On the equilibrium between monomeric and dimeric iminochlorophosphanes R–N=P–Cl

The monomer/dimer equilibrium has been studied for a series of alkyl and aryl substituted and functionalized iminochlorophosphane species of the type R–N=P–Cl. In agreement with experiment, theoretical data always favor the dimer when the group R is small, while bulky groups such as Mes* destabilize the dimer by a considerable steric repulsion. This effect is superimposed by electronic effects. Para-substitution in the aryl systems either favors the monomer (energy gain ca. 15–30 kJ/mol) when a π-electron donating group such as p-NMe₂ is used or favors the dimer when a π-electron withdrawing group such as p-NO₂ is used (energy gain ca. 1–13 kJ/mol).     

Dicarboxylate-bridged (Mo2)n (n = 2, 3, 4) paddle-wheel complexes: potential intermediate building blocks for metal-organic frameworks

The treatment of the dimeric paddle-wheel (PW) compound [Mo(2)(NCCH(3))(10)][BF(4)](4)1 with oxalic acid (0.5 equiv.), 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (1 equiv.), 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (1 equiv.) (m-bdc-OH) or 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalic acid (0.5 or 1 equiv.) leads to the formation of macromolecular dicarboxylate-linked (Mo(2))(n) entities (n = 2, 3, 4). The structure of the compounds depends on the length and geometry of the organic linkers. In the case of oxalic acid, the dimeric compound [(CH(3)CN)(8)Mo(2)(OOC-COO)Mo(2)(NCCH(3))(8)][BF(4)](6)2 is formed selectively, whereas the use of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoroterephthalic acid affords the square-shaped complex [(CH(3)CN)(6)Mo(2)(OOC-C(6)F(4)-COO)](4)[BF(4)](8)3. Bent linkers with a bridging angle of 109° and 120°, respectively, lead to the formation of the molecular loop [(CH(3)CN)(6)Mo(2)(OOC-C(4)H(6)-COO)](2)[BF(4)](4)4 and the bowl-shaped molecular triangle [(CH(3)CN)(6)Mo(2)(m-bdc-OH)](3)[BF(4)](6)5. All complexes are characterised by X-ray single crystal diffraction, NMR ((1)H, (11)B, (13)C and (19)F) and UV-Vis spectroscopy.     

Generalized Benders’ Decomposition for topology optimization problems

This article considers the non-linear mixed 0–1 optimization problems that appear in topology optimization of load carrying structures. The main objective is to present a Generalized Benders’ Decomposition (GBD) method for solving single and multiple load minimum compliance (maximum stiffness) problems with discrete design variables to global optimality. We present the theoretical aspects of the method, including a proof of finite convergence and conditions for obtaining global optimal solutions. The method is also linked to, and compared with, an Outer-Approximation approach and a mixed 0–1 semi definite programming formulation of the considered problem. Several ways to accelerate the method are suggested and an implementation is described. Finally, a set of truss topology optimization problems are numerically solved to global optimality.     

Surface-dependent chemical equilibrium constants and capacitances for bare and 3-cyanopropyldimethylchlorosilane coated silica nanochannels

We present a combined theoretical and experimental analysis of the solid-liquid interface of fused-silica nanofabricated channels with and without a hydrophilic 3-cyanopropyldimethylchlorosilane (cyanosilane) coating. We develop a model that relaxes the assumption that the surface parameters C(1), C(2), and pK(+) are constant and independent of surface composition. Our theoretical model consists of three parts: (i) a chemical equilibrium model of the bare or coated wall, (ii) a chemical equilibrium model of the buffered bulk electrolyte, and (iii) a self-consistent Gouy-Chapman-Stern triple-layer model of the electrochemical double layer coupling these two equilibrium models. To validate our model, we used both pH-sensitive dye-based capillary filling experiments as well as electro-osmotic current-monitoring measurements. Using our model we predict the dependence of ζ potential, surface charge density, and capillary filling length ratio on ionic strength for different surface compositions, which can be difficult to achieve otherwise.     

Experimental study of electrostatically stabilized colloidal particles: colloidal stability and charge reversal

We consider the interaction of colloidal spheres in the presence of mono-, di-, and trivalent ions. The colloids are stabilized by electrostatic repulsion due to surface charges. The repulsive part of the interaction potential Ψ(d) is deduced from precise measurements of the rate of slow coagulation. These "microsurface potential measurements" allow us to determine a weak repulsion in which Ψ(d) is of the order of a few k(B)T. These data are compared to ζ potential measured under similar conditions. At higher concentrations both di- and trivalent counterions accumulate at the very proximity of the particle surface leading to charge reversal. The salt concentration c(cr) at which charge reversal occurs is found to be always above the critical coagulation concentration c(ccc). The analysis of Ψ(d) and of the ζ potential demonstrates, however, that adsorption of multivalent counterions starts far below c(cr). Hence, colloid stability in the presence of di- and trivalent ions cannot be described in terms of a DLVO ansatz assuming a surface charge that is constant with regard to the ionic strength.     

