Palladium catalyzed Suzuki C-C couplings in an ionic liquid: nanoparticles responsible for the catalytic activity

A new family of functionalized ligands derived from norborn-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride has been used in Suzuki C-C cross-couplings between aryl boronic acids and aryl bromide derivatives in [BMI][PF(6)] (BMI=1-n-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium), using palladium acetate as catalytic precursor. High conversions and yields are obtained when amine ligands containing hydroxy groups are involved. TEM analyses after catalysis show the formation of small nanoparticles, in contrast to the agglomerates observed when nanoparticles are intentionally preformed, with a consequent decrease in the catalytic activity in the latter case. Some tests, including the correlation effect between solvent and ligand, are carried out to try to identify the true nature of the catalyst. All the results obtained suggest that formation of nanoparticles is required to lead to a catalytically active system.     

Tertiary phosphine induced migratory carbonyl insertion in cyclopentadienyl complexes of iron(II)

Cyclopentadienyldicarbonylmethyliron, [CpFe(CO)₂Me] (1), undergoes migratory carbonyl insertion under the influence of isosteric phosphine ligands P(4-FC₆H₄)₃ and P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃. The products of the reaction, [CpFe(CO)(COMe)P(4-FC₆H₄)₃] (2a) and [CpFe(CO)(COMe)P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃] (2b), were characterised by X-ray crystallography. In both structures, the iron atom adopts a pseudo octahedral coordination geometry. Fe-P bond distances are the same at 2.1932(8) Å in 2a and 2b, respectively. Thus, contrary to what was expected, X-ray data could not be used to quantitatively differentiate between the two phosphine ligands in 2a and 2b. Therefore, additional spectroscopic techniques such as IR and NMR were employed. Similarly, the Fe-C bond lengths of the carbonyl (Fe-CO) and acetyl (Fe-COMe) are 1.748(3) and 1.955(3) in 2a, and 1.744(3) and 1.951(3) Å in 2b, respectively.The migratory carbonyl insertion was studied by NMR, IR, and UV-vis spectroscopies to determine the mechanism and the rate law. Results from NMR spectroscopy show that the formation of the product is accompanied by oxidation of the corresponding phosphine ligand. An increase in the reactivity of migratory carbonyl insertion for P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃ was observed when the solvent was changed from CH₂Cl₂ to MeCN. The kinetic data showed that P(4-MeC₆H₄)₃ reacts faster than P(4-FC₆H₄)₃.     

Activation processes and polyethylene formation on a phillips model catalyst studied by laser ablation, laser desorption, and static secondary ion mass spectrometry

Since the discovery of the Phillips catalysts, there still is much uncertainty concerning their activation, their molecular structure, the nature of the active chromium sites, and the polymerization mechanisms. Surface techniques are not easy to be used for such study according to the nonconductive behavior of the support. Therefore, model Phillips catalyst is elaborated by spin coating a trivalent chromium precursor on a silicon wafer. The surface characterization of this model catalyst is conducted by laser ablation mass spectrometry (LA-MS), laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS), and static secondary ion mass spectrometry (s-SIMS), at different steps of its preparation. To validate our approach, a comparison is also made between the model and the real Philips catalyst. Moreover, the model catalyst efficiency for polyethylene synthesis is evaluated and allows us to discuss the validity of the mechanisms previously proposed to explain the catalytic process. The characterization of Phillips model catalyst by mass spectrometry allows us to better understand the activation processes of such catalyst. Depending on the activation temperature, chromium oxide species are formed and anchored at the support surface. They consist mainly in mono-chromium sites at high temperature. The chromium valence is hexavalent. This model catalyst is active for the polymerization of ethylene. A pseudo-oligomer molecular weight distribution is observed by LA-MS, whereas s-SIMS allows us to elucidate the anchorage of the polymer at activate chromium surface sites.     

Mechanism of direct molecular oxygen insertion in a palladium(II)-hydride bond

The mechanism of the direct insertion of molecular oxygen into a palladium hydride bond has been elucidated using quantum mechanics (B3LYP/LACVP** with the PBF continuum solvent model). The key step is found to be the abstraction of the hydrogen atom resulting in the formation of a PdI/HO2 (triplet) radical pair, which then proceeds to form a singlet palladium hydroperoxo species. Potential palladium(0) pathways were explored and were found to be inaccessible. The results are in agreement with recent experimental results and are consistent with our previously predicted mechanism for an analogue system.     

Post-source decay of alkylated and functionalized polycyclic aromatic compounds

Post-source decay (PSD) is a valuable tool for providing structural information from large molecules by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). We used PSD to obtain this type of data from small molecules in the laser desorption/ionization (LDI) study of diesel engine exhaust particles. As the original nitrogen laser (lambda = 337 nm, E = 3.5 eV/photon) of our TOF mass spectrometer does not yield sufficient energy to ionize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a second laser with a shorter wavelength has been coupled to the instrument. The fourth harmonic of a Nd:YAG laser (lambda = 266 nm, 4.6 eV/photon) has been chosen to achieve two-photon single-step desorption/ionization of PAHs. The PSD fragmentation of functionalized, alkylated and sulfur PAHs is discussed. Diesel engine exhaust particles are also studied as an example of a real complex sample. This technique is presented herein as a way to identify small molecules in environmental samples. Information provided by LDI-PSD-TOFMS can be a way to distinguish pollutants with very close molecular weights even if the resolving power of a TOF mass spectrometer is not sufficient.     

From oscillations to excitability: A case study in spatially extended systems

This volume is devoted to the presentation of the main contributions to the workshop "From oscillations to excitability: A case study in spatially extended systems," organized by the authors in Nice in June 1993. It gives an overview of the current research on spatiotemporal patterns in a wide range of systems that display self-oscillatory or excitable behavior. It tries to give a better understanding of the transition from the oscillatory to the excitable regime and of its effect on the properties of spiral waves, and to fill the gap between the theories and concepts used to describe both regimes in the so-called "active media."     

Relaxivity and water exchange studies of a cationic macrocyclic gadolinium(III) complex

We conducted relaxometric and water exchange studies of the cationic [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP)(H2O)]3+ complex (THP 1,4,7,10-tetrakis(2-hydroxy-propyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). While the NMRD profiles obtained are typical for DOTA-like complexes (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetate), variable-temperature 7O NMR investigations revealed a relatively high water exchange rate (k(298)(ex) = 1.89 x 10(7) s(-1)). These results differ from those reported for other cationic tetraamide macrocyclic Gd(III) complexes, which exhibit characteristically low exchange rates. Since the low exchange rates are attributed partially to the geometry of the M isomer (square antiprismatic) in the tetraamide derivatives, the atypical water exchange rate observed in [Gd((S,S,S,S)-THP-(H2O)]3+ may result from a twisted square antiprismatic structure in this complex and from the relatively high steric strain at the water coordination site as a result of the presence of methyl groups at the alpha-position with respect to the Gd(III)-bound O atoms of THP.