Synthesis and characterization of the open-framework barium bisphosphonate [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O

Following the strategy of using polyfunctional phosphonic acids for the synthesis of open-framework metal phosphonates, the phosphonocarboxylic acid (H2O3PCH2)2NCH2C6H4COOH was used in the hydrothermal synthesis of new Ba phosphonates. Its decomposition led to the first open-framework barium phosphonate [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O. The synthesis was also successfully performed using iminobis(methylphosphonic acid), (H2O3PCH2)2NH, as a starting material, and the synthesis was optimized to obtain as a pure material. The reaction setup as well as the pH are the dominant parameters, and only a diffusion-controlled reaction led to the desired compound. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal data: monoclinic; C2/c; a=2328.7(2), b=1359.95(7), and c=718.62(6) pm; beta=98.732(10) degrees ; V=2249.5(3)x10(6) pm3; Z=4; R1=0.036; and wR2=0.072 (all data). The structure of [Ba3(O3PCH2NH2CH2PO3)2(H2O)4].3H2O is built up from BaO8 and BaO10 polyhedra forming BaO chains and layers, respectively. These are connected to a three-dimensional metal-oxygen-metal framework with the iminobis(methylphosphonic acid) formally coating the inner walls of the pores. The one-dimensional pores (3.6x4 A) are filled with H2O molecules that can be thermally removed. Thermogravimetric investigations and temperature-dependent X-ray powder diffraction demonstrate the stability of the crystal structure up to 240 degrees C. The uptake of N,N-dimethylformamide and H2O by dehydrated samples is demonstrated. Furthermore, IR, Raman, and 31P magic-angle-spinning NMR data are also presented.     

Mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic CO-H2 reaction: An approach by chemical transients and surface relaxation spectroscopy

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of providing time-resolved information in catalysis research. Two truly in situ methods will be presented and compared for their merits and drawbacks: chemical transient kinetics (CTK) and pulsed field desorption mass spectrometry (PFDMS). The presentation will be given by way of example choosing the syngas (CO/H2) reaction over cobalt-based catalysts as a catalytic process. Despite numerous efforts in the past, the mechanism of this reaction is still under debate. In CTK the reaction is studied on a metal-supported catalyst under flow conditions in a pressure range extending from atmospheric pressure down to 100 Pa. Sudden changes in the partial pressures of the reactants then allow following the relaxation to either steady-state conditions ("transients") or cleanoff ("back transients"). In PFDMS short field pulses of several volts per nanometer are applied to a model catalyst which resembles a single metal particle grain (a "tip"). These pulses intervene during the ongoing reaction under flow conditions at pressures ranging from 10(-1) to 10(-5) Pa and cause field desorption of adsorbed species. This method is particularly suited to detect reaction intermediates in a time-dependent manner since the repetition frequency of the pulses can be systematically varied. It is shown that both methods lead to complementary results. While CTK allows conclusions on the mechanism of CO hydrogenation by following the time-dependent formation of hydrocarbon species, PFDMS provides insight into the initial steps leading to adsorbed CxHy species. A quantitative assessment of the CTK data allows the demonstration that the catalyst under working conditions is in an oxidized rather than metallic state. The initial steps to oxidation are also traced by PFDMS. Most importantly, however, CTK results allow formulation of a reaction mechanism that is common for both hydrocarbon and oxygenate formation and is based on the occurrence of a formate-type species as the most abundant surface intermediate.     

Gold electroless reduction in nanosized channels of thiol-modified SBA-15 material

A new procedure for the preparation of high aspect ratio Au nanowires utilizing gold electroless reduction in the hexagonally ordered, thiol-modified nanosized channels of the SBA-15 material is reported. Two different Au precursors were adsorbed onto pedant thiol groups, covalently bonded to the mesoporous silica surface, and used as seeds to grow extended Au nanostructures by treatment in Au electroless reduction bath. It is shown that the dimensions and the assembly of the Au seeds are important parameters for the subsequent electroless reduction process. The [AuCl4]- ions complexed to the TOAB molecules assembled on the thiol-modified mesoporous surface of the SBA-15 material are suitable precursors for the subsequent gold electroless reduction. The resulting structures are several micrometer long Au nanowires with uniform diameters of about 5 nm, having large single-crystalline domains. The TEM results clearly show that the growth of the Au nanowires is templated by the channel structure of the SBA-15 material.     

