In search of efficient 5-endo-dig cyclization of a carbon-centered radical: 40 years from a prediction to another success for the Baldwin rules

Despite being predicted to be stereoelectronically favorable by the Baldwin rules, efficient formation of a C-C bond through a 5-endo-dig radical cyclization remained unknown for more than 40 years. This work reports a remarkable increase in the efficiency of this process upon beta-Ts substitution, which led to the development of an expedient approach to densely functionalized cyclic 1,3-dienes. Good qualitative agreement between the increased efficiency and stereoselectivity for the 5-endo-dig cyclization of Ts-substituted vinyl radicals and the results of density functional theory analysis further confirms the utility of computational methods in the design of new radical processes. Although reactions of Br atoms generated through photochemical Ts-Br bond homolysis lead to the formation of cyclic dibromide side products, the yields of target bromosulfones in the photochemically induced reactions can be increased by recycling the dibromide byproduct into the target bromosulfones through a sequence of addition/elimination reactions at the exocyclic double bond. Discovery of a relatively efficient radical 5-endo-dig closure, accompanied by a C-C bond formation, provides further support to stereoelectronic considerations at the heart of the Baldwin rules and fills one of the last remaining gaps in the arsenal of radical cyclizations.     

Solvent effects on the formation of nanoparticles and multilayered coatings based on hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes of poly(acrylic acid) with homo- and copolymers of N-vinyl pyrrolidone

The formation of hydrogen-bonded interpolymer complexes between poly(acrylic acid) and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) as well as amphiphilic copolymers of N-vinyl pyrrolidone with vinyl propyl ether has been studied in aqueous and organic solutions. It was demonstrated that introduction of vinyl propyl ether units into the macromolecules of the nonionic polymer enhances their ability to form complexes in aqueous solutions due to more significant contribution of hydrophobic effects. The complexation was found to be a multistage process that involves the formation of primary polycomplex particles, which further aggregate to form spherical nanoparticles. Depending on the environmental factors (pH, solvent nature), these nanoparticles may either form stable colloidal solutions or undergo further aggregation, resulting in precipitation of interpolymer complexes. In organic solvents, the intensity of complex formation increases in the following order: methanol < ethanol < isopropanol < dioxane. The multilayered coatings were developed using layer-by-layer deposition of interpolymer complexes on glass surfaces. It was demonstrated that the solvent nature affects the efficiency of coating deposition.     

The electronic structure and adsorption geometry of L-histidine on Cu(110)

The adsorption of L-histidine on clean and oxygen-covered Cu(110) surfaces has been studied by soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. The valence band spectra, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen 1 s XPS and N K edge absorption spectra were measured for submonolayer, monolayer, and multilayer films. The spectra provide a detailed picture of the electronic structure and adsorption geometry at each coverage. In the monolayer, the histidine molecules are randomly oriented, in contrast to the submonolayer regime, where the molecules are coordinated to the copper surface with the imidazole functional group nearly parallel to, and strongly interacting with, the surface. The pi*/sigma* intensity ratio in NEXAFS spectra at the nitrogen edge varies strongly with angle, showing the imidazole ring is oriented. Adsorption models are proposed.     

Mucoadhesive and elastic films based on blends of chitosan and hydroxyethylcellulose

Mucoadhesive polymeric films have been prepared based on blends of chitosan and hydroxyethylcellulose. The blends have been characterized by IR spectroscopy, DSC, WAXD, TGA, SEM, and mechanical testing. It is demonstrated that the mechanical properties of chitosan are improved significantly upon blending with hydroxyethylcellulose. An increase in hydroxyethylcellulose content in the blends makes the materials more elastic. The thermal treatment of the blends at 100 degrees C leads to partial cross-linking of the polymers and formation of water-insoluble but swellable materials. The adhesion of the films towards porcine buccal mucosa decreases with increasing hydroxyethylcellulose content in the blends.     

Dynamical arrest of electron transfer in liquid crystalline solvents

We argue that electron transfer reactions in slowly relaxing solvents proceed in the nonergodic regime, making the reaction activation barrier strongly dependent on the solvent dynamics. For typical dielectric relaxation times of polar nematics, electron transfer reactions in the subnanosecond time scale fall into nonergodic regime in which nuclear solvation energies entering the activation barrier are significantly lower than their thermodynamic values. The transition from isotropic to nematic phase results in weak discontinuities of the solvation energies at the transition point and the appearance of solvation anisotropy weakening with increasing solute size. The theory is applied to analyze experimental kinetic data for the electron transfer kinetics in the isotropic phase of 5CB liquid crystalline solvent. We predict that the energy gap law of electron transfer reactions in slowly relaxing solvents is characterized by regions of fast change of the rate at points where the reaction switches between the ergodic and nonergodic regimes. The dependence of the rate on the donor-acceptor separation may also be affected in a way of producing low values for the exponential falloff parameter.     

