Preference for the Diels–Alder addition of dienes syn to the O atom in cross‐conjugated spiro­cyclic cyclo­hexadienones

In the Diels–Alder reaction, the preferred addition of dienes syn to the O atom in cross‐conjugated cyclo­hexadienones containing an oxa‐­spiro ring system is observed. The two structures reported here, namely rel‐(1R,4aR,9S,9aS,10R)‐4a,9,9a,10‐tetra­hydro‐9,10‐di­phenyl­spiro­[9,10‐epoxy­anthra­cene‐1(4H),2′‐oxiran]‐4‐one, C₂₇H₂₀O₃, and rel‐(1R,4aS,9R,9aS,10S)‐4a,9,9a,10‐tetra­hydro‐9,10‐di­phenyl­spiro­[9,10‐epoxy­anthracene‐1(4H),2′‐oxetane]‐4‐one, C₂₈H₂₂O₃, are the minor and sole products, respectively, of the reactions of di­phenyl­isobenzo­furan with two slightly different cyclo­hexadienones. These structures differ in the size of the oxa‐­spiro ring, by one C atom, and in the relative configuration at the spiro­cyclic ring C atom, leading to some minor conformational differences between the two compounds.     

Substitution of Lithium for Magnesium,Zinc, and Aluminum in Li15Si4: Crystal Structures,Thermodynamic Properties,as well as 6Li and 7Li NMR Spectroscopy of Li15Si4 and Li15−xMxSi4 (M=Mg,Zn, and Al)

An investigation into the substitution effects in Li₁₅Si₄, which is discussed as metastable phase that forms during electrochemical charging and discharging cycles in silicon anode materials, is presented. The novel partial substitution of lithium by magnesium and zinc is reported and the results are compared to those obtained for aluminum substitution. The new lithium silicides Li₁₄MgSi₄ ( 1 ) and Li_14.05Zn_0.95Si₄ ( 2 ) were synthesized by high‐temperature reactions and their crystal structures were determined from single‐crystal data. The magnetic properties and thermodynamic stabilities were investigated and compared with those of Li_14.25Al_0.75Si₄ ( 3 ). The substitution of a small amount of Li in metastable Li₁₅Si₄ for more electron‐rich metals, such as Mg, Zn, or Al, leads to a vast increase in the thermodynamic stability of the resulting ternary compounds_. The ^6,7Li NMR chemical shift and spin relaxation time T₁‐NMR spectroscopy behavior at low temperatures indicate an increasing contribution of the conduction electrons to these NMR spectroscopy parameters in the series for 1 – 3 . However, the increasing thermal stability of the new ternary phases is accompanied by a decrease in Li diffusivity, with 2 exhibiting the lowest activation energy for Li mobility with values of 56, 60, and 62 kJ mol^?1 for 2 , Li_14.25Al_0.75Si₁₄, and 1 , respectively. The influence of the metastable property of Li₁₅Si₄ on NMR spectroscopy experiments is highlighted.     

Structure and stability of the tetrahydridoselenonium dication,SeH4 2+

Ab initio molecular orbital theory with triple-zeta-valence plus polarization basis sets and with electron correlation incorporated at the fourth-order Møller-Plesset level has been used to study the tetrahydridoonium dications, OH₄ ²⁺, SH₄ ²⁺, and SeH₄ ²⁺. The tetrahydridoselenonium dication SeH₄ ²⁺ is predicted to have a tetrahedral (T _d )structure, similar to OH₄ ²⁺ and SH₄ ²⁺, with short bonds to hydrogen (1.483 Å). Although deprotonation of SeH₄ ²⁺ is thermodynamically favored Cby 104 kJ mol^–1), such a reaction is inhibited by a large barrier (240kJmol^–1]. Thus, SeH₄ ²⁺ lies in a deep potential well and as an isolated species should have a long lifetime in the gas phase. The estimated heat of formation, H° _f , for SeH₄ ²⁺ is very high (2483 kJ mol^–1], as is the case for OH₄ ²⁺ and SH₄ ²⁺. Of the group IV onium dications (OH₄ ²⁺, SH₄ ²⁺, and SeH₄ ²⁺), SeH₄ ²⁺ displays the greatest kinetic and thermodynamic stability toward proton loss. Substantial solvent stabilization is required in order to generate SeH₄ ²⁺ in solution.     

