Interfacial acidities, charge densities, potentials, and energies of carboxylic acid-functionalized silica/water interfaces determined by second harmonic generation

Second-harmonic studies were carried out to determine the interfacial acidity, the potential, and the interfacial energy density of an acid-functionalized silica/water interface between pH 2 and 12. The interfacial potential changes over 3 orders of magnitude, from 10-2 mV to several tens of millivolts, and the interfacial energy density changes by 7 orders of magnitude, from less than 10-7 mJ/m2 to several millijoules per square meter. The methodology presented in this study provides quantitative thermodynamic information necessary for understanding and predicting how solvated species interact with functionalized organic adlayers at liquid/solid interfaces over a wide pH range.     

Coordination polymers from silver(I) and bifunctional pyridyl ligands

Coordination polymers and a macrocycle formed from the reactions between flexible bis(2-pyridyl) ligands and AgCF(3)SO(3) are reported. The type of structure formed depends on the choice of ligand and the stoichiometry of the reaction. When 1 equiv of 1,4-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)benzene (L2), 4,4'-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)biphenyl (L4), or bis((4-pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)phenyl)methane (L5) is used, 1D chain coordination polymers held together via Ag-N bonds are generated. When a 2:1 ratio of L2 and silver ion is used, a 2D porous network is formed. The reaction between silver ions with a mixture of ligands (L1 and L2 in 1:1 ratio, L1 = 1,4-bis((pyridin-2-yl-methyl)thio)benzene) results in a novel 1D ABAB type coordination copolymer where L1 and L2 act as a bis-bidentate and a bis-monodentate ligand, respectively. The reaction of 1-(pyridin-2-ylmethoxy)-4-((pyridin-2-yl-methyl)thio)benzene (L3) with silver ions in a 1:1 ratio gives a bimetallic macrocycle rather than a polymeric species. Structural analyses of the polymeric compounds suggest that interactions between the aromatic rings play a significant role in stabilizing the polymeric structures.     

(Salen)tin complexes: syntheses, characterization, crystal structures, and catalytic activity in the formation of propylene carbonate from CO(2) and propylene oxide

A series of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes was synthesized. The (salen)tin(IV) complexes, (salen)SnX(2) (X = Br and I), were prepared in good yields via the direct oxidation reaction of (salen)tin(II) complexes with Br(2) or I(2). (Salen)SnX(2) successfully underwent the anion-exchange reaction with AgOTf (OTf = trifluoromethanesulfonate) to form (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) and (salen)Sn(X)(OTf) (X = Br). The (salen)Sn(OTf)(2) complex was easily converted to any of the dihalide (salen)SnX(2) compounds using halide salts. All complexes were fully characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis, while some were characterized by (13)C, (19)F, and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy. Several crystal structures of (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) were also determined. Finally, both (salen)tin(II) and (salen)tin(IV) complexes were shown to efficiently catalyze the formation of propylene carbonate from propylene oxide and CO(2). Of the series, (3,3',5,5'-Br(4)-salen)SnBr(2), 3i, was found to be the most effective catalyst (TOF = 524 h(-)(1)).     

A new two-dimensional molybdenum(V) nickel phosphate built up of [H18(Mo16O32)Ni16(PO4)26(OH)6(H2O)8]18- wheels

The new molybdenum(V) nickel phosphate Na(6)Ni(6)[(Mo(2)O(4))(8)Ni(16)(H(2)PO(4))(4)(HPO(4))(10)(PO(4))(12)(OH)(6)(H(2)O)(8)].66H(2)O (1) was synthesized hydrothermally. The structure (orthorhombic, space group Cccm; a = 23.999(4), b = 36.595(6), c = 20.445(4) A) was solved from single-crystal data. The framework structure of 1 consists of anionic inorganic sheets formed by the linkages of large polyoxomolybdate rings via nickel(II) octahedra. Charge-compensating sodium atoms are interleaved between the sheets. Magnetic studies of compound 1 revealed that among the 22 nickel(II) centers, 10 are interacting. The chi(M)T = f(T) curve can be fitted using the dinuclear expression appropriate to the HDVV isotropic exchange Hamiltonian H = -2JS(1).S(2), with S(1) = S(2) = 1 and J = -24.1 cm(-)(1), showing that nickel is antiferromagnetically coupled within Ni(2) pairs.     

