A new route to vinyltributyltin compounds by flash pyrolysis of alkyltributyltin acetates

Flash pyrolysis of alkyltributyltin acetates, at high temperatures (600–850° C) under a moderate vacuum provides a convenient route to vinyltin derivatives.     

Mechanical and physico-chemical characterization of cyclodextrin finished polyamide fibers

We present the study of the cyclodextrin (CDs) finishing of polyamide fibers (PA) by means of citric acid (CTR) as crosslinking agent. We observed that the mode of grafting happened by the formation of a crosslinked polymer formed between CTR and CDs. This polymer physically adhered to the fibers network and was resistant to hot water washings. Modified fibers were characterized by evaluating the contact angle with a polar liquid and by studying the hysteresis of damping of PA fibers (Cahn balance) with various grafting rates and by studying the absorptivity of grafted fabrics via the technique of the posed drop (Digidrop^® instrument). Then a mechanical characterization of the PA fabrics grafted with various proportions of CDs was accomplished, by traction and tear tests by using a tensile-test bench Lohmergy. Finally a topographic study of PA grafted surfaces was approached by atomic force microscopy (AFM and LFM; contact and non-contact mode) which permitted to evaluate the roughness and the chemical heterogeneity of the grafted surfaces.     

Scope, limitations and mechanistic aspects in the selective homogeneous palladium-catalyzed reduction of alkenes under transfer hydrogen conditions

A new and efficient mild Pd/P(t-Bu)₃ catalyst for selective reduction of various alkenes under transfer hydrogen conditions has been developed leading to the corresponding saturated derivatives in chemical yields varying from 65 to 98%. Mechanistic rationale of this reaction has been also demonstrated.     

Direct Identification of the Carbon Skeleton of Organic Compounds using Double Quantum Coherence 13C-NMR Spectroscopy. The INADEQUATE Pulse Sequence

NMR spectroscopy plays an important part in the determination of the structures of organic compounds. The parameters of importance here are the chemical shifts of the ¹H and ¹³C nuclei and the spin-spin interactions both between ¹H nuclei and between ¹H and ¹³C nuclei. Couplings between ¹³C nuclei were almost completely neglected until a few years ago, since they were extremely difficult to observe because of the low natural abundance of ¹³C. However, it is these couplings which afford information directly on the carbon-carbon connectivities in the molecule. It is now possible to use a special NMR pulse sequence to make these couplings more readily visible: the result of using this sequence is a ¹³C-NMR spectrum from which the carbon skeleton concerned can be directly read off. Two-dimensional spectra in particular are very easy to evaluate. The pulse sequence involved, which bears the somewhat puzzling name INADEQUATE, produces double-quantum coherences from which the NMR signals of the coupled carbon nuclei can be obtained. In this article the principle of double-quantum coherence is described and a number of examples for the application of the INADEQUATE pulse sequences to problems in synthetic organic chemistry, biosynthesis and natural products chemistry are presented; in addition, the possibility of applying the INADEQUATE method to other nuclei is considered.     

Magic numbers in the mass distribution of the benzene+-argonn ions: evaporation dynamics and cluster structure

The intensity distribution of benzene⁺-Ar_n cluster ions formed by laser ionization of neutral clusters has been investigated: two main intensity anomalies (magic numbers atn=20 and 45) have been observed in the 15–60 size range. The evaporation dynamics of these species in the 2–50 microsecond time window following ionization has been studied using the electrostatic mirror of a reflectron time-of-flight mass spectrometer as a kinetic energy analyser capable to distinguish parent and daughter ions. The magic numbers are interpreted in terms of size dependent evaporation behaviors: beyondn=20, a sudden decrease of the evaporation energy is observed; in then=45–47 size range, the magic number is accounted for by the specific dynamics of then=46 and 47 clusters, in particular the possible loss of two argon atoms forn=47 within the experimental time window. These results and their implications on the cluster structure are discussed in the light of the evaporative ensemble model and compared to the evaporation characteristics of similar species, in particular the neat rare gas clusters.     

