Predicting experimental yields as an index to rank synthesis routes II: application to the Curtius rearrangement

Synthesis yields of organic reactions are one of the most important factors in ranking synthesis routes created by synthesis route design systems such as Transform‐Oriented Synthesis Planning and Knowledge base‐Oriented Synthesis Planning. If it is possible to predict the yields of synthesis reactions before starting experiments, one can easily determine an order of synthesis routes for experimental works. In the present study, the reaction profiles of the Curtius rearrangement with different substituents were calculated to generate an equation predicting experimental yields of this reaction. Reactions followed by the formation of isocyanates were also analyzed to consider the relationship between reaction times and experimental yields. A partial least squares (PLS) regression was used to correlate the experimental yields with the calculated activation energies, E_a(calc), together with experimental conditions such as dielectric constants of solvents, reaction times, and reaction temperatures as explanatory variables. Although the PLS regression using all the data gave very poor results, we succeeded in making a model equation with R² = 0.887 using a modified data set. However, there is a conflict between the predictability and the interpretability on the reaction time. This discrepancy mainly comes from unnecessarily long reaction times in the experiments for azides with calculated E_a values of less than 33 kcal mol^–1. To construct a good model equation for the experimental yields of the Curtius reaction, we have to use data sets obtained from within 90 min of the reaction for the PLS regression. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Velocity and metastable state population distributions of neodymium atoms produced by laser ablation

Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been employed to characterize the plume produced in nanosecond laser ablation of metallic neodymium. The kinetic-energy distributions of the neutral and ionized atoms in the plume under both vacuum and gas environments have been investigated. The population distribution of metastable levels in the ablated atoms was also derived. The results show that some metastable states are more heavily populated than predicted by a Boltzmann-type distribution. These investigations provide preliminary data for the design of a new type of resonance photo-ionization laser ion source as well as for high-resolution laser spectroscopy of refractory elements. PACS 52.38.Mf; 33.50.Dq; 42.62.Fi     

Magnetic ordering of dangling bond networks on hydrogen-deposited Si(111) surfaces

Based on total-energy electronic-structure calculations within the density-functional theory, we find that a high spin state is realized for an ultimate dangling bond unit on an otherwise hydrogen-covered Si(111) surface. We further propose a systematic method of constructing nanometer-scale dangling bond networks that exhibit the ferrimagnetic spin ordering. The interplay between the electron-electron interaction and the surface reconstruction is elucidated.     

A hydrogel with rubber elasticity transition

Reaction between dimethyldivinylsilane and 3,6-diazaoctane in the presence of 3-lithio-3,6-diazaoctane yields a new telechelic oligomer, poly(silamine), which consists of alternating 3,3-dimethyl-3-silapentane and N,N′-diethylethylenediamine units in the main chain. Poly(silamine) shows unique phase transition properties in response to the degree of protonation of amino groups in the polymer. Poly(silamine) also shows a strong interaction with several anions. Due to the interaction between poly(silamine) and anions along with the protonation of amino groups in the poly(silamine), the rubber elasticity of poly(silamine) is drastically changed. A discrete volume change can be observed when the environmental pH of the poly(silamine) gels is varied. This can be explained not only by a change in ionic osmotic pressure but also by a change in the rubber elasticity of the networks in the gel.     

Phase behavior and Li+ Ion conductivity of styrene‐ethylene oxide multiblock copolymer electrolytes

Solid polymer electrolytes are attractive materials for use as battery separators. Here, a molecular weight series of polystyrene–polyethylene oxide (PEO) multiblock copolymers was synthesized by the thiol–norbornene click reaction. The subsequent materials were characterized both neat and with a lithium bis‐(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide salt loading [(Li)/(EO)] of 0.1. In general, neat samples demonstrated crystallinity scaling with PEO content. Lithium ion‐containing samples had broad scattering peaks, half of which displayed disordered scattering, even at the lowest block molecular weights (polystyrene = 1 kg/mol, PEO = 1 kg/mol). Fitting of disordered scattering data, using the random phase approximation, yielded χ_RPA and R_g values that were compared with recent predictive work by Balsara and coworkers. The predictions were accurate near the volume fraction f_PEO = 0.5 but deviated symmetrically with volume fraction asymmetry. Samples were also analyzed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for their potential to conduct lithium ions. Samples with f_PEO ≥ 0.5 demonstrated robust conductivity, whereas samples below this volume fraction conducted very poorly, with one exception (f_PEO = 0.24). This work expanded upon our recently reported approach to multiblock copolymer synthesis, demonstrating the improved access of materials to further our fundamental understanding of multiblock copolymers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sol-Gel Processing of Transparent PLZT((Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3) Fibers

