Nucleophilic ligand displacement in dichloro[2-(arylazo)heterocycle]palladium(II) complexes by benzimidazole – a kinetic and mechanistic study

The reactions of benzimidazole (Bimz) with dichloro{2-(arylazo)pyridine}palladium(II), [Pd(aap)Cl₂ (3), aap = RC₆H₄N= N-2-C₅H₄N; R = H(a), o-Me(b), m-Me(c), p-Me(d), p-Cl(e)] and dichloro{2-(arylazo)pyrimidine}palladium(II), [Pd(aapm)Cl₂ (4), aapm = RC₆H₄N=N-2-C₆H₃N₂; R = H(a), o-Me(b), m-Me(c), p-Me(d), p-Cl(e)] were followed separately. The kinetics were examined under pseudo-first order conditions with reference to Bimz in MeCN at 385 and 390 nm, respectively and at 298 K using a u.v.–vis. spectrophotometer. The product was isolated and characterised as trans-Pd(Bimz)₂Cl₂. The reaction between Pd(aap)Cl₂ and Bimz follows the rate law, rate = K[Bimz]²[Pd(aap)Cl₂], a single step process, whereas biphasic behaviour is observed for the reaction between Pd(aapm)Cl₂ and Bimz; each step is first order with respect to the concentration of complex and to Bimz. The rate data support a nucleophilic association path and the rate decreases upon addition of Cl^–(LiCl). The aryl ring substituent of the arylazoheterocycle influences the substitution rate as follows: k(e) > k(a) > k(d) > k(c) > k(b). The k-values are linearly correlated with Hammett constants with usual deviations for the m-Me and o-Me substituents because of their steric crowding. The rate follows the order: k(aap) > k(aapm). This is unusual with reference to the -acidity order of the heterocycles, pyridine < pyrimidine, as the increased -acidity will enhance the nucleophilic association. The charge density calculation by MNDO method shows that in the pyrimidine ring of arylazopyrimidine, the peripheral m-N(uncoordinated) carries a high negative charge which may retard the nucleophilic association rate. This effect is absent in the pyridine ring of arylazopyridine and may be the reason for the faster single step nucleophilic substitution in Pd(aap)Cl₂.     

Atom-efficient cross-coupling reactions of triarylbismuths with acyl chlorides under Pd(0) catalysis

The atom-efficient cross-coupling reaction of triarylbismuths with a variety of aliphatic, aromatic, and hetero-aromatic acyl chlorides was demonstrated to afford high yields of cross-coupled ketones under palladium catalysis. The corresponding cross-coupling reaction with diacid chlorides also furnished bis-coupled ketones in good yields.     

Bayesian inference and life testing plans for generalized exponential distribution

Recently generalized exponential distribution has received considerable attentions. In this paper, we deal with the Bayesian inference of the unknown parameters of the progressively censored generalized exponential distribution. It is assumed that the scale and the shape parameters have independent gamma priors. The Bayes estimates of the unknown parameters cannot be obtained in the closed form. Lindley’s approximation and importance sampling technique have been suggested to compute the approximate Bayes estimates. Markov Chain Monte Carlo method has been used to compute the approximate Bayes estimates and also to construct the highest posterior density credible intervals. We also provide different criteria to compare two different sampling schemes and hence to find the optimal sampling schemes. It is observed that finding the optimum censoring procedure is a computationally expensive process. And we have recommended to use the sub-optimal censoring procedure, which can be obtained very easily. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the performances of the different methods and one data analysis has been performed for illustrative purposes. This work was partially supported by a grant from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India     

Observed mass distribution of spontaneous fission fragments from samples of lime—an SSNTD study

SSNTD is one of the most commonly used detectors in the studies involving nuclear phenomena. The ease of registration of the presence of alpha particles and fission fragments has made it particularly suitable in studies where stable long exposures are needed to extract reliable information. Studies on the presence of alpha emitting nuclides in the environment assume importance since they are found to be carcinogenic. Lime samples from Silchar in Assam of Eastern India have shown the presence of spontaneous fission fragments besides alphas. In the present study we look at the ratio of the average mass distribution of these fission fragments, that gives us an indication of the presence of the traces of transuranic elements.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Fused Furans by Decarboxylative Annulation of α,β‐Alkenyl Carboxylic Acid with Cyclic Ketone: Synthesis of Di‐Heteroaryl Derivatives

α,β‐Alkenyl carboxylic acids undergo Cu^II‐mediated decarboxylative annulation reactions with aliphatic cyclic ketones to provide synthetically valuable di‐heterocycles. The annulation process tolerates a variety of aliphatic ketones and heterocyclic alkenyl carboxylic acids, producing substituted fused furan derivatives with complete regioselectivity. The current protocol offers a synthetically applicable pathway to construct a variety of oligo‐heterocycles through Cu‐mediated single‐electron transfer and decarboxylation. Notably, synthesis of relatively inaccessible di‐heterocycles has been achieved successfully using this protocol.     

Preparation of Hybrid Microgels Functionalized by Silver Nanoparticles

Summary: Hybrid microgels functionalized with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) have been prepared and their physico‐chemical properties examined. Composite particles have been obtained by formation of AgNP in presence of poly[vinylcaprolactam‐co‐(acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate)] (VCL/AAEM) microgel particles. It has been demonstrated that hybrid particles with different AgNP amounts can be prepared. Hybrid particles are sensitive to temperature and swelling, and collapse processes are reversible. Incorporation of AgNP leads to shrinkage of microgel template due to the partial immobilization of polymer chains on the microgel surface. As a consequence, gradual loss of temperature sensitivity is observed. Hybrid microgels form highly transparent well‐organized films on solid substrates, providing homogeneous distribution of AgNP in bulk material. Presence of AgNP increases considerably the thermal stability of composite films.

Schematic representation (left) and TEM image (right) of hybrid microgels containing silver nanoparticles (AgNP).     

Regiocontrolled Ru-catalyzed addition of carboxylic acids to alkynes: practical protocols for the synthesis of vinyl esters

The catalytic activity of commercially available, air and water stable ruthenium complexes in the addition of carboxylic acids to terminal alkynes was found to be drastically enhanced by the addition of small quantities of base. Moreover, the regioselectivity of the reaction can be controlled by the choice of the base so that both the Markovnikov (Na2CO3) and the anti-Markovnikov products (DMAP) are now easily accessible in excellent selectivities.     

Slow drying of a spray of nanoparticles dispersion. In situ SAXS investigation

Nanoparticles confined in droplets of less than a picoliter are forced to organize in submicronic dry grains through solvent evaporation. The evolution of structures of the grains and the constituent nanoparticles during the slow drying process are investigated in situ with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) for the first time. The scattering results have been explained on the basis of the equilibrium thermodynamics of the droplets in the drying tube. We demonstrate that this technique is really efficient in describing the internal arrangement of the nanoparticles inside the drying droplets. Distinction between an almost homogeneous repartition of the nanoparticles in droplets and formation of core shell like particles even in strongly polydispersed droplets can be made using SAXS.     

Total synthesis of potential antitumor agent, (-)-dictyostatin

[structure: see text] The potential antitumor agent (-)-dictyostatin has been synthesized utilizing Brown crotylboration to achieve eight of the eleven chiral centers. The yield for the 26-step longest sequence is approximately 4%. The C9-C10 coupling is achieved via a stereoselective vinylzincate addition.