Synthesis, structure, chemical stability, and electrical properties of Nb-, Zr-, and Nb-codoped BaCeO3 perovskites

We report the effect of donor-doped perovskite-type BaCeO(3) on the chemical stability in CO(2) and boiling H(2)O and electrical transport properties in various gas atmospheres that include ambient air, N(2), H(2), and wet and dry H(2). Formation of perovskite-like BaCe(1-x)Nb(x)O(3±δ) and BaCe(0.9-x)Zr(x)Nb(0.1)O(3±δ) (x = 0.1; 0.2) was confirmed using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction (ED). The lattice constant was found to decrease with increasing Nb in BaCe(1-x)Nb(x)O(3±δ), which is consistent with Shannon's ionic radius trend. Like BaCeO(3), BaCe(1-x)Nb(x)O(3±δ) was found to be chemically unstable in 50% CO(2) at 700 °C, while Zr doping for Ce improves the structural stability of BaCe(1-x)Nb(x)O(3±δ). AC impedance spectroscopy was used to estimate electrical conductivity, and it was found to vary with the atmospheric conditions and showed mixed ionic and electronic conduction in H(2)-containing atmosphere. Arrhenius-like behavior was observed for BaCe(0.9-x)Zr(x)Nb(0.1)O(3±δ) at 400-700 °C, while Zr-free BaCe(1-x)Nb(x)O(3±δ) exhibits non-Arrhenius behavior at the same temperature range. Among the perovskite-type oxides investigated in the present work, BaCe(0.8)Zr(0.1)Nb(0.1)O(3±δ) showed the highest bulk electrical conductivity of 1.3 × 10(-3) S cm(-1) in wet H(2) at 500 °C, which is comparable to CO(2) and H(2)O unstable high-temperature Y-doped BaCeO(3) proton conductors.     

Cubane, cuneane, and their carboxylates: a calorimetric, crystallographic, calculational, and conceptual coinvestigation

[reaction: see text] This study is a multinational, multidisciplinary contribution to the thermochemistry of dimethyl1,4-cubanedicarboxylate and the corresponding isomeric, cuneane derivative and provides both structural and thermochemical information regarding the rearrangement of dimethyl 1,4-cubanedicarboxylate to dimethyl 2,6-cuneanedicarboxylate. The enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase at T = 298.15 K of dimethyl 1,4-cubanedicarboxylate (dimethyl pentacyclo[4.2.0.0.(2,5)0.(3,8)0(4,7)]octane-1,4-dicarboxylate) and dimethyl 2,6-cuneanedicarboxylate (dimethyl pentacyclo[3.3.0.0.(2,4)0.(3,7)0(6,8)]octane-2,6-dicarboxylate) have been determined by combustion calorimetry, delta(f) H(o)m (cr)/kJ x mol(-1) = -232.62 +/- 5.84 and -413.02 +/- 5.16, respectively. The enthalpies of sublimation have been evaluated by combining vaporization enthalpies evaluated by correlation-gas chromatography and fusion enthalpies measured by differential scanning calorimetry and adjusted to T = 298.15 K, delta(cr) (g)Hm (298.15 K)/kJ x mol(-1) = 117.2 +/- 3.9 and 106.8 +/- 3.0, respectively. Combination of these two enthalpies resulted in delta(f) H(o)m (g., 298.15 K)/kJ x mol(-1) of -115.4 +/- 7.0 for dimethyl 1,4-cubanedicarboxylate and -306.2 +/- 6.0 for dimethyl 2,6-cuneanedicarboxylate. These measurements, accompanied by quantum chemical calculations, resulted in values of delta(f) Hm (g, 298.15 K) = 613.0 +/- 9.5 kJ x mol(-1) for cubane and 436.4 +/- 8.8 kJ x mol(-1) for cuneane. From these enthalpies of formation, strain enthalpies of 681.0 +/- 9.8 and 504.4 +/- 9.1 kJ x mol(-1) were calculated for cubane and cuneane by means of isodesmic reactions, respectively. Crystals of dimethyl 2,6-cuneanedicarboxylate are disordered; the substitution pattern and structure have been confirmed by determination of the X-ray crystal structure of the corresponding diacid.     

