Novel 1,4-homofragmentation via an alpha-lactone

Conversion of an alpha,alpha-dichloroester to the corresponding alpha-keto acid was unexpectedly complicated by a novel 1,4-homofragmentation. Investigation of the kinetics of this reaction revealed a mechanism involving an alpha-lactone intermediate, which can lead to both the desired alpha-keto acid and the 1,4-homofragmentation, with the product distribution being dependent upon reaction conditions. This information allowed development of a process that affords the alpha-keto acid exclusively and should be generally applicable to the preparation of alpha-keto acids from alpha,alpha-dichloroesters or acids.     

Diphenylphosphinoyl chloride as a chlorinating agent--the selective double activation of 1,2-diols

Treatment of 1,2-diols with diphenylphosphinoyl chloride in pyridine produces beta-chloroethyl phosphinates which react with complete control of stereochemistry to give epoxides and azido-alcohols, useful intermediates in cyclopropane synthesis.     

Copper(III) and vanadium(IV)-oxo corrolazines

As part of our efforts to develop the transition metal chemistry of corrolazines, which are ring-contracted porphyrinoid species most closely related to corroles, the vanadium and copper complexes (TBP)(8)Cz(H)V(IV)O (1) and (TBP)(8)CzCu(III) (2) of the ligand octakis(para-tert-butylphenyl)corrolazine [(TBP)(8)Cz] have been synthesized. The coordination behavior, preferred oxidation states, and general redox properties of metallocorrolazines are of particular interest. The corrolazine ligand in 1 was shown to contain a labile proton by acid/base titration and IR spectroscopy, serving as a -2 ligand rather than as the usual -3 donor. The oxidation state of the vanadium center in 1 was shown to be +4, in agreement with the overall neutral charge for this complex. The EPR spectrum of 1 reveals a rich signal consistent with a V(IV)(O) (d(1), S = 1/2) porphyrinoid species (g(xx) = 1.989, g(yy) = 1.972, g(zz) = 1.962). The electrochemical analysis of 1 shows behavior closer to that of a porphyrazine than a corrolazine, with a positively shifted, irreversible reduction at -0.65 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Resonance Raman and IR data for 1 confirm the presence of a triply bonded terminal oxo ligand with nu(V(16)O) = 975 cm(-1) and nu(V(18)O) = 939 cm(-1). The copper complex 2 exhibits a diamagnetic (1)H NMR spectrum, indicative of a bona fide square planar copper(III) (d(8), low-spin) complex. Previously reported copper corroles have been characterized as copper(III) complexes which exhibit a paramagnetic NMR spectrum at higher temperatures, indicative of a thermally accessible triplet excited state ([(corrole(*+))Cu(II)]). The NMR spectrum for 2 shows no paramagnetic behavior in the range 300-400 K, indicating that compound 2 does not have a thermally accessible triplet excited state. These data show that the corrolazine system is better able to stabilize the high oxidation state copper center than the corresponding corroles. Electrochemical studies of 2 reveal two reversible processes at +0.93 and -0.05 V, and bulk reduction of 2 with NaBH(4) generates the copper(II) species [(TBP)(8)CzCu(II)](-) (2a), which exhibits an EPR signal typical of a copper(II) porphyrinoid species.     

Photolysis and recombination of adenosylcobalamin bound to glutamate mutase

Ultrafast spectroscopic measurements are used to determine the kinetics of homolysis and recombination for adenosylcobalamin bound in the active site of glutamate mutase. These are the first such measurements on an adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme. A short-lived intermediate is formed prior to formation of the cob(II)alamin radical. This intermediate was not observed upon photolysis of adenosylcobalamin in free solution. The intrinsic rate constant for geminate recombination for adenosylcobalamin bound to glutamate mutase is 1.08 +/- 0.10 ns-1, only 16% smaller than the rate constant measured in free solution, 1.39 +/- 0.06 ns-1, suggesting the protein does not greatly perturb the stability of the cobalt-carbon bond upon binding the coenzyme.     

The Curtius rearrangement of cyclopropyl and cyclopropenoyl azides. A combined theoretical and experimental mechanistic study

