Reduction of octacyanomolybdate(V) by thioglycolic acid in aqueous media

In aqueous media at 25 degrees C [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) is reduced by thioglycolic acid (HSCH(2)COOH, TGA), and the reaction is strongly accelerated by the presence of trace amounts of copper ions. Dipicolinic acid (dipic) is an effective inhibitor of the copper catalysis. Both with and without dipic the reaction has the stoichiometry 2[Mo(CN)(8)](3-) + 2TGA --> 2[Mo(CN)(8)](4-) + RSSR, where RSSR is the disulfide derived from formal oxidative dimerization of TGA. In the presence of dipic, PBN (N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenyl-nitrone), and with a large excess of TGA the rate law for consumption of [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) is first order in both [TGA] and [Mo(CN)(8)(3-)]. The complex pH dependence is consistent with (-)SCH(2)CO(2)(-) being highly reactive (k = 1.8 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)), the monoanion being less reactive, and HSCH(2)CO(2)H being unreactive. A mechanism is proposed in which the dianion undergoes electron transfer to [Mo(CN)(8)](3-), thus generating the thiyl radical. Analysis of the electron-transfer rate constant in terms of Marcus theory yields an effective self-exchange rate constant for the thiolate/thiyl redox couple that is in reasonable agreement with the value derived previously from the reaction of TGA with [IrCl(6)](2-). When copper catalysis is inhibited, the two reactions differ substantially in that the yield of (-)O(3)SCH(2)CO(2)(-) is significant for [IrCl(6)](2-) but undetectable for [Mo(CN)(8)](3-).     

Magnesium perchlorate as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of imines and phenylhydrazones

Magnesium perchlorate has been found to be an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of imines and phenylhydrazones by the reaction of carbonyl compounds with amines and phenylhydrazine in high yields at room temperatures and in short times. The condensation of less electrophilic carbonyl compounds with poorly nucleophilic amines affords the imines in excellent yields.     

ZrCl4 as a new and efficient catalyst for the opening of epoxide rings by amines

Zirconium(IV) chloride catalyses the nucleophilic opening of epoxide rings by amines leading to the efficient synthesis of β-amino alcohols. The reaction works well with aromatic and aliphatic amines in short times at room temperature in the absence of solvent. Exclusive trans stereoselectivity is observed for cyclic epoxides. Aromatic amines exhibit excellent regioselectivity for preferential nucleophilic attack at the sterically less hindered position during the reaction with unsymmetrical epoxides. However, in case of styrene oxide, selective formation of the benzylic amine was observed during the reactions with aromatic amines.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reactions of Picolinic Acid with Dichloro-{1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole}palladium(II) Complexes

The reaction between Pd(N,N′)Cl₂ [N,N′ ≡ 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (N,N′) and picolinic acid (picH) have been studied spectrophotometrically at λ = 463 nm in MeCN at 298 K. The product is [Pd(pic)₂] which has been verified by the synthesis of the pure compound from Na₂[PdCl₄] and picH. The kinetics of the nucleophilic substitution reaction have been studied under pseudo-first-order conditions. The reaction proceeds in a two-step-consecutive manner (A → B → C); each step follows first order kinetics with respect to each complex and picH where the rate equations are: Rate 1 = {k′₀ + k′₂[picH]₀} × [Pd(N,N′)Cl₂] and Rate 2 = {k′′₀ + k′′₂[picH]₀}[Pd(N,O)(monodentate N,N′)Cl₂] such that the first step second order rate constant (k′₂) is greater than the second step second order rate constant (k′′₂). External addition of Cl⁻ (as LiCl) suppresses the rate. Increase in π-acidity of the N,N′ ligand, increases the rate. The reaction has been studied at different temperatures and the activation parameters (Δ^‡H° and Δ^‡S°) were calculated from the Eyring plot.     

Ruthenium complexes of 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine formed via regioselective phenyl ring amination of coordinated 2-(phenylazo)pyridine: isolation of products,X-ray structure,and redox and optical properties

Aromatic ring amination reactions in the ruthenium complex of 2-(phenylazo)pyridine is described. The substitutionally inert cationic brown complex [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1) (pap = 2-(phenylazo)pyridine) reacts smoothly with aromatic amines neat and in the presence of air to produce cationic and intense blue complexes [Ru(HL(2))(3)](ClO(4))(2) (2) (HL(2) = 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine). These were purified on a preparative TLC plate. The X-ray structure of the new and representative complex 2c has been solved to characterize them. The results are compared with those of the starting complex, [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1). The transformation 1 --> 2 involves aromatic ring amination at the para carbon (with respect to the diazo function) of the pendant phenyl rings of all three coordinated pap ligands in 1. The transformation is stereoretentive, and the amination reaction is regioselective. The extended ligand HL(2) coordinates as a bidentate ligand and chelates to ruthenium(II) through the pyridine and one of the azo nitrogens. The amine nitrogen of this bears a hydrogen atom and remains uncoordinated. Similarly, the amination reaction on the mixed-ligand complex [Ru(pap)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) produces the blue complex [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (3) as anticipated. The reactions of [RuCl(2)(dmso)(4)] and [Ru(S)(2)(L)(2)](2+) (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide, S = labile coordinated solvent, L = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and pap) with the preformed HL(2) ligand have been explored. The structure of the representative complex [RuCl(2)(HL(2a))(2)] (5a) is reported. It has the chlorides in trans configuration while the pyridine as well as azo nitrogens are in cis geometry. Optical spectra and redox properties of the newly synthesized complexes are reported. All the ruthenium complexes of HL(2) are characterized by their intense blue solution colors. The lowest energy transitions in these complexes appear near 600 nm, which have been attributed to intraligand charge-transfer transitions. For example, the lowest energy visible range transition in [Ru(HL(2b))(3)](2+) appears at 602 nm and its intensity is 65 510 M(-1) cm(-1). All the tris chelates show multiple-step electron-transfer processes. In [Ru(HL(2))(3)](2+), six reductions waves constitute the complete electron-transfer series. The electrons are believed to be added successively to the three azo functions. In the mixed-ligand chelates [Ru(HL(2))(pap)(2)](2+) and [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](2+) the reductions due to HL(2), pap, and bpy are observed.     

