Synthetic Attempts towards Polymers with Pentafulvene Structural Units

Synthetic attempts towards fully conjugated polymers 9 with pentafulvene-diyl structural units are described. Cationic polymerization of pentafulvenes 1a (R = X = Me) and 1b (R = X = MeS) nearly quantitatively gives polymers 8a and 8b with typical M_n and M_w values of 38800 and 53750, respectively, for 8a , and 12000 and 35900, respectively, for 8b . Key step of the conversion 8a → 9a (Scheme 6) is a quantitative bromination 8a → 32a , the structure of 32a being confirmed by analytical data as well as by spectroscopic comparison with model compound 23 . Best results in view of two-fold the HBr elimination 32a → 9a are obtained with Et₃N, but so far elimination has not been complete. Synthetic sequences are optimized with model compound 21 (Scheme 4). Here again, bromination 21 → 23 is quantitative, while two-fold HBr elimination 23 → 22 with Et₃N proceeds in 51% yield. Dibromide 23 easily undergoes HBr elimination followed by a Br shift to give bromide 29 . Contrary to cationic polymerization, anionic polymerization of simple pentafulvenes 1 to 2 (which would be attractive in view of the conjugated polymers 3 ) is not successful: For pentafulvene 1b (R = X = MeS), the main reaction is Diels-Alder-type dimerization 1b → 15b (Scheme 2), even under anionic conditions.     

The Derivation of Inductive Substituent Constants from pKa Values of 4-Substituted Quinuclidines. Polar effects. Part I

Thermodynamic pK_a-values have been determined for 38 4-substituted quinuclidinium perchlorates. They are remarkably sensitive to the polar effect of the substituent and cover a range of 3.63 pK_a units. Furthermore, they vary linearly and almost equally with temperature since the contribution of the TΔS° term to the free energy of ionization is relatively small and constant. The magnitude of the polar effect of the 4-cyano group varies with the solvent and appears to depend on its ability to form hydrogen bonds to the substituent rather than its dielectric constant. New inductive substituent constants σ_I^q are derived from the pK_a values. Their correlation with known inductive constants is only fair or unsatisfactory, especially as regards the relative order of hydrogen and the alkyl groups. The discrepancies can be ascribed mainly to the different models used to derive the substituent constants.     

Models for the Active Center of Pterin-Containing Molybdenum Enzymes: Crystal structure of a molybdenum complex with sulfur and pterin ligands

The first crystal structure of a molybdenum complex 9 with a hydrogenated pterin and a sulfur ligand contributes to the discussion about the active center of molybdenum and tungsten enzymes containing a molybdopterin cofactor. Complex 9 was synthesized through a redox reaction of [Mo^VIO₂ (LN-S₂)] ( 8 ; LN-S₂ = pyridine-2, 6-bis(methanethiolato)) with 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydropterin ( 7 ). 2 HCl (H₄Ptr.2 HCl). The complex crystallizes, with a non-coordinating Cl-atom acting as a counterion, in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with cell dimensions a = 22.900(5), b = 10.716(2), c = 17.551(4) Å, β = 120.36(3)°, and Z = 8. We interpret 9 as [Mo^IVO(LN-S₂)(H⁺-q-H₂Ptr)]Cl (q = quinonoid; H₂Ptr = dihydropterin), i.e., a Mo^IV monooxo center coordinated by a pyridine-2, 6-bis(methanethiolato) ligand and a protonated dihydropterin. The spectroscopic properties of this new complex are comparable to those of other crystalline molybdenum complexes of hydrogenated pterins without additional S-coordination. The slightly H₂O-soluble complex 9 reacts with the natural enzyme substrate DMSO very slowly, possibly due to the lack of easily dissociable ligands at the metal center.     

Synthese, 13C-NMR-Spektren und räumliche Struktur von ‘Push-Pull’-Diacetylenen

Synthesis, ¹³C-NMR Spectra, and X-Ray Investigation of ‘Push-Pull’ Diacetylenes Phenyl-substituted ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes 1f and 1g have been prepared by acetylation and benzoylation of the appropriate lithiodiynylamines 4 (Scheme 2). ¹³C-NMR spectra of diacetylenes 1a–g (Table 1) are discussed with respect to the expected polarisation of the diacetylene unit by ‘push’ and ‘pull’ substituents. X-Ray investigations of 1c , 1e , and 1f have been performed in view of the planned solid-state polymerisation of ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes. In the crystalline state, diacetylenes 1c and 1f are stacked, however, the stacking parameters do not allow a solid-state polymerisation.     

Approaching supramolecular functionality

Functional molecules require a high degree of complexity which is difficult to achieve by covalent synthesis. This article discusses supramolecular approaches to the creation of larger architectures through noncovalent bonds, self-assembly, and template strategies. It highlights selected examples for the structural and conformational control of function and attempts to identify difficulties and challenges which may arise in future.     

