We report here the development of a Lewis acid catalyzed method for the dehydrative coupling of cyclic alcohols and nitriles to form amides with retention of configuration. By contrast, the formation of amides by nitrile trapping of carbocations (Ritter reaction) usually affords racemic product. The present reaction was accomplished by first converting alcohol starting materials to their corresponding chlorosulfites in situ. Even after an extensive search, only copper (II) salts were able to produce the desired conversion of these chlorosulfites to amides though with low catalytic turnover. Improving the turnover without deteriorating the stereochemical outcome was eventually accomplished by a careful selection of the reagent addition sequence and through the removal of gaseous byproducts. This Ritter-like coupling reaction proceeds in good yields with secondary cyclic alcohols under mild conditions. The stereochemical outcome likely due to fast nucleophilic capture of a non-planar carbocations (hyperconjomers) stabilized by ring hyperconjugation. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Abstract not available

Replacement of thymidine in DNA by halopyrimidines, such as bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and iododeoxyuridine (IdU), has long been known to enhance DNA damage and cell death induced by ionizing/UV radiation, but the mechanism of action of halopyrimidines at the molecular level is poorly understood. We have applied advanced time-resolved femtosecond laser spectroscopy to this molecular system of biological, chemical and medical significance. We obtained the first real-time observations of the transition states of the ultrafast electron transfer (UET) reactions of halopyrimidines with the ultrashort-lived precursor to the hydrated electron, which is a general product in ionizing/UV radiation. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of these photo-/radiosensitizing drugs at the molecular level. We found that the UET reaction of BrdU is completed within 0.2 picosecond (ps) after the electronic exciataion, leading to the formation of the transition state BrdU* with a lifetime of ~1.5 ps that then dissociates into Br and a high reactive radical dU•. We have also demonstrated that the reaction efficiency for the formation of the reactive radical dU• to cause DNA damage and cell death is in the order of IdU>>BrdU>CldU>>FdU. This is due to the availability of two precursor states of ~0.2 ps and ~ 0.54 ps lifetimes for dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to IdU, of one precursor state of ~0.2 ps lifetime for DEAs to BrdU and CldU, and no precursors for DEA to FdU. This explains why BrdU and IdU were found to be effective radio-/photosensitizers and indicates that IdU should be explored as the most effective radiosensitizer among halopyrimidines. Moreover, as a by-product of this project, these halopyrimidines have been employed as quantum-state-specific molecular probes to resolve a long-standing controversy about the nature and lifetimes of prehydrated electrons. These findings also have a broader significance as they indicated that nonequilibrium precursor electrons may play an important role in electron-initiated reactions in many biological, chemical and environmental systems. We have also demonstrated UET reactions of nucleotides with the precursor to the hydrated electrons. Our results indicate that among DNA bases, adenine is the most efficient electron trapper and an effective electron transfer promoter, while guanine is the most effective in dissociative electron attachment. These results not only primarily explain the sequence selectivity of duplex DNA containing BrdU/IdU, but imply that the DEA of guanine is an important mechanism for radiation-induced DNA damage in ionizing radiation and radiotherapy of cancer.

Replacement of thymidine in DNA by halopyrimidines, such as bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and iododeoxyuridine (IdU), has long been known to enhance DNA damage and cell death induced by ionizing/UV radiation, but the mechanism of action of halopyrimidines at the molecular level is poorly understood. We have applied advanced time-resolved femtosecond laser spectroscopy to this molecular system of biological, chemical and medical significance. We obtained the first real-time observations of the transition states of the ultrafast electron transfer (UET) reactions of halopyrimidines with the ultrashort-lived precursor to the hydrated electron, which is a general product in ionizing/UV radiation. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of these photo-/radiosensitizing drugs at the molecular level. We found that the UET reaction of BrdU is completed within 0.2 picosecond (ps) after the electronic exciataion, leading to the formation of the transition state BrdU* with a lifetime of ~1.5 ps that then dissociates into Br and a high reactive radical dU•. We have also demonstrated that the reaction efficiency for the formation of the reactive radical dU• to cause DNA damage and cell death is in the order of IdU>>BrdU>CldU>>FdU. This is due to the availability of two precursor states of ~0.2 ps and ~ 0.54 ps lifetimes for dissociative electron attachment (DEA) to IdU, of one precursor state of ~0.2 ps lifetime for DEAs to BrdU and CldU, and no precursors for DEA to FdU. This explains why BrdU and IdU were found to be effective radio-/photosensitizers and indicates that IdU should be explored as the most effective radiosensitizer among halopyrimidines. Moreover, as a by-product of this project, these halopyrimidines have been employed as quantum-state-specific molecular probes to resolve a long-standing controversy about the nature and lifetimes of prehydrated electrons. These findings also have a broader significance as they indicated that nonequilibrium precursor electrons may play an important role in electron-initiated reactions in many biological, chemical and environmental systems. We have also demonstrated UET reactions of nucleotides with the precursor to the hydrated electrons. Our results indicate that among DNA bases, adenine is the most efficient electron trapper and an effective electron transfer promoter, while guanine is the most effective in dissociative electron attachment. These results not only primarily explain the sequence selectivity of duplex DNA containing BrdU/IdU, but imply that the DEA of guanine is an important mechanism for radiation-induced DNA damage in ionizing radiation and radiotherapy of cancer.

