Organocatalysis: quantum chemical modeling of nucleophilic addition to α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds

One of the successful transformations within the field of organocatalysis, the organocatalytic asymmetric addition of nitromethane to α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes and ketones, has been studied by quantum chemical modeling. The level of accuracy of the hybrid density functional theory method B3LYP/6‐31G(d) was compared to a high level ab initio benchmark for this reaction. It is concluded that B3LYP/6‐31G(d) performs very well for this reaction type, giving good estimates of critical energies. The reaction between acrolein and nitromethane was studied in detail. The reaction mechanism revealed an intermediate oxazolidin structure, which is currently unknown. Alkyl substitution in various positions on the amine catalyst or α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compound influences the reactivity in a predictive fashion. The iminium ion, prop‐2‐en‐iminium, is less activated towards nucleophilic attack compared to protonated acrolein. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuity of the Restriction of C 0-Semigroups to Invariant Banach Subspaces

A linear semigroup in a Banach space induces a linear semigroup on a Banach space that can be continuously embedded in the former such that its image is invariant. This restriction need not be strongly continuous, although the original semigroup is strongly continuous. We show that norm or weak compactness of partial orbits is a necessary and sufficient condition for strong continuity of the restriction of a C₀-semigroup. We then show that if the embedded Banach space is reflexive and the norms of the restricted semigroup operators are bounded near the initial time, then the restricted semigroup is strongly continuous.     

Determination of calcium ion in oil-based drilling fluids with an ion-selective electrode

Calcium ion is determined in the internal phase of oil-based drilling fluids with a calcium ion-selective electrode after treatment with a 1:1 (v/v) xylene/isopropanol mixture and 4 M potassium chloride. Results obtained by this potentiometric method and by the Magcobar titration on laboratory-prepared muds and on a North Sea field mud (Statfjord) were in satisfactory agreement.     

A nondestructive method for age determination of fossile bone

Using neutron activation the nitrogen and fluorine contents in fossile bones could be measured relative to main constituents of the inorganic bone material (phosphorus and calcium). By determining the ratio of N and F a relative and absolute age determination was possible. The method is relatively simple, quick, cheap and nondestructive.     

Formation of adenine-N3/guanine-N7 cross-link in the reaction of trans-oriented platinum substrates with dinucleotides

The reactions of the anticancer complex trans-[PtCl2{(E)-HN=C(OMe)Me}2] (trans-EE) with a series of ribo and deoxyribodinucleotides have been studied by HPLC and 2D [1H, 15N] HMQC NMR spectroscopy and compared with those of the inactive trans isomer of cisplatin, trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (trans-DDP). Reactions of trans-EE with r(ApG) and d(ApG) take place through solvolysis of the starting substrate and subsequent formation of trans G-N7/monochloro and G-N7/monoaqua adducts. Slowly, the monofunctional adducts evolve to a bifunctional adduct forming an unprecedented and unexpected A-N3/G-N7 platinum cross-link spanning two trans positions. For stereochemical reasons, trans platinum complexes cannot form N7/N7 cross-links between adjacent purines in di- or polynucleotides. For the reverse sequence r(GpA), no chelate structure was formed even after a two-week reaction. The reaction of trans-DDP with r(ApG) produces many more products than the analogous reaction with trans-EE. One of these products was identified as the A-N3/G-N7 trans-chelate.     

Herstellung und Eigenschaften von geformtem Aluminiumoxid. I. Einfluß der Fällbedingungen des Böhmithydrogels auf die Porenstruktur des geformten Aluminiumoxids

Preparation and Properties of Formed Aluminium Oxide. I. Influence of the Precipitation Conditions of the Boehmite Hydrogel on the Pore Structure of Formed Aluminium Oxide A report is given on the influence of the precipitation conditions of boehmite (pH value, temperature, concentration and residence time in the precipitation suspension) on the cavity structure of aluminium oxide spheres, made by coagulation of boehmite hydrosol in ammonia liquor and subsequent thermal treatment at 110 and 600°C. The boehmite hydrogel was obtained at continuous precipitation conditions by neutralisation of sodium aluminate solution with nitric acid. It is shown that the difference in the pore structure of the formed aluminium oxide obtained by varying the precipitation conditions were caused by the special morphological features of the boehmite crystallization in the precipitation process.     

