Reduction of 4-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione with sodium sulfide: Synthesis of fluoro-containing sulfur-rich heterocycles

Treatment of 4-fluoro-5-(1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl)-3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione with 2 equivalents of sodium sulfide gives after acidification 3,4-difluoro-2-mercapto-1,6,6aλ⁴-trithiapentalene, which can be further reduced by sodium sulfide to 3,5-difluoro-4-mercapto-thiopyran-2-thione.     

Coordination chemistry of the solvated AgI and AuI ions in liquid and aqueous ammonia, trialkyl and triphenyl phosphite, and tri-n-butylphosphine solutions

The coordination chemistry of solvated Ag(I) and Au(I) ions has been studied in some of the most strong electron-pair donor solvents, liquid and aqueous ammonia, and the P donor solvents triethyl, tri-n-butyl, and triphenyl phosphite and tri-n-butylphosphine. The solvated Ag(I) ions have been characterized in solution by means of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), Raman, and (107)Ag NMR spectroscopy and the solid solvates by means of thermogravimetry and EXAFS and Raman spectroscopy. The Ag(I) ion is two- and three-coordinated in aqueous and liquid ammonia solutions with mean Ag-N bond distances of 2.15(1) and 2.26(1) A, respectively. The crystal structure of [Ag(NH3)3]ClO4.0.47 NH3 (1) reveals a regular trigonal-coplanar coordination around the Ag(I) ion with Ag-N bond distances of 2.263(6) A and a Ag...Ag distance of 3.278(2) A separating the complexes. The decomposition products of 1 have been analyzed, and one of them, [Ag(NH3)2]ClO4, has been structurally characterized by means of EXAFS, showing [Ag(NH3)2] units connected into chains by double O bridges from perchlorate ions; the Ag...Ag distance is 3.01(1) A. The linear bisamminegold(I) complex, [Au(NH3)2]+, is predominant in both liquid and aqueous ammonia solutions, as well as in solid [Au(NH3)2]BF4, with Au-N bond distances of 2.022(5), 2.025(5), and 2.026(7) A, respectively. The solvated Ag(I) ions are three-coordinated, most probably in triangular fashion, in the P donor solvents with mean Ag-P bond distances of 2.48-2.53 A. The Au(I) ions are three-coordinated in triethyl phosphite and tri-n-butylphosphine solutions with mean Au-P bond distances of 2.37(1) and 2.40(1) A, respectively.     

Mössbauer investigation of the photoexcited spin states and crystal structure analysis of the spin-crossover dinuclear complex [{Fe(bt)(NCS)(2)}(2)bpym] (bt=2,2'-bithiazoline, bpym=2,2'-bipyrimidine)

The crystal structure of the complex [{Fe(bt)(NCS)(2)}(2)bpym] (1) (bt=2,2'-bithiazoline, bpym=2,2'-bipyrimidine) has been solved at 293, 240, 175 and 30 K. At all four temperatures the crystal remains in the P space group with a=8.7601(17), b=9.450(2), c=12.089(3) A, alpha=72.77(2), beta=79.150(19), gamma=66.392(18) degrees , V=873.1(4) Angstrom(3) (data for 293 K structure). The structure consists of centrosymmetric dinuclear units in which each iron(II) atom is coordinated by two NCS(-) ions in the cis position and two nitrogen atoms of the bridging bpym ligand, with the remaining positions occupied by the peripheral bt ligand. The iron atom is in a severely distorted octahedral FeN(6) environment. The average Fe--N bond length of 2.15(9) Angstrom indicates that compound 1 is in the high-spin state (HS-HS) at 293 K. Crystal structure determinations at 240, 175 and 30 K gave a cell comparable to that seen at 293 K, but reduced in volume. At 30 K, the average Fe--N distance is 1.958(4) Angstrom, showing that the structure is clearly low spin (LS-LS). At 175 K the average Fe--N bond length of 2.052(11) Angstrom suggests that there is an intermediate phase. M?ssbauer investigations of the light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) effect (lambda=514 nm, 25 mW cm(-2)) in 1 (4.2 K, H(ext)=50 kOe) show that the excited spin states correspond to the HS-HS and HS-LS pairs. The dynamics of the relaxation of the photoexcited states studied at 4.2 K and H(ext)=50 kOe demonstrate that HS-HS pairs revert with time to both HS-LS and LS-LS configurations. The HS-LS photoexcited pairs relax with time back to the ground LS-LS configuration. Complex [{Fe(0.15)Zn(0.85)(bt)(NCS)(2)}(2)bpym] (2) exhibits a continuous spin transition centred around 158 K in contrast to the two-step transition observed for 1. The different spin-crossover behaviour observed for 2 is due to the decrease of cooperativity (intermolecular interactions) imposed by the matrix of Zn(II) ions. This clearly demonstrates the role of the intermolecular interactions in the stabilization of the HS-LS intermediate state in 1.     

Controlling the passage of light through metal microchannels by nanocoatings of phospholipids

The flow of polarized light through a metal film with an array of microchannels is controlled by the phase of an optically active, phospholipid nanocoating, even though the coating does not cover the open area of the microchannels. The molecular details of the assembly (DPPC phospholipid monolayer/bilayer on a hexadecanethiol monolayer on a copper- or nickel-coated microarray) were determined using the infrared, surface-plasmon-mediated, extraordinary transmission of the metal microarrays. Infrared absorption spectra with greatly enhanced absorptions by comparison to literature were recorded and used as a diagnostic for the phase, composition, and molecular geometry of these nanocoatings. This approach presents new tools for nanoscale construction in constricted microspaces, which may ultimately be useful with individual microchannels.     

