Epoxides,cyclic sulfites,and sulfate from natural pentacyclic triterpenoids: theoretical calculations and chemical transformations

Several triterpenic derivatives, with the A-ring functionalized, were semisynthesized from oleanolic and maslinic acids. The reactivities of sulfites, sulfate, and epoxides in these triterpene compounds were investigated under different reaction conditions. Moreover, contracted A-ring triterpenes (five-membered rings) were obtained, by different treatments of the sulfate 7. From the epoxide 8, deoxygenated and halohydrin derivatives were semisynthesized with several nucleophiles. Ozonolysis and Beckmann reactions were used to yield 4-aza compounds, from five-membered ring olanediene triterpenes. The X-ray structure of sulfate 7 is given and compared with density functional theory geometries. Theoretical (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts (gauge-invariant atomic orbital method at the B3LYP/6-31G*//B3LYP/6-31G* level) and (3)J(H,H) coupling constants were calculated for compounds 5-9 and 34-36, identifying the (R)- or (S)-sulfur and alpha- or beta-epoxide configurations together with 4-aza or 3-aza structures.     

In situ UV-visible spectroscopic measurements of kinetic parameters and active sites for catalytic oxidation of alkanes on vanadium oxides

In situ diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy was used to measure the dynamics of catalyst reduction and oxidation during propane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) on VOx/gamma-Al2O3. Transients in UV-visible intensity in the near-edge region were analyzed using a mechanistic model of ODH reactions. Rate constants per site for the kinetically relevant reduction step (C-H bond activation) measured using this analysis are slightly larger than those obtained from steady-state ODH rates normalized by surface V. The ratio of these values provides a measure of the fraction of the V surface sites that are active for ODH (0.6-0.7, for V surface densities of 2.3-34 V nm(-2)). This suggests that some of the V atoms are either inaccessible or inactive. Reoxidation rate constants, which cannot be obtained from steady-state analysis, are 10(3)-10(5) times larger than those for the C-H bond activation reduction step.     

Comprehensive study of the methyl effect on the solvolysis rates of bridgehead derivatives

The effect of a bridgehead methyl group on the hydride ion affinity in the gas phase of bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl (1+), 1-norbornyl (3+), cubyl (5+), 1-adamantyl (7+), bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl (9+),and bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-1-yl (11+) cations has been studied using density functional theory and ab initio methods. It is concluded that the methyl group always increases the stability of the substituted cations. The effect of the solvent on the stability of methyl-substituted cations in relation to the unsubstituted cations has been studied using the polarizable continuum model of the self-consistent reaction field theory. In the case of rearranging cations, the nucleophilic assistance of the solvent is determined by means of the interaction energy of the corresponding water complexes. It is concluded that the solvent causes the relative stabilization of the parent cations. As a consequence, most of the methyl-substituted bridgehead derivatives show a lower solvolysis rate than the corresponding unsubstituted compounds. A nonqualitative explanation of the methyl effect on the relative stability of bridgehead cations in both gas phase and solution is given for the first time. The ratios of solvolysis products in the case of rearranging bridgehead cations have also been computed from the relative stability of the intermediate water complexes.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the phenolysis of asymmetric diaryl carbonates

The reactions 4-methylphenyl 4-nitrophenyl carbonate (MPNPC), 4-chlorophenyl 4-nitrophenyl carbonate (CIPNPC), 4-methylphenyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl carbonate (MPDNPC), and 4-chlorophenyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl carbonate (CIPDNPC) with a homogeneous series of phenoxide anions are subjected to a kinetic investigation in aqueous solution (25.0 degrees C, ionic strength 0.2 M (KCI)). Under an excess of phenoxide with respect to the substrate, all of these reactions obey pseudo-first-order kinetics and are first order in phenoxide. The Br?nsted-type plots for the nucleophilic rate constants (k(N)) are linear, with slopes beta = 0.48 (MPNPC), 0.67 (ClPNPC), 0.41 (MPDNPC), and 0.32 (ClPDNPC). The magnitude of these slopes and the absence of a curvature in the Br?nsted plot at pK(a) = 7.1 for the CIPNPC reactions are consistent with concerted mechanisms (one step). The carbonates MPDNPC and ClPDNPC are more reactive than MPNPC and CIPNPC, respectively, toward phenoxide nucleophiles. This can be explained by the presence of a second nitro group in the nucleofuge of the dinitro derivatives, which (i) leaves their carbonyl carbon more positively charged, making them better electrophiles, and (ii) makes 2,4-dinitrophenoxide a better leaving group than 4-nitrophenoxide. The 4-chloro derivatives are more reactive than the corresponding 4-methyl derivatives. This should be due to the greater electron withdrawal of 4-chloro than 4-methyl, which makes the former carbonyl more electrophilic. Comparison of the concerted phenolysis of MPNPC with the stepwise reactions of secondary alicyclic amines with the same substrate indicates that substitution of a secondary alicyclic amine group in a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate by a phenoxy group greatly destabilizes the intermediate. An equation is deduced for log k(N) in terms of the basicity of the nucleophile, the nonleaving moiety, and the leaving group. This equation shows that for these reactions, the sensitivity of log k(N) to the basicity of the nonleaving moiety (beta(nlg) = -0.27) is very similar to that of the nucleofuge (beta(lg) = -0.25).     

