An unexpected ring-opening in the reissert reaction on 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline-n-oxide.

When quinoxaline-N-oxide 1 is reacted with KCN and benzoyl chloride in water (the Reissert reaction) or methanol, the products are 2-,5- and 6- chloroquinoxaline (the latter being the major product: 42±6 %) and small amounts of 2-cyanoquinoxaline. Using three equivalents of trimethylsilyl cyanide instead of KCN, and dichloromethane as the solvent, leads to a 72 % yield of 2-cyanoquinoxaline. The reaction of trimethylsilyl cyanide and benzoyl chloride with 2,3-diphenylquinoxaline-N-oxide 2 leads to an unexpected ring-opening product 13; its structure is based on spectroscopic data and on an X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Hydroformylation and hydrocarbethoxylation of 1,2-dicarbethoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridazine and 1,2-dicarbethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridazine

The unsaturated compounds 1,2-dicarbethoxy-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridazine 1 and 1,2-dicarbethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridazine 2 have been hydroformylated and hydrocarbethoxylated in the presence of some well known cobalt, rhodium, palladium and platinum catalysts. The hydroformylation reaction can be tuned by a suitable choice of the catalyst precursor and reaction conditions, thus allowing the synthesis with high selectivity of one of the two possible isomeric aldehydes. The carbonylation reaction is less synthetically useful, since it shows low activity and unsatisfactory chemo- and regio-selectivity. However, the ester 1,2,4-tricarbethoxyhexahydropyridazine 10 can be prepared in good yield from olefin 1 by using the complex [PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂] as the catalyst precursor.     

Metal---metal bond formation promoted by steric effects: The structural chemistry of μ-dichlorobis(di-t-butyl-p-tolylphosphine)tetracarbonyldiruthenium(I)

The bulky teratiary phosphines P-t-Bu₂Ph and P-t-Bu₂-p-tol, provide binuclear ruthenium(I) complexes. An X-ray analysis of [Ru₂Cl₂(CO)₄(P-t-Bu₂-p-tol)₂] shows the RuCl₂Ru bridge to be non-planar and to have an Ru---Ru distance of 2.632Å.     

Conformational deformation of ring C in 14β-estra- 1,3,5(10) 15-tetraen-17-ones

High-field n.m.r. analysis of four 3-methoxy-14β-estra-1,3,5(10), 15-tetraen-17-ones provides evidence for conformational deformation of ring C to a twist-boat form in solution. These observations are supported by molecular mechanics (MM2) calculations, which predict that the ring C chair and ring C twist-boat conformers have similar steric energies, slightly favouring the latter. An X-ray crystal structure determination on 3-methoxy-14-methyl-14β-estra-1,3,5(10), 15-tetraen-17-one revealed that ring C does indeed adopt a twist-boat conformation in the solid state.     

Ion chromatography of nitrite and carbonate in inorganic matrices on an octadecyl—poly(vinyl alcohol) gel column using acidic eluents

Low levels of carbonate and nitrite contained in inorganic matrices were determined by ion chromatography on an Asahipak ODP-50 poly(vinyl alcohol) gel-based reversed-phase column. With an acidic mobile phase, inorganic matrix anions and cations eluted near the void volume of the column, whereas carbonate and nitrite were retained and separated completely from the matrix ions. After the separation column, the peak response was enhanced using a cation-exchange hollow fibre and 25 mM sodium sulphate or alkaline enhancers. Sea-water samples can be applied directly for the determination of carbonate and added nitrite at ppm levels. The maximum sample volume that can be loaded on the column without peak deformation depended on the pH of the sample solution and the sulphuric acid concentration in the eluent. A 50 μl sea-water sample was applicable with a 2.5 mM acid eluent.     

Electronic structure of highly conducting conjugated polymers: evolution upon doping of polyacetylene, polythiophene, and polyemeraldine

The electronic properties of three types of conducting polymers: trans-polyacetylene (proto-typical of systems with a degenerate ground state), polythiophene (as an example of compounds with a nondegenerate ground state), and polyemeraldine (which can be doped via protonation) are reviewed. The structural and electronic band structure properties of these systems are studied at various defect concentrations corresponding to undoped, lightly doped, and highly doped polymers. Geometry optimizations of oligomeric equivalents to the undoped and doped polymers are performed using the semi-empirical MNDO and AM1 methods. The electronic band structures are calculated using the VEH method. The interpretation of the optical absorption data is discussed in terms of interband transitions; for doped trans-polyacetylene including soliton defects and for doped polythiophene including bipolaron defects. For highly doped trans-polyacetylene and polythiophene as well as for protonated polyemeraldine, the electronic structure of a polaron lattice conformation is discussed and shown to be in agreement with existing optical and magnetic data on these polymers.     

