Quantum chemical studies on the conformational behaviour of substituted banana‐shaped mesogens with a central 1,3‐phenylene unit

Ab initio and DFT calculations on the HF/STO‐3G and B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level were performed on the conformational behaviour of isolated banana‐shaped molecules of 1,3‐phenylene bis[4‐(4‐n‐hexyloxyphenyliminomethyl)benzoate] systems (P‐6‐O‐PIMB). The influence of small substituents in both the central phenyl ring and the external phenyl rings on the shape, polarity and flexibility of these molecules was investigated by one‐ and two‐fold relaxed potential energy scans in a systematic way. The effect of substituents on the global polarity of banana‐shaped mesogens was analysed by the magnitude and direction of the dipole moment and its components in relation to the long axis of the molecules. Moreover, a simple model for the calculation of the bending angle was tested for banana‐shaped molecules with a central 1,3‐phenylene unit. The findings for the isolated banana‐shaped molecules are correlated with solid state X‐ray and liquid crystalline state NMR results. Banana‐shaped molecules with both hexyloxy (P‐6‐O‐PIMB) and hexyl (P‐6‐PIMB) terminal chains are included to study the effect of substituents in the external phenyl rings on the flexibility of these chains. An attempt will be made to correlate the results with experimental findings on banana‐shaped mesogens.     

Synthesis of YCrO3 nanoparticles through PAA assisted sol–gel route

We report the synthesis of nanocrystalline phase-pure YCrO₃ powders by a poly acrylic acid (PAA) assisted sol–gel process at a comparatively low calcination temperature of 600 °C. The role of PAA in the powder processing was investigated systemically using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyzer (DT/TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). PAA is found to have the desirable property of forming stable complexes with the cations, Y³⁺ and Cr³⁺ at a low pH. FTIR results demonstrated that in the gel-precursor, the carboxylate groups of PAA bond to Y³⁺ and Cr³⁺ in a monodentate and a bridging bidentate configuration, respectively, owing to the properties of Cr³⁺ giving the best correlation with PAA. The obtained particles have capsule-like morphology with a mean diameter of 40 nm. It is presumed that this morphology is due to the extended-chain configuration of PAA in the aqueous solution. The method showed a good control over particle size, morphology, chemical homogeneity, stoichiometry and agglomeration of the powders.     

Synthesis,Structural Characterisation and Stereochemical Investigation of Chiral Sulfur‐Functionalised N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Palladium and Platinum

Palladium and platinum complexes containing a sulfur‐functionalised N‐heterocyclic carbene (S‐NHC) chelate ligand have been synthesised. The absolute conformations of these novel organometallic S‐NHC chelates were determined by X‐ray structural analyses and solution‐phase 2D ¹H–¹H ROESY NMR spectroscopy. The structural studies revealed that the phenyl substituents on the stereogenic carbon atoms invariably take up the axial positions on the Pd‐C‐S coordination plane to afford a skewed five‐membered ring structure. All of the chiral complexes are structurally rigid and stereochemically locked in a chiral ring conformation that is either (R_s,S,R)‐λ or (S_s,R,R)‐δ in both the solid state and solution.     

DIPOLAR APROTIC SOLVENT EFFECTS IN THE HYDROLYSIS OF PHENYLMETHANESULFONATES AND PHENYLSULFONYLACETATES

Abstract

The hydrolytic behaviour under alkaline conditions of a group of sulfur compounds containing an active methylene group, in aqueous solvent mixtures with dimethylsulfoxide as the co-solvent has been investigated. The substrates studied are substituted phenyl phenylmethanesulfonates (A), substituted phenyl p-nitrophenylmethanesulfonates (B) and substituted phenylsulfonylacetates (C). It is known that methylenes adjacent to the sulfonyl group are acidic and evidences are available for the formation of the corresponding anions in alkaline solutions. Structure-reactivity correlations strongly suggest that these react not by the conventional addition–elimination mechanism (B_AC ²), but by an elimination-addition mechanism (ElcB) involving a slow decomposition of the corresponding anions. The rate of hydrolysis of (A) increases with increasing percentage of dimethylsulfoxide in the solvent mixtures, whereas, the reverse is the case with (B) and (C). The results are analysed on the basis of a spectrum of pathways in the ElcB mechanism, and on the basis of the relative solvation of ground and transition states of the reaction.     

