Palladium-arene interactions in catalytic intermediates: an experimental and theoretical investigation of the soft rearrangement between eta1 and eta2 coordination modes

A series of dichloro-bridged arylbicycloheptylpalladium complexes have been synthesized and characterized by means of NMR spectroscopy. The compound [(C16H19)PdCl]2*CH2Cl2 with ortho and para methyl substituents at the arene has been characterized by means of X-ray diffraction techniques. The C(ipso) atom of the arene lies almost at the fourth planar coordination site of the metal [Pd-C(ipso) = 2.22(1) A (average)], and due to the arene's tilting, the substituted C(ortho) atom is relatively close to the metal atom [2.54(1) A (average)]. The coordinated C(ipso)-C(ortho) linkage, in a seemingly dihapto coordination, is anti with respect to the CH2 bridge of the bicycloheptyl unit. Variable-temperature NMR experiments for the para-substituted dimer 9 reveal restricted rotation of the two aryl groups about the corresponding C-C(ipso) bonds (DeltaE < or =17 kcal x mol(-1)). DFT-B3LYP calculations have been carried out on the known and similar monomer (phenylbicycloheptenyl)Pd(PPh3)I (4) and its related substituted derivatives. The essential results are as follows: (i) The potential energy surface for twisting the phenyl ring away from the symmetric eta(1) coordination in 4 is very flat (DeltaE < or = 1 kcal x mol(-1)) whereas an Atoms in Molecules analysis excludes the existence of an actual Pd-C(ortho) bond in the seemingly eta2-type conformer. (ii) Complete rotation of the unsubstituted phenyl ring is not facile but feasible. A significant strain affects the transition-state structure featuring a Pd-HC(aryl) agostic-type bond. The calculated destabilization of 10.3 kcal x mol(-1), with respect to the ground state, can be compared to the experimental barrier of the dimer 9. (iii) Various methyl-substituted derivatives of 4 have been optimized, and their structural and energetic trends are discussed. An almost ideal eta1 coordination is shown by the anti conformer of the C(ortho)-substituted complex due steric effects. For all of the other cases, a slipped eta2 coordination may be described. As a general conclusion, the unsaturated metal center receives pi electron density of the arene mainly through its C(ipso) atom. The effect may be slightly improved if the C(ortho) atom also gets closer to the metal, but in no case, does the slipped eta2 coordination seem to be crucial for the stability of the system.     

Conjugation and proton exchange equilibria I. Significant role of proton exchange and homoconjugation equilibria in protonic hetero systems

The significant role of the proton exchange and homoconjugation (formation of AHA^– and A₁HA ₁ ^– complexes) equilibria in protonic hetero systems (HA+A ₁ ^– ) has been shown from analysis of published data and from my own simple experiments. It is concluded that there is a need to reconsider some basic hydrogen bond problems. One of these problems-the existence of heteroconjugates in polar solvents — has been verified and illustrated with suitable experimental evidence (IR and UV-VIS spectra). The most accepted experimental evidence for the double minimum potential in the hydrogen bridge has been questioned as being in disagreement with the equilibrium law. A simple relation between the heteroconjugation constant, the parent homoconjugation constants and the proton exchange constant is also postulated. This relation fulfills important theoretical requirements, however, it is not applicable in extreme cases.To the memory of Bogdan Przybyszewski.     

Characterization of low-energy chlorophylls in the PSI-LHCI supercomplex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A site-selective fluorescence study

Almost all photosystem I (PSI) complexes from oxygenic photosynthetic organisms contain chlorophylls that absorb at longer wavelength than that of the primary electron donor P700. We demonstrate here that the low-energy pool of chlorophylls in the PSI-LHCI complex from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, containing five to six pigments, is significantly blue-shifted (A(max) at 700 nm at 4 K) compared to that in the PSI core preparations from several species of cyanobacteria and in PSI-LHCI particles from higher plants. This makes them almost isoenergetic with the primary donor. However, they keep the other characteristic features of "red" chlorophylls: clear spectral separation from the bulk chlorophylls, big Stokes shift revealing pronounced electron-phonon coupling, and large homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening of approximately 170 and approximately 310 cm(-1), respectively.     

Highly tilted antiferroelectric (R) enantiomers useful for the formulation of eutectic mixtures

ABSTRACT

Novel chiral three-ring (R) enantiomers were synthesised using optically active (R)-(?)-2-octanol. Properties, such as the sequence of phases, the transition temperatures and enthalpies, were tested by a polarising optical microscope and differential scanning calorimeter. An antiferroelectric smectic phase (SmC_A*) with a direct transition from the antiferroelectric to the isotropic phase (SmC_A*-Iso) was observed for three esters with an achiral C₃F₇CH₂O(CH₂)₃O– terminal chain. Bi- and multicomponent mixtures with a broad temperature range of the antiferroelectric phase and good electro-optical properties were formulated. Helical pitch of pure esters and mixtures was measured by spectrophotometry method.     

Model dipeptides incorporating the trans cyclohexane analogues of phenylalanine: further evidence of the relationship between side-chain orientation and β-turn type

In order to study the influence of the side-chain orientation on the peptide backbone conformation we have synthesised the model dipeptides t-BuCO-l-Pro-(1S,2R)-c₆Phe-NHMe and t-BuCO-l-Pro-(1R,2S)-c₆Phe-NHMe, incorporating each enantiomer of the trans cyclohexane analogue of phenylalanine (trans-1-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanecarboxylic acid). The orientation of the aromatic side-chain determines the β-turn type accommodated by these peptides to the point that the (1S,2R)-c₆Phe derivative retains the type I β-turn in the crystalline state, in contrast to the behaviour exhibited by the natural counterpart t-BuCO-l-Pro-l-Phe-NHMe.     

