Asymmetric Synthesis. 39.(1) Synthesis of 2-(1-Aminoalkyl)piperidines via 2-Cyano-6-phenyl Oxazolopiperidine

The asymmetric synthesis of a series of 2-(1-aminoalkyl) piperidines using (-)-2-cyano-6-phenyloxazolopiperidine 1 is described. LiAlH(4) reduction of 1 followed by hydrogenolysis led to the diamine 3. The same strategy applied to C-2-methylated compound 7 afforded [(2S)-2-methylpiperidin-2-yl]methanamine (9). Addition of lithium derivatives to the cyano group of 1 resulted in the formation of an intermediate imino bicyclic system (11a-c) which could be diastereoselectively reduced to substituted diamino alcohols 13a-c. The addition of an excess of PhLi to 1 in the presence of LiBr furnished disubstituted amine 19, the precursor of diphenyl[(2S)-piperidin-2-yl]methanamine (22).     

Head-to-head (HH) and head-to-tail (HT) conformers of cis-bis guanine ligands bound to the [Re(CO)3]+ core

We have prepared four complexes of the type [Re(guanine)(2)(X)(CO)(3)] (guanine = 9-methylguanine or 7-methylguanine, X = H(2)O or Br) in order to understand the factors determining the orientation of coordinated purine ligands around the [Re(CO)(3)](+) core. The 9-methylguanine ligand (9-MeG) was chosen as the simplest N(9) derivatized guanine, and 7-methylguanine (7-MeG) was chosen because metal binding to N(9) does not impose steric hindrance. Two types of structures have been elucidated by X-ray crystallography, an HH (head-to-head) and HT (head-to-tail) conformer for each of the guanines. All complexes crystallize in monoclinic space groups: [Re(9-MeG)(2)(H(2)O)(CO)(3)]ClO(4) (2) in P2(1)/n with a = 12.3307(10) A, b = 16.2620(14) A, c = 13.7171(11) A, and beta = 105.525(9) degrees, V = 2650.2(4) A(3), with the two bases in HT orientation and its conformer [Re(9-MeG)(2)(H(2)O)(CO)(3)]Br (3) in P2(1)/n with a = 15.626(13) A, b = 9.5269(5) A, c = 15.4078(13) A, and beta = 76.951(1) degrees, V = 2234.5(3) A(3), and the two bases in an HH orientation. Similarly, [Re(7-MeG)(2)(H(2)O)(CO)(3)]ClO(4) (4) crystallizes in P2(1)/c with a = 13.0708(9) A, b = 15.4082(7) A, c = 14.316(9) A, and beta = 117.236(7) degrees, V = 2563.5(3) A(3), and exhibits an HT orientation and [ReBr(7-MeG)(2)(CO)(3)] (5) in P2/c with a = 17.5117(9) A, b = 9.8842(7) A, c = 15.3539(1) A, and beta = 100.824(7) degrees, V = 2610.3(3) A(3), and shows an HH orientation. When crystals of any of these complex pairs are dissolved in D(2)O, the (1)H NMR spectrum shows a single peak for the H(8) resonance of the respective coordinated purine indicating a rapid equilibrium between HH and HT conformations in solution. DFT calculations simulating the rotation of one ligand around its Re-N bond showed energetic barriers of less than 8.7 kcal/mol. We find no hypochromic effect in the Raman spectrum of 3, which showed base stacking in the solid state. Neither steric interactions nor hydrogen bonding are important in determining the orientation of the ligands in the coordination sphere.     

About diastereoselective oxidations of ferrocenyl amino alcohols

Oxidation of some 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)ferrocenylalkylcarbinols by MnO₂ is totally diastereoselective: only one diastereomer is oxidized. A study was performed to highlight the influential factors of this phenomenon. Several ferrocenyl alcohols have been studied. First, two diastereomers of the ferrocenyl amino alcohol bearing a deuterium as an R group have been synthesized and oxidized. The good reactivity of both diastereomers displayed the importance of the size of the alkyl group, which needs to be bulkier than a deuterium. The synthesis and the oxidation of endo- and exo-α-hydroxy [4](1,2)ferrocenophane enabled the elimination of the hypothesis involving the spatial position of the hydroxy group, while the two diastereomers were oxidized. The replacement of the dimethylamino group by a methoxy or a methyl, the oxidation of these compounds, and the study of the preferential conformation of each diastereomer showed clearly the influence of an intramolecular hydrogen bond. So,the diastereoselectivity was shown to depend on the steric bulk of the alkyl group and on the presence of a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group and the nitrogen.     

Synthesis and properties of water-soluble gold colloids covalently derivatized with neutral polymer monolayers

Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles as well as planar gold surfaces can be efficiently grafted with a covalently attached polymer monolayer a few nanometers thick, by simple contact of the metal surface with dilute aqueous solutions of hydrophilic polymers that are end-capped with disulfide moieties, as shown by UV/vis absorption, dynamic light scattering, and surface plasmon resonance studies. The hydrophilic polymer-coated gold colloids can be freeze-dried and stored as powders that can be subsequently dissolved to yield stable aqueous dispersions, even at very large concentrations. They allow for applying filtrations, gel permeation chromatography, or centrifugation. They do not suffer from undesirable nonspecific adsorption of proteins while allowing the diffusion of small species within the hydrogel surface coating. In addition, specific properties of the original hydrophilic polymers are retained such as a lower critical solution temperature. The latter feature could be useful to enhance optical responses of functionalized gold surfaces toward interaction with various substrates.     

