Hammett Sigma Research Articles

Combined Effects of Hemicolligation and Ion Pairing on Reduction Potentials of Biphenyl Radical Cations.

Formal reduction potentials of highly oxidizing and short-lived radical cations of substituted biphenyls generated by pulse radiolysis in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) were measured using a redox equilibrium ladder method. The effect of halide ion-radical interactions on reduction potentials of biphenyls was examined by utilizing the ability of DCE to release Cl- in the vicinity of the radical cation. The Hammett correlation of measured potentials across a range of over 700 mV shows saturation at high Hammett sigma values. This effect has been explained by both ion-pairing and hemicolligation interactions between biphenyl radical cations and Cl- and appears to modulate reduction potentials by as much as 400 mV. This finding offers a convenient way to manipulate the energetics of electron transfer involving organic redox species.

Probing Polar-π Interactions Between Tetrazoles and Aromatic Rings.

The heterocyclic tetrazole, a well-established bioisosteric replacement of carboxylic acid, plays an important role in medicinal chemistry. To deepen the functional understanding of tetrazoles in chemical sciences, it is essential to investigate the noncovalent interactions between the tetrazole ring and aromatic rings. Here, we report synthetic, spectroscopic, structural and quantum chemical analyses on specially designed 2-arylphenyl-1H-tetrazoles to study the underlying noncovalent interactions between the tetrazole ring and the neighboring aromatic ring possessing substituents at para/meta position. pKa values and proton affinities of 2-arylphenyl-1H-tetrazoles correlate well with Hammett sigma values of para-substituents at the flanking aromatic ring. Molecular orbital and energy decomposition analyses revealed that through-space NH-π interactions and π-π interactions contribute to the trend of pKa values and proton affinities of 2-arylphenyl-1Htetrazoles. The electrostatic interaction between tetrazole/tetrazolide interacting with the aromatic rings appears responsible for the observed acidity trends. These results will be helpful for the rational design of tetrazole-based drugs and materials.

Abatement of Organic Contaminants by Mn(VII)/TEMPOs: Effects of TEMPOs Structure, Organic Contaminant Speciation, and Active Oxidizing Species.

In this study, a representative redox mediator, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO), and its para-substituted derivatives (TEMPOs: 4-hydroxyl-TEMPO, 4-acetylamino-TEMPO, and 4-amino-TEMPO) significantly accelerated the abatement of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs, i.e., bisphenol-A (BPA), phenol, amines, and phenylbutazone) by Mn(VII) over a wide pH range of 4.0-9.0. The addition of substituents at para to the > N-O• moiety significantly influenced the degradation kinetics of TrOCs by changing the reduction potentials of TEMPOs and the corresponding oxoammonium cations (TEMPOs+); a linear relationship was observed between the substituents' para Hammett sigma constants and the reduction potentials of TEMPOs and TEMPOs+. Pseudo-first-order reaction rate constants (kobs, min-1) of TrOC degradation by Mn(VII)/TEMPOs were also affected by the pKa of the TrOCs. Generally, the highest kobs values for individual TrOCs were observed at pH near the pKa even for TEMPOs+ with relatively pH-invariant reduction potentials. Overall, TrOC abatement kinetics were related to a combination of reactive species (Mn(VII), in situ formed MnO2, and TEMPOs+). For BPA, the relative contributions (R) of reactive species ranked as R(TEMPOs+) > R(Mn(VII)) > R(in situ formed MnO2) at pH 4.0-8.0, whereas R(Mn(VII)) > R(TEMPOs+) at pH 9.0 mainly owing to a change in BPA speciation as the pH approached the pKa1 value for BPA. The results of this study are useful for the development of heterogeneous TEMPO-based redox mediators and future applications of TEMPO-mediated oxidation systems for accelerated abatement of TrOCs in water.

