Structures and mechanisms in chemical reactions: George A. Olah’s life-long search of chemistry

The Hungarian-born American chemistry Nobel laureate George A. Olah used superacids to give longer life to carbocations. He resolved a long-standing debate on reaction mechanism in organic chemistry and, more importantly, opened new vistas in hydrocarbon chemistry to produce hosts of new compounds. The concerted utilization of organic synthesis, physical techniques, and computational methods led to spectacular achievements in hydrocarbon chemistry. Olah has always been on the lookout for the practical applications of his discoveries in fundamental chemistry. He continued his research after his Nobel award and has worked out the idea, which he labeled “the methanol economy.” Olah’s example shows that a great researcher can also be a devoted and caring human being.     

Field-induced π-polarization in barrelene derivatives: a computational study based on structural variation

Barrelene, H–C(CH=CH)₃C–H, is an unsaturated polycyclic hydrocarbon containing three isolated double bonds in a non-planar arrangement. We have studied the transmission of field effects through the barrelene framework by analyzing the small structural changes occurring in the phenyl group of many Ph–C(CH=CH)₃C–X molecules, where X is a variable substituent. Molecular geometries have been determined by quantum chemical calculations at the HF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-311++G** levels of theory. Comparison with the results obtained for the corresponding saturated molecules, the bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives Ph–C(CH₂–CH₂)₃C–X, reveals a small, but significant, field-induced π-polarization of the barrelene cage, especially when the remote substituent is a charged group. Additional evidence of π-polarization is obtained by comparing the electric dipole moments of the two sets of uncharged molecules. The structural variation of the barrelene cage caused by the variable substituent in Ph–C(CH=CH)₃C–X molecules has also been investigated. It is much larger than that of the phenyl group and depends primarily on the electronegativity of the substituent. Particularly pronounced is the concerted variation of the non-bonded distance between the bridgehead carbons of the cage, r(C···C) ₁ ^BARR , and the average of the three C–C–C angles at the cage carbon bonded to the variable substituent, α ₁ ^BARR . A scattergram of r(C···C) ₁ ^BARR versus the corresponding parameter for bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives, r(C···C) ₁ ^BCO , shows that the variation of r(C···C) ₁ ^BARR becomes gradually less pronounced than that of r(C···C) ₁ ^BCO as the electronegativity of the substituent increases.     

Green chemical syntheses and applications within organophosphorus chemistry

Application of the microwave (MW) technique offers many advantages in organophosphorus syntheses. Reluctant reactions may take place on MW irradiation. In most cases, MWs make the reactions more efficient in respect of rate, selectivity and yield. The benefits are shown via representative examples. MW irradiation may replace a catalyst, or simplify catalytic systems. The synthesis of catalysts incorporating heterocyclic P-ligands is also discussed. Where it was relevant, structural chemical details were also provided.     

Strength of Si–H ⋯ B charge-inverted hydrogen bonds in 1-silacyclopent-2-enes and 1-silacyclohex-2-enes

It is shown that the H ? B contacts in 1-silacyclohex-2-enes are clearly stabilizing and strong, whereas those in 1-silacyclopent-2-enes are much weaker. This result is supported by analysis of QTAIM-based parameters and appropriate structural changes taking place upon the open form → closed form transformation and is in full agreement with previous NMR spectroscopic data [Wrackmeyer et al. (2006) Appl Organometal Chem 20:99–105]. Also, the influence of electronic and steric effects originating from the presence of specific substituents on the strength of the H ? B contacts is discussed in detail. Some problems and ideas associated with the use of the so-called open-closed method utilized in assessing values of interaction energies are discussed in detail. Particular attention is paid to the correct choice of reference open systems. It is shown that their partial geometry optimization leads to reliable values of interaction energies.     

A zigzag path through quantum crystallography

A brief discussion is given here of recollections related to development of quantum crystallography from a personal point of view of the author.     

