Polycarbide nickel clusters containing interstitial Ni(eta2-C2)4 and Ni2(micro-eta2-C2)4 acetylide moieties: mimicking the supersaturated Ni-C solutions preceding the catalytic growth of CNTs with the structures of [HNi25(C2)4(CO)32]3- and [Ni22(C2)4(CO)28Cl]3-

Reaction of [Ni(6)(CO)(12)](2-) with CCl(4) in CH(2)Cl(2) gives the [HNi(25)(C(2))(4)(CO)(32)](3-) and [Ni(22)(C(2))(4)(CO)(28)Cl](3-) carbonyl clusters containing interstitial Ni(eta(2)-C(2))(4) and Ni(2)(micro-eta(2)-C(2))(4) acetylide moieties.     

Enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 through spatial structuring and particle size control: from subnanometric to submillimetric length scale

This review summarizes the physical approaches towards enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of titanium dioxide by controlling this semiconductor in a certain length scale from subnanometric to submillimetric distances and provides examples in which the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 is not promoted by doping or changes in the chemical composition, but rather by application of physical concepts and spatial structuring of the semiconductor. Thus, encapsulation inside the micropores and cavities of zeolites (about 1 nm) renders small titanium oxide clusters with harnessed photocatalytic activity. On the other hand, nanometric titanium particles can be ordered forming structured periodic mesoporous materials with high specific surface area and well defined porosity. Titiania nanotubes of micrometric length, either independent or forming a membrane, also exhibit unique photocatalytic activity as consequence of the long diffusion length of charge carriers along the nanotube axis. Finally, photonic crystals with an inverse opal structure and the even more powerful concept of photonic sponges can serve to slow down visible light photons inside the material, increasing the effective optical path in such a way that light absorption near the absorption onset of the material is enhanced considerably. All these physical-based approaches have shown their potential in enhancing the photocatalytic activity of titania, paving the way for a new generation of novel structured photocatalysts in which physical and chemical concepts are combined.     

Water droplets as template for next-generation self-assembled poly-(etheretherketone) with cardo membranes

Next generation PEEK-WC membranes have been fabricated by using an innovative self-assembly technique. Patterned architectures have been achieved via a solvent-reduced and water-assisted process, resulting in honeycomb packed geometry. The membranes exhibit monodisperse pores with size and shape comparable to those left by templating water droplets. Influencing factors for the formation of self-assembled poly-(etheretherketone) with Cardo [PEEK-WC] membranes have been evaluated, identifying the critical parameters for nucleation, growth, and propagation of the droplet-mobile arrays through the overall films. Structure-transport relationships have been discussed according to the results achieved from the implementation of membrane distillation processes, yielding indication about the suitability of self-assembled PEEK-WC films to work as interfaces in contactor operations.     

Sn-centred icosahedral Rh carbonyl clusters: synthesis and structural characterization and 13C-{103Rh} HMQC NMR studies

The reaction of [Rh(7)(CO)(16)](3-) with SnCl(2).2H(2)O in a 1 : 1 molar ratio under N(2) results in the formation of the new heterometallic cluster, [Rh(12)Sn(CO)(27)](4-), in very high yield (ca. 86%). Further controlled additions of SnCl(2).2H(2)O, or solutions of HCl, or [RhCl(COD)](2), give [Rh(12)(micro-Cl)(2)Sn(CO)(23)](4-). Similarly, addition of HBr to [Rh(12)Sn(CO)(27)](4-) gives the related cluster [Rh(12)(micro-Br)(2)Sn(CO)(23)](4-). Notably, if the addition of SnCl(2).2H(2)O to [Rh(12)Sn(CO)(27)](4-) is carried out under a CO atmosphere, the reaction takes a different course and leads to the formation of the new cluster, [Rh(12)Sn(micro(3)-RhCl)(CO)(27)](4-). All the above clusters have been shown by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies to have a metal framework based on an icosahedron, which is centred by the unique Sn atom. Their chemical reactivity and (13)C-{(103)Rh} HMQC NMR spectroscopic characterization are also reported.     

