Alkyl metal asymmetric reduction. 11. The reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketones with β-branched trialkylaluminium compounds.

The reduction of a series of α,β-unsaturated ketones has been studied under various experimental conditions, by using β-branched trialkylalanes. Asymmetric induction phenomena are observed when optically active trialkylalanes are used.     

Group contributions to the thermodynamic properties of non-ionic organic solutes in dilute aqueous solution

The thermodynamic properties G _h ^o,H _h ^o, and C _p,h ^oassociated with the transfer of non-ionic organic compounds from gas to dilute aqueous solution and the limiting partial molar properties C _p ^o ,2 and V₂ ² of these compounds in water are described through a simple scheme of group contributions. A distinction is made between groups made only of carbon and hydrogen, and functional groups i.e. groups containing at least one atom different from carbon and hydrogen. Each group is assigned a contribution, for each property, through a least squares procedure which utilizes only molecules containing at most one functional group. Finally, for compounds containing more than one functional group, correction parameters are evaluated as the differences between the experimental values and those calculated by means of the group contributions. The different behavior of hydrophilic compared with hydrophobic groups is discussed for the various properties. A rationale for the correction parameters, i.e. for the effects of the interactions among hydrophilic groups on the thermodynamic properties, is attempted.     

A finite element formulation satisfying the discrete geometric conservation law based on averaged Jacobians

In this article, a new methodology for developing discrete geometric conservation law (DGCL) compliant formulations is presented. It is carried out in the context of the finite element method for general advective–diffusive systems on moving domains using an ALE scheme. There is an extensive literature about the impact of DGCL compliance on the stability and precision of time integration methods. In those articles, it has been proved that satisfying the DGCL is a necessary and sufficient condition for any ALE scheme to maintain on moving grids the nonlinear stability properties of its fixed‐grid counterpart. However, only a few works proposed a methodology for obtaining a compliant scheme. In this work, a DGCL compliant scheme based on an averaged ALE Jacobians formulation is obtained. This new formulation is applied to the θ family of time integration methods. In addition, an extension to the three‐point backward difference formula is given. With the aim to validate the averaged ALE Jacobians formulation, a set of numerical tests are performed. These tests include 2D and 3D diffusion problems with different mesh movements and the 2D compressible Navier–Stokes equations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of allylic thiocyanates and novel 1,3-thiazin-4-ones from 2-(bromomethyl)alkenoates and S-nucleophiles in aqueous medium

Allylic thiocyanates and novel heterocycles containing the 1,3-thiazin-4-one core are easily obtained in high yields and mild conditions by nucleophilic displacement of 2-(bromomethyl)alkenoates (derived from Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts) with sulphur-centred nucleophiles in aqueous acetone at 25 °C. Treatment of allylic bromides with NaSCN gave the corresponding (Z)-2-(thiocyanomethyl)alkenoates, while the reaction with thiourea followed by a basic work-up selectively produced (5Z)-2-amino-5-arylidene-1,3-thiazin-4-ones. The structural assignments were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

H2O2–Ng dynamics predictions using an accurate potential energy surface

ABSTRACT

Based on ab initio calculations, our research group has built an analytical ground-state potential energy surface (PES) for hydrogen peroxide– noble gas (Ng) interactions, such as H₂O₂–He, H₂O₂–Ne, H₂O₂–Ar, H₂O₂–Kr, and H₂O₂–Xe complexes. From this PES, it was verified that the Ng presence does not affect the equilibrium values of the H₂O₂ dihedral angles. This happens because the H₂O₂ intramolecular barriers have much higher energies than the atom–bond interaction within these complexes. From this point of view, it is indeed reasonable to consider the H₂O₂ system as a rigid rotor, frozen at its equilibrium configuration. We present in this work the torsional motion for the H₂O₂ isolated system, the vibration–rotation energy levels and spectroscopic constants for hydrogen peroxide–noble gas by using the aforementioned PES. The predicted H₂O₂ torsional motions are in good agreement with both theoretical and experimental results available in the literature. Regarding H₂O₂–Ng ro-vibrational energies and spectroscopic constants, it is the first time that these calculations are presented in the literature. The current theoretical predictions are expected to be useful in the future experimental investigations.     

Artarborol, a nor-caryophyllane sesquiterpene alcohol from Artemisia arborescens. stereostructure assignment through concurrence of NMR data and computational analysis

A nor-caryophyllane derivative, artarborol, has been isolated from wormwood (Artemisia arborescens) and its stereostructure established by using a combination of chemical derivatization, NMR data, molecular modeling, and quantum-mechanical calculations. In particular, comparison of experimental 13C NMR data with a Boltzmann-weighed average of 13C NMR chemical shifts, calculated by ab initio DFT method, supported the stereochemical assignment.     

Synthesis of deoxy sugar esters: a chemoenzymatic stereoselective approach affording deoxy sugar derivatives also in the form of aldehyde

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of deoxy sugar esters is described. The synthesis is based on the O-alkylation of carboxylic acid with 2-bromo-5-acetoxypentanal. The method allows treatment of hydroxy carboxylic acids without protection of alcoholic hydroxyl groups. Several stereoisomeric deoxy sugar esters were resolved (up to ee or de > 98%) using a lipase-catalyzed acetylation of hemiacetals that in certain cases afforded deoxy sugar derivatives in the form of aldehydes. The stereochemistry of the reactions was determined by the NMR spectra of mandelic acid derivatives.     

Violation of distribution symmetry in statistical evaluation of absolute enantioselective synthesis

Enantiomeric excesses obtained in absolute enantioselective synthesis by chiral autocatalysis (Soai-reaction) were statistically analyzed. Two sets of parallel experiments, which were performed under chemically different conditions, are available. One group contains 37, while the other contains 84 preparative results. The former group shows some interesting tendencies but does not give conclusive statistical results. The sample of 84 parallel experiments, providing 39 R- and 45 S-excesses have shown that these data represent two distinct, non-symmetric sets with different non-Gaussian distributions. Clear S preference was found.     

Aromatic-aromatic interaction between 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate)

Aromatic-aromatic interactions are found between the cationic molecule 2,3,5-triphenyl-2H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) and the molecule poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) which makes the overall interaction of TTC with PSS more intense than the interaction with other polyanions containing sulfonate groups and produces a decrease on the redox ability of TTC. Diafiltration was used to compare the binding of TTC to PSS, poly(sodium vinylsulfonate) (PVS), and the more hydrophobic poly(sodium 2-(N-acrylamido)-2-methyl-propanesulfonate) (PAMPS). The UV-vis spectrum of TTC is changed in the presence of the aromatic polyanion. The 1H NMR signals of TTC are broadened and shifted in the presence of PSS, suggesting the occurrence of pi-pi interactions. Moreover, nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) between the TTC and PSS protons are found. Possible structures for the complex are proposed.