Chiral hydroperoxides as oxygen source in the catalytic stereoselective epoxidation of allylic alcohols by sandwich-type polyoxometalates: control of enantioselectivity through a metal-coordinated template

The epoxidation of allylic alcohols is shown to be efficiently and selectively catalyzed by the oxidatively resistant sandwich-type polyoxometalates, POMs, namely [WZnM(2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)](q)(-) [M = OV(IV), Mn(II), Ru(III), Fe(III), Pd(II), Pt(II), Zn(II); q = 10-12], with organic hydroperoxides as oxygen source. Conspicuous is the fact that the nature of the transition metal M in the central ring of polyoxometalate affects significantly the reactivity, chemoselectivity, regioselectivity, and stereoselectivity of the allylic alcohol epoxidation. For the first time, it is demonstrated that the oxovanadium(IV)-substituted POM, namely [ZnW(VO)(2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)](12-), is a highly chemoselective, regioselective, and also stereoselective catalyst for the clean epoxidation of allylic alcohols. A high enantioselectivity (er values up to 95:5) has been achieved with [ZnW(VO)(2)(ZnW(9)O(34))(2)](12)(-) and the sterically demanding TADOOL-derived hydroperoxide TADOOH as regenerative chiral oxygen source. Thus, a POM-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of excellent catalytic efficiency (up to 42 000 TON) has been made available for the development of sustainable oxidation processes. The high reactivity and selectivity of this unprecedented oxygen-transfer process are mechanistically rationalized in terms of a peroxy-type vanadium(V) template.     

Enzyme electrokinetics: electrochemical studies of the anaerobic interconversions between active and inactive states of Allochromatium vinosum [NiFe]-hydrogenase

The cycling between active and inactive states of the catalytic center of [NiFe]-hydrogenase from Allochromatium vinosum has been investigated by dynamic electrochemical techniques. Adsorbed on a rotating disk pyrolytic graphite "edge" electrode, the enzyme is highly electroactive: this allows precise manipulations of the complex redox chemistry and facilitates quantitative measurements of the interconversions between active catalytic states and the inactive oxidized form Ni(r) (also called Ni-B or "ready") as functions of pH, H(2) partial pressure, temperature, and electrode potential. Cyclic voltammograms for catalytic H(2) oxidation (current is directly related to turnover rate) are highly asymmetric (except at pH > 8 and high temperature) due to inactivation being much slower than activation. Controlled potential-step experiments show that the rate of oxidative inactivation increases at high pH but is independent of potential, whereas the rate of reductive activation increases as the potential becomes more negative. Indeed, at 45 degrees C, activation takes just a few seconds at -288 mV. The cyclic asymmetry arises because interconversion is a two-stage reaction, as expected if the reduced inactive Ni(r)-S state is an intermediate. The rate of inactivation depends on a chemical process (rearrangement and uptake of a ligand) that is independent of potential, but sensitive to pH, while activation is driven by an electron-transfer process, Ni(III) to Ni(II), that responds directly to the driving force. The potentials at which fast activation occurs under different conditions have been analyzed to yield the potential-pH dependence and the corresponding entropies and enthalpies. The reduced (active) enzyme shows a pK of 7.6; thus, when a one-electron process is assumed, reductive activation at pH < 7 involves a net uptake of one proton (or release of one hydroxide), whereas, at pH > 8, there is no net exchange of protons with solvent. Activation is favored by a large positive entropy, consistent with the release of a ligand and/or relaxation of the structure around the active site.     

alpha-(2,6)-Sialyltransferase-catalyzed sialylations of conformationally constrained oligosaccharides

It is demonstrated that conformationally restricted oligosaccharides can act as acceptors for glycosyltransferases. Correlation of the conformational properties of N-acetyl lactosamine (Galbeta(1-4)GlcNAc, LacNAc) and several preorganized derivatives with the corresponding apparent kinetic parameters of rat liver alpha-(2,6)-sialyltransferase-catalyzed sialylations revealed that this enzyme recognizes LacNAc in a low energy conformation. Furthermore, small variations in the conformational properties of the acceptors resulted in large differences in catalytic efficiency. Collectively, our data suggest that preorganization of acceptors in conformations that are favorable for recognition by a transferase may improve catalytic efficiencies.     

