Reaction of [CpRu(CH3CN)3]PF6 with bidentate ligands: structural characterization of [{CpRu(CH3CN)2}2(μ-η-dppe)](PF6)2 [dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane]

The reaction of [CpRu(CH₃CN)₃]PF₆ with the bidentate ligands L-L=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppe, and (1-diphenylarsino-2-diphenylphosphino)ethane, dpadppe, affords mononuclear or dinuclear complexes of formula [CpRu(η²-L-L)(CH₃CN)]PF₆, [{CpRu(CH₃CN)₂}₂(μ-η^1:1-L-L)](PF₆)₂ and [{CpRu(CH₃CN)}₂(μ-η^1:1-L-L)₂](PF₆)₂ (L-L=dppe, dpadppe). All of the compounds are characterized by microanalysis and NMR [¹H and ³¹P{¹H}] spectroscopy. The crystal structure of [{CpRu(CH₃CN)₂}₂(μ-η^1:1-dppe)](PF₆)₂ has been determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The complex exhibits a dppe ligand bridging two CpRu(CH₃CN)₂ fragments.     

Chemoselective cyclizations of divinyl ketones to cyclohexenones mediated by Lewis acid and base

[reaction: see text] Chemoselective cyclizations of divinyl ketones to cyclohexenones mediated by a sterically demanding Lewis acid and an amine base have been accomplished under mild reaction conditions. The extension of this methodology to the synthesis of eight-membered rings is also demonstrated.     

Preparation via Diastereoselective Hydrogenation,Absolute Conformation and Configuration of Exogeneous Anabolic Zeranol ((3S, 7R)-3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12-Decahydro-7,14,16-trihydroxy-3-methy-1H-2-benzoxacyclotetradecin-1-one)

Hydrogenation of the ketone group in di-O-benzylderivative ( 8 ) of the known macrocyclic lactone zeralenone ( 7 ) using a novel chiral borane complex 3 . BH₃, prepared in situ, proceeded at lower temperatures with moderate diastereoselectivity (～40%, d. e. at ?60°). Unsaturated diastereomers 9 and 10 were separated, and 9 converted into zeranol ( 11 ), a known anabolic agent. Restricted conformational mobility at lower temperatures is assumed for the intermediate 8 on the basis of the temperature-dependent CD spectra of its acetyl congeners 18 and 19 . X-Ray structure analysis of 7-O-acetylderivative ( 13 ) of 11 revealed the (R)-configuration at C(7). Two crystallographically independent H₂O molecules are involved in the H-bonds, one of them (O(21)) rises the helices of the molecules of 13 along b. Small positive torsional angle [C(16)-]C(161)-C(1) [=O] (+19.3°), transoid(E) conformation of the lactone group, and nearly achiral arrangement of the C(11)-C(12) bond (torsional angle [C(11)-]C(12)-C(121)[C(161)] is ?93°) are the main conformational features that differentiate the macrocylic RAL (resorcinic-acid lactone) derivatives from the 6-membered lactone derivative 20 , studied earlier by CD. Consequently, the rules developed for the CD effects within conjugation band (around 270 nm), and n→π* band (around 255 nm) of the latter compound, cannot be applied the macrocyclic lactones.     

Synthesis, Electrochemistry and Crystal Structure of the [Ni36Pt4(CO)45]6− and [Ni37Pt4(CO)46]6− Hexaanions

The [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6- and [Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- clusters have been obtained in mixture upon reaction in acetonitrile of [Ni₆(CO)₁₂]^2- salts with K₂PtCl₄ in a 2.5:1 molar ratio. The two hexaanions were indistinguishable by spectroscopic techniques. Crystallization of their trimethylbenzylammonium salts led to crystals of composition 0.5[NMe₃CH₂Ph]₆[Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]-0.5[NMe₃CH₂Ph]₆[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]·C₃H₈O, hexagonal,space group P6₃ (No. 173), a=17.853(9), c=27.127(13) Å, Z=2; final R=0.057. The metal core of the [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6- anion consists of a Pt₄ tetrahedron fully encapsulated in a shell of 36 Ni atoms belonging to a very distorted and incomplete ₅ tetrahedron. The [Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- hexaanion derives from the former by capping the unique triangular face of the metal polyhedron with an additional Ni(CO) fragment. The [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- mixture is rapidly degraded to the known [Ni₉Pt₃(CO)₂₁]^4- cluster by exposure to carbon monoxide. Its reaction with protic acids initially affords the corresponding [H_6-nNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[H_6-nNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=5, 4) derivatives, and eventually leads to rearrangement to the known [H_6-n Ni₃₈Pt₆(CO)₄₈]^n- species. Both [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^6--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^6- and [HNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^5--[HNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^5- mixtures have been chemically and electrochemically reduced to their corresponding [Ni₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[Ni₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=7–9) and [HNi₃₆Pt₄(CO)₄₅]^n--[HNi₃₇Pt₄(CO)₄₆]^n- (n=6–8) mixtures.     

