Precise investigation of the axial ligand substitution mechanism on a hydrogenphosphato-bridged lantern-type platinum(III) binuclear complex in acidic aqueous solution

Detailed equilibrium and kinetic studies on axial water ligand substitution reactions of the "lantern-type" platinum(III) binuclear complex, [Pt(2)(mu-HPO(4))(4)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(-), with halide and pseudo-halide ions (X(-) = Cl(-), Br(-), and SCN(-)) were carried out in acidic aqueous solution at 25 degrees C with I = 1.0 M. The diaqua Pt(III) dimer complex is in acid dissociation equilibrium in aqueous solution with -log K(h1) = 2.69 +/- 0.04. The consecutive formation constants of the aquahalo complex () and the dihalo complex () were determined spectrophotometrically to be log = 2.36 +/- 0.01 and log = 1.47 +/- 0.01 for the reaction with Cl(-) and log = 2.90 +/- 0.04 and log = 2.28 +/- 0.01 for the reaction with Br(-), respectively. In the kinetic measurements carried out under the pseudo-first-order conditions with a large excess concentration of halide ion compared to that of Pt(III) dimer (C(X)()- > C(Pt)), all of the reactions proceeded via a one-step first-order reaction, which is a contrast to the consecutive two-step reaction for the amidato-bridged platinum(III) binuclear complexes. The conditional first-order rate constant (k(obs)) depended on C(X)()- as well as the acidity of the solution. From kinetic analyses, the rate-limiting step was determined to be the first substitution process that forms the monohalo species, which is in rapid equilibrium with the dihalo complex. The reaction with 4-penten-1-ol was also kinetically investigated to examine the reactivity of the lantern complex with olefin compounds.     

Structure and dynamics of halogenoethanol-water mixtures studied by large-angle X-ray scattering, small-angle neutron scattering, and NMR relaxation

To clarify the structure of solvent clusters formed in halogenoethanol-water mixtures at the molecular level, large-angle X-ray scattering (LAXS) measurements have been made at 298 K on 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), 2,2,2-trichloroethanol (TCE), and their aqueous mixtures in the TFE and TCE mole fraction ranges of 0.002 < or = x(TFE) < or = 0.9 and 0.5 < or = x(TCE) < or = 0.9, respectively. The radial distribution functions (RDFs) for TFE-water mixtures have shown that the structural transition from inherent TFE structure to the tetrahedral-like structure of water takes place at x(TFE) approximately 0.2. In the TCE-water mixtures inherent TCE structure remains in the range of 0.5 < or = x(TCE) < or = 1. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) experiments have been performed on CF(3)CH(2)OD- (TFE-d(1)-) D(2)O and CF(3)CD(2)OH- (TFE-d(2)-) H(2)O mixtures in the TFE mole fraction range of 0.05 < or = x(TFE) < or = 0.8. The SANS results in terms of the Ornstein-Zernike correlation length have revealed that TFE and water molecules are most heterogeneously mixed with each other in the TFE-water mixture at x(TFE) approximately 0.15, i.e., both TFE clusters and water clusters are most enhanced in the mixture. To evaluate the dynamics of TFE and ethanol (EtOH) molecules in TFE-water and ethanol-water mixtures, respectively, (1)H NMR relaxation rates for the methylene group within alcohol molecules have been measured by using an inversion-recovery method. The alcohol concentration dependence of the relaxation rates for the TFE-water and ethanol-water mixtures has shown a break point at x(TFE) approximately 0.15 and x(EtOH) approximately 0.2, respectively, where the structural transition from alcohol clusters to the tetrahedral-like structure of water takes place. On the basis of the present results, the most likely structure models of solvent clusters predominantly formed in TFE-water and TCE-water mixtures are proposed. In addition, effects of halogenation of the hydrophobic groups on clustering of alcohol molecules are discussed from the present results, together with the previous ones for ethanol-water and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol- (HFIP-) water mixtures.     

Catalytic cyclopropanation of alkenes via (2-furyl)carbene complexes from 1-benzoyl-cis-1-buten-3-yne with transition metal compounds

The reaction of alkenes with conjugated ene-yne-ketones, such as 1-benzoyl-2-ethynylcycloalkenes, with a catalytic amount of Cr(CO)(5)(THF) gave 5-phenyl-2-furylcyclopropane derivatives in good yields. The key intermediate of this cyclopropanation is a (2-furyl)carbene complex generated by a nucleophilic attack of carbonyl oxygen to an internal alkyne carbon in pi-alkyne complex or sigma-vinyl cationic complex. A wide range of late transition metal compounds, such as [RuCl(2)(CO)(3)](2), [RhCl(cod)](2), [Rh(OAc)(2)](2), PdCl(2), and PtCl(2), also catalyzes the cyclopropanation of alkenes with ene-yne-ketones effectively. When the reactions were carried out with dienes as a carbene acceptor, the more substituted or more electron-rich alkene moiety was selectively cyclopropanated with the (2-furyl)carbenoid intermediate.     

