Investigation of the origin of selectivity in cavitand-based supramolecular sensors

The sensing properties of functionalized cavitands have been studied by thin-film coating TMSR chemical sensors and by measuring their responses towards model analytes. We studied the relationship between the sensor performance, in terms of sensitivity and selectivity, and the molecular recognition properties of the cavitands. The Langmuir-like shape of the adsorption isotherm, obtained in the case of short-chain alcohols, demonstrated that selective binding can be achieved by the synergistic interactions of the cavity and the bridging PO(in) groups. In the absence of these substituents, the peripheral alkyl chains necessary for the formation of highly permeable thin films attenuate the cavity effect because of nonspecific dispersion interactions. This completely overrides the response originating from molecular recognition. The same effect is observed when the PO groups are oriented outward from the cavity. The use of multivariate chemometrics and the study of the correlations between sensors sensitivity and analyte properties provided further evidence of molecular recognition phenomena, whose intensity is enhanced by the permanent free volume created by the rigid cavity surrounding the PO(in) group.     

Hydrogenation of single and multiple N-N or N-O bonds by Ru(II) catalysts in homogeneous phase

The ruthenium(II) complexes RuH₂(CO)₂(PⁿBu₃)₂, RuH₂(CO)₂(PPh₃)₂, and RuH₂(PPh₃)₄ are catalytically active in the hydrogenation of organic substrates containing a NN, N(O)N or NO₂ group. The reduction of the first two groups leads to hydrazine as intermediate and amine as the final product, while reducing a NO₂ group the corresponding amine is selectively formed. A complete conversion was reached, depending on temperature, catalyst and substrate concentration. The catalysts are also active in the hydrogenolysis of an N-N group giving the corresponding amine with a 97.3% conversion using RuH₂(PPh₃)₄ as catalyst. A first-order reaction rate with respect to substrate, catalyst or hydrogen pressure was detected in all cases. Finally, the activation parameters and the kinetic constants of these reactions were calculated. In the hydrogenation of azobenzene, the rate determining step involves an associative or a dissociative step depending on the catalyst employed while in the hydrogenation of all other substrates an associative rate determining step is always involved. A catalytic cycle is suggested for the hydrogenation of azobenzene, taking into account the intermediate complexes identified in the reaction medium.     

Evaluation of chiral recognition ability of a novel uranyl-salophen-based receptor: an easy and rapid testing protocol

A novel member of a new class of chiral uranyl-salophen complexes has been synthesised. The chiral recognition ability of this receptor toward the enantiomers of two primary amines, a sulfoxide, and a quaternary ammonium chloride has been evaluated for the first time. The enantioselectivities obtained are encouraging. The NMR method developed for this purpose allows a fast, quantitative determination of the enantioselectivity of the host directly from its racemic mixture and could find application as a preliminary screening tool in the search for new receptors using combinatorial methods. The experiments carried out in this context demonstrated also that the activation barrier for the racemisation of such chiral uranyl-salophen receptors is much higher than the lower limit of 21 kcal mol(-1) previously reported.     

Determination of the polarities of some ionic liquids using 2-nitrocyclohexanone as the probe

Solute-solvent interactions on the keto-enol tautomerism of 2-nitrocyclohexanone in several organic solvents and room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have been analyzed in terms of multiparameter equations. Permittivity and cohesive pressure values of the RTILs, unavailable by direct measurements, have been derived.     

The solid surface free energy calculation. I. In defense of the multicomponent approach

The acid-base approach to the calculation of solid surface free energy and liquid-liquid interfacial tensions is a practical example of application of correlation analysis, and thus it is an approximate approach. In these limits, and provided that wide and well-obtained sets of contact angles or interfacial tension data are used for their computation, surface tension components can be considered as material properties. Although their numerical value depends on the characteristics of the chosen reference material, their chemical meaning is independent on the selected scale. Contact angles contain accessible information about intermolecular forces; using surface tension component (STC) acid-base theory, one can extract this information only making very careful use of the mathematical apparatus of correlation analysis. The specific mathematical methods used to obtain these results are illustrated by using as an example a base of data obtained by the supporters of the equation-of-state theory (EQS). The achievements are appreciably good and the agreement between STC and EQS is discussed.     

Silylation-desilylation of propargyl amides: rapid synthesis of functionalised aldehydes and β-lactams

Propargyl functionalised β-silylalkenals were easily prepared starting from suitable propargyl compounds by a silylformylation process. In particular the use of propargyl tosyl amides allowed the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes through a two-step sequence of silylformylation-desilylation reactions. TBAF was employed to induce the desilylation process that was performed under very mild experimental conditions and occurred along with an elimination step of the tosylamido moiety affording 2-methylaryl-2-alkenals with good yields and stereoselectivity. When the tosyl amides were reacted with a hydrosilane in the presence of catalytic amounts of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) α-silylmethylene-β-lactams were synthesised through a silylcarbocyclisation process. A high chemoselectivity towards the β-lactam was observed when dialkyl propargyl amides were employed. The obtained β-lactams were easily transformed into the corresponding methylaryl-β-lactams by fluoride induced aryl migration-desilylation with total retention of configuration of the migrating group and complete stereoselectivity towards the more stable β-lactam (E)-isomer.     

Gravitational instabilities in free diffusion boundaries

Gravitational instabilities and the conditions for the onset of convective motions in free diffusion boundaries are discussed for isothermal diffusion in ternary systems. It is shown that convective motion can grow even if the diffusion process does not promote density inversions inside the boundary.     

The solid surface free energy calculation; II. The limits of the Zisman and of the "equation-of-state" approaches

This paper follows the "defense" of the Good-van Oss-Chaudhury (GvOC) acid-base approach made in Part I and carries out a detailed analysis of the Zisman critical surface energy and, mainly, of the Neumann equation-of-state (EQS) theory. The analysis is made on both a "practical" and a theoretical basis, trying to highlight the acceptable fitting results of axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA) methods and their independence of the assumed thermodynamic foundations of EQS. Some new and original criticisms of the EQS approach are raised and it is shown that other purely semiempirical models, represented by different fitting equations with the same number of parameters, can represent the data measured by ADSA method with the same goodness as EQS. The equation of state appears as one of many semiempirical approaches for the evaluation of surface free energy of solids. Independent of the previous analysis, the criteria used in ADSA measurements are evaluated and some comments made on them.     

1-Phenyl-4(1H)-quinazolinones and 2,3-dihydro-1-phenyl-4(1H)-quinazolinones as potential cholecystokinin receptor ligands

A series of new l-phenyl-4(1H)-quinazolinones and 2,3-dihydro-1-phenyl-4(1H)-quinazolinones were synthesized and tested as cholecystokinin receptor ligands. All the compounds showed moderate affinity and 1-phenyl-4(1H)-quinazolinones resulted more effective towards the cholecystokinin-B receptor, meanwhile the dihydro derivatives were generally more effective towards the cholecystokinin-A receptor.