The influence of charges and hydrogen bond on the conformation of zwitterionic 3-(2-hydroxyalkyl-pyridinium)-propionates and their hydrobromides

The effects of intra- and intermolecular electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding on the conformation of 3-(2-hydroxymethyl-pyridinium)-propionic acid bromide (1) and 3-(2-hydroxyethyl-pyridinium)-propionic acid bromide (2) have been studied. In 1, the molecules are linked by Br⁻ ion to form two intermolecular hydrogen bonds COOHBrHOCH₂ (O(1)Br=3.175(3) and O(3)Br=3.305(3) Å) yielding chains. The molecules of 2 form centrosymmetric dimers connected by a pair of H-bonds between COOH and CH₂OH groups (O(1)O(3)=2.674(3) Å), and the H-bonded CH₂OH group further interacts with the Br⁻ ion (O(3)Br=3.166(5) Å). In both the compounds, the Br⁻ ion additionally interacts electrostatically with the positively charged nitrogen atom. To analyse these interactions theoretically, the structures of 3-(2-hydroxy-alkyl)pyridinium propionates (betaines) and their hydrogen bromides as monomers and dimers in various configurations are analysed by PM3 and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculations. Although both electrostatic interactions and H-bonds strongly affect the conformation of the investigated compounds, the former effect seems to be dominant. FTIR spectra of 1 and 2 in the solid state are analysed.     

Interaction of heterocyclic thioamides with tellurium(II) and tellurium(IV). Syntheses and crystal structures of bis[2-(2-thioxo-1,3- thiazolidin-3-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3- thiazolium]hexabromotellurate(IV) and tris(1- methylimidazole-2-(3H)-thione)tellurium(II) bromide

Reaction of 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione with tellurium(IV) in hydrobromic acid medium gave the hexabromotellurate, [C₆H₉N₂S₃]₂²⁺[Te^IVBr₆]²⁻ (3). Reaction of 1-methylimidazoline-2-(3H)-thione (L″) with tellurium(IV), in hydrobromic acid medium, gave the mixed-ligand tellurium(II) complex [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺Br⁻ (4). The structures of [C₆H₉N₂S₃]₂²⁺[Te^IVBr₆]²⁻ (3) and [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺Br⁻ were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. In 3 the unit cell contains [TeBr₆]²⁻ anions and two [C₆H₉N₂S₃]⁺ cations. There is no direct bonding between the metal atom and the cations. In the anion only slight angular deviations from the perfect octahedral geometry are observed. The lone pair of electrons on tellurium(IV) is found to be stereochemically inert. In the cation the two five-membered heterocyclic rings adopt different conformations. In complex 4, in the solid state, the planar [Te^IIL″₃Br]⁺ cation and Br⁻ anion are held together by ionic interactions. In the cation, L″ is bonded to the central tellurium atom through the sulphur atom.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) with 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO(2).PAPS) and tartaric acid with 5-NO(2).PAPS-niobium(V) complex

Spectrophotometric determinations of palladium(II) and tartaric acid were respectively investigated by using the color reactions between 2(5-nitro-2-pyridylazo)-5-(N-propyl-N-3-sulfopropylamino)phenol(5-NO₂.PAPS) and palladium(II) in strong acidic media, and between 5-NO₂.PAPS, niobium(V) tartaric acid in weak acidic media. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0–25 μg/10 ml palladium(II), with an apparent molecular coefficient () of 6.2×10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, and 0–23 μg/10 ml tartaric acid with =1.08×10⁶ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 612 nm, respectively. The proposed methods were selective and sensitive in comparison with other chelating pyridylazo dyes–palladium(II) or metavanadic acid–tartaric acid method, and the effect of foreign ions such as copper(II) was negligible for the assay of palladium(II) with 5-NO₂.PAPS.     

