Addition of nitriles to alkaline earth metal complexes of 1,2-bis[(phenyl)imino]acenaphthenes

Compounds [Sr(dpp-bian)(thf)4] (2), [Ba(dpp-bian)(dme)2.5] (3) and [Mg(dtb-bian)(thf)2] (4) (dpp-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene; dtb-bian = 1,2-bis[(2,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene) were prepared by reduction of dpp-bian and dtb-bian with an excess of metallic Mg, Sr, or Ba in THF or DME. Reactions of [Mg(dpp-bian)(thf)3], 3, and 4 with diphenylacetonitrile gave keteniminates [Mg(dpp-bianH)(NCCPh2)(thf)2] (5), [Mg(dtb-bianH)(NCCPh2)(thf)2] (6), and [Ba(dpp-bianH)(NCCPh2)(dme)2] (7), respectively. The reaction of 2 with CH3C[triple chemical bond]N in THF gave [{Sr(dpp-bianH)[N(H)C(CH3)C(H)CN](thf)}2] (8). The compounds 2, 3, 5-8 were characterized by elemental analysis, and IR and NMR spectroscopy. Molecular structures of 2, 3, 7, and 8 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In contrast to reactions of alkali-metal reagents, magnesium amides, or yttriumalkyls with alpha-H acidic nitriles, which are accompanied by an amine or an alkane elimination, the reactions of [Mg(dpp-bian)(thf)3] (1), 2, 3, and 4 with such nitriles proceeded with formation of Mg, Sr, and Ba keteniminates and simultaneous protonation of one nitrogen atom of the bian ligand. The NMR spectroscopic data obtained for complex 5 indicated that in solution the amino hydrogen atom underwent the fast (on the NMR timescale) shuttle transfer between both nitrogen atoms of the dpp-bianH ligand.     

Nitrido-Sodalithe. II. Synthese,Struktur und Eigenschaften von M(6+(y/2)–x)H2x[P12N24]Zy mit M = Fe,Co, Ni,Mn; Z = Cl,Br, I; 0 ≤ x ≤ 4; y ≤ 2

Nitrido-Sodalites. II. Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Properties of M_{(6+(y/2)–x)}H_2x[P₁₂N₂₄]Z_y with M = Fe, Co, Ni, Mn; Z = Cl, Br, I; 0 ≤ x ≤ 4; y ≤ 2 The nitrido sodalites M_{(6+(y/2)–x)}H_2x[P₁₂N₂₄]Z_y with M = Fe, Co, Ni, Mn; Z = Cl, Br, I; 0 ≤ x ≤ 4; y ≤ 2 are obtained by the reaction of HPN₂ or [PN(NH₂)₂]₃ with the metal halogenide MZ₂ (T = 700°C). The compounds are isotypic to Zn_(7–x)H_2x[P₁₂N₂₄]Cl₂. An increase of the ionic radii of the cations or anions results in an expansion of the lattice which is caused by an increase of the P? N? P angle. The influence of the cation is more dominant than that of the anion. By reacting [PN(NH₂)₂]₃ with metal halogenide (MZ₂) hydrogen free, X-ray amorphous products are obtained. The formation of the chloride-containing P? N-sodalite in this reaction begins at temperatures below 450°C.     

