An unprecedented outcome of the lithium–ammonia reduction of enones: the formation of cyclopropanols

An unusual process takes place during the lithium–ammonia reduction of a variety of cyclic enones bearing an ester group in the γ-position, furnishing cyclopropanols. The reason for this unprecedented outcome has been attributed to the through-space stabilization of a developing cyclopropyl radical by interaction with the neighboring ester substituent.     

From thiourea to bicyclic structures: an original route to imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles, 5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines, 7H-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines,and 2H,6H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines

We report an example of an efficient regioselective synthesis of biheterocyclic compounds using thiourea as starting material. In fact, N,N'-bis(dimethylaminomethylene)thiourea (1), easily prepared by double condensation of N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal with thiourea, can be reacted with haloketones or acrylic dienophiles to give thiazolic (2) and thiazinic (3) diazadienes, respectively, themselves undergoing cyclization reactions to yield imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles, 5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidines, 7H-imidazo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines, and 2H,6H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazines without any regioisomeric ambiguity. This straightforward route represents an original and unambiguously regioselective pathway to these valuable heterocycles.     

Scattering properties of agarose gels

Static light scattering and small angle neutron scattering measurements are reported for agarose hydrogels prepared under various conditions of concentration and temperature. For the wide range of transfer wave vector explored, these measurements show that the gels do not display fractal behaviour. Their structure is better described by a stretched exponential form, in which the value of the exponent is n = 0.2. As found by other authors, a maximum in the scattering intensity is observed in the light scattering spectra. The position of the maximum, q_max, depends on the concentration and on the thermal history of the sample. The inverse length 1/q_max is in good agreement with published measurements of the pore size D in this system. Preliminary measurements by small angle scattering indicate that the sol-gel transition is not of spinodal type.     

Thermoreversible Gelation of Syndiotactic Polystyrene in Naphthalene

Investigation into syndiotactic polystyrene/naphthalene systems of concentrations ranging from 0 to 78% (w/w) have been carried out by electron microscopy, DSC, and neutron diffraction. It is found that a fibrillar morphology is produced in this solvent, similar to that observed for thermoreversible gels. The temperature-concentration phase diagram suggests the existence of two compounds of differing stoichiometries. Neutron diffraction experiments confirm the existence of compounds in this system.     

Horseradish Peroxidase Nanopatterned Electrodes by Click Chemistry: Application to the Electrochemical Detection of Paracetamol

We propose the fabrication of nanostructured glassy carbon (GC) electrodes modified with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) for the detection of paracetamol. This was accomplished by inducing the nanostructuration of GC via the adsorption of polystyrene nanospheres (900 nm diameter) followed by electropolymerization of N‐(10‐azidodecyl)pyrrole. The nanospheres were then removed and nanostructured polypyrrole‐GC was submitted to click reaction in presence of ethynyl‐biotin that was further coupled to HRP‐avidin. The electrode was then used to sense the electrochemical reduction of the enzymatically generated electroactive oxidized species of acetaminophen (NAPQI) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The nanostructured electrode with HRP exhibits a fast response towards NAPQI reduction and improved performances in terms of sensitivity and limit of detection compared to non structured electrode.     

Synthesis of triblock copolymers from glycolysed poly(ethylene terephthalate) by living radical polymerization

Valorization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste has been achieved using glycolysis. The resulting diols were employed for the synthesis of triblock copolymers by atom transfer radical polymerization using copper (I) bromide and (1,1,4,7,10,10)‐hexamethyltriethylenetetramine as catalyst system. Macroinitiator was obtained after depolymerization of PET waste followed by functionalization of the obtained glycolysate with 2‐bromoisobutyrate bromide. Polymerization of styrene (S) and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) has been achieved leading to PS‐b‐PETG‐b‐PS and (PS‐stat‐PGMA)‐b‐PETG‐b‐(PS‐stat‐PGMA) triblock copolymers. Best results were obtained at 100 °C. At this temperature, termination reaction were negligible and the measured number‐average molar mass of the product increased linearly with monomer conversion in agreement with the theoretical M_n with low polydispersity products achieved. Polymers were also characterized by ¹H NMR. This work presents a original valorization of PET waste as (PS‐stat‐PGMA)‐b‐PETG‐b‐(PS‐stat‐PGMA) copolymer could be used as heat curable coatings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 433–443, 2008     

