Re(2)(CO)(10)-promoted S-binding, C-S bond cleavage, and hydrogenation of benzothiophenes: organometallic models for the hydrodesulfurization of thiophenes

In hydrodesulfurization model reactions of dinuclear metal complexes with thiophenes, we observe that ultraviolet photolysis of Re(2)(CO)(10) and benzothiophenes (BT) in hexanes solution produces the ring-opened BT complexes Re(2)(CO)(7)(mu-BT) (1a-d) (BT = benzothiophene (BT) 1a, 2-methylbenzothiophene (2-MeBT) 1b, 3-methylbenzothiophene (3-MeBT) 1c, and 3,5-dimethylbenzothiophene (3,5-Me(2)BT) 1d). The eta(1)(S)-bound BT complexes Re(2)(CO)(9)(eta(1)(S)-BT) (2a-d), prepared from Re(2)(CO)(9)(THF) and BT, are readily converted into 1a-d in good yields (40-60%) during UV photolysis in hexanes solution, which suggests that the eta(1)(S)-bound complexes 2a-d are precursors to 1a-d in the reactions of Re(2)(CO)(10) with BT. Irradiation of Re(2)(CO)(10) and 3,5-Me(2)BT with UV light in decane solution under an atmosphere of H(2) produces complex 1d and the partially hydrogenated BT complex Re(2)(CO)(7)(mu-3,5-Me(2)BT-H)(eta-H) (3d). Reactions of 1a with phosphines yield further ring-opened BT-Re complexes of the types Re(2)(CO)(7)(PMe(3))(3)(mu-BT) (4) and Re(2)(CO)(7)(PR(3))(2)(mu-BT) (R = Me (5), (i)Pr (6), Cy (7), and bis(diethylphosphino)ethane (8)). Structures of 1d, 2c, 3d, and 6, which demonstrate various bonding modes of benzothiophene and its C-S cleaved derivatives to two metal centers, were determined by X-ray crystallographic studies.     

The reactions of 2,2-difluoro-4-methylnaphtho[l,2-e]-1,3,2-dioxaborin and its [2,1-e]isomer with N,N-dimethylformamide

The title compounds react with dimethylformamide in acetic anhydride to give dimethylamino-vinyl derivatives which, on treatment with base, yield benzochroman-4-ones. The [1,2-e] isomer reacts with the Vilsmeier complex to give 3-formylbenzo[f]chrom-4-one and 9-hydroxy-1-phenalenone, and the [2,1-e]isomer gives 3-formylbenzo[h]chrom-4-one.     

Poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene-alt-α-fluoroacrylonitrile): Synthesis and structural analysis of a new alternating copolymer

Poly(1,3-cyclohexadiene-alt-α-fluoroacrylonitrile) [poly(1,3-CHD/α-FAN)], an alternating copolymer of α-fluoroacrylonitrile and 1,3-cyclohexadiene has been prepared in bulk using varied monomer feed ratios and AIBN as initiator at 65°C. Elemental and ¹H-NMR analyses indicate that the copolymer contains an equimolar composition of α-FAN and 1,3-CHD as observed for alternating copolymers with donor-acceptor polymerizations. A 2-D ¹H-COSY NMR experiment indicates that the copolymer contains 1,4-linkages across the cyclohexene unit while more reliable ¹³C-NMR spectra suggests the copolymer to contain both 1,2- and 1,4-linkages. Poly(1,3-CHD/α-FAN) exhibits improved thermal stability relative to the alternating copolymer of 1,3-CHD and α-chloroacrylonitrile due to a higher resistance to HF elimination relative to HCl elimination.     

Energy Transfer by a Hopping Mechanism in Dinuclear IrIII/RuII Complexes: A Molecular Wire?

