Structural characterization of poly(amino)ester dendrimers and related impurities by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

An acid‐terminated poly(amino)ester dendrimer was studied by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to establish its fragmentation pathways, with the aim of using them to investigate the structure of any defective molecules generated during the dendrimer synthesis. This poly(amino)ester dendrimer could be ionized in both polarities but the most structurally relevant dissociation pathways were found from the deprotonated molecule in negative ion mode. The dissociation pattern of this dendrimer is fully described and supported by accurate mass measurements. The main dissociation reactions of the negatively charged polyacidic dendrimer were shown to consist of (i) the release of carbon dioxide and ethene within a branch, which proceeds as many times as intact neutral branches are available; and (ii) the elimination of an entire dendrimer arm. Monitoring the occurrence of these reactions together with any deviation from these two main routes allowed six major dendritic impurities to be structurally characterized. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phase behaviour of tri-n-butylmethylammonium chloride hydrates in the presence of carbon dioxide

The phase behaviour of the system water?Ctri-n-butylmethylammonium chloride (TBMAC)?CCO₂ was investigated by pressure-controlled differential scanning calorimetry in the range 0?C10?mol% TBMAC in water and at CO₂ pressures ranging from 0 to 1.5?MPa. In the absence of CO₂, an incongruent melting hydrate, which estimated composition corresponds to TBMAC·30H₂O, crystallizes at temperatures below ?13.6?°C and forms with ice a peritectic phase at approximately 3.9?mol% TBMAC. In the presence of CO₂ at pressures as low as 0.5?MPa, curves evidenced the presence of an additional phase exhibiting congruent melting at temperatures that are strongly pressure dependent and significantly higher than those of hydrates obtained without CO₂. This new phase, whose enthalpy of dissociation and CO₂ content increase slightly with CO₂ pressure, was identified as a mixed semi-clathrate hydrate of TBMAC and CO₂ of general formula: (TBMAC?+?xCO₂)·30H₂O.     

2-pyridones from cyanoacetamides and enecarbonyl compounds: application to the synthesis of nothapodytine B

The condensation of an enone or enal with cyanoacetamide derivatives and t-BuOK furnishes either 3-cyano-2-pyridones or 3-unsubstituted-2-pyridones, depending on whether the reaction is carried out in the presence or in the absence of O(2). In the first case, in situ oxidation of Michael-type intermediates takes place; in the second case, the products result from "decyanidative aromatization" of such intermediates. A one-step synthesis of 3-alkyl-2-pyridones has been devised on the basis of decyanative union of an enone/enal and a 2-alkylcyanoacetamide. The new reaction forms the centerpiece of an unusually concise synthesis of nothapodytine B (mappicine ketone).     

Use of electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) for the study of europium(III) complexation with bis(dialkyltriazinyl)pyridines and its implications in the design of new extracting agents

ESI mass spectrometry was used to investigate the europium complexation by tridentate ligands L identical with 2,6-bis(5,6-dialkyl-1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridines (DATP) that have shown unique separation properties of actinides(III) from lanthanides(III) in nitric acid solutions. Complexes of three ligands, namely methyl (DMTP), n-propyl (DnPTP), and iso-propyl (DiPTP), have been investigated in acidic solutions to check the aqueous-phase stability of Eu(L)(3)(3+) ions identified previously in the solid state. The data obtained show, first, the presence of stable Eu(L)(3)(3+) ions with DnPTP (log beta(3)(app) = 12.0 +/- 0.5) and DiPTP (log beta(3)(app) = 14.0 +/- 0.6) in methanol/water (1:1 v/v) solutions under pH range 2.8-4.6 and, second, a mechanism whereby alkyl moieties contribute to a self-assembling process leading to the formation of Eu(L)(3)(3+) ions. Other complexes such as Eu(L)(2)(3+) ions are only observed for DnPTP (log beta(2)(app) = 6.7 +/- 0.5) and DMTP (log beta(2)(app) = 6.3 +/- 0.1) and Eu(L)(3+) only for DMTP (log beta(1)(app) = 2.9 +/- 0.2). The log beta(n)(app) values for the Eu(L)(n)(3+) (n = 1-3) complexes were determined at pH 2.8. Better insight was given in this study concerning the role of the hydrophobic exterior of the ligands for the design of a new range of extracting agents.     