Several workers have reduced acidic polysaccharides for structural studies, for sorption studies, and for studies on chemical reactivity. All these investigators have used reduction procedures which have not been extensively studied and do not completely reduce the acidic groups. In addition, it is not known to what extent the other functional groups such as esters and hemiacetal are reduced. The goal of the present study is to obtain a further understanding of the reduction with both a Lewis acid, diborane, and a Lewis base, lithium borohydride, by comparison of the percent reduction of the functional groups on an acidic polysaccharide. Alginic acid from the stipes of the brown algae Laminaria hyperborea was selected as the acidic polysaccharide for study.

No description available.

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the electrochemical reduction mechanisms of benzil derivatives using the techniques of polarography and controlled potential electrolysis. Another objective of this study was to determine a quantitative relationship between reactivity and structure. The electrochemical experiments have been conducted in a 50% ethanol-water solvent over the pH range of 1.5 to 13.5. Potentiometric titrations and ultraviolet spectra were obtained to help understand the ionization of hydroxy-substituted benzil derivatives and how the ionization affects the polarographic reductions. Benzoin and two benzoin derivatives were studied to help determine the reduction products.

No description available.

Nanocrystalline beta-silicon carbide (ß-SiC) was synthesized at relatively low temperature (<1300C) by carbothermal reduction (CTR) reaction in fine scale carbon/silica mixtures. The fine scale mixing of the reactants (i.e., carbon and silica) was achieved by solution-based processing and subsequent heat treatment. The mechanism of the CTR reaction in the current system was investigated from different aspects. The condensates of the volatile species generated during the CTR reaction was collected and analyzed. The results supported previous investigations which suggested that the CTR reaction is a multi-step process that involves silicon monoxide (SiO) vapor as a reaction intermediate. The kinetics of the CTR reaction was investigated by isothermal weight loss study and by the study which determined the amount of SiC formed via quantitative X- ray diffraction (QXRD) analysis. The results of kinetic study were consistent with the "shrinking-core" model, in which the reaction between SiO vapor and carbon at the carbon surface to produce SiC is the rate-controlling step. In addition, several techniques, including XRD, gas adsorption analysis, laser diffraction particle size analysis, SEM, TEM, etc., had been used to study the structural evolutions of the reaction product of CTR. It was demonstrated that the evolutions of product structure characteristics such as crystallite size, specific surface area, specific pore volume, pore size distribution, particle size distribution, and powder morphology, etc. were consistent with each other and provided support to the reaction mechanism proposed.

ABSTRACT AXIAL LIGAND SUBSTITUTION REACTION KINETICS OF PYRIMIDINE-2-THIONATO BRIDGED BINUCLEAR PLATINUM(III) COMPLEXES G&ouml / y, Aytun&ccedil / M. S. Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. H&uuml / seyin iS&ccedil / i Co-supervisor: Assoc. Prof.Dr. Seniz &Ouml / zalp Yaman September 2007, 89 pages The kinetics of the ligand substitution reactions, which is represented by the equation, [Pt2(C4H3N2S)4X2] + 2Y- Pt2(C4H3N2S)4Y2 + 2X- where X- = Cl-, Br-, I- and Y- = Cl-, Br-, I- are studied in acetonitrile in the presence of excess Y- ion concentrations, under constant ionic strength. All reactions are reversible. The rate of the above reaction is dependent on binuclear complex and entering ligand concentrations. Thus general rate equation can be written as Rate = k [Y-]a[Pt2(C4H3N2S)4X2]b The reaction rates are first order with respect to the substrate complex (b=1). The experimentally determined values of the order of the reaction with repect to entering ligand, &ldquo / a&rdquo / , are 0.96&plusmn / 0.057 (X=I-, Y=Cl-), -0.49&plusmn / 0.037 (X=Cl-, Y=I-), 0.28&plusmn / 0.023 (X=I-, Y=Br-), 0.48&plusmn / 0.044 (X=Br-, Y=I-), 0.53&plusmn / 0.042 (X=Br-, Y=Cl-), and -0.21&plusmn / 0.014 (X=Cl-, Y=Br-). The rate constants are 12.1&plusmn / 2.05 M-1s-1 (X=I-, Y=Cl-), (5.7&plusmn / 1.6)x10-3 M1/2s-1 (X=Cl-, Y=I-), 0.3&plusmn / 0.27 M-0.3s-1 (X=I-, Y=Br-), 0.53&plusmn / 0.11 M-1/2s-1 (X=Br-, Y=I-), 1.74&plusmn / 0.16 M-1/2s-1 (X=Br-, Y=Cl-), and 1.71&plusmn / 0.37x10-2 M0.2s-1 (X=Cl-, Y=Br-). To obtain information about the energetics of the reactions, the temperature dependence of the rate constants is determined and the activation parameters &amp / #916 / H* and &amp / #916 / S* are calculated. The values &amp / #916 / S* are negative and, in the range of -81 and -236 J K-1 mol-1. These results support an associative-interchange, Ia, mechanism. All data obtained in this work are used to propose a mechanism which will be consistent with the experimentally determined rate law.