Synthesis of polystyrene with high melting temperature through BDE/CuCl catalyzed polymerization

No matter what the polymerization manner was, polystyrene with unique highT _m (T _m = 170–285°C) was obtained through polymerization of styrene if the amount of BDE/CuCl catalyst was highly increased (mol ratio: St:CuCl = 25:1-2.5:1). Partial crystallinity of the PSt was observed by characterizations of X-ray diffraction and DSC. Spectra of¹H-NMR and¹³C-NMR showed that syndiotactic structure contained in the obtained PSt was 5% more than that in aPSt (atactic polystyrene). According to the proposed “coordinated radical cage” mechanism, the coordinated state between radical and catalyst center metal Cu should be more closely packed with increasing the BDE/CuCl catalyst amount, which was induced to partial stereospecific polymerization in the coordinated radical polymerization of St.     

The degree of fragmentation of metallocomplexes with cleavage of the metal-ligand bond

A new method for estimating the degree of fragmentation of metallocomplexes under electron impact with cleavage of the metal-ligand bond was suggested. The method is based on mass spectrometric data. Using a representative selection of 67 organometallic compounds of different classes such as metal carbonyls, metallocenes, and cymantrene and bensenechrometricarbonyl derivatives, a correlation between the degree of fragmentation and the dissociation energy of metal-ligand bonds was developed. The correlation is evidence that the parameter can be used for quantitative estimation of the reactivity of metallocomplexes in the gas phase. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1374–1377, July, 1998.     

Cascade ultrafiltration and competing ligand exchange for kinetic speciation of aluminium, iron, and nickel in fresh water

Kinetic speciation of nickel, aluminium, and iron in fresh water has been investigated by cascade ultrafiltration followed by competing ligand exchange of the ultrafiltered fractions. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used to measure the kinetics of metal complex dissociation. Dissolved metal species were fractionated by cascade ultrafiltration. Metal speciation in each ultrafiltered fraction was then characterized as free metal ions, “labile” metal complexes (with dissociation rate constants ≥10⁻³ s⁻¹), “slowly labile” metal complexes (with dissociation rate constants >10⁻⁶ s⁻¹), and “inert” metal complexes (with dissociation rate constants <10⁻⁶ s⁻¹). The experimental results were compared with the predictions of a computer-based equilibrium speciation model, the Windermere humic aqueous model (WHAM) V. Cascade ultrafiltration coupled with kinetic speciation of the metal species in each molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) fraction provided a more comprehensive picture and insight into the physical and the chemical characteristics of the metal species than either ultrafiltration or measurement of dissociation kinetics alone.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, and conducting properties of a new molecular conductor (DBTTF)11(TeCl6)4

The structure and conducting properties of a new radical cation salt of dibenzotetrathiafulvalene (DBTTF),viz., (DBTTF)₁₁(TeCl₆)₄ (1), were studied. According to the X-ray diffraction data, the crystal of1 contains six crystallographically independent DBTTF radical cations alternating with stacks of the (TeCl₆)²⁻ anions. At room temperature, the conductivity of the crystals is 15 S cm⁻¹ and it changes exponentially as the temperature decreases. It was found that an increase in the size of the anion in compounds of type1 results in the appearance of interactions between the stacks and in an enhancement of the two-dimensional character of the conductivity. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 370–372, February, 2000.     

Linearly polarized white fluorescence from shish-kebab type liquid crystalline poly(P-phenylenevinvlene)s with (P-phenylene)s as kebab