Characterization of an Inclusion Complex of 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphinato Iron and an O-Methylated β-Cyclodextrin Dimer Having a Pyridine Linker and Its Related Complexes in Aqueous Solution

The structure of a carbon monoxide adduct (CO-hemoCD) of a 1:1 complex of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinato iron(II) (Fe(II)TPPS) and an O-methylated β-cyclodextrin dimer having a pyridine linker (1) has been determined by means of NMR spectroscopy and molecular mechanics (MM) calculation. The results indicate the structure as that the sulfonatophenyl groups at the 5- and 15-positions of Fe(II)TPPS are incorporated into two cyclodextrin cavities of 1 to form a 1:1 inclusion complex (hemoCD), whose Fe(II) center is coordinated by a carbon monoxide (CO) molecule. CO-hemoCD possesses a C _2v symmetrical nature that is supported by MM calculation. The energy minimized structure of CO-hemoCD suggests that the CO–Fe(II) part is significantly covered by two cyclodextrin moieties resulting in a cage effect in CO binding phenomenon. Other spectroscopic results of relating complexes also support the structure of hemoCD deduced from the results concerning CO-hemoCD.     

Versatile use of acid-catalyzed ring-opening of β-aziridinyl-α,β-enoates to stereoselective synthesis of peptidomimetics

Treatment of N-arylsulfonylaziridines bearing α,β-unsaturated esters with alcohols, thiols or weak acids such as AcOH in the presence of catalytic amount of Lewis acids affords regio- and stereoselectively ring-opened products, such as δ-aminated γ-alkoxy-(alkylthio or acetoxy)-α,β-enoates. In addition, the regio- and stereoselective ring-opening reactions can be performed on solid supports and applied to stereoselective synthesis of (E)-alkene dipeptide isosteres.     

Convenient scaffold for forming heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous media

A new methodology for preparing heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous solution has been presented. The present method is based on the extremely strong ability of heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (TMe-beta-CD) to include 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-substituted-phenyl)porphyrins (Por) affording trans-type 1:2 complexes of the porphyrins and TMe-beta-CD. Two different Por-per-O-methylated beta-CD (per-Me-beta-CD) conjugates were synthesized. Conjugate 2 was prepared by an S(N)2 reaction of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(p-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and per-O-methylated beta-cyclodextrin having one primary OTs group. Four per-Me-beta-CD moieties are attached to the meso positions of 2. Conjugate 3, synthesized from 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)porphyrin and monotosylated per-O-methylated beta-cyclodextrin, has one per-Me-beta-CD moiety at the periphery of the porphyrin. Conjugate 2 yields a stable 1:4 complex with the zinc complex of 5-phenyl-10,15,20-tris(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)porphyrin (8) in the dissociated form. In this system, the energy transfer from photoexcited Zn-8 to free base 2 occurs with 85% efficiency. Conjugate 3 forms a very stable 1:1 complex with Zn-8 (K = (7.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) dm(3) mol(-1)) with an energy transfer efficiency (93%) larger than that obtained in the case of 2. The structure of the 3-Zn-8 complex, which can account for the efficient energy transfer, was deduced from (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Intramolecular fluorescence quenching of 2 and 3 by Fe(III)-8 also occurred through an electron-transfer process as the main quenching mechanism. The present method is a very simple and convenient means to construct various heteroporphyrin arrays in aqueous solution.     

Stable mononuclear radical anions of heavier group 13 elements: [(tBu2MeSi)3E.-].[K+(2.2.2-Cryptand)] (E = Al, Ga)

The one-electron reduction of tris(di-tert-butylmethylsilyl)aluminum and -gallium with alkali metals (Li, Na, K) results in the formation of the corresponding radical anions [(tBu2MeSi)3Al*-] (3) and [(tBu2MeSi)3Ga]*- (4), which were isolated in the form of the potassium salt as extremely air- and moisture-sensitive deep red crystals, representing the first isolable mononuclear radical anions of heavier group 13 elements. The molecular structures of both 3.[K+(2.2.2-cryptand)] and 4.[K+(2.2.2-cryptand)] were established by X-ray crystallography, which showed a nearly planar geometry around the radical centers. The EPR spectra of 3 and 4 showed strong characteristic signals with g-values of 2.005 for 3 and 2.015 for 4 with hyperfine coupling constants of a(27Al) = 6.2 mT for 3, a(69Ga) = 12.3 mT, and a(71Ga) = 15.7 mT for 4, corresponding to a planar geometry of the radical center.     

