Methyl abstraction kinetics of CpFe(CO)2Me using the benzyl radical clock

The rate constant for the methyl abstraction reaction of CpFe(CO)₂Me has been measured with the benzyl radical clock as (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at room temperature. Time-resolved Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy pointed towards the formation of the CpFe(CO)₂ radical upon benzyl abstraction. The main stable product has been established by a linear scan of the reaction mixture as Cp₂Fe₂(CO)₄ produced by the dimerization of the CpFe(CO)₂ radicals. The transition state structure for the abstraction process was also found at UB3LYP/6-311+G* level of theory to contain a planar CH₃ group.     

Semialactone, isofouquierone peroxide and fouquierone, three new dammarane triterpenes from Rhus javanica

Three new dammarane triterpenes and semialactic acid were isolated from the stem bark of Rhus javanica. The structures of these triterpenes, named semialactone, isofouquierone peroxide and fouquierone, were elucidated by 2D-NMR analysis (HMQC, 1H-1H COSY and HMBC), and the 13C-NMR data of semialatic acid is revised.     

Conjugate addition of (trimethylstannyl)copper reagents to α,β-acetylenic N,N-dimethylamides. Trapping of the intermediates with electrophiles

A study of the reaction of Me₃SnCu·.Me₂S (1) and [Me₃SnCuSPh]Li (2) with α,β - acetylenic N,N-dimethylamides 3 shows (a) that the overall process can be controlled experimentally so as to produce either N,N-dimethyl ($\text{E}$)-(4) or ($\text{Z}$)-3-trimethylstannyl-2-alkenamides (5), (b) that the initially formed intermediate derived from interaction of 2 and 3 is significantly more stable than that obtained by reaction of 2 and α,β-acetylenic esters, and (c) that the intermediate produced by treating 3 with 1 can be trapped with electrophiles other than proton.     

Controlled polymerization in mesoporous silica toward the design of organic-inorganic composite nanoporous materials

Free-radical polymerization inside mesoporous silica has been investigated in order to open a route to functional polymer-silica composite materials with well-defined mesoporosity. Various vinyl monomers, such as styrene, chloromethyl styrene, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and methacrylic acid, were polymerized after impregnation into mesoporous silicas with various structures, which were synthesized using polyalkylene oxide-type block copolymers. The location of the polymers was systematically controlled with detailed structures of the silica framework and the polymerization conditions. Particularly noteworthy is the polymer-silica composite structure obtained by in situ polymerization after the selective adsorption of monomers as a uniform film on silica walls. The analysis of XRD data and the N(2) adsorption isotherms indicates the formation of uniform polymer nanocoating. The resultant polymer-silica composite materials can easily be post-functionalized to incorporate diverse functional groups in high density, due to the open porous structure allowing facile access for the chemical reagent. The fundamental characteristics of the composite materials are substantiated by testing the biomolecule's adsorption capacity and catalytic reactivity. Depending on the structure and composition of polymers, the resultant polymer-silica composite materials exhibit notably distinct adsorption properties toward biomolecules, such as proteins. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the nanocoatings of polymers deposited on the mesopore walls have remarkably enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity, as compared to that of bulk polymer resins. We believe that, due to facile functionalization and attractive textural properties, the mesoporous polymer-silica composite materials are very useful for applications, such as adsorption, separation, host-guest complexes, and catalysis.     

Neutral and ionic aluminum,gallium, and indium compounds carrying two or three terminal ethynyl groups

The syntheses of the ionic compounds [Li(+).2 dioxane (2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Al(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3))(-)].0.75 dioxane (1), [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))Ga(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (2), and [(Li(+))(2).(dioxane)(7)](0.5) [2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)N(SiMe(3))In(C triplebond CSiMe(3))(3)(-)].1.5 dioxane (3) by the reaction of the corresponding organo metal chloride with LiC triplebond CSiMe(3) are reported. The neutral ethynyl compounds Br-Al(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (4), Cl-Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(2).THF (5), Cl-In(C triplebond CtBu)(2).2 THF (6), Al(C triplebond CtBu)(3).C[N(Me)CMe](2) (7), Ga(C triplebond CtBu)(3).dioxane (8), and In(C triplebond CtBu)(3).NEt(3) (9) have been obtained in good yields from the reaction of AlBr(3), GaCl(3), and InCl(3) with LiC triplebond CtBu in the presence of a Lewis base. Compound 7 is the first heterocyclic carbene substituted ethynyl derivative. Aluminum and gallium compounds with three terminal ethynyl groups Al(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (10) and Ga(C triplebond CPh)(3).NMe(3) (11) have been prepared by the reaction of AlH(3).NMe(3) or GaH(3).NMe(3) with three equivalents of phenylethyne. All the above-mentioned compounds have been structurally studied. In compound 1 the lithium ion is coordinated to the three terminal ethynyl groups, whereas in compounds 2 and 3 the lithium is coordinated to the solvent (dioxane). Compound 8 crystallizes as a coordination polymer with dioxane molecules bridging the individual gallium units.     

