Stereochemical behavior of 2 J(Se,H) and 3 J(Se,H) spin‐spin coupling constants across sp3 carbons: a theoretical scrutiny

A theoretical study of geminal and vicinal ⁷⁷Se‐¹ H coupling constants in the benchmark dimethyl and diethyl selenides has been performed at the SOPPA level followed by the NJC analysis within the NBO approach to reveal their stereochemical behavior in respect with the three main structural factors, namely, (i) the dihedral angle dependences, (ii) the bond angle dependences and (iii) the lone pair effects. It has been demonstrated that both geminal and vicinal couplings provide a unique stereospecificity in respect with the orientational lone pair effect together with the geometry of a coupling pathway, which is of prime importance for the stereochemical studies of organoselenium compounds. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Open‐chain unsaturated selanyl sulfides: stereochemical structure and stereochemical behavior of their 77Se–1H spin–spin coupling constants

Stereochemical structure of nine Z‐2‐(vinylsulfanyl)ethenylselanyl organyl sulfides has been investigated by means of experimental measurements and second‐order polarization propagator approach calculations of their ¹H–¹H, ¹³C–¹H, and ⁷⁷Se–¹H spin–spin coupling constants together with a theoretical conformational analysis performed at the MP2/6‐311G** level. All nine compounds were shown to adopt the preferable skewed s‐cis conformation of their terminal vinylsulfanyl group, whereas the favorable rotational conformations with respect to the internal rotations around the C–S and C–Se bonds of the internal ethenyl group are both skewed s‐trans. Stereochemical trends of ⁷⁷Se–¹H spin–spin coupling constants originating in the geometry of their coupling pathways and the selenium lone pair effect were rationalized in terms of the natural J‐coupling analysis within the framework of the natural bond orbital approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Structural trends of 29Si–1H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond

The calculations of geminal and vicinal ²⁹Si–¹H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond in 15 alkenylmethylsilanes and alkenylchlorosilanes were carried out at the second‐order polarization propagator approach level in a good agreement with experiment. Two structural trends, namely, (i) the geometry of the coupling pathway and (ii) the effect of the electrowithdrawing substituent, have been interpreted in terms of the natural J‐coupling analysis within the framework of the natural bond orbital approach. Thus, the marked difference between cisoidal and transoidal ²⁹Si–¹H spin–spin coupling constants across double bond was accounted for the delocalization contributions including bonding and antibonding Si–C and C–H orbitals, whereas the chlorine effect was explained in terms of the steric contributions including bonding Si–Cl orbitals. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molecular structure and spectral properties of thionaphthalimides

The molecular structure and absorption spectra of monothio- and dithio-naphthalimides were compared to their naphthalimide analogues using AM1, PM3 and ZINDO/S semiempirical quantum chemical methods. The substitution of the 4R-naphthalimide oxygen atoms by sulphur atoms resulted in a red-shift of the absorption spectra by Δλ_max60-65 and 100-140 nm, respectively. The thionated naphthalimide derivatives do not show observable fluorescence due to intersystem crossing to the triplet -states localised at the CS groups. The -absorption bands of monothioimides are located at 525-580 nm (ε=60-80) and those for dithioimides at 535-560 nm (ε=140-390) and 628-686 nm (ε=34-68). None of these transitions are solvent sensitive. The -transitions of N-phenylthioimides have also a small contribution from -states due to a partial conjugation between CS group and π-electronic system of the N-phenyl ring. As a result, the bands of aromatic substituted N-phenylthioimides are red-shifted as compared to those of the aliphatic N-methyl-thioimides.     

Development of novel antioxidants: design,synthesis, and reactivity

We are attempting to develop novel synthetic antioxidants aimed at retarding the effects of free-radical induced cell damage. In this paper we discuss the design strategy and report the synthesis of seven novel antioxidants, including six catechols and a benzylic phenol. The bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE) for the most active (weakest) OH bond in each molecule was calculated by theoretical methods, as well as the BDE for the semiquinone radical. Reaction rates with the nitrogen-centered free radical DPPH(*) were measured in ethyl acetate. The log of k(DPPH) for bimolecular reaction correlated well with the primary BDE. The correlation between rate constants and calculated BDEs shows that the BDE is a good predictor of antioxidant activity with DPPH(*), suggesting that our design criteria are useful and that these compounds should undergo further testing in cell cultures and in animal models.     

