(η5-C5R5)2Fe2(CO)2(μ-CO)(μ-CH2) (R = H,CH3): A convenient one-pot synthesis using chloromethyl pivalate

The compounds (η⁵-C₅R₅)₂Fe₂(CO)₂(μ-CO)(μ-CH₂) (R = H, CH₃) have been prepared through the reaction of chloromethyl pivalate with the appropriate metal anions, η⁵-C₅H₅Fe(CO)₂K and η⁵-C₅Me₅Fe(CO)₂K.     

Detection of VX contamination in soil through solid-phase microextraction sampling and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of the VX degradation product bis(diisopropylaminoethyl)disulfide

A solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) sampling and analysis method was developed for bis(diisopropylaminoethyl)disulfide (a degradation product of the nerve agent VX) in soil. A 30-min sampling time with a polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber and high temperature alkaline hydrolysis allowed detection with 1.0 microg of VX spiked per g of agricultural soil. The method was successfully used in the field with portable GC-MS instrumentation. This method is relatively rapid (less than 1 h), avoids the use of complex preparation steps, and enhances analyst safety through limited use of solvents and decontamination of the soil before sampling.     

Dialing in color with rare earth metals: facile photoluminescent production of true white light

Combining polymeric architectures with metal ions produces hybrid materials with extremely rich properties. We are studying polymers containing terpyridine in the side chain. In this report, the chelation of lanthanide ions, Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, and Dy³⁺ resulted in metal functionalized copolymers that exhibited excellent emission of red, green, and blue light respectively. The polymer architecture easily allows incorporation of all three colors into the material, which leads to the facile production of true white light in solution or the solid state. Quantum efficiencies for the polymer systems were determined. The white light system had an efficiency of 5%. Various combinations of colors were achieved from the basic RBG colors by simply varying the metal ion ratios in the polymer backbone. This easy tuning of the color makes these systems attractive. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unusual route to and rearrangement of four-membered ring complexes C5H5Fe (CO) [ (C6H5)2PN(R)CH (C6H5) ]

The amine substituted phosphines (C₆H₅)₂PN(H)CH₂CH₃ and (C₆H₅)₂PN(H)CH₂C₆H₅ react with C₅H₅Fe(CO)₂CH(C₆H₅) (OCH₃) photolytically to give moderate yields of the four-membered chelate ring complexes C₅H₅$\text{Fe (CO) [(C}{}_6\text{H}{}_5\text{)}{}_2\text{PN (CH}{}_2\text{CH}{}_3\text{) C}$H (C₆H₅)] and C₅H₅$\text{Fe (CO) [(C}{}_6\text{H}{}_5\text{)}{}_2\text{PN (CH}{}_2\text{C}{}_6\text{H}{}_5\text{)C}$H(C₆H₅)], respectively. Photolysis of C₅H₅Fe(CO)₂CH(C₆H₅) (OCH₃) in the presence of (S)-(?)-diphenyl(1-phenylethylamino)phosphine leads to the isolation of C₅H₅Fe(CO)[(C₆H₅)2PNC(CH₃) (C₆H₅)]CH₂C₆H₅ which is proposed to arise from a formally 1,3-hydrogen shift rearrangement of an intermediate four-membered chelate ring complex.     

Vibrational energy relaxation dynamics of Si---H stretching modes on stepped H/Si(111) 1×1 surfaces

The vibrational energy relaxation rates of excited Si---H stretching modes on the monohydride steps of miscut H/Si(111) 1×1 surfaces are calculated using Bloch-Redfield theory combined with classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The structure and vibrational frequencies of the surface are first investigated using the Car-Parrinello ab initio MD method. The calculated Si---Si---H bending frequencies and relaxed structures are then used to refine the empirical potential for the classical MD simulations. The lifetime of the excited Si---H stretching mode at the step is found to be shorter than the modes on the terrace. Both the magnitude and the trend of the calculated results agree well with the experimental measurement on the 9° monohydride stepped surface. The vibrational relaxation rate of the Si---H stretching modes on the 15° monohydride stepped surface are also calculated and predicted to have a slightly shorter lifetime than for the 9° surface.     

