Double nucleophilic attack on η6-arene(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)iridium dications. Routes from substituted benzenes to substituted cyclohexenes by addition of two hydrides and two protons

The complexes [(C₅Me₅)Ir(η⁶-arene)][BF₄]₂ (arene = toluene, toluene-d₈, t-butylbenzene, methoxybenzene, chlorobenzene, o-xylene, p-xylene, tetralin and phenol) were prepared from the arene and reduced with NaBH₄ to the η⁵-cyclohexadienyl complexes. Attack was exo at the arene and, with one exception, never at the substituent. Toluene showed no site preference but t-butylbenzene was attacked preferentially para, and chlorobenzene, ortho. Methoxybenzene was attacked ipso as well as ortho, meta (predominant), and para, and phenol gave only the meta-isomer. p-Xylene gave one isomer and o-xylene and tetralin gave two. Further reduction occurred on reaction with stronger hydride reducers (e.g., sodium bis(methoxyethoxy)dihydroaluminate) to give mixtures of 1- and 2-substituted cyclohexa-1,3-diene complexes (t-Bu, 2- ( > 95%); Me, 1- (25%), 2- (75%); Cl, 1- ( > 95%); and OMe, 1- (33%), 2- (67%)). The p-xylene complex gave a mixture of the η⁴-1,4-dimethylcyclohexa-1,3- and 1,4-diene complexes. Reaction of the cyclohexadiene complexes with HCl gas gave the free substituted cyclohexenes and [(C₅Me₅Ir)₂Cl₄]. The product from t-butylbenzene was predominantly (92%) the 3-substituted cyclohexene; that isomer (65%) and the 1-isomer (34%) were formed from toluene and the 1- (34%) and the 4-isomer (58%) were formed from chlorobenzene. Phenol gave only cyclohexanone. Overall these reactions yield the cyclohexene from the substituted benzene by addition of two hydrides and two protons and the iridium can be recycled.     

Oxidation of 2-cyanoprop-2-enethioamides with hydrogen peroxide

Oxidation of (E)-3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enethioamides with 32% H₂O₂ under mild conditions gave (E)-3-aryl-2-cyano-1-iminioprop-2-ene-1-sulfenates in 70–88% yields. Under the conditions of the Radziszewski reaction (H₂O₂, 10% aqueous KOH) or upon prolonged treatment with H₂O₂, (E)-3-aryl-2-cyanoprop-2-enethioamides underwent transformations leading to complex mixtures of oxidation products. In some cases, 3-aryloxirane-2,2-dicarboxamides were isolated from those mixtures in low yields (<20%). Treatment of 3-arylamino-2-cyanoprop-2-enethioamides with the system H₂O₂/KOH in ethanol afforded (arylaminomethylidene)malononitriles.     

Inverse electron demand asymmetric cycloadditions of cyclic carbonyl ylides catalyzed by chiral Lewis acids—Scope and limitations of diazo and olefinic substrates

High enantioselectivities (94-96% ee) were obtained for the inverse electron-demand 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions between cyclohexyl vinyl ether and 2-benzopyrylium-4-olate generated via Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed decomposition of o-methoxycarbonyl-α-diazoacetophenone. The reactions were effectively catalyzed by Eu(OTf)₃, Ho(OTf)₃, or Gd(OTf)₃ complexes (10 mol %) of chiral 2,6-bis[(4S,5S)-4,5-diphenyl-2-oxazolinyl]pyridine. The reactions with the other electron-rich dipolarophiles such as allyl alcohol, 2,3-dihydrofuran, and butyl-tert-butyldimethylsilylketene acetal showed moderate enanantioselectivities (60-73% ee). Good to high enantioselectivities (73-97% ee) were also obtained for the cycloadditions between 3-acyl-2-benzopyrylium-4-olates, generated from methyl 2-(2-diazo-1,3-dioxoalkyl)benzoates and butyl or cyclohexyl vinyl ethers, in the presence of binaphthyldiimine (BINIM)-Ni(II) complexes (10 mol %). Under similar conditions, the reaction between methyl 2-(2-diazo-1,3-dioxohexyl)benzoate and 2,3-dihydrofuran was highly endo-selective, and moderately enantioselective (70% ee). For the BINIM-Ni(II)-catalyzed reactions of cyclohexyl vinyl ether, the use of an epoxyindanone as the 3-acyl-2-benzopyrylium-4-olate precursor revealed that the chiral Lewis acid can function as a catalyst for asymmetric induction. The scope of the cyclic carbonyl ylides was extended to those generated from 1-diazo-2,5-pentanedione derivatives, which were reacted with butyl or TBS vinyl ether and catalyzed using the (4S,5S)-Pybox-4,5-Ph₂-Lu(OTf)₃ complex to give good levels of asymmetric inductions (75-84% ee).     

