Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed CH Insertions with {[(4-Nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]imino}phenyl-λ3-iodane

The [Rh₂(OAc)₄]-catalyzed decomposition of {[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl]imino}phenyl-λ³-iodane (NsN?IPh) resulted in formal insertions into CH bonds, activated by phenyl or vinyl groups, or by O-substituents. Scope and limitations of the reaction were investigated. Yields of up to 84% were achieved in the most favorable cases. Yields were enhanced by electron-releasing substituents and decreased by steric hindrance. Aziridination competed with allylic insertion with olefinic substrates. The insertion reaction proceeded with retention of configuration. With chiral Rh^II catalysts, a modest asymmetric induction was observed. A mechanism involving direct insertion by a Rh-complexed nitrene into the CH bond is proposed.     

Mesomorphism,isomerization, and dynamics in a new series of pyramidic liquid crystals

Nona-alkanoyloxy tribenzocyclononene (CTV-n, where n is the number of carbons in the side chains) were prepared for n = 2 to 14. The homologues of this series appear in two stable isomeric forms, rigid crown and flexible saddle. We report on their isomerization equilibria and dynamics in solution and on their mesomorphic properties in the neat state. The crown-saddle equilibrium and interconversion kinetics of the CTV-8 isomers were studied in dimethyl formamide solutions using high-resolution (1)H NMR in the temperature range from 50 to 130 degrees C. At lower temperatures, the isomerization is too slow to measure. In this range the equilibrium saddle fraction increases from approximately 0.40 to approximately 0.65, whereas the isomerization rate increases from approximately 10(-)(4) to approximately 1 s(-)(1). The saddle isomer undergoes fast pseudorotation at room temperature, but below about -50 degrees C, it becomes slow enough to affect the NMR line width. The rate parameters for this process were estimated from the carbon-13 spectra in methylene chloride solutions to be, k(p)(-100 degrees C) approximately 1.7 x 10(3) s(-)(1) and E(a) approximately 9.6 kJ/mol. The slow crown-saddle isomerization at room temperature (half-life of about one year) allows quantitative separation (by chromatography) of the two isomers and their separate investigation. When the alkanoyloxy side chains are sufficiently long both isomers are mesogenic (n >or= 4 for the saddle and n >or= 5 for the crown), exhibiting hexagonal columnar mesophases. The structure, dynamics, and mesomorphic properties of these mesophase were investigated by X-ray diffraction, optical polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and NMR. The lattice parameters of the crown and saddle mesophases of corresponding homologues are almost identical and increase monotonically with increasing length of the side chains. The clearing temperatures of the saddle isomers are consistently lower than those of the corresponding crowns. Within each series, the clearing temperatures are almost independent of the length of the side chains (156 to 170 degrees C for the crown and 115 to 148 degrees C for the saddle). The thermal and kinetic properties of the neat compounds lead to peculiar phase sequences, as observed in the polarizing microscope and in the DSC thermogram, involving repeated, back and forth, interconversion between the two isomers. Carbon-13 MAS NMR measurements of the crown and saddle mesophases of several homologues were carried out. The spectra of the crown mesophase exhibit dynamic features consistent with planar 3-fold molecular jumps about the column axes. A quantitative analysis for the CTV-8 crown homologue yielded the following Arrhenius parameters, A = 3.1 x 10(22)s(-)(1) and E(a) = 130.1kJ/mol. These unusually high values suggest that the barrier to the jump process is temperature dependent, decreasing with increasing temperature. The rate of this 3-fold jump process is slower for the lower homologues and faster for the higher ones. In contrast, the saddle isomers in the mesophase do not show dynamic effects in their carbon-13 MAS spectra. They do not undergo pseudorotation, and it appears that the molecules remain locked within the columns in a saddle conformation, up to the clearing temperature. However, on (super-)cooling to room temperature and below, selective line broadening is observed in their carbon-13 MAS spectra. This suggests that the saddle conformation is twisted in the mesophase and undergoes fast high-amplitude jumps between the twisted forms. On cooling, these high-amplitude librations freeze out to give an orientationally disordered state. On a very long time scale (of the order of days at 100 degrees C), the saddle mesophase transforms into that of the crown, apparently by sublimation.     

A one-pot synthesis to [(Me3Si)3SiSb]4; a potential precursor for Sb42-

The reaction of (Me(3)Si)(3)SiK[middle dot]18-crown-6 with SbCl(3)(3 : 1 equiv.) provides a simple route to the title complex [(Me(3)Si)(3)SiSb](4). The potassium base initially acts as a nucleophile and then as a coupling agent, forming Sb-Sb bonds.     

