Computational study of the effect of dispersion interactions on the thermochemistry of aggregation of fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as model asphaltene compounds in solution.

Density functional theory (DFT), Møller-Plesset second-order perturbation theory (MP2), and semiempirical methods are employed for the geometry optimization and thermochemistry analysis of π-π stacked di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentamer aggregates of the fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, tetracene, pyrene, and coronene as well as benzene. These aggregates (stabilized by dispersion interactions) are highly relevant to the intermolecular aggregation of asphaltenes, major components of heavy petroleum. The strength of π-π stacking interaction is evaluated with respect to the π-stacking distance and thermochemistry results, such as aggregation enthalpies, entropies, and Gibbs free energies (ΔG(298)).

Visualization and quantification of the anisotropic effect of C=C double bonds on 1H NMR spectra of highly congested hydrocarbons-indirect estimates of steric strain.

The anisotropic effect of the olefinic C=C double bond has been calculated by employing the NICS ( nucleus independent chemical shift) concept and visualized as an anisotropic cone by a through space NMR shielding grid. Sign and size of this spatial effect on (1)H chemical shifts of protons in norbornene, exo- and endo-2-methylnorbornenes, and in three highly congested tetracyclic norbornene analogs have been compared with the experimental (1)H NMR spectra as far as published. (1)H NMR spectra have also been calculated at the HF/6-31G* level of theory to get a full, comparable set of proton chemical shifts.

Interpretation of conformational effects on 2-endo-norborneol by natural chemical shielding analysis.

This paper represents an extension of our work on the (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts of norbornane and 2-endo-norborneol. NCS-NBO analysis was employed to probe contributions of bond orbitals and orbitals of lone pairs to nuclear shielding in conformers of the alcohol generated by rotation of the C-O bond. Variations in (1)H and (13)C chemical shifts with the dihedral angle are discussed in terms of Lewis and non-Lewis partitioning and their respective importance is evaluated.

Preparation of alpha-diazocarbonyl compounds from beta-lapachone derivatives and other 1,2-naphthoquinones: use of the 2D NMR 1H,15N and 1H,13C HMBC techniques in assigning regiochemistry.

The assignment of the diazo site in products of the reaction of p-toluenesulfonylhydrazine with beta-lapachone, 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-5,6-dione, and other 1,2-naphthoquinones in methanol solution at room temperature has been accomplished using 1H,13C HMBC and 1H,15N HMBC NMR experiments. Only one diazo-naphthalenone product was isolated in yields ranging from 50-100% from each reaction. The site of diazo substitution of beta-lapachone and derivatives is the 1-position, in contrast to substitution at the 2-position in 4-MeO-1,2-naphthoquinone.

Pharmaceuticals from natural products: current trends.

The use of products extracted from plants for medicinal purposes can be traced to the beginnings of civilization and up until the end of the nineteenth century natural products were the principal source of medicines. Since then their relative importance has oscillated according to the strategies of large pharmaceutical companies. Now that these strategies are changing, there are new opportunities for countries like Brazil, in which a large proportion of the world's biodiversity is located.