Isoquinolin-1-ylidenes as electronically tuneable ligands.

The novel isoquinolin-1-ylidene ligands, introduced into Rh(I) complexes by exploiting the carbene-like reactivity of adducts , exhibit ligand properties similar to those of classic NHCs, and their electronic properties can be tuned by the introduction of electron-withdrawing or donating groups in the benzene ring.

Preparation of cellouronic acids and partially acetylated cellouronic acids by TEMPO/NaClO oxidation of water-soluble cellulose acetate.

Water-soluble cellulose acetates with a degree of substitution (DS) of 0.5, prepared by partial deacetylation of cellulose acetate of DS=2.5, were oxidized with catalytic amount of 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy radical (TEMPO), sodium hypochlorite, and sodium bromide to provide useful cellouronic acids. The oxidation was conducted at a constant pH of 10 and at 2 degrees C to avoid the occurrence of side products. Whereas only the primary hydroxyl groups of cellulose acetate were oxidized, a variable degree of oxidation (DO) resulted in a range of 0.33 to 1.0, depending on the concentration in sodium hypochlorite. Thus, polyglucuronic acid as well as partially acetylated cellouronic acid, having a range of DO were obtained.