Neutral and cationic alkylmanganese(II) complexes containing 2,6-bisiminopyridine ligands

Manganese alkyl complexes stabilised by 2,6-bis(N,N'-2,6-diisopropyl-phenyl)acetaldiminopyridine ((iPr)BIP) have been selectively prepared by reacting suitable alkylmanganese(II) precursors, such as homoleptic dialkyls [(MnR(2))(n)] or the corresponding THF adducts [{MnR(2)(thf)}(2)] with the mentioned ligand. For R=CH(2)CMe(2)Ph or CH(2)Ph, formally Mn(I) derivatives are produced, in which one of the two R groups migrates to the 4-position of the central pyridine ring in the (iPr)BIP ligand. In contrast, a true dialkyl complex [MnR(2)((iPr)BIP)] can be isolated for R=CH(2)SiMe(3). In solution, this compound slowly evolves to the corresponding Mn(I) monoalkyl derivative. A detailed study of this reaction provides insights on its mechanism, showing that it proceeds through successive alkyl migrations, followed by spontaneous dehydrogenation. Protonation of [Mn(CH(2)SiMe(3))(2)((iPr)BIP)] with the pyridinium salt [H(Py)(2)][BAr'(4)] (Ar'=3,5-C(6)H(3)(CF(3))(2)) leads to the cationic species [Mn(CH(2)SiMe(3))(Py)((iPr)BIP)](+). Alternatively, the same complex can be produced by reaction of the pyridine complex [{Mn(CH(2)SiMe(3))(2)(Py)}(2)] with the protonated ligand salt [H(iPr)BIP](+)[BAr'(4)](-). This last reaction allows the synthesis of analogous cationic alkylmanganese(II) derivatives, when precursors of type [MnR(2)((iPr)BIP)] are not available. Treatment of these neutral and cationic (iPr)BIP alkylmanganese derivatives with a range of typical co-catalysts (modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO), B(C(6)F(5))(3), trimethyl or triisobutylaluminum) does not lead to active ethylene polymerisation catalysts.     

A unique single carboxylate-bridged spin-frustrated chiral Mn(II) metallatriangle

The reaction between Hmbpymca ligand (prepared in situ from the hydrolysis of 5-methyl-4-cyano-bispyrimidine with NaOH and further neutralization with 2 M HCl) and Mn(ClO(4))(2)·4H(2)O in 1:1 molar ratio afforded the triangulo-trimanganese(II) complex [Mn(3)(bpymca)(3)(H(2)O)(6)]Cl(3)·6H(2)O 1. The chloride anions in this complex come from the HCl used in the neutralization process. The molecular structure of 1 consists of cationic molecular triangles [Mn(3)(μ-mbpymca)(3)(H(2)O)(6)](3+) with C(3) symmetry, chloride anions and crystallization water molecules, all of them involved in an extensive network of hydrogen bonds, leading to a chiral network. Within the [Mn(3)(μ-mbpymca)(3)(H(2)O)(6)](3+) cations, seven-coordinated Mn(II) ions are bridged by both oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups and exhibit a MnO(5)N(2) compressed pentagonal bipyramidal coordination environment. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility shows the presence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between Mn(II) ions mediated by the carboxylate group of the mbpymca ligand and the existence of a 3D antiferromagnetic ordering below 4 K, which has its origin in the AF inter-trimer exchange interactions mediated by the strong hydrogen bonds present in the crystal of 1. The experimental magnetic susceptibility data above 7 K could be satisfactorily fitted to the theoretical analytical expression derived from the spin Hamiltonian H = -J(S(1)S(2) + S(1)S(3) + S(2)S(3)) with J = -0.782(3) cm(-1) and g = 2.092(3). The model predicts a degenerate ground state with an S = 1/2, which is typical of triangular trimetallic spin frustrated systems containing metal with non-integer spins. DFT calculations were performed on the molecular structure as found in the solid state to support the experimental J value and the Mn-O(carb)-Mn as the primarily exchange pathway.     

Reductive Dimerization of Triruthenium Clusters Containing Cationic Aromatic N‐Heterocyclic Ligands

The cationic cluster complexes [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N,C‐L¹ Me)(CO)₁₀]⁺ ( 1 ⁺; HL¹ Me=N‐methylpyrazinium), [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N,C‐L² Me)(CO)₁₀]⁺ ( 2 ⁺; HL² Me=N‐methylquinoxalinium), and [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²‐N,C‐L³ Me)(CO)₁₀]⁺ ( 3 ⁺; HL³ Me=N‐methyl‐1,5‐naphthyridinium), which contain cationic N‐heterocyclic ligands, undergo one‐electron reduction processes to become short lived, ligand‐centered, trinuclear, radical species ( 1 – 3 ) that end in the formation of an intermolecular C? C bond between the ligands of two such radicals, thus leading to neutral hexanuclear derivatives. These dimerization processes are selective, in the sense that they only occur through the exo face of the bridging ligands of trinuclear enantiomers of the same configuration, as they only afford hexanuclear dimers with rac structures (C₂ symmetry). The following are the dimeric products that have been isolated by using cobaltocene as reducing agent: [Ru₆(μ‐H)₂{μ₆‐κ⁴N₂,C₂‐(L¹ Me)₂}(CO)₁₈] ( 5 ; from 1 ⁺), [Ru₆(μ‐H)₂{μ₆‐κ⁴N₂,C₂‐(L² Me)₂}(CO)₁₈] ( 6 ; from 2 ⁺), and [Ru₆(μ‐H)₂{μ₄‐κ⁸N₂,C₆‐(L³ Me)₂}(CO)₁₈] ( 7 ; from 3 ⁺). The structures of the final hexanuclear products depend on the N‐heterocyclic ligand attached to the starting materials. Thus, although both trinuclear subunits of 5 and 6 are face‐capped by their bridging ligands, the coordination mode of the ligand of 5 is different from that of the ligand of 6 . The trinuclear subunits of 7 are edge‐bridged by its bridging ligand. In the presence of moisture, the reduction of 3 ⁺ with cobaltocene also affords a trinuclear derivative, [Ru₃(μ‐H)(μ‐κ²N,C‐L^3′ Me)(CO)₁₀] ( 8 ), whose bridging ligand (L^3′ Me) results from the formal substitution of an oxygen atom for the hydrogen atom (as a proton) that in 3 ⁺ is attached to the C⁶ carbon atom of its heterocyclic ligand. The results have been rationalized with the help of electrochemical measurements and DFT calculations, which have also shed light on the nature of the odd‐electron species, 1 – 3 , and on the regioselectivity of their dimerization processes. It seems that the sort of coupling reactions described herein requires cationic complexes with ligand‐based LUMOs.     