Occurrence and distribution of metals and porphyrins in Nigerian coal minerals

The metal contents of Nigerian coal minerals were analyzed using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Calcium, Na, and Fe occurred as the major elements with concentrations ranging from 9 782 μg/g for Ca to 432 μg/g for Na whereas K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cu, which occurred at trace levels ranged from 673.73 μg/g for Mg to 2.97 μg/g for Mn. The results of the quantitative analysis of porphyrins extracted from the coal minerals showed that Onyeama coal has the highest amount of porphyrins (ca～0.96 μg/g) while Okpara has the lowest (ca～0.30 μg/g). The porphyrins were qualitatively characterized by a combination of thin layer chromatography (TLC), infrared, and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometers. The results of the mid infrared analysis (MIR) showed the presence of absorption bands at 3 440 cm～1～3 450 cm-1 and 1 640 cm-1～1 680 cm-1 , which are owing to the stretching vibrations of N - H and C = C of aromatics, with C- H out of plane (oop) bending vibrations at wavenumbers less than 900 cm-1, all of which are characteristic absorptions of porphyrin free base. The ultraviolet-visible data showed prominent peaks at ～400 nm(Soret band) and at wavelength ranges of 535 nm～550 nm(β-band) and 565 nm～ 600 nm (α-band) for the coal porphyrins analyzed. The geochemical significance of the metals and porphyrins in coal minerals are discussed.     

Multivariate classification based on metal contents in human senile cataract lenses

Multivariate classification methods were used to evaluate data on the concentrations of eight metals in human senile lenses measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering separated senile cataract lenses, nuclei from cataract lenses, and normal lenses into three classes on the basis of the eight elements. Stepwise discriminant analysis was applied to give discriminant functions with five selected variables. Results provided by the linear learning machine method were also satisfactory; the k-nearest neighbour method was less useful.     

Ultra-trace analysis of U,Th, Ca and selected heavy metals in high purity refractory metals with isotope dilution mass spectrometry

A method for the determination of trace impurities (U, Th, Ca, Fe, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Cd) in the refractory metals molybdenum and tungsten with isotope dilution mass Spectrometry (IDMS) has been developed. This method enables determinations of uranium and thorium down to the lowest pg/g level with high precision and accuracy. Selective chromatographic, extractive and electrolytic methods for the trace-matrix separation were combined with positive thermal ionization mass spectrometry. Different samples of high purity (4N) and of ultra high purity (UHP) materials for advanced technologies were analysed. The detection limits reached are (in ng/g): U 0.006, Th 0.008, Ca 10, Fe 19, Cr 0.5, Ni 0.6, Cu 2.7, and Cd 0.12. A comparison of results with other sensitive analytical methods (ICP-MS, GDMS, SIMS) makes obvious the urgent necessity of a reliable calibration method like IDMS because the analytical results obtained by the other methods often spread over a wide range.     

Effect of group II metal cations on catecholate oxidation.

The unexpected effects of Ca(2+) on the free-radical chain reactions of dopamine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and pyrocatechol oxidation are studied using oxygen consumption measurements, EPR-spectroscopy, UV/VIS spectrophotometry, and by potentiometric titration. It is found that the formation of Ca(2+)-catecholate complexes is accompanied by an increase in the dissociation constants (K(ai) ) of their phenolic hydroxyls. At pH>pK(ai) and in the presence of alkaline-earth metal cations, the rate of catecholate oxidation increases (Ca(2+), Mg(2+)> Sr(2+), Ba(2+)), whereas on addition of Zn ions the rate decreases. The effects of Group II metal cations on catecholate autoxidation are concomitant with a transient increase of the EPR signal for metal-semiquinonate complexes. Therefore, the effects of Ca(2+) and other alkaline-earth metal cations on catecholate autoxidation can be defined as 1) additional deprotonation of catechol OH-groups involved in the formation of M(2+)-catecholate complexes, the latter exceeding catechols in the susceptibility to dioxygen-induced oxidation and 2) formation of relatively stable free-radical intermediates responsible for chain propagation.     