Convergence behavior of the density-matrix renormalization group algorithm for optimized orbital orderings

The density-matrix renormalization group algorithm has emerged as a promising new method in ab initio quantum chemistry. However, many problems still need to be solved before this method can be applied routinely. At the start of such a calculation, the orbitals originating from a preceding quantum chemical calculation must be placed in a specific order on a one-dimensional lattice. This ordering affects the convergence of the density-matrix renormalization group iterations significantly. In this paper, we present two approaches to obtain optimized orderings of the orbitals. First, we use a genetic algorithm to optimize the ordering with respect to a low total electronic energy obtained at a predefined stage of the density-matrix renormalization group algorithm with a given number of total states kept. In addition to that, we derive orderings from the one- and two-electron integrals of our test system. This test molecule is the chromium dimer, which is known to possess a complicated electronic structure. For this molecule, we have carried out calculations for the various orbital orderings obtained. The convergence behavior of the density-matrix renormalization group iterations is discussed in detail.     

Synthesis and self-assembly of galactose-terminated alkanethiols and their ability to resist proteins

The synthesis of two galactose-terminated alkanethiols with the structural formula X-OC2H5NHCO(CH2)15SH (X = 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl-beta-D-Gal or beta-D-Gal) is described. Single-component and mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of the methylated and nonmethylated compounds were prepared on gold and subsequently characterized with ellipsometry, contact angle goniometry, and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. Studies of the irreversible protein adsorption onto the SAMs using ex-situ ellipsometry revealed very low levels of fibrinogen and lysozyme adsorption onto mixed SAMs displaying advancing water contact angles between 24 degrees and 45 degrees and below 45 degrees , respectively. A monomethylated compound (X = 6-O-methyl-beta-D-Gal) was also synthesized and assembled on gold. This particular compound was found to possess wettability properties corresponding to the low adsorption regime of the mixed SAMs, and the results from the same set of fibrinogen and lysozyme adsorption experiments showed very low levels of protein adsorption. Our findings suggest that the protein rejecting properties rely on a fine balance between the surface energy and/or hydrogen bond donating/accepting properties of the SAM surface.     

Diastereoface Selectivity During Pthalimidonitrene Additions to (E)-and (Z)-configurated α, β-unsaturated esters,induced by a chiral center in the γ-position

In-situ-generated phthalimidonitrene was added to five α, β-unsaturated esters containing a chiral secondary O-function at C(γ). The additions were fully suprafacial, inasmuch as the (E)-isomers 1 afforded only the trans-aziridines 2 and 3 (J(β, γ) = 4.8?5.1 Hz) and the (Z)-isomers 4 only the cis-aziridines 5 and 6 (8.2?8.5 Hz). The products 2 , 3 , 5 , and 6 where shown to possess the arabino-, xylo-, ribo-, and lyxo- configuration, respectively, by X-ray structure analysis of 2b , 2d , and 6a . The diastereoface selectivity of the nitrene additions, induced by the chiral substructure around C(γ), resulted in more 2 than 3 from 1 , but more 6 than 5 from 4 , which means that the preference of attack at the double bond switches from one side to the other depending on the C=C configuration. The preferences were higher at lower temperature. The aziridines 2a , 2d , and 3d exhibit ¹H-NMR-visible isomerism at the ring N-atom; the major (78?95 %)invertomer A is always the one with the phthalimido group in trans-position to the (larger) substructure around C(γ). The other aziridines only show ¹H-NMR signals of one invertomer, which – by steric reasoning - ought to be A ; this is confirmed by a ¹H-NMR argument for 3a , 5a , 6a , 5c , and 6c .     

Bilden sich aus Pentafulven und Cyclopentadien [6+4]-Cycloaddukte??

Does [6+4] Cycloaddition between Pentafulvene and Cyclopentadiene Take Place? Reaction of a 1:1 mixture of cyclopentadiene (CPD) and pentafulvene ( 1a ) at 20° gives a complex mixture. The low-molecular-weight part mainly consists of pure and mixed dimers (ca. 73 %) besides corresponding trimers (ca. 20%) and some corresponding oligomers according to GC/MS investigations (Fig. 1). The 3 predominant ‘mixed dimers’ between CPD and 1a have been separated, and structures 4 – 6 (Scheme 3) are assigned according to 400- and 600-MHz ¹H-NMR investigations. These results show that HOMO(CPD)-LUMO(fulvene) interactions are important in pentafulvene cycloadditions. Dimer 6 results from [6+4] cycloaddition followed by [1,5]-H shifts.     

A quantum-chemical study of dinitrogen reduction at mononuclear iron-sulfur complexes with hints to the mechanism of nitrogenase

The mechanism of biological dinitrogen reduction is still unsolved, and the structure of the biological reaction center, the FeMo cofactor with its seven iron atoms bridged by sulfur atoms, is too complicated for direct attack by current sophisticated quantum chemical methods. Therefore, iron-sulfur complexes with biologically compatible ligands are utilized as models for studying particular features of the reduction process: coordination energetics, thermodynamic stability of intermediates, relative stability of isomers of N2H2, end-on versus side-on binding of N2, and the role of states of different multiplicity at a single iron center. From the thermodynamical point of view, the crucial steps are dinitrogen binding and reduction to diazene, while especially the reduction of hydrazine to ammonia is not affected by the transition metal complex, because the complex-free reduction reaction is equally favored. Moreover, the abstraction of coordinated ammonia can be easily achieved and the complex is recovered for the next reduction cycle. Our results are discussed in the light of studies on various model systems in order to identify common features and to arrive at conclusions which are of importance for the biological mechanism.