Rearrangements of the Radical Cations of 3-Aryl-5-fluoroisoxazoles: Further Evidence for Existence of Benzocyclopropenyl Cation

The fragmentation reaction of the radical cations of 3-aryl-5-fluoroisoxazoles formed via EI-MS is described. A new rearrangement accompanied by fluorine atom migration is discovered. A mechanistic rationale for the rearrangement supporting the existence of a fluorinated benzocyclopropenyl cation was proposed based on the experimental data and quantum chemical calculations.

4-Oxo-7-fluoro-1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamides: Synthesis, Structural Features, Lanthanide Complexes, and Am(III)/Ln(III) Solvent Extraction

A highly efficient synthetic approach was developed for the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamides with two different substituents in the fourth and seventh positions of the phenanthroline core. The structures of these ligands were confirmed using various spectral methods including 2D-NMR and X-ray analysis. Quantum chemical calculations supported the presence of tautomeric forms of these ligands. Furthermore, it was discovered that these compounds exhibit polydentate ligand behavior toward lanthanide nitrates. The structural characteristics of the complexes formed between these ligands and lanthanide nitrates were investigated both in the solid state and in solution. To further understand the binding properties of these novel unsymmetrical ligands, the binding constants for potential complexes were quantitatively measured by using UV-vis spectrophotometric titration. This allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the binding affinity and stability of these complexes. Extraction experiments of f-elements were performed for symmetrical and unsymmetrical diamides. Overall, this study presents significant advancement in the synthesis and characterization of unsymmetrical 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamides and provides valuable insights into their potential applications as polydentate ligands for lanthanide nitrates.

1,2-Bis(triazolyl)tetraphenyldigermanes: Synthesis, Structure and Properties

Using the [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of [HC≡C-GePh2 -]2 (1) and a number of RCH2 N3 , this work described the synthesis of a series of novel heterocyclic digermanes, bitriazoles [1,4-C2 HN3 (CH2 R)GePh2 -]2 , 2-12 (R=Ph, p-Tol, p-C6 H4 NMe2 , p-C6 H4 OMe, p-C6 H4 Br, m-C6 H4 NO2 , 2-Naphth, CH2 -p-OC6 H4 CHO, CH2 -p-OC6 H4 COOMe, CH2 P(O)(OEt)2 , COOEt), difficult to produce by other methods. The structural peculiarities of these compounds were studied in detail by NMR spectroscopy and by XRD analysis (for 6, 9 and 10). The properties of 1-12 were studied by UV/vis and luminescence emission spectroscopy, electrochemistry and DFT calculations, indicating an effective conjugation in their molecules.

First 24-Membered Macrocyclic 1,10-Phenanthroline-2,9-Diamides-An Efficient Switch from Acidic to Alkaline Extraction of f-Elements

A reaction of acyl chlorides derived from 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acids with piperazine allows the preparation of the corresponding 24-membered macrocycles in good yield. The structural and spectral properties of these new macrocyclic ligands were thoroughly investigated, revealing promising coordination properties towards f-elements (Am, Eu). It was shown that the prepared ligands can be used for selective extraction of Am(III) from alkaline-carbonate media in presence of Eu(III) with an SF_Am/Eu up to 40. Their extraction efficiency is higher than calixarene-type extraction of the Am(III) and Eu(III) pair. Composition of macrocycle-metal complex with Eu(III) was investigated by luminescence and UV-vis spectroscopy. The possibility of such ligands to form complexes of L:Eu = 1:2 stoichiometry is revealed.

Solvation-Anionic Exchange Mechanism of Solvent Extraction: Enhanced U(VI) Uptake by Tetradentate Phenanthroline Ligands

Phenanthroline diamides (L) demonstrated a unique ability to extract uranium from nitric acid solutions into a polar organic solvent forming complexes of 1:2 stoichiometry as tight ion pairs {[UO₂LNO₃]⁺[UO₂(NO₃)₃]^-} by a novel extraction mechanism, which is a combination of two already well-known mechanisms: solvation and ion-pair anion exchange. A UV-vis study was used to confirm the formation of such complexes directly in the organic phase. Moreover, chemical synthesis and single crystal growth were performed to confirm unambiguously the structure of the complexes in the solid state.

Competing Routes in the Extraction of Lanthanide Nitrates by 1,10-Phenanthroline-2,9-diamides: An Impact of Structure of Complexes on the Extraction

The fact of the fracture of the extraction curve of lanthanides by 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-diamides is explained in terms of the structure of complexes, solvent extraction data and quantum chemical calculations. The solvent extraction proceeds in two competing directions: in the form of neutral complexes LLn(NO₃)₃ and in the form of tight ion pairs {[LLn(NO₃)₂ H₂O]⁺ (NO₃^-).

