Study on synthesis of lanthanide chelates of fluorochloroalkyl β-diketones useful as shift reagents

Several lanthanide chelates of the fluorochloroalkyl β-diketones Ln(CF₂ClCOCHCOR)₃ ·nH₂O were prepared (2, Ln=Eu; 2a, R=C(CH₃)₃, n=0; 2b, R=C₆F₅, n=0; 2c, R=CF₂Cl, n=2. 3, Ln=Pr; 3a, R=C (CH₃)₃, n=0; 3b, R=C₆F₅, n=l; 3c, R=CF₂Cl, n=2. 4, Ln=La, R=C₆H₅, n=0) and the NMR shift data of compounds 2 and 3 had been determined using alcohols, ether, ketones and amine as substrates. With alcohol, ether and ketone, compounds 2 induces shifts similar to that induced by Eu (fod)₃. However due to the high solubility of the chelates in non-polar organic solvents such as CHCl₃ and CCl₄ and the absence of ¹H signal from compounds 2b and 2c, their application as a series of new ¹H NMR shift reagents seems promising.     

Study on synthesis of lanthanide chelates of (l)-α-trifluoromethyl-polyfluoroalkyl-β-diketone and their application as chiral shift reagents

The lanthanide chelates of (l)-2, 2-dimethyl-6-trifluoromethyl-7-oxa-6, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10, 10-octafluoro-3, 5-decanedione, Ln [(l)-CF₃CF₂CF₂OCF (CF₃) COCHCOC (CH₃)₃]₃ (l-3a, Ln=Eu; 3b, Ln=Pr), are useful as ¹H NMR shift reagents for direct determination of enantiomeric composition of enantiomorphous alcohols, ketones and amines. With these substrates, l-3a induces shift difference similar to that induced by Eu(facam)₃ and Eu(hfbc)₃. However, due to the higher solubility of the chelates l-3a and l-3b in nonpolar organic solvent such as CHCl₃, CCl₄ and only one ¹H signal from l-3a and l-3b is observed, their application as the new chiral shift reagents seems promising. The spectral nonequivalence is also observed for dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of l-3a.     

Eu(fod)3 binding on the 1H‐NMR spectra of bis(2′‐ethylbenzoate)ethylene glycol podands

The complexing and selective binding constants of Eu(fod)₃ with bis(2′‐ethylbenzoate)ethylene glycol podands having one to four oxyethylene groups was observed on their ¹H‐NMR spectra at 250 MHz and 295 K in CDCl₃. The Eu(fod)₃ interaction displayed the selective binding role of oxygen on H₂C–O–CH₂ backbones with referring the ¹H chemical shifts. The estimated equilibrium constants, K_a, of 1:1 ratio of interactions were in accordance with the Eu(fod)₃ ionic radii to bind the oxygen sites depending on the size and conformation of the esters. Esters having one or two ethyleneoxy groups gave mainly 2:2 complexes using ester sites. The minimum lanthanide‐podand ester distance displayed the maximum stability so that ester with four oxyethylene groups was found to bind the Eu(fod)₃ moderately, whereas ester with three oxyethylene groups showed a large induced chemical shift due to the stability of Eu³⁺ complexes with larger ethyleneoxy groups. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lanthanide(III) Complexes of 2‐[4,7,10‐Tris(phosphonomethyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecan‐1‐yl]acetic Acid (H7DOA3P): Multinuclear‐NMR and Kinetic Studies

