Synthesis and structure of the incomplete cuboidal clusters [W3Se4H3(dmpe)3]+, [W3Se4H(3-x)(OH)x(dmpe)3]+ and [W3Se4(OH)3(dmpe)3]+, and the mechanism of the acid-assisted substitution of the coordinated hydrides

The novel incomplete cuboidal cluster [W3Se4H3(dmpe)3](PF6), [1](PF6), has been prepared by reduction of [W3Se4Br3(dmpe)3](PF6) with LiBH4 in THF solution. The trihydroxo complex [W3Se4(OH)3(dmpe)3](PF6), [2](PF6), was obtained by reacting [W3Se4Br3(dmpe)3](PF6) with NaOH in MeCN-H2O solution. The complexes [1](PF6) and [2](PF6) were converted to their BPh4- salts by treatment with NaBPh4. Recrystallisation of [1](BPh4) in the presence of traces of water affords the mixed dihydride hydroxo complex [W3Se4H2(OH)(dmpe)3](BPh4). The crystal structures of [1](BPh4), [2](BPh4) and [W3Se4H2(OH)(dmpe)3](BPh4) have been resolved. Although the [1]+ trihydride does not react with an excess of halide salts, reaction with HX leads to [W3Se4X3(dmpe)3]+ (X = Cl, Br). The kinetics of this reaction has been studied at 25 degrees C in MeCN-H2O solution (1:1, v/v) and found to occur with two consecutive kinetic steps. The first step is independent of the nature and concentration of the X(-) anion but shows a first order dependence on the concentration of acid (k1 = 12.0 mol(-1) dm(3) s(-1)), whereas the second one is independent of the nature and concentration of both the acid and added salts (k2 = 0.024 s(-1)). In contrast, the reaction of [2]+ with acids occurs in a single step with kobs = 0.63 s(-1)(HCl) and 0.17 s(-1)(HBr). These kinetic results are discussed on the basis of the mechanism previously proposed for the reactions of the analogous [W3S4H3(dmpe)3]+ cluster, with special emphasis on the effects caused by the change of S by Se on the rate constants for the different processes involved.     

Reactions of triacetic acid lactone with carbonyl compounds. X-Ray structure determination of 3-acetoacetyl-2-chromenone and 3,6,9,12-tetramethyl-1H,6H,7H,12H-6,12-methanodipyrano[4,3-b:4,3-f]-dioxocin-1,7-dione

The structure of 3-acetoacetyl-2-chromenone has been definitely assigned to the product resulting from the reaction of 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone, 1 , with 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde. Also, the reaction of the pyrone 1 with pentane-2,4-dione in a 2:1 molar ratio gives 3,6,9,12-tetramethyl-1H,6H,7H,12H-6,12-methanodypirano[4,3-b:4,3-f]dioxocin-1,7-dione. X-Ray analyses of both products are presented.     

Stabilization of γ‘ phase in Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>2-x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>x</Subscript><Superscript>II</Superscript>O<Subscript>11-1.5x</Subscript> series

Summary This work reports the room-temperature stabilization of the Bi₄V_2-xFe_x^IIO_11-1.5x γ ‘ phase, a promising ionic conductive material that finds application in solid oxide fuel cell and oxygen sensor devices. The Fe(II) cation proved to be a better stabilizer than Fe(III), which was previously used, since a lower substitution degree of V⁵⁺ is needed for the former. Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used in these experiments.     

