Axially Dissymmetric Diphosphines in the Biphenyl Series: Synthesis of (6,6′-Dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)(‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and Analogues via an ortho-Lithiation/Iodination Ullmann-Reaction Approach

The new axially dissymmetric diphosphines (R)- and (S)-(6,6′-dimethoxybiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenyl phosphine) ((R)- and (S)- 5a ; ‘MeO-BIPHEP’) and the analogues (R)- and (S)- 5b and 5c have been synthesized in enantiomerically pure form. These ligands have become readily available by a synthetic scheme which employs, as key steps, an ortho-lithiation/iodination reaction of the (m-methoxyphenyl)diprienylphosphine oxides 8 and a subsequent Ullmann reaction of the resulting iodides 9 to provide the racemic bis(phosphine oxides) 10 . The bis(phosphine oxides) 10 subsequently are resolved with (?)-(2R,3R)- and (+)-(2S,3S)-O-2,3-dibenzoyltartaric acid and reduced to diphosphines 5 . The Ullmann reaction constitutes a new and efficient route to 2,2′-bis(phosphinoyl)-substituted biphenyl systems. Absolute configurations were established for (R)- 5a by X-ray analysis of the derived Pd complex (R,R)- 17a , and for 5b and 5c by means of ¹H-NMR comparisons of the derived Pd complexes 16 or 17 , respectively, and by means of CD comparisons. The MeO-BIPHEP diphosphine 5a proved to be as efficient as the previously described BIPHEMP diphosphine ((6,6′-dimethylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl)bis(diphenylphosphine)) in enantioselective isomerizations and hydrogenations.     

Compehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) and its applicability to the characterization of complex (petrochemical) mixtures

In general, petrochemical products contain only a limited number of chemical classes of compounds (sample dimensionality). The enormous number of individual components within these classes, however, soon puts limitations upon a single chromatographic technique when it comes to adequate characterization of these products. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) clearly opens the possibility of estimating the composition of hydrocarbon mixtures in a far more detailed fashion than hitherto possible. Although the emphasis of papers of GCxGC thus far almost exclusively applies to the unsurpassed peak-capacity, in the oil industry there is a need for characterization, rather than for analyzing all the individual compounds. In principle a GCxGC system can provide an almost perfect match between its intrinsic properties and the dimensionality of oil samples. To establish the applicability of GCxGC towards petrochemical analytical challenges, a commercially aavailable prototype instrument was subjected to an exhaustive characterization of a typical hydrocarbon precess stream and a fast characterization of a light gas oil. Although there are no fundamental limitations towards the quantitative aspects of a GCxGC system, this paper confines itself to qualitative results only. Quantitative aspects of GCxGC will be published in a forthcoming paper.     

Energetics of the loss of H2 from [C3H7]+

The internal energies of [C₃H₇]⁺ ions contributing to the metastable peak [C₃H₇]⁺ → [C₃H₅]⁺ + H₂ are higher (by perhaps > 100 kJ mol^?1) than those of the ion contributing to the threshold current in appearance energy measurements on [C₃H₅]⁺. The measured appearance energy may lead to an underestimation of the activation energy, i.e. negative ‘kinetic shift’, due to quantum, mechanical tunnelling. The distribution of energy released in the decomposition can be explained on the basis that much of the reverse activation energy and a statistical proportion of the excess energy is released as translation.     

A small molecule with osteogenesis-inducing activity in multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells

Purmorphamine, which is a 2,6,9-trisubstituted purine compound, was discovered through cell-based high-throughput screening from a heterocycle combinatorial library. It differentiates multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells into an osteoblast lineage. It will serve as a unique chemical tool to study the molecular mechanisms of osteogenesis of stem cells and bone development.     