Camphor-derived sulfonylhydrazines: catalysts for Diels-Alder cycloadditions

Camphor-derived sulfonylhydrazines proved to be very active for organocatalyzed Diels-Alder cycloadditions with cyclopentadiene. Good chemical yields and enantiomeric excesses up to 89% and 88% are obtained for endo/exo adducts.     

Influence of surface chemistry on the SAXS response of polymer-based activated carbons

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements using contrast variation are reported for activated carbons prepared from poly(ethyleneterephthalate). The carbon surfaces are functionalized to different degrees by cold and hot nitric acid treatment. The latter treatment reduces the surface area by 75%, but the pore size distribution in the micropore range is hardly affected. Seven liquids, n-hexane, i-octane, i-propanol, cyclohexane, toluene, alpha-pinene, and nitrobenzene, in addition to water vapor, were used as contrast modifiers. Although the values of the specific surface area S(X) deduced from these measurements are relatively insensitive to the solvent, the detailed SAXS spectra reveal interactions occurring on different spatial scales that depend on the surface chemistry of the carbon and on the physicochemical properties of the solvent. In the most heavily oxidized sample, the amphiphilic molecule i-propanol stabilizes the surface structure, whereas nonpolar molecules make the rough surface smoother. In the untreated and the lightly functionalized carbons, water vapor at 50% relative humidity condenses only partially in the micropores at room temperature, whereas in the heavily treated sample condensation in the micropores is practically complete.     

Origin of activation barriers in the dimerization of neutral radicals: a "nonperfect synchronization" effect?

Dimerizations of delocalized neutral radicals may be endowed with quite significant activation barriers. The origin of these barriers is discussed in terms of a model that emphasizes the role of localization of the unpaired radical upon bond formation. Several examples are given in which the model is compared with the results of quantum chemical calculations including the coupling of allyl radicals and of benzyl radicals at various possible carbon sites. The dimerization behavior of radicals in the NADH family is also examined. The connection between the reasons that underlay the existence of the activation barrier and the principle of "nonperfect synchronization" is discussed. The dimerization of conjugated radicals indeed offers a precious example that can be used to decipher the reasons behind these behaviors, being devoid of the ambiguities arising from the simultaneous involvement of ionic and covalent states, significant solvent reorganization, and the contribution of extensive proton tunneling, in the mostly discussed case of proton transfer at carbon.     

Role of protonation and of axial ligands in the reductive dechlorination of alkyl chlorides by vitamin B12 complexes. Reductive cleavage of chloroacetonitrile by Co(I) cobalamins and cobinamides

Cobalt(I) cobalamin and cobinamide are efficient catalysts of the hydrogenolysis of aliphatic chloro compounds. Taking chloroacetonitrile as example, the first requirement for high catalytic efficiency is fulfilled by the high reactivity of the Co(I) complex toward the substrate, leading to the alkylcobalt(III) complex. This is further reduced into the alkylcobalt(II) complex. However, the fact that these two reactions are fast is not enough to ensure an efficient catalysis: in DMF catalysis is very poor, while it is high in water. The experiments carried out in DMF with addition of an acid show that a crucial step in the catalytic process is the proton transfer decomposition of the alkylcobalt(II) complex, leading to the product, and closing the catalytic loop by regeneration of the cobalt(I) complex. Another important feature of these catalytic reactions is the role played by axial ligands present in the solution, particularly those that are produced by the catalytic reaction itself, namely, chloride ions and the counteranion of the added acid. The stronger these ligands, the more negative the potential required for the reduction of the alkylcobalt(III) complex. This amounts to a self-moderation effect: the more efficient catalysis, the slower its second step, i.e., the conversion of the alkylcobalt(III) complex into the alkylcobalt(II).