Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of alkylaromatic compounds by a trans-dioxoruthenium(VI) complex

The oxidations of a series of 21 alkylaromatic compounds by trans-[Ru(VI)(L)(O)(2)](2+) (L = 1,12-dimethyl-3,4:9,10-dibenzo-1,12-diaza-5,8-dioxacyclopentadecane) have been studied in CH(3)CN. Toluene is oxidized to benzaldehyde and a small amount of benzyl alcohol. 9,10-Dihydroanthracene is oxidized to anthracene and anthraquinone. Other substrates give oxygenated products. The kinetics of the reactions were monitored by UV-vis spectrophotometry, and the rate law is: -d[Ru(VI)]/dt = k(2)[Ru(VI)][ArCH(3)]. The kinetic isotope effects for the oxidation of toluene/d(8)-toluene and fluorene/d(10)-fluorene are 15 and 10.5, respectively. A plot of Delta H(++) versus Delta S(++) is linear, suggesting a common mechanism for all the substrates. In the oxidation of para-substituted toluenes, a linear correlation between log k(2) and sigma(0) values is observed, consistent with a benzyl radical intermediate. A linear correlation between Delta G(++) and Delta H(0) (the difference between the strength of the bond being broken and that being formed in a H-atom transfer step) is also found, which strongly supports a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism for the oxidation of these substrates by trans-[Ru(VI)(L)(O)(2)](2+). The slope of (0.61 +/- 0.06) is in reasonable agreement with the theoretical slope of 0.5 predicted by Marcus theory.     

Kinetics and activation energy of the oxidation of para‐tolyl radical by cobalt(III) in acetic acid: Competition kinetics

The title reaction gives rise to a benzylic cation that is rapidly transformed to its bromide in competition with the reaction of the radical with carbon tetrachloride. Experiments were carried out over 17–69°C in acetic acid containing cobalt(II) acetate, para‐xylene, hydrobromic acid, carbon tetrachloride, and meta‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The product ratio, ArCH₂Cl/ArCH₂Br, in combination with other pertinent rate constants, was used to determine the rate constant for the step of interest: log k (L mol^?1 s^?1 = 19.9 – (75 ± 11 kJ mol^?1/2.303 RT). The large pre‐exponential factor, which gives ΔS? = 128 J K^?1 mol^?1, signals an unusual transition state, because a negative value of ΔS? would be expected for a simple bimolecular reaction. The production of the ion pair ArCH‖OAc^? in HOAc, which has the same dielectric constant as benzene, may be responsible, at least in part. Furthermore, inner sphere reorganization of cobalt may also contribute. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 37: 599–604, 2005     

Ambient template synthesis of multiferroic MnWO4 nanowires and nanowire arrays

The current report describes the systematic synthesis of polycrystalline, multiferroic MnWO₄ nanowires and nanowire arrays with controllable chemical composition and morphology, using a modified template-directed methodology under ambient room-temperature conditions. We were able to synthesize nanowires measuring 55±10, 100±20, and 260±40 nm in diameter, respectively, with lengths ranging in the microns. Extensive characterization of as-prepared samples has been performed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Magnetic behavior in these systems was also probed.     

A Platinum(II) Terpyridine Metallogel with an L‐Valine‐Modified Alkynyl Ligand: Interplay of Pt⋅⋅⋅Pt, π–π and Hydrogen‐Bonding Interactions

A series of platinum(II) terpyridine complexes with L ‐valine‐modified alkynyl ligands has been synthesized. A complex with an unsubstituted terpyridine and one valine unit on the alkynyl is shown to be capable of gel formation, which is in sharp contrast to the gelation properties of the corresponding organic counterparts. Upon sol–gel transition, a drastic color change from yellow to red is observed, which is indicative of the involvement of Pt ??? Pt interactions. Through the concentration‐ and temperature‐dependent UV/Vis absorption, emission, circular dichroism, and ¹H NMR studies, the contribution of hydrogen bonding, Pt ??? Pt and π–π stacking interactions as driving forces for gelation have been established, and the importance of maintaining a delicate balance between different intermolecular forces has also been illustrated.     

C-H arylation of unactivated arenes with aryl halides catalyzed by cobalt porphyrin

A general procedure for cobalt-catalyzed direct C-H arylation of unactivated arenes has been discovered. This method employs aryl halides as the direct coupling partners with arenes without using any Grignard-type reagents. This catalysis opens a new methodology for the preparation of symmetrical as well as unsymmetrical biaryls in a user-friendly approach.     