Photoinduced gelation by stilbene oxalyl amide compounds

Oxalyl amide derivatives bearing 4-dodecyloxy-stilbene as a cis-trans photoisomerizing unit were synthesized. The trans derivative acted as a versatile gelator of various organic solvents, whereas the corresponding cis derivative showed a poor gelation ability or none at all. In diluted solution (c = 2.0 x10(-5) mol dm(-3), ethanol), the cis isomer was photochemically converted into the trans isomer within 4 min. Depending on the radiation wavelength, the trans isomer was stable or liable to photodecomposition. When exposed to irradiation, a concentrated solution of the cis isomer (c = 2.0 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3), ethanol) turned into a gel. The FT-Raman, FT-IR, and 1H NMR spectra demonstrated that the gelation process occurred because of a rapid cis --> trans photoisomerization followed by a self-assembly of the trans molecules. Apart from the formation of hydrogen bonding between the oxalyl amide parts of the molecules, confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy, it was assumed that the pi-pi stacking between the trans-stilbene units of the molecule and a lipophilic interaction between long alkyl chains were the interactions responsible for gelation.     

Cyanovinyl radical: an illustration of the poor performance of unrestricted perturbation theory and density functional theory procedures in calculating radical stabilization energies

Stabilization energies for the 1-cyanovinyl radical (CH₂=CCN) have been calculated using a variety of conventional ab initio (M?ller–Plesset, quadratic configuration interaction and coupled-cluster) and density functional theory (B-LYP, B3-LYP) procedures, as well as with a range of compound methods. Compared with a high-level benchmark value (that predicts a stabilization energy of 17.1 kJ mol⁻¹), UMP2 and UMP4 give the wrong sign and magnitude of the stabilization energy (both methods predicting desta- bilization instead of stabilization), while B-LYP and B3-LYP overestimate the degree of stabilization. The RMP2, RMP4, QCISD(T) and CCSD(T) techniques, and several, but not all, variants of G2 and CBS theories give radical stabilization energies in good agreement with the benchmark value. Received: 15 June 1998 / Accepted: 19 August 1998 /  Published online: 15 February 1999     

Identifying key electrostatic interactions in Rhizomucor miehei lipase: the influence of solvent dielectric

The conformational change associated with the interfacial activation of Rhizomucor miehei lipase involves the displacement of an α-helical lid (residues 82–96) away from the active site on moving from water (high dielectric) to lipid (low dielectric). The presence of two media of very different dielectric properties suggests that electrostatic interactions play an important role in this process. We have used linearized Poisson–Boltzmann calculations to examine the key electrostatic interactions which contribute to lid stability in the closed and open states. It is the two charged residues of the lid, Arg86 and Asp91, that form the strongest electrostatic interactions with the rest of the protein. We identify key residues whose interactions with the lid are significantly perturbed by the change in the dielectric of the medium: Asp61, Arg80, Lys109, Glu117 and the active-site residues Asp203 and Asp256, all of which lie within approximately 20 ? of the lid. We suggest that these residues are good candidates for site-specific mutation studies, which could help elucidate their role in the lipase activation mechanism. Received: 27 May 1998 / Accepted: 17 September 1998 / Published online: 7 December 1998     

Complexation of fluoride anion and its ion pairs with alkali metal cations by tetra-substituted lower rim calix[4]arene tryptophan derivative

Abstract

Selective binding of fluoride anion and its alkali metal cation ion pairs by a fluorescent calix[4]arene (L) derivative bearing tryptophan moieties was studied in acetonitrile at 25 °C. It was found that LF^? and LF₂^2? complexes were formed and their stability constants were determined by means of UV and ¹H NMR titrations. Both amide and indole NH groups were involved in the stabilisation of the fluoride complexes, i.e. L afforded two anion-binding sites. ¹H NMR titrations provided evidence of simultaneous complexation of both Na⁺ cation and fluoride anion resulting in the formation of a ternary NaLF complex. In this ion pair complex, the Na⁺ cation was most probably bound primarily by the calixarene ether and amide oxygen atoms, whereas the indole NH groups interacted with the fluoride ion. A highly favourable ion pairing between Na⁺ and F^– in acetonitrile was studied using potentiometric measurements. The results pointed out the importance of fluoride pairing with alkali metal cations in aprotic organic solvents and the necessity of taking these reactions into account in the course of speciation studies of such solutions.     

