Chemoselective sulfoxidation by H2O2 or HNO3 using a phosphate impregnated titania catalyst

A variety of organosulfur compounds have been selectively oxidized to the corresponding sulfoxides by either H₂O₂ or HNO₃ using a newly developed solid acid catalyst composed of 84.5% of TiO₂ and 15.5% of [Ti₄H₁₁(PO₄)₉]·nH₂O (n = 1-4). The chemoselective oxidation of sulfides in the presence of vulnerable groups such as -CN, -CC-, -CHO, or -OH, as well as sulfoxidation of substrates like benzothiazole, glycosyl sulfide, and dibenzothiophenes is some of the important attribute of the protocol. Nitric acid, under the present experimental conditions, brings about relatively better selectivity than hydrogen peroxide.     

A novel ferrimagnetic irido-cuprate: IrSr2GdCu2O8

We have performed an investigation of the structural, microstructural and magnetic properties of the new compound IrSr₂GdCu₂O₈. The sample was prepared under high temperature (∼1393 K) and high-pressure conditions (∼60 Kbars) in a Belt type apparatus. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that this irido-cuprate is isostructural with the corresponding Ru-1212 phase. Structurally, this material shows an interesting hierarchy of ordering phenomena, whose observation actually depends on the technique used to analyze the material: from a “simple” cell a_p×a_p×3a_p which is supported by XRD, through a “diagonal” one, as seen by SAED, to a microdomain texture of this last one cell supported by HREM. A ferrimagnetic Ir^IV-Gd^III spin ordering is observed below 15 K. The iridium oxidation state seems to be +4.     

The CO and CS bond cleavage in carbon dioxide and tolyl isothiocyanate by reactions with the Mo(0) tetraphosphine complex [Mo{meso-o-C6H4(PPhCH2CH2PPh2)2}(Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2)]

A Mo(0) complex containing a new tetraphosphine ligand [Mo(P₄)(dppe)] (1; P₄ = meso-o-C₆H₄(PPhCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂, dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) reacted with CO₂ (1 atm) at 60 °C in benzene to give a Mo(0) carbonyl complex fac-[Mo(CO)(η³-P₄O)(dppe)] (2), where the O abstraction from CO₂ by one terminal P atom in P₄ takes place to give the dangling P(O)Ph₂ moiety together with the coordinated CO. On the other hand, reaction of 1 with TolNCS (Tol = m-MeC₆H₄) in benzene at 60 °C resulted in the incorporation of three TolNCS molecules to the Mo center, forming a Mo(0) isocyanide-isothiocyanate complex trans,mer-[Mo(TolNC)₂(η²-TolNCS)(η³-P₄S)] (4), where the S abstraction occurs from two TolNCS molecules by P₄ and dppe to give the η³-P₄S ligand and free dppeS, respectively, together with two coordinated TolNC molecules. The remaining site of the Mo center is occupied by the third TolNCS ligating at the CS bond in an η²-manner. The X-ray analysis has been undertaken to determine the detailed structures for 2 and 4.     

Das chlorsilylsubstituierte Silanimin Bu2SiNSiClBu2

In the thermolysis of the silaterazolines silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₃SiN₃ the silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ and the silyl azide ^tBu₃SiN₃ are formed quantitatively. The silanimine ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ has been trapped with Et₃NHF, Me₃NHCl, water, 1-butene, 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene, isobutene, methylvinyl ether, and ^tBu₂SiClN₃. The structure of the disiloxane (^tBu₂SiCl-NH-Si^tBu₂)₂O and of the bis(di-tert-butylchlorsilyl)-substituted silatetrazoline ^tBu₂SiNSiCl^tBu₂ · ^tBu₂SiClN₃ has been determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Selective oxidation of toluene over layered structures of Bi2MoO6 and La2MoO6

The vapor phase catalytic aerial oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde (B_zH) was carried out over La₂MoO₆ containing the same kind of layered structure as Bi₂MoO₆. The overall kinetic analysis indicated the oxidation of toluene to B_zH to be first order with a frequency factor of log 0.63 and activation energy (E_a) of 26.3 kJ mol^–1 and 34.0 kJ mol^–1, respectively, for Bi₂MoO₆ and La₂MoO₆ catalysts. A relation between the activity and activation energy of conduction (E) is shown.     

