Bis(tetraphenylphosphonium) tris(oxalato-O,O')germanate(IV).

The synthesis and structure of the title compound, (C(24)H(20)P)(2)[Ge(C(2)O(4))(3)], are reported. The PPh(4)(+) cations in the structure form infinite zigzag chains in which the P.P distances alternate between 6.229 (1) and 7.118 (1) A, and the P.P.P angle is 131.4 (1) A. The shorter P.P distance is associated with a sixfold phenyl embrace. However, the longer P.P distance is associated with both phenyl-phenyl interactions and interactions between the cations and a twofold symmetric [Ge(C(2)O(4))(3)](2-) anion. In the cation-anion interactions, the P.O distance is 4.444 (2) A, the O.P-C(distal) angle is 175.0 (1) degrees and the shortest H.O distances are 2.74 and 3.09 A.

Coordination and dehydrogenation of PH(3) by 23 transition metal ions in the gas phase: FTICR experiments and density functional interpretations.

The reactions of 23 transition metal ions M+(g) with phosphane (PH(3)) have been investigated using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectrometry. Two main reaction pathways are observed, sequential dehydrogenation of multiple (up to nine) phosphane molecules, and addition of multiple (up to four) phosphane molecules. The addition and dehydrogenation reaction pathways are, for the most part, mutually exclusive for a particular metal. Dehydrogenation of phosphane is observed for metal ions toward the lower left of the transition block, and the addition process is predominant toward the top right. The dehydrogenation process is considerably faster than the addition, and sequentially produces the species MPH+, MP(2)(+), MP(3)H(+), MP(4)(+), etc. Density functional calculations were used to evaluate collision trajectories, reaction mechanisms, structures of intermediates (including a number of MoP(x)H(y)(+) species), and to identify the factors determining whether each metal reacts by dehydrogenation or addition. Insertion of M+ into P-H bonds is calculated to be a barrierless, exergonic process for only those metals which are observed to dehydrogenate phosphane molecules. A reaction mechanism involving the transfer of H atoms from P to M followed by the elimination of H(2) from M is profiled for Ru. The energetic origins of the metal influence on reaction type have been traced to the energy changes for the first stage migration of H from P to M. These experimental and theoretical results should be valuable in applications where PH(3(g)) is used in the generation of bulk and surface materials involving metal phosphides.

Supramolecular assemblies of quaternary ammonium cations and halide anions in the gas phase: ESMS-FTICR data and computer modelling

Supramolecular aggregates of tetraalkylammonium halides (R4NX) are formed by electrospray out of acetonitrile solution. Mass spectrometry reveals 88 charged aggregates for R= Me, Et, Bu; X= Br, I, ranging up to [(Bu4N)39Br42]3- in size. With the objective of improving calculations of intermolecular energies for supramolecular aggregates of ions, calibrated semi-empirical potentials for inter-ion interactions have been developed and applied to these aggregates. The accuracy of the calculated energies is supported by the measured collisional dissociation energy of (Et4N+)4 (I-)5. Energy optimisations indicate that the probable structures have the halide ions dispersed in a matrix of cations, which, for Bu4N+, can be mutually attractive. The aggregates are structurally fluid, with multiple structures separated by 4-8 kJmol(-1). The energy calculations are entirely consistent with the observed formation of large aggregates, and of multiply charged anions. It is estimated that the cohesive energies of supramolecular assemblies of ions such as these reach about 40 kJmol(-1) per constituent ion.

Crystal supramolecular motifs: columns of embracing Ph3PMe+ or Ph3PCI+ cations controlling formation of.

