Structure and properties of small silicon and aluminum clusters

Small Si_n and Al_n clusters (n = 3–10) were studied with the semiempirical molecular orbital method (MO) method SINDO1. For each n, various structures were optimized to determine the most stable structure. To obtain good qualitative agreement with available ab initio calculations d orbitals had to be omitted from the basis set. Both silicon and aluminum tend to build three-dimensional structures rather than two- or one-dimensional structures, except for n = 3 or 4. The structure growth was studied by approaching various sites of stable structures with one or more atoms. It was found that silicon and aluminum exhibit different structure growth, and consequently, different most-stable structures. Ionization potentials, HOMO -LUMO energy differences, binding energies per atom, and average atomic valencies are presented.     

On the enantioselective hydrogenation of isomeric methyl 3-acetamidobutenoates with RhI complexes

The enantioselective hydrogenation of E- and Z-methyl 3-acetamidobutenoate, key intermediates in the synthesis of a pharmaceutically important chiral beta-amino acid, with RhI catalysts in MeOH as solvent has been investigated in detail. As chiral ligands, Et-DuPHOS, Me4-BASPHOS, DI-PAMP, DIOP, HO-DIOP and Et-Ferro-TANE have been employed. The particular role of oxyfunctionalization in some diphosphine catalysts is addressed in relation to the E/Z geometry of the substrate and the dependency of the ee on the H2 pressure. Kinetic investigations with [Rh(diphosphane)(MeOH)2]-BF4, taking into consideration the special nature of the precatalyst [[Rh-(cod)2]BF4/ligand versus [Rh(cod)ligand)]BF4], NMR spectroscopic measurements and the H2 pressure dependence of the observed enantioselectivity provide evidence that the reaction proceeds via an "unsaturated route" mechanism. This mechanism correlates to catalytic features found in the past for the hydrogenation of related unsaturated alpha-amino acid precursors. The influence of the temperature was similarly investigated. A nonlinear dependency of the enantiomeric ratio as a function of the reciprocal of the temperature has been found. The correlation between temperature and H2 pressure and their effects on the enantioselectivity is discussed. In general, the highest enantioselectivities for the hydrogenation of both isomeric substrates can be achieved at room temperature and below, whereas the fastest conversion takes place at 30-50 degrees C.     

Solid state analysis in mechanochemistry by high resolution 27Al solid state NMR spectroscopy

Modern solid state NMR techniques [one-dimensional magic angle spinning (MAS) and two-dimensional quadrupole nutation experiments with MAS] are applied for the characterization of mechanochemically activated inorganic powders such as hydrargillite [γ-Al(OH)₃] and pseudo-boehmite [synthetic γ-AlO(OH)]. The materials were activated in a vibration mill.     

Synthese und reaktionsverhalten asymmetrischer metallacyclen des palladiums und platins

The preparation, properties and the complexation behaviour of o-lithiobenzyldiorganoarsines are described. Halogen-bridged binuclear complexes of the type [μ-Cl$\text{M(}\text{o}\text{-C}{}_6\text{C}{}_4\text{CH}{}_2\text{E}$R₂)]₂ (M = Pd, Pt; E = N,P) react with o-LiC₆H₄CH₂ER₂ (E = N, P, As), to form asymmetric metallacycles with two different donor atoms in the molecule. Some physical and chemical properties of these interesting complexes are discussed.     

C-Glucuronides,a Novel Type of Drug Metabolites

The structure elucidation of C-β-glucuronides of sulfinpyrazone (Anturan^®) and phenylbutazone (Butazolidin^®) by spectroscopic means is reported. These conjugates represent a novel type of drug metabolites.     

Über Enolderivate der Chlorophyllreihe. Darstellung von 132,173-Cyclophäophorbid-enolen. Vorläufige Mitteilung

Enol derivatives in the chlorophyll series. Preparation of 13²,17³-cyclopheophorbide enols 13²,17³-Cyclopheophorbide enols have been prepared as model systems for studying the effect of ring E enolization upon the properties of chlorophyll derivatives.     

