Halogenomercury Salts of Sterically Crowded Triazenides – Convenient Starting Materials for Redox‐Transmetallation Reactions

Diaryl‐substituted triazenides Ar(Ar′)N₃HgX [Ar/Ar′ = Dmp/Mph, X = Cl ( 2a ), Br ( 3a ), I ( 4a ); Ar/Ar′ = Dmp/Tph, X = Cl ( 2b ), I ( 4b ) with Mph = 2‐MesC₆H₄, Mes = 2,4,6‐Me₃C₆H₂, Tph = 2′,4′,6′‐triisopropylbiphenyl‐2‐yl and Dmp = 2,6‐Mes₂C₆H₃] were synthesized by salt‐metathesis reactions in ethyl ether from the readily available starting materials Ar(Ar′)N₃Li and HgX₂. These compounds may be used for redox‐transmetallation reactions with rare‐earth or alkaline earth metals. Thus, reaction of 4b or 2b with magnesium or ytterbium in tetrahydrofuran afforded the triazenides Dmp(Tph)N₃MX(thf) ( 5b : M = Mg, X = I; 6b : M = Yb, X = Cl) in good yield. All new compounds were characterized by melting point, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and for selected species by IR spectroscopy or mass spectrometry. In addition, the solid‐state structures of triazenides 2a , 2b , 3a , 4b , 5b and 6b were investigated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction.     

Reaktionen des metalloiden Clusteranions {Ge9[Si(SiMe3)3]3}– in der Gasphase. Oxidations‐ und Reduktionsschritte geben Einblicke in den Bereich zwischen metalloiden Clustern und Zintl‐Ionen

The cluster anion {Ge₉[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₃}^– ( 1 ) is transferred intact into the gas phase via the electro spray method. Subsequently the fragmentation of 1 after resonant excitation as well as the oxidation reaction with O₂ and Cl₂ are investigated in an FT‐ICR mass spectrometer (Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance). Unlike former results with off‐resonant excitation the fragmentation leads mainly to the end‐product Ge₉^–. Moreover, applying an on‐resonant excitation the dissociation experiment can be quantified; 2.0 ± 0.15 eV (193 ± 15kJ · mol^–1) for the elimination of the first two ligands and 2.7 ± 0.15 eV (261 ± 15 kJ · mol^–1) for all ligands, respectively. Particular attention is turned on the first step, where sterically encumbered Si₂(SiMe₃)₆ molecules are formed in a concerted reaction. This result, which is also important for elemental reactions on metal surfaces in catalyses, is based on experimentally determined threshold energies, DFT calculations and calculations on the lifetime of the involved species., In contrast to the high reactivity of crystalline 1 ·Li(THF)₄, gaseous 1 is inert against oxygen. The analogy to recently published spin forbidden reactions of Al₁₃^– with O₂ hints to a general importance of spin conversion during gas phase reactions of larger cluster molecules. The oxidation of 1 with Cl₂ proceeds through different reaction channels. DFT calculations give a first insight on the complex primary oxidation steps. These calculations also reveal that the delocalized bonding situation in the Ge₉ core is distorted upon oxidation. This result together with the dissociation experiments shed more light on differences and similarities between metalloid clusters and Zintl ions.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Novel Alkali Trimolybdates

Novel alkali trimolybdates of the triclinic (M, M′)₂Mo₃O₁₀ (M = Rb; M′ = K, Cs) type were obtained through a systematic hydrothermal approach based on the reaction of MoO₃ with alkali halide solutions at 180 °C. The crystal structures were determined from X‐ray single crystal data. The alkali trimolybdates extend the family of known alkali trimolybdates in an unexpected fashion, because they contain a distorted variation of [Mo₃O₁₀]^2? chains as a key structural motif that has only been found in a single compound before, namely ethylenediammonium trimolybdate, (C₂H₁₀N₂)[Mo₃O₁₀]. The applied hydrothermal strategy is discussed in the general context of systematic pathways to polyoxomolybdates. Furthermore, the templating role of the alkali cations and their interaction with the polyoxomolybdate surroundings is compared to (C₂H₁₀N₂)[Mo₃O₁₀] in terms of electrostatic calculations.     

Inter- and intraspecific variation in excited-state triplet energy transfer rates in reaction centers of photosynthetic bacteria

In protein-cofactor reaction center (RC) complexes of purple photosynthetic bacteria, the major role of the bound carotenoid (C) is to quench the triplet state formed on the primary electron donor (P) before its sensitization of the excited singlet state of molecular oxygen from its ground triplet state. This triplet energy is transferred from P to C via the bacteriochlorophyll monomer B(B). Using time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR), we have examined the temperature dependence of the rates of this triplet energy transfer reaction in the RC of three wild-type species of purple nonsulfur bacteria. Species-specific differences in the rate of transfer were observed. Wild-type Rhodobacter capsulatus RCs were less efficient at the triplet transfer reaction than Rhodobacter sphaeroides RCs, but were more efficient than Rhodospirillum rubrum RCs. In addition, RCs from three mutant strains of R. capsulatus carrying substitutions of amino acids near P and B(B) were examined. Two of the mutant RCs showed decreased triplet transfer rates compared with wild-type RCs, whereas one of the mutant RCs demonstrated a slight increase in triplet transfer rate at low temperatures. The results show that site-specific changes within the RC of R. capsulatus can mimic interspecies differences in the rates of triplet energy transfer. This application of TREPR was instrumental in defining critical energetic and coupling factors that dictate the efficiency of this photoprotective process.     

