Hydrogenation of schiff bases with group 6 metal carbonyls and sodium methoxide as catalyst precursors

Summary Schiff bases are hydrogenated to secondary amines by H₂ in the presence of [M(CO)₆](M=Cr, Mo or W) and NaOMe in methanol solution at 60–160 °C andca. 100 bar H₂ pressure. The reaction is significantly slower in the absence of NaOMe. In a stoichiometric reaction, [HCr(CO)₅]^– hydrogenatesN- benzylidene-aniline at 75 °C toN-benzylaniline forming [Cr₂(CO)₁₀]^2–.     

Application of the integrated ion-current technique to the study of rare-earth chelates

Several substituted acetylacetones have been prepared and reacted with holmium to give tris chelates of the form HoL₃. One of these chelates has been converted to a tetrakis chelate of the form NaHoL₄. The mass spectra of these compounds have been studied and the integrated ion currents at significant m/e values have been related to the amounts of metal chelates evaporated into the ion source of the mass spectrometer. The shape of the integrated ion-current curve is shown to give information about the nature of the evaporation process. When the β-diketone (L) is asymmetrical as in the case of 1,1,1-trifluoro-5,5-dimethylhexan-2,4-dione, the existence of geometrical isomers of the chelate, HoL₃, is reflected in the shape of the integrated ion-current curve, which shows fine structure. The results of mass spectrometric studies are compared with those of the sublimation and gas chromatographic behaviour of the metal chelates.     

Enthalpies of absorption and solubility of CO2 in aqueous solutions of methyldiethanolamine

A flow mixing unit using a SETARAM C-80 calorimeter, developed for measuring the enthalpy of solution of two fluids, has been used to measure enthalpies of absorption of carbon dioxide in a 30 wt.% aqueous solution of methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) at three temperatures 313.15, 353.15, 393.15 K and three pressures 2.0, 5.0, 10.0 MPa. We have established that the effect measured by calorimetry corresponds not only to the absorption of CO₂ in the aqueous solution but also to the vaporisation of water into the carbon dioxide depending on the temperature and the pressure of the experiment. The enthalpies measured by calorimetry were compared with those calculated from solubility measurements and a reasonable agreement within the accuracy of measurement and calculation was found.     

Facile synthesis of alpha-substituted acrylate esters

Treatment of 5-monosubstituted Meldrum's acids with dimethylmethyleneimmonium iodide (Eschenmoser's iodide salt) in methanol gives alpha-substituted acrylate methyl esters in good yields. Easy access to 5-monosubstituted Meldrum's acids allowed us to synthesize a wide variety of alpha-substituted acrylate methyl esters. The reaction conditions are mild and tolerate many functional groups commonly used in organic synthesis; thus, this new method has potential as an alternative to conventional preparative methods for alpha-substituted acrylate esters.     

A study of the stability of alkaline-earth metal complexes with fluoride and chloride ions at various temperatures by potentiometry with ion-selective electrodes

The complexes of the alkaline earth metals with fluoride and chloride were studied over the temperature range 15-85 degrees . The stability constants of the MX(+) complexes were determined by potentiometry with fluoride and chloride ion-selective electrodes and the appropriate thermodynamic functions (DeltaH(0)(298), DeltaS(0)(298) and DeltaG(0)(298)) were calculated.     

Determination of Na,K, Rb and Cs Distribution in Human Brain Using Neutron Activation Analysis

This study aims to investigate the distribution of Na, K, Rb and Cs in human brains (5 individuals, 12 brain parts, mean age: 75 years). Distribution of the trace metals between lipid fraction and brain tissue was investigated in solvent extraction experiments. Determinations were carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The present results show a rather non-homogeneous distribution for Na and a relatively uniform distribution for K, Rb and Cs. The mean concentrations found are 7440µgNag^–1 dry weight, 12800µgKg^–1, 14µgRbg^–1 and 50ngCsg^–1. A highly significant positive correlation was found between Rb and Cs. Solvent extraction experiments showed that 19% of Rb and 26% of Cs of the total content is located in lipid fraction.     

Resolution of 1-substituted-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxides by molecular complex formation with TADDOL derivatives

The antipodes of 1-aryl-, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkoxy-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxides 1a–h and 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-sulfide 1i were separated in good yields and high enantiomeric excesses (up to >99% ee) by resolution via formation of diastereomeric complexes with either (−)-(4R,5R)-4,5-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyldioxolane 2 (TADDOL) or (−)-(2R,3R)-,,′,′-tetraphenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-2,3-dimethanol 3. The stereostructure of the supramolecular formations and the absolute configurations of the 3-phospholene oxides 1a, 1e and 1f were elucidated by single crystal X-ray crystallography. CD spectroscopy was also useful in determining the absolute configurations of some phospholene oxides 1b, 1c, 1g and 1h.     

Interactions of Al(III) with a neurofilament heptapeptide fragment: AcLysSerProValValGluGly

The solution state of the neurotoxic Al(III) in biological systems is discussed briefly, and the importance of the Al(III)-peptide and Al(III)-protein interactions in the various neurodegeneration processes is emphasised and evaluated. The possible involvement of Al(III) in the formation of Alzheimer's disease marker senile plaques and neurofilament tangles is discussed in light of the solution speciation of the Al(III)-AcLysSerProValValGluGly system and the structural features of the complexes formed.     

Spectroscopy on two coupled superconducting flux qubits

We have performed spectroscopy measurements on two coupled flux qubits. The qubits are coupled inductively, which results in a sigma(z)(1)sigma(z)(2) interaction. By applying microwave radiation, we observe resonances due to transitions from the ground state to the first two excited states. From the position of these resonances as a function of the applied magnetic field, we observe the coupling of the qubits. The coupling strength agrees with calculations of the mutual inductance.