Assembly of ethylzincate compounds into supramolecular structures

Sodium and potassium triethylzincate were isolated by Wanklyn in 1858, and are corner stones in the history of organometallic chemistry. Crystallisation of organozincates from neat dialkylzinc, in the absence of a coordinating solvent, can be expected to result in assembly of supramolecular structures, rather than formation of discrete molecules in the crystalline state. This inspired us to reinvestigate Wanklyn’s classical compounds. Crystallisation of sodium triethylzincate from benzene led to metallation of benzene and the formation of diethylphenylzincate anions. The compound is a two-dimensional network where Na⁺ ions link the zincate anions by coordination to both ethyl- and phenyl groups. We have also, accidently, isolated crystals of the two-dimensional coordination network [K₂(ZnEt₂)₄O]_n, displaying a rare oxo-centred core with an octahedral oxide ion surrounded by four zinc atoms and two potassium atoms.     

Stripping Voltammetry for the Real Time Determination of Zinc Membrane Diffusion Coefficients in High pH: Towards Rapid Screening of Alkaline Battery Separators

An anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) sensing platform which provides real time determination of zincate diffusion through membrane separators in alkaline electrolyte with total experimental times on the order of hours is presented. Advanced separators are essential for future rechargeable alkaline zinc batteries. In order to be screened, these membranes need to be evaluated for their zincate blocking performance. Current complexometric titration and elemental analysis methods for zincate membrane diffusion characterization can take days to weeks to obtain results as well as include large sample dilution factors and require additional sample processing. The anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) sensing platform presented here provides real time determination of zincate diffusion in alkaline electrolyte with total experimental times on the order of hours. This method eliminates the need for sample dilution and post experiment sample processing. This technique significantly increases the throughput for the screening of advanced alkaline battery separators resulting in rapid turnaround times in the analysis of these vital membranes. To evaluate the utility of this method, zincate diffusion through commercial Celgard 3501 and Cellophane 350P00 was monitored using both ASV and inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) methods. The obtained zincate diffusion coefficients for both techniques were found to compare favorably.     

Tris[bis(trimethysilyl)amido]zinkate von Lithium und Calcium

Tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]zincates of Lithium and Calcium Calcium-bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amide] and Bis[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]zinc yield in 1,2-dimethoxyethane quantitatively Calcium-bis{tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)- amido]zincate} · 3DME. When THF is chosen as a solvent, the two reactants and the zincate form a temperature-independent equilibrium, whereas in benzene no reaction occurs. The tris[bis(trimethylsilyl)amido]zincate anion displays characteristic ¹³C{¹H) and ²⁹Si{¹H] chemical shifts of 7 and ?8 ppm, respectively; the nature of the solvent, the cation and the complexating ligands don't influence the IR nor NMR data of the zincate anion and thus verify that [Ca(DME)₃]²⁺ and {Zn[N(SiMe_{3 2}]₃}^? appear as solvent separated ions, which is also confirmed by their insolubility in hydrocarbons.     

Asymmetric syntheses of a GPR40 receptor agonist via diastereoselective and enantioselective conjugate alkynylation

Two asymmetric methods to synthesize a potent GPR40 receptor agonist are reported. Both synthetic routes utilize readily available, inexpensive starting materials and reagents. The first route relies on a highly diastereoselective conjugate alkynylation of an ephedrine-derived oxazepanedione acceptor. The second route features the enantioselective alkynylation of a Meldrum’s acid-derived acceptor mediated by a chiral zinc cinchonidine reagent.