The infrared spectra of amides. Part 1. The stretching vibrations of primary carboxamides

The infrared spectra of more than 150 primarycarboxamides in the NH stretching and the carbonyl region have been measured. Comparison is made with Bellamys analysis of the stretching modes of amines. The offset to higher frequencies of amides compared with amines is attributed to the widening of the bond angle. The symmetric and antisymmetric stretching of the NH2 bonds is analysed via a rearrangement of the Linnett equations. It is shown thereby that changes of bond strength vary the symmetric and antisymmetric frequencies approximately proportionately whilst deviations from that relationship are due either to changes of the bond angle, steric hindrance or to hydrogen bonding. The spectral changes of m- and p-substituted amides are correlated with Hammett sigma functions, both in the carbonyl and the NH2 stretching region. Intensities and the influence of steric effects are also discussed.

Design, Synthesis and Tumour-Selective Toxicity of Novel 1-[3-{3,5-Bis(benzylidene)-4-oxo-1-piperidino}-3-oxopropyl]-4-piperidone Oximes and Related Quaternary Ammonium Salts.

A novel series of 1-[3-{3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-oxo-1-piperidino}-3-oxopropyl]-4-piperidone oximes 3a–h and related quaternary ammonium salts 4a–h were prepared as candidate antineoplastic agents. Evaluation against neoplastic Ca9-22, HSC-2 and HSC-4 cells revealed the compounds in series 3 and 4 to be potent cytotoxins with submicromolar CC50 values in virtually all cases. In contrast, the compounds were less cytocidal towards HGF, HPLF and HPC non-malignant cells revealing their tumour-selective toxicity. Quantitative structure–activity relationships revealed that, in general, both cytotoxic potency and selectivity index figures increased as the magnitude of the Hammett sigma values rose. In addition, 3a–h are cytotoxic towards a number of leukemic and colon cancer cells. 4b,c lowered the mitochondrial membrane potential in CEM cells, and 4d induced transient G2/M accumulation in Ca9-22 cells. Five compounds, namely 3c,d and 4c–e, were identified as lead molecules that have drug-like properties.

Through-Space Polar-π Interactions in 2,6-Diarylthiophenols.

Molecular recognition between polar groups and aromatic molecules is fundamentally important to rational drug design. Although it has been well established that many polar functionalities interact with electron‐rich aromatic residues through energetically favorable polar‐π interactions, there is a limited understanding of the association between thiols and aromatic systems. Herein we report physical‐organic chemistry studies on 2,6‐diarylthiophenols that possess the central thiophenol ring and two flanking aromatic rings with tunable electronic properties caused by substituents at distant para position. Hammett analysis revealed that pK a values and proton affinities correlate well with Hammett sigma values of substituents. Additional energy decomposition analysis supported the conclusion that both through‐space SH‐π interactions and S−‐π interactions contribute to intramolecular stabilization of 2,6‐diarylthiophenols.

DFT Studies on the Antioxidant Activity of Naringenin and Its Derivatives: Effects of the Substituents at C3.

The radical scavenging activity of a flavonoid is largely influenced by its structure. The effects of the substituents at C3 position on the antioxidant activity of naringenin were carried out using the density functional theory (DFT) method. The reaction enthalpies related with the three well-established mechanisms were analyzed. Excellent correlations were found between the reaction enthalpies and Hammett sigma constants. Equations obtained from the linear regression can be helpful in the selection of suitable candidates for the synthesis of novel naringenin derivatives with enhanced antioxidant properties. In the gas and benzene phases, the antioxidant activity of naringenin was enhanced by the electron-donating substituents via weakening the bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE). In the water phase, it was strengthened by electron-withdrawing groups—via lowering the proton affinity (PA). The electronic effect of the substituent on the BDE of naringenin is mainly governed by the resonance effect, while that on the ionization potential (IP) and PA of naringenin is mainly controlled by the field/inductive effect.

Substituent Effects on the Radical Scavenging Activity of Isoflavonoid.