Eliminative deoxygenation: the facile formation of α-trimethylsilyl vinyl sulfides from sulfoxides

Synthetically useful α-trimethylsilyl vinyl sulfides are generated in high yields by deoxygenation of the corresponding sulfoxides in the presence of excess LDA and trimethylsilyl chloride.     

Adiabatic potentials for a bridged three-site electron-transfer system

Born—Oppenheimer potential surfaces for a bridged three-site electron-transfer system are calculated. The adiabatic potentials depend upon both the vibrational sum and difference coordinates. Along the vibrational difference coordinate, the ground-state surface has single-minimun form when the through-bridge electronic coupling is strong, and double-minimum form for weak through-bridge coupling. The results are compared to those previously reported for two-site models.     

Eliminative deoxygenation: A facile synthesis of α-cyano and α-carboalkoxy substituted vinyl sulfides

The faciIe eliminative deoxygenation of α-cyano and carboalkoxy sulfoxides by trimethylsilyl triflate under mildly basic conditions results in the formation of α-thiophenyl substituted α,β-unsaturated nitriles and esters in high yields.     

Mass transfer and benzene removal from air using latex rubber tubing and a hollow-fiber membrane module

A dense-phase latex rubber tube and a polyporous propylene hollow-fiber membrane module (HFMM) were investigated for control of benzene-contaminated gas streams. The abiotic mass flux observed through the latex tube was 3.9–13 mg/(min·m²) for 150 ppm of benzene at various gas and liquid flow rates, while a 100-fold lower mass flux was observed in the HFMM. After seeding with an aromatic-degrading culture enriched from activated sludge, the observed removal was 80% of 150 ppm, corresponding toa mass flux of 45 mg/(min·m²). The observed mass flux through the HFMM during biofiltration also rose, to 0.4 mg/(min·m²). Because the HFMM had a 50-fold higher surface area than the latex tube, the observed ben zene removal was 99.8%. Compared to conventional biofilters, the two reactors had modest elimination capacities, 2.5–18 g/(m³·h) in the latex tube membrane bioreactor and 4.8–58 g/(m³·h) in the HFMM. Although the HFMM had a higher elimination capacity, the gas-phase pressure drop was much greater.     

Spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) with 2-diethylaminoethanethiol hydrochloride and the simultaneous determination of rhodium and palladium

2-Diethylaminoethanethiol hydrochloride is proposed for spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II). The sensitivity of the reaction is 0.0085 smg/cm² and the yellow colored complex shows absorption maxima at 258 mμ and 303 mμ. Color development is slow in the cold but complete after heating for 10–15 min. The optimum pH range is 3.5 to 5.5 and the system adheres to Beer's law between 0.2 and 16.8 p.p.m. of palladium. The average and maximum relative standard deviations were 0.60% and 1.40% respectively. Interferences due to other platinum metals were studied and a procedure is suggested for the simultaneous determination of rhodium and palladium.     

Adamantane-like cluster complexes of mixed-valent copper-copper and nickel-copper thiolates

Square-planar copper(II) and nickel(II) derivatives of the cis-dithiolate N(2)S(2) ligand bis(N,N'-2-mercapto-2-methylpropyl)-1,5-diazocyclooctane, (bme*daco)M, nucleate four Cu(I)Cl moieties, forming M(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4) clusters with unusual triply bridging thiolates, mu(3)-SR, in the topological form of adamantane. As determined by X-ray crystallography, the (bme*daco)M (M = Cu or Ni) metallothiolate serves as a bidentate ligand that bridges four Cu(I) ions, utilizing all lone pairs on sulfurs. Further characterization by electrochemical and electronic spectral measurements suggests greater electron delocalization in the all-copper complex as compared to the NiCu heterometallic complex. Mass spectral data imply that the mixed-metal Ni(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4) is more stable toward CuCl loss than Cu(II)(2)Cu(I)(4)S(4), a result that is corroborated by extraction of Cu(I) by 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane in the latter but not the former.     

Evaluation of enzymatic digestion and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry peptide mapping of the integral membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin

A method for the complete peptide mapping of the model integral membrane protein bacteri-orhodopsin is demonstrated. Utilizing more effective enzymatic digestion, procedures with capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), all predicted tryptic digestion products were detected, as well as peptides from all previously reported post-translational modifications of bacteriorhodopsin. A significant contribution of chymotryptic-like digestion products was also observed. A characterization of the behavior of hydrophobic integral membrane peptides in a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation is also provided. The method reported here offers improved compatibility of the solubilizing reagents with both the chromatography and mass spectrometry, rendering it suitable for high-throughput proteomic applications.