Group 12 metal aryl selenolates. Crystal and molecular structure of [2-(Et2NCH2)C6H4]2Se2 and [2-(Me2NCH2)C6H4Se]2M (M = Zn, Cd)

Diorganodiselenide [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂Se₂ (1) was obtained by hydrolysis/oxidation of the corresponding [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]SeLi derivative. The treatment of [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂Se₂ with elemental sodium in THF resulted in [2-(Et₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]SeNa (2). Reactions between alkali metal selenolates [2-(R₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]SeM′ (R = Me, Et; M′ = Li, Na) and MCl₂ (M = Zn, Cd) in a 2:1 molar ratio resulted in the [2-(R₂NCH₂)C₆H₄Se]₂M species [R = Me, M = Zn (3), Cd (4); R = Et, M = Zn (5), Cd (6)]. The new compounds were characterized by multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ⁷⁷Se, ¹¹³Cd) and mass spectrometry. The crystal and molecular structures of 1, 3 and 4 revealed monomeric species stabilized by N → Se (for 1) and N → M (for 3 and 4) intramolecular interactions.     

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl2{meso-o-C6H4(PPhCH2CH2PPh2)2}] with a series of small molecules

Reactions of Mo(II)-tetraphosphine complex [MoCl₂(κ⁴-P4)] (2; P4 = meso-o-C₆H₄(PPhCH₂CH₂PPh₂)₂) with a series of small molecules have been investigated. Thus, treatment of 2 with alkynes RCCR′ (R = Ph, R′ = H; R = p-tolyl, R′ = H; R = Me, R′ = Ph) in benzene or toluene gave neutral mono(alkyne) complexes [MoCl₂(RCCR′)(κ³-P4)] containing tridentate P4 ligand, which were converted to cationic complexes [MoCl(RCCR′)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl having tetradentate P4 ligand upon dissolution into CDCl₃ or CD₂Cl₂. The latter complexes were available directly from the reactions of 2 with the alkynes in CH₂Cl₂. On the other hand, treatment of 2 with 1 equiv. of XyNC (Xy = 2,6-Me₂C₆H₃) afforded a seven-coordinate mono(isocyanide) complex [MoCl₂(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)] (7), which reacted further with XyNC to give a cationic bis(isocyanide) complex [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (8). From the reaction of 2 with CO, a mono(carbonyl) complex [MoCl₂(CO)(κ⁴-P4)] (9) was obtained as a sole isolable product. Reaction of 9 with XyNC afforded [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)]Cl (10a) having a pentagonal-bipyramidal geometry with axial CO and XyNC ligands, whereas that of 7 with CO resulted in the formation of a mixture of 10a and its isomer 10b containing axial CO and Cl ligands. Structures of 7 and 9 as well as [MoCl(XyNC)₂(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆](8′) and [MoCl(CO)(XyNC)(κ⁴-P4)][PF₆] (10a′) derived by the anion metathesis from 8 and 10a, respectively, were determined in detail by the X-ray crystallography.     

Preparation and structure of NaSr0.5Al2B2O7 and NaCa0.5Al2B2O7

Two compounds NaSr_0.5Al₂B₂O₇ and NaCa_0.5Al₂B₂O₇, have been found to crystallize into a new structure type by Rietveld refinement from X-ray powder diffraction data. Their structure belongs to hexagonal space group P6₃/m, with lattice parameters of , for NaSr_0.5Al₂B₂O₇ and , for NaCa_0.5Al₂B₂O₇, respectively. The structure is built up by [Al₂B₂O₇]²⁻ double layer and Na⁺/Ca²⁺ or Na⁺/Sr²⁺ ions alternatively stacking along the c-axis. The sites in the inter-double layer are fully occupied jointly by Na and Ca or Sr, but the intra-double layer sites are only half occupied solely by Na. A mechanism of the transition of the structure from CaAl₂B₂O₇ to present structure type by replacing only 1% Ca by Na (2%) as observed by Chang and Keszler (Mater. Res. Bull. 33 (1998) 299) is also proposed.     

