[Implementation of the new collective agreement in 2021 in urological clinics : Expectations and reality]

The amendment to the collective agreement is intended to significantly improve the working conditions of physicians and includes longer-term duty scheduling, work on a maximum of two weekends per month, less overtime. Smaller hospitals often have problems implementing these requirements and have to make compromises. At least the overtime is now better paid-overall, an improvement in working conditions can only be achieved by increasing the number of staff, then better and more intensive training is also possible.

Covalent and ionic bonding in bi- and tricyclic Group 15 amides: equidistant P-I and As-I bonds and fluxional cations

A series of trivalent Group 15 bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(iii)azane element bi- and tricycles of the formulae {[(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]ElX}, El = P, As, Sb, Bi, where X = Ph, OPh, OtBu, N3, hexamethyldisilylamide (HMDS), OTf, was synthesized from the corresponding chlorides via salt elimination. The ensuing compounds were studied spectroscopically and X-ray crystallographically with a particular focus on the length of the El-X bond. While the Group 15 element to phenyl and HMDS were of normal lengths and completely covalent, those to azide appeared to be partly ionic. The {[(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]ElI} showed El-I bonds that were substantially longer than the typical element iodide bonds, suggesting a very high degree of polarity and bordering on ionic bonding. Finally, the triflate [(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]P] + [SO3CF3]- proved to be an ion pair in the solid state. The antimony analog, however, showed a long covalent Sb-O bond in the solid state, although it appears to dissociate into ions in solution. The phosphonium triflate salt is fluxional and exhibits a previously unseen highly symmetrical structure in solution. The bonding trends from completely covalent to completely ionic are discussed in terms steric restrictions and the delocalization of charge in either the cation or the anion.

The Disappearing Director: The Case of Directed N-Arylation via a Removable Hydroxyl Group

A facile and broadly applicable method for the regiospecific N-arylation of benzotriazoles is reported. Copper-mediated reactions of diverse 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazoles with aryl boronic acids lead to 1-aryl-1H-benzotriazole 3-oxides. A N1-OH → N3 prototropy in the 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazoles is plausibly the underlying basis, where the tautomer is captured by the boronic acid, leading to C-N (not C-O) bond formation. Because the N-O bond in amine N-oxides and 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazoles can be easily reduced by diboron reagents such as (pinB)2 and B2(OH)4, exposure of the 1-aryl-1H-benzotriazole 3-oxides to B2(OH)4 then leads to facile reduction of the N-O bond resulting in diverse, regiospecifically-arylated benzotriazoles. Thus, the N-hydroxyl group in 1-hydroxy-1H-benzotriazoles acts as a disposable arylation director.

Generating Stereodiversity: Diastereoselective Fluorination and Highly Diastereoselective Epimerization of α-Amino Acid Building Blocks

Diastereoselective fluorination of N-Boc ( R)- and ( S)-2,2-dimethyl-4-((arylsulfonyl)methyl)oxazolidines and a previously unknown diastereoselective epimerization at the fluorine-bearing carbon atom α to the sulfone was realized. Diastereoselectivities of both reactions were excellent for benzothiazolyl sulfones, allowing access to two enantiomerically pure diastereomers from one chiral precursor. To demonstrate synthetic utility, the benzothiazolyl sulfones were converted to diastereomerically pure ( S, S)- and ( R, S)-benzyl sulfones via sulfinate salts and to amino acids. To understand the diastereoselectivities, DFT analysis was performed.