Synthesis and structural revision of naturally occurring ayapin derivatives

The synthesis of three highly oxygenated naturally occurring coumarins, 8-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin, 5-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin and 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin is described for the first time, together with a new method for the preparation of ayapin (6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin). Comparison of the spectroscopic data of the synthetic tetraoxygenated coumarin 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin with literature reports resulted in the structural revision of several natural coumarins. Two coumarins, both identified as 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin must have other structures, while the structure of another coumarin, described as the isomeric 7,8-dimethoxy-5,6-methylenedioxycoumarin has to be revised to 5,8-dimethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxycoumarin.     

Synthesis and microbial transformation of β-amino nitriles

Rhodococcus equi A4, Rhodococcus erythropolis NCIMB 11540 and Rhodococcus sp. R312 were investigated towards their ability to produce β-amino amides and acids from β-amino nitriles. The microorganisms show comparable trends: five-membered alicyclic 2-amino nitriles were transformed significantly faster than the six-membered compounds and the products of trans-2-amino nitriles (amides and acids) were formed considerably faster than the cis-counterparts (amides). The trans-five membered nitriles gave the amides (1b, 5b) in excellent enantiomeric excess (94-99%), the biotransformation of trans-six membered substrates resulted in the formation of the acid (3c, 7c) in excellent ee (87-99%). The ee's of the cis-compounds were throughout lower. Fifteen new substances were synthesized and characterized in the course of this work.     

Organoaluminium and -gallium compounds with N,N-diisopropylaminomethyl groups

The N,N-diisopropylaminomethyl aluminium compound [tBu2AlCH2NiPr2 x LiCl]2(1) and the gallium compounds Li[tBu2Ga(CH2NiPr2)2](2) and [tBu2GaCH2N(H)iPr2]Cl x tBu3Ga (3) were prepared by transmetallation of N,N-diisopropylaminomethyllithium LiCH2NiPr2 with di-tert-butylaluminium or -gallium chloride, and characterised by elemental analyses, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 27Al, 7Li) and IR spectroscopy. The crystal structures have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound aggregates as a centrosymmetric dimer, with two Al-C-N units connected by a frame of two LiCl molecules [Al-Cl 2.367(1), Cl-Li 2.339(4) and 2.374(4), Li-N 1.977(4)A]. Compound 2 is a lithium organogallate with two weak LiN bonds [1.965(7) and 1.937(7)A]. Compound 3 contains two different moieties: tBu3Ga and a [tBu2GaCH2N(H)iPr2]+ cation, which are bridged by a Cl- anion [Ga-Cl 2.445(1) and 2.579(1), HCl 2.362(3)A].     

Allyl sulfides and α‐substituted acrylates as addition–fragmentation chain transfer agents for methacrylate polymer networks

The rapid and uncontrolled nature of network formation from di(meth)acrylate monomers produces high shrinkage stress and results in polymers with oftentimes brittle mechanical properties. Methods for regulating polymerization and network formation are sought. One option is the use of addition–fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) agents, which are well known to control molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of monofunctional (meth)acrylates. A series of novel and previously described AFCT reagents were synthesized and screened with laser flash photolysis to determine reactivity. Well‐performing AFCT reagents were then tested in polymerizations with monofunctional and difunctional methacrylates. With monofunctional monomers, the molecular weight and polydispersity of the resultant linear polymers tend to decrease with the addition of AFCT agent. In copolymerization with dimethacrylate monomers, the AFCT agents were found to substantially lower and sharpen the glass transition. Sharpness of the glass transition is here indicative of a more regular and homogenous network. After coupling of the instruments, photorheology was performed simultaneously with real‐time IR to show an increase in monomer conversion at the time of gelation, which appears to have a positive effect on reducing shrinkage stress. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 394–406     

Hydrogen‐bonding patterns in rac‐1‐acetyl‐5‐methyl‐2‐thioxoimidazolidin‐4‐one

In the title compound, C₆H₈N₂O₂S, also known as N‐acetyl‐2‐thiohydantoin–alanine, the molecules are joined by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming centrosymmetric R₂²(8) dimers; these dimers are linked by C—H...O interactions to form R₂²(10) rings, thus forming C₂²(10) chains that run along the [101] direction.