Intermetallic compounds of the heaviest elements and their homologs: the electronic structure and bonding of MM', where M=Ge, Sn, Pb, and element 114, and M'=Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, Au, Sn, Pb, and element 114

Fully relativistic (four-component) density-functional theory calculations were performed for intermetallic dimers MM', where M=Ge, Sn, Pb, and element 114, and MM'=group 10 elements (Ni, Pd, and Pt) and group 11 elements (Cu, Ag, and Au). PbM and 114M, where M are group 14 elements, were also considered. The results have shown that trends in spectroscopic properties-atomization energies D(e), vibrational frequencies omega(e), and bond lengths R(e), as a function of MM', are similar for compounds of Ge, Sn, Pb, and element 114, except for D(e) of PbNi and 114Ni. They were shown to be determined by trends in the energies and space distribution of the valence ns(MM')atomic orbitals (AOs). According to the results, element 114 should form the weakest bonding with Ni and Ag, while the strongest with Pt due to the largest involvement of the 5d(Pt) AOs. In turn, trends in the spectroscopic properties of MM' as a function of M were shown to be determined by the behavior of the np(1/2)(M) AOs. Overall, D(e) of the element 114 dimers are about 1 eV smaller and R(e) are about 0.2 a.u. larger than those of the corresponding Pb compounds. Such a decrease in bonding of the element 114 dimers is caused by the large SO splitting of the 7p orbitals and a decreasing contribution of the relativistically stabilized 7p(1/2)(114) AO. On the basis of the calculated D(e) for the dimers, adsorption enthalpies of element 114 on the corresponding metal surfaces were estimated: They were shown to be about 100-150 kJ/mol smaller than those of Pb.     

Synthesis and characterization of metal-centered, six-membered, mixed-valent, heterometallic wheels of iron, manganese, and indium

Heptanuclear metal-centered, six-membered, mixed-valent, heterometallic wheels 1-3 of iron, manganese, and indium were prepared in a one-pot reaction from N-benzyldiethanolamine (H2L(1)), cesium carbonate, [PPh4]2[MnCl4], and FeCl3 or InCl3. All three complexes were characterized by the combination of elemental analysis, FAB mass spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and cyclic voltammetry and in the case of 1 additionally by M?ssbauer spectroscopy. In 1, four Mn(II) ions in the periphery are arranged in pairs alternating with one Fe(III) ion each, with an Fe(III) ion located in the center. In 2, three Mn(II) ions alternate with three In(III) ions, whereas in 3, four In(III) ions are arranged in pairs and alternate with one Mn(II) ion each. In 2 and 3 an Mn(II) ion is encapsulated in the center.     

Syntheses, Crystal and Band Structures, and Magnetic and Optical Properties of New CsLnCdTe(3) (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, and Lu)

A series of new quaternary semiconductor materials CsLnCdTe(3) (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd-Tm, and Lu) was obtained from high-temperature solid-state reactions by the reactive halide flux method. These compounds belong to the layered KZrCuS(3) structure type and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm (No. 63). Their structure features two-dimensional infinity(2)[LnCdTe(3)-] layers of edge- and vertex-sharing LnTe(6) octahedra with Cd atoms filling the tetrahedral interstices, which stack along b-axis. The Cs atoms are located between the infinity(2)[LnCdTe(3)-] layers and are surrounded by eight Te atoms to form a CsTe(8) bicapped trigonal prism. Such Te layers are more flexible than the Se analogues in the isostructural CsLnMSe(3) to accommodate nearly the entire Ln series. Theoretical studies performed on CsTmCdTe(3) show that the material is a direct band gap semiconductor and agrees with the result from a single-crystal optical absorption measurement. Magnetic susceptibility measurements show that the CsLnCdTe(3) (Ln = Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, Tm) materials exhibit temperature-dependent paramagnetism and obey the Curie-Weiss law, whereas CsSmCdTe(3) does not.     

