Bismuth-catalyzed benzylic oxidations with tert-butyl hydroperoxide

[reaction: see text] Oxidation of alkyl and cycloalkyl arenes with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by bismuth and picolinic acid in pyridine and acetic acid gave the corresponding benzylic ketones (48-99%). Alternatively, oxidation of methyl arenes gave the corresponding substituted benzoic acids (50-95%). Preliminary mechanistic studies were consistent with a radical mechanism rather than a bismuth(III)-bismuth(V) cycle.     

Heat capacities of solid ortho—para mixtures of deuterium in the ordered state

The heat capacities of three ortho—para mixtures of solid deuterium in the rotationally ordered state as a function of temperature as well as the order—disorder transition temperature, T_c(x) for several compositions have been measured. The rotational heat capacities for all three mixtures, x (para or J = 1 mole fraction) = 0.69₉, 0.81₉ and 0.92₁ per mole of J = 1 species can be represented by a single function in terms of the reduced temperatures, T_c(x)/T, which to a good approximation is given by

, where Γ⁰_eff(1)/k = 1.0 deg is the effective electric quadrupolar coupling constant for the anisotropic interactions in pure para D₂ and T_c(1) = 4.05 degrees the order—disorder transition temperature. It is shown that this correlation follows from the assumption that both the libron energies and band widths of the libron modes scale with composition in a manner identical to the transition temperatures, namely

.     

Dynamic interaction of theory and experiment: total determination of the gas-phase molecular structure of tri-tert-butylphosphine oxide (OPBut3)

A new method to aid the determination of structures of sterically crowded molecules in the gas phase by dynamically linking the gas-phase electron diffraction (GED) refinement process with computational methods has been developed. The procedure involves refining the heavy-atom skeleton of the molecule using the GED data while continually updating the light-atom positions during the refinement using computational methods, in this case molecular mechanics. This removes errors associated with the assumption of local symmetry for the light-atom groups, which can affect the final values of the heavy-atom parameters. The refinement of the molecular structure of tri-tert-butyl phosphine oxide has been used to illustrate this new technique, which we call the DYNAMITE (DYNAMic Interaction of Theory and Experiment) method. Re-examination of the structure using this method has resulted in a shorter P-O distance than was found in a less sophisticated anaylsis, and is consistent with the molecule being regarded as O=PBut3, rather than O(-)-P+But3.     

Palladium catalysts for aerobic oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols based on mechanistic insight

The oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols has been accomplished using 1:1 complexes of PdCl(2) and N-heterocyclic carbenes. In these reactions, both achiral and chiral carbene ligands are used in conjunction with the chiral base (-)-sparteine. A general synthesis of 1:1 PdCl(2)-carbene complexes has been developed and is amenable to a wide range of carbene ligands. The potential of these complexes in aerobic oxidations is highlighted by the use of a chiral Pd(II) complex and the chiral base (-)-sparteine to enhance the kinetic resolution of a racemic alcohol. [reaction--see text]     

Copolymerization of styrene. V. Copolymerization with α-cyanocinnamamide

Copolymers of styrene with α-cyanocinnamamide were prepared by free radical initiation in bulk and in DMF solution and also by thermal initiation in bulk. The copolymerization parameters were determined by the conventional scheme of copolymerization and by an improved scheme taking into account the penultimate unit. Different values of the copolymerization parameters were obtained at the above mentioned different polymerization conditions, indicating the existence of a solvent effect. The influence of the comonomer on some of the basic properties, like intrinsic viscosity, solubility, melting range, and glass transition temperature and on some mechanical and behavior properties of the copolymers was studied in comparison with homopolystyrene.     

The reaction of 2-picoline N-Oxide with o-substituled benzoates and lsatoic anhydrides

The reaction of 2-picoline N-Oxide anion with o-substituted henzoates and isatoic anhydrides to give synthetically useful l-(2-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-pyridinyl)ethanone N-oxides, I-(2-hydroxy-phenyJ)-2-(2-pyridinyl)ethanone N-oxides and I -(2-arninopheny])-2-(2-pyridinyl)ethanone N-oxides is described.     