Synthesis of blue imino(pentafluorophenyl)phosphane

The reaction of AgC(6)F(5) with monomeric iminophosphanes of Mes*-N═P-X (X = Cl, I) in CH(2)Cl(2) at ambient temperature gives imino(pentafluorophenyl)phosphane, Mes*N═P(C(6)F(5)) (1), in almost quantitative yield (96%), which could be isolated as a highly viscous blue oil. The same reaction with LiC(6)F(5) results in the formation of imino(amino)phosphane (C(6)F(5))(2)P-N(Mes*)-P═NMes* (2) (yield 93%). In the second series of experiments the analogous reaction of MC(6)F(5) (M = Ag, Li) with dimeric [Cl-P(μ-N-Dipp)](2) was studied, leading to the formation of [R-P(μ-N-Dipp)](2) (R = C(6)F(5)) (3) for M = Ag, while only decomposition products such as P(C(6)F(5))(3) were observed in the reaction with the Li salt. Highly labile Mes*-N═P-C(6)F(5) (1) decomposes at ambient temperatures, forming among other products the diphosphane (C(6)F(5))(2)P-P(C(6)F(5))(2) (4). Reaction of 1 with Fe(2)(CO)(9) yields the iron carbonyl complexes Mes*-N═P(C(6)F(5))·Fe(CO)(4) (5) and [Mes*-N═P(C(6)F(5))](2)·Fe(CO)(3) (6). The structure, bonding, and potential energy surface are discussed on the basis of B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) computations. According to time-dependent B3LYP calculations, the blue color of 1 arises from an n → π* electronic transition.     

Photoelectron imaging spectroscopy of nitroethane anions

We present low-energy velocity map photoelectron imaging results for bare and Ar solvated nitroethane anions. We report an improved value for the adiabatic electron affinity of nitroethane of (191 ± 6) meV which is used to obtain a C-NO(2) bond dissociation energy of (0.589 ± 0.019) eV in nitroethane anion. We assign a weak feature at (27 ± 5) meV electron binding energy to the dipole-bound anion state of nitroethane. Photoelectron angular distributions exhibit increasing anisotropy with increasing kinetic energies. The main contributions to the photoelectron spectrum of nitroethane anion can be assigned to the vibrational modes of the nitro group. Transitions involving torsional motion around the CN bond axis lead to strong spectral congestion. Interpretation of the photoelectron spectrum is assisted by ab initio calculations and Franck-Condon simulations.     

Generalized CC-TDSCF and LCSA: The system-energy representation

Typical (sub)system-bath quantum dynamical problems are often investigated by means of (approximate) reduced equations of motion. Wavepacket approaches to the dynamics of the whole system have gained momentum in recent years and there is hope that properly designed approximations to the wavefunction will allow one to correctly describe the subsystem evolution. The continuous-configuration time-dependent self-consistent field (CC-TDSCF) and local coherent-state approximation (LCSA) methods, for instance, use a simple Hartree product of bath single-particle-functions for each discrete variable representation (DVR) state introduced in the Hilbert space of the subsystem. Here we focus on the above two methods and replace the DVR states with the eigenstates of the subsystem Hamiltonian, i.e., we adopt an energy-local representation for the subsystem. We find that stable and semiquantitative results are obtained for a number of dissipative problems, at the same (small) computational cost of the original methods. Furthermore, we find that both methods give very similar results, thus suggesting that coherent-states are well suited to describe (local) bath states. As a whole, present results highlight the importance of the system basis-set in the selected-multiconfiguration expansion of the wavefunction. They suggest that accurate and yet computationally cheap methods may be simply obtained from CC-TDSCF/LCSA by letting the subsystem states be variationally optimized.     

Synthesis of 3-amino-4-fluoropyrazoles

Fluorinated pyrazoles bearing additional functional groups that allow further functionalization are of considerable interest as building blocks in medicinal chemistry. The developed synthetic strategy for new 3-amino-4-fluoropyrazoles consists of a monofluorination of β-methylthio-β-enaminoketones using 1-(chloromethyl)-4-fluoro-1,4-diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(tetrafluoroborate) (Selectfluor) toward the corresponding monofluorinated enaminoketones, followed by condensation with different hydrazines.     

Stirring the porphyrin alphabet soup--functionalization reactions for porphyrins

Advances in the synthesis of unsymmetrically meso substituted porphyrins are based on the development of new total syntheses and porphyrin functionalization methods. These methods have replaced earlier mixed condensation reactions and give synthetic access to almost any desired meso-substituted porphyrin. They include the complete series of porphyrin homologues and regioisomers of the A(x)-series with either alkyl or aryl residues, and numerous examples of ABCD-type chromophores. The syntheses are based on a combination of classic functionalization reactions, the use of organolithium reagents in S(N)Ar reactions, and organometallic reactions with Pd, Ni, Cr, Ru, B, and Sn catalysis. This feature article gives an account of our work in the past decade to develop synthetic methods for the A(x)- and ABCD-type porphyrins and their use as optical materials and photosensitizers.