Homogeneous catalysis by ruthenium carbonyl clusters

The historical background of and the incentive for using ruthenium carbonyl clusters as homogeneous catalysts are outlined. Keeping in view the possible solutions the uncertainties arising from declusterification and metal colloid formation are discussed. All ruthenium cluster-catalysed reactions are broadly classified as reactions with or without carbon monoxide as one of the reactants and the basic differences between such reactions are highlighted. Some of the factors of special relevance to cluster-catalysed reaction systems are mentioned. The reactions involving carbon monoxide are then discussed. These include water-gas-shift reaction, carbon monoxide hydrogenation, hydroformylation, reductive carbonylation of nitrobenzene and other carbonylation reactions. Hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, isomerisation and a few other reactions are then discussed. For all these reactions, special emphasis is laid on well-characterised cluster complexes that have been proposed as catalytic intermediates. Finally an attempt has been made to identify the path that future research in cluster catalysis is likely to follow.     

Monte Carlo simulation of phase separation and clustering in the ABV model

As a model for a binary alloy undergoing an unmixing phase transition, we consider a square lattice where each site can be either taken by an A atom, a B atom, or a vacancy (V), and there exists a repulsive interaction between AB nearest neighbor pairs. Starting from a random initial configuration, unmixing proceeds via random jumps of A atoms or B atoms to nearest neighbor vacant sites. In the absence of any interaction, these jumps occur at jump rates _A and _B, respectively. For a small concentration of vacancies (c _v=0.04) the dynamics of the structure factorS(k,t) and its first two momentsk ₁(t),k ₂ ² (t) is studied during the early stages of phase separation, for several choices of concentrationc _B of B atoms. Forc _B=0.18 also the time evolution of the cluster size distribution is studied. Apart from very early times, the mean cluster sizel(t) as well as the moments of the structure function depend on timet and the ratio of the jump rates (= _B/ _A) only via a scaled timet/(). Qualitatively, the behavior is very similar to the direct exchange model containing no vacancies. Consequences for phase separation of real alloys are briefly discussed.     

Distorted Phthalocyanines by Click Chemistry: Photoacoustic,Photothermal, and Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Studies

Distortion of nominally planar phthalocyanine macrocycles affects the excited state dynamics in that most of the excited-state energy decays through internal conversion. A click-type annulation reaction on a perfluorophthalocyanine platform appending a seven-membered ring to the β-positions on one or more of the isoindoles distorts the macrocycle and modulates solubility. The distorted derivative enables photoacoustic imaging, photothermal effects, and strong surface-enhanced resonance Raman signals.     

The impact of the natural sciences on archaeology

This article reviews some of the applications of physics to the solution of archaeological problems. The use of magnetic, resistivity and electromagnetic surveying techniques for the location of buried features is described. Various methods of age determination are outlined while the problems associated with radiocarbon dating of organic material and thermoluminescent dating of pottery are discussed in detail. The techniques, including petrological examination, chemical analysis and isotopic analysis, employed in the physical examination of archaeological artefacts are described. Examples of the application of these techniques in establishing the source of the raw materials used in pottery, metal and stone implements and in elucidating the techniques of manufacture of pottery and metal objects are also given.     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

An MCl inf4 p2− moiety (M = copper,zinc, cadmium and mercury) stabilized by bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) cation

Summary New ionic bimetallic complexes of the type [Cu(en)₂]-[MCl₄], where M = Cu^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II, were prepared by reacting bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) dichloride (1 mol) with copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury dichlorides (1 mol) in absolute alcohol. Elemental analyses, conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and spectroscopic data (such as i.r., u.v.-vis. and e.p.r.) confirm that the compounds are 22 electrolytes in MeOH and that the copper(II) ion is paramagnetic, maintaining its square-planar geometry, while metal ions in the anionic moiety of the complexes achieve their usual tetrahedral environment. An augmented magnetic moment has been observed in the [Cu(en)₂] [CuCl₄] complex, which is attributed to the ferromagnetic effect and TIP.Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.     

Transition Metal Ion-binding Properties of a 14-Membered N2O2S2- Macrobicyclic Ligand

The selective liquid–liquid extraction of various transition metal cations from the aqueous phase to the organic phase was carried out using a 14-membered N₂O₂S₂-macrobicycle. Metal picrates such as Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺,Cu²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were used in this extraction studies. It was found that the ligand showed moderate selectivity towards Pb²⁺ only among the other metals. The extraction constant (log K _ex) was determined to be 13.8 for Pb²⁺ complex.     

Synthesis and characterization of new 13 and 14-membered macrocycles and their transition metal complexes

Two new macrocyclic ligands 1,4,7,9,12-pentaaza-10,11-dioxo-8,9,12,13-bis-(1-oxo-3-thio-2-hydropyrimidine)-trideca-7,13-diene, (L¹) and 1,4,7,9,12-pentaaza-10,12-dioxo-8,9,13,14-bis-(1-oxo-3-thio-2-hydropyrimidine)-tetradeca-7,14-diene, (L²) and their complexes with Cr^III, Mn^II, Fe^III, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II have been synthesized, and characterized by elemental analysis, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r., e.p.r., u.v.–vis. spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility and conductance measurements. The conductivity measurements suggest that the complexes of divalent metal ions are 1:1 electrolytes whereas the trivalent metal ions are non-electrolytes. On the basis of electronic spectra and magnetic moment measurements the Cr^III and Fe^III complexes are octahedral, while the divalent metal complexes are tetrahedral except for the Ni^II and Cu^II complexes which are proposed to have square planar geometry. All the ligands and their complexes have been screened against gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative bacteria E. coli. The results show that they inhibit the growth of bacteria.     

New heterobimetallic complexes containing copper(II) and a group IV metal

Summary Novel heterobimetallic chelates [Cu(en)₂Cl₂M₂Cl₄] (M = Si, Ge, Sn, Ti and Zr; en = ethylenediamine) and [Cu(en)₂Cl₂SnPh₄] prepared by reacting [Cu(en)₂]Cl₂ with group IV metal tetrachlorides and dichlorodiphenyltin(IV), respectively, were characterized by e.s.r., electronic and i.r. spectroscopy, elemental analysis and conductivity measurements. The e.s.r. spectral g-values indicate square planar geometry for [Cu(en)₂]Cl₂ and an octahedral environment for copper(II) in heterobimetallic complexes. Conductivity measurements show [Cu(en)₂]Cl₂ to be ionic and the heterobimetallic chelates to be covalent.