Hydrogen‐transfer reduction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by naphthyridine‐functionalized N‐heterocyclic carbene complexes

Substitution of silver complex of 2‐chloro‐7‐(mesitylimidazolylidenylmethyl)naphthyridine (NpNHC) with palladium(II), rhodium(I) and iridium(I) metal precursors provided [Pd(C ,N ‐NpNHC)(η³‐allyl)](BF₄) ( 5 ), RhCl(COD)(C ‐NpNHC) ( 6a ) and IrCl(COD)(C ‐NpNHC) ( 6b ), respectively. Abstraction of chloride from 6a and 6b with AgBF₄ provided the chelation complexes [Rh(COD)(C ,N ‐NpNHC)](BF₄) ( 7a ) and Ir(COD)(C ,N ‐NpNHC)(BF₄) ( 7b ), respectively. All complexes were characterized using NMR and elemental analyses and the structural details of 5 and 6a were further confirmed using X‐ray crystallography. In catalytic activity studies, complex 5 was found to be an effective catalyst in the hydrogen‐transfer reduction of α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds into the corresponding saturated carbonyl compounds.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridinium dioxido(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ3O2,N,O6)vanadate(V) and its conversion to nanostructured V2O5

2‐Amino‐3‐hydroxypyridinium dioxido(pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylato‐κ³O²,N,O⁶)vanadate(V), (C₅H₇N₂O)[V(C₇H₃NO₄)O₂] or [H(amino‐3‐OH‐py)][VO₂(dipic)], (I), was prepared by the reaction of VCl₃ with dipicolinic acid (dipicH₂) and 2‐amino‐3‐hydroxypyridine (amino‐3‐OH‐py) in water. The compound was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and X‐ray structure analysis, and consists of an anionic [VO₂(dipic)]⁻ complex and an H(amino‐3‐OH‐py)⁺ counter‐cation. The V^V ion is five‐coordinated by one O,N,O′‐tridentate dipic dianionic ligand and by two oxide ligands. Thermal decomposition of (I) in the presence of polyethylene glycol led to the formation of nanoparticles of V₂O₅. Powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the structure and morphology of the synthesized powder.     

An unusual oligomerization/oxidation reaction of a 3‐boron‐substituted 1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene produces 6,9,16,19‐tetraphenyl‐5,15‐distyryl‐3,13,25,26‐tetraoxa‐2,12‐diborapentacyclo[16.2.2.28,11.12,5.112,15]hexacosa‐1(20),7,10,17‐tetraene

The unusual title macrocyclic structure, C₆₀H₅₄B₂O₄, has been isolated from exposure of 3‐BF₃‐1‐phenylbuta‐1,3‐diene to both air and moisture in an attempt to obtain crystals of the starting butadiene compound. Formation of the macrocycle from six molecules of the starting butadiene material is rationalized and its structural features are compared with those of other B(OR)₂‐substituted cyclohexane and benzene ring containing structures. Molecules reside on crystallographic centers of inversion and there are no intermolecular interactions of note in the crystal structure.     

Intramolecular Oxidative O‐Demethylation of an Oxoferryl Porphyrin Complexed with a Per‐O‐methylated β‐Cyclodextrin Dimer

The intramolecular oxidation of ROCH₃ to ROCH₂OH, where the latter compound spontaneously decomposed to ROH and HCHO, was observed during the reaction of the supramolecular complex (met‐hemoCD3) with cumene hydroperoxide in aqueous solution. Met‐hemoCD3 is composed of meso‐tetrakis(4‐sulfonatophenyl)porphinatoiron(III) (Fe^IIITPPS) and a per‐O‐methylated β‐cyclodextrin dimer having an ‐OCH₂PyCH₂O‐ linker (Py=pyridine‐3,5‐diyl). The O=Fe^IVTPPS complex was formed by the reaction of met‐hemoCD3 with cumene hydroperoxide, and isolated by gel‐filtration chromatography. Although the isolated O=Fe^IVTPPS complex in the cyclodextrin cage was stable in aqueous solution at 25 °C, it was gradually converted to Fe^IITPPS (t_1/2=7.6 h). This conversion was accompanied by oxidative O‐demethylation of an OCH₃ group in the cyclodextrin dimer. The results indicated that hydrogen abstraction by O=Fe^IVTPPS from ROCH₃ yields HO‐Fe^IIITPPS and ROCH₂^.. This was followed by radical coupling to afford Fe^IITPPS and ROCH₂OH. The hemiacetal (ROCH₂OH) immediately decomposed to ROH and HCHO. This study revealed the ability of oxoferryl porphyrin to induce two‐electron oxidation.     

