Epoxides,cyclic sulfites,and sulfate from natural pentacyclic triterpenoids: theoretical calculations and chemical transformations

Several triterpenic derivatives, with the A-ring functionalized, were semisynthesized from oleanolic and maslinic acids. The reactivities of sulfites, sulfate, and epoxides in these triterpene compounds were investigated under different reaction conditions. Moreover, contracted A-ring triterpenes (five-membered rings) were obtained, by different treatments of the sulfate 7. From the epoxide 8, deoxygenated and halohydrin derivatives were semisynthesized with several nucleophiles. Ozonolysis and Beckmann reactions were used to yield 4-aza compounds, from five-membered ring olanediene triterpenes. The X-ray structure of sulfate 7 is given and compared with density functional theory geometries. Theoretical (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts (gauge-invariant atomic orbital method at the B3LYP/6-31G*//B3LYP/6-31G* level) and (3)J(H,H) coupling constants were calculated for compounds 5-9 and 34-36, identifying the (R)- or (S)-sulfur and alpha- or beta-epoxide configurations together with 4-aza or 3-aza structures.     

Domino metathesis of 2-azanorbornenones: a new strategy for the enatioselective synthesis of 1-azabicyclic compounds

Domino metathesis of N-alkylated derivatives of (1S)-2-azanorborn-5-en-3-one allowed for the enantioselective synthesis of pyrrolizidine, quinolizidine, pyrrolidinoazepine, and pyrrolidinoazocine derivatives in a straightforward process.     

Neurotrope und psychotrope Substanzen, 5. Mitt.: Synthese neuer Aminoderivate von 10,11-Dihydrodibenzo-[a,d]cyclohepten und 10,11-Dihydrodibenzo[b,f]thiepin

Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen der Suche nach neuen neurotropen und psychotropen Substanzen, besonders nach antidepressiv wirkenden Psychopharmaka, wurde eine systematische präparative Arbeit in den Gruppen der 10-substituierten Derivate des 10,11-Dihydrodibenzo[a,d]cycloheptens (I) und des 10,11-Dihydrodibenzo[b,f]-thiepins (II) unternommen. Im ersten Fall war die Ausgangssubstanz das Keton XIV, das mit üblichen Methoden zum basischen Äther XVI, zu Aminen und Derivaten XVIII–XXII und schließlich in dieMannich-Base XXVI übergeführt wurde. DieBeckmannsche Umlagerung des Oxims XVII eröffnete den Weg zu Derivaten eines neuen Systems, des 5,6,7,12-Tetrahydrodibenz[b,e]azocins (Verbindungen XXVIII, XXX und XXXI). Auch im zweiten Fall bildete das entsprechende Keton (XXXVIII) die Schlüsselsubstanz, die einerseits zu Aminen mit der Aminogruppe in der Seitenkette (XXXIX, XL, XLII, LV, LVI), anderseits zu Aminen mit der direkt am Skelett haftenden Aminogruppe (XLIV–LIII) umgesetzt wurde. Außer den angeführten Aminen wurde in allen drei Gruppen eine Reihe von neutralen Verbindungen hergestellt (Zwischenprodukte und Nebenprodukte), deren Struktur meistens mit Hilfe der Spektren geklärt wurde. Die vorläufigen Ergebnisse der pharmakologischen Prüfung einiger Produkte deuten interessante Wirksamkeit an, besonders vom Standpunkt der erwarteten neurotropen und psychotropen Eigenschaften aus.

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In the effort to find new neurotropic and psychotropic substances a systematic chemical study was undertaken in the groups of the 10-substituted derivatives of 10,11-dihydrodibenzo[a,d]-cycloheptene (I) and 10,11-dihydrodibenzo[b,f]thiepine (II). In the first case the ketone XIV was transformed by usual methods into the basic ether XVI, to the amines and derivatives XVIII–XXII, and to theMannich base XXVI. TheBeckmann rearrangement of the oxime XVII opened the way to derivatives of a new system — 5,6,7,12-tetrahydrodibenz[b,e]azocine (compounds XXVIII, XXX and XXXI). In the second case (derivatives of II) the syntheses started from the ketone XXXVIII and two series of amines were prepared: with the amino group in the side chain (XXXIX, XL, XLII, LV, LVI) and with the amino group attached directly to the skeleton (XLIV–LIII). In addition to the amines several neutral compounds in either group were synthesized (intermediates and byproducts), the structure of which was elucidated mainly by means of the spectra. Preliminary results of the pharmacological testing show a rather important degree of activity of some substances, especially in the line of the expected neurotropic and psychotropic properties.