A series of single, double, and triple Me2biim-bridged dinuclear, trinuclear, and polymeric complexes: syntheses, crystal structures, and luminescent properties

Reaction of ZnCl(2) and Me(2)biim (Me(2)biim = N,N'-dimethyl-2,2-'-biimidazole) in acidic or neutral aqueous solutions gave the noncoordinated ZnCl(4).H(2)Me(2)biim (1) or the double Me(2)biim bridged [Zn(2)Cl(4)(mu-Me(2)biim)(2)] (2). Use of CdX(2) (X = Cl, Br, I) instead of ZnCl(2) yielded the single Me(2)biim bridged one-dimensional coordination polymer [CdX(2)(mu-Me(2)biim)](n) (X = Cl, 3; Br, 4; I, 5). The stacking of the infinite chains are dominated by C-H...X interactions in 3 and 4 but by I...I interactions in 5, responsible for their different crystal structures. Use of Zn(NO(3))(2) instead of ZnCl(2) produced the novel triple Me(2)biim-bridged [Zn(2)(mu-Me(2)biim)(3)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(4).H(2)O (6). The unprecedented hexa-Me(2)bim bridged trinuclear [Cd(3)(mu-Me(2)biim)(8)](2)(ClO(4))(12)(H(2)O)(6) (7) was obtained by using Cd(CH(3)CO(2))(2) in the presence of NaClO(4). Compounds 1-7 were characterized by X-ray crystallography and IR. Examination of photophysical properties of 1-7 indicates that the fluorescence emission of Me(2)biim has been effectively enhanced, quenched, or shifted in its metal complexes 1-7.     

Synthetic, spectroscopic, and structural studies on organoimido molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium phthalocyanines

Unprecedented imido phthalocyaninato complexes of pentavalent refractory metals [PcM(NR)Cl] (M = Mo, W, Re; R = tBu: 1, 3, 6, Mes: 2, 4, 7 or Ts: 5) have been synthesized by reductive cyclotetramerization of phthalonitrile in the presence of appropriate bis(imido) complexes of Mo, W and Re as templates. While d(1) Mo(V) and W(V) species 1-5 show distinctive EPR spectra corresponding to metal centered radicals with hyperfine coupling of two magnetically non-equivalent nitrogen atoms (4 equatorial and 1 axial N), corresponding d(2) Re(V) compounds 6 and 7 are diamagnetic. [PcMo(NtBu)Cl] 1 crystallizes from 1-chloronaphthalene in the tetragonal space group P4/n. The molecular structure reveals, that the metal center is located above the plane of the equatorial N4 and displaced towards the axial π-donor ligand. Due to the thermodynamic trans effect the Mo-Cl bond trans to the imido group is elongated to about 2.600(2) ?.     

Syntheses, X-ray crystal structures, and optical, fluorescence, and nonlinear optical characterizations of diphenylphosphino-substituted bithiophenes

