Multisensor system for determination of polyoxometalates containing vanadium at its different oxidation states

The electronic tongue (ET) multisensor system has been employed for the detection of metal-oxygen cluster anions (polyoxometalates) containing vanadium (IV/V) atoms. Sensitivity of a variety of potentiometric chemical sensors with plasticized polyvinyl chloride and chalcogenide glass membranes was evaluated with respect to vanadyl/vanadate ions, decavanadate and a series of Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POM) such as α-[SiW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁶⁻, α-[SiW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁵⁻, α-[BW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁷⁻, α-[BW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁶⁻, α-[PW₁₁V^IVO₄₀]⁵⁻ and α-[PW_12−nV_n^VO₄₀]⁽³⁺ⁿ⁾⁻ (n = 1, 2, 3). Sensor's responses to vanadium complexes were evaluated in the pH range of 2.4-6.5 and a set of sensors appropriate for detecting a variety of vanadium species was selected. Such sensor array was able to distinguish different vanadium complexes allowing their simultaneous quantification in binary (V(IV)/V(V)) mixtures. The vanillyl alcohol oxidation with α-[SiW₁₁V^VO₄₀]⁵⁻ was monitored using ET to evaluate the capacity of proposed analytic system to detect simultaneously V(IV)/V(V) in POM under dynamic equilibrium. ET was demonstrated to be a promising tool for the discrimination and quantification of vanadium-containing POMs at different oxidation states. In particular, such a system could represent a significant interest for the mechanistic studies of redox reactions with POMs.     

Asymmetric hydroboration and Matteson homologation for the preparation of fluorinated α-phenethanols

The asymmetric catalytic hydroboration-oxidation of ring-fluorinated styrenes (F-PhCHCH₂) was achieved with catecholborane along with a combination of [Rh(COD)₂]⁺BF₄⁻ and (R)-BINAP providing 81-96% enantioselectivities for the product alcohols for ortho-unhindered styrenes. A deleterious effect of a 2,6-disubstitution on the enantioselectivity of the product alcohol was observed. 2-Trifluoromethylstyrene also provides only 53% ee, probably due to the steric bulk of the CF₃ group at the ortho-position of styrene. Asymmetric homologation of fluorophenylmetals (magnesium bromide or lithium) with pinanediol α-chloroethylboronate, followed by oxidation readily furnished the desired 1-(2,6-difluorophenyl)- and 1-(perfluorophenyl)ethanols in 94-95% ee.     

Differential pulse voltammetric determination of P(V) following adsorptive accumulation of alpha-[PMo(12)O(40)](3-) on a polypyrrole-modified glassy carbon electrode

On the basis of the formation and pre-concentration of an α-Keggin-type [PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ complex, a novel voltammetric method was developed for the determination of trace levels of P(V). The α-[PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ complex was formed by heating a 5×10⁻⁴ M Mo(VI)-0.2 M HCl-40% (v/v) CH₃CN system containing a trace amount of P(V) at 70 °C for 30 min. During the electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in the α-[PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ solution, the α-[PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ complex was accumulated into the polypyrrole film on a glassy carbon electrode. The differential pulse voltammetric peak current due to the α-[PMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ complex incorporated in the polypyrrole film was linearly dependent on the P(V) concentration in the range of 5×10⁻⁹-5×10⁻⁷ M; a detection limit of 2×10⁻⁹ M was achieved.     

Asymmetric oxidative α-fluorination of 2-alkylphenylacetaldehydes with AgHF2 and ruthenium/PNNP catalysts

During attempts directed at epoxide ring opening with different HF sources, we discovered that the Lewis acidic [RuCl(PNNP)]⁺ (1) or [Ru(OEt₂)₂(PNNP)]²⁺ (2) catalysts promote the [1,2]-phenyl shift (Meinwald rearrangement) in phenyl-substituted epoxides to give the corresponding 2-alkylphenylacetaldehydes, which are fluorinated at the α-position in the presence of silver bifluoride (AgHF₂) (PNNP is (1S,2S)-N,N′-bis[o-(diphenylphosphino)benzylidene]cyclohexane-1,2-diamine). The optimization of aldehyde fluorination with PhCH(R)CHO (R = Me, Et, ⁱPr, ^tBu) as substrates showed that catalyst [1]SbF₆ gives a moderate degree of enantioselectivity (up to 27% ee) and 35% yield. The substrate scope is limited to benzylic aldehydes. The reaction is unprecedented for transition metal catalysts. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the mechanism involves chemical oxidation followed by enantioselective fluorination with F⁻.     

