Regioselective homogeneous hydrogenation of heteroaromatic nitrogen compounds by use of [RuH(CO)(NCMe)2(PPh3)2]BF4 as the precatalyst

Summary The complex [RuH(CO)(NCMe)₂(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ (1) is an efficient and regioselective catalyst precursor for the hydrogenation of polyaromatic nitrogen compounds such as quinoline (Q), isoquinoline (iQ), indole (ln), 5,6- and 7,8-benzoquinoline (BQ) and acridine (A) under relatively mild reaction conditions (125 °C, 4 atm H₂). The order of individual initial rates was: A > Q > 5,6-BQ > 7,8-BQ > ln > iQ, reflecting both steric and electronic effects. For the regioselective homogeneous hydrogenation of A to 9,10-dihydroacridine (DHA) catalysed by complex (1), a kinetic study was carried out; the experimentally determined rate law was r = k ₁ [Ru] [H₂]. These findings are consistent with a mechanism involving the hydrogenation of [RuH(CO)(A)(NCMe)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ to yield DHA and the unsaturated species [RuH(CO)(NCMe)(PPh₃)₂]BF₄ in the rate-determining step.     

FLAVIN-MEDIATED PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

A photoelectrochemical cell for hydrogen peroxide production using flavin photosystems is described. The anodic solution, which is kept free of oxygen by passing an Ar stream through it, contains the photoreceptor (flavin mononucleotide or lumiflavin) and the electron donor (EDTA, semicarbazide or hydroxylamine), while the peroxide is formed at the electrode of the cathodic solution, whose oxygen content is increased by bubbling with pure oxygen. Among several electrode metals that have been tested (Ag, Pt and Hg), Hg is the most efficient. The pH of the anodic and cathodic solutions should be adjusted to 14 and 1, respectively, for optimum results.     

Application of matrix solid-phase dispersion to the determination of a new generation of fungicides in fruits and vegetables

A method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and gas chromatography to determine eight fungicides in fruits and vegetables is described. Fungicide residues were identified and quantified using nitrogen-phosphorus detection and electron-capture detection connected in parallel and confirmed by mass spectrometric detection. The method required 0.5 g of sample, C18 bonded silica as dispersant sorbent, silica as clean-up sorbent and ethyl acetate as eluting solvent. Recoveries from spiked orange, apple, tomato, artichoke, carrot and courgette samples ranged from 62 to 102% and relative standard deviations were less than 15% in the concentration range 0.05-10 mg kg(-1). Detection and quantitation limits ranged 3-30 microg kg(-1) and 10-100 microg kg(-1), respectively, with linear calibration curves up to 10 mg kg(-1). The analytical characteristics of MSPD compared very favourably with the results of a classical multiresidue method, which uses ethyl acetate and anhydrous sodium sulphate for the extraction.     

Thermal decomposition of some imidazole and N-methyl substituted imidazole complexes of palladium(II)

We describe in this paper the thermal decomposition in air of several complexes of palladium(II) chloride with imidazole and N-methylimidazole. Although the final process of the decomposition gives (PdCl₂)_n which then decomposes to pa ladium which oxidizes to PdO, there are interesting differences in the initial decomposition path. The reasons for these differences appear to be related to the trans-effect and to the presence in the imidazole complexes of hydrogen bonds which break down at temperatures of around 220.

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Zusammenfassung In diesem Beitrag wird die thermische Zersetzung verschiedener Komplexe des Palladium(II)chlorids mit Imidazol und N-Methylimidazol in Luft beschrieben. Obwohl der Endvorgang der Zersetzung (PdCl₂)_n ergibt, welches dann zu Palladium zersetzt und zu PdO oxidiert wird, bestehen interessante Unterschiede im Anfangsschritt der Zersetzung. Die Ursachen dieser Unterschiede scheinen mit dem Trans-Effekt und der Anwesenheit von Wasserstoffbindungen in den Imidazolkomplexen verbunden zu sein, welche bei Temperaturen um 220 zerstört werden.

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Résumé La décomposition thermique dans l'air de plusieurs complexes du chlorure de palladium(II) avec l'imidazole et le méthyl-4-imidazole est décrite. Bien que l'étape finale de la décomposition donne (PdCl₂)_n qui se décompose ensuite en palladium qui s'oxyde en PdO, des différences intéressantes apparaissent dans les étapes initiales de la décomposition. Les causes de ces différences sont en rapport avec l'effet trans et la présence, dans les complexes avec l'imidazole, de liaisons hydrogÊne qui se rompent vers 220.

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(II) -. (PdCl₂)_n, , PdO, . , - , 220.

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One of us (M.C. Navarro Ranninger) would like to thank the D.G.E.S.I. for a grant that allowed her to work on this research.     

Rapid determination of lead, cadmium and thallium in cements using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with slurry sample introduction

 A method is proposed for the determination of Pb, Cd and Tl in cements by ETAAS. The samples are suspended in a medium containing 10% v/v ethanol and 1% v/v both conc. nitric and hydrofluoric acids and are directly introduced into the electrothermal atomizer. The drying stage is performed by programming a 400 °C temperature, a ramp time of 5 s and a hold time of 30 s on the power supply to the atomizer. No ashing step is used. Atomization is carried out at 2100, 1800 and 1700 °C for Pb, Cd and Tl, respectively. For Cd determination, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate is added to the suspension medium. No modifier other than hydrofluoric acid is required for the Pb and Tl determination. It is shown that the results obtained by using direct calibration with aqueous standards for five commercial samples agree with those found by means of the standard additions method. Received: 29 March 1996/Revised: 24 May 1996/Accepted: 30 May 1996     

α-Hydroxyalkylation of heteroaromatic bases by alcohols and hydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid

The homolytic decomposition of hydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid in alcoholic solvents was investigated in the presence or absence of protonated heteroaromatic bases and Fe(II) salt. The addition of the α-hydroxyalkyl radicals to the base and their oxidation by Fe(III) salt to the corresponding alkyl cyanide were competitive processes. A redox chain process involving the amino radical cation, NH₃^t., is suggested and the factors affecting the yields of the homolytic substitution are discussed.     

