Study of organo-hybrid layered double hydroxides by medium and near infrared spectroscopy

An Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) containing carbonate ion in its interlayer region was examined by medium infrared (MIR) and near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). The MIR and NIR spectroscopy techniques was also used to study two organo-hybrid LDHs containing interlayer dodecylbenzenesulphonate (DBS) and dodecylsulphate (DS) ions, respectively. The NIR spectra for the latter solids were found to exhibit the overtone and combination bands for the hydroxyl groups in addition to those typical bands of the organic host functions.     

Schistosomicidal activity of the essential oil of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) against adult Schistosoma mansoni worms

The in vitro schistosomicidal effects of the essential oil of Ageratum conyzoides L. (Ac-EO) against adult worms of Schistosoma mansoni is reported in this paper. Concerning this activity, Ac-EO was considered to be active, but less effective than the positive control (praziquantel, PZQ) in terms of separation of coupled pairs, mortality, decrease in motor activity, and tegumental alterations. However, Ac-EO caused an interesting dose-dependent reduction in the number of eggs of S. mansoni. Precocene I (74.30%) and (E)-caryophyllene (14.23%) were identified as the two major constituents of Ac-EO. These compounds were tested individually and were found to be much less effective than Ac-EO and PZQ. A mixture of the two major compounds in a ratio similar to that found in the Ac-EO was also less effective than Ac-EO, thus revealing that there are no synergistic effects between these components. These results suggest that the essential oil of A. conyzoides is very promising for the development of new schistosomicidal agents.     

Bijvoet in solution reveals unexpected stereoselectivity in a Michael addition

The absolute configuration of small crystallizable molecules can be determined with anomalous X-ray diffraction as shown by Bijvoet in 1951. For the majority of compounds that can neither be crystallized nor easily be converted into crystallizable derivatives, stereocontrolled organic synthesis is still required to establish their absolute configuration. In this contribution, a new fundamental methodology for resolving the absolute configuration will be presented that does not require crystallization. With residual dipolar coupling enhanced NMR spectroscopy, ensembles of a limited number of structures are created reflecting the correct conformations and relative configuration. Subsequently, from these ensembles, optical rotation dispersion (ORD) spectra are predicted by DFT calculations and compared to experimental results. The combination of these two steps reveals the absolute configuration of a flexible molecule in solution, which is a big challenge to chiroptical methods and DFT in the absence of NMR spectroscopy. Here the absolute stereochemistry of the product of a new Michael addition, synthesized via a niobium(V) chiral enolate, will be elucidated by using the new methodology.     

Recent advances in Sonogashira reactions

The coupling of aryl or vinyl halides with terminal acetylenes catalysed by palladium and other transition metals, commonly termed as Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction, is one of the most important and widely used sp(2)-sp carbon-carbon bond formation reactions in organic synthesis, frequently employed in the synthesis of natural products, biologically active molecules, heterocycles, molecular electronics, dendrimers and conjugated polymers or nanostructures. This critical review focuses on developments in the Sonogashira reaction achieved in recent years concerning catalysts, reaction conditions and substrates (352 references).     

Supramolecular assembly of new heteropolymetalic molecules based on tetraiminodiphenolate macrocycle and hexacyanometallate anions: Magnetostructural and spectroscopic properties

Herein we report on the synthesis, single crystal X-ray structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of [{Cu₂(tidf)(H₂O)}₂(μ-CN)₂Fe(CN)₄]·6H₂O (1), [Cu₂(tidf)(H₂O)₂][Ni(CN)₄] (2) and [Cu₂(tidf)(H₂O)₂][Fe(CN)₅NO]·H₂O (3) (tidf = a Robson type macrocyclic ligand obtained on condensation of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol and 1,3-diaminopropane). Complex (1) is pentanuclear; two paramagnetic dicopper(II) units are linked by a hexacyanoferrate(II) ion through two cyano-bridges. All compounds exhibit extensive, three-dimensional, supramolecular structures supported by classic hydrogen bonding between the coordinated aqua ligands, water molecules and cyano groups. Magnetism as a function of the temperature of complexes 1-3 is consistent with a strong antiferromagnetism with exchange parameters 2J estimated −783(29), −913(2), −905(1), respectively.     

First practical cross-alkylation of primary alcohols with a new and recyclable impregnated iridium on magnetite catalyst

A new impregnated iridium on magnetite catalyst has been prepared, characterized, used and recycled, up to ten times with practically the same activity, for the first practical cross-alkylation of primary alcohols. The catalyst showed a wide reaction scope, is easy to prepare and handle, and it could be removed from the reaction medium just by magnetic sequestering.     

Is the Hammett's constant free of steric effects?

In this work, we have explored the validity of the hypotheses on which rest the Hammett's approach to quantify the substituent effect on a reaction center, by applying two DFT energy decomposition schemes. This is performed by studying the change in the total electronic energy, ΔΔE, associated with a proton transfer isodesmic equilibrium. For this reaction, two sets of substituted benzoic acids and their corresponding benzoate anions have been considered. One of these sets contains para- and meta-substitutions, whereas the other one includes ortho-substituted benzoic acids. For each case, the gas phase change in the total electronic energy has been calculated, and two DFT energy decomposition schemes have been applied. The experimental σ(X) was found to be nearly proportional to the computed ΔΔE. The results for the para- and meta-substituted benzoic acids lead to the conclusion that it is possible to treat separately and, in an additive manner, the electrostatic and steric contributions; and also that the Hammett constant depends mainly on the electronic contributions to the free energy, while the steric contribution is negligible. However, the results for the ortho-substituted cases lead to the conclusion, as was assumed by Hammett, that there are significant qualitative differences between the effects on a reaction site of substituents in the meta- and para-positions and those in the ortho-position.     

Inorganic nanoparticles prepared in miniemulsion

The defined synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles is the crucial step for their successful application. Thus, preparation methods to control composition, shape, size, and aggregation behavior are of high interest and relevance. Here, the possibilities that the miniemulsion technique offers for the generation of inorganic nanoparticles are reviewed. Several of the traditional synthetic methods as the controlled precipitation or sol–gel chemistry were confined to the droplets of a miniemulsion, leading to new structures and morphologies. Furthermore, the focus is put on polymer- and latex-assisted mineralization and a miniemulsion-based approach to nonconventional colloidal lithography.