Double deoxygenation of PPN(NO2) using metal carbonyl clusters of cobalt,rhodium, and iridium

The reaction of PP(NO₂) with M₄(CO)₁₂ (M = Co, Rh) gives the nitrido clusters [M₆N(CO)₁₅]^? in 13 and 21% yields, respectively. A high yield synthesis (77%) of [Rh₆N(CO)₁₅)]^? directly from Rh₆(CO)₁₆ and PPN(NO₂) is also presented. PPN(NO₂) reacts with Ir₄(CO)₁₂ to give the new isocyanato cluster, [Ir₄(NCO)(CO)₁₁]^? in 34% yield, while the direct synthesis of this isocyanate product occurs in 77% yield from PPN(N₃) and Ir₄(CO)₁₂. Modifications of published procedures for the preparation of [N(C₂H₅)₄]₂ [Ir₆(CO)₁₅] and Ir₆(CO)₁₆ are reported that allow shorter reaction times and give higher yields. The reaction of Ir₆(CO)₁₆ with one equivalent of PPN(NO₂) generates a new cluster, PPN[Ir₆(CO)₁₅(NO)], in 57% yield which is proposed to contain a bent nitrosyl ligand. An additional equivalent of PPN(NO₂) gives (PPN)₂[Ir₆(CO)₁₅] in 84% yield with the evolution of N₂O as well as CO₂.     

On distinct representatives and mapping theorems

We present an elementary proof of a transfinite symmetric form of Philip Hall's theorem on systems of distinct representatives and derive some wellknown mapping theorems from it to illustrate the ease with which this form of the theorem may be used.     

Catalytic electronic activation as a tool for the addition of stabilised nucleophiles to allylic alcohols

This paper describes the activation of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) through the use of aluminium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation. The electronically activated substrates are demonstrated to undergo facile conjugate addition and, when the alcohol functional group is subsequently restored in a one-pot procedure, this leads to an indirect addition of nucleophiles to allylic alcohols. This novel methodology has been termed catalytic electronic activation.The aluminium tert-butoxide catalysed conversion of 2-cyclohexen-1-ol (1) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (18) and 2-cyclopenten-1-ol (11) into 2-(3-hydroxycyclopentyl)-2-methylmalononitrile (16) in 90 and 60% yield, respectively has been demonstrated through an efficient domino Oppenauer/Michael addition/Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley process.     

Pyrolysis of mesoporous silica-immobilized 1,3-diphenylpropane. Impact of pore confinement and size

Mesoporous silicas such as SBA-15 and MCM-41 are being actively investigated for potential applications in catalysis, separations, and synthesis of nanostructured materials. A new method for functionalizing these mesoporous silicas with aromatic phenols is described. The resulting novel hybrid materials possess silyl aryl ether linkages to the silica surface that are thermally stable to ca. 550 degrees C, but can be easily cleaved at room temperature with aqueous base for quantitative recovery of the organic moieties. The materials have been characterized by nitrogen physisorption, FTIR, NMR, and quantitative analysis of surface coverages. The maximum densities of 1,3-diphenylpropane (DPP) molecules that could be grafted to the surface were less than those measured on a nonporous, fumed silica (Cabosil) and were also found to decrease as a function of decreasing pore size (5.6-1.7 nm). This is a consequence of steric congestion in the pores that is magnified at the smaller pore sizes, consistent with parallel studies conducted using a conventional silylating reagent, 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisilazane. Pyrolysis of the silica-immobilized DPP revealed that pore confinement leads to enhanced rates and altered product selectivity for this free-radical reaction compared with the nonporous silica, and the rates and selectivities also depended on pore size. The influence of confinement is discussed in terms of enhanced encounter frequencies for bimolecular reaction steps and pore surface curvature that alters the accessibility and resultant selectivity for hydrogen transfer steps.     

Convergence of the perturbation theory expansion for spin-spin coupling constants

The convergence of the full perturbation theory expansion for the Fermi contact term in the spin-spin coupling constant of hydrogen fluoride has been studied. By examining the contribution of higher virtual states as the basis set is expanded to 18 atomic orbitals, it is shown that at this level of approximation the expansion does not converge. The need to also establish convergence before accepting values calculated from configuration interaction wavefunctions is discussed.The Puerto Rico Nuclear Center is operated by the University of Puerto Rico for the United States Atomic Energy Commission under Contract No. AT(40-1)-1833.