Surprising Properties of a Furo‐Furanone

The electronic absorption, fluorescence, and excitation spectra of furo[3,4‐c]furanone ( 1 ) have been measured in different solvents at different concentrations. We observed a complex dependence of absorption and excitation spectra as a function of the concentration in CH₂Cl₂ and THF due to aggregate formation. Interestingly, the fluorescence spectra were not affected. Resolving the puzzle was made possible by the fact that 1 fits perfectly into the channels of zeolite L (ZL) microcrystals to form 1 –ZL guest–host composites. The geometry of the ZL channel system ensures a well‐defined orientation of the embedded dye molecules, thereby leading to a preferred orientation of their electronic transition dipole moment (ETDM) and thus to objects with pronounced optical anisotropy properties. This enabled us to understand that in solution the monomers that are present at low concentration form an aggregate in which the molecules sit on top of each other and arrange into a J‐type aggregate configuration at higher concentrations. The signature of the latter is observed in the 1 –ZL composites. This seems to be the first example in which the insertion of molecules into a nanochannel microcrystal has helped in understanding the weak intermolecular interactions that take place in solution.     

Gas‐Phase Spectroscopy of Ferric Heme?NO Complexes

Weakly bound complexes between ferric heme cations and NO were synthesised in the gas phase from ion–molecule reactions, and their absorption measured based on photodissociation yields. The Soret band, which serves as an important marker band for heme‐protein spectroscopy, is maximal at 357±5 nm and significantly blue‐shifted compared to ferric heme nitrosyl proteins (maxima between 408 and 422 nm). This is in stark contrast to the Q‐band absorption where the protein microenvironment is nearly innocent in perturbing the electronic structure of the porphyrin macrocycle. Photodissociation is primarily through loss of NO. In contrast to the Q‐band region, two‐photon absorption was seen in the Soret band despite NO loss only requiring ～1 eV. A model based on intersystem crossing to a long‐lived triplet state where a barrier has to be surmounted is suggested. Finally, we summarise the measured absorption maxima of heme and its complexes with amino acids and NO.     

Recherches sur la formation et la transformation des esters LXXII. Aryl(ou aralcoyl ou alcoyl)amino-2-tétrahydro-m-thiazines ou aryl(ou aralcoyl ou alcoyl)amino-2-dihydro-Δ2-m-thiazines et dérivés

3-Aminopropanol reacts with aryl(or aralkyl or alkyl)isothiocyanates R? N?C?S to yield the corresponding thio-ureas R? NH? CS? NH? (CH₂)₃OH which, refluxed with hydrochloric acid, are cyclized by elimination of water. The cyclization products are identical with the hydrothiazines resulting by elimination of sulfate or phosphate from the sulfuric or phosphoric monoesters of these thio-ureas. The resulting hydrothiazines are either 2-(R-imino)-tetrahydro-m-thiazines (I) or 2-(R-amino)-dihydro-Δ²-m-thiazines (II). Their structure has been established by comparison of their spectra with those of model compounds in one of which the C?N double bond is certainly endocyclic (2-methyl-dihydro-Δ²-m-thiazine), the other presenting an exocyclic C?N double bond (3-methyl-2-phenylimino-tetrahydro-m-thiazine). When R is an aryl group, the C?N double bond is exocyclic (structure I with >C?N? Ar), and one may presume that this structure is stabilized by resonance. When R is an aralkyl or an alkyl group, the C?N double bond is endocyclic (structure II). The nmr spectra were taken with three types of solvent: CDCl₃ or CCl₄; (CD₃)₂SO; CF₃COOH. In CF₃COOH solution the benzylic protons of the hydrothiazine with R = pF? C₆H₄CH₂? couple with NH (J=5,5cps) which confirms the endocyclic position of the C?N double bond in this case.     

Iron 10‐Thiacorroles: Bioinspired Iron(III) Complexes with an Intermediate Spin (S=3/2) Ground State

A first systematic study upon the preparation and exploration of a series of iron 10‐thiacorroles with simple halogenido (F, Cl, Br, I), pseudo‐halogenido (N₃, I₃) and solvent‐derived axial ligands (DMSO, pyridine) is reported. The compounds were prepared from the free‐base octaethyl‐10‐thiacorrole by iron insertion and subsequent ligand‐exchange reactions. The small N₄ cavity of the ring‐contracted porphyrinoid results in an intermediate spin (i.s., S=3/2) state as the ground state for the iron(III) ion. In most of the investigated cases, the i.s. state is found unperturbed and independent of temperature, as determined by a combination of X‐ray crystallography and magnetometry with ¹H NMR‐, EPR‐, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Two exceptions were found. The fluorido iron(III) complex is inhomogenous in the solid and contains a thermal i.s. (S=3/2)→high spin (h.s., S=5/2) crossover fraction. On the other side, the cationic bis(pyridine) complex resides in the expected low spin (l.s., S=1/2) state. Chemically, the iron 10‐thiacorroles differ from the iron porphyrins mainly by weaker axial ligand binding and by a cathodic shift of the redox potentials. These features make the 10‐thiacorroles interesting ligands for future research on biomimetic catalysts and model systems for unusual heme protein active sites.     

SAR Studies of the Leupyrrins: Design and Total Synthesis of Highly Potent Simplified Leupylogs

Leupyrrins are highly potent antifungal agents. A structure–activity-relationship study of natural and synthetic derivatives is reported which reveals important insights into the biological relevance of several structural subunits leading to the discovery of highly potent but drastically simplified leupylogs that incorporate a stable and readily available aromatic side chain. For their synthesis a concise strategy is described that enables a short and versatile access.     