Potassium 3‐cyano‐4‐(dicyanomethylene)‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olate

The crystal structure of the title potassium salt, K⁺·C₈HN₄O₂⁻, of the organic anion 3‐cyano‐4‐(di­cyano­methyl­ene)‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐di­hydro‐1H‐pyrrol‐2‐olate shows that the di­cyano­methyl­ene moiety is able to accept an electron in the same way as does tetra­cyano­ethyl­ene, to yield the novel product. The organic anion is nearly planar, with deviations caused by steric crowding among the exocyclic cyano groups. The K⁺ cations lie within tricapped trigonal prisms that stack to form channels. The three‐dimensional structure is completed by the formation of hydrogen‐bonded chains by the anions.     

Intermolecular complexes of HXeOH with water: stabilization and destabilization effects

Theoretical and matrix-isolation studies of intermolecular complexes of HXeOH with water molecules are presented. The structures and possible decomposition routes of the HXeOH-(H(2)O)(n)(n = 0, 1, 2, 3) complexes are analyzed theoretically. It is concluded that the decay of these metastable species may proceed through the bent transition states (TSs), leading to the global minima on the respective potential energy surfaces, Xe + (H(2)O)(n+1). The respective barrier heights are 39.6, 26.6, 11.2, and 0.4 kcal/mol for n = 0, 1, 2, and 3. HXeOH in larger water clusters is computationally unstable with respect to the bending coordinate, representing the destabilization effect. Another decomposition channel of HXeOH-(H(2)O)(n), via a linear TS, leads to a direct break of the H-Xe bond of HXeOH. In this case, the attached water molecules stabilize HXeOH by strengthening the H-Xe bond. Due to the stabilization, a large blue shift of the H-Xe stretching mode upon complexation of HXeOH with water molecules is featured in calculations. On the basis of this computational result, the IR absorption bands at 1681 and 1742 cm(-1) observed after UV photolysis and annealing of multimeric H(2)O/Xe matrixes are assigned to the HXeOH-H(2)O and HXeOH-(H(2)O)(2) complexes. These bands are blue-shifted by 103 and 164 cm(-1) from the known monomeric HXeOH absorption.     

Selective hydrodechlorination of fluorinated arylamines

Chlorine-containing polyfluorinated anilines and meta-phenylenediamines undergo selective hydrodechlorination easily upon reduction by zinc in aqueous ammonia. A new approach is thus provided to synthetically valuable, partially fluorinated arylamines based on utilizing polyfluorochloroarenes, which are available as intermediates of perfluoroarene production from perchloroarenes. When chlorine atoms are present in positions both ortho and para to the amino group, para chlorine is initially eliminated. Based on this reaction, a one-pot synthesis of partially fluorinated 4-aminopyridines from 3,5-dichlorotrifluoro- and 3-chlorotetrafluoropyridine has been realized.     

Stereoselective interactions of chiral dipeptides on amylose based chiral stationary phases

Dipeptides are stereo-specifically involved in several biological functions that are challenging to separate enantiomerically. Elution order of enantiomers is an important issue in chiral chromatography. Amylose tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) chiral stationary phase(CSP) is the best and most-widely-used CSP in chiral separations, but experimental data of enantiomeric separation of dipeptides on this CSP is lacking. Simulation studies were conducted to determine the order of elution and the chiral recognition mechanism of didpetides on this CSP. Results indicated that the docking energy of SR-enantiomers were higher than SS-antipodes. The range of docking energies for SR-enantiomers was -7.44 to -5.92 kcal/mol with CSP, but -7.15 to -5.87 kcal/mol for SS-stereoisomers. Therefore it is predicted that SS-enantiomer will elute first, followed by SR-antipode. Furthermore, hydrogen bondings, van der Waal’s interactions and electrostatic interactions were observed among SR- and SSenantiomers and chiral grooves of CSP. The number of hydrogen bonds was one in each enantiomer binding except S-Ala-R-Tyr, which contained two hydrogen bonds. No hydrogen bond was found in S-Ala-R-Trp, S-Leu-S-Trp, and S-Leu-S-Tyr dipeptides bindings. The chiral recognition mechanisms dictate different strengths of stereoselective bindings of the enantiomers on CSP.