The protonation constants of 2‐[4,7,10‐tris(phosphonomethyl)‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecan‐1‐yl]acetic acid (H₇DOA3P) and of the complexes [Ln(DOA3P)]^4? (Ln=Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, and Yb) have been determined by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy in the range pD 2–13.8, without control of ionic strength. Seven out of eleven protonation steps were detected (pK =13.66, 12.11, 7.19, 6.15, 5.77, 2.99, and 1.99), and the values found compare well with the ones recently determined by potentiometry for H₇DOA3P, and for other related ligands. The overall basicity of H₇DOA3P is higher than that of H₄DOTA and trans‐H₆DO2A2P but lower than that of H₈DOTP. Based on multinuclear‐NMR spectroscopy, the protonation sequence for H₇DOA3P was also tentatively assigned. Three protonation constants (pK_MHL, pK_MH2L, and pK_MH3L) were determined for the lanthanide complexes, and the values found are relatively high, although lower than the protonation constants of the related ligand (pK , pK , and pK ), indicating that the coordinated phosphonate groups in these complexes are protonated. The acid‐assisted dissociation of [Ln(DOA3P)]^4? (Ln=Ce, Eu), in the region c_H+=0.05–3.00 mol dm^?3 and at different temperatures (25–60°), indicated that they have slightly the same kinetic inertness, being the [Eu(H₂O)₉]³⁺ aqua ion the final product for europium. The rates of complex formation for [Ln(DOA3P)]^4? (Ln=Ce, Eu) were studied by UV/VIS spectroscopy in the pH range 5.6–6.8. The reaction intermediate [Eu(DOA3P)]* as ‘out‐of‐cage’ complex contains four H₂O molecules, while the final product, [Eu(DOA3P)]^4?, does not contain any H₂O molecule, as proved by steady‐state/time‐resolved luminescence spectroscopy.     

The reactions of perfluoro- and α,α-dichloropolyfluoroalkanesulfinates

Sodium perfluoroalkanesulfinate, R_FSO₂Na [R_F?Cl(CF₂)₄, 1a; CF₃(CF₂)₅, 1b; Cl(CF₃)₆, 1c] reacted with bromine in aqueous solution to give the corresponding sulfonyl bromide R_FSO₂Br (2a-2c) and in acetonitrile or acetic acid, to form perfluoroalkyl bromide R_FBr (3a-3c). Heating in acetonitrile at 80°C, 2a-2c were converted smoothly into 3a-3c. However, reaction of sodium α,α-dichloropolyfluoroalkanesulfinate RCCl₂SO₂Na (R?CF₃, Cl(CF₂)n, n=2, 4, 6, 5a-5d) with bromine in aqueous solution gave directly the corresponding bromoalkanes 1-bromo-1,1-dichloropolyfluoroalkane RCCl₂Br (6a-6d). In aqueous potassium iodide solution, 1a-1c, 5a and 5b also reacted with iodine to form the corresponding iodo-polyfluoroalkane 4a-4c, 7a and 7b directly. 6a and 7a underwent free radical addition to alkene readily in the presence of free radical initiator and reacted with Na₂S₂O₄ in the usual way to form α,α-dichloropolyfluoroethane sulfinate (5a). 5a was stable in strong acid, but reacted with strong base to yield 10. 5a was oxidised by hydrogen peroxide to the sulfonate 11 and reduced by zinc in dilute acid to from the α-chloro sulfinate 12.     

Quasi‐living copolymerization of ethylene with 1‐hexene by heteroligated (salicylaldiminato β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes

A series of heteroligated (salicylaldiminato)(β‐enaminoketonato)titanium complexes [3‐Bu^t‐2‐OC₆H₃CH = N(C₆F₅)] [PhN = C(R₁)CHC(R₂)O]TiCl₂ [ 3a : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = ^tBu; 3b : R₁ = Me, R₂ = CF₃; 3c : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = Ph; 3d : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = C₆H₄Ph(p ); 3e : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = C₆H₄Ph(o ); 3f : R = CF₃, R₂ = C₆H₄Cl(p ); 3g : R₁ = CF₃; R₂ = C₆H₃Cl₂(2,5); 3h : R₁ = CF₃, R₂ = C₆H₄Me(p )] were investigated as catalysts for ethylene (co)polymerization. In the presence of modified methylaluminoxane as a cocatalyst, these complexes showed activities about 50%–1000% and 10%–100% higher than their corresponding bis(β‐enaminoketonato) titanium complexes for ethylene homo‐ and ethylene/1‐hexene copolymerization, respectively. They produced high or moderate molecular weight copolymers with 1‐hexene incorporations about 10%–200% higher than their homoligated counterpart pentafluorinated FI‐Ti complex. Among them, complex 3b displayed the highest activity [2.06 × 10⁶ g/mol_Ti?h], affording copolymers with the highest 1‐hexene incorporations of 34.8 mol% under mild conditions. Moreover, catalyst 3h with electron‐donating group not only exhibited much higher 1‐hexene incorporations (9.0 mol% vs. 3.2 mol%) than pentafluorinated FI‐Ti complex but also generated copolymers with similar narrow molecular weight distributions (M _w/M _n = 1.20–1.26). When the 1‐hexene concentration in the feed was about 2.0 mol/L and the hexene incorporation of resultant polymer was about 9.0 mol%, a quasi‐living copolymerization behavior could be achieved. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic analysis of their resulting copolymers demonstrated the possible copolymerization mechanism, which was related with the chain initiation, monomer insertion style, chain transfer and termination during the polymerization process. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2787–2797     

Large lanthanide-induced chemical shifts in cobalt complexes of enethials (α,β-unsaturated thioaldehydes)

Eu(fod)₃-, Yb(fod)₃- and Pr(fod)₃-induced chemical shifts of the ‘thioaldehydic’ protons in enethial ligands complexed to a cobalt cyclopentadienyl group are unusually large and in the same direction (10–30 ppm downfield per mole of shift reagent per mole of substrate). The shifts of the protons induced by Eu(fod)₃ and Pr(fod)₃ in the enethial ligands show an alternation in sign on proceeding away from the sulfur atom. In contrast to the results with the fod reagents, the ytterbium and lanthanum shift reagents Yb(thd)₃ and La(thd)₃ caused only small shifts of protons in the 2-phenylpropenethial ligand. No induced shifts with the Eu or Pr reagents were observed for a cyclopentadienyl cobalt complex of dithioglyoxal. The induced shifts in these enethial complexes may be caused by varying blends of complex formation, contact and pseudocontact shifts. Caution is advised in assigning origins to lanthanide induced shifts in such organometallic systems.     

α'-三氟甲基-含氟β-二酮镧系螯合物的合成及其用作位移试剂的研究

本文合成了α'-三氟甲基-含氟β-二酮镧系螯合物Ln{CF3CF2[CF2OCF(CF3)]nCOCHCOC(CH3)3}3[n=1; Ln=Eu(1a), Pr(1b), Nd(1c),Sm(1d), Gd(1e), Tb(1f), Dy(1g), Er(1h). n=2; Ln=Eu(2a), Pr(2b), Nd(2c),Sm(2d), Gd(2e), Tb(2f), Dy(2g), Er(2h)], 并研究了它们的位移性能. 1a、1b、2a和2b在用作位移试剂时, 不仅具备Ln(fod)3(Ln=Eu, Pr)的所有优点, 而且还有另外两个优点: (1)在底物存在时, 试剂自身的叔丁基峰明显向高场迁移, 特别是在醇类化合物存在下, δ-Bu^t接近于0ppm, 因此, 1a和2a的t-Bu峰总是处于底物ω-甲基的高场, 不干扰图谱的解析. (2)1b和2b虽为镨类螯合物, 但与1a与2a一样, 都能得到非常清晰的一级图谱. c、f和g均使谱峰向高场迁移, 而h却使谱峰向低场迁移. c的位移能力略低于b. f、g和h的位移能力极强.     

