Utility of the tandem Pauson-Khand reaction in the construction of tetracycles

The scope of the tandem Pauson-Khand reaction has been explored for the regiospecific construction of [5.5.5.5]- and [5.6.6.5]tetracyclic systems via the photolytic method of Livinghouse. The rapid regiospecific entry into the two dicyclopentapentanoid systems 17 and 29 was accomplished from the key diene-diynes 11 and 19b. A photochemically mediated catalytic tandem Pauson-Khand cyclization was employed to prepare the parent ring systems of dicyclopenta[a,e]pentalene (from 19b) and dicyclopenta[a,f]pentalene (from 11) in regiospecific fashion in a one-pot process. Under these conditions, conversion of acyclic diene-diyne 16 into tetracyclic system 17 was achieved in 74% yield, while a similar process was employed to convert 28 into tetracycle 29 in 90% yield. This is much improved over the previous conditions that employed NMO. Six carbon-carbon bonds were generated in this process constituting up to 98% yield for each carbon-carbon bond so formed. Furthermore, tetracyclic [5.6.6.5] systems such as dicyclopenta[b,g]decalins 37, 38, and 40 were prepared from similar diene-diyne precursors via the tandem Pauson-Khand cyclization. Importantly, acetal 36 provided the desired cis-fused [5.6.6.5] system 38a (via 40a/b) in stereospecific fashion. This reaction is unique in that it provides a cis-decalin ring system; moreover, the yield of each of the six carbon-carbon bonds formed in this process was at least 89%. The structure of cis diol 38a was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.     

FT-Raman spectroscopy - analytical tool for routine analysis of diazinon pesticide formulations

FT-Raman spectroscopy based on band intensity and band area measurements, was used for the quantitative determination of diazinon in pesticide formulations. Bands at 554, 604, 631, 1562 and 2971 cm(-1) were used for calibration. Spectra were acquired by averaging 100 scans at a resolution of 4 cm(-1). Calibration curves were linear (correlation coefficients, 0.992-0.9992 and 0.99-0.999 for band intensity and band area measurements, respectively) in the range of 0.2-3.5 M for 554 and 2971 cm(-1), 0.3-3.5 M for 604 cm(-1), 0.6-3.5 M for 1562 cm(-1) and 1.0-3.5 M for 631 cm(-1) bands. Normalization of calibration curves against the 802 cm(-1) cyclohexane band improved their long term stability and minimized the effect of laser beam power fluctuations. No interference was found by commonly used surfactants and the proposed method was applied to the analysis of diazinon formulations. Results obtained compare well as indicated by the t-test, with those obtained by the HPLC reference method. Precision ranged between 0.2-7.8 and 0.1-7.2% RSD, (n=4) for band intensity and band area measurements, respectively. The proposed method is rapid, simple and safe, as toxic samples are analyzed 'as received' without sample pre-treatment, permiting the routine analysis of pesticides formulations.     

Photoreactive 3D microporous lanthanide MOFs: formation of a strained ladderane in a partial single crystal-to-single crystal manner

The assembly of Er(3+) and Y(3+) cations with trans,trans-muconic acid affords a photoreactive 3D microporous MOF that, upon UV irradiation, undergoes a cycloaddition reaction (SCSC up to 55%), with in situ formation of a strained ladderane.