Convenient preparation of optically active cibenzoline and analogues from 3,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ols

(R)-(+)-Cibenzoline (95% ee) was synthesized in two steps from (+)-2,2-diphenylcyclopropylmethanol 3a (98% ee), which was oxidized with IBX in DMSO, followed by treatment with ethylenediamine in the presence of I₂ and K₂CO₃ in tBuOH. Compound (R)-(+)-3a (98% ee) was prepared by cyclopropanation of 3,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-ol 1 with Et₂Zn and CH₂I₂ in the presence of a catalytic amount of (S)-2-(methanesulfonyl)amino-1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)amino-3-phenylpropane 2, followed by esterification with 3,5-dinitorobenzoyl chloride, recrystallization, and hydrolysis.     

Sr4AlNbO8: A new crystal structure type determined from powder X-ray data

Sr₄AlNbO₈ was synthesized at 1500 °C in air. The crystal structure was initially determined from powder X-ray diffraction data, and later refined with combined X-ray and neutron diffraction data (P2₁/c; a=7.17592(2) Å, b=5.80261(2) Å, c=19.7408(1) Å; β=97.5470(1)°, V=814.869(3) Å³, Z=4, R_p/R_wp=10.04%/13.18% for X-ray data, 4.40%/5.67% for neutron data, and 7.71%/10.74% in total with χ² of 3.76, 23 °C). The crystal structure is a new structure type and may be described as a three-dimensional polyhedral network resulting from the corner-sharing of NbO₆ and Sr1O₆ octahedra and AlO₄ tetrahedra. Also, the other strontium atoms (Sr2, Sr3, and Sr4) occupy the larger cavities surrounded by oxygen atoms to form nine, eight, and 11 coordination, respectively. Considering that Sr, Al, and Nb atoms are crystallographically distinct in terms of interatomic distances and polyhedral coordination, Sr₄AlNbO₈ can be regarded as a stoichiometric compound.     

Synthesis of enantiomerically pure 2-amino alcohols from amino acids mediated by sulfoxides

Enantiomerically pure (R₁,S₂)- and (S₁,S₂)-2-amino alcohols can be easily synthesized by stereodivergent reduction of α′-(N-Boc)amino β-keto sulfoxides (easily synthesized from readily available N-Boc amino ester hydrochlorides) with DIBAH (de 82–92%) and DIBAH/ZnBr₂ (de 80%), followed by hydrogenolysis of the C–S bond of the resulting hydroxy sulfoxides and final hydrolysis of the N-Boc protecting group.     

