Ethylene tetramerization: a new route to produce 1-octene in exceptionally high selectivities

Linear alpha-olefins, such as 1-hexene and 1-octene, are important comonomers in the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). The conventional method of producing 1-hexene and 1-octene is by oligomerization of ethylene, which yields a wide spectrum of linear alpha-olefins (LAOs). While there exists several processes for producing 1-hexene via ethylene trimerization, a similar route for the selective production of 1-octene has so far been elusive. We now, for the first time, report an unprecedented ethylene tetramerization reaction that produces 1-octene in selectivities exceeding 70%, using an aluminoxane-activated chromium/((R2)2P)2NR1 catalyst system.     

Anatoxins and degradation products, determined using hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight and quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry: forensic investigations of cyanobacterial neurotoxin poisoning

The potent neurotoxins from cyanobacteria, anatoxin-a (AN), its methyl analogue, homoanatoxin-a (HMAN), and their degradation products, have been studied using nano-electrospray hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QqTOF-MS). The anatoxin degradation products, which are readily produced in vivo by either reduction or epoxidation, were also examined in this study. The high mass accuracy QqTOF-MS data was used to confirm formula assignments for major product ions and quadrupole ion-trap (QIT)-MS was used to construct fragmentation pathways for anatoxins. Significant differences between these fragmentation pathways were observed. Comparisons between the spectra of compounds that differ in side-chain length (the AN and HMAN series) were used to identify ions that are characteristic of the homologues. The application to forensic samples in which the principal neurotoxin had undergone rapid biodegradation has been demonstrated and used to confirm anatoxin poisoning of dogs.     

Measurement of the hyperfine field at Gd in ZrFe2 using the TDPAC method

A hyperfine field of 46.9±4.0 T at Gd nuclei in the intermetallic compound ZrFe₂ was measured by the time-differential perturbed angular correlation method. This result indicates an additional contribution of 81 T to that measured in gadolinium metal and suggests a similarity between the magnetic properties of ZrFe₂ and those of the rareearth intermetallic compounds.     

Template-controlled reactivity: Following nature's way to design and construct metal-organic polyhedra and polygons

We show how a template-controlled reaction performed in the organic solid state can be used to construct a molecule that functions as an organic building unit of both a metal-organic polyhedron and polygon. The template is a small organic molecule that organizes two olefins via hydrogen bonds for a [2+2] photodimerization. The process of utilizing a molecule to build a molecule that is subsequently used for self-assembly is inspired by the general two-step process of template-directed synthesis and self-assembly of Nature that is used to construct large, functional self-assembled structures.     

Macrocyclic copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes incorporating phosphate esters

Slow evaporation of solutions prepared by adding either Cu(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O or Zn(ClO(4))(2).6H(2)O to solutions containing appropriate proportions of Me(3)tacn (1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) and sodium phenyl phosphate (Na(2)PhOPO(3)) gave dark blue crystals of [Cu(3)(Me(3)tacn)(3)(PhOPO(3))(2)](ClO(4))(2).(1)/(2)H(2)O (1) and colorless crystals of [Zn(2)(Me(3)tacn)(2)(H(2)O)(4)(PhOPO(3))](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O (2), respectively. Blue crystals of [Cu(tacn)(2)](BNPP)(2) (3) formed in an aqueous solution of [Cu(tacn)Cl(2)], bis(p-nitrophenyl phosphate) (BNPP), and HEPES buffer (pH 7.4). Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 9.8053(2) A, b = 12.9068(2) A, c = 22.1132(2) A, alpha = 98.636(1) degrees, beta = 99.546(1) degrees, gamma = 101.1733(8) degrees, and Z = 2 and exhibits trinuclear Cu(II) clusters in which square pyramidal metal centers are capped by two phosphate esters located above and below the plane of the metal centers. The trinuclear cluster is asymmetric having Cu...Cu distances of 4.14, 4.55, and 5.04 A. Compound 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c (No. 14) with a = 13.6248(2) A, b = 11.6002(2) A, c = 25.9681(4) A, beta = 102.0072(9) degrees, and Z = 4 and contains a dinuclear Zn(II) complex formed by linking two units of [Zn(Me(3)tacn)(OH(2))(2)](2+) by a single phosphate ester. Compound 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c (No. 15) with a = 24.7105(5) A, b = 12.8627(3) A, c = 14.0079(3) A, beta = 106.600(1) degrees, and Z = 4 and consists of mononuclear [Cu(tacn)(2)](2+) cations whose charge is balanced by the BNPP(-) anions.     

