Tertiary phosphine induced migratory carbonyl insertion in cyclopentadienyl complexes of iron(II)

Cyclopentadienyldicarbonylmethyliron, [CpFe(CO)₂Me] (1), undergoes migratory carbonyl insertion under the influence of isosteric phosphine ligands P(4-FC₆H₄)₃ and P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃. The products of the reaction, [CpFe(CO)(COMe)P(4-FC₆H₄)₃] (2a) and [CpFe(CO)(COMe)P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃] (2b), were characterised by X-ray crystallography. In both structures, the iron atom adopts a pseudo octahedral coordination geometry. Fe-P bond distances are the same at 2.1932(8) Å in 2a and 2b, respectively. Thus, contrary to what was expected, X-ray data could not be used to quantitatively differentiate between the two phosphine ligands in 2a and 2b. Therefore, additional spectroscopic techniques such as IR and NMR were employed. Similarly, the Fe-C bond lengths of the carbonyl (Fe-CO) and acetyl (Fe-COMe) are 1.748(3) and 1.955(3) in 2a, and 1.744(3) and 1.951(3) Å in 2b, respectively.The migratory carbonyl insertion was studied by NMR, IR, and UV-vis spectroscopies to determine the mechanism and the rate law. Results from NMR spectroscopy show that the formation of the product is accompanied by oxidation of the corresponding phosphine ligand. An increase in the reactivity of migratory carbonyl insertion for P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃ was observed when the solvent was changed from CH₂Cl₂ to MeCN. The kinetic data showed that P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃ reacts faster than P(4-FC₆H₄)₃.     

Star-shaped azo-based dipolar chromophores: design, synthesis, matrix compatibility, and electro-optic activity

Three new azo-benzene-based push-pull chromophores with dendritic architecture were synthesized as active materials for electro-optic applications. These chromophores were synthesized in six or seven synthetic steps with an overall yield of around 80% per step and high purity. UV-vis spectroscopy showed significant influence of the transient dipole moment on the observed r(33) values. The chromophores were stable to photochemical oxidation in ambient light and air. The electrical poling conditions were optimized for each chromophore as the T(g) of the composite material varied significantly. The highest EO coefficient achieved was 22-25 pm/V at 1550 nm wavelength. STEM analysis of the blends enabled the correlation of the activity of these large chromophores with the blend morphology. An amorphous polycarbonate host effectively disperses the chromophores in 2-20 nm aggregates in the active materials. However, macrophase separation into 200-500 nm aggregates was observed in a methacrylate host matrix.     

Relaxometric study of copper [15]metallacrown-5 gadolinium complexes derived from alpha-aminohydroxamic acids

Proton nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) profiles were recorded between 0.24 mT and 1.4 T for lanthanum(III)- and gadolinium(III)-containing [15]metallacrown-5 complexes derived from alpha-aminohydroxamic acids and with copper(II) as the ring metal. The influence of the different R-groups on the proton relaxivity was investigated, and a linear relationship between the relaxivity and the molecular mass of the metallacrown complex was found. The selectivity of the metallacrown complexes was tested by transmetalation experiments with zinc(II) ions. The crystal structure of the copper [15]metallacrown-5 gadolinium complex with glycine hydroximate ligands is reported.     

Crystal Structures of Hydrochlorides of 2,3-Pentamethylene-3, 4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one

The crystal structures of hydrate (1) and anhydrate (2) forms of 2,3-pentamethylene-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one hydrochloride have been determined by X-ray structure analysis. Crystal data of 1 are 2(C₁₃H₁₄N₂O)*3(HCl)*4.5 (H₂O), triclinic P?1, Z=2, a=8.004(5), b=13.129(7), c=15.725(7) Å, α=106.45(4), β=92.61(4), γ=97.98(5), R=0.0652 and 2 are C₁₃H₁₄N₂O*HCl, monoclinic C2/c, Z=8, a=21.360(4), b=5.954(1), c=21.263(4), β=117.89(3), R=0.0556. The crystal of the hydrate form 1is unstable. This form collapses easily with evaporation of H₂O and part of HCl molecules from crystals. By recrystallizing destroyed form has been obtained stable crystal form 2.     

Mechanistic study of thermal behavior and combustion performance of epoxy resins: I homopolymerized TGDDM

Tetraglycidyl 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) undergoes homopolymerization on heating. Intramolecular reactions which compete with crosslinking favor the formation of cyclic structures with increasing thermal and fire resistance of the resin, whereas physical mechanical properties tend to decrease. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of TGDDM is studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal volatilization analysis with characterization of volatiles evolved and residue left. Thermal degradation of poly-(TGDDM) starts at 260°C with elimination of water from secondary alcoholic groups which is a typical pathway for epoxy resin degradation. Resulting unsaturations weaken bonds in the β-position and provoke the first chain breaking at allyl–amine and allyl–either bonds. With increasing temperature, saturated alkyl–ether bonds and alkyl carbon–carbon bonds are broken first, followed by the most stable alkyl–aryl bonds at T>365°C. The combustion performance of TGDDM is discussed on the basis of the thermal degradation behavior.     

Entrapment and release of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) from calcium alginate gel beads

The release of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) from calcium alginate hydrogel beads has been studied. It has been shown that the structure of the cross-linked calcium alginate network is of primary importance in the retention and/or release of the SPS. This has been evidenced by studying the influence of Ca²⁺ concentration, molar masses (M_n) and the ratio of mannuronic acid/guluronic acid components. A minimum in the SPS release is observed in relation with the organization of the network structure. Conditions inducing the organization of a strong gel (e.g. high Ca²⁺ concentration for example) are not always related to a low release. A good control of release is found when a compromise between a well-structured hydrogel and sterical consideration of SPS is reached.