Protic Methanol Research Articles

Synthesis of Naphthalimide Azocarboxylates Showing Turn-On Fluorescence by Substitution Reaction with Sulfinates.

The synthesis and characterization of sulfinate addition-responsive fluorescent molecules are described. We found that addition reaction of sulfinates to naphthalimide-substituted azocarboxylates afforded the corresponding sulfonyl hydrazides with high fluorescence quantum yields (up to 0.91 in THF and 0.54 in methanol), which exhibited a large Stokes shift (105 nm) in protic methanol solvent, while the unsubstituted hydrazide and the sulfonyl-position isomer showed no fluorescence in polar solvents.

Role of explicit hydrogen bonding in solvation calculation on the photophysics of 2-(2′-Hydroxyphenyl)oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine

The photophysics of 2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridine (HPOP) was theoretically examined by employing the integral equation formalism variant of polarizable continuum model (PCM) at the level of density functional theory with M06 functional. Polar protic methanol and water and aprotic acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran, which have varied dielectric constants, were considered to study the role of polarity on the photophysics of HPOP and was compared with the results obtained in vacuum. Six different structural forms of HPOP were observed: cis and trans-closed enol, cis and trans-open enol, and cis and trans-keto. cis-closed enol is the most stable and trans-keto the least in the ground state. In the S1 state, cis-keto is the most stable and cis-open enol the most unstable. The relative stabilities of the different structures increase with the polarity of the solvent. The calculations were extended to vacuum and methanol environments by adding two methanol molecules, and similarly done with two water molecules in vacuum and water environments which are explicitly hydrogen bonded to HPOP at different hydrogen bonding centres of HPOP to study the role of solute–solvent hydrogen bond on its photophysics and the changes in results obtained under the PCM formalism. The hydrogen bond between the solute and solvent molecules further increases the relative stabilities of the different hydrogen bonded clusters. The calculations show that the intramolecular proton transfer (IPT) between cis-closed enol and cis-keto is a barrierless process with the transition state displaying a submerged barrier both in S0 and S1 states where the IPT occurs within a single OH stretching vibration. The IPT trajectory is shorter in the S1 state.

Charge transport in protic ionic liquids: Effect of protonation state in 1-methylimidazolium – acetate/trifluoroacetate mixtures

Despite the potential to overcome slow charge transport in ionic liquids by decoupling charge transport from mass transport in protic ionic liquids (PILs), the average proton distribution and the contribution of proton conduction to the overall charge transport in PILs has not been fully established. To elucidate the predominant underlying molecular species in the PILs and the molecular dynamics of the PILs, we study the dipolar response and conductivity using dielectric relaxation (DR) spectroscopy and the nucleis chemical environment and molecular mobility using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of prototypical PILs based on 1–methylimidazolium as Brønsted base. To elucidate the effect of the acidity of the Brønsted acid we gradually vary the composition of the PILs from 1–methylimidazoliumacetate [MimH][AcO] to 1–methylimidazoliumtrifluoroacetate [MimH][TFA]. Both, 15N-NMR chemical shifts and the sample conductivities suggest that in neat [MimH][AcO] electro-neutral molecular species dominate, consistent with earlier findings. The dipolar response of these molecular species as detected via the DR spectra is stronger than what one would expect based on the molecular dipole moments estimated from density functional theory calculations, which points to the formation of an extended hydrogen-bonded network. Upon addition of [MimH][TFA], this dipolar response is reduced as the degree of protonation of 1–methylimidazolium gradually increases, which is apparent from the conductance and 15N chemical shifts. Interestingly, diffusion ordered NMR spectroscopy indicates protons to become more mobile than the constituting acid and base molecules, consistent with Grotthuss-like proton transport. To vary the immediate environment of the PILs, we study solutions of the PIL mixtures in aprotic dimethylformamide (DMF) and protic methanol (MeOH) as two limiting cases. We find that [MimH][AcO] exclusively forms electroneutral species in DMF, as evident from the negligible conductivity, while with increasing TFA content the fraction of charged molecular species increases. Although these ionic species give rise to a finite conductivity, demonstrating the presence of mobile ions, a large fraction of these ions is bound in [MimH][TFA] ion-pairs, as detected in the DR spectra. Yet, temperature dependent 1H-NMR linewidths of the acidic proton signals suggest proton exchange to occur on the NMR timescale, presumably between [MimH]+ and [Mim]. Conversely, in MeOH we find no evidence for the presence of ion-pairs, while the high conductivity of these solutions shows that MeOH can efficiently solvate ions and may participate in proton transfer. Together, our results highlight the sensitivity of protonation equilibria to the immediate environment and of proton dynamics to these protonation equilibria. Our results show that tuning these equilibria using PIL mixtures can provide routes to tailor the contribution of proton transport to charge transport in PILs.

