IChO 2015 · Theory problem 8

Oil for Life and Life after Oil

Azerbaijan is known for its vast oil and gas fields. The first drilling for oil was done in Bibi-Heybat in 1846, 13 years before establishment of the first commercial oil well in Pennsylvania (USA). This remarkable date in the history of Azerbaijan is regarded as a starting point of contemporary oil industry, the leading sector of today’s world economy.

Figure 1

Currently, on-land and shelf sea oil production is being developed in Azerbaijan. Though serious precautions are taken, there is always a risk of hydrocarbon pollution of the environment during production, transportation, and processing of oil. In this task we will consider diverse technologies of oil spills clean up and specific features of metabolic pathways involved.

Application of complex solvents (dispersants) leading to capture of marine oil spills is among most promising clean up approaches. Organic substance X (11.94 % of \(\ce{H}\) by mass) is a typical component of such dispersants. Safety of X to human is fiercely debated. X1 (54.53 % of carbon by mass) composed of three elements and excreted with urine is the major metabolite of X in humans. The numbers of atoms of different elements in X1 are three consecutive terms of a geometric progression \((n,nq,nq^2)\), whereas the sum of these numbers does not exceed 25.

8.1 Decide on the relationship (tick the correct variant) between the numbers of carbon and oxygen atoms in X1.

\(n(\ce{C})>n(\ce{O})\) \(n(\ce{C})<n(\ce{O})\) \(n(\ce{C})=n(\ce{O})\) Data insufficient
□ □ □ □

8.2 Derive the empirical formula of X1 (hereafter always show your work where required). Be sure you prove the answer by calculations.

The biotransformation of X into X1 occurs in two enzymatically catalyzed steps according to the hereunder reaction balanced equations (\(\ce{NAD+}\) and \(\ce{NADH}\) are the oxidized and reduced forms of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, respectively):

\[ \ce{X + NAD+ -> X0 + NADH + H+} \tag{1} \]

\[ \ce{X0 + NAD+ + H2O -> X1 + NADH + H+} \tag{2} \]

8.3 Derive the molecular formula of X.

A minor metabolic transformation of X is catalyzed by cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase. This reaction leads to two compounds X2 (51.56 % of oxygen and 9.74 % of hydrogen by mass) and X3.

8.4 Derive the molecular formula of X2 and draw its structure.

X contains only primary and secondary carbon atoms. X0 and X3 contain common functional group.

8.5 Draw the structural formulae of X, X1, and X3.

In a medical study, personnel permanently exposed to X-based solvents without proper protection was found to have a stationary concentration of X in blood.

8.6 X1 is excreted with urine. Choose the graph of X1 daily mass content in the body of a volunteer participated in this experiment. Write down the number of the correct graph.

Figure 2

The use of different bacteria is also considered as a promising way for the removal of hydrocarbon (even aromatic) contaminants from sea water and soil. Under aerobic conditions, benzene undergoes biodegradation as follows (first three steps are balanced):

Figure 3

here and hereinafter
D - aromatic dioxygenase

Under the same conditions, a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon P (91.25 % of carbon by mass) undergoes the following transformation (first three steps are balanced):

Figure 4

P3 gives a positive iodoform test. A 100 mg sample of P3 requires 6.41 \(\mathrm{cm^3}\) of \(\ce{KOH}\) \((c=0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}})\) solution for complete neutralization.

8.7 Derive the structures of P–P3. Give the most stable tautomer of P3.

Microorganisms Alicycliphilus are capable of biodegradation of aromatic hydrocarbons even in soil. The process requires a suitable electron acceptor such as inorganic anion Y1 (first three steps are balanced).

Figure 5

D2 is aromatic dioxygenase different from D

The intermediate anion Y2 is enzymatically decomposed according to the balanced reaction equation:

\[ \ce{Y2(aq) -> Y3(aq) + Y4(g)}, \]

wherein each of Y3 and Y4 is composed of atoms of only one element. T2 does not contain two identical oxygen-containing functional groups. T2 gives a precipitate when treated with the ammonia solution of \(\ce{Ag2O}\), whereas Y3 does not.