Characterization of internal salts by laser mass spectrometry

An intermolecular alkyl transfer reaction (ATR) leading to ion-pair formation has been observed for internal salts by using laser mass spectrometry (l.m.s.). Positive- and negative-ion spectra both show evidence for alkyl transfer. Both the LAMMA-500 (transmission) and LAMMA-1000 (reflection) laser mass spectrometers were used. The positive-ion laser mass spectra obtained by these two instruments show some significant differences; no significant differences were observed in the negative-ion spectra. Results obtained for quaternary ammoniohexanoates as a function of laser power indicate that the extent of ATR is greater at high laser power. Addition of a small amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid to the ammoniohexanoates reduces fragmentation and enhances the intensity of the quasimolecular ion (M + H)⁺ relative to ATR. Results from deuterated sultaines were used to confirm intermolecular alkyl transfer and to elucidate some fragmentation processes. Field-desorption (f.d.) mass spectra of internal salts show similarities and differences from l.m.s.; not all internal salts showed the alkyl transfer reaction in f.d. Cluster ion formation was observed in f.d.m.s. but not in l.m.s.     

A statistical thermodynamic supermolecule-continuum study of ion hydration: Cell and shell methods

A theoretical study of ion hydration using the statistical thermodynamic supermolecule-continuum method is described. The cell and shell methods are used for configurational averaging. Enthalpies, free energies and entropies are calculated for Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, F^– and Cl^– each four coordinated with water. The results are in reasonable accord with experiment. A comparison of the site method, cell method and shell method results is presented. The supermolecule-continuum approach to solvent effects seems to be capable of accommodating essential features for the calculation of solvation energy and solvent effects on structure and properties.     

The oxidative cyclization of n-phenyl-3-methylthiopropylamines to form N-phenyl-s-methylisothiazolidinium salts

A series of N-phenyl-3-methylthiopropylamine hydrochlorides were prepared by reacting a series of anilines with methional and sodium cyanoborohydride. These were cyclized upon oxidation by N-chloro-succinimide to the corresponding N-phenyl-S-methylisothiazolidinium derivatives which were isolated as the tetraphenylborate salts. Compounds successfully prepared included the m-methyl, p-methyl, m-methoxy, and p-methoxyphenyl derivatives.     

Hydrogen abstraction and dimerisation reactions of some organo-transition metal free radicals

The 17-electron species [M(CO)_5χL_χ] (M  Mn, Re, χ  0; M  Mn, Re; L  Ph₃P, χ  1, 2; M  Mn, Re; L  (o-MeC₆H₄O)₃P, χ  2; M  Mn; L  (p-ClC₆H₄O)₃P, (PhO)₃P, χ  2; M  Mn; L  P(OMe)₃, χ  3) have been generated by one electron oxidation of the corresponding anions and show typical radical reactivity, undergoing dimerisation or hydride abstraction in reactions controlled by steric effects. Evidence is presented for the source of the hydrogen atom. The 19-electron species [M(CO)₃(η⁷-C₇H₇)]^? (M  Cr, Mo) and [Fe(CO)₃(η⁵-C₆H₇)]^?, generated by reduction of the corresponding cations, undergo dimerisation at the organic ligand. Similar treatment of [Fe(CO)₂-L(η-cp)]⁺ (L  CO, PPh₃, P(OPh)₃, Me₂CO) yields [Fe₂(CO)₄(η-cp)₂] and these reduction reactions are rationalised in terms of the nature of the HOMO in the intermediate radical. Similar reduction of [Rh(diphos)₂]⁺ yield the 17-electron intermediate [Rh(diphos)₂] and this also undergoes hydrogen abstraction.