Direct spectroscopic evidence of the cross-coupling reaction between CH(2)(a) and CF(3)(a) on Ag(111)

The cross-coupling reaction between CH2 and CF3 on Ag(111) was studied with reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS). Adsorbed CF3CH2(a) was, for the first time, spectroscopically identified as an intermediate in the reaction to form CF2CH2. It is formed by migratory methylene insertion into Ag-CF3. CF3CH2(a) undergoes beta-fluoride elimination to form CF2CH2. Our results provide direct new fundamental insight into Fischer-Tropsch synthesis.     

Surface chemistry of CN bond formation from carbon and nitrogen atoms on Pt(111)

The mechanism of CN bond formation from CH3 and NH3 fragments adsorbed on Pt(111) was investigated with reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The surface chemistry of carbon-nitrogen coupling is of fundamental importance to catalytic processes such as the industrial-scale synthesis of HCN from CH4 and NH3 over Pt. Since neither CH4 nor NH3 thermally dissociate on Pt(111) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions, the relevant surface intermediates were generated through the thermal decomposition of CH3I and the electron-induced dissociation of NH3. The presence of surface CN is detected with TPD through HCN desorption as well as with RAIRS through the appearance of the vibrational features characteristic of the aminocarbyne (CNH2) species, which is formed upon hydrogenation of surface CN at 300 K. The RAIRS results show that HCN desorption at approximately 500 K is kinetically limited by the formation of the CN bond at this temperature. High coverages of Cads suppress CN formation, but the results are not influenced by the coadsorbed I atoms. Cyanide formation is also observed from the reaction of adsorbed N atoms and carbon produced from the dissociation of ethylene.     

Coupling versus surface-etching reactions of alkyl halides on GaAs(100): I. CF3CH2I reactions

We report the rich surface chemistry exhibited by the reactions of 1,1,1-trifluoroethyl iodide (CF3CH2I) adsorbed onto gallium-rich GaAs(100)-(4 x 1), studied by temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) studies and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CF3CH2I adsorbs molecularly at 150 K but dissociates, below room temperature, to form a chemisorbed monolayer of CF3CH2 and I species. Recombinative desorption of molecular CF3CH2I competes with the further reactions of the CF3CH2 and I chemisorbed species. The CF3CH2 species can either undergo beta-fluoride elimination to yield gaseous CF2=CH2 or it can undergo self-coupling to form the corresponding higher alkane, CF3CH2CH2CF3. A second coupling product, CF3CH2CH=CF2, is also evolved, and it is postulated that migratory insertion of the liberated CF2=CH2 into the surface-carbon bond of the chemisorbed CF3CH2 is responsible for its formation. The iodines, formed by C-I scission in the chemisorbed CF3CH2I, and the fluorines, derived from beta-fluoride elimination in CF3CH2, react with the surface gallium dimers, and Ga-As back-bonds to generate five etch products (GaF, AsF, GaI, AsI, and As2) that desorb in the temperature range of 420 to >600 K. XPS data reveal that the surface stoichiometry remains constant throughout the entire annealing temperature range because of the desorption of both gallium- and arsenic-containing etch products, which occur sequentially. In this article, plausible mechanisms by which all products form and the binding sites of these reactions in the (4 x 1) reconstruction are discussed. Factors that control the rate constants of etch product versus hydrocarbon product formation and in particular how they impact on the respective desorption temperatures will be discussed.     

Proton-induced reactivities of ruthenium azido complexes: the first example of boron-carbon bond formation by methylene insertion into a B-H bond

Whereas the reaction of Tp(PhCN)(PPh(3))Ru-N(3) {Tp = HB(pz)(3), pz = pyrazolyl} with CH(3)I in CH(2)Cl(2) led to the cationic ruthenium methyleneimine complex [Tp(PPh(3))(PhCN)Ru(NH=CH(2))]I, the analogous reaction with HCl gave rise to the ruthenium chloride complex containing a methyl tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand (Me)Tp(PPh(3))(PhCN)RuCl, as a result of the highly unusual methylene insertion into a B-H bond of the Tp ligand.     