Lanthanide‐induced shifts in the structural elucidation of β‐hydroxydecalones

The use of Eu(fod)₃ in the analysis of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of cis and trans‐fused β‐hydroxydecalones is described. The relative configuration of the substituents is discussed using the PMLIS algorithm to determine the lanthanide (Eu) ion position in the complex in an effective axially symmetric model. The conformations of two cis‐decalones are also discussed. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Na4Sn9与一些配合物相互作用的119Sn和23Na NMR研究

以¹⁹⁹Sn和²³Na核磁共振研究了Na₄Sn₉-乙二胺体系中加入M(acacen)(M=Cu²⁺,Ni²⁺)和Ln(fod)₃(Ln=Pr³⁺,Yb³⁺,Eu³⁺)后的化学位移和偶合常数。结果表明,假接触和体积磁化率的变化是引起化学位移变化的主要原因,而Fermi接触的贡献可以忽略。     

Lanthanide induced shifts as a conformational probe for o,o,o′,o′-tetrasubstituted diphenyls

The ¹H NMR spectra of several symmetrical diphenyls, having two unlike substituents on the ortho positions of each aromatic ring, were determined in the presence of Eu(fod)₃ and of Pr(fod)₃. The lanthanide induced shifts were used to establish the more probable conformation of the molecules, as deduced from computer calculations assuming pseudocontact interactions. It was found that the two like groups are in opposite conformation and that the inter-ring angles are in the order of 15–35°.     

Ultimately Specific 1,4‐cis Polymerization of 1,3‐Butadiene with a Novel Gadolinium Catalyst

Novel complexes [(C₅Me₅)₂Ln][B(C₆F₅)₄] (Ln = Pr, Nd, or Gd) were prepared, which in combination with ⁱBu₃Al efficiently induce highly 1,4‐cis‐specific polymerization of butadiene. The activity of the Gd complex/ⁱBu₃Al system is high enough to exhibit good catalytic activity even at low temperature. Polymerization at −78 °C gave polybutadiene with nearly perfect 1,4‐cis microstructure (>99.9%) with sharp molecular weight distribution (M _w/M _n = 1.45) and in reasonable yield.

ORTEP drawing of 2b . Selected bond distances (Å): Pr‐F1 = 2.549(2), Pr‐F19 = 2.625(2).     

Chemistry of trifluorostyrenes and their dimers: 2. Synthesis of substituted α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes and α, β, β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes. Hammett correlations of their NMR parameters and the concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”

Six α, β, β-trifluorostyrenes with the following substituents, viz., p-MeO, p-Me, m-Me, p-Cl, m-Cl, and m-CF₃, were synthesized by the reaction of the corresponding Grignard reagents with tetrafluoroethylene in tetrahydrofuran. Similarly, α-and β-trifluoroethenylnaphthalenes were prepared. The substituent electronic effects on the ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were investigated for the trifluorostyrenes (I). Linear correlations between the Hammett σ constants and the following ¹⁹F-NMR parameters were established, namely, chemical shifts δ. (F¹) and δ (F²), coupling constants J₁₂, differences of chemical shifts Δδ_3-1 (δ (F³)—δ(f¹) or Δδ_3-2. The results are consistent with previous expectations based on the simple concept of “distorted π-electron clouds”. Facts are presented which indicate that the Δδ_3-1 (or Δδ_3-2) values may serve as empirical measures of the degree of polarization of the π bonds of these fluoroolefins.     

The use of lanthanide-induced shifts for conformational and structural studies of (R)-MTPA (α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethyl-α-phenylacetic acid) esters. 2—Complexes of the (R)-MTPA esters of 4-tert-butylcyclohexanols with Eu(fod)3

It is shown that the complexation of the (R)-MTPA (α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethyl-α-phenylacetic acid) ester of cis-4-tert-butylcyclohexanol with Eu(fod)₃ is very similar to that of the corresponding trans-ester and ketones with Eu(fod)₃. Further evidence is provided that the MTPA moiety exists as two different rotamers. The LIS technique, used as a tool for structure and conformation elucidation, was found by means of a Monte Carlo error analysis not to be dependent on small experimental errors.     

