Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of new tetranuclear Ru-Hbpp-based water-oxidation catalysts

The preparation of three new octadentate tetranucleating ligands made out of two Ru-Hbpp-based units [where Hbpp is 3,5(bispyridyl)pyrazole], linked by a xylyl group attached at the pyrazolate moiety, of general formula (Hbpp)(2)-u-xyl (u = p, m, or o) is reported, together with its dinucleating counterpart substituted at the same position with a benzyl group, Hbpp-bz. All of these ligands have been characterized with the usual analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The corresponding tetranuclear ruthenium complexes of general formula {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-u-xyl)}(n+) [L = Cl or OAc, n = 4; L = (H(2)O)(2), n = 6] and their dinuclear homologues {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](μ-bpp-bz)}(n+) [L = Cl or OAc, n = 2; L = (H(2)O)(2), n = 3] have also been prepared and thoroughly characterized both in solution and in the solid state. In solution, all of the complexes have been characterized spectroscopically by UV-vis and NMR and their redox properties investigated by means of cyclic voltammetry techniques. In the solid state, monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis has been carried out for two dinuclear complexes {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(L)](μ-bpp-bz)}(2+) (L = Cl and OAc) and for the tetranuclear complex {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(μ-OAc)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-m-xyl)}(4+). The capacity of the tetranuclear aqua complexes {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](2)(μ-(bpp)(2)-u-xyl)}(6+) and the dinuclear homologue {[Ru(2)(trpy)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](μ-bpp-bz)}(3+) to act as water-oxidation catalysts has been evaluated using cerium(IV) as the chemical oxidant in pH = 1.0 triflic acid solutions. It is found that these complexes, besides generating significant amounts of dioxygen, also generate carbon dioxide. The relative ratio of [O(2)]/[CO(2)] is dependent not only on para, meta, or ortho substitution of the xylylic group but also on the concentration of the starting materials. With regard to the tetranuclear complexes, the one that contains the more sterically constrained ortho-substituted ligand generates the highest [O(2)]/[CO(2)] ratio.     

Ueber die Koagulation des Berlinerblaus

Ohne Zusammenfassung(Aus dem chemischen Laboratorium des Technischen Instituts in Cremona.)     

Determination of maize and grain herbicides and their transformation products in soil by use of soil column extraction then liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Summary A multiresidue method has been developed for identification and quantitation of the herbicides most commonly used in cultivation of maize and grain, and of their transformation products, in soil samples. The analytes were isolated by soil column extraction (SCE) and the extracts were purified by use of a Carbograph-1 cartridge. Analysis was performed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection (LC-TISP-MS-MS) in negative-ion mode. To optimize the extraction conditions affecting the performance of SCE, e.g. the extracting solvent used, temperature, extracting volume, and solvent flow rate, were studied. To evaluate the matrix effect in SCE, recovery experiments were performed on soil samples, with different physical and chemical characteristics, fortified with the 100 ng g⁻¹ of the target compounds. Recovery data were satisfactory and the method detection limits were between 3 and 100 ng g⁻¹, depending on the compound.     

Electron-pairing analysis from localization and delocalization indices in the framework of the atoms-in-molecules theory

This article presents an overview of recent advances in the study of electron pairing through the use of localization and delocalization indices obtained from double integration over atomic basins of the exchange–correlation density in the framework of the atoms-in-molecules theory. These localization and delocalization indices describe the intra- and interatomic distribution of the electron pairs in a molecule. The main results of the application of these second-order indices to the analysis of molecular structure and chemical reactivity are briefly reviewed. It is shown that localization and delocalization indices represent a powerful tool to describe the electron-pair structure of molecules, which, in turn, provides deeper insight into relevant chemical phenomena such as electron correlation effects and the formation of localized α, β electron pairs. Received: 8 April 2002 / Accepted: 26 June 2002 / Published online: 6 September 2002 Acknowledgements. Financial help was furnished by the Spanish DGES projects no. PB98-0457-C02-01 and BQU2002-04112-C02-02. J.P. thanks the Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació de la Generalitat de Catalunya for benefiting from a doctoral fellowship, no. 2000FI-00582. M.S. is indebted to the Departament d'Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació of the Generalitat de Catalunya for financial support through the Distinguished University Research Promotion, 2001. We also thank the Centre de Supercomputació de Catalunya for providing us with computing facilities. Correspondence to: M. Solà e-mail: miquel.sola@udg.es     

Cooperativity in multiple unusual weak bonds

This review covers two aspects concerning cooperativity in multiple weak bonds: a summary of literature results and a theoretical study of a complete series of model complexes. All the 15 combination of five weak bonds were explored: hydrogen bonds, hydric bonds, dihydrogen bonds, halogen bonds and ion–π interactions. Since in several cases there were no examples reported, a systematic exploration has been carried out on simple models at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. The results thus obtained have been analyzed using the atoms in molecules methodology.     

Fine-tunable monodentate phosphoroamidite and aminophosphine ligands for Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation

A biaryl-based monophosphoroamidite L1–L4a–f and aminophosphine L5–L7a–f ligand library was screened in the Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydroformylation of several vinylarenes and heterocyclic olefins. Our results indicate that the selectivity is strongly dependent on the ligand parameters and on the substrate type. Enantioselectivities (up to 46%) were moderate in the hydroformylation of several vinylarenes S1–S5 and promising (up to 58%) for the more challenging heterocyclic olefins S6–S9.     

UV assisted photo reactive polyether-polyesteramide resin for future applications in 3D printing

Among additive manufacturing, photocuring 3D printing technologies are very relevant because of its high printing speed and high precision. However, the limited performance of photosensitive thermoset polymers is the bottleneck for the application of photocuring 3D printing in some fields, particularly in the biomedical sector. Thus, the development of biodegradable and biocompatible materials is highly desirable and of utmost importance. In this work, a biodegradable and non-cytotoxic thermoset polymer for photocuring 3D printing is reported. It consists of an unsaturated polyesteramide bearing phenylalanine, 2-butene-1,4-diol and fumarate building blocks, which is photocured under UV irradiation using a low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate as crosslinker. The main characteristics of the new thermoset are: (1) very high volumetric and mechanical integrity stabilities, comparable to that of photocured epoxides; (2) very high degradation temperature; (3) very low water absorption capacity; (4) relatively fast enzymatic degradation, reaching 16.5% after 3 months; and (5) non-cytotoxic response in presence of epithelial cells, even when soluble molecular fragments coming from biodegradation are considered. These properties favor the future utilization of the new polyether-polyesteramide resin in the manufacturing of more sustainable products via 3D printing methods, such as stereolithography, that uses UV sources.     

Conformational analysis of trans-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes. A tool for discriminating between steric and electronic effects in the position of

The conformation of several $\text{trans}$-2,3-diaryloxy-1,4-dioxanes has been studied using ¹H NMR techniques. $\text{Trans}$-2,3-bis(4-nitrophenoxy)-1,4-dioxane and $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(4-methoxyphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane have been found to be predominantly ( ≈98%) in diaxial conformation in CDCl₃). On the other hand, $\text{trans}$-2,3-bis(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-1,4-dioxane exists in the same conditions as a 66:33 mixture of diaxial and diequatorial conformers. An explanation based on the fulfilment of the exo-anomeric effect is provided.