A new route to coordination complexes of nitroxyl (HN=O) via insertion reactions of nitrosonium triflate with transition-metal hydrides

Nitrosonium triflate reacts with cold methylene chloride solutions of mer,trans-ReH(CO)3(PPh3)2 (1) with 1,1-insertion of NO+ into the Re-H bond to give the orange nitroxyl complex [mer,trans-Re(NH=O)(CO)3(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (3) in 86% isolated yield. Use of [NO][PF6] or [NO][BF4] gives analogous insertion products at low temperature, which decompose on warning to ambient temperature to the fluoride complex mer,trans-ReF(CO)3(PPh3)2 (4). A related 1,1-insertion is observed in the reaction of 1 with [PhN2][PF6] in acetone that affords the yellow-orange phenyldiazene salt [mer,trans-Re(NH=NPh)(CO)3(PPh3)2][PF6] (2), which has been characterized by X-ray crystallographic methods. The methyl derivative mer,trans-Re(CH3)(CO)3(PPh3)2 (5) also undergoes a 1,1-insertion reaction with [NO][SO3CF3] to give the nitrosomethane adduct [mer,trans-Re{N(CH3)=O}(CO)3(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (6) as red crystals in 75% yield. The nitroxyl complex [cis,trans-OsBr(NH=O)(CO)2(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (8) can be similarly prepared as orange crystals in 52% yield by reaction of cis,trans-OsHBr(CO)2(PPh3)2 (7) with [NO][SO3CF3] in cold methylene chloride solution.     

Key factors determining the course of methyl iodide oxidative addition to diamidonaphthalene-bridged diiridium(I) and dirhodium(I) complexes

The course of methyl iodide oxidative addition to various nucleophilic complexes, [Ir2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (1), [IrRh(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (2), and [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CO)2(PR3)2] (R = iPr, 3; Ph, 4; p-tolyl, 5; Me, 6), has been investigated. The CH3I addition to complex 1 readily affords the diiridium(II) complex [Ir2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)I(CH3)(CO)2(PiPr3)2] (7), which undergoes slow rearrangement to give a thermodynamically stable stereoisomer, 8. The reaction of the Ir-Rh complex 2 gives the ionic compound [IrRh(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CH3)(CO)2(PiPr3)2]I (10). The dirhodium compounds, 3-5, undergo one-center additions to yield acyl complexes of the formula (Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)I(COCH3)(CO)(PR3)2] (R = iPr, 12; Ph, 13; p-tolyl, 14). The structure of 12 has been determined by X-ray diffraction. Further reactions of these Rh(III)-Rh(I) acyl derivatives with CH3I are productive only for the p-tolylphosphine derivative, which affords the bis-acyl complex [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(CH3CO)2I2(P(p-tolyl)3)2] (15). The reaction of the PMe3 derivative, 6, allows the isolation of the bis-methyl complex [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(mu-I)(CH3)2(CO)2(PMe3)2]I (16a), which emanates from a double one-center addition. Upon reaction with methyl triflate, the starting materials, 1, 2, 3, and 6, give the isostructural cationic methyl complexes 9, 11, 17, and 18, respectively. The behavior of these cationic methyl compounds toward CH3I, CH3OSO2CF3, and tetrabutylamonium iodide is consistent with the role of these species as intermediates in the SN2 addition of CH3I. Compounds 18 and 17 react with an excess of methyl triflate to give [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(mu-OSO2CF3)(CH3)2(CO)2(PMe3)2][CF3SO3] (19) and [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(OSO2CF3)(COCH3)(CH3)(CO)(PiPr3)2][CF3SO3] (20), respectively. Upon treatment with acetonitrile, complexes 17 and 18 give the isostructural cationic acyl complexes [Rh2(mu-1,8-(NH)2naphth)(COCH3)(NCCH3)(CO)(PR3)2][CF3SO3] (R = iPr, 21; Me, 22). A kinetic study of the reaction leading to 21 shows that formation of these complexes involves a slow insertion step followed by the fast coordination of the acetonitrile. The variety of reactions found in this system can be rationalized in terms of three alternative reaction pathways, which are determined by the effectiveness of the interactions between the two metal centers of the dinuclear complex and by the steric constraints due to the phosphine ligands.     

