Light olefin production from CO/H2 over silica supported Fe/Mn/K catalysts derived from a bimetallic carbonyl anion, [Fe2Mn(CO)12]?

Fe/Mn/K catalysts derived from support of the anionic carbonyl, [Fe₂Mn(CO)₁₂]^– on silica were compared with catalysts prepared by aqueous impregnation methods, and found to be more selective for production of C₂–C₄ olefins. Addition of K had little effect, whereas variations in reaction conditions altered selectivity owing to secondary reactions of the alkene products.

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Fe/Mn/K, , [Fe₂Mn(CO)₁₂]^–, , , , C₂–C₄. , , .

     

Halochrome Molekeln 8. Mitteilung. Synthese und acidobasisches Verhalten von 3′-substituierten 6,11-Dihydrospiro[[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]indol-6,9′−9′H-xanthenen]

Halochromic Molecules. Synthesis and Acidobasic Properties of 3′-substituted 6,11-dihydrospiro[[1]benzopyrano[4,3-b]indol-6,9′?9′9′H-xanthenes] We have synthesized a series of 3′-substituted 6,11-ihydrospiro[6H-chromeno[4,3-b]indol–6,9′?9′H-xanthenes] and one of their respective aza analogues. ¹H-MR data as well as the fragmentation in the mass spectra of starting and final products supported the postulated structures. With acid, the spiro compounds form ring-opened intensely coloured xanthylium salts. UV/VIS spectra of these salts are listed and discussed. The ?_pH* curves in buffered MeOH/H₂O solutions and the pK* values are determined. The title compounds could possibly be used in ‘pressure sensitive papers’.     

Reversible OH-bond activation and amphoterism by metal–ligand cooperativity of calix[4]pyrrolato aluminate

Most p-block metal amides irreversibly react with metal alkoxides when subjected to alcohols, making reversible transformations with OH-substrates a challenging task. Herein, we describe how the combination of a Lewis acidic square-planar-coordinated aluminum(iii) center with metal–ligand cooperativity leverages unconventional reactivity toward protic substrates. Calix[4]pyrrolato aluminate performs OH-bond activation of primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, which can be fully reversed under reduced pressure. The products exhibit a new form of metal–ligand cooperative amphoterism and undergo counterintuitive substitution reactions of a polar covalent Al–O bond by a dative Al–N bond. A comprehensive mechanistic picture of all processes is buttressed by isolation of intermediates, spectroscopy, and computation. This study delineates how structural constraints can invert thermodynamics for seemingly simple addition reactions and invert common trends in bond energies.

The combination of structural constraint and metal–ligand cooperativity in calix[4]pyrrolato aluminate inverts common trends of bond energies and enables reversible OH-bond activation.     

Reaction of dicobalt octacarbonyl with acetylene and carbon monoxide at low temperature and pressure: Formation of cyclic enone products

Dicobalt octacarbonyl is shown to react with acetylene and carbon monoxide under mild conditions in dimethoxyethane or benzene to produce, in low yields, bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-3,7-diene-2,6-dione, benzoquinone, and the cyclopentadienone-derived products 3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-2,7-methanoindene-1,10-dione, 1-indanone, tetracyclo[5.5.2.0^2,60^8,12]tetradeca-4,10,13-triene-3,9-dione, and tetracyclo[5.5.2.0^2,60^8,12]tetradeca-4,9,13-triene-3,11-dione. Possible mechanisms for the formation of these products are discussed.     

Topology optimization of 3D shell structures with porous infill

This paper presents a 3D topology optimization approach for designing shell structures with a porous or void interior. It is shown that the resulting structures are significantly more robust towards load perturbations than completely solid structures optimized under the same condi-tions. The study indicates that the potential benefit of using porous structures is higher for lower total volume fractions. Compared to earlier work dealing with 2D topology opti-mization, we found several new effects in 3D problems. Most notably, the opportunity for designing closed shells signifi-cantly improves the performance of porous structures due to the sandwich effect. Furthermore, the paper introduces improved filter boundary conditions to ensure a completely uniform coating thickness at the design domain boundary.     

Microporated PEG Spheres for Fluorescent Analyte Detection

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels have been used to encapsulate fluorescently labeled molecules in order to detect a variety of analytes. The hydrogels are designed with a mesh size that will retain the sensing elements while allowing for efficient diffusion of small analytes. Some sensing assays, however, require a conformational change or binding of large macromolecules, which may be sterically prohibited in a dense polymer matrix. A process of hydrogel microporation has been developed to create cavities within PEG microspheres to contain the assay components in solution. This arrangement provides improved motility for large sensing elements, while limiting leaching and increasing sensor lifetime. Three hydrogel compositions, 100% PEG, 50% PEG, and microporated 100% PEG, were used to create pH-sensitive microspheres that were tested for response time and stability. In order to assess motility, a second, more complex sensor, namely a FITC-dextran/TRITC-Con A glucose-specific assay was encapsulated within the microspheres.     

A Convenient Photocatalytic Fluorination of Unactivated CH Bonds

Fluorination reactions are essential to modern medicinal chemistry, thus providing a means to block site‐selective metabolic degradation of drugs and access radiotracers for positron emission tomography imaging. Despite current sophistication in fluorination reagents and processes, the fluorination of unactivated C? H bonds remains a significant challenge. Reported herein is a convenient and economic process for direct fluorination of unactivated C? H bonds that exploits the hydrogen abstracting ability of a decatungstate photocatalyst in combination with the mild fluorine atom transfer reagent N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide. This operationally straightforward reaction provides direct access to a wide range of fluorinated organic molecules, including structurally complex natural products, acyl fluorides, and fluorinated amino acid derivatives.