Hg(II) and Cd(II) complexes with mixed donor macrocyclic thioethers: The oxophobicity of mercury(II)

A series of Hg(II) and Cd(II) homoleptic complexes with mixed donor (O,S and N,S) macrocycles is reported. The macrocyclic oxa thiacrowns 9S2O (1-oxa-4,7-dithiacyclononane) and 18S4O2 (1,10-dioxa-4,7,13,16-tetrathiacyclooctadecane) bind to Hg(II) to form distorted tetrahedral S4 geometries without coordination of the oxygen atoms. In contrast, the two macrocycles coordinate to Cd(II) through all ligand donors to form S4O2 environments. We also report the structure of bis(9N2S (1,4-diaza-7-thiacyclononane))cadmium(II), [Cd(9N2S)₂]²⁺ which shows octahedral coordination in a trans N4S2 environment. Furthermore, two new homoleptic Cd(II) complexes with the related hexadentate macrocycles 18N6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaazacyclooctadecane) and 18S6 (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexathiayclooctadecane) are described. Among the Cd(II) complexes, we highlight a trend in ¹¹³Cd NMR that shows progressive upfield chemical shifts as secondary amine donors replace thioether S donors.     

N,N-acetals as N-acyliminium ion precursors: synthesis and absolute stereochemistry of epiquinamide

A stereoselective synthesis of (+)-epiquinamide is presented in combination with determination of the absolute configuration of the natural product. Key steps in the sequence involved chemoenzymatic formation of an enantiomerically pure cyanohydrin, reductive cyclization to the corresponding cyclic N,N-acetal, and subsequent conversion into a suitable N-acyliminium ion precursor to enable construction of the second ring.     

Pressure-induced reduction of shielding for improving sonochemical activity

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on chemical reactions induced by 20 kHz ultrasound has been studied using three different methods: the oxidation of potassium iodide, bubble cloud visualization studies, and sound attenuation measurements. The latter two have demonstrated that shielding of the ultrasonic wave is less pronounced at elevated pressures. Accordingly, the yield of iodine liberation increases with increasing pressure. At high static pressures, however, the less efficient cavitation dynamics dominate and the chemical reactivity decreases rapidly.     

Regiochemistry of the Condensation of 2-Aroyl-cyclohexanones and 2-Cyanoacetamide: (13)C-Labeling Studies and Semiempirical MO Calculations

Hydroxy-aryl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinoline-4-carbonitriles represent interesting chemical scaffolds, but synthetic access to these compounds is limited. The reaction of 2-aroyl-cyclohexanones with 2-cyanoacetamide and base in ethanol has been reported to lead to the formation of the tetrahydroisoquinoline isomer. We show that depending on the electronic nature of the para-substituent on the aryl ring, formation of the regioisomeric tetrahydroquinoline isomer can significantly compete. The electron-donating or -withdrawing properties of the para-substituent of the aryl ring determines the ratio of product isomers. A series of 2-aroyl-cyclohexanones, with para-substituents ranging from electron-donating to electron-withdrawing, were reacted with [2-(13)C]-cyanoacetamide. The product ratio and absolute regiochemistry were directly determined by quantitative (13)C, HMBC, and NOESY NMR spectroscopy on the reaction mixtures. A clear relationship between the regioisomeric product ratio and the Hammett sigma values of the substituents is demonstrated. This is explained by the separate in situ yields, which reveal that the pathway leading to the tetrahydroquinoline regioisomer is significantly more sensitive toward the electronic nature of the para-substituent than the pathway leading to the tetrahydroisoquinoline. Semiempirical AM1 molecular orbital calculations on the starting electrophile 2-aroyl-cyclohexanone support a correlation between the energy of the LUMOs and the regioisomeric product ratio. Our results facilitate synthetic access to a range of these interesting synthetic intermediates.     

Visible light excitation of CdSe nanocrystals triggers the release of coumarin from cinnamate surface ligands

The photochemical properties of organic ligands on the surface of nanocrystalline CdSe particles were examined. A number of thiols carrying a substituted cinnamate tail was synthesized. In solution, these cinnamate compounds undergo light-induced (374 nm) E-Z isomerization, followed by a nonphotolytic lactonization to give highly fluorescent coumarin. The cinnamate-thiols were successfully exchanged onto the CdSe nanocrystal, and the photochemical behavior of these conjugates was studied. Upon aerobic photolysis at 374 nm, the surface cinnamates released coumarin accompanied by rapid nanocrystal degradation. This degradation was not observed under similar anaerobic conditions or when the organic ligands did not contain the cinnamate group. Surprisingly, very similar results were obtained upon irradiation at visible wavelengths at which the cinnamate has no absorption. With the aid of UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and electrochemistry, a unified theory for both the increased photoinstability of the nanocrystal as well as the coumarin release was proposed. It involves cinnamate radical anions on the CdSe surface, formed upon electron transfer from the excited nanocrystal to the surface cinnamate, undergoing E-Z isomerization. Practically, this results in the remarkable ability to release coumarin from nanocrystal ligands simply by exciting the nanocrystal with visible light. This new photorelease protocol not only aids in the understanding of fundamental nanocrystal-ligand interactions but may also offer new opportunities in the areas of drug delivery and imaging.