Vinylic Trifluoromethylselenolation via Pd-Catalyzed C−H Activation

Trifluorometylselenolation via C−H activation is barely described in literature. In particular, no such vinylic functionalization has been yet described. Herein, a palladium-catalyzed trifluoromethylselenolation of vinylic C−H bonds is described. The 5-methoxy-8-aminoquinoline has been used as auxiliary directing group to perform this reaction. The reaction gives excellent yields with α-substituted compounds whatever the substituents and a microwave activation can be used to accelerate the reaction. With β-substituted substrates lower yields, but still satisfactory, are obtained. This methodology was also successfully extended to other fluoroalkylselenyl groups.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Energetic Properties of Salts of the 1-Cyanomethyl-1,1-dimethylhydrazinium Cation

1,1-Dimethylhydrazine can be readily alkylated with bromoacetonitrile to form 1-cyanomethyl-1,1-dimethylhydrazinium bromide ([(CH₃)₂N(CH₂CN)NH₂]Br, 1 ). The metathesis reaction of compound 1 led to the formation of a new family of energetic salts based on the [(CH₃)₂N(CH₂CN)NH₂]⁺ cation and nitrate ( 2 ), perchlorate ( 3 ), azide ( 4 ), 5-aminotetrazolate ([H₂N-CN₄]⁻, 5 ), 5,5′-azobistetrazolate ([N₄C-NN-CN₄]²⁻, 7 ), and picrate ( 8 ) anions. The new materials were characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, and (multinuclear) NMR and vibrational (infrared and Raman) spectroscopies. Additionally, the molecular structure of the [(CH₃)₂N(CH₂CN)NH₂]⁺ cation in compounds 1 , 3 , and 8 and that of sodium 5,5′-azobistetrazolate octahydrate (NaZT⋅8 H₂O) were solved by X-ray diffraction techniques. The hydrogen-bonding networks found in the structure of salts 1 , 3 , 8 , and NaZT⋅8 H₂O are described using graph-set analysis. The melting and decomposition points of the new compounds were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, and insight into their sensitivity towards impact, friction, and electrostatics was gained by submitting the materials to standard tests. Furthermore, we estimated some performance parameters of interest and predicted the decomposition gases formed upon decomposition of salts 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 and of mixtures with an oxidizer. The interesting thermal, sensitivity, and performance properties of some of the compounds described in this work make them attractive towards a prospective energetic application.     

Electron quantum optics in ballistic chiral conductors

The edge channels of the quantum Hall effect provide one dimensional chiral and ballistic wires along which electrons can be guided in an optics‐like setup. Electronic propagation can then be analyzed using concepts and tools derived from optics. After a brief review of electron optics experiments performed using stationary current sources which continuously emit electrons in the conductor, this paper focuses on triggered sources, which can generate on‐demand a single particle state. It first outlines the electron optics formalism and its analogies and differences with photon optics and then turns to the presentation of single electron emitters and their characterization through the measurements of the average electrical current and its correlations. This is followed by a discussion of electron quantum optics experiments in the Hanbury‐Brown and Twiss geometry where two‐particle interferences occur. Finally, Coulomb interactions effects and their influence on single electron states are considered.     

Novel heteroleptic heterobimetallic alkoxide complexes as facile single-source precursors for Ta(5+) doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) nanoparticles

The nanometric mixed tin-titanium oxide doped with a M(5+) cation was recently shown as a promising thermoelectric material. We report here synthesis of novel molecular precursors for above material using a convenient approach of reacting a metal chloride with a metal alkoxide. Heterometallic complexes with simple addition formula [(EtOH)(2)(OEt)(2)Ti(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (1·EtOH) and [(EtOH)(OEt)(3)Ta(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (2) were isolated in quantitative yield, which on recrystallization from isopropanol afforded mixed-alkoxide complexes [(Pr(i)OH)(2)(OPr(i))(2)Ti(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (3) and [(Pr(i)OH)(OPr(i))(3)Ta(μ-OEt)(2)SnCl(4)] (4), respectively, thus indicating the robustness of the heterometallic M(μ-OEt)(2)Sn core in the solution phase. Facile conversion of these precursors to halide-free spinodal form of Ta(5+)-doped TiO(2)-SnO(2) as a potential thermoelectric material is reported.     