Theoretical reconsideration of the ESPT process of the pheomelanin building block in methanol

Pheomelanin is responsible for enhancing UV sensitivity and its proton transfer (PT) process is crucial to reveal the complex mechanisms of pheomelanin phototoxicity. Nahhas et al. studied the PT process of the pheomelanin building block 6-(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)-4-hydroxy-1,3-benzothiazole (BT) in methanol. Based on the small Stokes shift corresponding to the absorption and fluorescence peaks, it is deemed that BT cannot perform PT process in methanol [J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 5 (2014) 2094–2100]. However, protic methanol solvent has both oxygen atom that attract proton and hydrogen atom that supply proton. It is worth reconsidering about the intermolecular proton transfer (inter-PT) process of BT with the aid of methanol. In our work, the inter-PT process of BT and methanol molecules are deciphered by density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory. The structures, non-covalent interactions and infrared spectra testify that the double hydrogen bonds are reinforced under photoexcitation. The potential energy curve of S1 state without barrier attests that the inter-PT process can occur in the BT molecule where methanol acts as the proton transporter. In addition, the fluorescence of BT-methanol complex is emitted by enol* form. In the light of the frontier molecular orbitals, the non-fluorescence of keto* form is explained by the reduced charge coupling compared to the enol* form and the competition of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state. Our results provide an insight for understanding the photochemical process of the pheomelanin in protic systems.

Solvent effects on the photooxidation of indolepyrazines

Photodestruction of 2-(pyrazin-2′-yl)-1H-indole and 2,5-di(1H-indol-2′-yl)pyrazine involves singlet oxygen generation and its rapid insertion into the indole ring with the formation of benzoxazinone derivatives: 2-(pyrazin-2-yl)-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one and 2-[5-(1H-indol-2-yl)pyrazin-2-yl]-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one. The quantum yield of this reaction strongly depends on the environment. It is definitely smaller in protic methanol than in aprotic acetonitrile or n-hexane. The observed effect of photostabilization is explained by formation of hydrogen bonded complexes between the chromophore and alcohol, which results in lower triplet formation efficiency and, in consequence, decrease of singlet oxygen formation quantum yield.Graphical abstract

Hydrogen evolution and CO2-reduction on a non-supported polypyrrole electrode

Conducting polymers are deposited mostly on a supporting metal of the Pt group and can be used as electrocatalysts. In the present work, a non-supported (bulk) polypyrrole (PPy) is prepared to eliminate any effect of the supporting metal on the desired reactions and is used for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) as well as for CO2 reduction in protic methanol for the first time. The physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties of the synthesized materials are studied in the first step. Scanning electron microscope images reveal that PPy particle size had a change in the range of 30–90 nm (conductivity: 6.2 ×10−2 ± 0.004 S/cm; four-probe). Tafel slope (82 mV/dec) and activation energy (41.67 kJ/mol) are calculated for HER using cyclic voltammograms. In the second step, the synthesized materials are used for the hydrogenation of CO2 in acidic methanol. The novel material reduces CO2 specifically to formic acid at −0.55 V with a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 92 %.