A silica-supported palladium-bis(oxazoline) complex efficiently catalyzes the synthesis of cinnamic acid derivatives via Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions

A palladium(II)-bis(oxazoline) complex supported on silica (Pd-BOX-Si) was prepared, characterized and applied as a catalyst in Mizoroki–Heck cross-coupling reactions. The bis(oxazoline) (BOX) ligand has a hydroxyl group that can be anchored to 4-benzyl chloride-functionalized silica gel, followed by the coordination of palladium(II) chloride. The catalytic activity and the recyclability of Pd-BOX-Si have been investigated in the production of cinnamic acid derivatives via Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions of acrylates with aryl halides; The Pd-BOX-Si catalyst demonstrated excellent catalytic activity. Characterization of the recycled Pd-BOX-Si catalyst revealed its good stability under the reaction conditions employed.     

Stopped-flow kinetic analysis of the oxidation of semicarbazide by hexachloroiridate(IV)

A kinetic analysis of the oxidation of semicarbazide (SEM) by the single-electron oxidant [IrCl₆]^2? has been carried out by stopped-flow spectrometric techniques. The reaction proved to be first order each in [IrCl₆ ^2?] and [SEM]_tot, leading to overall second-order kinetics. The variation in the observed second-order rate constant k′ with pH was explored over the pH range of 0–7.11. Spectrophotometric titration revealed a stoichiometry of Δ[IrCl₆ ^2?]/Δ[SEM]_tot = 4:1 for the redox reaction. On the basis of the rate law, the redox stoichiometry, and the rapid scan spectra, a reaction mechanism is proposed which involves parallel attacks of [IrCl₆]^2? on both H₂NCONHNH₃ ⁺ and H₂NCONHNH₂ as rate-determining steps, followed by several rapid reactions. The rate expression, derived from the reaction mechanism, was utilized to simulate the k′–pH profile yielding a virtually perfect fit and indicating that the reaction path involving H₂NCONHNH₃ ⁺ does not make a significant contribution to the overall rate. The reaction between [IrCl₆]^2? and H₂NCONHNH₂ was further studied as a function of both temperature and ionic strength. From the temperature dependence, activation parameters were obtained as: ?H ₂ ^?  = 34.9 ± 1.5 kJ mol^?1 and ?S ₂ ^?  = ?78 ± 5 J K^?1 mol^?1. The observed ionic strength dependence suggests that the rate-determining step is between [IrCl₆]^2? and a neutral species of SEM. Hence, both the temperature and ionic strength dependency studies are in good agreement with the proposed reaction mechanism, in which the rate-determining step involves an outer sphere electron transfer.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and catalytic epoxidation properties of dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with hydrazone ligands

A series of dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes with similar hydrazone ligands have been prepared, specifically [MoO₂L¹(MeOH)] (1), [MoO₂L²(MeOH)] (2) and [MoO₂L³(MeOH)] (3), where L¹, L² and L³ are the dianionic forms of 2-chloro-N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide, 2-chloro-N′-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzylidene)benzohydrazide and N′-(3-bromo-5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-chlorobenzohydrazide, respectively. The complexes were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods and also by single-crystal X-ray determination. The hydrazone ligands coordinate to the Mo atoms through their phenolate O, imine N and enolic O atoms. The Mo atoms are six-coordinated in octahedral geometries. The complexes show high catalytic activities and selectivities in the epoxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butylhydroperoxide as primary oxidant.     

Anticancer activities of manganese-based photoactivatable CO-releasing complexes (PhotoCORMs) with benzimidazole derivative ligands

Carbon monoxide is an important signaling molecule which is produced by heme oxygenase-1. CO shows antiproliferative activity against cancer cells; hence, activation of HO-1 is a significant inhibition strategy against tumor formation and survival of cancer cells. In this work, manganese-based CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) were designed and synthesized to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation. Human invasive ductal breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were treated with the synthesized CORMs to investigate the effect of the complexes on breast cancer survival under UV light. In vitro experiments indicated that the complexes inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, and further, the antiproliferative effects were increased under UV light. Thus, these novel CORMs may provide a drug template for the treatment of invasive ductal breast cancer.