Extraction of Ternary Alloys: Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [K([2.2.2]crypt)]Cs7[Sn9]2(en)3

The compound [K([2.2.2]crypt)]Cs₇[Sn₉]₂(en)₃ ( 1 ) was synthesized from an alloy of formal composition KCs₂Sn₉ by dissolving in ethylenediamine (en) followed by the addition of [2.2.2]crypt and toluene. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pcca with a = 45.38(2), b = 9.092(4), c = 18.459(8) Å, and Z = 4. The structure consists of Cs₇[Sn₉]₂ layers which contain [Sn₉]^4– anions and Cs⁺ cations. The layers are separated by [K([2.2.2]crypt)]⁺ units. In the intermetallic slab (Cs₇[Sn₉]₂)^– compares the arrangement of pairs of symmetry‐related [Sn₉]^4– anions with the dimer ([Ge₉]–[Ge₉])^6– in [K([2.2.2]crypt)]₂Cs₄([Ge₉]–[Ge₉]), in which the clusters are linked by a cluster‐exo bond. The shortest distance between atoms of such two clusters in 1 is 4.762 Å, e. g. there are no exo Sn‐Sn bonds. The [Sn₉]^4– anion has almost perfect C_4v‐symmetry.     

In situ Raman and UV-vis spectroscopic studies of polypyrrole and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin)

Polypyrrole (PPy) and poly(pyrrole-2,6-dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin) [P(Py-β-DMCD)] films prepared by potential cycling in aqueous acidic solutions on indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass and gold electrodes were studied by in situ UV-vis and Raman spectroscopy. Characteristic UV-vis and Raman bands were identified and their dependencies on the electrode potential have been discussed. Spectroelectrochemical results reveal differences both in the position of the spectral bands and their potential dependence for PPy and P(Py-β-DMCD) films indicating interactions between polymer chains and CDs during electropolymerization process. The films were also characterized by cyclic voltammetry and FT-IR spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of γ-lactones from alkenes employing p-methoxybenzyl chloride as CH2---CO2 equivalent

The ZnCl₂ catalyzed reaction of p-methoxybenzyl chloride with alkenes yields the 1:1 addition products 3, which are converted into the γ-lactones 4 via Ru(VIII) catalyzed oxidative degradation of the aromatic ring.     

Theoretical exploration of structure-reactivity relationships in organometallic chemistry: butadiene insertion into the organyltransition-metal bond and conversion of the allyltransition-metal fragment in the [Ni(η-Cp)(η-phenyl)(η-butadiene)] complex

We have theoretically examined the reaction course of the butadiene insertion into the arylNi^II bond in the [Ni^II(η⁵-Cp)(η¹-phenyl)(η²-butadiene)] complex (1), by employing a gradient-corrected DFT method. Critical elementary processes have been scrutinized, viz. monomer insertion, rotational allylic isomerization and allylic η¹-σ→η³-π rearrangement. The first mechanism suggested by Lehmkuhl et al. was refined and supplemented with important details. The critical factors that determine the generation of anti-η³- and syn-η³-allyl isomers of the [Ni^II(η⁵-Cp)(1-benzyl-allyl)] product have been elucidated. This let us to rationalize the experimentally observed, almost exclusive formation of the anti-η³-allyl isomer. Butadiene preferably inserts in η²-mode into the η¹-phenylNi^II bond, initially giving rise to the η¹(C³)-allyl product species, 3σ. The direct formation of the η³-allyl product species, 3π, along the alternative path for η⁴-butadiene insertion, however, is found to be almost entirely disabled kinetically. The thermodynamically favorable η²-trans form of 1 is also shown to be more reactive in accomplishing CC bond formation. Species 3σ is indicated to be a metastable intermediate, occurring in an appreciable stationary concentration. Its respective anti and syn isomeric forms are likely to be in equilibrium, due to the facile rotational isomerization. The subsequent allylic rearrangement into the thermodynamically strongly favorable η³-allylNi^II coordination mode is shown to be the crucial elementary step that discriminates which of the isomeric η³-allyl forms is preferably generated. The higher reactivity of the anti isomer in this process decisively determines the almost exclusive formation of the anti-η³-allyl product species under kinetic control. The requirement of elevated temperatures for the anti-η³-allyl→syn-η³-allyl isomerization to occur, as revealed from experiment, is attributed to the pronounced thermodynamic stability of the η³-allylNi^II coordination.