Organische Schwefelverbindungen—IV: Elektronenstossinduzierte Redoxreaktion von ortho-Nitrothiobenzoesäure-S-p-tolylester

The electron-impact fragmentation of S-p-tolylester of nitrothiobenzoic acid leads to a previously unknown rearrangement in the case of the ortho compound. This consists of an intra molecular redoxreaction with oxygen transfer from the o-nitro group onto the sulphur of the thiol ester group. The position of the nitro group is not only an essential influence on the fragmentation pattern, but also of dramatic importance in determining the lifetime of the molecular ion.     

Strukturen und Molekül-Eigenschaften ladungsgestörter Moleküle. 52. Mitteilung. 2, 3-Diphenylchinoxalin-Radikalanionen in Lösung und im Kristall

Structures and Molecular Properties of Charge-Pertubed Molecules. 2, 3-Diphenylquinoxaline Radical Anions in Solution and in Crystals The Na⊕ and K⊕ radical-ion salts of 2, 3-diphenylquinoxaline seem to be (according to a structural database search) among the first ones of N-heterocyclic radical anions in crystals. The one-electron reduction in aprotic 1, 2-dimethoxyethan (DME) solution at metal mirrors and the crystallization under Ar have been preceded by cyclovoltammetric (CV) and ESR/ENDOR measurement. The first electron insertion at ?1.63 V proves to be reversible, whereas the irreversible second step, which is accompanied by an overcrossing of the CV line, can be rationalized by an ‘ECE-DISP’ mechanism via a dianion redox disproportionation. The ENDOR spectrum resolves four ¹H couplings and allows to simulate the ESR spectrum including the ¹⁴N hyperfine splittings. Both dark-blue single crystals of the radical ion salts $[2,3{\rm - diphenylquinoxaline}^{{.} \ominus} {\rm Met}^ \oplus ({\rm DME})]^.$ show unexpected similarities for Met⊕ = Na⊕, K⊕ despite the 36-pm difference in their ionic radii. The largest structural changes inflicted by the one-electron reduction of the N-heterocyclic molecule are observed in the vicinity of the N-centers bearing the highest effective nuclear charge. The DME-chelated metal cations coordinate at the N electron pairs and form Met⊕(DME)-bridged polymer chains of the radical anion, which are differently ondulated in the Na⊕ and K⊕ radical anion salts. The take-home lesson suggests that many more N-heterocyclic molecules might be analogously reduced under optimized conditions and isolated as single crystals.     

Carbonyl-yne reactions of 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvates

An efficient synthesis of trifluoromethyl-containing 2,3-allenols via carbonyl-yne reaction of 3,3,3-trifluoropyruvates with acetylenes is described. In the presence of MgBr₂·Et₂O the reaction of methyl trifluoropyruvate with hex-1-yne proceeds diastereoselectively. Trifluoromethyl-substituted 2,3-allenols can be stereoselectively transformed into trifluoromethyl-substituted 2,5-dihydrofurans on treatment with AgNO₃.     

A QM-MM interface between CHARMM and TURBOMOLE: implementation and application to systems in bulk phase and biologically active systems

The implementation of a hybrid QM-MM approach combining ab initio and density functional methods of TURBOMOLE with the molecular mechanics program package CHARMM is described. An interface has been created to allow data exchange between the two applications. With this method the efficient multiprocessor capabilities of TURBOMOLE can be utilized with CHARMM running as a single processor application. Therefore, features of nonparallel running code in CHARMM like the TRAVEL module for locating saddle points or VIBRAN for the calculation of second derivatives can be exploited by running the CPU intensive QM calculations in parallel. To test the methodology, several small systems are studied with both Hartree-Fock and density functional methods and varying QM-MM boundaries. Also, the computationally efficient RI-J method has been examined for use in QM-MM applications. A B(12) cofactor containing cobalt has been studied, to examine systems with a large QM region and transition metals. All tested methods perform satisfactory in comparison with pure quantum calculations. Additionally, algorithms for the characterization of saddle points have been tested for their potential use in QM-MM problems. The TRAVEL module of CHARMM has been applied to the Menshutkin reaction in the condensed phase, and a saddle point was located. This saddle point was verified by calculation of a steepest descent path connecting educt, transition state, and product, and by calculation of vibrational modes.     