The chameleonic reactivity of dilithio bis(alkylamido)cyclodiphosph(iii)azanes with chlorophosphines

Analogous reactions do not necessarily give analogous products.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation Approach to Azolyl Aminals and Hemiaminal Ethers, Mechanistic Evaluations, and Isomer Interconversion

C(sp³)-N bond-forming reactions between benzotriazole and 5,6-dimethylbenzotriazole with N-methylpyrrolidinone, tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, diethyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, and isochroman have been conducted using RuCl₃•3H₂O/t-BuOOH in 1,2-dichloroethane. In all cases, N1 and N2 alkylation products were obtained, and these are readily separated by chromatography. One of these products, 1-(isochroman-1-yl)-5,6-dimethyl-1H-benzotriazole, was examined by X-ray crystallography. It is the first such compound to be analyzed by this method, and notably, the benzotriazolyl moiety is quasi-axially disposed, consistent with the anomeric effect. This has plausible consequences, not observed previously. In contrast to other hemiaminal ether-forming reactions, which proceed via radicals, this Ru-catalyzed process is not suppressed in the presence of a radical inhibitor. Therefore, an oxoruthenium-species-mediated rapid formation of an oxocarbenium intermediate is believed to occur. In the radical-trapping experiment, previously unknown products containing both the benzotriazole and the TEMPO unit have been identified. In these products, it is likely that the benzotriazole is introduced via a Ru-catalyzed C-N bond formation, whereas C-O bond-formation with TEMPO occurs via a radical reaction. We show that reactions of THF with TEMPO are influenced by ambient light. A competitive reaction of THF and THF-d₈ with benzotriazole indicated that C-H bond cleavage occurs ca. 5 times faster than C-D cleavage. This is comparable to other metal-mediated radical reactions of THF, but lower than that observed for a reaction catalyzed by n-Bu₄N⁺I^-. Detailed mechanistic experiments and comparisons are described. The catalytic system was also evaluated for reactions of benzimidazole, imidazole, 1,2,4-triazole, and 1,2,3-triazole with THF, and successful reactions were achieved in each case. In the course of our studies, we discovered an unexpected but significant isomerization of some of the benzotriazolyl hemiaminal ethers. This is plausibly attributable to the pseudoaxial orientation of the heterocycle in the products and the stability of oxocarbenium ions, both of which can contribute to C-N bond cleavage and reformation. Predominantly, the N2-isomers rearrange to the N1-isomers even upon storage at low temperature! This previously unknown phenomenon has also been studied and described.

[Regional Deprivation in Germany: Nation-wide Analysis of its Association with Mortality Using the German Index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD)]

BACKGROUND

Deprivation indices are increasingly being used to assess the effects of contextual factors on health. In Germany, the recently developed 'German Index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD)' integrates various dimensions of regional deprivation. We aim to assess the validity of the GIMD through a recalculation using more recent rural and urban district level data and by analysing its association with mortality at the national level.

METHODS

We calculated a new version of the GIMD based on data from 2007 to 2010 for all 412 rural and urban districts in Germany. Mortality was quantified using indirectly standardised mortality ratios (SMRs). Correlation analyses and Poisson regression analyses were used to assess the association between the GIMD scores and total mortality, as well as premature mortality (< 65 years).

RESULTS

Correlation analyses showed a positive association between the GIMD and both total mortality (p<0.001) and premature mortality (p<0.001). In the Poisson regression analyses, rural and urban districts in the quintile with the highest deprivation showed a significantly elevated risk of total mortality (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.28-1.30) as well as premature mortality (RR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.47-1.53), compared to the districts in the lowest quintile.

CONCLUSION

The association between regional deprivation and mortality has already been shown for the federal state of Bavaria. Using more recent data, this relationship could be confirmed here for Germany as a whole. The GIMD has been shown to be able to effectively assess regional deprivation. Concerning public health policy, the significant, positive and stable association between regional deprivation and mortality indicates an increased need for health care provision particularly in the most deprived districts. Further studies should examine, for example, whether and how the allocation of districts to quintiles of regional deprivation changes over time, and how this affects mortality.