Combustion synthesis and thermal expansion of RE6UO12 (RE = Dy and Tb)

Citrate–nitrate combustion method was adopted for the synthesis of RE₆UO₁₂ (RE = Dy and Tb). These compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Thermal expansion coefficient of these compounds were measured in the temperature range of 298–1,273 K by high temperature X-ray powder diffractometry (HT-XRD) and compared with other rare earth compounds reported in the literature. There was no observed phase transition in Dy₆UO₁₂, but Tb₆UO₁₂ showed a second-order phase transition at 670 K which was confirmed using differential scanning calorimeter. The average volume thermal expansion coefficient of Dy₆UO₁₂ in the temperature range of 298–1,273 K is (29.82 ± 4.02) × 10^?6 and that of Tb₆UO₁₂ in the temperature range of 298–673 K is (13.76 ± 2.64) × 10^?6 K^?1.     

Expeditious synthesis of N-bridged heterocycles via dipolar cycloaddition of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyridinium betaines

A new and highly versatile approach towards the synthesis of bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes and bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes was accomplished. The methodology adopted involved [6+3] and [3+2] cycloaddition reactions of pentafulvenes with 3-oxidopyridinium betaines generated either by the action of a base on the pyridinium salt or thermally from pyridinium betaine dimer. These well-functionalized bicyclo[6.3.0]undecanes and bicyclo[5.3.0]decanes offer a wide range of synthetic options, which can be expected to translate into a variety of rapid and efficient synthesis of natural products.     

Confirmation of the absolute configuration of (−)-aurantioclavine

We confirm our previous assignment of the absolute configuration of (−)-aurantioclavine as 7R by crystallographically characterizing an advanced 3-bromoindole intermediate reported in our previous synthesis. This analysis also provides additional support for our model of enantioinduction in the palladium(II)-catalyzed oxidative kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.     

Aromatic and aliphatic CH hydrogen bonds fight for chloride while competing alongside ion pairing within triazolophanes

Triazolophanes are used as the venue to compete an aliphatic propylene CH hydrogen‐bond donor against an aromatic phenylene one. Longer aliphatic C? H ??? Cl^? hydrogen bonds were calculated from the location of the chloride within the propylene‐based triazolophane. The gas‐phase energetics of chloride binding (ΔG_bind, ΔH_bind, ΔS_bind) and the configurational entropy (ΔS_config) were computed by taking all low‐energy conformations into account. Comparison between the phenylene‐ and propylene‐based triazolophanes shows the computed gas‐phase free energy of binding decreased from ΔG_bind=?194 to ?182 kJ mol^?1, respectively, with a modest enthalpy–entropy compensation. These differences were investigated experimentally. An ¹H NMR spectroscopy study on the structure of the propylene triazolophane’s 1:1 chloride complex is consistent with a weaker propylene CH hydrogen bond. To quantify the affinity differences between the two triazolophanes in dichloromethane, it was critical to obtain an accurate binding model. Four equilibria were identified. In addition to 1:1 complexation and 2:1 sandwich formation, ion pairing of the tetrabutylammonium chloride salt (TBA⁺ ? Cl^?) and cation pairing of TBA⁺ with the 1:1 triazolophane–chloride complex were observed and quantified. Each complex was independently verified by ESI‐MS or diffusion NMR spectroscopy. With ion pairing deconvoluted from the chloride–receptor binding, equilibrium constants were determined by using ¹H NMR (500 μM ) and UV/Vis (50 μM ) spectroscopy titrations. The stabilities of the 1:1 complexes for the phenylene and propylene triazolophanes did not differ within experimental error, ΔG=(?38±2) and (?39±1) kJ mol^?1, respectively, as verified by an NMR spectroscopy competition experiment. Thus, the aliphatic CH donor only revealed its weaker character when competing with aromatic CH donors within the propylene‐based triazolophane.     

Dictyostatin flexibility bridges conformations in solution and in the β-tubulin taxane binding site

Dictyostatin (DCT, 1) is a complex, flexible polyketide macrolide that demonstrates potent microtubule-polymerization activity. Both a solution structure (2a) and a possible binding mode for DCT (Conf-1) have been proposed by earlier NMR experiments. In the present study, the conformational landscape of DCT in DMSO-d(6) and methanol-d(4) was explored using extensive force-field-based conformational searches combined with geometric parameters derived from solution NMR data. The results portray a diversity of conformations for dictyostatin that illustrates the molecule's flexibility and excludes the previously suggested dominant solution conformation 2a. One conformation present in DMSO-d(6) with a 7% population (Conf-2, 0.6 kcal/mol above the global minimum at 298°) also satisfies the TR-NOESY NMR parameters of Canales et al. that characterize the taxane binding-site interaction between DCT and assembled microtubules in water. Application of several docking methods (Glide, Autodock, and RosettaLigand) has identified a low-energy binding model of the DCT/β-tubulin complex (Pose-2/Conf-2) that is gratifyingly compatible with the emerging DCT structure-activity data.