Unusually weak metal-hydrogen bonds in HV(CO)4(P-P) and their effectiveness as H(*) donors

The V-H bonds in HV(CO)4(P-P) are unusually weak (55 to 58 kcal/mol). They transfer H* to styrene more rapidly than CpCr(CO)3H does and are effective stoichiometric reagents for the cyclization of appropriate 1,6-dienes.     

Molecular dynamics of host-guest complexes of small gas molecules with calix[4]arenes

The unexpected sorption of gases by a low-density p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene crystal polymorph raises fundamental questions about differential gas transport and sequestration in the organic solid state. To gain insight into the processes underlying these observations, we have used molecular dynamics simulations, augmented with calculations of potentials of mean force, to investigate the stability of isolated host-guest complexes and the relationship between the dynamics of these complexes and the dynamics of a solvated host molecule. Thermal fluctuations of the calixarenes themselves are found to be consistent with proposed mechanisms for gas entry into the host cavities, while relative host-guest stabilities correlate well with experimental absorption-desorption isotherms in some cases (CO2 and CH4) but not in others (C2H2). In these isolated systems, stable complexes characteristically form when the attractive interactions of the guest with the ring of negative charge density on the inner surface of the host cavity are not disrupted by thermal motion. The experimentally observed efficient uptake of gases such as C2H2 by the host crystals suggests, however, that stabilization of host-guest complexes in some systems may derive from dynamical constraints imposed by the crystal lattice.     

Molecular anions

The experimental and theoretical study of molecular anions has undergone explosive growth over the past 40 years. Advances in techniques used to generate anions in appreciable numbers as well as new ion-storage, ion-optics, and laser spectroscopic tools have been key on the experimental front. Theoretical developments on the electronic structure and molecular dynamics fronts now allow one to achieve higher accuracy and to study electronically metastable states, thus bringing theory in close collaboration with experiment in this field. In this article, many of the experimental and theoretical challenges specific to studying molecular anions are discussed. Results from many research groups on several classes of molecular anions are overviewed, and both literature citations and active (in online html and pdf versions) links to numerous contributing scientists' Web sites are provided. Specific focus is made on the following families of anions: dipole-bound, zwitterion-bound, double-Rydberg, multiply charged, metastable, cluster-based, and biological anions. In discussing each kind of anion, emphasis is placed on the structural, energetic, spectroscopic, and chemical-reactivity characteristics that make these anions novel, interesting, and important.     

Protein crystals make it big at electrode surfaces

Enhanced and rapid growth of lysozyme crystals at the surface of a platinum electrode, using an applied current and a simplified crystallizing solution, is demonstrated.     

Assembly of a trinuclear metallo-capsule from a tripodal tris(beta-diketone) derivative and copper(II)

A new metallo-capsule has been synthesised that consists of three copper(II) ions and two molecules of a tris-deprotonated tripodal ligand in which three 2,4-pentanedione groups are linked via their gamma-carbons through thioether spacers to the 1,3,5-positions of a triazine core.     

A synthesis of N-bridged 5,6-bicylic pyridines via a mild cyclodehydration using the burgess reagent and discovery of a novel carbamylsulfonylation reaction

Cyclodehydration using the Burgess reagent provided a novel approach toward the synthesis of N-bridged 5,6-bicylic pyridines including pyrolo-, imidazo-, and triazolopyridines under mild and neutral conditions. The methodology tolerates acid-sensitive functional groups. A novel addition product was observed between the resulting pyrrolo- or imidazopyridine and an additional equivalent of the Burgess reagent, producing the corresponding sulfonylcarbamate adduct.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of regioisomeric ring substituted methoxy methyl phenylacetones

The methoxy methyl phenylacetones share an isobaric relationship (equivalent mass but different elemental composition) to the controlled precursor substance 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetone. The 10 methoxy methyl phenylacetones as well as the methylenedioxyphenylacetones show essentially equivalent mass spectra with major fragment ions at m/z 135 and 43. Those methoxy methyl phenylacetones with the methoxy group substituted ortho to the benzylic cation in the m/z 135 ion show a further fragmentation to lose formaldehyde (CH2O) and yield a significant ion at m/z 105. The loss of formaldehyde from the ortho methoxy benzyl cation was confirmed using commercially available regioisomeric 2-, 3-, and 4-methoxyphenylacetones. The 10 regioisomeric methoxy methyl phenylacetones were prepared from the appropriately substituted benzaldehydes. Complete gas chromatographic resolution of all ten regioisomeric ketones was obtained on a stationary phase containing modified beta-cyclodextrin. Using the cyclodextrin containing phase, the ortho methoxy-substituted ketones (K1-K4) eluted before the meta-methoxy-substituted ketones (K5-K8) and the para-methoxy-substituted ketones (K9-K10) showed the greatest affinity for the stationary liquid phase and eluted last. Complete separation of the 10 ketones was not obtained on Rtx-1 and Rtx-200 columns.     

Block-copolymer ordering with a spatiotemporally heterogeneous mobility

Motivated by recent zone annealing measurements on stripe-forming block-copolymer films [B. C. Berry, Nano Lett. 7, 2789 (2007)], we study block-copolymer ordering with a spatiotemporally heterogeneous mobility. Specifically, we implement a time- and space-dependent mobility field in the relaxation of a diblock copolymer self-consistent field theory. The model includes a gradient in the local mobility and intrinsic nanoscale mobility variations characteristic of glass phenomenology. The simulations demonstrate that a spatiotemporally heterogeneous mobility can have a significant influence on microdomain ordering in block-copolymer systems, and that nanoscale dynamic heterogeneities associated with glass formation can impact the structure of the ordered block-copolymer microphase.     

The electrochemical reduction of an unsaturated mixed-metal cluster anion: Synthesis and x-ray crystal structure of [(Ph3P)2N][{Os3H(CO)10}2Ag]

The unsaturated mixed-metal cluster anion [{Os₃H(CO)₁₀}₂Ag]^? has been prepared by the reaction of [(Ph₃P)₂N][Os₃H(CO)₁₁] with Ag[PF₆], and the anion has been shown by an X-ray analysis to consist of an Ag^I atom linking together two “Os₃H(CO)₁₀” fragments. The electrochemistry of this complex has been investigated and it has been shown to undergo two one-electron reductions.