels (12 to 19 wt.% Cr, 12 to 16 wt.% Ni, up to 2 wt.% Mo) were determined within the temperature range of 1283–1573K. The small concentration gradients of N were successfully investigated using (1) mechanical serial sectioning technique in combination with either chemical N analysis or X-ray precision lattice parameter determination, and (2) measurements on microsections by means of either electron probe microanalysis or Kossel technique.The diffusion coefficients of N were found to be independent of its concentration. The alloying elements Cr and Mo reduce the N diffusivity in austenitic stainless steels which on the other hand is increased by Ni.     

The Remarkably Robust,Photoactive Tungsten Iodide Cluster [W6I12(NCC6H5)2]

The new heteroleptic tungsten iodide cluster compound [W₆I₁₂(NCC₆H₅)₂] is presented. The synthesis is carried-out from Cs₂W₆I₁₄ and ZnI₂ under solvothermal conditions in benzonitrile solution, yielding red cube-shaped crystals. [W₆I₁₂(NCC₆H₅)₂] represents a heteroleptic [W₆I₈]-type cluster bearing four apical iodides and two benzonitrile ligands. Molecular [W₆I₁₂(NCC₆H₅)₂] clusters form a robust hydrogen bridged crystal structure with high thermal stability and high resistibility against hydrolysis. The electronic structure is analyzed by quantum chemical methods of the calculated electron localization function (ELF) and the band structure. Photoluminescence measurements are performed to verify and describe the photophysical properties of [W₆I₁₂(NCC₆H₅)₂]. Finally, the photocatalytic properties of [W₆I₁₂(NCC₆H₅)₂] are evaluated as a proof-of-concept.     

Vergleichende Messungen des Zeta-Potentials von Faserstoffen durch Elektroosmose und Strömungsstrom/Strömungspotential

An apparatus for the determination of zetapotential is described, which allows measurement of both streaming potential and streaming current as well as electroosmosis with one and the same fiber diaphragm with various electrodes (calomel, Ag/AgCl, palladium). Measurements with glass fibers, fibers of polyacrylonitrile and of polyester, and with cellulose pulp show that identical values for the electrokinetic parameters are obtained independent of voltage applied during electroosmosis resp. pressure difference during streaming measurements. This allows the conclusion that the zetapotential in dilute electrolyte solution is here an unequivocally determinable figure.

Herrn Prof. Dr.R. C. Schulz mit den herzlichsten Glückwünschen zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Stereochemical Analysis of an Aromatic Triplet Di-π-methane Rearrangement

It is shown that (−)-(S)-N,N-dimethyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((−)-(S)- 4 ), on direct irradiation in MeCN at 20°, undergoes in its lowest-lying triplet state an aromatic di-π-methane (ADPM) rearrangement to yield (−)-(1′R,2′R)- and (+)-(1′R,2′S)-N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-methylcyclopropyl)aniline ((−)-trans- and (+)-cis- 7 ) in an initial trans/cis ratio of 4.71 ± 0.14 and in optical yields of 28.8 ± 5.2% and 15 ± 5%, respectively. The ADPM rearrangement of (−)-(S)- 4 to the trans- and cis-configurated products occurs with a preponderance of the path leading to retention of configuration at the pivot atom (C(1′) in the reactant and C(2′) in the products) for (−)-trans- 7 and to inversion of configuration for (+)-cis- 7 , respectively. The results can be rationalized by assuming reaction paths which involve the occurrence of discrete 1,4- and 1,3-diradicals (cf. Schemes 10, 12, and 13). A general analysis of such ADPM rearrangements which allows the classification of these photochemical reactions in terms of borderline cases is presented (Scheme 14). It is found that the optical yields in these ‘step-by-step’ rearrangements are determined by the first step, i.e. by the disrotatory bond formation between C(2) of the aromatic moiety and C(2′) of the allylic side chain leading to the generation of the 1,4-diradicals. Moderation of the optical yields can occur in the ring closure of the 1,3-diradicals to the final products, which may take place with different trans/cis-ratios for the individual 1,3-diradicals. Compounds (−)-trans- 7 as well as (+)-cis- 7 easily undergo the well-known photochemical trans/cis-isomerization. It mainly leads to racemization. However, a small part of the molecules shows trans/cis-isomerization with inversion of configuration at C(1′), which is best explained by a photochemical cleavage of the C(1′)–C(3′) bond.     