Cyclometalated Iridium(III)–Polyamine Complexes with Intense and Long‐Lived Multicolor Phosphorescence: Synthesis,Crystal Structure,Photophysical Behavior,Cellular Uptake,and Transfection Properties

A new class of phosphorescent cyclometalated iridium(III)–polyamine complexes [{Ir(N^C)₂}_n(bPEI)](PF₆)_n (bPEI=branched poly(ethyleneimine), average M_w=25 kDa, n=15.6–27.4; HN^C=2‐phenylpyridine Hppy ( 1 a ), 2‐((1,1′‐biphenyl)‐4‐yl)pyridine Hpppy ( 2 a ), 2‐phenylquinoline Hpq ( 3 a ), 2‐phenylbenzothiazole Hbt ( 4 a ), 2‐(1‐naphthyl)benzothiazole Hbsn ( 5 a )) and [Ir(N^C)₂(en)](PF₆) (en=ethylenediamine; HN^C=Hppy ( 1 b ), Hpppy ( 2 b ), Hpq ( 3 b ), Hbt ( 4 b ), Hbsn ( 5 b )) have been synthesized and characterized. The X‐ray crystal structure of complex 5 b was also determined. All of these complexes showed a reversible iridium(IV/III) oxidation couple at +1.01 to +1.26 V and a quasi‐reversible ligand‐based reduction couple at ?1.54 to ?2.08 V (versus SCE). Upon photoexcitation, the complexes displayed intense and long‐lived green to orange–red emission in fluid solutions at room temperature and in low‐temperature glass. Lipophilicity measurements indicated that bPEI played a dominant role in the polar nature of complexes 1 a – 5 a , thus rendering them very soluble in aqueous solutions. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) data indicated that an energy‐requiring process, such as endocytosis, was involved in the cellular uptake of all of the complexes. In addition, the cytotoxicity of the complexes toward human cervix epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) and human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cell‐lines has been evaluated by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The DNA‐binding properties of complex 5 a have been investigated by gel‐retardation assays and the polyplexes that were formed from this complex with plasmid DNA (pDNA) were studied by zeta‐potential measurements and particle‐size estimation. Furthermore, complex 5 a was grafted with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, average M_w=2 kDa) to different extents, thereby yielding the phosphorescent copolymers PEG_12.3‐g‐5 a , PEG_25.4‐g‐5 a , and PEG_62.1‐g‐5 a . Interestingly, these copolymers showed enhanced transfection activity, as revealed by in vitro transfection experiments with tissue‐culture‐based luciferase assays.     

Generalized numerical ranges, joint positive definiteness and multiple eigenvalues

We prove a convexity theorem on a generalized numerical range that combines and generalizes the following results: 1) Friedland and Loewy's result on the existence of a nonzero matrix with multiple first eigenvalue in subspaces of hermitian matrices, 2) Bohnenblust's result on joint positive definiteness of hermitian matrices, 3) the Toeplitz-Hausdorff Theorem on the convexity of the classical numerical range and its various generalizations by Au-Yeung, Berger, Brickman, Halmos, Poon, Tsing and Westwick.

     

Polypropylene modified with elastomeric metallocene‐catalyzed polyolefin blends: Fracture behavior and development of damage mechanisms

The fracture behavior and deformation mechanisms of polypropylene modified by elastomeric metallocene‐catalyzed polyolefin blends were investigated under both static and dynamic loading conditions. The fracture toughness was evaluated with the J integral approach. The development of damage mechanisms was studied by the examination of fracture surfaces with scanning electron microscopy and by the examination of single‐edge, double‐notch, four‐point‐bending or low‐impact‐energy fractured samples with optical microscopy. In addition, tensile dilatometry measurements were carried out to determine the nature of the deformation micromechanisms. The fracture behavior and the size and shape of the damage zones were drastically influenced by the elastomeric particles and the imposed constraint. The role of the elastomeric particles was different, depending on the strain rate. Under impact loading, particle pullout and crazing were responsible for the increased fracture toughness of polypropylene. Under quasistatic loading, stable fracture growth was caused by particle cavitation, which promoted ductile tearing of polypropylene before failure continued in an unstable fashion via crazing. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1075–1089, 2004