Dehydroroyleanone as a Building Block for a Drug Delivery Platform Based on Self-Assembled Nanoparticles: Structural Studies and Chemical Modification

6,7-Dehydroroyleanone (DHR) is a caspase-induced cytotoxic abietane diterpene, frequently found on Plectranthus spp. A pharmaceutical formulation consisting of a DHR-squalene conjugate was synthesized and analyzed by different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The facile production of the dispersion of DHR-squalene conjugate nanoparticles in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) suggests that this nanodelivery platform may be an effective system to improve the solubility and bioavailability of DHR, so that therapeutical systemic levels may be achieved.

First and Second Dissociation Enthalpies in Bi-Component Crystals Consisting of Maleic Acid and L-Phenylalanine

The energetics of the stepwise dissociation of a A:B₂ bi-component crystal, according to A:B₂(cr) → A:B(cr) + B(cr) and A:B(cr) → A(cr) + B(cr), was investigated using MA:Phe₂ and MA:Phe (MA = maleic acid; Phe = L-phenylalanine) as model systems. The enthalpy changes associated with these sequential processes and with the overall dissociation reaction A:B₂(cr) → A(cr) + 2B(cr) were determined by solution calorimetry. It was found that they are all positive, indicating that there is a lattice enthalpy gain when MA:Phe₂ is formed, either from the individual precursors or by adding Phe to MA:Phe. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis showed that MA:Phe₂ is best described as a protic salt containing a maleate anion (MA⁻) and two non-equivalent L-phenylalanine units, both linked to MA⁻ by NH···O hydrogen bonds (H-bond): one of these units is protonated (HPhe⁺) and the other zwitterionic (Phe^±). Only MA⁻ and HPhe⁺ molecules are present in the MA:Phe lattice. In this case, however, NH···O and OH···O H-bonds are formed between each MA⁻ unit and two HPhe⁺ molecules. Despite these structural differences, the enthalpy cost for the removal of the zwitterionic Phe^± unit from the MA:Phe₂ lattice to yield MA:Phe is only 0.9 ± 0.4 kJ mol⁻¹ higher than that for the dissociation of MA:Phe, which requires a proton transfer from HPhe⁺ to MA⁻ and the rearrangement of L-phenylalanine to the zwitterionic, Phe^±, form. Finally, a comparison of the dissociation energetics and structures of MA:Phe and of the previously reported glycine maleate (MA:Gly) analogue indicated that parameters, such as the packing coefficient, density, hydrogen bonds formed, or fusion temperature, are not necessarily good descriptors of dissociation enthalpy or lattice enthalpy trends when bi-component crystals with different molecular composition are being compared, even if the stoichiometry is the same.

Exploratory Study on Lercanidipine Hydrochloride Polymorphism: pH-Dependent Solubility Behavior and Simulation of its Impact on Pharmacokinetics

This work describes an exploratory experimental and in silico study of the influence of polymorphism, particle size, and physiology on the pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine hydrochloride (LHC). Equilibrium and kinetic solubility studies were performed on LHC forms I and II, as a function of pH and buffer composition. GastroPlus® was used to evaluate the potential effect of solubility differences due to polymorphism, particle size, and physiological conditions, on the drug pharmacokinetics. The results indicated that solubilities of LHC polymorphs are strongly dependent on the composition and pH of the buffer media. The concentration ratio (C_I/C_II) is particularly large for chloride buffer (C_I/C_II = 3.3-3.9) and exhibits a slightly decreasing tendency with the pH increase for all other buffers. Based on solubility alone, a higher bioavailability of form I might be expected. However, exploratory PBPK simulations suggested that (i) under usual fasted (pH 1.3) and fed (pH 4.9) gastric conditions, the two polymorphs have similar bioavailability, regardless of the particle size; (ii) at high gastric pH in the fasted state (e.g., pH 3.0), the bioavailability of form II can be considerably lower than that of form I, unless the particle size is < 20 μm. This study demonstrates the importance of investigating the effect of the buffer nature when evaluating the solubility of ionizable polymorphic substances. It also showcases the benefits of using PBPK simulations, to assess the risk and pharmacokinetic relevance of different solubility and particle size between crystal forms, for diverse physiological conditions.

