Tailor-made functionalization of silicon nitride surfaces

This communication presents the first functionalization of a hydrogen-terminated silicon-rich silicon nitride (Si3Nx) surface with a well-defined, covalently attached organic monolayer. Properties of the resulting monolayers are monitored by measurement of the static water contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS). Further functionalization was performed by reaction of Si3Nx with a trifluoroethanol ester alkene (CH2=CH-(CH2)8CO2CH2CF3) followed by basic hydrolysis to afford the corresponding carboxylic acid-terminated monolayer with hydrophilic properties. These results show that Si3Nx can be functionalized with a tailor-made organic monolayer, has highly tunable wetting properties, and displays significant potential for further functionalization.     

First anhydrous gold perchlorato complex: ClO(2)Au(ClO(4))(4). Synthesis and molecular and crystal structure analysis

Chlorine trioxide, Cl(2)O(6), reacts with Au metal, AuCl(3), or HAuCl(4).nH(2)O to yield the well-defined chloryl salt, ClO(2)Au(ClO(4))(4). The crystal and molecular structure of ClO(2)Au(ClO(4))(4) was solved by a Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. The salt crystallizes in a monoclinic cell, space group C2/c, with cell parameters a = 15.074(5), b = 5.2944(2), and c = 22.2020(2) A and beta = 128.325(2) degrees. The structure displays discrete ClO(2)(+) ions lying in channels formed by Au(ClO(4))(4)(-) stacks. Au is located in a distorted square planar environment: Au-O = 1.87 and 2.06 A. [ClO(4)] groups are monodentate with ClO(b) = 1.53 and ClO(t) = 1.39 A (mean distances; O(b), oxygen bonded to Au; O(t), free terminal oxygen). A full vibrational study of the Au(ClO(4))(4)(-) anion is supported by DFT calculations.     

Transition Metals in the Synthesis and Functionalization of Indoles [New Synthesis Methods (72)]

The use of transition-metal complexes as reagents for the synthesis of complex organic compounds has been under development for at least several decades, and many extraordinary organic transformations of profound potential have been realized. However, adoption of this chemistry by the practicing synthetic organic chemist has been inordinately slow, and only now are transition-metal reagents beginning to achieve their rightful place in the arsenal of organic synthesis. Several factors contributed to the initial reluctance of synthetic organic chemists to use organometallic reagents. Lacking education and experience in the ways of elements having d electrons, synthetic chemists viewed organometallic processes as something mysterious and unpredictable, and not to be discussed in polite society. Organometallic chemists did not help matters by advertising their latest advances as useful synthetic methodology, but restricting their studies to very simple organic systems lacking any serious functionality (e.g., the “methyl, ethyl, butyl, futile” syndrome). Happily, things have changed. Organometallic chemists have turned their attention to more complex systems, and more recently trained organic chemists have benefited from exposure to the application of transition metals. This combination has set the stage for major advances in the use of transition metals in the synthesis of complex organic compounds. This review deals with one aspect of this area, the use of transition metals in the synthesis of indoles.     

Synthesis and characterization of mannosyl mimetic derivatives based on a beta-cyclodextrin core

The synthesis of branched beta-cyclodextrins substituted with mannosyl mimetic derivatives at one primary hydroxy group is described. It was shown that the self-inclusion phenomenon observed for the target compounds in water did not preclude the inclusion properties of the cyclodextrin moiety.     

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of dinuclear platinum(II) complexes containing bis(thioalkyl)dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) ligands

A series of novel, dinuclear (2,2':6',2'-terpyridine)platinum(ii) complexes containing bis(thioalkyl)-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)(carborane) ligands were prepared and characterised, and their preliminary anti-cancer characteristics have been determined in vitro; the complexes are the first examples of bis-intercalator complexes containing a boron-rich carborane cage.     