Hydrogen Bonding and Solvent Effects on Complexation of Alkali Metal Cations by Lower Rim Calix[4]arene Tetra(O-[N -acetyl-D -phenylglycine methyl ester]) Derivative

Complexation of alkali metal cations with 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-26,28,25,27-tetrakis(O-methyl-D-α-phenylglycylcarbonylmethoxy)calix[4]arene (L) was studied by means of spectrophotometric, conductometric and potentiometric titrations at 25 °C. The solvent effect on the binding ability of L was examined by using two solvents with different affinities for hydrogen bonding, viz. methanol and acetonitrile. Despite the presence of intramolecular NH···O=C hydrogen bonds in L, which need to be disrupted to allow metal ion binding, this calix[4]arene amino acid derivative was shown to be an efficient binder for smaller Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations in acetonitrile (lg K_LiL > 5, lg K_NaL = 7.66), moderately efficient for K⁺ (lg K_KL = 4.62), whereas larger Rb⁺ and Cs⁺ did not fit in its hydrophilic cavity. The complex stabilities in methanol were significantly lower (lg K_NaL = 4.45, lg K_KL = 2.48). That could be explained by different solvation of the cations and by competition between the cations and methanol molecules (via hydrogen bonds) for amide carbonyl oxygens. The influence of cation solvation on complex stability was most pronounced in the case of Li⁺ for which, contrary to the quite stable LiL⁺ complex in acetonitrile, no complexation was observed in methanol under the conditions used.     

Triethylphosphanimin-Komplexe der Acetate von Kupfer(II) und Zink. Kristallstrukturen von [Zn(O2C–CH3)2(HNPEt3)], [Cu5(O2C–CH3)10(HNPEt3)2] und [Cu(O2C–CH3)2(HNPEt3)2]

Triethylphosphanimine Complexes of the Acetates of Copper(II) and Zinc. Crystal Structures of [Zn(O₂C–CH₃)₂(HNPEt₃)], [Cu₅(O₂C–CH₃)₁₀(HNPEt₃)₂], and [Cu(O₂C–CH₃)₂(HNPEt₃)₂] The title compounds originate from the anhydrous acetates of zinc and copper(II) with trimethylsilyl-triethylphosphanimine, Me₃SiNPEt₃, in the presence of water in dichloromethane. They form colourless ( 1 ), bluish-green ( 2 ), and blue ( 3 ), respectively, single crystals, which were characterized by IR spectroscopy and by crystal structure analyses. [Zn(O₂C–CH₃)₂(HNPEt₃)] ( 1 ): Space group P 4 2₁c, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –83 °C: a = b = 1709.6(2), c = 982.4(1) pm, R = 0.0551. 1 has a polymeric chain structure in which the zinc atoms are μ₂-bridged via the oxygen atoms of one of the two acetato groups, while the second acetato group and the phosphanimine are bonded terminally. [Cu₅(O₂C–CH₃)₁₀(HNPEt₃)₂]( 2 · 4 CH₂Cl₂): Space group P2₁/c, Z = 8, lattice dimensions at –80 °C: a = 1761.18(13), b = 4074.5(2), c = 1733.34(15) pm, β = 91.383(10)°, R = 0.0413. 2 consists of the two structural units [Cu₂(O₂C–CH₃)₄] and [Cu₃(O₂C–CH₃)₆(HNPEt₃)₂], which are connected via two of the acetato groups of the Cu₃-unit along the crystallographic a-axis to form three crystallographically independent polymeric strands. [Cu(O₂C–CH₃)₂(HNPEt₃)₂] ( 3 ): Space group P2₁/n, Z = 2, lattice dimensions at 20 °C: a = 695.49(8), b = 1217.85(10), c = 1380.05(7) pm, β = 96.451(7)°, R = 0.0291. 3 forms monomeric, centrosymmetric molecules with a square planar environment at the Cu atoms.