Autocorrelation infrared analysis of mineralogical samples: the influence of user controllable experimental parameters

Autocorrelation infrared (ACIR) analysis is based upon the application of the autocorrelation function corr(alpha,omega') = integral(-infinity)(infinity) alpha(omega + omega') alpha(omega) d omega to standard Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectra. We present a rigorous examination of the effect of experimental parameters such as dilution ratio, spectral resolution, grinding time and pressing conditions upon the ACIR analysis of haematite. Results were found to vary by less than 4.5% irrespective of sample preparation, instrumental and data collection parameters. For a series of perovskite samples, the relationship between the measured effective linewidth and material composition appears to be reproducible, even though the absolute magnitudes of delta corr values do not. Our results further indicate that the ACIR technique is indeed valid for comparative analysis of synthetic sample sequences that vary slightly in composition or structural state, provided that primary spectra are all recorded by the same instrument.     

Development and application of versatile bis-hydroxamic acids for catalytic asymmetric oxidation

In this article, we describe the development and preliminary results of our new designed C₂-symmetric bis-hydroxamic acid (BHA) ligands and the application of the new ligands for vanadium-catalyzed asymmetric epoxidation of allylic alcohols as well as homoallylic alcohols. From this success we demonstrate the versatile nature of BHA in the molybdenum catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of unfunctionalized olefins and sulfides.     

Synthesis and solid-state structural characterisation of Pt(II,IV) bromide complexes containing bidentate organothiomethylpyridine heteroleptic ligands

A convenient synthetic method for the preparation of organothiomethylpyridine ligands 2-(RSCH₂)C₅H₄N (R = Ph (L¹), Me (L²)), 2-MeS–6-Me-C₅H₃N (L³), and 2-MeS–4-Me-C₅H₃N (L⁴) via the initial lithiation of substituted 2-picolines followed by the nucleophilic reaction with a diorganyldisulfide is described. The complexes [PtBr₂L] (L = L¹–L⁴) have been prepared in good to high yields as yellow solids with low solubility in organic solvents. The solid state structures of the complexes have been determined, showing the spatial arrangement of the complexes to depend significantly upon varying substituents within the ligand. The complexes undergo oxidation by bromine to form the tetravalent complexes [PtBr₄(L)] (L = L¹–L⁴). The solid state structures of [PtBr₄(L²)] and [PtBr₄(L₄)] have been determined, and shown to be monomeric with the ligand chelating the platinum centre.     

Structural and Spectroscopic Studies of Halocuprate(I) and Haloargentate(I) Complexes [M2XnX′4−n]2−

The complexes [Cu₂Br₄]^2?, [Cu₂I₄]^2?, [Cu₂I₂Br₂]^2?, [Cu₂I₃Cl]^2?, [Ag₂Cl₄]^2? have been characterized as their isomorphous bis(triphenylphosphoranylidene)ammonium ([Ph₃PNPPh₃]⁺ = PNP⁺) salts by single crystal structural determinations. All anions show the centrosymmetric doubly halogen‐bridged forms [XM(μ‐X)₂MX]^2? with three‐coordinate metal atoms that have been observed in [M₂X₄]^2? complexes with other large organic cations. In [Cu₂I₂Br₂]^2? the iodide ligands occupy the bridging positions and the bromide the terminal positions, while in [Cu₂I₃Cl]^2?, obtained in an attempt to prepare [Cu₂I₂Cl₂]^2?, two of the iodide ligands occupy the bridging positions with the third iodide and the chloride ligand occupying two statistically disordered terminal positions. In [Ag₂Cl₄]^2? the distortion from ideal trigonal coordination of the metal atom is greater than in the copper complexes, but less than in other previously reported [Ag₂Cl₄]^2? complexes with organic cations. The ν(MX) bands have been assigned in the far‐IR spectra, and confirm previous observations regarding the unexpectedly simple IR spectra of [Cu₂X₄]^2? complexes.     