Tautomer selection through solvate formation: the case of 5-hydroxynicotinic acid

Different 5-hydroxynicotinic acid tautomers were selectively captured through solvate formation. The selectivity is lost once the memory of solvation is erased by removing the solvent from the crystal lattice.

Polymorphism in Simvastatin: Twinning, Disorder, and Enantiotropic Phase Transitions

Simvastatin is one of the most widely used active pharmaceutical ingredients for the treatment of hyperlipidemias. Because the compound is employed as a solid in drug formulations, particular attention should be given to the characterization of different polymorphs, their stability domains, and the nature of the phase transitions that relate them. In this work, the phase transitions delimiting the stability domains of three previously reported simvastatin forms were investigated from structural, energetics, and dynamical points of view based on single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), hot stage microscopy (HSM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments (conventional scans and heat capacity measurements), complemented with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Previous assignments of the crystal forms were confirmed by SCXRD: forms I and II were found to be orthorhombic ( P2₁2₁2₁, Z'/ Z = 1/4) and form III was monoclinic ( P2₁, Z'/ Z = 2/4). The obtained results further indicated that (i) the transitions between different forms are observed at 235.9 ± 0.1 K (form III → form II) and at 275.2 ± 0.2 K (form II → form I) in DSC runs carried out at 10 K min^-1 and close to these values when other types of techniques are used (e.g., HSM). (ii) They are enantiotropic (i.e., there is a transition temperature relating the two phases before fusion at which the stability order is reversed), fast, reversible, with very little hysteresis between heating and cooling modes, and occur under single crystal to single crystal conditions. (iii) A nucleation and growth mechanism seems to be followed since HSM experiments on single crystals evidenced the propagation of an interface, accompanied by a change of birefringence and crystal contraction or expansion (more subtle in the case of form III → form II), when the phase transitions are triggered. (iv) Consistent with the reversible and small hysteresis nature of the phase transitions, the SCXRD results indicated that the molecular packing is very similar in all forms and the main structural differences are associated with conformational changes of the "ester tail". (v) The MD simulations further suggested that the tail is essentially "frozen" in two conformations below the III → II transition temperature, becomes progressively less hindered throughout the stability domain of form II, and acquires a large conformational freedom above the II → I transition. Finally, the fact that these transitions were found to be fast and reversible suggests that polymorphism is unlikely to be a problem for pharmaceutical formulations employing crystalline simvastatin because, if present, the III and II forms will readily convert to form I at ambient temperature.

Extraction Optimization and Structural and Thermal Characterization of the Antimicrobial Abietane 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone

The abietane 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (AHR), obtained from plant extracts, is an attractive lead for drug development, given its known antimicrobial properties. Two basic requirements to establish any compound as a new drug are the development of a convenient extraction process and the characterization of its structural and thermal properties. In this work seven different methods were tested to optimize the extraction of AHR from Plectranthus grandidentatus. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) proved to be the method of choice, delivering an amount of AHR (57.351 μg·mg^-1) approximately six times higher than the second best method (maceration in acetone; 9.77 μg·mg^-1). Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the ARH molecular and crystal structure carried out at 167 ± 2 K and 296 ± 2 K showed only a single phase, here dubbed form III (orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2), at those temperatures. The presence of two other polymorphs above room temperature was, however, evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The three forms are enantiotropically related, with the form III → form II and form II → form I transitions occurring at 333.5 ± 1.6 K and 352.0 ± 1.6 K, respectively. The fact that the transitions are reversible suggests that polymorphism is not likely to be an issue in the development pharmaceutical formulations based on ARH. DSC experiments also showed that the compound decomposes on melting at 500.8 ± 0.8 K. Melting should therefore be avoided if, for example, strategies to improve solubility based on the production of glassy materials or solid dispersions are considered.

