Amber‐Woody Scent: Alcohols with Divergent Structure Present Common Olfactory Characteristics and Sharp Enantiomer Differentiation

Only one out of the four possible trans isomers of the important perfumery alcohol Norlimbanol^® ( 1 ) possesses a very strong amber‐woody smell, the isomer 1A with (1′R,3S,6′S) absolute configuration. Its enantiomer 1B is almost odorless and devoid of amber‐woody character, whereas the diastereoisomers 1C and 1D are considerably weaker and perceptible only by the most‐sensitive persons. The same is true for a whole series of perceptual analogs of 1 , including β‐alkoxy alcohols. These ethers belong to two structural classes: [(2,2,6‐trimethylcyclohexyl)oxy]‐ (see 3, 4 , and 16 ) or {[2‐(tert‐butyl)cyclohexyl]oxy}alkan‐2‐ol derivatives (see 19 and 20 ; Table). A superimposition model allowing for good overlap of the respective hydroxylated side chains offers a tentative explanation for the shared perceptual characteristics of the two classes (Fig. 5). The lipophilic cyclohexane moieties present only a minimal overlap in this model, suggesting that quite larger molecules might possess the same smell. (S)‐Configured β‐alkoxy alcohols can conveniently be obtained on a larger scale by enantioselective reduction of the corresponding ketones (Scheme 9).     

MPW1K Performs Much Better than B3LYP in DFT Calculations on Reactions that Proceed by Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer (PCET)

DFT calculations have been performed with the B3LYP and MPW1K functional on the hydrogen atom abstraction reactions of ethenoxyl with ethenol and of phenoxyl with both phenol and alpha-naphthol. Comparison with the results of G3 calculations shows that B3LYP seriously underestimates the barrier heights for the reaction of ethenoxyl with ethenol by both proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) and hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanisms. The MPW1K functional also underestimates the barrier heights, but by much less than B3LYP. Similarly, comparison with the results of experiments on the reaction of phenoxyl radical with alpha-naphthol indicates that the barrier height for the preferred PCET mechanism is calculated more accurately by MPW1K than by B3LYP. These findings indicate that the MPW1K functional is much better suited than B3LYP for calculations on hydrogen abstraction reactions by both HAT and PCET mechanisms.     

Aporphines 24. The synthesis of N-alkylderivatives of bulbocapnine and isoeorydine

The synthesis of three new racemic aporphine alkaloids ( 1b, 1c and 2 ) is reported and these alkaloids are fully characterized. The method of synthesis involved either a Bischler-Napieralski-Psehorr sequence or a Reissert alkylation-Pschorr cyclization route. The Pschorr cyclization also gave the morphinandienones 7a and 7b , respectively.     

Reactions of organochlorosilanes with chloro-and organogermanes in the presence of aluminum chloride

The effect of substituents at the silicon and germanium atoms in reactions of organochlorosilanes with chloro-and organogermanes in the presence of aluminum chloride was studied. The only occurring process is the exchange of the chlorine atoms at Ge for the phenyl groups from Si; an increase in the number of methyl groups or chlorine atoms at Si promotes formation of phenyltrichlorogermane, and an increase in the number of phenyl groups or replacement of the chlorine atom at the Si atom by hydrogen leads to the formation of di-and triphenylchlorogermanes. Neither phenyl nor other radicals are transferred back from Ge to Si in the course of reactions of phenylgermanes with methylchlorosilanes in the presence of aluminum chloride; the only occurring processes are the exchange of the phenyl or methyl radicals bonded to Ge for the Cl atom bonded to Al and the disproportionation of phenylchlorogermanes.     

Low-dimensional Compounds Containing Cyano Groups. XIII. Structural–spectral Correlation of Copper Dicyanoargentates

The new mixed-valence mixed-metal complex Cu(py)₆Cu₂Ag₂(CN)₆ (py = pyridine) possesses a three dimensional polymeric crystal structure. The Cu(I) atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by two nitrogen atoms of pyridine molecules, by one nitrogen atom of the dicyanoargentate anion and by one carbon atom of the cyano group. Both the dicyanoargentate anion and the cyano group bridge the Cu(I) atom with neighboring Cu(II) atoms. These are hexacoordinated in the form of an elongated tetragonal bipyramid. The equatorial plane is formed by two nitrogen atoms from two pyridine molecules and two nitrogen atoms from bridging cyano groups. Axial positions are occupied by nitrogen atoms of the bridging [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions. Correlation between structures of the title compound and seven other dicyanoargentates with their i.r. spectra has been studied. The coordination mode of [Ag(CN₂]⁻ anions in compounds Cu_8-xAg_x(tn)₃(CN)₁₀ x = 0.25, Cu(3-Mepy)₂Ag₂(CN)₄, Cu(py)₂Ag₂(CN)₄ and Cu(py)₄Ag₂(CN)₄ (tn is 1,3-diaminopropane, 3-Mepy is 3-methylpyridine) is predicted based on this correlation.     

Supersonic jet spectroscopy of naphthalene–fluorene bichromophoric cluster

We have investigated the supersonic jet spectroscopy and photophysics of 1-methylnaphthalene–fluorene (1MN–FL) cluster, and looked for indications of intramolecular electronic energy transfer (Intra-EET) from the FL (donor, D) to 1MN (acceptor, A). The clusters were identified by their time of flight (TOF) mass spectra. We observed clusters bands in the LIF spectrum near the region of 1MN origin. We have also observed cluster TOF–resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization (REMPI) spectrum near the electronic origin of the fluorene moiety. However, this spectrum was almost independent of the excitation wavelength, and was not observed in the LIF spectrum. This is probably due to fast Intra-EET resulting in lifetime broadening of the donor chromophore cluster spectrum, similar to that observed previously for the naphthalene–anthracene bichromophoric system.     

