NMR determination of absolute site-specific natural isotope ratios of hydrogen in organic molecules. Analytical and mechanistic applications

It has been shown that the “internal” isotope distribution within a given molecular species at the natural abundance level is accessible by a new method, SNIF-NMR, which is based on deuterium NMR. Relative internal factors, R_i/j,have been defined which enable the isotope content of a given site, i, to be compared to that of another molecular site, j, taken as the reference. Several referencing methods intended to provide direct access to relative $\text{externals}$, T_i , and $\text{absolute}$, (D/H)_i , site-specific parameters, are now discussed from both the theoretical and the experimental points of view. In the $\text{intramolecular referencing method}$, which involves a time-consuming chemical transformation of the sample, the risk exists of more or leas systematic errors resulting from discriminating fractionation effects. However this technique offers, conversely, an interesting way of investigating kinetic isotope effects without the need for specific labelling. In spite of its lower spectral precision the $\text{external referencing method}$ has the advantage of being fast and less sensitive to systematic errois and may be used for direct rough routine determinations of the site-specific isotope contents. More precise results can be obtained, at the price of contaminating the sample, when an $\text{intermolecular reference}$ is added and signal heights are used, remembering however that the intensity parameters then have no strict physical meaning in terms of absolute isotope contents. The site-specific parameters, T_i and (D/H)_i thus accessible, provide new information on the mechanisms of the fractionation effects occurring in natural conditions and examples are considered.     

Oxine complex of molybdenum

Molybdenum was reported to be precipitated quantitatively by 8-hydroxyquinoline in the pH range 3.3–7.6, the precipitated compound having the composition MoO₂(ox)₂. The pH range reported and the composition of the complex do not seem to be compatible with present knowledge of the pH stability of anionic and cationic molybdenum. It is now shown that under defined conditions, the precipitate is not formed at pH values higher than 2.24. In several estimations of other metals, molybdenum was masked by using a complexone at high pH values. It is now pointed out, that maintaining the solution at high pH value is itself sufficient and no other external complexing agent is necessary for masking molybdenum.     

Phonon spectroscopy of photochemical reactions in organic solids: Photodimerization of 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone

The Raman phonon spectroscopic study shows that the photodimerization of 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone. In the solid state is initially a homogeneous reaction but later becomes heterogeneous as the product accumulates. The Ion-temperature electronic absorption spectrum reveals that the reaction is phonon assisted by a polaron formed due to a strong electron- phonon coupling in the cxcited ¹nπ^* state.     

Potentiometric studies of dithiooxamide with a sulphide-selective membrane electrode

The sulphide-selective electrode is applicable to the determination of dithiooxamide by titration with silver nitrate. The effect of the alkali content of the solutions on the reaction has been studied. The reaction products are silver sulphide, oxalic acid, and nitric acid. If the alkali concentration of the solution is lower than that equivalent to the acid formed during the titration, the amount of sulphide produced by hydrolysis decreases and the equilibrium potential is established more slowly.The determination is rapid and accurate in the presence of 1 M sodium hydroxide.     

Antiferromagnetic complexes involving metal---metal bonds III. Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of heterotrinuclear complexes of the type M(CO)5L (M = Cr, Mo and w) containing [(C5H5CrSCMe3)2S] as unusual antiferromagnetic ligand L

Isostructural heterotrinuclear complexes (C₅H₅CrSCMe₃)₂S · M(CO)₅ (II–IV) were isolated from photochemical reactions between the antiferromagnetic complex (C₅H₅CrSCMe₃)₂S (I) (with the Cr---Cr bond 2.689 Å long and with the exchange parameter −2J = 430 cm⁻¹) and metal hexacarbonyls, M(CO)₆, where M is Cr, Mo, or W. According to the X-ray structural data on III and IV, complex I plays the role of an unusual antiferromagnetic ligand L bound to M through the sulphide bridge (M–S 2.58(2) Å). Its geometry remains practically unaffected by the complex formation (the Cr---Cr bond length in III and IV is 2.73(1) Å). The exchange parameter, −2J (410, 440 and 440 cm⁻¹ in II to IV, respectively), also shifts only insignificantly from that of I, which probably means that indirect exchange via the sulphide bridge in I is of minor importance compared with the direct Cr---Cr exchange. The Cr---Cr bond length may thus be correlated with the observed overall exchange coupling.     

Oxythallation of norbornene derivatives with thallium(III) acetate in methanol

Treatment of norbornene, norbornadiene, benzonorbornadiene, and chloro- and methoxy-benzonorbornadiene with thallium(III) acetate in methanol affords only the corresponding cis-exo-acetoxythallation adducts in a sharp contrast to oxymercuration of such strained olefins where methoxymercuration prevails. In the cases of substituted benzonorbornadienes the products are obtained as the regioisomeric mixtures, the isomer ratio being determined by ¹³C NMR. In the cases of 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, 5-norbornene-2-methyl-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride, and 5-norbornen-2-endo-carboxylic acid, lactonization occurs to give a trans-oxythallation adduct having a lactone ring, no introduction of either methoxy or acetoxy groups being observed. ¹H and/or ¹³C NMR data for several new oxythallation adducts are provided. The alkaline sodium borohydride reduction of adducts in methanol affords mainly the parent olefin together with 10–16% yields of the corresponding exo-alcohol.     

Stochastic model of dissociation-recombination kinetics in micelles

The small number of reagents solubilized in a micelle prohibits the use of conventional reaction kinetics. In order to describe the kinetics of the reaction A + B ? AB proceeding in a micellar phase, a stochastic model is evaluated. The deviation of these results from those obtained by conventional kinetics may be as high as 20%.     

Conformational studies of 1,2,3-trichloro- and 1,2,3-tribromopropane by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: attractive parallel (1:3) halogen-hydr

Analysis of the NMR spectra of 1,2,3-trichloropropane and 1,2,3-tribromopropane in various media shows the most stable conformer to be AG_-. The populations of several conformera have been estimated by using pure trans and gauche coupling constants obtained from closely similar molecules. The calculated populations found in non-polar solvents agree well with those obtained by electron diffraction studies in the gas phase. It is suggested that the AG_- form is stabilised relative to AG₊ by the former having two parallel (1:3) halogen-hydrogen attractions against one in the AG₊ form. Comparison is made to related molecules where the most stable conformers also have the greatest number of parallel (1:3) halogen-hydrogen interactions.     

Coated-wire organic ion-selective electrodes in titrations based on ion-pair formation : Determination of arenediazonium salts with sodium tetraphenylborate

Titrimetric determinations of arenediazonium salts can be based on ion-pair formation between the diazonium cation and tetraphenylborate. Titrations are done under cooling with ice and are followed potentiometrically with organic ion-selective electrodes comprising PVC membranes plasticized with polar solvents and coated on aluminium wires. The method was tested in determinations of arenediazonium salts derived from 20 aromatic amines, including aniline, toluidines, naphthylamines and their derivatives. Except for compounds containing hydrophylic groups such as —COOH and —OH, the potentiometric titration curves have well defined end-points. The results are reproducible, with relative standard deviations in the range 0.4–1.4% at the millimolar level. The method can be used for reliable determinations of arenediazonium salts in analytical control of azo dyestuff production.     

Isomerization of 1,2-diiodoethylene in a laser-induced chemical reaction of I2 + C2H2

A laser-induced chemical reaction of I₂ + C₂H₂ has been studied and the formation of cis and tians isomers of 1,2-diiodoethylene has been observed. The ratio of the two isomers of 1,2-diodoethylene changes markedly upon changing the laser wavelengths of excitation of the I₂ molecule