An iterative extended Hückel calculation for some amino acids containing sulphur and selenium

Semiempirical iterative extended Hückel calculations are performed for the dipolar ions of cystine, cysteine, methionine and their selenium analogues. An attempt has been made to interprete the wave function of cysteine in terms of localized molecular orbitals.

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Zusammenfassung Semiempirische iterative Rechnungen wurden nach der erweiterten Hückeltheorie für die dipolaren Ionen Cystin, Cystein, Methionin und ihre Selen-Homologen durchgeführt. Für den Fall des Cysteins wurde die Wellenfunktion auf lokalisierte Orbitale transformiert.

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Résumé On a analisé les ions dipolaires de la cystine, cystéine, methionine et leurs analogues séléniates avec la méthode semiempirique de Hückel étendue itérative. On a cherché à intérpreter la fonction d'onde pour la cystéine dans le schème des orbitales moleculaires localisées.

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Work performed with the financial support of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.     

Smiles rearrangement for the synthesis of 5-amino-substituted [1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine

The Smiles rearrangement was successfully applied to 4-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophene furnishing a facile entry to the 4-amino derivative. The rearrangement was extended to 5-methoxy-4-methoxycarbonyl[1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine obtained via aza-Wittig/electrocyclization reaction of novel N-(4-methoxybenzothiophen-2-yl)iminomethyldiphenylphosphorane with methyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate. The preparation of a novel 5-amino-4-methoxycarbonyl[1]benzothieno[2,3-b]pyridine, which is of interest as a potential secondary peptide structure mimic, was successfully achieved.     

Synthesis, properties and structures of the two “electron rich” cobalt-sulphur clusters [Co6(μ3-S)8(PEt3)6]

The reaction of hydrogen sulphide with [Co(H₂O)₆](BF₄)₂ and triethylphosphine in the presence of sodium tetraphenylborate or tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate gave the paramagnetic clusters [Co₆(μ₃-S)₈(PEt₃)₆](Y) (Y = BPh₄, (1), PF₆, (2)). These compounds can be easily reduced by sodium napthalenide to the diamagnetic species [Co₆(μ₃-S)₈(PEt₃)₆] · 2C₄H₈O (3). The molecular structures of 1 and 3 have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. Crystal data: (1) space group P , a = 19.481(9), b = 15.562(7), c = 12.390(b) Å, α = 92.70(8), β = 94.50(7), γ = 94.10(9)°, Z = 2, (3) space group R , a = 11.780(6) Å, α = 92.50(7)°, Z = 1. Both structures were solved by the heavy atom method and refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques to the conventional R factors values of 0.050 for 1 and 0.044 for 3 on the basis of 4251 and 1918 observed reflections, respectively. The two clusters [Co₆(μ₃-S)₈)(PEt₃)₆]^1+,0 are isostructural, the inner core consisting of an octahedron of cobalt atoms with all the faces symmetrically capped by triply bridging sulphur atoms. Each metal centre is additionally linked to a triethylphosphine group so that each cobalt atom is co-ordinated by four sulphur atoms and one phosphorus in a distorted square pyramidal environment. The addition of one electron whilst leaving unchanged the geometry of the inner framework, induces small changes in the structural parameters, the average Co---Co and Co---P distances being 2.794 (3) and 2.162 (2) Å for 1 and 2.817 (3) and 2.138 (2) Å for 3 respectively. Electrochemistry in non-aqueous solvents shows the electron-transfer sequence

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The tricationic species is stable only in the short time of cyclic voltammetric tests.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of the dinuclear complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)-propionato-O,O′]bis(aqua)dicopper(II)}

Structural, electrochemical and spectroscopic data of a new dinuclear copper(II) complex with (±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionic acid are reported. The complex {tetra-μ-[(±)-2-(p-methoxyphenoxy)propionato-O,O′]-bis(aqua)dicopper(II)} crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a = 14.149(1) ?, b = 7.495(1) ?, c = 19.827(1) ?, β = 90.62(1) and Z = 4. X-ray diffraction data show that the two copper(II) ions are held together through four carboxylate bridges, coordinated as equatorial ligands in square pyramidal geometry. The coordination sphere around each copper ion is completed by two water molecules as axial ligands. Thermogravimetric data are consistent with such results. The ligand has an “L” type shape due to the angle formed by the β-carbon of the propionic chain and the linked p-methoxyphenoxy group. This conformation contributes to the occurrence of a peculiar structure of the complex. The complex retains its dinuclear nature when dissolved in acetonitrile, but it decomposes into the corresponding mononuclear species if dissolved in ethanol, according to the EPR measurements. Further, cyclic voltammograms of the complex in acetonitrile show that the dinuclear species maintains the same structure, in agreement with the EPR data in this solvent. The voltammogram shows two irreversible reduction waves at E _pc = −0.73 and −1.04 V vs. Ag/AgCl assigned to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu° redox couples, respectively, and two successive oxidation waves at E _pa =− 0.01 and +1.41 V vs. Ag/AgCl, assigned to the Cu°/Cu(I) and Cu(I)/Cu(II) redox couples, respectively, in addition to the oxidation waves of the carboxylate ligand.     

