The evaluation of singlet-triplet separations for [W2(μ-H)(μ-Cl)Cl4(μ-dppm)2] and [W2(μ-H)2 (μ-O2CC6H5)2(P(C6H5)3)2] based on P NMR and crystallographic data

The singlet-triplet separations for the edge-sharing bioctahedral (ESBO) complex W₂(μ-H)(μ-Cl)(Cl₄(μ-dppm)₂ · (THF)₃ (II) has been studied by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The structural characterization of [W₂(μ-H)₂(μ-O₂CC₆H₅)₂Cl₂(P(C₆H₅)₃)₂] (I) by single-crystal X-ray crystallography has allowed the comparison of the energy of the HOMOLUMO separation determined using the Fenske-Hall method for a series of ESBO complexes with two hydride bridging atoms, two chloride bridging atoms and the mixed case with a chloride and hydride bridging atom. The complex representing the mixed case, [W₂(μ-H)(μ-Cl)Cl₄(μ-dppm)₂ · (THF)₃] (II), has been synthesized and the value of −2J determined from variable-temperature ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.     

The microwave heating of two-dimensional slabs with small Arrhenius absorptivity

The microwave heating of two-dimensional slabs in a long rectangularwaveguide propagating the TE₁₀ mode is examined. The temperaturedependency of the electrical conductivity and the thermal absorptivityis assumed to be governed by the Arrhenius law, while both theelectrical permittivity and the magnetic permeability are assumedconstant. The governing equations are the forced heat equationand the steady-state version of Maxwell's equation while theboundary conditions take into account both convective and radiativeheat loss. Approximate analytical solutions, valid for smallthermal absorptivity, are found for the temperature and theelectric-field amplitude using the Galerkin method. As the Arrheniuslaw is not amenable analytically, it is approximated by a rational-cubicfunction. At the steady state the temperature versus power relationshipis found to be multivalued; at the critical power level thermalrunaway occurs when the temperature jumps from the lower (cool)temperature branch to the upper (hot) temperature branch ofthe solution. In the steady-state limit the approximate analyticalsolutions are compared with the numerical solutions of the governingequations for various special cases. These are the limits ofsmall and large heat loss and an intermediate case involvingradiative heat loss. Results are also presented for a case wheredifferential cooling occurs on the different sides on the slab.An alternative heating scenario, where one end of the waveguideis blocked by a short, is also considered. The approximate solutionsare found for this geometry and compared in the small Biot-numberlimit to Kriegsmann (1997). Also, a control process is presented,which allows thermal runaway to be avoided and the desired finalsteady state to be reached. Various special cases of the feedbackparameters associated with the control process are examined.     

Bi-directional modulation of AMPA receptor unitary conductance by synaptic activity

Background  

Knowledge of how synapses alter their efficiency of communication is central to the understanding of learning and memory. The most extensively studied forms of synaptic plasticity are long-term potentiation (LTP) and its counterpart long-term depression (LTD) of AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, it has been shown that LTP often involves a rapid increase in the unitary conductance of AMPA receptor channels. However, LTP can also occur in the absence of any alteration in AMPA receptor unitary conductance. In the present study we have used whole-cell dendritic recording, failures analysis and non-stationary fluctuation analysis to investigate the mechanism of depotentiation of LTP.     

The evaluation of singlet-triplet separations for [W2(μ-H)(μ-Cl)Cl4(μ-dppm)2] and [W2(μ-H)2 (μ-O2CC6H5)2(P(C6H5)3)2] based on P NMR and crystallographic data

The singlet-triplet separations for the edge-sharing bioctahedral (ESBO) complex W₂(μ-H)(μ-Cl)(Cl₄(μ-dppm)₂ · (THF)₃ (II) has been studied by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. The structural characterization of [W₂(μ-H)₂(μ-O₂CC₆H₅)₂Cl₂(P(C₆H₅)₃)₂] (I) by single-crystal X-ray crystallography has allowed the comparison of the energy of the HOMOLUMO separation determined using the Fenske-Hall method for a series of ESBO complexes with two hydride bridging atoms, two chloride bridging atoms and the mixed case with a chloride and hydride bridging atom. The complex representing the mixed case, [W₂(μ-H)(μ-Cl)Cl₄(μ-dppm)₂ · (THF)₃] (II), has been synthesized and the value of −2J determined from variable-temperature ³¹P NMR spectroscopy.     