Simultaneous potentiometric determination of ClO(3)(-)-ClO(2)(-) and ClO(3)(-)-HClO by flow injection analysis using Fe(III)-Fe(II) potential buffer

A rapid potentiometric flow injection technique for the simultaneous determination of oxychlorine species such as ClO₃⁻–ClO₂⁻ and ClO₃⁻–HClO has been developed, using both a redox electrode detector and a Fe(III)–Fe(II) potential buffer solution containing chloride. The analytical method is based on the detection of a large transient potential change of the redox electrode due to chlorine generated via the reaction of the oxychlorine species with chloride in the potential buffer solution. The sensitivities to HClO and ClO₂⁻ obtained by the transient potential change were enhanced 700–800-fold over that using an equilibrium potential. The detection limit of the present method for HClO and ClO₂⁻ is as low as 5×10⁻⁸ M with use of a 5×10⁻⁴ M Fe(III)–1×10⁻³ M Fe(II) buffer containing 0.3 M KCl and 0.5 M H₂SO₄. On the other hand, sensitivity to ClO₃⁻ was low when a potential buffer solution containing 0.5 M H₂SO₄ was used, but could be increased largely by increasing the acidity of the potential buffer. The detection limit for ClO₃⁻ was 2×10⁻⁶ M with the use of a 5×10⁻⁴ M Fe(III)–1×10⁻³ M Fe(II) buffer containing 0.3 M KCl and 9 M H₂SO₄. By utilizing the difference in reactivity of oxychlorine species with chloride in the potential buffer, a simultaneous determination method for a mixed solution of ClO₃⁻–ClO₂⁻ or ClO₃⁻–HClO was designed to detect, in a timely manner, a transient potential change with the use of two streams of potential buffers which contain different concentrations of sulfuric acid. Analytical concentration ranges of oxychlorine species were 2×10⁻⁵–2×10⁻⁴ M for ClO₃⁻, and 1×10⁻⁶–1×10⁻⁵ M for HClO and ClO₂⁻. The reproducibility of the present method was in the range 1.5–2.3%. The reaction mechanism for the transient potential change used in the present method is also discussed, based on the results of batchwise experiments. The simultaneous determination method was applied to the determination of oxychlorine species in a tap water sample, and was found to provide an analytical result for HClO, which was in good agreement with that obtained by the o-tolidine method and to provide a good recovery for ClO₃⁻ added to the sample.     

A selective optical sensor for picric acid assay based on photopolymerization of 3-(N-methacryloyl) amino-9-ethylcarbazole

A novel optical sensor based on covalent immobilization for picric acid assay has been described. To improve the stability of the sensor, a terminal double bond was attached to the fluorescent compound, 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC), via methacryloyl chloride. The resultant compound, 3-(N-methacryloyl) amino-9-ethylcarbazole (MAEC) was copolymerized with 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate on surface-modified quartz glass plates by UV irradiation. The resulting optical sensor (optode membrane) was used to determine picric acid based on fluorescence quenching. It shows a linear response toward picric acid in the concentration range of 9.33 × 10⁻⁸ to 9.33 × 10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹, with rapid response, high stability and good selectivity to picric acid.     

3D H-bonding networks self-assembly from pyridinium derivatives and bis(maleonitriledithiolato)zincate(II)

The two ion-pair complexes, [pyH]₂[Zn(mnt)₂] (1) and [4,4′-bipyH₂]-[Zn(mnt)₂] (2), were synthesized, where mnt²⁻ denotes maleonitriledithiolate, and [pyH]⁺, [4,4′-bipyH₂]²⁺ represent pyridinium and diprotonated 4,4′-bipyridinium, respectively. Their single crystal structures show that there are strong bifurcated H-bonding interactions between the cations of the pyridinium derivative and the [Zn(mnt)₂]²⁻ anions in both 1 and 2. The bifurcated H-bonding interactions between the N–H of the pyridiniums and the CN groups of the mnt²⁻ ligands give rise to a 2D layered H-bonding network, the adjacent layers come together in such way as mutual embrace to give a tight pack, thus 2D hydrogen-bonding sheets further develop into 3D H-bonding networks through weak C–HS and ππ stacking interactions in 1. As for 2, the cations and anions connect into several types of H-bonding macrorings ([2+2], [3+3] and [4+4]), these H-bonding macrorings fuse to extend into 2D layered structure, the interpenetration between [3+3] and [4+4] type H-bonding macrorings in the adjacent layers give further rise to novel 3D extended H-bonding networks, in which there are clearly parallel stacks of cations and the chelate rings of anions.     