Structural characterization of [Fe(NO)(mnt)2] salts

The iron dithiolene compounds [Fe₂(mnt)₄]²⁻ [1]²⁻ and [Fe(NO)(mnt)₂]ⁿ (n = 1−, [2]¹⁻; n = 2−, [2]²⁻) ([mnt]²⁻ = maleonitriledithiolate = [(NC)₂C₂S₂]²⁻) have been characterized structurally by X-ray diffraction as their [Et₄N]⁺ salts at 100 K. Dianion [2]²⁻ is prepared from [2]¹⁻ by reduction with Na[Et₃BH] and is observed to have a bent Fe-NO angle at 149.9(5)° in contrast to the linear configuration of Fe-NO in [2]¹⁻ (180.0°). The change from linear to bent binding mode for NO, an increase of more than 0.1 Å in the Fe-N bond length, and the relative invariance of the Fe-S distances for [2]²⁻ versus [2]¹⁻ indicate that the NO ligand is the site of reduction. The [Et₃NH]⁺ complex of [2]¹⁻ was also identified by crystallography and found to have hydrogen bonding contacts between [Et₃NH]⁺ and the cyano nitrogen atom of an [mnt]²⁻ ligand. Furthermore, relatively close S?S contacts (3.602-3.615 Å) occur between [2]¹⁻ anions, which pack together in an offset, head-to-head fashion. These S?S contacts are absent in the structure of [Et₄N][2]. Infrared spectra show an energy decrease for, and a significant broadening of, the NO bond stretching absorption peak in [2]²⁻, which is consistent with a bent NO ligand sampling a range of conformations both by facile pivoting about the Fe-N axis and by a breathing of the Fe-NO angle.     

From neutral iminophosphoranes to multianionic phosphazenates. The coordination chemistry of imino-aza-P(V) ligands

This review deals with the chemistry and coordination behaviour of imino-aza phosphorus(V) ligands focussing on s- and p-block as well as Group 11 and 12 metal complexes. Imino phosphorus(V) ligands contain one or more terminal RNP-units, which include iminophosphoranes R₃PNR′, monoanionic diiminophosphinates [R₂P(NR′)₂]⁻, dianionic triiminophosphonates [RP(NR′)₃]²⁻ and trianionic tetraiminophosphates [P(NR′)₄]³⁻. Aza-phosphorus(V) ligands feature bridging PNP units, which include cyclic and polymeric phosphazenes [R₂PN]_n. Imino-aza- phosphorus(V) ligands containing both imino and aza functions include linear diiminodiphosphazenates [N{R₂P(NR′)₂}₂]⁻ and multianionic poly(imino) cyclophosphazeantes such as [N₄{RP(NR′)}₄]⁴⁻ and [N₃{P(NR′)₂}₃]⁶⁻. Imino-aza phosphorus(V) ligands are assembled of three basic building blocks: the cationic tetravalent phosphonium centre (P), the anionic divalent amido function (N) and the terminally arranged R-group. The overall negative charge Z of the resulting ligand system is equal to the difference between the number of P and the number of N-centres: Z=n(P)n(N). Imino-aza phosphorus(V) ligands are electron rich N-donor ligands which co-ordinate via both N(imino) and N(aza) functions and have been applied in numerous metal complexes in order to stabilise low coordination numbers, unusual oxidation states and bonding modes or serve as ligands in homogeneous catalysis. The R-group provides both steric bulk and solubility in non-polar solvents. Multianionic phosphazenates feature a polydentate ligand surface, which facilitates an extremely high metal load. PN units of iminophosphoranes and phosphazenes have acceptor properties and enhance the acidity of α-alkyl and ortho-aryl protons. Deprotonation of P-alkyl and P-aryl iminophosphoranes give ligand systems featuring C,N chelating sites, which are also discussed.     