DFT Investigation of the η6 ⇌ η6-Inter-ring Haptotropic Rearrangement of the Group 8 Metals Complexes [(graphene)MCp]+ (M = Fe, Ru, Os)

Metalcyclopentadienyl complexes (MCp)⁺ (M = Fe, Ru, Os) bound to the large polyaromatic hydrogenated hydrocarbon (PAH) C₉₆H₂₄ used as a model for pristine graphene have been studied using a density functional theory (DFT) generalized gradient approximation (PBE functional) to reveal their structural features and dynamic behavior. The inter-ring haptotropic rearrangements (IRHRs) for these complexes were shown to occur via two transition states and one intermediate. The energy barriers of the η⁶ ⇌ η⁶ IRHRs of the (MCp)⁺ unit were found to be 30, 27, and 29 kcal/mol for M = Fe, Ru, and Os, respectively. These values are significantly lower than the values found previously for smaller PAHs. Both polar and nonpolar solvents were found not to affect significantly the energy barrier heights. Investigated transition metal complexes could be used in general as catalysts in the design of novel derivatives or materials with promising properties. Metalcyclopentadienyl complexes (MCp)⁺ of PAHs show catalytic properties mainly due to their structural details as well as their important characteristic of inter-ring haptotropic rearrangement. IRHRs take place usually by intramolecular mechanisms. During IRHRs, the ML_n organometallic groups (OMGs) undergo shifting along the PAH plane and could coordinate additional reagents, which is important for catalysis. Large PAHs such as graphene, fullerenes, and nanotubes possess intrinsic anticancer activity, and numerous arene complexes of Ru and Os have been proven to have anticancer properties as well. We suppose that coordinating Ru or Os to very large PAHs could synergistically increase the anticancer activity of resulting complexes.

Cyclization of N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides into N-arylpyrrolidin-2-ones under electron ionization and in the condensed phase

RATIONALE

Mass spectrometry is known as an excellent method to predict the behavior of organic compounds in solution. The behavior of organic compounds in the gas phase inside the ion source of a mass spectrometer allows their intrinsic properties to be defined, avoiding the influence of intermolecular interactions, counter ions and solvent effects.

METHODS

Arylpyrrolidin-2-ones were obtained by condensed-phase synthesis from the corresponding N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides. Electron ionization (EI) with accurate mass measurements by high-resolution time-of-flight mass-spectrometry and quantum chemical calculations were used to understand the behavior of the molecular radical cations of N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides and N-arylpyrrolidin-2-ones in the ion source of a mass spectrometer. The geometries of the molecules, transition states, and intermediates were fully optimized using DFT-PBE calculations.

RESULTS

Fragmentation schemes, ion structures, and possible mechanisms of primary isomerisation were proposed for isomeric N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides and N-arylpyrrolidin-2-ones. Based on the fragmentation pattern of the N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides, isomerisation of the original M^+• ions into the M^+• ions of the N-arylpyrrolidin-2-ones was shown to be only a minor process. In contrast, this cyclization proceeds easily in the condensed phase in the presence of Brønsted acids.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the experimental data and quantum chemical calculations the principal mechanism of decomposition of the molecular ions of N-arylcyclopropanecarboxamides involves their direct fragmentation without any rearrangements. An alternative mechanism is responsible for the isomerisation of a small portion of the higher energy molecular ions into the corresponding N-arylpyrrolidin-2-one ions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of an Intramolecular CF3-Group Shift in the Reactions of α-Bromoenones with 1,2-Diamines

The reactions of trifluoromethylated 2-bromoenones and N,N'-dialkyl-1,2-diamines have been studied. Depending on the structures of the starting compounds, the formation of 2-trifluoroacetylpiperazine or 3-trifluoromethylpiperazine-2-ones was observed. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed in terms of multistep processes involving sequential substitution of bromine in the starting α-bromoenones and intramolecular cyclization of the captodative aminoenones as key intermediates to form the target heterocycles. The results of theoretical calculations are in perfect agreement with the experimental data. The unique role of the trifluoromethyl group in this reaction is demonstrated.

DFT study of dihydrogen addition to molybdenum π-heteroaromatic complexes: a prerequisite step for the catalytic hydrodenitrogenation process

The mechanism proceeds via consecutive steps of oxidative H₂ addition, hydrogen metal-to-ligand transfer, accompanied by a change of metal–ligand hapticity.

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Thermal Entropy in Mixed Zinc Chalcogenides

Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were performed to determine the vibrational contribution to the entropy of mixing and its importance for the mixing of ZnO/ZnS and ZnS/Zn3P2. These systems were modeled by cyclic clusters Zn48O48, Zn32S32, and Zn48P32. The mixed cyclic clusters considered were Zn48O47S, Zn32S31O, Zn33S30P2, and Zn47S2P30. For each of the clusters, the entropy was calculated in the range of the experimental temperature of the mixing process. The convergence of the entropy with respect to the number of MD steps was studied. Finally, the thermal part of the entropy of mixing was determined, and its dependence on the number of MD steps was investigated. It was found that the thermal entropy is important for the Gibbs free energy of mixing near the miscibility gaps.

Miscibility of Zinc Sulfide and Zinc Phosphide

Solid solutions in the system zinc sulfide/zinc phosphide (Zn(2+)(x)S(2-2xP(2x)) were investigated using the cyclic cluster model within the semiempirical MSINDO method. Results of cyclic cluster calculations for binding energies of the perfect ZnS and Zn(3)P(2) are presented and compared with the experimental data. The miscibility of ZnS and Zn(3)P(2) over the whole composition range of 0 < x < 1 was investigated by calculating the Gibbs free energy of mixing Delta(M)G for different values of x. A miscibility gap was found at both ends of the composition range and compared with experimental data.