Spectra and dose with ANN of 252Cf, 241Am–Be, and 239Pu–Be

Artificial neural networks have been applied to unfold the neutron spectra and to calculate the effective dose, the ambient equivalent dose, and the personal dose equivalent for ²⁵²Cf, ²⁴¹Am–Be, and ²³⁹Pu–Be neutron sources. The count rates that these neutron sources produce in a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer with a ⁶LiI(Eu) were utilized as input in both artificial neural networks. Spectra and the ambient dose equivalent were also obtained with BUNKIUT code and the UTA4 response matrix. With both procedures spectra and ambient dose equivalent agrees in less than 10%. The Artificial neural network technology is an alternative procedure to unfold neutron spectra and to perform neutron dosimetry.     

High-dimensional mixed-valence copper cyanide complexes: Syntheses,structural characterizations and magnetism

Reactions of CuCl₂ with different CN complexes in presence of a neutral ancillary ligand lead to two novel mixed-valence Cu complexes [Cu^II(bpy)Cu^I(CN)₃]_n, 1 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) and {[Cu^II(tn)₂][Cu^I₄(CN)₆]}_n2 (tn = 1,3-diaminopropane). For compound 1, the asymmetric unit involves two Cu ions Cu1 and Cu2 (Cu^I and Cu^II centres, respectively) which strongly differ in their environments. The Cu1 ion presents a CuC₄ pseudo-tetrahedral geometry, while the Cu2 ion presents a CuN₅ slightly distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The extended structure of 1 is generated by three cyano ligands which differ in their coordination modes. One CN group has a μ₃ coordination mode and bridges two Cu^I and one Cu^II ion, while the two other CN groups act as μ₂ bridges leading to a sophisticated 3-D structure. As for 1, the asymmetric unit of 2 involves three crystallographically different Cu ions (Cu1A and Cu1B, presumably Cu^I centres, and Cu2 presumably Cu^II centres). The Cu2 ion presents centrosymmetric CuN₄ coordination environments involving four nitrogen atoms from two bidentate tn ligands; while the Cu1A and Cu1B ions are three coordinated to cyano groups. The structure can be described as formed by 18-membered “[Cu^I(CN)]₆” planar metallocycles that are connected to their six neighbors to generate 2-D sheets; these sheets stack forming infinite hexagonal channels in which the [Cu(tn)₂]²⁺ units are located. Magnetic measurements show an unexpected weak ferromagnetic coupling (θ = 0.239(1) K) of the Cu^II ions through the long and “a priori diamagnetic” –NC–Cu^I–CN– bridges in compound 1 and an essentially paramagnetic behavior in compound 2.     

Structure and conductivity in CeNb<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9-δ</Subscript>

Abstract  In the search of new materials for solid oxide fuel cells, a study of the structure and electrical conductivity of Mg-doped and nominally pure CeNb₃O_9-δ was undertaken. This material exhibits an orthorhombic crystal structure as determined by Rietveld refinement. Through a combined study of 4-point DC and AC impedance spectroscopy, it was determined that the material presents oxygen ion conductivity, electron conductivity and electron-hole conductivity according to the partial pressure of oxygen and temperature in agreement with a simple defect chemistry model. Finally, some experiments seem to indicate the presence of proton conduction. Graphical Abstract        

Selective Homologation Routes to 2,2,3‐Trimethylbutane on Solid Acids

Sailing the seven ‘C's : 2,2,3‐Trimethylbutane (triptane) selectively forms from dimethyl ether at low temperatures on acid zeolites. Selective methylation at less‐substituted carbons, relative rates of methylation to hydrogen transfer as a function of chain size, slow skeletal isomerization, and β‐scission cracking of triptyl chains and their precursors are intrinsic properties of carbenium ions and account for the remarkable triptane selectivities within C₇ .

     

The Stereochemistry of 1,2,3‐Triols Revealed by 1H NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications

The conformational compositions of the tris(α‐methoxy‐α‐phenylacetic acid) ester derivatives of 1,2,3‐prim,sec,sec‐triols are presented. These conformations have been determined by theoretical and experimental data (i.e., energy‐ and chemical‐shift calculations, circular dichroism (CD) experiments, coupling‐constant analysis, enantioselective deuteration experiments, and low‐temperature NMR spectroscopic studies). A detailed analysis of the anisotropic effects due to the most significant conformers in the ¹H NMR spectra supported the correlation between the ¹H NMR spectra (Δδ^RS value of H(3′) and |Δ(Δδ^RS)| parameters) and the absolute configuration of the substrate. The study also allows the identification of the pro‐R and pro‐S methylene protons from their vicinal coupling constants and relative chemical shifts.