Rate-equilibrium relationships in hydride transfer reactions: the role of intrinsic barriers

A literature survey on the kinetics of hydride abstractions from CH-groups by carbocations reveals a general phenomenon: Variation of the hydride acceptor affects the rates of hydride transfer to a considerably greater extent than an equal change of the thermodynamic driving force caused by variation of the hydride donor. The origin of this relationship was investigated by quantum chemical calculations on various levels of ab initio and DFT theory for the transfer of an allylic hydrogen from 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted propenes (XYC=CH-CH(3)) to the 3-position of 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted allyl cations (XYC=CH-CH(2)(+)). The discussion is based on the results of the MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//RHF/6-31+G(d,p) calculations. Electron-releasing substituents X and Y in the hydride donors increase the exothermicity of the reaction, while electron-releasing substituents in the hydride acceptors decrease exothermicity. In line with Hammond's postulate, increasing exothermicity shifts the transition states on the reaction coordinate toward reactants, as revealed by the geometry parameters and the charge distribution in the activated complexes. Independent of the location of the transition state on the reaction coordinate, a value of 0.72 is found for Hammond-Leffler's alpha = deltaDeltaG/deltaDelta(r)G degrees when the hydride acceptor is varied, while alpha = 0.28 when the hydride donor is varied. The value of alpha thus cannot be related with the position of the transition state. Investigation of the degenerate reactions XYC=CH-CH(3) + XYC=CH-CH(2)(+) indicates that the migrating hydrogen carries a partial positive charge in the transition state and that the intrinsic barriers increase with increasing electron-releasing abilities of X and Y. Substituent variation in the donor thus influences reaction enthalpy and intrinsic barriers in the opposite sense, while substituent variation in the acceptor affects both terms in the same sense, in accord with the experimental findings. Marcus theory is employed to treat these effects quantitatively.     

13C-NMR-spektren stereoisomerer 1,4-dialkylspiro[4.5]decan-derivate

The ¹³C NMR spectra of a series of 7-substituted 1,4-dialkylspiro[4.5]decanes and of suitable reference compounds are assigned and the derived substituent effects upon the chemical shifts are discussed. In particular, consideration of γ and δ-effects allows the differentiation between 1,4-cis- and 1,4-trans-compounds. Furthermore, the (relative) configuration of the chiral spiroatom C-5 is determined.     

Synthesis of functionalized rab GTPases by a combination of solution- or solid-phase lipopeptide synthesis with expressed protein ligation

Prenylated proteins with non-native functionalities are generally very difficult to obtain by recombinant or enzymatic means. The semisynthesis of preparative amounts of prenylated Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) from recombinant proteins and synthetic prenylated peptides depends largely on the availability of functionalised prenylated peptides corresponding to the proteins' native structure or modifications thereof. Here, we describe and compare solution-phase and solid-phase strategies for the generation of peptides corresponding to the prenylated C terminus of Rab7 GTPase. The solid-phase with utilisation of a hydrazide linker emerges as the more favourable approach. It allows a fast and practical synthesis of pure peptides and gives a high degree of flexibility in their modification. To facilitate the analysis of semisynthetic proteins, the synthesised peptides were equipped with a fluorescent group. Using the described approach, we introduced fluorophores at several different positions of the Rab7 C terminus. The position of the incorporated fluorescent groups in the peptides did not influence the protein-ligation reaction, as the generated peptides could be ligated onto thioester-tagged Rab7. However, it was found that the positioning of the fluorescent group had an influence on the functionality of the Rab7 proteins; analysis of the interaction of the semisynthetic Rab7 proteins with REP (Rab escort protein) and GDI (guanosine diphosphate dissociation inhibitor) molecules revealed that modification of the peptide side chains or of the C-terminal isoprenoid did not significantly interfere with complex formation. However, functionalisation of the C terminus was found to have an adverse effect on complex formation and stability, possibly reflecting low structural flexibility of the Rab GDI/REP molecules in the vicinity of the lipid-binding site.     

Investigation on anodized aluminium

Results of examinations with TEM, SEM, EDX, ISS, SIMS and AES on sulphuric acid anodized films on aluminium are reported. Important technical information about the 20-μm thick coatings were obtained by monolayer and depth analysis. The fine structure of the oxide film and its modifications during a sealing process are discussed. Possibilities to prevent sealing smut on the surface are shown. The metal distribution inside the films which are coloured electrolytically with metal salts, is investigated.     