8.8 Deduce and give formulas of Y1-Y4. Draw the structures of T1-T2. Give the most stable tautomer of T2.

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

  • 8.1: Tick \(n(\ce{C})>n(\ce{O})\).
  • 8.2: The empirical formula of X1 is \(\boxed{\ce{C2H4O}}\).
  • 8.3: The molecular formula of X is \(\boxed{\ce{C6H14O2}}\).
  • 8.4: X2 is ethane-1,2-diol (ethylene glycol), \(\ce{C2H6O2}\), OCCO.
  • 8.5: X: 2-butoxyethan-1-ol, CCCCOCCO; X1: 2-butoxyacetic acid, CCCCOCC(=O)O; X3: butanal, CCCC=O.
  • 8.6: \(\boxed{\text{Graph 1}}\).
  • 8.7: P: toluene, Cc1ccccc1; P1: cis-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol, O[C@H]1[C@@H](O)C(C)=CC=C1 (one cis enantiomer shown); P2: 3-methylbenzene-1,2-diol (3-methylcatechol), Oc1c(O)c(C)ccc1; P3: 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoic acid, CC(=O)C=CC=C(O)C(=O)O. I select this conjugated enol tautomer.
  • 8.8: Y1: chlorate, \(\ce{ClO3-}\), [O-]Cl(=O)=O; Y2: chlorite, \(\ce{ClO2-}\), [O-]Cl=O; Y3: chloride, \(\ce{Cl-}\), [Cl-]; Y4: dioxygen, \(\ce{O2}\), O=O. T1: phenol, Oc1ccccc1; T2: 2-hydroxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoic acid (2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde), O=CC=CC=C(O)C(=O)O. I likewise select its conjugated enol tautomer.

Solution

The calculations below use atomic molar masses \(12.01\), \(1.008\), and \(16.00\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) for carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, respectively.

8.1

Let the numbers of carbon and oxygen atoms in X1 be \(c\) and \(o\). If \(c\leq o\), even omitting the mass of the third element would give

\[ w(\ce{C}) < \frac{12.01c}{12.01c+16.00o} \leq \frac{12.01}{12.01+16.00} =0.4288. \]

This contradicts the measured carbon mass fraction \(0.5453\). Therefore,

\[ \boxed{c>o}. \]

The first box must be ticked.

8.2

Write the C/H/O composition as \(\ce{C_cH_hO_o}\). Its carbon mass fraction satisfies

\[ \frac{12.01c}{12.01c+1.008h+16.00o}=0.5453. \]

The geometric-progression condition can be checked exhaustively without an unbounded search. In increasing order, three integer terms of a geometric progression have the form

\[ k r^2,\quad krs,\quad ks^2, \]

where \(r,s\) are coprime positive integers and \(s\geq r\). The atom-count limit requires

\[ k(r^2+rs+s^2)\leq25. \]

Equal terms are excluded by \(c>o\). The remaining primitive triples are only

\[ (1,2,4),\quad(1,3,9),\quad(1,4,16),\quad(4,6,9). \]

For each triple, assigning its entries to \(c,h,o\), subject to \(c>o\), gives:

Primitive atom-count triple Possible carbon percentages with \(c>o\)
\((1,2,4)\) 54.53, 59.27, 72.73
\((1,3,9)\) 58.97, 68.80, 85.03
\((1,4,16)\) 59.92, 74.72, 90.56
\((4,6,9)\) 49.65, 51.94, 60.68

The unique matching assignment is

\[ c:h:o=2:4:1. \]

Indeed,

\[ 100\,w(\ce{C}) = 100\frac{2(12.01)} {2(12.01)+4(1.008)+16.00} =54.526\% \approx54.53\%. \]

Thus

\[ \boxed{\text{empirical formula of X1}=\ce{C2H4O}}. \]

Its molecular formula is \(\ce{C_{2m}H_{4m}O_m}\). Since the molecule contains \(7m\leq25\) atoms, \(m\) can only be \(1\), \(2\), or \(3\). An empirical formula alone does not specify a molecular structure or a unique SMILES.