Surface passivation of luminescent colloidal quantum dots with poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) through a ligand exchange process

Polydimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (PDMAEMA) was used as a multidentate ligand to modify the surface of CdSe/ZnS core-shell colloidal quantum dots in toluene with trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) as the surface ligand. Adsorption of PDMAEMA was accompanied by release of TOPO. The process is free of agglomeration, and the modified nanocrystals become soluble in methanol. The photoluminescence properties are well-preserved in either toluene or methanol.     

Synthesis and structure of pyrazolo[5,1-a]isoindol-8-ones from Aromatic Ortho Diesters

The title compounds 2 , have now been shown to arise in certain cases from condensation of aromatic ortho-diesters with ketone, where formerly only indeno[1,2-c]pyrazol-4(1H)-ones 3 have been reported from such reaction. Heretofore 2 was obtained in a less direct fashion from phthalaldehydic acid esters. When hetero-aromatic diesters were employed, new heterocyclic ring systems as represented by 2a,b ,c were prepared for the first time. Structures of 2 have been verified from detailed ¹H and ¹³C nmr studies, while representative intermediates 4–9 in the condensation of diesters to 2 have been isolated and identified.     

Probing the molecular-scale lipid bilayer response to shear flow using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics

A nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of the response of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) bilayers to a solvent shear flow is presented. Application of shear flow to planar, stationary DMPC bilayers results in a redistribution of the membrane density profile along the bilayer normal due to the alignment of the lipids in the direction of flow and an increase in average lipid chain length. An increase in the intermolecular and intramolecular order of the lipids in response to the shear flow is also observed. This study provides groundwork for understanding the mechanism of the full response of lipid bilayers to externally imposed solvent shear flows, beginning with the response in the absence of collective lipid motions such as undulations and bilayer flow.     

Experimental and theoretical study of the V → T,R relaxation of CD4 between 300 and 100 K

Rate constants for the vibrational deactivation of CD₄ by the collision partners CD₄, He, Ne, Ar, Kr, D₂ and O₂ have been measured using a laser-fluorescence technique. The results are compared with those for the deactivation of CH₄ by the same collision partners and with a modified SSH type theoretical treatment.     

Synthesis, structure, and kinetics and stereochemistry of base-catalyzed hydrolysis of meso- and rac-[Co2(tmpdtne)Cl2]4+, bis(pentaamine) complexes devoid of deprotonatable NH centers

The bis(pentadentate) ligand tmpdtne binds two Co(II) centers, and the entity is readily oxidized to the dicobalt(III) derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)Cl(2)](4+) which has been separated into two isomeric forms. NMR studies establish these as meso and rac isomers arising from the different or same absolute configurations for the asym configuration about each Co(III) center. Each dinuclear ion base hydrolyses to the dihydroxo derivative [Co(2)(tmpdtne)(OH)(2)](4+) with retained asym configurations about each metal ion and also retained rac or meso configurations. The kinetics for the stepwise loss of the two Cl(-) ligands is uniphasic, and data are presented to show that the loss of the first chloride is rate determining and is followed by very rapid intramolecular and loss of the second Cl(-) via a hydroxo-bridged species to yield the observed dihydroxo derivative. Meso and rac forms of the latter have been crystallized. The X-ray crystal structure of the rac-dihydroxo complex is reported, and it establishes the configurations of all the complexes reported. The (1)H NMR spectra for the hydroxo ions show very high field Co-OH resonances (ca. delta-0.5 ppm) not observed previously for such ions, and this result is discussed in the context of published (1)H NMR data for bridged Co-OH-Co species. The base hydrolysis kinetics for the dichloro ions are first order in [OH(-)], and deprotonation at an alpha-CH(2) center (alpha to a pyridyl) is identified as the source of the catalysis, since there is no NH center available for deprotonation on the ligand. These data further support the new pseudoaminate base hydrolysis mechanism first reported in 2003. The values of k(OH) for the second-order base-catalyzed reaction are ca. 4.0 M(-1) s(-1) for both the rac and meso isomers, and these results are discussed in terms of the increased acidities of these 4+ cations compared to their 2+ ion counterparts.