Efficient Access to Substituted Silafluorenes by Nickel‐Catalyzed Reactions of Biphenylenes with Et2SiH2

The reaction of biphenylene ( 1 ) with Et₂SiH₂ in the presence of [Ni(PPhMe₂)₄] results in the formation of a mixture of 2‐diethylhydrosilylbiphenyl [ 2 (Et₂HSi)] and 9,9,‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 3 ). Silafluorene 3 was isolated in 37.5 % and 2 (Et₂HSi) in 36.9 % yield. The underlying reaction mechanism was elucidated by DFT calculations. 4‐Methyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 7 ) was obtained selectively from the [Ni(PPhMe₂)₄]‐catalyzed reaction of Et₂SiH₂ and 1‐methylbiphenylene. By contrast, no selectivity could be found in the Ni‐catalyzed reaction between Et₂SiH₂ and the biphenylene derivative that bears tBu substituents in the 2‐ and 7‐positions. Therefore, two pairs of isomers of tBu‐substituted silafluorenes and of the related diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls were formed in this reaction. However, a subsequent dehydrogenation of the diethylhydrosilylbiphenyls with Wilkinson’s catalyst yielded a mixture of 2,7‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 8 ) and 3,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐9,9‐diethyl‐9‐silafluorene ( 9 ). Silafluorenes 8 and 9 were separated by column chromatography.     

Mobility and lifetime of negative charges in liquid H2

Recent experiments on the mobility ofe ^– in liquid H₂ have shown features that differ drastically from those of liquid He, although the adopted theories for such mobilities are quite similar. The differences are attributed to the existence of a second type of charge carriers (different from bubbles), namely H^–(H₂) _x -clusters. The effective radius and the decay channels of these carriers are investigated theoretically.P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Russian, Leninsky prospect 53, Moscow 117924, Russia     

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Cuw20 Composites Synthesized by Explosive Compaction of Bimetallic Nanoparticles

Russian Physics Journal - The paper considers the physical and mechanical properties of bimetallic tungsten-copper powders after explosive compaction. This method is used to produce rather dense...     

Statistical mechanics of the glass transition in one-component liquids with an anisotropic potential

We study a recently introduced model of one-component glass-forming liquids whose constituents interact with an anisotropic potential. This system is interesting per se and as a model of liquids such as glycerol (interacting via hydrogen bonds) which are excellent glass formers. We work out the statistical mechanics of this system, encoding the liquid and glass disorder using appropriate quasiparticles (36 of them). The theory provides a full explanation of the glass transition phenomenology, including the identification of a diverging length scale and a relation between the structural changes and the diverging relaxation times.     

Metallomacrocycles from ditopic chiral scorpionate ligands

Rare examples of heteroditopic scorpionate ligands [m-(pz(HO)BtBu)(pz2BtBu)C6H4]2- ([m]2-) and [p-(pz(HO)BtBu)(pz2BtBu)C6H4]2- ([p]2-) are reported. As a unique feature, both ligands possess a chiral boron centre. Treatment of [m]2- and [p]2- with FeII and CoII ions, respectively, gives the dinuclear metallomacrocycles [FeII2(micro-m)2] and [CoII2(micro-p)2]. The molecular structures of the colourless complex [FeII2(micro-m)2] and the red-purple complex [CoII2(micro-p)2] have been determined by X-ray crystallography. To meet the geometric requirements of macrocycle formation, the two asymmetric boron centres have opposite absolute configurations in the case of [FeII2(micro-m)2] and the same configuration in [CoII2(micro-p)2].     

Influence of micellar media on the fluorescence of various benzo- and methyl-quinolizinium salts

The bebaviour of several different micelar systems (anionic, cationic and non-ionic) on the fluorescence of quinolizinium salts is studied. Important factors, such as pH and ionic strength that influence fluorescence parameters, are discussed. Fourteen quinolizinium salts (benzo and methyl derivatives) are examined as fluorescent probes in micellar media. All of them showed a marked increase of fluorescence intensity when sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions of critical micelle concentration (CMC) are added. The presence of non-ionic surfactants did not change the fluorescent emission of the probes. The emission intensity is much decreased when N-cetyl-N,N,N- trimethylammonium bromide concentrations are above the CMC. Changes in pH ido not significantly affect the fluorescence intensity of the benzo derivatives. Increasing the ionic strength decreases the fluorescence. For 9-cyanobenzo[a]phenanthro [9,10-g] quinolizinium chloride, the spectrum changes when the surfactant concentration is high than the CMC thereforre this compound is considered to be a good fluorescent probe in icell