Electrochemical behaviour of some polyoxo clusters

We describe the redox behaviour in non-aqueous solvents of some cyclopentadienyl(oxo)titanium derivatives. The derivative [Ti₄{η⁵-C₅H₄(SiMe₃)}₄(μ-O)₆] shows an electrochemically and chemically reversible le reduction process, followed by a multi-electron, chemically complicated reduction at a fairly cathodic potential. On the basis of the overall electrochemical features and the comparison with the redox behaviour of the quasi-planar compound [[Ti{η⁵-C₅H₄(SiMe₃)}Cl(μ-O)]₄] we propose an EECCEE mechanism for the first derivative, where the second electron-transfer induces a cascade of chemical reactions giving rise to irreversible cluster breakdown. The electrochemically induced fragmentation can be viewed as a retrosynthetic pathway. The heterometallic derivative [{Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂(μ₂-MoO₄)₂}₂] shows two consecutive reduction processes; the first is chemically reversible, and the second quasi-reversible. The molybdate bridges apparently increase the stability of the electrogenerated anions. However none of these poly-oxo clusters can be considered as good models of electron ‘sinks’.     

Thermal decomposition of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone

The thermal decomposition of 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS) was studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal volatilisation analysis. Solid residues, high-boiling and gaseous products of degradation were collected at each step of thermal decomposition and analysed by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

On programmed heating at normal pressure, DDS starts to evaporate at 250°C. Thermal decomposition, which probably proceeds through homolytic scission of the S-C bond is simultaneously observed. The resulting sulphonyl radicals provoke polymerisation and cross-linking of the solid residue which undergoes a limited degradation at 350°C with elimination of heteroatoms N and S as volatile moieties. Above 400°C, the residue undergoes a complex charring process leading to an aromatic char typical of carbonised aromatic polymers.     

Anisotropic contributions in the ligand polarization model for the f-f transition probabilities of Eu(III) complexes

The intensities of the ΔM = ± 1 component of the ⁷f_o→ ⁵D₂ transition in D₃ complexes containing the [ EuO₉] cluster, and of other d-d or f-f transitions in D₃ complexes with the yz- and xz-components of the electric quadrupole as the leading moment, are found to be dependent upon the polarizability anisotropy of the ligands. The expectation is supported by determinations of the single-crystal absorption intensities of Na₃ [Eu(diglycollate)₃]·2NaClO₄·6H₂O and [Eu(H₂O)₉] (C₂H₅SO₄)₃.     

Effects of variable selection on CoMFA coefficient contour maps in a set of triazines inhibiting DHFR

Summary An example of a CoMFA study is described with the aim to discuss one of the major problems of this 3D QSAR method: lack of variable selection. It is shown that the use of nonrelevant energy parameters might produce CoMFA contour maps which poorly reflect the actual nature of the binding site and are in part statistical artefacts. The data set employed in our analysis comparises triazine inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), isolated from chicken liver, which have already been the object of a QSAR study by other authors. Since three-dimensional structures of triazine-DHFR complexes are known, it was possible not only to reduce ambiguities in the superimposition of the ligands, but also to compare the resulting CoMFA contour maps with the enzyme active site.Supplementary material available: The Cartesian coordinates and the atomic charges of the PM3-optimized structures used in the CoMFA study are available as MOL2 files upon request.To whose memory this paper is dedicated.     

Determination of manganese and zinc in powdered chocolate samples by slurry sampling using sequential multi-element flame atomic absorption spectrometry

In the present work, a slurry sampling flame atomic absorption spectrometric method to determine directly manganese and zinc in powdered chocolate samples is proposed. The optimization step was performed using univariate methodology involving the following factors: nature and concentration of the acid solution, sonication time, and particle size. The established conditions led to the use of a sample mass of 150 mg, 2.0 mol L^− 1 nitric acid solution, sonication time of 15 min, and a slurry volume of 50 mL. This method allows the determination of manganese and zinc with detection limit of 52 and 61 ng g^− 1, respectively, and a precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.6% and 3.2% (both, n = 10) for contents of manganese and zinc of 52.4 and 100.0 μg g^− 1, respectively. The proposed method was applied for determination of manganese and zinc in five powdered chocolate samples. In these, the manganese content varied from 42.8 to 52.7 and from 88.6 to 102.4 μg g^− 1 of zinc. The analytical results were compared with the results obtained by analysis of these samples after digestion using open vessel and acid bomb digestion procedures and determination using FS-FAAS. The statistical comparison by t-test (95% confidence level) showed no significant difference between these results.     

Five-coordinate low-spin cobalt(II) complexes with benzeneseleninato ions and ethylenediamine as ligands

Summary Five-coordinate bis(benzeneseleninato)tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt (II)complexes are obtained by reaction of Co(H₂O)₂ (XC₆ H4 SeO₂)2 complexes (X = H, p-Cl, m-CI, p-Br, ni-Br, p-Me,p-NO₂) with ethylenediamine. The diaquo complexes (one mole)react with ethylenediamine (three moles)to form O-seleninato derivatives. Spectral and magnetic properties show that the complexes are low-spin (s = 1/2) and,on the basis of the electronic spectra a distorted trigonal geometry,D _3h , is suggested. Assignments for the electronic spectra are proposed. Conductivity data indicate that these derivatives are nonelectrolytes. Both ethylenediamine and [RSeO₂ ]^– behave as monodentate ligands.