Azetidinyl ketones. Synthesis of 1-Alkyl-2,4-diphenyl-3-benzoylazetidines

α-(α'-Bromobenzyl)chalcone ( 3 ) reacts with primary amines (t-butyl, isopropyl,cyclohexyl) to give α-(α'-alkylaminobenzyl)chalcones ( 4, 5 and 6 ). When these allylic amines are treated with hydrogen bromide followed by reaction with base, they produce l-alkyl-2,4-diphenyl-3-benzoyl-azetidines ( 7,8 and 9 ). These azetidines were readily converted to their 3-deuterio derivatives ( 10 , 11 and 12 ) by treatment with sodium methoxide in deuteriomethanol. The configurations were assigned primarily by pmr spectra and mass spectra in reference to analogous compounds.     

Modellbetrachtungen zum Verständnis unerwarteter Eigenschaften der metalloiden Clusterverbindung [Ga84(N(SiMe3)2)20][Li6Br2(THF)20]·2Toluol

Towards the Understanding of the Unexpected Properties of the Metalloid Cluster Compound [Ga₈₄(N(SiMe₃)₂)₂₀][Li₆Br₂(THF)₂₀]·2Toluol In several short communications we have recently reported on the electrical and superconducting properties of the crystalline title compound 1 which contains anionic Ga₈₄R₂₀‐moieties. Here we present a collection of these results, complemented and interpreted by using DFT‐calculations on model clusters (Ga₈₄(NH₂)₂₀^?). These calculations allow a) a first insight into the dynamics of the Ga₈₄‐moieties (e.g. a rotation of the central Ga₂‐dumbbell) and thus an explanation of the temperature‐dependent Ga‐NMR‐spectra described recently, and b) estimations on the lattice energy of 1 and its resulting unexpected energetic stabilization compared to metallic gallium. A possible contribution of the cations in the electrical conduction mechanism of 1 can also be made feasible with model calculations. The basis for all the results presented is to be found in the “perfect” arrangement of nanoscopic Ga₈₄‐clusters in the crystal. This theoretically predicted condition for superconductivity in a “chain” of identical metal cluster molecules is a requirement which can hardly be realized by means of physical fabrication methods. Therefore, on the one hand the results presented here make for some disillusionment in the field of nanoscience, but on the other hand, especially in the field of synthetic chemistry, they present rewarding challenges for fundamental work in the future.     

Equilibrium interaction of solid surfaces across a polymer melt

Forces across polymer melts are poorly understood despite their importance for adhesion and fabricating composite materials. Using an atomic force microscope (AFM), this interaction was measured for poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). The structure of the polymer at the surface changed during the first approximately 10 h. Afterward, short-range attractive forces were observed with short-chain PDMS (M(w) = 4200 g/mol). Using PDMS with a molecular weight (M(w) = 18 000 g/mol) above the entanglement limit, we measured a monotonically decaying repulsive force, which indicates that a quasi-immobilized layer had formed at the solid surface. Due to the small radius of curvature of the tip, forces could be measured in equilibrium.     

Biologically active compounds through catalysis: efficient synthesis of N-(heteroarylcarbonyl)-N'-(arylalkyl)piperazines

A practical route for the synthesis of new biologically active 5-HT(2 A) receptor antagonists has been developed. In only three catalytic steps, this class of central nervous system (CNS) active compounds can be synthesized efficiently with high diversity. As the initial step, an anti-Markovnikov addition of amines to styrenes provides an easy route to N-(arylalkyl)piperazines, which constitute the core structure of the active molecules. Here, base-catalyzed hydroamination reactions of styrenes with benzylated piperazine proceeded in high yield even at room temperature. After catalytic debenzylation, the free amines were successfully carbonylated with different aromatic and heteroaromatic halides and carbon monoxide to yield the desired compounds in good to excellent yields. The two key reactions, base-catalyzed hydroamination of styrenes and palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation of haloarenes/heterocycles, showed tolerance towards various functional groups, thereby demonstrating the potential to synthesize a wide variety of new derivatives of this promising class of pharmaceuticals.     

Molecular Beam Mass Spectrometry System for Characterization of Thermal Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition

A molecular beam mass spectrometry system for in situ measurement of the concentration of gas phase species including radicals impinging on a substrate during thermal plasma chemical vapor deposition (TPCVD) has been designed and constructed. Dynamically controlled substrate temperature was achieved using a variable thermal contact resistance method via a backside flow of an argon/helium mixture. A high quality molecular beam with beamtobackground signal greater than 20 was obtained under film growth conditions by sampling through a small nozzle (75 m) in the center of the substrate. Mass discrimination effects were accounted for in order to quantify the species measurements. We demonstrate that this system has a minimum detection limit of under 100 ppb. Quantitative measurements of hydrocarbon species (H, H₂, C, CH₃, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄) using Ar/H₂/CH₄ mixtures and silicon species (Si, SiH, SiH₂, SiCl, SiCl₂, Cl, HCl) using Ar/H₂/SiCl₄ mixtures were obtained under thermal plasma chemical vapor deposition conditions.     

