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A new tetranuclear complex Cu4, [Cu2L(OH)]2·2CH3OH·H2O (1), with the functionalized Schiff base ligand 2,6-bis((2-(acetylamino)phenylimino)methyl)-4-tert-butylphenol (H3L) has been obtained and characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction. The formation of the tetranuclear species is solvent dependent, the presence of water being a determinant in its isolation. Based on the mass-spectrometric evidence, the behaviour of the H3L–CuII system in the presence of water was investigated. Namely, water can switch the nuclearity of the CuII cluster from dinuclear to tetranuclear. The redox behaviour of this species in DMSO solution, showing two cathodic metal-centred peaks at EP = −0.80 and −1.35 V and an irreversible ligand-centred anodic peak at EP = 1.03 V, was found to be similar to that of a pristine dinuclear complex. The tetranuclear species was also characterized in the solid state by magnetic measurements, showing a dominating bulk antiferromagnetic behaviour, with a singlet ground state at approximately 2 K. DFT calculations permitted us to estimate the strong intradimer antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (J1 = −440 cm−1), together with two weak interdimer ferromagnetic exchange interactions (J2 = +0.5 and J3 = +1.7 cm−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphonium ylidic diesters, methyl and ethyl isopropyl and, methyl and ethyl t-butyl triphenylphosphoranylidene malonates, 1a,b and 2a,b, respectively, have the syn-anti conformation in solution, as in the crystal, and the bulkier alkoxy group is oriented towards phosphorus. The 1H NMR spectra show that in 1a,b, the isopropyl group is oriented towards the face of a phenyl group, consistent with π shielding in the 1H signals, and examination of the 1H coupled 13C NMR spectra allows assignment of the acyl carbon signals. Computed bond lengths and angles for isolated molecules are similar to those in the crystal, and the geometry and the NMR spectra indicate extensive ylidic resonance. Estimated partial atomic charges on the ester oxygens are more negative when they are oriented towards, rather than away from, phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed bond lengths and angles of methyl ethyl and dimethyl triphenyl phosphonium ylidic diesters, 1b, c, respectively, are similar to those in the crystal, as for the diethyl ester, 1a, where both acyl oxygens are anti to phosphorus. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the methyl ethyl diester, 1b, where one acyl oxygen is syn and the other anti to phosphorus, are as expected in terms of the conformation in the crystal, but the dimethyl ester, 1c, in the crystal is an equimolar mixture of conformers. For a given ylidic diester the different conformers have similar energies from B3LYP//6-31G(d) computations, interconversions of conformers should not be slow at ambient temperatures and 1H and 13C NMR signals in solution are sharp. Estimation of Natural Atomic Charges indicates significant cationoid character on phosphorus and the acyl carbons, and anionoid character on the ylidic carbon and the ester oxygens depending on orientations towards phosphorus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triphenylphosphonium ylidic keto diesters with a nonylidic ester group, Ph3P=C(CO2CH2CH3)CO—CO2CH2CH3, 1, and Ph3P=C(CO2CH2CH3)CO—CH2—CO2CH2CH3, 2, have the keto group syn and the ylidic ester acyl group anti to phosphorus. Conformation of 2 is assigned by X-ray crystallography, while conformations of 1 and 2 are based on 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and comparisons of acyl stretching frequencies with predicted values from HF and DFT methods. Thermolyses of 1 and 2 gave the expected acetylene derivatives in high yield, consistent with the syn keto conformation and in agreement with earlier observations of thermolyses of stabilized phosphonium ylides. Results from the X-ray spectrum of 2 confirm the proposed structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve new withanolides were isolated from the aerial part of Jaborosa rotacea: five had a spiranoid delta-lactone (1-5); one contained a 26,12-delta-lactone and a C-12-C-23 bond (6); five corresponded to trechonolide-type withanolides with configuration at C-23 opposite of those previously isolated (7, 8, 10-12); two of these have an additional oxido-bridge between C-21 and C-24; finally a withanolide with a hemiketal ring formed between a 21-hydroxyl and a 12-ketone (13) and the closely related jaborosalactone R were also isolated. New compounds were fully characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR and MS). The structures of the spiranoid withanolide and of the epimer of trechonolide A were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 4, 5, 6, and 8 showed selective phytotoxicity toward monocotyledoneous and dicotyledoneous species.