Monodentate and bidentate trifluoroacetato ligands in bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)thallium(III)—a new dynamic 4:3 piano stool seven-coordinate geometry

The crystal structure of bis(trifluoroacetato)-(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato) thallium(III), Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)₂ (2), was established and the coordination sphere around the Tl³⁺ ion is described as 4:3 tetragonal base–trigonal base piano stool seven-coordinate geometry in which the two cis CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups occupy two apical sites. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms [i.e. N(2), N(3) and N(4)] strongly bonded to Tl³⁺ is adopted as the reference plane 3N. The pyrrole N(1) ring bearing the methyl group [i.e. C(45)H₃] is the most deviated one from the 3N plane making a dihedral angle of 23.3° whereas smaller angles of 9.9, 2.7 and 4.7° occur with pyrroles N(2), N(3), and N(4), respectively. Because of the larger size of the thallium(III) ion, Tl is considerably out of the 3N plane; its displacement of 1.02 Å is in the same direction as that of the two apical CF₃CO₂ ⁻ ligands. The intermolecular trifluoroacetate exchange process for 2 in CD₂Cl₂ solvent is examined through ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR temperature-dependent measurements. In the slow-exchange region, the CF₃ and carbonyl (CO) carbons of the CF₃CO₂ ⁻ groups in 2 are separately located at δ 114.3 [¹J(C–F)=290 Hz, ³J(Tl–C)=411 Hz] and 155.1 [²J(C–F)=37 Hz, ²J(Tl–C)=204 Hz], respectively, at −106 °C. In the same slow-exchange region, the fluorine atoms of 2, Tl(N---Me---tpp)(CF₃CO₂)⁺ and the free CF₃CO₂ ⁻ are located at δ −73.76 [⁴J(Tl–F)=44 Hz], −73.30 [⁴J(Tl–F)=22 Hz], and −76.15 ppm at −97 °C, respectively.     

Influence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding on IR-spectroscopic properties of (R)-(−)-1-phenylglycinium hydrogen squarate monohydrate in solid-state. IR-LD, Raman spectroscopy and theoretical study

Influence of the intermolecular interactions in solid phase on the overlapped IR-spectroscopic pattern of (R)-(−)-1-phenylglycinium hydrogen squarate monohydrate is studied experimentally by means of a complex approach, including IR-LD spectroscopy of oriented solid-samples as suspension in nematic liquid crystal, reducing difference procedure for polarized spectra interpretation, deconvolution and curve-fitting procedures. Raman ones completes the IR-spectroscopic data. The experimental results are supported with theoretical ones and the calculated frequencies obtained on UHF/6-311++G^** level of theory and basis and scaled with a factor of 0.8929 correlated well with experimental observed data, giving a standard deviation of 9 cm⁻¹ for so-called non-characteristic bands.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of the herbicide (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA) over TiO2

The photocatalytic decomposition of the herbicide (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), C₉H₉ClO₃, in aqueous suspensions containing TiO₂ was investigated by following the formation of intermediates via recording proton NMR spectra. One of theoretically possible intermediates, 4-chloro-2-methylphenolmethanoate, was synthesized by a modified esterification procedure. Based on the data obtained a possible reaction mechanism was proposed. The rate of MCPA aromatic ring decomposition was followed by pH changes during illumination. As a result, apparent reaction rate constant was found to be 7.0×10⁻⁶ mol dm⁻³ min⁻¹. The complete mineralization was attained after about 15 h of illumination.     

Catalytic flow injection determination of vanadium by oxidation of N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine using bromate

A catalytic flow-injection (FI) method was developed for the determination of 10⁻⁹ mol l⁻¹ levels of vanadium(IV, V). The method is based on the catalytic effect of vanadium(V) on oxidation of N-(3-sulfopropyl)-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMBZ·PS) using bromate as oxidant to form a yellow dye (λ_max=460 nm). The use of 5-sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) as an activator enhanced the sensitivity of the method. The calibration graphs with a working range 0.05–8.0 ng ml⁻¹ were obtained for vanadium(V). Vanadium(IV) was also determined, being oxidized by bromate. The detection limit (signal/noise, S/N=3) was 0.01 ng ml⁻¹ (ca. 2×10⁻¹⁰ mol l⁻¹) vanadium. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) for 15 determinations of 0.5 ng ml⁻¹ vanadium, and for ten determinations of 0.1 and 1.0 ng ml⁻¹ vanadium were 0.41, 2.6 and 0.25%, respectively, with a sampling rate of 15 samples h⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of vanadium in natural waters.     

