Estimation of the absolute internal-rotation entropy of molecules with two torsional degrees of freedom from stochastic simulations

A method of statistical estimation is applied to the problem of evaluating the absolute entropy of internal rotation in a molecule with two torsional degrees of freedom. The configurational part of the entropy is obtained as that of the joint probability density of an arbitrary form represented by a two-dimensional Fourier series, the coefficients of which are statistically estimated using a sample of the torsional angles of the molecule obtained by a stochastic simulation. The internal rotors in the molecule are assumed to be attached to a common frame, and their reduced moments of inertia are initially calculated as functions of the two torsional angles, but averaged over all the remaining internal degrees of freedom using the stochastic-simulation sample of the atomic configurations of the molecule. The torsional-angle dependence of the reduced moments of inertia can be also averaged out, and the absolute internal-rotation entropy of the molecule is obtained in a good approximation as the sum of the configurational entropy and a kinetic contribution fully determined by the averaged reduced moments of inertia. The method is illustrated using Monte Carlo simulations of isomers of stilbene and halogenated derivatives of propane. The two torsional angles in cis-stilbene are found to be much more strongly correlated than those in trans-stilbene, while the degree of the angular correlation in propane increases strongly on substitution of hydrogen atoms with chlorine.     

Ferrocenderivate LX. Rationelle synthesen der ferrocen-1,1′-dicarbonsäure sowie von isomeren methyl-, phenyl-ferrocen- und [3]ferrocenophan-mono- und -1,1′-di-carbonsäuren

Mono- or 1,1′-bis-acylation of ferrocene, its mono and 1,1′-dimethyl and phenyl derivatives and of [3]ferrocenophane with o-chlorobenzoyl chloride/AlCl₃ affords the corresponding (isomeric) chlorobenzoyl ferrocenes in high yields which can be separated by column, layer or high pressure liquid chromatography and in the case of the monomethylferrocene monoketones also by crystallization. The cleavage of the (o-chlorobenzoyl)ferrocenes by potassium-t-butoxide (and traces of water) yields the corresponding ferrocene carboxylic acids except for the α-phenyl derivatives in almost quantitative yields, thus offering a very convenient access to these acids. In all cases the isomer distribution and thereby the relative site reactivities were determined.     

Methanol electrooxidation on platinum mesh electrodes bonded to solid polymer electrolytes

Methanol electrooxidation on smooth platinum electrodes bonded to solid polymer electrolytes was studied in water and acid solution by voltammetric measurements with different scanning rates. An enhancement of the oxidation rates was observed in these systems as compared to identical platinum electrodes in contact with liquid electrolytes. This electrocatalytic effect strongly depends on the measuring conditions and on the electrode potential. The reasons for the catalytic effects at different potentials are discussed. Received: 8 January 1997 / Accepted: 1 December 1997     

Synthesis and structural characterization of carbon-centered tris(pentafluorophenyl)silyl derivatives

A general method for the synthesis of carbon-centered tris(pentafluorophenyl)silyl derivatives (RSi(C₆F₅)₃) by reaction of trichlorosilanes (RSiCl₃) with pentafluorophenylmagnesium bromide was described. The crystal structures of obtained compounds were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (7 structures). The peculiarities of crystal packing were analyzed by means of DFT calculations.     

Copolymerization of 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-galactopyranose and 1,6-anhydro-ß-D-mannopyranose derivatives

1,6-Anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-(p-methylbenzyl)-ß-D -galactopyranose (TXGal,M₁) has been copolymerized with 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-ß-D -mannopyranose (TBMan,M₂), the products characterized by NMR, specific rotation, and viscosity, and the reactivity ratios calculated. The reactivity ratios r₁ = 0.37 ± 0.15 and r₂ = 38 ± 4 indicate that the anhydromannose derivative is about 100 times as reactive as that of anhydrogalactose. A comparison of glucose, mannose, and galactose copolymerizations suggests that the reactivity differences of the three propagating cations are comparatively small and the reactivity differences of the monomers large. This result is consistent with a mechanism proposed earlier. Methyl substitution on the aromatic rings of the p-xylyl groups inhibits the initiation process significantly relative to benzyl, but propagation only slightly.     

