Ruthenium dihydride complexes: NMR studies of intramolecular isomerization and fluxionality including the detection of minor isomers by parahydrogen-induced polarization

NMR studies reveal that complexes Ru(CO)(2)(H)(2)L(2) (L = PMe(3), PMe(2)Ph, and AsMe(2)Ph) can have three geometries, ccc, cct-L, and cct-CO, with equilibrium ratios that are highly dependent on the electronic properties of L; the cct-L form is favored, because the sigma-only hydride donor is located trans to CO rather than L. When L = PMe(3), the ccc form is only visible when p-H(2) is used to amplify its spectral features. In contrast, when L = AsMe(2)Ph, the ccc and cct-L forms are present in similar quantities and, hence, must have similar free energies; for this complex, however, the cct-CO isomer is also detectable. These complexes undergo a number of dynamic processes. For L(2) = dppe, an interchange of the hydride positions within the ccc form is shown to be accompanied by synchronized CO exchange and interchange of the two phosphorus atoms. This process is believed to involve the formation of a trigonal bipyramidal transition state containing an eta(2)-H(2) ligand; in view of the fact that k(HH)/k(DD) is 1.04 and the synchronized rotation when L(2) = dppe, this transition state must contain little H-H bonding character. Pathways leading to isomer interconversion are suggested to involve related structures containing eta(2)-H(2) ligands. The inverse kinetic isotope effect, k(HH)/k(DD) = 0.5, observed for the reductive elimination of dihydrogen from Ru(CO)(2)(H)(2)dppe suggests that substantial H-H bond formation occurs before the H(2) is actually released from the complex. Evidence for a substantial steric influence on the entropy of activation explains why Ru(CO)(2)(H)(2)dppe undergoes the most rapid hydride exchange. Our studies also indicate that the species [Ru(CO)(2)L(2)], involved in the addition of H(2) to form Ru(CO)(2)(H)(2)L(2), must have singlet electron configurations.     

An anion-dependent switch in selectivity results from a change of C-H activation mechanism in the reaction of an imidazolium salt with IrH5(PPh3)2

Changing the counteranion along the series Br, BF4, PF6, SbF6 in their ion-paired 2-pyridylmethyl imidazolium salts causes the kinetic reaction products with IrH5(PPh3)2 to switch from chelating N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) having normal C2 (N path) to abnormal C5 binding (AN path). Computational work (DFT) suggests that the AN path involves C-H oxidative addition to Ir(III) to give Ir(V) with little anion dependence. The N path, in contrast, goes by heterolytic C-H activation with proton transfer to the adjacent hydride. The proton that is transferred is accompanied by the counteranion in an anion-coupled proton transfer, leading to an anion dependence of the N path, and therefore of the N/AN selectivity. The N path goes via Ir(III), not Ir(V), because the normal NHC is a much less strong donor ligand than the abnormal NHC. PGSE NMR experiments support the formation of ion-pair in both the reactants and the products. 19F,1H-HOESY NMR experiments indicate an ion-pair structure for the products that is consistent with the computational prediction (ONIOM(B3PW91/UFF)).     

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR. 97. Structure, conformation, stereodynamics and enantioseparation of aryl substituted norbornanes

The structure of a 1,7,7-triaryl norbornane (compound 3) has been determined by X-ray diffraction and was found essentially equal to that predicted by molecular mechanics calculations. Restricted rotation of the aryl groups also has been observed by dynamic NMR spectroscopy in this compound and in a number of analogously substituted norbornanes. The aryl-norbornane bond rotation barriers were measured by line shape analysis of the (13)C NMR spectra obtained at temperatures lower than -100 degrees C and were found to cover the range 6.0 to 7.9 kcal mol(-1). An exception was the rotation involving the o-anisyl group in compound 5, which occurs near ambient temperature since the corresponding barrier is much higher (14.4 kcal mol(-1)). In one case (compound 4) configurational enantiomers could be separated by chiral HPLC and the corresponding CD spectra recorded.     

Dimethyl carbonate as a novel methylating reagent for fatty acids in analytical pyrolysis

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was investigated as a mild, harmless and odorless reagent for pyrolytic methylation of fatty acids. Soybean oil was selected as test material for its high content of (poly)unsaturated fatty acids. Pyrolyses were performed at 500, 700 and 900 degrees C by means of a heated platinum filament pyrolyser on-line and off-line to the GC-MS apparatus. Methyl esters of palmitic, linoleic, oleic and stearic acid were formed as prominent products from off-line pyrolysis of soybean oil in the presence of DMC and zeolite 13X. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were not observed at important levels in the absence of zeolite, while on-line Py-GC-MS experiments resulted principally in the formation of free fatty acids and hydrocarbons. The FAME profiles obtained from the DMC/zeolite off-line pyrolysis were compared to those resulting from tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) thermochemolysis and BF3-methanol procedure. The observed differences between pyrolysis and methanolysis methods were principally attributed to the thermal degradation of unsaturated fatty acids. The effectiveness of the DMC/zeolite pyrolytic methylation was further demonstrated by the analysis of tripalmitine and soybean seeds.     

