Mechanism of coupling reactions of polystyryllithium with dihalomethanes

We report here an in‐depth analysis of the reaction mechanisms involved in the formation of polymer dimers formed by the coupling of polystyryllithium (PSLi) with dichloromethane (DCM), dibromomethane (DBM), and diiodomethane (DIM) in tetrahydrofuran at ?78 °C. The DBM‐mediated reactions give a high degree of coupling but generate 1,2‐diphenyl linkages in addition to the expected 1,3‐diphenyl linkages and small amounts of β‐substituted styrenic end groups that are detectable by fluorescence measurements. This is consistent with the formation of bromobenzyl end groups by lithium–bromine exchange and PSLi‐mediated elimination. The formation of α‐substituted styrenic end groups by conventional displacement and elimination is also possible. Although reactions of PSLi with DCM show no coupling at all, DIM is a much better coupling agent than DBM, significantly suppressing side reactions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 1081–1091, 2002     

d‐Secoestrone derivatives. VI. 17β‐Benzyl‐17α‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyestra‐1,3,5(10)‐trien‐16‐one

The title mol­ecule, C₂₆H₃₀O₃, shows a novel chemical rearrangement of the substituents at position 17, i.e. an α‐­orientation of the hydroxy group and a β‐orientation of the bulky benzyl moiety. The packing arrangement consists of coils formed by O2?O3 hydrogen bonds along the c axis. The compound shows complete loss of oestrogenic activity, and neither does it exhibit an antagonistic effect.     

Practical and quality-control aspects of multi-element analysis with quadrupole ICP–MS with special attention to urine and whole blood

Two screening methods were developed for rapid analysis of a great number of urine and blood samples within the framework of an exposure check of the population after a firework explosion. A total of 56 elements was measured including major elements. Sample preparation consisted of simple dilution. Extensive quality controls were applied including element addition and the use of certified reference materials. Relevant results at levels similar to those found in the literature were obtained for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Tl, and Pb in urine and for the same elements except Ni, Sn, Sb, and Ba in blood. However, quadrupole ICP–MS has limitations, mainly related to spectral interferences, for the analysis of urine and blood, and these cause higher detection limits. The general aspects discussed in the paper give it wider applicability than just for analysis of blood and urine—it can for example be used in environmental analysis.     

On the bond-stretch isomerism in the benzo[1,2:4,5]dicyclobutadiene system--an ab initio MR-AQCC study.

Bond-stretch isomerism in benzo[1,2:4,5]dicyclobutadienle (BDCB) has been investigated using the MR-AQCC/6-31G(d) method, a high-level multireference ab initio approach including size-extensivity corrections. The applied theoretical approach includes both nondynamical and dynamical electron correlation effects. Full MR-AQCC geometry optimizations of localized (1) and delocalized (3) isomers as well as the transition structure (TS) have been determined using D2h, symmetry restriction. The calculations show that both isomers are approximately of equal stability separated by a barrier with a height of about 5 kcal mol(-1). Thus, the present results strongly indicate that benzof[1,3:4,5]dicyclobutadiene is a very good candidate for an organic compound exhibiting bond-stretch isomerism, since isomers 1 and 3 correspond to true minima on the double-well potential energy surface, which are separated by a sufficiently high barrier. It is particularly important to emphasize that isomer 3 represents a realization of the highly elusive quasi-[10]annulene.     

Ruthenium‐catalyzed formal alkyl group transfer: Synthesis of quinolines from nitroarenes and alkylammonium halides

Nitroarenes are reductively cyclized with an array of tetraalkylammonium halides and trialkylarnmonium chlorides in the presence of a catalytic amount of a ruthenium catalyst along with tin(II) chloride dihydrate at 180° to afford the corresponding quinolines in moderate to good yields. The addition of tin(II) chloride dihydrate is necessary for the effective formation of quinolines and toluene is the solvent of choice. A reaction pathway involving initial reduction of nitroarenes to anilines and conversion of alkylammonium halides to alkylamines, alkyl group transfer from alkylamines to anilines to form an imine, dimerization of imine, and heteroannulation is proposed for this catalytic process.     

Interplay of Electronic Structure and Bulk Properties in 2D and 3D Ternary Carbonitrides from First Principles

The changes in electronic structure and hardness as inferred from the bulk modulus are investigated for model structures of ternary compounds XC₃N₃ (X = B, Al, P, As, Ga) within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). The optimisations of the proposed two‐ (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) structures and the calculations of the bulk moduli are performed by a pseudo potential method. The electronic structures are calculated with the augmented sphere wave method (ASW). The obtained hardness for 2D BC₃N₃ system (B₀ ～ 220 GPa) points to a magnitude close to that of graphitic C₃N₄. For heavier X atoms it decreases rapidly. This is equally observed for the 3D systems examined in the β‐C₃N₄ structure for which B₀(β‐BC₃N₃) amounts to ～330 GPa. Within the magnitude of the well known hard material cubic BN, the BC₃N₃ phases can be predicted as candidates for ultra hard materials. The electronic effect induced by the chemical nature of the X substitutional was examined according to its position in the periodic table i.e. X_III or X_V. Both, band structures and the electron localisation function (ELF) were used for this analysis. The ELF plots show a decreasing covalency with heavier X‐atoms. Potential applications of the devised systems are proposed such as dopings with atoms (Li, rare gas) and molecules (N₂).     

