Mechanism of Elimination Reactions : by W.H. Saunders Jr., and A.F. Cockerill,Wiley, New York,London, 1973,x + 641 pages. ß11.15.

The structure of H₃Os₃(CO)₉CCH₃ has been determined by a combination of nematic-phase PMR and X-ray powder photography; the compound is iso-structural with the analogous H₃Ru₃(CO)₉CCH₃, with an osmium to (bridging) hydride proton distance of 1.82 Å and an OsHOs angle of 103°.     

Reactions of methyl fluorosulphonate and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate with metal complexes

Methyl fluorosulphonate and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate (which is less reactive) have been found to give four distinct types of reaction with transition metal complexes, viz. (a) halogen abstraction, (b) oxidative-addition, (c) alkylation of the coordinated ligands, and (d) oxidation at the metal atom.     

A comment on nitrodesilylation by nitric acid in acetic anhydride,and on the preparation of p-nitrophenyltrimethylsilane

A published statement that the value of nitrodesilylations in HNO₃-CH₃CO)₂O is limited by the danger of explosions is corrected.     

The medium dependence of the rates of base cleavage of carbon—silicon and—tin bonds

Rates of cleavage of Me₃MR compounds (M = Si, R = m-ClC₆H₄CH₂, p-NO₂C₆H₄CH₂, Ph₂CH, 9-fluorenyl, and 2-benzothienyl; M = Sn, R = m-ClC₆H₄CH₂, Ph₂CH, 2-benzothienyl) have been measured in Me₂SO/MeOH/MeONa, Me₂SO/EtOH/EtONa, and Me₂SO/H₂O/HONMe₄ media containing varying amounts of the hydroxylic component. The variations in the slopes of the log k_rel  H plots are consistent with the view that a water or alcohol molecule provides electrophilic assistance in the rate-determining step for the tin compounds with R = m-ClC₆H₄CH₂ and 2-benzothienyl, while for the silicon compounds, and possibly for the tin compound with R = Ph₂CH, carbanions are liberated in the rate-determining step.