Experimental Evidence for the Incorporation of Two Metals at Equivalent Lattice Positions in Mixed-Metal Metal–Organic Frameworks

Metal–organic frameworks containing multiple metals distributed over crystallographically equivalent framework positions (mixed-metal MOFs) represent an interesting class of materials, since the close vicinity of isolated metal centers often gives rise to synergistic effects. However, appropriate characterization techniques for detailed investigations of these mixed-metal metal–organic framework materials, particularly addressing the distribution of metals within the lattice, are rarely available. The synthesis of mixed-metal FeCuBTC materials in direct syntheses proved to be difficult and only a thorough characterization using various techniques, like powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, unambiguously evidenced the formation of a mixed-metal FeCuBTC material with HKUST-1 structure, which contained bimetallic Fe−Cu paddlewheels as well as monometallic Cu−Cu and Fe−Fe units under optimized synthesis conditions. The in-depth characterization showed that other synthetic procedures led to impurities, which contained the majority of the applied iron and were impossible or difficult to identify using solely standard characterization techniques. Therefore, this study shows the necessity to characterize mixed-metal MOFs extensively to unambiguously prove the incorporation of both metals at the desired positions. The controlled positioning of metal centers in mixed-metal metal–organic framework materials and the thorough characterization thereof is particularly important to derive structure–property or structure–activity correlations.     

QUANTIS: Data quality assessment tool by clustering analysis

Automatically generated kinetic networks are ideally validated against a large set of accurate, reproducible, and easy-to-model experimental data. However, although this might seem simple, it proves to be quite challenging. QUANTIS, a publicly available Python package, is specifically developed to evaluate both the precision and accuracy of experimental data and to ensure a uniform, quick processing, and storage strategy that enables automated comparison of developed kinetic models. The precision is investigated with two clustering techniques, PCA and t-SNE, whereas the accuracy is probed with checks for the conservation laws. First, the developed tool processes, evaluates, and stores experimental yield data automatically. All data belonging to a given experiment, both unprocessed and processed, are stored in the form of an HDF5 container. The demonstration of QUANTIS on three different pyrolysis cases showed that it can help in identifying and overcoming instabilities in experimental datasets, reduce mass and molar balance closure discrepancies, and, by evaluating the visualized correlation matrices, increase understanding in the underlying reaction pathways. Inclusion of all experimental data in the HDF5 file makes it possible to automate simulating the experiment with CHEMKIN. Because of the employed InChI string identifiers for molecules, it is possible to automate the comparison experiment/simulation. QUANTIS and the concepts demonstrated therein is a potentially useful tool for data quality assessment, kinetic model validation, and refinement.     

Spirocyclic bisphenoxides of Ge,Zr, and Sn as catalysts for ring-expansion polymerizations of l- and meso-lactide

Spirocyclic phenoxides of germanium, zirconium, and tin were prepared from 2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl and 2,2′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl. Ring-expansion polymerizations of l -lactide are mainly studied at 160 or 180 °C. The reactivity of the catalysts increases in the order: Zr < Ge < Sn. Regardless of catalyst, the weight-average molecular weights (M_w) never exceed 50,000 g mol⁻¹. The resulting poly(l -lactide)s are optically pure and have a cyclic architecture. Decreasing temperature and time favor formation of even-numbered cycles, and at 102° cyclics, almost free of odd-numbered rings are obtained. Analogous polymerizations of meso-lactide give similar results >120 °C, but different results at 100 or 80 °C. Surprisingly, bell-shaped narrow molecular weight distributions are obtained <140 °C, resembling the pattern of living polymerizations found for alcohol-initiated polymerizations. An unusual transesterification mechanism yielding narrow distributions of odd-numbered cycles is discovered too. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2730–2738     

Micro-mechanical studies on the effect of various stress-states on ductile damage and failure

The paper deals with the effect of different stress states on damage and failure behavior of ductile materials. To be able to model these effects a continuum damage model has been proposed taking into account the dependence of the stress intensity, the stress triaxiality and the Lode parameter on the constitutive equations. The model is based on the introduction of damaged and fictitious undamaged configurations. Only experiments are not adequate enough to determine all constitutive parameters. Therefore, additional three-dimensional micro-mechanical simulations of representative volume elements have been performed to get more insight in the complex damage mechanisms. These simulations cover a wide range of different void sizes, void shapes and void distributions. After all, the results from the micro-mechanical simulations are used to propose the damage equations and to identify corresponding parameters. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Early/Late Heteronuclear Complexes Bridged by Bifunctional Phosphorus-Based Ligands

Substituted bifunctional phosphorus-based ligands HX(CRR') n PR"H (or -PR" 2 ) [where X = O, S, NR', (substituted) cyclopentadienyl; n = 1, 2, 3; R, R', R" = alkyl, aryl, H] were employed as bridging ligands in the synthesis of early/late bridged transition metal complexes. Synthetic routes to the bifunctional ligands were also developed. First, mononuclear complexes, such as [TpZr(OCH 2 PPh 2 ) 3 ] (Tp = trispyrazolylborato), [Cp 2 Zr(1-O-2-PHR-C 6 H 10 )(Me)] (R = 2,4,6-Pr i 3 C 6 H 2 (Tipp)), [Cp 2 Zr(SCH 2 CH 2 PHR) 2 ] (R = Ph, Mes, Tipp), and phosphinoferrocene derivatives, were prepared. These complexes are suitable precursors for the introduction of a second metal (as in, for example, [TpZr( w -OCH 2 PPh 2 ) 3 Mo(CO) 3 ]).     

Heterobimetallic Cuprates Consisting of a Redox‐Switchable,Silicon‐Based Metalloligand: Synthesis,Structures, and Electronic Properties

A series of bimetallic silyl halido cuprates consisting of the new tripodal silicon‐based metalloligand [κ³N‐Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃Mo(CO)₃]^? is presented (pz=pyrazolyl). This metalloligand is straightforwardly accessible by reacting the ambidentate ligand tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)silanide ({Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃}^?) with [Mo(CO)₃(η⁶‐toluene)]. The compound features a fac‐coordinated tripodal chelating ligand and an outward pointing, “free” pyramidal silyl donor, which is easily accessible for a secondary coordination to other metal centers. Several bimetallic silyl halido cuprates of the general formula [CuX{μ‐κ¹Si:κ³N‐Si(3,5‐Me₂pz)₃Mo(CO)₃}]^? (X=Cl, Br, I) have been synthesized. The electronic and structural properties of these complexes were probed in detail by X‐ray diffraction analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, infrared‐induced multiphoton dissociation studies, cyclic voltammetry, spectroelectrochemistry, gas‐phase photoelectron spectroscopy, as well as UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The heterobimetallic complexes contain linear two‐coordinate copper(I) entities with the shortest silicon–copper distances reported so far. Oxidation of the anionic complexes in methylene chloride and acetonitrile solutions at ${E{{0\hfill \atop 1/2\hfill}}}$ =?0.60 and ?0.44 V (vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium (Fc/Fc⁺)), respectively, shows substantial reversibility. Based on various results obtained from different characterization methods, as well as density functional theory calculations, these oxidation events were attributed to the Mo⁰/Mo^I redox couple.