N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) and N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato): synthesis, characterization, potentiometric, spectroscopic, and DFT studies of their vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes

The Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) (H(2)pyr(2)en, 1) was synthesized by reaction of pyridoxal with ethylenediamine; reduction of H(2)pyr(2)en with NaBH(4) yielded the reduced Schiff base N,N'-ethylenebis(pyridoxylaminato) (H(2)Rpyr(2)en, 2); their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. The totally protonated forms of 1 and 2 correspond to H(6)L(4+), and all protonation constants were determined by pH-potentiometric and (1)H NMR titrations. Several vanadium(IV) and vanadium(V) complexes of these and other related ligands were prepared and characterized in solution and in the solid state. The X-ray crystal structure of [V(V)O(2)(HRpyr(2)en)] shows the metal in a distorted octahedral geometry, with the ligand coordinated through the N-amine and O-phenolato moieties, with one of the pyridine-N atoms protonated. Crystals of [(V(V)O(2))(2)(pyren)(2)].2 H(2)O were obtained from solutions containing H(2)pyr(2)en and oxovanadium(IV), where Hpyren is the "half" Schiff base of pyridoxal and ethylenediamine. The complexation of V(IV)O(2+) and V(V)O(2) (+) with H(2)pyr(2)en, H(2)Rpyr(2)en and pyridoxamine in aqueous solution were studied by pH-potentiometry, UV/Vis absorption spectrophotometry, as well as by EPR spectroscopy for the V(IV)O systems and (1)H and (51)V NMR spectroscopy for the V(V)O(2) systems. Very significant differences in the metal-binding abilities of the ligands were found. Both 1 and 2 act as tetradentate ligands. H(2)Rpyr(2)en is stable to hydrolysis and several isomers form in solution, namely cis-trans type complexes with V(IV)O, and alpha-cis- and beta-cis-type complexes with V(V)O(2). The pyridinium-N atoms of the pyridoxal rings do not take part in the coordination but are involved in acid-base reactions that affect the number, type, and relative amount of the isomers of the V(IV)O-H(2)Rpyr(2)en and V(V)O(2)-H(2)Rpyr(2)en complexes present in solution. DFT calculations were carried out and support the formation and identification of the isomers detected by EPR or NMR spectroscopy, and the strong equatorial and axial binding of the O-phenolato in V(IV)O and V(V)O(2) complexes. Moreover, the DFT calculations done for the [V(IV)O(H(2)Rpyr(2)en)] system indicate that for almost all complexes the presence of a sixth equatorial or axial H(2)O ligand leads to much more stable compounds.     

Three oxo complexes with a tetra­nuclear [Cu4(μ2‐Cl)6(μ4‐O)] unit

The three title compounds, namely 4‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazolium hexa‐μ₂‐chloro‐chloro‐μ₄‐oxo‐tris­(4‐phenyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN¹)­tetra­copper(II) monohydrate, (C₉H₉N₂)[Cu₄Cl₇O(C₉H₈N₂)₃]·H₂O, hexa‐μ₂‐chloro‐μ₄‐oxo‐tetra­kis­(pyridine N‐oxide‐κO)tetra­copper(II), [Cu₄Cl₆O(C₅H₅NO)₄], and hexa‐μ₂‐chloro‐tetra­kis(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN¹)‐μ₄‐oxo‐tetra­copper(II) methanol trisolvate, [Cu₄Cl₆O(C₄H₆N₂)₄]·3CH₄O, exhibit the same Cu₄OCl₆ framework, where the O atom at the centre of an almost regular tetra­hedron bridges four copper cations at the corners. This group is in turn surrounded by a Cl₆ octa­hedron, leading to a rather globular species. This special arrangement of the Cu^II cations results in a diversity of magnetic behaviours.     

A DFT study of the Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between hindered thiocarbonyl ylides and tetracyanoethylene

The mechanism for the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between the hindered thiocarbonyl ylide 1 and tetracyanoethylene 2 has been studied at the B3LYP/6-31G^∗ level. Formation of the [3+2] cycloadduct 4 takes place through a stepwise mechanism that is initiated by the nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl ylide 1 to the ethylene derivative 2 to give a zwitterionic intermediate IN. The subsequent cyclization of IN yields a seven-membered cyclic ketene imine 6, which equilibrates with the thermodynamically more stable [3+2] cycloadduct 4. The computed free energies are in agreement with the experimental outcomes.     

On the generality of a cosmological speculation based on Heisenberg's principle

In a previous work [Hernández-Bermejo, B. (1996) Heisenberg's principle: A cosmological speculation, Speculations in Science and Technology, 19, 253], it was speculated that the lack of homogeneity of the large-scale structure of the universe may be due to quantum fluctuations of space in the early universe. This was argued for a Friedmann-type universe for which both the curvature and the cosmological constant were zero. Here it is shown that the same considerations are valid for arbitrary values of the curvature and .     

Estimation of the uncertainty of mass measurements from in-house calibrated analytical balances

The uncertainty evaluation of mass measurements when using “in-house” calibrated analytical balances is revisited according to the Guide to the expression of Uncertainty Measurement (GUM). The calibration of analytical balances is discussed according to the guidelines of several bodies such as ASTM, UKAS and DKD/PTB. The remainder components of uncertainty can be estimated from the balance data sheet specifications.     

