A novel stabilisation model for ruthenium nanoparticles in imidazolium ionic liquids: in situ spectroscopic and labelling evidence.

In situ labelling and spectroscopic experiments are used to explain the key points in the stabilisation of ruthenium nanoparticles (RuNPs) generated in imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) by decomposition of (eta(4)-1,5-cyclooctadiene)(eta(6)-1,3,5-cyclooctatriene)ruthenium(0), Ru(COD)(COT), under dihydrogen. These are found to be: (1) the presence of hydrides at the RuNP surface and, (2) the confinement of RuNPs in the non-polar domains of the structured IL, induced by the rigid 3-D organisation. These results lead to a novel stabilisation model for NPs in ionic liquids.

Interaction between the pi-system of toluene and the imidazolium ring of ionic liquids: a combined NMR and molecular simulation study.

The solute-solvent interactions and the site-site distances between toluene and ionic liquids (ILs) 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMMIm][NTf2] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide [BMIm][NTf2] at various molar ratios were determined by NMR experiments (1D NMR, rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY)) and by molecular simulation using an atomistic force field. The difference in behavior of toluene in these ILs has been related to the presence of H-bonding between the C2-H and the anion in [BMIm][NTf2] generating a stronger association (>20 kJ.mol-1) than in the case of [BMMIm][NTf2]. Consequently, toluene cannot cleave this H-bond in [BMIm][NTf2] which remains in large aggregates of ionic pairs. However, toluene penetrates the less strongly bonded network of [BMMIm][NTf2] and interacts with [BMMIm] cations.

Temporal Evolution of Generalization during Learning in Linear Networks.

We study generalization in a simple framework of feedforward linear networks with n inputs and n outputs, trained from examples by gradient descent on the usual quadratic error function. We derive analytical results on the behavior of the validation function corresponding to the LMS error function calculated on a set of validation patterns. We show that the behavior of the validation function depends critically on the initial conditions and on the characteristics of the noise. Under certain simple assumptions, if the initial weights are sufficiently small, the validation function has a unique minimum corresponding to an optimal stopping time for training for which simple bounds can be calculated. There exists also situations where the validation function can have more complicated and somewhat unexpected behavior such as multiple local minima (at most n) of variable depth and long but finite plateau effects. Additional results and possible extensions are briefly discussed.

Influence of ionic association, transport properties, and solvation on the catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene in ionic liquids.

The influence of the nature of two different ionic liquids, namely 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)], and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)], on the catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with [Rh(COD)(PPh(3))(2)][NTf(2)] (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) was studied. Initially, the effect of different concentrations of 1,3-cyclohexadiene on the molecular interactions and on the structure in two ionic liquids was investigated by NMR and by molecular dynamic simulations. It was found that in both ionic liquids 1,3-cyclohexadiene is solvated preferentially in the lipophilic regions. Furthermore, the higher solubility of 1,3-cyclohexadiene in [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] and the smaller positive values of the excess molar enthalpy of mixing for the 1,3-cyclohexadiene + [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] system in comparison with 1,3-cyclohexadiene + [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] indicate more favorable interactions between 1,3-cyclohexadiene and the C(1)C(4)Im(+) cation than with the C(1)C(1)C(4)Im(+) cation. Subsequently, diffusivity and conductivity measurements of the 1,3-cyclohexadiene + ionic liquid mixtures at different compositions allowed a characterization of mass and charge transport in the media and access to the ionicity of ionic liquids in the mixture. From the dependence of the ratio between molar conductivity and the conductivity inferred from NMR diffusion measurements, Λ(imp)/Λ(NMR), on concentration of 1,3-cyclohexadiene in the ionic liquid mixture, it was found that increasing the amount of 1,3-cyclohexadiene leads to a decrease in the ionicity of the medium. Finally, the reactivity of the catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene using [Rh(COD)(PPh(3))(2)][NTf(2)] performed in [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] at different compositions of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and in [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] at one composition was related linearly to the viscosity, hence the reaction rate is determined by the mass transport properties of the media.