A re-statement of the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem and its extension to finite subspaces

Bearing in mind the insight into the Hohenberg–Kohn theorem for Coulomb systems provided recently by Kryachko (Int J Quantum Chem 103:818, 2005), we present a re-statement of this theorem through an elaboration on Lieb’s proof as well as an extension of this theorem to finite subspaces. Contribution to the Serafin Fraga Memorial Issue.     

Organocatalytic Michael addition, a convenient tool in total synthesis. First asymmetric synthesis of (−)-botryodiplodin

The asymmetric Michael addition of propionaldehyde to (2E)-(3-nitro-but-2-enyloxymethyl)-benzene 8, catalyzed by the chiral diamine (S,S)-N-iPr-2,2′-bipyrrolidine, afforded, with 93% ee, a precursor 9 of (−)-botryodiplodin. The nitro functionality of 9 was converted to a ketone via a Nef reaction to give, after a few steps, the enantiomerically enriched (−)-botryodiplodin.     

Dynamical systems theory for music dynamics

We show that, when music pieces are cast in the form of time series of pitch variations, the concepts and tools of dynamical systems theory can be applied to the analysis of temporal dynamics in music. (i) Phase space portraits are constructed from the time series wherefrom the dimensionality is evaluated as a measure of the global dynamics of each piece. (ii) Spectral analysis of the time series yields power spectra ( approximately f(-nu)) close to red noise (nu approximately 2) in the low frequency range. (iii) We define an information entropy which provides a measure of the local dynamics in the musical piece; the entropy can be interpreted as an evaluation of the degree of complexity in the music, but there is no evidence of an analytical relation between local and global dynamics. These findings are based on computations performed on eighty sequences sampled in the music literature from the 18th to the 20th century. (c) 1995 American Institute of Physics.     

On the use of relative deceleration values for the determination of silicon by PIGE

By spiking the samples with a compound containing both a non-analyte and an analyte element, to which a relative deceleration property for 5 Me V protons has been ascribed, relative deceleration values for the samples could be obtained by measuring the prompt -yields induced in the non-analyte element. These values are used to correct for matrix effects in elemental analysis using PIGE techniques. In addition to this, the analytical results thus obtained can also be compared to those obtained by the simultaneous application of the analyte spiking technique to the collected yield data. These non-analyte spiking approaches were used to analyze silicon in polymer materials. These methods were tested by analyzing the two reference standards BCS 308 and Standard Chrome Ore XXXI. Li₂SiO₃, containing both the non-analyte as well as the analyte element, was selected as comparator and spike. Results obtained for the polymer samples were also compared to those obtained by PIXE.     

Engineering Transition Metal Layers for Long Lasting Anionic Redox in Layered Sodium Manganese Oxide

Oxygen-redox-based-layered cathode materials are of great importance in realizing high-energy-density sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) that can satisfy the demands of next-generation energy storage technologies. However, Mn-based-layered materials (P2-type Na-poor Na_y[A_xMn_1−x]O₂, where A = alkali ions) still suffer from poor reversibility during oxygen-redox reactions and low conductivity. In this work, the dual Li and Co replacement is investigated in P2-type-layered Na_xMnO₂. Experimentally and theoretically, it is demonstrated that the efficacy of the dual Li and Co replacement in Na_0.6[Li_0.15Co_0.15Mn_0.7]O₂ is that it improves the structural and cycling stability despite the reversible Li migration from the transition metal layer during de-/sodiation. Operando X-ray diffraction and ex situ neutron diffraction analysis prove that the material maintains a P2-type structure during the entire range of Na⁺ extraction and insertion with a small volume change of ≈4.3%. In Na_0.6[Li_0.15Co_0.15Mn_0.7]O₂, the reversible electrochemical activity of Co³⁺/Co⁴⁺, Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺, and O^2-/(O₂)^n- redox is identified as a reliable mechanism for the remarkable stable electrochemical performance. From a broader perspective, this study highlights a possible design roadmap for developing cathode materials with optimized cationic and anionic activities and excellent structural stabilities for SIBs.     

Analytic investigation of frequency sensitivity in microwave oscillators: Application to the computation of phase noise in a dielectric resonator oscillator

The conversion of low frequency noise into phase noise in microwave oscillators is studied through an analytical calculation of the pushing factor. This calculation is based on a simplified equivalent circuit for two types of active devices : field effect transistors (Fet) and heterojunction bipolar transistors (hbt). The preeminence in the conversion process of the gate- source capacitance in theFet and the base- emitter junction in thehbt is pointed out. Practical methods are proposed to reduce the phase noise in these circuits.