Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity of Group 12 Metal Thiocarboxylates, M(SOCR)(2)Lut(2) [M = Cd, Zn; R = CH(3), C(CH(3))(3); Lut = 3,5-Dimethylpyridine (Lutidine)

A series of group 12 metal thiocarboxylate species, M(SOCR)(2)Lut(2) [M = Cd, Zn; R = CH(3), C(CH(3))(3); Lut = 3,5-dimethylpyridine (lutidine)], were synthesized to investigate their potential to act as precursors for the formation of metal sulfide materials. These species were expected to undergo thiocarboxylic anhydride elimination to give stoichiometric metal sulfides and remove the organic supporting ligands cleanly. These species were characterized by (1)H, (13)C, and (where appropriate) (113)Cd NMR spectroscopies, TGA, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The spectroscopic and analytical data were consistent with the formulas identified above, and in the solid state the compounds are monomeric with approximate tetrahedral metal coordination environments and monodentate S-bond thiocarboxylate ligands. Crystal data for Cd(SOCCH(3))(2)Lut(2): crystallized in the triclinic space group P&onemacr;, with a = 8.267(1) ?, b = 9.467(1) ?, c = 14.087(1) ?, alpha = 94.04(1) degrees, beta = 91.49(1) degrees, gamma = 104.03(1) degrees, and Z = 2. Thermal decomposition of these compounds in the solid state or in solution resulted in formation of the corresponding metal sulfide at low temperatures, as seen by powder X-ray diffraction. Evidence for thiocarboxylic anhydride elimination was documented by NMR in solution phase reactions. The effects on thiocarboxylic anhydride elimination, resulting from varying M, R, or solvent media, were examined by heating NMR tube solutions of M(SOCR)(2)Lut(2) in pyridine or toluene. Heating toluene or pyridine solutions of Cd(SOCCH(3))(2)Lut(2) resulted in formation of nanocrystalline, sphalerite CdS, as determined by X-ray diffraction and TEM. These preliminary reactivity studies have revealed the great potential of this highly tailorable chemical system as precursors to group 12 metal sulfido species.     

Optimal control theory for a target state distributed in time: optimizing the probe-pulse signal of a pump-probe-scheme

Optimal control theory (OCT) is formulated for the case of a two-color pump-probe experiment. The approach allows to calculate the pump-pulse shape in such a way that the probe-pulse absorption signal is maximized. Since the latter quantity is given by the time-averaged expectation value of a time dependent operator (the probe-pulse field-strength times the dipole operator) a version of OCT has to be used where the target state is distributed in time. The method is applied to a molecular three-level system with the pump-pulse driving the transition from the electronic ground state into the first-excited electronic state and the probe-pulse connecting the first-excited state with a higher lying electronic state. Depending on the probe-pulse duration, the vibrational wave packet becomes localized or at least highly concentrated in the Franck-Condon window for the transition into the higher-excited state. The dependence on the probe-pulse duration and on the delay time between the optimized pump-pulse and the probe-pulse is discussed in detail. The whole study demonstrates the feasibility of laser pulse induced temporal wave packet localization and the use of spectroscopic quantities as target states in experiments on femtosecond laser pulse control.     

Hydrogen atom vs electron transfer in catecholase-mimetic oxidations by superoxometal complexes. Deuterium kinetic isotope effects

Dioximato-cobalt(II), -iron(II) and -manganese(II) complexes (1)-(6), acting as functional catecholase and phenoxazinone synthase models, exhibit a deuterium kinetic isotope effect predicted by theory (k4H/k4D < or = 3) in the catalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and 2-aminophenol by O2. KIEs in the range of (k4H/k4D approximately 1.79-3.51) are observed with (1) and (2) as catalysts, pointing to hydrogen atom transfer in the rate-determining step from the substrate hydroxy group to the metal-bound superoxo ligand. Less significant KIEs (1.06-1.20) are exhibited by catalysts systems (3)-(6), indicating that proton-coupled electron transfer is the preferred route in those cases.     

Gas-phase synthesis of charged copper and silver Fischer carbenes from diazomalonates: mechanistic and conformational considerations in metal-mediated wolff rearrangements

Copper(I) and silver(I) Fischer carbenes are synthesized in the gas phase. Various diazomalonate-based compounds with an attached metal ion are introduced into the gas phase by electrospray ionization and subjected to collisional activation. Loss of N(2) generates a metastable Fischer carbene, which subsequently undergoes Wolff rearrangement and loss of CO. Further excitation leads to the loss of another CO molecule and the generation of a stable Fischer carbene. Isotopically labeled compounds are utilized to confirm the assignment of the products resulting from this process. DFT calculations are used to evaluate various mechanistic possibilities and to quantitatively assess the energetics of reactants and products. Silver(I) is shown to be more effective in facilitating Wolff rearrangement than copper(I), although both are more effective when compared to spectator charges such as sodium or a fixed quaternary nitrogen. Carbenes are not produced when copper(II), nickel(II), or a proton is used to form a quasi-molecular ion from the diazomalonate carbene precursor. Finally, trapping of the Fischer carbene by various functional groups attached through the open coordination site of the metal is investigated.     

Reactions of aziridines. Preparation and properties of 2-thiazolinium salts

Reaction of 1-substituted aziridines with thioamides in the presence of perchloric acid has provided a facile route to 2-thiazolinium salts. Thioformamide was used in this reaction to give the 2-unsubstituted 2-thiazolinium salts 3-[4-(2,6-xylyloxy)butyl]-2-thiazolinium perchlorate (11a) and 3-(2-cyelohexylbutyl)-2-thiazolinium perchlorate (IIc). A study of the rates of hydro-lytic breakdown of IIc and 3-(2-cyelohexylbutyl)-2-methyl-2-thiazolinium perchlorate (IId) showed that the 2-unsubstituted compound (IIc) was considerably less stable than the 2-methyl analog (IId) over the entire pH range. Use of 1-substituted aziridines in ring-opening reactions, previously applied only to 1-unsubstituted aziridines, has given expected products when thio-cyanate ion or thiourea was the nucleophile.     

