Facially coordinating triamine ligands with a cyclic backbone: some structure-stability correlations

Metal complex formation of the two cyclic triamines 6-methyl-1,4-diazepan-6-amine (MeL(a)) and all-cis-2,4,6-trimethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-triamine (Me(3)tach) was studied. The structure of the free ligands (H(x)MeL(a))(x+) and H(x)Me(3)tach(x+) (0 ≤ x ≤ 3) was investigated by pH-dependent NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction experiments. The crystal structure of (H(2)Me(3)tach)(p-O(3)S-C(6)H(4)-CH(3))(2) showed a chair conformation with axial nitrogen atoms for the doubly protonated species. In contrast to a previous report, Me(3)tach was found to be a stronger base than the parent cis-cyclohexane-1,3,5-triamine (tach); pK(a)-values of H(3)Me(3)tach(3+) (25 °C, 0.1 M KCl): 5.2, 7.4, 11.2. The crystal structures of (H(3)MeL(a))(BiCl(6))·2H(2)O and (H(3)MeL(a))(ClO(4))Cl(2) exhibited two distinct twisted chair conformations of the seven membered diazepane ring. [Co(MeL(a))(2)](3+) (cis: 1(3+), trans: 2(3+)), trans-[Fe(MeL(a))(2)](3+) (3(3+)), [(MeL(a))ClCd(μ(2)-Cl)](2) (4), trans-[Cu(MeL(a))(2)](2+) (5(2+)), and [Cu(HMeL(a))Br(3)] (6) were characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis of 1(ClO(4))(3)·H(2)O, 2Br(3)·H(2)O, 3(ClO(4))(3)·0.8MeCN·0.2MeOH, 4, 5Br(2)·0.5MeOH, and 6·H(2)O. Formation constants and redox potentials of MeL(a) complexes were determined by potentiometric, spectrophotometric, and cyclovoltammetric measurements. The stability of [M(II)(MeL(a))](2+)-complexes is low. In comparison to the parent 1,4-diazepan-6-amine (L(a)), it is only slightly enhanced. In analogy to L(a), MeL(a) exhibited a pronounced tendency for forming protonated species such as [M(II)(HMeL(a))](3+) or [M(II)(MeL(a))(HMeL(a))](3+) (see 6 as an example). In contrast to MeL(a), Me(3)tach forms [M(II)L](2+) complexes (M = Cu, Zn) of very high stability, and the coordination behavior corresponds mainly to an "all-or-nothing" process. Molecular mechanics calculations showed that the low stability of L(a) and MeL(a) complexes is mainly due to a large amount of torsional strain within the pure chair conformation of the diazepane ring, required for tridentate coordination. This behavior is quite contrary to Me(3)tach and tacn (tacn =1,4,7-triazacyclononane), where the main portion of strain is already preformed in the free ligand, and the amount, generated upon complex formation, is comparably low.     

Dissociation quotients of succinic acid in aqueous sodium chloride media to 225°C

The first and second molal dissociation quotients of succinic acid were measured potentiometrically with a hydrogen-electrode, concentration cell. These measurements were carried out from 0 to 225°C over 25° intervals at five ionic strengths ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 molal (NaCl). The dissociation quotients from this and two other studies were combined and treated with empirical equations to yield the following thermodynamic quantities for the first acid dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: log K_1a=–4.210±0.003; H _1a ⁰ =2.9±0.2 kJ-mol^–1; S _1a ⁰ =–71±1 J-mol^–1-K^–1; and C _p1a ⁰ =–98±3 J-mol^–1-K^–1; and for the second acid dissociation equilibrium at 25°C: log K_2a=–5.638±0.001; H _2a ⁰ = –0.5±0.1 kJ-mol^–1; S _2a ⁰ =–109.7±0.4 J-mol^–1-K^–1; and C _p2a ⁰ = –215±8 J-mol^–1-K^–1.     

Surface structure analysis of thin dewetted polymer blend films

The surface structure of thin polymer blend films of deuterated polystyrene (dPS) and polyparamethylstyrene (PpMS) after annealing above the glass transition temperature was investigated. With scanning force microscopy (SFM) the surface topography originated by a dewetting process is detected. The sample surface is covered with small droplets consisting of several polymer molecules. Utilizing grazing incidence small angle neutron scattering (GISANS) the topographical information as well as the in‐plane composition is probed. For thin confined blend films a substructure of the droplets resulting from an additional phase separation process at different length scales is detected.     

Chemical repercussions of orbital interactions through bond and through space. Effect of remote substituents on the addition of nitrenes to bicyclic olefins

The reactivity of a series of bicyclic olefins with nitrenes is profoundly influenced by the nature of remote functional groups. There is a marked lack of reactivity for reactions with carboethoxynitrene as compared to phthalimidonitrene which is distinctly nucleophilic in character. An explanation for the reluctance to form aziridines is offered in terms of orbital interactions between the distant groups and the olefinic bond, making the latter remarkably electron deficient as evidenced by UV-photoelectron spectrosoopy. Because of the complexity of the spectra, identification of the Ip associated with the reactive π-centre was made by recourse to ab initio configuration interaction calculations for key members of the series.