Inclusion of Two PhP(O)(OH) 2 Guest Molecules into the Cavity of Macrocyclic Cavidand Cucurbit[8]uril

A new inclusion compound which is a supramolecular adduct of cucurbit[8]uril with two guest molecules of phenylphosphonic acid, PhP(O)(OH)₂, included into the cavity as ``two guests in host'' is reported. The guests match both size and hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity requirements. Two phenyl groups of molecules of PhP(O)(OH)₂ are directed toward the center of the large hydrophobic cavity whereas the PO(OH)₂ groups are outward-looking and bound with each hydrophilic portal of cucurbit[8]uril by a short hydrogen bond.     

Recent Results on Fast Flow Gas-Phase Partial Oxidation of Lower Alkanes

Recent experimental results and kinetic modeling of fast flow gas-phase oxidation of methane and other lower alkanes to methanol and other oxygenates are discussed,alongside with prospects and possible areas for applications of the processes.     

Wolff Rearrangement of 2-diazo-1(2H)-naphthalenone induced by nonresonant two-photon absorption of NIR radiation

The irradiation of 2-diazo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (1), the common component of positive photoresists, with 800 nm pulses of ultrafast laser results in Wolff rearrangement via nonresonant two-photon absorbance of light. The 10% conversion of starting material resulting in the formation of methyl 1H-indene-3-carboxylate (2) was achieved after 11 min of irradiation of the methanol solution of 1 with an unfocused beam of a Ti:Sapphire laser operating at 1 kHz. The two-photon cross-section of the diazonaphthoquinone 1 at 800 nm was calculated to be sigma = 2.2 x 10-51 cm4 s photon-1 (0.2 GM).     

Photoinduced axial ligation and deligation dynamics of nonplanar nickel dodecaarylporphyrins

The ground- and excited-state metal-ligand dynamics of nonplanar nickel(II) 2,3,5,7,8,10,12,13,15,17,18,20-dodecaphenylporphyrin (NiDPP) and two fluorinated analogues (NiF(20)DPP and NiF(28)DPP) have been investigated using static and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy in toluene and in ligating media that differ in basicity, aromaticity, and steric encumbrance. Because of the electronic and steric consequences of nonplanarity, NiDPP does not bind axial ligands in the ground state, but metal coordination does occur after photoexcitation with multistep dynamics that depend on the properties of the ligand. Following the structural relaxations that occur in all nickel porphyrins within approximately 10 ps, ligand binding to photoexcited NiDPP is progressively longer in pyridine, piperidine, and 3,5-lutidine (25-100 ps) but does not occur at all in 2,6-lutidine in which the ligating nitrogen is sterically encumbered. The transient intermediate that is formed, which nominally could be either a five- or six-coordinate species, also has a ligand-dependent lifetime (200-550 ps). Decay of this intermediate occurs partially via ligand release to re-form the uncoordinated species, in competition with binding of the second axial ligand and/or conformational/electronic relaxations (of a six-coordinate intermediate) to give the ground state of the bis-ligated photoproduct. The finding that the photoproduct channel principally depends on ligand characteristics along with the time-evolving spectra suggests that the transient intermediate may involve a five-coordinate species. In contrast to NiDPP, the fluorinated analogues NiF(20)DPP and NiF(28)DPP do coordinate axial ligands in the ground state but eject them after photoexcitation. Collectively, these results demonstrate the sensitivity with which the electronic and structural characteristics of the macrocycle, substituents, and solvent (ligands) can govern the photophysical and photochemical properties of nonplanar porphyrins and open new avenues for exploring photoinduced ligand association and dissociation behavior.