Effect of steric bulk on the absolute reactivity of allene oxides.
Alpha-alkyl substituted fluorenylidene allene oxides were generated photochemically from appropriately substituted fluorenol derivatives in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) in order to assess the affect of steric bulk on the absolute reactivity of the allene oxides. The absolute reactivities of the allene oxides were measured using nanosecond laser flash photolysis, and were found to change little in TFE upon going from alpha-methyl to alpha-butyl to alpha-t-butyl. However, all three alpha-alkyl substituted allene oxides were considerably more reactive than the alpha-hydrogen derivative, indicating that steric bulk did not result in a decrease in reactivity as is typically found in other allene oxides. The contrary reactivity of the fluorenylidene allene oxides is explained by examining in detail the reactions of these allene oxides, determined from product studies.
Bond angle versus torsional deformation in an overcrowded alkene: 9-(2,2,2-triphenylethylidene)fluorene.
Competition between bond angle and torsional strain in sterically crowded alkenes generally causes twisting in tetrasubstituted alkenes, while most structurally characterized trisubstituted alkenes are planar. To investigate structural effects of steric repulsion between a planar aromatic ring and a vicinal triphenylmethyl (trityl) group, 9-(2,2,2-triphenylethylidene)fluorene (1 a) was synthesized by reaction of 9-bromomethylenefluorene with triphenylmethyllithium. For comparison with a less strained analogue, 9-ethylidenefluorene (1 b) was prepared by reaction of fluorenone with ethylmagnesium bromide. The X-ray crystal structures show that the difference between bond angles at the 9-fluorenyl carbon atom is much larger for 1 a (12.9 degrees) than 1 b (2.6 degrees). Bond angle and torsional deformations were compared theoretically (HF/6-31+G*) with the tert-butyl analogue (1 c), 1,2,2-tri-tert-butylethene (7), and 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentene (8) and crystallographically with six known 1,1-diaryl-2-tert-alkylethenes (2). The trisubstituted alkenes formed three groups with 1) large angle distortion with moderate twisting (1 a, 1 b, and 7), 2) moderate bending with a large range of torsional angles (2), and 3) little bending or twisting (1 b and 8). For the entire series, there appears to be a delicate balance between angle and torsional deformation, but twisting appears to produce smaller relief from steric strain than angle bending. In the crystallographically characterized trisubstituted alkenes, the choice between the two is mainly determined by more subtle packing forces.
THE IRON-ACETOCARMINE METHOD OF FIXING AND STAINING CHROMOSOMES
A short description of this procedure was given in Vol. 55 of the American Naturalist, pp. 573â€”574. The method has now been used almost daily for five years, and certain improvements have suggested themselves. The solution can be prepared by mixing about equal volumes of glacial acetic acid and water. To this is added powdered carmine in excess. The liquid is then â€ ? just brought to boil, cooled, and decanted. To the red solution there are then added a few drops of a solution of ferric hydrate in 50 per cent. acetic acid, to act as a mordant. The amount of iron varies with different objects. Too much produces a precipitate in a short time. The more