Cyclization reactions of coumarin derivatives: Chemo‐ and regioselectivity effects of oxygen/sulfur isosteric replacement

We synthesized several sulfur isosters of ferulenol and related prenylcoumarins from Ferula communis preliminary to finding whether the antitubercular activity of these natural compounds might be dissociated from their antithrombin activity. Direct thionation of ferprenine, an instance of “diversity‐oriented” synthesis, yielded a mixture of three thiocoumarin derivatives. When 4‐hydroxy‐2‐deoxy‐2‐thiocoumarin was reacted with farnesal and other α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes, the isosteric oxygen‐sulfur substitution at position 2 surprisingly caused a regiochemical inversion in the tandem Knoevenagel‐electrocyclic reaction, prevalently affording the linear adduct. An extensive investigation with variously substituted enals highlighted a competition between Knoevenagel and Michael addition. This result was rationalized by energy calculations that took into consideration steric and electronic factors as well as complex formation with the catalyst.     

Evaluation of the binding ability of a novel dioxatetraazamacrocyclic receptor that contains two phenanthroline units: selective uptake of carboxylate anions

The novel dioxatetraaza macrocycle [26]phen2N4O2, which incorporates two phenanthroline units, has been synthesized, and its acid-base behavior has been evaluated by potentiometric and 1H NMR methods. Six protonation constants were determined, and the protonation sequence was established by NMR. The location of the fifth proton on the phen nitrogen was confirmed by X-ray determinations of the crystal structures of the receptor as bromide and chloride salts. The two compounds have the general molecular formula {(H5[26]phen2N4O2)Xn(H2O)(5-n)}X(n-1) x mH2O, where X = Cl, n = 3, and m = 6 or X = Br, n = 4, and m = 5.5. In the solid state, the (H5[26]phen2N4O2)(5+) cation adopts a "horseshoe" topology with sufficient room to encapsulate three or four halogen anions through the several N-H...X hydrogen-bonding interactions. Two supermolecules {(H5[26]phen2N4O2)Xn(H2O)5-n}(5-n)(+) form an interpenetrating dimeric species, which was also found by ESI mass spectrum. Binding studies of the protonated macrocycle with aliphatic (ox(2-), mal(2-), suc(2-), cit(3-), cta(3-)) and aromatic (bzc(-), naphc(-), anthc(-), pyrc(-), ph(2-), iph(2-), tph(2-), btc(3-)) anions were determined in water by potentiometric methods. These studies were complemented by 1H NMR titrations in D2O of the receptor with selected anions. The Hi[26]phen2N4O2(i+) receptor can selectively uptake highly charged or extended aromatic carboxylate anions, such as btc(3-) and pyrc(-), in the pH ranges of 4.0-8.5 and <4.0, respectively, from aqueous solution that contain the remaining anions as pollutants or contaminants. To obtain further insight into these structural and experimental findings, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out in water solution.     

Tridentate facial ligation of tris(pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) and tris(imidazole-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) To generate NiIIFeIIINiII, MnIIINiII, NiIINiII, and ZnIINiII and the electrooxidized MnIVNiII, NiIINiIII, and ZnIINiIII species: a magnetostructural, electrochemical, and EPR spectroscopic study

Eight hetero- and homometal complexes 1-6, containing the metal centers Ni(II)Fe(III)Ni(II) (1), Mn(III)Ni(II) (2), Ni(II)Ni(II) (3a-c and 4), Zn(II)Ni(II) (5), and Zn(II)Zn(II) (6), are described. The tridentate ligation property of the metal complexes tris(pyridine-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) and tris(1-methylimidazole-2-aldoximato)nickel(II) with three facially disposed pendent oxime O atoms has been utilized to generate the said complexes. Complex 1 contains metal centers in a linear arrangement, as is revealed by X-ray diffraction. Complexes were characterized by various physical methods including cyclic voltammetry (CV), variable-temperature (2-290 K) magnetic susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, and X-ray diffraction methods. Binuclear complexes 2-6 are isostructural in the sense that they all contain a metal ion in a distorted octahedral environment MN(3)O(3) and a second six-coordinated Ni(II) ion in a trigonally distorted octahedral NiN(6) geometry. Complexes 1-4 display antiferromagnetic exchange coupling of the neighboring metal centers. The order of the strength of exchange coupling in the isostructural Ni(II)2 complexes, 3a-c, and 4, demonstrates the effects of the remote substituents on the spin coupling. The electrochemical measurements CV and square wave voltammograms (SQW) reveal two reversible metal-centered oxidations, which have been assigned to the Ni center ligated to the oxime N atoms, unless a Mn ion is present. Complex 2, Mn(III)Ni(II), exhibits a reduction of Mn(III) to Mn(II) and two subsequent oxidations of Mn(III) and Ni(II) to the corresponding higher states. These assignments of the redox processes have been complemented by the X-band EPR measurements. That the electrooxidized species [3a]+, [3b]+, [3c]+, and [4]+ contain the localized mixed-valent NiIINiIII system resulting from the spin coupling, a spin quartet ground state, S(t) = 3/2, has been confirmed by the X-band EPR measurements.     