Eine einfache chromatographische Methode zur Charakterisierung bitumin?ser Stoffe

Zusammenfassung Die Methode der Ringpapierchromatographie unter Anwendung von UV-Licht als einfachem Hilfsmittel zur Unterscheidung organischen Materials wurde hinsichtlich der Möglichkeit überprüft, zahlenmäßig greifbare Ergebnisse zu erhalten, die eine sichere Klassifizierung und Unterscheidung bituminöser Stoffe ermöglichen. Es wurde gefunden, daß für eine gute Reproduzierbarkeit der Ergebnisse die gleichmäßige Aufgabe der Lösung auf das Papier wesentlich ist. Ein äußerst gleichmäßiger Zufluß, der mit der Sauggeschwindigkeit des Papieres korrespondiert, konnte mit Hilfe eines Mikrodosiergerätes, das von einem Motor gleichmäßig angetrieben wurde, erzielt werden. Die erhaltenen Flächen für die verschiedenen Substanzgruppen stellen ein relatives, gut reproduzierbares Maß für die Zusammensetzung der untersuchten Proben dar.Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Fischer zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Lattice parameters and thermal expansion of δ-VN1−x from 298–1000 K

The thermal expansion of VN_1?x was determined from measurements of the lattice parameters in the temperature range of 298–1000 K and in the composition range of VN_0.707–VN_0.996. Within the accuracy of the results the expansion of the lattice parameter with temperature is not dependent on the composition. The lattice parameter as a function of composition ([N]/[V]=0.707?0.996) and temperature (298–1000 K) is given by $$\begin{gathered} a([N]/[V],T) = 0.38872 + 0.02488([N]/[V]) - \hfill \\ - (1.083 \pm 0.021) \cdot 10^{ - 4} T^{1/2} + (6.2 \pm 0.1) \cdot 10^{ - 6} T. \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ . The coefficient of linear thermal expansion as a function of temperature (in the same range) is given by $$\alpha (T) = a([N]/[V],T)^{ - 1} [( - 5.04 \pm 0.01) \cdot 10^5 T^{ - 1/2} + (6.2 \pm 0.1) \cdot 10^{ - 6} ].$$ . The average linear thermal expansion coefficient is $$\alpha _{av} = 9.70 \pm 0.15 \cdot 10^{ - 6} K^{ - 1} (298 - 1 000K).$$ . The data are compared with those of several fcc transition metal nitrides collected and evaluated from the literature.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the LOV2 domain from Adiantum capillus-veneris

The mechanism for signal transduction from the LOV-domains toward the kinase region of phototropin is still not well understood. We have performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and CONCOORD calculations on the LOV2 domain of Adiantum capillus-veneris, with the goal to detect possible differences between the two forms of the LOV domain which may not show up in the static crystal structures. Since no such clear differences are found in the MD simulations also, we suggest that the real, biologically active conformation of the LOV domain within the whole phototropin is different from the crystal structure of the isolated LOV domains. The MD simulations do offer, however, insight into details of the dynamics of the dark and illuminated LOV domains, which are discussed in the light of recent experiments.     

Coleone C,D, I,I′ aus einer madegassischen Plectranthus sp. nov. Interkonversion von cis- und trans-A/B-6,7-Diketoditerpenen

Coleons C, D, I, I′, obtained from a Madagascan Plectranthus sp. nov.. Interconversion of cis- and trans-A/B-6,7-Diketoditerpenes. Fairly large amounts of Coleons C and D, as well as Coleons I and I′ (3-O-formyl derivative of Coleon I) can bc isolated from the orange glands of an unclassified North Madagascan Plectranthus sp. A reversible transformation of cis- and trans-A/B-6,7-dioxo-abietane via its diosphenol has been achieved for the first time. CD.-Spectra of these compounds are presented. Hydrogenolysis of Coleon D leads to 6β,16-dihydroxy-royleanone.     

Diiodine complex of diferrocenyl(phenyl)phosphine sulfide: the structural and electrochemical behaviour of Fc2(Ph)PS · I2

The title compound, Fc₂(Ph)PS · I₂, has been prepared and characterised in both the solid state and solution. Single crystal X-ray crystallography reveals that the adduct adopts a molecular charge-transfer structure in the solid state. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirms the presence of low spin Fe²⁺ but also indicates the presence of ca. 24% of an Fe³⁺ species. The electrochemistry of Fc₂(Ph)PS · I₂, Fc₂(Ph)PS and Fc₂(Ph)P has been studied using a combination of cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The data for Fc₂(Ph)PS · I₂ show two redox processes, consistent with the sequential oxidation of the ferrocenyl groups to ferrocenium species.