Structure-property relationships in protic ionic liquids: a study of solvent-solvent and solvent-solute interactions

The ionic nature of a functionalized protic ionic liquid cannot be rationalized simply through the differences in aqueous proton dissociation constants between the acid precursor and the conjugate acid of the base precursor. The extent of proton transfer, i.e. the equilibrium ionicity, of a tertiary ammonium acetate protic ionic liquid can be significantly increased by introducing an hydroxyl functional group on the cation, compared to the alkyl or amino-functionalized analogues. This increase in apparent ionic nature correlates well with variations in solvent-solute and solvent-solvent interaction parameters, as well as with physicochemical properties such as viscosity.

Structure–property relationships in protic ionic liquids: a thermochemical study

How does cation functionality influence the strength of intermolecular interactions in protic ionic liquids (PILs)? Quantifying the energetics of PILs can be an invaluable tool to answer this fundamental question.

Dynamic spin interchange in a tridentate Fe(iii) Schiff-base compound

The thermosalient effect is still a rare and poorly understood phenomenon, where crystals suddenly jump, bend, twist or explode upon undergoing a thermally activated phase transition. The synthesis and characterisation of the new spin transition Fe(iii) compound [Fe(5-Br-salEen)2][ClO4] (salEen = N-ethyl-N-(2-aminoethyl)salicylaldiminate) is described and its thermosalient behaviour reported. It is the first example of a thermosalient effect with a spin transition and magnetic, calorimetric, diffraction, microscopy and computational studies are used to characterise these effects. Both thermosalient effect and spin transition occur around 320 K upon heating and are accompanied by an anisotropic unit cell change with conservation of crystal symmetry that causes a large enough stress of the crystal lattice to induce crystal explosion. This stress can ultimately be traced back to a diffusionless and distortive structural perturbation resulting in a coupled spin transition-thermosalient effect.

Gas-Phase Affinity Scales for Typical Ionic Liquid Moieties Determined by using Cooks' Kinetic Method

Gas-phase affinity studies based on cations and anions commonly present in ionic liquid structures, give quantitative information about the magnitude of the interactions holding the two species together when ILs are formed. They also provide clues on how these interactions depend on the nature of the cationic and anionic moieties. In the present work, mass spectrometric experiments, performed using electrospray ionization quadrupole ion-trap and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, were used to obtain two affinity scales by Cooks' kinetic method: one scale for the various cations for the bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion, [NTf2 ](-) , and another for the different anions for the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation, [C4 mim](+) . The obtained results are compared with previously reported data and discussed in terms of the structural characteristics of the different cationic and anionic species.

Bridging the gap between ionic liquids and molten salts: group 1 metal salts of the bistriflamide anion in the gas phase

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry experiments showed that liquid Group 1 metal salts of the bistriflamide anion undergoing reduced-pressure distillation exhibit a remarkable behavior that is in transition between that of the vapor-liquid equilibrium characteristics of aprotic ionic liquids and that of the Group 1 metal halides: the unperturbed vapors resemble those of aprotic ionic liquids, in the sense that they are essentially composed of discrete ion pairs. However, the formation of large aggregates through a succession of ion-molecule reactions is closer to what might be expected for Group 1 metal halides. Similar experiments were also carried out with bis{(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl}amine to investigate the effect of H(+), which despite being the smallest Group 1 cation, is generally regarded as a nonmetal species. In this case, instead of the complex ion-molecule reaction pattern found for the vapors of Group 1 metal salts, an equilibrium similar to those observed for aprotic ionic liquids was observed.