The formation of cation-ligand complexes of tributylammonium cation with diethyl carbonate,ethylene carbonate,propylene carbonate, 4-butyrolactone,ethyl acetate,and cyclopentanone ino-dichlorobenzene at 25°C

The effects of adding millimolar quantities of a series of compounds containing the carbonyl function on the conductances of solutions (0.2 mM) of tri-n-butylammonium picrate ino-dichlorobenzene solvent at 25°C have been measured. Values of the complex formation constants K ₁ ⁺ for 1:1 cation-ligand complexes are derived from these data. The corresponding values of –G ₁ ⁰ at 25°C are (in kcal-mole ^–1 ): 4-butyrolactone, 4.29; propylene carbonate, 3.87; ethylene carbonate, 3.59; cyclopentanone, 3.42; ethyl acetate, 2.84; and diethyl carbonate, 2.78. These results together with earlier results from this laboratory are discussed in terms of the effects of structure on cation-ligand affinity.     

K-theory for the leaf space of foliations by Reeb components

The K-theory of the C¹-algebra $\text{C}{}^1\text{(V, F)}$ associated to C^∞-foliations (V, F) of a manifold V in the simplest non-trivial case, i.e., dim V = 2, is studied. Since the case of the Kronecker foliation was settled by Pimsner and Voiculescu (J. Operator Theory4 (1980), 93–118), the remaining problem deals with foliations by Reeb components. The K-theory of $\text{C}{}^1\text{(V, F)}$ for the Reeb foliation of S³ is also computed. In these cases the C¹-algebra $\text{C}{}^1\text{(V, F)}$ is obtained from simpler C¹-algebras by means of pullback diagrams and short exact sequences. The K-groups $\text{K}{}_1\text{(C}{}^1\text{(V, F))}$ are computed using the associated Mayer-Vietoris and six-term exact sequences. The results characterize the C¹-algebra of the Reeb foliation of $\text{T}$² uniquely as an extension of C(S¹) by C(S¹). For the foliations of $\text{T}$² it is found that the K-groups count the number of Reeb components separated by stable compact leaves. A C^∞-foliation of $\text{T}$² such that K₁(C¹($\text{T}$², F)) has infinite rank is also constructed. Finally it is proved, by explicit calculation using (M. Penington, “K-Theory and C¹-Algebras of Lie Groups and Foliations,” D. Phil. thesis, Oxford, 1983), that the natural map $\text{μ: K}{}_1\text{,}{}_{\mathrm{\tau }}\text{(BG) → K}{}_1\text{(C}{}^1\text{(V, F))}$ is an isomorphism for foliations by Reeb components of $\text{T}$² and S³. In particular this proves the Baum-Connes conjecture (P. Baum and A. Connes, Geometric K-theory for Lie groups, preprint, 1982; A. Connes, Proc. Symp. Pure Math.38 (1982), 521–628) when V = $\text{T}$².     

Solid-state binding of dimethyl sulphoxide involving carboxylic host molecules. X-ray crystal structures of four inclusion species

