Cyclic distiba- and dibismadiazenium cations

Think positive, keep the anions away: Hitherto unknown mono- and dications of the type [XE(μ-NTerE)](+) and [E(2) (μ-NTer)(2) ](2+) (E=Sb, Bi; X=Cl, I) were studied and fully characterized for the first time. Salts bearing these highly reactive cations can be obtained from terphenyl-substituted cyclo-dipnictadiazanes [XE(μ-NR)](2) by halide abstraction or triflate substitution.     

Dynamic electronic structure of a Au/TiO2 catalyst under reaction conditions

The electronic structure of a highly active Au/TiO2 powder catalyst was probed in situ by synchrotron X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) in the 10-1 mbar range. The electronic structure of the Au component was found to respond sensitively to changes in temperature and indicated the absence of bulklike metallic Au under the conditions of highest catalytic activity. Concurrent modification of interfacial sites adjacent to Au on the TiO2 support was not evident from the Ti photoemission, but may have been below the detection limit of XPS.     

Influence of the physical properties and handling of silica gel modified carbon paste electrodes on the phase transfer of solved Cu(II) ions

EDTA, a powerful chelating agent, is used extensively in soil sciences to determine the bioavailability of trace metals and their possible decontamination from polluted soils. Because of its non-selective nature, the co-dissolution of major elements also occurs, in addition to the extraction of trace metal ions.In this work, the reactivity of trace and major elements (Pb, Cu, Cd, Al, Fe, Ca and Mg) with different concentrations of EDTA was studied in eight soil samples (Burgundy, France). The limit between lack and excess of EDTA with respect to total metal extracted, determined after 24 h of reaction for different types of soil varied from 0.002 to 0.05 M, respectively.For calcareous samples the amount of Pb, Cu and Cd extracted by EDTA was reduced to 50% of that extracted in non-calcareous soils.From the kinetic point of view, the extraction behavior of major elements seemed to depend heavily on excess or lack of EDTA and the soil Ca content. For a lack of EDTA, different competitive behaviors were revealed for the major elements (Al, Ca, Fe and Mg) towards the reagent, depending on the soil matrix.According to these experimental results, the mass balance between the reagent and cations in any EDTA-soil media is strongly controlled by major metal extraction. When choosing the reagent concentration needed to extract the trace metals efficiently, all the extractable metal present in the concerned sample must be taken into account.     

Rhodium-mediated stereoselective polymerization of "carbenes"

Unprecedented rhodium-catalyzed stereoselective polymerization of "carbenes" from ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) to give high molecular mass poly(ethyl 2-ylidene-acetate) is described. The mononuclear, neutral [(N,O-ligand)M(I)(cod)] (M = Rh, Ir) catalytic precursors for this reaction are characterized by (among others) single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These species mediate formation of a new type of polymers from EDA: carbon-chain polymers functionalized with a polar substituent at each carbon of the polymer backbone. The polymers are obtained as white powders with surprisingly sharp NMR resonances. Solution and solid state NMR data for these new polymers reveal a highly stereoregular polymer, with a high degree of crystallinity. The polymer is likely syndiotactic. Material properties are very different from those of atactic poly(diethyl fumarate) polymer obtained by radical polymerization of diethyl fumarate. Other diazoacetates are also polymerized. Further studies are underway to reveal possible applications of these new materials.     

2,3-Disubstituted indoles from olefins and hydrazines via tandem hydroformylation-Fischer indole synthesis and skeletal rearrangement

The tandem hydroformylation-Fischer indolisation protocol is used in the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted indoles. After hydroformylation of selected olefins to form alpha-branched aldehydes in a one-pot procedure these are condensed with phenylhydrazine to give hydrazones. Upon acid-promoted [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement indolenine intermediates with quaternary centres in the 3-position are formed, which, after selective Wagner-Meerwein-type rearrangement of one of the substituents from the 3- to the 2-position, lead to 2,3-disubstituted indoles. Several olefins, bearing substituents with various functional groups, as well as cyclic olefinic systems are investigated.     

Stereoselectivity in ene reactions with 1O2: matrix effects in polymer supports, photo-oxygenation of organic salts and asymmetric synthesis

The ene reaction of chiral allylic alcohols is applied as a tool for the investigation of intrapolymer effects by means of the stereoselectivity of the singlet-oxygen addition. The diastereo selectivity strongly depends on the structure of the polymer, the substrate loading degree and also on the degree of conversion demonstrating additional supramolecular effects evolving during the reaction. The efficiency and the stability of polymer-bound sensitizers were evaluated by the ene reaction of singlet oxygen with citronellol. The ene reaction with chiral ammonium salts of tiglic acid was conducted under solution phase conditions or in polystyrene beads under chiral contact ion-pair conditions. The products thus obtained precipitate during the photoreaction as ammonium salts. Moderate asymmetric induction was observed for this procedure for the first time.     

Photoinduced electron transfer in a new Bis(C60)-phthalocyanine triad

[Structure: see text] A novel covalently linked bis([60]fullerene)-phthalocyanine triad is reported, exhibiting long-lived photoinduced charge separation both in solution and in the solid state. The first demonstration of a working solar cell using triad 1 as the active material is also presented.