Ion pairing, H-bonding, and π–π interactions in copper(II) complex-organo-networks derived from a proton-transfer compound of the 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid

The one-pot reaction between the novel proton transfer compound (pydaH₂)²⁺(phendc)²⁻, LH₂, and Cu(II) afforded the compounds (pydaH)₂[Cu(phendc)₂]·10H₂O, 1, and (pydaH)₂[Cu(phendc)(phendcH)]₂·5H₂O, 2, where pyda=2,6-diaminopyridine, and phendcH₂=1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylic acid. The single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 and 2 revealed that these are two novel self-assembled 3D Cu(II) complex-organo-networks, in which (pydaH)⁺ ions and [Cu(phendc)₂]²⁻ or complex units are held together by ion pairing, H-bonding, and π–π interactions. Magnetic measurements over the temperature range 1.8–310 K revealed no significant magnetic coupling between Cu(II) centers in 1 or 2.     

Tautomeric properties, conformations and structure of N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on

N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-amino-3-penten-2-on (C₁₁H₁₃NO₂) has been studied by X-ray analysis. It crystallizes the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a=8.834(1), b=10.508(2), c=11.212(2) Å, V=1040.8(3) Å³, Z=4, D_c=1.22 g cm⁻³ and μ(MoK)=0.084 mm⁻¹. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.038 for 1373 reflections (I>2σ(I)). The title compound is photochromic and the molecule is not planar. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds occur between the pairs of atoms N(1) and O(1) [2.631(2) Å], and N(1) and O(2) [2.641(2) Å], the H atom essentially being bonded to the N atom. There is also a strong intermolecular O–HO hydrogen bonding [2.647(2) Å] between neighbouring molecules. Tautomeric properties and conformations of the title compound were investigated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical AM1 calculations and the results are compared with the X-ray results.     

X-Ray, MP2 and DFT studies of the structure and vibrational spectra of homarinium chloride

The effects of hydrogen bonding, inter- and intramolecular electrostatic interactions on the structure of homarinium chloride, HOMH·Cl, in the crystal and its isolated molecule have been studied by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, Raman, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and by the MP2 and DFT theoretical methods. In the crystal, the Cl⁻ anion is connected with protonated homarine via the O–HCl⁻ hydrogen bond of the length of 2.937(4) Å, and two N⁺Cl⁻ intermolecular electrostatic interactions. In the isolated molecule, according to the MP2 and B3LYP calculations, the Cl⁻ anion is engaged in a shorter hydrogen bond (O–HCl⁻ of 2.811–2.861 Å) and in one type of intramolecular electrostatic interactions. The calculated bond lengths and bond angles at the MP2 and B3LYP levels of theory are in good agreement with the X-ray data, except the conformation of the COOH group, which is cis (syn) in the crystal and trans (anti) in the isolated molecule. The tentative assignments for the experimental solid state vibrational spectra of HOMH·Cl and HOMD·Cl have been made on the basis of the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) calculated frequencies and intensities. The effect of quaternization of picolinic acid on the chemical shifts of the ring protons and carbons is analyzed.     

Prediction of geometries and interaction energies of complexes formed by small molecules using semiempirical and ab initio methods

The accuracy of the semiempirical quantum mechanics methods (AM1 and PM3), and the ab initio methods (6-31G^** and MP2/6-31G^**) in predicting intermolecular geometries and interaction energies have been evaluated by detailed studies of 17 bimolecular complexes formed by small molecules. Comparisons between calculated and experimental geometries for 12 complexes are presented. It was found that AM1 gave reasonably good predictions of the geometries of complexes such as CH₄ · CH₄, which have very weak interactions, but it is not as good as other methods in predicting intermolecular geometry for complexes where hydrogen bonding interactions play an important role. This is consistent with its inability to reproduce the charge transfer in the formation of hydrogen bonds in these complexes.

PM3 is able to predict intermolecular geometries for most complexes, including those with hydrogen bonding; its major flaw is its tendency to overestimate the strength of the interactions between hydrogen atoms. Care should be taken therefore in using PM3 to study complicated molecular systems with multiple hydrogen atom interactions and the method's weakness in handling complexes in which electrostatic forces are important should also be noted.

Among ab initio methods, both the 6-31G^** and the MP2/6-31G^** were found to outperform AM1 and PM3 in prediction of intermolecular geometry. Both of these ab initio methods showed excellent consistency in geometry prediction for most of the complexes studied, although MP2/6-31G^** is better than 6-31G^**. It is noted that the MP2/6-31G^** did not produce the correct geometry for the CO₂· HF complex.

