Photoreactions of benzonitrile with cyclic enol ethers

Upon irradiation, cyclic enol ethers such as 1-methoxy-cyclopentene (4) mainly add across the cyano group of benzonitrile (1), under formation of 2-azabutadienes of an imidoester type. This is in agreement with the so-called Δ G-correlation which was reported earlier (ref. 5 and 6). 4-Phenyloxazole (9) is formed from 1 and 1,3-dioxole (5) probably by a similar photochemical process followed by electrocyclic ring opening and hydrolysis. The low yield of the latter photoreaction and the almost exergonic electron transfer between 5 and 1 may point to back electron transfer as the main energy wasting process. From 1 and 2,3-dihydrido-furan (2) only the ortho cycloadduct 6 has been isolated in low yields.     

Simultaneous Hydrogen Generation and Exciplex Stimulated Emission in Photobasic Carbon Dots

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising approach to generating sustainable hydrogen. However, the transport of photoelectrons to the catalyst sites, usually within ps-to-ns timescales, is much faster than proton delivery (∼μs), which limits the activity. Therefore, the acceleration of abstraction of protons from water molecules towards the catalytic sites to keep up with the electron transfer rate can significantly promote hydrogen production. The photobasic effect that is the increase in proton affinity upon excitation offers means to achieve this objective. Herein, we design photobasic carbon dots and identify that internal pyridinic N sites are intrinsically photobasic. This is supported by steady-state and ultrafast spectroscopic measurements that demonstrate proton abstraction within a few picoseconds of excitation. Furthermore, we show that in water, they form a unique four-level lasing scheme with optical gain and stimulated emission. The latter competes with photocatalysis, revealing a rather unique mechanism for efficiency loss, such that the stimulated emission can act as a toggle for photocatalytic activity. This provides additional means of controlling the photocatalytic process and helps the rational design of photocatalytic materials.     

Chemistry of polyfunctional molecules-123. Reactions of BiBr3, SbI3 and AsI3 with LiN(PPh2)2; X-ray structure of a cyclophosphazene salt containing arsenic(I)

BiBr₃ or SbI₃ react at 20°C with LiN(PPh₂)₂ (1) to give elementary Bi or Sb and the P---P coupled phosphazene ligand Ph₂P---N=PPh₂---PPh₂=N---PPh₂ (2). The reaction of AsI₃ with 1 at room temperature formed yellow needles of the eight-membered heterocycle (3), whereas AsI₃ interacted at 80°C with 1 in the molar ratio of 1:3 to give elementary arsenic and 2. Treatment of AsI₃ and 1 at 20°C in a 1:2 stoichiometry yielded the seven-membered, cyclic arsenium(I) salt

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I·4THF (5·4THF), which was characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity, mass, IR and NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.     

Solid-state binding of dimethyl sulphoxide involving carboxylic host molecules. X-ray crystal structures of four inclusion species

The crystal structures of four dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) inclusion compounds with different carboxylic acid hosts,1–4, have been studied by single crystal X-ray analysis. Crystals of thetrans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid inclusion compound (1a), [1 · DMSO (1: 1)] show monoclinic (P2₁/n) symmetry with the unit cell dimensionsa = 11.522(4),b = 18.658(2),c = 8.709(1) Å and = 98.92(2)°. The clathrate of the 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (2a), [2 · DMSO (1: 2)] is triclinic (P) with the cell dimensionsa = 15.043(7),b =9.657(4),c = 8.118(7) Å, = 101.81(5), = 96.05(4) and = 100.04(4)°. Triclinic (P) symmetry is shown also by the inclusion compound of 9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11-monocarboxylic acid (3a) [3 · DMSO (1:1)] with the cell dimensionsa=6.3132(1),b=7.9846(2),c=17.5314(4) Å, = 96.46(2), = 87.08(2) and = 106.02(2)°. The 9,9-bianthryl-2-monocarboxylic acid clathrate (4a) [4 · DMSO (1:1)] is monoclinic (P2₁/n) and the cell dimensions area = 19.625(18),b = 8.817(1),c = 14.076(8) Å and = 97.92(6)°. In all these structures, the hosts show the same basic recognition pattern for the DMSO guest, involving a strong O-H ... O bond from the COON to the S=O group, and a possible C-H ... O type interaction between the carbonyl O atom of the host and a CH₃ group of the guest. The crystals consist of discrete host-guest aggregates which are mainly held together by weak intermolecular interactions of the Van der Waals' type. The stoichiometries of the aggregates are, however, different.     