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mit technischer Hilfe von

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Herrn Professor Dr.Hermann Bretschneider zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet

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4. Mitt.:J. O. Jílek, K. Pelz, D. Pavlíková undM. Protiva, Coll. Czechoslov. Chem. Commun.30, im Druck (1965).     

Infrared Study of Solid Dispersions of β-Cyclodextrin with Naphthalene Derivitaves

The inclusion complexes of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) with naphthalene and some of its derivatives in the solid state have been studied by infrared spectroscopy. Digital subtraction, deconvolution and curve fitting have been used to investigate the interactions between the naphthalene derivatives andβ-CD. Several preparation methods for the solid dispersions have been tested, using FTIR as an effective tool to evaluate the interactions at the molecular level. The effects of temperature and humidity on the spectra have been also analyzed. A carbonyl moiety in the guest molecule can increase the stability of the complex by establishing specific interactions with the hydroxyl groups of the CD cavity rims. The stability of the complexes is higher for 2-naphthylacetate than that for 1-naphthyl acetate, andso is the degree of association of its carbonyl groups. On the other hand, 2-acetylnaphthaleneforms very stable inclusioncomplexes although its carbonyl groups appear to be significantly less associated.     

Lead(II) thiocyanate complexes with bibracchial lariat ethers: an X-ray and DFT study

Compounds of formula [Pb(L2)(NCS)2] (1) and [Pb(L4)(SCN)2] (2) (where L2 is the lariat crown ether N,N'-bis(3-aminobenzyl)-4,13-diaza-18-crown-6 and L4 is the Schiff-base lariat crown ether N,N'-bis(3-(salicylaldimino)benzyl)-4,13-diaza-18-crown-6) were isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analyses. The X-ray crystal structures of both compounds show the metal ion coordinated to the six donor atoms of the crown moiety, leaving the corresponding pendant arms uncoordinated. The coordination sphere of lead(II) is completed by two thiocyanate groups that coordinate either through their nitrogen (1) or sulfur (2) atoms. The organic receptor adopts a syn conformation in 1, while in 2 it shows an anti conformation. To rationalize these unexpected different conformations of the L2 and L4 receptors in compounds 1 and 2, as well as the different binding modes found for the thiocyanate ligands, we have carried out theoretical calculations at the DFT (B3LYP) level. These calculations predict the syn conformation being the most stable in both 1 and 2 complexes. So, the anti conformation found for 2 in the solid state is tentatively attributed to the presence of intermolecular pi-pi interactions between phenol rings, for which the dihedral angle between the least-squares planes of both rings amounts to 2.6 degrees and the distance between the center of both rings is 3.766 A. On the other hand, the analysis of the electronic structure has revealed that the Pb-ligand bonds present highly ionic character in this family of compounds. They also suggest a greater transfer of electron density from the NCS- ligands when they coordinate through the less electronegative S atom. The Pb-SCN covalent bond formation mainly occurs due to an effective overlap of the occupied 3p z orbitals of the S atoms and the unoccupied 6p z AO of the Pb atom, while the Pb-NCS bonding interaction is primarily due to the overlap of the 6s and 7s AO of Pb with sp(1.10) hybrids of the N donor atoms. Our electronic structure calculations can rationalize the different coordination of the thiocyanate groups in compounds 1 and 2: the simultaneous formation of two Pb-SCN bonds is more favorable for S-Pb-S angles close to 180 degrees , for which the overlap between the occupied 3p z orbitals of the S atoms and the unoccupied 6 pz AO of the Pb atom is maximized.     