Understanding the role of substituents is of great importance for the preparation of novel phenolic compounds with enhanced antioxidative properties. In this work, the antioxidative activity of isoflavonoid derivatives with different substituents placed at the C2 position was determined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), and proton affinity (PA) related to hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), single electron transfer-proton transfer (SET-PT), and sequential proton loss electron transfer (SPLET) mechanisms were calculated. The strongest antioxidative group of isoflavonoid is not altered by the substituents. Excellent correlations were found between the BDE/IP/PA and Hammett sigma constants. Equations obtained from linear regression can be useful in the selection of suitable candidates for the synthesis of novel isoflavonoids derivatives with enhanced antioxidative properties. In the gas and benzene phases, the electron-donating substituents would enhance the antioxidative activity of isoflavonoids via weakening the BDE of 4′−OH. In water phase, they will reduce the antioxidative by strengthening the PA of 7−OH. Contrary results occur for the electron-withdrawing groups. In addition, the electronic effects of substituents on the BDE/IP/PA have also been analyzed.

Iridium(I) homobinuclear complexes containing salen-type ligands as bridge

New binuclear iridium(I) complexes with general formula [Ir2(η4-cod)2(μ-SB)] (1–12) derived from the reactions of tetradentate Schiff bases ligands [N,N′-ethylenebis(5-R-salicylideneimine)] (5,5′-R-salenH2), [N,N′-1,3-propylenebis(5-R-salicylideneimine)] (5,5′-R-salpenH2), and [N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-R-salicylideneimine)] (5,5′-R-salphenH2) (R = H, MeO, Cl, NO2) with [Ir(cod)(μ-Cl)]2 were synthesized. The homobinuclear nature of this iridium complexes was supported by elemental analysis, FAB-Mass and 1H NMR spectrometry. Full characterization was accomplished by IR spectroscopy, 13C NMR and bidimensional NMR experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY). In addition, iridium complex [(Ir(η4-cod)2(μ-5,5′-MeO-salen)] (2) was characterized by X-ray crystallography, showing that ethylene bridge is a s-trans conformation, and that the Schiff base ligand act as a bridging N,O-bidentate ligand toward two iridium atoms, and 1,5-cyclooctadiene (cod) ligand complete the coordination sphere of metal center. The effect of the substituent groups on salicylaldiminate fragments has been studied by 13C{1H} NMR shift and Hammett sigma correlations for each series of complexes.

How Do Amides Affect the Electronic Properties of Pyrene?

The electronic properties of amide linkers, which are intricate components of biomolecules, offer a wealth of unexplored possibilities. Herein, we demonstrate how the different modes of attaching an amide to a pyrene chromophore affect the electrochemical and optical properties of the chromophore. Thus, although they cause minimal spectral shifts, amide substituents can improve either the electron-accepting or electron-donating capabilities of pyrene. Specifically, inversion of the amide orientation shifts the reduction potentials by 200 mV. These trends indicate that, although amides affect to a similar extent the energies of the ground and singlet excited states of pyrene, the effects on the doublet states of its radical ions are distinctly different. This behavior reflects the unusually strong orientation dependence of the resonance effects of amide substituents, which should extend to amide substituents on other types of chromophores in general. These results represent an example where the Hammett sigma constants fail to predict substituent effects on electrochemical properties. On the other hand, Swain–Lupton parameters are found to be in good agreement with the observed trends. Examination of the frontier orbitals of the pyrene derivatives and their components reveals the underlying reason for the observed amide effects on the electronic properties of this polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and points to key molecular-design strategies for electronic and energy-conversion systems.

The Substituent Effect on the Radical Scavenging Activity of Apigenin.

Flavonoids widely found in natural foods are excellent free radical scavengers. The relationship between the substituent and antioxidative activity of flavonoids has not yet been completely elucidated. In this work, the antioxidative activity of apigenin derivatives with different substituents at the C3 position was determined by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The bond dissociation enthalpy (BDE), ionization potential (IP), and proton affinity (PA) were calculated. Donator acceptor map (DAM) analysis illustrated that the studied compounds are worse electron acceptors than F and also are not better electron donors than Na. The strongest antioxidative group of apigenin derivatives was the same as apigenin. Excellent correlations were found between the BDE/IP/PA and Hammett sigma constants. Therefore, Hammett sigma constants can be used to predict the antioxidative activity of substituted apigenin and to design new antioxidants based on flavonoids. In non-polar phases, the antioxidative activity of apigenin was increased by the electron-withdrawing groups, while it was reduced by the electron-donating groups. Contrary results occurred in the polar phase. The electronic effect of the substituents on BDE(4′-OH), BDE(5-OH), PA(4′-OH), and IP is mainly controlled by the resonance effect, while that on BDE(7-OH), PA(5-OH), and PA(7-OH) is governed by the field/inductive effect.

