The formation of dimetallocycles from reactions of alkynes with (η-C5Me5)2Rh2(CO)2; X-ray structure of [(η-C5Me5)2Rh2(η-CO) {μ-η2,η2-C(O)C2-(CF3)2}]

The complexes (η-C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂(μ-CO) {μ-η²,η²-C(O)CRCR} are obtained from reactions between (η-C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂(CO)₂ and the alkynes RCCR (R  CF₃, CO₂Me, or Ph) at 25°C. The molecular geometry of the complex with R  CF₃ has been established by X-ray diffraction; the bridging 'ene-one' unit adopts a μ-η²,η² conformation. Other complexes isolated from these reactions include (η-C₅Me₅)Rh(C₆R₆) (R  CF₃, CO₂Me), (η-C₅Me)₂Rh₂(C₄R₄) (R  CO₂Me) and (η-C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂(CO₂C₂R₂) (R  Ph). The reaction between (η-C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂(CO)₂ and C₆F₅CCC₆F₅ gives (η-C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂(CO)₂(C₆F₅C₂C₆F₅). Mononuclear complexes such as (η-C₅Me₅)Co(C₄R₄CO) are the major products isolated from reactions between (η-C₅Me₅)₂CO₂(CO)₂ and alkynes at 25°C.     

Silicon-Directed Nazarov Reactions II. Preparation and Cyclization of β-Silyl-substituted Divinyl Ketones

Two general methods for the preparation of β-silyl-substituted divinyl ketones have been developed starting from either α, β-unsaturated aldehydes or simple ketones. Anhydrous FeCl₃ induces the cyclization to cyclopentenones under mild conditions and in good yields with predictable and complete control over the position of the double bond in the five-membered ring. The observed effects of substituents on rate can be explained by a rate-determining cationic electrocyclization. Silyl substitution has been shown to retard the reaction.     

Identification and quantitation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine in the thoracic nervous system of the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry

Phenylalanine, tyrosine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) were identified unambiguously and quantitatively determined in single ventral thoracic nerve cords from the locust, Schistocerca gregaria, by gas chromatography-negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry. Deuterium-labelled analogues of each compound were added to a single ventral thoracic nerve cord in hydrochloric acid; the tissue was homogenised and the suspension centrifuged. The remaining hydrochloric acid was eliminated azeotropically by repeated additions of acetonitrile followed by evaporation under a stream of nitrogen and the resultant residue derivatised by reaction with hexafluoroisopropanol and pentafluoropropionic anhydride. Under negative-ion chemical ionisation conditions, the hexafluoroisopropanol-pentafluoropropionyl derivatives produced characteristic ions which were sufficiently abundant to be suitable for selected-ion monitoring. This method is highly specific and gave a limit of detection below the nanogram level. The amounts of phenylalanine, tyrosine and DOPA in a single ventral thoracic nerve cord were, respectively, 194 +/- 81, 347 +/- 88 and 11 +/- 11 ng per tissue.     

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF THE BOTANICAL PHOTOTOXIN, α-TERTHIENYL AND SOME RELATED COMPOUNDS*

The photochemistry of α-terthienyl (αT) and its mono- and dodo derivatives has been examined using nanosecond laser Hash photolysis techniques. The triplet states of these intermediates have been characterized, and show strong triplet-triplet absorptions with maxima in the 450 to 490 nm region. The triplet lifetimes are normally reduced by efficient triplet-triplet annihilation and self-quenching both of which approach diffusion control. Triplet lifetimes in methanol obtained by extrapolation to zero laser dose and zero concentration are 30, 12.5 and 9.4 μs for αT and its mono- and dodo derivatives, respectively; the effect of iodo substitution on the lifetimes is attributed to heavy atom effects. The triplet states are efficiently quenched by oxygen and the electron acceptor methyl viologen, while amines tire very poor triplet quenchers. The iodo derivatives are photolabile. undergoing C-I bond cleavage from the singlet state, a process that was studied in benzene solvent, where the complex between iodine atoms and benzene can be readily characterized. Modification of αT by replacement of the central thiophene ring by an aromatic ring (i.e. DTB) causes drastic changes in the triplet and singlet state kinetic and spectroscopic characteristics.     

Simple Approximate Expressions for Electrical Double-Layer Interaction at Constant Moderate Potentials

Simple yet accurate expressions for the electrical double-layer interaction force and energy between the particles that hold for a wide range of surface potential is required in the modeling, simulation, and optimization of many processes employed in industry. In this paper, simple approximate expressions for the interaction are obtained based on the asymptotic results and the numerical solution to the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for identical parallel plates with constant surface potential up to 180/z(i) mV at 25 degrees C, and the Derjaguin approximation. Within the moderate surface potential range, the semianalytical expressions agree well with the exact numerical results and are convenient to use for the purpose of process modeling and simulation. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Reactivity patterns of thermally stable, terminal, electrophilic phosphinidene complexes towards diazoalkanes: oxidation at the phosphorus centre and formation of P-bound eta1-phosphaazine, eta1-phosphaalkene and eta3-diazaphosphaallene complexes

The thermally stable, terminal phosphinidene complexes [CpM(CO)2(eta1-PNiPr2)]AlCl4(Cp= Cp, Cp*; M = Fe) and [Cp*M(CO)3(eta1-PNiPr2)]AlCl4 (M = Cr, Mo, W) react with Ph2C=N=N to form terminal P-coordinated eta1-phosphaazine and eta3-diazaphosphaallene ligands, respectively, whereas [CpFe(CO)2(eta1-PNiPr2)]AlCl4 reacts with Me3SiCHN2 affording a terminal phosphorus bound eta1-phosphaalkene complex.     