A new route to coordination complexes of nitroxyl (HN=O) via insertion reactions of nitrosonium triflate with transition-metal hydrides

Nitrosonium triflate reacts with cold methylene chloride solutions of mer,trans-ReH(CO)3(PPh3)2 (1) with 1,1-insertion of NO+ into the Re-H bond to give the orange nitroxyl complex [mer,trans-Re(NH=O)(CO)3(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (3) in 86% isolated yield. Use of [NO][PF6] or [NO][BF4] gives analogous insertion products at low temperature, which decompose on warning to ambient temperature to the fluoride complex mer,trans-ReF(CO)3(PPh3)2 (4). A related 1,1-insertion is observed in the reaction of 1 with [PhN2][PF6] in acetone that affords the yellow-orange phenyldiazene salt [mer,trans-Re(NH=NPh)(CO)3(PPh3)2][PF6] (2), which has been characterized by X-ray crystallographic methods. The methyl derivative mer,trans-Re(CH3)(CO)3(PPh3)2 (5) also undergoes a 1,1-insertion reaction with [NO][SO3CF3] to give the nitrosomethane adduct [mer,trans-Re{N(CH3)=O}(CO)3(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (6) as red crystals in 75% yield. The nitroxyl complex [cis,trans-OsBr(NH=O)(CO)2(PPh3)2][SO3CF3] (8) can be similarly prepared as orange crystals in 52% yield by reaction of cis,trans-OsHBr(CO)2(PPh3)2 (7) with [NO][SO3CF3] in cold methylene chloride solution.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of 2,6-dimesitylphenyl complexes of scandium, ytterbium, and yttrium

The molecular structures of a number of 2,6-dimesitylphenyl-based (2,6-dimesitylphenyl = Dmp) complexes of the group 3 elements scandium and yttrium as well as of the lanthanide element ytterbium are reported. Reaction of 1 equiv of DmpLi with 1 equiv of MCl(3) (M = Sc, Yb, Y) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature followed by crystallization from toluene/hexanes at -30 degrees C produces DmpMCl(2)(THF)(2) (M = Sc: 1; M = Yb: 2) and DmpMCl(2)(THF)(3) (M = Y: 3), respectively. The one-pot reaction of DmpLi with 1 equiv of YbCl(3) in tetrahydrofuran at room temperature followed by addition of 1 equiv of KO(t)Bu produces the heterobimetallic monoalkoxide complex DmpYb(THF)(O(t)Bu)(mu-Cl)(2)Li(THF)(2) (4), which was crystallized from toluene/tetrahydrofuran (20:1) at -30 degrees C. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, P2(1)/n; T = 203 K; a = 10.178(3) A; b = 15.468(3) A; c = 20.132(5) A; beta = 101.85(3) degrees; V = 3102.0(17) A(3); Z' = 4; D(calcd) = 1.228 g cm(-3); R(1) = 5.89%. Crystal data for 2: monoclinic, P2(1)/n; T = 173 K; a = 10.2447(7) A; b = 15.5683(12) A; c = 20.0979(14) A; beta = 101.749(4) degrees; V = 3238.3(5) A(3); Z' = 4; D(calcd) = 1.485 g cm(-3); R(1) = 4.32%. Crystal data for 3: monoclinic, P2(1)/n; T = 203 K; a = 15.950(3) A; b = 11.865(2) A; c = 18.254(3) A; beta = 92.323(3) degrees; V = 3451.9(10) A(3); Z' = 4; D(calcd) = 1.327 g cm(-)(3); R(1) = 4.43%. Crystal data for 4: triclinic, P1; T = 193 K; a = 10.2252(2) A; b = 11.3497(2) A; c = 18.5814(2) A; alpha = 98.7353(6) degrees; beta = 102.8964(6) degrees; gamma = 94.8058(5) degrees; V = 2062.09(5) A(3); Z' = 2; D(calcd) = 1.375 g cm(-3); R(1) = 4.56%. The molecular structures of 1-3 feature monomeric complexes with distorted trigonal-bipyramidal (1 and 2) or octahedral (3) coordination geometry about the metal atom, with the two chlorine atoms occupying the axial positions. 4 represents the first example of an alkoxide derivative of a terphenyl lanthanide complex. The molecular structure of the ate complex 4 exhibits a heavily distorted trigonal-bipyramidal coordination polyhedron about the ytterbium atom, with one of the mu-chlorine atoms and the oxygen atom of the tetrahydrofuran ligand representing the axial positions of the trigonal-bipyramidal arrangement. A terminal alkoxide ligand is another main feature of the molecular structure of complex 4.     

A synthetic, structural, magnetic, and spectral study of several [Fe[tris(pyrazolyl)methane]2](BF4)2 complexes: observation of an unusual spin-state crossover

