Catecholato complexes of palladium(II)–naphthylazoimidazoles: synthesis,spectral characterization,electrochemistry and solvatochromic studies

[Pd(-NaiR)(O,O)] [-NaiR = 1-alkyl-2-(naphthyl--azo)imidazoles; R = Me (a), Et (b), CH₂Ph (c) and O,O = pyrocatecholato (cat) (3), 4-t-butylcatecholato (tbcat) (4), 3,5-di-t-butylcatecholato (dtbcat) (5), and tetracholorocatecholato (tccat) (6)] complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectral data. Studies by cyclic voltammetry suggest the existence of two redox couples, positive saturated calomel electrode (s.c.e.) that are due to catecholes to semiquinone, and semiquinone to quinone oxidations, respectively; two couples at negative to s.c.e. are associated with azo reductions. The complexes exhibit ligand-to-ligand charge-transfer transition in the near-i.r. region. The band position is largely dependent upon the substituent on the catechole frame and exhibits a negative solvatochromic effect. The transition is qualitatively assigned to the HOMO (cat) LUMO (-NaiR) transition.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization and redox studies of [1-alkyl-2-(naphthyl-β-azo)imidazole] palladium(II) catecholates

1-Alkyl-2-(naphthyl--azo)imidazoles [-NaiR; R = Me (a), Et (b), CH₂Ph (c)] react with Pd(MeCN)₂Cl₂ to yield Pd(-NaiR)Cl₂ (2), the i.r. spectra of which support the presence of a cis-PdCl₂ configuration. The complexes react with catechols in the presence of Et₃N to yield ternary complexes [Pd(-NaiR)(O,O)] [O,O = pyrocatecholato (cat) (3), 4-t-butylcatecholato (tbcat) (4), 3,5-di-t-butylcatecholato (dtbcat) (5), and tetrachlorocatecholato (tccat) (6)], which were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectral data. Redox studies by cyclic voltammetry suggest the existence of four successive redox couples wherein two responses, positive to s.c.e. are due to catechol to semiquinone and semiquinone to quinone oxidation, respectively; the couples at negative to s.c.e. are referred to azo reductions. The complexes exhibit ligand-ligand charge-transfer transitions in the near-i.r. region. The band position is largely dependent upon the substitutent on the catechol frame and exhibits negative solvatochromic effects. The transition is qualitatively assigned as the HOMO (cat) LUMO (-NaiR) transition. This fact is also supported by theoretical calculations using the PM3 method.     

Substitution of ligands in dichloro-2-(arylazo)heterocyclepalladium(II) by 8-quinolinol: kinetics and mechanistic studies

Nucleophilic substitutions of Pd(N,N)Cl₂[(N,N = 1-methyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (RaaiMe), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₃H₂NN-1-Me; 2-(arylazo)pyridine (Raap), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₅H₄N; 2-(arylazo)pyrimidine (Raapm), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₄H₃N₂ where R = H (a), Me (b), Cl (c)] with 8-quinolinol (HQ) have been examined by spectrophotometry at 298 K in MeCN solution. The product, Pd(Q)₂, has also been confirmed by independent synthesis from Na₂[PdCl₄] and HQ in EtOH. The kinetics of the reaction have been studied under pseudo-first-order conditions and the analyses support a nucleophilic association path. A single phase reaction has been observed and follows the rate law, rate = a + k [Pd(N,N)Cl₂] [HQ]². Thus, the reaction is first order in [Pd(N,N)Cl₂] and second order in [HQ]. External addition of Cl^–(LiCl) suppresses the rate. The rate increases as follows: Pd(RaaiMe)Cl₂ < Pd(Raap)Cl₂ < Pd(Raapm)Cl₂.     

Towards direct mass measurements of nobelium at SHIPTRAP

The Penning-trap mass spectrometer SHIPTRAP allows precision mass measurements of rare isotopes produced in fusion-evaporation reactions. In the first period of operation the masses of more than 50 neutron-deficient radionuclides have been measured. In this paper the perspectives for direct mass measurements of rare isotopes around nobelium are discussed and the achievable precision is addressed. The temporal stability of the magnetic field, an important issue for the long measurement times resulting from the low production rates, was investigated and the time-dependent uncertainty due to magnetic field fluctuations was determined. Based on the present performance direct mass measurements of nobelium isotopes are already feasible. With several technical improvements heavier elements between Z=102–105 will be in reach.     

Mass measurements of neutron-deficient radionuclides near the end-point of the rp-process with SHIPTRAP

Direct mass measurements of nuclides near to the supposed end-point region of the astrophysical rp-process were performed at SHIPTRAP, the Penning trap mass spectrometer at GSI Darmstadt. The masses of 24 nuclides were measured with relative uncertainties between 5 ^. 10^-8 and 2 ^. 10^-7 . Three of them, ¹⁰⁷Sb , ¹¹¹I and ¹¹²I , were determined experimentally for the first time. The data analysis and mass evaluation are presented in detail.     

Production and stability of oxygen cluster cations and anions,revisited

Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric, positive and negative oxygen cluster ions (n up to 70) have been produced in a crossed neutral beam/electron beam ion source. The abundance and stability of the ions formed have been analyzed with a double focussing sector field mass spectrometer in a series of experiments. Positive and negative ion mass spectra observed exhibit distinct abundance anomalies, however, at different cluster sizes. Abundance maxima and minima correlate with correspondingly small and large metastable fractions of (O₂) _n ⁺ and (O₂) _n ^? ions, respectively. (O₂) _n ⁺ ions may also lose up top=(n?1) monomers by collision induced dissociation with monotonously decreasing probability with increasingp. Metastable fractions determined for (O₂) _n ^? ions produced with appr. zero eV electrons are in general larger than those for ions produced with appr. 7 eV electrons. (O₂) _n ^? ions are also observed to decay via autodetachment, with lifetimes increasing with increasing cluster size. Finally, here we were able to prove that an apparent loss of the monomer fragment O (and higher homologues) observed in the metastable time regime is due to ordinary metastable monomer evaporation in the acceleration region. Moreover, we will also present here some new data and interpretation concerning the electron attachment cross section function for O₂ clusters.