Novel tocopheryl compounds. Part 16: Nitration of α-tocopheryl acetate—a mechanistic study

The reaction of α-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate, 3) with concentrated nitric acid proceeds according to a non-radical, two-step mechanism, producing 5-nitromethyl-γ-tocopheryl acetate (4) in good yields. In the first step, oxidation of 3 affords a benzylic cation intermediate (8), which in the second step adds nitrite to give 4. The acetyl group, which stabilizes intermediate 8 intramolecularly, remains bound to the tocopheryl moiety throughout the reaction.     

New global constraints on electronic energy hypersurfaces

Improved global energy bounds — valid for the entire electronic energy hypersurfaces of a variety of polyatomic molecular systems — are proposed. The new constraints are applicable to a larger class of molecules and are tighter than the constraints proposed earlier. The new global bounds are easily applicable using readily available energy values of atoms and atom-ions. The actual evaluation of these constraints typically involves only “back-of-the-envelope” calculations, providing both upper and lower bounds for a complete energy hypersurface, even for very large molecules. Such global energy bounds are of some importance in theoretical studies of chemical reactions and conformational changes. The proposed bounds are likely to find some practical applications in computer-based quantum-chemical synthesis planning, using multidimensional potential surfaces.     

Application of total selective solvent extraction of germanium,phosphorus and silicon to the simultaneous determination of arsenic,germanium, phosphorus and silicon

A simple rapid, accurate, and reliable method of simultaneous determination of arsenic, germanium, phosphorus, and silicon is reported. The method involves first, the determination of germanium as its phenlfluorone complex and its selective extraction with isoamyl alcohol. Phosphorus is next determined as its heteropoly blue after selective extraction of phosphomolybdic acid by isobutyl acetate at pH 1.0-0.8 and its direct reduction in this solvent. Silicon is then determined after its extraction as silicomolybdic acid by isooctyl alcohol at pH < 0.4 and direct reduction in the solvent phase. Finally, arsenic is determined in the remaining aqueous phase after reduction to its heteropoly blue.     

Dérivés lithiés et cuprolithiés du décachlorobiphényle

Exchange between decachlorobiphenyl and n-butyllithium leads to lithium derivatives. Hydrolysis affords octa- and nonachlorobiphenyls. Reaction with CuI yields aryllithium cuprates which react with acid chlorides to give the corresponding ketones.     

Kinetics and mechanism of N2 hydrogenation in bis(cyclopentadienyl) zirconium complexes and dinitrogen functionalization by 1,2-addition of a saturated C-H bond

The rates of hydrogenation of the N2 ligand in the side-on bound dinitrogen compounds, [(eta(5)-C5Me4H)2Zr]2(mu2,eta(2),eta(2)-N2) and [(eta(5)-C5Me5)(eta(5)-C5H2-1,2-Me2-4-R)Zr]2(mu2,eta(2),eta(2)-N2) (R = Me, Ph), to afford the corresponding hydrido zirconocene diazenido complexes have been measured by electronic spectroscopy. Determination of the rate law for the hydrogenation of [(eta(5)-C5Me5)(eta(5)-C5H2-1,2,4-Me3)Zr]2(mu2,eta(2),eta(2)-N2) establishes an overall second-order reaction, first order with respect to each reagent. These data, in combination with a normal, primary kinetic isotope effect of 2.2(1) for H2 versus D2 addition, establish the first H2 addition as the rate-determining step in N2 hydrogenation. Kinetic isotope effects of similar direction and magnitude have also been measured for hydrogenation (deuteration) of the two other zirconocene dinitrogen complexes. Measuring the rate constants for the hydrogenation of [(eta(5)-C5Me5)(eta(5)-C5H2-1,2,4-Me3)Zr]2(mu2,eta(2),eta(2)-N2) over a 40 degrees C temperature range provided activation parameters of deltaH(double dagger) = 8.4(8) kcal/mol and deltaS(double dagger) = -33(4) eu. The entropy of activation is consistent with an ordered four-centered transition structure, where H2 undergoes formal 1,2-addition to a zirconium-nitrogen bond with considerable multiple bond character. Support for this hypothesis stems from the observation of N2 functionalization by C-H activation of a cyclopentadienyl methyl substituent in the mixed ring dinitrogen complexes, [(eta(5)-C5Me5)(eta(5)-C5H2-1,2-Me2-4-R)Zr]2(mu2,eta(2),eta(2)-N2) (R = Me, Ph), to afford cyclometalated zirconocene diazenido derivatives.     

Size-selective synthesis and stabilization of gold organosol in C(n)TAC: enhanced molecular fluorescence from gold-bound fluorophores

Gold nanoparticles of variable sizes have been synthesized in toluene employing two-phase (water-toluene) extraction of AuCl4- followed by its reduction with sodium borohydride in the presence of a series of cationic surfactants of a homologous series having the general formula C(n)TAC. The solubility features of the gold particles in the organic solvent have been accounted qualitatively by calculating the van der Waals interaction potential between the particles. The effect of thermal energy and medium dielectric constant on the stability of metal particles has been studied by measuring the surface plasmon resonance. The stabilization of surfactant-mediated gold particles as hydrosol or organosol has been elucidated by considering the double-layer interaction as a function of the dielectric constant of the solvent medium. The influence of the counterion of the phase transfer reagent and stabilizing ligand on the photochemical stability of the gold colloids has been investigated. The fluorescence probe 1-methylaminopyrene (MAP) was considered for the surface functionalization of the gold particles, and it has been found that there is an enhancement of molecular fluorescence from the gold-probe assembly.     

Developing soluble polymers for high-throughput synthetic chemistry

Soluble polymers have emerged as viable alternatives to resin supports across the broad spectrum of high-throughput organic chemistry. As the application of these supports become more widespread, issues such as broad-spectrum solubility and loading are becoming limiting factors and therefore new polymers are required to overcome such limitations. This article details the approach made within our group to new soluble polymer supports and specifically focuses on parallel libraries of block copolymers, de novo poly(styrene-co-chloromethylstyrene), PEG- stealth stars, and substituted poly(norbornylene)s.     

Fragmentation studies on monensin A and B by accurate-mass electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Monensin A and B were studied by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) and the fragment ions were confirmed by accurate-mass measurements. Analyses were performed on both a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) and a Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. The analysis revealed that fragment ions were produced by Grob-Wharton fragmentations and pericyclic rearrangements in addition to various simple neutral losses. A study of the protonated and sodiated sodium salt revealed different fragmentation pathways for these species, thus complementary structural information could be gained. A complete fragmentation pathway of monensin A and B protonated sodium salt [(M-H+Na)+H])+) and sodiated sodium salt [(M-H+Na)+Na](+) is proposed. MS(3) analysis confirmed the separate fragmentation pathways.