Chiral fluoroacetic acid: synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[2H1]-fluoroacetate in high enantiopurity

A two-step synthesis of (R)- and (S)-[²H₁]-fluoroacetate (sodium salts) in high enantioselectivity is reported. The synthesis is the development of a previous one in which the enantioselectivity has been increased from ～38% ee to >95% ee. The improvement in enantioselectivity applied Bio’s methodology, which involved a deoxyfluorination reaction with DAST on either enantiomer of [²H₁]-benzyl alcohol, adding TMS-morpholine to the reaction. The additive promotes an S_N2 inversion process, and suppresses a competing non-stereospecific S_N1 reaction course, and as a result significantly improves the stereointegrity of the C–F bond formation. The intermediate [²H₁]-benzyl alcohols, [²H₁]-benzyl fluorides and the product [²H₁]-fluoroacetates as their hexyl esters were separately assayed for their stereochemical integrity, using the Courtieu method. This method involved measuring their ²H NMR spectra in a chiral matrix of poly-γ-benzyl l-glutamate. The chiral assay demonstrated that there was no significant loss in stereointegrity during the deoxyfluorination reaction and showed that the enantiomers of [²H₁]-fluoroacetate were generated with high enantiomeric purity (95% ee).     

Anodic oxidation of organometallic sandwich complexes using [Al(OC(CF3)3)4] or [AsF6] as the supporting electrolyte anion

Anodic voltammetry and electrolysis of the metallocenes ferrocene, ruthenocene, and nickelocene have been studied in dichloromethane containing two different fluorine-containing anions in the supporting electrolyte. The perfluoroalkoxyaluminate anion [Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄]⁻ has very low nucleophilicity, as shown by its inertness towards the strong electrophile [RuCp₂]⁺ and by computation of its electrostatic potential in comparison to other frequently used electrolyte anions. The low ion-pairing ability of this anion was shown by the large spread in E_1/2 potentials (ΔE_1/2 = 769 mV) for the two one-electron oxidations of bis(fulvalene)dinickel. The hexafluoroarsenate anion [AsF₆]⁻, on the other hand, reacts rapidly with the ruthenocenium ion and is much more strongly ion-pairing towards oxidized bis(fulvalene)dinickel (ΔE_1/2 = 492 mV). In terms of applications of these two anions to the anodic oxidation of organometallic sandwich complexes, the behavior of [Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄]⁻ is similar to that of other weakly-coordinating anions such as [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻, whereas that of [AsF₆]⁻ is similar to the more traditional electrolyte anions such as [PF₆]⁻ and [BF₄]⁻. Additionally, the synthesis and crystal structure of [Cp₂Fe][Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄] are reported.     

N-arylammonio- and N-pyridinium-substituted derivatives of dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-)

We report two methods for preparing N-arylammonio, N-pyridyl and N-arylamino dodecaborates: heating of the tetrabutylammonium salt of dodecahydro-closo-dodecaborate(2-) with aryl and pyridyl amines, or nucleophilic attack of [closo-B₁₂H₁₁NH₂]²⁻ on a strongly deactivated aromatic system. With aryl amines we obtained [1-closo-B₁₂H₁₁N(R¹)₂C₆H₅]⁻ (R¹ = H, CH₃). With 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine, [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NC₅H₄)-4-N(CH₃)₂]⁻, with a bond between the boron and the pyridinium nitrogen, was obtained. A presumable mechanism for this kind of reactions is reported. By nucleophilic substitution, two products, [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-3,4-(CN)₂]²⁻ and [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₂)-2-(NO₂)-4,5-(CN)₂]²⁻, were formed with 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene gave [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-2,4-(NO₂)₂]²⁻. For [1-closo-B₁₂H₁₁N(CH₃)₂C₆H₅]⁻ and [1-closo-(B₁₂H₁₁NHC₆H₃)-2,4-(NO₂)₂]²⁻ single crystal X-ray structures were obtained.     

