Synthesis,structure, and dynamic behavior of cyclopentadienyl-lithium, -sodium,and -potassium annelated with bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units: a systematic study on site exchange of alkali metals on a cyclopentadienyl ring in tetrahydrofuran

Novel cyclopentadienyl (Cp)-alkali metal complexes 1-M and 2-M (M = Li, Na, K), in which the Cp ring is annelated with two bicyclo[2.2.2]octene units and substituted with a phenyl group for 1 and a tert-butyl group for 2, were synthesized, and their structures and dynamic behaviors were investigated by means of X-ray crystallography, dynamic (13)C NMR, and DFT calculations. The X-ray crystallography results indicated that 1-Li, 1-Na, and 2-Na form monomeric contact ion pairs (CIP) with three THF molecules coordinated to the metal atom. Also, in THF-d(8), all of the 1-M and 2-M form monomeric CIP in the ground state. However, variable-temperature (13)C NMR measurements of 1-M and 2-M in THF-d(8) demonstrated dynamic behavior in which the metal ion exchanges positions between the upper and lower faces of the Cp ring. From a study of the concentration dependence of the dynamic behavior, the exchange was found to proceed principally as an intramolecular process at concentration ranges lower than 0.2 M. The experimentally observed deltaG values for the intramolecular exchange process for all the 1-M and 2-M (except for 2-Li, whose intramolecular process was too slow to observe) were found to be quite similar in THF-d(8) solution and to fall within the range of 12-14 kcal mol(-)(1). Within this range, a tendency was observed for the deltaG values to increase as the size of the metal decreased. Theoretical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) afforded considerably large values as the gas-phase dissociation energy for 1-M (162.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; 131.6 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; 110.9 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K) and for 2-M (170.0 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; 137.5 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; 115.4 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K). These values should be compensated for by a decrease in the solvation energies for the metal ions with increasing size, as exemplified by the calculated solvation energy for M(+)(Me(2)O)(4), which serves as a model for metal ions solvated with four molecules of THF (-122.9 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Li; -94.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = Na; -67.7 kcal mol(-)(1) for M = K). This compensation results in a small difference in the overall energy for dissociation of 1-M or 2-M in ethereal solutions, thus supporting the similar deltaG values observed for the intramolecular metal exchange.     

Thermal degradation of poly[(tetramethyl-p-silphenylene) siloxane]

For the purpose of studying the mechanism of thermal degradation of poly[(tetramethyl-p-silphenylene) Siloxane] (poly TMPS) a series of polymers with silphenylene and siloxane bonds in the main chain were prepared and subjected to thermogravimetry (TG) and pyrolysis study. Analyses of products from poly TMPS degradation (in vacuum at a constant temperature) by gas chromatography (GC), infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) revealed that degradation occurs at the silphenylene bonds. The TG curves obtained in He for heating rates of 1,2,2.5,7.5, and 10°C/min were analyzed by the Ozawa method; activation energies of 39 ± 1 and 45 ± 2 kcal/mol were obtained respectively for the initial cleavage of the methyl side group and the later-stage scission of the main-chain silphenylene bond which leads to a major weight loss. The results agree with those obtained for other structurally similar polymers.     

Phase Separation in Sol-Gel System Containing Mixture of 3- and 4-Functional Alkoxysilanes

The phase separation behavior of gelling systems containing the mixture of 3-functional and 4-functional alkoxysilanes has been investigated. The relation between the starting composition and resultant macroporous morphology was examined using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) as starting alkoxysilanes, formamide (FA) as an additive, under an acidic condition. Up to TMOS:VTMS molar ratio of 0.5:0.5, the phase relation remained almost unchanged from that of pure TMOS system which exhibits morphology with well-defined co-continuous macropores in a very limited concentration region. On the VTMS-rich side typically TMOS:VTMS = 0.2:0.8, however, the co-continuous macroporous morphology was obtained in a broader composition range than those of either pure TMOS or VTMS system. A dome-like pseudo binary region was obtained with the two-phase region extending toward FA-rich direction. The domain size and pore volume of the gels with macroporous morphology could be controlled by alkoxide:water ratio and total solvent fraction, respectively.     