Kinetics of electron-induced decomposition of CF2Cl2 coadsorbed with water (ice): a comparison with CCl4

The kinetics of decomposition and subsequent chemistry of adsorbed CF(2)Cl(2), activated by low-energy electron irradiation, have been examined and compared with CCl(4). These molecules have been adsorbed alone and coadsorbed with water ice films of different thicknesses on metal surfaces (Ru; Au) at low temperatures (25 K; 100 K). The studies have been performed with temperature programmed desorption (TPD), reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). TPD data reveal the efficient decomposition of both halocarbon molecules under electron bombardment, which proceeds via dissociative electron attachment (DEA) of low-energy secondary electrons. The rates of CF(2)Cl(2) and CCl(4) dissociation increase in an H(2)O (D(2)O) environment (2-3x), but the increase is smaller than that reported in recent literature. The highest initial cross sections for halocarbon decomposition coadsorbed with H(2)O, using 180 eV incident electrons, are measured (using TPD) to be 1.0+/-0.2 x 10(-15) cm(2) for CF(2)Cl(2) and 2.5+/-0.2 x 10(-15) cm(2) for CCl(4). RAIRS and XPS studies confirm the decomposition of halocarbon molecules codeposited with water molecules, and provide insights into the irradiation products. Electron-induced generation of Cl(-) and F(-) anions in the halocarbon/water films and production of H(3)O(+), CO(2), and intermediate compounds COF(2) (for CF(2)Cl(2)) and COCl(2), C(2)Cl(4) (for CCl(4)) under electron irradiation have been detected using XPS, TPD, and RAIRS. The products and the decomposition kinetics are similar to those observed in our recent experiments involving x-ray photons as the source of ionizing irradiation.     

An EPR study of the C-O bond activation of 1,2-epoxybutane by ground-state Al atoms

Group 13 metal atoms react with ethers under matrix isolation conditions to give a number of interesting products. This work has been extended to include the reaction of Al atoms with 1,2-epoxybutane (CH(3)CH(2)H(2)) and its isotopomers, 1,2-epoxybutane-1,1-d(2) (CH(3)CH(2)D(2)) and 1,2-epoxybutane-2-d(1) (CH(3)CH(2)H(2)). The paramagnetic species generated in the reaction have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Two divalent Al insertion products were spontaneously formed. Species A, with the magnetic parameters a(Al) = 855 MHz, a(H)(1) = 28.8 MHz, a(H)(2) = 13.6 MHz, and g = 2.0014, is the C(1)-O insertion radical CH(3)CH(2). Species B, thought to result from the insertion of Al atoms into the C(2)-O bond, CH(3)CH(2), has the magnetic parameters g = 2.0003, a(Al) = 739 MHz, a(H)(1) = 15.1 MHz, a(H)(2) = 18.5 MHz, and a(H)(1) = 37.8 MHz. Support for these assignments was obtained by comparing the experimental values of the Al and H hyperfine interaction (hfi) with those calculated using a DFT method. At temperatures < 150 K, there is evidence for the formation of the alkyl radical CH(3)CH(2)CH(O(-))CH(2)* due to ring opening at the C(1)-O bond, while at higher temperatures a radical with magnetic parameters similar to those reported for 1-methallyl was detected.     

New Ag(I)-containing coordination polymers generated from multidentate Schiff-base ligands