PLZT((Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O₃) ceramic fibers were prepared by the sol-gel method from a solution of lead acetate trihydrate, lanthanum isopropoxide, zirconium n-propoxide and titanium isopropoxide containing 2-methoxyethanol as the solvent. The as-drawn gel fibers were pretreated in an autoclave and preheated in flowing H₂O vapor prior to the heat-treatment for crystallization. The effects of autoclaving and preheating in flowing H₂O vapor on the structure and composition of the resultant fibers were investigated. Optically transparent single phase perovskite PLZT fibers of 5–15 m in thickness and 5 cm in length were successfully prepared when the autoclave-treatment and the preheating in flowing H₂O vapor were conducted prior to crystallization. These treatments are thought to promote hydrolysis of the organic groups and polycondensation reaction in the gel fibers, leading to the successful formation of dense, crack-free transparent PLZT fibers.     

Self-assembly of photochromic diarylethenes with amphiphilic side chains: reversible thermal and photochemical control

Diarylethene derivatives with hexaethylene glycol side chains were synthesized and their self-assembling and photochromic reactivity were investigated. The diarylethenes showed photochromism in organic solvents and even in water. The aqueous solution of the compounds turned turbid quickly upon heating. The clouding behavior was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and absorption spectroscopy. It was revealed that, in the aqueous solution, the compounds self-assembled into aggregates, and the aggregates were loosened by raising the temperature. The cloud-point temperature of the closed-ring isomer was 5-7 degrees C lower than that of the open-ring isomer. When asymmetric methyl groups were introduced in the amphiphilic side chains, induced circular dichroism (ICD) was observed upon irradiation with UV light in water. This ICD was explained by the difference in the self-assembling behavior between the open- and the closed-ring isomers. It was suggested that the closed-ring isomers assembled into a chiral nanostructure.     

Porphyrin complexes containing coordinated BOB groups: synthesis, chemical reactivity and the structure of [BOB(tpClpp)]2+

The reactions of boron halides with free base porphyrins under conditions where partial hydrolysis of the boron halides can occur give diboron porphyrin complexes containing BOB moieties in which each boron is bonded to two porphyrin nitrogen atoms. BF(3).OEt(2) with H(2)(por) gives B(2)OF(2)(por) (por = tpp, ttp, tpClpp, oep) which has an asymmetric structure in which one boron lies in the porphyrin plane (B(ip)) while the other lies above it (B(oop)). BCl(3).MeCN with H(2)(por) gives B(2)O(2)(BCl(3))(2)(por) which contains a four-membered B(2)O(2) ring and is stable only in the presence of excess BCl(3). BBr(3) with Li(2)(tpClpp) gives the dicationic complex [B(2)O(tpClpp)](2+) as its [BBr(4)](-) salt, and is the first example of a boron porphyrin containing three-coordinate boron to be structurally characterised. B(2)O(2)(BCl(3))(2)(por) can be chromatographed on basic alumina to give the hydroxyboron complex B(2)O(OH)(2)(por), which is deduced from its NMR spectra and DFT calculations to have a structure analogous to B(2)OF(2)(por). The OH protons are shifted upfield to near delta -4 (B(oop)-OH) and -10 (B(ip)-OH) by the diamagnetic porphyrin ring current. The reaction of either B(2)O(2)(BCl(3))(2)(por) or B(2)O(OH)(2)(por) (por = ttp, tpClpp) with alcohols (ROH, R = Et, 4-C(6)H(4)CH(3)) gives B(2)O(OR)(2)(por), which can in turn be converted to B(2)O(OR)(OH)(por) by repeated chromatography. The reaction of PhBCl(2) with H(2)(por) (por = ttp, tpClpp) gives B(2)O(Ph)(OH)(por) which has been characterised by spectroscopy in concert with DFT calculations. It is a further example of the B(2)OF(2)(por) structural type, in which the phenyl group is coordinated to the out-of-plane boron and the OH group to the in-plane boron, as are its derivatives B(2)O(Ph)(X)(tpClpp) (X = F, OEt). Steric drivers for the facile hydrolysis of haloboron porphyrins relative to their dipyrromethene and expanded porphyrin counterparts are discussed.     

Preparation and properties of anionic transition metal complexes containing triheterocarbenium ions

Summary Thermally stable anionic tetracarbonylcobalt complexes containing triheterocarbenium ions, [Co(CO)₄]^–[cation]⁺, have been synthesized by the ion exchange reaction of [Co(CO)₄]^–PPN⁺ with the corresponding carbenium ions. Similar molybdenum complexes containing cyclopentadienyl and carbonyl ligands were also prepared. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses and by i.r. and n.m.r. spectroscopies. The ionic structures of the complexes are confirmed on the basis of their large electric conductivities.