Direct Synthesis of Hexagonal NaGdF4 Nanocrystals from a Single‐Source Precursor: Upconverting NaGdF4:Yb3+,Tm3+ and Its Composites with TiO2 for Near‐IR‐Driven Photocatalysis

A novel single‐source precursor NaGd(TFA)₄(diglyme) (TFA=trifluoroacetate) was synthesized, characterized thoroughly, and used to obtain the hexagonal phase of NaGdF₄ nanoparticles as an efficient matrix for lanthanide‐doped upconverting nanocrystals (NCs) that convert near‐infrared radiation into shorter‐wavelength UV/visible light. These NCs were then used to prepare well‐characterized TiO₂@NaGdF₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ nanocomposites to extend the absorption range of the TiO₂ photocatalyst from the UV to the IR region. While the visible/near IR part of the photoluminescent spectra remains almost unaffected by the presence of TiO₂, the UV part is strongly quenched due to the absorption of TiO₂ above its gap at approximately 380 nm by energy transfer or FRET. Preliminary results on the photocatalytic activity of the above obtained nanocomposites are presented.     

Dissymmetric gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes: a key unexpected structural parameter for highly efficient catalysts in the addition of alcohols to internal alkynes

Gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes (Au-NHC) with symmetric (bis-benzyl, -propyl and -mesityl substituents) and dissymmetric (mesityl and alkyl--benzyl or propyl--substituents) NHC ligands were synthesized and tested as catalysts for the addition of methanol to 3-hexyne, as a representative internal alkyne. While symmetric ones--bis-alkyl (propyl or benzyl) or bis-mesityl systems--displayed low activity, dissymmetric Au-NHC systems with one alkyl (benzyl or propyl) and one mesityl groups on the NHC unit were unexpectedly highly active with rates and turnover numbers up to 294,000 h(-1) and 800,000 mol.mol(Au)(-1).     

Synthesis and characterization of a stable copper (I) calix[4]dicyano-diimidazole complex

A new calix[4]dicyano-diimidazole ligand was prepared in two steps from a de-tert-butylated calix[4]arene. The corresponding Cu (I) complex was found to be remarkably stable. The X-ray structure of the latter revealed a mixture of both monomeric-mononuclear and dimeric-dinuclear complexes. Detailed investigations on this copper complex, involving NMR (VT and DOSY), Infra-red, and MS analyses, demonstrated that the dimeric-dinuclear complexe does not exist in solution. Despite the presence of two cyano binding groups on the calixarene platform, every attempts to isolate a stable Cu(II) complex failed.     

Synthesis and evaluation of P-chirogenic monodentate binaphthyl phosphines

P-Chirogenic monodentate binaphthyl phosphines were prepared in five steps from enantiomerically pure BINOL. This approach supposes the utilization of two methods previously developed in our group, the formation of secondary phosphine oxide, and the reduction of tertiary phosphine oxide using the association of tetramethyldisiloxane and Ti(OⁱPr)₄. During the last reduction step, only the formation of the more stable diastereoisomer was observed. This product was employed as a ligand for the palladium catalyzed hydrosilylation of styrene to afford the corresponding alcohol with high yield and enantiomeric excess.     

Potential of multiparametric characterization of foodstuffs by nuclear magnetic resonance to better predict microbial behavior

Numerous predictive microbiology models have been proposed to describe bacterial population behaviors in foodstuffs. These models depict the growth kinetics of particular bacterial strains based on key physico-chemical parameters of food matrices and their storage temperature. In this context, there is a prominent issue to accurately characterize these parameters, notably pH, water activity (a_w), and NaCl and organic acid concentrations. Usually, all these product features are determined using one destructive analysis per parameter at macroscale (>5 g). Such approach prevents an overall view of these characteristics on a single sample. Besides, it does not take into account the intra-product microlocal variability of these parameters within foods. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a versatile non-invasive spectroscopic technique. Experiments can be recorded successively on a same collected sample without damaging it. In this work, we designed a dedicated NMR approach to characterize the microenvironment of foods using 10-mg samples. The multiparametric mesoscopic-scale approach was validated on four food matrices: a smear soft cheese, cooked peeled shrimps, cold-smoked salmon, and smoked ham. Its implementation in situ on salmon fillets enabled to observe the intra-product heterogeneity and to highlight the impact of process on the spatial distribution of pH, NaCl, and organic acids. This analytical development and its successful application can help address the shortcomings of monoparametric methods traditionally used for predictive microbiology purposes.