Complexation of 1,3-dihetaryl-5-phenyl-2-pyrazoline Derivatives with Polyvalent Metal Ions: Quantum Chemical Modeling and Experimental Investigation

1,3,5-Triaryl-2-pyrazoline derivatives with a pyridine ring in position 1 and 2-benzimidazolyl or 2-benzothiazolyl bicycles in position 3 were synthesized. Spectral properties in solvents of similar polarity, i.e. aprotic acetonitrile and in protic methanol, were studied, complexation with cadmium and mercury ions in acetonitrile was elucidated as well. Quantum-chemical modeling with application of the elements of Bader's atoms-in-molecules (AIM) theory of the title molecules conformational structure and 1:1 stoichiometry complexes formed with polyvalent metals of various nature (Mg, Zn, Cd, Pb, Hg, Ba) was conducted. The principal possibility of “nitrogen-sulfur” switching of the metal ions binding sites for the benzothiazole derivative was revealed, and makes possible to classify this compound as “smart ligand”.

Symmetry Breaking in an Excited Quadrupolar Acridine-Dione Derivative Driven by Hydrogen Bonding.

An acridine-dione derivative (3,3,11,11-tetramethyl-8,16-diphenyl-3,4,8,10,11,12,13,16-octahydroacridino[4,3-c]acridine-1.9(2H,5H)dion) with quadrupolar motif has been synthesized and its stationary and transient spectra have been measured. Stationary absorption and fluorescence spectra as well as nonstationary spectra show no signs of symmetry breaking (SB) in aprotic solvents, even of high polarity. The specific features of SB are revealed in alcohol solvents through a considerable red shift of stationary fluorescence spectra and the appearance of a new excited state absorption band in transient absorption spectra. SB is due to the formation of asymmetric strong hydrogen bonds, mainly on one side of the molecule. An unexpected regularity of symmetry breaking is found in mixtures of aprotic dimethylformamide and protic methanol, where methanol acts as a fluorescence quencher. It is revealed that there is no quenching as long as the methanol concentration is less than the critical value of 9 M. This leads to the conclusion that SB in such mixtures is possible only if the concentration of the protic solvent exceeds a certain threshold value.

Unexpected effects of mobile phase solvents and additives on retention and resolution of N-acyl-D,L-leucine applying Cinchonane-based chiral ion exchangers

Chiral ion exchangers based on quinine (QN) and quinidine (QD), namely Chiralpak QN-AX and QD-AX as anionic and ZWIX(+) and ZWIX(-) as zwitterionic ion exchanger chiral stationary phases (CSPs) have been investigated with respect to their retention and chiral resolution characteristics. For the evaluation of the effects of the composition of the polar organic bulk solvents of the mobile phase (MP) and those of the organic acid and base additives acting as displacers necessary for a liquid chromatographic ion-exchange process, racemic N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine and other related analytes were applied. The main aim was to evaluate the impact of the MP variations on the observed, and thus the apparent enantioselectivity (αapp), and the retention factor. Significant differences were found using either polar protic methanol (MeOH) or polar non-protic acetonitrile (MeCN) solvents in combination with the acid and base additives as counter- and co-ions. It became clear, that the charged sites of both the chiral selectors of the CSPs and the analytes get specifically solvated, accompanied by the adsorption of all MP components on the CSP, thereby building a stagnant “stationary phase layer” with a composition different from the bulk MP. Via a systematic change of the MP composition, trends of resulting αapp and retention factors have been identified and discussed.In a detailed set of experiments, the effect of the concentration of the acid component in the MP containing MeOH or MeCN was specifically investigated, with the acid considered to be a displacer in anion-exchange type chromatographic systems.Surprisingly, all four chiral columns retained and resolved the tested N-acyl-Leu analytes with αapp values up to 21 within a retention factor window of 0.03 and 10 with pure MeOH as eluent. However, using pure MeCN as eluent, an almost infinite-long retention of the acidic analyte was noticed in all cases. We suggest that the rather different thickness of the solvation shells generated by MeOH or MeCN around the charged/chargeable sites of the chiral selector determines eventually the strength of the electrostatic selector–selectand interactions.As a control experiment we included the non-chiral N-acylglycine derivatives as analyte in all cases to support the interpretations with respect to the contribution of the enantioselective and non-enantioselective retention factor increments as a part of the observed αapp.