Ferromagnetic vs antiferromagnetic coupling in bis(mu-phenoxo)dicopper(II) complexes. Tuning of the nature of exchange coupling by remote ligand substituents

Two bis(mu-phenoxo)dicopper(II) complexes, [(L(CH3))(2)Cu(2)] (1) and [(L(t-Bu))(2)Cu(2)] (2), where L(CH3) and L(t-Bu) represent the dianions of (methylamino)-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenol) and of (methylamino)-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol), respectively, are reported to demonstrate the effect of remote substituents on the nature of exchange coupling interactions between the copper(II) centers. In contrast to 1, which is as usual antiferromagnetically coupled, complex 2 is a rare example of a ferromagnetically coupled diphenoxodicopper(II) complex.     

Determination of nitrofurans in animal feeds by liquid chromatography-UV photodiode array detection and liquid chromatography-ionspray tandem mass spectrometry

Within the EU, the use of nitrofurans is prohibited in food production animals. For this reason detection of these compounds in feedingstuffs, at whatever limit, constitutes an offence under EU legislation. This detection generally involves the use of analytical methods with limits of quantification lowers than 1 mg kg(-1). These procedures are unsuitable for the detection and confirmation of trace amounts of nitrofurans in feedingstuffs due to contamination. It is well known that very low concentrations of these compounds can be the source of residues of nitrofuran metabolites in meat and other edible products obtained from animals consuming the contaminated feed. The present multi-compound method was capable of measuring very low concentrations of nitrofurantoin (NFT), nitrofurazone (NFZ), furazolidone (FZD) and furaltadone (FTD) in animal feed using nifuroxazide (NXZ) as internal standard. Following ethyl acetate extraction at mild alkaline conditions and purification on NH2 column, the nitrofurans are determined using liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (LC-DAD). It was observed a CCalpha ranged from 50 to 100 microg kg(-1). The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) procedure was used to confirm the identity of the suspected presence of any of the nitrofuran compounds.     

Catalytic effect of a second H3PO2 in the mechanism of stabilisation of the unstable pyramidal tautomer of H3PO2 coordinated at [Mo3S4M'] clusters (M' = Ni, Pd)

Kinetic and DFT studies indicate that the stabilization of a single pyramidal H(3)PO(2) molecule at the M' site of [Mo(3)S(4)M'] clusters requires the participation of two tetrahedral H(3)PO(2) molecules, the role of the second one being assisting tautomerization of a previously coordinated tetrahedral H(3)PO(2).     

Update on COMAR: the Internet database for certified reference materials

This paper describes the COMAR database for certified reference materials (CRMs). The Web-based version of COMAR is freely accessible via the Internet. COMAR was established to assist laboratories in finding the CRMs needed. The database is maintained in a collaboration of the world’s major CRM producers. The planned changes in the database as agreed at the last COMAR council meeting in Prague in May 2006 are indicated.

Synthesis, structure and reactivity of cuboidal-type cluster aqua complexes with W3PdS4 4+ core

The reaction of PdCl(2) with [W3S4(H2O)9]4+ in the presence of hypophosphorous acid in 2 M HCl gives cuboidal cluster [W3(PdCl)S4(H2O)9]3+ (1) which undergoes condensation and crystallises from Hpts solutions as edge-linked double cubane cluster [{W3PdS4(H2O)9}2](pts)(8).19H2O (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) (1'). The substitution of Cl- in (1) by different ligands was explored. The Pd atom in the cluster shows an exceptionally high reactivity in the isomerisation of the hydrophosphoryl H2P(O)(OH), HP(O)(OH)2, HPPh(O)(OH) and HPPh2(O) molecules into the corresponding hydroxo tautomers HP(OH)2, P(OH)3, PhP(OH)2 and Ph2P(OH) stabilised by coordination at Pd. The reactions were followed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and 31P NMR. Formation constants of the 1 : 1 coordination of [M3(PdCl)S4(H2O)9]3+ (M = Mo, W) with HP(OH)2 and As(OH)3 were obtained. The structures of cucurbit[6]uril (C36H36N24O12, CUC[6]) adducts [W3(PdP(OH)3)S4(H2O)8Cl]-(C36H36N24O12)Cl3.12.5H2O (2), and [W3Pd(PhP(OH)2)S4(H2O)7Cl2]2(C36H36N24O12)Cl4.9H2O (3) were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Radical-ligand-derived C-N coupling, Ga(III)-radical vs low-spin Co(III)-radical reactivity

The redox-active ligand 2-(3,5-dimethoxyanilino)-4,6-di- tert-butylphenol, H 2L (OCH3), results in, as expected, a trisradical complex with a low-spin Co(III) center, [Co (III)(L (OCH3) (*)) 3] ( 1), whereas the Ga(III) center yields a coordinated new hexadentate monoradical ligand, [Ga (III)L (*) 1] ( 2), presumably due to the ligand-derived redox activity involving C-H activation.     

Polyoxometalate embedding of a tetraruthenium(IV)-oxo-core by template-directed metalation of [gamma-SiW10O36]8-: a totally inorganic oxygen-evolving catalyst

Solid state and solution evidence confirms the embedding of an adamantane-like, Ru4O6 fragment by the divacant, gamma-decatungstosilicate ligand. The resulting complex catalyzes water oxidation to oxygen with TON up to 500 and TOF > 450 h-1.