Palladium-triethylborane-triggered direct and regioselective conversion of allylic alcohols to allyl phenyl sulfones

A combination of Pd(OAc)2 (5 mol %), PPh3 (10 mol %), and Et3B (200 mol %) promotes the formation of allyl phenyl sulfones from the allylic alcohols directly with excellent yields under mild conditions. The activation of an alcohol group is not necessary which is achieved in situ. The conjugated dienols also were equally effective for the said transformation.     

Remarkably mild and efficient catalytic Sakurai reaction of N-alkoxycarbonylamino sulfones with allyltrimethylsilane using indium(III) chloride

The Sakurai reaction of N-alkoxycarbonylamino sulfones with allyltrimethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of indium(III) chloride at room temperature produces the corresponding protected homoallylic amines in high yields.     

Conformationally gated electron transfer in iso-1-cytochrome c: engineering the rate of a conformational switch

An engineered form of iso-1-cytochrome c with lysine 73 mutated to histidine is shown to increase by nearly 500-fold the rate of a conformational gate that modulates the rate of electron transfer into this protein. This result demonstrates the potential of protein engineering to provide electron transfer gates with tailored properties. The pH dependence of the rate of the conformational electron transfer gate correlates well with the pH dependence of the conformational change from a His 73-ligated heme to a Met 80-ligated heme, determined independently by pH jump methods, allowing unambiguous assignment of the conformational electron transfer gating step. The rate of the electron transfer gate is also modulated by a cis to trans proline isomerization, indicating that both amino acid sequence and the nature of the heme ligand provide avenues for rational design of electron transfer gates which open at different rates.     

The satellite-shaped Co-15 Polyoxotungstate, [Co6(H2O)30{Co9Cl2(OH)3(H2O)9(beta-SiW8O31)3}]5-

The 15-cobalt-substituted polyoxotungstate [Co(6)(H(2)O)(30){Co(9)Cl(2)(OH)(3)(H(2)O)(9)(beta-SiW(8)O(31))(3)}](5-) (1) has been characterized by single-crystal XRD, elemental analysis, IR, electrochemistry, magnetic measurements, and EPR. Single-crystal X-ray analysis was carried out on Na(5)[Co(6)(H(2)O)(30){Co(9)Cl(2)(OH)(3)(H(2)O)(9)(beta-SiW(8)O(31))(3)}].37H(2)O, which crystallizes in the hexagonal system, space group P6(3)/m, with a = 19.8754(17) A, b = 19.8754(17) A, c = 22.344(4) A, alpha= 90 degrees, beta = 90 degrees, gamma = 120 degrees, and Z = 2. The trimeric polyanion 1 has a core of nine Co(II) ions encapsulated by three unprecedented (beta-SiW(8)O(31)) fragments and two Cl(-) ligands. This central assembly {Co(9)Cl(2)(OH)(3)(H(2)O)(9)(beta-SiW(8)O(31))(3)}(17-) is surrounded by six antenna-like Co(II)(H(2)O)(5) groups resulting in the satellite-like structure 1. Synthesis of 1 is accomplished in a simple one-pot procedure by interaction of Co(II) ions with [gamma-SiW(10)O(36)](8-) in aqueous, acidic NaCl medium (pH 5.4). Polyanion 1 was studied by cyclic voltammetry as a function of pH. The current intensity of its Co(II) centers was compared with that of free Co(II) in solution. Our results suggest that 1 keeps its integrity in solution. Magnetic susceptibility results show the presence of both antiferro- and ferromagnetic coupling within the (Co(II))(9) core. A fully anisotropic Ising model has been employed to describe the exchange-coupling and yields g = 2.42 +/- 0.01, J(1) = 17.0 +/- 1.5 cm(-1), and J(2) = -13 +/- 1 cm(-(1). Variable frequency EPR studies reveal an anisotropic Kramer's doublet.     

Coherent manipulation of electron spins up to ambient temperatures in Cr5+ (S = 1/2) doped K3NbO8

We report coherent spin manipulation on Cr(5+) (S = 1/2, I = 0) doped K(3)NbO(8), which constitutes a dilute two-level model relevant for use as a spin qubit. Rabi oscillations are observed for the first time in a spin system based on transition metal oxides up to room temperature. At liquid helium temperature the phase coherence relaxation time T2 reaches approximately 10 micros and, with a Rabi frequency of 20 MHz, yields a single-qubit figure of merit Q(M) of about 500. This shows that a diluted ensemble of Cr(5+) (S = 1/2) doped K(3)NbO(8) is a potential candidate for solid-state quantum information processing.     