A convenient one-pot synthesis of 1,8-naphthyridones

In this paper, we disclose an efficient one-pot procedure for the preparation of substituted 1,8-naphthyridin-4-one analogues. Previous efforts to effect this type of transformation were complicated by the formation of benzene tricarboxylate. Via the use of excess base, the impurity formation was completely inhibited. This allowed for the clean preparation of the desired intermediate and subsequent formation of naphthyridone analogues in a single flask, which could then be crystallized directly from the reaction mixture in good yield and high purity.     

Two-step upflow anaerobic sludge bed system for sewage treatment under subtropical conditions with posttreatment in waste stabilization ponds

A pilot-scale sewage treatment system consisting of two upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactors followed by five waste stabilization ponds (WSPs) in series was studied under subtropical conditions. The first UASB reactor started up in only 1 mo (stable operation, high chemical oxygen demand [COD] removal efficiency, low volatile fatty acids concentration in the effluent, alkalinity ratio above 0.7, biogas production above 0.1 Nm3/kg of CODremoved). Removal efficiencies up to 90% were obtained in the anaerobic steps at a hydraulic retention time of 6 + 4 h (80% removal in the first step). Fecal coliform removal in the whole system was 99.9999% (99.94% in anaerobic steps and 99.98% in WSPs). COD balances over UASB reactors are provided. A minimum set of data necessary to build COD balances is proposed. Intermittent sludge washout was detected in the reactors with the COD balances. Sludge washout from single-step UASB reactors should be monitored and minimized in order to ensure constant compliance with discharge standards, especially when no posttreatment is provided. The system combined high COD and fecal coliform removal efficiency with an extremely low effluent concentration, complying with discharge standards, and making it an attractive option for sewage treatment in subtropical regions.     

Electronic interactions in tertiary oligophenylureas

The syntheses, structures, and spectroscopy of a series of oligomeric tertiary oligophenylureas possessing one to five phenyl rings are reported. A convergent synthetic method employing tertiary monoamine and diamine building blocks is employed. NMR and molecular modeling are indicative of folded structures for all of the oligophenylureas in which adjacent phenyl rings have a splayed face-to-face geometry. NMR chemical shifts, absorption and emission maxima, and electrochemical oxidation potentials are all dependent upon the number of phenyl rings. The addition of a first inner phenyl has a pronounced effect on the chemical shifts, while a second and third inner phenyl have diminished effects. The oxidation potentials of the oligophenylureas display an abrupt decrease upon the addition of the second inner phenyl. The absorption and emission spectra are relatively insensitive to the addition of one to three inner phenyl rings. The electronic structures of the oligophenylureas possessing one to eight rings have been analyzed using ZINDO calculations. The frontier orbitals of the ureas with one to three phenyl rings are localized on a single phenyl ring (the inner ring for the three-ring urea), whereas the frontier orbitals of the higher oligomers are delocalized over two phenyl rings. In all cases, urea-localized n,pi* transitions are lower in energy than the phenyl-localized pi,pi* transitions. The changes in properties with added phenyl rings parallel those previously observed for multilayered cyclophanes; however, they are less pronounced because of weaker coupling between the phenyl rings of the oligophenylureas.     

Viscosity of confined inhomogeneous nonequilibrium fluids

We use the nonlocal linear hydrodynamic constitutive model, proposed by Evans and Morriss [Statistical Mechanics of Nonequilibrium Liquids (Academic, London, 1990)], for computing an effective spatially dependent shear viscosity of inhomogeneous nonequilibrium fluids. The model is applied to a simple atomic fluid undergoing planar Poiseuille flow in a confined channel of several atomic diameters width. We compare the spatially dependent viscosity with a local generalization of Newton's law of viscosity and the Navier-Stokes viscosity, both of which are known to suffer extreme inaccuracies for highly inhomogeneous systems. The nonlocal constitutive model calculates effective position dependent viscosities that are free from the notorious singularities experienced by applying the commonly used local constitutive model. It is simple, general, and has widespread applicability in nanofluidics where experimental measurement of position dependent transport coefficients is currently inaccessible. In principle the method can be used to predict approximate flow profiles of any arbitrary inhomogeneous system. We demonstrate this by predicting the flow profile for a simple fluid undergoing planar Couette flow in a confined channel of several atomic diameters width.