Practical asymmetric approach to medium-sized carbocycles based on the combination of two ru-catalyzed transformations and a lewis Acid-induced cyclization

[Reaction: see text] Ruthenium-catalyzed coupling of allyl ethyl ether to optically active 1-trimethylsilyl-1-alkyn-3-ols, followed by in situ ketalization and Lewis-acid-induced cyclization, affords enantiomerically pure 1,5-oxygen-bridged eight- and nine-membered carbocycles. Opening of the oxygen bridge under basic or electron transfer conditions provides optically pure medium-sized carbocycles, products that are difficult to construct using other currently available methodologies.     

Lewis acid deprotection of silyl-protected oligonucleotides and base-sensitive oligonucleotide analogues

Oligonucleotides protected with N-(trimethylsilylethoxycarbonyl) (Teoc) and P-(trimethylsilylethanol) (Tse) groups were synthesized and deprotected by a single ZnBr₂ treatment. Teoc group stabilized dA against depurination. This strategy was applied to the synthesis of base-sensitive oligonucleotide prodrugs bearing S-acetyl-2-thioethyl (Sate) phosphotriesters.     

A theoretical study of the lowest electronic states of azobenzene: the role of torsion coordinate in the cis–trans photoisomerization

In the present paper we report the results of a multiconfigurational computational study on potential-energy curves of azobenzene along the NN twisting to clarify the role of this coordinate in the decay of the S₂(*) and S₁(n*) states. We have found that there is a singlet state, S₃ at the trans geometry, on the basis of the doubly excited configuration n²*², that has a deep minimum at about 90° of twisting, where it is the lowest excited singlet state. The existence of this state provides an explanation for the short lifetime of S₂(*) and for the wavelength-dependence of azobenzene photochemistry. We have characterized the S₁(n*) state by calculating its vibrational frequencies, which are found to correspond to the recently observed transient Raman spectrum. We have also computed the potential-energy curve for the triplet T₁(n*) at the density functional theory B3LYP level, which indicates that in this state the isomerization occurs along the twisting coordinate.Acknowledgement The financial support from MIUR (project Modellistica delle proprietà spettroscopiche di sistemi molecolari complessi funds ex 60% and project Dinamiche molecolari in sistemi di interesse chimico funds ex 40%), from the University of Bologna (Funds for Selected Research Topics) is gratefully acknowledged.Contribution to the Jacopo Tomasi Honorary Issue     

A Layer‐by‐Layer Film of Chitosan in a Taste Sensor Application

Chitosan is alternated with sulfonated polystyrene (PSS) to build layer‐by‐layer (LBL) films that are used as sensing units in an electronic tongue. Using impedance spectroscopy as the principle method of detection, an array using chitosan/PSS LBL film and a bare gold electrode as the sensing units was capable of distinguishing the basic tastes – salty, sweet, bitter, and sour – to a concentration below the human threshold. The suitability of chitosan as a sensing material was confirmed by using this sensor to distinguish red wines according to their vintage, vineyard, and brands.

PCA Plot for red wine samples obtained from impedance measurements at 1 kHz for the sensor array comprising a 3‐bilayer chitosan/PSS film and a bare gold electrode.     

Copper determination in biological materials by ETAAS using W-Rh permanent modifier

A tungsten-rhodium treatment on the integrated platform of a transversely heated graphite atomiser was used as a permanent chemical modifier for the determination of copper in biological materials by using digested samples as well as slurry sampling in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The W-Rh permanent modifier was as efficient as Pd+Mg(NO(3))(2) conventional modifier for obtaining good Cu thermal stabilisation in the digested and slurry samples. The permanent W-Rh modifier remained stable by approximately 300 and 250 firings when 20 mul of digested sample and 20 mul of slurry were delivered into the atomiser, respectively. In addition, the permanent modifier increased the tube lifetime up to 1370 and 744 analytical measurements in the digested and slurry samples, respectively. Also, when the W-Rh permanent modifier was employed, there was less variation of the slope of the analytical curves during the total atomiser lifetime, resulting in a decreased need of re-calibration during routine analysis, increasing the sample throughput, and consequently diminishing the variable analytical costs. Detection limits obtained with W-Rh permanent modifier were 0.64 and 0.33 mug g(-1) Cu for digested (dilution factor 100 ml g(-1)) and 1.0% m/v slurries of biological materials, respectively. Results for the determination of copper in the samples were in agreement with those obtained with decomposed sample solutions by using Pd+Mg(NO(3)), since no statistical differences were found after applying the paired t-test at the 95% level.     

Theoretical study of the electronic spectrum of binuclear gold(I) complexes

The electronic structure and the spectroscopic properties of [Au₂(CS₃)₂]^?2, [Au₂(pym‐2‐S)₂] (pym = pyrimidethiolate), [Au₂(dpm)₂]⁺² (dpm = bis(diphosphino)methane) were studied using density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level. The absorption spectrum of these binuclear gold(I) complexes was calculated by single excitation time‐dependent (TD) method. All complexes showed a ¹(5dσ* → 6pσ) transition associated with a metal–metal charge transfer, which is strongly interrelated with the gold–gold distance. Furthermore, we have calculated the frequency of the gold–gold vibration (ν_Au2) on the above complexes. The values obtained are theoretically in agreement with experimental range. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Manganese(II) and copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate 1:1 complexes with 5-(4-[N-tert-butyl-N-aminoxyl]phenyl)pyrimidine: regiochemical parity analysis for exchange behavior of complexes between radicals and paramagnetic cations