A chiral bidentate phosphoramidite (Me-BIPAM) for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate

High performance of Me-BIPAM for enantioselective hydrogenation of α-dehydroamino esters, enamides, and dimethyl itaconate was demonstrated. [Rh(Me-BIPAM)(diene)]X (diene = cod, nbd; X = BF₄, PF₆, SbF₆) gave optically active β-aryl α-amino esters up to 99% ee, 1-arylethylamines up to 97% ee, methyl 2-acetylaminobutanoate with 90% ee, and dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with 97% ee under 0.3−0.8 MPa dihydrogen with 0.1−1 mol % catalyst loading.     

Synthesis, vibrational and NMR spectroscopic characterization of [N(CH3)4][IO2F2] and X-ray crystal structure of [N(CH3)4]2[IO2F2][HF2]

The salt, [N(CH₃)₄][IO₂F₂], was prepared from [N(CH₃)₄][IO₃] and 49% aqueous HF, and characterized by Raman, infrared, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. Crystals of [N(CH₃)₄]₂[IO₂F₂][HF₂] were obtained by reduction of [N(CH₃)₄][cis-IO₂F₄] in the presence of [N(CH₃)₄][F] in CH₃CN solvent and were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction: C2/m, a = 14.6765(2) Å, b = 8.60490(10) Å, c = 13.9572(2) Å, β = 120.2040(10)°, V = 1523.35(3) Å³, Z = 4 and R = 0.0192 at 210 K. The crystal structure consists of two IO₂⁻F₂ anions that are symmetrically bridged by two H⁻F₂ anions, forming a [F₂O₂I(FHF)₂IO₂F₂]⁴⁻ dimer. The symmetric bridging coordination for the H⁻F₂ anion in this structure represents a new bonding modality for the bifluoride anion.     

Ruthenium(III) complexes with N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines: Syntheses,structures and properties

The reactions of 1 mol equiv. each of [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂] and N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines (H₂ahsR, R = H, OCH₃, Cl, Br and NO₂) in alcoholic media afford simultaneously two types of complexes having the general formulae [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl]. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic, spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements. Molecular structures of [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl] have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In both species, the PPh₃ ligands are trans to each other. The bidentate HahsH⁻ coordinates to the metal ion via the O atom of the deprotonated amide and the imine–N atom in [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂]. In HahsH⁻, the phenolic OH is involved in a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond with the uncoordinated amide N atom forming a seven-membered ring. In [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl], the tridentate ahsH²⁻ binds to the metal ion via the deprotonated amide O, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms. In the electronic spectra, the green [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and brown [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl] complexes display several absorptions in the ranges 385–283 and 457–269 nm, respectively. Both complexes are low-spin and display rhombic EPR spectra in frozen solutions. Both types of complexes are redox active and display a quasi-reversible ruthenium(III) to ruthenium(II) reduction which is sensitive to the polar effect of the substituent on the chelating ligand. The reduction potentials are in the ranges −0.21 to −0.12 and −0.42 to −0.21 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl], respectively.     

Separation and quantification of [RhCln(H2O)6−n] (n = 0-6) complexes, including stereoisomers, by means of ion-pair HPLC-ICP-MS