Chiral Fluorinated α‐Sulfonyl Carbanions: Enantioselective Synthesis and Electrophilic Capture,Racemization Dynamics,and Structure

Enantiomerically pure triflones R¹CH(R²)SO₂CF₃ have been synthesized starting from the corresponding chiral alcohols via thiols and trifluoromethylsulfanes. Key steps of the syntheses of the sulfanes are the photochemical trifluoromethylation of the thiols with CF₃Hal (Hal=halide) or substitution of alkoxyphosphinediamines with CF₃SSCF₃. The deprotonation of RCH(Me)SO₂CF₃ (R=CH₂Ph, iHex) with nBuLi with the formation of salts [RC(Me)? SO₂CF₃]Li and their electrophilic capture both occurred with high enantioselectivities. Displacement of the SO₂CF₃ group of (S)‐MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)SO₂CF₃ (95 % ee) by an ethyl group through the reaction with AlEt₃ gave alkane MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)Et of 96 % ee. Racemization of salts [R¹C(R²)SO₂CF₃]Li follows first‐order kinetics and is mainly an enthalpic process with small negative activation entropy as revealed by polarimetry and dynamic NMR (DNMR) spectroscopy. This is in accordance with a C_α? S bond rotation as the rate‐determining step. Lithium α‐(S)‐trifluoromethyl‐ and α‐(S)‐nonafluorobutylsulfonyl carbanion salts have a much higher racemization barrier than the corresponding α‐(S)‐tert‐butylsulfonyl carbanion salts. Whereas [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂tBu]Li/DMPU (DMPU = dimethylpropylurea) has a half‐life of racemization at ?105 °C of 2.4 h, that of [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li at ?78 °C is 30 d. DNMR spectroscopy of amides (PhCH₂)₂NSO₂CF₃ and (PhCH₂)N(Ph)SO₂CF₃ gave N? S rotational barriers that seem to be distinctly higher than those of nonfluorinated sulfonamides. NMR spectroscopy of [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂R]M (M=Li, K, NBu₄; R=CF₃, tBu) shows for both salts a confinement of the negative charge mainly to the C_α atom and a significant benzylic stabilization that is weaker in the trifluoromethylsulfonyl carbanion. According to crystal structure analyses, the carbanions of salts {[PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li? L }₂ ( L =2 THF, tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)) and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ have the typical chiral C_α? S conformation of α‐sulfonyl carbanions, planar C_α atoms, and short C_α? S bonds. Ab initio calculations of [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]^? and [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]^? showed for the fluorinated carbanion stronger n_C→σ* and n_O→σ* interactions and a weaker benzylic stabilization. According to natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations of [R¹C(R²)SO₂R]^? (R=tBu, CF₃) the n_C→σ*_{S? R} interaction is much stronger for R=CF₃. Ab initio calculations gave for [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,C_α contact ion pair (CIP) and for [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,O CIP. According to cryoscopy, [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li, [iHexC(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li, and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ predominantly form monomers in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?108 °C. The NMR spectroscopic data of salts [R¹(R²)SO₂R³]Li (R³=tBu, CF₃) indicate that the dominating monomeric CIPs are devoid of C_α? Li bonds.     

Nucleophilic Fluoroalkylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with α‐Fluorinated Sulfones: Investigation of the Reversibility of 1,2‐Additions and the Formation of 1,4‐Adducts

A detailed investigation of the reactions of PhSO₂CF₂H and PhSO₂CH₂F with (E)‐chalcone (=(E)‐1,3‐diphenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one) at low temperatures revealed that these two reactions were kinetically controlled, and the ratios of 1,2‐ vs. 1,4‐adducts, which did not change much over time at these temperatures, reflect the relative rates of the two reaction pathways. The controlled experiments of converting the PhSO₂CF₂‐ and PhSO₂CHF‐substituted 1,2‐adducts to 1,4‐adducts showed that these isomerizations are not favored due to the low stability and hard‐soft nature of PhSO₂CF and PhSO₂CHF^? anions. Moreover, taking advantage of the remarkable stability and softness of (PhSO₂)₂CF^? anion, an efficient thermodynamically controlled isomerization of (PhSO₂)₂CF‐substituted 1,2‐adduct to 1,4‐adduct was achieved for the first time.     