2,3‐Difluoro‐4‐formyl­phenyl­boronic acid

The mol­ecule of the title compound, 2,3‐F₂‐4‐(CHO)C₆H₂B(OH)₂ or C₇H₅BF₂O₃, contains a formyl group coplanar with the benzene ring. The boronic acid group is twisted with respect to the benzene ring plane. The mol­ecules are organized into infinite chains via inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. These chains are additionally connected via strong O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, producing a folded layer structure perpendicular to the a axis. These layers are paired due to B⋯F inter­actions.     

Dimethyl 2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐dicarboxylate and bis(dimethyl 2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐dicarboxylato‐κ2N,N′)copper(I) tetrafluoroborate

The single‐crystal X‐ray structures of dimethyl 2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐dicarboxylate, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄, and the copper(I) coordination complex bis(dimethyl 2,2′‐bipyridine‐6,6′‐dicarboxylato‐κ²N,N′)copper(I) tetrafluoroborate, [Cu(C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄)₂]BF₄, are reported. The uncoordinated ligand crystallizes across an inversion centre and adopts the anticipated anti pyridyl arrangement with coplanar pyridyl rings. In contrast, upon coordination of copper(I), the ligand adopts an arrangement of pyridyl donors facilitating chelating metal coordination and an increased inter‐pyridyl twisting within each ligand. The distortion of each ligand contrasts with comparable copper(I) complexes of unfunctionalized 2,2′‐bipyridine.     

Alternative Synthesis of 2‐Hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one

The 2‐hydroxy‐3,5,5‐trimethylcyclopent‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 1 ) was synthesized in 42% yield by rearrangement of epoxy ketone 10 on treatment with BF₃⋅Et₂O under anhydrous conditions. Intermediate 10 was available from the known enone 8 , either via direct epoxidation (60% H₂O₂, NaOH, MeOH; yield 50%), or via reduction to the corresponding allylic alcohol 14 (LiAlH₄, THF), followed by epoxidation ([VO(acac)₂], ^tBuOOH) and reoxidation under Swern conditions, in 37% total yield.     

Metal‐catalyzed reversible conversion between chemical and electrical energy designed towards a sustainable society

Proton dissociation of an aqua‐Ru‐quinone complex, [Ru(trpy)(q)(OH₂)]²⁺ (trpy = 2,2′ : 6′,2″‐terpyridine, q = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylquinone) proceeded in two steps (pK_a = 5.5 and ca. 10.5). The first step simply produced [Ru(trpy)(q)(OH)]⁺, while the second one gave an unusual oxyl radical complex, [Ru(trpy)(sq)(O^?.)]⁰ (sq = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylsemiquinone), owing to an intramolecular electron transfer from the resultant O^2? to q. A dinuclear Ru complex bridged by an anthracene framework, [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺ (btpyan = 1,8‐bis(2,2′‐terpyridyl)anthracene), was prepared to place two Ru(trpy)(q)(OH) groups at a close distance. Deprotonation of the two hydroxy protons of [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺ generated two oxyl radical Ru‐O^?. groups, which worked as a precursor for O₂ evolution in the oxidation of water. The [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂](SbF₆)₂ modified ITO electrode effectively catalyzed four‐electron oxidation of water to evolve O₂ (TON = 33500) under electrolysis at +1.70 V in H₂O (pH 4.0). Various physical measurements and DFT calculations indicated that a radical coupling between two Ru(sq)(O^?.) groups forms a (cat)Ru‐O‐O‐Ru(sq) (cat = 3,5‐di‐t‐butylcathechol) framework with a μ‐superoxo bond. Successive removal of four electrons from the cat, sq, and superoxo groups of [Ru₂(btpyan)(cat)(sq)(μ‐O₂^?)]⁰ assisted with an attack of two water (or OH^?) to Ru centers, which causes smooth O₂ evolution with regeneration of [Ru₂(btpyan)(q)₂(OH)₂]²⁺. Deprotonation of an Ru‐quinone‐ammonia complex also gave the corresponding Ru‐semiquinone‐aminyl radical. The oxidized form of the latter showed a high catalytic activity towards the oxidation of methanol in the presence of base. Three complexes, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)₂]²⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(C(O)OH)]⁺, and [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(CO₂)]⁰ exist as an equilibrium mixture in water. Treatment of [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)₂]²⁺ with BH₄^? gave [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(C(O)H)]⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(CH₂OH)]⁺, and [Ru(bpy)₂(CO)(OH₂)]²⁺ with generation of CH₃OH in aqueous conditions. Based on these results, a reasonable catalytic pathway from CO₂ to CH₃OH in electro‐ and photochemical CO₂ reduction is proposed. A new pbn (pbn = 2‐pyridylbenzo[b]‐1,5‐naphthyridine) ligand was designed as a renewable hydride donor for the six‐electron reduction of CO₂. A series of [Ru(bpy)_3‐n(pbn)_n]²⁺ (n = 1, 2, 3) complexes undergoes photochemical two‐ (n = 1), four‐ (n = 2), and six‐electron reductions (n = 3) under irradiation of visible light in the presence of N(CH₂CH₂OH)₃. © 2009 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 9: 169–186; 2009: Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ) DOI 10.1002/tcr.200800039     

