Main group bimetallic partnerships for cooperative catalysis

Over the past decade s-block metal catalysis has undergone a transformation from being an esoteric curiosity to a well-established and consolidated field towards sustainable synthesis. Earth-abundant metals such as Ca, Mg, and Al have shown eye-opening catalytic performances in key catalytic processes such as hydrosilylation, hydroamination or alkene polymerization. In parallel to these studies, s-block mixed-metal reagents have also been attracting widespread interest from scientists. These bimetallic reagents effect many cornerstone organic transformations, often providing enhanced reactivities and better chemo- and regioselectivities than conventional monometallic reagents. Despite a significant number of synthetic advances to date, most efforts have focused primarily on stoichiometric transformations. Merging these two exciting areas of research, this Perspective Article provides an overview on the emerging concept of s/p-block cooperative catalysis. Showcasing recent contributions from several research groups across the world, the untapped potential that these systems can offer in catalytic transformations is discussed with special emphasis placed on how synergistic effects can operate and the special roles played by each metal in these transformations. Advancing the understanding of the ground rules of s-block cooperative catalysis, the application of these bimetalic systems in a critical selection of catalytic transformations encompassing hydroamination, cyclisation, hydroboration to C–C bond forming processes are presented as well as their uses in important polymerization reactions.

Exporting cooperative effects in main group heterobimetallic reagents to catalytic regimes, this Perspective showcases key advances in their applications for hydroelementation, cyclisation, C–C bond formation and polymerization processes.     

PHOTODYNAMIC LIPID PEROXIDATION BY THE PHOTOSENSITIZING NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS SUPROFEN AND TIAPROFENIC ACID

Abstract The photochemistry of the photosensitizing nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs tiaprofenic acid and suprofen involves the intermediacy of short-lived species ( i.e. radicals). The data obtained in the present work strongly suggest that such intermediates may be responsible for the phototoxicity of 2-arylpropionic acids by inducing photodynamic lipid peroxidation at drug concentrations likely to be reached in the skin. This has been investigated using linoleic acid as a model lipid and determining the amount of hydroperoxides by measuring the spectrophotometric absorption at 233 nm, associated with the formation of dienic hydroperoxides. The major photoproducts of tiaprofenic acid and suprofen are derivatives bearing an ethyl side chain. Photoproducts of this type, due to the lack of polar moieties, are highly lipophilic and likely to accumulate in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes. Taking into account their ability to induce photodynamic lipid peroxidation and their marked photostability, it is conceivable that such photoproducts can participate in many catalytic cycles, playing a significant role in the mechanism of photosensitizatinn by tiprofenic acid and suprofen.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed chemoselective N-allyl cleavage: novel Grubbs carbene mediated deprotection of allylic amines

A novel application of the Grubbs carbene complex has been discovered. The first examples of the catalytic deprotection of allylic amines with reagents other than palladium catalysts have been achieved through Grubbs carbene mediated reaction. Significantly, the catalytic system directs the reaction toward the selective deprotection of allylic amines (secondary as well as tertiary) in the presence of allylic ethers. A variety of substrates, including enantiomerically pure multifunctional piperidines, are also usable. The new method is more convenient, chemoselective, and operationally simple than the palladium-catalyzed method. The current mechanistic hypothesis invokes a nitrogen-assisted ruthenium-catalyzed isomerization, followed by hydrolysis of the enamine intermediate. We believe that the reactive species involved in the reaction may be an Rubond;H species rather than the Grubbs carbene itself. Thus, the isomerization may occur according to the hydride mechanism. The synthetic utility of this ruthenium-catalyzed allyl cleavage is illustrated by the preparation of indolizidine-type alkaloids.     

Analysis of individual platelet-derived microparticles,comparing flow cytometry and capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

Platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs) formed by vesiculation during platelet activation seem to play a role in blood coagulation and in pathological disease states. Flow cytometry is currently the gold standard to characterize platelets and PMPs. Using this technique we distinguished between platelets and PMPs based on size and the presence of phosphatidyl serine (PS); PMPs were arbitrarily defined to be smaller than one micrometer and capable of forming a stable complex with fluorescently-labeled Annexin V, a protein that forms a calcium-dependent complex with PS. Further confirmation of PMP and platelet identity was done by use of fluorescently-labeled antibodies against CD41a, a glycoprotein found on the surface of both platelets and PMPs. In this report we also introduce the use of capillary electrophoresis with post-column laser-induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) for the analysis of fluorescently labeled platelets and PMPs. While both flow cytometry and CE-LIF can measure individual fluorescent events, only CE-LIF allowed us to calculate individual electrophoretic mobilities of activated platelets and PMPs that were then represented as distributions. A comparison between distributions suggests that PMPs have less negative mobilities. The fact that activated platelet preparations include PMPs partially obscure the interpretation of the data. While PMP and platelet number ml(-1) determined by flow cytometry is lower than the same parameter determined by CE-LIF, signal-to-noise ratio was 20 fold better for flow cytometry than for CE-LIF. This is the first time that a direct comparison between these two techniques is reported.     