A hyphenated ion-pair (tetrabutylammonium chloride—TBACl) reversed phase (C₁₈) HPLC-ICP-MS method (High Performance Liquid Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy) for anionic Rh(III) aqua chlorido-complexes present in an HCl matrix has been developed. Under optimum chromatographic conditions it was possible to separate and quantify cationic Rh(III) complexes (eluted as a single band), [RhCl₃(H₂O)₃], cis-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻, trans-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻ and [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) species. The [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) complex anions eluted as a single band due to the relatively fast aquation of [RhCl₆]³⁻ in a 0.1 mol L⁻¹ TBACl ionic strength mobile phase matrix. Moreover, the calculated t_1/2 of 1.3 min for [RhCl₆]³⁻ aquation at 0.1 mol kg⁻¹ HCl ionic strength is significantly lower than the reported t_1/2 of 6.3 min at 4.0 mol kg⁻¹ HClO₄ ionic strength. Ionic strength or the activity of water in this context is a key parameter that determines whether [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 5, 6) species can be chromatographically separated. In addition, aquation/anation rate constants were determined for [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 3-6) complexes at low ionic strength (0.1 mol kg⁻¹ HCl) by means of spectrophotometry and independently with the developed ion-pair HPLC-ICP-MS technique for species assignment validation. The Rh(III) samples that was equilibrated in differing HCl concentrations for 2.8 years at 298 K was analyzed with the ion-pair HPLC method. This analysis yielded a partial Rh(III) aqua chlorido-complex species distribution diagram as a function of HCl concentration. For the first time the distribution of the cis- and trans-[RhCl₄(H₂O)₂]⁻ stereoisomers have been obtained. Furthermore, it was found that relatively large amounts of ‘highly’ aquated [RhCl_n(H₂O)_6−n]³⁻ⁿ (n = 0-4) species persist in up to 2.8 mol L⁻¹ HCl and in 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HCl the abundance of the [RhCl₅(H₂O)]²⁻ species is only 8-10% of the total, far from the 70-80% as previously proposed. A 95% abundance of the [RhCl₆]³⁻ complex anion occurs only when the HCl concentration is above 6 mol L⁻¹. The detection limit for a Rh(III) species eluted from the column is below 0.147 mg L⁻¹.     

A New Conducting Molecular Solid Based on the Magnetic [Ni(dmf)6] Cation and on [Ni(dsit)2]2 (dsit=1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate) Showing an Unprecedented Anion Packing

The synthesis, X-ray structure, magnetic and transport properties of the compound Ni(dmf)₆[Ni(dsit)₂]₂ (dmf=dimethylformamide, dsit=1,3-dithiole-2-thione-4,5-diselenolate) are described. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with a=18.709(6), b=22.975(5), c=20.418(5) Å, β=99.31(2)° and Z=6; its structure consists of [Ni(dsit)₂]₂²⁻ dimers and isolated [Ni(dmf)₆]²⁺ cations both centrosymmetric and non-centrosymmetric. The dimers are packed forming chains along the [101] direction with short Se·Se interdimer contacts. Additional interchains S·S contacts render this structure a three-dimensional character, never observed so far in other [Ni(dsit)₂]⁻ salts. This compound exhibits semiconducting behavior with a room temperature conductivity (1 S cm⁻¹) much higher than those reported for other salts of the [Ni(dsit)₂]⁻ anion. Tight-binding band structure calculations were used to analyze the origin of the semiconducting properties of this salt. The magnetic susceptibility shows Curie behavior with C=1.25 emu K mol⁻¹, typical of isolated Ni(II) ions as expected for the octahedrally coordinated [Ni(dmf)₆]²⁺ cations.     

Study of diffusion-controlled and activation-diffusion-controlled electron-transfer processes from quenching measurements

The diffusion-controlled rate constants, k_d, of various quenching reactions, [Ru(L)₃]^2+∗ (L = bpy, phen and 4,7-(CH₃)₂phen) + [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻, were measured through fluorescence measurements. From them, the effective values of viscosity coefficients for several methanol + water mixtures were calculated. These coefficients were checked through calculations of the rate constants of the reaction [IrCl₆]²⁻ + [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+∗, which were also obtained by fluorescence quenching measurements. The agreement between the two sets of data (experimental and predicted) is excellent. Besides, the trends of association, k_d, and dissociation, k_−d, rate constants for 2+/3−, 2+/2− and 2+/2+ reactions in methanol-water mixtures are discussed. The use of effective diffusion coefficients for estimating k_d and k_−d allowed us to obtain the intrinsic electron transfer rate constant, k_et, for the activation-diffusion-controlled process between [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+∗ and [Co(NH₃)₅Cl]²⁺ complexes from the observed (quenching) rate constant. The influence of methanol-water mixtures on k_et was rationalized by using the Marcus electron-transfer treatment.     