M?ssbauer study of the spatial distribution of the active species in Cs doped Fe2O3-V2O5 catalysts

From a Cs doped Fe₂O₃-V₂O₅ (Fe:V=1.4) catalyst exhibiting an inhomogeneous composition after calcination, three different fractions have been separated by visual inspection. One fraction has been found to consist of mainly -Fe₂O₃, another one of mainly FeVO₄. The third fraction (S1 in the text) is the catalytically most active fraction containing besides both of the former components an amorphous phase of Fe_xV_yO_z and also the dopant. By combining the results from transmission and conversion electron Mössbauer spectra it has been concluded that the amorphous component is enriched in the surface region of the crystallites of the catalyst. In addition, the formation of a thin surface layer of iron sulfide (Fe_1–xS) on the third fraction has been identified. This sulfide is assumed to be formed during calcination from Cs₂SO₄ used for the preparation of the catalyst.Dedicated to Professor Dr. H. Kriegsmann on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Multiply-charged negative clusters of adenosine-5′-monophosphate in the gas phase

Multiply-charged noncovalent cluster anions of adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP) were formed by electrospray ionization (ESI). Ions in higher charge states were observed when the ions were accumulated in an ion trap with helium buffer gas before detection. We determined the smallest size (n(a)) or appearance size as a function of charge state (q), i.e., n(a) = 4 for q = 2, n(a) = 8 for q = 3, and n(a) = 13 for q = 4. The relation between n(a) and q can be described by a charged droplet model. When the size is larger than n(a) for a given q, the fragmentation pathway of an anion cluster is dominated by loss of neutral fragments. In contrast, when the size approaches the appearance size, only charged fragments are formed.     

Aromaticity and electron affinity of Carbo(k)-[3]radialenes, k=0, 1, 2

Aromaticity enhancement is a possible driving force for the low reduction potentials of buta-1,3-diynediyl-expanded [N]radialenes: this hypothesis is theoretically analyzed for the expanded [3]radialene prototype. This study is undertaken within a more general prospect, namely the evaluation of the variation of aromaticity with endocyclic and peripheral carbomeric expansion of [3]radialene and its mono- and dianions. The structures, denoted as [C-H](6) (h)[C-C](3) (k)carbo-[3]radialene(q) (h=0, 1; k=0, 1, 2; q=0, -1, -2), were optimized in relevant singlet, doublet, or triplet spin states at the B3PW91/6-31G** level. They were found to be all planar. The structural aromaticity was measured through the average bond length d(av) over the [C-C](3) (k)carbo-[3]radialene core, and by the corresponding bond-length equalization parameter sigma(d), related to Krygowski's GEO. The magnetic aromaticity was measured by Schleyer's NICS values at the center of the rings. Regarding the relative variation of NICS and sigma(d), two classes of species can be distinguished according to their endocyclic expansion level. The species with a nonexpanded (k=0) or doubly expanded (k=2) ring constitute the first class: they exhibit D(3h) symmetry and a strong correlation of NICS with sigma(d). The species with a singly expanded ring (k=1) fall far from the correlation line, and constitute the second class. This class distinction is related to the degeneracy scheme of the frontier orbitals of the neutral representative. A finer appraisal of the electron (de)localization is brought by the ELF (Electron Localization Function) analysis of the electron density. It allows for a weighting of relevant resonance forms. Unsubstituted species are well described by the superimposition of two or three resonance forms. For (doublet spin state) monoanionic species, their respective weights are validated by comparison with AIM spin density. The weighted mean, n, of the formal numbers of paired pi(z) electrons in the resonance forms was calculated and compared with the closest even integer of either forms 4m+2 or 4m. A density-based continuous generalization of the orbital-based discrete Hückel rule is then heuristically proposed through an analytical correlation of NICS versus sigma(d), n, and S, the spin of the species. The frontier-orbital-degeneracy pattern of neutral species is discussed with respect to structural and magnetic aromaticity criteria. A decreasing HOMO-LUMO gap versus endocyclic expansion is obtained, but [C-C](3) (1)carbo-[3]radialene possesses the highest HOMO and LUMO energies. Vertical and adiabatic electron affinities of neutral and monoanionic species were also computed and compared with related experimental data.     

Solving the adsorption integral equation with Langmuir-kernel and the influence of temperature on the stability of the solution

Adsorption energy distribution functions can be calculated from measured adsorption isotherms by solving the adsorption integral equation. In this context, it is common practice to use general regularization methods, which are independent of the kernel of the adsorption integral equation, but do not permit error estimation. In order to overcome this disadvantage, we present in this paper a solution theory which is tailor-made for the Langmuir kernel of the adsorption integral equation. The presented theory by means of differentiation and Fourier series is the basis for a regularization method with explicit terms for error amplification. By means of simple and complicated adsorption energy distribution functions we show for ideal gas adsorption isotherms without measurement error that reliable distribution functions can be obtained from the isotherms. Furthermore we show how the stability of the solution depends on temperature.     

Prediction of multicomponent liquid adsorption using excess quantities. III. Calculations for the liquid/air interface

The utilization of excess quantities as the basis of a thermodynamic approach can simplify the prediction of multicomponent data from binary ones. Whereas in Part II the excess formalism was applied to the prediction of liquid phase adsorption on solids, in this paper, the liquid/air interface is investigated. In order to show the generality of the suggested approach, thermodynamic equations are developed in analogy to Part II. Surface tensions are predicted by different excess models and compared with experimental data. From predicted surface tensions, ternary adsorption isotherms on the liquid/air interface are calculated.