Isolation and Structural Characterization of Di‐ and Tetra‐protonated Forms of the Macrocyclic Hexaamine trans‐6,13‐Dimethyl‐1,4,8‐11‐tetraazacyclodecane‐6,13‐diamine

Cations derived by protonation of the ligand title compound (L¹) have been structurally characterized in their di‐ and tetra‐ protonated forms in the salts [H₂L¹][ClO₄]₂·2H₂O and [H₄L¹][ZnCl₄]₂·4H₂O. In both structures, one half of the formula unit comprises the asymmetric unit of the structure, the macrocycle being centrosymmetric, with the two macrocycles adopting similar conformations. In both salts, a pair of diagonally opposed macrocyclic secondary amine groups are protonated; in the [H₄L¹]⁴⁺ salt, the additional pair of protons are accommodated on the exocyclic pendant amine groups. The dispositions of the pendent amines differ between the two structures, being ‘equatorial’ with respect to the macrocyclic ring in the [H₂L¹]²⁺ salt, and ‘axial’ in the [H₄L¹]⁴⁺ salt. In other structurally characterized compounds containing [H₄L¹]⁴⁺ the equatorial disposition was found in the ferricyanide adduct, while in the tetraperchlorate salt the axial disposition was identified. The differences in disposition of the exocyclic groups are ascribed to the extensive H‐bonding in the lattices.     

Further reactions of some bis(vinylidene)diruthenium complexes

Whereas {Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (2) is the only product formed by deprotonation of [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]⁺ with dbu, a mixture of 2 with Ru{CCCHCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (3) and {Cp*Ru(PPh₂CHCCH-)}₂ (4) is obtained with KOBu^t. A similar reaction with [{Ru(dppm)Cp*}₂{μ(CCMeCMeC)}]⁺ (5) gave Ru{CCCMeCH(PPh₂)₂[RuCp*]}(dppm)Cp* (6). X-ray structures of 4, 5 and 6 confirm the presence of the 1-ruthena-2,4-diphosphabicyclo[1.1.1]pentane moiety, which is likely formed by an intramolecular attack of the deprotonated dppm ligand on C(1) of the vinylidene ligand. Protonation of {Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂(μ-CCCC) (8-Ru) regenerates its precursor [{Ru(dppe)Cp*}₂{μ(CCHCHC)}]²⁺ (7-Ru). Ready oxidation of the bis(vinylidene) complex affords the cationic carbonyl [Ru(CO)(dppe)Cp*]PF₆ (9) (X-ray structure).     

Optimized intermolecular potential for aromatic hydrocarbons based on anisotropic united atoms. III. Polyaromatic and naphthenoaromatic hydrocarbons

In this third article of the series, a new anisotropic united atoms (AUA) intermolecular potential parameter set has been proposed for the carbon force centers connecting the aromatic rings of polyaromatic hydrocarbons to predict thermodynamic properties using both the Gibbs ensemble and NPT Monte Carlo simulations. The model uses the same parameters as previous AUA models used for the aromatic CH force centers. The optimization procedure is based on the minimization of a dimensionless error criterion incorporating various thermodynamic data of naphthalene at 400 and 550 K. The new model has been evaluated on a series of polyaromatic and naphthenoaromatic hydrocarbons over a wide range of temperatures up to near-critical conditions. Vaporization enthalpy, liquid density, and normal boiling temperature are reproduced with good accuracy. The new potential parameters have also been tested successfully on toluene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, styrene, m-xylene, n-hexylbenzene, and n-dodecylbenzene to demonstrate their transferability to alkylbenzenes.     

Compensation effect in the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation kinetics of metal hydrides

The possible existence of a compensation effect, i.e. concurrent changes in activation energy and prefactor, is investigated for the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation kinetics of metal hydrides, by analyzing a series of reported kinetic studies on Mg and LaNi(5) based hydrides. For these systems, we find a clear linear relation between apparent prefactors and apparent activation energies, as obtained from an Arrhenius analysis, indicating the existence of a compensation effect. Large changes in apparent activation energies in the case of Mg based hydrides are rationalized in terms of a dependency of observed apparent activation energy on the degree of surface oxidation, i.e., a physical effect. On the other hand, we find the large concurrent changes in apparent prefactors to be a direct result of the Arrhenius analysis. Thus, we find the observed compensation effect to be an artifact of the data analysis rather than a physical phenomenon. In the case of LaNi(5) based hydrides, observed scatter in reported apparent activation energies is less pronounced supporting the general experience that LaNi(5) is less sensitive toward surface contamination.