The coordination chemistry of the multidentate Schiff-base ligands 2,5-bis(3-methylpyrazinyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene (L5) and 2,5-bis(pyrazinyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene (L6) with inorganic Ag(I) salts has been investigated. Six new Ag(I)-coordination polymers were prepared by solution reactions and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [Ag(L5)]ClO(4).0.5CH(3)OH (1, orthorhombic, Fdd2; a = 20.0896(11) A, b = 48.224(3) A, c = 7.8432(4) A, Z = 16), [Ag(L5)]PF(6).0.5CH(3)OH (2, orthorhombic, Fdd2; a = 20.7255(11) A, b = 46.166(2) A, c = 8.4332(4) A, Z = 16), [Ag(L5)]SbF(6).0.5CH(3)OH (3, orthorhombic, Fdd2; a = 21.5481(11) A, b = 45.196(2) A, c = 8.7331(4) A, Z = 16), and [Ag(L5)](BF(4)).0.5CH(3)OH (4, orthorhombic, Fdd2; a = 19.8897(11) A, b = 48.358(3) A, c = 7.7491(5) A, Z = 16) were obtained by combination of L5 with AgClO(4).xH(2)O, AgPF(6), AgSbF(6), and AgBF(4), respectively, in a methylene chloride/methanol mixed solvent system. Compounds 1-4 are isostructural and feature noninterpenetrating three-dimensional zeolite-like networks. [Ag(4)(L6)(4)](PF(6))(4).CHCl(3) (5, tetragonal, Pc2; a = 16.1067(3) A, b = 16.1067(3) A, c = 14.4935(5) A, Z = 2) was generated from the reaction of L6 with AgPF(6) in a chloroform/ethanol mixed solvent system. It forms with a unique one-dimensional nanometer-tube that can be considered a new polymeric motif based on the [AgN5] coordination sphere. The tubes are square with crystallographic dimensions of 10.3 x 10.0 A. The tubes are further linked together through weak interpolymer C-H...F hydrogen bonding interactions into a novel H-bonded three-dimensional network containing square tubes, in which uncoordinated PF(6)(-) counterions and chloroform guest molecules are located. Compound 6 ([Ag(mu-C(6)H(6)N(2)O)](SO(3)CF(3)), monoclinic, P2(1)/c; a = 12.3435(6) A, b = 20.3548(10) A, c = 9.0861(5) A, Z = 8) was obtained by combination of AgSO(3)CF(3) and L6 in a methylene chloride/benzene mixed solvent system. In 6, 2-acetylpyrazine, which was generated from the hydrolysis reaction of L6 in the presence of CF(3)SO(3)(-) and a small quantity of water in solvent, chelates the Ag(I) centers through the carbonyl O-donor, and the vicinal pyrazine N-donor, furthermore, uses the para-N atoms to link other Ag(I) centers into one-dimensional zigzag chains. The triflate anions link the chains into a three-dimensional network by somewhat long Ag.O contacts.     

二氟二碘甲烷与乙烯基乙醚的反应及其产物的化学转化

二氟二碘甲烷(CF2I2,1)与乙烯基乙醚和Na2S2O4在DMSO和乙醇的混合溶剂中反应得3,3-二氟-3-碘丙醛的乙缩醛[ICF2CH2CH(OEt)2](3).3在锌粉的作用下发生偶联反应生成二缩醛[(EtO)2CHCH2CF2CF2CH2CH(OEt)2](5)。缩醛3或5与烯醇硅醚在SnCl4作用下发生交叉偶联反应。3在锌粉或保险粉的引下与烯醇硅醚发生加成反应。3和5分别转化成硫缩醛ICF2CH2CH(SR)2(13),(RS)2CHCH2CF2CF2CH2CH(SR)2(14)或O,S-缩醛。13消HI得1,1-二氟乙烯衍生物。     

A tungstenVI nitride having a W2(mu-N)2 core

The tungsten nitrido species, [W(mu-N)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2]2 (Ar = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), has been prepared in a reaction between the alkylidyne species, W(C-t-Bu)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2, and organonitriles. The dimeric nature of the nitride was established in the solid state through an X-ray study and in solution through a combination of 15N NMR spectroscopy and vibrational spectroscopy. Reaction of the nitride with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate afforded the monomeric trimethylsilyl imido species, W(NSiMe3)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2(OSO2CF3), which was also characterized crystallographically. The W2N2 core can be reduced by one electron electrochemically or in bulk with metallocenes to afford the radical anion, {n-Bu4N}{[W(mu-N)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2]2}. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the lowest-energy allowable transition in [W(mu-N)(CH2-t-Bu)(OAr)2]2 is from a highest occupied molecular orbital consisting largely of ligand-based lone pairs into what is largely a metal-based lowest unoccupied molecular orbital.     