The synthesis and electrochemical and photophysical properties of a series of heterodinuclear ruthenium-iridium complexes linked by a modular para-phenylene bridge [Ir-ph(n)-Ru]3+ (Ir=Ir(ppyFF)2bpy, Ru=Ru(bpy)3, ppyFF=2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine), bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, ph=phenylene, n=2, 3, 4, 5) are reported. The use of a high-energy iridium complex, which can act as an energy donor when coupled to the lower energy ruthenium-based component, allows the investigation of photoinduced energy transfer from the excited iridium-centre to the ruthenium fragment (energy acceptor). The rate constants of the energy-transfer processes are determined by time-resolved emission and sub-picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. Interestingly, there is almost no decrease in transfer efficiency or rates as the length between the two chromophores (number of spacers) is increased. This "molecular wire" behavior indicates the dominance of the incoherent hopping mechanism, allowing a very fast energy transfer over long distances (with n = 5 the metal-to-metal distance is estimated to be 32.5 Angstrom). This is the first case in which such behavior is observed for metal complexes, and could lead to new development in molecular electronics.     

The statute of the prizes of the European Academy for Young Scientists

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The statute of the prizes of the European Academy for Young Scientists     

The polarographic determination of aluminium : The elimination of interfering elements and the determination ofaluminium by oscillographic polarography

A study is reported of the effect of some ion species on the determination of aluminium by osicillographic polarography under the conditions. previously established. The development of an electrolytic procedure for the removal of interfering metal ions is described and details of unsuccessful attempts to remove interference by fluoride are given. The method for the determination of aluminium is given in detail and result obtained with it are presented.     

A planar microfabricated nanoelectrospray emitter tip based on a capillary slot

We report on the fabrication and testing of planar nib-like structures for nanoelectrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (nanoESI-MS) applications. The micro-nib structures were fabricated on silicon substrates using the negative photoresist SU-8; they include capillary slots with widths of 8 and 16 microm. A suitable wafer cleaving step made the nib-like structures overhang the edge of a silicon substrate to provide a robust interface for nanoESI-MS applications; this freeing of the nib tip from the wafer surface created a point-like structure that is essential to establish an electrospray. The micro-nib sources were successfully tested on an LCQ Deca XP+ ion trap mass spectrometer using peptide samples at concentrations down to 1 microM. The high voltage was applied using a platinum wire inserted in the sample reservoir upstream to the capillary slot. A Taylor cone was clearly seen at the nib tip. The micro-nibs performed well at voltages as low as 0.8 kV; such performances are state-of-the-art with respect to current micromachined ESI-MS interfaces and are conditions comparable to those used for standard emitter tips. In addition, we clearly observed the influence of the micro-nib slot width on the ionization performances: the narrower the slot, the better the performances.     

Theoretical study of proton transfers between base pairs of DNA

Single and multiple proton transfers between the bases guanine and cytosine and between adenine and thymine are studied using the LCAO SCF all-electron PRDDO method. Single proton transfers are found to lead to single-well potentials while double transfers are characterized by double-well potentials.     

Tetrahydrofuran-mediated radical processes: stereoselective synthesis of d,l-hexestrol

The highly stereoselective synthesis of d,l-hexestrol (1), an inhibitor of microtubule assembly, is developed by using, as a key step, an intermolecular coupling of Co₂(CO)₆-complexed propargyl radicals. The latter are generated by novel complementary processes involving an interaction of tetrahydrofuran with Co₂(CO)₆-complexed propargyl alcohols and cations. An isomerically pure d,l-μ-η²-[3,4-di(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,5-hexadiyne]-bis-dicobalthexacarbonyl (d,l-6) is isolated in 69-91% yield with intermolecular coupling reactions exhibiting an excellent chemo- (0.5-7%) and d,l-diastereoselectivity (90-94%). The structure of d,l-6 is determined by X-ray diffraction. The subsequent steps include BBr₃-induced demethylation of 4-methoxyaryl groups, demetalation with cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate, and hydrogenation of acetylenic termini affording d,l-hexestrol (1).