Liquid crystalline(LC) polymers with a shish-kebab-type moiety on their cross-conjugated(p-phenylene)s-poly(p-phenylenevinylene) s main chains were synthesized through Gilch polymerization in order to develop a kind of polymers available for linearly polarized white-light-emitting from single chain.In this system,the 2,5-bis(4’-alkoxyphenyl)benzene as the "kebabs" connects with poly(p-phenylenevinylene)(PPV) main chain backbone using its molecular gravity center and the PPV as the "shish" or "skewer"(the "shish-kebab").The polymers possess desirable properties such as excellent solubility and liquid crystalline properties.To drop the "kebabs" of the 2,5-bis(4’-alkoxyphenyl)benzene into the orientation microgroove of aligned polyimide film,not only the "shish" of polymer main chain can be aligned by the virtue of orientation of "kebabs" but also the uniform cross-conjugated structure between the "kebabs" and "shish" can be broken. Then,the alignment of the polymer main chain showed yellow light emission and was also accompanied by orientation of the LC side chains showing blue light emission,this gave rise to a notable linearly polarized white fluorescence.     

Synthesis of (S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol, the aggregation pheromone ofGnathotrichus sulcatus

An enantioselective (ee−50%) four-step synthesis of (S)-6-methylhept-5-en-2-ol (“sulcatol”), which is the aggregation pheromone ofGnathotrichus sulcatus, from 3S,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene was developed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 713–717, April, 2000.     

Effect of ionizing radiaton on the stability of colloidal silver and other metals in aqueous solutions

The effect of ionizing radiation (accelerated electrons and γ-rays of⁶⁰Co) on the stability of aqueous solutions of colloidal silver was studied. The threshold of absorbed dose, at which the stability dramatically decreases and coagulation of the metal occurs, was found. This critical dose corresponds to the reduction of silver ions that determine the electrical potential of the sols. “Radiation” neutralization was also found for cadmium sols and was not observed in the case of thallium, copper, or platinum. A mechanism of the effect of radiation, taking into account the electrostatic factor in the stability of metal sols, was considered. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 259–264, February, 1997.     

15-Hydroxybenzomonothia-15-crown-5 with the sulfur atom linked with the benzene ring and the derived sulfoxide: synthesis,structure, and complexation with the metal cations

Novel 15-hydroxybenzomonothia-15-crown-5 containing the sulfur atom linked with the benzene ring and its S-oxide were synthesized. The stability constants for the complexes of the obtained benzocrown ethers and a reference 15-hydroxybenzo-15-crown-5 with Na, Ca, Ag^I, Cd, Hg^II, and Pb^II perchlorates were determined by ¹H NMR titration. In MeCN-d₃, the benzothiacrown ether demonstrates a high selectivity towards the thio- and oxothiophilic Hg²⁺ (logK ₁ = 7.1) and Pb²⁺ ions (logK ₁ = 7.4). In MeCN-d₃-D₂O mixtures, the stabilities of the most of complexes decrease sharply due to competitive hydration of the metal cations except for the “soft” Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺ ions having low affinity for the “hard” oxygen atoms and, on the contrary, very high affinity for the “soft” S^II atoms. This results in the change in selectivity of complexation: at the water content in solution of 20%, the benzothiacrown ether binds preferably the Hg²⁺ (logK ₁ = 5.0) and Ag⁺ ions (logK ₁ = 2.7). In MeCN-d₃, the benzothiacrown-derived sulfoxide is a weak and non-selective complexing agent towards all the metal cations under study; the reference 15-hydroxybenzo-15-crown-5 forms more stable complexes with the oxophilic sodium, calcium, and lead(ii) cations. The conformational features of the benzocrown ethers and their metal complexes established by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are discussed. The found characteristics of the complexing ability of benzomonothia-15-crown-5 where the sulfur atom is in conjugation with the benzene ring reveal that the macrocyclic ligands with such a structure are promising as high-selective and efficient complexing agents for the “soft” mercury(ii) and silver(i) cations in acetonitrile-water mixtures.     

Reactions of 4-tosyl-2-phenyl-5-chloro-1,3-thiazole with N-, O-, and S-nucleophiles

The accessible two-center electrophilic substrate 4-tosyl-2-phenyl-5-chloro-1,3-thiazole reacts regioselectively with N-, O-, and S-nucleophiles to eliminate a chloride ion. The analog of this substrate, 4-tosyl-2-phenyl-5-p-chlorophenylsulphonyl-1,3-thiazole, reacts with “soft” and “hard” nucleophiles differently: with the participation of C⁵ or C⁴ center, respectively, that seems to be caused by the principle of “symbiosis” in the transition state.     

