Conformational preferences of 34 valence electron A2X4 molecules: An ab initio Study of B2F4, B2Cl4, N2O4, and C2O

Ab initio molecular orbital structures and energies of B₂F₄, B₂Cl₄, N₂O₄, and C₂O have been calculated for both perpendicular D_2d and planar D_2h rotamers. The experimental trend toward greater preference for the D_2d forms in going from B₂F₄ to B₂Cl₄ is reproduced. N₂O₄ favors the planar conformation, although the rotation barrier is overestimated at the theoretical levels used. The oxalate dianion is calculated to be more stable in the D_2d conformation; the experimental planar arrangement in the solid may be due to crystal packing forces. The preferences for one conformation over another are small; analysis indicates that different effects may predominate in each case: π stabilization for B₂F₄, hyperconjugation for B₂Cl₄, lone-pair interactions for N₂O₄, and electrostatic repulsions for C₂O.     

Bipolar pulse conductometric monitoring of ion-selective electrodes: Part 1. Method development with a calcium-selective electrode and elucidation of the basic principles involved

The potential generated by a plastic-membrane calcium ion-selective electrode (i.s.e.) is shown to be indirectly measurable by a non-zero current method based on bipolar pulse conductance. Linear current—voltage curves are obtained using 0–5-V pulses; the current axis intercept is related to the i.s.e. potential. A simple electrical contact (e.g., platinum or stainless steel) can be used instead of a poised reference electrode as the counter electrode in this two-electrode system. Long-term exposure of the i.s.e. to calcium solutions causes an upward drift in the measured current. This drift is minimized by avoiding long exposure times to solution, rinsing the electrode between measurements, and constructing current—voltage curves for determination of the current axis intercepts. Voltage pulses lasting 100 μs are optimum for this method. Shorter pulses are subject to error from capacitive charging currents, and longer pulses yield poorer precision, and degrade the electrode through faradaic reactions. The measured signal is dependent upon Ca²⁺ concentration (rather than activity), making ionic strength adjustment unnecessary. The concentration dependence is induced by application of voltage pulses greater than ~ 15 mV in amplitude. Selectivities of the potentiometric and conductometric methods are shown to be comparable for a variety of interfering monovalent and divalent cations. The conductometric method yields a fast i.s.e. response because of induced migration of Ca²⁺ into the membrane. Response time decreases as the pulse height increases. Pulses greater than 2 V in magnitude yield response times limited by the solution mixing time rather than by the electrode.     

Functional polymers and sequential copolymers by phase transfer catalysis. XXVI. Synthesis and characterization of thermotropic liquid crystalline polypodants

Thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) polyethers and copolyethers have been synthesized from 4,4′-dihydroxy-α-methylstilbene (HMS) and α,ω-dichlorooligo(oxyethylene)s having between 2 and 5 as well as 8.7 oxyethylene units. Copolyethers were prepared from a 1:1 mol/mol ratio of two dissimilar spacers. These polymers have been prepared by a phase transfer catalyzed (PTC) polyetherification of bisphenols with these electrophiles by utilizing 50 mol% tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate per phenol group. Kinetic experiments with either 5 or 50 mol% catalyst vs phenol groups in the polyetherification of 4,4%-isopropylidenediphenol with 2-chloroethyl ether have shown that a change in catalyst primarily affects the rate of reaction, with 50 mol % being faster. The prepared polyethers and copolyethers are soluble in common organic solvents. Both polyethers and copolyethers are crystalline. Polymers prepared to contain tetraoxyethylene spacers exhibit monotropic LC behavior. Copolymers prepared to contain tri- and tetraoxyethylene spacers (1 : 1 mol/mol) [PE34] were the only polymers exhibiting enantiotropic LC behavior. Longer spacers tend to destabilize the phase transitions, as suggested by the dependence of thermal transition temperatures upon the differential scanning calorimeter rate. All prepared polymers act as podants in solution, measured by picrate extraction experiments. Solid state complexes have been prepared from the polymer with a pentaoxyethylene spacer [PE5] and PE34 with LiCF₃SO₃. PE5 can dissolve LiCF₃SO₃ in the range of 0.21–2.2 mol salt/mol polymer (m.r.u.) [S/P] without the observation of free salt. PE5 complexes of/or below S/P of 0.43, upon annealing at room temperature, exhibited the two melting transitons observed in the polymer alone. PE5 complexes of/or above S/P of 0.77 only exhibited a T_g. The T_g of PE5 complexes were found to change nonlinearly with S/P, while T_m1 changed linearly. T_m2 was independent of S/P. Only one complex with PE34 gave two transitions (T_m2,Tⁱ) in dynamic DSC experiments. Other PE34 complexes followed a behavior similar to PE5 complexes.     

S)-(+)-2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-2-buten-4-olide: an enantiomerically pure Michael acceptor for asymmetric synthesis of 3-substituted 4-butanolides. (—)-podorhizon.