Comprehensive core-level study of the effects of isomerism, halogenation, and methylation on the tautomeric equilibrium of cytosine

Core-level X-ray photoemission and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of 5-methylcytosine, 5-fluorocytosine, and isocytosine are presented and discussed with the aid of high-level ab initio calculations. The effects of the methylation, halogenation, and isomerization on the relative stabilities of cytosine tautomers are clearly identified spectroscopically. The hydroxy-oxo tautomeric forms of these molecules have been identified, and their quantitative populations at the experimental temperature are calculated and compared with the experimental results and with previous calculations. The calculated values of Gibbs free energy and Boltzmann population ratios are in good agreement with the experimental results characterizing tautomer equilibrium.     

Observation of poly(ethylene glycol) clusters with the chlorine anion in the gas phase under electrospray conditions

It is demonstrated herein that poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) oligomers can form stable complexes with the chlorine anion in the gas phase as evidenced by results from electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) and molecular dynamics simulation. While the formation of crown‐ether‐like structures by acyclic polyethers in their complexes with alkali metal cations coordinated by the ether oxygen atoms has been extensively studied, the possibility of forming ‘inversed’ quasi‐cyclic structures able to bind a monoatomic anion has not been proved till now. We have observed the formation of stable gas‐phase complexes of oligomers of PEG‐400 with the Cl^? anion experimentally by ESI‐MS for the first time. It is suggested that a necessary precondition for obtaining the polyether‐chlorine anion clusters is the prevention of the formation of neutral ion pairs. Molecular dynamics simulation has demonstrated the wrapping of the Cl^? anion by the PEG chain, to stabilize the PEG_n?Cl^? clusters in the gas phase. The conformation of the polyether chain in such quasi‐cyclic or quasi‐helical complexes is ‘inversed’ compared with that in the complexes with cations: that is its hydrogen atoms are turned towards the central anion. Awareness of the possibility of the Cl^? anion being trapped in quasi‐cyclic PEG structures may be of practical importance when considering the intermolecular interactions of PEGs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unexpected synthesis of a naphthylsilole

The reaction of 1,4-dilithiotetraphenylbutadiene (2) with 1,1′-dichloro-2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-silole (3) leads to 2,3,4,5-tetraphenyl-1-(1,2,3-triphenylnaphthalen-4-yl)-1H-silole (5) instead of the expected octaphenyl-1,1′-spirobisilole (1). The reaction of 2 with SiC1₄ in dioxane produced 1 in low yield, confirming results reported earlier.     

The aza Arndt–Eistert reaction based on N-trifluoromethylsulfonylarenecarboximidoyl chlorides

The aza analogues of carboxylic acids chlorides containing the NSO₂CF₃ and NSO₂CH₃ groups instead of oxygen atom were used in the Arndt–Eistert reaction. It was found that N-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-(4-fluorophenyl)-carboximidoyl chloride 1 reacts with diazomethane vigorously even at ?70 °C with formation of 1-trifluoromethylsulfonylamino-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-2,3-dimorpholine-4-yl-propane 3, 2-trifluoromethylsulfonylamino-2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-7-oxa-4-azonia-spiro[3.5]nonane 4, 2-trifluoromethylsulfonylamino-2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1,3-dimorpholine-4-yl-propane 5 and 1-trifluoromethylsulfonylamino-2-(4-fluorobenzyl)-2,3-dimorpholine-4-yl-propane 6. Reaction of N-methylsulfonylbenzcarboximidoyl chloride 8 with diazomethane proceeds at ?15 °C yielding 4-chloro-4-methylsulfonylaminomethyl-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazoline 9.     

Dielectric shielded nanoscale patch laser resonators

Dielectric shielded nanoscale patch laser resonators are introduced. Low-index dielectric shield layers surrounding a high-index core are shown to significantly reduce both metal and radiation losses. Structures suitable for both optical and electrical pumping and smaller than the vacuum wavelength in all three dimensions are shown to have a low enough threshold gain to lase at room temperature. Shifting the gain medium core provides control over the radiation pattern of the resonator and enables coupling of the laser light into a waveguide, opening opportunities for chipscale integration.