C-H activations at iridium(I) square-planar complexes promoted by a fifth ligand

In the presence of ligands such as acetonitrile, ethylene, or propylene, the Ir(I) complex [Ir(1,2,5,6-eta-C8H12)(NCMe)(PMe3)]BF4 (1) transforms into the Ir(III) derivatives [Ir(1-kappa-4,5,6-eta-C8H12)(NCMe)(L)(PMe3)]BF4 (L = NCMe, 2; eta2-C2H4, 3; eta2-C3H6, 4), respectively, through a sequence of C-H oxidative addition and insertion elementary steps. The rate of this transformation depends on the nature of L and, in the case of NCMe, the pseudo-first-order rate constants display a dependence upon ligand concentration suggesting the formation of five-coordinate reaction intermediates. A similar reaction between 1 and vinyl acetate affords the Ir(III) complex [Ir(1-kappa-4,5,6-eta-C8H12){kappa-O-eta2-OC(Me)OC2H3}(PMe3)]BF4 (7) via the isolable five-coordinate Ir(I) compound [Ir(1,2,5,6-eta-C8H12){kappa-O-eta2-OC(Me)OC2H3}(PMe3)]BF4 (6). DFT (B3LYP) calculations in model complexes show that reactions initiated by acetonitrile or ethylene five-coordinate adducts involve C-H oxidative addition transition states of lower energy than that found in the absence of these ligands. Key species in these ligand-assisted transformations are the distorted (nonsquare-planar) intermediates preceding the intramolecular C-H oxidative addition step, which are generated after release of one cyclooctadiene double bond from the five-coordinate species. The feasibility of this mechanism is also investigated for complexes [IrCl(L)(PiPr3)2] (L = eta2-C2H4, 27; eta2-C3H6, 28). In the presence of NCMe, these complexes afford the C-H activation products [IrClH(CH=CHR)(NCMe)(PiPr3)2] (R = H, 29; Me, 30) via the common cyclometalated intermediate [IrClH{kappa-P,C-P(iPr)2CH(CH3)CH2}(NCMe)(PiPr3)] (31). The most effective C-H oxidative addition mechanism seems to involve three-coordinate intermediates generated by photochemical release of the alkene ligand. However, in the absence of light, the reaction rates display dependences upon NCMe concentration again indicating the intermediacy of five-coordinate acetonitrile adducts.     

Synthetic Strategies To Obtain V-P-O Open Frameworks Containing Organic Species as Structural Directing Agents. Crystal Structure of the V(IV)-Fe(III) Bimetallic Phosphate [H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(3)](2)[H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2)][Fe(III)(H(2)O)(2)(V(IV)O)(8)(OH)(4)(HPO(4))(4)(PO(4))(4)].4H(2)O

A general synthetic approach to rationalize the solution preparative chemistry of oxovanadium phosphates containing organic species as structural directing agents is presented. Careful attention is payed to the hydrolysis and condensation processes involving the ionic species in solution, and a simple restatement of the partial charge model (PCM) has been used in order to organize the experimental results. The structure of a new V(IV)-Fe(III) bimetallic oxovanadium phosphate, [H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(3)](2)[H(3)N(CH(2))(2)NH(2)] [Fe(III)(H(2)O)(2)(V(IV)O)(8)(OH)(4)(HPO(4))(4)(PO(4))(4)].4H(2)O, has been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction methods. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n and the cell dimensions are as follows: a = 14.383(3) ?, b = 10.150(2) ?, c = 18.355(4) ?, and beta = 90.39(3) degrees (Z = 2). The existence of a complex intercrossing channel system, including a very large channel of 18.4 ? of diameter (in which both water molecules and ethylenediamine species are located), is the more interesting feature of this structure. Thermal decomposition, including the dehydration/rehydration process, has been studied by thermal analysis and variable temperature X-ray powder diffraction techniques. A complementary SEM study of the different intermediate decomposition products is presented.     

Two Intercalation Mechanisms of Oxazole Yellow Dimer (YOYO-1) into DNA

The oxazole yellow dye, YOYO-1 (a symmetric homodimer), is a commonly used molecule for staining DNA. We applied the brightness analysis to study the intercalation of YOYO-1 into the DNA. We distinguished two binding modes of the dye to dsDNA: mono-intercalation and bis-intercalation. Bis-intercalation consists of two consecutive mono-intercalation steps, characterised by two distinct equilibrium constants (with the average number of base pair per binding site equals 3.5): K1=3.36±0.43×107M−1 and K2=1.90±0.61×105M−1, respectively. Mono-intercalation dominates at high concentrations of YOYO-1. Bis-intercalation occurs at low concentrations.     

Waste Cleaning Waste: Combining Alginate with Biowaste-Derived Substances in Hydrogels and Films for Water Cleanup

Biowaste-derived substances isolated from green compost (BBS-GC) are environmentally friendly reactants similar to humic substances, which contain multiple functionalities, that are suitable for adsorbing different kinds of pollutants in wastewater. Herein, sodium alginate (derived from brown algae) cross-linked with both Ca²⁺ ions and BBS-GC in the form of hydrogels and dried films are proposed as green, easy-to-form, and handleable materials for tertiary water treatments. The results show that both hydrogels and films are mechanically stable and can effectively remove differently charged dyes through an adsorption mechanism that can be described by the Freundlich model. BBS-GC-containing gels always performed better than samples prepared without BBS-GC, revealing that such unconventional materials can integrate waste valorization and water decontamination, potentially providing social and environmental benefits.