Intramolecular Alkyne Coupling in the Reaction of 1,8-bis(phenylethynyl)naphthalene with Pt2Ru4(CO)18

The reaction of Pt₂Ru₄(CO)₁₈, 1 with 1,8-bis(phenylethynyl)naphthalene, 2 has yielded two metal carbonyl cluster complexes: Ru₂(CO)₆[- ²-C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂], 3 (60% yield) and Ru₂Pt(CO)₆[- ²-C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂]₂, 4 (8% yield). Both compounds were characterized by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both products were formed as a result of fragmentation of the Pt₂Ru₄ cluster of 1. Compound 3 contains two ruthenium atoms. They are bridged by a tricyclic C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂ ligand formed by the coupling of the two -carbon atoms of the alkyne groups. The -carbon atoms of the alkynes are -bonded to one of the ruthenium atoms to form a metallacycle and this entire group is -bonded to the second ruthenium atom. Compound 4 contains two ruthenium atoms with a platinum atom between them. This molecule contains two tricyclic C₁₀H₆C₄Ph₂ ligands similar to that in 3, and two metallacycles formed by coordination of the -carbon atoms of both ligands to the platinum atom. One ligand is -bonded to each of the ruthenium atoms.     

New disulfido molybdenum-manganese complexes exhibit facile addition of small molecules to the sulfur atoms

The reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S2) (1) with [CpMo(CO)(3)](2) (Cp = C(5)H(5)) and [Cp*Mo(CO)(3)](2) (Cp* = C(5)(CH(3))(5)) yielded the new mixed-metal disulfide complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-S2) (2) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)(mu-S2) (3) by a metal-metal exchange reaction. Compounds 2 and 3 both contain a bridging disulfido ligand lying perpendicular to the Mo-Mn bond. The bond distances are Mo-Mn = 2.8421(10) and 2.8914(5) A and S-S = 2.042(2) and 1.9973(10) A for 2 and 3, respectively. A tetranuclear metal side product CpMoMn(3)(CO)(13)(mu3-S)(mu4-S) (4) was also isolated from the reaction of 1 with [CpMo(CO)(3)](2). Compounds 2 and 3 react with CO to yield the dithiocarbonato complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(=O)S] (5) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(=O)S] (6) by insertion of CO into the S-S bond. Similarly, tert-butylisocyanide was inserted into the S-S bond of 2 and 3 to yield the complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-S(C=NBu(t))S] (7) and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-S(C=NBu(t))S] (8), respectively. Ethylene and dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate also inserted into the S-S bond of 2 and 3 at room temperature to yield the ethanedithiolato ligand bridged complexes CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (9), Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SCH(2)CH(2)S) (10), CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)S] (11), and Cp*MoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SC(CO(2)Me)=C(CO(2)Me)S] (12). Allene was found to insert into the S-S bond of 2 by using one of its two double bonds to yield the complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)[mu-SCH(2)C(=CH(2))S] (13). The molecular structures of the new complexes 2-7 and 9-13 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Dynamical intramolecular metal-to-metal ligand exchange of phosphine and thioether ligands in derivatives PtRu5(CO)16(mu6-C)

The complexes PtRu(5)(CO)(15)(PMe(2)Ph)(mu(6)-C) (2), PtRu(5)(CO)(14)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)(mu(6)-C) (3), PtRu(5)(CO)(15)(PMe(3))(mu(6)-C) (4), PtRu(5)(CO)(14)(PMe(3))(2)(mu(6)-C) (5), and PtRu(5)(CO)(15)(Me(2)S)(mu(6)-C) (6) were obtained from the reactions of PtRu(5)(CO)(16)(mu(6)-C) (1) with the appropriate ligand. As determined by NMR spectroscopy, all the new complexes exist in solution as a mixture of isomers. Compounds 2, 3, and 6 were characterized crystallographically. In all three compounds, the six metal atoms are arranged in an octahedral geometry, with a carbido carbon atom in the center. The PMe(2)Ph and Me(2)S ligands are coordinated to the Pt atom in 2 and 6, respectively. In 3, the two PMe(2)Ph ligands are coordinated to Ru atoms. In solution, all the new compounds undergo dynamical intramolecular isomerization by shifting the PMe(2)Ph or Me(2)S ligand back and forth between the Pt and Ru atoms. For compound 2, DeltaH++ = 15.1(3) kcal/mol, DeltaS++ = -7.7(9) cal/(mol.K), and DeltaG(298) = 17.4(6) kcal/mol for the transformation of the major isomer to the minor isomer; for compound 4, DeltaH++ = 14.0(1) kcal/mol, DeltaS++ = -10.7(4) cal/(mol.K), and DeltaG(298) = 17.2(2) kcal/mol for the transformation of the major isomer to the minor isomer; for compound 6, DeltaH++ = 18(1) kcal/mol, DeltaS++ = 21(5) cal/(mol.K) and DeltaG(298) = 12(2) kcal/mol. The shifts of the Me(2)S ligand in 6 are significantly more facile than the shifts for the phosphine ligand in compounds 2-5. This is attributed to a more stable ligand-bridged intermediate for the isomerizations of 6 than that for compounds 2-5. The intermediate for the isomerization of 6 involves a bridging Me(2)S ligand that can use two lone pairs of electrons for coordination to the metal atoms, whereas a tertiary phosphine ligand can use only one lone pair of electrons for bridging coordination.     