8.3

In reaction (1), X loses two hydrogen atoms:

\[ \ce{X -> X0 + 2[H]}. \]

Reaction (2) adds one oxygen atom to X0, without changing its total hydrogen count. Consequently,

\[ \begin{aligned} \mathrm{X1}&:\quad \ce{C_{2m}H_{4m}O_m},\\ \mathrm{X0}&:\quad \ce{C_{2m}H_{4m}O_{m-1}},\\ \mathrm{X}&:\quad \ce{C_{2m}H_{4m+2}O_{m-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

Using the hydrogen percentage of X,

\[ \frac{1.008(4m+2)} {12.01(2m)+1.008(4m+2)+16.00(m-1)} =0.1194. \]

This gives \(m=3.00\), within the rounding of the analytical data. Therefore,

\[ \boxed{\ce{X=C6H14O2}},\qquad \ce{X0=C6H12O2},\qquad \ce{X1=C6H12O3}. \]

The check is

\[ 100\,w(\ce{H}) = 100\frac{14(1.008)}{118.172} =11.9419\% \approx11.94\%. \]

The combined balanced oxidation is

\[ \ce{X + 2NAD+ + H2O -> X1 + 2NADH + 2H+}. \]

8.4

The carbon percentage of X2 is

\[ 100-51.56-9.74=38.70\%. \]

For a \(100\ \mathrm{g}\) sample:

Element Amount of atoms
Carbon \(38.70/12.01=3.222\ \mathrm{mol}\)
Hydrogen \(9.74/1.008=9.663\ \mathrm{mol}\)
Oxygen \(51.56/16.00=3.223\ \mathrm{mol}\)

Thus the empirical ratio is

\[ \ce{C:H:O}=1:3:1, \]

and the molecular formula is initially \(\ce{C_mH_{3m}O_m}\).

For an ordinary neutral, closed-shell C/H/O compound,

\[ \mathrm{DBE}=\frac{2m+2-3m}{2}=1-\frac m2 \]

must be a nonnegative integer. Hence \(m=2\), giving

\[ \boxed{\ce{X2=C2H6O2}}. \]

The main oxidation sequence identifies a primary alcohol in X. P450-catalyzed oxidative ether cleavage releases an alcohol fragment while preserving that original alcohol group. The resulting two-carbon diol is therefore ethane-1,2-diol, OCCO:

\[ \boxed{\ce{HO-CH2-CH2-OH}}. \]

The required drawing is a two-carbon single-bonded chain with one hydroxyl group on each carbon.

Its calculated composition is

\[ w(\ce{O})=51.556\%,\qquad w(\ce{H})=9.744\%, \]

in agreement with the data.

8.5

The two-step oxidation

\[ \text{primary alcohol}\longrightarrow\text{aldehyde} \longrightarrow\text{carboxylic acid} \]

identifies X0 as an aldehyde. Thus X3, which shares its functional group, must also be an aldehyde.

The ethylene glycol fragment contains two of the six carbons of X. The other fragment therefore contains four carbons. A straight butyl ether gives butanal on oxidative cleavage. A sec-butyl ether would instead give a ketone, while branched isobutyl or tert-butyl structures would introduce a tertiary carbon atom into X.

The structures are therefore:

Label Name and SMILES Condensed structure
X 2-Butoxyethan-1-ol, CCCCOCCO \(\ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2OH}\)
X0 2-Butoxyethanal, CCCCOCC=O \(\ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2CHO}\)
X1 2-Butoxyacetic acid, CCCCOCC(=O)O \(\ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2COOH}\)
X3 Butanal, CCCC=O \(\ce{CH3CH2CH2CHO}\)

The structural oxidation equations are

\[ \ce{C4H9OCH2CH2OH + NAD+ -> C4H9OCH2CHO + NADH + H+}, \]

\[ \ce{C4H9OCH2CHO + NAD+ + H2O -> C4H9OCH2COOH + NADH + H+}, \]

where every \(\ce{C4H9}\) group is the straight-chain butyl group.