Case Study in Kraft Lignin Fractionation: “Structurally Purified” Lignin Fractions—The Role of Solvent H-Bonding Affinity

Softwood kraft lignin SKL was fractionated using aprotic acetone and protic methanol to yield both previously reported “traditional” fractions and novel refined fractions thereof. Based on differences in mutual H-bonding affinities exerted by the solvents on one side and the OH group characteristics of the lignin oligo- and polymers on the other side, the 85% acetone-insoluble kraft lignin fraction AIKL, for example, could be further fractionated in 16% methanol-soluble and 67% methanol-insoluble parts. Sequential use of the two solvents practically resembled a refinement protocol that shed light on eventual “structural impurities” contained in the traditional fractions, which is not delineable easily in front of the background of a dominating spectroscopic image. Exploiting H-bonding characteristics offers a valid option for the facile generation of truly “structurally purified” lignin fractions. Acetone-insoluble, methanol-soluble MSAIKL, for example, exhibits 25% less aliphatic interunit bonding while being enriched in phenolic groups up to 25%, thus representing condensed, lower-molecular-weight structures with overall H-bond accepting character that was still contained in the overall larger-molecular-weight acetone-insoluble AIKL. More “polyphenylpropanoidic” parts practically free of condensed units, determining the overall structural picture of the unrefined lignins due to their overall abundance, are represented by the globally insoluble fractions like acetone-insoluble, methanol-insoluble MIAIKL. The original fractions and refined fractions generated based on targeting specific H-bonding affinities give a more homogeneous picture with respect to trends in glass transition temperatures, clearly indicating that Tg is dominated by actually both MW and nature of OH groups.

Mechanistic Insight into Propylene Epoxidation with H2O2 over Titanium Silicalite-1: Effects of Zeolite Confinement and Solvent.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to investigate the effects of zeolite confinement and solvent on propylene epoxidation with H2O2 over the titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) catalyst. The 144T and 143T cluster models containing typical 10MR channels of TS-1 were constructed to represent the tripodal(2I) and Ti/defect sites. It was found that the confinement of the zeolite pore channel not only impacts the adsorption stability of guest molecules but also alters reaction barriers, as compared to the results obtained based on small cluster models. When dispersion corrections were considered, an enhancement of the adsorption stability of guest molecules was observed because of the important contribution from van der Waals interactions, especially for propylene adsorption. An explicit protic methanol molecule was introduced into the catalytic system to probe the influence of the solvent on propylene epoxidation, based on which a significant enhancement of CH3OH-H2O2 co-adsorption was obtained owing to H-bond formation. More importantly, the energy barrier for H2O2 dissociation was largely reduced by ∼13 kcal/mol because of the participation of the methanol in the H-transfer process and the formation of H-bond network, resulting in an alteration of the rate-limiting step. By comparison, adding an aprotic acetonitrile solvent did not have substantial effect on reaction path and kinetics. The calculation results clearly demonstrate the important role of the protic methanol solvent, which not only strengthens the adsorption of guest molecules but also promotes the kinetics for propylene epoxidation with H2O2 over TS-1 catalyst.

Theoretical insights into excited-state intramolecular and multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds in 2-(2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone.