The crystal structures of (Ph3PCl)2[Cu3Cl8] (1) (triclinic, space group P1, a = 9.480(6) A, b = 10.243(8) A, c = 11.232(6) A, alpha = 86.76(4) degrees, beta = 66.62(5) degrees, gamma = 83.92(4) degrees, Z = 1) and (Ph3PMe)2[Cu3Br8] (2) (triclinic, space group P1, a = 9.795(4) A, b = 10.472(4) A, c = 11.392(4) A, alpha = 86.67(3) degrees, beta = 66.67(3)degrees, gamma = 83.14(3) degrees, Z = 1), reported here, demonstrate a new supramolecular motif for cations of the type Ph3PY+ where Y is CH3 or Cl. The crystals contain columns of cations propagated by alternating 6-fold phenyl embraces (6PE) and pseudo-6PE: the pseudo-6PE described here contains four phenyl rings and two hetero groups (Cl or CH3), and is symbolized as 4P2Y. The zigzag sequence of cations engaged in ...6P...4P2Y...6P...4P2Y... is similar to the zigzag chain of infinite 6-fold phenyl embraces (ZZI6PE) frequently adopted by Ph4P+ cations in crystals. One-dimensionally nonmolecular anion chains with repeat unit [Cu3X8] run parallel to and between the columns of cations. The coordination geometry in the [Cu3X8(2-)]1 to infinity chain has not been observed in crystals with other cations, and it is postulated that the attractive interactions between cations in the pseudo-ZZI6PE crystal supramolecular motif control the geometry of the anions through the requirement for commensurability of cation columns and anion chains.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of cadmium phytochelatin and model systems.

Higher plants, algae and some yeasts respond to potentially toxic heavy metals such as cadmium by synthesizing phytochelatins and related cysteine-rich polypeptides. We have used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study the nature of cadmium binding in such peptides isolated from maize (Zea mays) exposed to low levels of cadmium, and in two synthetic cadmium-peptide complexes, Cd-(gamma-Glu-Cys)3Gly and Cd-(alpha-Glu-Cys)3Gly. We have used the synthetic ions [Cd(SPh)4]2-, [Cd4(SPh)10]2- and [S4Cd10(SPh)16]4-as crystallographically defined models for the cadmium site. The Cd K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data, together with the Cd K, LI, LII and LIII near-edge spectra, reveal a predominantly tetrahedral coordination of cadmium by sulfur in both the phytochelatin and synthetic peptide complexes. In particular, the Cd LIII-edge lacks a peak at 3534.9 e V which was found to be prominent for oxygen- or nitrogen-coordinated species. The Cd-S distance in the phytochelatin complex is 2.54 A. The Cd K-edge EXAFS does not show any isolated, well-defined Cd-Cd interactions; however, contrary to the conclusion of previous work, their absence is not necessarily indicative of isolated cadmium-thiolate ligation. Evidence from other studies suggests that high static disorder, combined with a large vibrational component, serve to effectively wash out this contribution to the EXAFS. The sulfur K-edge, moreover, shows a low-energy feature both in the phytochelatin and in the synthetic cadmium-peptide complexes which is consistent with sulfide bound in a cluster with cadmium as found for [S4Cd10(SPh)16]4-. This feature strongly suggests the presence of a polynuclear cadmium cluster in maize phytochelatin.

The observation of fullerenes in a Technegas lung ventilation unit.

Evidence is provided to show that Technegas has structure compatible with the Buckminsterfullerene model C60 in which 99Tcm atoms are trapped.

Cross-polarization dynamics in 2,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-exo-2-exo-6-diol inclusion compounds as studied by 13C magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of a number of inclusion compounds of 2,6-dimethyl-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-exo-2-exo-6-diol (host) with small organic small molecules (guests) have been studied. With 3,4-dichloro-1,2,5-thiadiazole and tetrachloroethylene as guests, line splittings of the host resonances were observed due to the location of the guest in the host lattice. The cross-polarization (CP) dynamics of these inclusion compounds have been studied and shown to be indicative of weakly coupled systems. As expected, the proton spin lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame (T1pH) of the host are increased by the presence of rapidly moving guest because the efficiency of homonuclear dipolar relaxation in the rotating frame is reduced. However, strong transient oscillations were also observed for the guest molecules during the Hartmann-Hahn transfer of magnetisation from the more abundant 1H spins to the 13C spins during spin lattice rotating frame relaxation. These oscillations were found to be greatest for carbons with largest chemical shift anisotropies.