Thermal and electrochemical C-X activation (X = Cl,Br, I) by the strong Lewis acid Pd3(dppm)3(CO)2+ cluster and its catalytic applications

The stoichiometric and catalytic activations of alkyl halides and acid chlorides by the unsatured Pd(3)(dppm)(3)(CO)(2+) cluster (Pd(3)(2+)) are investigated in detail. A series of alkyl halides (R-X; R = t-Bu, Et, Pr, Bu, allyl; X = Cl, Br, I) react slowly with Pd(3)(2+) to form the corresponding Pd(3)(X)(+) adduct and "R(+)". This activation can proceed much faster if it is electrochemically induced via the formation of the paramagnetic species Pd(3)(+). The latter is the first confidently identified paramagnetic Pd cluster. The kinetic constants extracted from the evolution of the UV-vis spectra for the thermal activation, as well as the amount of electricity to bring the activation to completion for the electrochemically induced reactions, correlate the relative C-X bond strength and the steric factors. The highly reactive "R(+)" species has been trapped using phenol to afford the corresponding ether. On the other hand, the acid chlorides react rapidly with Pd(3)(2+) where no induction is necessary. The analysis of the cyclic voltammograms (CV) establishes that a dissociative mechanism operates (RCOCl --> RCO(+) + Cl(-); R = t-Bu, Ph) prior to Cl(-) scavenging by the Pd(3)(2+) species. For the other acid chlorides (R = n-C(6)H(13), Me(2)CH, Et, Me, Pr), a second associative process (Pd(3)(2+) + RCOCl --> Pd(3)(2+.....)Cl(CO)(R)) is seen. Addition of Cu(NCMe)(4)(+) or Ag(+) leads to the abstraction of Cl(-) from Pd(3)(Cl)(+) to form Pd(3)(2+) and the insoluble MCl materials (M = Cu, Ag) allowing to regenerate the starting unsaturated cluster, where the precipitation of MX drives the reaction. By using a copper anode, the quasi-quantitative catalytic generation of the acylium ion ("RCO(+)") operates cleanly and rapidly. The trapping of "RCO(+)" with PF(6)(-) or BF(4)(-) leads to the corresponding acid fluorides and, with an alcohol (R'OH), to the corresponding ester catalytically, under mild conditions. Attempts were made to trap the key intermediates "Pd(3)(Cl)(+)...M(+)" (M(+) = Cu(+), Ag(+)), which was successfully performed for Pd(3)(ClAg)(2+), as characterized by (31)P NMR, IR, and FAB mass spectrometry. During the course of this investigation, the rare case of PF(6)(-) hydrolysis has been observed, where the product PF(2)O(2)(-) anion is observed in the complex Pd(3)(PF(2)O(2))(+), where the substrate is well-located inside the cavity formed by the dppm-Ph groups above the unsatured face of the Pd(3)(2+) center. This work shows that Pd(3)(2+) is a stronger Lewis acid in CH(2)Cl(2) and THF than AlCl(3), Ag(+), Cu(+), and Tl(+).     

Stereoselectivity of the Radical Reductive Alkylation of Enamines: Importance of the Allylic 1,3-Strain Model

Radical addition to enamines using Bu₃SnH as reducing agent are reported (Schemes 2 and 4). The diastereoselectivity of these reactions was examined in different systems (Tables 1 and 2). Enamines derived from cyclic ketones such as cyclohexanone were alkylated with high diastereoselectivity with preferential formation of the cis-disubstituted cycloalkanes. In acyclic systems such as enamines derived from propiophenone and diethyl ketone, moderate to high stereoselectivities were observed in the H-abstraction step. A model based principally on minimization of allylic 1,3-strain (A^1,3 strain) was deduced from the experimental results and semi-empirical (AM1) calculations.     

Spectrométrie de Masse d'Hétérocycles Azotés. X–Contribution à l'Etude du Comportement de ll'Ion Aniline et des Ions Aminopyridines avant Fragmentation par Perte de HCN

The study of the mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra of deuterated derivatives of aniline, aminopyridines and 2-chloro-5-aminopyridine shows that prior to HCN loss, hydrogen scrambling does not occur for aminopyridines and is limited but noticeable for aniline. In the case of this last compound the extent of scrambling varies markedly for small variations in the energy of the ions studied, these variations being within the energy window corresponding to metastable ions. Furthermore, an examination of the mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra of monodeuterated derivatives of aminopyridines leads to the rejection of the generally accepted mechanism for HCN loss from the molecular ions of these compounds.     