Alkoxigermanate(II), -stannate(II) und -plumbate(II) zweiwertiger Metallionen, I [1] / Alkoxigermanates(II), -stannates(II) and -plumbates(II) of Two-Valent Metal Ions, I [1]

Bis(tri-tert-butoxigermanates), -stannates and -plumbates of Mg (1a), Ca (1b, 2b, 3b), Sr (1c, 2c, 3c), Ba (1d, 2d, 3d), Cd (le, 2e, 3e), Eu (1f, 2f, 3f) and Pb (1g, 2g, 3g) have been synthesized by various procedures from starting materials such as sodium tri-tert-butoxigermanate (5) and -plumbate (6) and other analogous compounds. While in 1 g and 2g the lead atom is situated in the middle of the molecule, it can also occupy two different coordination sites as in Pb(OtBu)3Pb(OtBu)3Pb (3g) and in Ge(OtBu)3Pb(OtBu)3Pb (7). X-ray structure investigations on 1a, 1b, 1e, 1f, 1g, 2b, 2e, 2g, 3c, 3d and 3g reveal that all these molecules have a common ElO3MO3El cage unit. This cage unit can be visualized as two ElO3M trigonal bipyramids sharing the central metal M. Consequently in all structures the central element M is sixfold coordinated by oxygen while the outer metals (El) have three oxygen neighbours. The oxygen atoms are further bonded to tert-butyl-groups, which surround the whole ElO3MO3El frame. Four different structure types have been found to exist: a monoclinic type α (1a), an orthorhombic type β (1b, le, 2b, 2e), a rhombohedral type γ (1f, 1g, 3c, 3d, 3g) and a monoclinic type δ (2g). In the β-structure type the molecules are found to exist as three different isomers, depending on the arrangement of the alkoxy groups in a right- or left-handed manner within the El(OtBu)3 groups (RR, SS and RS). Solution equilibria between these isomers are observed by NMR. In the case of 1e a more detailed picture of this intramolecular motion, attributed to the inversion of the trigonal-pyramidally coordinated oxygen atoms, can be given. CP-MAS-NMR-spectra as well as solution spectra have been obtained for le (13C, 113Cd), 2e (13C, 113Cd, 119Sn), 2g (119Sn, 207Pb), 3g (13C). While δ113Cd values of 2e in solution and in the solid are comparable (92.8 vs 73.7 ppm), the 2J(119Sn/113Cd) values rise from 39 Hz to 295 Hz. Detailed comparison of bond lengths and angles in the different derivatives shows that the “softness” of the El(OtBu)3 groups (or the ability of the groups to accommodate a metal atom with respect to its size) follows the order Sn(OtBu)3 < Ge(OtBu)3 < Pb(OtBu)3. From these findings it can be explained, why the lead derivative 2g shows stereochemical activity of the lone pair, while 1g and 3g do not show this effect at room temperature. All compounds except the lead derivatives 1g, 2g, 3g and 7 are colourless.

Syntheses and structures of cationic and neutral, homo- and heteroleptic tert-butoxides of the group 4 metals

The utility of tri-tert-butoxystannate as a chelating tridentate ligand for group 4 metals was investigated. The highly Lewis acidic metals degraded the stannate ion in a series of tert-butoxide abstraction steps to produce a variety of group 4 tert-butoxides. A total of 1 equiv of NaSn(O(t)Bu)(3) reacted with cis-MCl(4)(THF)(2) [M = Zr (1), Hf (2)] in THF solutions to furnish the salts fac-{[M(O(t)Bu)(3)(THF)(3)](SnCl(3))}, which are separated ion pairs featuring weakly coordinating trichlorostannate ions. Neutral complexes, namely, [M(O(t)Bu)(2)Cl(2)(THF)(2)] [M = Zr (3), Hf (4)], were isolated when 2/3 equiv of sodium stannate was used in these reactions. Titanium tetrachloride formed analogues neither of 1 and 2 nor of 3 and 4, but Ti(O(t)Bu)(3)Cl reacted with silver triflate to give [Ti(O(t)Bu)(2)(OTf)(2)(THF)(2)] (5). Anion exchange of triflate for trichlorostannate transformed 1 to the contact ion pair fac-[Zr(O(t)Bu)(3)OTf(THF)(2)] (6). A total of 2 equiv of NaSn(O(t)Bu)(3) reacted with cis-MCl(4)(THF)(2) to give the complexes fac-[Sn(mu-O(t)Bu)(3)M(O(t)Bu)(3)] [M = Zr (7), Hf (8)]. Tri-tert-butoxystannate may be used as a selective alkoxylating agent for group 4 metals, and it can be transferred to these metals intact if their Lewis acidity is appropriately attenuated as in fac-{[M(O(t)Bu)(3)(THF)(3)](SnCl(3))}. Single-crystal X-ray studies revealed distorted octahedral coordination geometries for all compounds (1-8), with 1, 2, 7, and 8 being crystallographically C(3) symmetric.