Energetics of Cresols and of Methylphenoxyl Radicals

Combustion calorimetry studies were used to determine the standard molar enthalpies of formation of o-, m-, and p-cresols, at 298.15 K, in the condensed state as Delta(f)H(m) degrees (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,cr) = -204.2 +/- 2.7 kJ.mol(-1), Delta(f)H(m) degrees (m-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,l) = -196.6 +/- 2.1 kJ.mol(-1), and Delta(f)H(m) degrees (p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,cr) = -202.2 +/- 3.0 kJ.mol(-1). Calvet drop calorimetric measurements led to the following enthalpy of sublimation and vaporization values at 298.15 K: Delta(sub)H(m) degrees (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH) = 73.74 +/- 0.46 kJ.mol(-1), Delta(vap)H(m) degrees (m-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH) = 64.96 +/- 0.69 kJ.mol(-1), and Delta(sub)H(m) degrees (p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH) = 73.13 +/- 0.56 kJ.mol(-1). From the obtained Delta(f)H(m) degrees (l/cr) and Delta(vap)H(m) degrees /Delta(sub)H(m) degrees values, it was possible to derive Delta(f)H(m) degrees (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,g) = -130.5 +/- 2.7 kJ.mol(-1), Delta(f)H(m) degrees (m-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,g) = -131.6 +/- 2.2 kJ.mol(-1), and Delta(f)H(m) degrees (p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)OH,g) = -129.1 +/- 3.1 kJ.mol(-1). These values, together with the enthalpies of isodesmic and isogyric gas-phase reactions predicted by the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ, B3LYP/cc-pVTZ, B3P86/cc-pVDZ, B3P86/cc-pVTZ, MPW1PW91/cc-pVTZ, CBS-QB3, and CCSD/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/cc-pVTZ methods, were used to obtain the differences between the enthalpy of formation of the phenoxyl radical and the enthalpies of formation of the three methylphenoxyl radicals: Delta(f)H(m) degrees (C(6)H(5)O*,g) - Delta(f)H(m) degrees (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O*,g) = 42.2 +/- 2.8 kJ.mol(-1), Delta(f)H(m) degrees (C(6)H(5)O*,g) - Delta(f)H(m) degrees (m-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O*,g) = 36.1 +/- 2.4 kJ.mol(-1), and Delta(f)H(m) degrees (C(6)H(5)O*,g) - Delta(f)H(m) degrees (p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O*,g) = 38.6 +/- 3.2 kJ.mol(-1). The corresponding differences in O-H bond dissociation enthalpies were also derived as DH degrees (C(6)H(5)O-H) - DH degrees (o-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O-H) = 8.1 +/- 4.0 kJ.mol(-1), DH degrees (C(6)H(5)O-H) - DH degrees (m-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O-H) = 0.9 +/- 3.4 kJ.mol(-1), and DH degrees (C(6)H(5)O-H) - DH degrees (p-CH(3)C(6)H(4)O-H) = 5.9 +/- 4.5 kJ.mol(-1). Based on the differences in Gibbs energies of formation obtained from the enthalpic data mentioned above and from published or calculated entropy values, it is concluded that the relative stability of the cresols varies according to p-cresol < m-cresol < o-cresol, and that of the radicals follows the trend m-methylphenoxyl < p-methylphenoxyl < o-methylphenoxyl. It is also found that these tendencies are enthalpically controlled.

Energetics of hydroxybenzoic acids and of the corresponding carboxyphenoxyl radicals. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in 2-hydroxybenzoic acid

