Aggregation of PMe3-stabilized molybdenum sulfides and the catalytic dehydrogenation of H2S

The reactivity of [MoS(4)](2-) (1) toward PMe(3) was explored in the presence and absence of proton donors. Whereas MeCN solutions of (Et(4)N)(2)[MoS(4)] and PMe(3) are stable, in the presence of H(2)S such solutions catalyze formation of H(2) and SPMe(3). Addition of NH(4+) to such solutions afforded MoS(2)(PMe(3))(4) (2), which can be prepared directly from (NH(4))(2)[1]. Compound 2 is reactive toward thiols via a process proposed to involve the initial dissociation of one PMe(3) ligand, a hypothesis supported by the relative inertness of trans-MoS(2)(dmpe)(2). Benzene solutions of 2 react with EtSH to give Mo(2)(mu-S)(mu-SH)(PMe(3))(4)(SEt)(3) (3Et). Analogous reactions with thiocresol (MeC(6)H(4)SH) and H(2)S gave Mo(2)(mu-S)(mu-SH)(PMe(3))(4)(SR)(3) (R = tol, H). Crystallographic analyses of 3Et, 3H, and 3tol indicate dinuclear species with seven terminal ligands and a Mo(2)(mu-SR)(mu-S) core (r(Mo)(-)(Mo) = 2.748(1) A). From reaction mixtures leading to 3Et from 2, we obtained the intermediate Mo(IV)(2)(mu-S)(2)(SEt)(4)(PMe(3))(2) (4), an edge-shared bis(trigonal pyramidal) structure. Compounds 3H and 3Et react further with H(2)S to give Mo(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SH)(2) (5H) and Mo(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SEt)(2) (5Et), respectively. Analogously, W(4)(mu(2)-S)(4)(mu(3)-S)(2)(PMe(3))(6)(SH)(2) was synthesized from a methanol solution of (NH(4))(2)WS(4) with H(2)S and PMe(3). A highly accurate crystallographic analysis of (NH(4))(2)MoS(4) (R(1) = 0.0193) indicates several weak NH.S interactions.     

Durch Nachbargruppenbeteiligung induzierte (1,2)-Chlorwasserstoff-Eliminierung aus ionisiertem 2-(β-Chloräthyl)- benzoesäuremethylester

By using deuterium labelled compounds and collisional activation spectra the mechanism of the unusually intensive HCl elimination from 2-(β-chloroalkyl)benzoic acid methyl ester as well as the structure of the product ion have been elucidated. It can be shown that the structure of the stable ion (lifetime τ～10?5 s) is best represented by 2-vinyl benzoic acid methyl ester whereas the reactive ion (lifetime τ<10^?6 s) at least partially rearranges to a cyclic ion. The hydrogen chloride elimination from 2-(β-chloroalkyl)benzoic acid is apparently a simple 1,2 process. A closer examination reveals that the reaction represents a further example of an unusual neighbouring group participation of the ester function.     

Neue Verbindungen mit Granatstruktur. VI. Vanadate

New Compounds with Garnet Structure. VI. Vanadates The preparation of vanadate-garnets of the following three types is reported: (I) {Na₃}[B₂^III](V₃)O₁₂ (B^III = Cr, Sc), (II) {LiCa₂}[B₂^II](V₃)O₁₂ (B^II = Mg), (III) {Ca₂A^III}[Li₂] (V₃)O₁₂ (A^III = In, Sc). The Cr-compound of type (I) decomposes above 690°C into a mixture of Cr₂O₃ and NaVO₃. The analogous Fe-compound decomposes in a similar way already at 400°C; therefore the preparation by solid state reaction is not possible. Employing larger B^III-ions (Y, Yb, Lu) no garnets of type (I), but mixtures of B^IIIVO₄ (zircon structure) and Na₃B^IIIV₂O₈ are formed. Garnets of type (II) do not exist, when B^II are Co and Ni. Mixtures of {Ca₃}[LiB^II](V₃)O₁₂ (garnet structure), LiB^IIVO₄ (spinel structure) and B₃^II(VO₄)₂ are formed. With type (III) for A^III = Y reaction occurs forming a mixture of YVO₄, Ca₃(VO₄)₂ and Li₃VO₄.     

On the formation of protonated acetic acid from ionized n-alkanoic acids in the gas phase

By means of collisional activation mass spectrometry and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations (MNDO) it is shown that the [C₂H₅O₂]⁺ ions from metastable molecular ions of n-pentanoic and hexanoic acid have the structure of carbonyl protonated acetic acid [CH₃C(OH)₂]⁺. The MNDO calculated geometries of this ion and some other isomeric forms are given together with the ΔH_f⁰ values.     

