Chemical synthesis with metal Atoms. Cyclodimerization of norbornadiene via nickela-cyclopentane intermediates.

The catalytic cyclodimerization of norbornadiene by reaction with nickel atoms has been re-investigated. Nickela-cyclopentane derivatives are formed in the presence of α,α′-dipyridyl, α,α′-dipyridyl-exo-trans-endo-3-nickela-pentacyclo[9.2.1.1^5,8 0^2,10.0^4,9]-pentadeca-6,12-diene being the major component. By contrast, the catalytic dimerization leads predominantly to the exo-trans-exo isomer of pentacyclo[8.2.1.1^4,7.0^2,9.0^3,8] tetradeca-5,11-diene. A norbornadiene cyclotrimer of exo-trans-exo-trans-exo structure is subsequently formed.     

Thermal and photochemical oxygenation of cobaltacyclopentadiene complexes with dioxygen

(Cyclopentadienyl)(triphenylphosphine)cobaltacyclopentadienes react with ground state dioxygen at 70°C and at room temperature with singlet dioxygen generated externally by microwave discharge to give 2-butene-1,4-diones. An intermediate cobalt complex of the dione has been isolated. The reaction can also be performed photochemically at room temperature.     

Carbon monoxide as an intrinsic ligand to iron in the active site of the iron-sulfur-cluster-free hydrogenase H2-forming methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase as revealed by infrared spectroscopy

The iron-sulfur-cluster-free hydrogenase Hmd (H(2)-forming methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase) from methanogenic archaea has recently been found to contain one iron associated tightly with an extractable cofactor of yet unknown structure. We report here that Hmd contains intrinsic CO bound to the Fe. Chemical analysis of Hmd revealed the presence of 2.4 +/- 0.2 mol of CO/mol of iron. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the native enzyme showed two bands of almost equal intensity at 2011 and 1944 cm(-)(1), interpreted as the stretching frequencies of two CO molecules bound to the same iron in an angle of 90 degrees . We also report on the effect of extrinsic (12)CO, (13)CO, (12)CN(-), and (13)CN(-) on the IR spectrum of Hmd.