Structures of new sesquiterpenoids from Farfarae Flos

Two new bisabolane-type sesquiterpenoids, (3R,4R,6S)-3,4-epoxybisabola-7(14),10-dien-2-one and (1R,3R,4R,5S,6S)-1-acetoxy-8-angeloyloxy-3,4-epoxy-5-hydroxybisabola-7(14),10-dien-2-one, and a new oplopane-type sesquiterpenoid, 14(R)-hydroxy-7beta-isovaleroyloxyoplop-8(10)-en-2-one, were isolated from Farfarae Flos along with three known compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Reaction potential map analysis of chemical reactivity—III

Reaction potential maps (RPM) have been introduced as a new tool for the study of molecular reactivity. The equipotential energy maps, which are created on given planes around a molecule, define reaction contours towards specific counter-reagent models and are evaluated by perturbation theory. Since the calculated interaction energy involves electrostatic, polarization, exchange, and charge transfer energies, the RPM's can be used to predict site selectivity in a variety of chemical reactions. We found that the calculated RPM's of the SCN^– anion explained well the experimental observations that it reacts at the S atom with soft electrophiles and at the N atom with hard electrophiles. The difference in reactivity between SCN^– and OCN^– was clearly shown by the RPM's of these anions. The ambident nucleophilic nature of the NO ₂ ^– and the CH₂CHO^– anions was also well represented by their RPM's.     

Aggregation and decomposition of a pseudoisocyanine dye in dispersions of layered silicates

The optical properties of reaction systems composed from a pseudoisocyanine (PIC) solution and dispersed layered silicates were studied using visible spectroscopy. Two series of reduced-charge montmorillonites were used as the silicate materials. Each series consisted of eight samples with different layer charges, which were prepared from one parent material. Observed trends were verified with another series of dioctahedral and trioctahedral smectites of different layer charges, structure, and origin. The layer charge density of the silicates significantly affected the aggregation of PIC cations. In addition to the formation of J-aggregates, dye spectral bleaching was also observed. Silicates with very low charge densities induced neither significant aggregation nor spectral bleaching of the dye. The highest levels of PIC J-aggregate formation were found in dispersions of the layered silicates with a medium surface charge. However, reversible spectral bleaching was also observed in some cases. PIC dye cations probably change their conformations during the adsorption process, due to the tension resulting from the large size of the cations and the relatively high charge density at the silicate surface. The bleached dye recovers, at least partially, with the rearrangement and redistribution of the dye cations over the time. In contrast, the presence of silicates with very high charge densities (synthetic taeniolite and fluorohectorite) led to the very fast and irreversible decomposition of the PIC. Perhaps, the tension in adsorbed dye cations, induced by the high charge density at the silicate surface, resulted in significant destabilization and a decomposition reaction of the chromophore.     

Precision control of the surface structure of gelatin films using micropit plates

We attempted to use micropit plates as a silicon mold in order to control the surface structures of gelatin films. The three-dimensional micropit plates, fabricated with micromachining technology, have uniform quadrangular or circular pits with side lengths or diameters from 25-400 microm and depths of 40 microm. The micropit plates were originally hydrophilic because of silanol groups on the surface. In order to facilitate peeling the aqueous gelatin film from the micropit plates, the plate was therefore modified with hexamethyldisilazane. Gelatin films with precisely microfabricated structures on the surfaces were obtained by using the modified micropit plates. The release behavior of the films with different surface structures was examined.     

Fundamental equilibrium analysis on the ion-pair extraction of dibenzo-18-crown-6 complex of alkali metal ions with picrate ion into 1,2-dichloroethane

The ion-pair extraction equilibria of dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) complexes of Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ (M⁺) with picrate ion (Pic⁻) into 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) have been studied at 25.0°C. In the case of the Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ systems, the extraction results were interpreted by taking into consideration the formation of a (DB18C6)₂ -M⁺ complex in 1,2-DCE. The thermodynamic constants of extraction, , and ion-pair formation in 1,2-DCE, , of ion pairs of the DB18C6-M⁺ complexes with Pic⁻ were determined. By using the distribution coefficient of M⁺·Pic⁻ the thermodynamic formation constants of the DB18C6-M⁺ complexes in 1,2-DCE, , were evaluated. Consequently the component equilibrium constants of the ion-pair extraction were completely determined and a contribution of these constants to the difference of value was discussed. The value in 1,2-DCE is quite high compared with that in solvating solvents and log decreases linearly with increasing Gutmann donor number of solvents.     

Synthesis and photochemical properties of a photochromic iron(II) complex of hexaarylbiimidazole

The photochromic ligand bis(terpyridyl)hexaarylbiimidazole (bistpy-HABI) and the Fe(II) complex of bistpy-HABI with formula [{Fe(tpy)}2.bistpy-HABI](PF6)4.4H2O were synthesized and characterized. Bistpy-HABI is readily cleaved into a pair of terpyridyltriphenylimidazolyl radicals (tpy-TPI*) on irradiation with UV light. This photochemical reaction is completely reversible, and the light-induced radicals can thermally recombine to form bistpy-HABI in the dark. [{Fe(tpy)}2.bistpy-HABI]4+ is the first example of a transition-metal complex of an HABI derivative and was found to show photochromic reaction in solution. The spin state of the light-induced radical pair in a frozen matrix was investigated by ESR spectroscopy. The triplet state of the light-induced radical pair from [{Fe(tpy)}2.bistpy-HABI]4+, as well as that from bistpy-HABI, was confirmed to be a ground state or nearly degenerated with a singlet state. Kinetic studies on the radical recombination reaction in solution elucidated the decrease in the activation energy by forming the Fe(II) complex. This is the first observation of a decrease in the activation energy of the radical recombination reaction by the formation of a metal-coordinated radical complex. The syntheses, photochemical properties, and spin states of bistpy-HABI and [{Fe(tpy)}2.bistpy-HABI](PF6)4 are discussed.     

Reaction potential map analysis of site selectivity of acrylic acid and acrylonitrile

The reaction potential map (RPM) method has been extended so that the molecular reactivity towards nucleophiles can be analyzed. An anion consisting of the nucleus with + 1 charge and a pair of electrons was adopted as the model nucleophile. From the interaction energy between a substrate and this model particle, RPM and its component maps were obtained. With respect to practical applications, the reactivities of acrylic acid and acrylonitrile towards nucleophiles were examined. In these molecules, the exchange interaction as well as the charge-transfer interaction were found to be very important in the elucidation of the observed site selectivity.