Preparation of stable AsBr4+ and I2As-PI3+ salts. Why didn't we succeed to prepare AsI4+ and As2X5+? A combined experimental and theoretical study

In analogy to our successful "PX2+" insertion reactions, an "AsX2+" insertion route was explored to obtain new arsenic halogen cations. Two new salts were prepared: AsBr4+[Al(OR)4]-, starting from AsBr3, Br2 and Ag[Al(OR)4], and I2As-PI3+[Al(OR)]4 from AsI3, PI3 and Ag[Al(OR)4](R=C(CF3)3). The first cation is formally a product of an "AsBr2+" insertion into the Br2 molecule and the latter clearly a "PI2+" insertion into the As-I bond of the AsI3 molecule. Both compounds were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, the first also by its X-ray structure. Reactions of Ag[Al(OR)4] with AsI3 do not lead to ionization and AgI formation but rather lead to a marginally stable Ag(AsI3)2+[Al(OR)]4 salt. Despite many attempts we failed to prepare other PX-cation analogues such as AsI4+, As2X5+ and P4AsX2+(X=Br, I). To explain these negative results the thermodynamics of the formation of EX2+, EX4+ and E2X5+(E = As, P; X = Br, I) was carefully analyzed with MP2/TZVPP calculations and inclusion of entropy and solvation effects. We show that As2Br5+ is in very rapid equilibrium with AsBr2+ and AsBr3(DeltaGo((CH2Cl2))=+30 kJ mol(-1)). The extremely reactive AsBr2+ cation available in the equilibrium accounts for the observed decomposition of the [Al(OR)4]- anion. By contrast, the stability of AsI3 against Ag[Al(OR)4] appears to be kinetic and, if prepared by a suitable route, As2I5+ would be expected to have a stability intermediate between the known P2I5+ and P2Br5+.     

Sodium and Calcium Laurylamidomethylsulfate: Aqueous Micellar Phases, Their Properties, and a Precipitate of Vesicles

A new anionic surfactant (M-LAMS) that is capable of forming intermolecular hydrogen bonds was investigated. Inverse solubilities of Na and Ca salts were found. Critical micelle concentration and aggregation behavior were determined by surface tension, light scattering, electric birefringence, and SANS measurements. It is found that the Na salt forms globular micelles while the Ca salt forms rodlike micelles. The phase behavior of the micellar solutions with increasing cosurfactant concentration was also studied. It is observed that 100 mM Na-LAMS solutions in the presence of 100 mM CaCl(2) undergo several phase transformations with increasing n-hexanol concentration. We found not only the expected micellar L(1) phase and a lamellar phase at concentrations quite low for this kind of system, but also a novel phase: At a cosurfactant/surfactant ratio x(C) of 1.2 a white precipitate is formed at the bottom of the sample. With increasing ratio x(C) the precipitate dissolves into a liquid crystalline L(alpha) phase that at x(C)=3.2 is transformed into an L(3) or sponge phase. Investigation by FF-TEM, light microscopy, and SANS shows that the precipitate consists of agglomerated polydisperse multilamellar vesicles. The vesicles consist of densely packed bilayers that contain little water. The bilayer thickness is about 20 ? and independent of its composition whereas the interlamellar distance is strikingly linked to concentrations of cosurfactant (surfactant/cosurfactant ratio) and electrolyte. With increasing cosurfactant content, the bilayers become less rigid and resulting thermal undulations force the membranes apart and weaken their interactions until a common L(alpha) phase is formed. This transition is an example of a bonding-nonbonding transition of membranes. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

NO-Mediated aromatic nitration during decomposition of phenolic S-nitrosothiols in non-aqueous aerobic medium

Five novel S-nitrosothiol compounds (6-10) derived from L-cysteine were generated in solution and their decomposition rate was followed by UV spectroscopy. In acetonitrile, compounds 9 and 10 were the most stable of this series with a half-life of 24 h. The final organic decomposition products of the five S-nitrosothiols were also analysed. Derivatives 8, 9, and 10, possessing a phenolic hydroxyl group, afforded an unexpected decomposition pathway, with nitration of aromatic ring occurring in non-aqueous media. A mechanism involving a phenoxy radical seems to be implicated.     

High regio-, chemo-, and stereoselectivity via low-temperature 4 + 3 cycloadditions. Convergent synthesis of multifunctionalized vinylmetals (M = Si, Sn) and S-vinyl benzenecarbothioates

A series of enantiomerically pure 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-en-3-ones functionalized in the unsaturated two-carbon bridge has been prepared by the title reaction. Carbocation reactivity has been fined-tuned at -95 degrees C and adjusted to diene nucleophilicity. Conventional electrophilic substitution of 3-silylated and 3-stannylated furan is suppressed in favor of the rapid 4 + 3 cycloaddition mode. In the case of cycloadduct 13A, stereoselectivity (17:1) is perfectly matched to regioselectivity (17:1). High stereoselection as well as unprecedented regioselection and chemoselection is attributed to the low-temperature cycloaddition protocol and the design of chiral auxiliary and tether.     

