New ru(II) complexes containing oxazoline ligands as epoxidation catalysts. Influence of the substituents on the catalytic performance

The synthesis of a family of new Ru complexes containing the facial tridentate ligand with general formula [Ru(II)(T)(D)(X)](n+) (T = trispyrazolylmethane (tpm); D = ((4S,4'S)-(-)-4,4',5,5'-tetrahydro-4,4'-bis(1-methylethyl)-2,2'-bioxazole) (iPr-box-C) or N-(1-hydroxy-3-methylbutan-(2S)-(-)-2-yl)-(4S)-(-)-4-isopropyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole-2-carbimidate (iPr-box-O); X = Cl, H(2)O) has been described. All complexes have been spectroscopically characterized in solution through (1)H NMR and UV-vis techniques, and the redox properties of complexes have also been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV). Furthermore, the chloro complexes presented here have been characterized in the solid state through monocrystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The oxazolinic iPr-box-C ligand undergoes a Ru-assisted hydrolysis reaction generating the corresponding amidate anionic ligand iPr-box-O, that keeps coordinated to the Ru metal center and that produces a strong σ-donation effect over it. The reactivity of the Ru-OH(2) complexes described in this paper together with other similar ones, previously synthesized by us, has been tested with regard to the epoxidation of different olefins. Complexes [Ru(II)(R-box-C)(tpm)OH(2)](BF(4))(2), R = Bz, 3'c/iPr, 3c, show high stereoselectivity in the epoxidation of cis-β-methylstyrene, with the exclusive formation of the cis-epoxide. However, there is a significant difference in regioselectivity between the two catalysts in the epoxidation of 4-vinylcyclohexene; complex 3'c leads to the regioselective oxidation at the ring alkene position, whereas complex 3c leads to the oxidation at the terminal position. Computational calculations indicate only small energy differences between the two possible products of 4-vinylcyclohexene epoxidation, but the energy barriers for the interaction of the catalytic systems with the alkene groups of 4-vinylcyclohexene agree with the reactivity differences found for the two catalysts having isopropyl or benzyl as substituent of the oxazole ligand. Computed local Fukui functions help to explain the observed reactivity trends.     

Vapour—liquid equilibrium of the square-well fluid of variable range via a hybrid simulation approach

The equilibrium between vapour and liquid in a square-well system has been determined by a hybrid simulation approach combining chemical potentials calculated via the Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo technique with pressures calculated by the standard NVT Monte Carlo method. The phase equilibrium was determined from the thermodynamic conditions of equality of pressure and chemical potential between the two phases. The results of this hybrid approach were tested by independent NPT and μPT calculations and are shown to be of much higher accuracy than those of conventional GEMC simulations. The coexistence curves, vapour pressures and critical points were determined for SW systems of interaction ranges λ = 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2. The new results show a systematic dependence on the range λ, in agreement with results from perturbation theory where previous work had shown more erratic behaviour.     

Nuclear quantum effects in calculated NMR shieldings of benzene; a Feynman path integral study

The Feynman path integral Monte Carlo approach has been coupled to the gauge including atomic orbital formalism in order to analyse the absolute magnetic shieldings of the benzene nuclei under the conditions of thermal equilibrium. The Hamiltonian employed in the derivation of ensemble averaged NMR quantities is of the Hartree-Fock type. The basis set used is of 6–31G quality. The spatial delocalization of the atoms leads to a deshielding of both types of benzene nuclei relative to the shieldings experienced at the minimum of the potential energy surface. This deshielding has to be traced back to bond length elongations in thermal equilibrium. The influence of the nuclear fluctuations on the NMR parameters of benzene is quantum driven up to temperatures of 400 K; classical fluctuations are of minor importance in this low-temperature window.     

Magische Quadrat-Quadrate und Divisionsalgebren

Mathematische Semesterberichte - Von Euler stammt eine Parametrisierung einer Klasse von magischen 4 ✕ 4-Quadraten, deren Einträge Quadratzahlen sind und noch...     

