A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides with the system silane/MoO2Cl2

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides and pyridine N-oxides using a silane and a catalytic amount of MoO₂Cl₂ in excellent yields and with a wide functional group tolerance is reported. A green protocol for this reaction was developed in water with the air-stable catalytic system PMHS/MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂.     

A novel method for the reduction of imines using the system silane/MoO2Cl2

A novel catalytic system, silane/MoO₂Cl₂ (10 mol %), for the reduction of imines in excellent to moderate yields and chemoselectivity was designed. These results extend the scope of the use of MoO₂Cl₂ as an effective catalyst for reduction reactions.     

Reduction of sulfoxides catalyzed by oxo-complexes

This work reports the catalytic activity of the oxo-complexes HReO₄, MoO₂(acac)₂, WO₂Cl₂, and VO(acac)₂ in the reduction of sulfoxides with PhSiH₃ or HBcat. The results obtained showed that the catalyst systems PhSiH₃/HReO₄ (5 mol %) and HBcat/HReO₄ (5 mol %) are highly efficient for the deoxygenation of sulfoxides. The complex MoO₂(acac)₂ was also efficient, but the reactions required more time and heating. Finally, the complexes WO₂Cl₂ and VO(acac)₂ showed a moderate activity.     

MoO2Cl2 as a novel catalyst for Friedel-Crafts acylation and sulfonylation

The use of MoO₂Cl₂ as a novel catalyst for Friedel-Crafts acylation and sulfonylation is described. A series of aromatic ketones and sulfones were prepared in moderate to good yields using acyl chloride or sulfonyl chloride in the presence of MoO₂Cl₂ (20 mol %), under solvent-free conditions.     

Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes and deoxygenation of pyridine N-oxides with H2 catalyzed by MoO2Cl2

A chemoselective and highly efficient hydrogenation of nitroarenes and deoxygenation of pyridine N-oxides using a cheap and environmentally friendly H₂/MoO₂Cl₂ system has been developed     

Molybdenum pentachloride (MoCl5) or molybdenum dichloride dioxide (MoO2Cl2): advanced catalysts for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds

A new, convenient and mild method for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds catalyzed by MoCl₅ or MoO₂Cl₂ is described. This novel method is important for the synthesis of the difficult to prepare heterocyclic thioacetals such as the pterin thioacetals and it offers significant advantages such as high conversion, short reaction times and simplicity in operation.     

The WCl6-e-Al-CH2Cl2 catalyzed polypentenamer formation via ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)

The synthesis of polypentenamer by an electrochemically generated metathesis polymerization catalyst from methylene chloride solution of WCl₆ was investigated. The active species formed by electroreduction of this salt under controlled potential of +900 mV at a platinum cathode with an aluminum anode were found to catalyze the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of cyclopentene, monocyclic olefin of relatively low strain, in high yield (89%) and at short period (32 min) under mild conditions. The effect of reaction parameters, e.g., olefin/catalyst ratio, reaction time, electrolysis time, catalyst aging, on the polymerization yield have been studied. The resulting polymer has been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) techniques. Analysis of the polypentenamer microstructure by means of ¹³C NMR spectroscopy indicates that the polymer contains a mainly trans stereoconfiguration of the double bonds (σ_c = 0.31) and a slightly blocky distribution (r_tr_c > 1) of cis and trans double bond dyads (r_tr_c = 1.44). However, this electrochemical system is reluctant to facilitate the competing vinyl type addition polymerization reactions.     

Binuclear oxomolybdenum(V) chlorides: Molecular structure of Mo2O4Cl2(DMF)4 and Mo2O4Cl2(bipy)2 · DMF

Reduction of MoO₂Cl₂(DMF)₂ (DMF = dimethylformamide) with PPh₃ in mild conditions afforded the dinuclear species Mo₂O₃Cl₄(DMF)₄. Related compounds could be prepared by substitution of DMF with stronger bases. While attempting to grow crystals of these compounds new complexes with the syn-[Mo₂O₄]²⁺ core were obtained. The molecular structures of Mo₂O₄Cl₂(DMF)₄, and Mo₂O₄Cl₂(bipy)₂ (bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine) have been established by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

A novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides with the N,N,N’,N’-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide (TBBDA)/PPh3 system

A new method is described for the reduction of sulfoxides to sulfides using N,N,N’,N’-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] in combination with triphenylphosphine. Good to excellent yields, short reaction times, high efficiency and facile isolation of the desired products are the advantages of this method.     

