Rong Qian

Neighboring group participation of phosphine oxide functionality in the highly regio- and stereoselective iodohydroxylation of 1,2-allenylic diphenyl phosphine oxides.

Two sets of reaction conditions were established to enable the highly regio- and stereoselective iodohydroxylation of 1,2-allenylic diphenyl phosphine oxides, yielding (E)-2-iodo-3-hydroxy-1-alkenyl diphenyl phosphine oxides with very high stereoselectivity. The scope of this reaction was examined extensively. Notably, studies on the reactivity of optically active substrates indicated that the axial chirality in the starting allenes may be efficiently transferred to the center chirality of the products with no discernible loss of enantiopurity. Due to the importance of phosphine-containing compounds, both as reagents and ligands, this reaction shows potentials in organic synthesis. Investigations using ESI-MS technology on the (18)O-labeled product, which was prepared using (18)O-water as the solvent, indicated that the (18)O atom was bound to phosphorus in the final product and the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl comes from the phosphinyl functionality of the allene reactant. These results provided solid evidence for the formation of a five-membered cyclic intermediate from the neighboring group participation of the diphenylphosphinyl group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the neighboring group participation of this type of group was observed.

ESI-FTICR-MS studies on gas phase fragmentation reactions of ArPd(PPh3)2I complexes

Gas-phase fragmentation reactions of [ArPd(PPh3)2]+ were studied by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FTICR-MS). The results of sustained off-resonance irradiation collision-activated dissociation (SORI-CAD) experiments provide detailed insights into mechanisms for the gas-phase fragmentation reactions of these complex ions. The P-C bond cleavage mediated by palladium is investigated in the gas phase. There are two competitive fragmentation pathways for the complex ions [ArPd(PPh3)2]+ (Ar=p-OCH3-C6H4, p-CH3-C6H4, p-tBu-C6H4, p-NH2-C6H4, p-COCH3-C6H4, and p-F-C6H4) of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing aromatic iodides. Path A proceeds through reductive elimination of [ArPd(PPh3)2]+ to produce the product ion [PPh3Ar]+. Path B mostly proceeds via phenyl migration from the triphenylphosphine ligand to the palladium center by cleavage of the phosphorus—phenyl bond to give a palladium—phenyl intermediate, and subsequent reductive elimination of the intermediate to yield a product ion [PPh4]+. The result of deuterium-labeling experiments provides evidence for the phenyl shift between the palladium center and the coordinated ligand through cleavage of the P-C bond. The complex ions [(o-CH3-C6H4)Pd(PPh3)2]+, [(o-2,6-Me2-C6H3)Pd(PPh3)2]+, and [(C10H7)Pd(PPh3)2]+ display more fragmentation pathways, two of which are similar to those of the ions [ArPd(PPh3)2]+ (Ar=p-OCH3-C6H4, p-CH3-C6H4, p-tBu-C6H4, p-NH2-C6H4, p-COCH3-C6H4, p-F-C6H4), and the third pathway involves loss of one molecule of benzene and one PPh3 ligand. The electronic effect and steric effect of the aryl groups also exhibit different influences on the fragmentation pathways.

Studies of rare earth elements to distinguish nephrite samples from different deposits using direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry

Nephrite is an interesting gemstone of wide versatility that is used for ritual objects, decoration, utilitarian objects, carving or jewellery around the world. It is necessary to demonstrate a possible relationship between the concentrations of characteristic elements and differences in the quality or deposit. In this study, direct current glow discharge mass spectrometry (dc-GD-MS) was used to determine the rare earth elements (REEs) of 14 nephrite samples from different deposits by using a tantalum (Ta) pin for the electrical connection, and this method has successfully overcome interferences in the REE analyses. After the optimization of discharge conditions, the characteristics of REEs were studied for nephrite minerals obtained from different deposits. Principal component analysis using REEs and other minor and trace elements successfully separated some nephrites from specific deposits. The dc-GD-MS was an effective tool for the classification of nephrites from different deposits.

Electrophilic aromatic substitution and single‐electron transfer (SET) by the phenylium ion in the gas phase: characterization of a long‐lived SET intermediate

Gas-phase mass spectrometric studies and calculations were performed for the reaction of naked phenylium ion with several benzene halides. From these reactions, the molecular ion for biphenyl as the predominant product was obtained only from the reaction of phenylium ions with iodobenzene and bromobenzene. Furthermore, through the collision-induced dissociation (CID) of the ion at m/z 281, the only dissociation observed is the loss of a phenyl radical, which indicates that a single-electron transfer (SET) mechanism might have occurred within the reaction. Additionally, according to the comparison between the CID experiments of those isomeric compounds of the sigma-complexes and the CID experiment of the ion at m/z 281 captured in the ion trap, we have also defined the captured ion at m/z 281 as an SET-intimate ion pair rather than those of sigma-complexes or the diphenyliodonium.