Arylzinc alkoxides: [ArZnOCHPr(i)2]2 and Ar2Zn3(OCHPr(i)2)4 when Ar = C6H5, p-CF3C6H4, 2,4,6-Me3C6H2, and C6F5

From the reactions between diarylzinc compounds (Ar2Zn) and the alcohol (Pr(i)2CHOH) in toluene, the compounds [ArZn(OCHPr(i)2)]2 (Ar = C6H5, C6F5, p-CF3C6H4, and 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) have been isolated and shown to exist in equilibra with the trinuclear complexes Ar2Zn3(OCHPr(i)2)4 and Ar2Zn when Ar = C6H5, C6F5, and p-CF3C6H4. The trinuclear complexes have also been prepared from reactions of the Ar2Zn compounds with the alcohol, which reveals that the ease of Zn-C(aryl) bond cleavage is sensitive to the nature of the Ar group: C6H5 > 4-CF3C6H4 > C6F5. The molecular structures of Ar2Zn3(OCHPr(i)2)4 where Ar = p-CF3C6H4 and C6F5 and [ArZn(OCHPr(i)2)]2 where Ar = C6F5, p-CF3C6H4, and 2,4,6-Me3C6H2 are reported based on single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The X-ray structure of Zn(p-CF3C6H4)2 is also reported. The reactivity of these new compounds toward the polymerization of propylene oxide (PO) and the copolymerization of PO and CO2 have been investigated along with related reactions involving the partial hydrolysis of the Ar2Zn and R2Zn compounds, where R = t-Bu, n-Bu, and n-Oct. These results are compared with the previous studies employing Et2Zn as an organozinc precursor.     

Bis(fluoroalkyl)acrylic and methacrylic phosphate monomers, their polymers and some of their properties

Ten fluoromonomers of structure (R_FO)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ were made in 30-64% yield by treating the chloridates (R_FO)₂P(O)Cl with HOCH₂CH₂OC(O)CRCH₂ in chloroform in the presence of triethylamine [R_F=CF₃CH₂, C₂F₅CH₂, C₃F₇CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂, C₄F₉CH₂CH₂ or C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂; R  H or Me]. The chloromonomer (CCl₃CH₂O)₂P(O)OCH₂CH₂OC(O)CHCH₂ was obtained analogously in 29% yield. Polymerisation of the acrylate monomers, but not the methacrylate monomers, could be effected using α-azoisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. Acrylic polymers having CF₃CH₂O, CCl₃CH₂O and C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chains were obtained as translucent rubbers. Specimens of cotton fabric were treated with solutions of the polymers, and average water and oil repellency ratings measured. Fabric coated with the polymer with the C₆F₁₃CH₂CH₂O side-chain afforded protection from penetration of the test liquids. Treated fabrics were subjected to the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test according to BS EN ISO 4589-2 (1999): this test determines the point at which a material just burns in a volumetric flow of oxygen and nitrogen. The treated fabrics were more fire-resistant (LOI 22-29%) than the untreated fabric (LOI 18%). Fabric coated with the CCl₃CH₂O-based polymer can be considered fire-retardant (LOI 29%). The fluoromonomers were tested for anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and were found to be poor enzyme inhibitors; they are predicted to possess low acute toxicity.     

Oxalate-bridged dinuclear M2 units: dimers of dimers, cyclotetramers, and extended sheets (m = Mo, W, Tc, Ru, and Rh)

The electronic structures of D(4h)-M(2)(O(2)CH)(4) and the oxalate-bridged complexes D(2h)-[(HCO(2))(3)M(2)](2)(mu-O(2)CCO(2)) and D(4h)-[(HCO(2))(2)M(2)](4)(mu-O(2)CCO(2))(4) have been investigated by a symmetry analysis of their MM and oxalate-based frontier orbitals, as well as by electronic structure calculations on the model formate complexes (M = Mo and W {d(4)-d(4)}, Tc, Ru {d(6)-d(6)}, and Rh {d(7)-d(7)}). Significant changes in the ordering, interactions, and electronic occupation of the molecular orbitals (MOs) arise through both the progression from d(4) to d(7) metals and the change from second to third row transition metals. For M = Mo and W, the highest-occupied orbitals are delta based, while the lowest-unoccupied orbitals are oxalate pi based; for M = Tc, the highest-occupied orbitals are an energetically tight delta-based set of MOs, while the lowest-unoccupied orbitals are MM-based pi. For both Ru and Rh, the highest-occupied MOs are the MM pi* and delta*, respectively, while the lowest-unoccupied MOs, in both instances, are MM-based sigma. With the exception of M = Ru, all of the complexes are closed shell. From the progression M(2) --> [M(2)](2) --> [M(2)](4), we can envision the nature of bandlike structures for a 2-dimensional square grid of formula [M(2)(mu-O(2)CCO(2))](infinity). Only for Mo and W oxalates should good electronic communication between MM centers generate a band of significant width to lead to metallic conductivity upon oxidation.     