Ground- and Excited-State Acidity of Analogs of Red Wine Pyranoanthocyanins.

Pyranoflavylium cations are synthetic analogs containing the same basic chromophore as the pyranoanthocyanins that form in red wine during maturation and are responsible for its final color. Determination of the ground- and excited-state acidities for a series of eight substituted hydroxy pyranoflavylium cations shows that they are weak acids in the ground state (pKa ranging from 3.4 to 4.4 in aqueous buffer solution), but substantially more acidic in the first excited singlet state (pKa * ranging from ca. 0.2 to 0.7 in 30% methanol-water). Unlike the ground-state acidities, which show no obvious trend with electronic effects of the substituents, the excited-state pKa * values correlate well with Hammett sigma parameters for the substituents on the pyranoflavylium chromophore. This difference in the transmission of electronic effects between ground and excited state is reflected in the localization of the HOMO of the cation and conjugate base in distinct regions of the chromophore as compared to delocalization of the LUMO over the entire molecule. The current results provide further support for the conclusion that excited-state proton transfer is the dominant deactivation pathway for the pyranoflavylium cation excited singlet state in aqueous or aqueous-organic media and presumably for pyranoanthocyanins as well.

Understanding and Controlling the Dielectric Response of Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Metal-organic framework (MOF) materials have recently been shown to have promising electronic and dielectric properties. This study involves investigating a diverse range of MOFs to rationalise how the different building blocks that form the structure can affect the electronic properties and dielectric response. The analysis, based on quantum mechanical calculations, includes the contribution from the metals involved, the organic linkers and the symmetry and topology of the framework and makes suggestions for future work on low-κ dielectric MOFs. The results confirm that the band gap is primarily due to the electronic levels of the organic linkers and that tuning the band gap can be easily achieved either by linker functionalisation or by increasing the aromaticity. The relevance of simple structure-property relationships for different families of isoreticular MOFs through the use of Hammett sigma constants is also highlighted. It is also shown that the polarisability of the framework can be tuned comparably to the band gap. However, the expected low static dielectric constant is less influenced by the composition of the MOF and can be modified by acting on the crystal structure. Indeed, it is shown that it can be directly linked to the framework porosity.

Synthesis of Pyrazolone Derivatives and Their Nanometer Ag(I) Complexes and Physicochemical, DNA Binding, Antitumor, and Theoretical Implementations.

Four pyrazolone derivatives and their corresponding silver complexes were synthesized and characterized. Based on elemental analysis, 1 : 2 (M : L) molar ratio was suggested for all inspected complexes. 1H, 13C NMR, mass, UV-Vis, TGA, and IR were the spectral tools used for describing the formulae. Moreover, XRD patterns and SEM pictures were used to evaluate the particle sizes which appeared strongly in nanometer range. CT-DNA study is the major consideration in this study, to test the interacting ability of all synthesized cationic complexes towards cell DNA. Each binding constant was computed and correlated with the Hammett sigma constant. Antitumor activity was examined upon three carcinoma cell lines (MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT116). The high efficiency was recorded towards MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) cell line. Kinetic studies yield essential parameters to assert on the rule of metal atom on thermal feature of organic compounds. Molecular modeling was implemented to optimize the structures of compounds. Also, molecular docking was achieved to obtain a clear view about proposed drug behavior within the affected cells. This was achieved through comparing the calculated internal energy values of all docking complexes. All the tested compounds displayed a significant interaction with breast cancer protein (strong matching with practical result) followed by DNA polymerase protein.

Growth Inhibition and DNA Damage Induced by X-Phenols in Yeast: A Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship Study.