Accelerated Silane Water‐Crosslinking Kinetics of Ethylene–Propylene Copolymer by Boron Trifluoride Complexes

The hydrolysis and overall water‐crosslinking kinetics of vinyltrimethoxysilane‐grafted ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR‐g‐VTMS) containing boron trifluoride monoethylamine complex (BF₃–MEA), boron trifluoride methanol complex (BF₃–MeOH), or di‐n‐butyltin(II) dilaurate (DBTL) as a silane‐crosslinking catalyst was followed by ATR‐FT‐IR and measuring the gel fraction, respectively. Kinetics results by ATR‐FT‐IR technique showed that using BF₃–MEA provided much lower activation energy for the hydrolysis reactions than that of DBTL; however, BF₃–MeOH had little catalytic effect on both the hydrolysis and overall water‐crosslink reaction of EPR‐g‐VTMS. We propose that the actual catalytic effect of ethylamine molecule dissociated from BF₃–MEA results in the displacement of Si? OCH₃ groups via an S_N2‐Si mechanism.

     

2,6‐Bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine and its octahedral copper complex

In the tridentate ligand 2,6‐bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine, C₂₃H₁₉N₇, both sets of triazole N atoms are anti with respect to the pyridine N atom, while in the copper complex aqua[2,6‐bis(1‐benzyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)pyridine](pyridine)(tetrafluoroborato)copper(II) tetrafluoroborate, [Cu(BF₄)(C₅H₅N)(C₂₃H₁₉N₇)(H₂O)]BF₄, the triazole N atoms are in the syn–syn conformation. The coordination of the Cu^II atom is distorted octahedral. The ligand structure is stabilized through intermolecular C—H...N interactions, while the crystal structure of the Cu complex is stabilized through water‐ and BF₄‐mediated hydrogen bonds. Photoluminiscence studies of the ligand and complex show that the ligand is fluorescent due to triazole–pyridine conjugation, but that the fluorescence is quenched on complexation.     

Cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3,4‐tri‐O‐allyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranose as a convenient synthesis of dextran

For the convenient synthesis of (1→6)‐α‐D ‐glucopyranan, i. e., dextran ( 4 ), ring‐opening polymerization of 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3,4‐tri‐O‐allyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose ( 1 ) has been carried out using BF₃·OEt₂. With a ratio of [BF₃·OEt₂]/[ 1 ] = 0.5 at 0 °C for 140 h, the yield and M_n of the obtained polymer are 84.0% and 21 700, respectively. The polymer consists of (1→6)‐α‐linked 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐allyl‐D ‐glucopyranose ( 2 ) which is similar to the results for the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3,4‐tri‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose and 1,6‐anhydro‐2,3,4‐tri‐O‐ethyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranose. Polymer 2 was isomerized using tris(triphenylphosphine)‐chlororhodium as the catalyst in toluene/ethanol/water to yield polymeric 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐propenyl‐(1→6)‐α‐D ‐glucopyranan ( 3 ). Deprotection of the propenyl ether linkage of 3 was then performed using hydrochloric acid in acetone to give 4 .     