Diastereoselective Spirocyclization of C-(Alkyloxycarbonyl)formimines of 2-Substituted 1HIndole-3-ethanamines (= Tryptamines): Basic Studies. 5th Communication on Indoles,Indolenines, and Indolines

C-(Alkoxycarbonyl)formimines of type 15–18 were derived from the 2-substituted tryptamines 2 , 9 , 10 , and 11 and transformed with tosyl chloride into tricyclic 3-spiroindoles of types 19–22 (Scheme 3). The influence of the homochiral alkoxy moieties A–D on the stereochemical outcome of this reaction was studied. Good-to-excellent diastereoselectivities were observed with the (?)-8-(phenylmenth-3-yl)oxy group ( B ) as homochiral auxiliary. The structures of the tricycles 4 , (2′R,3S)- 19B , and (2′S,3R) 20C were established by X-ray analysis, the structures of the others by NOE and CD studies, and by chemical correlation. Possibilities to explain the steric course of the spirocyclizations are discussed.     

Dimethylformamide as a carbon monoxide source in fast palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylations of aryl bromides

Dimethylformamide (DMF) acts as an efficient source of carbon monoxide and dimethylamine in the palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation (Heck carbonylation) of p-tolyl bromide to provide the dimethylamide. Addition of amines to the reaction mixture in excess delivers the corresponding aryl amides in good yields. The amines employed, benzylamine, morpholine, and aniline, all constitute good reaction partners. The reaction proceeds smoothly with bromobenzene and more electron-rich aryl bromides, but electron-deficient aryl bromides fail to undergo aminocarbonylation. The reactions are conducted at 180-190 degrees C for 15-20 min with microwave heating in a reaction mixture containing imidazole and potassium tert-butoxide: the latter is required to promote decomposition of the DMF solvent at a suitable rate. The beneficial effects of controlled microwave irradiation as an energy source for the rapid heating of the carbonylation reaction mixture are demonstrated. The carbonylation procedure reported herein, which relies on the in situ generation of carbon monoxide, serves as a convenient alternative to other carbonylation methods and is particularly applicable to small-scale reactions where short reaction times are desired and the direct use of carbon monoxide gas is impractical.     

Nordesferriferrithiocin. Comparative Coordination Chemistry of a Prospective Therapeutic Iron Chelating Agent(1)

Nordesferriferrithiocin, NDFFTH(2), is a derivative of the siderophore desferriferrithiocin, DFFTH(2), in which the methyl group is substituted by a hydrogen atom. Both compounds show high oral activity as possible drugs for the treatment of iron overload. While DFFTH(2) is significantly toxic, NDFFTH(2) exhibits a lower toxicity and offers a much better therapeutic window than other orally active iron chelators. In this study, complexes of DFFTH(2) and NDFFTH(2) with various trivalent metals have been synthesized and characterized. Five isomers (the maximum possible) have been observed in the case of [Co(DFFT)(2)](-) in solution, as proved by (1)H-NMR measurements. Although normally labile, complexes of Al(3+) ([Al(DFFT)(2)](-)) have been separated by HPLC. In general, DFFTH(2) forms kinetically inert complexes whereas complexes of NDFFTH(2) tend to isomerize quickly in solution, as indicated by CD spectroscopy of separated HPLC fractions of [Cr(NDFFT)(2)](-). The most stable isomers of the aluminum complexes of both ligands have been characterized by X-ray crystallography; K[Al(DFFT)(2)] crystallizes from methanol/diethyl ether in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2 with a = 11.238(3) ?, b = 31.719(11) ?, c = 7.684(2) ?, V = 2739.2(24) ?(3), and Z = 4. This isomer has the mer-(N,O-Lambda)(S,S) configuration, while K[Al(NDFFT)(2)] crystallizes from methanol/diethyl ether in the space group P6(1) (a = 21.269(8) ?, c = 9.643(3) ?, V = 3777.8(42) ?(3), Z = 6) and has the same coordination geometry. The solution thermodynamics of the Al(3+), Ga(3+), and Fe(3+) complexes have been studied by spectrophotometric titration. The stability constants (log K) are 23.6(1), 29.2(3), and 31.04(3), respectively, for the DFFTH(2) complexes and 22.0(1), 27.8(2), and 29.09(3), respectively, for the NDFFTH(2) complexes. Cyclic voltammograms of both iron complexes have been recorded in water at a carbon disk working electrode and in DMF at a graphite working electrode. The reduction waves measured in DMF indicate no reversibility whereas in water a quasi-reversible reduction is observed. The reduction potentials (E(1/2)'s) in water are -166 mV for [Fe(DFFT)(2)](-) and -97 mV for [Fe(NDFFT)(2)](-) versus NHE. These potentials are well in the range for biological reductants, which makes possible an in vivo reduction mechanism for the iron removal from the siderophore.     

