Dioxomolybdenum(VI) Complexes with New Enantiomerically Pure Amino Diol Ligands

(R)-Phenylglycinol is shown to be an efficient building block for the synthesis of chiral amino diols in pure diastereomeric form by epoxide ring-opening reactions. The reaction with rac-trans-stilbene oxide gives [HOCH(2)-(R)-PhCH]NH[(S)-PhCH-(R)-PhCHOH] [2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-HNO(2)H(2)] in 32% yield, which can be methylated at nitrogen to give enantiomerically pure [HOCH(2)-(R)-PhCH]NCH(3)[(S)-PhCH-(R)-PhCHOH] [2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-MeNO(2)H(2)]. These amino diol ligands have been used to prepare chiral dioxomolybdenyl complexes of the formula N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(HNO(2))MoO(2) (1) and N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(MeNO(2))MoO(2) (2). The absolute configuration at each stereocenter in the Mo(VI) complexes has been established by (1)H NOESY spectroscopy. The configuration determined for 1 has been confirmed by an X-ray analysis. Crystal data: orthorhombic P2(1)2(1)2(1), a =7.620(3), b = 13.589(2), c = 20.339(3) ?, Z = 4, R = 0.0336. The structure consists of a polymeric chain of N(R)-2(R)-3(R)-4(S)-(HNO(2))MoO(2) molecules connected through unsymmetrical Mo=O --> Mo bridges. Each metal center is coordinated in a distorted octahedral geometry by a cis dioxo unit and by two trans alkoxo atoms. The coordination polyhedron is completed by a nitrogen atom and by a bridging oxo oxygen atom from an adjacent molecule. Compound 2 catalyzes the oxidation of PPh(3) to OPPh(3) by DMSO through a mechanism that involves the intermediacy of a Mo(IV) species.     

A simple,efficient, regioselective and one-pot preparation of N-hydroxy- and N–O-protected hydroxyindoles via cycloaddition of nitrosoarenes with alkynes. Synthetic scope,applications and novel by-products

The thermal reaction between nitrosoarenes and alkynes under alkylating conditions produces N-alkoxyindoles as the major products in moderate to good yields and excellent regioselectivity. Various electrophiles are used affording different N–O-protected hydroxyindoles in a multi-component fashion. Privileged acetylenic substrates used in reactions with substituted nitrosoarenes are arylalkynes or propiolates. Potentially bioactive compounds and other classes of highly functionalizable indole products were prepared. Reactions between o-carbomethoxy-nitrosoarenes and arylacetylenes provided tricyclic compounds containing an acylaziridine indoline skeleton.     

Redox switchable ligands suitable for transition metal ions: Protonation,complexation and electrochemical properties of a ferrocene-modified tetraamine diketone and its saturated analogue

Abstract

The new ferrocene-containing water-soluble ligands 1 and 2 were synthesized and their protonation and complexation properties toward Ni^II and Cu^II studied as a function of pH, by means of potentiometric titration experiments. Electrochemical measurements were performed in aqueous solution on pure 1 and 2 and in the presence of Ni^II and Cu^II cations, in the pH range 2–12, allowing us to determine the redox potential values relative to the ferrocene oxidation in the free ligands and in their Ni^II and Cu^II complexes. 1 and 2 behave as redox switchable ligands, the former enhancing, the latter decreasing its binding ability upon oxidation of the appended ferrocene function. Besides, the Cu^II complex of ligand 1 and the Ni^II complex of ligand 2 behave as two-centre two-electron redox systems, the complexed metal cation being subject to further oxidation to M^III.     

X-ray diffraction study of the smectic mesophase of some azobenzene-containing polyacrylates

Abstract

An X-ray study is performed on powder specimens and on stretched oriented fibres of two liquid crystalline polyacrylates containing the azobenzene mesogenic unit with either a 4′-n-pentyloxy (sample 1–4) or 4′-n-hexyloxy (sample 1–5) substituent. The X-ray diffraction patterns of both samples showed the presence of a bilayer smectic C mesophase with the mesogneic groups tilted by an angle β ～ 45° (1–4) or β ～ 38° (1–5) with respect to the layer normal. The electron density profile p(z) along the direction normal to the smectic layers was calculated by Fourier inversion and possible structural models of the smectic mesophase are discussed. A partial interdigitation of the terminal alkyloxy substituents appears to occur.     

Electronic structure of uracil-like nucleobases adsorbed on Si(001): uracil,thymine and 5-fluorouracil

We study the electronic properties of the Si(001):Uracil, Si(001):Thymine, andSi(001):5-Fluorouracil systems, focusing on the Si dimer-bridging configuration withadsorption governed by carbonyl groups. While the overall structural and electronicproperties are similar, with small differences due to chemical substitutions, much largereffects on the surface band dispersion and bandgap show up as a function of the molecularorientation with respect to the surface. An off-normal orientation of the molecular planesis favored, showing larger bandgap and lower total energy than the upright position. Wealso analyze the localization of gap-edge occupied and unoccupied surface states.     

Determination of the Chemical Structure of Poly-β (-)-pinene by NMR Spectroscopy

This paper is dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Annalaura Segre.

The chemical structure of a series of β (-)-pinene polymers (PBP) obtained by radiation-induced polymerization, free radical initiation, cationic polymerization over a Friedel-Craft catalyst and by coordinative polymerization over a Ziegler-Natta catalyst has been fully elucidated by ¹H and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. 2D NMR techniques have been applied in order to assign all the NMR resonances to the structures of the PBP investigated. The NMR spectra show that the most regular PBP structure is obtained by radiation-induced polymerization followed by the free radical initiated polymerization. The most defective structure has been observed in the case of PBP prepared by cationic mechanism over a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The discussion accounts for different types of defects and cross-links present in the PBPs investigated whose fundamental structure is based on the p-menthene repeating unit.

NMR self-diffusion measurements have been performed to evaluate the molecular weight of all the PBP investigated. The highest molecular weight (2600 Dalton) was found in the case of PBP prepared by Ziegler-Natta catalyst, while the lowest molecular weight was found in the case of PBP prepared by radiation-induced polymerization (about 1000 Dalton).