Ester interchange reactions catalyzed by tin compounds in reactive processing: NMR contribution via reactions with model compounds

Interchange reactions involving esters were used in reactive processing with a view to obtaining polymer blends with stabilized morphology. Dibutyltinoxide (DBTO) appeared to be an excellent catalyst for these reactions. In fact, it was shown that the true catalytic entity is a dimeric alkoxy, acyloxy distannoxane entity formed in situ, during processing, by the reaction of the DBTO with the polymer ester groups. This compound was first obtained with model esters and characterized by multinuclear NMR analysis (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn). The catalytic efficiency of the in situ polymeric distannoxane was compared with other added parent distannoxanes. Later on – still with model compounds – ligand exchanges at the tin sites were investigated and it was shown that these exchanges are not essential to the catalyst activity, but when they take place it increases the catalytic efficiency. Then, this type of catalysis was successfully used for interchange reactions in reactive extrusion of different polymer blends, some applications are briefly presented. To cite this article: M.-F. Llauro and A. Michel, C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Diterpenoids from cultured Erythropodium caribaeorum

The known antimitotic agent eleutherobin and the briarane diterpenoids erythrolides A and B have been isolated from cultured specimens of Erythropodium caribaeorum in amounts comparable to those reported from wild-harvested reef animals. The novel diterpenoid aquariolide A, having an unprecedented highly rearranged carbon skeleton (named aquariane), has also been found. The aquariane skeleton can be formally derived from the briarane skeleton by sequential di-pi-methane and vinyl-cyclopropane rearrangements. [structure: see text]     

Spectroscopic investigation of ground state pyrrole (C4H5N): the NH stretch

We have recorded the infrared absorption spectrum of pyrrole at 0.005 cm⁻¹ spectral resolution using a Fourier transform interferometer. The rotational analysis of the fundamental N---H stretch (1¹₀) at 3530.811343(82) cm⁻¹ was performed. A set of 13 upper state rovibrational parameters was determined, allowing the 2715 assigned rovibrational lines to be reproduced with a standard deviation of 1.3 10⁻³ cm⁻¹. An attempt to record the fundamental band under slit-jet conditions is reported. The role of hot bands accompanying the series of the N---H stretch excitation is investigated. Effective vibrational parameters — ω⁰₁, X⁰₁₁, Y₁₁₁, X_1,24 — are obtained. The lower level in the hot band series is unambiguously identified as the V₂₄ = 1 level, by retrieving X_1,24 independently, from other spectral data. The observation of the complex band pattern accompanying the N---H series in the higher overtone range is discussed with the help of new data, recorded around the 1⁵₀ band at different temperatures using intracavity laser optoacoustic spectroscopy.     

The chemistry of the azanonaborane cluster RNH2---B8H11NHR

The preparation and properties of the R¹R²NH---B₈H₁₁NHR cluster are described. The cluster is stable to aqueous solutions and can be made water-soluble by the introduction of a few hydrophilic groups. This makes the cluster a good candidate as the boron moiety in compounds for boron neutron capture therapy. The chemistry of the cluster preparation, the stability of the cluster, and conditions for reactions of the organic moieties are reviewed. Pyridine derivatives of the cluster show electronic interaction between the cluster and the pyridine.     

In vitro ageing and degradation of PEG-PLA diblock copolymer-based nanoparticles

Diblock copolymers composed of poly(oxy-ethylene) (POE) and poly(dl-lactic acid) segments were synthesized by anionic polymerization of d,l-lactide using the oxyanion formed by reaction of the monohydroxyl monomethoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) on sodium hydride. For comparison, a similar copolymer was prepared by using tin octoate to catalyze the lactide polymerization. The copolymers were used to make nanoparticles, which were stored at 4 °C. After a few months under these storage conditions, a dramatic decrease of the poly(ethylene glycol) content was observed, however, the mean diameter of the nanoparticles was not affected. The degradation of the nanoparticles was investigated in vitro under conditions selected to mimic physiological conditions. Changes of characteristics were monitored by ¹H NMR, SEC, DLLS and CZE on nanoparticles and/or on the degradation by-products dissolved in the ageing medium. According to their nanometric dimensions, the microparticles degraded very slowly and there was no difference in behaviour between the sodium hydride and the stannous octoate-derived copolymers.