Preparation,lithiation and transformation of N-(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl) heterocycles

Indole, carbazole, pyrrole, imidazole, benzimidazole, 2-methyl- and 2-phenylbenzimidazole, and 1, 2, 4-triazole have each been converted into their N-(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl) derivatives. The pyrrole, indole, and carbazole adducts undergo smooth lithiation at the inter-ring methylene group and subsequent reaction there with electrophiles. For the imidazole, benzimidazole, and triazole systems, lithiations at other molecular positions competed.     

Total synthesis of (+)-belactosin A

A concise first total synthesis of the antitumour antibiotic belactosin A is reported, involving coupling of beta-lactone carboxylic acid 3 with N-Ala-aminocyclopropyl alanine 11.     

Rotational relaxation in the Ar—N2 system

The first (Z⁽¹⁾) and second (Z⁽²⁾) approximations to the rotational number of the Ar—N₂ system are compared for a range of temperatures. Although Z⁽¹⁾ and Z⁽²⁾ differ by a significant amount their difference remains nearly constant as a function of temperature. The effects of mass and potential parameter variations on the rotational relaxation time are also studied. When the mass of the incoming atom is decreased Z⁽²⁾ goes through a minimum while Z⁽¹⁾ steadily increases.     

Orbital control of stereochemistry in acid-catalysed addition reactions of endo -tricyclo[3.2.1.02,4]0ct-6-ene

The reaction of endo-tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,4]oct-6-ene 1 with methanol in the presence of catalytic amounts of toluene-p-sulphonic acid has been shown to give 2-exo- and endo-methoxybicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ene (2c) and (2d) and 2-endo-methoxybicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-ene (13). The formation of 2-exo- methoxybicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ene (2c), the major product of reaction, has been probed by deuterium labelling experiments and a series of 6-exo-7-exo- dideuterobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-enes synthesised for ²H, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral analysis in order unambiguously to determine the stereochemistry of proton attack on endo-tricyclo[3.2.1 0^2,4]oct-6-ene (1). The formation of 2-exo-methoxybicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-ene (2c) has been determined to involve corner protonation of the cyclopropyl moiety and skeletal rearrangement to an allylic cation with a small but measurable memory effect     

A New Route to Crystalline Salts of the Hydrolytic Dimer of Chromium(III)

Crystalline salts of the hydrolytic dimer of Cr(III), [Cr₂(μ-OH)₂(H₂O)₈]X₄·n H₂O (X = p-toluenesulfonate (tos) or mesitylene-2-sulfonate (dmtos)) have been prepared in good yields via a simple two-step procedure: H⁺ oxidation of Cr metal to give Cr²⁺ (T ≈? 70°) followed by O₂ oxidation, of Cr²⁺ to give the dimer (T ≈? 25°). The mechanism of conversion of Cr²⁺ into the dimer is discussed.     

Model compounds of caged capsaicin: design, synthesis, and photoreactivity

Molecules were prepared with substituted nitrobenzyl groups covalently bonded to N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)acetamide (2) by ether or carbonate linkages. These compounds decomposed under irradiation at 363 nm. Those with carbonate linkages decomposed at slower rates than those with ether linkages. Molecules with dimethoxy-substituted benzyl groups decomposed more slowly than monomethoxy-substituted benzyl groups due to the electronic characteristics of the benzylic carbon.     

Novel routes to 1-aryl-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinones and 2-substituted or 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans by intramolecular cyclizations

N-(α-Benzotriazolylalkyl)arylacetamides, readily available from an arylacetamide, an aldehyde and benzotriazole, undergo intramolecular cyclization under acidic conditions to give 1-aryl-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinones in good to excellent yields. Similarly, 2-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)ethanols, obtained by lithiation of 2-(benzotriazol-1-ylmethyl)phenols followed by quenching with aldehydes or ketones, eliminate a molecule of water and a molecule of benzotriazole yielding 2-substituted and 2,3-disubstituted benzofurans.     

Molecular emission cavity analysis : Part VII. The determination of cadmium

Cadmium salts give an intense cadmium atomic emission in the MECA cavity in a hydrogen-nitrogen-air flame. When a carbon or stainless steel cavity is used, 10–120 ng of cadmium in 5-μl samples can be determined. In the presence of sulphuric acid, anionic interferences are removed. Of the cations, only Fe(III), Cr(III), Mg and Sn(II) interfere seriously.     

Critical exponents,hyperscaling, and universal amplitude ratios for two- and three-dimensional self-avoiding walks

We make a high-precision Monte Carlo study of two- and three-dimensional self-avoiding walks (SAWs) of length up to 80,000 steps, using the pivot algorithm and the Karp-Luby algorithm. We study the critical exponentsv and 2 ₄ – as well as several universal amplitude ratios; in particular, we make an extremely sensitive test of the hyperscaling relationdv = 2 ₄ –. In two dimensions, we confirm the predicted exponentv=3/4 and the hyperscaling relation; we estimate the universal ratios <R _g ² >/<R _e ² >=0.14026±0.00007, <R _m ² >/<R _e ² >=0.43961±0.00034, and ^*=0.66296±0.00043 (68% confidence limits). In three dimensions, we estimatev=0.5877±0.0006 with a correctionto-scaling exponent ₁=0.56±0.03 (subjective 68% confidence limits). This value forv agrees excellently with the field-theoretic renormalization-group prediction, but there is some discrepancy for ₁. Earlier Monte Carlo estimates ofv, which were 0.592, are now seen to be biased by corrections to scaling. We estimate the universal ratios <R _g ² >/<R _e ² >=0.1599±0.0002 and ^*=0.2471±0.0003; since ^*>0, hyperscaling holds. The approach to ^* is from above, contrary to the prediction of the two-parameter renormalization-group theory. We critically reexamine this theory, and explain where the error lies. In an appendix, we prove rigorously (modulo some standard scaling assumptions) the hyperscaling relationdv = 2 ₄ – for two-dimensional SAWs.     

Greenhouse gas abatement — toward Pareto-optimal decisions under uncertainty

This paper examines the economic logic of integrated assessment — balancing the costs against the benefits of greenhouse gas abatement. Stylized facts are employed in a multiregion computable general equilibrium model with a public good. The percentage shares of global emissions are determined outside the model — based upon some form of international agreement — and emission rights are tradeable between regions. The analysis is confined to Pareto-optimal (cooperative) solutions. We focus on the sensitivity of initial decisions to low-probability, high-consequence scenarios associated with cumulative emissions. For simplicity, there are only two regions, two tradeable goods, two time periods, and two states-of-world. With the particular form of public good model adopted here (production rather than utility function impacts), it turns out that a Pareto-optimal hedging strategy is indepedent of the emission shares allocated to each region. Equity issues may be separated from those of economic efficiency. Similar results extend to cases in which there are additional regions, tradeable goods, time periods, and states-of-world.Presented at the Conference on the Economics of Global Environmental Change, Birmingham University, May 9–11, 1994. This research was funded by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The views presented here are solely those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of EPRI or its members.