Hydrogenation without a transition-metal catalyst: on the mechanism of the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones

The hydrogenation of unsaturated organic substrates such as olefins and ketones is usually effected by homogeneous or heterogeneous transition-metal catalysts. On the other hand, a single case of a transition-metal-free and purely base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was reported by Walling and Bollyky some 40 years ago. Unfortunately, the harsh reaction conditions (ca. 200 degrees C, >100 bar H(2), potassium tert-butoxide as base) limit the substrate spectrum of this reaction to robust, nonenolizable ketones such as benzophenone. We herein present a mechanistic study of this process as a basis for future rational improvement. The base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was found to be irreversible, and it shows first-order kinetics with respect to the substrate ketone, hydrogen, and catalytic base. The rate of the reaction depends on the type of alkali ion present (Cs > Rb - K > Na > Li). Using D(2) instead of H(2) revealed a rapid base-catalyzed isotope exchange/equilibration between the gas phase and the solvent as a concomitant reaction. The degree of deuteration of the product alcohols did not indicate a significant kinetic isotope effect. It is proposed that both ketone reduction and isotope exchange proceed via similar six-membered cyclic transition states involving the H(2)(D(2))-molecule, the alkoxide base, and the ketone (solvent alcohol in the case of isotope exchange). Mechanistic analogies are pointed out which apparently exist between the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones studied here and the Ru-catalyzed asymmetric ketone hydrogenation developed by Noyori. In both cases, heterolysis of the hydrogen molecule appears to be assisted by a Br?nsted-base (i.e., alkoxide), the latter being bound to the substrate ketone or the catalyst ligand, respectively, by a bridging Lewis-acidic alkali ion.     

The effect of metal oxides on the oxidation of polybutadiene

Carboxy-terminated polybutadiene (CTPB) was oxidised as a coating on various metal oxides by heating in air on a thermobalance. The oxidation was found to be free from diffusion control and was catalysed by certain of the oxides. The catalysis was shown to be independent of semiconductor type and to be associated with those oxides for which the width of the forbidden zone between the valence and conduction bands (U) is less than 1.9 eV. In general, low values of U result in high catalytic activity. It is proposed that catalysis occurs by a redox mechanism, viz. RO₂H + p → RO₂^. + H⁺, RO₂H + e → RO^. + OH^?.     

Analyse systemati oue d'elements en traces dans l'or metalli oue par activation neutroni oue

Résumé Une méthode d'analyse des impuretés dans l'or métallique par activation neutronique, a été mise au point. Après irradiation de 15 heures dans un flux de 2·10¹⁴ n·cm⁻²·sec⁻¹, l'échantillon d'or est traité en cellule blindée. La matrice est séparée des impuretés à analyser par des méthodes électrolytiques. Les impuretés sont généralement séparées en 3 fractions qui sont mesurées par spectrométrie γ. Le traitement des informations est effectué sur ordinateur IBM 360/91 moyennant un programme écrit au laboratoire. 29 éléments sont détectables par cette méthode.     

Isoperthiocyanic acid (3-amino-5-thione-l, 2, 4-dithiazole) as a new reagent for the selective detection of nitrite ion

Summary A new, simple, and selective test is described for the detection of nitrite ion with isoperthiocyanic acid (I) as the reagent. The test is based on the reaction of a 5% solution ofI with the nitrite ion solution, a deep orange precipitate being formed. Conversely, the test can be used in the identification ofI itself. Presumably, the coloured product is 3-hydroxy-5-thione-1, 2, 4-dithiazole, formed by the action of nitrous acid (producedin situ by the action of sulphuric acid and nitrite) on the 3-amino group ofI. The limit of detection is 300g of NO₂ ^– in a drop (0.05 ml). Most anions (including IO₃ ^–) do not interfere. Only I^–, thiourea, and hydrogen peroxide interfere; S₂O₃ ^2– interferes only when present in large amounts.