Synthesis and characterization of a new family of bi-, tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear ferric complexes

Nine members of a new family of polynuclear ferric complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The reaction of Fe(O(2)CMe)(2) with polydentate Schiff base proligands (H(2)L) derived from salicylidene-2-ethanolamine, followed in some cases by reaction with carboxylic acids, has afforded new complexes of general formulas [Fe(2)(pic)(2)(L)(2)] (where pic(-) is the anion of 2-picolinic acid), [Fe(3)(O(2)CMe)(3)(L)(3)], [Fe(4)(OR)(2)(O(2)CMe)(2)(L)(4)], and [Fe(5)O(OH)(O(2)CR)(4)(L)(4)]. The tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear complexes all possess unusual structures and novel core topologies. M?ssbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of high-spin ferric centers in the tri- and pentanuclear complexes. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements suggest spin ground states of S = 0, 1/2, 0, and 5/2 for the bi-, tri-, tetra-, and pentanuclear complexes, respectively. Fits of the magnetic susceptibility data have provided the magnitude of the exclusively antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. In addition, an easy-axis-type magnetic anisotropy has been observed for the pentanuclear complexes, with D values of approximately -0.4 cm(-)(1) determined from modeling the low-temperature magnetization data. A low-temperature micro-SQUID study of one of the pentanuclear complexes reveals magnetization hysteresis at nonzero field. This is attributed to an anisotropy-induced energy barrier to magnetization reversal that is of molecular origin. Finally, an inelastic neutron scattering study of one of the trinuclear complexes has revealed that the magnetic behavior arises from two distinct species.     

(m‐CH3C6H4NH3)6P6O18

In hexakis(m‐toluidinium) cyclo­hexaphosphate, 6C₇H₁₀N⁺·­P₆O₁₈^6?, the atomic arrangement is typical of a layer structure. Layers including the centrosymmetric P₆O₁₈ ring anions develop around the (100) planes at x = . The hydrogen‐bond distribution is described.     

Zur Kenntnis der anomalen Reaktionen bei der Aminostickstoffbestimmung. VI Die Anomalie des Indols und seiner Derivate

Zusammenfassung Es wurde untersucht, warum Indol und viele seiner Derivate bei der Aminostickstoffbestimmung ein Gasvolumen liefern, obwohl sie keine primäre Aminogruppe besitzen. An Hand von präparativen Befunden wird gezeigt, daß die anomale Reaktion bei Indol in folgender Weise abläuft: Bei Einwirkung von salpetriger Säure bildet sich 3-Nitrosoindol, das sieh mit freiem Indol zu Indolrot polymerisiert. Gleichzeitig lagert sich die Nitrosogruppe zur Isonitrosogruppe um. Diese reagiert nun mit überschüssiger salpetriger Säure unter Entwicklung von Stickstoff und Distickstoffoxyd. Ist die Stellung 2 und 3 besetzt, so bleibt die anomale Gasentwicklung aus, da sich keine Isonitrosoverbindung bilden kann. Es wurde auch das Verhalten von 3-Methylindol und 3-Indolylessigsäure untersucht und die anomale Reaktion erörtert.

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Summary A study was made to learn why indole and many of its derivatives deliver a gas volume during the determination of the amino nitrogen, even though they contain no primary amino group. On the basis of preparative findings, it was shown that in the case of indole the anomalous reaction proceeds in the following fashion. When the nitrous acid reacts, 3-nitrosoindole is formed, which then polymerizes with free indole to indole red. At the same time, the nitroso group rearranges into the isonitroso group. The latter reacts with excess nitrous acid with evolution of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide. If positions 2 and 3 are occupied, there is no anomalous generation of gas, because no isonitroso compound can form. The behavior of 3-methylindole and 3-indylacetic acid was also studied and the anomalous reaction noted.

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Résumé Les auteurs ont recherché pourquoi l'indol et nombre de ses dérivés donnent lieu à un dégagement gazeux lors de la détermination de l'azote aminé bien qu'ils ne contiennent aucun groupement aminé primaire. Des constatations effectuées au cours de travaux de chimie préparative ont montré que la réaction anormale de l'indol a le cours suivant: lors de l'action de l'acide nitreux il se forme du nitroso-3 indol qui en présence d'indol libre se polymerise en rouge d'indol. Simultanément le groupement nitrosé se transpose en groupement isonitrosé. Ce dernier réagit alors avec l'acide nitreux en excès en donnant lieu à un dégagement d'azote et de protoxyde d'azote. Si les positions 2 et 3 sont occupées il ne se produit pas de dégagement gazeux anormal car la combinaison isonitrosée ne peut se former. Les auteurs ont également examiné le comportement du méthyl-3 indol et de l'acide indoyl-3 acétique et discuté leurs réactions anormales.

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I: Anomalie der Isonitrosoverbindungen¹; II: Anomalie der Verbindungen mit NH-CO-Gruppierung²; III: Anomalie der Verbindungen mit aktiven Methylengruppen³; IV: Anomalie von Glycin⁴; V: Anomalie der Phenole⁵.