Reinvestigation of CS2 dissociation at 193 nm by means of product state-selective vacuum ultraviolet laser ionization and velocity imaging

A branching ratio of 1.6 +/- 0.3 for S(3P)/S(1D) is obtained for the dissociation of CS2 with very low fluence 193 nm laser (less than 2 mJ/cm2), in which the S(3P) and S(1D) have been state-selectively ionized using VUV lasers at different wavelengths. The anisotropy parameters betamax(3P) = 0.8 and betamax(1D) = 1.9 indicate that these channels are preferentially populated at different geometries and the lifetime is very short.     

DMC: A multifunctional hybrid dynamics/Monte Carlo simulation algorithm for the evaluation of conformational space

A hybrid conformational search algorithm (DMC) is described that combines a modified form of molecular dynamics with Metropolis Monte Carlo sampling, using the COSMIC(90) force field. Trial configurations are generated by short bursts of high-temperature dynamics in which the initial kinetic energy is focused into single bond rotations or alternatively into “corner-flapping” motions in ring systems. Constant temperature and simulated annealing search protocols have been applied to the conformational analysis of several model hydrocarbons (cyclopentane, cyclohexane, cycloheptane, cyclooctane, cycloheptadecane, decane, and tetradecane), and the performance compared with conventional molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo sampling methods. Optimum Metropolis sampling temperatures have been determined and range from 1000–2000 K for acyclic molecules to 3000 K for cyclic systems. Simulated annealing runs are most successful at locating the global minimum when cooling slowing from these optimum temperatures.     

A three-component coupling process based on vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS(AR))-alkylation reactions: an approach to indoprofen and derivatives.

The intermediate anion derived from the vicarious nucleophilic substitution (VNS) of hydrogen reacts with a series of alkyl halides to generate the corresponding alpha-alkylated conventional VNS product in a one-pot process. This one-pot VNS-alkylation reaction offers a convenient route to a range alpha-substituted nitrobenzyl phosphine oxides, sulfones, and esters via a three-component coupling reaction. Reactions of alpha-chloroethyl phenyl sulfone (14) and ethyl 2-chloropropionate (16) with nitrobenzene followed by subsequent addition of an alkylating agent give a series of sulfones and esters bearing an alpha-aryl quaternary center. The VNS-alkylation protocol has been applied to the synthesis of derivatives of Indoprofen from nitrobenzene using readily available inexpensive starting materials. Indoprofen itself was prepared using the conventional VNS reaction in four steps and 24% overall yield from nitrobenzene.     

Polyaromatic amines. Part 3: Synthesis of poly(diarylamino)styrenes and related compounds

The title compounds were synthesised and characterised as part of a study into new aromatic amines for charge transporting materials. Compounds 12-16, 20-24 and 27-34 are alkene linked triarylamines, compounds 35-36 are hydrazone derivatives and compounds 38-41 are pyrrole substituted triarylamines. Each compound was characterised by cyclic voltammetry.     

Rapid imaging, using a cooled charge-coupled-device, of fluorescent two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels produced by labelling proteins in the first-dimensional isoelectric focusing gel with the fluorophore 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)furanone

A new method for visualising proteins in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels was developed. Proteins were labelled with the fluorophore 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)furanone (MDPF) while present in the first-dimensional gel after isoelectric focusing and subsequently electrophoresed into the second-dimensional gel. High resolution spot patterns were produced and compared with other methods of visualisation. A new rapid imaging system based on a cooled charge-coupled-device was used to view the two-dimensional fluorescent protein spot patterns. The method allows the immediate and rapid imaging of two-dimensional gels at the end of electrophoresis with no further processing.     

Mutagenesis approaches to deduce structure-function relationships in terpene synthases

This review highlights mutagenesis studies of terpene synthases, specifically sesquiterpene synthases and oxidosqualene cyclases. Mutagenesis studies of these enzymes have provided mechanistic insights, structure-function relationships for specific enzymatic residues, novel terpene structures and enzymes with novel activities. The literature through 2002 is reviewed and 113 references cited.     