Towards the Design of New Materials: Regio- and Stereoselective (Cyclo-) Polymerization of 1-Alkynes and 1,6-Heptadiynes

Summary. The metathesis polymerization, respectively cyclopolymerization, of 1-alkynes and 1,6-heptadiynes using well-defined group VIA transition metal initiators is summarized. For purposes of comparison, selected quaternary catalytic systems used as alternatives as well as the properties of the resulting materials will be presented. Special consideration is given to the mechanistic advancements that have been made during the last decade, which allow the tailor-made synthesis of conjugated materials with interesting optical and electronic properties. E-mail: michael.r.buchmeiser@uibk.ac.at Received November 20, 2002; accepted November 21, 2002     

Synthesis and immobilization of quaternary ammonium cations in acidic zeolites

A general method for the synthesis of quaternary ammonium cations in acidic zeolites by a direct reaction of tertiary amines and alcohols is described.     

Conformational and photophysical studies on porphyrin-containing donor-bridge-acceptor compounds. Charge separation in micellar nanoreactors

Photophysical studies with semi-rigid, 1, and flexible, 2, donor-bridge-acceptor (D-b-A2+) molecules with D a porphyrin and A2+ a methyl viologen moiety, were performed in neat polar solvents as well as included in surfactant (DTAB) aqueous and in reverse AOT/n-alkane micelles. The micelles acted as nanoreactors for the photoinduced electron transfer reaction upon laser excitation. In spite of the longer lifetime of the charge separated (CS) state in the semi-rigid tetrad 1(ca. 200 ns vs. ca. 100 ns for the flexible dyad 2), the CS formation quantum yield, for example in acetonitrile, was lower for the former (phi(CS) = 0.13) than for the latter (0.58). Comparison of the time-resolved fluorescence data in neat solvent and in the micelles yielded the phi(CS) values in the dilute micellar solutions. Application of laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy at various temperatures to 1 dissolved in a polar organic solvent (benzonitrile, BZN) included in aqueous DTAB nanoreactors afforded structural volume changes for the production in hundreds of ps of the CS state upon excitation of a polar molecule. The contraction during CS formation upon excitation of the collapsed conformer in BZN is attributed to the entering of solvent into the open molecular cavity. The opening upon formation of the CS state due to photoinduced electron transfer in the 1 collapsed conformation arises from the repulsion of the two positively charged ends in this state, as previously calculated. Inclusion of 1 in reverse AOT micelles in various n-alkanes also led to a contraction upon excitation, but the data had much more error due to the limited range of variability of the ratio of thermoelastic parameters. The data obtained with the more flexible "supermolecule" 2 showed the predicted large conformation flexibility of these molecules.     

Effect of Photosensitizer Delivery System and Irradiation Parameters on the Efficiency of Photodynamic Therapy of B16 Pigmented Melanoma in Mice

Abstract— Previous studies (Biolo et al., Photochem. Photobiol. 59, 362-365, 1994) showed that liposome-delivered Si(IV)-na-phthalocyanine (SiNc) photosensitizes B16 pigmented melanoma subcutaneously transplanted in C57 mice to the action of 776 nm light. However, the efficacy of the phototreatment was limited by a lack of selectivity of tumor targeting by SiNc as well as by incomplete necrosis of the neoplastic mass. The present investigations show that the use of a different delivery system (Cremophor emulsion vs liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine) causes no significant increase in the selectivity of tumor targeting for three injected doses of SiNc (0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg). However, upon 776 nm light irradiation (300 mW/cm²; 520 J/cm²), the delay in the rate of tumor growth was maximal (7-8 days) for the highest naphthalocyanine dose. On the other hand, a remarkable improvement in the tumor response was obtained by inducing an intratumoral temperature increase to 44°C immediately after PDT. The thermal effect appeared to be due to photoexcitation of melanin by 776 nm light (550 mW/cm²; 520 J/cm²) and subsequent partial conversion of absorbed energy into heat.     

Two unusual, competitive mechanisms for (2-ethynylphenyl)triazene cyclization: pseudocoarctate versus pericyclic reactivity

The cyclization of (2-ethynylphenyl)triazenes in ODCB at 200 degrees C gives exclusively cinnolines, whereas addition of CuCl to 1,2-dichloroethane solutions of the triazenes at 50 degrees C results in the sole formation of isoindazoles. DFT calculations and deuterium labeling studies suggest the intermediacy of a 3-dehydrocinnolinium ion, produced through a pericyclic transition state. Calculations and trapping studies strongly implicate a carbene intermediate in isoindazole formation, which proceeds through a pseudocoarctate transition state.