Syntheses and reactivity of the diselenido molybdenum-manganese complex CpMoMn(CO)5(mu-Se2)

Reaction of CpMoMn(CO)(8) with elemental selenium and Me(3)NO in the absence of light yielded the diselenido complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-Se(2)), 2. Compound 2 contains a bridging diselenido ligand lying perpendicular to the Mo-Mn bond, Mo-Mn = 2.8421(10) A. In the presence of room light, the reaction yielded the tetranuclear metal complex Cp(2)Mo(2)Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu(3)-Se)(4), 3 (36% yield), and 2 (7% yield). Compound 2 reacted with ethylene to yield the ethanediselenato complex CpMoMn(CO)(5)(mu-SeCH(2)CH(2)Se), 4, by insertion of ethylene into the Se-Se bond. Compound 2 also reacted with (PPh(3))(2)Pt(PhC(2)Ph) and CpCo(CO)(2) to yield the complexes CpMoMnPt(PPh(3))(2)(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 5, and Cp(2)CoMoMn(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 6, respectively, by insertion of the metal groupings CpCo and Pt(PPh(3))(2) into the Se-Se bond of 2. The oxo compound Cp(2)CoMo(O)Mn(CO)(5)(mu(3)-Se)(2), 7, was obtained from 6 by decarbonylation at molybdenum by using Me(3)NO. The molecular structures of the complexes 2-7 were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Classificatin of chinese tea samples according to origin and quality by principal component techniques

Three categories of tea, black, green and oolong tea, with those varieties in each category were analyzed for their contents of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, polyphenols, caffeine and amino acids. The data were subjected to multivarige analysis. Principal component analysis and principal component classification provide discrimination between the different categories and varieties. The quality index, assigned to these tea standards by experts, could be predicted form the principal component scores.     

Surface characterization of pure and chemically modified minerals by laser microprobe mass spectrometry

Applications of the laser microprobe mass analyzer for characterizing the surface of chemically modified minerals (crown ether/montmorillonite and organosilane/sepiolite) and for detecting micro-crystallites at the surface of an inorganic matrix (brucite surface layer of chrysotile fibers) were investigated using laser desorption conditions. The laser microprobe is shown to be a versatile tool for these applications.     

Clays as selective catalysts in organic synthesis

Suitably modified smectite clays can be very selective catalysts for a wide range of organic reactions. While it has long been known that such materials can act as Bronsted and Lewis acids, it has been shown recently that they are also effective Diels-Alder catalysts. A selection of illustrative reactions is given which emphasises their wide range of use, their selectivity, and the ease of work-up after reaction. In each case, mechanistic information is presented, e.g., on the site of reaction (whether interlayer or surface), rate determining steps, etc. The regiochemical consequences of the restricted reaction space are stressed.Based on material presented at the Fourth International Symposium on Inclusion Phenomena and the Third International Symposium on Cyclodextrins, Lancaster, U.K., 20–25 July 1986.     

Synthesis and Application of Low Molecular Weight PEI-Based Copolymers for siRNA Delivery with Smart Polymer Blends

Polyethylenimine (PEI) is a commonly used cationic polymer for small-interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery due to its high transfection efficiency at low commercial cost. However, high molecular weight PEI is cytotoxic and thus, its practical application is limited. In this study, different formulations of low molecular weight PEI (LMW-PEI) based copolymers polyethylenimine-g-polycaprolactone (PEI–PCL) (800 Da–40 kDa) and PEI–PCL–PEI (5–5–5 kDa) blended with or without polyethylene glycol-b-polycaprolactone (PEG–PCL) (5 kDa-4 kDa) are investigated to prepare nanoparticles via nanoprecipitation using a solvent displacement method with sizes ≈100 nm. PEG–PCL can stabilize the nanoparticles, improve their biocompatibility, and extend their circulation time in vivo. The nanoparticles composed of PEI–PCL–PEI and PEG–PCL show higher siRNA encapsulation efficiency than PEI–PCL/PEG–PCL based nanoparticles at low N/P ratios, higher cellular uptake, and a gene silencing efficiency of ≈40% as a result of the higher molecular weight PEI blocks. These results suggest that the PEI–PCL–PEI/PEG–PCL nanoparticle system could be a promising vehicle for siRNA delivery at minimal synthetic effort.     

Classification of the distribution of trace impurities by spark source mass spectrometry analysis

Spark source mass spectrometry in combination with principal component analysis and clustering analysis was used to investigate the trace element distributions in metallic samples. The analysis of Zn and Cu samples and a comparison with direct imaging secondary ion microscopy demonstrated the consistency of the approach.On leave from Department of Chemistry, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.