Using the problem’s notation \(\ce{2[H]}\) for reducing hydrogen equivalents, the balanced monooxygenase reaction is

\[ \ce{C6H14O2 + O2 + 2[H] -> C2H6O2 + C4H8O + H2O}. \]

Structurally,

\[ \ce{CH3CH2CH2CH2OCH2CH2OH + O2 + 2[H] -> HOCH2CH2OH + CH3CH2CH2CHO + H2O}. \]

8.6

A stationary blood concentration of X supports approximately constant production of X1. Between urinations, the total amount of X1 inside the body, including urine retained in the bladder, increases. Urination removes accumulated metabolite rapidly.

The amount does not fall to zero because metabolite remains in blood, tissues, and residual urine. The required graph therefore has gradual increases and abrupt decreases to nonzero minima:

\[ \boxed{\text{Graph 1}}. \]

8.7

First determine the hydrocarbon composition:

\[ n(\ce{C}):n(\ce{H}) = \frac{91.25}{12.01}:\frac{8.75}{1.008} \approx7:8. \]

Thus P has molecular formula \(\ce{C_{7k}H_{8k}}\).

The balanced first three steps add two oxygen atoms, remove the two newly supplied hydrogen atoms, and then add two more oxygen atoms. Therefore,

\[ \ce{P3=C_{7k}H_{8k}O4}. \]

The neutralization consumes

\[ n(\ce{KOH}) = (0.100\ \mathrm{mol\,dm^{-3}}) (6.41\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{dm^3}) = 6.41\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

The equivalent molar mass is

\[ \frac{0.100\ \mathrm{g}} {6.41\times10^{-4}\ \mathrm{mol}} = 156.0\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

If P3 has \(a\) carboxyl groups,

\[ M(\mathrm{P3})=156.0a\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Four oxygen atoms allow at most two carboxyl groups, so the possibilities are \(a=1\) or \(2\). Meanwhile,

\[ M(\mathrm{P3})=92.134k+64.00. \]

For \(a=1\), \(k\approx1\); for \(a=2\), \(k\approx2.69\), which is not an integer. Consequently,

\[ \boxed{\ce{P=C7H8}},\qquad \boxed{\ce{P3=C7H8O4}}, \]

and P3 has one carboxyl group. The monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon P is toluene, Cc1ccccc1.

For this oxidative ring-cleavage product, the positive iodoform test identifies a methyl ketone group, \(\ce{CH3CO-}\). The general balanced test reaction is

\[ \ce{RCOCH3 + 3I2 + 4OH- -> RCOO- + CHI3 + 3I- + 3H2O}. \]

The yellow precipitate is iodoform, IC(I)I.

To obtain a methyl ketone at the opened end of the aromatic ring, the methyl-bearing ring carbon must be adjacent to a hydroxyl-bearing carbon. This identifies P2 as 3-methylcatechol, Oc1c(O)c(C)ccc1.

Number the hydroxyl-bearing ring carbons 1 and 2 and the methyl-bearing carbon 3. Cleavage of the bond between carbons 2 and 3 gives

\[ \boxed{\ce{HOOC-C(OH)=CH-CH=CH-C(=O)-CH3}}. \]

This is 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoic acid, CC(=O)C=CC=C(O)C(=O)O. It has exactly the required carboxyl group and methyl ketone.

Working backward, P1 is cis-3-methylcyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol, O[C@H]1[C@@H](O)C(C)=CC=C1. Draw a six-membered ring with hydroxyl groups at positions 1 and 2 on the same face, a methyl group at position 3, and double bonds at 3–4 and 5–6. The displayed SMILES represents one cis enantiomer; the problem does not specify the absolute configuration selected by the enzyme.