The energetics of the phenolic O-H bond in the three hydroxybenzoic acid isomers and of the intramolecular hydrogen O-H- - -O-C bond in 2-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-OHBA, were investigated by using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. The standard molar enthalpies of formation of monoclinic 3- and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids, at 298.15 K, were determined as Delta(f)(3-OHBA, cr) = -593.9 +/- 2.0 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)(4-OHBA, cr) = -597.2 +/- 1.4 kJ x mol(-1), by combustion calorimetry. Calvet drop-sublimation calorimetric measurements on monoclinic samples of 2-, 3-, and 4-OHBA, led to the following enthalpy of sublimation values at 298.15 K: Delta(sub)(2-OHBA) = 94.4 +/- 0.4 kJ x mol(-1), Delta(sub)(3-OHBA) = 118.3 +/- 1.1 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(sub)(4-OHBA) = 117.0 +/- 0.5 kJ x mol(-1). From the obtained Delta(f)(cr) and Delta(sub) values and the previously reported enthalpy of formation of monoclinic 2-OHBA (-591.7 +/- 1.3 kJ x mol(-1)), it was possible to derive Delta(f)(2-OHBA, g) = -497.3 +/- 1.4 kJ x mol(-1), Delta(f)(3-OHBA, g) = -475.6 +/- 2.3 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)(4-OHBA, cr) = -480.2 +/- 1.5 kJ x mol(-1). These values, together with the enthalpies of isodesmic and isogyric gas-phase reactions predicted by density functional theory (B3PW91/aug-cc-pVDZ, MPW1PW91/aug-cc-pVDZ, and MPW1PW91/aug-cc-pVTZ) and the CBS-QMPW1 methods, were used to derive the enthalpies of formation of the gaseous 2-, 3-, and 4-carboxyphenoxyl radicals as (2-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -322.5 +/- 3.0 kJ.mol(-1) Delta(f)(3-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -310.0 +/- 3.0 kJ x mol(-1), and Delta(f)(4-HOOCC(6)H(4)O(*), g) = -318.2 +/- 3.0 kJ x mol(-1). The O-H bond dissociation enthalpies in 2-OHBA, 3-OHBA, and 4-OHBA were 392.8 +/- 3.3, 383.6 +/- 3.8, and 380.0 +/- 3.4 kJ x mol(-1), respectively. Finally, by using the ortho-para method, it was found that the H- - -O intramolecular hydrogen bond in the 2-carboxyphenoxyl radical is 25.7 kJ x mol(-1), which is ca. 6-9 kJ x mol(-1) above the one estimated in its parent (2-OHBA), viz. 20.2 kJ x mol(-1) (theoretical) or 17.1 +/- 2.1 kJ x mol(-1) (experimental).

The nature of ionic liquids in the gas phase

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) experiments showed that when aprotic ionic liquids vaporize under pressure and temperature conditions similar to those of a reduced-pressure distillation, the gas phase is composed of discrete anion-cation pairs. The evolution of the mass spectrometric signals recorded during fractional distillations of binary ionic liquid mixtures allowed us to monitor the changes of the gas-phase composition and the relative volatility of the components. In addition, we have studied a protic ionic liquid, and demonstrated that it exists as separated neutral molecules in the gas phase.

Energetics of C-F, C-Cl, C-Br, and C-I bonds in 2-haloethanols. enthalpies of formation of XCH(2)CH(2)OH (X = F, Cl, Br, I) compounds and of the 2-hydroxyethyl radical

The energetics of the C-F, C-Cl, C-Br, and C-I bonds in 2-haloethanols was investigated by using a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. The standard molar enthalpies of formation of 2-chloro-, 2-bromo-, and 2-iodoethanol, at 298.15 K, were determined as Delta(f)H(degree)m(CH2CH2OH, l) = -315.5 +/- 0.7 kJ.mol-1, Delta(f)H(degree)mBrCH2CH2OH, l) = -275.8 +/- 0.6 kJ.mol-1, Delta(f)H(degree)m(ICH2CH2OH, l) = -207.3 +/- 0.7 kJ.mol-1, by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry. The corresponding standard molar enthalpies of vaporization, Delta(vap)H(degree)m(ClCH2CH2OH) = 48.32 +/- 0.37 kJ.mol-1, Delta(vap)H(degree)m(BrCH2CH2OH) = 54.08 +/- 0.40 kJ.mol-1, and Delta(vap)H(degree)m(ICH2CH2OH) = 57.03 +/- 0.20 kJ.mol-1 were also obtained by Calvet-drop microcalorimetry. The condensed phase and vaporization enthalpy data lead to Delta(f)H(degree)m(ClCH2CH2OH, g) = -267.2 +/- 0.8 kJ.mol-1, Delta(f)H(degree)m(BrCH2CH2OH, g) = -221.7 +/- 0.7 kJ.mol-1, and Delta(f)H(degree)m(ICH2CH2OH, g) = -150.3 +/- 0.7 kJ.mol-1. These values, together with the enthalpy of selected isodesmic and isogyric gas-phase reactions predicted by density functional theory (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) and CBS-QB3 calculations were used to derive the enthalpies of formation of gaseous 2-fluoroethanol, Delta(f)H(degree)m(FCH2CH2OH, g) = -423.6 +/- 5.0 kJ.mol-1, and of the 2-hydroxyethyl radical, Delta(f)H(degree)m(CH2CH2OH, g) = -28.7 +/- 8.0 kJ.mol-1. The obtained thermochemical data led to the following carbon-halogen bond dissociation enthalpies: DHo(X-CH2CH2OH) = 474.4 +/- 9.4 kJ.mol-1 (X = F), 359.9 +/- 8.0 kJ.mol-1 (X = Cl), 305.0 +/- 8.0 kJ.mol-1 (X = Br), 228.7 +/- 8.1 kJ.mol-1 (X = I). These values were compared with the corresponding C-X bond dissociation enthalpies in XCH2COOH, XCH3, XC2H5, XCH=CH2, and XC6H5. In view of this comparison the computational methods mentioned above were also used to obtain Delta(f)H(degree)m-594.0 +/- 5.0 kJ.mol-1 from which DHo(F-CH2COOH) = 435.4 +/- 5.4 kJ.mol-1. The order DHo(C-F) > DHo(C-Cl) > DHo(C-Br) > DHo(C-I) is observed for the haloalcohols and all other RX compounds. It is finally concluded that the major qualitative trends exhibited by the C-X bond dissociation enthalpies for the series of compounds studied in this work can be predicted by Pauling's electrostatic-covalent model.

