Two polymorphic forms of 2,5‐bis(4‐methoxy­carbonyl­phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxa­diazo­le

The title compound [systematic name: di­methyl 4,4′‐(1,3,4‐oxa­diazole‐2,5‐diyl)­di­phenyl­enedi­carboxyl­ate], C₁₈H₁₄N₂O₅, crystallizes under similar conditions in two different ortho­rhombic crystalline forms. In both forms, the mol­ecule consists of two equivalent parts. In form 1, these parts are related by a twofold axis of space group Pbcn, and in form 2, by a mirror plane of space group Cmc2₁. The O atom of the oxa­di­azole ring occupies a special position on the twofold axis and on the mirror plane in forms 1 and 2, respectively.     

Fe or FeNO Catalysis? A Quantum Chemical Investigation of the [Fe(CO)3(NO)]−‐Catalyzed Cloke–Wilson Rearrangement

A quantum chemical investigation of the Bu₄N[Fe(CO)₃(NO)]‐catalyzed Cloke–Wilson rearrangement of vinyl cyclopropanes is reported. It was found that allylic C?C bond activation can proceed through a S_N2′ or S_N2‐type mechanism. The application of the recently reported intrinsic bond orbital (IBO) method for all structures indicated that one Fe?N π bond is directly involved. Further analysis showed that during the reaction oxidation occurs at the NO ligand exclusively.     

Functionalized Membranes for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Functionalized vesicles for photocatalytic hydrogen production in water have been prepared by co‐embedding of amphiphilic photosensitizers and a hydrogen‐evolving catalyst in phospholipid membranes. The self‐assembly allows a simple two‐dimensional arrangement of the multicomponent system with close spatial proximity, which gave turnover numbers up to 165 for the incorporated amphiphilic cobaloxime water reduction catalyst 3 b under optimized conditions in purely aqueous solution. Superior photocatalytic activity in fluid membranes indicates that mobility and dynamic reorganization of catalytic subunits in the membrane promote the visible‐light‐driven hydrogen production. The functionalized membranes represent nanostructured assemblies for hydrogen production in aqueous solution mimicking natural photosynthesis.     

Automated in-syringe single-drop head-space micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine samples

A novel approach of head-space single-drop micro-extraction applied to the determination of ethanol in wine is presented. For the first time, the syringe of an automated syringe pump was used as an extraction chamber of adaptable size for a volatile analyte. This approach enabled to apply negative pressure during the enrichment step, which favored the evaporation of the analyte. Placing a slowly spinning magnetic stirring bar inside the syringe, effective syringe cleaning as well as mixing of the sample with buffer solution to suppress the interference of acetic acid was achieved.     

The Electronic Ground State of [Fe(CO)3(NO)]−: A Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study

During the past 10 years iron‐catalyzed reactions have become established in the field of organic synthesis. For example, the complex anion [Fe(CO)₃(NO)]^?, which was originally described by Hogsed and Hieber, shows catalytic activity in various organic reactions. This anion is commonly regarded as being isoelectronic with [Fe(CO)₄]^2?, which, however, shows poor catalytic activity. The spectroscopic and quantum chemical investigations presented herein reveal that the complex ferrate [Fe(CO)₃(NO)]^? cannot be regarded as a Fe^?II species, but rather is predominantly a Fe⁰ species, in which the metal is covalently bonded to NO^? by two π‐bonds. A metal–N σ‐bond is not observed.     

Studies on the properties of organoselenium(IV) fluorides and azides

The reaction of organoselenides and -diselenides (R2Se and (RSe)2) with XeF2 furnished the corresponding organoselenium(IV) difluorides R2SeF2 (R=Me (1), Et (2), iPr (3), Ph (4), Mes (=2,4,6-(Me)3C6H2) (5), Tipp (=2,4,6-(iPr)3C6H2) (6), 2-Me 2NCH2C6H4 (7)), and trifluorides RSeF3 (R=Me (8), iPr (9), Ph (10), Mes (11), Tipp (12), Mes* (=2,4,6-(tBu) 3C6H2) (13), 2-Me2NCH2C6H4 (14)), respectively. In addition to characterization by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, the first molecular structure of an organoselenium(IV) difluoride as well as the molecular structures of subsequent decomposition products have been determined. The substitution of fluorine atoms with Me3SiN3 leads to the corresponding organoselenium(IV) diazides R2Se(N3)2 (R=Me (15), Et (16), iPr (17), Ph (18), Mes (19), 2-Me 2NCH2C6H4 (20)) and triazides RSe(N3)3 (R=Me (21), iPr (22), Ph (23), Mes (24), Tipp (25), Mes* (26), 2-Me2NCH2C6H4 (27)), respectively. The organoselenium azides are extremely temperature-sensitive materials and can only be handled at low temperatures.     

Synthesis and structure of 1,4-dipiperazino benzenes: chiral terphenyl-type peptide helix mimetics

The terphenyl structure has been proven to be an ideal scaffold mimicking side-chain functionalities of peptidic alpha-helices. The synthesis of 1,4-dipiperazino benzenes, using stepwise transition metal-catalyzed N-arylation of chiral piperazines to a central benzene core is reported. The structure determination by X-ray crystallography reveals a geometrical arrangement of the hydrophobic side chains resembling the orientation of key i, i + 3, and i + 7 positions in a peptidic alpha-helix or in terphenyl helix mimetics.     

Fluorine in Small Molecules: Fluoromethyl Azide and Chalcogenocyanates

Fluoromethylating agents are a highly studied and controversely discussed class of compounds. New fluoromethyl pseudohalides FCH₂N₃, FCH₂SCN, and FCH₂SeCN were prepared for the first time and their physical and spectroscopic properties investigated. Their synthesis is performed conveniently by fluoromethylation of the respective silver or potassium pseudohalogenides with fluoroiodomethane.     

The Coordination Chemistry of Iron with the 1,4‐Bis(2‐pyridyl‐methyl)piperazine Ligand

The behaviour of Fe^II and Fe^III ions in combination with the potential ligand 1,4‐bis(2‐pyridyl‐methyl)piperazine (BPMP) under anhydrous conditions has been investigated. BPMP has been reacted with FeCl₂, FeCl₃ and [Fe(OTf)₂(MeCN)₂]. This led to the isolation of four new complexes, which were fully characterized and structurally investigated by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. It turned out that in the presence of chloride co‐ligands Fe^III favours the tetradentate coordination mode of BPMP with the piperazine unit in a boat configuration, like for instance in [BPMP(Cl)Fe(μ‐O)FeCl₃] or [BPMP‐FeCl₂][FeCl₄], ( 1 ). However, the employment of FeCl₂ leads to the formation of a coordination polymer [BPMP‐FeCl₂]_n, ( 2 ), containing the piperazine ring in a chair configuration binding to two iron centres each. 2 can only be dissolved in very polar solvents like dmf which is capable of breaking up the polymeric structure under formation of [Cl₂(dmf)Fe(μ‐BPMP‐1κ²N,N:2κ²N,N))Fe(dmf)Cl₂]·2 dmf, ( 3 ). In contrast, using [Fe(OTf)₂(MeCN)₂] instead of FeCl₂ as the starting material leads to a mononuclear Fe^II complex with BPMP bound in the desirable tetradentate fashion: [BPMP‐Fe(OTf)₂], ( 4 ). Unlike other complexes with tetradentate N/py ligands the two residual ligands in 4 are bound almost trans to each other with the potential to adopt a cis orientation under oxidising conditions, and it will be interesting to exploit its catalytic properties in future.