Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ clusters supported by N-donor ligands: progress toward a synthetic model of the catalytic site of nitrous oxide reductase

By treating Cu(I) complexes of neutral, bidentate N-donor ligands with S8, clusters with novel delocalized mixed-valence [Cu3(mu-S)2]3+ cores have been isolated. X-ray crystal structures and UV-vis and resonance Raman spectral features of these clusters reveal similarities to the tetracopper-sulfide "CuZ" site in nitrous oxide reductase. A delocalized S = 1 ground state for the mixed-valent CuIIICu2II cores is supported by the observation of high symmetry in the X-ray structures and 10-line hyperfine features arising from coupling to three equivalent Cu ions in EPR spectra obtained at room temperature (shown) and 10 K. The delocalization we observe contrasts with the localization reported previously for a [Cu3(mu-O)2]3+ analogue (Root, D. E.; Henson, M. J.; Machonkin, T.; Mukherjee, P.; Stack, T. D. P.; Solomon, E. I. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 4982), which we rationalized through DFT calculations.     

Optimization of the electrophoretic deposition of YBa2Cu3O7−x superconducting large area coatings

Large area coatings (>10cm²) of the high temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7–x (x = 0.1 – 0.2) (YBCO) have been prepared by scale up an electrophoretic deposition technique using silver sheets and Si-wafers coated with Ag or Au as substrates. Several parameters, like the kind of the solvent, the applied voltage, the distance between the electrodes, the initial concentration of the suspension and the temperature during the electrophoresis were investigated in order to attain high deposition rates, as well as uniform YBCO coatings with the proper stoichiometry. To obtain a strongly adherent and dense coating a subsequent appropriate sintering and annealing procedure has been developed. The coatings obtained were characterized for their stoichiometry and superconducting properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and magnetic measurements. The homogeneity and thickness of the films and the average grain size of the deposited particles have been investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

MNDO Study of reaction pathways for SN2 reactions. Menschutkin reaction potential energy surfaces

MNDO molecular orbital calculations have been employed to investigate limited reaction pathways and potential energy surfaces for a series of S_N2 reactions. Model calculations for X^? + CH₃X (X = H, F, OH, OCH₃, and CN) indicate that the MNDO method gives qualitative agreement with ab initio studies except for the hydride–CH₄ exchange. Studies involving alkylation of pyridine (Menschutkin reaction) were also carried out. For the reaction of pyridine with CH₃Cl, which involves charge separation, our MNDO studies (which do not include solvation effects) do not produce a characteristic S_N2 pathway. For the reaction of pyridine with trimethyloxonium cation [(CH₃)₃O⁺] as the alkylating agent, a well defined S_N2 reaction pathway was obtained; this reaction involves charge transfer. A potential energy surface for the pyridine–trimethyloxonium cation reaction shows the presence of a saddle point transition state that resembles starting materials, in agreement with the Hammond postulate for this exothermic reaction.     

The anhydride structure of several previously reported stable areneselenenic acids1

The compounds previously reported² to be the stable areneselenenic acids, $\text{o}$-nitro-($\text{la}$ and $\text{+o}$-benzoylbenzeneselenenic acid ($\text{lb}$), are shown actually to be the corresponding selenenic anhydrides (ArSeOSeAr). Solutions of the selenenic acids (ArSeOH), however, can be easily generated from the anhydrides byacid-catalyzed hydrolysis.     

Investigation of the use of B3LYP zero-point energies and geometries in the calculation of enthalpies of formation

The use of B3LYP/6–31G^* zero-point energies and geometries in the calculation of enthalpies of formation has been investigated for the enlarged G2 test set of 148 molecules [J. Chem. Phys. 106 (1997) 1063]. A scale factor of 0.96 for the B3LYP zero-point energies gives an average absolute deviation nearly the same as scaled HF/6–31G^* zero-point energies for G2, G2(MP2), and B3LYP/6–311 + G(3df,2p) enthalpies. A scale factor of 0.98, which has been recommended in some studies, increases the average absolute deviation by about 0.2 kcal/mol. Geometries from B3LYP/6–31G^* are found to do as well as MP2/6–31G^* geometries in the calculation of the enthalpies of formation.     

Studies on the substrate specificity of Escherichia coli galactokinase

In vitro glycorandomization (IVG) technology is dependent upon the ability to rapidly synthesize sugar phosphates. Compared with chemical synthesis, enzymatic (kinase) routes to sugar phosphates would be attractive for this application. This work focuses upon the development of a high-throughput colorimetric galactokinase (GalK) assay and its application toward probing the substrate specificity and kinetic parameters of Escherichia coli GalK. The demonstrated dinitrosalicylic assay should also be generally applicable to a variety of sugar-processing enzymes. [reaction: see text]     

Convenient syntheses of fluorous aryl iodides and hypervalent iodine compounds: ArI(L)n reagents that are recoverable by simple liquid/liquid biphase workups,and applications in oxidations of hydroquinones

Iodinations of the ortho, meta, and para fluorous arenes (R(f8)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))(2)C(6)H(4) (R(f8)=(CF(2))(7)CF(3)) with I(2)/H(5)IO(6) in AcOH/H(2)SO(4)/H(2)O give 3,4-(R(f8)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))(2)C(6)H(3)I (5) and the analogous 2,4- (6) and 2,5- (7) isomers, respectively. Spectroscopic yields are >90 %, but 5 and 7 must be separated by chromatography from by-products (yields isolated: 70 %, 97 %, 61 %). Reaction of 1,3,5-(R(f8)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))(3)C(6)H(3) with PhI(OAc)(2)/I(2) gives 2,4,6-(R(f8)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2))(3)C(6)H(2)I (8) on multigram scales in 97 % yield. The CF(3)C(6)F(11)/toluene partition coefficients of 5-8 (24 degrees C: 69.5:30.5 (5), 74.7:25.3 (6), 73.9:26.1 (7), 98.0:2.0 (8)) are lower than those of the precursors, but CF(3)C(6)F(11)/MeOH gives higher values (97.0:3.0 (5), 98.6:1.4 (6), 98.0:2.0 (7), >99.3:<0.3 (8)). Reactions of 5-8 with excess NaBO(3) in AcOH yield the corresponding ArI(OAc)(2) species 9-12 (9, 85 % as a 90:10 9/5 mixture; 10, 97 %; 11, 95 %; 12, 93 % as a 95:5 12/8 mixture). These rapidly oxidize 1,4-hydroquinones in MeOH. Subsequent additions of CF(3)C(6)F(11) give liquid biphase systems. Solvent removal from the CF(3)C(6)F(11) phases gives 5-8 in >99-98 % yields, and solvent removal from the MeOH phases gives the quinone products, normally in >99-95 % yields. The recovered compounds 5-8 are easily reoxidized to 9-12 and used again.