A short, reliable, and practical synthesis of ($\text{S}$)-(+)-2-($\text{p}$-tolylsulfinyl)-2-buten-4-olide has been developed, and the utility of this Michael acceptor for highly enantiocontrolled synthesis of 3-substituted 4-butanolides has been demonstrated.     

Competing non-covalent interactions in alkali metal ion-acetonitrile-water clusters

Competitive ion-dipole, ion-water, and water-water interactions were investigated at the molecular level in M+ (CH3CN)n(H2O)m cluster ions for M = Na and K. Different [n,m] combinations for two different n + m cluster sizes were characterized with infrared predissociation spectroscopy in the O-H stretch region and MP2 calculations. In all cases, no differences were observed between the two alkali metal ions. The results showed that at the n + m = 4 cluster size, the solvent molecules interact only with the ion, and that the interaction between the ion and the large dipole moment of CH3CN decreases the ion-water electrostatic interactions. At the n + m = 5 cluster size, at least two different hydrogen-bonded structures were identified. In these structures, the ion-dipole interaction weakens the ability of the ion to polarize the hydrogen bonds and thus decreases the strength of the water-water interactions in the immediate vicinity of the alkali metal ion.     

On the synthesis of pyrinodemin A. Part 1: The location of the olefin

The elucidation of the structure of the cytotoxic marine sponge alkaloid pyrinodemin A by synthesis is described. Based on the ¹³C NMR spectra of three double bond positional isomers and the natural product, it is concluded the C14′-C15′ isomer best represents the true structure of pyrinodemin A. In addition, the structural assignment of pyrinodemin C is evaluated.     

Parabolic focal conics in self-assembled solid films of cellulose nanocrystals

Suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals form colloidal chiral nematic phases. The liquid crystalline order in these suspensions can be captured in solid films by slow evaporation of the liquid. Studies of the microstructure of such chiral nematic solid films revealed parabolic focal conic (PFC) defects, a symmetric form of focal conic defects in which the line defects form a pair of perpendicular, antiparallel, and confocal parabolas. The cellulose films with PFC defects were characterized by polarized-light and atomic force microscopy. The film surface showed a regular array of large and small elevations resulting from the displacement of the structural layers. Film fracture lines showed a series of layered half-cones. The microstructure of the films was modeled by computer. The model revealed that many structural layers terminate at the film surface.     

LIFETIME AND ACTIVATION ENERGY OF THE PHOTOINDUCED QUINOID INTERMEDIATE IN PYRIDOXAL CATALYSIS

Abstract— The lifetime of the p -quinoid intermediate of transamination was determined through photoinduction in the metal-ion model system. From the dependence of the lifetime on temperature, the Arrhenius activation energy for proton transfer was 4.2–8.4 kJ/mol (1-2 kcal/mol). The activation energy correlated well with the R group of the amino acid and demonstrated that native substrates have a very labile proton.     

Structural and rate studies of the 1,2-additions of lithium phenylacetylide to lithiated quinazolinones: influence of mixed aggregates on the reaction mechanism

The 1,2-addition of lithium phenylacetylide (PhCCLi) to quinazolinones was investigated using a combination of structural and rate studies. (6)Li, (13)C, and (19)F NMR spectroscopies show that deprotonation of quinazolinones and phenylacetylene in THF/pentane solutions with lithium hexamethyldisilazide affords a mixture of lithium quinazolinide/PhCCLi mixed dimer and mixed tetramer along with PhCCLi dimer. Although the mixed tetramer dominates at high mixed aggregate concentrations and low temperatures used for the structural studies, the mixed dimer is the dominant form at the low total mixed aggregate concentrations, high THF concentrations, and ambient temperatures used to investigate the 1,2-addition. Monitoring the reaction rates using (19)F NMR spectroscopy revealed a first-order dependence on mixed dimer, a zeroth-order dependence on THF, and a half-order dependence on the PhCCLi concentration. The rate law is consistent with the addition of a disolvated PhCCLi monomer to the mixed dimer. Investigation of the 1,2-addition of PhCCLi to an O-protected quinazolinone implicates reaction via trisolvated PhCCLi monomers.     

Anodic stripping voltammetry of sulphide at a nickel film: towards the development of a reagentless sensor

The determination of sulphide at an electrochemically generated nickel oxide layer at glassy carbon and screen-printed electrodes in acidic media has been examined and appraised. The NiO layer was found to produce a stripping-like signal to sulphide and gave a linear peak current response from 20 to 90 μM. The response was further enhanced by repetitive cycling allowing accumulation of nickel sulphide at the electrode surface such that lower micromolar levels of sulphide (i.e. 5 μM) can be determined. The response at the NiO layer to sulphide is shown to be reproducible over a period of 24 h, thereby offering the development of a disposable amperometric sensor for sulphide.