Synthesis of [ethylene-1-(eta(5)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-indenyl)-2- (eta(5)-4',5',6',7'-tetrahydro-2'-indenyl)]titanium dichloride, the elusive isomer of the Brintzinger-type ansa-titanocenes

We present a short synthesis of 1-(2-indenyl)-2-(3-indenyl)ethane (5) and a method for its conversion to the ansa-metallocene [ethylene(eta5-inden-1-yl)(eta5-inden-2-yl)]titanium dichloride (13). The synthetic strategy applied to prepare bisindene 5 relies on the efficient alkylation of 2-(phenylsulfonyl)indane followed by HMPA-assisted E1cB-elimination of phenylsulfinate. This tandem sequence circumvents the predisposition of indene to undergo C(1)-alkylation and enables access to C(2)-substituted indenes. The key step in the synthesis of the title ansa-titanocene (4) features a previously unreported equilibration step to generate the bis(indenide anion) of 5. Complexation with TiCl4.(THF)2 followed by hydrogenation of the product metallocene furnishes ansa-titanocene 4.     

Generation of 3-pyridyl biaryl systems via palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-couplings of aryl halides with 3-pyridylboroxin

The synthesis of 3-pyridyl biaryl systems can be readily achieved by means of palladium-catalyzed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions between aryl halides and 3-pyridylboroxin. A series of cross-couplings were conducted in order to investigate the scope and limitations of this protocol.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalised triol units by SnCl4 promoted allylation of α-benzyloxyaldehydes: crucial role of the stoichiometry of the Lewis acid

Enantiomerically pure syn-anti and syn-syn configured triol units are efficiently synthesized by the SnCl₄ mediated allylation of chiral α-benzyloxyaldehydes with the uniquely functionalised allylstannane 9. Remarkably, the stereochemistry of the adducts is solely governed by the amount of Lewis acid employed.     

The Dyeing of Nylon and Cotton Cloth with Azo Dyes: Kinetics and Mechanism

The mechanism of the dyeing of cotton and nylon cloth by the azo dyes Orange G and Sunset Yellow FCF was investigated using a channel flow cell. The variation in dyeing with flow rate was found to proceed via a mechanism in which the flux of dye entering the cloth relative to the flux of dye to the cloth surfacedecreasedwith increasing flow rate. A mechanism is deduced in which the dye passes from bulk solution, through a porous surface layer within the cloth, before passing into the bulk cloth. Adsorption onto surface sites in this porous layer blocks the passage of further dye into the cloth. Kinetic parameters for such a mechanism are given.     

A New Generation of "Cholaphanes": Steroid-Derived Macrocyclic Hosts with Enhanced Solubility and Controlled Flexibility

The macrocyclic "cholaphanes" 3a-c were synthesized from the inexpensive steroid cholic acid. Like earlier relatives they feature substantial cavities with inward-directed hydroxyl groups, suitable for binding polar molecules such as carbohydrates in nonpolar media. New features are the externally directed alkyl chains, promoting solubility in organic solvents, and (in the case of 3b/c) reduced conformational freedom resulting from truncation of the steroidal side-chain. In particular, modeling shows that the smallest macrocycle 3c possesses very little flexibility, preferring an open conformation which is also revealed in the X-ray crystal structure of its pentahydrate. NMR studies indicated that all three cholaphanes form 1:1 complexes with octyl beta-D-glucoside in CDCl(3), with K(a) = 600-1560 M(-)(1). Cholaphanes 3b/c proved able to extract methyl beta-D-glucoside from aqueous solutions into CHCl(3). The transport of methyl beta-D-glucoside across a chloroform barrier was also demonstrated for 3c.     

The synthesis and characterisation of ferromagnetic CaMn2O4 nanowires.

The synthesis of marokite CaMn(2)O(4) nanowires using a hydrothermal method is reported. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction measurements show that the nanowires are polycrystalline in nature with diameters between 10 and 20 nm and lengths ranging from approximately 100 to 500 nm. Most interestingly, in contrast with the bulk material, magnetization measurements show that these nanowires exhibit ferromagnetic ordering with a Curie temperature (T(C)) of approximately 40 K.     

Existence of rank 3 vector bundles with given chern classes on homogeneous rational 3-folds

One proves that any rank 3 topological vector bundle on a homogeneous rational 3-fold has an algebraic structure. The proof uses extensions of ideals by rank 2 vector bundles. The paper also contains a construction of rank 3 vector bundles on 3-folds using extensions of ideals by rank 2 reflexive sheaves.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the effect of proton transfer on the (27)al MAS NMR line shapes of zeolite-adsorbate complexes: an independent measure of solid Acid strength

Assessing the degree of proton transfer from a Br?nsted acid site to one or more adsorbed bases is central to arguments regarding the strength of zeolites and other solid acids. In this regard certain solid-state NMR measurements have been fruitful; for example, some (13)C, (15)N, or (31)P resonances of adsorbed bases are sensitive to protonation, and the (1)H chemical shift of the Br?nsted site itself reflects hydrogen bonding. We modeled theoretically the structures of adsorption complexes of several bases on zeolite HZSM-5, calculated the quadrupole coupling constants (Q(cc)) and asymmetry parameters (eta) for aluminum in these complexes and then in turn simulated the central transitions of their (27)Al MAS NMR spectra. The theoretical line width decreased monotonically with the degree of proton transfer, reflecting structural relaxation around aluminum as the proton was transferred to a base. We verified this experimentally for a series of adsorbed bases by way of single-pulse MAS and triple quantum MQMAS (27)Al NMR. The combined theoretical and experimental approach described here provides a strategy by which (27)Al data can be applied to resolve disputed interpretations of proton transfer based on other evidence.     

Metallophosphites as umpolung catalysts: the enantioselective cross silyl benzoin reaction

Carbonyl polarity reversal (umpolung) has been realized employing metallophosphites as catalysts. As a result, nonenzymatic asymmetric cross silyl benzoin reactions have been achieved, giving optically active silyl ether-protected benzoin adducts. The reaction is general with respect to aryl, alkyl, and heterocyclic substrates with good to excellent yields and good to excellent enantioselectivities.