Asymmetric synthesis of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids mediated by chiral sulfinyl group

This review article provides a critical overview of several different synthetic approaches developed for asymmetric preparation of fluorine-containing amines, amino alcohols, α- and β-amino acids. The common feature of these methods is the application of sulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary to control the stereochemical outcome of the reactions under study. In particular, the following general methods are critically discussed: diastereoselective methylene transfer from diazomethane to the carbonyl of β-keto-γ-fluoroalkyl sulfoxides as a general approach for preparation of various α-fluoroalkyl α-sulfinylalkyl oxiranes. The resulting compounds were used as true chiral synthons for their further elaboration via oxidative or reductive desulfurization, to numerous fluorine-containing and biologically relevant amino- and hydroxy-containing derivatives. Another general approaches discussed here are asymmetric additions to CN double bond. One of them is addition of chiral sulfoxide stabilized carbon nucleophiles to fluorine-containing imines, leading to convenient preparation of alpha-fluoroalkyl derivatives of alpha amino acids and amines. Another approach is asymmetric Reformatsky reaction between N-sulfinyl imines and ethyl bromodifluoroacetate allowing operationally convenient preparation of α,α-difluoro-β-amino acids in enantiomerically pure form. Finally, structurally similar but mechanistically different addition reactions of diethyl difluoromethylphosphonate to N-sulfinyl imines, as a general approach to asymmetric synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-aminophosphonates and phosphonic acids, are discussed. Effect of fluorine on the mechanism and stereochemical outcome of these reactions is discussed in detail and compared, where it is possible, with that of the analogous reactions of fluorine-free substrates.     

Theoretical investigations into the enantiomeric and racemic forms of α-(trifluoromethyl)lactic acid

There are many different hypotheses on the origin of biomolecular homochirality. One possible scenario concerns the enantiomeric enrichment of a nearly racemic solid via self-disproportionation of enantiomers. In particular, in a recent paper Soloshonok and co-workers showed a first example of optical self-purification of α-(trifluoromethyl)lactic acid by sublimation [V. A. Soloshonok et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2007, 129, 12112]. Here we present detailed theoretical studies of α-(trifluoromethyl)lactic acid in the solid state as well as in the gas-phase dimeric form. The calculations of energy differences between dimers show that in the solid state the enantiomeric pure compound is energetically preferred, while in the gas phase the equilibrium shifts towards the racemic mixture although thermodynamic corrections cannot be neglected, thus providing a detailed microscopic explanation for the enantio-purification process for the first time.     

A Raman microprobe study of melt inclusions in kimberlites from Siberia, Canada, SW Greenland and South Africa

The geometries, energies and vibrational frequencies of various polyborates in both gaseous and aqueous phase were calculated at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ level. The calculated total symmetrical stretching Raman shifts of B(OH)(3), B(OH)(4)(-), B(2)O(OH)(4), B(2)O(OH)(5)(-), B(2)O(OH)(6)(2-), B(3)O(3)(OH)(3), B(3)O(3)(OH)(4)(-), B(3)O(3)(OH)(5)(2-), B(3)O(3)(OH)(6)(3-), B(4)O(5)(OH)(4)(2-) and B(5)O(6)(OH)(4)(-) were assigned to 877.40, 735.33, 785.22, 792.90, 696.79, 587.72, 599.06, 740.16, 705.01, 551.67 and 521.04cm(-1), respectively. The results can be used as the characteristic frequency for polyborates in aqueous phase at room temperature. At least six types of polyborates B(OH)(3), B(OH)(4)(-), B(3)O(3)(OH)(4)(-), B(3)O(3)(OH)(5)(2-), B(4)O(5)(OH)(4)(2-) and B(5)O(6)(OH)(4)(-), occur in aqueous solutions at ambient temperature. The chemical species distribution and the relevant interaction mechanisms among polyborates in the solutions were also suggested.     

Evaluation of Target Efficiencies for Solid–Liquid Separation Steps in Biofuels Production

Development of liquid biofuels has entered a new phase of large scale pilot demonstration. A number of plants that are in operation or under construction face the task of addressing the engineering challenges of creating a viable plant design, scaling up and optimizing various unit operations. It is well-known that separation technologies account for 50–70% of both capital and operating cost. Additionally, reduction of environmental impact creates technological challenges that increase project cost without adding to the bottom line. Different technologies vary in terms of selection of unit operations; however, solid–liquid separations are likely to be a major contributor to the overall project cost. Despite the differences in pretreatment approaches, similar challenges arise for solid–liquid separation unit operations. A typical process for ethanol production from biomass includes several solid–liquid separation steps, depending on which particular stream is targeted for downstream processing. The nature of biomass-derived materials makes it either difficult or uneconomical to accomplish complete separation in a single step. Therefore, setting realistic efficiency targets for solid–liquid separations is an important task that influences overall process recovery and economics. Experimental data will be presented showing typical characteristics for pretreated cane bagasse at various stages of processing into cellulosic ethanol. Results of generic material balance calculations will be presented to illustrate the influence of separation target efficiencies on overall process recoveries and characteristics of waste streams.