Hot atom chemistry in oxyanion targets,part II1: Recoil behaviour of56Mn in permanganates

Fractional precipitation techniques have been utilized to separate the lower valent and parent forms of⁵⁶Mn in permanganate targets and an attempt is made to study a few aspects of chemical stabilization of recoil56</sup>Mn in permanganates. Ammonium permanganate, recoil behaviour of which has not been studied previously, is chosen as one of the targets along with the potassium permanganate for initial retention and also for isothermal annealing.56</sup>Mn initial retentions of about 12% and about 4% are obtained for potassium and ammonium permanganate, respectively, by activation from a Ra–Be neutron source. A usual trend for KMnO₄ and the reduction of recoil fragments by ammonium ions in NH₄MnO₄ are seen through the isothermal annealing study.</sup>     

The molecular structure of di-t-butylamine, NH[C(CH3)3]2, as determined by gas-phase electron diffraction: an exceptionally sterically hindered amine

Gaseous di-t-butylamine, NHBu^t₂, has been studied by electron diffraction at a nozzle temperature of ca. 293 K. The diffraction data reveal that this amine is exceedingly hindered. Repulsive steric interactions between the But</sup> groups are mainly relieved by an opening of the CNC valence angle to 135(3)°. Evidence of steric strain may also be found in the non-zero tilts (2–3°) of the But</sup> groups, defining the angle of rotation of these groups about axes through the N-bonded carbon atoms orthogonal to the NC₂ plane. The N---C and C---C bonds, 1.467(13) and 1.561(6) Å, respectively, are on the other hand relatively unstrained. Other principal geometrical parameters are unexceptional: C---H = 1.103(10) Å, NCC = 111.3(1.5)° (mean value) and CCH = 106(2)°. The position of the N-bonded hydrogen atom relative to the NC₂ plane could not be determined. The torsional positions of the But</sup> groups, with respect to the N---C bonds, could not be derived from least-squares refinements. A large number of models with But</sup> groups in various fixed positions were considered; the best fit between the observed and theoretical intensity data was obtained with one But</sup> group being twisted 19° away from the position typified by one C---C bond of this group being anti to the remote N---C bond, and the other But</sup> group similarly twisted by 30°. When viewed along the N---C bonds, the But</sup> groups are twisted in the same direction. Viewed along the C(N)C axis, these groups come close to being staggered with respect to each other. The values of the above bond distances are those of r_a parameters. Parenthesized values denote error limits, being least-squares standard deviations multiplied by a factor of three.</sup>     

A novel regiodivergent resolution reaction mediated by a homochiral lithium amide base

The reaction of a racemic perhydroisoquinolene derivative 9 with the homochiral lithium amide basse 3 in the presence of Me₃SiCl in an regiodivergent fashion to give the two non-racemic regioisomeric enol silanes 10 and 11. Conversion of 10 into enone 15, an intermediate useful in the synthesis of the alkaloid (+)-yohimbine, was also possible.     

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF POLYMERS BY THE ADDITION OF GRAFTED NANO-INORGANIC PARTICLES

An irradiation grafting method was applied for the modification of nanoparticles so that the latter can be added topolymeric materials for improving their mechanical performance using existing compounding techniques. The followingitems are discussed in this paper: (a) chemical interaction between the grafting monomers and the nanoparticles duringirradiation, (b) properties including modulus, yield strength, impact strength and fracture toughness of the resultantcomposites, and (c) possible morphological changes induced by the addition of nanoparticles. Though irradiation graftingpolymerization, nanoparticle agglomerates turn into a nano-composite microstructure (comprised of the nanoparticles and thegrafted, homopolymerized secondary polymer), which in turn builds up a strong interfacial interaction with the surrounding,primary polymeric matrix during the subsequent mixing procedure. Due to the fact that different grafting polymers broughtabout different nanoparticle/matrix interfacial features, microstructures and properties of the ultimate composites could thusbe tailored. It was found that the reinforcing and toughening effects of the nanoparticles on the polymer matrix can be fullybrought into play at a rather low filler loading in comparison to conventional particulate filled composites.