International Chemistry Olympiad

IChO 1986

Leiden, Netherlands · 7 theory problems with complete solutions

  1. Problem 1: Platinum(II) antitumour complexes: isomers, hydrolysis and DNA binding

    Compounds containing divalent platinum with the general formula \(\ce{PtX2(amine)2}\) (X = \(\ce{Cl2}\), \(\ce{SO4^2-}\), malonate, etc.) have met a lot of scientific interest because of their biological activity, particularly in view of their properties in the treatment of tumours. The best known compound used clinically is \(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\). This compound, in which platinum is coordinated in a planar square, has two geometrical isomers of which only one shows the antitumour activity.

    1.1 Sketch the spatial structures of the two possible isomers.

    1.2 How many isomers has \(\ce{PtBrCl(NH3)2}\)? Sketch all of them.

    It is possible to replace the amine ligands by one ligand containing two donor atoms (N). Then one obtains a chelating ligand, such as 1,2-diaminoethane (en).

    1.3 Show graphically that \(\ce{PtBrCl(en)}\) has only one stable structure.

    The ligand en can be substituted via methylation to form dmen or pn (racemic).

    Figure 1

    1.4 Give spatial structures of all isomers of the following compounds: \(\ce{PtCl2(dmen)}\), \(\ce{PtCl2(pn)}\), \(\ce{PtBrCl(dmen)}\) and \(\ce{PtBrCl(pn)}\).

    These compounds can isomerise in aqueous solution through dissociation of a ligand and transient replacement of the stronger ligands by the weak ligand water. \(\ce{Cl-}\) and \(\ce{Br-}\) are replaced relatively easily, but it is more difficult to replace the amine ligands, which usually requires heating.

    1.5 Considering each of the isomers in the previous questions a-d, indicate which Isomers can be converted to another at room temperature. Give both the original molecule and the products.

    1.6 \(\ce{PtCl2(en)}\) reacts with \(\ce{Br-}\) in a molar proportion of 1:2 at room temperature. Which compound would you expect to form in what proportion? You can assume that the \(\ce{Pt-Br}\) and \(\ce{Pt-Cl}\) bonds are equally strong and that there is no perturbing influence from hydrolysis.

    1.7 Using the equation to express chemical equilibrium, show that hydrolysis hardly ever occurs in blood but that it does occur in the cells. Note: \(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\) hydrolyses to and \(\ce{2Cl-}\). In cells the \(\ce{Cl-}\) concentration is low; in blood it is fairly high.

    After hydrolysis in the tumour cell a reactive platinum ion is formed to which two \(\ce{NH3}\) groups are still bound, as it was found in the urine of patients treated with this compound. The reactive platinum ion appears to be bound to cellular DNA, where the bonding occurs via guanine to one of the N-atoms.

    Figure 2

    As a result of the two reactive sites of platinum and the two unreactive \(\ce{NH3}\) ligands, it can form additionally a second bond to DNA. Research has shown that this happens in particular with a second guanine base from the same strand of DNA.

    1.8 Show by calculations which of the two isomers in question a) can form this bond.

    (Note: \(\ce{Pt-N}\) distance = 210 pm, DNA base distance = 320 pm).

    Official English text of the problem.

  2. Problem 2: Sodium triphosphate in detergents: complexation of Ca2+ and Mg2+

    The compound \(\ce{Na5P3O10}\) is used as an additive for detergents to bind the \(\ce{Ca^{2+}}\) and \(\ce{Mg^{2+}}\) ions present in water in order to prevent the precipitation of their fatty acid salts on the laundry.

    2.1 Draw the structure of the ions \(\ce{(P3O10)^{5-}}\) and \(\ce{(P3O9)^{3-}}\) assuming that P-P bonds do not occur.

    2.2 Assuming an octahedral coordination of the \(\ce{Mg^{2+}}\) ion give a drawing of the \(\ce{Mg(P3O10)(H2O)_{n})^{3-}}\) ion also indicating the value for n.

    The complex ions of \(\ce{Mg^{2+}}\) and \(\ce{Ca^{2+}}\) and triphosphate are well soluble in water. They are, among other things, responsible for the wild growth of algae in surface waters. They could be removed by precipitation as an insoluble compound.

    2.3 Give some possibilities (ions) to precipitate the triphosphates bound to \(\ce{Ca^{2+}}\) or \(\ce{Mg^{2+}}\).

    2.4 Calculate the mass of \(\ce{Na5P3O10}\) (in grams) necessary in a washing machine to reduce the amount of \(\ce{Ca^{2+}}\) in 20 litres of city water (0.225 g/l) to an acceptable maximum of 0.02 g/l. Effects of pH, the precipitation of \(\ce{Ca(OH)2}\), and possible effects by other positive ions, can be neglected. The following data is given:

    \[ K_1=\frac{[\ce{Ca^{2+}}][\ce{P3O10^{5-}}]} {[\ce{CaP3O10^{3-}}]} =1.0\times10^{-6} \]

    Molar mass of \(\ce{Na5P3O10}\) is \(366\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\), the molar mass of Ca is \(40\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\).