Out-of-center distortions in d(0) transition metal oxide fluoride anions

Electronic effects and the bond network are the two factors that cause out-of-center distortions in octahedral d(0) transition metal oxide fluoride anions. Overlap between filled oxide p orbitals and vacant cation d orbitals results in strong, short metal-oxide bonds causing the metal ion to distort toward the oxide ligand. This primary, electronic distortion is not dependent on the extended structure. Smaller, secondary distortions of the anionic octahedra are caused by interactions with the bond network. [HNC(6)H(6)OH](2)[Cu(NC(5)H(5))(4)(NbOF(5))(2)], prepared with 5-hydroxy-2-methylpyridine that provides two coordination contact sites to the anion when protonated, exhibits distortions in the anion reflecting both factors. Crystal data for [HNC(6)H(6)OH](2)[Cu(NC(5)H(5))(4)(NbOF(5))(2)]: monoclinic, space group C2/c (No. 15), with a = 10.9427(8) A, b = 16.204(1) A, c = 21.396(2) A, beta = 93.263(1) degrees, and Z = 4. Conditions for detection of both distortion types are discussed with five additional examples.     

Reaction of unsaturated phosphonate monoesters with bromo- and iodo(bis-collidine) hexafluorophosphates

Reaction of unsaturated phosphonate monoesters with bromo- and iodo(bis-collidine) hexafluorophosphates are reported to lead to the formation of five- to seven-membered phostones by exo mode cyclizations. When the chains of the unsaturated phosphonate monoesters are substituted in α of the double bond by a dioxolane group endo mode cyclizations are observed. These cyclizations give rise to the formation of 1,2-oxaphosphepane-2-oxide and 1,2-oxaphosphocane-2-oxide.     

Investigation of racemisation in peptide synthesis within a micro reactor

We demonstrate that peptides derived from alpha-amino acids may be prepared in a micro reactor. The peptides were prepared in 20 min with quantitative conversion, compared to batch reactions which require prolonged reaction times. We illustrate that by using dilute reagent concentrations and short reaction times, less racemisation is observed in micro reactions than in bulk reactions.     

Determination of heterocyclic compounds by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) based on sodium cholate (NaCh) and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was developed for the determination of aromatic amino acids and heterocyclic legume constituents. The influence of temperature, voltage, micellar system, pH, zwitterion and modifier concentrations in the buffer on migration times, peak areas, resolution and number of theoretical plates was investigated. This MECC method makes possible the sensitive determination of the individual compounds with detection limits in the picomole range. Up to 300 000 theoretical plates per metre of capillary were obtained together with satisfactory linearity and repeatability of the NaCh method. The applicability of MECC to samples prepared from plant material, following a fast and simple technique of isolation, purification and group separation, is illustrated by selected examples.     

Metalloenzyme inspired dizinc catalyst for the polymerization of lactide

A new dizinc-monoalkoxide complex supported by a dinucleating ligand was structurally characterized and shown to be a highly active catalyst for the controlled polymerization of lactide.     

Examining the out-of-center distortion in the [NbOF5]2- anion

Out-of-center "primary" electronic distortions are inherent to the oxide fluoride anions of the early d0 transition metals. In the [NbOF5]2- anion, the Nb5+ moves from the center of the octahedron toward the oxide ligand to form a short Nb=O bond and long trans Nb-F bond. The combined results of single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electronic structure calculations indicate that the primary distortion of the [NbOF5]2- anion is affected by the coordination environment that is created by the three-dimensional extended structure. The formation of bonds between an M(L)4(2+) (M = Cd2+, Cu2+; L = 3-aminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine) cation and the oxide and/or trans-fluoride ligands of the [NbOF5]2- anion weakens the pi component of the Nb=O bond. At the same time, hydrogen bond interactions between the equatorial fluorides and the aminopyridine groups both lengthen the equatorial Nb-F bonds and can further reduce the symmetry of the [NbOF5]2- anion. These combined three-dimensional bond network interactions that serve to lengthen the Nb=O bond and thereby decrease the primary distortion of the [NbOF5]2- anion are illustrated in the structures of three new niobium oxide fluoride phases, [4-apyH]2[Cu(4-apy)4(NbOF5)2] (4-apy = 4-aminopyridine), Cd(3-apy)4NbOF5 (3-apy = 3-aminopyridine), and Cu(3-apy)4NbOF5, that were synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction. Crystal data for [4-apyH]2[Cu(4-apy)4(NbOF5)2]: tetragonal, space group /4(1)/ acd (No. 142), with a = 20.8745(8) A, c = 17.2929(9) A, and Z= 8. Cd(3-apy)4NbOF5: tetragonal, space group P4(3) (No. 78), with a = 8.4034(4) A, c = 34.933(3) A, and Z = 4. Cu(3-apy)4NbOF5: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), with a = 8.822(1) A, b = 16.385(3) A, c = 8.902(1) A, beta = 109.270(3) degrees, and Z = 2.