Phospholes with Reduced Pyramidal Character from Steric Crowding. 2. Photoelectron Spectral Evidence for Some Electron Delocalization in 1-(2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl)-3-methylphosphole

Photoelectron spectroscopy has been explored as a tool to measure the flattening of the phosphorus pyramid in a phosphole as caused by a large, sterically demanding P-substituent. Earlier PE spectra had shown no difference in ionization energies (IE) for simple phospholes and their tetrahydro derivatives (both around 8.0-8.45 eV). Calculations of the Koopmans IE at the Hartree-Fock 6-31G level for 1-methylphospholane showed that, as is known for nitrogen, planarization at phosphorus markedly reduced the ionization energy value (8.74 to 6.29 eV). A reduction in IE also occurred on planarizing 1-methylphosphole, but to a lesser extent, being offset by increased electron delocalization (8.93 to 7.16 eV). This suggests that experimental comparison of IE for the unsaturated and saturated systems could be used to detect the presence of electron delocalization in the former. The IE experimentally determined for the crowded 1-(2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-methylphenyl)-3-methylphosphole was 7.9 eV, the lowest ever recorded for a phosphole. The corresponding phospholane had IE 7.55 eV. The difference in the values is attributed to electron delocalization in the phosphole. Calculations performed on the related model 1-(2-tert-butyl-4,6-dimethylphenyl)phosphole showed that the P-substituent adopted an angle of 55.7 degrees (DFT/6-31G level; 57.6 degrees at the HF/6-31 level) with respect to the C(2)-P-C(5) plane (for P-phenyl, 67.1 degrees and 68.3 degrees, respectively).     

Fermentation of “Quick Fiber” produced from a modified corn-milling process into ethanol and recovery of corn fiber oil

Approximately 9% of the 9.7 billion bushels of corn harvested in the United States was used for fuel ethanol production in 2002, half of which was prepared for fermentation by dry grinding. The University of Illinois has developed a modified dry grind process that allows recovery of the fiber fractions prior to fermentation. We report here on conversion of this fiber (Quick Fiber [QF]) to ethanol. QF was analyzed and found to contain 32%wt glucans and 65%wt total carbohydrates. QF was pretreated with dilute acid and converted into ethanol using either ethanologenic Escherichia coli strain FBR5 or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For the bacterial fermentation the liquid fraction was fermented, and for the yeast fermentation both liquid and solids were fermented. For the bacterial fermentation, the final ethanol concentration was 30 g/L, a yield of 0.44 g ethanol/g of sugar(s) initially present in the hydrolysate, which is 85% of the theoretical yield. The ethanol yield with yeast was 0.096 gal/bu of processed corn assuming a QF yield of 3.04 lb/bu. The residuals from the fermentations were also evaluated as a source of corn fiber oil, which has value as a nutraceutical. Corn fiber oil yields were 8.28%wt for solids recovered following prtetreatment.     

Electroreductive synthesis of organomercurials from n-perfluorobutyl-1,4-diiodide

Electroreduction of the n-perfluorobutyl 1,4 diodide I-(CF₂)₄-I, is studied in dimethylformamide as a solvent. During the electrolysis their is intermediate production of I-(CF₂)₄-H and of H-(CF₂)₄-Hg-I, the final product being the symmetrical mercurial H-(CF₂)₄-Hg-(CF₂)₄-H. The results are compared with previous studies on monoiodide CF₃-(CF₂)₅-I and the dibromide Br-(CH₂)₄-Br.     

Synthese et reactivite d'organomagnesiens perfluores. V.[1] Synthese et identification de nouveaux composes perfluoroalkyles du mercure a chaine longue.

The reaction of mercuric salts HgY₂ or organic mercuric compounds R_HHgX with long chain perfluorinated Grignard reagents R_FMgBr leads to a series of new perfluoroalkyl mercury derivatives with the general formula R_FHgZ (R_F=C₄F₉, C₆F₁₃, C₈F₁₇ ; Z=R_F,R_H,Y with Y = I,Br,Cl, NO₃,OCOCH₃,OCOCF₃).The synthesis of these organomercuric compounds is described, and their spectroscopic properties are reported.