A practical synthesis of alpha-aryl methyl ketones via a transition-metal-free Meerwein arylation

We report herein a simple, scalable, transition-metal-free approach to the synthesis of alpha-aryl methyl ketones from diazonium tetrafluoroborate salts under mild conditions. This methodology uses easily accessible and nontoxic starting material and was applied to the multi-kilogram-scale preparation of 1-(3-bromo-4-methylphenyl)propan-2-one.     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion: dimerization of a metal carbonyl cluster via formation of an exceptionally short hydrogen bond

The synthesis, structure and characterization of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion in its [Cs(THF)0.33]+ and [NEt4]+ salt are reported. The title dimeric cluster has been obtained by protonation in water or in organic solvent of the [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)]2- dianion to the hydroxo [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-OH)]- derivative and crystallization. The solid state structure of [Cs(THF)0.33]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H] is based on ionic packing of [Cs(THF)0.33]+ cations and [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianions. The fractional formula is due to the particular packing of Cs+ cations, which are at the vertices of fused cuboctahedral and trigonal antiprismatic polyhedrons. Each cuboctahedron encapsulates a [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion, whereas each trigonal antiprism encapsulates a THF molecule. The possibility that the structure of the [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion could be affected by its confinement in the cuboctahedral cage of Cs+ ions and the heavy disorder of the THF molecule urged a further structural determination of the trianion with a completely different cation. The corresponding [NEt4]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H] salt has been, therefore, prepared and structurally characterized. The [{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H]3- trianion displays an identical structure and almost coincident molecular parameters in both salts. Its most notable feature is represented by the unique hydrogen atom symmetrically bridging the micro3-O atoms of two different [Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)]2- molecules and displaying one of shortest O...H...O interaction so far reported in organic, inorganic and organometallic literature. The structure of [Cs(THF)]2[Fe4(CO)13], which has been obtained as a by-product of the synthesis of [Cs(THF)0.33]3[{Fe3(CO)9(micro3-O)}2H], is also briefly reported.     

Effect of Titanium on Fluxional Behavior of Unbridged Metallocene Catalysts

Summary: Thanks to the use of a ligand consisting of a saturated ring fused to the cyclopentadienyl moiety, which sensibly increases the stability of titanocenes, it was possible to investigate the oscillating behavior of titanium catalysts in propylene polymerization for the first time. The titanium‐based catalysts yield poly(propylene)s with new and interesting microstructures. Indeed, in spite of the significantly lower isotactic pentad content [mmmm], the average lengths of the isotactic blocks (N_iso) are similar or even higher than that obtained with the zirconium‐based homologues. Accordingly, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis shows melting peaks which are more evident than those obtained with the zirconium homologues. The study of the microstructure of the poly(propylene)s obtained with these catalysts allowed us to participate in the still open discussion on the oscillating mechanism of unbridged metallocenes.

The titanium‐based catalysts employed in this study.     

New Ni–Pt Carbonyl Clusters with a Tetrahedron of Platinum Atoms Encapsulated in an Incomplete Tetrahedron of Nickel Atoms: [Ni36Pt4(CO)45]6− and [Ni37Pt4(CO)46]6−

A fully encapsulated Pt ₄ tetrahedron in an incomplete tetrahedron of 36 nickel atoms is present in [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]⁶⁻ ( 1 ; see picture for the metal framework), which is obtained as an inseparable mixture with [Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]⁶⁻ ( 2 ) by reaction of [Ni₆(CO)₁₂]²⁻ with K₂[PtCl₄]. The trimethylbenzylammonium salts of 1 and 2 cocrystallize in a 1:1 ratio. The additional Ni atom of 2 caps the truncated vertex of 1 .     

A sinapic acid–calix[4]arene hybrid selectively binds Pb over Hg and Cd

The binding affinity for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ of the sinapic acid–calix[4]arene hybrid 2, having four sinapyl pendants at the upper rim, has been investigated via an UV–Vis study. Compound 2 has better complexing ability than the monomeric p-phenetidine derivative 1. This highlights that the clustering of sinapyl units in a basket-like structure, dictated by the calixarene scaffold, greatly enhances the complexing properties. Ligand 2 forms complexes even with Hg²⁺, which is not complexed by 1 at all; the complexes formed by 2 with Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ are much stronger than the analogous complexes formed by 1. The UV–Vis investigation shows that the hybrid 2 markedly favors Pb²⁺ over Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺. Information on the structural properties of the complex species was obtained by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. NMR data show that all three metal ions are placed into the cavity consisting of the calixarene scaffold and the sinapyl pendants, though their binding affects the coordinating regions to a different extent.