Mechanism of formation of organic carbonates from aliphatic alcohols and carbon dioxide under mild conditions promoted by carbodiimides. DFT calculation and experimental study

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (CyN=C=NCy, DCC) promotes the facile formation of organic carbonates from aliphatic alcohols and carbon dioxide at temperatures as low as 310 K and moderate pressure of CO2 (from 0.1 MPa) with an acceptable rate. The conversion yield of DCC is quantitative, and the reaction has a very high selectivity toward carbonates at 330 K; increasing the temperature increases the conversion rate, but lowers the selectivity. A detailed study has allowed us to isolate or identify the intermediates formed in the reaction of an alcohol with DCC in the presence or absence of carbon dioxide. The first step is the addition of alcohol to the cumulene (a known reaction) with formation of an O-alkyl isourea [RHNC(OR')=NR] that may interact with a second alcohol molecule via H-bond (a reaction never described thus far). Such an adduct can be detected by NMR. In alcohol, in absence of CO2, it converts into a carbamate and a secondary amine, while in the presence of CO2, the dialkyl carbonate, (RO)2CO, is formed together with urea [CyHN-CO-NHCy]. The reaction has been tested with various aliphatic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and allyl alcohol. It results in being a convenient route to the synthesis of diallyl carbonate, in particular. O-Methyl-N,N'-dicyclohexyl isourea also reacts with phenol in the presence of CO2 to directly afford for the very first time a mixed aliphatic-aromatic carbonate, (MeO)(PhO)CO. A DFT study has allowed us to estimate the energy of each intermediate and the relevant kinetic barriers in the described reactions, providing reasonable mechanistic details. Calculated data match very well the experimental results. The driving force of the reaction is the conversion of carbodiimide into the relevant urea, which is some 35 kcal/mol downhill with respect to the parent compound. The best operative conditions have been defined for achieving a quantitative yield of carbonate from carbodiimide. The role of temperature, pressure, and catalysts (Lewis acids and bases) has been established. As the urea can be reconverted into DCC, the reaction described in this article may further be developed for application to the synthesis of organic carbonates under selective and mild conditions.     

Glutamate receptor incorporated in a mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane array, as a sensing element of a biosensor working under flowing conditions

The realization of a reliable receptor biosensor requires stable, long-lasting, reconstituted biomembranes able to supply a suitable biomimetic environment where the receptor can properly work after incorporation. To this end, we developed a new method for preparing stable biological membranes that couple the biomimetic properties of BLMs (bilayer lipid membranes) with the high stability of HBMs (hybrid bilayer membranes); this gives rise to an innovative assembly, named MHBLM (mixed hybrid bilayer lipid membrane). The present work deals with the characterization of biosensors achieved by embedding an ionotropic glutamate receptor (GluR) on MHBLM. Thanks to signal (transmembrane current) amplification, which is typical of natural receptors, the biosensor here produced detects glutamate at a level of nmol L(-1). The transmembrane current changes linearly vs glutamate up to 100 nmol L(-1), while the limit of detection is 1 nmol L(-1). In addition, the biosensor response can be modulated both by receptor agonists (glycine) and antagonists (Mg(2+)) as well, and by exploiting the biosensor response, the distribution of different kinds of ionotropic GluR present in the purified sample, and embedded in MHBLM, was also evaluated. Finally, one of the most important aspects of this investigation is represented by the high stability of the biomimetic system, which allows the use of biosensor under flowing conditions, where the solutions flow on both biomembrane faces.     

Preparation of the Enantiomerically Enriched Isomers of the Odorous Cyclic Ethers Clarycet ®, Florol ®, and Rhubafuran ® by Enzymatic Catalysis

All the enantiomerically enriched stereoisomers of Clarycet ^® ( 1 ), Florol ^® ( 2 ), and Rhubafuran ^® ( 3 ) were prepared by biocatalysis routes. Their absolute configurations were established, and their olfactory properties were fully evaluated.     

Characterization of dendrimer properties by capillary electrophoresis and their use as pseudostationary phases

The general properties of dendrimers and in particular their electrolytic characteristics that are relevant in electrokinetic separations, are described. In order to confirm theoretical considerations on commercial dendrimer charge and hydrodynamic radius, several capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) experiments were performed. Electrophoretic mobilities measured at different pH values indicated a sensible increase of dendrimer hydrodynamic radius at pH values lower than 2.5. This was probably due to the Coulombic repulsion of charged amine groups of the inner dendrimer shells. The principal reasons that should address the use of dendrimers as pseudostationary phases in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) are discussed. Moreover, a survey of different separations performed utilizing dendrimers in MEKC as well as of several future plausible uses of various classes of dendrimers is presented.     

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the identification and determination of trichothecenes in maize

A reliable, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed to determine four trichothecene mycotoxins (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, fusarenon X and 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol) in maize. Sample preparation was performed by extracting the analytes with a mixture of acetonitrile and water, followed by a solid-phase extraction with Carbograph-4 cartridges as the purification step. For the LC/MS/MS analysis two interfacing systems, Turbo IonSpray (TISP) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), were compared in both negative and positive ion modes. LC and MS parameters were optimized to achieve better results and sensitivity. The effect of mobile phase modifiers such as ammonium acetate and formic acid on the ionization yield was also evaluated. The best results were obtained using the electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in negative ion mode and the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) for the quantitation. The detection limits ranged between 10 ng/g for fusarenon X and 1.5 ng/g for deoxynivalenol. A linear working range was achieved with a standard deviation between 3 and 10% and recovery rates from the maize samples above 81%. The procedure was applied to the analysis of a set of maize samples collected from farms located in different areas of northern and central Italy. The investigated samples turned out to be contaminated primarily with deoxynivalenol and, to a minor extent, with its derivatives.     