Formation and crystal structure of MeIr(CO)(PPh3)2(MeCO2CHCHCO2Me). Comparison of the structures of analogous alkene and alkyne complexes

The complex MeIr(CO)(PPh₃)₂(MeCO₂CHCHCO₂Me), synthesized from trans-MeIr(CO)(PPh₃)₂ and dimethyl maleate, crystallizes in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2/n with a 13.997(5), b 17.878(5), c 15.709(4) Å, β 91.00(2)°, V 3930(2) ų and Z = 4. X-ray data (Mo-K_α, 2θ 4.5–45.0°) were collected with a Syntex P2₁ automated four-circle diffractometer; the structure was solved and converged with R 5.5% for all 5069 unique reflections and R 4.3% for those 4343 data with |F_o| > 3σ(|F_o|). The iridium(I) center has a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry with the Me and CO ligands occupying axial sites (Ir-Me(1) 2.159(8), IrCO 1.907(8) Å. The MeCO₂CHCHCO₂Me ligand is bonded in η² fashion to the iridium, with its coordinated double bond parallel to the equatorial plane. Bonds to the equatorial ligands are IrP(1) 2.344(2), Ir-P(2) 2.376(2) and Ir-(center of olefin) 2.017 Å. The observed ligand configuration is different from that for MeIr(CO)(PPh₃)₂(MeCO₂CCCO₂Me) which has axial Me and PPh₃ ligands in its thermodynamically stable isomer.     

Oxidation of Styrene to Benzaldehyde Catalyzed by Schiff Base Functionalized Triazolylidene Ni(II) Complexes

Four new Schiff base functionalized 1,2,3-triazolylidene nickel complexes, [Ni-(L₁NHC)₂](PF₆)₂; 3, [Ni-(L₂NHC)₂](PF₆)₂; 4, [Ni-(L₃NHC)](PF₆)₂; 7 and [Ni-(L₄NHC)](PF₆)₂; 8, (where L₁NHC = (E)-3-methyl-1-propyl-4-(2-(((2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl)imino)methyl)phenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium hexafluorophosphate(V), 1, L₂NHC = (E)-3-methyl-4-(2-((phenethylimino)methyl)phenyl)-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium hexafluorophosphate(V), 2, L₃NHC = 4,4′-(((1E)-(ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(3-methyl-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium) hexafluorophosphate(V), 5, and L₄NHC = 4,4′-(((1E)-(butane-1,4-diylbis(azanylylidene))bis(methanylylidene))bis(2,1-phenylene))bis(3-methyl-1-propyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-3-ium) hexafluorophosphate(V), 6), were synthesised and characterised by a variety of spectroscopic methods. Square planar geometry was proposed for all the nickel complexes. The catalytic potential of the complexes was explored in the oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde, using hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant in the presence of acetonitrile at 80 °C. All complexes showed good catalytic activity with high selectivity to benzaldehyde. Complex 3 gave a conversion of 88% and a selectivity of 70% to benzaldehyde in 6 h. However, complexes 4 and 7–8 gave lower conversions of 48–74% but with higher (up to 90%) selectivity to benzaldehyde. Results from kinetics studies determined the activation energy for the catalytic oxidation reaction as 65 ± 3 kJ/mol, first order in catalyst and fractional order in the oxidant. Results from UV-visible and CV studies of the catalytic activity of the Ni-triazolylidene complexes on styrene oxidation did not indicate any clear possibility of generation of a Ni(II) to Ni(III) catalytic cycle.     

High-temperature heat capacity of YbAl3(BO3)4

The isobaric heat capacity C _p (T) of YbAl₃(BO₃)₄ grown by spontaneous crystallization from solution (100 ? n) wt % (Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂ + 2.5% B₂O₃ + 0.75% Li₂MoO₄) + n wt % YbAl₃(BO₃)₄ is studied experimentally in the region of 344–1016 K. It is established that there are no extrema on the C _p (T) dependence, and the obtained data can be described using the Berman-Brown polynomial. The temperature variations of enthalpy and entropy are calculated from the C _p (T) dependence.     

