Section 8. Nitrogen

As in more recent years, the chemistry of seven-membered ring systems has been dominated by the chemistry of oxygen heterocycles in the form of the marine toxins and, to a lesser extent, the antimalarial artemisinin. Indeed, if it were not for the interest in these systems it would have been a sparse year indeed. For this reason the division of this report will be into just three section, nitrogen, oxygen, and other systems. 

In the following sections, nitrogen-fixing reactions will be reviewed element by element rather than according to the type of reaction. All reactions are reductive. There are no examples to date of oxidative nitrogen fixation within the confines of this chapter. 

The field of application for liquid chromatography in the petroleum world is vast separation of diesel fuel by chemical families, separation of distillation residues (see Tables 3.4 and 3.5), separation of polynuclear aromatics, and separation of certain basic nitrogen derivatives. Some examples are given later in this section. 

The fluids contained within petroleum accumulations are mixtures of organic compounds, which are mostly hydrocarbons (molecules composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms), but may also include sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen and metal compounds. This section will concentrate on the hydrocarbons, but will explain the significance of the other compounds in the processing of the fluids. 

In Section XVII-16C there is mention of S-shaped isotherms being obtained. That is, as pressure increased, the amount adsorbed increased, then decreased, then increased again. If this is equilibrium behavior, explain whether a violation of the second law of thermodynamics is implied. A sketch of such an isotherm is shown for nitrogen adsorbed on a microporous carbon (see Ref. 226). 

Calculate the entropy of adsorption A 2 for several values of d for the case of nitrogen on an iron catalyst. Use the data of Scholten and co-workers given in Section XVIII-4B. 

The Soda- lime Test. Certain classes of nitrogenous organic compounds (e.g., amides, etc.) evolve ammonia when heated with soda-lime. In view of the limited application of this test, however, it may well be reserved for Section 3, where it is included with other compounds reacting with soda-lime. 

We have also added an entirely new section dealing with semi-microanalysis. In our original Introduction (p. ix) we justified the retention of macro-methods of quantitative analysis on the grounds that they formed an excellent introduction to micromethods and also afforded a valuable training in exact manipulation generally. By now, however, the macro-estimation particularly of carbon and hydrogen and of nitrogen has disappeared entirely from most laboratories. On the other hand, the micro-... 

Method 1. Place 20 g. of crude benzoin (preceding Section) and 100 ml. of concentrated nitric acid in a 250 ml. round-bottomed flask. Heat on a boiling water bath (in the fume cupboard) with occasional shaking until the evolution of oxides of nitrogen has ceased (about 1 -5 hours). Pour the reaction mixture into 300-400 ml. of cold water contained in a beaker, stir well until the oil crystallises completely as a yellow solid. Filter the crude benzil at the pump, and wash it thoroughly with water to remove the nitric acid. RecrystaUise from alcohol or methylated spirit (about 2-5 ml. per gram). The yield of pure benzil, m.p. 94-96°, is 19 g. 

Aminopyridine. In a 1 litre three-neoked flask, equipped with a sealed mechanical stirrer, reflux condenser, thermometer and inlet tube for nitrogen, place 300 ml. of dry toluene (1) aud 75 g. of fine granular sodamide (2) bubble a steady stream of nitrogen thi ough the toluene. Stir the mixtiue vigorously and heat the flask in an oil bath until the internal temperatime is 110° (the bath temperatime required is approximately 130°). Add 100 g. of pure dry pyridine (compare Section 11,47,22)... 

Group I. This includes the lower members of the various homologous series (4-5 atoms in a normal chain) that contain oxygen and/or nitrogen in their structures they are soluble iu water because of their low carbon content. If the compound is soluble in both water and ether, it would also be soluble in other solvents so that further solubility tests are generally unnecessary the test with sodium bicarbonate solution should, however, be performed (see Section XI,6). 

Two synthetic bridged nitrogen heterocycles are also prepared on a commercial scale. The pentazocine synthesis consists of a reductive alkylation of a pyridinium ring, a remarkable and puzzling addition to the most hindered position, hydrogenation of an enamine, and acid-catalyzed substitution of a phenol derivative. The synthesis is an application of the reactivity rules discussed in the alkaloid section. The same applies for clidinium bromide. 

The stronger directing effects present in the indoline ring can sometimes be used to advantage to prepare C-substituted indoles. The aniline type of nitrogen present in indoline favours 5,7-substitution. After the substituent is introduced the indoline ring can be aromatized by dehydrogenation (see Section 15.2 for further discussion). A procedure for 7-acylation of indoline... 

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