Highly efficient and chemoselective reduction of sulfoxides using the system silane/oxo-rhenium complexes

This work reports a novel method for the reduction of sulfoxides with silanes catalyzed by high valent oxo-rhenium(V) and (VII) complexes. The catalytic system PhSiH₃/ReIO₂(PPh₃)₂ (1 mol %) proved to be highly efficient for the reduction of a wide range of sulfoxides in excellent yields under mild conditions. This novel methodology is also highly chemoselective, tolerating several functional groups such as –CHO, –CO₂R, –Cl, –NO₂, and double or triple bonds.     

The efficient one-pot synthesis of tetraalkyl substituted furans from symmetrical acetylenes,EtAlCl2, and carboxylic esters catalyzed by Cp2TiCl2

A new one-pot method for the synthesis of tetraalkyl substituted furans in 74–80% yields has been implemented via the reaction between symmetrical acetylenes, ethylaluminum dichloride, and carboxylic esters in the presence of metallic Mg as an acceptor of halide ions, catalyzed by bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium dichloride. A mechanism for the reaction is proposed and discussed.     

Computational Study on Interactions between CO2 and (TiO2)n Clusters at Specific Sites

The energetic pathways of adsorption and activation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) on low-lying compact (TiO₂)_n clusters are systematically investigated by using electronic structure calculations based on density-functional theory (DFT). Our calculated results show that CO₂ is adsorbed preferably on the bridge O atom of the clusters, forming a "chemisorption" carbonate complex, while the CO is adsorbed preferably to the Ti atom of terminal Ti-O. The computed carbonate vibrational frequency values are in good agreement with the results obtained experimentally, which suggests that CO₂ in the complex is distorted slightly from its undeviating linear configuration. In addition, the analyses of electronic parameters, electronic density, ionization potential, HOMO-LUMO gap, and density of states (DOS) confirm the charge transfer and interaction between CO₂ and the cluster. From the predicted energy profiles, CO₂ can be easily adsorbed and activated, while the activation of CO₂ on (TiO₂)_n clusters are structure-dependent and energetically more favorable than that on the bulk TiO₂. Overall, this study critically highlights how the small (TiO₂)_n clusters can influence the CO₂ adsorption and activation which are the critical steps for CO₂ reduction the surface of a catalyst and subsequent conversion into industrially relevant chemicals and fuels.     

Electronic structures and X-ray photoelectron spectra of MoO2 and Li2 MoO4

Electronic structures of MoO₂ (4d²) and molybdatc (4d^o) are calculated by the discrete-variational Xα method employing [Mo₂O₁₀^12? and [MoO₄]^2? clusters. The calculations indicate that the Mo—O bond is more covalent in the molybdatc than in MoO₂. Level structures for the valence band region arc in agreement with XPS spectra of MoO₂ and Li₂MoO₄.     

Interaction of antitumor drug Sn(CH3)2Cl2 with DNA and RNA

Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ exerts its antitumor activity in a specific way. Unlike anticancer cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂ drug which binds strongly to the nitrogen atoms of DNA bases, Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ shows no major affinity towards base binding. Thus, the mechanism of action by which tinorganometallic compounds exert antitumor activity would be different from that of the cisplatin drug. The aim of this study was to examine the binding of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ with calf thymus DNA and yeast RNA in aqueous solutions at pH 7.1–6.6 with constant concentrations of DNA and RNA and various molar ratios of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA (phosphate) and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA of 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, 1/5. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV–visible difference spectroscopic methods were used to determine the Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ binding mode, binding constant, sequence selectivity and structural variations of Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/DNA and Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂/RNA complexes in aqueous solution. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ hydrolyzes in water to give Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)₂ and [Sn(CH₃)₂(OH)(H₂O)_n]⁺ species. Spectroscopic evidence showed that interaction occurred mainly through (CH₃)₂Sn(IV) hydroxide and polynucleotide backbone phosphate group with overall binding constant of K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–DNA)=1.47×10⁵ M⁻¹ and K(Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂–RNA)=7.33×10⁵ M⁻¹. Sn(CH₃)₂Cl₂ induced no biopolymer conformational changes with DNA remaining in the B-family structure and RNA in A-conformation upon drug complexation.     