Ba4KFe3O9: a novel ferrite containing discrete 6-membered rings of corner-sharing FeO4 tetrahedra

Single crystals of a new iron-containing oxide, Ba(4)KFe(3)O(9), were grown from a hydroxide melt, and the crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This ferrite represents the first complex oxide containing isolated 6-membered rings of corner-sharing FeO(4) tetrahedra. M?ssbauer measurements are indicative of two tetrahedral high-spin Fe(3+) coordination environments. The observed magnetic moment (~3.9 μ(B)) at 400 K is significantly lower than the calculated spin-only (~5.2 μ(B)) value, indicating the presence of strong antiferromagnetic interactions in the oxide. Our density functional theory calculations confirm the strong antiferromagnetic coupling between adjacent Fe(3+) sites within each 6-membered ring and estimate the nearest-neighbor spin-exchange integral as ~200 K; next-nearest-neighbor interactions are shown to be negligible. The lower than expected effective magnetic moment for Ba(4)KFe(3)O(9) calculated from χT data is explained as resulting from the occupation of lower-lying magnetic states in which more spins are paired. X-band (9.5 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of a powder sample consist of a single line at g ~ 2.01 that is characteristic of Fe(3+) ions in a tetrahedral environment, thus confirming the M?ssbauer results. Further analysis of the EPR line shape reveals the presence of two types of Fe(6) magnetic species with an intensity ratio of ~1:9. Both species have Lorentzian line shapes and indistinguishable g factors but differ in their peak-to-peak line widths (δB(pp)). The line-width ratio δB(pp)(major)/δB(pp)(minor) ~ 3.6 correlates well with the ratio of the Weiss constants, θ(minor)/θ(major) ~ 4.     

An electronic structure perspective of the promoter modes in proton transfer reactions

The changes in the electronic structure are analyzed along the IRC of proton transfer reactions in two model systems, formic acid dimer and cyclic HF trimer. The IRC consists of three regions. In the first region, the two units between which a proton is exchanged approach each other. The vibrational mode associated with this movement is called the promoter mode. Computational evidence is provided to suggest that during this period the electrons in the lone pair of the acceptor atom delocalize significantly into the antibonding orbital of the covalent bond between the donor and hydrogen atoms. This reduces the barrier to the proton transfer. The force constants associated with the migrating protons also decrease as a result of the delocalization of lone pair electrons into the σ* orbital, and the associated stretching vibrational frequencies decrease along the IRC up to the transition state. In the second part of the IRC, the proton migration occurs. Finally, the two monomers retreat to the new equilibrium positions. On the basis of this, it is suggested that the role of the promoter mode is to enhance the flow of the lone pair electrons into the σ* orbital such that the barrier to the actual proton migration comes down. This can be used to identify them.     

Sandwich-type germanotungstates: structure and magnetic properties of the dimeric polyoxoanions [M4(H2O)2(GeW9O34)2]12 - (M = Mn2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+)