Synthesis, structure, and magnetic and electronic properties of Cs2Hg2USe5

The compound Cs₂Hg₂USe₅ was obtained from the solid-state reaction of U, HgSe, Cs₂Se₃, Se, and CsI at 1123 K. This material crystallizes in a new structure type in space group P2/n of the monoclinic system with a cell of dimensions a=10.276(6) Å, b=4.299(2) Å, c=15.432(9) Å, β=101.857(6) Å, and V=667.2(6) Å³. The structure contains layers separated by Cs atoms. Within the layers are distorted HgSe₄ tetrahedra and regular USe₆ octahedra. In the temperature range of 25-300 K Cs₂Hg₂USe₅ displays Curie-Weiss paramagnetism with μ_eff=3.71(2) μ_B. The compound exhibits semiconducting behavior in the [010] direction; the conductivity at 298 K is 3×10⁻³ S/cm. Formal oxidation states of Cs/Hg/U/Se may be assigned as +1/+2/+4/− 2, respectively.     

The role of direct oxalate oxidation in electrogenerated chemiluminescence of poly(4-vinylpyridine)-bound Ru(bpy)2Cl/oxalate system on indium tin oxide electrodes

The electrochemical and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) properties of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes modified with poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVP)-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺ (where bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been studied. In a sodium oxalate solution, two irreversible oxidation waves as well as two ECL emission waves were observed during the potential scan in the range 0.4-1.4 V (versus Ag/AgCl/saturated KCl reference). The first ECL wave appeared at ca. 0.8 V, which was caused by the excited-state Ru^2+* generated through a bimolecular redox reaction between electrogenerated Ru³⁺ and the strong reducing agent, C⁻O₂. The latter was formed via a Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate. Direct oxidation of oxalate was not involved in the first ECL process. The second ECL wave started at ca. 1.1 V, which was also from the excited-state Ru^2+* generated via the redox reaction between Ru³⁺ and C⁻O₂. However, both direct and Ru³⁺-mediated oxidation of oxalate contributed to the formation of C⁻O₂. The important role of the direct oxidation of oxalate in the ECL mechanism of PVP-bound Ru(bpy)₂Cl⁺/oxalate system was demonstrated. The relative contribution of direct oxidation of oxalate to the observed ECL depended upon the surface concentration of PVP-bound Ru²⁺, the concentration of oxalate and the electrode potential applied.     

Cyclometalated N,N-dimethylbenzylamine ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(C6HRRR-o-CH2NMe2)(bpy)(RCN)2]PF6 for bioapplications: synthesis, characterization, crystal structures, redox properties, and reactivity toward PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase

Cyclometalated derivatives of ring-substituted N,N-dimethylbenzylamines with controlled redox potentials as potent mediators of bioelectrochemical electron transport are reported. The cycloruthenation of R¹R²R³C₆H₂CH₂NMe₂ (R¹, R², R³ = H, Me, ^tBuO, MeO, NMe₂, F, CF₃, CN, NO₂) by [(η⁶-C₆H₆)RuCl(μ-Cl)]₂ in the presence of NaOH/KPF₆ in acetonitrile or pivalonitrile affords cyclometalated complexes [(η⁶-C₆H₆)Ru(C₆HR¹R²R³-o-CH₂NMe₂)(RCN)]PF₆ [R = Me (1) and R = CMe₃ (2)] in good yields. Reactions of complexes 1 and 2 with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) in acetonitrile or pivalonitrile result in dissociation of η⁶-bound benzene and the formation of [Ru(C₆HR¹R²R³-o-CH₂NMe₂)(bpy)(RCN)₂]PF₆ [R = Me (3) and R = CMe₃ (4)]. All new compounds have been fully characterized by mass spectrometry, ¹H/¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy. An X-ray crystal structural investigation of complex 1 (R¹/R²/R³ = H/H/H) and two complexes of type 3 (R¹/R²/R³ = MeO/H/H, MeO/MeO/H) has been performed. Acetonitrile ligands of 3 are mutually cis and the σ-bound carbon is trans to one of the bpy nitrogens. Measured by the cyclic voltammetry in MeOH as solvent, the redox potentials of complexes 3 for the Ru^II/III feature cover the range 320-720 mV (versus Ag/AgCl) and correlate linearly with the Hammett constants. Complexes 3 mediate efficiently the electron transport between the active site of PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (PQQ = pyrroloquinoline quinone) and a glassy carbon electrode. Determined by cyclic voltammetry the second order rate constant for the oxidation of the reduced (by d-glucose) enzyme active site by Ru^III derivative of 3 (R¹/R²/R³ = H) (generated electrochemically) is as high as 4.8 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 25 °C and pH 7.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of new uranyl tungstates M2(UO2)(W2O8) (M=Na, K), M2(UO2)2(WO5)O (M=K, Rb), and Na10(UO2)8(W5O20)O8

The solid-state reactions of UO₃ and WO₃ with M₂CO₃ (M=Na, K, Rb) at 650°C for 5 days result, accordingly the starting stoichiometry, in the formation of M₂(UO₂)(W₂O₈) (M=Na (1), K (2)), M₂(UO₂)₂(WO₅)O (M=K (3), Rb (4)), and Na₁₀(UO₂)₈(W₅O₂₀)O₈ (5). The crystal structures of compounds 2, 3, 4, and 5 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction using Mo(Kα) radiation and a charge-coupled device detector. The crystal structures were solved by direct methods and Fourier difference techniques, and refined by a least-squares method on the basis of F² for all unique reflections. For (1), unit-cell parameters were determined from powder X-ray diffraction data. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, a=12.736(4) Å, b=7.531(3) Å, c=8.493(3) Å, β=93.96(2)°, ρ_cal=6.62(2) g/cm³, ρ_mes=6.64(1) g/cm³, Z=4; 2, orthorhombic, space group Pmcn, a=7.5884(16) Å, b=8.6157(18) Å, c=13.946(3) Å, ρ_cal=6.15(2) g/cm³, ρ_mes=6.22(1) g/cm³, Z=8, R1=0.029 for 80 parameters with 1069 independent reflections; 3, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.083(4) Å, b=28.724(5) Å, c=9.012(4) Å, β=102.14(1)°, ρ_cal=5.83(2) g/cm³, ρ_mes=5.90(2) g/cm³, Z=8, R1=0.037 for 171 parameters with 1471 reflections; 4, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=8.234(1) Å, b=28.740(3) Å, c=9.378(1) Å, β=104.59(1)°, ρ_cal=6.13(2) g/cm³,  g/cm³, Z=8, R1=0.037 for 171 parameters with 1452 reflections; 5, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=24.359(5) Å, b=23.506(5) Å, c=6.8068(14) Å, β=94.85(3)°, ρ_cal=6.42(2) g/cm³,  g/cm³, Z=8, R1=0.036 for 306 parameters with 5190 independent reflections. The crystal structure of 2 contains linear one-dimensional chains formed from edge-sharing UO₇ pentagonal bipyramids connected by two octahedra wide (W₂O₈) ribbons formed from two edge-sharing WO₆ octahedra connected together by corners. This arrangement leads to [UW₂O₁₀]²⁻ corrugated layers parallel to (001). Owing to the unit-cell parameters, compound 1 probably contains similar sheets parallel to (100). Compounds 3 and 4 are isostructural and the structure consists of bi-dimensional networks built from the edge- and corner-sharing UO₇ pentagonal bipyramids. This arrangement creates square sites occupied by W atoms, a fifth oxygen atom completes the coordination of W atoms to form WO₅ distorted square pyramids. The interspaces between the resulting [U₂WO₁₀]²⁻ layers parallel to plane are occupied by K or Rb atoms. The crystal structure of compound 5 is particularly original. It is based upon layers formed from UO₇ pentagonal bipyramids and two edge-shared octahedra units, W₂O₁₀, by the sharing of edges and corners. Two successive layers stacked along the [100] direction are pillared by WO₄ tetrahedra resulting in sheets of double layers. The sheets are separated by Na⁺ ions. The other Na⁺ ions occupy the rectangular tunnels created within the sheets. In fact complex anions W₅O₂₀¹⁰⁻ are built by the sharing of the four corners of a WO₄ tetrahedron with two W₂O₁₀ dimmers, so, the formula of compound 5 can be written Na₁₀(UO₂)₈(W₅O₂₀)O₈.     