A series of bithiophene derivatives that are either symmetrically disubstituted with two Ph(2)(X)P groups (X = O, S, Se) or monosubstituted with one Ph(2)(X)P group (X = O, S, Se) and an organic functional group (H, CHO, CH(2)OH, CO(2)Me) have been synthesized. The X-ray crystal structures of Ph(2)(Se)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)P(Se)Ph(2), Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)H, Ph(2)(S)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)H, and Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)CH(2)OH exhibit very different solid-state structures depending on the type of intermolecular π-π interactions that occur. The compounds have been characterized by electronic absorption and fluorescence studies. Of particular interest is that the quantum yields of Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)H, Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)P(O)Ph(2), Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)CO(2)Me, and Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)CH(2)OH are significantly larger than that of bithiophene (factors of 13, 14, 14, and 22, respectively). This behavior is quite different from that of analogously substituted terthiophenes in which substitution results in only modest increases in the quantum yields over that of terthiophene (factors of 0.94, 2.7, 1.3, and 1.5, respectively). DFT studies of the emission process suggest that modifying the Ph(2)(X)P group affects both the fluorescence and nonradiative rate constants while modifications of the organic substituents primarily affect the nonradiative rate constants. The higher quantum yields of the substituted bithiophenes make them promising for application in organic light-emitting devices (OLED). The optical power limiting (OPL) performances of these Ph(2)(X)P-substituted bithiophenes were evaluated by nonlinear transmission measurements in the violet-blue spectral region (430-480 nm) with picosecond laser pulses. The OPL performances are enhanced by heavier X groups and when by higher solubilities. Saturated chloroform solutions of Ph(2)(O)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)H and Ph(2)(S)P(C(4)H(2)S)(2)H exhibit significantly stronger nonlinear absorption than any previously reported compounds and are promising candidates for use in broadband optical power limiters.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical studies on [1.1]ferrocenophanes containing aluminum, gallium, and indium

The synthesis, characterization, structure, and electrochemistry of [1.1]ferrocenophanes, bridged by the heavier group 13 elements aluminum (1a), gallium (1b), and indium (1c), are described and discussed. Compounds 1a-c have been synthesized from dilithioferrocene and intramolecularly coordinated group 13 element dihalides Ar'EX(2) (Ar' = 2-(Me(2)NCH(2))C(6)H(4); EX(2) = AlCl(2), GaCl(2), InI(2)). Although the synthesis and characterization of 1a by single-crystal X-ray analysis has been described recently (Braunschweig, H.; Burschka, C.; Clentsmith, G. K. B.; Kupfer, T.; Radacki, K. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 4906), compounds 1b and 1c are described for the first time. The galla (1b) and the inda (1c) [1.1]ferrocenophane have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray determination [1b: C(38)H(40)Fe(2)Ga(2)N(2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.3467(5) Angstroms, b = 11.6311(4) Angstroms, c = 14.0747(7) Angstroms, beta = 105.931(2) degrees, Z = 2; 1c: C(38)H(40)Fe(2)In(2)N(2), monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 10.5522(7) Angstroms, b = 11.8476(8) Angstroms, c = 13.9855(9) Angstroms, beta = 104.990(3) degrees, Z = 2]. All three compounds 1a-c are anti conformers with trans orientations of the two donating NMe(2) groups. For the [1.1]ferrocenophane 1a, an unprecedented fully reversible two-electron redox process was observed by cyclic voltammetry, whereas the corresponding Ga and In species exhibit a more conventional stepwise redox chemistry. According to the Robin-Day classification, 1a is a class I and 1b and 1c are class II species. In addition to the reversible processes, compound 1a shows an irreversible oxidation at higher voltages accompanied by adsorption processes. The irreversible adsorption process was investigated with an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM).     

Structures, stabilities, and electronic and optical properties of C52 fullerene, ions, and metallofullerenes

The 437 classical isomers of fullerene C52 have been studied by PM3, HCTH/3-21G, and B3LYP6-31G(d). C(2):029 with the least number of adjacent pentagons is predicted to be the most stable isomer. The investigations show that both the number of adjacent pentagons and the degree of aromaticity play important roles in the relative stabilities of fullerene isomers. To clarify the relative stabilities of the C52 isomers in a wide range of temperatures, the entropy contributions are taken into account on the basis of the Gibbs energy at the B3LYP6-31G(d) level. C(2):029 prevails in a wide temperature range. In addition, the electronic spectra and second-order hyperpolarizabilities are determined by means of ZINDO and sum-over-states model. The static second-order hyperpolarizability of C(2):029 is 51% larger than that of C60. Furthermore, intensity-dependent refractive index gamma (-omega;omega,omega,-omega) (omega=1.1653 eV) of C(2):029 is 13 times larger than that of C60. The encapsulation of Ca atom in C52 fullerene is exothermic and the metallofullerene Ca-C52 is described as Ca2+-C52(2-).     

Polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities for the atoms Al, Si, P, S, Cl, and Ar: Coupled cluster calculations

Accurate static dipole polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities are calculated for the ground states of the Al, Si, P, S, Cl, and Ar atoms. The finite-field computations use energies obtained with various ab initio methods including Moller-Plesset perturbation theory and the coupled cluster approach. Excellent agreement with experiment is found for argon. The experimental alpha for Al is likely to be in error. Only limited comparisons are possible for the other atoms because hyperpolarizabilities have not been reported previously for most of these atoms. Our recommended values of the mean dipole polarizability (in the order Al-Ar) are alpha/e(2)a(0) (2)E(h) (-1)=57.74, 37.17, 24.93, 19.37, 14.57, and 11.085 with an error estimate of +/-0.5%. The recommended values of the mean second dipole hyperpolarizability (in the order Al-Ar) are gamma/e(4)a(0) (4)E(h) (-3)=2.02 x 10(5), 4.31 x 10(4), 1.14 x 10(4), 6.51 x 10(3), 2.73 x 10(3), and 1.18 x 10(3) with an error estimate of +/-2%. Our recommended polarizability anisotropy values are Deltaalpha/e(2)a(0) (2)E(h) (-1)=-25.60, 8.41, -3.63, and 1.71 for Al, Si, S, and Cl respectively, with an error estimate of +/-1%. The recommended hyperpolarizability anisotropies are Deltagamma/e(4)a(0) (4)E(h) (-3)=-3.88 x 10(5), 4.16 x 10(4), -7.00 x 10(3), and 1.65 x 10(3) for Al, Si, S, and Cl, respectively, with an error estimate of +/-4%.     

Thermally polymerizable bisaryloxy-bisimido-bisphthalonitriles containing dimethylsilane,hexafluoroisopropylidene, ether,and keto groups: Synthesis,characterization, and NMR study

A proton-NMR study of the condensation reaction (step 1) of 4-(3′-aminophenoxy)phthalonitrile (4-3′APPN) ( I ) in an aprotic solvent with various aromatic dianhydrides demonstrated the formation of the corresponding bisamic acid within 5–10 min. There was no effect of the electron affinity of the used aromatic dianhydrides on the time of the condensation reaction and also no charge-transfer complex formation was indicated. Proton-NMR study of the synthesized bisaryloxy-bisimido-bisphthalonitriles at 250.1 MHz has revealed general findings for their NMR characterization. The coupling constant (J) value for the ortho-coupled protons of the phthalonitrile ring of the 4–3′-APPN portion is 8.8 ± 0.05 Hz and that for the ortho-coupled protons of the aminophenoxy ring of 4–3′-APPN is 8.1 ± 0.05 Hz. The coupling constant (J) values for ortho-coupled protons of the dianhydride portion range from 8.1 to 7.5 Hz. Various thermally polymerizable bisaryloxybisimido-bisphthalonitriles (BBBP) ( X, XI, XII , and XIII ) containing dimethylsilane, hexafluoroisopropylidene, ether, and keto groups, suitable for the development of thermooxidative stable, void-free composites, were synthesized by two methods. In method 1,4–3′-APPN ( I ) in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) was condensed (step 1) with bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)dimethylsilane dianhydride (SIDA) ( II ), 4, 4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride (6FDA) ( III ), bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ether dianhydride (ODPA) ( IV ), and 3,4,3′,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) ( V ), respectively, to give the corresponding bisamic acids. Thermal cyclodehydration of the intermediate bisamic acid at 160°C gave the bisphthalonitriles. In method 2, the second step of thermal cyclodehydration was performed in situ in refluxing toluene. The characterization of the synthesized bisaryloxy-bisimido-bisphthalonitriles (BBBP) was performed using FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. A preliminary study indicated that thermal-polymerization of these bisphthalonitriles (BBBP) gave tough, thermosetting polymers, useful for high-temperature applications. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Syntheses, characterization, and X-ray crystal structures of beta-diketiminate group 13 hydrides, chlorides, and fluorides