On the reaction of Ph2PNHPPh2 with RNCS (R=Et, Ph, p-NO2C6H4): preparation of the zwitterionic ligand EtNHC(S)Ph2P==NPPh2C(S)NEt (HSNS) and the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)

The reaction of Ph(2)PNHPPh(2) (PNP) with RNCS (Et, Ph, p-NO(2)(C(6)H(4))) gives addition products resulting from the attack of the P atoms of PNP on the electrophilic carbon atom of the isothiocyanate. When PNP is reacted with EtNCS in a 1:2 molar ratio, the zwitterionic molecule EtNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)Et (HSNS) is obtained in high yield. HSNS can be protonated (H(2)SNS(+)) or deprotonated (SNS(-)), behaving in the latter form as an S,N,S-donor pincer ligand. The reaction of HSNS with [(acac)Rh(CO)(2)] (acac=acetylacetonate) affords the zwitterionic metalate [(SNS)Rh(CO)]. Other products can be obtained depending on the R group, the PNP/RNCS ratio (1:1 or 1:2), and the reaction temperature. The proposed product of the primary attack of PNP on RNCS, Ph(2)PN==PPh(2)C(S)NHR (A), cannot be isolated. Reaction of A with another RNCS molecule leads to 1:2 addition compounds of the general formula RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (1), which can rearrange into the non-zwitterionic product RNHC(S)PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2) (2) by eliminating a molecule of RNC. Two molecules of A can react together, yielding 1:1 PNP/RNCS zwitterionic products of the formula RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)]PPh(2)==NP(+)Ph(2)C(S)N(-)R (3). Compound 3 can then rearrange into RNHCH[PPh(2)==NP(S)Ph(2)](2) (4) by losing a RNC molecule. When R=Et (a), compounds 1 a, 2 a (HSNS), and 4 a have been isolated and characterized. When R=Ph (b), compounds 2 b and 4 b can be prepared in high yield. When R=p-NO(2)C(6)H(4) (c), only compound 3 c is observed and isolated in high yield. The crystal structures of HSNS, [(SNS)Rh(CO)], and of the most representative products have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods.     

Uncharged water-soluble Co(II)-porphyrin: a receptor for aromatic alpha-amino acids

Changes in the UV-vis spectra and induced circular dichroism (ICD) signals observed, in correspondence with the porphyrin Soret region, for aqueous solutions of achiral 5,10,15,20-tetrakis{p-[omega-methoxy poly(oxy-ethylene)]phenyl}porphyrin cobalt (II) (Co-P) and aromatic alpha-L-amino acids (Trp and Phe) give direct evidence for the coordination between the Co-P and amino acids. Considering that Co-P, besides the Co atom (one-fixation-point system), does not contain in the molecule active ligand groups and that no ICD signals have been observed in the case of Co-P/Ala, it has been concluded that hydrophobic interactions or stacking interactions between the aromatic rings of the porphyrin and those of Trp or Phe, acting as further amino acid (AA) fixation points, can strongly reduce the mobility of the chiral guest, thus permitting the generation of ICD signals. The effects of changes of both pH (in the range 2-9) and amino acid structure on the ICD phenomenon have also been investigated. In particular, the following have been observed: (i) strong ICD signals for all of the Co-P/N-acetyl amino acid aqueous solutions at pH 7, (ii) an unexpected ICD band with a bisignate form for the Co-P/Ala solution at pH 9 after long aging, and (iii) an opposite ICD signal when alpha-D-Phe and alpha-D-Trp enantiomers have been used. The data reported in this paper show how the binding mechanism between receptor and AAs changes by modulating properly the pH or the molecular structures and indicate that in these aqueous solutions the coordination Co-N is not the fundamental mechanism giving rise to the formation of the complexes and that the binding can be driven by hydrophobic interactions. These occurrences, through the analysis of the spectroscopic response (and, in particular, the form of the ICD band), can allow the recognition of AAs.     

Site-specific ligation of anthracene-1,8-dicarboxylates to an Mn12 core: a route to the controlled functionalisation of single-molecule magnets

A novel single-molecule magnet of the Mn12 family, [Mn12O12(O2CC6H5)8(L)4(H2O)4].8CH2Cl2, has been synthesised by site-specific ligand exchange using a tailor-made dicarboxylate (L2-), which leads to selective occupation of axial binding sites.     

Interpolation,compactness and JEP in soft model theory

Let be the following statement: “for any infinite regularκ, for any uniform ultrafilterD onκ,D isλ-descendingly incomplete for all infiniteλ”. is weaker than ?0^#. Assuming we prove the following: letL be a logic in which the class of sentences of typeτ is a set if so isτ; then: (I)L is compact iffL has JEP; (II)L satisfies Robinson Consistency Theorem iffL is compact and satisfies Craig Interpolation theorem; (III) if, in addition,L is single-sorted, thenL satisfies Robinson Consistency Theorem iffL has JEP^#. JEP (resp. JEP^#) are the natural generalizations for logicL of the familiar Joint Embedding Property of elementary (resp. complete) embeddings in first order logic. As a corollary, we characterize first order logic as the only logic having Löwenheim number equal toω together with JEP.     

Structural characterization techniques for the analysis of semiconductor strained heterostructures

A combined method for structural characterization of strained epitaxial heterostructures involving different techniques such as Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), multiple crystal X-ray diffractometry (MCD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is presented. In order to obtain a complete characterization of the analysed structure, three different quantities are measured independently: the epilayer thickness, the density of misfit dislocations which may appear at the interface, and the significant components of the strain tensor, mainly the tetragonal distortion, affecting the epilayer lattice. In this way the thermodynamic state and the mechanisms of plastic deformation of the structures can be fully investigated. In this contribution we present and discuss the experimental results concerning a set of InP/GaAs samples having different layer thicknesses ranging from 5 to 500 nm. The thickness of the samples has been determined by RBS. Measurements of in-plane strain and tetragonal distortion have been performed by MCD and RBS-channelling respectively, finally TEM has been used for determining the defects densities and distribution.