Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid and voltammetric determination with a ferrocene-modified platinum electrode

Ferrocene attached to the surface of a platinum electrode catalyses the electrochemical oxidation of ascorbic acid in acidic buffer solutions. The overpotential for ascorbic acid oxidation is decreased by 150 mV at pH 2.2 compared with reaction at bare platinum; and an increase in anodic current and decrease in cathodic current for the redox reaction of ferrocene occurs on addition of ascorbic acid to the solution. The ferrocene-modified electrode is useful for the voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid in natural fruit juices. The advantages result from the electrocatalytic effect and from the prevention of adsorption of inhibitory substances from solution.     

Aqueous cholesteric liquid crystals using uncharged rodlike polypeptides

The aqueous, lyotropic liquid-crystalline phase behavior of the alpha-helical polypeptide, poly(N(epsilon)-2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetyl-lysine) (1), has been studied using optical microscopy and X-ray scattering. Solutions of optically pure 1 were found to form cholesteric liquid crystals at volume fractions that decreased with increasing average chain length. At very high volume fractions, the formation of a hexagonal mesophase was observed. The pitch of the cholesteric phase could be varied by a mixture of enantiomeric samples L-1 and D-1, where the pitch increased as the mixture approached equimolar. The cholesteric phases could be untwisted, using either magnetic field or shear flow, into nematic phases, which relaxed into cholesterics upon removal of field or shear. We have found that the phase diagram of 1 in aqueous solution parallels that of poly(gamma-benzyl glutamate) in organic solvents, thus providing a useful system for liquid-crystal applications requiring water as solvent.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 123. Synthese und Eigenschaften der Diphosphagermirane (t-BuP)2GePh2 und (t-BuP)2GeEt2

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 123. Synthesis and Properties of the Diphosphagermiranes (t-BuP)₂GePh₂ and (t-BuP)₂GeEt₂ The first three-membered P₂Ge heterocycles, 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3, 3-diphenyl-1, 2, 3-diphosphagermirane, (t-BuP)₂GePh₂ (1) , and 1, 2-di-tert-butyl-3, 3-diethyl-1, 2, 3-diphosphagermirane, (t-BuP)₂GeEt₂ (2) , were synthesized by [2+1] cyclocondensation reactions of K(t-Bu)P—P(t-Bu)K with diphenylgermanium dichloride and diethylgermanium dichloride, respectively. The four-, five-, and six-membered cyclogermaphosphanes (t-BuP)₂(GePh₂)₂ (3) , (t-BuP)₃GeR₂ ( 6 R = Ph; 7 R = Et), (t-BuP)₄GePh₂ (5) and (t-BuP)₄(GePh₂)₂ (4) as well as (t-BuP)₄ are formed as by-products. The diphosphagermiranes 1 and 2 could be isolated in 93 and 100% purity, respectively, and were unambiguously characterized as compounds with a cyclic P₂Ge skeleton. The ³¹P-NMR parameters of the cyclogermaphosphanes 3—7 are reported.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 105. 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphan und 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyltetraphosphan

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 105. 1,2,34-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphane and 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyltetraphosphane 1,2,3,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-tetraphosphane, Me₃Si? (PPh)₄? SiMe₃ ( 1 ), is obtained by reacting K₂(PPh)₄ with trimethylchlorosilane under suitable conditions. Compound 1 disproportionates almost easier than the corresponding triphosphane (Me₃Si)₂(PPH)₃. Of the six possible diastereomers only 1a (erythro, meso, erythro), 1b (erythro, d,l, erythro), 1 d (threo, d,l, threo), and 1 f (erythro, threo, threo) can be detected in solution by ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. In consequence of rapid inversion at the P atoms a dynamic equilibrium exists between the different isomers. The assignment of the ³¹P-NMR-spectroscopically observed spin systems to the corresponding diastereomers results from the dependence of the ¹J_PP-coupling constants on the dihedral angle between vicinal free electron pairs as well as on the observed frequency distribution. In the alcoholysis of 1 the corresponding hydride H? (PPh)₄? H ( 2 ) is formed as the main product. It could be isolated in spite of its instability. At room temperature 2 disproportionates rapidly forming mainly (PPh)₄ and H₂(PPh)₂ (ratio 1:2) at first; later on also H₂(PPh)₃, H₂PPh, and (PPh)₅ are found. The corresponding rearrangements follow a four-center mechanism involving predominantly P? P bonds.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 106. Synthese und Eigenschaften des Diphosphacyclopropans (t-BuP)2CHMe

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 106. Synthesis and Properties of the Diphosphacyclopropane (t-BuP)₂CHMe The new 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3-methyl-1,2-diphosphacyclopropane (1,2-di-tert-butyl-3-methyl-diphosphirane), (t-BuP)₂CHMe ( 1 ), is obtained by reacting K(t-Bu)P? P(t-Bu)K with 1,1-dichloroethane under suitable conditions. 1 can be isolated by high vacuum distillation and is stable for months when stored under inert gas at room temperature. Particularly, no dimerization to the corresponding 1,2,4,5-tetraphosphacyclohexane takes place. The NMR parameters indicate an increase of the exocyclic bond angles compared to (t-BuP)₂CH₂. The signs of all CP coupling constants have been determined by spin tickling experiments. The ²J(CCP)-coupling of the methyl group at the ring carbon depends strongly on the dihedral angle.     