Reactivity of an anionic Pd(II) metallacycle with CH2X2 (X=Cl, Br, I): formal insertion of methylene into a Pd-C(aryl) bond

Whereas the reaction of the anionic palladium metallacycle [K[Pd(CH2CMe2-o-C6H4)(kappa2-Tp)]] with CH2Cl2 leads to the isolation of the stable Pd(IV) chloromethyl complex [Pd(CH2CMe2-o-C6H4)(kappa3-Tp)(CH2Cl)], the analogous reactions with CH2Br2 and CH2I2 give rise to the six membered metallacycles [Pd(CH2CMe2-o-C6H4(CH2))(kappa3-Tp)X](X = Br or I), as a result of the formal insertion of CH2 into the Pd-C(aryl) bond.     

Selective coupling of methylene groups at a Rh/Os core, yielding C2, C3, or C4 fragments: roles of the adjacent metals in carbon-carbon bond formation

The mixed-metal complex, [RhOs(CO)(4)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (1; dppm = micro-Ph(2)PCH(2)PPh(2)) reacts with diazomethane to yield a number of products resulting from methylene incorporation into the bimetallic core. At -80 degrees C the reaction between 1 and CH(2)N(2) yields the methylene-bridged [RhOs(CO)(3)(micro-CH(2))(micro-CO)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (2), which reacts further at ambient temperature to give the allyl methyl species, [RhOs(eta(1)-C(3)H(5))(CH(3))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (4). At intermediate temperatures compounds 1 and 2 react with diazomethane to yield the butanediyl complex [RhOs(C(4)H(8))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (3) by the incorporation and coupling of four methylene units. Compound 2 is proposed to be an intermediate in the formation of 3 and 4 from 1 and on the basis of labeling studies a mechanism has been proposed in which sequential insertions of diazomethane-generated methylene fragments into the Rh-C bond of bridging hydrocarbyl fragments occur. Reaction of the tricarbonyl species, [RhOs(CO)(3)(micro-CH(2))(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] with diazomethane over a range of temperatures generates the ethylene complex [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (7a), but no further incorporation of methylene groups is observed. This observation suggests that carbonyl loss in the formation of the above allyl and butanediyl species only occurs after incorporation of the third methylene fragment. Attempts to generate C(2)-bridged species by the reaction of 1 with ethylene gave no reaction, however, in the presence of trimethylamine oxide the ethylene adducts [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(CO)(3)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (7b; an isomer of 7a) and [RhOs(eta(2)-C(2)H(4))(2)(CO)(2)(dppm)(2)][BF(4)] (8) were obtained. The relationship of the above products to the selective coupling of methylene groups, and the roles of the different metals are discussed.     

Coupling vs surface-etching reactions of alkyl halides on GaAs(100). 2. CH2I2 reactions

Surface reactions of CH2I2 on gallium-rich GaAs(100)-(4 x 1), studied by temperature programmed desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), show CH2I2 adsorbs dissociatively at liquid nitrogen temperatures to form surface chemisorbed CH2(ads) and I(ads) species. Controlled hydrogenation of a fraction of the CH2(ads) species in the chemisorbed layer by the background hydrogen radicals results in a surface layer comprising both CH3(ads) and CH2(ads) species. This hydrogenation step initiates a plethora of further surface reactions involving these two species and I(ads). Thermal activation leads to three sequential methylene insertions (CH2(ads)) into the CH3-surface bond to form three higher alkyl (ethyl (C2), propyl (C3), and butyl (C4)) species, which undergo beta-hydride elimination to evolve the respective higher alkene (ethene, propene, and butene). In competition with beta-hydride elimination, reductive elimination of the ethyl and propyl species with I(ads) occurs to liberate the respective alkyl iodide. Beta-hydride elimination in the alkyls, in the temperature range 420-520 K, is the more dominant pathway, and it is also the rate-limiting step for further chain propagation. The evolution of the alkyl iodides represents the only pathway for the removal of surface iodines in this study and is different from previous investigations where gallium and arsenic iodide etch products (GaI(x), AsI(x) (x = 1-3)) formed instead. The desorption of methane and methyl iodide, formed from surface CH3(ads) species at high temperatures by the reaction between surface methylenes and hydrogens eliminated from the surface C2-C4 alkyls, terminates the chain propagation. We discuss the reaction mechanisms by which the observed reaction products form and postulate reasons for the reaction pathways adopted by the surface species.     

