Kinetics and Mechanism of the Racemization of Aryl Allenes Catalyzed by Cationic Gold(I) Phosphine Complexes

The kinetics of the racemization of aromatic 1,3‐disubstituted allenes catalyzed by gold phosphine complexes has been investigated. The rate of gold‐catalyzed allene racemization displayed first‐order dependence on allene, and catalyst concentration and kinetic analysis of gold‐catalyzed allene racemization as a function of allene and phosphine electron‐donor ability established the accumulation of electron density on the phosphine atom and the depletion of electron density on the terminal allenyl carbon atoms in the rate‐limiting transition state for racemization. These and other observations were in accord with a mechanism for allene racemization involving rapid and reversible inter‐ and intramolecular allene exchange followed by turnover‐limiting, unimolecular conversion of a chiral gold η²‐allene complex to an achiral η¹‐allylic cation intermediate through a bent and twisted η¹‐allene transition state. With respect to proper ligand selection, these studies reveal that both electron‐poor phosphine ligands and polar solvents facilitate racemization.     

Standardization for oxygen isotope ratio measurement - still an unsolved problem

Numerous organic and inorganic laboratory standards were gathered from nine European and North American laboratories and were analyzed for their delta(18)O values with a new on-line high temperature pyrolysis system that was calibrated using Vienna standard mean ocean water (VSMOW) and standard light Antartic precipitation (SLAP) internationally distributed reference water samples. Especially for organic materials, discrepancies between reported and measured values were high, ranging up to 2 per thousand. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed and the need for an exact and reliable calibration of existing reference materials, as well as for the establishment of additional organic and inorganic reference materials is stressed. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ab initio calculations of the photoionization of diatomic molecules

A review is presented of the calculation of photoionization spectra, particularly in the spectral range where electron autoionization of diatomic molecules takes place. In addition to some interesting results obtained over years that compare favourably with experiment, the emphasis here is put on the relation between the methods developed for the calculation of observables associated with the continuum energy spectrum of the electrons and the Alchemy system of programs. This system of programs serves as a basis for initial and intermediate calculations. The examples presented show that diatomic molecules not only in gas phase but also oriented in space or physisorbed at surfaces may be studied readily.     

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative alkoxylation of alpha-alkenyl beta-diketones to form functionalized furans

Treatment of 4-allyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-heptanedione with a catalytic amount of PdCl(2)(CH(3)CN)(2) (5 mol %) and a stoichiometric amount of CuCl(2) (2.2 equiv) in dioxane at 60 degrees C for 12 h formed 3-isobutyryl-2-isopropyl-5-methylfuran in 77% isolated yield. A number of alpha-alkenyl beta-diketones underwent oxidative alkoxylation under these conditions to form 2,3,5-trisubsituted furans in moderate to good yield.     

Gold(I)-catalyzed intramolecular enantioselective hydroarylation of allenes with indoles

Treatment of 2-allenyl indole 4 with a catalytic 1:2 mixture of [(S)-2]Au2Cl2 [(S)-2 = (S)-3,5-tBu-4-MeO-MeOBIPHEP] and AgBF4 in toluene at -10 degrees C for 17 h led to isolation of tetrahydrocarbazole 5 in 88% yield with 92% ee. The protocol was effective for the cyclization of terminally disubstituted allenes and for the formation of seven-membered rings.     

Interaction between explosive and analyte layers in explosive matrix-assisted plasma desorption mass spectrometry

An HMX/insulin two-layer system was chosen as a model for further investigation of the matrix properties of explosive materials for protein analytes in plasma desorption mass spectrometry. The dependencies of the molecular ion yield and average charge state as a function of the analyte thickness were studied. An increase in the charge state of multiply protonated molecular species was confirmed as the major matrix effect, with the average charge state z at the smallest thickness studied being higher than in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and closer to the value obtained in electrospray ionization under standard acidic conditions. Observed charge state distributions are significantly narrower than the corresponding Poisson distributions, which suggests that the protonation of insulin is limited in plasma desorption by the number of basic sites in the molecule, similar to electrospray ionization. Both the curve displaying total molecular ion yield and the one showing the total charge (proton) yield as a function of the insulin thickness have maxima at a thickness different from an insulin monolayer. These observations diminish the significance of a matrix/analyte interface mechanism for the explosive matrix assistance. Instead, a mechanism related to the chemical energy release during conversion of the explosive after the ion impact is proposed. As additional mechanisms, enhanced protonation of the analyte through collisions with products of the explosive decay is considered, as well as electron scavenging by other products, which leads to a higher survival probability of positively charged protein molecular ions. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Gold-Catalyzed Hydroamination of 1,1-Dimethylallene with N-Methylaniline

The mechanism of the intermolecular hydroamination of 3-methylbuta-1,2-diene ( 1 ) with N-methylaniline ( 2 ) catalyzed by (IPr)AuOTf has been studied by employing a combination of kinetic analysis, deuterium labelling studies, and in situ spectral analysis of catalytically active mixtures. The results of these and additional experiments are consistent with a mechanism for hydroamination involving reversible, endergonic displacement of N-methylaniline from [(IPr)Au(NHMePh)]⁺ ( 4 ) by allene to form the cationic gold π-C1,C2-allene complex [(IPr)Au(η²-H₂C=C=CMe₂)]⁺ ( I ), which is in rapid, endergonic equilibrium with the regioisomeric π-C2,C3-allene complex [(IPr)Au(η²-Me₂C=C=CH₂)]⁺ ( I′ ). Rapid and reversible outer-sphere addition of 2 to the terminal allene carbon atom of I′ to form gold vinyl complex (IPr)Au[C(=CH₂)CMe₂NMePh] ( II ) is superimposed on the slower addition of 2 to the terminal allene carbon atom of I to form gold vinyl complex (IPr)Au[C(=CMe₂)CH₂NMePh] ( III ). Selective protodeauration of III releases N-methyl-N-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)aniline ( 3 a ) with regeneration of 4 . At high conversion, gold vinyl complex II is competitively trapped by an (IPr)Au⁺ fragment to form the cationic bis(gold) vinyl complex {[(IPr)Au]₂[C(=CH₂)CMe₂NMePh]}⁺ ( 6 ).     

Platinum(II)-catalyzed intermolecular hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes with indoles

Ethylene, alpha-olefins, and vinyl arenes undergo platinum-catalyzed hydroarylation with substituted indoles in moderate to good yield.     

Tandem Gold/Silver‐Catalyzed Cycloaddition/Hydroarylation of 7‐Aryl‐1,6‐enynes to Form 6,6‐Diarylbicyclo[3.2.0]heptanes

Mixtures of [{PCy₂(o‐biphenyl)}AuCl] and AgSbF₆ catalyze the tandem cycloaddition/hydroarylation of 7‐aryl‐1,6‐enynes with electron‐rich arenes to form 6,6‐diarylbicyclo[3.2.0]heptanes in good yield under mild conditions. Experimental observations point to a mechanism involving gold‐catalyzed cycloaddition followed by silver‐catalyzed hydroarylation of a bicyclo[3.2.0]hept‐1(7)‐ene intermediate.