Reactivity sequences of dipolarophiles towards diazocarbonyl compounds - MO perturbation treatment

Whereas diazomethane cycloadditions are only accelerated by electron-attracting substituents in the olefinic or acetylenic dipolarophile, the cycloadditions of diazoacetic, diazomalonic and diazo(phenylsulfonyl)acetic ester show in accordance with the PMO treatment U-shaped activity functions when log k₂ is plotted versus the lowest IP of the dipolarophiles.     

ON THE LUMINESCENCE OF ESTROGENS

Abstract —The absorption, fluorescence, and phosphorescence of a series of estrogens is reported. The behavior of estrogens without a keto-group is compared with that of the isolated phenylic, phenolic and naphtholic chromophores. In the latter two, attachment to the steroidal frame is inconsequential as regards their luminescent behavior. In all keto-estrogens with the exception of equilenin there is a very strong transfer of excitation energy from the A ring chromophore to the keto group. The fluorescence of 6-keto-estradiol, which has a conjugated aromatic carbonyl chromophore, is apparently due to the rigidity of the steroid frame and exhibits a rather perculiar excitation spectrum.     

The Dynamic Behaviour and NMR Solution structures of complexes of the type (Bisphosphine)(cycloocta-1,5-diene)iridium(I) and the X-ray crystal structure of (cycloocta-1,5-diene)((−)-norphos)iridium(I) hexafluorophosphate

A square-planar coordination geometry was found for the complex [Ir(cod){(?)-norphos}][PF₆] ( 1b [PF₆]; cod = cylcoocta-1,5-diene and (?)-norphos = [(2R,3R)-8-9-10-trinorborn-5-ene-2,3-diyl]bis(diphenylphosphine)) in the solid state by X-ray diffraction. Crystal data: monoclinic, space group P2₁, a = 10.751 (6), b = 18.669(14), c = 12.037(8) Å, β = 114.82(5)°, Z = 2. A total structural assignment including the configurational and conformational aspects of this and the related compounds [Ir(bishosphine)(cod)]X (bisphosphine = (?)-chiraphos = (2S,3S)-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane and (?)-norphos, X = Cl, CF₃SO₃, or PF₆) was carried out in solution by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. The complexes containing the CF₃SO₃^? and PF₆^? anions are four-coordinate cations with square-planar geometry, whereas the chlorides are five-coordinate neutral compounds showing solvent-dependent dynamic behaviour. In toluene, two diastereoisomers of [IrCl(cod){(?)-norphos}] ( 2b ) exist and interconvert slowly at room temperature. This interchange is fast in CDCl₃ solution, and it is likely to involve Cl dissociation and the formation of the cation [Ir(cod){(?)-norphos}]⁺ as an intermediate.     

Analysis of compounds of environmental concern: II. Diphenyl ethers

Nineteen halogenated and/or nitrated diphenyl ethers (currently listed in EPA Method 8111) have been separated on a DB-5/ DB-1701 column pair connected to an inlet splitter and separate electron capture detectors. Retention times are included for 10 additional compounds evaluated for their suitability as internal standards or surrogate compounds for incorporation into Method 8111. Method reproducibility and linearity are discussed, and results are presented for extracts of two real samples spiked with the 19 diphenyl ethers and analyzed using the dual-column dual-detector arrangement.     

The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide). Reported herein is a five-coordinate model compound ([Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+)) containing Fe(III) in an environment resembling that of NHase, which reversibly binds a variety of nitriles, alcohols, amines, and thiocyanate. XAS shows that five-coordinate [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) reacts with both methanol and acetonitrile to afford a six-coordinate solvent-bound complex. Competitive binding studies demonstrate that MeCN preferentially binds over ROH, suggesting that nitriles would be capable of displacing the H(2)O coordinated to the iron site of NHase. Thermodynamic parameters were determined for acetonitrile (DeltaH = -6.2(+/-0.2) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -29.4(+/-0.8) eu), benzonitrile (-4.2(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -18(+/-3) eu), and pyridine (DeltaH = -8(+/-1) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -41(+/-6) eu) binding to [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) using variable-temperature electronic absorption spectroscopy. Ligand exchange kinetics were examined for acetonitrile, iso-propylnitrile, benzonitrile, and 4-tert-butylpyridine using (13)C NMR line-broadening analysis, at a variety of temperatures. Activation parameters for ligand exchange were determined to be DeltaH(+ +) = 7.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -10(+/-1) eu (acetonitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 5.4(+/-0.6) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -17(+/-2) eu (iso-propionitrile), DeltaH(+ +) = 4.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -20(+/-3) eu (benzonitrile), and DeltaH(+ +) = 4.7(+/-1.4) kcal/mol DeltaS(+ +) = -18(+/-2) eu (4-tert-butylpyridine). The thermodynamic parameters for pyridine binding to a related complex, [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) (DeltaH = -5.9(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS = -24(+/-3) eu), are also reported, as well as kinetic parameters for 4-tert-butylpyridine exchange (DeltaH(+ +) = 3.1(+/-0.8) kcal/mol, DeltaS(+ +) = -25(+/-3) eu). These data show for the first time that, when it is contained in a ligand environment similar to that of NHase, Fe(III) is capable of forming a stable complex with nitriles. Also, the rates of ligand exchange demonstrate that low-spin Fe(III) in this ligand environment is more labile than expected. Furthermore, comparison of [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Et,Pr))](+) and [Fe(III)(S(2)(Me2)N(3)(Pr,Pr))](+) demonstrates how minor distortions induced by ligand constraints can dramatically alter the reactivity of a metal complex.     

Origin and meaning of the Fermi contact interaction

The Fermi-contact interaction (FCI) can easily be derived from 1st order perturbation theory applied to the non-relativistic wave equation for a spin-(1/2) particle of Lévy-Leblond, with the nuclear spin described by the field of an external magnetic dipole, and it results from the fact that the turn-over-rule for the operator is only valid if the derivatives implicit in are taken in the distribution sense. If one avoids to apply the turn-over-rule, the FCI is obtained without the need to introduce a -function. It is also shown that the formulation of a magnetic point dipole as the limit of an extended nucleus directly leads to the FCI. Traditional methods of the derivation of the FCI are analyzed in the light of this new interpretation. It is then explained why the perturbation expansions in powers of the magnetic moment of the nucleus necessarily diverges, but that the expression for the 1st order energy on which the concept of the FCI is based, can nevertheless be justified by means of the Hellmann-Feynman theorem with a correction term if singular wave functions are involved. Finally some comments on a theory beyond first order are made.Dedicated to Professor J. Koutecký on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

A New Route to Crystalline Salts of the Hydrolytic Dimer of Chromium(III)

Crystalline salts of the hydrolytic dimer of Cr(III), [Cr₂(μ-OH)₂(H₂O)₈]X₄·n H₂O (X = p-toluenesulfonate (tos) or mesitylene-2-sulfonate (dmtos)) have been prepared in good yields via a simple two-step procedure: H⁺ oxidation of Cr metal to give Cr²⁺ (T ≈? 70°) followed by O₂ oxidation, of Cr²⁺ to give the dimer (T ≈? 25°). The mechanism of conversion of Cr²⁺ into the dimer is discussed.