An ab initio investigation of zinc chloro complexes

A series of geometry, frequency, and energy calculations of chloroaquazinc(II) complexes were carried out at up to the MP2/6-31+G* level. A thorough examination of all species up to and including hexacoordinate species, and with up to six chlorides, was carried out. The structures of the complexes are compared with experimental data where available. The solution chemistry of zinc(II) in the presence of chloride is discussed, and Raman spectra of zinc perchlorate with increasing amount of chloride are presented.     

Investigation of the grewe codeine method. Attempts to achieve a practical synthesis

The svnthesis of 1-(2′-bromo-4′-methoxy-5-hydroxybenzyl)-6-keto-^Δ4a-5-decahydroisoquinoline (IX) is described. Efforts to cyclize this intermediate or its N-acyl derivatives in acidic media to morphinan products were unsuccessful. The presence of the para-bromine blocking group apparently exerts a deactivating influence on the phenolic ring. 1-(3′,5′-Dihydroxy-4′-methoxybenzyl)-6-methoxy-1,2,3,4,5,8-hexahydroisoquinoline (XVIII) was readily cyclized to 2-hydroxydihydronorthebainone. However, attempts to remove the 2-hydroxy group and subsequent conversion to dihydronorcodeine were unrewarding.     

Graphical approach for defining natural internal coordinates

A simple, customizable connectivity scheme is rigorously defined in which pairs of atoms are classified into three categories. The tools of graph theory are used to analyze the molecular graph and to efficiently find rings and ring assemblies through a combination of pruning and homeomorphic reduction. The definition of natural internal coordinates is extended in a nonredundant fashion for the various cases of weakly interacting components and for fused ring systems. The ring system coordinates were tested and found to be superior to Z-matrix coordinates. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 19: 504–511, 1998     

An implementation of the conductor-like screening model of solvation within the Amsterdam density functional package

The conductor-like screening model (COSMO) of solvation has been implemented in the Amsterdam density functional program with maximum flexibility in mind. Four cavity definitions have been incorporated. Several iterative schemes have been tested for solving the COSMO equations. The biconjugate gradient method proves to be both robust and memory-conserving. The interaction between the surface charges and the electron density may be calculated by integrating over either the fitted or exact density, or by calculating the molecular potential. A disk-smearing algorithm is applied in the former case to avoid singularities. Several self-consistent field/COSMO coupling schemes were examined in an attempt to reduce computational effort. A gradient-preserving algorithm for removing outlying charge has been implemented. Preliminary optimized radii are given. Applications to the benzene oxide-oxepin valence tautomerization and to glycine conformation are presented. Received: 13 November 1998 / Accepted: 16 December 1998 / Published online: 16 March 1999     

Low-field MRI of laser polarized noble gas.

NMR images of laser polarized 3He gas were obtained at 21 G using a simple, homebuilt instrument. At such low fields magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of thermally polarized samples (e.g., water) is not practical. Low-field noble gas MRI has novel scientific, engineering, and medical applications. Examples include portable systems for diagnosis of lung disease, as well as imaging of voids in porous media and within metallic systems.     

Noninvasive Measurements of Gas Exchange in a Three-Dimensional Fluidized Bed by Hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR

We present a novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique that provides a noninvasive, direct measurement of gas exchange in a three-dimensional gas-fluidized bed of solid particles. The NMR spectrum of hyperpolarized ¹²⁹Xe gas in an Al₂O₃ particle bed displays three resolved peaks corresponding to xenon in bubbles, the interstitial spaces (emulsion), and adsorbed on particles. Modified NMR exchange and saturation recovery sequences, together with data analysis based on an exchange-coupled set of Bloch equations, yield gas exchange rate constants between the emulsion and adsorbed phases, and between the bubble and emulsion phases. The results are in approximate agreement with previously unverified predictions from well-known models of fluidized bed behavior. Incorporation of NMR imaging methodologies would straightforwardly allow similar measurements on a spatially resolved basis. Authors' address: Ross W. Mair, Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, MS 59, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA     

A simple method for the alpha-oxygenation of aldehydes

A mild, efficient and general method for the chemospecific alpha-oxygenation of aldehydes is described. Treatment of a series of aldehydes with N-tert-butyl-O-benzoyl hydroxylamine hydrochloride gives the corresponding alpha-oxygenated carbonyl via a proposed pericyclic rearrangement process.