C-C and C-H bond activation reactions in N-heterocyclic carbene complexes of ruthenium

Thermolysis of Ru(PPh3)3(CO)H2 with the N-heterocyclic carbene bis(1,3-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) (IMes) results in C-C activation of an Ar-CH3 bond in one of the mesityl rings of the carbene ligand. Upon addition of IMes to Ru(PPh3)3(CO)H2 at room temperature in the presence of an alkene, C-H bond activation is observed instead. The thermodynamics of these C-C and C-H cleavage reactions have been probed using density functional theory.     

Intra and intermolecular magnetic interactions in a series of dinuclear Cu(II)/hxta complexes [H5hxta = N,N'-(2-hydroxy-1,3-xylylene)-bis-(N-carboxymethylglycine)]: correlation of magnetic properties with geometry

Nine dinuclear copper(II) complexes with hxta5- ligands [H5hxta = N,N'-(2-hydroxy-1,3-xylylene)-bis-(N-carboxymethylglycine)]: [Cu2(MeO-hxtaH)(H2O)2] x 4H2O (1), [Na(micro-H2O)2(H2O)6][Cu2(Cl-hxta)(H2O)3]2 x 6H2O (2), [Cu(H2O)6][Cu2(Me-hxta)(H2O)2](NO3) x 2H2O (3), [Cu2(R-hxtaH)(H2O)3] x 3H2O [R = Cl (4), CH3 (5), and MeO (6)], [Cu2(MeO-hxtaH2)(micro-X)(CH3OH)] x 3CH3OH [X = Cl (7), Br (8)] and K5Na(micro-H2O)10[Cu2(micro-CO3)(Me-hxta)]2 x 4H2O (9), have been synthesized and structurally characterized. In complexes 4-7, the dinuclear units are linked via novel pairwise supramolecular interactions involving the ligand carboxylate groups. The intra- and intermolecular magnetic interactions have been quantified, and the coupling constants have been related to the structural geometries.     

The development and evaluation of ultrasound in the biocidal treatment of water

The effect of ultrasound upon the destruction of micro-organisms has been studied and reported here. The results obtained from the work carried out has shown that ultrasound can be used effectively for water disinfection and has several advantages. When used in conjunction with chlorine it significantly reduces the number of bacteria present in water samples. Ultrasound also reduces the amount of chlorine required for disinfection. Increasing the power of ultrasound leads to greater efficiency in the destruction of bacterial cells. High frequency ultrasound is more beneficial than low frequency in the disinfection of water.     

Formation and spectroscopy of a tryptophan radical containing peptide in the gas phase

A doubly deprotonated tryptophan containing peptide was electrosprayed and isolated in an ion trap. UV excitation on this peptide leads to electron detachment and to the formation of an indolyl radical. The photogenerated radical was fragmented by a second laser. The visible spectrum of the gas-phase neutral tryptophan radical containing peptide has been recorded and constitutes a benchmark for calculations and optical measurements.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of gramicidin polyanions: competition between delayed and direct emission

We present the first photoelectron (PE) spectra of polypeptide polyanions. Combining PE spectroscopy and mass spectrometry provides a direct measurement of the stability of the polyanions with respect to electron detachment and of the repulsive energy between excess charges. The second electron affinity of gramicidin was found to amount to 2.35 +/- 0.15 eV, and the value of the repulsive Coulomb barrier was estimated to be 0.5 +/- 0.15 eV. The spectra are interpreted as resulting from a competition between delayed and direct emission.     

A distorted cubic tetranuclear copper(II) phosphonate cage with a double-four-ring-type core

The reaction of Cu2(O2CMe)(4).2H2O with tert-butylphosphonic acid and 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazole in the presence of triethylamine leads to a high-yield synthesis of the tetranuclear compound [Cu2(3,5-t-Bu2PzH)2(t-BuPO3)2]2 (1). The latter has a distorted cubic cage structure and its core resembles the D4R (double-four-ring) motif found in zeolites. The phosphonate, [t-BuPO3]2-, functions as a dianionic tridentate ligand, while the pyrazole ligands are neutral and are monodentate. The coordination geometry at each copper atom is distorted square planar with a 3O,1N coordination environment. Magnetic measurements on 1 reveal that the chiT product continuously decreases to reach a value very close to zero at 1.8 K, indicating dominant antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu(II) ions that leads to an S=0 ground state. The tetranuclear cage 1 functions as a very effective artificial nuclease in the presence of an external oxidant, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate.     

