Oxalate-bridged dirhenium(I) hexacarbonyl complexes: synthesis, reactions, and crystal structures

The complex [{Re(CO)₅}₂(μ,η¹:η¹-C₂O₄)] 1 undergoes thermal decarbonylation to give [Re₂(CO)₆(C₂O₄)]_n, which reacts with triphenylphosphine and trans-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene (dppene) to give anti-[Re₂(PPh₃)₂(CO)₆(μ,η²:η²-C₂O₄)] 2 and [Re₂(μ-dppene)(CO)₆(μ,η²:η²-C₂O₄)] 4, respectively. Complex 2 is oxidized on prolonged exposure to air (1 week) to form anti-[Re₂(OPPh₃)₂(CO)₆(μ,η²:η²-C₂O₄)] 3. In the presence of excess dppene, the complex [Re₂(μ-dppene)₂(CO)₆(μ,η¹:η¹-C₂O₄)] 5 is also formed alongside 4. With the chelating diphosphine 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane (dppp), the complex [(η²-dppp)Re(CO)₃(μ,η¹:η¹-C₂O₄)Re(CO)₃(η²-dppp)] 6 is formed. The structures of 3 and 4 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The dppene ligand in complex 4 adopts an unusual “syn” conformation wherein the two phosphorus lone pairs of electrons are eclipsed, thus forming an “A-frame” type of bridge.     

Chlorophosphonates: inexpensive precursors for stereodefined chloro-substituted olefins and unsymmetrical disubstituted acetylenes

New chlorophosphonates bearing a 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ring which are useful for the stereospecific synthesis of 5-chlorofurfuryl substituted olefins and chloro-substituted dienes have been obtained by an easy, inexpensive route. The utility of some of these in the synthesis of ferrocenyl- and anthracenyl-substituted unsymmetrical acetylenes has been explored. The structures of the phosphonates (OCH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)O)P(O)CH(2)(C(4)H(2)ClO) (4) and (OCH(2)CMe(2)CH(2)O)P(O)(CH=CHCH(Cl)Ph (7) have been determined; in addition, the stereochemistry of (5-chlorofurfuryl)CH=CH(4-ClC(6)H(4)) (13b) and 2, 4-Cl(2)C(6)H(3)-CH=CH-CH=C(Ph)Cl (14a) is unambiguously proved by the X-ray structure determination.     

Steric and Electronic Influences in Os3(CO)11(PR3) Structures

The structures of Os₃(CO)₁₁(PR₃) with R=F, OPh, Et, p-C₆H₄Me, o-C₆H₄Me, p-C₆H₄(CF₃) and C₆H₁₁, and with PR₃=P(OCH₂)₃CMe have been determined. The Os–Os bond lengths in these compounds are compared to the Os–Os lengths for the other structures of Os₃(CO)₁₁(PR₃) clusters reported in the literature. In most cases, the Os–Os bond length remote from the P ligand [range, 2.8666(4)–2.9044(4) Å] and that in the pseudo-trans position [range, 2.8712(5)–2.900(1) Å] show little variation as the steric and electronic properties of the P ligand are varied. The Os–Os length cis to PR₃ shows more variation [range, 2.879(1)–2.9429(4) Å] and is sensitive to both the size and the -donor/-acceptor properties of the PR₃ ligand: larger or better donor PR₃ ligands cause an increase in the Os–Os bond length. The Os–P distances [range, 2.15(2)–2.478(1) Å] show a similar dependence on the steric and electronic properties of the PR₃ ligand.     

Laser-excited atomic-fluorescence spectrometry with electrothermal tube atomization

The performance of graphite-tube electrothermal atomizers is evaluated for laser-excited atomic-fluorescence spectrometry for several elements. Three pulsed laser systems are used to pump tunable dye lasers which subsequently are used to excite Pb, Ga, In, Fe, Ir, and Tl atoms in the hot graphite tube. The dye laser systems used are pumped by nitrogen, copper vapour and Nd:YAG lasers. Detection limits in the femtogram and subfemtogram range are typically obtained for all elements. A commercial graphite-tube furnace is important for the successful utilization of the laser-based method when the determination of trace elements is intended, especially when complicated matrices may be present.     

