Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterisation of Six-Coordinate Complexes of Oxovanadium(V)

Complexes of the types VO(L)(R-deaH), VO(R-dea)(LH), and VO(L)(OGOH)[L = deprotonated form of N-(1-hydroxyethyl) naphthaldimine; R-dea = deprotonated form of a N-substituted diethanolamine, with R = H or Ph; G = CH₂CH₂, CHMeCHMe, CMe₂CMe₂, CHMeCH₂CMe₂, CMe₂CH₂CH₂CMe₂] have been prepared by the equimolar reactions of VO(OPr ⁱ )₃, LH₂, and an appropriate diethanolamine or glycol in benzene. All of these coloured solid complexes have been characterised by elemental (C, H, N, and V) analyses and by spectroscopic (i.r., electronic, ¹H-, ⁵¹V-n.m.r) studies. The relative lability of the hydroxy group(s) of N-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphthaldiamine, diethanolamine, and glycol has also been investigated.     

Isolation of the novel dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2)

The reaction of the anticancer active compound [Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(bpy)(2)(CH(3)CN)(2)][BF(4)](2) (1) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) with NaC(6)H(5)S under anaerobic conditions yields Rh(2)(eta(1)-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(mu-C(6)H(5)S)(2)(bpy)(2).CH(3)OH (2), which was characterized by UV-visible, IR, and (1)H NMR spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compound 2 crystallizes as dark red platelets in the monoclinic space group C2/c with cell parameters a = 20.398(4) A, b = 11.861(2) A, c = 17.417(4) A, beta = 108.98 degrees, V = 3984.9(14) A(3), Z = 4. The main structural features are the presence of a [Rh(2)](4+) core with a Rh-Rh distance of 2.549(2) A bridged by two benzene thiolate ligands in a butterfly-type arrangement. The axial positions of the [Rh(2)](4+) core are occupied by two terminal benzene thiolates. Cyclic voltammetric studies of 2 reveal that the compound exhibits an irreversible oxidation at +0.046 V in CH(3)CN, which is in accord with the fact that the compound readily oxidizes in the presence of O(2). The fact that this unusual dirhodium(II/II) thiolate compound is formed under these conditions is an important first step in understanding the metabolism of dirhodium anticancer active compounds with thiol-containing peptides and proteins.     

Particle and surface characterization of a natural illite and study of its copper retention

Illite clays are known to have a strong affinity for metallic pollutants in the environment and can be applied as low-cost adsorbents for industrial waste treatment. A crucial factor in the development of such applications, however, is the understanding of the chemical, mineralogical, and colloidal properties of these clays. It is also important to understand the mechanisms involved in the surface adsorption of metals by these adsorbants. In order to study the retention of transition metals on illite clays, we have applied surface characterization techniques such as FPIA, SEM-EDX, XRD, N2 (77 K) adsorption, and FTIR. In addition to these experimental techniques, we have also employed a theoretical model that accounts for the chemistry of transition metal ions, and considers the global retention process to be the sum of several single retention processes. This model adequately fits the experimental data and allows for the speciation of metal retention on illite surfaces. Between pH values of 2.53 and 3.01 the only adsorption processes are the electrostatic sorption of [Cu(H2O)6]2+, and the surface complexation of [Cu(H2O)6]2+ and [Cu(OH)(H2O)5]+ ions. Surface complexation of [Cu(OH)(H2O)5]+ ions increases with pH, overcoming [Cu(H2O)6]2+ retention, and thus contributing to the surface precipitation of Cu(OH)2.     

Speciation of the new ligand di-isopropyliminodiacetoamide with Cu(II) using computational processing and graphical methods

The importance assigned to chelating agents in diverse areas has impelled studies concerning their development as related to metal ions representing a biological concern. The synthesis of di-isopropyliminodiacetoamide (D) is presented in this work. The acidity constant obtained for D was pKa = 5.79 +/- 0.04 with the aid of program SUPERQUAD. The equilibrium constants for D with Cu(II) were obtained with the aid of program SQUAD for CuD2+ and CuD2(2)+ species giving log beta1 = 4.795 +/- 0.002 and log beta2 = 8.374 +/- 0.004, respectively.     

On the temperature Dependence of the orientational Order Parameter in the Nematic Phase of Cyanophenyl Behzoates

The orientational order parameters fot two liquid crystal materials, 4-cyanophenyl 4-butylbenzoate and 4-cyanophenyl 4-pentylbenzoate, have been derived by measuring the change in the refractive index as function of temperature. The order parameters are compared with MaierSaupe theory, and the sharpness of the transitions has been shown using the Haller's plot.     

Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-gossonorol and related systems using organozinc reagents

The sesquiterpene (+)-gossonorol is prepared in only three synthetic steps in 60% overall yield and 82% ee from commercially available reagents. The key asymmetric step is the catalytic enantioselective addition of dimethylzinc to 5-methyl-1-(2-methylphenyl)hex-4-en-1-one catalyzed by chiral isoborneolsulfonamide ligands in the presence of titanium tetraisopropoxide. The modular approach allows the synthesis not only of the aforementioned natural product but also other products arising from the corresponding processes of ethylation, phenylation, and ethynylation, just by changing the final nucleophilic reagent and using the same isoborneol type ligand.     

Biaxial bulge testing of polymeric sheets

The through thickness total strains of hydrostatically bulged domes of materials are usually determined indirectly. The in-plane circumferential strains are readily measured, and then constancy of volume is invoked to determine the “missing” or unknown strain. Some of our recent work with polymers has shown that volume constancy in large-scale deformation does not hold so that the usual computations of stress and strain during bulging of sheet may be in error. We describe an electrical device that reduces such errors by directly measuring the through thickness (and, thus, the thickness “strain”) for nonmetallic materials.