Photocatalytic decontamination of sulfur-containing alkyl halides on irradiated semiconductor suspensions

Factors influencing the efficiency of the photocatalytic oxygenation of two mustard simulants (2-chloroethyl methyl sulfide and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide) on irradiated suspensions of TiO₂ in aerated acetonitrile are described. Product analysis indicates that sulfoxide formation is the dominant process in acetonitrile and that TiO₂ is a much better photocatalyst than SnO₂, ZrO₂, or ZnO.     

Separability of SO2 from SO2/N2 mixture through sulfoxide-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) and cellulose membranes

Separability of SO₂ from mixtures of SO₂ and N₂ gases was studied for membranes of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and cellulose modified with methyl, ethyl, t-butyl, and phenyl vinyl sulfoxides. Of these sulfoxide-modified polymers, the phenyl vinyl sulfoxide-modified PVA membranes were found to give the best separation of SO₂. In the phenyl vinyl sulfoxide modified PVA membranes, the permeability coefficient of SO₂ increased with sulfoxide content while separability of SO₂ was maximum at a sulfoxide content of 23.5 mol %; the separation factor of SO₂ was about 170 at this sulfoxide content. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermal Decomposition of Phenyl Alkyl Ethers

Reaction products and intermediates of the thermal conversions (temperature range: 600 to 1200°C, total pressure about 120 mPa) of phenyl methyl ether ( 1 ), phenyl ethyl ether ( 2 ), and m-cresyl methyl ether ( 3 ) were determined in a pyrolysis apparatur set combined with mass spectral „real time”︁ analysis. In all cases, the predominant initial process was PhO–R bond homolysis. Phenoxy type radicals thus generated decompose unimolecularly to cyclopentadienyl type radicals and carbon monoxide. In runs with 1 and 2 cyclopentadienyl dimers (C₁₀H₁₀) were formed and, in addition, at temperatures >1000°C, naphthalene (C₁₀H₈). Under similar conditions the m-methylphenoxy radical (from 3 ) suffers CO elimination providing the methylcyclopentadienyl radical which chiefly gives benzene instead of the dimers or the products derived from it. Under the applied conditions only bimolecular stabilization of the unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl radical proved possible, whereas the methyl substituted radical has a chance for unimolecular stabilization, too, as a result of which fulvene is formed through the loss of hydrogen. Fulvene is a direct benzene precursor.     

Synthesis of cross‐linked polyethylene oxide‐acetal macrocycles for solid superbase catalysts

A novel long‐chain divinyl ether of tris(diethyleneglycol)‐bisacetal, has been synthesized by electrophilic addition of one molecule of diethylene glycol to two molecules of divinyl ether of diethylene glycol (DVDEG) in the presence of CF₃COOH in quantitative yield. The monomer was cationically polymerized (BF₃·OEt₂, or complex LiBF₄·MeO(CH₂)₂OMe) and copolymerized with DVDEG to deliver solid polymers the yields being 80–100%. The polymers represent the cross‐linked polyether‐polyacetal structures comprising macrocycles. The polymers were treated with 3% solution of KOH or CsOH in methanol to afford solid superbase complexes of KOH (CsOH) with cross‐linked polyether‐polyacetal macrocyclic networks. Preliminary tests have shown the complexes to be active catalysts for ethynylation of acetones and prototropic isomerization of methyl propargyl ethers to allenyl methyl ethers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Electrochromic properties of alkylviologen-cyclodextrin systems

Electrochromic properties of methyl, ethyl, n-hexyl and n-heptyl viologens, and -, -, -cyclodextrin systems were studied using cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy. Colourations of red-violet ( _max = 530 or 560 nm), blue ( _max = 600nm) and light purple ( _max = 560 and 600 nm) could be obtained by changing the length of the alkyl chain of viologens or the radius of cyclodextrin. The intermolecular interaction between viologen radicals is weakened when the radicals form inclusion complexes so the blue colour inherent in the monomer of viologen radical appears. The red-violet colour is ascribed to the dimer of the reduced viologen. With the addition of -cyclodextrin, viologens were found to be included as dimer. The light purple colour is ascribed to the mixed colour of the monomer and the dimer. Furthermore, since the ratio of monomer and dimer depends upon the concentration of cyclodextrin, any colour between the red-violet of the dimer and the blue of the monomer can be obtained by adjusting the concentration of cyclodextrin. The redox reaction of an inclusion complex was found to depend upon the length of the alkyl viologen and the size of the cavity in cyclodextrin.     