Synthesis of racemic 10-methyltridecan-2-one,the sex pheromone ofDiabrotica undecimpunctata

A new synthesis of racemic 10-methyltridecan-2-one, the sex pheromone ofDiabrotica undecimpunctata Howardi has been effected. “InterBAV” Scientific Production Company RM, Kishinev. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 558–560, July–August, 1994.     

Synthesis of novel 3-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-7,8-dihydroquinoline-2,5(1H,6H)-diones

An efficient method for the synthesis of novel 3-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-7,8-dihydroquinoline-2,5(1H,6H)-diones from various 2-dimethylaminomethylidenecyclohexane-1,3-diones, (1,3-thiazol-2-yl)acetonitriles, and dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal was developed. These transformations proceeded through intermediate 2-[2-(4-aryl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-2-cyanoethenyl]-3-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-olates. They were isolated as piperidinium salts and used in further heterocyclization reactions with aromatic amines, giving novel 1-aryl-3-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-7,8-dihydroquinoline-2,5(1H,6H)-diones. These compounds were also obtained by preparative three-step “one pot” synthesis under controlled microwave irradiation. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 412–417, February, 2008.     

Synthesen von 5-Alkyl-2-aryl-pyrimidin-4(3H)-onen

The title substances with R²=H (type1) were synthesized by reductive desulfurization of corresponding 2-aryl-thieno-[2,3-d]pyrimidin-3(3H)-ones and 2-aryl-[1]benzothieno[2,3-d]-pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones (both:A), those with R²=CH₃ (type2) by cyclization of -alkyl-acetoacetates with benzamidines. Some derivatives of1 and2 were also prepared (type3). In some cases Raney-Ni desulfurization ofA gave 2-cyclohexylproducts (type4).

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Teilweise unter Mitarbeit vonMorteza Baradar.     

Azocalixarenes: Synthesis, Characterization, Complexation, Extraction, Absorption Properties and Thermal Behaviours

Azocalixarenes, which have a conjugated chromophore azo (–N=N–) group in p-positions, are synthesized in “one-pot” procedures in satisfactory yields. Their structures in the solid and solution are elucidated by UV–vis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis techniques. Some of them are complexed with metal ions (alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal ions) under neutral conditions. A wide variety of applications is expected by the functionalization of the side arms. The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various alkali, alkaline-earth and transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase is carried out by using azocalixarenes. Furthermore, the synthesized azocalixarenes are utilized for selective extraction of Fe³⁺ cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase. The effects of varying pH and solvent upon the absorption ability of azocalixarenes substituted with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups at their o-, m-, p-positions are examined. The thermal behaviours of azocalixarenes containing upper rim functionalized groups are investigated by means of thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG).     

Effect of the nature of an organoaluminum activator on catalytic properties of phenoxyimine zirconium complexes in homo- and copolymerization reactions of ethylene