New Molybdenyl Iodates: Hydrothermal Preparation and Structures of Molecular K2MoO2(IO3)4 and Two-Dimensional β-KMoO3(IO3)

Two new molybdenyl iodates, K₂MoO₂(IO₃)₄ (1) and β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2), have been prepared from the reactions of MoO₃ with KIO₄ and NH₄Cl at 180°C in aqueous media. The structure of 1 consists of molecular [MoO₂(IO₃)₄]²⁻ anions separated by K⁺ cations. The Mo(VI) centers are ligated by two cis-oxo ligands and four monodentate iodate anions. Both terminal and bridging oxygen atoms of the iodate anions form long ionic contacts with the K⁺ cations. β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2) displays a two-dimensional layered structure constructed from ²_∞[(MoO₃(IO₃)]¹⁻ anionic sheets separated by K⁺ cations. These sheets are built from one-dimensional chains formed from corner-sharing MoO₆ octahedra that run along the b-axis that are linked together through bridging iodate groups. K⁺ cations separate the layers from one another and form long contacts with oxygen atoms from both the iodate anions and molybdenyl moieties. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=12.8973(9) Å, b=6.0587(4) Å, c=17.694(1) Å, β=102.451(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.64% for 97 parameters with 1584 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=7.4999(6) Å, b=7.4737(6) Å, c=10.5269(8) Å, β=109.023(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.73% for 83 parameters with 1334 reflections with I>2σ(I).     

Substituted salen–Ru(II) complexes as catalysts in the asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene by ethyl diazoacetate: the influence of substituents and achiral additives on activity and enantioselectivity

A series of alkyl-, halogen- and nitro-substituted salen ligands, 1, have been employed in the asymmetric cyclopropanation of styrene with ethyl diazoacetate by its ruthenium(II) complex with [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ or RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ as precursors. The introduction of appropriate electron withdrawing groups in the salen ligands benefited the enantioselectivity of the reaction. Some additives, including O-donor, N-donor and P-donor ligands, were added to the reaction to improve the enantioselectivity and activity, and e.e.s of up to 80% were achieved. In the salen/[RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ system, the (1R,2S)-isomer was obtained in 80.2% e.e. by using the salen ligand 1f derived from 3,5-dibrominated salicylaldehyde with Et₃N as additive. E.e.s of up to 81.3% for (1S,2R)-isomers were achieved by using the complex 2 synthesized from the nitro-substituted ligand 1m and RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃. A possible mechanism was also discussed.     

Ab Initio Structure Determination of a New Compound, β-SrGaBO4, from Powder X-Ray Diffraction Data

A new compound, β-SrGaBO₄, has been attained through solid phase transition from α-SrGaBO₄ at high temperatures. Its crystal structure has been determined from powder X-ray diffraction data by direct methods. The refinement was carried out using the Rietveld method and the final refinement converged with Rp=11.42 % and Rwp=15.16 %. It has an orthorhombic P2₁2₁2 space group with cell parameters a=15.3706(2) Å, b=8.9921(1) Å, c=5.9191(1) Å, and Z=8. The structure of β-SrGaBO₄ is built up from Ga₂BO₈ units formed by two GaO₄ tetrahedra and one BO₃ triangle, and Sr₂O₁₂ units formed by two SrO₇ groups. Tetrahedra [GaO₄] are linked by shared O(3) and O(7) atoms to form infinite chains along the c axis.     

Further studies on reactions of organic halides with disilanes catalysed by transition metal complexes

