First synthesis of arylpyrrolo- and pyrazolopyrrolizinones as useful agents with potential biological interest

Novel arylpyrrolo- and pyrazolopyrrolizinones were prepared in three or four steps starting from aminoarylpyrrole and pyrazole carboxylates through the cyclisation of a Vilsmeier-Haack intermediate. This synthesis was enhanced by diverse N-protections of the aza-heterocycle and furnish new series with potential biological interest.     

New 2+2, 3+3 and 4+4 macrocycles derived from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine

Two new Schiff base macrocycles - a 4+4 condensation product and a meso-type 2+2 condensation product - were obtained in a reaction of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine. Reduction of these compounds led to the corresponding 4+4 and 2+2 macrocyclic amines. The macrocycles were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The symmetry and stereochemistry of these macrocycles, as well as of new 3+3 and 4+4 diastereomers identified in solution, has been established. X-Ray structures of the 2+2 and 4+4 Schiff base macrocycles confirm the configurations determined on the basis of spectroscopic investigations. The crystal structures reveal that the centres of the square-shaped 4+4 macrocycles form channels as a result of columnar stacking.     

New chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed allylic alkylation

A series of chiral phosphine-phosphite ligands 1-6 have been synthesized and used in the enantioselective palladium-catalyzed reaction of rac-1,3-diphenyl-2-propenyl acetate with dimethyl malonate as nucleophile. Ligands 1a, 2, 3, 5a, 6a, and 6b have been synthesized starting from racemic tert-butylphenylphosphinoborane. The use of dynamically resolved Li phosphide (-)-sparteine provided the optically pure ligands. Crystals of the allylpalladium (6a) complex were obtained, suitable for X-ray crystal structure determination. The X-ray crystal structure of the allylpalladium (6a) complex revealed a longer palladium-carbon bond distance trans to the phosphine moiety indicating that the attack of the nucleophile takes place at the carbon trans to the phosphine moiety. This was confirmed by the fact that the phosphine moiety did not affect the enantioselectivity directly. Under mild reaction conditions, enantioselectivities up to 83% were obtained (25 degrees C) with ligand 1e. Systematic variation of the ligand bridge and the phosphite moiety showed that the configuration of the product is controlled by the atropisomerism of the biphenyl substituent at the phosphite moiety. The conformation of the biphenyl group, in turn, is controlled by the substituent at the chiral carbon in the bridge. Ligands with large bite angles yielded higher enantioselectivities.     

Silicate Xerogels with Dopant-Induced Chirality

A series of silicate xerogels with entrapped chiral amino acids have been obtained via sol-gel technology. The transparent, glassy samples obtained exhibit chirality in the bulk due to the presence of the entrapped asymmetric molecules. Measurements of the optical activity of the doped xerogel samples revealed that the entrapment did not significantly influence the optical activity observed for liquid solutions of the amino acids. Thus, the sol-gel method enables the preparation of amorphous optical materials exhibiting properties of strictly spatially defined molecular systems. Apart from the obvious optical applications, such porous materials with asymmetric centers might find interesting applications in chiral chemical syntheses and separations.     

Enantiopure Chiral Macrocyclic Lanthanide Complexes Derived from (R)-2,2′-Diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl and 2,6-Diformylpyridine

The template condensation of (R)-2,2′-diamino-1,1′-binaphthyl and 2,6-diformylpyridine leads to lanthanide(III) complexes of the new chiral hexaaza macrocycle L that adopts highly twisted conformation in [LnL](NO₃)₃ complexes. The complexes have been characterised by ESI MS spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. The analogous N₂O₄ chiral crown ether L2 that has the same carbon skeleton as L does not exhibit tendency to bind lanthanide(III) ions. The X-ray crystal structure of L2 exhibit squeezed conformation of the macrocycle and spatial disposition of donor atoms that does not predispose it for coordination of lanthanide(III) ions.     

Kinetics of hydrogen adsorption on thin iron films with preadsorbed hydrogen sulfide

The influence of H₂S preadsorbed on thin iron film surface on the character of TD spectra and on sticking probability dependence on population for hydrogen adsorption was studied. Kisliuk's model for adsorption with the precursor state was examined.

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H₂S . , .

