Intermolecular Dehydrative Coupling and Intramolecular Cyclization of Ruthenium Vinylidene Complexes Formed from Aromatic Propynes Containing Carbonyl Functionalities.

A remarkable intermolecular dehydrative coupling reaction with the formation of a C-C bond was found for the vinylidene complex 2 a, yielding the dinuclear bisvinylidene complex 4 a. Complex 2 a containing 1-hydroxyindan moiety was first formed from the reaction of o-propynyl benzaldehyde 1 a with [Ru]-Cl ([Ru]=Cp(PPh3 )2 Ru) by a cyclization process. For analogous aldehyde 1 b containing an additional 1,3-dioxolane group on the aryl ring, similar intermolecular coupling yields the dinuclear bisvinylidene complex 4 b. However, the fluoro group on the aryl ring in aldehyde 1 c inhibits the coupling reaction, giving only the vinylidene complex 2 c. For the reactions of [Ru]-Cl in MeOH with compounds 1 f, 1 g and 1 h, each with a ketone functionality, cyclization gives vinylidene complexes 2 f, 2 g and 2 h, respectively. However, no similar intermolecular coupling was observed, instead, the intramolecular dehydration yields 8 f, 8 g and 8 h, respectively. In CDCl3 , catalytic cyclization is observed for the o-propynylphenyl ketone 1 h with [Ru]-Cl at 50 °C giving the isochromene products 14 h. Furthermore, treatment of the o-propynylaryl α,ß-unsaturated ketones 1 k-m and 1 n with [Ru]-Cl in MeOH affords the corresponding vinylidene complexes 10 k-m and 11 n each with 1-benzosuberone moiety in the presence of NH4 PF6 . These intramolecular cyclization products were formed by the addition of Cß onto the terminal carbon of the alkene moiety. All these reaction products were characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition, structures of complexes 4 a, and 10 l were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Hydrogen bonding and fluorous weak interactions in the non-isomorphous {4,4'-bis[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridine-κ2N,N'}dibromidopalladium and -platinum complexes.

The polyfluorinated title compounds, [MBr2(C18H16F8N2O2)] or [4,4'-(HCF2CF2CH2OCH2)2-2,2'-bpy]MBr2, (1) (M = Pd and bpy is bipyridine) and (2) (M = Pt), have -CH(α)2OCH(ß)2CF2CF2H side chains with methylene H-atom donors at the α and ß sites, and methine H-atom donors at the terminal sites, in addition to aromatic H-atom donors. In contrast to the original expectation of isomorphous structures, (1) crystallizes in the space group C2/c and (2) in P21/n, with similar unit-cell volumes and Z = 4. The asymmetric unit of (1) is one half of the molecule, which resides on a crystallographic twofold axis. Both (1) and (2) display stacking of the molecules, indicating a planar (bpy)MBr2 skeleton in each case. The structure of (1) exhibits columns with C-H(ß)...Br hydrogen bonds between consecutive layers which conforms to a static (ß,ß) linkage between layers. In the molecular plane, (1) shows double C-H(α)...Br hydrogen bonds self-repeating along the b axis, the planar molecules being connected into infinite belts. Compound (2) has no crystallographic symmetry and forms π-dimer pairs as supermolecules, which then stack parallel to the a axis. The π-dimer-pair supermolecules exhibit (Pt-)Br...Br(-Pt) contacts [3.6937 (7) Å] to neighbouring π-dimer pairs crosslinking the columns. The structure of (2) reveals many C-H...F(-C) interactions between F atoms and aromatic C-H groups, in addition to those between F atoms and methylene C-H groups.

Side-chain conformations in the isomorphous polyfluorinated {4,4'-bis[(2,2-difluoroethoxy)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridine-κ2N,N'}dichloridopalladium and -platinum complexes.