Imidazolium ionic liquids as promoters and stabilising agents for the preparation of metal(0) nanoparticles by reduction and decomposition of organometallic complexes.

The organometallic complexes ([Ru(COD)(2-methylallyl)2] and [Ni(COD)2] (COD=1,5-cyclooctadiene) dissolved in imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) undergo reduction and decomposition, respectively, to afford stable ruthenium and nickel metal(0) nanoparticles (Ru(0)-NPs and Ni(0)-NPs) in the absence of classical reducing agents. Depending on the case, the reduction/auto-decomposition is promoted by either the cation and/or anion of the neat imidazolium ILs.

Synthesis and characterisation of ionic liquids based on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and MCl(4), M = Hf and Zr.

Dialkylimidazolium chlorometallate molten salts resulting from the combination of zirconium or hafnium tetrachloride and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [C(1)C(4)Im][Cl], have been prepared with a molar fraction of MCl(4), R = n(MCl4)/n(MCl4) + n([C1C4IM][Cl]) equal to 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67. The structure and composition were studied by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), (35)Cl (263 to 333 K), (1)H and (13)C solid state and solution NMR spectroscopy, and electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectrometry. The primary anions of the MCl(4)-based ILs were [MCl(5)], [MCl(6)] and [M(2)Cl(9)], whose relative abundances varied with R. For R = 0.33, pure solid [C(1)C(4)Im](2)[MCl(6)], for both M = Zr and Hf are formed (m.p. = 366 and 385 K, respectively). For R = 0.67 pure ionic liquids [C(1)C(4)Im][M(2)Cl(9)] for both M = Zr and Hf are formed (T(g) = 224 and 220 K, respectively). The thermal dissociation has been attempted of [C(1)C(4)Im](2)[HfCl(6)], and [C(1)C(4)Im](2)[ZrCl(6)] monitored by (35)Cl and (91)Zr solid NMR (high temperature up to 551 K).

How do physical-chemical parameters influence the catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene in ionic liquids?

The catalytic hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene using [Rh(COD)(PPh(3))(2)]NTf(2) (COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) was performed in two ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)], and 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)]. It is observed that the reaction is twice as fast in [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] than in [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)]. To explain the difference in reactivity, molecular interactions and the microscopic structure of ionic liquid +1,3-cyclohexadiene mixtures were studied by NMR and titration calorimetry experiments, and by molecular simulation in the liquid phase. Diffusivity and viscosity measurements allowed the characterization of mass transport in the reaction media. We could conclude that the diffusivity of 1,3-cyclohexadiene is 1.9 times higher in [C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] than in [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)] and that this difference could explain the lower reactivity observed in [C(1)C(1)C(4)Im][NTf(2)].

A selective synthesis of hydroxyborate anions as novel anchors for zirconocene catalysts.

A new family of hydroxytris(pentafluorophenyl)borate anions [B(C6F5)3OH](-) associated with organic and aprotic cations c+ (imidazolium, pyrrolidinium and phosphonium) has been prepared by a general one-pot synthesis that implies the chloride borate analogues [B(C6F5)3Cl](-)[c]+. The [c]+[B(C6F5)3OH](-) salts have been isolated and fully characterized. The borate anion [B(C6F5)3OH](-) has been shown to protonate the Zr-Me bond in the Cp2ZrMe2 complex forming CH4 and the first published example of anionic [Cp2Zr(Me)OB(C6F5)3](-) species. Standard spectroscopic methods demonstrate the covalent character of the Zr metal center and the anionic character of the boron atom. This protonolysis methodology using [B(C6F5)3OH](-) anion affords a new route for the incorporation of a covalently bonded anionic functionality on organometallic complexes. This provides a new way to immobilize transition metal complexes in ionic liquids.