Novel High-Performance Ceramics—Amorphous Inorganic Networks from Molecular Precursors

Materials research is an interdisciplinary field in which engineers and physical scientists work together. Since the major binary oxides, nitrides, and carbides, which are currently used as high-performance ceramics, were discovered in the last century, the role of chemistry in the development of materials has become barely noticeable. This has changed only in the recent past as, for example, purity and defined morphology of starting powders were recognized as crucial parameters for enhancing the reliability of ceramic workpieces. While the application of chemical methods led to gradual–though significant–improvements, the true potential of chemistry lies rather in the exploitation of new chemical systems and the development of new preparative routes to already known materials. Such an approach is the preparation of ceramics from molecular or polymeric precursors. Herein we survey the most important contributions to those preparative routes starting from the pioneering work in the 1960s and the 1970s; a certain emphasis is placed on the concepts that we have applied to the preparation of multinary, nonoxide materials and amorphous inorganic networks. The name “amorphous high-performance ceramics” is in fact a contradiction in terms. Such materials are thermodynamically unstable with respect to the transformation or decomposition to crystalline phases, thus excluding their application in sensitive areas at high temperatures. However, the selection of element combinations for which the binding energies are derived from strong, local covalent bonds and which are therefore less dependent on a long-range crystalline order, can yield amorphous materials of remarkable thermal and mechanical durability. This is exemplified by novel quaternary ceramics in the Si/B/N/C system, for which an efficient synthesis, starting from raw materials suitable for industrial production, has been developed. For instance, a material of the composition SiBN₃C remains amorphous up to 1900°C, which is unique, and, with respect to oxidation, is the most stable nonoxide ceramic known to date. Another advantage of this in several respects unsurpassed material is the simple way, in which the viscosity of the polymeric precursors can be adjusted to various methods of shaping. So far infiltrations and coatings have been realized. Most developed is the preparation of fibers, which in terms of their performance characteristics are significantly better than those currently available.     

A New Route to the Synthesis of 2-Amino-6-(methoxycarbonyl)amino-4-(tetrahydropyridyl)pyrimidine 1-Oxide

A new approach to 2-amino-6-(methoxycarbonyl)amino-4-(1,2,3,6-tetrahydro-1-pyridyl)pyrimidine 1-oxide ( 3 ) is described. Methyl [1-ethoxy-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-ethylidene]carbamate ( 5 ) reacted with guanidine to the pyrimidinecarbamate 6 , which was successively transformed into methyl 2-amino-6-(p-tolyslulfonyl)oxy-4-pyrimidinecarbamate ( 8 ). Oxidation of 8 led to the corresponding pyrimidine N-oxide 9 , a useful starting material to 3 .     

Metalation of 2HTCNPP on Ag(111) with Zn: Evidence for the Sitting atop Complex at Room Temperature

We study the interaction and metalation reaction of a free base 5,10,15,20-terakis(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (2HTCNPP) with post-deposited Zn atoms and the targeted reaction product Zn-5,10,15,20-terakis(4-cyanophenyl)porphyrin (ZnTCNPP) on a Ag(111) surface. The investigations are performed with scanning tunneling microscopy at room temperature after Zn deposition and subsequent heating. The goal is to obtain further insights in the metalation reaction and the influence of the cyanogroups on this reaction. The interaction of 2HTCNPP with post-deposited Zn leads to the formation of three different 2D ordered island types that coexist on the surface. All contain a new species with a bright appearance, which increases with the amount of post-deposited Zn. We attribute this to metastable SAT (“sitting atop”) complexes formed by Zn and the macrocycle, that is, an intermediate in the metalation reaction to ZnTCNPP, which occurs upon heating to 500 K. Interestingly, the activation barrier for the successive reaction of the SAT complex to the metalated ZnTCNPP species can also be overcome by a voltage pulse applied to the STM tip.