The polyfluorinated title compounds, [MCl2(C16H16F4N2O2)] or [4,4'-(HCF2CH2OCH2)2-2,2'-bpy]MCl2 [M = Pd, (1), and M = Pt, (2)], have -C(Hα)2OC(Hß)2CF2H side chains with H-atom donors at the α and ß sites. The structures of (1) and (2) are isomorphous, with the nearly planar (bpy)MCl2 molecules stacked in columns. Within one column, π-dimer pairs alternate between a π-dimer pair reinforced with C-H...Cl hydrogen bonds (α,α) and a π-dimer pair reinforced with C-Hß...F(-C) interactions (abbreviated as C-Hß...F-C,C-Hß...F-C). The compounds [4,4'-(CF3CH2OCH2)2-2,2'-bpy]MCl2 [M = Pd, (3), and M = Pt, (4)] have been reported to be isomorphous [Lu et al. (2012). J. Fluorine Chem. 137, 54-56], yet with disorder in the fluorous regions. The molecules of (3) [or (4)] also form similar stacks, but with alternating π-dimer pairs between the (α,ß; α,ß) and (ß,ß) forms. Through (C-)H...Cl hydrogen-bond interactions, one molecule of (1) [or (2)] is expanded into an aggregate of two inversion-related π-dimer pairs, one pair in the (α,α) form and the other pair in the (C-Hß...F-C,C-Hß...F-C) form, with the plane normals making an interplanar angle of 58.24 (3)°. Due to the demands of maintaining a high coordination number around the metal-bound Cl atoms in molecule (1) [or (2)], the ponytails of molecule (1) [or (2)] bend outward; in contrast, the ponytails of molecule (3) [or (4)] bend inward.

Weak hydrogen and halogen bonding in 4-[(2,2-difluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide and 4-[(3-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide.

To enable a comparison between a C-H...X hydrogen bond and a halogen bond, the structures of two fluorous-substituted pyridinium iodide salts have been determined. 4-[(2,2-Difluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide, C8H10F2NO+·I-, (1), has a -CH2OCH2CF2H substituent at the para position of the pyridinium ring and 4-[(3-chloro-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide, C9H9ClF4NO+·I-, (2), has a -CH2OCH2CF2CF2Cl substituent at the para position of the pyridinium ring. In salt (1), the iodide anion is involved in one N-H...I and three C-H...I hydrogen bonds, which, together with C-H...F hydrogen bonds, link the cations and anions into a three-dimensional network. For salt (2), the iodide anion is involved in one N-H...I hydrogen bond, two C-H...I hydrogen bonds and one C-Cl...I halogen bond; additional C-H...F and C-F...F interactions link the cations and anions into a three-dimensional arrangement.

Molecular structures of 3-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]- and 3-[(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinates.

The salts 3-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinate, C9H10F4NO+·C7H4NO3S-, (1), and 3-[(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium saccharinate, C9H9F5NO+·C7H4NO3S-, (2), i.e. saccharinate (or 1,1-dioxo-1λ6,2-benzothiazol-3-olate) salts of pyridinium with -CH2OCH2CF2CF2H and -CH2OCH2CF2CF3 meta substituents, respectively, were investigated crystallographically in order to compare their fluorine-related weak interactions in the solid state. Both salts demonstrate a stable synthon formed by the pyridinium cation and the saccharinate anion, in which a seven-membered ring reveals a double hydrogen-bonding pattern. The twist between the pyridinium plane and the saccharinate plane in (2) is 21.26 (8)° and that in (1) is 8.03 (6)°. Both salts also show stacks of alternating cation-anion π-interactions. The layer distances, calculated from the centroid of the saccharinate plane to the neighbouring pyridinium planes, above and below, are 3.406 (2) and 3.517 (2) Šin (1), and 3.409 (3) and 3.458 (3) Šin (2).

Weak hydrogen bonding and fluorous interactions in the chloride and bromide salts of 4-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium.