Least squares collocation solution of differential equations on irregularly shaped domains using orthogonal meshes

The least squares collocation (LESCO) method has been formulated to solve differential equations defined over irregular domains using a more convenient orthogonal computational mesh. The LESCO method is described in detail for second-order boundary value problems and applied to the time-dependent diffusion and advection-diffusion equations defined over two-dimensional irregular domains. Particular attention is given to the proper procedure for applying boundary conditions. Accuracy, convergence, and consistency are examined. For cubic elements with arbitrary location of collocation points, the convergence rate is between 3rd and 4th order. The major advantages of this method are reduced input data requirements, a more robust procedure for forming the equations, positive definite matrices, and flexibility in distrbuting errors.     

Structural Investigations and Thermal Behaviour of Mercury(II) Sulfito Complexes

The crystal structures of (NH₄)[HgSO₃Cl] ( 1 ) and of (NH₄)₂[Hg(SO₃)₂] ( 2 ) were determined from single crystal diffractometer data sets. 1 : 22 °C, Pnma, Z = 4, a = 15.430(3), b = 5.525(1), c = 6.679(1) Å, R(F) = 0.0256, R_w(F²) = 0.0642 (all 1056 unique reflections). 2 : ?108 °C, P2₁2₁2₁, Z = 4, a = 6.2240(4), b = 9.3908(6), c = 13.6110(8) Å, R(F) = 0.0179, R_w(F²) = 0.0493 (all 2699 unique reflections). The structure of 1 contains bent Cl‐Hg‐SO₃ entities (site symmetry m; d(Hg‐Cl) = 2.3403(13) Å, d(Hg‐S) = 2.3636(12) Å, ∠(Cl‐Hg‐S) = 164.51(5)°, d(S‐O) 2×1.458(3) Å, 1.468(4) Å, = 1.461Å) linked to undulated ribbons parallel to the b ‐axis by intermolecular secondary bonds SO···Hg (d(O···Hg) = 2×2.595(3) Å). These ribbons in turn aggregate to layers around the bc ‐plane. The layers are stacked along the a ‐axis with interlayer distances of a /2. The structure of 2 is made up of O₃S‐Hg‐SO₃ moieties (d(Hg‐S) = 2.3935(7), 2.3935(8) Å; ∠(Hg‐S‐Hg) = 174.41(3)°; = 1.474Å), that are linked to ribbons parallel to the a axis by coordination of Hg to three remote O atoms (2.801(4) < d(Hg‐O) < 2.844(3) Å). Adjacent ribbons are joined together by an additional Hg‐O contact of 2.733(3) Å, leading to a three‐dimensional anionic framework. Both crystal structures are stabilised by disordered NH₄⁺ cations, placed between the anionic layers or in the vacancies of the framework, via moderate hydrogen bonding interactions N‐H···O with donor‐acceptor distances ranging from 2.8 to 3.2Å. 1 and 2 were further characterised by thermal analysis (TG, DSC). They start to decompose at temperatures above 130 °C.     

An iterative penalty method for the least squares solution of boundary value problems

This article is concerned with iterative techniques for linear systems of equations arising from a least squares formulation of boundary value problems. In its classical form, the solution of the least squares method is obtained by solving the traditional normal equation. However, for nonsmooth boundary conditions or in the case of refinement at a selected set of interior points, the matrix associated with the normal equation tends to be ill-conditioned. In this case, the least squares method may be formulated as a Powell multiplier method and the equations solved iteratively. Therein we use and compare two different iterative algorithms. The first algorithm is the preconditioned conjugate gradient method applied to the normal equation, while the second is a new algorithm based on the Powell method and formulated on the stabilized dual problem. The two algorithms are first compared on a one-dimensional problem with poorly conditioned matrices. Results show that, for such problems, the new algorithm gives more accurate results. The new algorithm is then applied to a two-dimensional steady state diffusion problem and a boundary layer problem. A comparison between the least squares method of Bramble and Schatz and the new algorithm demonstrates the ability of the new method to give highly accurate results on the boundary, or at a set of given interior collocation points without the deterioration of the condition number of the matrix. Conditions for convergence of the proposed algorithm are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Persicamidines—Unprecedented Sesquarterpenoids with Potent Antiviral Bioactivity against Coronaviruses

A new family of highly unusual sesquarterpenoids (persicamidines A–E) exhibiting significant antiviral activity was isolated from a newly discovered actinobacterial strain, Kibdelosporangium persicum sp. nov., collected from a hot desert in Iran. Extensive NMR analysis unraveled a hexacyclic terpenoid molecule with a modified sugar moiety on one side and a highly unusual isourea moiety fused to the terpenoid structure. The structures of the five analogues differed only in the aminoalkyl side chain attached to the isourea moiety. Persicamidines A–E showed potent activity against hCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the nanomolar range together with very good selectivity indices, making persicamidines promising as starting points for drug development.