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Zusammenfassung Ein neuer, einfacher und selektiver Nachweis von Nitrit mit Isoperthio cyansäure (I) wurde beschrieben. Er beruht auf der Umsetzung einer 5% igen Lösung von I mit Nitritlösung, wobei ein tief orange gefärbter Niederschlag entsteht. Umgekehrt kann die Reaktion auch zum Nachweis von I dienen. Vermutlich handelt es sich bei dem gefarbten Produkt um 3-Hydroxy-5-thion-1, 2, 4-dithiazol, das durch Einwirkung der salpetrigen Säure auf die 3-Aminogruppe von I entsteht. Die Erfassungsgrenze betragt 300g NO₂ ^–im Tropfen (0,05 ml). Die meisten Anionen (inklusive JO₃ ^–) stören nicht. Nur J^–, Thioharnstoff und H₂O₂ stören; Thiosulfat stört nur in großen Mengen.

     

Synthesis and transformation of N-oxides of some imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine derivatives

The Böckelheide reaction was accomplished with a number of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine N-oxides, and the N-oxidation of the resulting acetoxy(hydroxy)methyl derivatives of imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine and 6-bromo-1-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine was studied. The hydrolytic cleavage of 6-bromo-1-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrazine and its 4-N-oxide was studied.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 690–693, May, 1975.     

Binding energy of lithium halide molecules

A semi-empirical open shell model of sigma bonded systems has been employed to calculate the binding energies for diatomic lithium halides. The repulsion between the atomic cores is taken as the Coulomb repulsion term $\text{1}\text{R}{}_{12}$ modified by the presence of electronic cores. This modification has been estimated from the repulsion term in the Rittner potential function. The agreement with the experimental values is quite satisfactory but the extension of the same method to alkali hydrides results in gross discrepancies. The results are discussed in the light of other results.     

The electronic structure of molecules by a many-body approach: V. Ionization potentials and one-electron properties of cyclopentadiene and 1-sila-cyclopentadiene-(2,4)

The valence ionization potentials (IP's) of cyclopentadiene and 1-sila-cyclopentadiene-(2,4) are studied by an ab initio many-body approach which includes the effect of electron correlation and reorganization beyond the Hartree-Fock approximation. The Hartree-Fock approximation gives the correct ordering of the IP's for cyclopentadiene but this ordering does not agree with the results of the previous experimental and theoretical studies. The ordering is 1a₂(π), 2b₁(π), 4b₂, 6a₁, 5a₁, 3b₂, 1b₁ (π), 4a₁, 2b₂, 3a₁. For sila-cyclopentadiene the ordering of the IP's is: 1a₂(π), 4b₂, 2b₁(π), 6a₁, 1b₁(π), 5a₁, 3b₂, 4a₁, 3a₁, 2b₂. The Hartree-Fock approximation is found to be incorrect with respect to the ordering of the 4b₂ and 2b₁(π) IP's. A number of one-electron properties are calculated in the one-particle approximation and compared with the available experimental data.     

Carbon suboxide and some of its reactions

The reaction of carbon suboxide with a number of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles has given the corresponding pyrimido[1,2-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles     

Polymerization and copolymerization of methacrylic esters derived from glycidyl methacrylate

Copolymerization of methacrylic esters derived from glycidyl methacrylate and nucleophiles with styrene was carried out. The monomer reactivity ratios of these methacrylic esters were varied with the alkoxy groups of the esters and the solvent used.     

Determination quantitative des impuretes des graphites nucleaires par les methodes de radioactivation analyse systematique

Impurities contained in nuclear graphites have been determined so far individually. A method of systematic analysis is described which permits to determine about twenty impurities in one sample, such as the following elements: Ag, Se, Hg, Sb, Cu, Fe, Ga, Co, Cd, Zn, In, Zr, Cr, Sc, Ba, Ca, Na, K, Rb, and Cs. Brief mention is made of methods used for the determination of all rare earth metals, Si, S and P, as well as the elements which can be determined without chemical separation, such as Cl, Mn, V.

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Determination quantitative des impuretes des graphites nucleaires par les methodes de radioactivation analyse systematique