Catalytic Hydration of Benzonitrile and Acetonitrile using Nickel(0)

The homogeneous catalytic hydration of benzo‐ and acetonitrile under thermal conditions was achieved using nickel(0) compounds of the type [(dippe)Ni(η²‐NCR)] with R=phenyl or methyl (compounds 1 and 2 , respectively), as the specific starting intermediates. Alternatively, the complexes may be prepared in situ by direct reaction of the precursor [(dippe)NiH]₂ ( 3 ) with the respective nitrile. Hydration appears to occur homogeneously, as tested by mercury drop experiments, producing benzamide and acetamide, respectively. Addition of Bu₄NI did not lead to catalysis inhibition, suggesting the prevalence of Ni(0) intermediates during catalysis. Hydration using analogous complexes of 3 , such as [(dtbpe)NiH]₂ ( 4 ) and [(dcype)NiH]₂ ( 5 ) was also addressed.     

Mass Spectrometric Evaluation of β-Cyclodextrins as Potential Hosts for Titanocene Dichloride

Bent metallocene dichlorides (Cp₂MCl₂, M = Ti, Mo, Nb, …) have found interest as anti-cancer drugs in order to overcome the drawbacks associated with platinum-based therapeutics. However, they suffer from poor hydrolytic stability at physiological pH. A promising approach to improve their hydrolytic stability is the formation of host-guest complexes with macrocyclic structures, such as cyclodextrins. In this work, we utilized nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry to probe the interaction of titanocene dichloride with β-cyclodextrin. Unlike the non-covalent binding of phenylalanine and oxaliplatin to β-cyclodextrin, the mixture of titanocene and β-cyclodextrin led to signals assigned as [βCD + Cp₂Ti–H]⁺, indicating a covalent character of the interaction. This finding is supported by titanated cyclodextrin fragment ions occurring from collisional activation. Employing di- and trimethylated β-cyclodextrins as hosts enabled the elucidation of the influence of the cyclodextrin hydroxy groups on the interaction with guest structures. Masking of the hydroxy groups was found to impair the covalent interaction and enabling the encapsulation of the guest structure within the hydrophobic cavity of the cyclodextrin. Findings are further supported by breakdown curves obtained by gas-phase dissociation of the various complexes.     

The synthesis of N-derivatives of 3-aminoperylene and their absorption and fluorescence properties

N-Acetyl and N-triazinyl 3-aminoperylenes were prepared. N-(4,6-Dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-3-aminoperylene was synthesized by the condensation of 3-aminoperylene with cyanuric chloride; other N-triazinyl derivatives were prepared by the successive substitution of chlorine atoms with methoxy or aniline groups. The structure and purity of the compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The UV/vis absorption, fluorescence and excitation spectra as well as the fluorescence quantum yields for the compounds were measured in dibutyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, ethyl acetate and acetonitrile; fluorescence lifetimes were measured in ethyl acetate and dimethyl sulfoxide. The influences of both the character of the N-substituent and the solvent polarity upon the spectra and quantum yields are discussed.     

Solid‐Liquid Extraction of Lanthanum(III), Europium(III), and Lutetium(III) by Acyl‐Hydroxypyrazoles Entrapped in Mesostructured Silica

Abstract

The solid‐liquid extraction of lanthanum(III), europium(III), and lutetium(III) by mesostructured silicas doped with 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐4‐stearoyl‐5‐pyrazolone (HPMSP, bearing one chelating site) or with 1,12‐bis(1′‐phenyl‐3′‐methyl‐5′‐hydroxy‐4′‐pyrazolyl)‐dodecane‐1,12‐dione (HL‐10‐LH, bearing two chelating sites) has been studied and compared to the analogous solvent and micellar extractions in terms of the stoichiometry of the extracted complex and of the extraction efficiency. The solid‐liquid extraction order in the lanthanoid series is La<Eu<Lu; it is the usual liquid‐liquid extraction order obtained with acidic extractants. A theoretical model is used to determine the stoichiometries of the extracted complexes and the extraction yield is measured as a function of the pH, of the extractant/metal ratio (S/M) and of the volume ratio of the two phases (φ). For HPMSP, the extracted complexes involve three ligand molecules for one metal. For HL‐10‐LH, the complex stoichiometries are found to be either Ln(L‐10‐L)(L‐10‐LH) (Ln=La, Eu) or Lu₂(L‐10‐L)₃ for S/M=25, or Eu₂(L‐10‐L)₃ for S/M=5. For the first time, the synergistic solid‐liquid extraction is studied after a successful attempt at simultaneously immobilizing both extractants HL‐10‐LH and 2,4,6‐tri(2‐pyridyl)‐1,3,5‐triazine, “TPTZ”, into silica; the complex extracted in this case differs from the one obtained in solvent extraction.     