Thermodynamics of BaNd2Fe2O7(s) and BaNdFeO4(s) in the system BaNdFeO

Two compounds, BaNd₂Fe₂O₇(s) and BaNdFeO₄(s) in the quaternary system BaNdFeO were prepared by citrate-nitrate gel combustion route and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Heat capacities of these two oxides were measured in two different temperature ranges: (i) 130-325 K and (ii) 310-845 K, using a heat flux type differential scanning calorimeter. Two different types of solid-state electrochemical cells with CaF₂(s) as the solid electrolyte were employed to measure the e.m.f. as a function of temperature. The standard molar Gibbs energies of formation of these quaternary oxides were calculated as a function of temperature from the e.m.f. data. The standard molar enthalpies of formation from elements at 298.15 K, ΔfHm° (298.15 K) and the standard entropies, Sm° (298.15 K) of these oxides were calculated by the second law method. The values of ΔfHm° (298.15 K) and Sm° (298.15 K) obtained for BaNd₂Fe₂O₇(s) are: −2756.9 kJ mol⁻¹ and 234.0 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ whereas those for BaNdFeO₄(s) are: −2061.5 kJ mol⁻¹ and 91.6 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Ionization gauge sensitivities of N2, O2, N2O, NO, NO2, NH3, CClF3 and CH3OH

A Bayard-Alpert (BA) gauge was used to determine apparent relative sensitivites S_rel,X for O₂, N₂O, NO, NO₂, NH₃, CClF₃ and CH₃OH from gauge calibration measurements in the range 1.3×10^–1 Pap1.3·10^–3Pa. Nitrogen was used as a calibration standard.     

A mechanistic investigation of (Me3Si)3SiH oxidation

The interaction of (Me₃Si)₃SiH with O₂ is known to afford (Me₃SiO)₂Si(H)SiMe₃ in which the two oxygen atoms arise from the same oxygen molecule. In order to investigate the mechanism of this unusual reaction, the oxidation rates were measured in the temperature range 30-70 °C by following oxygen uptake in the presence and absence of hydroquinone as inhibitor. The rate constant for the spontaneous reaction of (Me₃Si)₃SiH with O₂ was determined at 70 °C to be ∼3.5 × 10⁻⁵ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. A sequence of the propagation steps is proposed by combining the previous and present experimental findings with some theoretical results obtained at the semiempirical level. These calculations showed that the silylperoxyl radical (Me₃Si)₃SiOO undergoes three consecutive unimolecular steps to give (Me₃SiO)₂Si()SiMe₃. Evidence has been obtained that the rate determining step is the rearrangement of silylperoxyl radical to a dioxirand-like pentacoordinated silyl radical. Our findings are of considerable importance for the understanding of the oxidation of hydrogen-terminated silicon surfaces.