Stereodynamics of 9,11-Diphenyl-10-azatetracyclo[6.3.0.0.(4,11)0.(5,9)]undecanes. Highly Restricted Nitrogen Inversion and Isolated Phenyl Rotation. X-ray Crystallographic, Dynamic NMR, and Molecular Mechanics Studies

The (1)H NMR spectra of 10-benzyl-9,11-diphenyl-10-azatetracyclo[6.3.0.0.(4,11)0.(5,9)]undecane (BnPh(2)()) and 10-methyl-9,11-diphenyl-10-azatetracyclo[6.3.0.0.(4,11)0.(5,9)]undecane (MePh(2)()) decoalesce due to slowing inversion at nitrogen and to slowing isolated bridgehead phenyl rotation. The high nitrogen inversion barriers in MePh(2)() (DeltaG() = 12.2 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol at 250 K) and BnPh(2)() (DeltaG() = 10.6 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol at 215 K) are typical of tertiary amines in which at least one C-N-C bond angle is constrained to a small value. Compared to the minuscule rotation barriers about sp(2)-sp(3) carbon-carbon bonds in simple molecular systems, the bridgehead phenyl rotation barriers in MePh(2)() (DeltaG() = 9.8 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol at 210 K) and BnPh(2)() (DeltaG() = 9.8 +/- 0.1 kcal/mol at 210 K) are unusually high. Molecular mechanics calculations (MMX force field) suggest that the origin of the high phenyl rotation barriers lies in the close passage of an o-phenyl proton and a methyl (or benzylmethylene) proton in the transition state. BnPh(2)() crystallized from hexane as white needles in the monoclinic system Pn. Unit cell dimensions are as follows: a = 12.198(1) ?, b = 6.1399(6) ?, c = 14.938(2) ?, beta = 107.470(4) degrees, V = 1067.1(2) ?(3), Z = 2. In the crystal molecular structure, the imine bridge CNC bond angle in BnPh(2)() is constrained to a small value (96 degrees ). The benzylic phenyl group is oriented gauche to the nitrogen lone pair.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 128. Synthese des Diphosphastanna-cyclopropans (t-BuP)2Sn(t-Bu)2

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 128. Synthesis of the Diphosphastanna-cyclopropane (t-BuP)₂Sn(t-Bu)₂ The first three-membered P₂Sn heterocycle, 1,2,3,3-tetra-tert-butyl-1,2,3-diphosphastanna-cyclopropane (1,2,3,3-tetra-tert-butyl-1,2,3-diphosphastannirane) ( 1 ), has been synthesized by [2+1] cyclocondensation of K(t-Bu)P—P(t-Bu)K with (t-Bu)₂SnCl₂. 1 is stable at room temperature. Besides, (t-BuP)₂[Sn(t-Bu)₂]₂ ( 2 ), (t-BuP)₄Sn(t-Bu)₂ ( 3 ), and (t-BuP)₄ are formed. In the reaction with Et₂SnCl₂, the six-membered ring compound [(t-BuP)₂SnEt₂]₂ ( 4 ) is the main-product; the four- and five-membered cyclostannaphosphanes (t-BuP)₃SnEt₂ ( 5 ) and (t-BuP)₃(SnEt₂)₂ ( 6 ) are also formed. 1 could be isolated in the pure state and has been unambiguously characterized as a three-membered heterocycle with a P₂Sn skeleton. The ³¹P-NMR parameters of the other new cyclostannaphosphanes 2–6 are reported.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 159. Über die Reaktion des Diphosphaborirans (t-BuP)2BN(i-Pr)2 mit Kalium bzw. Kaliumnaphthalid

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 159. On the Reaction of the Diphosphaborirane (t-BuP)₂BN(i-Pr)₂ with Potassium or Potassium Naphthalenide The reaction of (t-BuP)₂BN(i-Pr)₂ with potassium or K-naphthalenide in tetrahydrofuran leads to K(t-Bu)P? ;BN(i-Pr)₂? P(t-Bu)K ( 1 ) via P? ;P bond cleavage of the three-membered ring skeleton. Above ? 78°C 1 changes into the asymmetric compound K(t-Bu)P? ;P(t-Bu)? BHN(i-Pr)₂ ( 2 ). In dimethoxyethane additionally the monometallated diphosphaborirane K(t-Bu)P₂BN(i-Pr)₂ ( 3 ) is formed. 1 and 3 , which could be isolated free from other phosphorus containing compounds, as well as the corresponding silylphosphanes Me₃Si(t-Bu)P? ;BN(i-Pr)₂? ;P(t-Bu)SiMe ₃ ( 4 ) and Me₃Si(t-Bu)P₂BN(i-Pr)₂ ( 5 ) were characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Protolysis of 3 or 5 leads to a decomposition of the three-membered ring skeleton with formation of H(t-Bu)P? ;PH₂.     

Beiträge zur Chemie des Phosphors. 144. Synthese und Eigenschaften des Hexaphospha-3-germaspiro[2.4]heptans (t-BuP)2Ge(t-BuP)4

Contributions to the Chemistry of Phosphorus. 144. Synthesis and Properties of the Hexaphospha-3-germaspiro[2.4]heptane (t-BuP)₂Ge(t-BuP)₄ The cyclocondensation of K(t-Bu)P? P(t-Bu)K with germanium tetrachloride in the molar ratio of 2:1 yields the novel spirocyclic compound 1,2,4,5,6,7-hexa-tert-butyl-1,2,4,5,6,7-hexaphospha-3-germaspiro[2.4]heptane, (t-BuP)₂Ge(t-BuP)₄ ( 1 ). Besides considerable amounts of (t-BuP)₄ are formed and occasionally some (t-BuP)₃ can be found. 1 could be isolated in the pure state and has been NMR-spectroscopically characterized as a spirocyclic compound with a P₂GeP₄ skeleton.