Catalytic properties of the phenoxyimine zirconium complexes, viz., bis[N-(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)anilinato]zirconium(IV) dichloride (1) and its fluorinated analog, bis[N-(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroanilinato]zirconium(IV) dichloride (2), were studied. Ethylene homopolymerization and copolymerization of ethylene with α-olefins were chosen as catalytic reactions, and various organoaluminum compounds served as activators: commercial polymethylalumoxane (MAO) containing ∼35 mol.% of trimethylaluminum (TMA), MAO purified from TMA (“dry” MAO), and “classical” organoaluminum compounds, namely, TMA and triisobutylaluminum (TIBA). Complex 1 is not activated by “dry” MAO but is efficiently transformed into the catalytically active state by commercial MAO, “conventional” TMA, and TIBA. These processes give low-molecular-weight polyethylenes (PE) characterized by high values of polydispersity indices and by polymodal curves of gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The order of decreasing the efficiency of activation for the cocatalysts is MAO > TIBA > TMA. Fluorinated complex 2 exhibits a high activity after its treatment with MAO and “dry” MAO, the activity is much lower upon mixing with TIBA, and complex 2 is inactive when using TMA. In the copolymerization of ethylene with hex-1-ene and dec-1-ene, complex 1 treated with MAO is highly active but gives a low level of insertion of the comonomer (1–2 mol.% in the copolymer). Complex 2 activated with “dry” MAO is more efficient in the copolymerization of ethylene with propylene or hex-1-ene but, like complex 1, it does not produce copolymers with a high content of the comonomer. The both catalysts provide the insertion of α-olefin as isolated units separated by extended sections of the chain consisting of ethylene units.     

Photochromic crown ethers

An amphiphilic crown-containing styryl dye (1) was synthesized, and the effects of irradiation, temperature, and alkali and alkali-earth metal ions on the conductivity and optical spectra of its solutions in dioctyl phthalate were studied. Compound1 in thetrans-form almost completely exists as ion pairs (IP). Irradiation at a long-wavelength absorption maximum (λ_max) results in a reversible increase in the conductivity and, hence, a degree of dissociation of IP (α); these parameters decrease when complexes with metal ions are formed. The relaxation times for the photoinduced conductivity coincide with a decrease in the extinction within experimental error in the 20–60°C temperature range. The photoinduced increase in α is caused bytrans—cis-isomerization and an increase in steric hindrances for the interaction of the ClO₄ ⁻ anion with the N⁺ atom of benzothiazolium in thecis-form of1. The activation energies for the darkcis—trans-relaxation, absolute α values, and thermodynamic parameters of dissociation of IP in thetrans-form, as well as the α values in a photostationary mixture ofcis—trans-isomers, were estimated. The decrease in α after binding with metal ions is likely caused by the redistribution of the positive charge to benzothiazolium through the conjugated system of1. Correlations between the decrease in conductivity (decrease in α) and the hypsochromic shift Δλ_max after the formation of complexes between1 and metal ions were observed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1296–1301, July, 1997.     

Synthesis,reactions with DNA,and antitumor activity of platinum complexes with aminonitroxyl radicals

The work is a review of the data on the synthesis of mono- and biradical Pt^II complexes with mono- and diaminonitroxyl radicals, as well as of a binuclear complex with diaminonitroxyl radical. A “mild” method is considered for the synthesis of a number of Pt^IV nitroxyl complexes (9–11), whose lipophilicity varies within a wide range due to the trans-ligands, i.e., the linear aliphatic acid moieties. Correlations between the structures of the complexes, efficiency of their binding to DNA, and the effect of this binding on the DNA stability were established. Cytotoxic properties of the complexes against the HeLa, H1299, and MCF7 tumor cells, the effect of the complexes on the cell cycle, and the p53 protein expression were studied. The data on the antitumor activity of the complexes in the animal tumor model, P388 leukemia, are given. The rate of the development of resistance to complex 10a for P388 leukemia is 2.5 times lower than the corresponding value for cisplatin. It was found that a synergistic enhancement of antitumor activity is observed when low doses of cisplatin and complexes 9b or 10b are simultaneously administered. The specificities of biological activity of the platinum nitroxyl complexes are presumably due to the antioxidant properties of the nitroxyl pharmacophore and the ability of these complexes to cause the p53-independent tumor cell death.     

A convenient method for the preparation ofN-unsubstituted hydrazones of aromatic ketones and aldehydes

A general and useful method for the synthesis ofN-unsubstituted hydrazones of aromatic ketones and aldehydes in good yields was elaborated. The use of a large excess of hydrazine hydrate and catalytic amounts ofp-toluenesulfonic acid makes it possible to prepare the hydrazones without an admixture of the corresponding azine. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2197–2199, November, 1999.     