A series of organometallic compounds of group 13 metals supported by the sterically encumbered beta-diketiminate ligand containing hydrides, fluorides, chlorides, and bromide have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The synthetic strategy applied utilizes halide metathesis and reduction of metal chlorides to the corresponding hydrides. Thus, the reaction of LLi.OEt2 with MeMCl2 affords LM(Me)Cl (M = Al (1), Ga (2), In (3)) and LGaBr2 (4) with GaBr3. Reduction of LGa(Me)Cl with LiH.BEt3 leads to the formation of LGa(Me)H (10). Synthesis of LGaH(2) (12) has been accomplished by reacting LGaI2 (8) with LiH.BEt3. LAl(Me)Cl (1) and LAlH2 (6) have been converted to LAl(Me)F (5) and LAlF2 (7), respectively. The former was obtained in a reaction of LAl(Me)Cl with Me3SnF while the latter was isolated in a reaction of LAlH2 with BF3.OEt2. Similarly reaction of LGaI2 (8) with Me3SnF affords LGaF2 (9). Compounds reported herein have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR, NMR, EI-MS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Preparation, UV-vis, IR, EPR and resonance Raman study of Fe, Ni, Co and Zn dioxolene complexes

An UV-vis, Raman, IR and EPR spectroscopic study was performed for the water soluble complexes of Fe(III), Ni(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) coordinated to dioxolene ligands derived from oxidized dopamine. The complexes were obtained and stabilized at neutral pH by the strong reducing agent sodium thiosulfate. Iron(III) stabilizes the ligand in catecholate form as [Fe(III)(Cat)2]1-, Cat=dopacatecholate, and the divalent metals as dopasemiquinone (SQ): [Ni(SQ)3]1-, [Co(SQ)3]1- and [Zn(SQ)3]1-. The resonance Raman spectra of the solid complexes as [CAT][Ni(SQ)3], [CTA][Co(SQ)3] and [CTA][Zn(SQ)3], CTA is the cetyltrimethylammonium, are very similar to the spectra of the complexes in solution, while the Fe(III) complex is a mixture of two iron complexes, with catecholate or dopasemiquinone ligands.     

Synthesis, characterisation, crystal structures, reactivity, and electrochemistry of ruthenium-nitrido, ruthenium-cobalt-imido and ruthenapyrrolidone carbonyl clusters containing alkyne ligands

Thermolysis of [Ru3(CO)9(mu3-NOMe)(mu3-eta2-PhC2Ph)] (1) with two equivalents of [Cp*Co(CO)2] in THF afforded four new clusters, brown [Ru5(CO)8(mu-CO)3(eta5-C5Me5)(mu5-N)(mu4-eta2-PhC2Ph)] (2), green [Ru3Co2(CO)7(mu3-CO)(eta5-C5Me5)2(mu3-NH)[mu4-eta8-C6H4-C(H)C(Ph)]] (3), orange [Ru3(CO)7(mu-eta6-C5Me4CH2)[mu-eta3-PhC2(Ph)C(O)N(OMe)]] (4) and pale yellow [Ru2(CO)6[mu-eta3-PhC2(Ph)C(O)N(OMe)]] (5). Cluster 2 is a pentaruthenium mu5-nitrido complex, in which the five metal atoms are arranged in a novel "spiked" square-planar metal skeleton with a quadruply bridging alkyne ligand. The mu5-nitrido N atom exhibits an unusually low frequency chemical shift in its 15N NMR spectrum. Cluster 3 contains a triangular Ru2Co-imido moiety linked to a ruthenium-cobaltocene through the mu4-eta8-C6H4C(H)C(Ph) ligand. Clusters 4 and 5 are both metallapyrrolidone complexes, in which interaction of diphenylacetylene with CO and the NOMe nitrene moiety were observed. In 4, one methyl group of the Cp* ring is activated and interacts with a ruthenium atom. The "distorted" Ru3Co butterfly nitrido complex [Ru3Co(CO)5(eta5-C5Me5)(mu4-N)(mu3-eta2-PhC2Ph)(mu-I)2I] (6) was isolated from the reaction of 1 with [Cp*Co(CO)I2] heated under reflux in THF, in which a Ru-Ru wing edge is missing. Two bridging and one terminal iodides were found to be placed along the two Ru-Ru wing edges and at a hinge Ru atom, respectively. The redox properties of the selected compounds in this study were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. 15N magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies were also performed on these clusters.     

