1,4-Photoaddition of maleic anhydride to chrysene

The photoDiels-Alder reaction of maleic anhydride with chrysene yields chryseno[4,5-efg]isobenzofuran-4,6-dion (VI). Heavy atom experiments using xenon as an external perturber show that the reaction occurs via the lowest singlet excited state of chrysene. Hydrogen is abstracted from the primaryDiels-Alder adduct IV by the solvent CH₂Cl₂ possibly in a two-step mechanism. The reaction presents a new type of photoreaction, its mechanism possibly follows a scheme not considered so far in photochemistry.

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1,4-Photoaddition von Maleinsäureanhydrid an Chrysen

Zusammenfassung Die Photo-Diels-Alder-Reaktion von Maleinsäureanhydrid mit Chrysen ergibt Chryseno[4,5-efg]-isobenzofuran-4,6-dion (VI). Schweratomexperimente mit Xenon als äußerer Störer zeigen, daß die Reaktion vom niedrigst angeregten Singulettzustand des Chrysens ausgeht. Die Abstraktion von Wasserstoffatomen aus dem primärenDiels-Alder-Addukt IV durch das Lösungsmittel CH₂Cl₂ folgt möglicherweise einem Zweistufenmechanismus. Die Reaktion stellt einen neuen Typ von Photoreaktion dar; möglicherweise folgt sie einem Mechanismus, der in der Photochemie neuartig ist.

     

Combining Performance with Thermal Stability: Synthesis and Characterization of 5-(3,5-Dinitro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-tetrazole and its Energetic Derivatives

In this study, we present the synthesis of 5-(3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-tetrazole and its energetic derivatives starting from 4-amino-3,5-dinitropyrazole, which was diazotized and cyanide substituted. A subsequent cycloaddition reaction with sodium azide led to 5-(3,5-dinitro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-tetrazole ( 3 ). Several alkaline metal and nitrogen-rich salts were prepared and characterized by low-temperature X-ray diffraction. Additionally, all compounds were analyzed by vibrational spectroscopy (IR), ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁴N NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Additionally, the heats of formation for selected compounds were calculated using the atomization method based on CBS-4M enthalpies as well as important detonation parameters by using the EXPLO5 code (V6.05). Furthermore, the sensitivities of 3 and all synthesized salts toward friction, impact and electrostatic discharge according to BAM (Bundesamt für Materialforschung) were determined and compared to RDX.     

Discovery of a Superconducting Cu–Bi Intermetallic Compound by High‐Pressure Synthesis

A new intermetallic compound, the first to be structurally identified in the Cu?Bi binary system, is reported. This compound is accessed by high‐pressure reaction of the elements. Its detailed characterization, physical property measurements, and ab initio calculations are described. The commensurate crystal structure of Cu₁₁Bi₇ is a unique variation of the NiAs structure type. Temperature‐dependent electrical resistivity and heat capacity measurements reveal a bulk superconducting transition at T_c=1.36 K. Density functional theory calculations further demonstrate that Cu₁₁Bi₇ can be stabilized (relative to decomposition into the elements) at high pressure and temperature. These results highlight the ability of high‐pressure syntheses to allow for inroads into heretofore‐undiscovered intermetallic systems for which no thermodynamically stable binaries are known.     

Isolation and X-ray structure analysis of citreohybridonol from marine-derived Penicillium atrovenetum

The anti-neuroinflammatory meroterpenoid citreohybridonol was isolated for the first time from a sponge-derived fungus Penicillium atrovenetum. In this study, in addition to isolation and structure featuring, its unambiguous absolute configuration was determined exclusively by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The C-17-keto tautomer was clearly observed in X-ray analysis. The substance crystallises in the monoclinic space group P2₁ with a = 10.7496(5) Å, b = 14.3286(7) Å, c = 17.4909(8) Å, β = 103.235(2)°, V = 2622.5(2) Å³, Z = 2, D_calcd = 1.280 g/cm³. The chirality of the asymmetric carbon atoms was as follows: C3 (S), C5 (R), C6 (S), C8 (S), C9 (R), C10 (R), C13 (R), C14 (R).     

