14-Electron T-shaped [PdRXL] complexes: evidence or illusion? Mechanistic consequences for the stille reaction and related processes

A recent claimed spectroscopic observation (by (1)H NMR) of 14-electron T-shaped 3-coordinated palladium complexes turns out to be a misinterpretation. A thorough study of the species formed by [PdRX(AsPh(3))(2)] (R=Ph, C(6)Cl(2)F(3); X=Cl, I) in different solvents (S=CDCl(3), THF, DMF) suggests that: 1) there is no NMR-detectable amount of [PdRX(AsPh(3))], and 2) in the presence of free arsine (AsPh(3)/[PdRX(AsPh(3))(2)] 2:1) the concentration of [PdRX(AsPh(3))(S)] is negligible. This clearly settles matters in the controversy of dissociative or associative pathways for the transmetalation step involved in the Stille coupling in favor of the latter: under catalytic conditions the dominant pathway is the associative reaction of the stannane with the square-planar complex [PdRX(AsPh(3))(2)].     

New organometallic liquid crystals I. Orthopalladated imine derivatives

The synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of 12 dinuclear, orthopalladated complexes derived from Schiff's bases are reported. The complexes are of the type [Pd₂(H-X)₂C₆H₃(OR)-C(Z) = N-C₆H₄R'₂] (X = OAc, Cl, Br, SCN; Z = H, CH₃; R' = OR, R; R = C₁₀H₂₁) and ten of them exhibit ordered mesophases (S_C and S_A). The molecules were characterized structurally by I.R. and ¹H N.M.R. spectroscopy in order to elucidate the possible existence of isomers. The connection between their molecular structures and their mesogenic properties is discussed.     

Between-examiner reproducibility in manual differential leukocyte counting

In manual–visual differential leukocyte counts, the counting itself may be different depending on the examiner. We estimated the between-examiner (B-E) reproducibility in differential leukocyte counting. During 2 months, daily, after performing manual–visual differential leukocyte counts, two slides with blood films were retained. Next day these two blood films were re-examined by different examiners. For each type of leukocyte the B-E reproducibility was estimated from the 58 pairs of data obtained by four technicians. The B-E coefficient of variation for each type of leukocyte was: basophilocytes, 263.2%; eosinophilocytes, 68.8%; lymphocytes, 32.5%; metamyelocytes, 69.6%; monocytes, 55.0%; myelocytes, 132.5%; and neutrophilocytes, 6.6%. For each type of leukocyte the coefficient of variation is the sought estimate of the average reproducibility due to the “human factor” as a whole, without regard to any examiner in particular. Knowledge of this component of day-to-day imprecision, and its follow-up, may be used to decide corrective actions (training of the examiner, etc.) and to set critical differences to interpret the significance of changes in serial results.     

Hydrogen bond vs proton transfer in HZSM5 zeolite. A theoretical study

The interaction of a large set of bases covering a wide range of the basicity scale with HZSM5 medium-size zeolites has been investigated through the use of two model clusters, namely 5T and 7T:63T. The 5T cluster has been treated fully ab initio at the B3LYP level, whereas the 63T cluster has been treated with the ONIOM2 scheme using the B3LYP:MNDO combination for geometry optimizations and B3LYP:HF/3-21G for adsorption energies. The optimized geometries of the different hydrogen bond (HB) and ion pair (IP) complexes obtained with both models are rather similar. However, there are significant dissimilarities as far as the adsorption energies are concerned, in particular when dealing with IP clusters whose intrinsic stability is largely underestimated when the simpler 5T model is used. 5T clusters could be used to obtain reasonable estimates of adsorption energies provided these are scaled by a factor of 1.1 for HB complexes and 1.4 for IP complexes. The zeolite cavity favors the proton transfer process, similarly to that found by third polar partners in gas-phase HB trimers. The intrinsic basicity of the base and its adsorption energy within the zeolite are correlated. From this correlation, is possible to conclude that, in general, bases with proton affinities (PA) larger than 200 kcal mol(-1) should lead to the formation of IPs, whereas bases with PA smaller than this value should form HB complexes.     