Electron-deficient bonding in rhomboid rings

The bonding environment of boron is usually thought about in terms of localized 2c-2e/3c-2e bonding (as in diborane) or completely delocalized polyhedral bonding (as in B(12)H(12)(2)(-)). Recently, a number of boron compounds having a rhomboidal B(4) framework have been synthesized; these show an amazing variation in their skeletal electron count, one that cannot be interpreted in familiar ways. In this report, we systematically explore the origin of the range of electron counts in these compounds. We find that four skeletal MOs are primarily responsible for keeping the B(4) skeleton together. As a subunit in a macropolyhedral environment, termed rhombo-B(4), such an arrangement of B atoms deviates from Wade's rule by three electron pairs (if treated as a distorted arachno system derived from B(6)H(6)(2)(-)). Aided by this analysis, we examine the nature of bonding in Na(3)B(20), where the rhombo-B(4) unit forms linear chains fusing closo-B(7) units. Theory suggests that this structure requires one more electron per formula unit for optimal bonding. Finally, we study the nature of bonding in beta-SiB(3), where silicon atoms also adopt the rhomboid framework.     

Designed Beta‐Turn Mimic Based on the Allylic‐Strain Concept: Evaluation of Structural and Biological Features by Incorporation into a Cyclic RGD Peptide (Cyclo(‐L‐arginylglycyl‐L‐α‐aspartyl‐))

The (3R,5S,6E,8S,10R)‐11‐amino‐3,5,8,10‐tetramethylundec‐6‐enoic acid (ATUA; 1 ), which was designed as a βII′‐turn mimic according to the concepts of allylic strain and 2,4‐dimethylpentane units, was incorporated into a cyclic RGD peptide. The three‐dimensional structure of cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐ATUA‐)) 4 in H₂O was determined by NMR techniques, distance geometry calculations and molecular‐dynamics simulations. The RGD sequence of 4 shows high conformational flexibility but some preference for an extended conformation. The structural features of the RGD sequence of 4 were compared with the RGD moiety of cyclo(‐RGDfV‐) (=cyclo(‐Arg‐Gly‐Asp‐D ‐Phe‐Val‐)). In contrast to cyclo(‐RGDfV‐), which is a highly active αvβ3 antagonist and selective against αIIbβ3, cyclo(‐RGD‐ATUA‐) shows a lower activity and selectivity. The structure of the ATUA residue in the cyclic peptide resembles a βII′‐turn‐like conformation. Its middle part, adjacent to the C?C bond, strongly prefers the designed and desired structure.     

Biosynthesis of 4-methylproline in cyanobacteria: cloning of nosE and nosF genes and biochemical characterization of the encoded dehydrogenase and reductase activities

The biosynthesis of the unusual amino acid 4-methylproline in the Nostoc genus of cyanobacteria was investigated on the genetic and enzymatic level. Two genes involved in the biosynthesis were cloned and the corresponding enzymes, a zinc-dependent long-chain dehydrogenase and a Delta(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid (P5C) reductase homologue, were overexpressed in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized. Putative substrates were synthesized to test enzyme substrate specificities, and deuterium labeling studies were carried out to reveal the stereospecificities of the enzymatic reactions with respect to the substrates as well as to the coenzymes.     

Comparative Evaluation of CE and HPLC for Determination of Cotinine in Human Urine

Two rapid and popular methods—capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been compared for analysis of cotinine in human urine. Cotinine was analyzed in less than 7 min, with detection limits of 5 and 3.2 ng mL⁻¹ for CE and HPLC, respectively. The performance of the methods was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, and limits of detection and quantification. Calibration plots were linear in the range 50–4,000 ng mL⁻¹, at least, and mean recoveries were satisfactory for both techniques. The methods were successfully used for quantification of cotinine in urine.     

Orbital Theory of Heterolytic Fragmentation and Remote Effects on Nitrogen Inversion Equilibria

From a molecular orbital study of model systems we derive the electronic requirements for the Grob fragmentation. The necessary condition for an allowed fragmentation in an X-C₁-C₂-C₃-N system, or the amino cation ⁺C₁-C₂-C₃-N is the level ordering A below S . This in turn is set by maximal through-bond coupling of the empty cation orbital and the nitrogen lone pair. The conformational dependence of through-bond coupling is exactly that derived by Grob, namely parallel orientation of the cation orbital (or the C-X bond), the C₂-C₃-σ-bond, and the N-lone-pair. When the C₁-C₂-C₃ and C₂-C₃-N angles are small, the through-space interaction dominates, reversing the level ordering to S below A , and consequently makes the fragmentation forbidden even though the conformational requirements for it are met. Ring closure becomes allowed. Some examples exploiting this result are presented, as well as procedures for enhancing through-bond coupling and thus fragmentation. The through-bond-effect has also kinetic consequences, allowing the definition of a new type of remote neighbouring group participation operative through bonds and not by direct overlap. The position of equilibria in nitrogen inversion processes should also be influenced by remote substituents which are π-acceptors or donors.