Über die Koexistenz von tetragonalem und monoklinem CaC2: Strukturelle und spektroskopische Untersuchungen an Erdalkalimetallacetyliden,MC2 (M = Ca,Sr, Ba)

On the Coexistence of Tetragonal and Monoclinic CaC₂: Structural and Spectroscopic Studies on Alkaline Earth Metal Acetylides, MC₂ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) The alkaline earth acetylides CaC₂, SrC₂ and BaC₂ can be considered to occur in three polymorphic structures each. The monoclinic low-temperature form, the tetragonal form, and the cubic high-temperature form. No deviation from axial symmetry is obtained for the C₂^2– ions in the tetragonal structure determinations, as confirmed by X-ray single-crystal structures and ¹³C MAS NMR studies. The CaC₂ samples prepared by us were always a mixture of monoclinic and tetragonal phase. Their Raman spectra exhibited two distinct C₂ streching vibrations. Problems arising from the coexistence of these two phases for the interpretation of ¹³C MAS NMR spectra are discussed.     

Einkristallstrukturaufklärung und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an einem neuen Uranniobat: γ-UNbO5

X-Ray Single Crystal and Electron Microscopic Investigations on a New Uranium Niobate: γ-UNbO₅ Black cuboid formed crystals of γ-UNbO₅ were obtained (at T₁) by chemical transport in a temperature gradient (T₂ → T₁; 1000 °C → 980 °C) using UNb₂O₇ as starting material (at T₂) and a combination of NbCl₅ and Cl₂ as transport agent. They were examined by X-rays and electron microscopy. The new modification of γ-UNbO₅ crystallizes orthorhombically (space group Pmma) with a = 7.492(3) Å, b = 4.124(4) Å and c = 6.434(4) Å. The compound is isostructural to UVO₅ and UMoO₅. The crystal structure shows parallel layers formed by edge sharing UO₇ and NbO₆ polyhedra. Polyhedra of neighbouring layers (distance = b) are mutually corner linked.     

Struktur und elektrochemische Untersuchung von Nb3Cl8

Structure and Electrochemical Study of Nb₃Cl₈ The compound Nb₃Cl₈ was synthesized from NbCl₅ and niobium metal in a sealed quartz ampoule at 700 °C. Single crystals, obtained from LiCl melt were used for X‐ray structure determination (space group P 3 m1, Z = 2, lattice parameters a = b = 672.95(7) pm, c = 1223.2(2) pm (at 100 K), R1 = 0.029, wR2 = 0.064 for all independent reflections). Electrical resistivity measurements are reported. Electrochemical intercalation of lithium into the structure of Nb₃Cl₈ was studied.     

Lithium‐ und Caesium‐Alkoxometallate

Lithium and Cesium Alkoxometalates The aluminium alkoxide, Al(OCH₂Ph)₃ ( 1 ), can be obtained from a direct synthesis of Al and PhCH₂OH under HgCl₂ catalysis. The formation of the metalate [{(Diglyme)Li}{Al(O^tBu)₄}] ( 2 ) from LiAlH₄ and ^tBuOH in THF under evolution of hydrogen takes place, if the reaction product is heated under reflux with additional ^tBuOH in diglyme. The nucleophilic attack of F^– ions leads during the treatment of CsF on a THF solution of Al(O^cHex)₃ after ligand redistribution to the coordination polymer [{Cs(THF)₂}{Cs(THF)}{Al(O^cHex)₄}₂]_n ([3]_n). 1 , 2 , and 3 were characterized by NMR, IR and MS techniques as well as by crystal structure analyses. According to them 1 is present as tetramer in solution and the solid state. The central structural motif of the metalate 2 is a heteronuclear and planar LiO₂Al four‐membered ring with a penta‐coordinated Li⁺ ion. In the chainlike coordination polymer [ 3 ]_n Cs⁺ ions with coordination number five and six occupy alternating positions.