Reaction of bis(phosphine)(hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borato)rhodium(I) with phenylacetylene,p-nitrobenzaldehyde,and triphenyltin hydride: structures of [Rh(Tp)(PPh(3))(2)], [Rh(Tp)(H)(C(2)Ph)(P(4-C(6)H(4)F)(3))], [Rh(Tp)(H)(COC(6)H(4)-4-NO(2))(PPh(3))], and [Rh(Tp)(H)(SnPh(3))(PPh(3))

The complexes [Rh(Tp)(PPh(3))(2)] (1a) and [Rh(Tp)(P(4-C(6)H(4)F)(3))(2)] (1b) combine with PhC(2)H, 4-NO(2)-C(6)H(4)CHO and Ph(3)SnH to give [Rh(Tp)(H)(C(2)Ph)(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 2a; R = 4-C(6)H(4)F, 2b), [Rh(Tp)(H)(COC(6)H(4)-4-NO(2))(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 3a), and [Rh(Tp)(H)(SnPh(3))(PR(3))] (R = Ph, 4a; R = 4-C(6)H(4)F, 4b) in moderate to good yield. Complexes 1a, 2b, 3a, and 4a have been structurally characterized. In 1a the Tp ligand is bidentate, in 2b, 3a, and 4a it is tridentate. Crystal data for 1a: space group P2(1)/c; a = 11.9664(19), b = 21.355(3), c = 20.685(3) A; beta = 112.576(7) degrees; V = 4880.8(12) A(3); Z = 4; R = 0.0441. Data for 2b: space group P(-)1; a = 10.130(3), b = 12.869(4), c = 17.038(5) A; alpha = 78.641(6), beta = 76.040(5), gamma = 81.210(6) degrees; V = 2100.3(11) A(3); Z = 2; R = 0.0493. Data for 3a: space group P(-)1; a = 10.0073(11), b = 10.5116(12), c = 19.874(2) A; alpha = 83.728(2), beta = 88.759(2), gamma = 65.756(2) degrees; V =1894.2(4) A(3); Z = 2; R = 0.0253. Data for 4a: space group P2(1)/c; a = 15.545(2), b = 18.110(2), c = 17.810(2) A; beta = 95.094(3) degrees; V = 4994.1(10) A(3); Z = 4; R = 0.0256. NMR data ((1)H, (31)P, (103)Rh, (119)Sn) are also reported.     

Photosensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 by self-assembled layers of CdS quantum dots

CdS quantum dots can be self-assembled on high surface area nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes; spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical studies indicate that the size, and hence the absorption edge, of the CdS particles can be controlled; efficient photosensitization of the TiO2 electrode by the Q-particles has been achieved.     

A new class of macrocyclic complexes formed via nickel-promoted macrocyclisation of dioxime with dinitrile

o-Phthalonitrile couples with chelating dioxime on nickel(II), with formation of a dinuclear nickel(II) macrocyclic complex--the first representative of a new class of imine-appended macrocycles.     

Improved straightforward chemical synthesis of dihydroxyacetone phosphate through enzymatic desymmetrization of 2,2-dimethoxypropane-1,3-diol

Dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) was synthesized in high purity and yield in four steps starting from dihydroxyacetone dimer (DHA) (47% overall yield). DHA was converted into 2,2-dimethoxypropane-1,3-diol, which was desymmetrized by acetylation with lipase AK. The alcohol function was phosphorylated to give dibenzyl phosphate ester 4. From 4, two routes were investigated for large-scale synthesis of DHAP. First, acetate hydrolysis was performed prior to hydrogenolysis of the phosphate protective groups. The acetal hydrolysis was finally catalyzed by the phosphate group itself. Second, acetate and acetal hydrolysis were performed in one single step after hydrogenolysis.     

Use of electron density critical points as chemical function-based reduced representations of pharmacological ligands

In this paper, we propose a reduced representation of molecules of pharmacological interest based on their chemical functions. The proposed representations of the molecules are obtained by a topological analysis of their electron density maps at medium resolution, leading to graphs of critical points. The distribution of the different types of critical points are compared at various levels of resolution for a training set of 22 molecules in order to define the optimal resolution level leading to the best representation of the various chemical functions. The reduced representations can in the future be used for molecular similarity research and pharmacophore proposals.