The use of imidazolium ionic liquids for the formation and stabilization of ir0 and rh0 nanoparticles: efficient catalysts for the hydrogenation of arenes

Stable transition-metal nanoparticles of the type [M(0)](n) are easily accessible through the reduction of Ir(I) or Rh(III) compounds dissolved in "dry" 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid by molecular hydrogen. The formation of these [M(0)](n) nanoparticles is straightforward; they are prepared in dry ionic liquid whereas the presence of the water causes the partial decomposition of ionic liquid with the formation of phosphates, HF and transition-metal fluorides. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) show the formation of [Ir(0)](n) and [Rh(0)](n) nanoparticles with 2.0-2.5 nm in diameter. The isolated [M(0)](n) nanoparticles can be redispersed in the ionic liquid, in acetone or used in solventless conditions for the liquid-liquid biphasic, homogeneous or heterogeneous hydrogenation of arenes under mild reaction conditions (75 degrees C and 4 atm). The recovered iridium nanoparticles can be reused several times without any significant loss in catalytic activity. Unprecedented total turnover numbers (TTO) of 3509 in 32 h, for arene hydrogenation by nanoparticles catalysts, have been achieved in the reduction of benzene by the [Ir(0)](n) in solventless conditions. Contrarily, the recovered Rh(0) nanoparticles show significant agglomeration into large particles with a loss of catalytic activity. The hydrogenation of arenes containing functional groups, such as anisole, by the [Ir(0)](n) nanoparticles occurs with concomitant hydrogenolysis of the C-O bond, suggesting that these nanoparticles behave as "heterogeneous catalysts" rather than "homogeneous catalysts".     

Enantioselective Synthesis: Steric and electronic effects of the substrates upon stereoselectivity in the gold(I)-catalyzed aldol reaction with chiral ferrocenylamine ligands,preliminary communication

Enantioselectivity in the gold(I)-catalyzed aldol reaction with chiral ferrocenylamine ligands is strongly dependent upon both the steric and electronic effects of the substrates. In the reaction of pyridine-2-, 3-, and 4-carbaldehydes with ethyl 2-isocyanoacetate, surprisingly and significantly different enantioselectivities were observed in the formation of the cis- and trans-dihydro-oxazoles that must be due to electronic rather than steric effects. The first example of double stereodifferentiation in the gold(l)-catalyzed aldol reaction is reported.     

Interaction of aryldiazonium salts with some schiff-base complexes of cobalt and ruthenium

The interaction of aryldiazonium ions with some Schiff-base complexes of cobalt and ruthenium have been studied. With cobalt, one-electron oxidation of [Co(II)Salen] occurred; with [Co(I)Salen] the corresponding Co(III)-aryl complexes were isolated. In the case of ruthenium oxidation also occurs, [Ru(Salen)(CO)py] gave the corresponding monocation. The results, especially for ruthenium, are in contrast to the stabilisation of both nitrosyl and aryldiazonium adducts in analogous porphyrin complexes.     

Evaluation of isothermal kinetic of sweetener

Summary Sulfonylureas are widely used for the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Glibenclamide belongs to the group of substituted arylsulfonylureas. Many representative of this group shows polymorphism. The purpose of this work was to investigate the thermal behaviour and compatibility between glibenclamide and some excipients using thermoanalytical techniques (TG-DTG/DSC). The thermal and isothermal kinetics data showed incompatibility between glibenclamide and magnesium stearate.     

Room-temperature synthesis and conductivity of the pyrochlore type Dy2(Ti1−yZry)2O7 (0?y?1) solid solution

Different compositions in a solid solution of general formula Dy₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇, showing high oxygen ion conductivity, have been successfully prepared at room temperature via mechanochemical synthesis. Stoichiometric mixtures of the constituent oxides were dry milled together in a planetary ball mill by using zirconia vials and balls. Chemical changes in the powder mixtures as a function of composition and milling time were followed by X-ray diffraction and revealed that, in all cases and after milling for 19 h, the powder mixtures consisted of a single phase. Electrical properties were measured on sintered pellets as a function of frequency, temperature and zirconium content, revealing an increase in conductivity of more than one order of magnitude for y?0.4, which, as observed in the similar Y₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇, has been related with the onset of disordering of the anion sublattice. Despite increasing structural disorder with increasing Zr content, conductivity remains almost constant for y>0.6, reaching a maximum value of ∼5×10⁻³ for Dy₂Zr₂O₇ at 900 °C.     

