Regioselective Discrimination of Antipods in a Catalytic Asymmetric Transformation

In the hydroformylation of racemic 3-phenyl-1-butene in the presence of an asymmetric rhodium-catalyst different regioselectivities have been observed for the two enantiomers, as indicated by the optical activity of the products.     

Selective ruthenium-catalyzed transformations of enynes with diazoalkanes into alkenylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes

Reaction of a variety of CCH bond-containing 1,6-enynes with N2CHSiMe3 in the presence of RuCl(COD)Cp* as catalyst precursor leads, at room temperature, to the general formation of alkenylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes with high Z-stereoselectivity of the alkenyl group and cis arrangement of the alkenyl group and an initial double-bond substituent, for an E-configuration of this double bond. The stereochemistry is established by determining the X-ray structures of three bicyclic products. The same reaction with 1,6-enynes bearing an R substituent on the C1 carbon of the triple bond results in either cyclopropanation of the double bond with bulky R groups (SiMe3, Ph) or formation of alkylidene-alkenyl five-membered heterocycles, resulting from a beta elimination process, with less bulky R groups (R = Me, CH2CH=CH2). The reaction can be applied to in situ desilylation in methanol and direct formation of vinylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes and to the formation of some alkenylbicyclo[4.1.0]heptanes from 1,7-enynes. The catalytic formation of alkenylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes also takes place with enynes and N2CHCO2Et or N2CHPh. The reaction can be understood to proceed by an initial [2+2] addition of the Ru=CHSiMe3 bond with the enyne CCH bond, successively leading to an alkenylruthenium-carbene and a key alkenyl bicyclic ruthenacyclobutane, which promotes the cyclopropanation, rather than metathesis, into bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes. Density functional theory calculations performed starting from the model system Ru(HCCH)(CH2=CH2)Cl(C5H5) show that the transformation into a ruthenacyclobutane intermediate occurs with a temporary eta3-coordination of the cyclopentadienyl ligand. This step is followed by coordination of the alkenyl group, which leads to a mixed alkyl-allyl ligand. Because of the non-equivalence of the terminal allylic carbon atoms, their coupling favors cyclopropanation rather than the expected metathesis process. A direct comparison of the energy profiles with respect to those involving the Grubbs catalyst is presented, showing that cyclopropanation is favored with respect to enyne metathesis.     

Nickel nanoparticles obtained by a modified polyol process: synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties

The synthesis of nickel nanoparticles using poly(N-vinilpyrrolidone) (PVP) as protective agent was studied. The nanoparticles were prepared in air according to a modified polyol route, using nickel chloride as precursor and sodium borohydride as reducing agent. Samples with different nickel/PVP ratio were obtained. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements indicate the occurrence of face-centered cubic metallic nickel nanoparticles with a medium diameter of 3.8 nm and good size dispersion. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data show an effective interaction between the nickel nanoparticles surface and the carboxyl oxygen atoms of PVP. Magnetic measurements show single-domain nonideal superparamagnetism behavior due to dipolar magnetic coupling between particles.     

On a q-analogue for Bernoulli numbers

Inspired by Borwein et al. (Am. Math. Mon., 116(5):387–412, 2009), we define a sequence of q-analogues for the Bernoulli numbers under the framework of Strodt operators. We show that they not only satisfy identities similar to those of the q-analogue proposed by Carlitz (Duke Math. J., 15(4):987–1000, 1948), but also interesting analytical properties as functions of q. In particular, we give a simple analytic proof of a generalization of an explicit formula for the Bernoulli numbers given by Woon (Math. Mag., 70(1):51–56, 1997). We also define a set of q-analogues for the Stirling numbers of the second kind within our framework and prove a q-extension of a related, well-known closed form relating Bernoulli and Stirling numbers.     

A novel and rapid method for determination of natamycin in wines based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry: validation according to the 2002/657/EC European decision

A novel, simple, and rapid reversed-phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric methodology was developed for the analysis of natamycin in wine samples. Natamycin was protonated to form singly charged ions in an electrospray positive ion mode. Data acquisition under MS/MS was achieved by applying multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of three fragment ion transitions (666.3 → 648.2, 666.3 → 503.3, and 666.3 → 485.2) to provide a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. Chromatographic separation was performed on a rapid resolution column using a mobile phase consisting of an acetonitrile/water mixture with a total run time of 5.0 min. After only filtration as pretreatment, the sample was injected into the chromatographic system. The proposed method was validated in terms of selectivity, trueness, precision, decision limit (CCα), and detection capability (CCβ) according to 2002/657/EC Commission decision. The values for trueness, reported as bias (%), agreed with those established by the aforementioned document. Repeatability (intraday variability) values were 12.37% at a concentration of 1.0 μg L⁻¹ and 8.99–4.19% at concentrations between 2.5 and 10 μg L⁻¹. The overall within-laboratory (interday variability) reproducibility was 15.47% at a concentration of 1.0 μg L⁻¹, which was significantly lower than the indicative value reported in the EU decision. The results indicated that the proposed approach is a sensitive, fast, reproducible, and robust methodology suitable for the analysis of natamycin levels in wine samples.