Structural Changes Induced by Quinones: High-Resolution Microwave Study of 1,4-Naphthoquinone

1,4-Naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) is an important product of naphthalene oxidation, and it appears as a motif in many biologically active compounds. We have investigated the structure of 1,4-NQ using chirped-pulse Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations. The rotational spectra of the parent species, and its ¹³C and ¹⁸O isotopologues were observed in natural abundance, and their spectroscopic parameters were obtained. This allowed the determination of the substitution r_s, mass-weighted r_m and semi-experimental r_e^SE structures of 1,4-NQ. The obtained structural parameters show that the quinone moiety mainly changes the structure of the benzene ring where it is inserted, modifying the C−C bonds to having predominantly single or double bond character. Furthermore, the molecular electrostatic surface potential reveals that the quinone ring becomes electron deficient while the benzene ring remains a nucleophile. The most electrophilic areas are the hydrogens attached to the double bond in the quinone ring. Knowledge of the nucleophilic and electrophilic areas in 1,4-NQ will help understanding its behaviour interacting with other molecules and guide modifications to tune its properties.     

The influence of sulfur substitution on the atomic displacement in Bi2Ti2O7

To clarify the role of A₂O′ and B₂O₆ networks on cation displacement observed in Bi₂Ti₂O′O₆, we used density functional theory calculations to examine the effect of sulfur substitution on the O′ and O sites on lone pair formation and resulting atomic displacement observed in Bi₂Ti₂O′O₆. Cation displacement in bismuth titanate is suppressed only when S is substituted on the O′ site. Analysis of the electronic structure shows that S substitution on the O′ site suppresses the formation of the asymmetric p-type lone pair by modifying the Bi-anion hybridization. Lone pair formation is favored in Bi₂Ti₂O′S₆ and the atomic displacement is larger than that observed in Bi₂Ti₂O′O_6. This enhanced displacement is due to weaker Bi-S versus Bi-O interactions leading to significantly stronger hybridization between the Bi and O′ states in Bi₂Ti₂O′S₆. We also induced lone pair formation in a metallic bismuth pyrochlore oxide (Bi₂Ru₂O′O₆) by modifying the Bi-O interactions through S substitution on the B₂O₆ network, indicating atomic displacement on the A₂O′ network may be achieved by modifying the B₂O₆ network.     

Stereoselective Stobbe condensation of ethyl methyl diphenylmethylenesuccinate with aromatic aldehydes

The E configuration of benzylidene(diphenylmethylene)succinic anhydride (R = H), obtained by the Stobbe condensation of ethyl methyl diphenylmethylenesuccinate with benzaldehyde, was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Noncovalent pi stacking interaction between two stacked phenyl groups is suggested as a stabilizing energy for the highly crowded molecule. The nature and the position of substituents (R) on the aromatic rings of substituted benzaldehydes showed no effect on the E stereoselectivity in the condensation. [structure: see text]     

First measurement of the double spin asymmetry in (-->)e(-->)p-->e(prime)pi(+)n in the resonance region

The double spin asymmetry in the (-->)e(-->)p --> e(prime)pi(+)n reaction has been measured for the first time in the resonance region for four-momentum transfer Q2 = 0.35-1.5 GeV(2). Data were taken at Jefferson Lab with the CLAS detector using a 2.6 GeV polarized electron beam incident on a polarized solid NH3 target. Comparison with predictions of phenomenological models shows strong sensitivity to resonance contributions. Helicity-1/2 transitions are found to be dominant in the second and third resonance regions. The measured asymmetry is consistent with a faster rise with Q(2) of the helicity asymmetry A1 for the F(15)(1680) resonance than expected from the analysis of the unpolarized data.     

Q2 Dependence of quadrupole strength in the gamma*p --> Delta(+)(1232) --> p pi(0) transition

Models of baryon structure predict a small quadrupole deformation of the nucleon due to residual tensor forces between quarks or distortions from the pion cloud. Sensitivity to quark versus pion degrees of freedom occurs through the Q2 dependence of the magnetic (M1+), electric (E1+), and scalar (S1+) multipoles in the gamma*p-->Delta(+)-->p pi(0) transition. We report new experimental values for the ratios E(1+)/M(1+) and S(1+)/M(1+) over the range Q2 = 0.4-1.8 GeV2, extracted from precision p(e,e(')p)pi(0) data using a truncated multipole expansion. Results are best described by recent unitary models in which the pion cloud plays a dominant role.