Mass spectrometry of heterocyclic compounds—III. Electron-impact-induced fragmentation of 1,2-benzisothiazole and some 3-substituted derivatives

The mass spectra of fifteen 1,2-benzisothiazoles are reported; their fragmentation patterns have been investigated by labelling experiments, high resolution mass measurements and defocused metastable ion detection. The parent compound of the series, 1,2-benzisothiazole, eliminates HCN after partial inter-ring hydrogen scrambling. The extent of scrambling has been determined for normal daughter ions produced at different electron beam energies and also for metastable daughter ions, and is compared with the data reported for benzothiazole. Some 3-substituted derivatives show unusual fragmentation patterns. The mechanisms of these processes are under further investigation.     

Interactions of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (dtpa) and triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid (ttha) with major components of natural waters

The binding ability of diethylene triamine pentaacetate (dtpa(5-)) and triethylene tetraamine hexaacetate (ttha(6-)) ligands towards major components, H(+), Na(+), Mg(2+) and Ca(2+), of natural waters was studied in both single and mixed ionic media at different ionic strengths and at T=25 degrees C. Some measurements, performed in Mg(2+)-Ca(2+) mixtures, allowed us to find the formation of new mixed species MgCa(dtpa), MgCa(ttha) and MgCaH(ttha), here reported for the first time. All the complexes formed in the various systems were characterized in terms of both stoichiometry and stability, and an attempt was made to find general rules for the stability of mixed metal complexes in comparison with that of simple species. To obtain quantitative information on the complexing ability of dtpa and ttha in seawater, measurements have been carried out in artificial seawater ionic medium (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Cl(-) and SO(4)(2-)). Calculations, performed by considering the salt mixture as single salt BA, allowed us to find some quite stable B(i)H(j)L species. Under the natural seawater conditions [S(salinity)=35], we found for the most important species logbeta( B(dtpa))=9.64 and. Literature data comparison is also reported.     

New synthetic pathways into dithiazolyl radicals: Preparation and characterisation of 3′-methyl-benzo-1,3,2-dithiazolyl, M’BDTA

A general three-step synthesis to a range of benzo-fused-1,3,2-dithiazolylium salts bearing both electron-withdrawing (CN) and electron-donating (Me) groups is described. This methodology has also been extended to pyridyl derivatives and offers a potential route to a diversity of 1,3,2-dithiazolylium rings and their corresponding 1,3,2-dithiazolyl free radicals. The key steps in the reaction are treatment of a substituted 1,2,-dichlorobenzene with two equivalents of [^tBuS]Na, followed by chlorination to yield the corresponding bis(sulfenyl chloride). Subsequent ring closure with Me₃SiN₃ yields the target 1,3,2-dithiazolylium ring system in good yield. The preparation and crystal structures of 3′-methyl-benzo-1,3,2-dithiazolylium chloride and 3′-methyl-benzo-1,3,2-dithiazolyl are described and the electronic properties of the radical examined through EPR spectroscopy, DFT calculations and variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Identification of Earth Pigments by Applying Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to Solid State Voltammetry. Application to Severely Damaged Frescoes

Multivariate chemometric methods are applied for identifying earth pigments from square‐wave voltammetric measurements performed at pigment‐modified paraffin‐impregnated graphite electrodes allowing for a separation between hematite‐based earths, French ochres, Spanish ochres, siennas, umbers and green earths. This methodology is applied to the identification of the pigments in samples from the ceiling frescoes of Antonio Palomino (dated 1707) in the vaulted nave of the Sant Joan del Mercat church in Valencia (Spain). These frescoes suffered considerable damage by fire during the Spanish Civil War in 1936, resulting in severe chemical and chromatic alterations. Electrochemical data, supported by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X‐ray microanalysis and Raman spectroscopy, indicate that thermal stress induced the transformation of goethite‐based yellow ochres into hematite and magnetite.     

Rheology of a lyotropic mesophase through a stress-relaxation experiment

We report on the first rheological study of the structural relaxations in a nematic liquid crystalline phase. Linear dynamic and transient shear experiments were applied to a polydomain nematic phase of the CTAB/water system: a liquid crystalline mixture composed of 28 wt% CTAB at 35 degrees C. The decay of the shear modulus, G(t), was analyzed using the CONTIN inverse Laplace transform to obtain a distribution of relaxation times which were compared with ones from the usual fitting procedure based on a generalized Maxwell model. The behavior of the nematic lyotropic structure of the CTAB/water system is characterized by the presence of both slow and fast relaxation times. These were interpreted as being due to a progressive loss of the lyotropic domain orientation and to the breaking/reforming process of the cylindrical aggregates, respectively.