Effect of Alkyl Chain Length on the Extraction of Copper(II) Complexes with 1‐Alkyl‐2‐Methylimidazoles

Abstract

By using the liquid‐liquid partition method, the formation of Cu(II) complexes with 1‐alkyl‐2‐methylimidazoles (where alkyl=isobutyl, pentyl, isopentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl, and dodecyl) has been studied at 25°C and at fixed ionic strength of the aqueous phase (I=0.5; (HL)NO₃, KNO₃). The complexes were extracted with 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol, dichloromethane, trichloromethane and, in one system only, toluene. Stability constants of the complexes in aqueous solution as well as partition constants of the extractable species were determined. It has been shown that the stability constants are invariable and do not depend on the 1‐alkyl chain length. The constants were smaller than those of the previously studied Cu(II) – 1‐alkylimidazole complexes owing to the steric effect of the methyl group at position 2. The partition constants of the complexes incereased with increasing alkyl chain length. Branched 1‐alkyl substituents (isobutyl, isopentyl) suppressed both stability constants and the partition constants of the complexes.     

Electrodeposition of High-quality Polycarbazole Films in Composite Electrolytes of Boron Trifluoride Diethyl Etherate and Ethyl Ether

High-quality polycarbazole (PCZ) films were synthesized electrochemically by direct oxidation of carbazole in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) containing vol. 20% ethyl ether (EE). The oxidation potential of carbazole in this medium was measured to be only 0.90 V vs. SCE, which was lower than that determined in acetonitrile containing 0.1 mol l⁻¹ Bu₄NBF₄ (1.35 V vs. SCE). PCZ films obtained from this medium showed better electrochemical behavior, better thermal stability with conductivity of 7.5 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ being one order of magnitude higher than those reported previously, indicating that BFEE/EE was a better medium than acetonitrile for the electrosyntheses of PCZ films. As-formed PCZ films can be partly dissolved in acetone, acetonitrile and tetrahydrofuran. Spectral analysis provided evidence for the existence of the conjugated structure of the PCZ chain. Fluorescent spectra indicate that electrosynthesized PCZ is an ideal blue light emitter.     

Photocatalytic deoxygenation of sulfoxides to sulfides over titanium(IV) oxide at room temperature without use of metal co-catalysts

Deoxygenation of sulfoxides was examined in acetonitrile suspensions of metal-free titanium(IV) oxide (TiO₂) under irradiation of UV light at room temperature. Experimental results indicate that deoxygenation was induced by the TiO₂ photocatalyst and that organic acids such as formic acid and oxalic acid are appropriate as hole scavengers in the photocatalytic reaction. Diphenyl sulfoxide was successfully deoxygenated to diphenyl sulfide with high yields, and the TiO₂ photocatalyst could be repeatedly used for deoxygenation without loss of activity. The present photocatalytic method could be applied for deoxygenation of various sulfoxides to corresponding sulfides, and phenyl vinyl sulfoxide was chemoselectively reduced to phenyl vinyl sulfide without hydrogenation of a CC double bond.     

Application of europium and praseodymium shift reagents to the n.m.r. spectra of polymers

The use of Eu(fod)₃ and Pr(fod)₃ shift reagents for the investigation of the nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of polymers is reported for the following samples: poly(vinyl methyl ether), poly(vinyl ethyl ether), poly(vinyl acetate) and poly-(propylene oxide).     

Über die Produkte der Reaktion von Ethylbromid mit Kaliumhydroxid in wäßrig-alkoholischen Lösungen und den Verlauf dieser SN2-Reaktion