Preservation of cocoa antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, flavan-3-ols, and procyanidin content in foods prepared with cocoa powder

Little is known about the effects of common cooking processes on cocoa flavanols. Antioxidant activity, total polyphenols (TP), flavanol monomers, and procyanidin oligomers were determined in chocolate frosting, a hot cocoa drink, chocolate cookies, and chocolate cake made with natural cocoa powder. Recoveries of antioxidant activity, TP, flavanol monomers, and procyanidins ranged from 86% to over 100% in the chocolate frosting, hot cocoa drink, and chocolate cookies. Losses were greatest in the chocolate cake with recoveries ranging from 5% for epicatechin to 54% for antioxidant activity. The causes of losses in baked chocolate cakes were investigated by exchanging baking soda with baking powder or combinations of the 2 leavening agents. Use of baking soda as a leavening agent was associated with increased pH and darkening color of cakes. Losses of antioxidant activity, TP, flavanol monomers, and procyanidins were associated with an increased extractable pH of the baked cakes. Chocolate cakes made with baking powder for leavening resulted in an average extractable pH of 6.2 with essentially complete retention of antioxidant activity and flavanol content, but with reduced cake heights and lighter cake color. Commercially available chocolate cake mixes had final pHs above 8.3 and contained no detectable monomeric flavanols after baking. These results suggest that baking soda causes an increase in pH and subsequent destruction of flavanol compounds and antioxidant activity. Use of an appropriate leavening agent to moderate the final cake pH to approximately 7.25 or less results in both good leavening and preservation of cocoa flavanols and procyanidins.

Reversal of polarization in amidophosphines: neutral- and anionic-kappaP coordination vs. anionic-kappaP,N coordination and the formation of nickelaazaphosphiranes

Nickel(ii) chloride reacts with the bis(tert-butylamino)diazadiphosphetidine {Bu(t)(H)NP(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN(H)Bu(t)} to form trans-[{Bu(t)(H)NP(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN(H)Bu(t)}(2)NiCl(2)]. In solution and the solid-state each heterocyclic ligand coordinates nickel through one phosphorus atom only. For comparison the solid-state structure of the known trans-[NiCl(2)(PEt(3))(2)] was also determined and it was found that the two complexes have almost identical bond parameters about nickel. The nickel-amidophosphine complexes [{Bu(t)OP(micro-NBu(t))(2)PNBu(t)}NiCl(PBu(n)(3))], [(PBu(n)(3))ClNi{Bu(t)NP(micro-NBu(t))(2)PNBu(t)}NiCl(PBu(n)(3))], and [{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PNBu(t)}NiCl(PBu(n)(3))] were synthesized and X-ray structurally characterized. In these mono- and di-nuclear nickel complexes the nickel ions are coordinated in pseudo square-planar fashions, by one trialkylphosphine ligand, one chloride ligand and one kappaP,N-coordinated amidophosphine moiety from tert-butylamido-substituted heterocycles. Attempts to create nickel complexes chelated in a kappa(2)P fashion by the o-phenylenediamine-tethered mono- and di-anionic 1-{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN} 2-{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PNH}C(6)H(4) and 1,2-{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN}C(6)H(4), respectively, afforded instead [1,2-{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN}{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN}C(6)H(4)NiCl] and [1,2-{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN}{Me(2)Si(micro-NBu(t))(2)PN}C(6)H(4)Ni{PEt(3)}], each complex having kappaP,N and kappaP coordinated amidophosphine ligands.