A gentle and efficient route for the deoxygenation of sulfoxides using catecholborane (HBcat; cat = 1,2-O2C6H4)

The addition of catecholborane (HBcat; cat = 1,2-O₂C₆H₄) to a wide range of sulfoxides affords the corresponding sulfides, dihydrogen, and catBOBcat. The diboron compound catBOBcat acts like a Lewis acid and will coordinate one molecule of the starting sulfoxide. Although deoxygenations with bulky or electron withdrawing sulfoxides are slow, these reactions can be greatly accelerated with the use of excess HBcat or by employing a rhodium catalyst.     

Dipole polarizability pseudospectra and C6 dispersion coefficients for H2–H2

Pseudostate decomposition of static dipole polarizabilities for ground state H₂⁺ from a Givens-Householder diagonalization of the excitation operator (

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H" height="17" width="20">₀−E₀) over an N-term basis of appropriate symmetry allows for a rapidly convergent evaluation of C₆ dispersion coefficients for H₂⁺–H₂⁺. 27-term pseudospectra of hypergeneralized James functions with a 30-term GGJ⁺ unperturbed wavefunction with an optimized scale factor δ=0.918 at R=2₀ give C₆ and γ₆ values that are accurate to no less than nine significant figures.     

Efficient method for the reduction of carbonyl compounds by triethylsilane catalyzed by PdCl2

The versatility of the palladium(II) chloride and triethylsilane system has been tested in the reduction of aromatic carbonyl compounds. The reaction takes place under mild conditions. This facile and efficient method affords high yields for the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to the corresponding alkanes.     

An efficient and direct route to the synthesis of diaryl sulfoxides catalyzed by heteropoly acid

Heteropoly acid tungstophosphoric acid (H₃PW₁₂O₄₀) was found to be an excellent catalyst for the synthesis of symmetrical diaryl sulfoxides. The reaction was carried out in various organic solvents or ionic liquids and under solventfree condition. The reaction exhibited better results in terms of the yield and rate under solventfree condition. The catalyst was efficiently recovered from the reaction mixture and reused. The highlighting features of the present protocol are short reaction times, high yields of the products, ambient conditions, and simple workup.     

Comparisons of energy disposal by the reactions of H atoms with Cl2, SCl2, S2Cl2 and SO2Cl2 from observation of HC1 infrared chemiluminescence

Arrested relaxation infrared chemiluminescence studies of the H + Cl₂, SCl₂, S₂Cl₂, SOCl₂ and SO₂-Cl₂ reactions have been made. The mean fraction of vibrational (stational) energy released to HCl is 0.40 (0.10); 0.40 (0.13); 0.38 (? 0.02); 0.33 (?0.02) and 0.36 (?0.02) for the series. Only the H + SCl₂ reaction shows a two component initial rotational distribution. The larger (f_V) and (f_R) from H + SCl₂, relative to the other polyatomic reagents, is consistent with the observation that this is the only reaction that shows forward scattering. The room temperature rate constants also were measured, relative to H + Cl₂, and were found to decline in the series from 0.68 for SCl₂ to 0.02 for SO₂Cl₂. All of these data support the suggestion (first made by Heydtmann and Polanyi) that the unusual rotational energy disposal pattern from H + SCl₂ is a consequence of migration of H from the initially encountered C1 to the second C1, which then forms the HCI product; this pathway augments the direct reactive pathway, which gives HCI in lower J states.