Application of the Equivalent Bond Orbital Model to the C2s-Ionization Energies of Saturated Hydrocarbons

It is shown that the ab initio STO-3G treatment applied to simple saturated linear, branched and cyclic hydrocarbons, assuming standard geometries, yields orbital energies ? for their canonical orbital φ_j which correlate perfectly with the observed C_2s ionization energies I, if Koopmans' approximation is accepted. Applying the Foster-Boys localization procedure to these canonical orbitals φ_j leads to localized orbitals λμ and their corresponding Hartree-Fock matrix F_λ = (F_λ,μv). An examination of the matrix elements F_λ,μv, i.e. of the self-energies A_μ = F_λ,μμ of the localized CC- and CH-orbitals λ_μ and of the cross terms F_{λ, μv} (μ ≠ v) between them, leads to the conclusion that a satisfactory approximation should be obtained by setting A_μ = A for all μ, F_λ,μv = B if λ_μ and λ_v are vicinal and neglecting all other cross terms. The resulting model is nothing but the well-known equivalent bond orbital model of Lennard-Jones & Hall, which however can now be calibrated using the known C_2s-ionization energies of hydrocarbons. Due to the discrete structure and the wider range (∽ 8 eV) of the C_2s band systems in the photoelectron spectra of these molecules this leads to a more satisfactory parametrization than using the narrower and badly resolved C_2p band system. Comparison of calculated band positions using the calibrated model with observed C_2s-band ionization energies for a series of hydrocarbons reveals that the simple equivalent bond orbital model is better than one might have expected.     

Phase morphology, crystallisation behaviour and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene/high density polyethylene blends

The phase morphology, crystallisation behaviour and mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene (iPP)/high density polyethylene (HDPE) blends were investigated. It was found that the properties are intimately related to each other. The morphology of the blends showed a two phase structure in which the minor phase was dispersed as domains in the major continuous matrix phase. The domain size of the dispersed phase increased with increasing concentration of that phase due to coalescence. It was also found that the domain size of the dispersed phase depends on the viscosity difference between the two phases. For a given HDPE/iPP blend, where HDPE is the matrix and iPP is the dispersed phase, the iPP domains were smaller than HDPE domains of the corresponding iPP/HDPE blend where iPP is the matrix and HDPE is the dispersed phase. A co-continuous morphology was observed at 50/50 PP/HDPE composition. Crystallinity studies revealed that blending has not much effect on the crystalline melting point of polypropylene and high density polyethylene. The crystallisation enthalpy and heat of fusion values of HDPE and PP in the blend were decreased as the amount of the other component increased. The variation in percent crystallinity of HDPE and PP in the blend was found to depend on the morphology of the blend. All the mechanical properties except Young's modulus and hardness showed negative deviation from the additivity line. This is due to the incompatibility of these blends.     

Formation of high density amorphous ice by decompression of ice VII and ice VIII at 135 K

Monte Carlo computer simulations of ice VII and ice VIII phases have been undertaken using the four-point transferable intermolecular potential model of water. By following thermodynamic paths similar to those used experimentally, ice is decompressed resulting in an amorphous phase. These phases are compared to the high density amorphous phase formed upon compression of ice Ih and are found to have very similar structures. By cooling liquid water along the water/Ih melting line a high density amorphous phase was also generated.     

Donor/acceptor organotriiron(II) hydrazone chromophores: structural, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties

Two new trinuclear organoiron(II) complexes, in which a trans-1,2-ferrocenyl-ferrocenylene ethene unit (electron-donors) is attached to an electron-deficient cationic mixed sandwich via a conjugated hydrazone bridge, giving complexes of the type , have been prepared. The complexes were fully characterised by ¹H NMR, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy. Their electrochemical properties have been studied by means of cyclic voltammetry, showing an effective electronic coupling between the two ferrocenyl fragments. The X-ray crystal structure of compound shows that it adopts the sterically more hindered syn-conformation about the 1,1′-ferrocenediyl core, with a parallel disposition of the conjugated dinucleating ligands, therefore, favouring an efficient electron delocalization through the entire π-framework. At the same time, the (C₅-ring)Fe moieties adopt an anti,anti-conformation with the iron atoms on the opposite faces of their respective bridging ligand.     

On some properties of the metric subalgebras ofℓ ∞

The objects studied are the subalgebras of which contain c_o. These are isometrically isomorphic to the algebras C( ) where is a compactification of a discrete denumerable set N . It is shown: 1) If is metric then there is a projection of norm 1, P: C( ) C( ) with kernel c_o defined by PF = f o where is a retraction of onto = – N . 2) If is metric, then the group of homeomorphisms of is isomorphic to a complete group of permutations of the natural numbers . 3) The group of homeomorphisms of a compact metric space is the homomorphic image of a complete group of permutations of ("complete" means "no outer automorphisms, trivial center").     

Über Tris[(trialkylphosphan)gold(I)]oxonium-tetrafluoroborate und Tris[(triphenylphosphan)gold(I)]sulfonium-tetrafluoroborat

On Tris[(trialkylphosphine)gold(I)]oxonium Tetrafluoroborates and Tris[(triphenylphosphine)gold(I)]sulfonium Tetrafluoroborate [Et₃PAu]⁺BF, obtained from Et₃PAuCl and AgBF₄ in tetrahydrofuran, reacts with KOH (molar ratio 3:1) to give the oxonium salt [(Et₃P)Au]₃O⁺BF ( 1 ). The homologous [^t(Bu₃P)Au]₃O⁺BF ( 2 ) is generated similarly from ^tBu₃PAuCl and Ag₂O in the presence of NaBF₄ in THF. The composition and identity of these two first tris[(tri alkyl phosphine)gold(I)]oxonium salts have been confirmed by analytical and spectroscopic data. The compounds are useful aurating agents. From the corresponding triphenylphosphine complex and (Me₃Si)₂S quantitative yields of the sulfonium salt [(Ph₃P)Au]₃S⁺BF ( 3 ) are obtained. Its crystal structure features monomeric cations, and in these small Au? S? Au angles indicate significant metal-metal bonding.