Some developments in reaction and solution microcalorimetry,with particular reference to its use in biochemistry and cellular biology

The field of isothermal microcalorimetry as applied to systems of interest for aqueous solution chemistry, biochemistry and in cellular biology is briefly reviewed. Some techniques recently developed in the author's laboratory are described.     

Hydrogenation of ethyl esters of 4-phenyl-and (2-furyl)-substituted 2,4-dioxobutyric acids at palladium black

The hydrogenation of ethyl 4-R-2,4-dioxobutyrates (R = phenyl, 2-furyl) at 5% Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst, modified with cinchonidine, and at palladium black was investigated. The former had low activity under the conditions we tested. The main products during the hydrogenation of these compounds at palladium black are ethyl 4-R-2-hydroxy-4-oxobutyrates. The yield of the phenyl derivative amounts to 68.5%, while the yield of the corresponding 2-furyl derivative amounts to 97%. In the last case ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-oxo-4-(2-tetrahydrofuryl)butyrate was detected as impurity. The optimum conditions for the formation of ethyl 2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyrate (yield 88.2%) were determined. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 655–659, May, 2006.     

Synthesis ofS-(+)-hydroprene

A novel path toS-(+)-hydroprene (1) starting from the technical gradeS-(+)-dihydromyrcene (2, e.e. 50%) is proposed. The latter was selectively transformed intoS-3,7-dimethyloctanal (5) in three steps including hydroalumination. The reactions of5 with allyl- or methallylmagnesium chloride followed, respectively, either by oxygenation in the presence of PdCl₂/CuCl or by ozonolysis, affordS,E-6,10-dimethyl-3-undecen-2-one (7) which was treated with ethoxyethynylmagnesium bromide to give the title juvenile hormone analogue in 23% overall yield.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No 1, pp. 110–112, January, 1993.     

Correlation of the position of the bond functions in H-X with electronegativity

S type Gaussian bond functions are optimized for HF, H₂O, NH₃, and CH₄. The optimization is carried out with respect to the exponent and position in the H-X bond. The position is found to correlate well with the electronegativity of Pauling and Allred-Rochow.     

钌（Ⅱ）－联吡啶－巴比妥酸－Ce（Ⅳ）化学发光体系测定巴比妥酸的研究

利用巴比妥酸对Ｃｅ（Ⅳ）氧化钌（Ⅱ）－联吡啶化学发光反应的增强作用，建立了痕量巴比妥酸的自动脉冲注射化学发光测定法方法的检出限为１０×１０－９ｇ／ｍＬ，线性范围为５０×１０－８－６．２×１０－５ｇ／ｍＬ巴比妥酸的衍生物如巴比妥、苯巴比妥和戊巴比妥对Ｃｅ（Ⅳ）氧化钌（Ⅱ）联吡啶化学发光反应无增强作用据此对合成样中巴比妥酸作选择性检测探讨了巴比妥酸的增强机理     

Captodative olefins: methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethyl-aminopropenoates and their application in a new synthesis of benzofurans

The β-substituted captodative olefins methyl 2-aryloxy-3-dimethylaminopropenoates 4a-h were synthesized, via aminomethylenation of the corresponding 2-phenoxyacetic esters 9a-h. Lewis acid promoted intramolecular cyclization of alkenes 4 led to benzofurans 7a-h, in an efficient synthetic approach to the benzofuran frame.     

Determination of the valence distribution of vanadium in polyolefin catalysts prepared from vanadium trichloride

An electrochemical method has been developed for determining the relative amounts of V(II) and V(III) in polyolefin catalysts prepared using aluminum alkyls and vanadium trichloride. The catalyst, usually obtained as a slurry in n-heptane, is titrated potentiometrically with ceric sulfate using a platinum indicator electrode. Under proper experimental conditions, 2 breaks are obtained, corresponding to the reactions V(II) →V(III) + e and V(III) →V(IV) + e. Interferences from other components of the catalyst are negligible. The method is useful for the analysis of both laboratory catalysts and grab samples taken from pilot plant reactors.     

Phosphorylthioacetamides in the synthesis of annulated quinoxalines

Diethoxyphosphorylthioacetamide in the reaction with 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline acted as a thionating reagent, giving diethoxyphosphorylacetonitrile and 2-chloro-3-[(3-chloro-2-quinoxalinyl)thio]quinoxaline. Reactions of phosphorylthioacetamides with N-methylquinoxalinium iodide in alcohol media in the presence of a base proceeded stereoselectively to afford cis-3-phosphoryl-1,3,3a,4,9,9a-hexahydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline-2-thiones. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1010–1013, May, 2007.     

Synthesis of stable azomethine ylides by the rearrangement of 1,3-dipolar cycloadducts of 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-2-oxides with DMAD

1-Aryl-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines were prepared according to a one-pot procedure involving the reaction of 2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-ethylamine with aromatic aldehydes in TFA at reflux. The tetrahydroisoquinolines were treated with H₂O₂-WO₄²⁻ in methanol at room temperature to give the corresponding 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline-2-oxides. Treatment of these cyclic nitrones with DMAD in toluene at room temperature gave the corresponding isoxazolo[3,2-a]isoquinolines. These compounds were heated in toluene at reflux to give the corresponding ylides in high yields (Method A). The effect of the substituents on the rate of the rearrangement of such compounds prompted us to discuss a new mechanism involving consecutive C-C bond heterolysis and 1,3-sigmatropic shift. A one-pot reaction involving the treatment of the nitrones with equimolar amounts of DMAD in refluxing toluene also gave the ylides (Method B). The structures of the prepared compounds were elucidated by spectral means and elemental analyses.     

Diborane (4) derivatives via coupling of amine monobromocyanoboranes: Study of the bromination of amine cyanoborane and molecular structures of the amine dibromocyanoboranes

The first examples of diborane (4) compounds derived from amine cyanoboranes are described. A series of monobromo derivatives of amine cyanoboranes (A:BHBrCN), and dibromo derivatives (A:BBr₂CN), 1-7, were prepared. Lithiation of the monobromo derivative of trimethylamine cyanoborane, using n-BuLi, did not produce the C-lithiated intermediate Li⁺ [CH₂NMe₂BHBrCN]⁻, but instead the B-lithiated intermediate Li⁺ [Me₃NBHCN]⁻, was obtained. This intermediate, when allowed to react for 16 h, coupled with the un-lithiated trimethylamine monobromocyanoborane (Me₃NBHBrCN) and resulted in diborane (4) derivative formation as the 2LiBr complex. The same result was obtained when one equiv of the trimethylamine monobromocyanoborane was added to the reaction mixture 1 h after lithiation. Following the same procedure, novel diborane (4) derivatives of amine cyanoboranes were successfully obtained, 8-11, as their 2LiBr complexes from the monobromo derivatives of the corresponding amine cyanoboranes. Molecular structures of the trimethylamine dibromocyanoborane, 6, and the triethylamine dibromocyanoborane, 7, were determined using X-ray crystallography.