The photophysical properties and photochemistry reactions of 2-(2-Hydroxy-phenyl)-4(3H)-quinazolinone (HPQ) system in different solutions are studied by using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) methods. Our theoretical investigation explores that an ultrafast barrier-free excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process occurs and the configuration twisting is found in the electronic excited state. In the polar protic methanol solution, the hydrogen-bonded complex composed by HPQ and two methanol molecules (HPQ-2M) could exist stably in the ground state. Upon photoexcitation the isolated HPQ is initially excited to the first excited state, while the HPQ-2M system is firstly excited to the S3 state and undergoes internal conversion (IC) to the S1 state. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds are strengthened in the excited state. The simulated electronic spectra agree well with the experimental results. The strengthening of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds is also confirmed by the calculated vibrational spectra. In addition, the intramolecular charge transfer happens in both HPQ and HPQ-2M systems from the frontier molecular orbital analysis.

Solvent-Triggered Cis/Trans Isomerism in Cobalt Dioxolene Chemistry: Distinguishing Effects of Packing on Valence Tautomerism.

In this article, the synthesis and X-ray crystal structures of two cis/trans isomers of valence tautomeric (VT) cobalt dioxolene compounds are reported. The cis isomer (1) was isolated from the polar protic methanol solvent as a kinetic product, whereas the less polar nonprotic solvent acetone yielded the trans isomer (2). It should be noted that, although some coordination polymers involving cobalt bis(dioxolene) with the cis disposition are known for bridging ancillary ligands, such an arrangement is unprecedented for mononuclear compounds. A careful study of intermocular interactions revealed that the methanol solvent does not have much influence on the crystal growth in 1, whereas acetone forms strong halogen-bonding interactions that are crucial in the solid-state architecture of 2. This behavior can likely be used in crystal engineering to design new organic-inorganic hybrid materials. The energy difference between the two isomers was examined using DFT calculations, confirming that the trans form is in the thermodynamic state whereas the cis isomer is a kinetic product that can be converted into the trans isomer with time. Finally, both isomers exhibit solvent loss at elevated temperatures that is accompanied by a change in magnetic properties, associated with an irreversible valence tautomerism. Our results highlight the crucial role of the solvents for the isolation of cis/trans isomers in cobalt dioxolene chemistry, as well as the distinguishing effects of intermolecular forces and the solid-state packing on VT behavior.

Additive free preparative chiral SFC separations of 2,2-dimethyl-3-aryl-propanoic acids

A series of racemic 2,2-dimethyl-3-aryl-propanoic acids were resolved by chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) without the use of an acidic additive, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The use of additive-free protic methanol as co-solvent in CO2 was expanded to successfully resolve other series of carboxylic acid containing racemates. Large-scale SFC of racemic acid 4, 3-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-indazol-5-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropanoic acid, in methanol without TFA as additive on both Chiralpak AD-H and Chiralcel OJ-H will be discussed, along with impact on throughput and solvent consumption. Investigation of co-solvent effect on peak sharpening of acid racemate 20, 2-(2-chloro-9-fluoro-5H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridin-5-yl)-2-methylpropanoic acid, without TFA further indicated that methanol in CO2 provided improved peak shape compared with isopropanol (IPA) and acetonitrile. Finally, we discuss the resolution of basic aromatic chiral amines without the addition of basic additives such as diethylamine (DEA) and application of this protocol for the large-scale SFC separation of weakly basic indazole-containing racemate 14, methyl 3-(1H-indazol-5-yl)-2,2-dimethyl-3-phenylpropanoate, in methanol without DEA.

Hydrogen-bonding dynamics of photoexcited coumarin 138 and 339 in protic methanol solution: Time-dependent density functional theory study

The ground and electronically excited-state intermolecular hydrogen bonds between coumarin 138 (C138)/coumarin 339 (C339) and the protic methanol solvent are investigated by using time-dependent density functional theory method. The methanol solvent can act as a hydrogen-donating or hydrogen-accepting moiety at the proper site of organic chromophore. Our theoretical investigation explores the formation of one and multiple hydrogen bonds and demonstrates the strengthening of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the excited state. According to our calculation, upon photoexcitation the isolated coumarins and hydrogen-bonded clusters are initially excited to the first excited state and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds are strengthened in the excited state. The obvious red shifts, as large as 21nm, of the steady-state absorption spectra are observed. In addition, the infrared spectra in the ground and excited states are calculated to explore the hydrogen bonding dynamics. The calculated CO, NH, OH stretching modes are red shifted induced by the electronic excitation and intermolecular hydrogen bond interaction. The strengthening of the intermolecular hydrogen bonds is also confirmed by the geometric parameters in the ground and excited states with TDDFT method.

