Conversions between metal-ligand multiple bond (MLMB) types: carbonyl olefination and other applications

In this Perspective, methods for the direct conversion of one type of metal-ligand multiple bond (MLMB) to another are discussed. Of particular interest, because of their potential utility in organic synthesis, are examples of direct conversion of N- and O-based MLMB to alkylidenes and alkylidynes. Recent efforts in this area from our laboratory with some background are detailed. The research from our group involves metallacycles prepared directly from an imido ligand where a metal-carbon bond can have alkylidene-like or alkyl-like properties and reactivity depending on the ancillary ligands.     

An Efficient Synthesis of Racemic and Optically Active Telluromethionine

A direct and efficient route for the construction of racemic and optically active L-telluromethionine (L-Te-Met) starting from the readily available hydrochloride salt of α-amino-γ-butyrolactone and lithium methyltellurolate is described. The reaction has been successfully scaled up to afford gram quantities of L-Te-Met in 75–80% yield.     

Feedback cooling of a one-electron oscillator

A one-electron oscillator is cooled from 5.2 K to 850 mK using electronic feedback. Novel quantum jump thermometry reveals a Boltzmann distribution of oscillator energies and directly measures the corresponding temperature. The ratio of electron temperature and damping rate (also directly measured) is observed to be a fluctuation-dissipation invariant, independent of feedback gain, as predicted for noiseless feedback. The sharply reduced linewidth that results from feedback cooling illustrates the likely importance for improved fundamental measurements and symmetry tests.     

Uniform molecular analysis using femtosecond laser mass spectrometry

The potential of femtosecond laser time-of-flight mass spectrometry (FLMS) for uniform quantitative analysis of molecules has been investigated. Various samples of molecular gases and vapours have been studied, using ultra-fast ( approximately 50 fs) laser pulses with very high intensity (up to 1.6 x 10(16) Wcm(-2)) for non-resonant multiphoton ionisation/tunnel ionisation. Some of these molecules have high ionisation potentials, requiring up to ten photons for non-resonant ionisation. The relative sensitivity factors (RSF) have been determined as a function of the laser intensity and it has been demonstrated that for molecules with very different masses and ionisation potentials, uniform ionisation has been achieved at the highest laser intensities. Quantitative laser mass spectrometry of molecules is therefore a distinct possibility. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Derivations, isomorphisms, and second cohomology of generalized Witt algebras

Generalized Witt algebras, over a field of characteristic , were defined by Kawamoto about 12 years ago. Using different notations from Kawamoto's, we give an essentially equivalent definition of generalized Witt algebras over , where the ingredients are an abelian group , a vector space over , and a map which is linear in the first variable and additive in the second one. In this paper, the derivations of any generalized Witt algebra
, with the right kernel of being , are explicitly described; the isomorphisms between any two simple generalized Witt algebras are completely determined; and the second cohomology group for any simple generalized Witt algebra is computed. The derivations, the automorphisms and the second cohomology groups of some special generalized Witt algebras have been studied by several other authors as indicated in the references.

     

Temperature dependence of the penetration depth in Sr2RuO4: evidence for nodes in the gap function

We report measurements of the magnetic penetration depth in single crystals of Sr2RuO4 down to 0.04 K using a tunnel-diode based, self-inductive technique. We observe a power law temperature dependence below 0.8 K, with no sign of a second phase transition nor of a crossover predicted for a multiband superconductor. A power law dependence suggests that the gap function has nodes, inconsistent with candidate p-wave states. We argue that nonlocal effects, rather than impurity scattering, can explain the observed T2 dependence instead of the T-linear behavior expected for line nodes.     

Synthesis, structure, and LLCT transitions in terminal hydrazido(2-) bipyridine complexes of titanium

Addition of 2,2'-bipyridine and its derivatives to Ti(NMe2)2(dpma), where dpma is N,N-di(pyrrolyl-alpha-methyl)-N-methylamine, followed by various hydrazine derivatives was used to generate a series of terminal hydrazido(2-) complexes. Among the new complexes is Ti[=NN(H)Ph](But-bpy)(dpma), which was structurally characterized, where But-bpy is 4,4'-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine. Other new complexes reported are Ti(NNMe2)(Me-bpy)(dpma), Ti(NNMe2)(bpy)(dpma), Ti(NNMe2)(Ph-bpy)(dpma), Ti[NN(Me)Ph](But-bpy)(dpma), Ti[NN(Me)p-tolyl](But-bpy)(dpma), and Ti[NN(Me)4-FC6H4](But-bpy)(dpma). Titanium hydrazido(2-) complexes bearing bpy substituents possess a low-energy transition, leading them to have blue or green colors, which is somewhat unusual for titanium(IV) species. Through absorption studies on the derivatives, it was determined that the low-energy transition is the result of an unusual ligand-to-ligand charge transfer where electron density residing on the hydrazido(2-) is transferred to the bpy pi* orbitals.