Phenolic compounds and their derivatives are ubiquitous constituents of numerous synthetic and natural chemicals that exist in the environment. Their toxicity is mostly attributed to their hydrophobicity and/or the formation of free radicals. In a continuation of the study of phenolic toxicity in a systematic manner, we have examined the biological responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to a series of mostly monosubstituted phenols utilizing a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) approach. The biological end points included a growth assay that determines the levels of growth inhibition induced by the phenols as well as a yeast deletion (DEL) assay that assesses the ability of X-phenols to induce DNA damage or DNA breaks. The QSAR analysis of cell growth patterns determined by IC50 and IC80 values indicates that toxicity is delineated by a hydrophobic, parabolic model. The DEL assay was then utilized to detect genomic deletions in yeast. The increase in the genotoxicity was enhanced by the electrophilicity of the phenolic substituents that were strong electron donors as well as by minimal hydrophobicity. The electrophilicities are represented by Brown’s sigma plus values that are a variant of the Hammett sigma constants. A few mutant strains of genes involved in DNA repair were separately exposed to 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol (BHT) and butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA). They were subsequently screened for growth phenotypes. BHA-induced growth defects in most of the DNA repair null mutant strains, whereas BHT was unresponsive.

6-Benzylidene-2-[4-(pyridin-3-ylcarboxy)benzylidene]cyclohexanones: A novel cluster of tumour-selective cytotoxins

Novel cytotoxins 3–5 containing the 1,5-diaryl-3-oxo-1,4-pentadienyl pharmacophore are disclosed. The compounds in series 3 and 5 have the potential to liberate niacin which may reduce some of the side effects of antineoplastic compounds. 3a-c emerged as the most potent cytotoxic compounds with IC50 values in the low micromolar range against human Molt4/C8 and CEM CD4+ T-lymphocytes as well as murine L1210 leukemia cells. QSAR studies revealed that cytotoxic potencies were negatively correlated with the magnitude of the Hammett sigma values of the aryl substituents. The compounds 3a-e displayed tumour-selective toxicity against human HL-60, HSC-2, HSC-3 and HSC-4 neoplasms as compared to human HGF, HPC and HPLF nonmalignant cells. A representative potent compound 3a caused PARP1 cleavage and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in HSC-2 cells. These compounds are well tolerated in mice at doses up to and including 300mg/kg of the compounds and no mortalities were noted after 4h. The stability studies undertaken did not reveal that a representative compound 3a underwent hydrolysis to the related phenol 2a. Some guidelines for further analog development of the novel esters 3 were made.

Substituent Effects on the Absorption and Fluorescence Properties of Anthracene.

Substitution can be used to efficiently tune the photophysical properties of chromophores. In this study, we examine the effect of substituents on the absorption and fluorescence properties of anthracene. The effects of mono-, di-, and tetrasubstitution of electron-donating and -withdrawing functional groups were explored. In addition, the influence of a donor-acceptor substituent pair and the position of substitution were investigated. Eleven functional groups were varied on positions 1, 2, and 9 of anthracene, and on position 6 of 2-methoxyanthracene and 2-carboxyanthracene. Moreover, the donor-acceptor pair NH2/CO2H was added on different positions of anthracene for additional studies of doubly substituted anthracenes. Finally, we looked into quadruple substitutions on positions 1,4,5,8 and 2,3,6,7. Vertical excitation energies and oscillator strengths were computed using density functional theory with the hybrid CAM-B3LYP functional and 6-311G(d) basis set. Correlations between the excitation energies or oscillator strengths of the low-lying bright La state and the Hammett sigma parameter, σp+, of the substituents were examined. The energy is red-shifted for all cases of substitution. Oscillator strengths increase when substituents are placed along the direction of the transition dipole moment of the bright La excited state. Substitution of long chain conjugated groups significantly increases the oscillator strength in comparison to the cases for other substituents. In addition, the results of quadruply substituted geometries reveal symmetric substitution at the 1,4,5,8 positions significantly increases the oscillator strength and can lower the band gap compared to that of the unsubstituted anthracene molecule by up to 0.5 eV.

