Proton Order–Disorder Phenomena in a Hydrogen‐Bonded Rhodium–η5‐Semiquinone Complex: A Possible Dielectric Response Mechanism

A newly synthesized one‐dimensional (1D) hydrogen‐bonded (H‐bonded) rhodium(II)–η⁵‐semiquinone complex, [Cp*Rh(η⁵‐p‐HSQ‐Me₄)]PF₆ ([ 1 ]PF₆; Cp*=1,2,3,4,5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl; HSQ=semiquinone) exhibits a paraelectric–antiferroelectric second‐order phase transition at 237.1 K. Neutron and X‐ray crystal structure analyses reveal that the H‐bonded proton is disordered over two sites in the room‐temperature (RT) phase. The phase transition would arise from this proton disorder together with rotation or libration of the Cp* ring and PF₆^? ion. The relative permittivity ε_b′ along the H‐bonded chains reaches relatively high values (ca., 130) in the RT phase. The temperature dependence of ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectra demonstrates that the proton is dynamically disordered in the RT phase and that the proton exchange has already occurred in the low‐temperature (LT) phase. Rate constants for the proton exchange are estimated to be 10^?4–10^?6 s in the temperature range of 240–270 K. DFT calculations predict that the protonation/deprotonation of [ 1 ]⁺ leads to interesting hapticity changes of the semiquinone ligand accompanied by reduction/oxidation by the π‐bonded rhodium fragment, producing the stable η⁶‐hydroquinone complex, [Cp*Rh³⁺(η⁶‐p‐H₂Q‐Me₄)]²⁺ ([ 2 ]²⁺), and η⁴‐benzoquinone complex, [Cp*Rh⁺(η⁴‐p‐BQ‐Me₄)] ([ 3 ]), respectively. Possible mechanisms leading to the dielectric response are discussed on the basis of the migration of the protonic solitons comprising of [ 2 ]²⁺ and [ 3 ], which would be generated in the H‐bonded chain.     

Pressurized liquid extraction of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls from contaminated soil

Extraction solvents for pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) used to extract polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDFs), and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs) from contaminated soil were investigated. The PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs in Certified Reference Material: CRM 0422 (Forest soil) were extracted using toluene, n-hexane, acetone, acetone/toluene and acetone/n-hexane (1:1, v/v). Soxhlet extraction was the reference method. Results demonstrated that PLE using mixed solvents produced better analyte recoveries than the single solvents. However, these results were lower than those for Soxhlet extraction. Additional extraction cycles using mixed solvents achieved better recovery results. Mixed solvents and several extraction cycles were necessary for satisfactory extraction of more tightly bound PCDD/PCDFs and Co-PCBs from soil.     

o-Phenylene halocarbenonitrenes and o-phenylene chlorocarbenocarbene: a combined experimental and computational approach

[reaction: see text] Computations find that o-phenylene(halo)carbenonitrenes 2-XN, X = F, Cl, Br, have quinoidal singlet biradical ground states such as the parent o-phenylenecarbenonitrene (2-HN). Compared to the parent 2-HN, halogen substitution stabilizes the A' states relative to the A' ones. Halogen substitution also affects the barrier and exothermicity of the ring-opening reaction (to form unsaturated nitriles 4-XN, X = F, Cl, Br), but it has a smaller effect on the ring-closing reaction (to form benzo(aza)cyclobutadiene 3-XN, X = F, Cl, Br). Attempts to generate and observe the o-phenylene(halo)carbenonitrenes 2-XN, X = F, Cl, Br, using matrix isolation spectroscopy under conditions similar to those of the successful observation of 2-HN failed. Instead, the observed photoproducts were a mixture of 3-XN and 4-XN. In each case, the major product of the mixture appears to be the thermodynamically more stable one. In the case of X = Br, the observed mixture contains an additional component that is postulated to be Z-6-BrN. o-Phenylenechlorocarbenocarbene is also computed to have a quinoidal singlet biradical ground state and relatively stabilized A' excited states. Attempts to generate the biscarbene under matrix isolation conditions led to the detection of benzochlorocyclobutadiene (3-ClC), small amounts of the ring-open product (dienediyne 4-ClC), and cycloalkyne 5-ClC. Computations suggest that the formation of 5-ClC implies the generation of Z-6-ClC, which is analogous to the formation of Z-6-BrN from 2-BrN.     

Nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of unactivated alkyl halides and tosylate carrying a functional group with alkyl and phenyl Grignard reagents

By the use of catalytic amounts of a nickel salt and a 1,3-butadiene, primary and secondary alkyl Grignard reagents undergo cross-coupling with alkyl bromides, iodide, and tosylate carrying a functional group such as amide, ester, and ketone at 0 °C in THF. The present procedure provides a simple, convenient, and practical method for construction of carbon chains in the presence of various functional groups. PhMgBr also gave the corresponding coupling product in a moderate yield.     

Neutron scattering of fragile antiferromagnetic phases in heavy fermion compounds

Results of neutron scattering and specific heat measurements are reported for two kinds of weak antiferromagnetic compounds corresponding to (i) the situation at the quantum critical point and (ii) the double magnetic transition observed in CeRu₂Ge₂.     

Room Temperature Solution ENDOR of some Super Stable Fluorocarbon Radicals

Room temperature fluorine electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) has been successfully observed for several superstable fluorocarbon radicals ·C(C₂F₄R)(i-C₃F₇)₂ in solution. Three radicals were employed in which CF₃, F, and O-c-C₆F₁₀SO₃C₂F₅ were introduced as R, and all the hyperfine couplings (hfcs) obtained by ENDOR were assigned with the help of ESR simulation and ab initio MO calculation. In case of ·C(i-C₃F₇)₃ large ¹³C and considerable β-fluorine couplings suggest the nonplaner arrangement for the central and three carbons at the β-position, in spite of the fact that all the methyl fluorine show the same hfc. Therefore, a rapid puckering motion along the C₃ axis together with the methyl rotation should average the hfc’s of the 18 fluorine nuclei to give the same value. When one of the CF₃ groups is substituted with an F nucleus, the five CF₃ groups give two hfc values, suggesting some dynamics still exists for the molecular frame. When a large group, O-c-C₆F₁₀SO₃C₂F₅, is substituted for CF₃, all the five CF₃ groups become nonequivalent and the ENDOR signal becomes intensive and sharp even at 290 K, indicating that the molecular frame becomes rigid. The relation between the ENDOR spectra of these systems and the intramolecular dynamics is discussed.