About the Products of the Reaction of Ethyl Bromide and Potassium Hydroxide in Aqueous Alcoholic Solutions and the Progress of this S_N2 Reaction In the textbooks of organic and general chemistry the reactions of ethyl bromide or methyl bromide with hydroxide ions in alcoholic or aqueous-alcoholic solutions are the main examples for the S_N2 reaction mechanism first established by INGOLD and HUGHES in 1933–1935. It seems clear that the main product of the reaction between ethyl bromide and potassium hydroxide is ethanol apart from a small proportion of ethene in the competing elimination reaction. But the main product of this reaction in ethanolic or aqueous ethanolic solution is diethyl ether or in methanolic or aqueous methanolic solution methyl ethyl ether. Even in the case of using only water, potassium hydroxide and ethyl bromide one can gain 17% of diethyl ether. Kinetic investigations demonstrate that there is a real equilibrium between ethoxide and hydroxide ions in aqueous ethanolic solution. The equilibrium constant is near 0.5, that means that a mixture of ethanol and water contains a rather high amount of ethoxide ions if potassium hydroxide is dissolved in the solution. On the other hand, in the substitution reaction ethoxide ions react 2.5 times faster than OH⊖ at 20°C and 4.5 times faster at 100°C. Therefore, the main substitution reaction in aqueous ethanolic solution after formation of ethoxide ions according to the equilibrium is the reaction to diethyl ether according to      

Ionic Liquid Effect on the Reversal of Configuration for the Magnesium(II) and Copper(II) Bis(oxazoline)‐Catalysed Enantioselective Diels–Alder Reaction

Ionic liquids have been used to support a range of magnesium‐ and copper‐based bis(oxazoline) complexes for the enantioselective Diels–Alder reaction between N‐acryloyloxazolidinone and cyclopentadiene. Compared with reaction performed in dichloromethane or diethyl ether, an enhancement in ee is observed with a large increase in reaction rate. In addition, for non‐sterically hindered bis(oxazoline) ligands, that is, phenyl functionalised ligands, a reversal in configuration is found in the ionic liquid, 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide], compared with molecular solvents. Supported ionic liquid phase catalysts have also been developed using surface‐modified silica which show good reactivity and enantioselectivity for the case of the magnesium‐based bis(oxazoline) complexes. Poor ees and conversion were observed for the analogous copper‐based systems. Some drop in ee was found on supporting the catalyst due a drop in the rate of reaction and, therefore, an increase in the contribution from the uncatalysed achiral reaction.     

Preparation of deuterated methyl 6,9,12-octadecatrienoates and methyl 6,9,12,15-octadecatetraenoates

Methyl 6,9,12-octadecatrienoate-15,15,16,16-d ₄ was obtained by Wittig coupling between 6,6,7,7-tetradeutero-3-nonenyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, 8, and the aldehyde ester, methyl 9-oxo-6-nonenoate. Methyl 6-oxohexanoate, obtained by ozonolysis of cyclohexene, was coupled in a Wittig reaction with [2-(1,3-dioxan-2-yl)ethyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide to give methyl 8-dioxanyl-6-octenoate. This compound was transacetalized to methyl 9,9-dimethoxy-6-nonenoate, which was then hydrolyzed to the aldehyde ester. For the preparation of compound 8, the tetrahydropyranyl ether of 2-pentynol was deuterated with deuterium gas and tris-(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium. The tetradeuterated tetrahydropyranyl ether was converted to the bromide with triphenylphosphine dibromide, and the bromide was coupled with 3-butynol by means of lithium amide in liquid ammonia to give 3-nonynol-6,6,7,7-d ₄. Hydrogenation over Lindlar's catalyst converted the deuterated alkynol to 3-nonenol-6,6,7,7-d ₄. This deuterated alkenol was converted to the bromide with triphenylphosphine dibromide, then to the iodide with sodium iodide in acetone, and finally to 8 with triphenylphosphine in acetonitrile. Methyl 6,9,12,15-octadecatetraenoate-12,13,15,16-d ₄ was obtained by Wittig coupling between methyl 9-oxo-6-nonenoate and 3,4,6,7-tetradeutero-3,6-nonadienyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, 15. For the preparation of compound 15, the bromide obtained from the reaction of 2-pentynol with triphenylphosphine dibromide was coupled with 3-butynol with lithium amide in liquid ammonia. The resulting 3,6-nonadiynol was deuterated with deuterium gas in the presence of P-2 nickel, and the resultant deuterated nonadienol was converted to 15 through the bromide and iodide. The final products were separated from isomers formed during the synthetic sequences by silver resin chromatography.     