     

Aminosulf(ox)ides as ligands for Iridium(I)-catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation

A new class of efficient catalysts was developed for the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of unsymmetrical ketones. A series of chiral N,S-chelates (6-22) was synthesized to serve as ligands in the iridium(I)-catalyzed reduction of ketones. Both formic acid and 2-propanol proved to be suitable as hydrogen donors. Sulfoxidation of an (R)-cysteine-based aminosulfide provided a diastereomeric ligand family containing a chiral sulfur atom. The two chiral centers of these ligands showed a clear effect of chiral cooperativity. In addition, aminosulfides containing two asymmetric carbon atoms in the backbone were synthesized. Both the sulfoxide-containing beta-amino alcohols and the aminosulfides derived from 1,2-disubstituted amino alcohols gave rise to high reaction rates and moderate to excellent enantioselectivities in the reduction of various ketones. The enantioselective outcome of the reaction was favorably affected by selecting the most appropriate hydrogen donor. Enantioselectivities of up to 97% were reached in the reduction of aryl-alkyl ketones.     

Atomic structures and dynamics of a Cu(100) electrode in dilute hydrobromic acid: An in situ STM study

The surface electrochemistry of Cu(100) in 10 mM hydrobromic acid electrolyte has been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and in situ STM. In the potential range between the onset of the anodic copper dissolution at positive and the hydrogen evolution at negative electrode potentials, the CV of Cu(100) in 10 mM HBr is characterized only by the double-layer charge. Within this potential regime a highly ordered (√2×√2)R45°-superstructure is seen in the STM experiments assigned to specifically adsorbed bromide anions. No desorption of the bromide adlayer has been found in these STM experiments even at extremely negative potentials at the onset of hydrogen evolution. Therefore the bromide desorption potential is concluded to lie within the potential regime of massive hydrogen evolution at even more negative potentials. Adsorbed bromide induces a drastic restructuring and faceting of the surface topography depending on the applied potential. The driving force of this process is the formation of thermodynamically favored copper steps aligned parallel to close packed 100 directions of the bromide adsorbate. Dynamic processes like copper dissolution and deposition are also strongly influenced by the geometry of the (√2×√2)R45° bromide adlayer. Corrosion as well as deposition of copper material follows the close packed 100 directions of the bromide adsorbate. For moderate reaction rates an additional anisotropy between the [001]- and [010]-direction is observed due to the nonequivalence of two different kinds of bromide stabilized copper steps. The origin of these two kinds of steps is the phase relation of close packed adsorbate rows of adjacent terraces. The deposition of copper material does not only start at the lower but unusually, also at the upper sites of step edges leading to the formation of microfacets. Not only the growth of monoatomically high islands is observed but also a double-layer and multilayer growth of copper.     

Vacuum annealing phenomena in ultrathin TiD y /Pd bi-layer films evaporated on Si(100) as studied by TEM and XPS

Using a combination of TEM and XPS, we made an analysis of the complex high-temperature annealing effect on ultrathin titanium deuteride (TiD _y ) films evaporated on a Si(100) substrate and covered by an ultrathin palladium layer. Both the preparation and annealing of the TiD _y /Pd bi-layer films were performed in situ under UHV conditions. It was found that the surface and bulk morphology of the bi-layer film as well as that of the Si substrate material undergo a microstructural and chemical conversion after annealing and annealing-induced deuterium evolution from the TiD _y phase. Energy-filtered TEM (EFTEM) mapping of cross-section images and argon ion sputter depth profiling XPS analysis revealed both a broad intermixing between the Ti and Pd layers and an extensive inter-diffusion of Si from the substrate into the film bulk area. Segregation of Ti at the Pd top layer surface was found to occur by means of angle-resolved XPS (ARXPS) and the EFTEM analyses. Selected area diffraction (SAD) and XPS provided evidence for the formation of a new PdTi₂ bimetallic phase within the top region of the annealed film. Moreover, these techniques allowed to detect the initial stages of TiSi phase formation within the film–substrate interlayer.     

Characterization of thin alumina films prepared by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) by high resolution SEM, (AR)XPS and AES depth profiling

Thin alumina films deposited by metal-organic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD) on AISI 304 substrate have been analyzed using the combination of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) and Angle Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ARXPS). Both the surface and the alumina/substrate interface region have been analyzed in terms of chemical composition and elemental distribution. Only OH-groups (bounded as AlO(OH):boehmite) have been found as an impurity in the surface region of the oxide film. No carbon was detected. Due to higher temperature deposition, the concentration of OH-groups decreased. After annealing, the oxide/substrate interface changes as a result of chromium penetration into the alumina matrix. Carbon impurities have been detected on both delaminated and annealed alumina film surfaces. Also small amounts of sulfate groups as well as Ca and C impurities have been found on delaminated alumina film after prolonged high-temperature annealing.