The structure of the uncharged-molecule complex between a dinaphthopyridino-18-crown-6 host and acetonitrile (1 : 2)

Single crystal X-ray analysis of a 1 : 2 complex between the dinaphthopyridino-l8-crown-6 host (1) and acetonitrile is reported. Crystals of the complex are monoclinic,P2₁/c witha = 12.178(5),b = 8.186(1),c = 30.873(1) Å, = 96.86(1)°, andD _c = 1.25 g cm^–3 forZ = 4. The host molecule reveals an approximate mirror symmetry and exists in a so-called dentist's chair conformation. One of the acetonitrile guest molecules is involved in possible weak interactions to two oxygen atoms of the host macroring, while the other fills free lattice space only.     

Chiral auxiliary based approach toward the synthesis of C-glycosylated amino acids

[reaction in text] In a chiral auxiliary based method C-glycosylated amino acids can be obtained by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a chiral glycine equivalent and C-1 allyl- or vinyl-derived carbohydrate building blocks as the key step. The products are formed regio- and diastereoselectively. Reductive cleavage of the N-O bond of the isoxazolidine and of the chiral auxiliary leads to C-glycosylated amino acids. The use of (-)-menthone to (+)-menthone as the auxiliary leads to the corresponding diastereomers.     

Oxidation of alcohols by electrochemically regenerated nickel oxide hydroxide. Selective oxidation of hydroxysteroids

Primary alcohols, α,ω-diols and secondary alcohols are easily transformed into carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids or ketones, respectively, by heterogeneous oxidation with nickel oxide hydroxide electrochemically regenerated at a nickel hydroxyde electrode. The results are discussed in comparison to those of the nickel peroxide and chromic acid oxidation. The oxidation rate decreases with increasing steric hindrance of the alcohol, thus allowing the selective oxidation of the 3-position in hydroxysteroids.     

Force field and 13C-NMR investigations of substituted cyclopentanes. A concept for the adaption of 13C NMR shifts to varying torsional arrangements in flexible conformers

MM2 Exploration of the conformational space for methylcyclopentane, in contrast to cyclopentanone yields more and flatter minima than known previously. Calculations of cyclopentanes with substituents X = F, Cl, CHMe₂, and CMe₃ with two stable conformations indicate <2° torsional angle changes with the different substituents. Cyclopentanes bearing not more than 2 substituents can accommodate all groups in pseudoequatorial positions without changing the basic envelope and twist chair geometries significantly. A model for ¹³C-shift calculation is proposed in which shift increments for the different torsional arrangements are obtained by linear interpolation between corresponding cyclohexane values. After correction for the nonequivalent carbon shifts in the hydrocarbon itself, again using the linear interpolation, a significant improvement of the shift correlations is observed. For disubstituted cyclopentanes these predict the shifts within ± 1.7 ppm with Me, CHMe₂, CMe₃, Cl, Br and OH as substituents. Configurational assignments are difficult with 1,3-di-substituted cyclopentanes, but straightforward with 1,2-di- and trisubstituted compounds. Thus, due to the presence of smaller torsional angles between, e.g. diequatorial vicinal substituents in the 1,2- cis series as compared to the trans compounds, the latter show deshielding, particularly at C2, by 1–4 ppm. Several epimers are stereo-selectively prepared by suitable ketone reduction and displacement methods.     

SPIN LABELED CYSTEINES AS SENSORS FOR PROTEIN-LIPID INTERACTION AND CONFORMATION IN RHODOPSIN

In stoichiometric amounts, the spin label N-tempoyl-(p-chloromercuribenzamide) reacts rapidly with one cysteine residue in membrane-bound bovine rhodopsin. This residue is distinct from the two reactive cysteines previously used as attachment sites for spectroscopic labels, and is on the external surface of the protein near the cytoplasmic membrane/aqueous interface. The spin-labeled side chain has revealed a light-induced conformational change in membrane-bound rhodopsin that is apparently not associated with protein aggregation. The changes are reversible upon the addition of 11-cis retinal, and the magnitude of the change is dependent on the identity of the phospholipid in the surrounding bilayer. Alteration of lipid composition has a much larger effect on bleached rhodopsin than rhodopsin itself, indicating that the former is more readily deformable in response to changes in bilayer properties. This is consistent with the loss of 11-cis retinal binding energy in opsin compared to rhodopsin. These results provide direct structural evidence that the conformation of a membrane protein can be modulated by the lipid properties.