Physicochemical properties of Ti-grafted SBA-15

Partial oxidation of n-heptane to syngas at 400–450°C was investigated over Rh and Rh-Ni based catalysts. The Rh/-Al₂O₃ catalyst exhibited much better catalytic activity than the Rh-Ni/-Al₂O₃ catalyst. A combination of the Rh-based catalyst with the WGS reaction catalyst (Fe₃O₄—Cr₂O₃) increases the hydrogen selectivity but has no distinct effect on shifting the balance of the partial oxidation of n-heptane.This revised version was published online in December 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diaquabis(1,3‐propanediamine‐κ2N,N′)nickel(II) bis(sulfanilate)

The title compound, [Ni(C₃H₁₀N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](C₆H₆NO₃S)₂, contains alternating layers of sulfanilate anions and di­aqua­bis(1,3‐propane­di­amine)­nickel(II) cations. The Ni atom lies on an inversion centre and is hexacoordinated by the 1,3‐propane­di­amine ligands, which function as N,N′‐bidentate ligands, and the water mol­ecules, which are in a trans arrangement. The sulfanilate anions are arranged in layers, with the sulfonate and amine groups directed towards opposite sides of the layer. The structure is stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonding between the O and N atoms of the sulfanilate anions, the water mol­ecules, and the N atoms of the 1,3‐propane­di­amine ligands.     

Adsorption of NH3 onto activated carbon prepared from palm shells impregnated with H2SO4

Adsorption of ammonia (NH3) onto activated carbons prepared from palm shells impregnated with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was investigated. The effects of activation temperature and acid concentration on pore surface area development were studied. The relatively large micropore surface areas of the palm-shell activated carbons prepared by H2SO4 activation suggest their potential applications in gas adsorption. Adsorption experiments at a fixed temperature showed that the amounts of NH3 adsorbed onto the chemically activated carbons, unlike those prepared by CO2 thermal activation, were not solely dependent on the specific pore surface areas of the adsorbents. Further adsorption tests for a wide range of temperatures suggested combined physisorption and chemisorption of NH3. Desorption tests at the same temperature as adsorption and at an elevated temperature were carried out to confirm the occurrence of chemisorption due to the interaction between NH3 and some oxygen functional groups via hydrogen bonding. The surface functional groups on the adsorbent surface were detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The amounts of NH3 adsorbed by chemisorption were correlated with the contents of elemental oxygen present in the adsorbents. Mechanisms for chemical activation and adsorption processes are proposed based on the observed phenomena.     

Protein profiles and identification of high performance liquid chromatography isolated proteins of cancer cell lines using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) has been used to rapidly profile the protein content of human cell lysates from MCF-10 cell and variant lines. The method was used to study the protein profiles of these cells as they progressed from normal breast epithelium to fully malignant cells. Distinct differences in the protein profiles were observed with progression, and specific proteins associated with carcinogenesis (p53, c-myc, and c-erbB-2) were heavily expressed in these cells as detected by MALDI-TOFMS. These proteins were also isolated using non-porous reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (NP-RP-HPLC) and mass analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS to provide molecular weight information without interference from other proteins in the whole cell lysates, and to avoid suppression effects in mixtures of proteins detected by MALDI-TOFMS. In order to confirm the identity of these oncoproteins, the cell lysates were subjected to one-dimensional (1-D) gel separation and subsequently electroblotted onto a poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) membrane for further analysis. Trypsin and cyanogen bromide digestions were performed on these proteins eluted from excised PVDF bands which were then analyzed by MALDI-TOFMS. The identity of these proteins was confirmed by database matching procedures.     

Chromatofocusing nonporous reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of proteins from human breast cancer whole cell lysates: a novel two-dimensional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method

A novel two-dimensional two-column liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique is described in this work, where chromatofocusing (CF) has been coupled to nonporous reversed-phase (NPS-RP) HPLC to separate proteins from human breast epithelial whole cell lysates. The liquid fractions from NPS-RP-HPLC are readily amenable to direct on-line analysis using electrospray ionization orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOFMS). A key advantage of this technique is that proteins can be 'peeled off' in the liquid phase from the CF column according to their isoelectric points (pI) in the first chromatographic separation dimension. The NPS-RP-HPLC column further separates these pI-focused fractions based upon protein hydrophobicity as the second chromatographic dimension. The third dimension involves on-line molecular weight determination using ESI-TOFMS. As a result, this method has the potential to be fully automated. In addition, a 2-D protein map of pI versus molecular weight is generated, which is analogous to a 2-D gel image. Thus, this technique may provide a means to study differential expression of proteins from whole cell lysates.