Die Kristallstrukturen von KNdTe4, RbPrTe4 und RbNdTe4 — Untersuchungen zur thermischen Stabilität von KNdTe4 sowie Bemerkungen zu einigen anderen Vertretern der Zusammensetzung ALnTe4 (A = K,Rb, Cs und Ln = Seltenerd‐Metall)

Crystal Structures of KNdTe₄, RbPrTe₄, and RbNdTe₄ — Investigations concerning the Thermal Stability of KNdTe₄ as well as some Remarks concerning Additional Representatives of the Composition ALnTe₄ (A = K, Rb, Cs and Ln = Rare Earth Metal) Of the compounds ALnQ₄ (A = Na, K, Rb, Cs; Ln = Lanthanoid; Q = S, Se and Te) the crystal structures of the three new tellurides KNdTe₄, RbPrTe₄ and RbNdTe₄ were determined by X‐ray single‐crystal structure analysis and of the three additional new ones KCeTe₄, KPrTe₄ and CsNdTe₄ by X‐ray powder diffraction experiments. All six new compounds are isotypic with KCeSe₄. Characteristic for the crystal structure of the compounds mentioned above are layers built from (Q₂)^2— dumbbells in form of 4.3².4.3 nets with embedded cations A⁺ and Ln³⁺ between them, which are coordinated eightfold in form of square‐shaped antiprisms by Q ions. The distances Te‐Te within the dumbbells were found to be 277.8(2) pm for all investigated tellurides. By combination of X‐ray diffraction and DTA measurements it was shown that the compound KNdTe₄ is metastable at ambient temperature with a limited existence range between the temperatures 260 and 498 °C.     

A liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of specific organophosphorus pesticide biomarkers in human urine

Organophosphorus pesticides are commonly used in both agricultural and residential settings. The widespread use of these chemicals makes it almost impossible for humans to avoid exposure. In order to determine background human exposure, there is a need for fast, reliable, and sensitive analytical methods. We have developed a sensitive method to quantify specific biomarkers of the organophosphorus pesticides acephate, azinphos, chlorpyrifos, coumaphos, diazinon, isazofos, malathion, methamidophos, parathion and pirimiphos or their O,O-dimethyl analogues in human urine, as their selective metabolites or as the intact pesticide. Isotopically labeled internal standards were used for eight of the analytes. The use of labeled internal standards in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry provided a high degree of specificity. Repeated analysis of urine samples fortified with high and low concentrations of the analytes gave relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 10% for the analytes with an isotopically labeled standard. Analytes without isotopically labeled standards had higher RSD. For all compounds except methamidophos and acephate, the recoveries were greater than 70%. The limits of quantification for most of the analytes were in the range of 0.1 to 1 ng/mL. We detected concentrations of most of these pesticides and/or their metabolites in urine samples from non-occupationally exposed persons using our method. Our frequencies of detection for the analytes measured ranged from 1% to 98%.     

Novel open-chain and cyclic conformationally constrained (R)- and (S)-α,α-disubstituted tyrosine analogues

A series of novel open-chain and cyclic conformationally constrained (R)- and (S)-α,α-disubstituted tyrosine analogues 1a–e were synthesized in good yields and high optical purities (Schemes 1 and 2). The absolute configurations of these tyrosine analogues were unambiguously determined based on the X-ray structures of the precursor diastereoisomeric peptides of type 4 and 5 . Four of these structures are described (Figs. 1–4), showing β-turn type-I geometries for dipeptides 4a, 5b , and 4c and an extended conformation for peptide 5c (Table 3). The conversion of the free amino acids 1a–c into suitably protected building blocks 11a–d and 15d,e for peptide synthesis is discussed (Schemes 3 and 4).