Structure and reactivity studies of the first tungsten cyanoalkylidene complex

Alkylidene complex W(CHCMe2Ph)(NAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]2 (Ar = 2, 6 diisopropylphenyl) (4) reacts with one equivalent of acrylonitrile in methylene chloride to afford the tetrameric, cyanoalkylidene complex [W(CHCN)(NAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]2]4 (5) which reacts with excess acetonitrile to give the tetrameric complex [W(N(H)C(CH3)C(CN)C(CH3)N)(NAr)[OCMe(CF3)2]2]4 (6).     

Acceptor (CF3)PCPH pincer reactivity with (PPh3)3Ir(CO)H

The syntheses of Ir(I) and Ir(III) complexes incorporating the electron-withdrawing pincer ligand (1,3-C(6)H(4)(CH(2)P(CF(3))(2))(2)) ((CF(3))PCPH) with (PPh(3))(3)Ir(CO)H and subsequent chemistry are reported. Under ambient conditions, reaction of 1 equiv. (CF(3))PCPH with (PPh(3))(3)Ir(CO)H gave the mono-bridged complex [Ir(CO)(PPh(3))(2)(H)](2)(μ-(CF(3))PCPH) (1). Reaction of (PPh(3))(3)Ir(CO)H with excess (CF(3))PCPH and MeI gave the doubly-bridged complex [Ir(CO)(PPh(3))(H)](2)(μ-(CF(3))PCPH)(2) (2), whereas the tetrameric oligomer [Ir(CO)(PPh(3))(H)](4)(μ-(CF(3))PCPH)(4) (2-sq) was obtained from a 1:1 ligand:metal mixture in benzene in the presence of excess MeI. At higher temperatures (165 °C) the reaction of (CF(3))PCPH with (PPh(3))(3)Ir(CO)H afforded the 5-coordinate Ir(I) complex ((CF(3))PCP)Ir(CO)(PPh(3)) (3). Complex 3 shows mild catalytic activity for the decarbonylation of 2-naphthaldehyde in refluxing diglyme (162 °C).     

The chemistry of CH2I2 on MoAl alloy thin films formed on dehydroxylated alumina: insight into methylene insertion reactions

The chemistry of diiodomethane is explored in ultrahigh vacuum on a MoAl alloy film grown on planar, dehydroxylated alumina by reaction with molybdenum hexacarbonyl. The majority of the diiodomethane forms methylene species below approximately 250 K, although a small proportion forms CH(2)I((ads)), which hydrogenates to form iodomethane. The majority ( approximately 90%) of the adsorbed methylene species thermally decomposes to carbon and hydrogen. The remainder undergoes several reactions, including partial hydrogenation to form adsorbed methyl species or total hydrogenation to form methane. The methyl species can couple forming ethane or undergo methylene insertion reactions to form alkyl species up to C(4). These form alkenes via a beta-hydride elimination reaction. This chemistry is relatively unique, only having been found previously for Ni(110) surfaces. No such chemistry is found on Ni(100) and Ni(111).     

The mechanism of the hydroalkoxycarbonylation of ethene and alkene-CO copolymerization catalyzed by Pd(II)-diphosphine cations