Chiral NCN Pincer Rhodium(III) Complexes with Bis(imidazolinyl)phenyl Ligands: Synthesis and Enantioselective Catalytic Alkynylation of Trifluoropyruvates with Terminal Alkynes

A series of new chiral C₂‐symmetrical NCN pincer rhodium(III) complexes with bis(imidazolinyl)phenyl ligands have been conveniently synthesized from easily available materials. The complexes were subsequently applied in the enantioselective addition of terminal alkynes to trifluoropyruvates. With catalyst loading of 1.5–3.0 mol%, the alkynylation of ethyl or methyl trifluoropyruvate with a variety of electronically and structurally diverse terminal alkynes gave the optically active trifluoromethyl‐substituted tertiary propargylic alcohols with enantioselectivities of up to >99% ee and high yields. Although good to excellent enantioselectivities (85–98% ee) could be achieved only for some of the aliphatic terminal alkynes under the optimized conditions, the enantioselectivities were consistently excellent (94% to >99% ee) in the case of aromatic as well as heteroaromatic alkynes and enynes.     

Extraction of toluene,o-xylene from heptane and benzyl alcohol from toluene with aqueous cyclodextrins

The separation of aromatic compounds (toluene and o-xylene) from heptane and of benzyl alcohol from toluene with aqueous solutions of cyclodextrins has been experimentally investigated, because cyclodextrins and its derivatives can selectively incorporate several organic compounds, whereas the separation of the aqueous solution of complexed cyclodextrins from the organic feed is simple. Cyclodextrins are not soluble in organic liquids, but cyclodextrin derivatives are highly soluble in water. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins with different degrees of substitution and methylated β-cyclodextrin were selected for the extraction of toluene and o-xylene from heptane. Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (two different substitution degrees) and hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin were selected for the extraction of benzyl alcohol from toluene. The liquid–liquid distribution experiments were carried out at room temperature. Toluene and o-xylene form 1:1 complexes with different cyclodextrins and heptane can form 1:1 to 1:3 complexes. Benzyl alcohol forms 1:3 complexes with hydroxypropylated cyclodextrins. The models developed describe the experimental data reasonably well, considering the large deviations in the analyses.Aqueous cyclodextrin solutions are not feasible for the separation of aromatic components from aliphatic hydrocarbons, due to low distribution ratios of toluene (0.05) and o-xylene (0.023) between the aqueous and organic phase. With high distribution ratios of benzyl alcohol, between 0.3 and 2.2 depending on the CD concentration (at a solvent-to-feed ratio of 1) and a benzyl alcohol/toluene selectivity of at least 100, aqueous hydroxypropylated cyclodextrin solutions have sufficient potential for extracting benzyl alcohol from toluene.     

Electrochemical behavior of several iron complexes in hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids

The electrochemical behavior of FeCp₂⁺/FeCp₂ (Cp⁻, cyclopentadienyl), FeCl₄⁻/FeCl₄²⁻, FeBr₄⁻/FeBr₄²⁻ and Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ couples was studied in the hydrophobic room-temperature ionic liquids based on bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (TFSI⁻) with 1-n-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium (BMP⁺) and other quaternary ammonium cations. The cyclic voltammetric data indicated that these complexes were stable in BMPTFSI and that the redox reactions between trivalent and divalent iron species of these complexes are electrochemically reversible. The diffusion coefficients of these complexes were found to be affected mainly by the size of the species. On the other hand, the redox potential of Fe(CN)₆³⁻/Fe(CN)₆⁴⁻ couple depended on organic cations reflecting the difference in the acceptor properties of the organic cations.     

The Effects of Conventional Stabilizers and Phenol Compounds Used as Antioxidants on the Stabilization of Nitrocellulose

The thermal behavior of nitrocellulose (NC) containing diphenylamine (DPA), 2‐nitrodiphenylamine (2‐NO₂‐DPA), N‐nitrosodiphenylamine (N‐NO‐DPA), ethyl centralite (EC), akardite II (AKII), 1,1,3‐tri‐(2‐methyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐tert‐butyl‐phenyl)‐butane (BP_less), 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐propionic acid octadecyl ester (BP_hin), and 3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐phenyl)‐propionic acid 2‐(9‐{2‐[3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐phenyl)‐propionyloxy]‐1,1‐dimethyl‐ethyl}‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐spiro [5.5] undec‐3‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐propyl ester (BP_semi) was observed during isothermal storage at 393 K using a C80 microcalorimeter. The results indicate that each stabilizer decreased NC's maximum heat release rate and increased the induction period of heat release. We also observed that the maximum heat release rate and the induction period were dependent on the amount of stabilizer. DPA decreased the maximum heat release rate to the greatest extent, with the other stabilizers having similar effects on the decrease of maximum heat release rate. AKII prolonged the induction period of heat release most. The order of prolongation of the induction period was AKII>2‐NO₂‐DPA≈DPA>N‐NO‐DPA≈EC>BP_less≈BP_semi≈BP_hin.