Thermodynamic stability of polyacrylamide and poly(N,N‐dimethyl acrylamide)

Based on theoretical thermodynamic principles, the possibility of environmental degradation of polyacrylamide to its starting monomer was investigated. Theoretical electronic structure studies on the geometry and fragmentation energy of acrylamide and N,N‐dimethyl acrylamide tetramer models were carried out using a first principles gradient corrected density functional approach. Thermal degradation to form a radical would require the cleavage of carbon–carbon bonds in the polymer chain; the energy needed for this cleavage was found to depend on the structure of the repeat unit which ranged from low of 72.5 kcal for a rare head‐to‐head construct to 86.2 kcal for a normal head‐to‐tail polymer construct (therefore, for the cleavage of a normal head‐to‐tail repeat unit, temperatures of approximately 450°C would be required). The thermodynamics of the unzipping, disproportionation, and back‐biting reactions in the resulting radical fragments were also investigated; the back‐biting process was found to require the least energy and provided the most stable radical fragment with a low probability for disproportionation or releasing of monomer to occur. The effect of solvation on the hydrogen‐bonding network in the acrylamide tetramer was studied by adding explicit molecules of water to the tetramer models. The addition of water had a significant effect on the stability of the model polymer slightly stabilizing the head‐to‐head polymer, and slightly destabilizing the head to tail polymer. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dissoziative ionisierung von 2-trimethylsilyl-1-phenoxyethan. Nachweis des nicht-klassischen ethylen-trimethylsilanium-ions in der gasphase

The mass spectrometric investigation of specifically deuterium and ¹³C labelled 2-trimethylsilyl-l-phenoxyethanes proves that the dissociative ionization of β-silyl-substituted ethane derivatives (loss of PhO^?; p-CH₃C₆H₄O^?; and C₄H^?₉ from PhOCH₂CH₂SiMe₃, p-MeC₆H₄OCH₂CH₂SiMe₃ and CH₃CH₂CH(CH₃)CH₂-CH₂SiMe₃, respectively) yields the non-classical bridge ethylene trimethylsilanium ion and not the open-chain isomer. Other stable C₅H₁₃Si^+? ions, characterised by collisional activation mass spectrometry, are the dimethyl n-propyl silicenium ion and the l-trimethylsilyl ethyl cation, both generated from the molecular ions of CH₃CH₂CH₂Si(Cl)Me₂ and CH₃CH(Cl)SiMe₃ via unimolecular loss of Cl^?.     

Supramolecular assemblies for light-induced electron-transfer reactions

In this paper, we present a summary of our work on highly photostable supramolecular ruthenium complexes, which may be incorporated into more complex systems for artificial solar energy conversion. We have used supramolecular chemistry and photochemistry to synthesize highly photostable ruthenium bipyridine coronates and a bipyridazine podate complex and to enhance photoelectron-transfer reactions in physical model systems for artificial photosynthesis. The recent progress of covalent and non-covalent sensitizer-relay assemblies for highly efficient photoelectron transfer is described.

A detailed mechanistic investigation of the binding behavior of cationic species to crow-ether-modified bipyridine derivatives is presented as an example of supramolecular binding in systems for photoelectron transfer. The host properties of the free ligands and the derived bis-heteroleptic ruthenium complexes are compared using UV—visible, luminescence quenching and proton nuclear magnetic resonance titrations. The combination of these three methods confirms that supramolecular binding of cations and the electron relay methylviologen (MV²⁺) to the complexes can be observed. The binding constants determined are of the order of (1–6) × 10⁴ 1 mol⁻¹ for the crown-ether ruthenium complexes and 1 × 10²−4 × 10³ 1 mol⁻³ for the crown-ether ligands. Single-photon-counting (SPC) investigations give strong indications for the coexistence of different binding mechanisms. The kinetic scheme of Yekta et al. has been adapted to interpret the binding mechanism.     

Reactions of Group 8, 9, and 10 monocations (Fe+, Co+, Ni+, Ru+, Rh+, Pd+, Os+, Ir+, Pt+) with phosphane in the gas phase

The reactions of Group 8, 9 and 10 monocations with phosphane were studied under single-collision conditions in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. Fe(+) is completely unreactive, Co(+) reacts slowly and shows both adduct formation and P-H bond activation, and Ni(+) reacts slowly as well but shows adduct formation only. In contrast to their first-row congeners, the investigated second- and third-row transition metal monocations show facile P-H bond activations. Remarkably, extensive dehydrogenations of the collision complexes yield cations MPH(+), MP(2) (+), MP(3)H(+), MP(4) (+) and so on. Exceptional behaviour is shown by the two d(9) cations palladium (whose "dehydrogenation power" is rather limited) and platinum (which gives rise to a great manifold of only partially dehydrogenated species as well). Collision-induced dissociation experiments suggest that P(2) and PH units are formed as ligands.