    Official English text of the problem.

  3. Problem 3: Particle-in-a-box model of conjugated dyes and retinal

    In order to explain why dyes are coloured, they can be considered as rod-like, one-dimensional molecules over which the electrons are distributed. The wave lengths of the electrons should fit to the available space which is the length \(l\). When absorbing light, an electron makes a transition from a lower to a higher energy state. The energy difference is given by:

    \[ \Delta E=h\times\mathit{coverlambda}\quad\text{where }\lambda=\frac{h}{p} \]

    3.1 Give a general expression for possible wavelengths of the electron as a function of the length \(l\).

    In the 'particle in the box' model, only the variations in the kinetic energy of the electrons are considered.

    3.2 Give an expression for the possible energies that electrons in the molecule can have (as a function of \(l\)).

    3.3 Show that for a chain of length \(l\) with \(k\) electrons, the longest wavelength absorption occurs at:

    \[ \lambda=\frac{8mcl^2}{h(k+1)} \qquad\text{for even values of }k \]

    3.4 Derive an expression for the wavelength of the first electronic transition as a function of the number of C-atoms for even values of \(n\).

    3.5 Calculate the minimum number of C-atoms (conjugated systems) to obtain a visible colour. C-C bond length is 142 pm.

    The retina in the human eye contains rhodopsin, a light absorbent.

    Figure 1

    The molecule in the part of C-atoms 7 through 12 is planar. The angle between the bonds C5-C6, C7-C8, C11-C12 and C13-C14 is about 39°. According to the 'particle in the box' theory fragment C7 through C12 should absorb at about 213 nm. In reality the absorption of retinal occurs at 308 nm.

    3.6 Give a reason for the longer wavelength that is observed in practice using the above mentioned theories.

    3.7 When retinal is bound to opsin to form rhodopsin, the absorption occurs around 600 nm. Which atoms must be forced into one plane by the protein? Show by calculation that it's true.

    Official English text of the problem.

  4. Problem 4: Intramolecular catalysis of amide hydrolysis (an enzyme model)

    The high efficiency of catalysis by enzymes is mainly due to an enzyme-reactant complex in which the reacting group is placed in a favourable position for the reaction with respect to the catalyzing groups of the enzyme. Studies are carried out with model compounds in which a catalyzing group has been introduced in the proximity of the reaction centre of the molecule. As an example we consider the hydrolysis of the amide bond in compound A. This reaction proceeds in water at 39 °C and pH = 2 more than a million times faster than the hydrolysis of compound B.

    Figure 1

    The relation between the rate constant \(k_{\mathrm{hyd}}\) and pH for the hydrolysis of A at 39 °C is shown in figure below.

    Figure 2

    Further observation:

    Addition of water to the iso-imide C gives a rapid reaction, which initially yields A. Subsequently, hydrolysis of A occurs. The amid carbonyl group in A is labelled with \(\ce{^{13}C}\) and the hydrolysis is allowed to take place in \(\ce{H2^{18}O}\) at pH = 2 and 39 °C. The diacid formed upon hydrolysis is isolated, converted into a disilver salt and completely decarboxylated with bromine in a anhydrous reaction medium. The carbon dioxide formed is a mixture of particles of masses 44, 45, 46 and 47 which are formed in equal amounts.

    4.1 Why is the hydrolysis of A so much faster than that of B?

    4.2 Explain why the rate of hydrolysis of A is independent on pH in the range between pH = 0 to pH = 2.

    4.3 Why does \(k_{\mathrm{hyd}}\) decrease so rapidly at pH values higher than 3.

    4.4 Give a detailed reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of A. Indicate which step in the reaction is rate determining.

    4.5 Show that the observations further made are consistent with the reaction mechanism given under d.

    Official English text of the problem.

  5. Problem 5: Lactic acid, its dilactide and polylactide, and the herbicide Barnon

    Bacterial conversion of saccharose leads to (S)-(+)-2-hydroxypropanoic acid (L-(+)-lactic acid), which forms a cyclic ester out of two molecules. This dilactide can be polymerized to a polylactide, which is used in surgery.

    5.1 Give the spatial structures and Fischer projection of L-(+)-lactic acid and its dilactide.

    5.2 Sketch the structure of the polylactide discussed above (at least three units). What is its tacticity (iso-, syndio- or atactic)?