Multinuclear NMR investigations of the oxygen, water, and hydroxyl environments in sodium hexaniobate

Solid-state (1)H, (17)O MAS NMR, (1)H-(93)Nb TRAPDOR NMR, and (1)H double quantum 2D MAS NMR experiments were used to characterize the oxygen, water, and hydroxyl environments in the monoprotonated hexaniobate material, Na(7)[HNb(6)O(19)].15H(2)O. These solid-state NMR experiments demonstrate that the proton is located on the bridging oxygen of the [Nb(6)O(19)](8-) cluster. The solid-state NMR results also show that the NbOH protons are spatially isolated from similar protons, but undergo proton exchange with the water species located in the crystal lattice. On the basis of double quantum (1)H MAS NMR measurements, it was determined that the water species in the crystal lattice have restricted motional dynamics. Two-dimensional (1)H-(17)O MAS NMR correlation experiments show that these restricted waters are preferentially associated with the bridging oxygen. Solution (17)O NMR experiments show that the hydroxyl proton is also attached to the bridging oxygen for the compound in solution. In addition, solution (17)O NMR kinetic studies for the hexaniobate allowed the measurement of relative oxygen exchange rates between the bridging, terminal, and hydroxyl oxygen and the oxygen of the solvent as a function of pH and temperature. These NMR experiments are some of the first investigations into the proton location, oxygen and proton exchange processes, and water dynamics for a base stable polyoxoniobate material, and they provide insight into the chemistry and reactivity of these materials.     

Cyclodextrin complexation of a stilbene and the self-assembly of a simple molecular device

(E)-4-tert-Butyl-4'-oxystilbene, 1(-), is thermally stable as the (E)-1(-) isomer but may be photoisomerized to the (Z)-1(-) isomer as shown by UV-vis and (1)H NMR studies in aqueous solution. When (E)-1(-) is complexed by alphaCD two inclusion isomers (includomers) form in which alphaCD assumes either of the two possible orientations about the axis of (E)-1(-) in alphaCD.(E)-1(-) for which (1)H NMR studies yield the parameters: k(1)(298 K)= 12.3 +/- 0.6 s(-1), DeltaH(1)(++)= 94.3 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS1(++)= 92.0 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1), and k(2)(298 K)= 10.7 +/- 0.5 s(-1), DeltaH(2)(++)= 93.1 +/- 4.7 kJ mol(-1), DeltaS2(++)= 87.3 +/- 5.0 J K(-1) mol(-1) for the minor and major includomers, respectively. The betaCD.(E)-1(-) complex either forms a single includomer or its includomers interchange at the fast exchange limit of the (1)H NMR timescale. Complexation of 1(-) by N-(6(A)-deoxy- alpha-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)-N'-(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, results in the binary complexes 2.(E)-1(-) in which both CD component annuli are occupied by (E)-1(-) and which exists exclusively in darkness and 2.(Z)-1(-) in which only one CD component is occupied by (Z)-1(-) and exists exclusively in daylight at lambda > or = 300 nm. Irradiation of solutions of the binary complexes at 300 and 355 nm results in photostationary states dominated by 2.(E)-1(-) and 2.(Z)-1(-), respectively. In the presence of 4-methylbenzoate, 4(-), 2.(Z)-1(-) forms the ternary complex 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) where 4(-) occupies the second CD annulus. Interconversion occurs between 2.(Z)-1(-).4(-) and 2.(E)-1(-)+4(-) under the same conditions as for the binary complexes alone. Similar interactions occur in the presence of 4-methylphenolate and 4-methylphenylsulfonate. The two isomers of each of these systems represent different states of a molecular device, as do the analogous binary complexes of N,N-bis(6(A)-deoxy- beta-cyclodextrin-6(A)-yl)urea, 3, [3.(E)-1(-) and 3.(Z)-1(-), where the latter also forms a ternary complex with 4(-).     

The influence of anisotropic membrane inclusions on curvature elastic properties of lipid membranes

A membrane inclusion can be defined as a complex of protein or peptide and the surrounding significantly distorted lipids. We suggest a theoretical model that allows for the estimation of the influence of membrane inclusions on the curvature elastic properties of lipid membranes. Our treatment includes anisotropic inclusions whose energetics depends on their in-plane orientation within the membrane. On the basis of continuum elasticity theory, we calculate the inclusion-membrane interaction energy that reflects the protein or peptide-induced short-ranged elastic deformation of a bent lipid layer. A numerical estimate of the corresponding interaction constants indicates the ability of inclusions to sense membrane bending and to accumulate at regions of favorable curvature, matching the effective shape of the inclusions. Strongly anisotropic inclusions interact favorably with lipid layers that adopt saddlelike curvature; such structures may be stabilized energetically. We explore this possibility for the case of vesicle budding where we consider a shape sequence of closed, axisymmetric vesicles that form a (saddle-curvature adopting) membrane neck. It appears that not only isotropic but also strongly anisotropic inclusions can significantly contribute to the budding energetics, a finding that we discuss in terms of recent experiments.     

Sulfur-mediated radical cyclisation reactions on solid support

Two methods for effecting radical cyclisation reactions of solid-supported 1,6-dienes are described. Additions of thiophenol and p-tolyl benzeneselenosulfonate have each been achieved with a concomitant 5-exo-trig radical cyclisation leading to the formation of highly functionalised cyclopentanes.