A combined experimental and theoretical study addresses the concertedness of the thermal Curtius rearrangement. The kinetics of the Curtius rearrangements of methyl 1-azidocarbonyl cycloprop-2-ene-1-carboxylate and methyl 1-azidocarbonyl cyclopropane-1-carboxylate were studied by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and there is close agreement between calculated and experimental enthalpies and entropies of activation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)) on these same acyl azides suggest gas phase barriers of 27.8 and 25.1 kcal/mol. By comparison, gas phase activation barriers for the rearrangement of acetyl, pivaloyl, and phenyl azides are 27.6, 27.4, and 30.0 kcal/mol, respectively. The barrier for the concerted Curtius reaction of acetyl azide at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) level exhibited a comparable activation energy of 26.3 kcal/mol. Intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) analyses suggest that all of the rearrangements occur by a concerted pathway with the concomitant loss of N2. The lower activation energy for the rearrangement of methyl 1-azidocarbonyl cycloprop-2-ene-1-carboxylate relative to methyl 1-azidocarbonyl cyclopropane-1-carboxylate was attributed to a weaker bond between the carbonyl carbon and the three-membered ring in the former compound. Calculations on the rearrangement of cycloprop-2-ene-1-oyl azides do not support pi-stabilization of the transition state by the cyclopropene double bond. A comparison of reaction pathways at the CBS-QB3 level for the Curtius rearrangement versus the loss of N2 to form a nitrene intermediate provides strong evidence that the concerted Curtius rearrangement is the dominant process.     

Selective five- and six-membered cyclic amine syntheses via capture of episulfonium ions

Amide nitrogens open episulfonium ions to form pyrrolidines or piperidines selectively, depending on the nitrogen substituent, in either reversible or irreversible reactions.     

Big macrocyclic assemblies of carboranes (big MACs): synthesis and crystal structure of a macrocyclic assembly of four carboranes containing alternate ortho- and meta-carborane icosahedra linked by para-phenylene units

The macrocyclic compound, [1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀-1,4-C₆H₄-1,7-C₂B₁₀H₁₀-1,4-C₆H₄]₂ (5)—a novel cyclooctaphane, was prepared by condensation of the C,C′-dicopper(I) derivative of meta-carborane with 1,2-bis(4-iodophenyl)-ortho-carborane. The X-ray crystal structure of 5·C₆H₆·6C₆H₁₂ was determined at 150 K, revealing an extremely loose packing mode. Molecule 5 has a crystallographic C_s and local C_2v symmetry; the macrocycle adopts a butterfly (dihedral angle 143°) conformation with the ortho-carborane units at the wingtips and the phenylene ring planes roughly perpendicular to the wing planes. Multinuclear NMR spectra suggest that molecule 5 in solution inverts rapidly via the planar D_2h geometry, which (from ab initio HF/6-31G* calculations) is only 1 kcal mol⁻¹ higher in energy than the C_2v one. An attempt to prepare an even larger macrocycle, comprising three para-carborane and three ortho-carborane units linked by six para-phenylene units, was unsuccessful.     

Synthesis of TiO2 photocatalysts in supercritical CO2 via a non-hydrolytic route

Nanoscaled TiO2 powders with narrow size dispersion were prepared in supercritical carbon dioxide via non-hydrolytic acylation/deacylation of titanium alkoxide precursors with or without tris-fluorination. The microstructures of these powders were characterized by spectroscopic (FTIR, TGA, and XRD), microscopic (SEM or TEM), and surface area (BET) measurements. Photocatalytic oxidation of 1-octanol on these calcined TiO2 powders and on commercial T805 TiO2 suspended in aerated supercritical carbon dioxide revealed relative reactivity controlled by the powder microstructures. Calcined TiO2 prepared from titanium(IV) isopropoxide and trifluoroacetic anhydride was effectively dispersed in aerated supercritical carbon dioxide under stirring and exhibited high photocatalytic oxidation activity.     

CFD simulation of shear-induced aggregation and breakage in turbulent Taylor-Couette flow

An experimental and computational investigation of the effects of local fluid shear rate on the aggregation and breakage of approximately 10 microm latex spheres suspended in an aqueous solution undergoing turbulent Taylor-Couette flow was carried out. First, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed and the flow field predictions were validated with data from particle image velocimetry experiments. Subsequently, the quadrature method of moments (QMOM) was implemented into the CFD code to obtain predictions for mean particle size that account for the effects of local shear rate on the aggregation and breakage. These predictions were then compared with experimental data for latex sphere aggregates (using an in situ optical imaging method). Excellent agreement between the CFD-QMOM and experimental results was observed for two Reynolds numbers in the turbulent-flow regime.     

Elemental fluorine. Part 18. Selective direct fluorination of 1,3-ketoesters and 1,3-diketones using gas/liquid microreactor technology

1,3-Ketoesters and 1,3-diketones react with fluorine gas, using Durham multichannel modular microreactor technology, on a preparatively useful scale. High conversions and yields of monofluorinated products were obtained. A consideration of the mechanism of fluorination of dicarbonyl systems provides a rationale of the scope and limitations of the use of microreactor technology for such direct fluorination processes. We conclude that it is especially appropriate for the fluorination of diketones and ketoesters that exist mainly in the enol form at equilibrium and/or undergo rapid keto-enol interconversion. A one-stage route to fluoroketones from ketoesters was achieved by allowing the crude product mixture obtained from the fluorination of the ketoesters to stand for a period of time before reaction work-up.