Polymers containing substituted 2-phenyl-benzoxazole side-chain groups: Synthesis and phase behavior

The synthesis of substituted 2-phenyl-benzoxazoles has been accomplished by ring closure of Schiff bases. The compounds have been used as precursors of acrylic derivatives displaying LC properties: Four comb-like homopolymers have been obtained by radical catalysis from the acrylic monomers. The polymers have been characterized by ¹H-NMR, DSC, x-ray diffraction, viscometry, and polarizing microscopy. Three of the polymers exhibit liquid crystalline properties of smectic type. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis of multifunctionalized building blocks via vinylogous addition of Chan’s diene to carbonyl and carbonyl-related electrophiles, mediated by molecular iodine

The synthesis of multifunctionalized β-ketoesters has been achieved by using molecular iodine as a catalyst under very mild conditions. The vinylogous addition of Chan’s diene 1 to carbonyl and carbonyl-related compounds (aldehydes, ketones, imines and acetals) occurred with high efficiencies and with complete γ-selectivity, giving a useful method for the synthesis of interesting libraries of different δ-functionalized β-ketoesters.     

Gas-phase carbene radical anions: new mechanistic insights

The gas-phase reactivity of the CHCl*- anion has been investigated with a series of halomethanes (CCl4, CHCl3, CH2Cl2, and CH3Cl) using a FA-SIFT instrument. Results show that this anion primarily reacts via substitution and by proton transfer. In addition, the reactions of CHCl*- with CHCl3 and CH2Cl2 form minor amounts of Cl2*- and Cl-. The isotopic distribution of these two products is consistent with an insertion-elimination mechanism, where the anion inserts into a C-Cl bond to form an unstable intermediate, which eliminates either Cl2*- or Cl- and Cl*. Neutral and cationic carbenes are known to insert into single bonds; however, this is the first observation of such reactivity for carbene anions.     

Mukaiyama-Michael vinylogous additions to nitroalkenes under solvent-free conditions

The first Mukaiyama-Michael vinylogous reaction of a dioxinone-derived silyl ether to nitroalkenes is reported. The conjugate addition is performed in absence of any catalyst under solvent-free conditions, proceeding with satisfactory efficiency with variously substituted nitroalkenes.     

A new procedure for the enantioselective vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan’s diene

Chiral δ-hydroxy-β-ketoesters are easily available through the enantioselective vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan’s diene promoted by a SiCl₄/chiral phosphoramide catalytic system. The procedure is conveniently exploited for a very rapid approach to (+)-kavain, a natural bio-active -pyrone compound.     

Enantioselective vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan’s diene catalyzed by hydrogen-bonding

Hydrogen-bonding activation of aromatic aldehydes by a TADDOL-derivative promotes the vinylogous aldol reaction of Chan’s diene in moderate efficiency and enantioselectivity. Electron-poor aromatic aldehydes show an enhanced reactivity and a competing asymmetric hetero-Diels-Alder reaction takes place in comparable (or higher) yields and enantiomeric excesses.     

Deuterium kinetic isotope effects in gas-phase S(N)2 and E2 reactions: comparison of experiment and theory

The competition between bimolecular nucleophilc substitution and base-induced elimination is investigated through kinetic isotope effect measurements for gas-phase reactions of RCl + ClO- (R = methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, and tert-butyl) utilizing a FA-SIFT instrument. The overall reaction rate constants and the kinetic isotope effect for the reaction of C2H5Cl + ClO- are compared to computational results. [Hu, W. P.; Truhlar, D. G. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1996, 118, 860.] Experimental results show that as the degree of substitution in the neutral reactant increases the E2 channel becomes dominant. The systematic change in the overall kinetic isotope effects indicates that, for the reaction of ClO- with C2H5Cl, both the SN2 and E2 pathways do occur, as predicted by computation; however the experimental reaction rate constants and KIE deviate strongly from the computational result.     

Electro-optical properties of a PDLC based on unsaturated polyester resin

An electro-optical characterisation of a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) based on unsaturated polyester (UP) resin, recently prepared in our laboratory, is presented. Transmittance and response times as a function of an electric field applied to the sample, have been measured taking into account also the morphological aspects of various samples. The experimental results confirm the theoretical data previously calculated on the base of the dimensions of the liquid-crystal droplets inside the polymeric matrix. Our analysis on this new material suggests the possibility of employing such a PDLC to realise electro-optical devices. Received: 9 October 1998 / Revised version: 12 May 1999 / Published online: 21 January 2000