For 12 complexes for which experimental geometry data are available, AM1, PM3, 6-31G^**, and MP2/6-31G^** successfully predicted the geometry in 10, 12, 12, and 11 cases, respectively. The average errors given by AM1 in the predicted intermolecular distances were 0.264, 0.272, 0.091, and 0.061 Å, respectively. In comparison to the ab initio methods, AM1 and PM3 commonly underestimated the molecular interaction energy in such complexes by ˜ 1–2 kcal mol⁻¹.     

1-(2,3,4-Trihydroxybenzylideneamino)-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid as reagent for spectrophotometric determination of boron in plants

A highly sensitive and selective method has been developed for spectrophotometric determination of boron in plants, the method based on the color reaction of new reagent 1-(2,3,4-trihydroxybenzylideneamino)-8-hydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid (THBA) with boron (III). In an ammonium acetate solution of pH 8.0, boron(III) reacts with THBA to form a 1:2 yellow complex which has a maximum absorption peak at 430 nm. The reaction can complete within 90 min and the absorbance of the complex remains maximum and almost constant at least for 24 h under a temperature range from 0 to 35 °C. The apparent molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity are 2.95 × 10⁴ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ and 0.00036 ng cm⁻², respectively. The limit of quantification, limit of detection and relative standard deviations were found to be 5.1, 1.5 ng ml⁻¹ and 1.12%, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, the absorbency of the complex (λ_max = 430 nm) increases linearly with concentration up to 0.8 μg ml⁻¹ of boron(III). The influences of foreign ions on the determination of boron were investigated in detail. Most of foreign ions can be tolerated in considerable amounts. Experiments have indicated that THBA as chromogenic reagent for spectrophotometric determination of boron has excellent analytical characteristics. Its sensitivity is more than 4.2-fold that of azomethine-H, and stability is advantage over other derivatives of azomehine-H remarkably. Moreover, the synthesis of THBA and its physicochemical properties of THBA were also investigated in detail. Proposed method has been applied to the determination of boron in plants with satisfactory results.     

Determination of iron(III) with salicylic acid by the fluorescence quenching method

The spectrofluorimetric determination of Fe³⁺ using salicylic acid as an emission reagent has been investigated by measuring the decrease of fluorescence intensity of salicylic acid due to the complexation of Fe³⁺–salicylic acid. An emission peak of salicylic acid, which is decreased linearly by addition of Fe³⁺, occurs at 409 nm in aqueous solution with excitation at 299 nm. The determination of the ferric ion is in the range 1×10⁻⁶–10×10⁻⁶ M Fe³⁺ (0.0558–0.558 μg/ml) and the detection limit is 5×10⁻⁸ M. The quenching effect of Fe³⁺ on the fluorescence intensity of salicylic acid may be considered on the basis of complexation between salicylic acid and Fe³⁺. The effects of foreign ions were investigated.     

Determination of folic acid by chemiluminescence based on peroxomonosulfate-cobalt(II) system

Based on the chemiluminescence (CL) phenomena of folic acid in peroxomonosulfate-cobalt(II) system, a rapid and sensitive CL method was developed for determination of folic acid in pharmaceutical preparations and its urinary metabolism processes. Under the optimum conditions, the relative CL intensity was linear over the concentration ranging from 10⁻⁹ to 8 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (R² = 0.9991) with a detection limit as low as 6 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3) and relative standard deviation was 2.63% for 2 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹ folic acid (n = 11). This method has been successfully applied to the determination of folic acid in tablets and human urine. The blank CL emission was yielded owing to the formation of singlet oxygen molecular pair from the quenching experiment of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, and pterine-6-carboxylic acid might be the degradation intermediate in this system and it also acts an energy acceptor and sensitizes the chemiluminescence based on the studies of the CL and fluorescence spectra.     

