Nickelocene chemistry : II. New methylidyne trinickel cluster compounds

The new methylidene trinickel cluster complexes, [RCNi₃(η⁵-C₅H₅₃] (R  CMe₃ or SiMe₃) and [Me₃SiCNi₃(η⁵-C₅H₅)2(η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂SiMe₃)] have been isolated in low yield from reactions between nickelocene and the corresponding alkyllithium reagents, RCH₂Li. The compounds [RCNi₃(η⁵-C₅H₅)₃] (R  Ph, CMe₃ or SiMe₃) have also been obtained by treatment of the σ-alkylnickel complexes [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(CH₂R)(PPh₃)] with n-BuLi in the presence of an excess of nickelocene, but under similar conditions [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(CH₂C_1OH₇-2)-(PPh₃)] (where C_1OH₇-2  2-naphthyl) failed to give [2-C_1OH₇CNi₃(η⁵-C₅H₅)₃]. The attempted synthesis of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(CH₂CCH)(PPh₃)] from [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-NiBr(PPh₃)] and CHCCH₂MgBr gave only [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(CCMe)(PPh₃)] by an unusual rearrangement reaction.     

Stereochemical patterns in bromofullerenes C60Br2 to C60Br12

The stabilities of different isomers of C₆₀Br_n have been calculated for n = 2 to 12. A general stereochemical pattern which emerges is the tendency to form strings created by the edge sharing of C₆Br₂ hexagonal faces. Stable structures are formed if these strings form loops, thereby eliminating string ends, which may involve the creation of C₆Br₃ hexagonal faces. A particularly stable structure is formed at C₆₀Br₆ in which the loop forms a C₁₀Br₆ fragment with a pentagonal pyramidal arrangement of six bromine atoms. Two isomers of C₆₀Br₁₂ are also particularly stable. One isomer contains two of these Br₆ pentagonal pyramids on opposite sides of the molecule, and the other isomer contains a single large loop wrapped around the middle of the molecule.     

A 13C and 31P N.M.R. Investigation of restricted rotation in [Pt(η3-allyl){P(cyclohexyl)3}2]+ [PF6]- and related compounds

The dynamic behaviour of [Pt(/gh³-allyl){P(cyclohexyl)₃}₂]⁺[PF₆]^- has been reinvestigated, and the earlier interpretation of restricted rotation about the Pt—P endorsed. The activation parameters were obtained. [Pt(/gh³-allyl)(PPrⁱ₃)₂]⁺[PF₆]^- behaves similarly, while it has not prove possible to stop the rotation in [Pt(/gh³-allyl){P(CH₂Ph)₃}₂]⁺[PF₆]^-.     

Evidence for the S(N)2' mechanism in hydrolysis of C60F48: origin of the stability of trannulenes

The products of hydrolysis of C60F48 (which contains six isolated double bonds) by either aq. acetone or aq. THF show that no more than twelve fluorines are replaced through nucleophilic substitution, as predicted by the recently identified S(N)2' mechanism. Subsequent HF elimination gives fragments containing a maximum of six epoxide oxygens. Calculated heats of formation of models for the possible initial hydroxy derivatives indicate that there is little energetic discrimination between them, so that a complex mixture is likely to be formed. Overall the data show that hydrolytic degradation of fluorofullerenes is less severe than believed previously, requires a specific motif, and explains the low susceptibility of C60F18 towards hydrolysis and the high stability of trannulenes.     

Efficient synthesis of 4-aminoquinazoline and thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-ylamine derivatives by microwave irradiation

[reaction: see text] A simple, efficient, and high-yielding synthesis of quinazolin-4-ylamine and thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4-ylamine derivatives is reported under microwave irradiation conditions. Reaction conditions including temperature, solvent, and reaction time have been studied. An efficient parallel workup procedure was developed to generate a small library (23 compounds) in a short time period.     

