Real-time quality control of optical backscattering data from Biogeochemical-Argo floats.

BACKGROUND: Biogeochemical-Argo floats are collecting an unprecedented number of profiles of optical backscattering measurements in the global ocean. Backscattering (BBP) data are crucial to understanding ocean particle dynamics and the biological carbon pump. Yet, so far, no procedures have been agreed upon to quality control BBP data in real time. METHODS: Here, we present a new suite of real-time quality-control tests and apply them to the current global BBP Argo dataset. The tests were developed by expert BBP users and Argo data managers and have been implemented on a snapshot of the entire Argo dataset. RESULTS: The new tests are able to automatically flag most of the "bad" BBP profiles from the raw dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed tests have been approved by the Biogeochemical-Argo Data Management Team and will be implemented by the Argo Data Assembly Centres to deliver real-time quality-controlled profiles of optical backscattering. Provided they reach a pressure of about 1000 dbar, these tests could also be applied to BBP profiles collected by other platforms.

Synthesis, structures and reactivity of lanthanoid(II) formamidinates of varying steric bulk.

New reactive, divalent lanthanoid formamidinates [Yb(Form)(2)(thf)(2)] (Form=[RNCHNR]; R=o-MeC(6)H(4) (o-TolForm; 1), 2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3) (XylForm; 2), 2,4,6-Me(3)C(6)H(2) (MesForm; 3), 2,6-Et(2)C(6)H(3) (EtForm; 4), o-PhC(6)H(4) (o-PhPhForm; 5), 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3) (DippForm; 6), o-HC(6)F(4) (TFForm; 7)) and [Eu(DippForm)(2)(thf)(2)] (8) have been prepared by redox transmetallation/protolysis reactions between an excess of a lanthanoid metal, Hg(C(6)F(5))(2) and the corresponding formamidine (HForm). X-ray crystal structures of 2-6 and 8 show them to be monomeric with six-coordinate lanthanoid atoms, chelating N,N'-Form ligands and cis-thf donors. However, [Yb(TFForm)(2)(thf)(2)] (7) crystallizes from THF as [Yb(TFForm)(2)(thf)(3)] (7a), in which ytterbium is seven coordinate and the thf ligands are "pseudo-meridional". Representative complexes undergo C-X (X=F, Cl, Br) activation reactions with perfluorodecalin, hexachloroethane or 1,2-dichloroethane, and 1-bromo-2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene, giving [Yb(EtForm)(2)F](2) (9), [Yb(o-PhPhForm)(2)F](2) (10), [Yb(o-PhPhForm)(2)Cl(thf)(2)] (11), [Yb(DippForm)(2)Cl(thf)] (12) and [Yb(DippForm)(2)Br(thf)] (16). X-ray crystallography has shown 9 to be a six-coordinate, fluoride-bridged dimer, 12 and 16 to be six-coordinate monomers with the halide and thf ligands cis to each other, and 11 to have a seven-coordinate Yb atom with "pseudo-meridional" unidentate ligands and thf donors cis to each other. The analogous terbium compound [Tb(DippForm)(2)Cl(thf)(2)] (13), prepared by metathesis, has a similar structure to 11. C-Br activation also accompanies the redox transmetallation/protolysis reactions between La, Nd or Yb metals, Hg(2-BrC(6)F(4))(2), and HDippForm, yielding [Ln(DippForm)(2)Br(thf)] complexes (Ln=La (14), Nd (15), Yb (16)).

Coordination chemistry of the cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))(-) ion: monomeric and oligomeric copper(I), silver(I) and gold(I) complexes.

[Na{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}] (1) reacts with [CuCl(PCyp(3))(2)] (Cyp=cyclo-C(5)H(9)) and [CuCl(PPh(3))(3)] (1:1) to give the corresponding copper(I) complexes with a tetra-tert-butylcyclopentaphosphanide ligand, [Cu{cyclo- (P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))(2)] (2) and [Cu{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PPh(3))(2)] (3). The CuCl adduct of 2, [Cu(2)(mu-Cl){cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))(2)] (4), was obtained from the reaction of 1 with [CuCl(PCyp(3))(2)] (1:2). Compounds 2 and 3 rearrange, even at -27 degrees C, to give [Cu(4){cyclo- (P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (5), in which ring contraction of the [cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))](-) anion has occurred. The reaction of 1 with [AgCl(PCyp(3))](4) or [AgCl(PPh(3))(2)] (1:1) leads to the formation of [Ag(4){cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (6). Intermediates, which are most probably mononuclear, "[Ag{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PR(3))(2)]" (R=Cyp, Ph) could be detected in the reaction mixtures, but not isolated. Finally, the reaction of 1 with [AuCl(PCyp(3))] (1:1) yielded [Au{cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(PCyp(3))] (7), whereas an inseparable mixture of [Au(3){cyclo-(P(5)tBu(4))}(3)] (8) and [Au(4){cyclo-(P(4)tBu(3))PtBu}(4)] (9) was obtained from the analogous reaction with [AuCl(PPh(3))]. Complexes 3-7 were characterised by (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystal structures were determined for 3-9.