Inelastic neutron scattering on an Mn10 supertetrahedron: assessment of exchange coupling constants, ferromagnetic spin waves and an analogy to the Hückel method

The synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic characterisation by magnetisation and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) of a mixed-valent Mn(10) supertetrahedral aggregate [Mn(III)(6)Mn(II)(4)(μ(4)-O)(4)(μ(3)-N(3))(3)(μ(3)-Br)(Hmpt)(6)(Br)]Br(0.7)(N(3))(0.3)·2MeOH·3MeCN (1) (H(3)mpt=3-methylpentan-1,3,5-triol) is reported. The magnetic core of the molecule can be described as an octahedron of six S=2 Mn(III) ions with four faces, each capped by a S=5/2 Mn(II) ion such as to form the supertetrahedron. Unlike most related complexes, the molecular symmetry is slightly reduced from approximately T(d) to C(3). The magnetic data reveal a total spin of S=22 in the ground state due to ferromagnetic exchange couplings within the molecule. The combined INS and magnetic data permits the accurate determination of the exchange coupling constants. Two types are found. The couplings between the Mn(III) ions in the inner octahedron are characterised by J(a)=18.4(3) K, whereas the couplings between the apical Mn(II) ions to the neighbouring Mn(III) ions are given by J(b)=7.3(2) K. The significantly larger coupling strength J(a) as compared to J(b), and the near-T(d) symmetry have profound consequences on the energy spectrum, which are discussed and carefully analysed. In particular, the observed INS spectra can consistently be reproduced by a simplified model in which the inner octahedron is replaced by one large spin of length S(0)=12. This model provides intuitive insight into the structure of the magnetic spectrum. Additionally, the magnetic excitations at low temperature are analysed within the frame of ferromagnetic linear spin-wave theory, which permits an analytical calculation of the energy levels. For ferromagnetic clusters, a close analogy to the Hückel method of electronic structure calculation can be drawn, which allows one to grasp the results of the spin-wave theory or the magnetic excitation spectrum, respectively, in a chemical language.     

Dual Gold Catalysis: σ,π‐Propyne Acetylide and Hydroxyl‐Bridged Digold Complexes as Easy‐To‐Prepare and Easy‐To‐Handle Precatalysts

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π‐propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π‐complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air‐stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver‐free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw‐away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis.     

Annelated Pyridines as Highly Nucleophilic and Lewis Basic Catalysts for Acylation Reactions

New heterocyclic derivatives of 9‐azajulolidine have been synthesized and characterized with respect to their nucleophilicity and Lewis basicity. The Lewis basicity of these bases as quantified through their theoretically calculated methyl‐cation affinities correlate well with the experimentally measured reaction rates for addition to benzhydryl cations. All newly synthesized pyridines show exceptional catalytic activities in benchmark acylation reactions, which correlate only poorly with Lewis basicity or nucleophilicity parameters. A combination of Lewis basicity with charge and geometric parameters in the framework of a three‐component quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model is, however, highly predictive.     

Synthesis of electronically and coordinatively unsaturated complexes [Ru2(CO)4(μ-H)(μ-PBu2)(μ-L2)] (L2 = biphosphanes)

A convenient synthesis and the characterization of six new electronically and coordinatively unsaturated complexes of the formula [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-H)(μ-P^tBu₂)(μ-L₂)] (2b-g) (RuRu) is described exhibiting a close relation to the known [Ru₂(CO)₄(μ-H)(μ-P^tBu₂)(μ-dppm)] (2a). The complexes 2b-g were obtained in a kind of one-pot synthesis starting from [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] and P^tBu₂H in the first step followed by the reaction with the bidentate bridging ligand in the second step. The method was developed for the following bridging ligands (μ-L₂): dmpm (2b, dmpm = Me₂PCH₂PMe₂), dcypm (2c, dcypm = Cy₂PCH₂PCy₂), dppen (2d, dppen = Ph₂PC(=CH₂)PPh₂), dpppha (2e, dpppha = Ph₂PN(Ph)PPh₂), dpppra (2f, dpppra = Ph₂PN(Pr)PPh₂), and dppbza (2g, dppbza = Ph₂PN(CH₂Ph)PPh₂). The molecular structures of all new complexes 2b−g were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa nickel(II) azurin

We show that X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) can be employed to probe the oxidation states and other electronic structural features of nickel active sites in proteins. As a calibration standard, we have measured XMCD and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra for the nickel(II) derivative of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin (NiAz). Our analysis of these spectra confirms that the electronic ground state of NiAz is high-spin (S = 1); we also find that the L(3)-centroid energy is 853.1(1) eV, the branching ratio is 0.722(4), and the magnetic moment is 1.9(4) mu(B). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on model NiAz structures establish that orbitals 3d(x2-y2) and 3d(z2) are the two valence holes in the high-spin Ni(II) ground state, and in accord with the experimentally determined orbital magnetic moment, the DFT results also demonstrate that both holes are highly delocalized, with 3d(x2-y2) having much greater ligand character.     