Thorium oxo and sulfido metallocenes: synthesis, structure, reactivity, and computational studies

The synthesis, structure, and reactivity of thorium oxo and sulfido metallocenes have been comprehensively studied. Heating of an equimolar mixture of the dimethyl metallocene [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)ThMe(2) (2) and the bis-amide metallocene [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)Th(NH-p-tolyl)(2) (3) in refluxing toluene results in the base-free imido thorium metallocene, [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)Th═N(p-tolyl) (4), which is a useful precursor for the preparation of oxo and sulfido thorium metallocenes [η(5)-1,2,4-(Me(3)C)(3)C(5)H(2)](2)Th═E (E = O (5) and S (15)) by cycloaddition-elimination reaction with Ph(2)C═E (E = O, S) or CS(2). The oxo metallocene 5 acts as a nucleophile toward alkylsilyl halides, while sulfido metallocene 15 does not. The oxo metallocene 5 and sulfido metallocene 15 undergo a [2 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with Ph(2)CO, CS(2), or Ph(2)CS, but they show no reactivity with alkynes. Density functional theory (DFT) studies provide insights into the subtle interplay between steric and electronic effects and rationalize the experimentally observed reactivity patterns. A comparison between Th, U, and group 4 elements shows that Th(4+) behaves more like an actinide than a transition metal.     

Rearrangements and interconversions of heteroatom-substituted isocyanates, isothiocyanates, nitrile oxides, and nitrile sulfides, RX-NCY and RY-CNX

Isocyanates and isothiocyanates of the type RX-NCY (X and Y = O or S) and the isomeric nitrile oxides and nitrile sulfides RY-CNX are highly reactive compounds. A number of potential 1,4-shifts of substituent groups of the type R-Y-CNX → R-X-N═C═Y, 1,3-shifts R-C(═Y)-N═X → R-X-N═C═Y, and 1,2-shifts R-C(═Y)-N═X → R-Y-CNX have been evaluated computationally. The results obtained for the relatively new functional MPW1K and the well-established B3LYP, together with a triple-ζ quality basis set, are very similar. The 1,3- and 1,4-halogen shifts in the title compounds are usually highly exothermic and possess low activation barriers. 1,3-Aryl shifts are feasible for for 5e → 6e (Ar-CO-NSO(2) → Ar-SO(2)-NCO) with activation barriers of less than 40 kcal/mol. Additionally, several 1,3- and 1,4-hydrogen shifts and the 1,4-methyl-shift in methoxynitrile sulfide MeO-CNS to methylsulfenyl isocyanate MeS-NCO (4c → 6c) are potentially feasible. The 1,2-shift reactions 4b → 5b (HO-NCS → H-CS-NO) and 4c → 5c (Ar-O-CNS→ Ar-CO-NS) are good candidates for experimental observation with activation energies around 30 kcal/mol.     