The crystal structures of four dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) inclusion compounds with different carboxylic acid hosts,1–4, have been studied by single crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals of thetrans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid inclusion compound (1a), [1 · DMSO (1: 1)] show monoclinic (P2₁/n) symmetry with the unit cell dimensionsa = 11.522(4),b = 18.658(2),c = 8.709(1) Å and = 98.92(2)°. The clathrate of the 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (2a), [2 · DMSO (1: 2)] is triclinic (P) with the cell dimensionsa = 15.043(7),b =9.657(4),c = 8.118(7) Å, = 101.81(5), = 96.05(4) and = 100.04(4)°. Triclinic (P) symmetry is shown also by the inclusion compound of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11-monocarboxylic acid (3a) [3 · DMSO (1:1)] with the cell dimensionsa=6.3132(1),b=7.9846(2),c=17.5314(4) Å, = 96.46(2), = 87.08(2) and = 106.02(2)°. The 9,9-bianthryl-2-monocarboxylic acid clathrate (4a) [4 · DMSO (1:1)] is monoclinic (P2₁/n) and the cell dimensions area = 19.625(18),b = 8.817(1),c = 14.076(8) Å and = 97.92(6)°. In all these structures, the hosts show the same basic recognition pattern for the DMSO guest, involving a strong O-H ... O bond from the COON to the S=O group, and a possible C-H ... O type interaction between the carbonyl O atom of the host and a CH₃ group of the guest. The crystals consist of discrete host-guest aggregates which are mainly held together by weak intermolecular interactions of the Van der Waals' type. The stoichiometries of the aggregates are, however, different.     

New gem-dicyanocyclobutane-containing hydroxyesters

Six new gem-dicyanocyclobutanes containing carbomethoxy and hydroxyl/acetoxy functions were synthesized by cycloaddition of the appropriate vinyl ethers or alkoxystyrenes to methyl β,β-dicyanoacrylate. They proved to be too thermally labile to allow polycondensation to potentially piezoelectric linear polyesters.     

Cu K-edge EXAFS characterisation of copper(I) arenethiolate complexes in both the solid and liquid state: detection of Cu-Cu coordination

Herein we describe a structural characterisation with EXAFS of copper(I) arenethiolate complexes in both the solid and liquid state. Previously noted difficulties in the detection of the Cu-Cu interaction have been attributed to anti-phase behaviour of different Cu-Cu neighbour contributions. A data analysis procedure solely based on EXAFS parameters is presented which resolves these problems. A careful analysis of the individual coordination shells and the use of different k-weightings during the data analysis are shown to be an absolute necessity to obtain reliable results. During R-space fitting, the difference file technique is used to separate, examine and compare the individual contributions. Using this technique their statistical significance and correctness can be determined. Anti-phase behaviour can be detected and accounted for in this way. An additional mixed organocopper aggregate [Cu4(SAr)2(Mes)2] with different Cu sites is analysed, which proves the value of the analysis procedure described above. Moreover, this newly developed EXAFS data analysis procedure is applicable to any other EXAFS spectrum obtained. The structural analysis of these organocopper complexes with EXAFS provides information about their actual structure and dynamic behaviour in solution. The technique can now be used to obtain insights into the reactivity of these complexes and the way in which they form catalytic reaction intermediates.     

Pervaporative transport modelling in a ternary system: ethyltertiarybutylether/ethanol/polyurethaneimide

The study deals with the analysis of diffusion and mass transfer modelling during pervaporation in a true ternary system involving a polar liquid mixture (ETBE/EtOH) and a polar block copolymer (polyurethaneimide or PUI). A survey of methods of pervaporative transfer modelling in ternary systems is first developed. From differential permeation experiments carried out with both pure liquids, it appears that both permeants obey a Fickian law. Moreover, the diffusional behaviour is consistent with Long's model, which has thus been assumed for the related ternary system. An extension of the Brun's model is then derived, which takes into account the diffusion coupling as well the significant deviation from sorption ideality. From a practical point of view, the calculated values of fluxes show generally good agreement with the experimental results, although a small deviation occurs for mixtures of low ethanol content. Diffusion coefficients of both pure solvents corresponding to transient or steady state are compared. A very good agreement is found for the aprotic permeant (ETBE). whereas the diffusion coefficient of ethanol in transient state is only the quarter of the value corresponding to steady state. The results are discussed in comparison with related investigations in the literature, involving specific liquid-polymer interactions.