Intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition of nitroalkenes for construction of vicinal quaternary stereocenters

[chemical reaction: see text]. Nitroalkene (E)-1 has been synthesized to test the feasibility of an intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition in a planned synthesis of daphnilactone B. This nitro olefin contains two unique structural features, a nitromethylene lactone and a pendant diene, that combine under the action of SnCl4 in a highly selective fashion to afford nitronates 2a and 2b. These products represent the correct relationship for the vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers in the core of daphnilactone B.     

Diamond and diamond-like carbon from a preceramic polymer

The synthesis of poly(hydridocarbyne), one of a class of carbon-based random network polymers and a structural isomer of polyacetlyene, is reported. The network backbone of this polymer is primarily composed of tetrahedrally hybridized carbon atoms, each bearing one hydride substituent and linked via three carbon-carbon single bonds into a three-dimensional random network of fused rings. This atomic-level carbon network backbone confers unusual properties on the polymer, including facile thermal decomposition to form diamond or diamond-like carbon high-quality films at atmospheric pressure, by direct deposition or by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), without the use of hydrogen or any other reagent.     

Studies of phosphazenes. Aminolysis reactions of pentachloro(2′, 2′, 2′-triphenyl-phosphazen-1′-yl) cyclotriphosphazene,N3P3Cl5(NPPh3)

The reactions of pentachloro(2′, 2′, 2′-triphenylphosphazen-1′-yl)cyclotriphosphazene, N₃P₃Cl₅(NPPh₃), with primary and secondary amines have been investigated using diethyl ether, methyl cyanid or benzene as the solvent. The structures of the products obtained, N₃P₃Cl_5minus;nR_n(NPPh₃) [n = 1, R = NHMe, NHBu^t, NMe₂, NC₅H₁₀, NEt₂; n = 2, R = NMe₂, NC₅H₁₀, NEt₂; n = 3, R = NMe₂, NHBu^t; n = 5, R = NMe₂] are elucidated by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The ? NPPh₃ substituent exerts a pronounced geminal directing influence on incoming secondary amino nucleophiles; compounds containing a ≡ PCl(NPPh₃) group are not formed at the bis and subsequent stages of chlorine replacement. The reactions that involve primary amines follow the pattern established for the analogous reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene. The effect of solvent and possible mechanism(s) are discussed.     

Adsorption of CF4 on the internal and external surfaces of opened single-walled carbon nanotubes: a vibrational spectroscopy study

Infrared spectroscopy has been used to make the first experimental discrimination between molecules bound by physisorption on the exterior surface of carbon single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and molecules bound in the interior. In addition, the selective displacement of the internally bound molecules has been observed as a second adsorbate is added. SWNTs were opened by oxidative treatment with O(3) at room temperature, followed by heating in a vacuum to 873 K. It was found that, at 133 K and 0.033 Torr, CF(4) adsorbs on closed SWNTs, exhibiting its nu(3) asymmetric stretching mode at 1267 cm(-1) (red shift relative to the gas phase, 15 cm(-1)). Adsorption on the nanotube exterior is accompanied by adsorption in the interior in the case of opened SWNTs. Internally bound CF(4) exhibits its nu(3) mode at 1247 cm(-1) (red shift relative to the gas phase, 35 cm(-1)). It was shown that, at 133 K, Xe preferentially displaces internally bound CF(4) species, and this counterintuitive observation was confirmed by molecular simulations. The confinement of CF(4) inside (10,10) single-walled carbon nanotubes does not result in the production of lattice modes that are observed in large 3D ensembles of CF(4).     

Free-electron attachment to coronene and corannulene in the gas phase

Electron attachment to the polyaromatic hydrocarbons coronene and corannulene is studied in the electron energy range of about 0-14 eV using a high-resolution crossed electron-neutral beam setup. The major anions observed are the parent anions peaking at about 0 eV with cross sections of 3.8 x 10(-20) and 1 x 10(-19) m(2), respectively. The only fragment anions formed in coronene and corannulene are the dehydrogenated coronene and corannulene anions. Other anions observed in the negative mass spectra at about 0 eV can be ascribed to impurities of the sample. High-level quantum-mechanical studies are carried out for the determination of electron affinities, hydrogen binding energies, and structures of both molecules. The behavior of coronene and corannulene upon electron attachment is compared with that of other polyaromatic hydrocarbons studied previously.     

A high-resolution micro-gel system for analyzing small amounts of protein with a wide diversity of molecular weights

We have used a micro-gel system to analyze the proteins in extracts of amphibian neurulae. Maximum band separation and resolution was achieved by using a dissociating discontinuous buffer with gels made of a discontinuous gradient of acrylamide.     

Tasumatrols P – T,Five New Taxoids from Taxus sumatrana

The phytochemical investigation of the more polar fractions from the leaves and twigs of Taxus sumatrana (Taxaceae) afforded five new taxane diterpene esters, tasumatrols P–T ( 1 – 5 ) possessing an 11(15→1),11(10→9)‐diabeotaxane skeleton. Compounds 1, 4 , and 5 contain an α‐hydroxy group at C(14), while 3 has no OH group at either C(13) or C(14). Compound 2 is a natural 4,5‐acetonide derivative, while 4 has an unusual spiro‐connected 2‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐1,3‐dioxolane ring. Ten known taxoids, were also isolated in the course of the chromatographic fractionation. Five additional new O‐acetyl derivatives 3a, 4a, 4b, 5a , and 5b were prepared from the taxanes 3 – 5 . The structures of all new compounds were established on the basis of their spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 showed mild cytotoxic activity against human Hela and Daoy tumor cells.     

Recent advances in solventless organic reactions: towards benign synthesis with remarkable versatility

A paradigm shift away from using solvents in organic synthesis as solventless reactions can lead to improved outcomes, and more benign synthetic procedures, in for example aldol condensation reactions, sequential aldol and Michael addition reactions en route to Kr?hnke type pyridines, reactions leading to 3-carboxycoumarins, benzylidenes, 4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridines and 2-aryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinazolines, and oligomerisation reactions for the synthesis of cavitands; kinetic considerations for the reaction of two solids can only be explained if a eutectic melt is formed during the reaction.     

Carbohydrate analysis prepares to enter the "Omics" era

In this issue, Houseman and Mrksich describe a carbohydrate array preparation method that can be used to analyze protein-carbohydrate interactions and to characterize the substrate specificity of a carbohydrate-modifying enzyme. Carbohydrate chips were prepared by a novel procedure that allows the covalent attachment of carbohydrate-diene conjugates to a specially engineered monolayer surface. The surface presents a precisely controllable ratio of reactive benzoquinone and inert ethylene glycol groups. Nonspecific adsorption of proteins to the surface is extremely low, and the surface is compatible with popular detection techniques. The immobilization technique was demonstrated to be compatible with recently developed automated solid phase carbohydrate synthesis methods, paving the way for the development of highly complex carbohydrate arrays.