The interaction of a range of organic halides with (Cl₃Si)₂ or (Me₃Si)₂ in the presence of a variety of transition metal catalysts (very predominantly Pd⁰ or Pd^II complexes) have been examined. PhSiMe₃ was formed from PhCl[m.y., 15%] (m.y. - maximum yield), PhBr (m.y., 92%, with [PdL₂Br₂] as catalyst (L - PPh₃)), and (contrary to earlier reports) PhI (m.y. 51%, with [PdL₂I₂]). MeSiCl₃ was formed from MeBr (m.y., 78% with [PdL₄]) and MeI (m.y., 91% with [PdL₄]), and EtSiCl₃ from EtBr (m.y., 49%, with [PdL₂“Br₂]; L” - P(C₆H₄OMe-p)₃) and EtI (m.y. 45%, with [PdL₄]). Me₄Si was satisfactorily formed from MeBr (m.y. 42%, with [PdL₄]). Evidence was obtained for the formation of Me₃SiCF₃ from CF₃I. Very poor yields of XC₆H₄CH₂SiMe₃ were obtained from XC₆H₄CH2Br (X - H orp-Me) (with X - H some PhSiMe₃ was formed), butp-O₂NC₆H₄CH₂SiMe₃ was formed in 48% yield fromp-O₂NC₆H₄CH₂Cl with [PdL“₄] as catalyst. PhCOSiMe₃ was formed from PhCOCl (m.y. 52% with [PdL₂I₂]. The nickel complex [NiL₄] was moderately effective as a catalyst for reactions between (Cl₃Si)₂ and MeBr, EtBr, or PhCH₂Br. The new complex [PdL₂(SiCl₃)₂] was prepared by treatment of [PdL₄] with (Cl₃Si)₂ or Cl₃SiH, and shown to catalyse the reaction between MeBr and (Cl₃Si)₂.     

Novel optical oxygen sensing material: metalloporphyrin dispersed in fluorinated poly(aryl ether ketone) films

A series of new fluorine-containing poly(aryl ether ketone)s (8F-PEKEK(Ar); Ar: 2-2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (6FBA), 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (BA), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propane (3,4^′-BA) or 9,9^′-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorine (HF)) are synthesized and applied to the matrix of optical oxygen sensing using phosphorescence quenching of metalloporphyrins, platinum and palladium octaethylporphyrin, (PtOEP and PdOEP) by oxygen. The phosphorescence intensity of PtOEP and PdOEP in 8F-PEKEK(Ar) films decreased with increase of oxygen concentration. The ratio I₀/I₁₀₀ is used as a sensitivity of the sensing film, where I₀ and I₁₀₀ represent the detected phosphorescence intensities from a film exposed to 100% argon and 100% oxygen, respectively. For PtOEP in 8F-PEKEK(Ar) film, I₀/I₁₀₀ values are more than 20.0 and large Stern-Volmer constants more than 0.19%⁻¹ are obtained compared with PtOEP in polystyrene film. For PdOEP in 8F-PEKEK(Ar) film, on the other hand, the large I₀/I₁₀₀ values more than 143 are obtained. However, the Stern-Volmer plots of PdOEP in 8F-PEKEK(Ar) films exhibit considerable linearity at lower oxygen concentration range between 0% and 20%. These results indicate that PtOEP and PdOEP films are useful optical oxygen sensor at the oxygen concentration range between 0% and 100% and between 0% and 20%, respectively. The response times of PtOEP and PdOEP dispersed in 8F-PEKEK(Ar) films are 5.6 and 3.0 s on going from argon to oxygen and 110.1 and 160.0 s from oxygen to argon, respectively.     

Asymmetric ring opening of meso-epoxides with B-halobis(2-isocaranyl)boranes 2-dIcr2BX

Hydroboration of commercially available (+)-2-carene (96% ee) with either BH₂Cl·SMe₂ or BCl₃/Me₃SiH, provides chemically pure B-chlorobis(2-isocaranyl)borane (2-^dIcr₂BCl) whereas B-bromobis(2-isocaranyl)borane (2-^dIcr₂BBr) could only be prepared by Matteson’s BBr₃/Me₃SiH procedure in high chemical yield and purity. The enantiomeric excess achieved with 2-^dIcr₂BCl (78%), was significantly higher than those realized with the previously explored reagent, ^dIpc₂BCl (41%), especially for meso-cyclohexene oxide. The new reagent, 2-^dIcr₂BBr also showed considerable improvements in enantiomeric excesses, in the cases of meso-cyclopentene oxide (67%) and meso-cis-2,3-butene oxide (78%) than those achieved with the previously reported reagent, ^dIpc₂BBr (57% and 61%, respectively).     