The effect of triethylenetetraamine (Trien) on the ion flotation of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+)

Ion flotation is a separation process involving the adsorption of a surfactant and counterions at an air/aqueous solution interface. It shows promise for removing toxic heavy metal ions from dilute aqueous solutions. Here we report the effect of a neutral chelating ligand, triethylenetetraamine (Trien), on the ion flotation of cations with dodecylsulfate, DS(-), introduced as sodium dodecylsulfate, SDS. Ion flotation in the aqueous SD-Cu(II)-Ca(II)-Trien system gave strongly preferential removal of Cu(II) over Ca(II), which is a reversal of the order of selectivity seen in the SDS-Cu(II)-Ca(II) system containing no Trien. The removal rates of Cu(2+) and Ni(2+) with DS(-) were much faster in the presence of Trien than for simple aquo ions, and the final metal concentration was significantly lower. Surface tension measurements showed that Trien enhanced the surface activity and adsorption density for SDS-Cu(II) and SDS-Ni(II) solutions. The overall change in the Gibbs free energy for adsorption resulting from complexation was -3.60 kJ/mol for Cu(II) and -3.50 kJ/mol for Ni(II). This included the effects of hydrophobic interactions between the metal-Trien complexes at the air/solution interface, along with changes in the amount of dehydration associated with cosorption of the metal-Trien complex with DS(-) at the air/solution interface.     

Ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides

DTA curves were run for the ethylenebisdithiocarbamate fungicides maneb, mancozeb and zineb in a nitrogen atmosphere. Zineb produces a curve quite different from the others, with weak endothermic peaks at 166°C, 252°C and 293°C. Maneb and mancozeb have a relatively strong endothermic peak at 185–190°C corresponding to carbon disulphide evolution and a weaker endothemic peak at 290°C corresponding to hydrogen sulphide evolution. Maneb samples and some mancozeb samples also had a minor endothermic peak at 235°C, but this peak was lost after solvent extraction, which proved that it was due to an impurity or impurities. Elemental sulphur was found in the extract and on mixing sulphur with mancozeb, the peak at 235°C made its appearance. There is no distinguishing feature between the DTA curves for maneb and mancozeb. The shapes of the curves are, within experimental limits, indistinguishable, which means that the temperatures and energies of decomposition are the same. The chemist is left with the question whether differences in structure between maneb and mancozeb should lead to different DTA curves.     

The Methoxycarbonylation of Vinyl Acetate Catalyzed by Palladium Complexes of [1,2‐Phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[di(tert‐butyl)phosphine]

Palladium complexes of [1,2‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis[di(tert‐butyl)phosphine] ( 1 ) catalyze the methoxycarbonylation of vinyl acetate (= ethenyl acetate) in the presence of methanesulfonic acid (Scheme 1). High selectivities to ester products can be obtained if free phosphine ligand is in excess over the amount of added acid (Table 1). Selectivities to methyl 2‐acetoxypropanoate, a precursor to lactate esters, can be as high as 3.6 : 1 at low temperature and pressure (Table 2). Replacing ^tBu by ⁱPr groups leads to less‐active catalysts and lower selectivities to the branched product. Replacing the phenylene moiety by a naphthalenediyl moiety also gives lower activity, but with similar selectivity to the phenylene‐based analogues. Linear hydrocarbon‐chain linkers as the backbone instead of the phenylenebis(methylene) linker leads to poor catalysis, except for a propane‐1,3‐diyl linker, which gives good rates but poor branched selectivity (Table 5). The effect of different reaction conditions on the catalysis is discussed. The syntheses of the new xylene‐based diphosphines 2 – 5 with one to four ⁱPr groups replacing the ^tBu groups at the P‐atoms of 1 and of the ligands 6 and 7 based on 1,2‐ and 2,3‐dimethylnaphthalene are also described (Schemes 2 and 3).