The analysis of archaeological glass by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy

Summary An analytical procedure is described for the analysis of archaeological glass by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Glass samples were analysed in solution after fusion with lithium metaborate at 1100°C. The analyses were performed in the sequential multielemental mode of operation, with the determination of 15 elements in four analytical runs; only elements with not too large concentration difference were analysed in a single run. The following elements were accounted for: Si, Na, Ca, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ti, Sr, Ba, Cr, Ni, Cu, Co, Pb.     

CO(2) Fixation by Novel Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Macrocyclic Complexes. A Solution and Solid State Study

Solutions containing Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes with [15]aneN(3)O(2) rapidly adsorb atmospheric CO(2) to give {[ZnL](3)(&mgr;(3)-CO(3))}.(ClO(4))(4) (2) and {[CuL](3)(&mgr;(3)-CO(3))}.(ClO(4))(4) (4) complexes. The crystal structures of both complexes have been solved (for 2, space group R3c, a, b = 22.300(5) ?, c = 17.980(8) ?, V = 7743(4) ?(3), Z = 6, R = 0.0666, R(w)(2) = 0.1719; for 4, space group R3c, a, b = 22.292(7) ?, c = 10.096(8) ?, V = 7788(5) ?(3), Z = 6, R = 0.0598, R(w)(2) = 0.1611), and the spectromagnetic behavior of 4 has been studied. In both compounds a carbonate anion triply bridges three metal cations. Each metal is coordinated by one oxygen of the carbonate, three nitrogens, and an oxygen of the macrocycle; the latter donor weakly interacts with the metals. Although the two compounds are isomorphous, they are not isostructural, because the coordination geometries of Zn(II) in 2 and Cu(II) in 4 are different. The mixed complex {[CuZn(2)L(3)](&mgr;(3)-CO(3))}.(ClO(4))(4) has been synthesized. X-ray analysis (space group R3c, a, b = 22.323(7) ?, c = 17.989(9) ?, V = 7763(5) ?(3), Z = 6, R = 0.0477, R(w)(2) = 0.1371) and EPR measurements are in accord with a &mgr;(3)-carbonate bridging one Cu(II) and two Zn(II) ions in {[CuZn(2)L(3)](&mgr;(3)-CO(3))}(4+). Both the Zn(II) and Cu(II) cations exhibit the same coordination sphere, almost equal to that found in the trinuclear Zn(II) complex 2. The systems Zn(II)/L and Cu(II)/Lhave been studied by means of potentiometric measurements in 0.15 mol dm(-)(1) NaCl and in 0.1 mol dm(-)(3) NaClO(4) aqueous solutions; the species present in solution and their stability constants have been determined. In both systems [ML](2+) species and hydroxo complexes [M(II)LOH](+) (M = Zn, Cu) are present in solution. In the case of Cu(II), a [CuL(OH)(2)] complex is also found. The process of CO(2) fixation is due to the presence of such hydroxo-species, which can act as nucleophiles toward CO(2). In order to test the nucleophilic ability of the Zn(II) complexes, the kinetics of the promoted hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate has been studied. The [ZnLOH](+) complex promotes such a reaction, where the Zn(II)-bound OH(-) acts as a nucleophile to the carbonyl carbon. The equilibrium constants for the addition of HCO(3)(-) and CO(3)(2)(-) to the [ZnL](2+) complex have been potentiometrically determined. Only [ML(HCO(3))](+) and [ML(CO(3))] species are found in aqueous solution. A mechanism for the formation of {[ML](3)(&mgr;(3)-CO(3))}.(ClO(4))(4) is suggested.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of tetracobalt dodecacarbonyl with carbon monoxide under pressure

The kinetics of the reaction of tetracobalt dodecacarbonyl with carbon monoxide to form dicobalt octacarbonyl in n-hexane have been investigated over a wide range of temperature and CO pressure. The reaction is first order in [Co₄(CO)₁₂]; the order in [CO] changes between one (at low pressures and high temperatures) and two (at high pressures and low temperatures).Activation parameters have been estimated and a mechanism involving initial reversible breaking of one CoCo bond, followed by irreversible breaking of a second, is proposed. The first step involves concerted addition of CO while the second can proceed with or without such addition.     