Neutralization of 4-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridine with hydrohalo acids HX (X = Cl and Br) yielded the pyridinium salts 4-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium chloride, C9H10F4NO+·Cl-, (1), and 4-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)methyl]pyridinium bromide, C9H10F4NO+·Br-, (2), both carrying a fluorous side chain at the para position of the pyridinium ring. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques revealed that (1) and (2) are isomorphous. The halide anions accept four hydrogen bonds from N-H, ortho-C-H and CF2-H groups. Two cations and two anions form a centrosymmetric dimeric building block, utilizing complimentary N-H...X...H-Csp3 connections. These dimers are further crosslinked, utilizing another complimentary Csp2-H...X...H-Csp2 connection. The pyridinium rings are π-stacked, forming columns running parallel to the a axis that make angles of ca 44-45° with the normal to the pyridinium plane. There are also supramolecular C-H...F-C interactions, namely bifurcated C-H...F and bifurcated C-F...H interactions; additionally, one type II C-F...F-C halogen bond has been observed.

New fluorous ponytailed 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium halide salts.

It is possible that fluorous compounds could be utilized as directing forces in crystal engineering for applications in materials chemistry or catalysis. Although numerous fluorous compounds have been used for various applications, their structures in the solid state remains a lively matter for debate. The reaction of 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridine with HX (X = I or Cl) yielded new fluorous ponytailed pyridinium halide salts, namely 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium iodide, C8H9F3NO+·I-, (1), and 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium chloride, C8H9F3NO+·Cl-, (2), which were characterized by IR spectroscopy, multinuclei (1H, 13C and 19F) NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structure analysis showed that there are two types of hydrogen bonds, namely N-H...X and C-H...X. The iodide anion in salt (1) is hydrogen bonded to three 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium cations in the crystal packing, while the chloride ion in salt (2) is involved in six hydrogen bonds to five 4-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]pyridinium cations, which is attributed to the smaller size and reduced polarizability of the chloride ion compared to the iodide ion. In the IR spectra, the pyridinium N-H stretching band for salt (1) exhibited a blue shift compared with that of salt (2).

Ring Expansion and Skeletal Rearrangement of Propargyl Alcohol Substituted Aziridines Induced by Ruthenium Complexes.

The ring expansion and skeletal rearrangement of two types of propargyl alcohol substituted aziridines with or without cycloalkane moieties was induced by a ruthenium cyclopentadienyl phosphine complex. In the simple aziridine system with no cycloalkane, the unique cycloisomerization process altered the absolute connectivity of the two-carbon unit in the three-membered ring to give organometallic products with substituted pyridine or dihydropyridine ligands. For the aziridine on a cyclohexyl ring, the cycloisomerization process was controlled by an interchange process between vinylidene and allenylidene species, thus creating a better relative configuration of the aziridinyl and the alkynyl units. This determines the stereochemistry of the metal carbene products of the octahydroindole derivatives. The structures of five products were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.

Characterization of Au and Bimetallic PtAu Nanoparticles on PDDA-Graphene Sheets as Electrocatalysts for Formic Acid Oxidation.

Nanocomposite materials of the Au nanoparticles (Au/PDDA-G) and the bimetallic PtAu nanoparticles on poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-modified graphene sheets (PtAu/PDDA-G) were prepared with hydrothermal method at 90 °C for 24 h. The composite materials Au/PDDA-G and PtAu/PDDA-G were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for exploring the structural characterization for the electrochemical catalysis. According to TEM results, the diameter of Au and bimetallic PtAu nanoparticles is about 20-50 and 5-10 nm, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that both of PtAu and Au nanoparticles exhibit the crystalline plane of (111), (200), (210), and (311). Furthermore, XRD data also show the 2°-3° difference between pristine graphene sheets and the PDDA-modified graphene sheets. For the catalytic activity tests of Au/PDDA-G and PtAu/PDDA-G, the mixture of 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 and 0.5 M aqueous formic acid was used as model to evaluate the electrochemical characterizations. The catalytic activities of the novel bimetallic PtAu/graphene electrocatalyst would be anticipated to be superior to the previous electrocatalyst of the cubic Pt/graphene.

Synthesis and characterizations of Ni-NiO nanoparticles on PDDA-modified graphene for oxygen reduction reaction.