Toward understanding the ionization of biomarkers from micrometer particles by bio-aerosol mass spectrometry

The appearance of informative signals in the mass spectra of laser-ablated bio-aerosol particles depends on the effective ionization probabilities (EIP) of individual components during the laser ionization process. This study investigates how bio-aerosol chemical composition governs the EIP values of specific components and the overall features of the spectra from the bio-aerosol mass spectrometry (BAMS). EIP values were determined for a series of amino acid, dipicolinic acid, and peptide aerosol particles to determine what chemical features aid in ionization. The spectra of individual amino acids and dipicolinic acid, as well as mixtures, were examined for extent of fragmentation and the presence of molecular ion dimers, which are indicative of ionization conditions. Standard mixtures yielded information with respect to the significance of secondary ion plume reactions on observed spectra. A greater understanding of how these parameters affect EIP and spectra characteristics of bio-aerosols will aid in the intelligent selection of viable future biomarkers for the identification of bio-terrorism agents.     

[(Mes3Sn)2MoO4], ein monomeres Triorganozinnmolybdat

[(Mes₃Sn)₂MoO₄], a Monomeric Triorganotin Molybdate Mes₃SnBr (Mes = 1, 3, 5‐trimethylphenyl) reacts with (NBu₄)₂[Mo₆O₁₉] in the presence of (NBu₄)OH (in CH₃CN as solvent) to form [(Mes₃Sn)₂MoO₄]. Alternatively the title compound can be obtained from the reaction of [MoO₂(acac)₂] (acac = 2, 4‐pentadionate) with Mes₃SnOH in isopropanol. [(Mes₃Sn)₂MoO₄] forms monoclinic crystals, space group C2/c, with a = 2271.6(3) pm, b = 825.2(1) pm, c = 2739.9(5) pm, β = 90.96(2)°. The crystal structure consists of isolated molecules in which a tetrahedral MoO₄ unit is connected to two terminal Mes₃Sn groups. The Mo‐O distances range from 169.6(4) to 181.1(3) pm and the Sn‐O distance is 204.8(3) pm.     

Polymer‐Bound,Amphiphilic Hoveyda‐Grubbs‐Type Catalyst for Ring‐Closing Metathesis in Water

Summary: We report on the synthesis of a new amphiphilic, polymer‐bound variant of the Hoveyda‐Grubbs catalyst via the coupling reaction of a carboxylic acid‐functionalized poly(2‐oxazoline) block copolymer with 2‐isopropoxy‐5‐hydroxystyrene and subsequent reaction of the resulting macroligand with a second generation Grubbs catalyst. For the benchmark, the substrate diethyl diallylmalonate was studied in the ring‐closing metathesis (RCM) reaction and a turn‐over number (TON) of up to 390 in water was achieved. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest value for any aqueous RCM reaction to date. For the first time, recycling of a ruthenium initiator in an aqueous RCM reaction has been successful to some extent. In addition, the micellar conditions accelerate the conversion of the hydrophobic diene and at the same time stabilize the active alkylidene species, although competing decomposition of the catalyst in water still impairs the catalyst performance. Residual ruthenium content was determined to be below 1 ppm in the product suggesting a very low leaching of the polymeric catalyst system.

Simplified chemical structure of the amphiphilic, polymer‐bound Grubbs‐Hoveyda catalyst.     

C-F Bond Formation for the Synthesis of Aryl Fluorides

A selection of carbon-fluorine bond-forming reactions is presented with particular focus on transition metal-mediated fluorination. A brief summary of conventional fluorination reactions is followed by a discussion of fluorination reactions mediated by palladium and silver. Investigations into the mechanism as well as the conceptual difficulty associated with transition metal-mediated carbon-fluorine bond formation are presented.     

Reductive dehydroxylation of allyl alcohols by IspH protein

The biosynthesis of natural products is a treasure trove of unusual reaction mechanisms. This Minireview summarizes recent work on the structure and mechanism of IspH protein, which catalyzes the reductive dehydroxylation of an allyl alcohol in a biosynthetic pathway leading to isoprenoid precursors.