An All-Atom Force Field for Metallocenes

A new all-atom force field, for the molecular modeling of metallocenes was constructed. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to obtain several force field terms not yet defined in the literature. The remainder were transferred from the OPLS-AA/AMBER framework. The parametrization work included the obtention of geometrical parameters, torsion energy profiles, and distributions of atomic charges that blend smoothly with the OPLS-AA specification for a variety of organic molecular fragments. Validation was carried out by comparing simulated and experimental data for five different ferrocene derivatives in the crystalline phase. The present model can be regarded as a step toward a general force field for metallocenes, built in a systematic way, easily integrated with OPLS-AA, and transferable between different metal-ligand combinations.

Effect of Ring Substitution on the S−H Bond Dissociation Enthalpies of Thiophenols. An Experimental and Computational Study

There are conflicting reports on the origin of the effect of Y substituents on the S-H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) in 4-Y-substituted thiophenols, 4-YC(6)H(4)S-H. The differences in S-H BDEs, [4-YC(6)H(4)S-H] - [C(6)H(5)S-H], are known as the total (de)stabilization enthalpies, TSEs, where TSE = RSE - MSE, i.e., the radical (de)stabilization enthalpy minus the molecule (de)stabilization enthalpy. The effects of 4-Y substituents on the S-H BDEs in thiophenols and on the S-C BDEs in phenyl thioethers are expected to be almost identical. Some S-C TSEs were therefore derived from the rates of homolyses of a few 4-Y-substituted phenyl benzyl sulfides, 4-YC(6)H(4)S-CH(2)C(6)H(5), in the hydrogen donor solvent 9,10-dihydroanthracene. These TSEs were found to be -3.6 +/- 0.5 (Y = NH(2)), -1.8 +/- 0.5 (CH(3)O), 0 (H), and 0.7 +/- 0.5 (CN) kcal mol(-1). The MSEs of 4-YC(6)H(4)SCH(2)C(6)H(5) have also been derived from the results of combustion calorimetry, Calvet-drop calorimetry, and computational chemistry (B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)). The MSEs of these thioethers were -0.6 +/- 1.1 (NH(2)), -0.4 +/- 1.1 (CH(3)O), 0 (H), -0.3 +/- 1.3 (CN), and -0.8 +/- 1.5 (COCH(3)) kcal mol(-1). Although all the enthalpic data are rather small, it is concluded that the TSEs in 4-YC(6)H(4)SH are largely governed by the RSEs, a somewhat surprising conclusion in view of the experimental fact that the unpaired electron in C(6)H(5)S(*) is mainly localized on the S. The TSEs, RSEs, and MSEs have also been computed for a much larger series of 4-YC(6)H(4)SH and 4-YC(6)H(4)SCH(3) compounds by using a B3P86 methology and have further confirmed that the S-H/S-CH(3) TSEs are dominated by the RSEs. Good linear correlations were obtained for TSE = rho(+)sigma(p)(+)(Y), with rho(+) (kcal mol(-1)) = 3.5 (S-H) and 3.9 (S-CH(3)). It is also concluded that the SH substituent is a rather strong electron donor with a sigma(p)(+)(SH) of -0.60, and that the literature value of -0.03 is in error. In addition, the SH rotational barriers in 4-YC(6)H(4)SH have been computed and it has been found that for strong electron donating (ED) Ys, such as NH(2), the lowest energy conformer has the S-H bond oriented perpendicular to the aromatic ring plane. In this orientation the SH becomes an electron withdrawing (EW) group. Thus, although the OH group in phenols is always in-plane and ED irrespective of the nature of the 4-Y substituent, in thiophenols the SH switches from being an ED group with EW and weak ED 4-Ys, to being an EW group for strong ED 4-Ys.

Energetics of the Thermal Dimerization of Acenaphthylene to Heptacyclene

The energetics of the thermal dimerization of acenaphthylene to give Z- or E-heptacyclene was investigated. The standard molar enthalpy of the formation of monoclinic Z- and E-heptacyclene isomers at 298.15 K was determined as Delta(f)H(m)o (E-C24H16, cr) = 269.3 +/- 5.6 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)H(m)o (Z-C24H16, cr) = 317.7 +/- 5.6 kJ x mol(-1), respectively, by microcombustion calorimetry. The corresponding enthalpies of sublimation, Delta(sub)H(m)o (E-C24H16) = (149.0 +/- 3.1) kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(sub)H(m)o (Z-C24H16) = (128.5 +/- 2.3) kJ x mol(-1) were also obtained by Knudsen effusion and Calvet-drop microcalorimetry methods, leading to Delta(f)H(m)o (E-C24H16, g) = (418.3 +/- 6.4) kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(f)H(m)o (Z-C24H16, g) = (446.2 +/- 6.1) kJ x mol(-1), respectively. These results, in conjunction with the reported enthalpies of formation of solid and gaseous acenaphthylene, and the entropies of acenaphthylene and both hepatcyclene isomers obtained by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method led to the conclusion that at 298.15 K the thermal dimerization of acenaphthylene is considerably exothermic and exergonic in the solid and gaseous states (although more favorable when the E isomer is the product), suggesting that the nonobservation of the reaction under these conditions is of kinetic nature. A full determination of the molecular and crystal structure of the E dimer by X-ray diffraction is reported for the first time. Finally, molecular dynamics computer simulations on acenaphthylene and the heptacyclene solids were carried out and the results discussed in light of the corresponding structural and Delta(sub)H(m)o data experimentally obtained.

A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Thermodynamic Properties of Calcium Apatites. 1. Hexagonal Phases

Structural and thermodynamic properties of crystal hexagonal calcium apatites, Ca10(PO4)6(X)2 (X = OH, F, Cl, Br), were investigated using an all-atom Born-Huggins-Mayer potential by a molecular dynamics technique. The accuracy of the model at room temperature and atmospheric pressure was checked against crystal structural data, with maximum deviations of ca. 4% for the haloapatites and 8% for hydroxyapatite. The standard molar lattice enthalpy, delta(lat)H298(o), of the apatites was calculated and compared with previously published experimental results, the agreement being better than 2%. The molar heat capacity at constant pressure, C(p,m), in the range 298-1298 K, was estimated from the plot of the molar enthalpy of the crystal as a function of temperature, H(m) = (H(m,298) - 298C(p,m)) + C(p,m)T, yielding C(p,m) = 694 +/- 68 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), C(p,m) = 646 +/- 26 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), C(p,m) = 530 +/- 34 J x mol(-1) x K(-1), and C(p,m) = 811 +/- 42 J x mol(-1) x K(-1) for hydroxy-, fluor-, chlor-, and bromapatite, respectively. High-pressure simulation runs, in the range 0.5-75 kbar, were performed in order to estimate the isothermal compressibility coefficient, kappaT, of those compounds. The deformation of the compressed solids is always elastically anisotropic, with BrAp exhibiting a markedly different behavior from those displayed by HOAp and ClAp. High-pressure p-V data were fitted to the Parsafar-Mason equation of state with an accuracy better than 1%.

Bonding energetics in alkaline metal alkoxides and phenoxides

The bonding energetics in a variety of alkaline metal, alkoxides and phenoxides, MOR, was investigated based on the corresponding enthalpies of formation in the crystalline state determined by reaction-solution calorimetry. The results obtained at 298.15 K were as follows: Delta(f)H(m)(o)(MOR, cr)/kJ mol(-1) = 382.7+/-1.4 (LiOC(6)H(5)), 513.6+/-2.5 (NaO-nC(6)H(13)), 326.4+/-1.4 (NaOC(6)H(5)), 375.2+/-3.4 (KOCH(3)), 434.5+/-2.7 (KOC(2)H(5)), 467.1+/-5.2 (KO-nC(3)H(7)), 459.3+/-2.1 (KO-nC(4)H(9)), 464.6+/-5.7 (KO-tC(4)H(9)), 464.3+/-2.5 (KO-nC(6)H(13)), 333.3+/-3.1 (KOC(6)H(5)), 380.6+/-2.9 (RbOCH(3)), 434.1+/-2.9 (RbOC(2)H(5)), 345.3+/-2.9 (LiOC(6)H(5)), 379.1+/-3.0 (CsOCH(3)), 432.3+/-3.1 (CsOC(2)H(5)), 466.9+/-5.0 (CsO-nC(3)H(7)), 461.3+/-3.5 (CsO-nC(4)H(9)), 461.9+/-2.5 (CsO-tC(4)H(9)), 349.2+/-1.4 (CsOC(6)H(5)). These results together with revised Delta(f)H(m)(o)(MOR, cr) values from the literature, were used to derive a consistent set of lattice energies for the MOR compounds and discuss general trends in the structure-energetics relationship based on the Kapustinskii equation.

The aromaticity of pyracylene: an experimental and computational study of the energetics of the hydrogenation of acenaphthylene and pyracylene

In this work, the aromaticity of pyracylene (2) was investigated from an energetic point of view. The standard enthalpy of hydrogenation of acenaphthylene (1) to acenaphthene (3) at 298.15 K was determined to be minus sign(114.5 +/- 4.2) kJ x mol(-1) in toluene solution and minus sign(107.9 +/- 4.2) kJ x mol(-1) in the gas phase, by combining results of combustion and reaction-solution calorimetry. A direct calorimetric measurement of the standard enthalpy of hydrogenation of pyracylene (2) to pyracene (4) in toluene at 298.15 K gave -(249.9 plus minus 4.6) kJ x mol(-1). The corresponding enthalpy of hydrogenation in the gas phase, computed from the Delta(f)H(o)m(cr) and DeltaH(o)m(sub) values obtained in this work for 2 and 4, was -(236.0 +/- 7.0) kJ x mol(-1). Molecular mechanics calculations (MM3) led to Delta(hyd)H(o)m(1,g) = -110.9 kJ x mol(-1) and Delta(hyd)H(o)m(2,g) = -249.3 kJ x mol(-1) at 298.15 K. Density functional theory calculations [B3LYP/6-311+G(3d,2p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d)] provided Delta(hyd)H(o)m(2,g) = -(244.6 +/- 8.9) kJ x mol(-1) at 298.15 K. The results are put in perspective with discussions concerning the "aromaticity" of pyracylene. It is concluded that, on energetic grounds, pyracylene is a borderline case in terms of aromaticity/antiaromaticity character.