Scaffolding, ladders, chains, and rare ferrimagnetism in intermetallic borides: synthesis, crystal chemistry and magnetism

Single-phase polycrystalline samples and single crystals of the complex boride phases Ti(8)Fe(3)Ru(18)B(8) and Ti(7)Fe(4)Ru(18)B(8) have been synthesized by arc melting the elements. The phases were characterized by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction as well as energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. They are new substitutional variants of the Zn(11)Rh(18)B(8) structure type, space group P4/mbm (no. 127). The particularity of their crystal structure lies in the simultaneous presence of dumbbells which form ladders of magnetically active iron atoms along the [001] direction and two additional mixed iron/titanium chains occupying Wyckoff sites 4h and 2b. The ladder substructure is ca. 3.0 ? from the two chains at the 4h, which creates the sequence chain-ladder-chain, establishing a new structural and magnetic motif, the scaffold. The other chain (at 2b) is separated by at least 6.5 ? from this scaffold. According to magnetization measurements, Ti(8)Fe(3)Ru(18)B(8) and Ti(7)Fe(4)Ru(18)B(8) order ferrimagnetically below 210 and 220 K, respectively, with the latter having much higher magnetic moments than the former. However, the magnetic moment observed for Ti(8)Fe(3)Ru(18)B(8) is unexpectedly smaller than the recently reported Ti(9)Fe(2)Ru(18)B(8) ferromagnet. The variation of the magnetic moments observed in these new phases can be adequately understood by assuming a ferrimagnetic ordering involving the three different iron sites. Furthermore, the recorded hysteresis loops indicate a semihard magnetic behavior for the two phases. The highest H(c) value (28.6 kA/m), measured for Ti(7)Fe(4)Ru(18)B(8), lies just at the border of those of hard magnetic materials.     

Thermodynamic, kinetic, and computational study of heavier chalcogen (S, Se, and Te) terminal multiple bonds to molybdenum, carbon, and phosphorus

Enthalpies of chalcogen atom transfer to Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3, where Ar = 3,5-C6H3Me2, and to IPr (defined as bis-(2,6-isopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) have been measured by solution calorimetry leading to bond energy estimates (kcal/mol) for EMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 (E = S, 115; Se, 87; Te, 64) and EIPr (E = S, 102; Se, 77; Te, 53). The enthalpy of S-atom transfer to PMo(N[ t-Bu]Ar) 3 generating SPMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 has been measured, yielding a value of only 78 kcal/mol. The kinetics of combination of Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 with SMo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3 yielding (mu-S)[Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3]2 have been studied, and yield activation parameters Delta H (double dagger) = 4.7 +/- 1 kcal/mol and Delta S (double dagger) = -33 +/- 5 eu. Equilibrium studies for the same reaction yielded thermochemical parameters Delta H degrees = -18.6 +/- 3.2 kcal/mol and Delta S degrees = -56.2 +/- 10.5 eu. The large negative entropy of formation of (mu-S)[Mo(N[t-Bu]Ar)3]2 is interpreted in terms of the crowded molecular structure of this complex as revealed by X-ray crystallography. The crystal structure of Te-atom transfer agent TePCy3 is also reported. Quantum chemical calculations were used to make bond energy predictions as well as to probe terminal chalcogen bonding in terms of an energy partitioning analysis.     

Tetrahedranyllithium: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity

The first representative of stable tetrahedranyl anion, tris(trimethylsilyl)tetrahedranyllithium (3), has been synthesized by the reaction of tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)tetrahedrane (2) with methyllithium in tetrahydrofuran. The structural characterization of the tetrahedranyllithium has been achieved by X-ray crystallography, showing that the structure of 3.(TMEDA)1.5 represents a stretched tetrahedron. The endocyclic C(Li)-C(SiMe3) bond lengths range from 1.5408(15) to 1.5441(15) A (av 1.5425(15) A), and are longer than the endocyclic C(SiMe3)-C(SiMe3) bond lengths, which range from 1.4961(15) to 1.5009(15) A (av 1.4986(15) A). Methyl- and hydrogen-substituted tetrahedranes have also been prepared by the reaction of 3 with dimethyl sulfate and cyclopentadiene, respectively.