Decarboxylation of aromatic carboxylic acids by gold(i)-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes

A recently isolated gold(i) complex, [Au(IPr)(OH)], permits the transformation of carboxylic acids to the corresponding decarboxylated gold(i)-aryl complex without the use of silver co-catalyst under mild reaction conditions.

[{Au(IPr)}2(μ-OH)]X complexes: synthetic, structural and catalytic studies

The synthesis of a series of dinuclear gold hydroxide complexes has been achieved. These complexes of type [{Au(IPr)}(2)(μ-OH)]X (X=BF(4), NTf(2), OTf, FABA, SbF(6); IPr=2,6-bis(disopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene; NTf(2)=bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imidate; OTf=trifluoromethanesulfonate; FABA=tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate) are easily formed in the presence of water and prove highly efficient in the catalytic hydration of nitriles. Their facile formation in aqueous media suggests they are of relevance in gold-catalyzed reactions involving water. Additionally, a series of [Au(IPr)(NCR)][BF(4)] (R=alkyl, aryl) complexes was synthesized as they possibly occur as intermediates in the catalytic reaction mechanism. (1)H and (13)C NMR data as well as key bond lengths obtained by X-ray diffraction studies are compared and reveal an interesting structure-activity relationship. The collected data indicate a negligible effect of the nature of the nitrile on the reactivity of [Au(L)(NCR)][X] complexes in catalysis.

Backbone tuning in indenylidene-ruthenium complexes bearing an unsaturated N-heterocyclic carbene

The steric and electronic influence of backbone substitution in IMes-based (IMes = 1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) was probed by synthesizing the [RhCl(CO)₂(NHC)] series of complexes to quantify experimentally the Tolman electronic parameter (electronic) and the percent buried volume (%V(bur), steric) parameters. The corresponding ruthenium-indenylidene complexes were also synthesized and tested in benchmark metathesis transformations to establish possible correlations between reactivity and NHC electronic and steric parameters.

Application of the copper catalysed N-arylation of amidines in the synthesis of analogues of the chemical tool, blebbistatin

A robust protocol for the CuI-catalysed arylation of amidines is presented. Whilst the initially identified conditions were useful for benzamidine-derived substrates, difficulties were encountered with more complex substrates. This problem was overcome following a change in ligand type, enabling the synthesis of analogues of the chemical tool, blebbistatin.

Highly stable tetrathiafulvalene radical dimers in [3]catenanes

Two [3]catenane 'molecular flasks' have been designed to create stabilized, redox-controlled tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) dimers, enabling their spectrophotometric and structural properties to be probed in detail. The mechanically interlocked framework of the [3]catenanes creates the ideal arrangement and ultrahigh local concentration for the encircled TTF units to form stable dimers associated with their discrete oxidation states. These dimerization events represent an affinity umpolung, wherein the inversion in electronic affinity replaces the traditional TTF-bipyridinium interaction, which is over-ridden by stabilizing mixed-valence (TTF)2•+ and radical-cation (TTF•+)2 states inside the 'molecular flasks.' The experimental data, collected in the solid state as well as in solution under ambient conditions, together with supporting quantum mechanical calculations, are consistent with the formation of stabilized paramagnetic mixed-valence dimers, and then diamagnetic radical-cation dimers following subsequent one-electron oxidations of the [3]catenanes.

1,2-Bis(2-bromo-benz-yl)diselane

In the title compound, C₁₄H₁₂Br₂Se₂, the Se—Se bond length [2.3034 (9) Å] is similar to those in diphenyl diselenide [2.3066 (7) and 2.3073 (10) Å] and shorter than that in 1,8-diselenona­phthalene [2.0879 (8)Å]. The mol­ecule adopts a classical gauche conformation.

pH dependent separation of uranium by chelation chromatography using pyridine 2,6-dimethanol as a chelator: single crystal X-ray structural confirmation of the chelated uranium complex

A very effective sorbent material which exhibits exceptional capture of hexavalent uranium from other actinides and lanthanides at microg g(-1) level, features pyridine 2,6-dimethanol immobilized onto alumina. The maximum sorption capacity for dioxouranium(VI) was found as 1.96 mmol g(-1) at pH 3.0. The adsorbed uranium complex was eluted completely by 0.05 mol L(-1) (NH(4))(2)CO(3) solution and the concentration of hexavalent dioxouranium ion was monitored spectrophotometrically using Arsenazo III. The structure of the chelated uranium complex has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray structure analysis and Fourier transform infrared red (FTIR) spectroscopy. Thermo gravimetric analysis/differential thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG) of the chelated uranium complex was performed. The method is reproducible with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.2% (N=10) and the three sigma detection limits (N=15) 1.2 microg mL(-1) respectively. A pre-concentration factor, almost 500, for uranium was achieved. Interferences from Th(4+), Mn(2+), Ni(2+) and Cu(2+) ions were masked with ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (di-sodium salt) (Na(2)EDTA) in the aqueous phase. The developed method has been tested for uranium recovery and estimation in some certified reference materials and environmental samples.

Isothiourea-mediated stereoselective C-acylation of silyl ketene acetals

Isothiourea DHPB promotes the diastereoselective C-acylation of silyl ketene acetals with anhydrides or benzoyl fluoride, giving 3-acyl-3-aryl or 3-acyl-3-alkylfuranones in excellent yields and stereoselectivities (up to 99:1 dr).