We are presenting our recent research results about the Ni-NiO nanoparticles on poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-modified graphene sheet (Ni-NiO/PDDA-G) nanocomposites prepared by the hydrothermal method at 90°C for 24 h. The Ni-NiO nanoparticles on PDDA-modified graphene sheets are measured by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern for exploring the structural evidence to apply in the electrochemical catalysts. The size of Ni-NiO nanoparticles is around 5 nm based on TEM observations. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show the Ni in the (012), (110), (110), (200), and (220) crystalline orientations, respectively. Moreover, the crystalline peaks of NiO are found in (111) and (220). The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) result represents the loading content of the Ni metal which is about 34.82 wt%. The electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis/X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA/XPS) reveals the Ni(0) to Ni(II) ratio in metal phase. The electrochemical studies with Ni-NiO/PDDA-G in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 were studied for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).

Structure and emission studies of dimorphic crystals of [PtBr2(5,5'-bis(CF3CH2OCH2)-2,2'-bpy)] (1).

The yellow (1y) and orange (1o) crystalline polymorphs of [PtBr2(5,5'-bis(CF3CH2OCH2)-2,2'-bipyridine)] exhibit surprisingly short nearest neighbour Pt···Pt separations of 3.526 Å and 3.590 Å, respectively, at 295 K. Both distances are much shorter than those found in structures of the unsubstituted [PtBr2(2,2'-bipyridine)] analogue. Consistent with a linear chain structure in 1o and dimer formation in 1y, both solids exhibit emission spectra shifted to much longer wavelengths than that exhibited by the monomer in a low-temperature glass. Furthermore, the emission spectra of 1o and 1y shift to even longer wavelengths as the temperature decreases and the Pt···Pt separations contract. Till now delocalized emission of this type has been considered to be restricted to [PtCl2(diimine)] systems and implausible in PtBr2-containing analogues for steric reasons. Ironically, in the system at hand the bulky 5,5'-substituents apparently promote delocalization of the emission by forming a network of hydrogen-bonding-like C-H···F-C interactions that help shape the packing.

The microwave-assisted ionic liquid nanocomposite synthesis: platinum nanoparticles on graphene and the application on hydrogenation of styrene.

The microwave-assisted nanocomposite synthesis of metal nanoparticles on graphene or graphite oxide was introduced in this research. With microwave assistance, the Pt nanoparticles on graphene/graphite oxide were successfully produced in the ionic liquid of 2-hydroxyethanaminium formate [HOCH2CH2NH3][HCO2]. On graphene/graphite oxide, the sizes of Pt nanoparticles were about 5 to 30 nm from transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) results. The crystalline Pt structures were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Since hydrogenation of styrene is one of the important well-known chemical reactions, herein, we demonstrated then the catalytic hydrogenation capability of the Pt nanoparticles on graphene/graphite oxide for the nanocomposite to compare with that of the commercial catalysts (Pt/C and Pd/C, 10 wt.% metal catalysts on activated carbon from Strem chemicals, Inc.). The conversions with the Pt nanoparticles on graphene are >99% from styrene to ethyl benzene at 100°C and under 140 psi H2 atmosphere. However, ethyl cyclohexane could be found as a side product at 100°C and under 1,520 psi H2 atmosphere utilizing the same nanocomposite catalyst.

Nanocomposite for methanol oxidation: synthesis and characterization of cubic Pt nanoparticles on graphene sheets.

We present our recent results on Pt nanoparticles on graphene sheets (Pt-NPs/G), a nanocomposite prepared with microwave assistance in ionic liquid 2-hydroxyethanaminiumformate. Preparation of Pt-NPs/G was achieved without the addition of extra reductant such as hydrazine or ethylene glycol. The Pt nanoparticles on graphene have a cubic-like shape (about 60 wt% Pt loading, Pt-NPs/G) and the particle size is 6 ± 3 nm from transmission electron microscopy results. Electrochemical cyclic voltammetry studies in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 were performed using Pt-NPs/G and separately, for comparison, using a commercially available electrocatalyst (60 wt% Pt loading, Pt/C). The electrochemical surface ratio of Pt-NPs/G to Pt/C is 0.745. The results of a methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 + 1.0 M methanol for the two samples are presented. The MOR results show that the ratios of the current density of oxidation (If) to the current density of reduction (Ib) are 3.49 (Pt-NPs/G) and 1.37 (Pt/C), respectively, with a preference by 2.55 times favoring Pt-NPs/G. That is, the tolerance CO poisoning of Pt-NPs/G is better than that of commercial Pt/C.