Oil core-polymer shell microcapsules prepared by internal phase separation from emulsion droplets. I. Characterization and release rates for microcapsules with polystyrene shells

Microcapsules with an oil core surrounded by a polymeric shell have been prepared by the controlled phase separation of polymer dissolved within the oil droplets of an oil-in-water emulsion. The dispersed oil phase consists of the shell polymer (polystyrene), a good solvent for the polymer (dichloromethane), and a poor solvent for the polymer (typically hexadecane). Removal of the good solvent results in phase separation of the polymer within the oil droplets. If the three interfacial tensions between the core oil, the shell-forming polymer, and the continuous phase are of the required relative magnitudes, a polymer shell forms surrounding the poor solvent. A UV-responsive organic molecule was added to the oil phase, prior to emulsification, to investigate the release of a model active ingredient from the microcapsules. This molecule should be soluble in the organic core but also have some water solubility to provide a driving force for release into the continuous aqueous phase. As the release rate of the active ingredient is a function of the thickness of the polymeric shell, for controlled release applications, it is necessary to control this parameter. For the preparative method described here, the thickness of the shell formed is directly related to the mass of polymer dissolved in the oil phase. The rate of volatile solvent removal influences the porosity of the polymer shell. Rapid evaporation leads to cracks in the shell and a relatively fast release rate of the active ingredient. If a more gentle evaporation method is employed, the porosity of the polymer shell is decreased, resulting in a reduction in release rate. Cross-linking the polymer shell after capsule formation was also found to decrease both the release rate and the yield of the active ingredient. The nature of the oil core also affected the release yield.     

Oxygen isotope corrections for online delta(34)S analysis

Elemental analyzers have been successfully coupled to stable-isotope-ratio mass spectrometers for online measurements of the delta(34)S isotopic composition of plants, animals and soils. We found that the online technology for automated delta(34)S isotopic determinations did not yield reproducible oxygen isotopic compositions in the SO(2) produced, and as a result calculated delta(34)S values were often 1-3 per thousand too high versus their correct values, particularly for plant and animal samples with high C/S ratio. Here we provide empirical and analytical methods for correcting the S isotope values for oxygen isotope variations, and further detail a new SO(2)-SiO(2) buffering method that minimizes detrimental oxygen isotope variations in SO(2).     

PRODEN: A new program for calculating integrated projected populations

Two new computational methods for the evaluation and partitioning of projected, planar, and averaged slab electron densities, implemented in the program PRODEN, are presented. The new algorithms for the projection, demarcation, and integration of electron densities are described and evaluated in terms of speed and numerical accuracy. Integrated Projected Populations are analyzed and some of the advantages and limitations of the methods are discussed.     

The ab initio neglect of differential diatomic overlap method

The ab initio Neglect of Differential Diatomic Overlap (N.D.D.O.) method of Roby is tested numerically for an extensive series of molecules. Agreement with the full ab initio molecular orbital method is poor. Total energies are more negative and dipole moments are overestimated. The failings of the N.D.D.O. method are accounted for using multipole-multipole expansions.     

Annulated pyranosides—V : An wenantiospecific route to (+) and (-) chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acids

-Methyl 2,3-anhydro-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-allopyranoside undergoes the Wadsworth- Emmons cyclopropanation with phosphonopropionate to give a cyclopropyl carboxylate which is processed to give the gem-dimethylcyclopropano pyranoside. The glycosylic acetal of this substance is readily hydrolyzed by boiling water, and the resulting cis-cyclopropane carboxaldehyde may be epimerized quantitatively to the trans-analog by treatment with sodium methoxide. These aldehydes are now converted into the (+)- and (-)-chrysanthemum dicarboxylic acids, respectively, by the same sequence of reactions involving (a) olefination with methyl 2-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)propionate, (b) hydro- lysis of the benzylidine ring and cleavage of the resulting triol with sodium metaperiodate, and (c) oxidation of the resulting aldehyde with silver I oxide. In the case of the (+)-enantiomer the last reaction is proceeded by epimerization. The overall yields from the D-allopyranoside are respectively 27%, in 10 steps for the (+)-enantiomer, and 24%, in 10 steps for the (-)-enantiomer, from the known epoxide 7.