Mechanistic investigations of cinchona alkaloid-based zwitterionic chiral stationary phases

Novel zwitterionic cinchona alkaloid-based chiral selectors (SOs) were synthesized and immobilized on silica gel. The corresponding brush-type chiral stationary phases (CSPs) were characterized as zwitterionic ion-exchange-type materials and exhibited remarkable enantioselectivity for their zwitterionic target analytes, viz. underivatized amino acids and aminosulfonic acids. We rationally designed structural modifications on the strong cation exchange (SCX) subunit of the zwitterionic SO and investigated the influence on chiral recognition power for amphoteric solutes. SOs with chiral isopropyl- or cyclohexyl-moieties in vicinity to the SCX site showed broadest application range by baseline resolving 39 out of 53 test compounds, including α-, β-, and γ-amino acids with different substitution patterns. Furthermore, we introduced two pseudoenantiomeric zwitterionic CSPs which combined the unique features of providing comparable enantioselectivities but reversed enantiomer elution orders. By application of slightly acidic polar organic mobile phases as preferred elution mode, we found that certain amounts of aprotic acetonitrile in protic methanol substantially increased enantioselectivity and resolution of amino acids in a structure-dependent manner.

Kinetic Study of the α-Tocopherol-Regeneration Reaction of Ubiquinol-10 in Methanol and Acetonitrile Solutions: Notable Effect of the Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metal Salts on the Reaction Rates

A kinetic study of regeneration reaction of α-tocopherol (α-TocH) by ubiquinol-10 has been performed in the presence of four kinds of alkali and alkaline earth metal salts (LiClO(4), NaClO(4), NaI, and Mg(ClO(4))(2)) in methanol and acetonitrile solutions, using double-mixing stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The second-order rate constants (k(r)'s) for the reaction of α-tocopheroxyl (α-Toc•) radical with ubiquinol-10 increased and decreased notably with increasing concentrations of metal salts in methanol and acetonitrile, respectively. The k(r) values increased in the order of no metal salt < NaClO(4) ~ NaI < LiClO(4) < Mg(ClO(4))(2) at the same concentration of metal salts in methanol. On the other hand, in acetonitrile, the k(r) values decreased in the order of no metal salt > NaClO(4) ~ NaI > LiClO(4) > Mg(ClO(4))(2) at the same concentration of metal salts. The metal salts having a smaller ionic radius of cation and a larger charge of cation gave a larger k(r) value in methanol, and a smaller k(r) value in acetonitrile. The effect of anion was almost negligible in both the solvents. Notable effects of metal cations on the UV-vis absorption spectrum of α-Toc• radical were observed in aprotic acetonitrile solution, suggesting complex formation between α-Toc• and metal cations. On the other hand, effects of metal cations were negligible in protic methanol, suggesting that the complex formation between α-Toc• and metal cations is hindered by the hydrogen bond between α-Toc• and methanol molecules. The difference between the reaction mechanisms in methanol and acetonitrile solutions was discussed on the basis of the results obtained. High concentrations of alkali and alkaline earth metal salts coexist with α-TocH and ubiquinol-10 in plasma, blood, and many tissues, suggesting the contribution of the metal salts to the above regeneration reaction in biological systems.

