Competition between van der Waals and hydrogen bonding interactions: structure of the trans-1-naphthol/N(2) cluster

The excitation energy in the multiphoton ionization spectrum of the trans-1-naphthol/N(2) cluster shows only a small red shift with respect to isolated naphthol, indicating a van der Waals pi-bound structure rather than a hydrogen-bonded one. To confirm this interpretation, high-level electronic structure calculations were performed for several pi- and hydrogen-bonded isomers of this cluster. The calculations were carried out at the second order M?ller-Plesset (MP2) level of perturbation theory with the family of correlation consistent basis sets up to quintuple-zeta quality including corrections for the basis set superposition error and extrapolation to the MP2 complete basis set (CBS) limit. We report the optimal geometries, vibrational frequencies, and binding energies (D(e)), also corrected for harmonic zero-point energies (D(0)), for three energetically low-lying isomers. In all calculations the lowest energy structure was found to be an isomer with the N(2) molecule bound to the pi-system of the naphthol ring carrying the OH group. In the CBS limit its dissociation energy was computed to be D(0) = 2.67 kcal/mol (934 cm(-1)) as compared to D(0) = 1.28 kcal/mol (448 cm(-1)) for the H-bound structure. The electronic structure calculations therefore confirm the assignment of the experimental electronic spectrum corresponding to a van der Waals pi-bound structure. The energetic stabilization of the pi-bound isomer with respect to the hydrogen-bonded one is rather unexpected when compared with previous findings in related systems, in particular phenol/N(2).     

Simultane Ionen-Chromatographie von Kationen und Anionen mit Komplexonen als Elutionsmittel und selektiver UV-Detektion

Summary The complexones EDTA, DCTA and EGTA were investigated as eluting agents at various pH-values for the simultaneous separation of 9 cations and 6 anions using ion chromatography on a silica gel based anion exchanger (Nucleosil 10-Anion II). 1,2-Diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid (DCTA) proved to be the best eluting agent. UV spectrophotometry was used for both direct and indirect detection of the anions and anionic metal complexes and a detailed study was carried out with respect to selectivity of detection. This was facilitated by referring to the UV absorption spectra of the anions and metal complexes involved. By choice of a suitable wavelength between 203 and 270 nm and taking into account pH effects, a number of selective determinations were possible. Examples include Pb and Cu in the presence of excess of Ca and Mg as well as nitrate, nitrite and bromide in a large excess of chloride and sulphate. Some examples of detection limits are (g/l) nitrate 2, Fe(III) 3, Cu 9 and Pb 12 (sample volume 20 l, direct UV-detection). The Chromatographie behaviour of Fe(II) and Fe(III) was studied and discussed. Drinking water was analysed for chloride, nitrate and sulphate as well as Ca and Mg using DCTA in the eluent. Complete analyses can be carried out in less than 15 min.

---

---

Herrn Prof. Dr. R. Neeb zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Intramolecular easily polarizable charged and non-charged hydrogen bonds: IR continua and hydrogen bond length

Substances with intramolecular, easily polarizable hydrogen bonds of different length are compared. Long hydrogen bonds cause IR continua which show band-like structures in the region 2800–1800 cm^?1, extending with weaker intensity toward smaller wave-numbers over the whole region studied. Medium length bonds cause continua beginning at 3200 cm^?1 and extending over the whole region studied. Very short, easily polarizable hydrogen bonds, such as the bond in the HAuCl₄ salt of NN'-tetramethyl-o-xylildiamine di-N-oxide, cause continua with very great intensity in the region 1500–850 cm^?1. Comparison of the experimental with calculated continua shows very good agreement with regard to wavenumber regions in which easily polarizable hydrogen bonds of different length cause IR continua.By comparing all these intramolecular, easily polarizable hydrogen bonds causing IR continua it is shown that the charge of the hydrogen bonds is not the decisive property for the occurrence of the continua but rather the shape of the proton potentials. Continua may occur only with hydrogen bonds with double minima or broad flat proton potential.     

A Stereoselective Synthesis of (±)-cis-γ-Irone

(±)-cis-γ-Irone( 1 ), a main constitutent of natural iris oil, has been stereoselectively synthesized from methyl (2E)-3 -[(2,2,4-trimethyl-3-cyclohexen-1-yl)methoxy]-2-propenoate (3) (6 steps, overall yield 14%). The cis-configuration as the exocyclic position of the double bond of 1 were secured by the thermal ene reaction of the β-(alkenyloxy)acrylate 3 yielding the 3-oxabicyclo [3,3,1] nonane derivative 5 .     