All the intermediates in the "carboalkoxy" pathway, and their interconversions giving complete catalytic cycles, for palladium-diphosphine-catalyzed hydroalkoxycarbonylation of alkenes, and for alkene-CO copolymerization, have been demonstrated using (31)P{(1)H} and (13)C{(1)H} NMR spectroscopy. The propagation and termination steps of the "hydride" cycles and the crossover between the hydride and carboalkoxy cycles have also been demonstrated, providing the first examples of both cycles, and of chain crossover, being delineated for the same catalyst. Comparison of the propagation and termination steps in the pathways affords new insight into the selectivity-determining steps. Thus, reaction of [Pd(dibpp)(CH(3)CN)(2)](OTf)(2) (dibpp = 1,3-(iBu(2)P)(2)C(3)H(6)) with Et(3)N and CH(3)OH affords [Pd(dibpp)(OCH(3))(CH(3)CN)]OTf, which, on exposure to CO, gives [Pd(dibpp){C(O)OCH(3)}(CH(3)CN)]OTf immediately. Labeling studies show the reaction to be readily reversible. However, the back reaction is strongly inhibited by PPh(3), indicating an insertion/deinsertion pathway. Ethene reacts with [Pd(dibpp){C(O)OCH(3)}(CH(3)CN)]OTf at 243 K to give [Pd(dibpp){CH(2)CH(2)C(O)OCH(3)}]OTf, that is, there is no intrinsic barrier to alkene insertion into the Pd--C(O)OMe bond, as had been proposed. Instead, termination is proposed to be selectivity determining. Methanolysis of the acyl intermediate [Pd(dibpp){C(O)CH(3)}L]X (L = CO, CH(3)OH; X = CF(3)SO(3) (-) (OTf(-)), CH(3)C(6)H(4)SO(3) (-) (OTs(-))) is required in the hydride cycle to give an ester and occurs at 243 K on the timescale of minutes, whereas methanolysis of the beta chelate, required to give an ester from the carbomethoxy cycle, is slow on a timescale of days, at 298 K. These results suggest that slow methanolysis of the beta chelate, rather than slow insertion of an alkene into the Pd--carboalkoxy bond, as had previously been proposed, is responsible for the dominance of the hydride mechanism in hydroalkoxycarbonylation.     

Identification and hydrogenation of C2 on Pt(111)

Reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) were used to identify the molecular species formed upon the reaction of hydrogen with surface carbon that is deposited by exposing acetylene to a Pt(111) surface held at 750 K. At this temperature, the acetylene is completely dehydrogenated and all hydrogen is desorbed from the surface. Upon subsequent hydrogen exposure at 85 K followed by sequential annealing to higher temperatures, ethylidyne (CCH3), ethynyl (CCH), and methylidyne (CH) are formed. The observation of these species indicates that carbon atoms and C2 molecules exist as stable species on the surface over a wide range of temperatures. Through a combination of RAIRS intensities, hydrogen TPD peak areas, and Auger electron spectroscopy, quantitative estimates of the coverages of the various species were obtained. It was found that 79% of the acetylene-derived carbon was in the form of C2 molecules, with the remainder in the form of carbon atoms. Essentially all of the acetylene-derived carbon could be hydrogenated. In contrast, 85% of an equivalent coverage of carbon deposited by ethylene exposure at 750 K was found to be inert toward hydrogenation.     

Oxidative addition of phosphine-tethered thiols to iron carbonyl: binuclear phosphinothiolate complexes, (mu-SCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2)Fe(2)(CO)(4), and hydride derivatives

The mononuclear complex Fe(CO)(4)(PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)SH), 1, is isolated as an intermediate in the overall reaction of PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)SH with [Fe(0)(CO)(4)] sources to produce binuclear bridging thiolate complexes. Photolysis is required for loss of CO and subsequent S-H activation to generate the metal-metal bonded Fe(I)-Fe(I) complex, (mu-SCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))(2)Fe(2)(CO)(4), 2. Isomeric forms of 2 derive from the apical or basal position of the P-donor ligand in the pseudo square pyramidal S(2)Fe(CO)(2)P coordination spheres. This position in turn is dictated by the stereochemistry of the mu-S-CH(2) bond, designated as syn or anti with respect to the Fe(2)S(2) butterfly core. Addition of strong acids engages the Fe(I)-Fe(I) bond density as a bridging hydride, [(mu-H)-anti-2](+)[SO(3)CF(3)](-) or [(mu-H)-syn-2](+)[SO(3)CF(3)](-), with formal oxidation to Fe(II)-H-Fe(II). Molecular structures of anti-2, syn-2, and [(mu-H)-anti-2](+)[SO(3)CF(3)](-) were determined by X-ray crystallography and show insignificant differences in distance and angle metric parameters, including the Fe-Fe bond distances which average 2.6 A. The lack of coordination sphere rearrangements is consistent with the ease with which deprotonation occurs, even with the weak base, chloride. The Fe(I)-Fe(I) bond, supported by bridging thiolates, therefore presents a site where a proton might be taken up and stored as a hydride without impacting the overall structure of the binuclear complex.