Membranes en PHB,P(HB-co-9% HV), P(HB-co-22% HV) pour la microfiltration ou la pervaporation proprietes filtrantes et etat de surface

Microfiltration porous membranes (J_H2O = 15,800 l/m²·atm·j, r_p = 0,25 μm) and pervaporation dense membranes for ethanol deshydratation (J_total = 0,008 kg/h · m² et α = 12,6) were prepared from polyhydroxybutyrate, poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) with 9% and 22% valerate contents. Different surface structures characterized with contact angle, surface energy and scanning electronic microscopy were correlated with filtration properties. Membranes were prepared after immersion coagulation or total evaporation from different ternary system P-S-NS compositions.     

The Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Doped Uranium Brannerite Phases U1−xMxTi2O6 (M=Ca, La, and Gd)

Doped uranium brannerite phases (U_1−xM_xTi₂O₆; M=Ca²⁺, La³⁺ and Gd³⁺; x<0.5) were synthesized at 1400°C; the range of solid solution was found to vary depending on whether sintering took place in argon or air. Powder X-ray diffraction revealed that these phases crystallized to form monoclinic (C2/m) structures. In particular, the crystal structures of U_0.74Ca_0.26 Ti₂O₆ (1) (a=9.8008(2); b=3.7276(1); c=6.8745(1); β=118.38(1); V=220.97(1); Z=2; R_P=7.3%; R_B=4.6%) and U_0.55La_0.45Ti₂O₆ (2) (a=9.8002(7); b=3.7510(3); c=6.9990(5); β=118.37(4); V=226.40(3); Z=2; R_P=4.5%; R_B=2.9%) were refined from powder neutron diffraction data, revealing planes of corner and edge-sharing TiO₆ octahedra separated by 8-fold coordinate U/M atoms. The oxygen sites within these structures were found to be fully occupied, confirming that the doping of lower valence M atoms occurs in conjunction with the oxidation of U(IV) to U(V).     

Non-stoichiometric FexWN2: Leaching of Fe from layer-structured FeWN2

Non-stoichiometric Fe_xWN₂ (x∼0.72) was synthesized via leaching of Fe from layer-structured stoichiometric FeWN₂ by soaking in sulfuric acid at ca. 50 °C. The synthesized products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), secondary electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and magnetic measurements. Non-stoichiometric Fe_xWN₂ has the same symmetry unit cell as stoichiometric FeWN₂ (P6₃/mmc), but the lattice parameters change: the a-axis expands by 0.16% while the c-axis decreases by 1.5%. Polycrystalline powder of Fe_xWN₂ showed similar morphologies as those of FeWN₂. The calculated electronic structure of stoichiometric FeWN₂ shows a more ionic-bonding character between Fe and N than that between W and N, which presumably allows for the partial Fe leaching from between the W-N prismatic layers. The magnetic susceptibility of Fe_xWN₂ smoothly decreases with increasing temperature from 3 to 300 K, unlike the broad maximum seen near 27 K in stoichiometric FeWN₂.     

The microwave spectrum of argon-phosphorus trifluoride

The argon-PF₃ complex has been prepared in a supersonic expansion of Ar (98%) and PF₃ (2%). A Fourier-transform micro-wave spectrometer employing a Fabry-Pérot cavity was used to assign 28 rotational transitions. The rotational constants (MHz) and distortion constants (kHz) were A = 7332.468(10), B = 1023.055(2), C = 952.564(2), D_J = 3.53(1), D_JK = 60.4(1) and d₁ = −0.240(7). The argon atom is 3.953 Å (r_c.m.) from the PF₃ center of mass and r_c.m. makes an angle of 70.3° with the C₃ axis of the PF₃.