Distribution of reaction products (theory). Investigation of an ab initio energy-surface for F + H2 ⇀ HF + H

Bender, O'Neil, Pearson and Schaefer (BOPS) have computed ab initio energies for 232 collinear configurations of FHH, using extensive configuration interaction. We have fitted these points using an LEPS-type function. Comparison with semi-empirical surfaces for FHH shows that the general form of these surfaces is in good accord with the ab initio findings. Evidence is presented which indicates that the BOPS ab initio surface exhibits too great a drop in energy along the favoured route into the exit valley.     

Ultraviolet protection factors for clothing: an intercomparison of measurement systems

In recent years the need to standardize measurement protocols for quantifying the degree of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) protection provided by clothing has led to the introduction of a number of standards around the world. To date, these standards have specified spectral measurements of UVR transmission by clothing and fabrics. Development of a standard test method has become an important part of the testing process, and this article presents results from an intercomparison involving 10 independent testing laboratories and 11 different UVR transmission measurement instruments. In addition to comparing the measured ultraviolet protection factors (UPF), this intercomparison also incorporates detailed scan results from all 10 laboratories and highlights differences in performance of the various instruments in different wavelength regions. Careful examination of these differences can indicate where changes to the systems could be made to allow improvements both in equipment performance and in agreement of the final results. The variability in the measurements of UPF in this study suggest that the protection categories in standards may need to be broadened.     

A total synthesis of (±)-cannabisativine

A synthesis of racemic cannabisativine is reported. Intramolecular opening of an $\text{erythro}$-acetoxy epoxide by a secondary amino group provided the side chain containing the desired stereochemistry.     

Interpenetrating polymer networks of poly(carbonate-urethane) and polyvinyl pyridine

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN's), pseudo IPN's, and liner blends of aliphatic poly(carbonate-urethane) (PCU) and polyvinyl pyridine (PVP) have been prepared and characterized by DSC, DMA, and TEM. The full IPN's of PCU and PVP had a single phase morphology only above 50 wt % PCU, as determined by both DSC and DMA and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, in both pseudo IPN's of PCU and PVP and in their linear blends there exist multiple glass transitions and melting points seen by DSC and DMA indicating phase incompatibility. The full IPN's exhibited superior ultimate mechanical properties and solvent resistance as compared to the pseudo IPN's, liner blends, and the pure crosslinked PCU and PVP networks.     

Bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based cryptands, powerful hosts for paraquat derivatives

Four new bis(m-phenylene)-32-crown-10-based cryptands with different third bridges were prepared. Their complexes with paraquat derivatives were studied by proton NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray analysis. It was found that these cryptands bind paraquat derivatives very strongly. Specifically, a diester cryptand with a pyridyl nitrogen atom located at a site occupied by either water or a PF(6) anion in analogous complexes exhibited the highest association constant K(a) = 5.0 x 10(6) M(-1) in acetone with paraquat, 9000 times greater than the crown ether system. X-ray structures of this and analogous complexes demonstrate that improved complexation with this host is a consequence of preorganization, adequate ring size for occupation by the guest, and the proper location of the pyridyl N-atom for binding to the beta-pyridinium hydrogens of the paraquat guests. This readily accessible cryptand is one of the most powerful hosts reported for paraquats.     

Oleophilic ion-exchange resins. IV. Swelling of quaternary ammonium polymers in mixed solvents

The swelling characteristics of an oleophilic anion-exchange resin in methanol–benzene and ethanol–chloroform mixed solvent systems were compared with those of a conventional anion-exchange resin. The oleophilic resin was prepared by amination of chloromethylated polystyrene 1% DVB with N,N-dimethyldodecylamine. It showed a large shift of the swelling peak from polar to less polar solution compositions in both methanol–benzene and ethanol–chloroform systems as compared with the swelling of conventional resins. Total solvent uptake and solvent distribution between resin and solvent phases were also determined. The less polar solvent (benzene or chloroform) was sorbed preferentially by the oleophilic resin over a wide range of composition, while preference for the more polar solvent (methanol or ethanol) by the conventional resin was shown over the entire composition of the mixed solvent systems. The Newman-Krigbaum treatment of mixed solvents was applied to swelling data on the ethanol–chloroform–oleophilic resin system, where the volume of the gel network plus the solvent imbibed was relatively constant over the entire range of composition. The result suggests a strong similarity of the liquid–liquid interaction terms in this gel phase compared with those in the pure binary liquid phase.     

