Asymmetric total synthesis of rollicosin

[structure: see text] The first total synthesis of rollicosin, a member of a rare subgroup of Annonaceous acetogenins containing two terminal gamma-lactones, is reported. The approach features a highly regio- and stereoselective tandem ring-closing/cross-metathesis reaction for construction of the east-wing lactone and incorporation of the alkyl spacer. Establishment of the C4 stereocenter and addition of the west-wing lactone were achieved by Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and enolate alkylation.     

Chloroheptakis(dimethyl sulfoxide)­uranium(IV) trichloride

In the title complex, [UCl(C₂H₆OS)₇]Cl₃, the uranium metal center is coordinated in a distorted bicapped trigonal prism geometry by seven O atoms from di­methyl sulfoxide ligands and by a terminal chloride ligand. Charge balance is maintained by three outer‐sphere chloride ions per uranium(IV) metal center. Principle bond lengths include U—O 2.391 (2)–2.315 (2) Å, U—Cl 2.7207 (9) Å, and average S—O 1.540 (5) Å.     

Mixing of electronic states in molybdenum complexes involved in nitrogen activation

The mechanism for nitrogen activation by molybdenum complexes is a complicated one, involving as it does the coupling of a quartet molybdenum reactant with a singlet nitrogen molecule, passing via a series of quartet and doublet encounter complexes to a triplet intermediate, with the subsequent spin crossing to the singlet surface which then leads via a singlet transition state to the final pair of singlet products. We have investigated in detail a variety of levels of theory to describe the crossing of these electronic surfaces and have calculated both lower-bound and actual minimum energy crossing points for the key spin inversion processes.     

Impact of prefractionation using Gradiflow on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry

Prefractionation of protein samples prior to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) has the potential to increase the dynamic detection range for proteomic analysis. We evaluated a membrane-based electrophoretic separation technique (Gradiflow) for its ability to fractionate an exoproteome sample from the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. The sample was separated on the basis of size and charge. Buffer optimization was found to be necessary for successful size fractionation. Fractionation by charge was used to resolve the sample into four fractions that were subjected to analysis by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Enhanced detection of low-abundance proteins with selective removal of high-abundance species was achieved. Fractionated and unfractionated samples were examined for differences in the ability to identify proteins following 2-DE using trypsin in-gel digestion followed by peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Fractionated samples showed marked improvement in protein identification ability and sequence coverage. This study demonstrates the utility of the Gradiflow for fractionation, resulting in an enhancement of resolution and characterization of a moderately complex proteome.     

Determination of alcohol polyether average molar oligomer value/distribution via supercritical fluid chromatography coupled with UV and MS detection

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was used for the analysis of ethoxylated and propoxylated surfactants. Samples were derivatized to phenylated silyl ethers with a disilazane-chlorosilane mixture. Addition of a phenyl group to the surfactant allowed UV-absorbance detection of each oligomer. Acetonitrile and methanol were evaluated as mobile phase modifiers. Better peak shape was realized with methanol-modified CO2 on an octadecyl silica bonded phase than with acetonitrile-modified CO2. Peak assignments were made via SFC coupled with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the positive ion mode. A sulfonamide-embedded alkyl stationary phase was also evaluated for separation of the derivatized samples. SFC-UV and SFC-ESI-MS data were jointly used for calculation of average molar oligomer values which were then compared to values calculated from 1H NMR data of non-derivatized samples. The derivatization or separation method using the sulfonamide embedded phase required no preliminary cleanup and yielded reproducible oligomer values that were consistent with those of the manufacturer's nominal values.     

Functionalized pyridylboronic acids and their Suzuki cross-coupling reactions to yield novel heteroarylpyridines

2-Bromo-5-pyridylboronic acid 2a, 2-chloro-5-pyridylboronic acid 2b, 2-methoxy-5-pyridylboronic acid 2c, and 5-chloro-2-methoxy-4-pyridylboronic acid 4 have been synthesized and shown to undergo palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with heteroaryl bromides to yield novel heteroarylpyridine derivatives. The X-ray crystal structures of 2a and 2b have been obtained.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of induced chiral dimers: a study of the dimers of ethanol by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy

We present the first recording of the high-resolution spectrum of an induced chiral dimer. Three conformers of the induced chiral dimers of ethanol have been observed using a pulsed molecular-beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer. The rotational constants of the normal isotopomers of the three species have been determined to be (a) A=5113.826(5), B=1329.7214(4), and C=1257.5151(3) MHz, (b) A=5086.459(5), B=1316.6508(4), and C=1243.6329(4) MHz, and (c) A=4851.608(5), B=1369.7558(6), and C=1243.4184(4) MHz. The observed species have been assigned to calculated structures via Kraitchman double substitution analyses and ab initio calculations. The Kraitchman analyses and the fitted centrifugal distortion parameters suggest that the deuterium bond is significantly stronger than the hydrogen bond in the dimers of ethanol.     

Templated ceramic microstructures by using the breath-figure method

We describe the synthesis of two cyclobutadiene(cyclopentadienyl)cobalt-containing poly(p-phenylene ethynylene)s (PPEs) and their use as precursors for stable ceramic surface coatings. Organometallic PPEs were shaped into hexagonally ordered assemblies by using the breath-figure method. Such breath figures can be washed away with an appropriate solvent. Upon pyrolysis at 500 degrees C under either nitrogen or air, the bubble arrays persist as ceramics and are insoluble in organic solvents or water. The formed pyrolyzed bubble arrays were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). The composition of the ceramic materials is discussed based on EDX and IR data.     

Conduction in charged PbSe nanocrystal films

Conduction in thin films of PbSe nanocrystals doped by electrochemical gating has been studied. Charging the film, with either electrons or holes, increases the conductance by orders of magnitude. The electrons in the 1S(e) state of nanocrystals in these films have a mobility as high as 5.0 x 10(-3) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Electrons in the 1P(e) state were found to have a differential mobility up to 3-5 times greater than the electrons in the 1S(e) state, and a mobility minima was found corresponding to the complete filling of the 1S(e) state. The temperature and electric field dependence of conductance in the film, measured between 4.3 and 135 K, were both well described by a variable range hopping model.