The three balanced transformations are

\[ \ce{C7H8 + O2 + 2[H] -> C7H10O2}, \]

\[ \ce{C7H10O2 + NAD+ -> C7H8O2 + NADH + H+}, \]

\[ \ce{C7H8O2 + O2 -> C7H8O4}. \]

For the requested tautomer, I select the conjugated enol shown above: its two carbon–carbon double bonds form a continuous conjugated system with the terminal carbonyl groups. Its direct keto tautomer is 2,6-dioxohept-4-enoic acid, CC(=O)C=CCC(=O)C(=O)O:

\[ \ce{HOOC-C(OH)=CH-CH=CH-COCH3 <=> HOOC-CO-CH2-CH=CH-COCH3}. \]

8.8

Y4 supplies the oxygen used by the aromatic dioxygenase, so it is dioxygen, \(\ce{O2}\), O=O.

The relevant oxygen-generating decomposition of an aqueous inorganic anion is

\[ \boxed{\ce{ClO2-(aq) -> Cl-(aq) + O2(g)}}. \]

Thus Y2 is chlorite and Y3 is chloride. The equation balances both atoms and charge. It is an internal redox reaction: chlorine changes from oxidation state \(+3\) to \(-1\), while the two oxygen atoms change from \(-2\) to \(0\).

The preceding electron acceptor is chlorate, \(\ce{ClO3-}\). Its reduction to chlorite transfers one oxygen atom to the organic substrate at each step:

\[ \ce{C6H6 + ClO3- -> C6H6O + ClO2-}, \]

\[ \ce{C6H6O + ClO3- -> C6H6O2 + ClO2-}. \]

Therefore T1 is phenol, Oc1ccccc1, and the next intermediate is benzene-1,2-diol (catechol), Oc1ccccc1O.

The ion assignments, including SMILES, are:

Label Identity Formula SMILES
Y1 Chlorate \(\ce{ClO3-}\) [O-]Cl(=O)=O
Y2 Chlorite \(\ce{ClO2-}\) [O-]Cl=O
Y3 Chloride \(\ce{Cl-}\) [Cl-]
Y4 Dioxygen \(\ce{O2}\) O=O

The localized chlorine–oxygen bond orders in these SMILES are resonance representations. The conventional dioxygen SMILES does not encode its ground-state triplet spin.

For T2, ordinary cleavage between the two hydroxyl-bearing carbons would produce two carboxyl groups, contradicting the stated absence of two identical oxygen-containing functional groups. Instead, D2 performs cleavage adjacent to the catechol diol unit. The resulting chain has one carboxyl group and an aldehyde end:

\[ \boxed{\ce{HOOC-C(OH)=CH-CH=CH-CHO}}. \]

This is 2-hydroxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoic acid, also called 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde, O=CC=CC=C(O)C(=O)O.

The ring-cleavage balance is

\[ \ce{C6H6O2 + O2 -> C6H6O4}. \]

Its aldehyde explains the positive Tollens test:

\[ \ce{RCHO + 2[Ag(NH3)2]+ + 3OH- -> RCOO- + 2Ag(s) + 4NH3 + 2H2O}. \]

The precipitated material is metallic silver, [Ag]. The oxidant is diamminesilver(I), [NH3]->[Ag+]<-[NH3], with a linear nitrogen–silver–nitrogen coordination geometry.

Chloride does not reduce the silver reagent. In ammoniacal solution, silver chloride can dissolve through complex formation:

\[ \ce{AgCl(s) + 2NH3(aq) <=> [Ag(NH3)2]+(aq) + Cl-(aq)}. \]

This accounts for the intended negative precipitation observation for Y3.

As for P3, I select the conjugated enol representation of T2. Its direct keto tautomer is 2,6-dioxohex-4-enoic acid, O=CC=CCC(=O)C(=O)O:

\[ \ce{HOOC-C(OH)=CH-CH=CH-CHO <=> HOOC-CO-CH2-CH=CH-CHO}. \]

The solution was checked against the official solution.