Electronic Raman spectroscopy of the vanadium(III) hexaaqua cation in guanidinium vanadium sulphate: Quintessential manifestation of the dynamical Jahn-Teller effect

Single-crystal Raman spectra are presented for the salt [C(NH2)3][V(OH2)6](SO4)2, displaying electronic transitions between the trigonal components of the vanadium(III) 3T1g(Oh) ground term. The 3A-->3E(C3) electronic Raman band is centered at approximately 2720 cm-1, and exhibits extensive structure, revealing the energies of the spinor components of the 3E(C3) term for the two crystallographically distinct [V(OH2)6]3+ cations. The data are interpreted in conjunction with parameters previously reported from an electron paramagnetic resonance study of the salt. A satisfactory reproduction of the electronic Raman profile and ground-state spin-Hamiltonian parameters is achieved by employing a (3A plus sign in circle3E)multiply sign in circle e vibronic coupling model, in which the spin-orbit splitting of the 3E(C3) is quenched significantly by the Ham effect, and the intensity of harmonics of the Jahn-Teller active vibration enhanced by their proximity to the electronic Raman bands. The model gives an excellent account of the intensities of the electronic Raman bands, which are shown to depend profoundly on both temperature and the selected component of the polarizability tensor. The electronic Raman profile changes notably upon deuteriation, a result that exposes deficiencies in the single-mode coupling model.     

Cyclic sulfonium salts with S ... O interactions 2. Molecular structures with six-membered rings

1-[2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-3H-2,1-naphto-(1,8-d,e)-oxathiin-1-ium chloride (2), 1-[2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-phenyl]-2-methyl-3-oxo-3H-1, 2-naphto-(1,8-d,e)-thiazin-1-ium chloride (3), 1-[8-(N-methylcarbamoyl)naphtyl]-2-methyl-3-oxo-3H-1, 2-naphto-(1,8-d,e)-thiazin-1-ium chloride (4) and 1-(8-carboxylatonaphtyl)-2-methyl-3-oxo-3H-1,2-naphto-(1,8-d,e)-thiazin-1-ium dipolar ion (5) cyclic sulfonium salts were prepared and their chemical properties investigated (spirosulfurane-formation, hydrolysis). The molecular structures obtained from x-ray diffraction can be described with a considerably distorted trigonal bipyramidal arrangement of the ligands about the sulfonium center, with O/N—S ... O=apical angles of 173.9, 164.9, 156.6, and 159.0°, as well as with S—O/N apical bond lengths of 1.648, 1.671, 1.664, and 1.682 Å. The structures exhibit relatively short S ... O close contacts with interatomic distances of 2.253, 2.448, 2.795, and 2.619 Å.     

The preparation and molecular structure oftrans-[MoCl2(PMe2Ph)4]

Summary The compoundtrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] has been prepared by the reduction of MoCl₅ (by Mg) or of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃] (by LiBuⁿ) in the presence of PMe₂Ph in tetrahydrofuran (THF). It has _eff=2.84 B.M. and crystallises in space group P1 witha=11.591(3),b=12.931(3),c=12.703(3) Å, = 95.28(2), =105.97(2), =103.54(2)°. Refinement of the structure gave R=0.036. The Mo-Cl and Mo-P distances average 2.443(6) and 2.534(8) Å, respectively.Low-valent phosphine complexes of the Group VI metals continue to attract much attention because of their involvement in studies of the catalytic activation of dinitrogen⁽¹⁾, dihydrogen(^{2, 3}), alkenes and alkynes(⁴). As a by-product during our studies of dinitrogen(¹) and hydride(²) complexes of molybdenum and tungsten, we obtainedtrans-[MoCl_2- (PMe₂Ph)₄] as yellow, paramagnetic crystals (_eff= 2.84 B.M.). We first obtained the compound during the attempted synthesis ofcis-[Mo(N₂)₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] by reduction of MoCl₅ with Mg in the presence of PMe₂Ph (see Experimental). Upon identification of the compound we found that it could be readily synthesised by treatment of [MoCl₃(PMe₂Ph)₃]⁽⁵⁾ with LiBuⁿ in THF in the presence of PMe₂Ph (experimental).The complex was shown to have thetrans structure by x-ray analysis (Figure). Analogues oftrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄] have been prepared, namely [CrCl₂(Me₂PCH₂CH₂PMe₂)₂]⁽⁶⁾,trans- [MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁷⁾, [WCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄]⁽⁸⁾ and [WCl₂(PMe₃)₄]⁽⁴⁾, of which onlytrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₃)₄] has been examined by X-rays⁽⁷⁾. Its principal structural parametersi.e. d(Mo-Cl)= 2.420(6), d(Mo-P)_av=2.496(3) Å⁽⁶⁾ are close to those found here fortrans-[MoCl₂(PMe₂Ph)₄].     

Rearrangement during cyclisation of some 3-(2-pyrrolyl) propionic acids and related compounds

Cyclisation of the title compounds leads to mixtures of the expected 4H-cyclopental[b]pyrrol-4-ones (1), the corresponding 6-ones (3) by a single rearrangement, and the cyclopenta[c]pyrrol-4-ones (4) by a double rearrangement, the proportions depending upon the substituents.The ¹H NMR spectra of 2-methyl-4H-cyctopenta[b]thiophen-6-one (3f) shows 6J long range $\text{CH}{}_3\text{CH}{}_2$ coupling, but this is absent in the corresponding pyrroles (3c,d). The ¹³C spectra of 1 and 3 cannot be interpreted on the basis of substituent chemical shifts in pyrroles and thiophens, and are clearly -CH = CH-X (X = NMe, NPh, S) bridged derivatives of cyclopent-2-enone.