Selective terminal heck arylation of vinyl ethers with aryl chlorides: a combined experimental-computational approach including synthesis of betaxolol

Reaction conditions have been developed for palladium-catalyzed terminal (beta-) arylation of acyclic vinyl ethers with high regioselectivity using inexpensive aryl chlorides as starting materials and the P(t-Bu)3 releasing preligand [(t-Bu3)PH]BF4 as the key additive. This swift and straightforward protocol exploits non-inert conditions and controlled microwave heating to minimize handling and processing times and uses aqueous DMF or environmentally friendly PEG-200 as the reaction medium. The selectivity for linear beta-product in PEG-200 is slightly higher than in aqueous DMF. DFT calculations support a ligand-driven selectivity rationale, where the electronic and steric influence of bulky P(t-Bu)3 ligand provides improved beta-selectivity in the essential insertion step also with electron-rich aryl chlorides. A tentative computational rationalization of the improved selectivity in non-methylated PEG is discussed. Finally the synthetic methodology was used to provide efficient access to linear p-[2-(cyclopropylmethoxy)ethyl] phenol from p-nitrophenyl chloride, a key intermediate in the synthesis of the beta-adrenergic blocking agent Betaxolol.     

Synthesis and characterization of MnO2 colloids

This work addresses the issue of radiation chemical synthesis of MnO₂ nanoparticles and also illustrates the ease of formation of nanorods and sheets by adroit manipulation of experimental conditions. The radiation chemical yield (G-value) for reduction of Mn (VII) by the hydrated electron was found to be 0.27 μmol J⁻¹ and 0.17 μmol J⁻¹ respectively, when tert. butanol and isopropanol were used as scavengers in nitrogen-saturated solutions. The colloids formed upon irradiation of air-saturated solution and N₂-purged solution with tert. butanol as scavenger were found to be most stable. Irradiation of air-saturated solution containing 4×10⁻⁴ M KMnO₄ at a dose of 1692 Gy resulted in the formation of nanorods of the dimension 100–150 nm and nanospheres in the range 10–20 nm. Irradiation of N₂-purged solution containing tert. butanol as scavenger for OH-produced reticulated structure of nanorods with length varying from 50 to 100 nm at a dose of 1692 Gy. Elemental analysis was performed using scanning electron microscope on MnO₂ formed by reduction and oxidation and the purity was found to be 98% of elemental Mn content.     

Inhomogeneous biopolymer gels

The microstructure and rheological behaviour of inhomogeneous biopolymer gels was studied using a model system of β-lactoglobulin. It can form both fine-stranded and particulate gels which can be homogeneous or inhomogeneous depending on pH and heating rate. The dense and loose regions of the fine-stranded gels had different relaxation times which significantly influenced the mechanical spectrum. The particulate gels showed coarser inhomogeneities influencing the fracture properties of the gels.