Optically active rhodium complexes with indenyl-linked phosphane ligands

The optically active indenyl-linked phosphane ligands (S)-[2-(3H-inden-1-yl)-1-phenylethyl]diphenylphosphane (L₁) and (S)-[2-(4,7-dimethyl-3H-inden-1-yl)-1-phenyl-ethyl]diphenylphosphane (L₂) were synthesized in three steps from (R)-1-phenylethane-1,2-diol in excellent yields. Their lithium salts reacted with [Rh(μ-Cl)(η²-CH₂CH₂)₂]₂ at −78 °C in THF affording the planar chiral complexes (S,R_pl + S_pl)-[Rh(η⁵-indenyl-CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-kP)(η²-CH₂CH₂)] and (S,R_pl + S_pl)-[Rh(η⁵-4,7-dimethylindenyl-CH₂CH(Ph)PPh₂-kP)(η²-CH₂CH₂)] as 61:39 and 15:85 mixtures of diastereomers. The complexes were isolated in optically pure form by column chromatography. The stereochemical configuration of one of the diastereomers was determined by X-ray crystallography. The complexation of L₂ was studied in different solvents and with several Rh precursors and diastereomeric excesses up to 76% were achieved. The ability of the chiral ligands to control the stereochemistry at the metal center was tested by oxidative addition of methyl iodide. Diastereomeric excesses greater than 98% were observed.     

Palladium(II) and platinum(II)-C(3)-substituted 2,2′-bipyridines

Reaction of Pd(OAc)₂ with HL¹ and HL² (HL¹=6-iso-propyl-2,2-bipyridine; HL²=6-neo-pentyl-2,2-bipyridine), followed by treatment with LiCl or KI, gives [PdCl(L¹)]₂, (1), [PdCl(L²)]₂ (2), and [PdI(L²)]₂ (3), respectively. The chloride bridge in complexes1 and2 is split by PPh³ to give the mononuclear species PdCl(L¹)(PPh₃) (4) and PdCl(L²)(PPh₃) (5). Spectroscopic data provide evidence for coordination of the deprotonated ligands through a nitrogen and the C₍₃₎ atom of the 6-substituted pyridine. An analogous platinum complex PtCl(L³)(SMe₂) (6) (HL³=6-tert-butyl-2,2-bipyridine) was obtained from trans-PtClMe(SMe₂)₂ and HL³. The crystal structures of compounds1 and6 have been solved by X-ray diffraction analysis.Dipartimento di Chimica, Universita di Sassari, via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari, Italy; Dipartimento di Chimica Strutturale e Stereochimica Inorganica, Universita di Milano, Centro CNR, I-20133 Milano, Italy; Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1127–1137, August, 1999.     

Thermodynamic study of the eutectic Mg49–Zn51 alloy used for thermal energy storage

The eutectic Mg₄₉–Zn₅₁ (mass%) alloy has been identified as a suitable material for latent heat thermal energy storage. Within this scope, the exhibited solid–solid and solid–liquid phase transitions have been carefully characterized. A detailed thermodynamic study focused on the specific heat of the investigated alloy is also provided. The C _p behaviour, very important in the thermal energy storage frame, is theoretically modelled and experimentally validated by quasi-isothermal modulated differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Different intermetallic phases of the Mg–Zn binary system have also been successfully described within this approach in the complete temperature range.     

Determination of the heat of hydride formation/decomposition by high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (HP-DSC)

Among the thermodynamic properties of novel materials for solid-state hydrogen storage, the heat of formation/decomposition of hydrides is the most important parameter to evaluate the stability of the compound and its temperature and pressure of operation. In this work, the desorption and absorption behaviors of three different classes of hydrides are investigated under different hydrogen pressures using high-pressure differential scanning calorimetry (HP-DSC). The HP-DSC technique is used to estimate the equilibrium pressures as a function of temperature, from which the heat of formation is derived. The relevance of this procedure is demonstrated for (i) magnesium-based compounds (Ni-doped MgH2), (ii) Mg-Co-based ternary hydrides (Mg-CoHx) and (iii) Alanate complex hydrides (Ti-doped NaAlH4). From these results, it can be concluded that HP-DSC is a powerful tool to obtain a good approximation of the thermodynamic properties of hydride compounds by a simple and fast study of desorption and absorption properties under different pressures.     

Simple synthetic routes to ruthenium-indenylidene olefin metathesis catalysts

An efficient synthetic protocol involving reactions between the free carbene and [RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)(Ind)] followed by addition of pyridine leads to the isolation of olefin metathesis active [RuCl(2)(L)(Py)(Ind)] (L = SIMes and SIPr) complexes. This novel approach circumvents the use of costly tricyclohexylphosphine.     

Extended investigation of LiOH–LiBr binary system for high-temperature thermal energy storage applications

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - LiOH–LiBr binary system is thoroughly investigated by means of DSC and XRD experimental analysis. Observed discrepancies compared to previous...     

Isolation and structural characterization of an optically active intermediate in the oxidative addition of methyl iodide on a rhodium(I) centre

The optically pure cationic complex (S,S(Rh))-[Rh(eta5-C(5)H(4)CH(2)CH(Ph)PPh(2)-kappaP)(eta2-CH(2)CH(2))(CH(3))][I] is the first example of a key intermediate in the oxidative addition reaction of methyl iodide on a rhodium(I) centre which has been structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.