A mixed‐valence copper coordination polymer generated by a hydrothermal metal/ligand redox reaction process

The title coordination polymer, poly[(μ₄‐2‐oxidoisophthalato‐κ⁶O¹,O²:O²,O³:O^3′:O^3′)(μ₂‐quinoxaline‐κ²N:N′)copper(I)copper(II)], [Cu₂(C₈H₃O₅)(C₈H₆N₂)]_n, contains two crystallographically distinct Cu ions, one quinoxaline (QA) unit and one 2‐oxidoisophthalate trianion (L) derived from 2‐hydroxyisophthalic acid (H₃L). The Cu^II ion is strongly coordinated by four O atoms in a distorted square geometry, of which two belong to two phenoxide groups and the other two to carboxylate groups of two L ligands. In addition, the Cu^II cation interacts weakly with a symmetry‐related carboxylate O atom which belongs to the L ligand in an adjacent layer, giving a square‐pyramidal coordination geometry. The Cu^I ion is trigonally coordinated by two N atoms from two QA molecules and one O atom from an L carboxylate group. The Cu^I centres are bridged by QA ligands to give a chain along the c axis. Two Cu^II ions and two L ligands form a [Cu₂L₂]²⁻ `metallo‐ligand', which coordinates two Cu^I ions. Thus, the chains of Cu^I and QA are linked by the [Cu₂L₂]²⁻ metallo‐ligand to yield a two‐dimensional (6,3) sheet. These sheets are further linked by symmetry‐related carboxylate O atoms of neighbouring layers into a three‐dimensional framework. The in situ reaction from benzene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylic acid (H₃L1) to L in the present system has rarely been observed before, although a few novel in situ reactions, such as ligand oxidative coupling, hydrolysis and substitution, have been observed during the hydrothermal process.     

An Air‐breathing Carbon Cloth‐based Screen‐printed Electrode for Applications in Enzymatic Biofuel Cells

We report a prototype air‐breathing carbon cloth‐based electrode that was fabricated starting from a commercially available screen‐printed electrode equipped with a transparent ITO working electrode (DropSens, ref. ITO10). The fabrication of the air‐breathing electrodes is straightforward, shows satisfactory reproducibility and a good electrochemical response as evaluated by means of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? voltammetry. The gas‐diffusion electrodes were successfully modified with the O₂ reducing enzyme bilirubin oxidase from Myrothecium verrucaria in a direct electron transfer regime. The enzyme modified electrodes showed a remarkable high current density for O₂ reduction in passive air‐breathing mode of up to 5 mA cm^?2. Moreover, the enzyme modified electrodes were applied as O₂ reducing biocathodes in a glucose/air enzymatic biofuel cell in combination with a high current density glucose oxidase/redox polymer bioanode. The biofuel cell provides a high maximum power density of (0.34±0.02) mW cm^?2 at 0.25 V. The straightforward design, low cost and the high reproducibility of these electrodes are considered as basis for standardized measurements under gas‐breathing conditions and for high throughput screening of gas converting (bio‐)catalysts.     

Syntheses and structures of one CuI‐containing coordination polymer and two macrocyclic supramolecular complexes based on flexible 1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐containing ligands

Three coordination complexes with Cu^I centres have been prepared using the symmetrical flexible organic ligands 1,3‐bis{[5‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]sulfanyl}propane (L1) and 1,4‐bis{[5‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]sulfanyl}butane (L2). Crystallization of L1 with Cu(SO₃CF₃)₂ and of L2 with Cu(BF₄)₂ and Cu(ClO₄)₂ in a CH₂Cl₂/CH₃OH mixed‐solvent system at room temperature afforded the coordination complexes catena‐poly[[copper(I)‐μ‐1,3‐bis{[5‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]sulfanyl}propane] methanesulfonate dichloromethane 0.6‐solvate], {[Cu(C₂₅H₁₈N₆O₂S₂)](CF₃SO₃)·0.6CH₂Cl₂}_n, (I), bis(μ‐1,4‐bis{[5‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]sulfanyl}butane)dicopper(I) bis(tetrafluoridoborate)–dichloromethane–methanol (1/1.5/1), [Cu₂(C₂₆H₂₀N₆O₂S₂)₂](BF₄)₂·1.5CH₂Cl₂·CH₃OH, (II), and bis(μ‐1,4‐bis{[5‐(quinolin‐2‐yl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐yl]sulfanyl}butane)dicopper(I) bis(perchlorate)–dichloromethane–methanol (1/2/1), [Cu₂(C₂₆H₂₀N₆O₂S₂)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₂Cl₂·CH₃OH, (III). Under the control of the dumbbell‐shaped CF₃SO₃⁻ anion, complex (I) forms a one‐dimensional chain and neighbouring chains form a spiral double chain. Under the control of the regular tetrahedron‐shaped BF₄⁻ and ClO₄⁻ anions, complexes (II) and (III) have been obtained as bimetallic rings, which further interact viaπ–π interactions to form two‐dimensional networks. The anions play a decisive role in determining the arrangement of these discrete molecular complexes in the solid state.     