Some new results on the Fischer-Hafner synthesis of vanadium arenes

The biphasic liquid system formed in the Fisher-Hafner reduction of VCl₃ in toluene contains the [V(η⁶-MeC₆H₅)₂]⁺ cation which has been isolated in the solid state as the tetraphenylborato- (from aqueous solution) or as the [Al₂Cl₇]⁻, [Al₄O₂Cl₁₀]²⁻ and [catena-Al₄O₂Cl₉]⁻ salt (directly from the biphasic liquid system). The crystal structures of [V(η⁶-MeC₆H₅)₂]₂[Al₄O₂Cl₁₀] (2), and [V(η⁶-MeC₆H₅)₂][catena-Al₄O₂Cl₉] (3), have been solved representing the first structural report of the [V(η⁶-MeC₆H₅)₂]⁺ cation (compounds 2 and 3) and of the polymeric nonachlorodioxoaluminate anion [Al₄O₂Cl₉]⁻ (compound 3).     

Evaluation of lipase from Candida rugosa in the resolution of endo-(±)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachloropentacyclo[6.2.1.13,6.02,7.05,9]dodecan-4-alcohol

endo-(±)-1,8,9,10,11,11-Hexachloropentacyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7.0^5,9]dodecan-4-ol (±)-7 and exo-(±)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachloropentacyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7.0^5,9]dodecan-4-ol (±)-4 have been prepared and the enantiomeric enrichment capacity of the lipase from Candida rugosa in the transesterification with vinyl acetate of these compounds was evaluated. It was verified that the lipase recognize only the alcohol (±)-7, producing endo-(+)-1,8,9,10,11,11-hexachloropentacyclo[6.2.1.1^3,6.0^2,7.0^5,9]dodecan-4-yl acetate (+)-8 with ee >95% and conversion of 44% as the only product.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Electrochemistry of Two Complexes （YLn）3＋[PW12O40]3-（L=Me2SO,Me2NCHO）

The reaction of α-H3[PW12O40] with Y（NO3）3 in the presence of DMF or DMSO leads to two complexes with the formulae {Y（DMSO）7}·PW12O40（1） and {[Y（DMF）7]2PW12O40}·PW12O40（2）. The crystal structures indicate that complex 1 consists of discrete [YLn]3＋ cations and α-Keggin heteropolyanions [PW12O40]3-, whereas, in complex 2, donor-acceptor interaction results in a cation-anion-cation triplet. In addition, the electrochemical behavior of the two complexes indicates the usual successive reduction processes of the W atoms in the anions.     

Molecular structure of simple mono- and diphenyl meso-substituted porphyrin diacids: influence of protonation and substitution on the distorsion

The crystal and molecular structures of three simple porphyrin diacids have been determined from X-ray diffraction data to delineate how the peripheral substituents of the porphyrin affect the overall molecular flexibility. Di-meso-substituted [DPPH₄]²⁺(CF₃CO₂⁻)₂ and, mono-meso-substituted [MPPH₄]²⁺(CF₃CO₂⁻)₂ and [dedmMPPH₄]²⁺(CF₃CO₂⁻)₂ porphyrin diacids show increasingly saddled core conformation. Some of the spectroscopic properties (NMR and UV-visible) of the porphyrin diacids are also discussed in terms of the observed structures.     

Mechanistic studies on the formation of Pt(II) hydroformylation catalysts in imidazolium-based ionic liquids

The kinetics of the formation of the active species cis-[Pt^II(PPh₃)₂Cl(SnCl₃)] and cis-[Pt^II(PPh₃)₂(SnCl₃)₂] from the hydroformylation catalyst precursor cis-[Pt^II(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] in the presence of SnCl₂, was studied in two different imidazolium-based ionic liquids. A large range of different chlorostannate melts consisting of 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium cations and [Sn_xCl_y]^{(−y + 2x)} anions with varying molar fraction of SnCl₂, were prepared and characterized by ¹H and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR. The observed chemical shifts point to major changes in the composition of the anionic species within the melt. The second ionic liquid employed, viz., 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium-bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)amide was prepared in a colorless quality that enabled its application in kinetic studies. The concentration and temperature dependence of the substitution of Cl⁻ by [SnCl₃]⁻ to yield cis-[Pt^II(PPh₃)₂Cl(SnCl₃)], could be studied in detail. Theoretical (DFT) calculations were employed to model the reaction progress and to resolve the role of the ionic liquid in the activation of the catalyst. The available results are presented and a plausible mechanism for the formation of the catalytically active species is suggested.