Mn(hfac)(2) and Cu(hfac)(2) form coordination complexes with 5-(4-[N-tert-butyl-N-aminoxyl]phenyl)pyrimidine, PyrimPh-NIT. (Mn[PyrimPh-NIT](hfac)(2))(2) and (Cu[PyrimPh-NIT](hfac)(2))(2), 1 and 2, respectively, are cyclic M(2)L(2) dimers that exhibit strong exchange coupling between the coordinated paramagnetic dication (M) and nitroxide (NIT) unit. The M-NIT exchange is strongly antiferromagnetic (AFM) in 1 and strongly ferromagnetic (FM) in 2. Magnetic susceptibility measurements for 1 were fitted to an AFM spin pairing model with J/k = -0.25 K between Mn-NIT spin sites units. Complex 2 also exhibits AFM spin pairing between S = 1 Cu-NIT spin units that is somewhat field dependent at low temperature. The fit of corrected paramagnetic susceptibility chi(T) to an AFM spin pairing model at 200 Oe yields J/k = (-)3.8 K, quite similar to earlier measurements at 1000 Oe yielding J/k = (-)5.0 K. At 1.40 K, the magnetization of 2 does not approach saturation until somewhat above 170 kOe, giving an S-shaped curve; at 0.55 K, the magnetization curve shows steps characteristic of field-induced crossover between the S = 0 ground state and excited spin states. From the steps in the 0.55 K data, we estimate J/k = (-)3.8-4.0 K for 2, in good agreement with the analysis of chi(T).     

Synthesis of novel 1-(2,3-dihydro-5H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)-uracil and -thymine, and their corresponding S-oxidized derivatives

On the basis of molecular variations on isosteric replacements from the prototype 1-(2,3-dihydro-5H-1,4-benzodioxepin-3-yl)-5-fluorouracil a series of 3-(2,3-dihydro-5H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)-uracil or -thymine O,N-acetals was prepared. The nature of the cis- and trans-sulfoxide isomers was established by means of their conformational analyses carried out with Sybyl and after comparing the theoretical results with the ¹H NMR responses of the target molecules. (RS)-3-(1,1-Dioxo-2,3-dihydro-5H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)thymine and (1S*,3S*)-1-(1-oxo-3,5-dihydro-2H-4,1-benzoxathiepin-3-yl)thymine were found to be inhibitors of the MCF-7 cell growth.     

Multistate/multifunctional behaviour of 4'-hydroxy-6-nitroflavylium: a write-lock/read/unlock/enable-erase/erase cycle driven by light and pH stimulation

We have investigated the network of reactions observed for the photochromic 4'-hydroxy-6-nitroflavylium compound in aqueous solutions upon pH changes (including pH jump and stopped flow experiments) and light excitation. The changes observed in the NMR and UV/Vis spectra allowed identification of ten different forms in which this compound can be transformed depending on the experimental conditions. Equilibrium and kinetic constants have been determined. Compared with other members of the flavylium family, 4'-hydroxy-6-nitroflavylium is characterized by a large cis-->trans isomerization barrier, and a very efficient hydration reaction. These peculiar features allow writing, reading, storing and erasing photonic information on 4'-hydroxy-6-nitroflavylium by a novel cyclic process that involves the following steps: write-lock/read/unlock/enable-erase/erase.     

Tetranuclear [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] complexes as building blocks for new inorganic architectures: synthesis of coordination polymers and heteropolynuclear complexes with electrophilic d8 and d10 metal fragments

The reaction of [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(cod)4] (PyS2 = 2,6-pyridinedithiolate, cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with CF3SO3Me gave the cationic complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS(2)Me)(2)(cod)4][CF3SO3]2 (1) with two 6-(thiomethyl)pyridine-2-thiolate bridging ligands from the attack of Me+ at the terminal sulfur atoms of the starting material. Under identical conditions [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(tfbb)4] (tfbb = tetrafluorobenzobarrelene) reacted with CF3SO3Me to give the mixed-ligand complex [Rh(4)(mu-PyS2)(mu-PyS2Me)(tfbb)4][CF3SO3] 2. The nucleophilicity of the bridging ligands in the complexes [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] was exploited to prepare heteropolynuclear species. Reactions with [Au(PPh3)(Me2CO)][ClO4] gave the hexanuclear complexes [(PPh3)2Au2Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4][ClO4]2 (diolefin = cod (3), tfbb (4)). The structure of 4, solved by X-ray diffraction methods, showed the coordination of the [Au(PPh3)]+ fragments to the peripheral sulfur atoms in [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] along with their interaction with the neighbor rhodium atoms. Neutral coordination polymers of formula [ClMRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n (M = Cu (5, 6), Au (7)) result from the self-assembly of alternating [Rh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4] ([Rh4]) blocks and MCl linkers. The formation of the infinite polymetallic chains was found to be chiroselective for M = Cu; one particular chain contains exclusively homochiral [Rh4] complexes. Cationic heterometallic coordination polymers of formula [MRh4(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)4]n[BF4]n (M = Ag (8, 9), Cu (10, 11)) and [Rh5(mu-PyS2)2(diolefin)5]n[BF4]n (12, 13) result from the reactions of [Rh4] with [Cu(CH2CN)4]BF4, AgBF4, and [Rh(diolefin)(Me2CO)2]BF4, respectively. The heterometallic coordination polymers exhibit a weak electric conductivity in the solid state in the range (1.2-2.8) x 10(-7) S cm(-1).