Self‐Assembly of a Highly Organized,Hexameric Supramolecular Architecture: Formation,Structure and Properties

Two derivatives, ³ L and ⁹ L , of a ditopic, multiply hydrogen‐bonding molecule, known for more than a decade, have been found, in the solid state as well as in solvents of low polarity at room temperature, to exist not as monomers, but to undergo a remarkable self‐assembly into a complex supramolecular species. The solid‐state molecular structure of ³ L , determined by single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography, revealed that it forms a highly organized hexameric entity ³ L ₆ with a capsular shape, resulting from the interlocking of two sets of three monomolecular components, linked through hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The complicated ¹H NMR spectra observed in o‐dichlorobenzene (o‐DCB) for ³ L and ⁹ L are consistent with the presence of a hexamer of D₃ symmetry in both cases. DOSY measurements confirm the hexameric constitution in solution. In contrast, in a hydrogen‐bond‐disrupting solvent, such as DMSO, the ¹H NMR spectra are very simple and consistent with the presence of isolated monomers only. Extensive temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR studies in o‐DCB showed that the L ₆ species dissociated progressively into the monomeric unit on increasing th temperature, up to complete dissociation at about 90 °C. The coexistence of the hexamer and the monomer indicated that exchange was slow on the NMR timescale. Remarkably, no species other than hexamer and monomer were detected in the equilibrating mixtures. The relative amounts of each entity showed a reversible sigmoidal variation with temperature, indicating that the assembly proceeded with positive cooperativity. A full thermodynamic analysis has been applied to the data.     

Ultra‐Small Plutonium Oxide Nanocrystals: An Innovative Material in Plutonium Science

Apart from its technological importance, plutonium (Pu) is also one of the most intriguing elements because of its non‐conventional physical properties and fascinating chemistry. Those fundamental aspects are particularly interesting when dealing with the challenging study of plutonium‐based nanomaterials. Here we show that ultra‐small (3.2±0.9 nm) and highly crystalline plutonium oxide (PuO₂) nanocrystals (NCs) can be synthesized by the thermal decomposition of plutonyl nitrate ([PuO₂(NO₃)₂] ? 3 H₂O) in a highly coordinating organic medium. This is the first example reporting on the preparation of significant quantities (several tens of milligrams) of PuO₂ NCs, in a controllable and reproducible manner. The structure and magnetic properties of PuO₂ NCs have been characterized by a wide variety of techniques (powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), TEM, IR, Raman, UV/Vis spectroscopies, and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometry). The current PuO₂ NCs constitute an innovative material for the study of challenging problems as diverse as the transport behavior of plutonium in the environment or size and shape effects on the physics of transuranium elements.     

Pyranoside‐into‐Furanoside Rearrangement: New Reaction in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Its Application in Oligosaccharide Synthesis

Great interest in natural furanoside‐containing compounds has challenged the development of preparative methods for their synthesis. Herein a novel reaction in carbohydrate chemistry, namely a pyranoside‐into‐furanoside (PIF) rearrangement permitting the transformation of selectively O‐substituted pyranosides into the corresponding furanosides is reported. The discovered process includes acid‐promoted sulfation accompanied by rearrangement of the pyranoside ring into a furanoside ring followed by solvolytic O‐desulfation. This process, which has no analogy in organic chemistry, was shown to be a very useful tool for the synthesis of furanoside‐containing complex oligosaccharides, which was demonstrated by synthesizing disaccharide derivatives α‐D ‐Galp‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐ Galf ‐OPr, 3‐O‐s ‐lactyl‐β‐D ‐ Galf ‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐Glcp‐OPr, and α‐L ‐ Fucf ‐(1→4)‐β‐D ‐GlcpA‐OPr related to polysaccharides from the bacteria Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis and the brown seaweed Chordaria flagelliformis.     

On the Electronic Structure and Photochemistry of Coordinatively Unsaturated Complexes: The Case of Nickel Bis‐dinitrogen,Ni(N2)2

The electronic ground and excited states of the coordinatively unsaturated complex Ni(η¹‐N₂)₂, isolated in an Ar matrix, are analyzed in detail by vibrational and electronic absorption and emission spectroscopies allied with quantum chemical calculations. The bond force constants are determined from a normal coordinate analysis and compared with those of the isoelectronic carbonyl complex. The consequences for the bond properties are discussed, and the trend in the force constants is compared with the standard formation enthalpies. The linear complex Ni(η¹‐N₂)₂ with two terminal dinitrogen ligands can be photoisomerized to two isomeric, metastable forms Ni(η¹‐N₂)(η²‐N₂) and Ni(η²‐N₂)₂, with one and two side‐on coordinated dinitrogen ligands, respectively.     

Counting of Oxygen Defects versus Metal Surface Sites in Methanol Synthesis Catalysts by Different Probe Molecules

Different surface sites of solid catalysts are usually quantified by dedicated chemisorption techniques from the adsorption capacity of probe molecules, assuming they specifically react with unique sites. In case of methanol synthesis catalysts, the Cu surface area is one of the crucial parameters in catalyst design and was for over 25 years commonly determined using diluted N₂O. To disentangle the influence of the catalyst components, different model catalysts were prepared and characterized using N₂O, temperature programmed desorption of H₂, and kinetic experiments. The presence of ZnO dramatically influences the N₂O measurements. This effect can be explained by the presence of oxygen defect sites that are generated at the Cu‐ZnO interface and can be used to easily quantify the intensity of Cu‐Zn interaction. N₂O in fact probes the Cu surface plus the oxygen vacancies, whereas the exposed Cu surface area can be accurately determined by H₂.     

New engineering polymers for blow-moulding

The combination of using high performance flexible engineering polymers and their processing by blow moulding technology allows traditional rubber and rubber-metal composite parts to be replaced to obtain improved performance, lower cost and greater design freedom. Two examples of automobile applications are detailed to support this concept - constant velocity joint boots and engine air ducting.     

Green,purple, blue — [Cu(N-Methylimidazole)<Subscript>n</Subscript> (OOCCH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>m</Subscript>, what is in a colour

Starting from the paddlewheel complex copper(II)acetate, the green N-methylimidazole adduct of copper(II)acetate is formed and transformed into the monomeric and dimeric N-methylimidazole adducts of copper(II)acetate [Cu(C₄H₆N₂)₂(CH₃COO)₂]_n·xH₂O (n = 1,2; x = 0, 6). The formation of the blue dimer or the purple monomer depends on the solvent and the presence or absence of water.     

Eight and seven point degenerations of Miquel's Theorem in Laguerre planes

For M?bius planes Schaeffer [9] has proved that all seven point degenerations of Miquel's Theorem characterize miquelian M?bius planes. For Laguerre planes we have several degenerations of Miquel's Theorem with eight and seven points. We prove that all except one of these degenerations characterize miquelian Laguerre planes. The remaining degeneration characterizes elation Laguerre planes. Received 14 September 2001; revised 1 September 2002.