The complexes [Fe[HC(3,5-Me2pz)3]2](BF4)2 (1), [Fe[HC(pz)3]2](BF4)2 (2), and [Fe[PhC(pz)2(py)]2](BF4)2 (3) (pz = 1-pyrazolyl ring, py = pyridyl ring) have been synthesized by the reaction of the appropriate ligand with Fe(BF4)2.6H2O. Complex 1 is high-spin in the solid state and in solution at 298 K. In the solid phase, it undergoes a decrease in magnetic moment at lower temperatures, changing at ca. 206 K to a mixture of high-spin and low-spin forms, a spin-state mixture that does not change upon subsequent cooling to 5 K. Crystallographically, there is only one iron(II) site in the ambient-temperature solid-state structure, a structure that clearly shows the complex is high-spin. M?ssbauer spectral studies show conclusively that the magnetic moment change observed at lower temperatures arises from the complex changing from a high-spin state at higher temperatures to a 50:50 mixture of high-spin and low-spin states at lower temperatures. Complexes 2 and 3 are low-spin in the solid phase at room temperature. Complex 2 in the solid phase gradually changes over to the high-spin state upon heating above 295 K and is completely high-spin at ca. 470 K. In solution, variable-temperature 1H NMR spectra of 2 show both high-spin and low-spin forms are present, with the percentage of the paramagnetic form increasing as the temperature increases. Complex 3 is low-spin at all temperatures studied in both the solid phase and solution. An X-ray absorption spectral study has been undertaken to investigate the electronic spin states of [Fe[HC(3,5-Me2pz)3]2](BF4)2 and [Fe[HC(pz)3]2](BF4)2. Crystallographic information: 2 is monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 10.1891(2) A, b = 7.6223(2) A, c = 17.2411(4) A, beta = 100.7733(12) degrees, Z = 2; 3 is triclinic, P1, a = 12.4769(2) A, b = 12.7449(2) A, c = 13.0215(2) A, alpha = 83.0105(8) degrees, beta = 84.5554(7) degrees, gamma = 62.5797(2) degrees, Z = 2.     

Twisting DNA: single molecule studies

Over the past 10 years a number of new techniques have emerged that allow the manipulation of single DNA molecules and other biopolymers (RNA, proteins, etc.). These experiments have permitted the measurement of the DNA stretching and twisting elasticity and have consequently revealed the essential role played by the DNA mechanical properties in its interactions with proteins. We shall first describe the different methods used to stretch and twist single DNA molecules. We will then focus on its behaviour under torsion, especially by discussing the different methods used to estimate its torsional modulus.     

Reactions of tetrakis(dimethylamide)-titanium, -zirconium and -hafnium with silanes: synthesis of unusual amide hydride complexes and mechanistic studies of titanium-silicon-nitride (Ti-Si-N) formation

M(NMe(2))(4) (M = Ti, Zr, Hf) were found to react with H(2)SiR'Ph (R' = H, Me, Ph) to yield H(2), aminosilanes, and black solids. Unusual amide hydride complexes [(Me(2)N)(3)M(mu-H)(mu-NMe(2))(2)](2)M (M = Zr, 1; Hf, 2) were observed to be intermediates and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. [(Me(2)N)(3)M(mu-D)(mu-NMe(2))(2)](2)M (1-d(2), 2-d(2)) were prepared through reactions of M(NMe(2))(4) with D(2)SiPh(2). Reactions of (Me(2)N)(3)ZrSi(SiMe(3))(3) (5) with H(2)SiR'Ph were found to give aminosilanes and (Me(2)N)(2)Zr(H)Si(SiMe(3))(3) (6). These reactions are reversible through unusual equilibria such as (Me(2)N)(3)ZrSi(SiMe(3))(3) (5) + H(2)SiPh(2) right arrow over left arrow (Me(2)N)(2)Zr(H)Si(SiMe(3))(3) (6) + HSi(NMe(2))Ph(2). The deuteride ligand in (Me(2)N)(2)Zr(D)Si(SiMe(3))(3) (6-d(1)) undergoes H-D exchange with H(2)SiR'Ph (R' = Me, H) to give 6 and HDSiR'Ph. The reaction of Ti(NMe(2))(4) with SiH(4) in chemical vapor deposition at 450 degrees C yielded thin Ti-Si-N ternary films containing TiN and Si(3)N(4). Ti(NMe(2))(4) reacts with SiH(4) at 23 degrees C to give H(2), HSi(NMe(2))(3), and a black solid. HNMe(2) was not detected in this reaction. The reaction mixture, upon heating, gave TiN and Si(3)N(4) powders. Analyses and reactivities of the black solid revealed that it contained -H and unreacted -NMe(2) ligands but no silicon-containing ligand. Ab initio quantum chemical calculations of the reactions of Ti(NR(2))(4) (R = Me, H) with SiH(4) indicated that the formation of aminosilanes and HTi(NR(2))(3) was favored. These calculations also showed that HTi(NH(2))(3) (3b) reacted with SiH(4) or H(3)Si-NH(2) in the following step to give H(2)Ti(NH(2))(2) (4b) and aminosilanes. The results in the current studies indicated that the role of SiH(4) in its reaction with Ti(NMe(2))(4) was mainly to remove amide ligands as HSi(NMe(2))(3). The removal of amide ligands is incomplete, and the reaction thus yielded "=Ti(H)(NMe(2))" as the black solid. Subsequent heating of the black solid and HSi(NMe(2))(3) may then yield TiN and Si(3)N(4), respectively, as the Ti-Si-N materials.