Synthesis and characterization of heavier dioxouranium(VI) dihalides

The synthesis and characterization of the dioxouranium(VI) dibromide and iodide hydrates, UO(2)Br(2)x3H(2)O (1), [UO(2)Br(2)(OH(2))(2)](2) (2), and UO(2)I(2)x2H(2)Ox4Et(2)O (3), are reported. Moreover, adducts of UO(2)I(2) and UO(2)Br(2) with large, bulky OP(NMe(2))(3) and OPPh(3) ligands such as UO(2)I(2)(OP(NMe(2))(3))(2) (4), UO(2)Br(2)(OP(NMe(2))(3))(2) (5), and UO(2)I(2)(OPPh(3))(2)(6) are discussed. The structures of the following compounds were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques: (1) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.7376(8) A, b = 6.5471(5) A, c = 12.817(1) A, beta = 94.104(1) degrees , V = 815.0(1) A(3), Z = 4; (2) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 6.0568(7) A, b = 10.5117(9) A, c = 10.362(1) A, beta = 99.62(1) degrees , V = 650.5(1) A(3), Z = 2; (4) tetragonal, P4(1)2(1)2, a = 10.6519(3) A, b = 10.6519(3) A, c = 24.0758(6) A, V = 2731.7(1) A(3), Z = 4; (5) tetragonal, P4(1)2(1)2, a = 10.4645(1) A, b = 10.4645(1) A, c = 23.7805(3) A, V = 2604.10(5) A(3), Z = 4, and (6) monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.6543(1) A, b = 18.8968(3) A, c = 10.9042(2) A, beta =115.2134(5) degrees , V = 1783.01(5) A(3), Z = 2. Whereas 1 and 2 are the first UO(2)Br(2) hydrates and the last missing members of the UO(2)X(2) hydrate (X = Cl --> I) series to be structurally characterized, 4 and 6 contain room-temperature stable U(VI)-I bonds with 4 being the first structurally characterized room temperature stable U(VI)-I compound which can be conveniently prepared on a gram scale in quantitative yield. The synthesis and characterization of 5 using an analogous halogen exchange reaction to that used for the preparation of 4 is also reported.     

Oxidation of bridging groups by carboxylate coordinated ligands in palladium clusters

Thermolysis of tetranuclear palladium clusters Pd₄(-Q)₄ Pd₄(-Q)₄(-O₂CR)₄ (Q=CPh₂ or CO;R=Me, CMe₃, Ph, CH₂Cl or CF₃) has been found to involve innersphere oxidation of carbene or carbonyl ligands during which an oxygen atom transfer occurs from the carboxylate group to the carbene or carbonyl ligand. The thermolysis of the carbonyl clusters gives rise to the products of CO₂ insertion into the C–H bond of benzene or toluene used as solvents forming benzoic acid from benzene and a mixture of phenylacetic and toluic acids from toluene. The reaction of [Pd(OAc)₂(PPh₃)]₂ with HCO₂H includes the transfer of an O atom from formate ligand to the P atom and cleavage of the P-Ph bond accompanied by transfer of the Ph group from PPh₃ ligand to the palladium atom. The structure of the complex formed, [Pd(-O₂PPh₂)(C₆H₅)(PPh₃)]₂, has been resolved by X-ray analysis.     

Anion control of isomerism, crystal packing and binding properties in a mononuclear zinc complex

The coordination chemistry of the tetradentate pyridyl N-donor ligand cis-3,5-bis-[2-pyridinyleneamin]-trans-hydroxycyclohexane (DDOP) has been investigated with zinc(II) nitrate and triflate. The resulting complexes, [Zn(DDOP)(H₂O)(NO₃)](NO₃) (1), and [Zn(DDOP)(H₂O)(OTf)](OTf) (2) differ not only in their counterions, but also the arrangement of the axial ligands and their solid state hydrogen bonded networks. Isothermal titration calorimetry was used to assess the difference in binding properties exhibited by the two zinc complexes at physiological pH in an aqueous environment. A series of coordinating amino acids were found to preferentially bind to the mononuclear zinc triflate (1) complex over the corresponding nitrate (2) assembly, with histidine exhibiting a two centre binding mode.     

Evolution of physics-based methodology for exploring the conformational energy landscape of proteins

The evolution of our physics-based computational methods for determining protein conformation without the introduction of secondary-structure predictions, homology modeling, threading, or fragment coupling is described. Initial use of a hard-sphere potential captured much of the structural properties of polypeptide chains, and subsequent more refined force fields, together with efficient methods of global optimization provide indications that progress is being made toward an understanding of the interresidue interactions that underlie protein folding.     

<!?tlsb=‐0.06pt>Zigzag polymer chains in catena‐poly[[[triaqua(isobutyrato‐κO)magnesium(II)]‐μ‐isobutyrato‐κ2O:O′] monohydrate]

The structure of the title compound, {[Mg(C₄H₇O₂)₂(H₂O)₃]·H₂O}_n, features one‐dimensional ...(μ₂‐ib)Mg(μ₂‐ib)Mg... zigzag chains (ib is isobutyrate) parallel to the c axis. The octahedral Mg environment is completed by three fac‐oriented terminal water ligands, as well as one further monodentate end‐on coordinated ib ligand. In the crystal structure, the hydrophobic ib groups are all oriented within one half of the coordination perimeter of each chain, whereas the water ligands, together with hydrogen‐bonded noncoordinated solvent water molecules, define the other half. Along the a axis, neighbouring strands are oriented so that both the hydrophilic and hydrophobic sides are adjacent to each other. This results in an extensive hydrogen‐bonding network within the hydrophilic areas, also involving an additional solvent water molecule per formula unit. There are van der Waals contacts between the aliphatic isopropyl groups of the hydrophobic areas.     

Synthesis,X‐ray Studies,and Catalytic Efficacy of a Novel Iron Complex Containing an N,O‐Type Bidentate Thiazoline Ligand

The reactions of FeCl₃ · 6H₂O and 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐thiazoline as a bidentate O‐N donor thiazoline ligand (thoz) afford a five‐coordinate Fe^III complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] with a distorted square pyramidal configuration. Complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] was isolated as air‐stable crystalline solids and fully characterized, including by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. Complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] shows very efficient reactivity in the oxidation of sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides using urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as the oxidant at room temperature in air.