Synthesis of variolin B

The total synthesis of variolin B from 4-methoxy-7-azaindole is described. The preparation of the protected amino derivative 10 and a coupling reaction of the iodo derivative 12 with 2-acetylamino-4-trimethylstannylpyrimidine are the key steps of the sequence. The use of N-tosyldichloromethanimine for the cyclisation step afforded a good entry to the 9-aminopyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine system. Variolin B was obtained from the triply protected tetracyclic compound 13 in two steps.     

Discrimination between ethanol inhibition models in a continuous alcoholic fermentation process using flocculating yeast

Discrimination between different rival models for describing the inhibitory effect of ethanol both on yeast growth and on fermentation was studied for a continuous process of alcoholic fermentation in a tower reactor with recycling of flocculating cells. Models tested include linear, parabolic, hyperbolic, exponential, and generalized nonlinear power-law types. The best expressions were identified under the criteria that all the kinetic parameters should assume acceptable values in a feasible range and should result in the best fit of the experimental data. The kinetic parameters were estimated from steady-state data of several sugar concentrations in feeding stream (S₀ = 160, 170, 180, 190, 200 g/L), constant dilution rate (D = 0.2 h^-1), recycle ratio (α = 13.6), and temperature (T = 30°C). The best model for the yeast growth was of power-law type, whereas for the product formation the best model was of linear type. These models were able to reproduce the trends of the process variables satisfactorily.     

Diastereoselective nucleophilic substitution reactions of oxasilacyclopentane acetals: application of the "inside attack" model for reactions of five-membered ring oxocarbenium ions

The additions of nucleophiles to oxocarbenium ions derived from oxasilacyclopentane acetates proceeded with high diastereoselectivity in most cases. Sterically demanding nucleophiles such as the silyl enol ether of diethyl ketone add to the face opposite the C-2 substituent. These reactions establish the syn stereochemistry about the newly formed carbon-carbon bond. Small nucleophiles such as allyltrimethylsilane do not show this same stereochemical preference: they add from the same face as the substituent in C-2-substituted oxocarbenium ions. The stereoselectivities exhibited by both small and large nucleophiles can be understood by application of the "inside attack" model for five-membered ring oxocarbenium ions developed previously for tetrahydrofuran-derived cations. This stereoelectronic model requires attack of the nucleophile from the face of the cation that provides the products in their lower energy staggered conformations. Small nucleophiles add to the "inside" of the lower energy ground-state conformer of the oxocarbenium ion. In contrast, sterically demanding nucleophiles add to the inside of the envelope conformer where approach is anti to the C-2 substituent of the oxocarbenium ion, regardless of the ground-state conformer population.     

Rapid determination of minority organic acids in honey by high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of organic acids in honey is reported. Malic, maleic, citric, succinic and fumaric acids were identified and quantified in 15 min. First time repeatibility, reproducibility and recoveries were determined out for these acids in honey samples. Maleic acid was also quantified for first time by a chromatographic method. The organic acids were removed from honey by using a solid-phase extraction procedure with anion-exchange cartridges. Previously, the solution of honey was adjusted to pH 10.50 with 0.1 M NaOH and stirred for 15 min at room temperature. Then, this solution was adjusted to pH 5.00 with 0.1 M H2SO4. This procedure was carried out to avoid interferences in the baseline. The chromatographic separation was achieved with only one Spherisorb ODS-2 S5 column thermostated at 25 degrees C. Metaphosphoric acid (pH 2.20) was used as mobile phase at a flow-rate of 0.7 ml/min. Organic acids were detected with a UV-vis detector (215 nm). The precision results showed that the relative standard deviations of the repeatability and reproducibility were < or =3.20% and < or =4.86%, respectively. The recoveries of the organic acids ranged from 62.9 to 99.4%. Under optimum conditions the detection limits ranged from 0.0064 to 7.57 mg/kg and the quantification limits ranged from 0.025 to 10.93 mg/kg.     

Three isomorphous Ln complexes: {[Ln2(bt)6(bno)(H2O)4]·bno}n (bt is but‐2‐enoate and bno is 4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide), with Ln = Nd,Er and Y

The polymeric title compounds, namely catena‐poly[[[di‐μ‐but‐2‐enoato‐κ³O:O,O′;κ³O,O′:O′‐bis[diaquadibut‐2‐enoato‐κO;κ²O,O′‐neodymium(III)]]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide‐κ²O:O′] 4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide solvate] and the erbium(III) and yttrium(III) analogues, {[Ln₂(C₄H₅O₂)₆(C₁₀H₈N₂O₂)(H₂O)₄]·C₁₀H₈N₂O₂}_n (Ln = Nd, Er and Y), form from [Ln₂(bt)₆(H₂O)₄] dimers (bt is but‐2‐enoate) bridged by 4,4′‐bipyridyl dioxide (bno) spacers into sets of parallel chains; these linear arrays are interconnected by aqua‐mediated hydrogen bonds into broad two‐dimensional structures, which in turn interact with each other though the hydrogen‐bonded bridged bno solvent units. Both independent bno units in the structures are bisected by symmetry centres.