The Michael addition of indoles to alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones catalyzed by CeCl3.7H2O-NaI combination supported on silica gel

Alkylation of indoles by means of the Michael addition has been the subject of a number of investigation. It is well established that regioselectivity in the additions of indoles to electron-deficient alkenes is strongly controlled by the reaction medium. In a continuation of the work on developing greener and cleaner technologies, the cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate and sodium iodide combination supported on silica gel catalyzes the alkylation of various indoles with alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones giving 3-(3-oxoalkyl)indole derivatives in good yields. The substitution on the indole nucleus occurred exclusively at the 3-position, and N-alkylation products have not been observed.     

Wavelength-dependent electron and energy transfer pathways in a side-to-face ruthenium porphyrin/perylene bisimide assembly

A new side-to-face supramolecular array of chromophores, where a pyridyl-substituted perylene bisimide dye axially binds to two ruthenium porphyrin fragments, has been prepared by self-assembly. The array is formulated as DPyPBI[Ru(TPP)(CO)](2), where DPyPBI = N,N'-di(4-pyridyl)-1,6,7,12-tetra(4-tert-butylphenoxy)perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic acid bisimide and TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin. The photophysical behavior of DPyPBI[Ru(TPP)(CO)](2) has been studied by fast (nanoseconds) and ultrafast (femtoseconds) time-resolved techniques. The observed behavior sharply changes with excitation wavelength, depending on whether the DPyPBI or Ru(TPP)(CO) units are excited. After DPyPBI excitation, the strong fluorescence typical of this unit is completely quenched, and time-resolved spectroscopy reveals the occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer from the ruthenium porphyrin to the perylene bisimide dye (tau = 5.6 ps) followed by charge recombination (tau = 270 ps). Upon excitation of the Ru(TPP)(CO) fragments, on the other hand, ultrafast (tau < 1 ps) intersystem crossing is followed by triplet energy transfer from the ruthenium porphyrin to the perylene bisimide dye (tau = 720 ps). The perylene-based triplet state decays to the ground state on a longer time scale (tau = 9.8 micros). The photophysics of this supramolecular array provides remarkable examples of (i) wavelength-dependent behavior (a small change in excitation wavelength causes a sharp switch from electron to energy transfer) and (ii) intramolecular sensitization (the triplet state of the perylene bisimide, inaccessible in the free dye, is efficiently populated in the array).     

Unprecedented eta(1)-P(basal) coordination of P(4)X(3) molecules (X = S, Se). An experimental and theoretical study of the apical vs basal complexation dichotomy

Reaction of [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)(OTf)] (1) [triphos = MeC(CH(2)PPh(2))(3); OTf = OSO(2)CF(3)] with P(4)S(3) and P(4)Se(3) yields pairs of coordination isomers, namely, [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)[eta(1)-P(apical)-P(4)X(3)]](+) (X = S, 2; Se, 5) and [(triphos)Re(CO)(2)[eta(1)-P(basal)-P(4)X(3)]](+) (X = S, 3; Se, 6). The latter represent the first examples of the eta(1)-P(basal) coordination achieved by the P(4)X(3) molecular cage. Further reaction of 2/3 and 5/6 mixtures with 1 affords the dinuclear species [[(triphos)Re(CO)(2)](2)[mu,eta(1:1)-P(apical,)P(basal)-P(4)X(3)]](2+) (X = S, 4; Se, 7) in which the unprecedented M-eta(1)-P(basal)/eta(1)-P(apical)-M' bridging coordination of the P(4)X(3) molecule is accomplished. A theoretical analysis of the bonding properties of the two coordination isomers is also presented. The directionality of apical vs basal phosphorus lone pairs is also discussed in terms of MO arguments.     

Identification and mass spectrometric characterization of glycosylated flavonoids in Triticum durum plants by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

A mass spectrometric method for extensive detection and semi-quantitative determination of flavonoid glycosides in stem and leaves of young Triticum durum plants is presented. About 100 g of sample were lyophilized and ground, and the compounds of interest were then extracted, cleaned-up, and fractionated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Tandem mass spectrometry analyses were performed using a quadrupole-linear ion trap instrument with an information-dependent data acquisition (IDA) protocol that looped two experiments, enhanced MS scan and enhanced product ion scan. Various glycoconjugates, which are all derivatives of only four flavones, apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol and tricin, were identified and belong to the following categories: 7 monoglycosides, 31 diglycosides, 15 triglycosides and 1 tetraglycoside. Among these some acylated glycosides were found. Tricin derivatives are present exclusively as O-glycosides, while apigenin and luteolin are present always as C-glycosides. Semi-quantitative estimation was performed by using the monoglycoside and diglycoside of quercetin as internal standards.     

TiCl4-promoted addition of nucleophiles to open chain α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones

Linear α-amidoalkylphenyl sulfones are converted into the corresponding N-acyliminium ions by treatment with TiCl₄ at low temperature and then made to react with different nucleophiles such as allyltrimethylsilane, silyl ketene acetal, anisole and thiophene.