Etude de la chloration du polychlorure de vinyle en fonction de sa tacticite

Polyvinyl chloride samples of various tacticity have been prepared and photochlorinated in CCl₄ for 4 hr. The chlorination degree correlates directly with the degree of syndiotacticity. Initial PVC with syndiotacticity about 56 per cent, which can be regarded as alternate sequences of syndiotactic and isotactic diads, is quickly chlorinated. The mechanism of chlorine attack on the macromolecula is directly connected with the stereoregularity.     

Magneto-optics of Ferritin

Measurements of Rayleigh light scattering, nonlinear light scattering in DC magnetic fields, and the Cotton-Mouton effect were carried out for 15 mM NaCl and water solutions of ferritin at room temperature. The spherical geometry of the molecule implies that it is optically isotropic. Such a macromolecule should not manifest magnetic anisotropy; however, in solution it shows induced magnetic birefringence (Cotton-Mouton effect) and changes in the intensity of the scattered light components. The analysis of the obtained results indicates the deformation of linear optical polarizability induced in the ferritin by a magnetic field as the main source of the magneto-optical phenomena observed. Light scattering and the CM effects theoretically depend on the linear magneto-optical polarizability, chi, and the nonlinear magneto-optical polarizability, eta. Using the theory describing the phenomena as well as the experimental data, the values of the anisotropy of linear magneto-optical polarizability components, chi(parallel) - chi(perpendicular) = -(1.3 +/- 0.7) x 10(-22) [cm3] (in SI units chi(parallel) - chi(perpendicular) = -(2.0 +/- 1.2) x 10(-33) [m3]), the linear optical polarizability, alpha = (alpha(parallel) + 2alpha(perpendicular))/3 = (3.9 +/- 1.0) x 10(-20) [cm3] (in SI units alpha = (3.52 +/- 0.09)x10(-4) [Cm2 V(-1)]), and its anisotropy, kappa(alpha) = (alpha(parallel) - alpha(perpendicular))/3alpha = -(0.06+/-0.03), nonlinear magneto-optical polarizability, eta = (eta(parallel) + 2eta(perpendicular))/3 = -(4.7 +/- 0.9) x 10(-30) [cm3 Oe(-2)] (in SI units eta = -(6.7 +/- 1.3) x 10(-18) [Cm4 V(-1) A(-2)]) and its anisotropy, kappa(eta) = (eta[parallel) - eta(perpendicular))/3eta = -(0.15 +/- 0.10), were deduced. Here alpha(parallel), eta(parallel), alpha(perpendicular), eta(perpendicular) are the optical and magneto-optical polarizability components along the parallel and the perpendicular axes of the axially symmetric molecule, respectively.     

Thermal Analysis of Hexachloroplumbate and Chlorides Containing Complex Divalent Lead 2,2'-bipyridine Cations

Lead(II) 2,2'-bipyridine hexachloroplumba tetetrahydrate was synthesized and investigated by DTA, TG and DTG. IR spectroscopy and other methods enabled the identification of some of the decomposition products. Comparative studies on the corresponding chlorides: [Pb(bipy)]Cl₂ and [Pb(bipy)₃]Cl₂, which can be considered as precursors of the hexachloroplumbate, were also undertaken. X-ray measurements enabled the tentative determination of the crystal structure of [Pb(bipy)]Cl₂. Hexachloroplumbate decomposes with the liberation of chlorine, water and organic ligands, and the process is accompanied by the simultaneous transition of Pb(IV)→Pb(II). Chlorides release only ligands upon heating. Residues comprised always PbCl₂. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New insights into the reaction of zinc alkyls with dioxygen

Studies on the reaction of zinc alkyls with O2 are reported which demonstrate that the selective oxygenation of organozinc compound is viable. The reaction of [EtZn(azol)]n (azol = deprotonated 1-aziridineethanol) with an excess of dry O2 in toluene affords the zinc ethylperoxide [EtOOZn(azol)]2[EtZn(azol)]2, while the analogous reaction between Me2Zn and O2 results in the isolation of the Me6Zn7(OMe)8 cluster in high yield.     

Supplementation with Magnesium Salts—A Strategy to Increase Nutraceutical Value of Pleurotus djamor Fruiting Bodies

The use of substrates supplemented with minerals is a promising strategy for increasing the nutraceutical value of Pleurotus spp. The current research was performed to analyze the effect of substrate supplementation with magnesium (Mg) salts on the Mg content, biomass, and chemical composition of pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) fruiting bodies. Before inoculation, substrate was supplemented with MgCl₂ × 6 H₂O and MgSO₄, both salts were applied at three concentrations: 210, 420, and 4200 mg of Mg per 2 kg of substrate. The harvest period included three flushes. Substrate supplementation with 4200 mg of Mg caused the most significant decrease in mushroom productivity, of about 28% for both Mg salts. The dry matter content in fruiting bodies was significantly lower in the treatment in which 210 mg of Mg was applied as MgSO₄ in comparison to the control. Supplementation effectively increased the Mg content in fruiting bodies of P. djamor by 19–85% depending on the treatment, and significantly affected the level of remaining bioelements and anions. One hundred grams of pink oyster fruiting bodies, supplemented with Mg salts, provides more than 20% of the Mg dietary value recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); thus, supplementation can be an effective technique for producing mushrooms that are rich in dietary Mg. Although P. djamor grown in supplemented substrate showed lower productivity, this was evident only in the fresh weight because the differences in dry weight were negligible. Mg supplementation increased the antioxidant activity of the fruiting bodies, phenolic compounds, and some amino acids, including L-tryptophan, and vitamins (thiamine and l-ascorbic acid).