NMR spectral studies: XIII—titanium tetrachloride-induced and lanthanide-induced shifts in the proton NMR spectra of β-lactams

2-Azetidinones which carry a proton each on C-3 and C-4 often pose a problem in the correct assignment of the resonances due to these protons; titanium tetrachloride has been shown to be an effective and reliable n.m.r. shift reagent to differentiate between these two protons on the basis of their different sensitivities to this reagent. A few compounds were also studied with Eu(fod)₃ and Pr(fod)₃ for the sake of confirmation.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the First Bisand Tris[1‐(ω‐alken‐1‐yl)indenyl]lanthanide Complexes

1‐Allyl‐2,4,7‐trimethyl‐1 H‐indene ( 1 ) and 1‐(3‐buten‐1‐yl)‐4,7‐dimethyl‐1 H‐indene ( 2 ), which are to prepare from (2,4,7‐trimethylindenyl)lithium and allyl chloride or from (4,7‐dimethylindenyl)lithium and 4‐bromo‐1‐butene, react with n‐butyllithium yielding (1‐allyl‐2,4,7‐trimethylindenyl)lithium [LiL ( 1 a )] or [1‐(3‐buten‐1‐yl)‐4,7‐dimethylindenyl]lithium [LiL′ ( 2 a )], respectively. The reactions of the trichlorides of gadolinium, erbium, yttrium, lutetium, and ytterbium with 1 a or 2 a (mole ratio 1 : 2) in THF produce the bis(indenyl)lanthanide chloride complexes L₂LnCl(THF) [Ln = Gd ( 1 b ), Er ( 1 c )], LLnCl(THF) [Y ( 2 d ), Lu ( 2 e )], or LYb(μ‐Cl)₂Li(THF)₂ ( 2 f ), whereas the trichlorides of the comparatively large samarium and lanthanum ions react with different molar amounts of 2 a in THF exclusively with formation of the tris(indenyl) complexes LSm ( 2 g ) or LLa(μ‐Cl)Li(Et₂O)₃ ( 2 h ), respectively. All new compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, and the diamagnetic compounds 2 d , 2 e and 2 h also by ¹H and ¹³C{¹H}‐NMR spectroscopy. The single crystal X‐ray structural analyses of 1 c , 2 f , 2 g and 2 h demonstrate that the alkenyl groups of the indenyl side chains are not coordinated to the lanthanide atoms.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of α-alkoxycarbonylnitrones with vinyl ethers and allyl alcohols in the presence of Eu(fod)3: selective activation of (Z)-isomers of the nitrones

Uncatalyzed cycloaddition of α-alkoxycarbonylnitrones 1 with vinyl ethers 7 gave mixtures of cis- and trans-cycloadducts 8, whereas Eu(fod)₃-catalyzed cycloaddition of 1 with 7 gave the trans-cycloadducts trans-8 in a highly stereoselective manner. NMR studies indicated that Eu(fod)₃ selectively activated (Z)-nitrones (Z)-1 in E,Z-equilibrium mixtures of nitrones 1. In contrast, the reaction of 1 with allyl alcohols 12 in the presence of Eu(fod)₃ resulted in sequential transesterification and intramolecular cycloaddition to give intramolecular cycloadducts 13.     

Use of silver trifluoroacetate together with lanthanide shift reagents for simplification of 1H NMR spectra of aromatic hydrocarbons

The equimolar mixtures of typical lanthanide shift reagents such as Eu(fod)₃, Pr(fod)₃ or Yb(fod)₃ with silver trifluoroacetate, previously used to induce paramagnetic shifts in the ¹H NMR spectra of alkenes, have been successfully applied to simple aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. In benzene and p-xylene the signals of all the aromatic protons are shifted identically. In other substituted benzenes the magnitude of the induced shift depends on the distance between the proton and the substituents. In addition, the different behaviour of the signals of the methyl groups in meta-and para-xylene on the addition of the complex shift reagent allows the quantitative analysis of the two xylenes in their mixtures.