Preparation and characterization of polypseudorotaxanes based on block-selected inclusion complexation between poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) triblock copolymers and alpha-cyclodextrin

A series of new polypseudorotaxanes were synthesized in high yields when the middle poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block of poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) (PPO-PEO-PPO) triblock copolymers was selectively recognized and included by alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) to form crystalline inclusion complexes (ICs), although the middle PEO block was flanked by two thicker PPO blocks, and a PPO chain had been previously thought to be impenetrable to alpha-CD. X-ray diffraction studies demonstrated that the IC domains of the polypseudorotaxanes assumed a channel-type structure similar to the necklace-like ICs formed by alpha-CD and PEO homopolymers. Solid-state CP/MAS (13)C NMR studies showed that the alpha-CD molecules in the polypseudorotaxanes adopted a symmetrical conformation due to the formation of ICs. The compositions and stoichiometry of the polypseudorotaxanes were studied using (1)H NMR, and a 2:1 (ethylene oxide unit to alpha-CD) stoichiometry was found for all polypseudorotaxanes although the PPO-PEO-PPO triblock copolymers had different compositions and block lengths, suggesting that only the PEO block was closely included by alpha-CD molecules, whereas the PPO blocks were uncovered. The hypothesis was further supported by the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies of the polypseudorotaxanes. The glass transitions of the PPO blocks in the polypseudorotaxanes were clearly observed because they were uncovered by alpha-CD and remained amorphous, whereas the glass-transition temperatures increased, because the molecular motion of the PPO blocks was restricted by the hard crystalline phases of the IC domains formed by alpha-CD and the PEO blocks. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the polypseudorotaxanes had better thermal stability than their free components due to the inclusion complexation. Finally, the kinetics of the threading process of alpha-CD onto the copolymers was also studied. The findings reported in this article suggested interesting possibilities in designing other cyclodextrin ICs and polypseudorotaxanes with block structures.     

Preparation and characterization of Cr(CO)(4)dpp (chromium tetracarbonyl 2,3-bis(2'-pyridyl)pyrazine) adsorbed on silver nanoparticles

A transition metal carbonyl species, Cr(CO)(4)dpp, has been successfully attached to bare silver nanoparticles prepared by laser ablation of a metal foil in ethanol. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images have shown that at least a portion of the silver nanoparticles have been capped by the chromium species, and ligand shells corresponding to Cr(CO)(4)dpp multilayer adsorption onto the silver nanoparticles of 30-50 nm diameter have been observed. The detection of the strongest Raman-active nu(CO) band of Cr(CO)(4)dpp at 2004 cm(-1) revealed that the species has been adsorbed without decomposition. The time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) signals recorded of the chromium-capped silver nanoparticles were also consistent with the nondecomposition adsorption process. Density functional calculations have been used to reproduce the Raman spectrum using Ag(7)(+) as a model surface. A large binding energy of about 122 kJ/mol has also been computed between silver and nitrogen atoms thus lending support to Cr(CO)(4)dpp being chemisorbed onto the silver surface.     

Evaluating the third and fourth derivatives of spectral data

The problem of differentiating spectral data to yield the third and fourth derivatives is converted into one of solving an integral equation of the first kind. This equation is solved by Tikhonov regularization. The method of General Cross Validation is used to guide the choice of the regularization parameter that keeps noise amplification under control. The performance of this route to third and fourth derivative spectra is demonstrated by applying it to a number of published spectra. A computational problem associated with General Cross Validation has been identified.     

A ruthenium-dihydrogen putative intermediate in ketone hydrogenation

The compound fac-[Ru((R)-BINAP)(H)(2-PrOH)3]+ (6) (BINAP = 2,2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl) reacts with (R,R)-dpen (dpen = 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) under H2 at -60 degrees C in 2-PrOH-d8/CD2Cl2 to generate the cationic dihydrogen putative intermediate trans-[Ru((R)-BINAP)(H)(eta2-H2)((R,R)-dpen)]+ (2') without H-D exchange between the hydrogen ligands and the solvent. A 1H NMR study concludes that the dihydrogen ligand in 2' does not protonate 2-PrOH to a catalytically significant extent, and that 2' requires an added base or hydride source to be an active catalyst.     

Individual bit island reversal and switching field distribution in perpendicular magnetic bit patterned media

The switching of single bit magnetic islands in bit patterned media (BPM) for two cases with 10 times difference in coercivity, as well as the switching field distribution (SFD) of the islands, has been studied using magnetic force microscopy (MFM) measurements. The intrinsic SFD is measured to be ∼9-11% of the remanence coercivity (H_cr), which contributes only ∼20-50% of the total SFD broadening (∼23-41% of H_cr). High resolution MFM observations clearly showed the influence of surrounding islands on the switching behaviour and switching fields of individual bit islands, resulting in significant contributions in SFD broadening due to non-intrinsic dipolar interactions. It was further observed that single magnetic islands could be switched within a very narrow switching field range as small as 4 Oe, which indicates very sharp and uniform switching for each individual island of BPM.     

A Local Realistic Theory for Mermin’s EPR Experiment

As another counterexample to prevalent conventional belief, a realistic theory, which is local and reproduces all the probabilistic predictions of quantum theory, is presented for Mermin’s version of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) experiment.