Ni(II) and hs-Fe(II) complexes of a paramagnetic thiazyl ligand, and decomposition products of the iron complex, including an Fe(III) tetramer

Synthesis and structural, magnetic and electrochemical characterization of the Ni(hfac) 2(pyDTDA) and the Fe(hfac) 2(pyDTDA) complexes are reported (hfac = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonato-; pyDTDA = 4-(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,3,5-dithiadiazolyl). Unlike the previously reported Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes, but similar to the Co(II) complex, the Ni(II) and Fe(II) complexes are not dimerized in the solid state, allowing for magnetic coupling between the metal ion and paramagnetic ligand to be readily obtained from solid state magnetic measurements: Ni complex, J/k B = +132(1) K, using H = -2 J{ S Ni. S Rad} and g Ni = 2.04(2) and g Rad = 1.99(2); Fe complex, J/k B = -60.3(3) K, using H = -2 J{ S Fe. S Rad} and g av = 2.11(2). The iron complex is unusually unstable. A thermal decomposition product is isolated wherein the coordinated pyDTDA ligand appears to have been transformed into a coordinated 2-(2'-pyridyl)-4,6-bis(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine. The iron complex also yields a solution decomposition product in the presence of air that is best described as an oxygen bridged iron(III) tetramer with two hfac ligands on each of three iron atoms and two oxidized pyDTDA ligands chelated on the fourth.     

Advances,opportunities, and challenges of hydrogen and oxygen production from seawater electrolysis: An electrocatalysis perspective

With increasing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the importance of developing renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels has become a vital global task. Hydrogen produced via water electrolysis powered by renewable energy systems at a large scale is an essential measure to reduce greenhouse gas and particulate emissions. Electrolysers use a substantial amount of water (mainly freshwater) to produce hydrogen and oxygen at the cathode, and anode, respectively. However, seawater is preferred because it is the most abundant water resource. Although many R&D efforts on seawater electrolysis have been carried out since the 1970s, the barriers are the undesired chlorine gas evolution reaction at the anode, and corrosion induced by chloride ions. Unlike the available data for electrocatalyst materials based upon platinum group metals in pure solutions, limited data is available for electrocatalysts in seawater. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new electrocatalysts for seawater electrolysis.     

A theoretical study of the kinetics of the benzylperoxy radical isomerization

The rate constant of the benzylperoxy isomerization reaction has been computed using 54 different levels of theory and has been compared to the experimental value reported at 773 K. The aim of this methodology work is to demonstrate that standard theoretical methods are not adequate to obtain quantitative rate constants for the reaction under study. The use of the elaborated CASPT2 method is essential to estimate a quantitative rate constant. Geometry optimizations and vibrational frequency calculations are performed using three different methods (B3LYP, MPW1K, and MP2) and six different basis sets (6-31G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p), 6-31++G(d,p), 6-311G(d,p), 6-311+G(d,p), and cc-pVDZ). Single-point energy calculations are performed with the highly correlated ab initio coupled cluster method in the space of single, double, and triple (pertubatively) electron excitations CCSD(T) using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set, and with the CASPT2 level of theory with the ANO-L-VDZP basis set. Canonical transition-state theory with a simple Wigner tunneling correction is used to predict the high-pressure limit rate constants as a function of temperature. We recommend the use of the CASPT2/ANO-L-VDZP//B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level of theory to compute the temperature dependence of the rate constant of the four-center isomerization of the benzylperoxy radical. It is given by the following relation: k(600-2000 K) (in s (-1)) = (1.29 x 10 (10)) T (0.79) exp[(-133.1 in kJ mol (-1))/ RT]. These parameters can be used in the thermokinetic models involving aromatic compounds at high pressure. This computational procedure can be extended to predict rate constants for other similar reactions where no available experimental data exist.     

Electron photodetachment from gas phase peptide dianions. Relation with optical absorption properties

Electron detachment from peptide dianions is studied as a function of the laser wavelength. The first step for the detachment is a resonant electronic excitation of the dianions. Electronic excitation spectra are reported for three peptides, including gramicidin. A comparative study of the detachment yield for 13 peptides was performed at 260 nm and at 220 nm. At 260 nm, the detachment yield is mainly driven by the sum of the absorption coefficients of the aromatic amino acids that are contained in the peptide. At 220 nm, no direct relation is observed between the electron photodetachement yields and the sum of absorption efficiencies. At this wavelength, the sequence and the structure of the peptide may have an influence on the photodetachment process.