Pt-Re small cluster interaction with H2

The interaction of small Pt-Re clusters with H₂ is reported here through ab initio multicon-figuration self-consistent field (MC-SCF) calculations, plus extensive multireference configuration interaction (MR-CI), variational and perturbative calculations. These calculations provide a cluster model for the activation of hydrogen by Pt-Re bimetallic catalysts. It was found that the ⁶S(5d⁵6s²) Re atom ground state needs an important activation to induce very weak capture of separated hydrogen atoms, whereas in the lowest excited states the activation energies are small or zero, with a very reasonable depth of well. The four lowest states of Pt-Re were found to be ⁴ Σ⁺, ⁶Π_yz, ^{Σ +} and ⁶Π_xz. Pt-Re interaction with H₂ has been studied from both metal ‘sides’. It was established that Pt-Re with the platinum side in the ground electronic ⁴Σ⁺ state and in the lowest ⁶Π⁺ excited states is able to capture H₂ molecules without activation, whereas in the ⁶Π_yz and ⁶Π_xz excited states there is no capture. The rhenium side of Pt-Re in its four lowest states considered cannot capture the H₂ molecule. The interaction of Pt₂-Re with H₂ was studied also. For the ground ²B₂ electronic state and the low lying ²A₁ electronic state the platinum moiety can spontaneously capture and break H₂. The rhenium side of Pt₂-Re(B₂), however, can capture H₂ only after surmounting a small barrier, and the excited Pt₂-Re(²A₁) can spontaneously capture H₂. For Pt₂-Re in its low lying ⁴A₁ electronic state both metal sides capture and break H₂ after surmounting a small barrier.     

Encapsulation of Tetraazaannulenato Compounds in Matrix by Sol-Gel Process

The hybrid organic-inorganic catalyst constituted by {5,7,12,14-tetramethyldibenzo[b,i]-1,4,8,11-tetraaza[14]annulenato} nickel (II), NiTMTAA, encapsulated in an alumina matrix has been prepared. NiTMTAA was synthesized by the reaction of nickel acetate with o-phenylenediamine in the presence of 2,4-pentanedione under argon atmosphere. The alumina hybrid material was obtained by a non hydrolytic sol-gel route, through the condensation of aluminum chloride with diisopropylether in the presence of NiTMTAA. The material has been prepared through precipitation from a gel. Characterization of the alumina hybrid material has been performed by ultra violet-visible spectroscopy, electron spectroscopic imaging, surface area, atomic absorption, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The ultra violet-visible absorption spectrum of the hybrid material has bands characteristic of the NiTMTAA compound showing that the structure of NiTMTAA has been preserved in the hybrid material. The new material has a surface area of 300 m²/g. The electron image was that of a non-crystalline microstructure. Comparison between the leaching of NiTMTAA from NiTMTAA adsorbed on commercial neutral alumina confirm that in the non-hydrolytic materials the NiTMTAA is entrapped and not only adsorbed on the alumina surface. The use of conventional hydrolytic sol-gel process leads to the complete leaching of NiTMTAA from matrix, underlining the importance of the non-hydrolytic alumina gel process in the matrix preparation. The new catalysts prepared were tested for their ability to catalyze the epoxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene using iodosylbenzene as oxygen donor, giving moderate yields in the epoxidation (40%), while the homogeneous NiTMTAA is inactive due to NiTMTAA bleaching. These results emphasize the effect of the non-hydrolytic alumina matrix to prevent chemical degradation of NiTMTAA.     

Polyelectrolyte complex capsules as a material for enzyme immobilization

The polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membrane formed by cellulose sulfate and poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride) was used to encapsulate lactate dehydrogenase. The exclusion limit of the membrane was found to be low enough to secure irreversible entrapping of the enzyme. The obtained capsules were checked for their functionality in a stirred-batch reactor by following the kinetics of NADH oxidation. The data were fitted with an isotropic kinetic model including competitive product-inhibition phenomenon. The results of mathematical modeling demonstrated that the anisotropic system, like PEC capsules, could be satisfactorily described by the isotropic model.     

The Influence of Heat Pre-Treatment on the Sorption of Water Vapour on Bentonite

Sorption isotherms of water vapour on bentonite from the Rokle locality of northwest Bohemia in the Czech Republic were measured and analysed after being treated with heat. Protracted sorption measurements were performed at 30∘C in the range of water vapour relative pressures between 0.12 and 0.94. Prior to sorption measurements, the bentonite samples were exposed to flowing dry nitrogen for 18 hours at 115, 220 and 300∘C. Compared to the sample heated at 115∘C, the bentonite samples that were treated at 220 and 300∘C exhibited a decrease in water vapour sorption capacity. This decrease in sorption capacity was accompanied by structural changes that were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.