A Convenient and Efficient Method for the Preparation of Unique Fluorophores of Lariat Naphtho‐Aza‐Crown Ethers

New naphtho‐aza‐crown ethers containing different phenolic side‐arms attached through the ortho‐position of the phenol have been prepared under solvent‐free conditions. The starting macrocyclic naphtho‐aza‐crown ether 2 was obtained by treatment of naphthalene dicarboxylic acid diester 1 with diethylenetriamine in EtOH at room temperature for two days without stirring in 77% yield (Scheme 1). Phenolic ligands ( 3 – 14 ) were synthesized by the Mannich reaction of the secondary macrocyclic amine 2 with the substituted phenols using nontoxic and inexpensive CaCl₂. This procedure was applied successfully for the synthesis of Mannich bases from simple secondary amines. The CaCl₂ powder can be reused up to three times after simple washing with dry acetone.     

Urchin-like α-MnO<Subscript>2</Subscript> formed by nanoneedles for high-performance lithium batteries

MnO₂ nanoneedles (NNs) were synthesized by sol-gel assisted by a redox reaction between ascorbic acid and KMnO₄. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Raman, far-infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements confirm the tunnel structure of the tetragonal α-MnO₂ phase. The MnO₂ NNs prepared by sol-gel at moderate temperature (T ≈ 350 °C) aggregate with an urchin-like morphology observed by scanning electron (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron (TEM) microscopy. Electrochemical investigations show an outstanding initial specific capacity ca. 230 mAh g^?1 and 45 % capacity retention at 100th cycle was obtained for these MnO₂ nanoneedles.     

Synthesis, structure characterization and magnetic properties of nanosize LiCo1 − y Ni y O2 prepared by sol–gel citric acid route

Single phase LiCo_1 − y Ni _y O₂ (y = 0.4 and 0.5) with fine particles and high homogeneity was synthesized by “chimie douce” assisted by citric acid as the polymeric agent and investigated as positive electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries. The long-range and short-range structural properties are investigated with experiments including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. The physicochemical properties of the powders (crystallinity, lattice constants, grain size) have been investigated in this composition. The powders adopted the α-NaFeO₂ structure as it appeared from XRD and FTIR results. Magnetic measurements shows signal at low temperature attributed to the magnetic domains in the nanostructure sample from which we estimated that the cation mixing are 3.35 and 4.74% for y = 0.4 and 0.5 in LiCo_1 − y Ni _y O₂, respectively. LiCo_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ cathode yields capacity (135 mAh g⁻¹) compared to LiCo_0.6Ni_0.4O₂ cathode (147 mAh g⁻¹) when discharged to a cutoff voltage of 2.9 V vs. Li/Li⁺. Lower capacity loss and higher discharge efficiency percentage are observed for the cell of LiCo_0.6Ni_0.4O₂ cathode.     

Osmium(VII) fluorine compounds

Of the four published osmium fluorine compounds in the oxidation state +7, OsO3F, OsO2F3, OsOF5, and OsF7, only one (OsOF5) is a real Os(VII) compound. OsO(3)F has obviously been OsO4. OsO2F3 in its two modifications is a mixed-valence Os(VI)/Os(VIII) compound, whereas a new compound Os2O3F7 is a mixed-valence OsV/Os(VIII) compound. The molecular structures of OsO3F, OsO2F3, and OsO3F2 are calculated. OsO3F2 seems to exist in two forms, with D3h and Cs symmetry. The original preparation of OsF7 could not be reproduced, only OsF6 has been obtained.     

Solvent effects on the electronic absorption spectra and acid strength of some substituted pyridinols.

The electronic absorption spectra of some substituted pyridinols in organic solvents of different polarities are studied. Also, the solvent effects on the intramolecular charge transfer bands are discussed using various solvent parameters. The acid-base equilibria of the compounds used are studied spectrophotometrically in various mixed aqueous solvents at 25 degrees C and 0.1 M ionic strength (NaClO4). Furthermore, the influence of the solvents on the dissociation constants and tautomeric equilibria of a pyridinol derivatives are discussed. The effect of molecular structure of the pyridinols on the pK's is also examined.     