Binuclear mesogenic copper(i) isocyanide complexes with an unusual inorganic core formed by two tetrahedra sharing an edge

The preparation of binuclear mesogenic copper(I) isocyanide complexes [CuX(CNR)(2)](2) (X = halogen; R = C(6)H(4)C(6)H(4)OC(10)H(21) (L(A)), C(6)H(4)COOC(6)H(4)OC(n)H(2n+1)((L(B)), C(6)H(2)(3,4,5-OC(n)H(2n+1))(3) (L(C))) with an unusual tetrahedral core is described. The copper complexes with L(A) are not liquid crystals, but the Cu-L(B) complexes show SmA mesophases and the Cu-L(C) derivatives display hexagonal columnar mesophases, some of them at room temperature. The relationship between the molecular structure of the complexes and their thermal behavior is discussed.     

Palladium Complexes with the Tridentate Dianionic Ligand Pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate, dipic. Crystal Structure of [Pd(dipic)(PBu(3))](2)

The reactions of [Pd(acac)(2)] or [Pd(OAc)(2)](3) with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H(2)dipic) in acetonitrile afford [Pd(dipic)(NCMe)] in high yield. This complex has been used as starting material in the preparation of a variety of neutral an anionic complexes. The dipicolinate anion behaves as a tridentate ligand in all cases, but two modes of coordination are found, depending on the ligand: as a pincer ligand O,N,O-bonded to the same palladium, giving mononuclear complexes, and as an O,N-chelate N,O'-bridging ligand in dinuclear complexes. An X-ray determination of the structure of a dimer, [Pd(dipic)(PBu(3))](2) (monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 18.144(4) ?, b = 13.191(2) ?, c = 19.571(3) ?, beta = 113.45(2) degrees, Z = 4, R = 0.050, R(w) = 0.054) shows that the ligand is coordinated to one palladium in a eta(2)-N,O chelate fashion and one oxygen atom of the other carboxylate group makes a bridge to the other palladium atom, in a novel bonding mode for the dipic ligand.     

The role of trace metallic elements in neurodegenerative disorders: quantitative analysis using XRF and XANES spectroscopy.

The present paper focuses on the analysis of trace metallic elements and their role in neurodegenerative disorders. The use of synchrotron radiation microbeams allows investigation of pathological tissues from Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases in a nondestructive manner and at cellular level. By employing X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) technique, the chemical state of the investigated elements can be determined, while energy-selective X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy provides the spatial distribution of each element in each oxidative state selectively. The investigated tissues (derived from human, monkey and mouse specimens) show distinct imbalances of metallic elements such as Zn and Cu as well as Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) redox pair, which point to oxidative stress as a crucial factor in the development or progress of these neurodegenerative diseases.     

Conventional true values compared

According to ISO/CD 18113-1:2005, the conventional true value of a control material can be an assigned value (obtained with a primary or reference measurement procedure), a consensus value or a procedure-defined value. The present study demonstrates that, for some biological quantities, the overall consensus value (“trimmed” mean value”) obtained in a proficiency testing program, which includes all results independently of the method of measurement, is not acceptable as a surrogate for a primary or reference method value. Therefore, for the biological quantities taken into account in this study, overall consensus value is not as good as primary or reference method value to estimate systematic error. Papers published in this section do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editors, the Editorial Board and the Publisher. Apart from exceptional circumstances, they are not submitted to the usual referee procedure and go essentially unaltered.     

The mechanisms of the Stille reaction

Eighteen years ago in Angewandte Chemie John K. Stille reviewed a novel methodology, which eventually became known by his name, for the coupling of organostannanes with organic electrophiles. Since then that seed has blossomed into a multifaceted methodology full of hidden possibilities to explore, discover, and enjoy. Very recent modifications are making synthetic wishes come true that were only dreamed of a few years ago. Moreover, as important advances are being made in the understanding of the mechanistic details of the process, it is becoming increasingly possible to apply this essential reaction and its new variants in a less empirical way. The purpose of this Review is to give a critical account of this progress.