Dual interpretation of electromagnetic fields in general relativity

An energy stress tensor satisfying Rainich's algebraic relations along with a specified metric tensor sometimes admits two alternative Maxwell fields-one with a nonvanishing current vector as source and the other without any source. This paper investigates the conditions for the existence of a source-free interpretation when a with source solution with various types of the source current vector (i.e., timelike, null, or spacelike) is known and illustrates the results with some examples. It turns out that in the case of timelike currents, a dual interpretation requires this to be a purely convection current, while in other cases a dual interpretation is possible only if the conductivity is infinite and the conduction current is in the direction of the magnetic field.     

Analytical study of the performance of minSIS solar cells with a back surface field

The effect of a Back Surface Field (BSF) on the performance of a minority-carrier transparent Semiconductor-Insulator-Semiconductor (minSIS) solar cell has been studied. An analytical one-dimensional model has been developed for the calculation of transport characteristics of minSIS solar cells. Short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, fill factor and efficiency are then calculated for a sputtered Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO)-SiO₂-pSi-p ⁺Si solar cell under AM1 illumination for different values ofpSi- andp ⁺ Si-layer thicknesses. It is found that for a large base thickness, the effect of BSF is not significant; however, for a small thickness all the quantities increase with BSF.     

Water as an efficient medium for the synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carbolines via Pictet-Spengler reactions

A mild and efficient protocol for the Pictet-Spengler reaction in water using an acid catalyst has been described. The condensation of tryptophan, tryptamine, and N_b-benzyl tryptophan with different aldehydes having both electron-withdrawing and -donating substituents in the presence of a catalytic amount of TFA in water furnished tetrahydro-β-carbolines in good isolated yields. A salient feature of the water mediated Pictet-Spengler reaction was the general trend observed during the condensation of Trp-OMe and aryl/aliphatic aldehydes furnishing diastereomeric mixtures with a preference for the cis-isomer.     

Allowed transitions in silicon isoelectronic ions

Dipole‐allowed transitions have been studied for the first few members of the Si isoelectronic sequence. Transition energies, oscillator strengths, transition probabilities and quantum defect values have been estimated for the low‐ and high‐lying excited states of s and d symmetries up to the principal quantum number n=7 for these 3p open shell ions from P⁺ to Cr¹⁰⁺. Time‐dependent coupled Hartree–Fock (TDCHF) theory has been utilized to calculate such transition properties. Most of the results for transition energies, oscillator strengths, and transition probabilities for higher excited states are new. The transition energies for low‐lying excited states agree well with experimental data wherever available. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Thermal and photochemical reduction of aqueous chlorine by ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes

Studies are reported on the reactions of aqueous chlorine with a series of substitution-inert, one-electron metal-complex reductants, which includes [Ru(bpy)3]2+, [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)3]2+, [Ru(4,7-Me2phen)3]2+, [Ru(terpy)2]2+, and [Fe(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)3]2+. The reactions were studied by spectrophotometry at 25 degrees C in acidic chloride media at mu = 0.3 M. In general the reactions have the stoichiometry 2[ML3]2+ + Cl2-->2[ML3]3+ + 2Cl-. In the case of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, the reaction is quite photosensitive; the thermal reaction is so slow as to be practically immeasurable. The reactions of [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)3]2+ and [Ru(4,7-Me2phen)3]2+ are also highly photosensitive, giving pseudo-first-order rate constants that depend on the monochromator slit width in a stopped-flow instrument; however, the thermal rates are fast enough that they can be obtained by extrapolation of kobs to zero slit width. The reactions of [Ru(terpy)2]2+ and [Fe(3,4,7,8-Me4phen)3]2+ show no appreciable photosensitivity, allowing direct determination of their thermal rate laws. From the kinetic effects of pH, [Cl2]tot, and [Cl-] it is evident that all of the thermal rate laws have a first-order dependence on [ML3]2+ and on [Cl2]. The second-order rate constants decrease as Eo for the complex increases, consistent with the predictions of Marcus theory for an outer-sphere electron-transfer mechanism. Quantum yields at 460 nm for the reactions of [Ru(4,4'-Me2bpy)3]2+ and [Ru(4,7-Me2phen)3]2+ exceed 0.1 and show a dependence on [Cl2] indicative of competition among spontaneous decay of *Ru, nonreactive quenching by Cl2, and reactive quenching by Cl2.