The novel dimeric germanotungstates [M(4)(H(2)O)(2)(GeW(9)O(34))(2)](12)(-) (M = Mn(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+)) have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, and (183)W-NMR spectroscopy. X-ray single-crystal analyses were carried out on Na(12)[Mn(4)(H(2)O)(2)(GeW(9)O(34))(2)].38H(2)O (Na(12)()-1), which crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, with a = 13.0419(8) A, b = 17.8422(10) A, c = 21.1626(12) A, beta = 93.3120(10) degrees, and Z = 2; Na(11)Cs(2)[Cu(4)(H(2)O)(2)(GeW(9)O(34))(2)]Cl.31H(2)O (Na(11)()Cs-2) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P, with a = 12.2338(17) A, b = 12.3833(17) A, c = 15.449(2) A, alpha = 100.041(2) degrees, beta = 97.034(2) degrees, gamma = 101.153(2) degrees, and Z = 1; Na(12)[Zn(4)(H(2)O)(2)(GeW(9)O(34))(2)].32H(2)O (Na(12)()-3) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P, with a = 11.589(3) A, b = 12.811(3) A, c = 17.221(4) A, alpha = 97.828(6) degrees, beta = 106.169(6) degrees, gamma = 112.113(5) degrees, and Z = 1; Na(12)[Cd(4)(H(2)O)(2)(GeW(9)O(34))(2)].32.2H(2)O (Na(12)()-4) crystallizes also in the triclinic system, space group P, with a = 11.6923(17) A, b = 12.8464(18) A, c = 17.616(2) A, alpha = 98.149(3) degrees, beta = 105.677(3) degrees, gamma = 112.233(2) degrees, and Z = 1. The polyanions consist of two lacunary B-alpha-[GeW(9)O(34)](10)(-) Keggin moieties linked via a rhomblike M(4)O(16) (M = Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd) group leading to a sandwich-type structure. (183)W-NMR studies of the diamagnetic Zn and Cd derivatives indicate that the solid-state polyoxoanion structures are preserved in solution. EPR measurements on Na(12)()-1 at frequencies up to 188 GHz and temperatures down to 4 K yield a single, exchange-narrowed peak, at g(iso) = 1.9949, typical of Mn systems, and an upper limit of |D| = 20.0 mT; its magnetization studies still await further theoretical treatment. Detailed EPR studies on Na(11)()Cs-2 over temperatures down to 2 K and variable frequencies yield g( parallel ) = 2.4303 and g( perpendicular ) = 2.0567 and A( parallel ) = 4.4 mT (delocalized over the Cu(4) framework), with |D| = 12.1 mT. Magnetization studies in addition yield the exchange parameters J(1) = -11 and J(2) = -82 cm(-)(1), in agreement with the EPR studies.     

Magnetism, electron paramagnetic resonance, electrochemistry, and mass spectrometry of the pentacopper(II)-substituted tungstosilicate [Cu5(OH)4(H2O)2(A-alpha-SiW9O33)2]10-, a model five-spin frustrated cluster

The dimeric, pentacopper(II)-substituted tungstosilicate [Cu(5)(OH)(4)(H(2)O)(2)(A-alpha-SiW(9)O(33))(2)](10)(-) (1) has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, electrochemistry, magnetic measurements, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and mass spectrometry (MS). Magnetization and high-field EPR measurements reveal that the pentameric copper core {Cu(5)(OH)(4)(H(2)O)(2)}(6+) of 1 exhibits strong antiferromagnetic interactions (J(a) = -51 +/- 6 cm(-)(1), J(b) = -104 +/- 1 cm(-)(1), and J(c) = -55 +/- 3 cm(-)(1)) resulting in a spin S(T) = (1)/(2) ground state. EPR data show that the unpaired electron spin density is localized on the spin-frustrated apical Cu(2+) ion with g(zz) = 2.4073 +/- 0.0005, g(yy) = 2.0672 +/- 0.0005, g(xx) = 2.0240 +/- 0.0005, and A(zz) = -340 +/- 20 MHz (-0.0113 cm(-)(1)). 1 can therefore be considered as a model system for a five-spin, electronically coupled, spin-frustrated system. Polyanion 1, which is stable over a wide pH domain (pH 1-7), was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a pH 5 medium. Its CV was constituted by an initial two-step reduction of the Cu(2+) centers to Cu(0) through Cu(+), followed at more negative potential by the redox processes of the W centers. Controlled potential coulometry of 1 allows for the reduction of the five Cu(2+) centers, as seen by consumption of 10.05 +/- 0.05 electrons per molecule. Polyanion 1 triggers efficiently the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate and nitrite, and it also catalyzes the reduction of N(2)O. To our knowledge, this is the first example of N(2)O catalytic reduction by a polyoxoanion. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS was used to unambiguously assign the molecular weight of the solution-phase species 1 and the oxidation states of the Cu atoms in the central {Cu(5)(OH)(4)(H(2)O)(2)}(6+) core. Infrared (IR) multiphoton dissociation MS/MS of 1 showed evidence of a condensation process similar to bronze formation at low irradiation intensity. Higher IR intensity resulted in the formation of stable fragments consistent with those previously observed in the solution chemistry of polyoxoanions.