Investigation of the Anodic Behavior of Al in Room Temperature Ionic Liquid Electrolytes: BMI‐BF4, PP14‐BF4 and BMI‐BF4·PC

The anodic polarization behavior of Al, Ta and Nb foil was investigated in 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (BMI‐BF₄). Compared with that of Ta and Nb foil, it showed that a better passive film was formed on Al foil surface after the anodic polarization in BMI‐BF₄, which could resist the potential up to 94.58 V vs. Ag⁺/Ag. Besides, similar anodic behavior of Al foil was observed in N‐methyl‐N‐butylpiperidinium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid (PP14‐BF₄), which indicated that the anodic polarization behavior of Al foil was independent of the cations of RTIL. In addition, the investigation of anodic polarization behavior of Al foil was carried out in the mixture electrolytes composed of BMI‐BF₄·PC. Differently, two breakdown potential processes of Al foil were presented compared to pure BMI‐BF₄. Further research showed that the passive film on Al foil was mainly composed of AlF₃ and Al₂O₃ after the first breakdown potential process, while the fluoride film increased with continual anodic polarization, which improved the anodic stability of Al foil and resisted higher breakdown potential. The high breakdown potential properties of Al foil in BMI‐BF₄, PP14‐BF₄ and the mixture of BMI‐BF₄·PC during the anodic polarization can be favored for R&D of the high performance electrochemical devices.     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer based on the Zn4(μ3‐OH)2 unit: poly[[(μ4‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐hydroxido)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)tetrazinc] dihydrate]

The title compound, {[Zn₄(C₈H₄O₄)₃(OH)₂(C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared hydrothermally by the reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) and 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pdon) in H₂O. In the crystal structure, a tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment is located on a crystallographic inversion centre which relates two subunits, each containing a [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron and a [ZnO₄] tetrahedron bridged by a μ₃‐OH group. The pdon ligand chelates to zinc through its two N atoms to form part of the [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron. The two crystallographically independent bdc²⁻ ligands are fully deprotonated and adopt μ₃‐κO:κO′:κO′′ and μ₄‐κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination modes, bridging three or four Zn^II cations, respectively, from two Zn₄(OH)₂ units. The Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment connects six neighbouring tetranuclear units through four μ₃‐bdc²⁻ and two μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with uninodal 6‐connected α‐Po topology, in which the tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ units are considered as 6‐connected nodes and the bdc²⁻ ligands act as linkers. The uncoordinated water molecules are located on opposite sides of the Zn₄(OH)₂ unit and are connected to it through hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving hydroxide and carboxylate groups. The structure is further stabilized by extensive π–π interactions between the pdon and μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands.     

Gas‐phase ozonolysis: Rate coefficients for a series of terpenes and rate coefficients and OH yields for 2‐methyl‐2‐butene and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene

The kinetics of the gas‐phase reactions of O₃ with a series of selected terpenes has been investigated under flow‐tube conditions at a pressure of 100 mbar synthetic air at 295 ± 0.5 K. In the presence of a large excess of m‐xylene as an OH radical scavenger, rate coefficients k(O₃+terpene) were obtained with a relative rate technique, (unit: cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, errors represent 2σ): α‐pinene: (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10^?16, ³Δ‐carene: (5.9 ± 1.0) × 10^?17, limonene: (2.5 ± 0.3) × 10^?16, myrcene: (4.8 ± 0.6) × 10^?16, trans‐ocimene: (5.5 ± 0.8) × 10^?16, terpinolene: (1.6 ± 0.4) × 10^?15 and α‐terpinene: (1.5 ± 0.4) × 10^?14. Absolute rate coefficients for the reaction of O₃ with the used reference substances (2‐methyl‐2‐butene and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene) were measured in a stopped‐flow system at a pressure of 500 mbar synthetic air at 295 ± 2 K using FT‐IR spectroscopy, (unit: cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, errors represent 2σ ): 2‐methyl‐2‐butene: (4.1 ± 0.5) × 10^?16 and 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene: (1.0 ± 0.2) × 10^?15. In addition, OH radical yields were found to be 0.47 ± 0.04 for 2‐methyl‐2‐butene and 0.77 ± 0.04 for 2,3‐dimethyl‐2‐butene. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 394–403, 2002     

