Basis set dependence of the calculated geometry of HNCO

SCF calculations of the equilibrium geometry of HNCQ have been carried out using gradient techniques and a wide variety of basis sets. it is concluded that 3d functions are essential for reliable geometry predictions in this and related isocyanates.     

Cellular-indecomposable subnormal operators II

This work continues that begun in [9]. Our investigation has led us to the following conjecture: a cyclic subnormal operator is cellular-indecomposable if and only if it is quasi-similar to an analytic Toeplitz operator whose symbol is a weak-star generator of H. In this paper some particular cases of the conjecture are verified.This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.     

Optimisation of polystyrene resin-supported Pt catalysts in room temperature, solvent-less, oct-l-ene hydrosilylation using methyldichlorosilane

Six precursor resins with systematic variation of porous parameters were prepared by suspension polymerisation using specific compositions of divinylbenzene, styrene vinylbenzyl chloride (VBC) and 2-ethylhexan-l-ol (a porogen). Surface areas from N(2) sorption and BET analysis were approximately 2-170 m(2)g-(1). The VBC content in each case was 38 mol% and these groups were aminated using the sodium salt of trimethylethylene diamine. Pt was introduced onto each resin at three different loadings (approximately 0.03, approximately 0.2 and approximately 0.4 mmol g-(1)) by appropriate manipulation of K(2)PtCl(6). The matrix of 18 resin-supported Pt complexes was then assessed for catalytic activity in the room temperature, solvent-less, hydrosilylation of oct-l-ene using methyldichlorosilane such that alkene: silane: Pt ratio was fixed at 2:1:1x10(-3). Though all the catalysts showed activity lower than that of homogeneous Speier s catalyst, most were sufficiently active to be potentially valuable heterogeneous catalysts in the laboratory, and indeed the plant. The most lightly loaded resins proved to be the least active. The remainder were recycled 5 times, and the best performers, the most highly loaded species, a further 5 times making 10 consecutive uses in all. A strong dependence on the porous structure of the resins was demonstrated with the activity rising systemically with the surface area. The two highest surface area highest loaded species displayed good activity even when used for the tenth time. The level of concurrent alkene isomerisation observed was very low throughout (<1%) making these heterogeneous species very selective as well as highly active. Overall the derived catalysts are excellent candidates for use in the research laboratory, and with further development could also be valuable in continuous processes.     

Total synthesis of sordaricin

An enantioconvergent total synthesis of sordaricin (3), the diterpene aglycon of an important class of antifungal compounds, is described. Two approaches were explored, the first of which utilized a possible biogenetic intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition to form the complete carbon skeleton of the target molecule as a single regioisomer 30. A second approach employed a tandem cycloreversion/intramolecular [4 + 2] cycloaddition process to afford not only the desired product 30 but also significant quantities of the undesired regioisomer iso-30. An investigation into the reasons for the difference in regioselectivity between these two reactions revealed the intervention of a cycloreversion/cycloaddition pathway at elevated temperatures leading to the formation of iso-30. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that iso-30 is the more thermodynamically stable of the two regioisomers.     

Ion-spray mass spectrometry of marine neurotoxins

Ion-spray mass spectrometry was investigated for the analysis of three marine neurotoxins: domoic acid, saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin. All three compounds gave positive-ion spectra with abundant ions of protonated molecules and no significant fragmentation. Domoic acid gave a negative-ion spectrum with a strong [M-H]- ion. Tandem mass spectrometry provided useful fragment-ion spectra for all compounds. Detection limits for flow injection analyses with selected-ion monitoring were determined to be 30 pg for saxitoxin, 100 pg for domoic acid and 200 pg for tetrodotoxin. Combining liquid chromatography with ion-spray mass spectrometry allowed the determination of domoic acid and some of its isomers in toxic shellfish tissue extracts.     

Structure of plumbazeylanone: a novel trimer of plumbagin from plumbago zeylanica

Plumbazeylanone, a quinone from Plumbago zeylanica is probably 5b,11a,12,12a-tetrahydro-1,7-dihydroxy-5b-(8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinon-2-yl)-5a,12a-dimethyl-5a$\text{H}$-dibenzo[$\text{b}$,$\text{h}$]fluorene-5,13:6,11-diquinone, a novel trimer of plumbagin with an additional methyl group.     

Electronic structure of unstable intermediates

The geometry of the species OCC has been investigated within the restricted Hartree-Fock LCAO-MO-SCF approximation. Several one electron properties have been calculated at the calculated minimum energy configuration of R(O-C)=2.121 bohr, R(C-C)=2.58 bohr.