Electron transfer in organometallic clusters : XI. Redox chemistry of M3(CO)12(M = Ru, Os) and PPh3 derivatives; mechanism of catalysed nucleophilic substitution

The generality of a two-electron reduction process involving an mechanism has been established for M₃(CO)₁₂ and M₃(CO)₁₂−n(PPh₃)_n (M = Ru, Os) clusters in all solvents. Detailed coulometric and spectral studies in CH₂Cl₂ provide strong evidence for the formation of an ‘opened’ M₃(CO)₁₂²⁻ species the triangulo radical anions M₃(CO)₁₂^−· having a half-life of < 10⁻⁶ s in CH₂Cl₂. However, the electrochemical response is sensitive to the presence of water and is concentration dependent. An electrochemical response for “opened” M₃(CO)₁₂²⁻ is only detected at low concentrations < 5 × 10⁻⁴ mol dm⁻³ and under drybox conditions. The electroactive species ground at higher concentrations and in the presence of water M₃(CO)₁₁²⁻ and M₆(CO)₁₈²⁻ were confirmed by a study of the electrochemistry of these anions in CH₂Cl₂; HM₃(CO)₁₁⁻ is not a product. The couple [M₆(CO)₁₈]^−/2− is chemically reversible under certain conditions but oxidation of HM₃(CO)₁₁⁻ is chemically irreversible. Different electrochemical behaviour for Ru₃(CO)₁₂ is found when [PPN][X] (X = OAc⁻, Cl⁻) salts are supporting electrolytes. In these solutions formation of the ultimate electroactive species [μ-C(O)XRu₃(CO)₁₀]⁻ at the electrode is stopped under CO or at low temperatures but Ru₃(CO)₁₂^−· is still trapped by reversible attack by X presumably as [η¹-C(O)XRu₃(CO)₁₁]⁻. It is shown that electrode-initiated electron catalysed substitution of M₃(CO)₁₂ only takes place on the electrochemical timescale when M = Ru, but it is slow, inefficient and non-selective, whereas BPK-initiated nucleophilic substitution of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ is only specific and fast in ether solvents particulary THF. Metal---metal bond cleavage is the most important influence on the rate and specificity of catalytic substitution by electron or [PPN]-initiation. The redox chemistry of M₃(CO)₁₂ clusters (M = Fe, Ru, Os) is a consequence of the relative rates of metal---metal bond dissociation, metal-metal bond strength and ligand dissociation and in many aspects resembles their photochemistry.     

Syntheses and X-ray crystal structures of [Co(η-CO3)(NH3)4](NO3)·0.5H2O and [(NH3)3Co(μ-OH)2(μ-CO3)Co(NH3)3][NO3]2·H2O

[Co(η²-CO₃)(NH₃)₄](NO₃)·0.5H₂O and [(NH₃)₃Co(μ-OH)₂(μ-CO₃)Co(NH₃)₃][NO₃]₂·H₂O were prepared by prolonged aerial oxidation of a solution of Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and ammonium carbonate in aqueous ammonia. The formation of these side products highlights the richness of the chemistry of these systems and the possibility of by products if methods are not strictly adhered to. The X-ray crystal structures of [Co(η²-CO₃)(NH₃)₄][NO₃]·0.5H₂O and [(NH₃)₃Co(μ-OH)₂(μ-CO₃)Co(NH₃)₃][NO₃]₂·H₂O reveal a monomeric octahedral cobalt center with η²-bound CO₃²⁻ in the former, while the latter consists of a dimeric array where the two cobalt centers are bridged by two OH⁻ and one μ₂-CO₃²⁻ groups with three terminal NH₃ ligands for each Co center. In both complexes extensive hydrogen bonding interactions are evident.     

Synthesis and reactivity towards tetrafluoroboric acid of a new family of heterobimetallic polyhydride complexes [(CO)(PPh3)2HRe(μ-H)3RhL2] (L = PPh3, 1,2,5-triphenylphosphole, or P(OMe)3)

The reaction of K[ReH₆(PPh₃)₂] with [RhCl(CO)L₂] [L= PPh₃, 1,2,5-triphenylphosphole (TPP), or P(OMe)₃] leads to the new electronically unsaturated heterobimetallic polyhydride complexes [(CO)(PPh₃)₂HRe(μ-H)₃RhL₂] in moderate-to-good yields. The structures of these complexes have been established on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially ¹H and ³¹P NMR. The bridging hydride ligands are fluxional but there is either a slow or nonexistent exchange between terminal and bridging hydrides. For L = PPh₃ or TPP, protonation with tetrafluoroboric acid affords quantitatively the cationic complexes [(CO)(PPh₃)₂HRe(μ-H)₃RhHL₂]⁺, isolated as the BF₄⁻ or the BPh₄⁻ salts.