Thin-film antimony trisulphide photoelectrodes

The properties of n-type thin polycrystalline films of antimony trisulphide obtained by tarnishing reactions have been studied by photoelectrochemical and spectroellipsometric techniques. The photoelectrochemical behaviour is analysed using a recombination model.     

Enantiospecific total synthesis of (-)-polyoxamic acid using 2,3-aziridino-gamma-lactone methodology

The non-natural enantiomer of polyoxamic acid was synthesized in six steps from 2,3-aziridino-gamma-lactone 7 with an overall yield of 10%. The key step of the strategy is a deprotection-protection sequence on the nitrogen atom of the aziridine ring required for aziridine activation toward nucleophilic ring opening.     

Settling of paraffin crystals in cooled middle distillate fuels

The mechanism of action of additives that control the sedimentation of paraffin crystals after their crystallization in model diesel oil has been studied by means of a new experimental approach. The chemical analysis of the crystals and detailed measurements of the sedimentation phenomenon give new insights into this complex process. Thus, the wax antisettling additives used for preventing wax crystal sedimentation adsorb at the surfaces of wax particles and provide them with enhanced colloidal stability. The settling rate is not related to the size of the crystals or the viscosity of the liquid medium, but to the ability of the additives to prevent the aggregation of wax crystals. The reported methodology makes it possible to investigate the fundamental mechanisms, but also to evaluate structure-activity relationships of the various additives used in the petroleum industry.     

Strained aromatic oligoamide macrocycles as new molecular clips

Can one join both ends of a helix? A helical aromatic oligoamide was macrocyclized into a saddle-shaped bifunctional clip molecule that self-assembles into discrete circular dodecamers in the solid state and shows great potential for binding aromatic acid guests in solution. The cyclization step requires that the helix is only partly denatured in the reaction medium.     

Spectroscopic Studies of Cyclometallated Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes: Optical absorption and emission of single crystals of [Pd(thpy)2] and [Pt(thpy)2]

The polarized optical absorption and emission (spectra, decay times) of single crystals of [Pd(thpy)₂] and [Pt(thpy)₂] (thpy ≡ C(3′)-deprotonated form of 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine) at temperatures 1.9 K ? T ? 80 K are reported. The emission of [Pt(thpy)₂] can be influenced strongly by applied magnetic fields (0 ? H ? 6 T). Depending on the central ions Pd and Pt, the lowest excited electronic states of the single complexes are ligand-centered (LC) states and metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) states, respectively. This difference leads to distinctly dissimilar properties of the emission of both compounds. The experimental data show that the emission of single crystals of [Pd(thpy)₂] and [Pt(thpy)₂] at T ? 30 K originates from several types of traps (defect states of symmetry ³B₂?stabilized below the exciton band) with LC and MLCT character, respectively. In the Pt compound, the ³B₂ is split by spin-orbit coupling into three states. The states B and A, which determine the emission properties, are separated by Δv ～ 13 cm^?1. Both states can mix under the influence of an applied magnetic field yielding an increase of the emission intensity by a factor of ～ 1.5 at H = 6 T.     

Preparation of candidate certified reference materials for the quality control of EDTA-and acetic acid-extractable trace metal determinations in sewage sludge-amended soil and terra rossa soil

The determination of extractable trace metal contents in soil using single extraction procedures is currently performed in many laboratories to assess the bioavailable metal fraction (and related phytotoxic effects) and the accessability to the environment (e.g. contamination of ground waters). Owing to the need for validation of the extraction schemes used and of the analytical techniques, the EC Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly BCR) has organized a project for improving the quality of determination of extractable trace metal contents in soil, the first step being an interlaboratory study to adopt common extraction procedures and the second being a certification campaign to certify two soils for their extractable trace element contents following these procedures. This paper gives a brief overview of the project organisation and describes the preparation, homogeneity and stability studies of two soil candidate reference materials (sewage sludge-amended and terra rossa soils).     

Synthesis of 2,3-anti-3,4-anti and 2,3-anti-3,4-syn propionate motifs: a diastereoselective tandem sequence of Mukaiyama and free-radical-based hydrogen transfer reactions

[reaction: see text] Reported herein is a strategy employing a Mukaiyama reaction in tandem with a hydrogen transfer reaction for the elaboration of 2,3-anti-3,4-anti and 2,3-anti-3,4-syn propionate motifs. The mode of complexation is controlled through monodentate or chelate pathways for the Mukaiyama reaction to give access to either syn or anti aldol products, precursors of the free-radical reduction reaction. Boron Lewis acid is used to control the free-radical reaction through the exocyclic pathway.