Selective ethylene formation by pulse-mode electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using copper and copper-oxide electrodes

Although the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with a copper electrode produces hydrocarbons, the activity toward the conversion of CO₂ is lost for several 10 min by the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode. To solve the poisoning species problem, the electrochemical reduction of CO₂ was carried out using a copper electrode with a pulse electrolysis mode with anodic as well as cathodic polarization. The anodic polarization intervals suppressed the deposition of poisoning species on the electrode, and the amount of two hydrocarbons, CH₄ and C₂H₄, barely decreased even after an hour. By choosing appropriate anodic potential and time duration, the selectivity for the C₂H₄ formation was greatly enhanced. The enhancement was found to be due to the copper oxide formed on the copper electrode. The selectivity was further improved when the electrochemical reduction was made with the copper-oxide electrode. The highest efficiency of about 28% is obtained at −3.15 V.     

Synthesis of cross-linked chitosan possessing N-methyl-d-glucamine moiety (CCTS-NMDG) for adsorption/concentration of boron in water samples and its accurate measurement by ICP-MS and ICP-AES

A chitosan resin derivatized with N-methyl-d-glucamine (CCTS-NMDG) was synthesized by using a cross-linked chitosan (CCTS) as base material. The N-methyl-d-glucamine (NMDG) moiety was attached to the amino group of CCTS through the arm of chloromethyloxirane. The adsorption behavior of 59 elements on the synthesized resin was systematically examined by using the resin packed in a mini-column, passing water samples through it and measuring the adsorbed elements in eluates by ICP-MS. The CCTS-NMDG resin shows high ability in boron sorption with the capacity of 0.61 mmol ml⁻¹ (= 2.1 mmol g⁻¹). The sorption kinetics of this resin was faster than that of the commercially available resins. Other advantages of the synthesized resin are: (1) quantitative collection of boron at neutral pH regions; (2) complete removal of large amounts of matrices; (3) no loss of efficiency over prolonged usage; (4) effective collection of boron in wide range concentration using a mini column containing 1 ml resin; (5) complete elution of boron with 1 mol l⁻¹ nitric acid. The resin was applied to the collection/concentration of boron in water samples. Boron in tap water and river water was found to be in the range of 6-8 μg l⁻¹. The limit of detection (LOD) of boron after pretreatment with CCTS-NMDG resin and measurement by ICP-MS was 0.07 μg l⁻¹ and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.14 μg l⁻¹ when the volume of each sample and eluent was 10 ml.     

Light-harvesting heptadecameric porphyrin assemblies

New porphyrin assemblies containing 17 porphyrin molecules are constructed by using free base TPP-type porphyrins having eight pyrazine moieties 1. Spectroscopic titration of dimeric [meso-tetrakis(2-carboxy-4-nonylphenyl)porphyrinato]zinc(II) 2 with these porphyrins shows that the processes of the formation of the heptadecameric porphyrin assemblies may be analyzed as eight independent equilibrium processes with an identical binding constant. All binding constants are larger than 5 x 107 M-1 which is the determinable upper limit of the present titration method. In all cases, the fluorescence spectrum of the 1:8 mixture of 1 and 2 consists of the major fluorescence of 1 and the minor one of 2.pyrazine complex even in the presence of the large excess of the antenna pigments. The observed spectra are well reconstructed by the form of faF1 + fbF2, where F1 and F2 are the fluorescence of 1 and the 2.pyrazine complex measured separately at the corresponding concentrations. Interestingly, the general trend that values of fa are nearly equal to those of r564 x (1 - fb) in all cases is found, where r564 is the absorption ratios of the 2.pyrazine moiety and the central free base porphyrin in the assemblies at 564 nm. The observation indicates the excitation of the central porphyrin is directly enhanced by the absorption of the antenna pigments even in such large scale assemblies. Thus, the antenna effect for 1 having largest r564 results in 77 times fluorescence enhancement of the central free base porphyrin. The systems also show interesting dependency of energy-transfer efficiencies on the topological arrangement of the antenna elements.