Infrared and ab initio studies of hydrogen bonding and proton transfer in the complexes formed by pyrazoles

The results of experimental studies and quantum mechanical calculations of vibrational spectra and structure of hydrogen bonded complexes formed by pyrazole (P) and 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (DMP) are presented. IR spectra of pyrazoles in solutions, gas phase, and solid state have been investigated in wide range of concentrations and temperatures. It has been found that in the gas phase both P and DMP reveal the equilibrium between monomers, dimers, and trimers. In solutions the equilibrium between monomers and trimers dominates, no bands, which can be attributed to dimers were detected. DMP retains the trimer structure in solid state, while in the case of pyrazole P, formation of the crystal provides another type of association. Geometrical and spectral characteristics of dimers and trimers, obtained by ab initio calculations, are presented and compared with experimental data.

IR spectra of solutions containing P and DMP with a number of acids (acetic and trifluoroacetic acids, pentachlorophenol, HBr) have been studied in parallel with ab initio calculations. It has been found that pentachlorophenol forms with pyrazoles complexes with one strong hydrogen bond O–HN, while NH pyrazole group remains unbonded. With carboxylic acids DMP forms 1:1 cyclic complexes with two hydrogen bonds. In the case of acetic acid, the complex in CH₂Cl₂ solution reveals molecular structure with OHN and C=OHN bonds, in accordance with results of the calculations. For trifluoroacetic acid, the calculations predict the molecular structure to be energetically more stable in the case of the isolated binary complex (in gas phase), while the experimental spectrum of CH₂Cl₂ solution gives an evidence of the proton transfer with formation of the cyclic ionic pair with two NH⁺O⁻ bonds. The agreement with experimental results can be improved by taking into account the influence of environment in the framework of Onsager or Tomasi models. The shape of proton potential function of the complexes and medium effect on its parameters, resulted from experimental data and calculations, are discussed. It has been found that the number of potential minima and their relative depth depend strongly on the method of calculations and the basic set. Under excess of trifluoroacetic acid, the formation of 2:1 acid–DMP complex has been detected. Spectral characteristics and results of calculations point to the cyclic structure of this complex, which includes homoconjugated bis-trifluoroacetate anion and DMPH⁺ cation. With HBr both studied pyrazoles were found to form ionic complexes including one or two pyrazole molecules per one acid molecule and correspondingly monocation or homoconjugated cation BHB⁺.     

Design and characterization of libraries of molecular fragments for use in NMR screening against protein targets

We have designed four generations of a low molecular weight fragment library for use in NMR-based screening against protein targets. The library initially contained 723 fragments which were selected manually from the Available Chemicals Directory. A series of in silico filters and property calculations were developed to automate the selection process, allowing a larger database of 1.79 M available compounds to be searched for a further 357 compounds that were added to the library. A kinase binding pharmacophore was then derived to select 174 kinase-focused fragments. Finally, an additional 61 fragments were selected to increase the number of different pharmacophores represented within the library. All of the fragments added to the library passed quality checks to ensure they were suitable for the screening protocol, with appropriate solubility, purity, chemical stability, and unambiguous NMR spectrum. The successive generations of libraries have been characterized through analysis of structural properties (molecular weight, lipophilicity, polar surface area, number of rotatable bonds, and hydrogen-bonding potential) and by analyzing their pharmacophoric complexity. These calculations have been used to compare the fragment libraries with a drug-like reference set of compounds and a set of molecules that bind to protein active sites. In addition, an analysis of the overall results of screening the library against the ATP binding site of two protein targets (HSP90 and CDK2) reveals different patterns of fragment binding, demonstrating that the approach can find selective compounds that discriminate between related binding sites.     

The mass spectra and ionization potentials of the neutral fragments produced during the electron bombardment of aromatic compounds

A mass spectrometer equipped with a dual ionization chamber ion source has been used to characterize directly the neutral species produced in the dissociative ionization of gases by electron impact. Neutral fragment mass spectra have been obtained for the electron ionization and fragmentation of benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, mesitylene and isotopically labeled toluene. The neutral fragment mass spectra correlate well with the structures of the molecules. The abundant species in the neutral fragment mass spectra also correlate reasonably well with the abundant complementary positive ions of the normal mass spectra. Ionization potentials have been determined for the abundant neutral species produced. Where comparisons with values reported elsewhere are possible, the agreement is usually within ±0.2 eV or less.