Hydration process of cement in the presence of a cellulosic additive. A calorimetric investigation

In the cement industry, the extrusion technique is used to produce flat shapes with improved resistance to compression. Extrusion is a plastic-forming process that consists of forcing a highly viscous plastic mixture through a shaped die. The material should be fluid enough to be mixed and to pass through the die, and on the other hand, the extruded specimen should be stiff enough to be handled without changing in shape or cracking. These characteristics are industrially obtained by adding cellulosic polymers to the mixture. The aim of this work is to understand the action mechanism of these additives on the major pure phases constituting a typical Portland cement: tricalcium silicate (C(3)S), dicalcium silicate (C(2)S), tricalcium aluminate (C(3)A), and tetracalcium iron-aluminate (C(4)AF). In particular, a methylhydroxyethyl cellulose (MHEC) was selected from the best-performing polymers for further study. The effect of this additive on the hydration kinetics (rate constants, activation energies, and diffusional constants) was evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) while the hydration products were studied by using thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). MHEC addition in calcium silicate pastes produces an increase in the induction time without affecting the nucleation-and-growth period. A less dense CSH gel was deduced from the diffusional constants in the presence of MHEC. Moreover, CSH laminar features and poorly structured hydrates were noted during the first hours of hydration. In the case of the aluminous phases, the additive inhibits the growth of stable cubic hydrated phases (C(3)AH(6)), with the advantage of the metastable hexagonal phases being formed in the earliest minutes of hydration.     

The chemistry and the stereochemistry of poly(N-alkyliminoalanes) : XV. The crystal and molecular structure of the compounds [((THF)Mg)(HA1N-t-Bu)3] and [((THF)3Ca)(HA1N-t-Bu)3] · THF

The compounds [((THF)Mg)(HA1N-t-Bu)₃] (I) and [((THF)₃Ca)(HA1N-t-Bu)₃] · THF (II) have been structurally characterized from single-crystal diffraction data. The molecular structures are based on an (A1N)₄ “cubane” type framework in which an aluminum is replaced by an alkaline earth metal. According to the size and the coordination of the “foreign” atom (four for Mg, six for Ca) the cubic geometry of the cage is increasingly distorted. Coordination is completed by one molecule of THF to the Mg atom and three molecules to the Ca atom; in II a molecule of THF crystallizes with a cage molecule. Mean MgN and CaN bond distances are 2.090(4) and 2.490(2) Å. Crystal data: I, orthorombic, space group Pbca, a 17.107(2), b 17.305(4) and c 20.220(5) Å, Z = 8, calculated density 1.031 g/cm³; II, orthorombic, space group Pbca, a 20.48(1), b 20.38(1), c 20.51(1), Z = 8, calculated density 1.081 g/cm³.     

A complete family of isostructural cluster compounds with cubane-like M(3)S(4)M' cores (M = Mo,W; M' = Ni,Pd, Pt): comparative crystallography and electrochemistry

By reaction of the geometrically incomplete cubane-like clusters [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4))][pts] and [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)W(3)S(4)][pts] (Cp' = methylcyclopentadienyl; pts = p-toluenesulfonate) with group 10 alkene complexes, three new heterobimetallic clusters with cubane-like cluster cores were isolated: [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)W(3)S(4)M'(PPh(3))][pts] ([5][pts], M' = Pd; [6][pts], M' = Pt); [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Ni(AsPh(3))][pts] ([7][pts]). The compounds [5][pts]-[7][pts] are completing the extensive series of clusters [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)M(3)S(4)M'(EPh(3))][pts] (M = Mo, W; M' = Ni, Pd, Pt; E = P, As) which allows the consequences of replacing a single type of atom on structural and NMR and UV/vis spectroscopic as well as electrochemical properties to be determined. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of [5][pts]-[7][pts] revealed that [5][pts] was not isomorphous to the other members of the series [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)M(3)S(4)M'(EPh(3))][pts] due to distinctly different cell parameters, which in the molecular structure of [5](+) is reflected in a slightly different orientation of the PPh(3) ligand. Electrochemical measurements on the series showed that the Mo-based clusters were more difficult to oxidize than their W-based analogues. The Pd-containing clusters underwent two-electron oxidation processes, whereas the Ni- and Pt-containing clusters underwent two separated one-electron oxidation processes.