Volume and compressibility changes of complex formation between 18-Crown-6 and NaCl,KCl, and CsCl in water

The apparent molal volumes and compressibilities of NaCl, KCl, and CsCl in mixtures of 18-Crown-6 and water have been calculated from density and speed-of-sound measurements at 25°C. The partial molal volumes and compressibilities of the salts when all cations have formed complexes with 18-Crown-6 molecules have been evaluated. The sign and magnitude of the volume and compressibility changes of complex formation strongly suggest that the charge of the cation becomes very effectively screened by the crown ether.     

The unimolecular chemistry of protonated glycine and the proton affinity of glycine: a computational model

The potential energy hypersurface of protonated glycine, GH⁺, has been investigated. The calculated G2(MP2) value for the proton affinity (PA) of glycine, PA _calc=895kJ mol⁻¹, is in good agreement with the experimental value which has been estimated to lie in the range 864kJ mol⁻¹ < PA _exp <891kJ mol⁻¹. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of relevant parts of the potential energy surface of GH⁺ give a reaction model which is consistent with the observed mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern. The lowest energy unimolecular reactions of GH⁺ are two distinct processes: (1) loss of CO, which has a substantial barrier for the reverse reaction, and (2) loss of CO plus H₂O, which has no barrier for the reverse reaction. Received: 15 November 1996 / Accepted: 6 May 1997     

On the gas-phase reactivity of complexed OH+ with halogenated alkanes

OH(+) is an extraordinarily strong oxidant. Complexed forms (L--OH(+)), such as H(2)OOH(+), H(3)NOH(+), or iron-porphyrin-OH(+) are the anticipated oxidants in many chemical reactions. While these molecules are typically not stable in solution, their isolation can be achieved in the gas phase. We report a systematic survey of the influence on L on the reactivity of L--OH(+) towards alkanes and halogenated alkanes, showing the tremendous influence of L on the reactivity of L--OH(+). With the help of with quantum chemical calculations, detailed mechanistic insights on these very general reactions are gained. The gas-phase pseudo-first-order reaction rates of H(2)OOH(+), H(3)NOH(+), and protonated 4-picoline-N-oxide towards isobutane and different halogenated alkanes C(n)H(2n+1)Cl (n=1-4), HCF(3), CF(4), and CF(2)Cl(2) have been determined by means of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance measurements. Reaction rates for H(2)OOH(+) are generally fast (7.2x10(-10)-3.0x10(-9) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) and only in the cases HCF(3) and CF(4) no reactivity is observed. In contrast to this H(3)NOH(+) only reacts with tC(4)H(9)Cl (k(obs)=9.2x10(-10)), while 4-CH(3)-C(5)H(4)N-OH(+) is completely unreactive. While H(2)OOH(+) oxidizes alkanes by an initial hydride abstraction upon formation of a carbocation, it reacts with halogenated alkanes at the chlorine atom. Two mechanistic scenarios, namely oxidation at the halogen atom or proton transfer are found. Accurate proton affinities for HOOH, NH(2)OH, a series of alkanes C(n)H(2n+2) (n=1-4), and halogenated alkanes C(n)H(2n+1)Cl (n=1-4), HCF(3), CF(4), and CF(2)Cl(2), were calculated by using the G3 method and are in excellent agreement with experimental values, where available. The G3 enthalpies of reaction are also consistent with the observed products. The tendency for oxidation of alkanes by hydride abstraction is expressed in terms of G3 hydride affinities of the corresponding cationic products C(n)H(2n+1) (+) (n=1-4) and C(n)H(2n)Cl(+) (n=1-4). The hypersurface for the reaction of H(2)OOH(+) with CH(3)Cl and C(2)H(5)Cl was calculated at the B3 LYP, MP2, and G3(m*) level, underlining the three mechanistic scenarios in which the reaction is either induced by oxidation at the hydrogen or the halogen atom, or by proton transfer.