Binuclear Cu2+ complex mediated discrimination between L-glutamate and L-aspartate in water

L-glutamate and L-aspartate selectivity is achieved by the action of two Cu2+ metal ions rightly disposed in a cyclophane-type macrocyclic framework; electrochemical sensing of glutamate has been achieved by adsorption of the copper complexes on graphite electrodes.     

Mean amplitudes of vibration of the XF+4 interhalogen cations

Mean amplitudes of vibration for the cations ClF⁺₄, BrF⁺₄ and IF⁺₄ have been calculated using the ‘Method of the Characteristic Vibrations’ and recently revised spectroscopic data. The results are briefly discussed and some comparisons with isoelectronic molecules and other related species are made.     

Investigating the possibility of simultaneously finding an electron-hole and an electron-pair in a molecule: Delocalization,competition of ionic vs. covalent character,and related effects in push–pull ethylenes

This work examines the possibility of finding an electron-hole and an electron-pair simultaneously in a π-system substituted by an electron-donating (NH₂) and/or electron-withdrawing (NO₂) group. The contributions of various ionic [(+), ( ↑ ↓ )] structures are calculated from ab initio SCF –CI wave functions, using a recently developed general multielectron population analysis. The molecules studied are two monosubstituted ethylenes, aminoethylene and nitroethylene, and a disubstituted ethylene, the 2-nitroethenamine (push–pull ethylene) in its two configurational forms. The influence of the NH₂ and/or NO₂ group in delocalization and ionic (vs. covalent) character of the C?C double bond are investigated, along with examining the experimental chemist formalism of electron-pair “displacements” in several resonance structures. Analysis of mutual dependence of an electron-hole and an electron-pair, at short and long distances, leads to the conclusion that a push–pull π-system can stimulate the simultaneous existence of an electronhole and an electron-pair even for nonvicinal positions. The relationship between the electronpair distributions and contributions of the corresponding structures are also examined; the effects of electronic correlation are analyzed as well. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Das Schwingungsspektrum von Barium-Divanadat

The infrared and laser-Raman spectra of crystalline Ba₂V₂O₇ are reported and discussed by means of a Site Symmetry analysis.

28. Mitt. der Reihe Orthovanadate und verwandte Verbindungen. 27. Mitt.:E. J. Baran undM. E. Escobar, J. Phys. Chem. Solids, im Druck; 26. Mitt.:E. J. Baran, I. L. Botto, J. F. Ramos undP. J. Aymonino, Mh. Chem.109, 1139 (1978); 25. Mitt.:E. J. Baran, J. Mol. Struct.48, 441 (1978); 24. Mitt.:E. J. Baran undI. L. Botto, J. inorg. nucl. Chem.40, 1603, (1978); 23. Mitt.:M. E. Escobar undE. J. Baran, Z. Anorg. allg. Chem.,441, 273 (1978).     

Synthesis and photoluminescent properties of 1,1'-binaphthyl-based chiral phenylenevinylene dendrimers

New chiral, soluble binaphthyl derivatives that incorporate stilbenoid dendrons at the 6,6'-positions have been prepared. The synthesis of the new enantiopure dendrimers was performed in a convergent manner by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) reaction of the appropriately functionalized 1,1'-binaphthyl derivative (R)-1 and the appropriate dendrons (R)(2n)G(n)-CHO. Different electroactive units were incorporated in the peripheral positions of the dendrons in order to tune both the optical and electrochemical behavior of these systems. Fluorescence measurements on the chiral dendrimers reveal a strong emission with maxima between 409 and 508 nm depending upon the substitution pattern. Finally, the redox properties of the dendrimers were determined by cyclic voltammetry, showing the influence of the functional groups at the peripheral positions of the dendrimer on the redox behavior of these systems.     

Berechnung von mittleren Schwingungsamplituden einiger tetraedrischer Moleküle und Ionen nach der Methode der charakteristischen Schwingungen

Mean amplitudes of vibration of a series of tetrahedralXY ₄ molecules and ions (hydrides, halides, oxides and oxoanions) have been calculated using the “Method of the Characteristic Vibrations” ofA. Müller. The results indicate that this method leads to very good values for most of the investigated species, and especially in the cases of highM _X/M_Y mass ratio.