Inorganic heterocyclic bis(phosphines): syntheses and structures of a 1,2-bis(diazasilaphosphetidino)ethane and its nickel, molybdenum, and rhodium complexes

Synthesis and characterization of a new, highly electron-rich, chelating bis(phosphine), based on the ethanediyl-linked inorganic heterocycle [Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P], are reported. Treatment of nickel chloride with this bis(phosphine) afforded square-planar cis-[[Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)PCH(2)](2)NiCl(2)], which features isometric nickel-chloride (2.2220(8) A) and nickel-phosphorus (2.1572(8) A) bonds. The ligand reacted with cis-[(piperidine)(2)Mo(CO)(4)] to form colorless cis-[[Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)PCH(2)](2)Mo(CO)(4)], which has distorted octahedral geometry and long Mo-P bonds (2.5461(18) A). Because of its potential applications in hydrogenation catalysis cis-[[Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)()Bu)(2)PCH(2)](2)Rh(COD)]BF(4) was synthesized. This square-planar, cationic rhodium(I) complex, having symmetrical Rh-P (2.250(2) A) and Rh-C (2.305(6) A) bonds, is structurally related to bis(phospholano)- and bis(phosphetano)rhodium species.

Syntheses and structures of P-anilino-P-chalcogeno- and P-anilino-P-iminodiazasilaphosphetidines and their group 12 and 13 metal compounds

The P-anilino-P-chalcogeno(imino)diazasilaphosphetidines [Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P=E(NHPh)] (E = O (3), S (4), Se (5), N-p-tolyl (6)) were synthesized by oxidizing the P-anilinodiazasilaphosphetidine [Me(2)Si(N(t)Bu)(2)P(NHPh)] (2) with cumene hydroperoxide, sulfur, selenium, and p-tolyl azide, respectively. The lithium salt of 4 reacted with thallium monochloride to produce ([Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P=S(NPh)-kappaN-kappaS]Tl)(7), which features a two-coordinate thallium atom. Treatment of 4-6 with AlMe(3) gave the monoligand dimethylaluminum complexes ([Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P=E(NPh)-kappaN-kappaE]AlMe(2)) (E = S (8), Se (9), N-p-tolyl (10)), respectively. In these complexes the aluminum atom is tetrahedrally coordinated by one chelating ligand and two methyl groups, as a single-crystal X-ray analysis of 8 showed. A 2 equiv amount of 4-6 reacted with diethylzinc to produce the homoleptic diligand complexes ([Me(2)Si(mu-N(t)Bu)(2)P=E(NPh)-kappaN-kappaE](2)Zn)(E = S (11), Se (12), N-p-tolyl (13)). A crystal-structure analysis of 11 revealed a linear tetraspirocycle with a tetrahedrally coordinated, central zinc atom.

Mono- and di-nickellaazaphosphiranes of mono- and bis-(amido)cyclodiphosph(III)azanes

The syntheses and solid-state structures of the first three-membered nickel-phosphorus-nitrogen ring compounds, having anionic four-electron P=N moieties are reported.

Syntheses and structures of heterobicyclic bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azane compounds having phosphorus(III) and arsenic(III) centers

Syntheses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of heterobicyclic cyclodiphosphazanes having central phosphorus(III) and arsenic(III) atoms are described. Interaction of PCl3 or AsCl3 with cis-[(tBuNP)2(tBuNLixTHF)2] produced the isomorphous ([(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]ECl); E = P(1), As(4), respectively. These Cs-symmetric molecules crystallize with two molecules in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/m. Unit cell dimensions of 1 are (293 K) a = 9.777(1) A, b = 11.745(1) A, c = 9.986(2) A, and beta = 97.44(1) degrees; those of 4 are (213 K) a = 9.688(3) A, b = 11.873(3) A, c = 9.975(3) A, and beta = 97.80(3) degrees. When ([(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]PCl) was treated with NaN3 or LiN(SiMe3)2, ([(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]PN3)(2) and ([(tBuNP)2(tBuN)2]PN(SiMe3)2)(3), respectively, were obtained. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/m and has until-cell dimensions (213 K) of a = 9496(7) A, b = 12455(7) A, c = 10043(6) A, and beta = 9723(4) degrees, Z = 2.