Addition of hydrogen halides to alkylidenecyclopropanes: a highly efficient and stereoselective method for the preparation of homoallylic halides

The reaction of alkylidenecyclopropanes with HCl or with HBr proceeds very smoothly at 120°C to produce the corresponding homoallylic halides stereoselectively in good to excellent yields. For example, the reaction of (1-phenylbenzylidene)cyclopropane, (1-butylpentylidene)cyclopropane and octylidenecyclopropane with hydrochloric acid produced the corresponding homoallylic chlorides, 4-chloro-1,1-diphenyl-1-butene, 4-butyl-1-chloro-3-octene and (E)-1-chloro-3-undecene in 99, 96, and 87% yields, respectively. The reaction of (1-butylpentylidene)cyclopropane with hydrobromic acid yielded 1-bromo-4-butyl-3-octene in 95% yield.     

Calculation of membrane potential in synaptosomes with use of a lipophilic cation (tetraphenylphosphonium)

To estimate membrane potential in synaptosomes with the use of tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+), an equation relating the amount of TPP+ accumulated in synaptosomes with membrane potential was derived from the following two assumptions. (1) TPP+ molecules were distributed into plasma membranes, mitochondria and cytosol of synaptosomes. (2) TPP+ achieves a Nernst equilibrium across both the synaptosomal and inner mitochondrial membranes. We propose three methods for calculation of membrane potential using this equation. The concentration of TPP+ was measured under various controlled conditions with an electrode selective for TPP+. The amount of TPP+ accumulated in synaptosomes was determined by measuring the difference between its initial concentration and the concentration after addition of synaptosomes, and membrane potential was estimated by the three methods. The resting potential of synaptosomes was estimated to be -75 to -90 mV by all of these methods. Membrane potentials under various controlled conditions were calculated, and the characteristics of the methods for estimation of membrane potential and those of membrane potential obtained by the methods are discussed.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkenes directed to peptide isosteres: copper mediated reaction of trialkylaluminum with 4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivatives

Copper mediated alkyl-transfer reaction of trialkylaluminum (R₃Al) with (E)-4,4-difluoro-5-hydroxyallylic alcohol derivative smoothly proceeded to give the corresponding 2-alkylated 4-fluoro-5-hydroxyhomoallylic alcohol derivative with completely Z and 2,5-syn selective manner. Regio- and stereoselective conversion of the C5-hydroxyl group of the fluoroolefin thus obtained to amino group could be achieved through one-pot mesylation and azidation reaction.     

A regio- and stereoselective alpha-methylation of gamma,delta-epoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters with a Me2Zn-CuCN reagent

A highly regio- and stereoselective alpha-methylation reaction of gamma,delta-epoxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters was achieved by using a Me2Zn-CuCN reagent.     

Asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl aryl sulfides—Enantio- and diastereoselective formation of allenyl aryl sulfides and their application in nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

The enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of allenyl aryl sulfides by asymmetric lithiation of 2-alkynyl (2-hetero)aryl sulfides is described. A dynamic thermodynamic resolution by selective crystallization of the intermediate lithium complexes derived from deprotonation, applying a bis(oxazoline) ligand, was achieved to give enantioselectivities up to 85% ee. Subsequent stereospecific nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with arylzinc reagents established a versatile access to threefold carbon-substituted allenes.     

Stepwise delivery of two methoxy groups of arylaldehyde acetals across the phenyl ring. Vacant site-controlled palladium catalysis

A new catalytic cyclization of o-alkynylbenzaldehyde acetals 1 to the functionalized indenes 2 was found to be strictly controlled by the number of triphenylphosphine ligands on the Pd catalyst. Only complexes with three available coordination sites on Pd catalyze this reaction. Mechanistic study suggests that pi-coordination of Pd to the benzene ring is a key step controlled by the number of vacant coordination sites.