Intermolecular hydroamination and hydroarylation reactions of alkenes in ionic liquids

Intermolecular hydroamination or hydroarylation reactions of norbornene and cyclohexadiene performed with catalytic amounts of Brönsted or Lewis acid in ionic liquids were found to provide higher selectivity and yields than those performed in classical organic solvents. The ionic liquid increases the acidity of the media and stabilizes ionic intermediates through the formation of supramolecular aggregates.     

Synthesis, structure, and kinetics and stereochemistry of base-catalyzed hydrolysis of meso- and rac-[Co2(tmpdtne)Cl2]4+, bis(pentaamine) complexes devoid of deprotonatable NH centers

The bis(pentadentate) ligand tmpdtne binds two Co(II) centers, and the entity is readily oxidized to the dicobalt(III) derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)Cl(2)](4+) which has been separated into two isomeric forms. NMR studies establish these as meso and rac isomers arising from the different or same absolute configurations for the asym configuration about each Co(III) center. Each dinuclear ion base hydrolyses to the dihydroxo derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)(OH)(2)](4+) with retained asym configurations about each metal ion and also retained rac or meso configurations. The kinetics for the stepwise loss of the two Cl(-) ligands is uniphasic, and data are presented to show that the loss of the first chloride is rate determining and is followed by very rapid intramolecular and loss of the second Cl(-) via a hydroxo-bridged species to yield the observed dihydroxo derivative. Meso and rac forms of the latter have been crystallized. The X-ray crystal structure of the rac-dihydroxo complex is reported, and it establishes the configurations of all the complexes reported. The (1)H NMR spectra for the hydroxo ions show very high field Co-OH resonances (ca. delta-0.5 ppm) not observed previously for such ions, and this result is discussed in the context of published (1)H NMR data for bridged Co-OH-Co species. The base hydrolysis kinetics for the dichloro ions are first order in [OH(-)], and deprotonation at an alpha-CH(2) center (alpha to a pyridyl) is identified as the source of the catalysis, since there is no NH center available for deprotonation on the ligand. These data further support the new pseudoaminate base hydrolysis mechanism first reported in 2003. The values of k(OH) for the second-order base-catalyzed reaction are ca. 4.0 M(-1) s(-1) for both the rac and meso isomers, and these results are discussed in terms of the increased acidities of these 4+ cations compared to their 2+ ion counterparts.     

The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide). Reported herein is a five-coordinate model compound ([Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+)) containing Fe(III) in an environment resembling that of NHase, which reversibly binds a variety of nitriles, alcohols, amines, and thiocyanate. XAS shows that five-coordinate [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) reacts with both methanol and acetonitrile to afford a six-coordinate solvent-bound complex. Competitive binding studies demonstrate that MeCN preferentially binds over ROH, suggesting that nitriles would be capable of displacing the H(2)O coordinated to the iron site of NHase. Thermodynamic parameters were determined for acetonitrile (DeltaH = -6.2(+/-0.2) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -29.4(+/-0.8) eu), benzonitrile (-4.2(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -18(+/-3) eu), and pyridine (DeltaH = -8(+/-1) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -41(+/-6) eu) binding to [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) using variable-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopy. Ligand exchange kinetics were examined for acetonitrile, iso-propylnitrile, benzonitrile, and 4-tert-butylpyridine using (13)C NMR line-broadening analysis, at a variety of temperatures. Activation parameters for ligand exchange were determined to be DeltaH(+ +) = 7.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -10(+/-1) eu (acetonitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 5.4(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -17(+/-2) eu (iso-propionitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 4.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -20(+/-3) eu (benzonitrile), and DeltaH(+ +) = 4.7(+/-1.4) kcal/mol DeltaS(+ +) = -18(+/-2) eu (4-tert-butylpyridine). The thermodynamic parameters for pyridine binding to a related complex, [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) (DeltaH = -5.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -24(+/-3) eu), are also reported, as well as kinetic parameters for 4-tert-butylpyridine exchange (DeltaH(+ +) = 3.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -25(+/-3) eu). These data show for the first time that, when it is contained in a ligand environment similar to that of NHase, Fe(III) is capable of forming a stable complex with nitriles. Also, the rates of ligand exchange demonstrate that low-spin Fe(III) in this ligand environment is more labile than expected. Furthermore, comparison of [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) and [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) demonstrates how minor distortions induced by ligand constraints can dramatically alter the reactivity of a metal complex.