Synthesis of novel β-lactams bearing an anthraquinone moiety,and evaluation of their antimalarial activities

A novel series of β-lactams bearing an anthraquinone moiety have been synthesized from imines derived from anthraquinone-2-carbaldehyde and ketenes by a [2+2] cycloaddition reaction. The cycloadducts were fully characterized and evaluated for their antimalarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum K14 resistant strain and showed moderate to excellent EC₅₀ values varying from 9 to 50 μM.     

Oxidative addition of MeI to some cyclometalated organoplatinum(II) complexes: Kinetics and mechanism

New cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes [PtMe(C^N)L], 1, in which C^N = deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine (ppy), benzo[h]quinoline (bhq) or 2-(p-tolyl)pyridine (tpy) and L = PPh₃ or PMePh₂, were synthesized by the reaction of [PtMe(C^N)(SMe₂)] with 1 equiv of L. The reaction of complexes 1 with MeI gave the cyclometalated Pt(IV) complexes [PtMe₂I(C^N)L], 3. On the basis of kinetic studies, using Uv–visible spectroscopy, it was suggested that the latter oxidative addition reactions were proceeded by an S_N2 mechanism. The rates of the reactions at different temperatures were measured and consistent with the proposed mechanism, large negative ΔS³ values were found for each reaction. Besides, rate of reactions (in CHCl₃) involving the PPh₃ complexes [PtMe(C^N)(PPh₃)], were almost 3–5 times slower than those involving the PMePh₂ complexes [PtMe(C^N)(PMePh₂)]. This was attributed to the electronic and steric effects of PPh₃ ligand as compared with that of PMePh₂ ligand which was further confirmed using density functional theory (DFT) calculations through finding approximate structures for the described complexes.     

C–N Coupling of 1,2‐Dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinoline Derivatives via a Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Direct Functionalization of a C–H Bond

Two C,N‐linked dimeric 1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinolines, namely 6‐chloro‐1‐(6‐chloro‐1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinolin‐8‐yl)‐1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinoline ( 3a ) and 6‐ethoxy‐1‐(6‐ethoxy‐1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinolin‐8‐yl)‐1,2‐dihydro‐2,2,4‐trimethylquinoline ( 3b ), have been prepared through a silver‐catalyzed dimerization of their corresponding monomers. The effect of different silver salts on the reaction was also investigated, and the obtained results suggest that silver ions effectively catalyzed the formation of a C–N bond under these mild conditions. This represents one of the rare reports on the silver‐catalyzed C–N bond formation through a coupling of a secondary amine and an activated aromatic system, via a direct C–H functionalization. Theoretical studies showed that these dimeric structures favor a conformation in which their monomer units are oriented approximately perpendicular to each other, with an intramolecular hydrogen bond (N–H distance of 2.33 Å) forming between the hydrogen atom of the amine in one of the monomeric units and the tertiary nitrogen atom of the other one.     

Phenol-containing macrocyclic diamides as new catalysts in the highly regioselective conversion of epoxides to beta-hydroxy thiocyanates.

The regioselective ring-opening reactions of some epoxides with ammonium thiocyanate in the presence of a series of new phenol-containing macrocyclic diamides and also dibenzo-18-crown-6-, 18-crown-6-, benzo-15-crown-5-, and pyridine-containing macrocyclic diamide have been studied. The epoxides were subject to cleavage by NH(4)SCN in the presence of these catalysts under mild reaction conditions in various aprotic solvents. In this study, reagents and conditions have been discovered with which the individual beta-hydroxy thiocyanates can be synthesized in high yield and with more than 90% regioselectivity. The results can be discussed in terms of a four-step mechanism: (1) formation of complex between catalyst and NH(4)SCN, (2) release of SCN(-) nucleophile from the complex, (3) reaction of the active nucleophile at the less sterically hindered site in the epoxide, and (4) regeneration of catalyst. The major advantages of this method are as follows: (1) high regioselectivity, (2) simple regeneration of catalyst, (3) its reuse through several cycles without a decrease in activity, and (4) ease of workup of the reaction.