4,4'-Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxymethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine.

As part of a homologous series of novel polyfluorinated bipyridyl (bpy) ligands, the title compound, C(16)H(14)F(6)N(2)O(2), contains the smallest fluorinated group, viz. CF(3). The molecule resides on a crystallographic inversion centre at the mid-point of the pyridine C(ipso)-C(ipso) bond. Therefore, the bpy skeleton lies in an anti conformation to avoid repulsion between the two pyridyl N atoms. Weak intramolecular C-H...N and C-H...O interactions are observed, similar to those in related polyfluorinated bpy-metal complexes. A pi-pi interaction is observed between the bpy rings of adjacent molecules and this is probably a primary driving force in crystallization. Weak intermolecular C-H...N hydrogen bonding is present between one of the CF(3)CH(2)- methylene H atoms and a pyridyl N atom related by translation along the [010] direction, in addition to weak benzyl-type C-H...F interactions to atoms of the terminal CF(3) group. It is of note that the O-CH(2)CF(3) bond is almost perpendicular to the bpy plane.

Synthesis and characterization of [Pb{Se2P(OiPr)2}2]n pseudo polymorphs: polymeric, single source precursor enabling preparation of shape-controlled lead selenide structures.

Novel lead pseudo polymorphs supported by diselenophosphate (dsep) ligands, [Pb{Se(2)P(O(i)Pr)(2)}(2)](n) (1alpha and 1beta), were synthesized and structurally characterized. The two structures differed in the binding modes of the dsep ligand. Each repeating unit in 1alpha was composed of a lead atom coordinated by two dsep ligands, one in a chelating mode and the other in a bridging-dangling mode. By contrast, the dsep ligands in 1beta adopted a bimetallic-biconnective (mu(1)-S, mu(1)-S) binding pattern. The bridging-dangling mode observed in 1alpha is the first example of this mode for the dsep ligand. [Pb{Se(2)P(O(i)Pr)(2)}(2)](n) could be successfully utilized as a single source precursor (SSP) for growing lead selenide (PbSe) nanostructures with different shapes via the solvothermal process. The morphologies of the as-grown PbSe structures were controlled by capping agents, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and ethylenediamine, both bind on the {200} plane and enhance the growth rate of the <111> direction of the PbSe crystals, resulting in the formation of cubes and eight-horned rod dendrites, respectively. Raman spectroscopy was utilized to investigate the phonon vibration behaviour of the as-grown eight-horned rod dendrites. All peaks in the Raman spectra can be attributed to longitudinal (LO) and transverse (TO) optical phonon modes of the PbSe rod dendrites.

Modified procedure for improved synthesis of some octameric silsesquioxanes via hydrolytic polycondenzation in the presence of Amberlite ion-exchange resins.

Practical alternative procedures are described for the syntheses of octavinylsilsesquioxane 1, octaphenylsilesquioxane and octabenzylsilsesquioxane. The hydrolytic polycondensation of RSiX3 (R = CH2=CH-, C6H5- or C6H5CH2-; X = Cl, OCH3, or OC2H5) in the presence of solid acid or base Amberlite ion-exchange resin gave improved yields of the corresponding octameric oligosilsesquioxanes. Repetitive usage of the Amberlite resin as the hydrolysis reagent was tested during synthesis of 1. The results indicate that it could be used many times in the same solvent making the procedure a more economically viable technique.

3,6-Bis(2-pyridyl)di-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-a:4',3'-c]phthalazine.

The title compound, C20H12N8, (I), has been prepared by the reaction of 1,4-dihydrazinophthalazine and pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde, followed by an oxidative cyclization by treatment with bromine. In the solid state, the molecules of (I) are discrete, comprising a fused and twisted four-ring system with an overall helical appearance. The distance between the two intramolecular pyridyl N atoms is 3.075 (2) A, this short contact distance suggesting a pi-pi interaction.