Thiophene-based glass-forming hole-transporting hydrazones

The synthesis, optical, thermal, and photoelectrical properties of new thiophene-based hydrazones are reported. The ionization potentials of the films of thiophene-based hydrazones, measured by the electron photoemission technique, range from 4.99 to 5.58 eV. Hole-drift mobilities in the solid solutions in bisphenol-Z polycarbonate (PC-Z) of the synthesized hydrazones were studied by time of flight technique. Room temperature charge mobilities in the solid solution of 5,2″-diformyl-2,2′:5′,5″-terthiophene di(N,N-diphenylhydrazone) in PC-Z exceeded 10⁻⁵ cm²/Vs at high applied electric fields. Correspondence: Juozas Vidas Grazulevicius, Department of Organic Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu pl. 19, LT-50254 Kaunas, Lithuania.     

Transition Metal Ions: Charge Carriers that Mediate the Electron Capture Dissociation Pathways of Peptides

Electron capture dissociation (ECD) of model peptides adducted with first row divalent transition metal ions, including Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺, were investigated. Model peptides with general sequence of ZGGGXGGGZ were used as probes to unveil the ECD mechanism of metalated peptides, where X is either V or W; and Z is either R or N. Peptides metalated with different divalent transition metal ions were found to generate different ECD tandem mass spectra. ECD spectra of peptides metalated by Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were similar to those generated by ECD of peptides adducted with alkaline earth metal ions. Series of c-/z-type fragment ions with and without metal ions were observed. ECD of Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺ adducted peptides yielded abundant metalated a-/y-type fragment ions; whereas ECD of Cu²⁺ adducted peptides generated predominantly metalated b-/y-type fragment ions. From the present experimental results, it was postulated that electronic configuration of metal ions is an important factor in determining the ECD behavior of the metalated peptides. Due presumably to the stability of the electronic configuration, metal ions with fully-filled (i.e., Zn²⁺) and half filled (i.e., Mn²⁺) d-orbitals might not capture the incoming electron. Dissociation of the metal ions adducted peptides would proceed through the usual ECD channel(s) via “hot-hydrogen” or “superbase” intermediates, to form series of c-/z ^•- fragments. For other transition metal ions studied, reduction of the metal ions might occur preferentially. The energy liberated by the metal ion reduction would provide enough internal energy to generate the “slow-heating” type of fragment ions, i.e., metalated a-/y- fragments and metalated b-/y- fragments.     

Coordination of gold(III) in the chemisorption by cadmium diisobutyldithiocarbamate: Structure and thermal properties of the polynuclear gold-cadmium complex [Au“S2CN(iso-C4H9)2”2]2n[CdCl4]n

Gold(III) is coordinated by binuclear cadmium diisobutyldithiocarbamate (Dtc) via chemisorption to give a heteropolynuclear Au(III)-Cd complex of the formula [Au“S₂CN(iso-C₄H₉)₂”₂]_2n [CdCl₄] _n (I). According to X-ray diffraction data, structure I contains three structurally nonequivalent complex cations [Au“S₂CN(iso-C₄H₉)₂”₂]⁺. These cations are conformers. Relatively weak nonvalence interactions produce zigzag polymer chains of the type (...C...A...B...A...) _n with alternating nonequivalent cations A, B, and C in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. The anions [CdCl₄]²⁻ are localized at the side. The calculated theoretical chemisorption capacity of cadmium Dtc with respect to [AuCl₄]⁻ is 378.0 mg of Au³⁺ per gram of the sorbent. To optimize the conditions for isolation of sorbed gold, the thermal properties of complex I were studied by simultaneous thermal analysis. The two-step thermolysis of complex I involves (1) thermal decomposition of the dithiocarbamate part and [CdCl₄]²⁻ with liberation of metallic gold and cadmium dichloride and (2) evaporation of CdCl₂. The final thermolysis product of complex I is reduced metallic gold.