An effective enantioselective approach to the securinega alkaloids: total synthesis of (-)-norsecurinine

[reaction: see text] A highly versatile approach to the enantioselective synthesis of securinega alkaloids is presented. Crucial steps are a palladium-catalyzed enantioselective imide alkylation, a vinylogous Mannich reaction, and a ring-closing metathesis process. Through this strategy, the synthesis of (-)-norsecurinine has been accomplished in nine steps and 11% overall yield.     

Non-Watson-Crick base pairing in RNA. quantum chemical analysis of the cis Watson-Crick/sugar edge base pair family

Large RNA molecules exhibit an astonishing variability of base-pairing patterns, while many of the RNA base-pairing families have no counterparts in DNA. The cis Watson-Crick/sugar edge (cis WC/SE) RNA base pairing is investigated by ab initio quantum chemical calculations. A detailed structural and energetic characterization of all 13 crystallographically detected members of this family is provided by means of B3LYP/6-31G and RIMP2/aug-cc-pVDZ calculations. Further, a prediction is made for the remaining 3 cis WC/SE base pairs which are yet to be seen in the experiments. The interaction energy calculations point at the key role of the 2'-OH group in stabilizing the sugar-base contact and predict all 16 cis WC/SE base-pairing patterns to be nearly isoenergetic. The perfect correlation of the main geometrical parameters in the gas-phase optimized and X-ray structures shows that the principle of isosteric substitutions in RNA is rooted from the intrinsic structural similarity of the isolated base pairs. The present quantum chemical calculations for the first time analyze base pairs involving the ribose 2'-OH group and unambiguously correlate the structural information known from experiments with the energetics of interactions. The calculations further show that the relative importance and absolute value of the dispersion energy in the cis WC/SE base pairs are enhanced compared to the standard base pairs. This may by an important factor contributing to the strength of such interactions when RNA folds in its polar environment. The calculations further demonstrate that the Cornell et al. force field commonly used in molecular modeling and simulations provides satisfactory performance for this type of RNA interactions.     

The rotational mobility of fulleropyrrolineoxyl in toluene solution

The rotational mobility of a stable fullerene-based nitroxyl radical (fulleropyrrolineoxyl) in toluene was studied. The rotational correlation time of fulleropyrrolineoxyl was found to be about eight times longer than that of 4-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl. The activation energy of the rotational motion of both probes was determined and their hydrodynamic radii estimated.     

Development of a radiochemical neutron activation analysis procedure for determination of rhenium in biological and environmental samples at ultratrace level

Summary Radiochemical neutron activation procedures using liquid-liquid extraction with tetraphenylarsonium chloride in chloroform from 1M HCl and solid extraction with ALIQUAT 336 incorporated in a polyacrylonitrile binding matrix from 0.1M HCl were developed for accurate determination of rhenium in biological and environmental samples at the sub-ng ^. g^-1 level. Concentrations of Re in the range of 0.1 to 2.4 ng ^. g^-1 were determined in several botanical reference materials (RM), while in a RM of road dust a value of ~10 ng ^. g^-1 was found. Significantly elevated values of Re, up to 90 ng ^. g^-1 were found in seaweed (brown algae). Results for Re in the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus in which elevated ⁹⁹Tc values had previously been determined suggested possible competition between Re and Tc in the accumulation process.     

Organopolysiloxanes as Chemically Sensitive Coatings for Optical Fibers

Various types of UV-curable organically modified siloxanes have been synthesized by the sol-gel method with the aim of fabricating chemically sensitive coatings for silica optical fibers. The refractive index of the coating material can be tailored in the range from 1.46 to 1.56 and sensitivity towards CO2 is achieved by incorporation of amino groups. The interaction of the cured layers with CO2 or with hydrocarbons has been studied in immersion experiments. Both the reaction of CO2 with incorporated amino groups and the penetration of hydrocarbons into the layer induce changes of the light absorption coefficient and the refractive index of the coating which are detected by measuring the output light intensity from the fiber.