1-AminoTriazole Transition-Metal Complexes as Laser-Ignitable and Lead-Free Primary Explosives

This unique complex study describes two isomeric aminotriazoles as auspicious nitrogen-rich ligands for energetic coordination compounds (ECCs) to replace the commonly used highly poisonous and environmentally harmful lead-based primary explosives. The triazoles were obtained by easily scalable and convenient synthetic routes starting solely from commercially available starting materials. 1-Amino-1,2,3-triazole ( 1 , 1-ATRI) and, for the first time, 1-amino-1,2,4-triazole ( 2 , 1A-1,2,4-TRI) were employed as ligands to form highly energetic transition-metal(II) complexes. The desired characteristics could be altered successively by using various nonpoisonous metal(II) centers (Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Zn²⁺) and anions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻, picrate, styphnate, 2,4,6-trinitro-3-hydroxyphenolate, and 2,4,6-trinitro-3,5-dihydroxyphenolate). The 14 synthesized coordination compounds were characterized comprehensively by XRD, IR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses. Ball-drop impact, electrostatic discharge (ESD), and mechanical (impact and friction) sensitivities were determined according to BAM standard methods. In addition to laser ignition experiments, selected ECCs were evaluated in classical secondary explosive initiation tests (detonators filled with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (nitropenta)), which revealed their enormous potential and proved them to be very attractive for future applications in explosives.     

Proton Affinities of Cationic Carbone Adducts [AC(PPh3)2]+ (A=Halogen,Hydrogen, Methyl) and Unusual Electronic Structures of the Cations and Dications [AC(H)(PPh3)2]2+

This work reports the syntheses and the first crystal structures of the cationic carbone adducts [FC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ and [BrC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ and the protonated dication [FC(H)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺, which are derived from the carbone C(PPh₃)₂. Quantum chemical calculations and bonding analyses were carried out for the series of cations [AC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ and dications [AC(H)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺, where A=H, Me, F, Cl, Br, I. The bonding analysis suggests that the cations are best described as phosphane complexes L→(CA)⁺←L (L=PPh₃), which are related to the neutral borylene adducts L→(BA)←L (L=cyclic carbene; A=H, aryl) that were recently isolated. The carbone adducts [AC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ possess a π electron lone pair at carbon and they can easily be protonated to the dications [AC(H)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺. The calculations of the dications indicate that the molecules are best represented as complexes L→(CHA)²⁺←L (L=PPh₃) where a carbene dication is stabilized by the ligands. The central carbon atom in the cations and even in the dications carries a negative partial charge, which is larger than the negative charge at fluorine. There is also the peculiar situation in which the carbon–fluorine bonds in [FC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ and [FC(H)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ exhibit the expected polarity with the negative end at fluorine, but the carbon atom has a larger negative charge than fluorine. Given the similarity of carbodiphosphorane C(PPh₃)₂ and carbodicarbene C(NHC)₂, we expect that analogous compounds [AC(NHC)₂]⁺ and [AC(H)(NHC)₂]²⁺ with similar features as [AC(PPh₃)₂]⁺ and [AC(H)(PPh₃)₂]²⁺ can be isolated.     

Novel analogues of ascomycin with modifications in the amino acid unit through photochemistry: the synthesis of 5,6-dehydroascomycin, SDZ ASQ 871

Irradiation of ascomycin 1a and its derivatives in MeOH, EtOH and propanol resulted in alkoxylation of the pipecolic acid moiety in the ε-position with concomitant reduction in the tricarbonyl region leading to 6-alkoxy-9-hydroxy derivatives in high stereoselectivities and good yields. The products, after reoxidation of the C(9)-OH, afforded the 6-alkoxy analogues of the parent compounds. Elimination of MeOH from the photoproducts, followed by oxidation gave the corresponding 5,6-dehydro amino acid analogues. Similarly, starting from the proline analogue 7 modifications in the pyrrolidine moiety could be achieved.     

Diboramacrocycles: reversible borole dimerisation–dissociation systems

We report that the outcome of the tin–boron exchange reaction of a mixed thiophene-benzo-fused stannole with aryldibromoboranes is associated with the steric bulk of the aryl substituent of the borane reagent, leading to either boroles or large diboracycles as products. NMR spectroscopic studies indicate that the two products can reversibly interconvert in solution, and mechanistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal boroles to be intermediates in the formation of the diboracyclic products. The addition of Lewis bases to the diboracycles leads to the corresponding borole adducts, demonstrating that they react as “masked” boroles. Additionally, the reaction of the title compounds with a series of organic azides affords complex heteropropellanes, formally 2 : 1 borole-azide adducts, that deviate from the usual BN aromatic compounds formed via nitrogen atom insertion into the boroles.

Diboramacrocycles are a new form of borole dimers, participating in various addition reactions as “masked” boroles. The reaction of a less crowded diboramacrocycle with organic azides affords unprecedented complex heteropropellanes.