Adsorptive stripping voltammetry of bovine serum albumin

The behaviour of bovine serum albumin in cyclic voltammetry and differential-pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry is described. Under the optimized conditions, with an accumulation potential of +0.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and accumulation times of 50 s or 120 s, linear calibration graphs were obtained for 1.0–4.0×10^?8 M BSA and 0.2–1.5×10^?8 M BSA, respectively.     

Tetrakis(5‐tert‐butylpyrazole‐1κN2)tetrachloro‐1κCl,2κ3Cl‐μ‐oxo‐1:2κ2O‐diiron(III)

The title compound, [Fe₂Cl₄O(C₇H₁₂N₂)₄], contains vertex‐sharing distorted tetrahedral [FeOCl₃]^? and octahedral [FeOCl(Hpz^tBu)₄]⁺ moieties (Hpz^tBu is 5‐tert‐­butyl­pyrazole), linked by a bent oxo bridging ligand. The two Fe^III centres are also bridged by intramolecular hydrogen bonds between the pyrazole N—H groups and the O^2? and Cl^? ligands.     

Analysis of methoxypyrazines in wine using headspace solid phase microextraction with isotope dilution and comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

This study reports an optimized headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) method for the determination of methoxypyrazines in wine. Analysis was performed by using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography with novel detection capabilities, including nitrogen phosphorus detection (GC x GC-NPD) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC-TOFMS). In the latter, stable isotope dilution was performed for the quantitation of 2-methoxy-3-(2-methylpropyl) pyrazine (IBMP), using labelled 2-(2H3)methoxy-3-(2-methylpropyl)pyrazine (d3-IBMP) as the internal standard, and resolution of the two analogues was facilitated using the deconvolution capabilities of the TOFMS. This research represents the first report of HS-SPME with isotope dilution and GC x GC-TOFMS (GC x GC-IDTOFMS). Analysis by GC x GC-NPD enabled detection limits of 0.5 ng/L for the quantitation of IBMP, which was superior to that obtained using GC x GC-IDTOFMS (1.95 ng/L). Nevertheless, both methods were adequately sensitive for real wine analysis, yielding highly comparable IBMP concentrations of 26.1 and 27.8 ng/L, respectively, from a Sauvignon blanc wine. The complexity of the real wine headspace was simplified as a result of selective detection using GC x GC-NPD and, in the case of GC x GC-IDTOFMS, the use of extracted ion chromatograms (EICs).     

European Synchrotron Users Unified

The landscape of synchrotron radiation facilities in Europe is diverse. In addition to the flagship ESRF, several national facilities exist or came into operation recently. In contrast to ESRF, which is financed for use by member countries, access of foreign users to national facilities is not easy. Even if their proposals pass the review process, they can only perform the experiments if funding is allocated to cover not only travel expenses, board and lodging of the experimenters, but also some compensation for the facility's operational costs; this is because national facilities are primarily funded for the home-country's users at that nation's costs.     

Hexasulfanyl analogues of cyclotriveratrylene

The synthesis of four 3,4-di(alkylsulfanyl)benzyl alcohol derivatives is described, in five steps from methyl 3,4-di(hydroxy)benzoate via a Newman–Kwart rearrangement. Incubation of these derivatives in formic acid affords 2,3,7,8,12,13-hexakis(alkylsulfanyl)-10,15-dihydro-5H-tribenzo[a,d,g]cyclononene products, which are hexa-sulfanyl analogues of the well-known supramolecular cavitand host, cyclotriveratrylene (CTV). The yield of this cyclization depends strongly on the alkylsulfanyl substituents present, in the order SMe > SEt ≈ SiPr ? SBn. A crystal structure determination of one of the cyclotrimers shows a mode of self-association that is commonly exhibited by CTV itself.