Analysis of the effects of catalytic bleaching on cotton

Hydrogen peroxide can be catalyzed to bleach cotton fibers at temperatures as low as 30°C by incorporating dinuclear tri-μ-oxo bridged manganese(IV) complex of the ligand 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (MnTACN) as the catalyst in the bleaching solution. The catalytic system was found to be more selective under the conditions applied than the non-catalytic H₂O₂ system, showing better bleaching performance while causing slightly lower decrease in degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose. In order to gain fundamental knowledge of the bleach effect on cotton fibers and cellulose as its main component, especially after catalytic bleaching, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to study surface chemical effects. The Washburn method was applied to investigate wetting properties, and liquid porosity was used to obtain pore volume distribution (PVD) plots. Parallel analyzes performed on model cotton fabric, i.e. “clean” cotton fabric stained with morin - a pigment regularly found in native cotton fiber, helped to differentiate between pigment oxidation and other bleaching effects produced on the (regular) industrially scoured cotton fabric. Bleaching was not limited to the chemical action but also affected cotton fiber capillary parameters most likely due to the removal of non-cellulosic materials as well as chain-shortened cellulose.     

Solar energy conversion from water photolysis by biological and chemical systems

The production of chemicals and fuels, or energy-rich compounds, from water by sunlight is described as a particularly attractive means for the conversion of solar energy to a valuable renewable resource. The redox properties of photoexcited molecules and the operating mechanism of light-driven systems are first considered. The mechanism of water oxidation carried out by higher plants and green algae-which is actually one of the most important biochemical reactions—as well as that of artificial photosystems, up-to-now designed trying to simulate the natural process with higher efficiency and simplicity, are likewise discussed. A number of biological and chemical light-driven systems are presented as practical ways to solar energy conversion.     

Determination of phosphate/arsenate by a modified molybdenum blue method and reduction of arsenate by S2O4

A modified molybdenum blue method for fast and accurate measurement of arsenate and phosphate in aqueous solution at concentrations below 10 μmol l⁻¹ is reported. The modification consists of optimizing the composition of the molybdenum-containing solution (potassium antimony tartrate, ammonium molybdate, sulfuric acid).Selective reduction of arsenate by sodium dithionite is used to determine phosphate concentrations, and for the speciation of arsenate and arsenite, in an aqueous mixture according to the scheme developed by Johnston and Pilson. Sodium dithionite is used for the first time to achieve complete, fast (<10 min), and selective reduction of arsenate in neutral solution.These two significant improvements afforded a colorimetric limit for As detection near 1 ppb, which easily meets the requirements imposed by the revised EPA threshold levels for As in drinking water.     

Reactivity of molybdenum and rhenium hydroxo-carbonyl complexes toward organic electrophiles

The hydroxo compounds [Re(OH)(CO)(3)(N-N)] (N-N=bipy, 2 a; Me(2)-bipy, 2 b) were prepared in a biphasic H(2)O/CH(2)Cl(2) medium by reaction of [Re(OTf)(CO)(3)(N-N)] with KOH. In contrast, when anhydrous CH(2)Cl(2) was used, the binuclear hydroxo-bridged compound [[Re(CO)(3)(bipy)](2)(mu-OH)]OTf (3-OTf) was obtained. Compound [Re(OH)(CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (2 b) reacted with phenyl acetate or vinyl acetate to afford [Re(OAc)(CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (4) and phenol or acetaldehyde, respectively. The reactions of [Mo(OH)(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (1), 2 a, and 2 b toward several unsaturated organic electrophiles were studied. The reaction of 1 with (p-tolyl)isocyanate afforded an adduct of N,N'-di(p-tolyl)urea and the carbonato-bridged compound [[Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)](2)(mu-eta(1)(O),eta(1)(O)-CO(3))] (5). In contrast, the reaction of 2 a with phenylisocyanate afforded [Re(OC(O)NHPh)(CO)(3)(bipy)] (6); this results from formal PhNCO insertion into the O-H bond. On the other hand, compounds [Mo[SC(O)NH(p-tolyl)](eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (7), [Re[SC(O)NH(p-tolyl)](CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (8 a), and [Re[SC(O)NHEt](CO)(3)(Me(2)-bipy)] (8 b) were obtained by reaction of 1 or 2 b with the corresponding alkyl or aryl isothiocyanates. In those cases, RNCS was inserted into the M-O bond. The reactions of 1, 2 a, and 2 b with dimethylacetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) gave the complexes [Mo[C(OH)-C(CO(2)Me)C(CO(2)Me)-O](eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(phen)] (9) and [Re[C(OH)C(CO(2)Me)C(CO(2)Me)O](CO)(2)(N-N)] (N-N=bipy, 10 a; Me(2)-bipy, 10 b). The molecules of these compounds contain five-membered metallacycles that are the result of coupling between the hydroxo ligand, DMAD, and one of the CO ligands. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of IR and NMR spectroscopy, and for [[Re(CO)(3)(bipy)(2)(mu-OH)]BF(4) (3-BF(4)), 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 b, 9, and 10 b, also by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction.