Development and applications of industrial process analyzers

Contacts between users and suppliers is essential to ensure cost-effectiveness of process analyzers. Technical consideration of in-line, on-line and off-line measurements as well as analytical procedures are needed for selection of the most appropriate system. Quantitative performance specifications are often set too high, resulting in a sophisticated analyzer with excessive investment and maintenance costs. Process parameters such as time constant, sampling point and environmental conditions must be considered. Rules for decision-making are reviewed; autocorrelation, cross-correlation, controllability and information theory are useful in making efficient decisions on appropriate analyzers. Examples related to sulphur dioxide in stack gas scrubbers, chlorine in water supplies and sodium in boiler feed water are discussed.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Annulation of Azavinyl Carbenes Through Ring‐Expansion of 1,3,5‐Trioxane: Rapid Access to Nine‐Membered 1,3,5,7‐Trioxazonines

The rhodium(II)‐catalyzed denitrogenative coupling of N‐alkylsulfonyl 1,2,3‐triazoles with 1,3,5‐trioxane led to nine‐membered‐ringed trioxazonines in moderate‐to‐good yields. 1,3,5‐Trioxane, acting as an oxygen nucleophile, reacted with the α‐aza‐vinylcarbene intermediate, giving rise to ylide formation, which was probably the key step in the reaction. Triazoles that contained aryl substituents with various electronic and steric features on the C4 carbon atom were well‐tolerated. The synthesis of trioxazonine derivatives was achieved through a one‐pot, two‐step procedure from 1‐mesylazide and a terminal alkyne by combining Cu^I‐catalyzed 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition and rhodium‐catalyzed transformations.     

Arenophile‐Mediated Dearomative Reduction

A dearomative reduction of simple arenes has been developed which employs a visible‐light‐mediated cycloaddition of arenes with an N‐N‐arenophile and in situ diimide reduction. Subsequent cycloreversion or fragmentation of the arenophile moiety affords 1,3‐cyclohexadienes or 1,4‐diaminocyclohex‐2‐enes, compounds that are not synthetically accessible using existing dearomatization reactions. Importantly, this strategy also provides numerous opportunities for further derivatization as well as site‐selective functionalization of polynuclear arenes.     

The Kinetics of the gas-phase isomerization of 1,trans-3,trans-5-heptatriene into the cis-5-isomer catalyzed by Nitric Oxide and the stabilization energy in the pentadienyl radical

The kinetics of the nitric oxide catalyzed, homogeneous, gas-phase isomerization of 1,trans-3,trans-5-heptatriene have been studied for temperatures ranging between 130°C and 241°C. The very clean reaction involves exclusive geometrical isomerization about the 5,6-π-bond. The observed rate constants for \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm NO} + trans - {\rm 3,}trans{\rm - 5}\stackrel{1}{\rightarrow}trans - 3,cis - 5 + {\rm NO} $\end{document} can be represented (with standard errors) by log k₁ = (7.18 ± 0.06) – (16.75 ± 0.12)/θ, where θ = 2.303 R T in kcal/mole. The consecutive-step reaction mechanism involves addition of NO to the double bond (K_{a, b} = k_a/k_b), followed by rotation of the 5,6-C? C bond in the adduct radical (k_c.) Analysis of the observed activation parameters shows, that k_c is rate-controlling and consequently k₁ = k_cK_{a, b}. Estimates of k_c and K_{a, b} lead to a value of k₁ in good agreement with experiment. Comparing our data with those previously obtained for the similar 1,3-pentadiene system results in a value for the extra stabilization energy generated in the 1,3-heptadienyl radical of 18.5 ± 1.7 kcal/mole. This value is discussed in view of comparable data in the literature.     

Alternative Metals for Homogeneous Catalyzed Hydroformylation Reactions

Transition‐metal‐catalyzed hydroformylation reactions constitute one of the most powerful tools for C? C bond formation in organic synthesis and represent an outstanding example of the application of homogeneous catalysis on an industrial scale. This process allows for the straightforward conversion of inexpensive chemical feedstock into broadly applicable aldehydes, which serve as major building blocks for numerous chemical products. These products are highly valuable for the chemical industry and used as plasticizers, detergents, and surfactants on a million ton scale. Moreover, aldehydes serve as versatile chemical intermediates for the production of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Currently, most of the bulk hydroformylation processes rely on rhodium‐based catalysts. The increasing demand and resulting high cost of this precious metal has resulted in alternative transition‐metal catalysts becoming highly desirable. The following Review summarizes the progress achieved utilizing Ru, Ir, Pd, Pt, and Fe catalysts in hydroformylation reactions.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidative C-H bond alkenylations in water: expedient synthesis of annulated lactones

Ruthenium-catalyzed cross-dehydrogenative C-H bond alkenylations occurred efficiently in environmentally benign water, which was exploited for an oxidative phthalide synthesis with ample scope. Mechanistic studies provided strong evidence for the oxidative alkenylation to proceed by an irreversible C-H bond metalation via acetate assistance.     

Regioselective Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Direct Arylation of Five‐Membered and Condensed Heterocycles

A ruthenium‐catalyzed carbonylative C?H bond arylation process for the three‐component synthesis of complex aryl–(hetero)aryl ketones in an aqueous solution has been developed. By exploiting the ortho‐activating effect of nitrogen‐containing directing groups, a regioselective, successive twofold C(sp²)?C(sp²) bond formation has been achieved. This straightforward catalytic process provides access to versatile products prevalent in multiple bioactive compounds and supplies a valuable functional group for subsequent transformations.     

Pyrimidopteridine-catalyzed Photo-mediated Hydroacetoxylation

Herein we report a photo-mediated formal addition of carboxylic acids to activated alkenes catalyzed by a pyrimidopteridine photoredox catalyst. The decarboxylation of aliphatic carboxylic acids upon single-electron oxidation is countered in the presence of electron-rich alkenes and a hydroacetoxylation is observed. Mechanistic proposals have been made based on CV measurements, competitive Stern-Volmer quenching and EPR experiments. Evidence that tetra-N-substituted pyrimidopteridines function as dual photoredox and hydrogen atom transfer catalyst was supported by spectroscopic means.