Fibre optic fluorometric enzyme sensors for hydrogen peroxide and lactate,based on horseradish peroxidase and lactate oxidase

An optical biosensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide based on immobilized horseradish peroxidase is described. The fluorescence of the dimeric product of the enzyme catalysed oxidation of homovanillic acid is utilized to determine the concentration of H₂O₂. The membrane-bound enzyme is attached to a bifurcated fibre bundle permitting excitation and detection of the fluorescence by a fluorometer. The response of the sensor is linear from 1 to 130 M hydrogen peroxide; the coefficient of variation is 3%. The sensor is stable for more than 10 weeks. The operating pH for maximal sensor response is 8.15. This allows the sensor to be used in combination with oxidase reactions producing hydrogen peroxide, as is demonstrated with a co-immobilized lactate oxidase-horseradish peroxidase optode for the determination of L-lactate. The fluorescence intensity of this sensor depends linearly on the concentration of lactate between 3 and 200 M and a throughput of 10 samples per hour is possible. The precision is in the same range as that of the monoenzyme optode. The lifetime of the bienzyme sensor for lactate is considerably shorter than that of the peroxidase sensor; it is limited by the stability of the immobilized lactate oxidase enzyme. The sensor has been applied to the determination of lactate in control serum.     

Substitution with retention in organoboranes and utilization of the phenomenon for a general synthesis of pure enantiomers

Organoboranes, readily available via the hydroboration of unsaturated organic compounds, exhibit a remarkable versatility in their reactions. The boron atom in these organoboranes can be readily converted into a wide variety of organic groups under very mild conditions, providing simple versatile syntheses of organic compounds. Exploration of these substitution reactions reveal that, with rare exceptions, the organoboranes transfer the alkyl group to other elements of synthetic interest with complete retention of stereochemistry. Recently we have discovered a method of synthesizing essentially optically pure organoborane intermediates. These optically active alkyl groups attached to boron can also be transferred with complete retention of optical activity. Consequently, it is now possible to achieve by a rational synthesis the preparation of almost any optically active compound with a chiral center, either R- or S-, in essentially 100% enantiomeric excess.     

Characterization of iron-silicon thin films by means of electron diffraction and X-ray spectroscopy

Iron-silicon thin films have been characterized by means of analytical transmission electron microscopic methods. Under certain conditions — composition and annealing temperature — these films exhibit thermoelectric behavior. In particular, the morphology and phase formation which results from annealing of these films, and doping with oxygen and nitrogen, are of interest. The thermoelectric phase -FeSi₂ is formed at temperatures above 500°C. This phase is transformed into electrically conducting phases at about 1000°C. A small oxygen content does not influence this crystallization process. If the oxygen content is higher than 15 atom-% the electrically conducting phases exist even at 500°C. The presence of a small nitrogen content inhibits the formation of the -FeSi₂ phase. The development of silicon and iron nitrides is possible.     

Stabilization of p-block organoelement terminal hydroxides, thiols, and selenols requires newer synthetic strategies

Metal hydroxides represent a very interesting and highly useful class of compounds that have been known to chemists for a very long time. While alkali and alkaline earth metal hydroxides (s‐block) are commonplace chemicals in terms of their abundance and their use in a chemical laboratory as bases, the interest in Brønsted acidic molecular terminal hydroxides of p‐block elements, such as aluminum and silicon, has been of recent origin, with respect to the variety of applications these compounds can offer both in materials science and catalysis. Moreover, these systems are environmentally friendly, relative to the metal halides, owing to their ‐OH functionality (resembling that of water). Design and conceptualization of the corresponding terminal thiols, selenols, and tellurols (M? SH, M? SeH, and M? TeH) offer even more challenging problems to synthetic inorganic chemists. This concept summarizes some of the recent strategies developed to stabilize these otherwise very unstable species. The successful preparation of a number of silicon trihydroxides a few years back resulted in the generation of several model compounds for metal–silicates. The recent synthesis of unusual aluminum compounds such as RAl(OH)₂, RAl(SH)₂, and RAl(SeH)₂ with terminal EH (E=O, Se, or Se) groups is likely to change the ways in which some of the well‐known catalytic conversions are being carried out. The need for very flexible and innovative synthetic strategies to achieve these unusual compounds is emphasized in this concept.