Comparison between capillary electrophoresis and ion-chromatography for analysis of inorganic anions

Separation and detection of some selected inorganic anions with capillary electrophoresis are shown. The anions are separated in microbore capillaries (25 m* 0.2 m) and detected with a UV-detector. Results are compared with the method of ion exchange chromatography. In consideration of the most important physical and chemical parameters an easy kind of computer simulation for such electropherograms was developed.To get optimal results of separation and UV-detection in capillary electrophoresis some parameters of the device HPE 100, i.e. loading time in the electrokinetic sample injection mode and the running voltage are varied. The behaviour of absorption in the UV region of the chosen anions as well as the influence of pH values in retention behaviour are investigated. There is a simple way to calculate the electrophoretic mobilities from known retention times. Approximate limits of detection for all anions and for each technique are given.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Pyrrolpigmente, 19. Mitt.: Die elektrochemische Oxidation von Pyrromethenonen und Pyrromethenen (Gallenpigment-Partialstrukturen)

The electrochemical oxidation of arylmethylene-pyrrolinones, pyrromethenones and pyrromethenes as representative bile pigment partial structure models was investigated by means of a rotating disc platinum electrode using acetonitrile as the solvent. Two different oxidation reactions were found. The first reaction being a reversible one-electron oxidation with compounds of the arylmethylene-pyrrolinone series and pyrromethenones which are unsubstituted in position 5 of the pyrrole ring. A two step reaction (the first one reversible, the second irreversible) on the other hand was found to be typical for pyrromethenones bearing a methyl group in this position.Through protonation the first step is at a higher potential, whereas the second one is lowered and becomes reversible. The resulting oxidation pattern can be interpreted analogous to the oxidation of hydroquinones in aprotic solvents.The geometrical isomers of a pyrromethenone were oxidized at appr. the same potential, but there is a strong dependence of the potential of the first oxidation step on the substitution: a higher degree of alkylation favours oxidation by lowering the oxidation potential.

---

---

Mit 1 Abbildung     

Refinement of borate structures from 11B MAS NMR spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations of 11B electric field gradients

The refinement of borate structures using DFT calculations combined with experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters from solid-state NMR spectroscopy is presented. The (11)B electric field gradient (EFG) tensors, calculated using the WIEN2k software for trigonal and tetrahedral boron sites in a series of model compounds, exhibit a convincing linear correlation with the quadrupole coupling tensor elements, determined from (11)B MAS NMR spectra of the central or satellite transitions. The model compounds include Li(2)B(4)O(7), Mg(2)B(2)O(5), Mg(3)B(2)O(6), NH(4)B(C(6)H(5))(4), and colemanite (CaB(3)O(4)(OH)(3).H(2)O). The (11)B quadrupole moment, Q = 0.0409 +/- 0.0002 barn, derived from the linear correlation, is in excellent agreement with the accepted value for Q((11)B). This demonstrates that DFT (WIEN2k) calculations can provide precise (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters on an absolute scale. On the other hand, DFT calculations based on the reported crystal structures for datolite (CaBSiO(4)(OH)) and danburite (CaB(2)Si(2)O(8)) cannot reproduce the experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters to the same high precision. However, optimization of these structures by minimization of the forces between the atoms (obtained by DFT) results in a significant improvement between the calculated and experimental (11)B quadrupole coupling parameters, which indicates that reliable refinements of the borate structures are obtained by this method. Finally, the DFT calculations also provide important structural information about the sign and orientation of the EFG tensor elements in the crystal frame, a kind of information that cannot be achieved from (11)B NMR experiments on powdered samples.     

Voltammetric monitoring of laccase-catalysed mediated reactions

Six different compounds capable of mediating laccase-catalysed reactions have been tested by cyclic voltammetry. They exhibited quasi-reversible electrodic behaviour with formal redox potentials ranging from 150 to 800 mV (E(0)' vs. SCE). The immersion of a laccase-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in mediator solutions generated large cathodic catalytic currents easily recorded by cyclic voltammetry at low-potential scan rates. This current showed two well-defined pH profiles, which correlated with the variation of the mediator redox potentials at the pH range tested. The relevant effect of temperature on the activity of laccase has been assessed here. Likewise, it was shown that the current record varied with the substrate concentration. This trend fitted Michaelis-Menten kinetics, which allowed us to give an estimation of the affinity of the fungal laccase for the different mediators.