    5.3 Draw the isomeric dilactides formed out of racemic lactic acid. Show the configuration of the chiral centres.

    L-(+)-lactic acid is used for the preparation of the herbicide Barnon that is used against wild oats. In this case (+)-lactic acid is esterified with 2-propanol and then the hydroxyl group is treated with methanesulfonyl chloride. The product is then submitted to a \(\mathrm{S_N2}\)-reaction with 3-fluoro-4-chloro-phenylamine, where the methanesulfonate group leaves as \(\ce{CH3SO3^-}\). Finally a benzoyl group is introduced with the help of benzoyl chloride.

    5.4 Draw the Fischer projection of the various consecutive reaction products.

    Official English text of the problem.

  6. Problem 6: Restriction endonucleases Cla I and Taq I and recombinant DNA

    In recombinant DNA technology specific endonucleases can recognize and hydrolyse the phosphoric ester bound in each of both strands. Cla I for example hydrolyses the bond between two nucleotides in the sequence:

    Figure 1

    6.1 Give the base sequence of the complementary strand in the 5' - 3' direction and indicate with arrows the location where the hydrolysis by Cla I would occur.

    6.2 How often on average will this sequence occur in one strand of DNA molecule of \(10^5\) base pairs? You can assume that the four bases occur equally often and that they randomly distribute in the two chains.

    Figure 2

    Taq I hydrolyses a long double strand DNA molecule into fragments which are on average 256 base pairs long. The 3' end of these fragments treated by cleavage turns out to be a thymine(T)- and the 5' end a cytosine(C)- end.

    6.3 How long is the sequence recognized by Taq I?

    6.4 Give the two possible base sequences (in the direction 5' - 3') which form the recognition pattern for Taq I (must obviously have some symmetry).

    The DNA of a phage which occurs as a close circle contains only 5'-pApTpCpGpApT-3' sequence in each of the two strands. After treatment with ClaI equilibrium is established:

    Figure 3

    6.5 Give a schematic drawing of the circular and linear molecules. Indicate the bases adjacent to the cleaning site in both strands. Indicate also the 3' and 5' ends.

    In Fig. 1 the percentage of linear DNA is given as a function of temperature, measured in a solution of 0.15 M \(\ce{NaCl}\) buffered with citrate at pH = 6.5. With Taq I as cleavage enzyme, the same curve is obtained.

    6.6 Is the reaction as written endothermic or exothermic? Explain your answer.

    6.7 Show, considering the information given, which of the two base sequences of the answer to 6.4 is the correct one.

    6.8 What would look the curve for Taq I like if the recognition pattern would have been the other possibility of d)?

    A large DNA molecule is cut into fragments with the aid of Cla I. One fragment is isolated, purified and mixed in the ratio of 1:1 with phage DNA which was also cleaved with Cla I. Thereby recombinant molecules can be formed through the reaction:

    Figure 4

    6.9 Would the enthalpy of this reaction be positive, negative or about zero? Explain your answer.

    6.10 Which combination of temperature, DNA concentration and ionic strength (high or low in each case) will give the maximum percentage of recombinant molecules?

    Official English text of the problem.

  7. Problem 7: Continuous process A + 2 B <=> 2 C: flow sheet and energy balance

    The equilibrium constant of the reaction \(\ce{A(g) + 2B(g) <=> 2C(g)}\) is \(K_p = 10.0\ \mathrm{MPa^{-1}}\). The starting materials are supplied at 25 °C and heated to 100 °C where complete equilibration takes place. Below 100 °C the reaction rate is negligibly small. The whole process is executed continuously in a stationary state. The boiling points at 0.1 MPa of \(\ce{A}\), \(\ce{B}\), and \(\ce{C}\) are 40 °C, 80 °C, and 60 °C, respectively. The three compounds have the same heat of evaporation: \(q\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}}\). The heat capacities of \(\ce{A}\), \(\ce{B}\), and \(\ce{C}\) may be neglected. A schematic diagram of a distillation is shown below (Fig. 1).

    Figure 1

    The total heat used at each of the two distillations is \(3q\ \mathrm{J\,mol^{-1}}\) (of the top product). Apart from distillation columns (each with its own evaporator and condenser) the pieces of apparatus shown of Fig. 2 are available.

    Figure 2

    7.1 Draw a flow diagram of the process in which all flows are given (flow sheet) and in which the starting materials are used as efficiently as possible using as few pieces of apparatus as possible.

    7.2 Express the equilibrium constant in terms of the degree of conversion and of total pressure for the case that the feed to the reactor is stoichiometric. What is the value of the degree of conversion when total pressure is 0.100 MPa?

    7.3 Number all flows. Calculate the composition of each flow in \(\mathrm{mol\,s^{-1}}\) for a rate of production of 1 mole of \(\ce{C}\) per second under the conditions of part b.

    7.4 In what respect can the reaction conditions influence the composition of the mixture that leaves the reactor? (Refer to question b.)

    7.5 The process requires energy. For the conditions of b explain where energy should be supplied in the flow diagram drawn in part a. Derive an expression for the total energy needed.

    Official English text of the problem.