ChemInform Abstract: Kinetics and Intermediates in the Autoxidation of (Cyclidene)iron(II) Dioxygen Carriers in a Variety of Solvent Systems

Abstract The autoxidation of [FeII(Me,Me,m-xyl)Cl]+ was studied in a variety of solvent systems, with the two extremes being aprotic acetonitrile containing the powerful axial ligand N-methylimidazole ( MeCN MIM ) and protic methanol with the weak axial ligand chloride ( MeOH LiCl ), and the results are compared with those from a previous investigation for the solvent system 3:1:1 acetone : pyridine : water (APW). The differences in the solvent systems are mainly manifested in the product distribution, whereas the rate law maintains its algebraic form and the previously proposed general mechanism of autoxidation (electron transfer operating in parallel with the dioxygen adduct equilibrium) requires only slight modification in order to account for the behavior of the full range of systems. Systems in which chloride serves as the axial ligand, yield only the product of the electron transfer step, [FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)Cl]2+, and its hydrolysis products, [FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)OH]2+, and [{FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)}2O]4+. In contrast, systems in which the nitrogenous bases pyridine or 1-methylimidazole replace chloride as the axial ligand also produce a (peroxo)iron(III) species, in addition to [FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)B]3+, where the axial ligand depends on the medium. The formation of FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)OH]2+ and [{FeIII(Me,Me,m-xyl)}2O]4+ depends, as expected, on the water content of the system. The effects of substituents, at constant bridging group and cavity size, on the autoxidation of [FeII(R3,R2,m-xyl)Cl]+ with R3 = Me, Ph and R2 = Me, Bz in MeOH LiCI are dramatic. Remarkably, the combined steric and/or electron-withdrawing effect of replacing methyl groups at both the R2 and R3 positions appears to be multiplicative rather than additive.

Enantiomeric products formed via different mechanisms: asymmetric hydrogenation of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid involving a Ru(CH 3COO) 2[( R)-binap] catalyst

Hydrogenation of ( Z)-3-phenyl-2-butenoic acid with a Ru(CH 3COO) 2[( R)-binap] (BINAP=2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl) catalyst in methanol gives ( S)-3-phenyl-2-butanoic acid and its R enantiomer in a 97:3 (4 atm) to 94:6 (100 atm) ratio in quantitative yield. Both hydrogen gas and protic methanol participate in the saturation of the olefinic bond. Analysis of the products obtained using ( Z)-3-phenyl-2-butenoic acid-3- 13 C and either H 2, a 1:1 H 2–D 2 mixture, or D 2 in CH 3OD indicates that several catalytic cycles are operative, showing different reactivity and stereoselectivity. The major S enantiomer was formed primarily by the standard Ru monohydride mechanism, whereas the minor R isomer is produced via more complicated routes.

SOM assembly of hydroxynaphthoquinone and its oxime: Polymorphic X-ray structures and EPR studies

Investigation on solvent-induced polymorphism in X-ray structures of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Lawsone) 1, is carried out. In protic methanol, 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/c (1a) comprising of 2D hydrogen bonded network via cyclic dimers. In aprotic solvent such as acetone on the other hand, 1 exhibits orthorhombic space group Pna 21 (1b) and emerges with 1D catemeric chain. Solvent-induced topological isomerism of cyclic dimers and helical catemeric chains arising from (i) bifurcated intra- and inter molecular hydrogen bondings viz. OH⋯OC interactions between C(2) hydroxyl and C(1), C(4) carbonyls, (ii) CH⋯O interactions viz. C(3)H⋯O(1)C(1) have been discussed. A signal for radical in 1 at g=2.0058 is signatured by EPR spectrum and it's oxime derivative viz. 2-hydroxy-4-naphthoquinone-1-oxime 2, in solid state shows biradical and monoradical formation with aggregation of dimer and monomer due to non-covalent hydrogen bonds. Zero field split parameters for 2 are estimated to be D=215G, Ex=13G, Ey=47G at 298K. A half field signal at 77K indicates triplet ground state. Frozen glass EPR of 2 resolves as regioregular dimeric–monomeric species showing hyperfine interactions with 1-oximino nitrogen in dimer A¯(14N)=15.5G].