Substituent Effects on the HOMO-LUMO Absorption and Emission of Pt(II)-Biphenyl Complexes containing 1,10-Phenanthroline Derivatives

Eight platinum(II) biphenyl complexes containing 1,10-phenanthroline derivatives were synthesized and their physical and photophysical properties were examined. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for five of the complexes with two different motifs giving rise to two different circular dichroism spectra. Structures obtained by density functional theory were in agreement with the parameters obtained by x-ray diffraction. Electron density of the HOMO is located on the metal center and the biphenyl ligand; for the LUMO it is located primarily on the phenanthroline ligand. The results for time dependent density functional theory calculations are in agreement with a MLCT (metal-to-ligand charge transfer) low energy electronic transition assignment. The optical, emission and reduction potentials correlated with Hammett Sigma functions giving rise to excellent free-energy correlations for the series of complexes.

Electronic Influence of Different β-Diketonato Ligands on the Electrochemical Behaviour of Tris(β-Diketonato)M(III) Complexes, M = Cr, Mn and Fe

The reduction of the MIII/MII metal couple of complexes Cr (β-diketonato)3, Fe (β-diketonato)3 and Mn (β-diketonato)3 is reviewed and compared. The ease of reduction of the MIII/MII couple of M(β-diketonato)3 complexes increases according to the metal sequence Cr (β-diketonato)3 < Fe (β-diketonato)3 < Mn (β-diketonato)3 (with the most positive reduction potential). Good linear relationships obtained between the reduction potential and different electronic parameters related to the β-diketonato ligand on these MIII(β-diketonato)3 complexes, show that the ease of reduction of the MIII/MII couple increases with decreasing acidic strength (pKa) of the respective β-diketone ligands. It also increases with increasing total group electronegativity of the R and R' groups on the respective β-diketonato ligand (RCOCHCOR')− of the M(β-diketonato)3 complexes, (χR + χR'), as well as with an increase in the total Hammett sigma meta constants (σR + σR'), and also with increasing value of the Lever ligand electronic parameter (EL) of ligand (RCOCHCOR')−.

Elimination of trace organic contaminants during enhanced wastewater treatment with horseradish peroxidase/hydrogen peroxide (HRP/H2O2) catalytic process

The potential of horseradish peroxidase combined with hydrogen peroxidase (HRP/H2O2) catalytic process was assessed as an enhanced wastewater treatment technology to eliminate trace organic contaminants (micropollutants). Kinetic experiments with 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) as a phenolic micropollutant in synthetic buffered solutions showed that the apparent first-order rate constant of EE2 transformation (kEE2) increased linearly with increasing HRP concentration but was independent of the concentrations of H2O2 and EE2. The observed kinetic behaviors of EE2 could be well explained by the known chemistry of the HRP/H2O2 system considering the reaction of Compound II with EE2 as the rate-limiting step in the catalytic cycle of HRP under the condition of excess H2O2 over HRP. Using this HRP/H2O2 kinetic model, the second-order rate constants of the reaction of Compound II (k3) with a few selected phenolic micropollutants including EE2 and phenol and aniline could be determined and compared with those from the literature. Good correlations were found between the k3 of various phenolic or anilinic compounds (from this study and the literature) versus Hammett sigma constants, which can be used for predicting the elimination efficiency of phenolic or anilinic micropollutants. Experiments conducted using lake water and wastewater effluent matrices showed that significant elimination of phenolic micropollutants (i.e., % elimination levels of 20%–100%) could be achieved under the following treatment condition: 1.4–5.6nM (12–48U/L) of HRP, 20μM of H2O2, and 1h of reaction time. Elimination of the other tested micropollutants without phenolic moieties was less than 5%. The elimination levels of phenolic micropollutants (e.g., EE2) in real water matrices spiked at 2μM could be well predicted by the HRP/H2O2 kinetic model with the corresponding k3 value. However, relatively lower elimination levels were observed when the phenolic micropollutants were spiked at 1μg/L, indicating some reduction in the performance of the HRP/H2O2 process for eliminating phenolic micropollutants present at environmentally relevant concentrations (e.g., sub μg/L).