Thermodynamic properties of aqueous organic mixtures near the critical demixing: Cases of 2,6-dimethylpyridine and of 2-isobutoxyethanol

Phase diagrams, volumes and heat capacities of aqueous mixtures of 2,6-dimethylpyridine (2,6-L) and 2-isobutoxyethanol (iBE) and activities of 2,6-L in aqueous mixtures were measured in the monophasic region near the lower critical solution temperature (LCST). With 2,6-L some measurement were also made just above the LCST. From the temperature dependence of these data, partial molar relative enthalpies (2,6-L), expansibilities and the temperature derivative of heat capacities were calculated and show that iBE undergoes a microphase transition at low concentration which is not related to the phase separation. On the other hand, the properties of 2,6-L in the water-rich region at temperatures well below the LCST indicates that this solute has only a slight tendency to associate. The heat capacities of 2,6-L show an important increase near the LCST. Such changes are not observed for iBE and other alkoxyethanols and amines since these systems already exist in the form of microphases; the partial molar properties of iBE near the LCST are nearly equal to the molar values of the pure liquid, and the changes in thermodynamic properties corresponding to the macroscopic phase transition, are therefore too small to be measured by the present techniques.     

Aromatic hydrocarbons, carbocyclic ligands spanning several oxidation states in both Main Group and transition elements. Recent advances with early transition d elements

In this paper some synthetic procedures to obtain (η⁶-arene)metal derivatives are reviewed. The metal-atom-arene-vapor co-condensation technique is the most appropriate to generate complexes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heterocycles. As far as the aluminium halide-mediated synthesis is concerned, two classes of reaction are observed. When AlX₃ is used with a metal halide in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon in the absence of any reducing agent, AlX₃ can function as a dehalogenating agent, to give ionic compounds of general formula [M(η⁶-arene)n](AlX₄)_m, or it can add across the M---X bond with formation of M(μ-X)_nAlX_4−n systems. In both cases the metal displays its typical oxidation state. However, the use of AlX₃ in combination with aluminium (the Fischer-Hafner reducing system) affords ionic or covalent low-oxidation-state metal(η⁶-arene) complexes. Attention is focused on our most recent results concerning the synthesis, properties and reactivity of η⁶-arene derivatives of Group 4 and 5 elements, showing, inter alia, the first example of a tetraarylborate anion behaving as a 12-electron donor to one metal atom and low-valent η⁶-arene compounds as useful reagents in the inorganic and coordination chemistry of the corresponding metal in nonaqueous systems.     

Active nickel-based reduction of organic compounds

The reducing system NiCl₂·2H₂O—Li—arene_cat (cat is catalyst) was proposed for use to reduce a wide range of organic compounds, including alkenes, alkynes, carbonyl compounds, imines, halogenated derivatives, sulfonates, aromatic compounds, hydrazines, azo and azoxy compounds, N-oxides, and nitrones. The degree of reduction can be controlled for some substrates. Deuterium can be incorporated in the reaction products using nickel chloride deuteriohydrate. Nitrones, N-alkoxyamides, and acyl azides are also reduced with the Li—arene_cat system containing no nickel salt.     

A QM-MM interface between CHARMM and TURBOMOLE: implementation and application to systems in bulk phase and biologically active systems

The implementation of a hybrid QM-MM approach combining ab initio and density functional methods of TURBOMOLE with the molecular mechanics program package CHARMM is described. An interface has been created to allow data exchange between the two applications. With this method the efficient multiprocessor capabilities of TURBOMOLE can be utilized with CHARMM running as a single processor application. Therefore, features of nonparallel running code in CHARMM like the TRAVEL module for locating saddle points or VIBRAN for the calculation of second derivatives can be exploited by running the CPU intensive QM calculations in parallel. To test the methodology, several small systems are studied with both Hartree-Fock and density functional methods and varying QM-MM boundaries. Also, the computationally efficient RI-J method has been examined for use in QM-MM applications. A B(12) cofactor containing cobalt has been studied, to examine systems with a large QM region and transition metals. All tested methods perform satisfactory in comparison with pure quantum calculations. Additionally, algorithms for the characterization of saddle points have been tested for their potential use in QM-MM problems. The TRAVEL module of CHARMM has been applied to the Menshutkin reaction in the condensed phase, and a saddle point was located. This saddle point was verified by calculation of a steepest descent path connecting educt, transition state, and product, and by calculation of vibrational modes.