A two‐dimensional ZnII coordination polymer constructed from benzene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylic acid and N,N′‐bis[(pyridin‐4‐yl)methylidene]hydrazine

The hydrothermal synthesis of the novel complex poly[aqua(μ₄‐benzene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylato)[μ₂‐4,4′‐(hydrazine‐1,2‐diylidenedimethanylylidene)dipyridine](μ₃‐hydroxido)dizinc(II)], [Zn(C₉H₃O₆)(OH)(C₁₂H₁₀N₄)(H₂O)]_n, is described. The benzene‐1,2,3‐tricarboxylate ligand connects neighbouring Zn₄(OH)₂ secondary building units (SBUs) producing an infinite one‐dimensional chain. Adjacent one‐dimensional chains are connected by the N,N′‐bis[(pyridin‐4‐yl)methylidene]hydrazine ligand, forming a two‐dimensional layered structure. Adjacent layers are stacked to generate a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture via O—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. The thermal stability of this complex is described and the complex also appears to have potential for application as a luminescent material.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine]chloridocopper(II)} dichloromethane sesquisolvate

Transition metal complexes of Schiff base ligands have been shown to have particular application in catalysis and magnetism. The chemistry of copper complexes is of interest owing to their importance in biological and industrial processes. The reaction of copper(I) chloride with the bidentate Schiff base N,N′‐bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca₂en, systematic name: (1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]} in a 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane without exclusion of air or moisture resulted in the formation of the title complex μ‐chlorido‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis(chlorido{(1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]‐κ²N,N′}copper(II)) dichloromethane sesquisolvate, [Cu₂Cl₃(OH)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O₄)₂]·1.5CH₂Cl₂. The dinuclear complex has a folded four‐membered ring in an unsymmetrical Cu₂OCl₃ core in which the approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination displays different angular distortions in the equatorial planes of the two Cu^II atoms; the chloride bridge is asymmetric, but the hydroxide bridge is symmetric. The chelate rings of the two Nca₂en ligands have different conformations, leading to a more marked bowing of one of the ligands compared with the other. This is the first reported dinuclear complex, and the first five‐coordinate complex, of the Nca₂en Schiff base ligand. Molecules of the dimer are associated in pairs by ring‐stacking interactions supported by C—H…Cl interactions with solvent molecules; a further ring‐stacking interaction exists between the two Schiff base ligands of each molecule.     

High‐Efficiency Oxygen Reduction to Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyzed by Nickel Single‐Atom Catalysts with Tetradentate N2O2 Coordination in a Three‐Phase Flow Cell

Carbon‐supported Ni^II single‐atom catalysts with a tetradentate Ni‐N₂O₂ coordination formed by a Schiff base ligand‐mediated pyrolysis strategy are presented. A Ni^II complex of the Schiff base ligand (R,R)‐(?)‐N,N′‐bis(3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsalicylidene)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediamine was adsorbed onto a carbon black support, followed by pyrolysis of the modified carbon material at 300 °C in Ar. The Ni‐N₂O₂/C catalyst showed excellent performance for the electrocatalytic reduction of O₂ to H₂O₂ through a two‐electron transfer process in alkaline conditions, with a H₂O₂ selectivity of 96 %. At a current density of 70 mA cm^?2, a H₂O₂ production rate of 5.9 mol g_cat.^?1 h^?1 was achieved using a three‐phase flow cell, with good catalyst stability maintained over 8 h of testing. The Ni‐N₂O₂/C catalyst could electrocatalytically reduce O₂ in air to H₂O₂ at a high current density, still affording a high H₂O₂ selectivity (>90 %). A precise Ni‐N₂O₂ coordination was key to the performance.