Bringing IUPAC to Southern Africa

Division II promotes IUPAC in Africa by meeting in Botswana and co-sponsoring the 2nd Symposium on Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Southern Africa.https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/ci.2019.41.issue-2/ci-2019-0215/ci-2019-0215.xml?format=IN

#67 Chalmers short stories

What\ub4s the science behind self driving cars, hospital entry architecture and faster computers? In this episode\ua0we meet\ua0eight PhD-students\ua0presenting five minutes\ua0stories about their research projects at Chalmers University of Technology.\ua0We also talk to Dr. Raychelle Burks from\ua0St. Edwards University in\ua0Texas and\ua0Professor Lars 6hrstr\uf6m\ua0from\ua0Chalmers, about how they work to get science out to the society.\ua0Come along with\ua0RadioScience to a workshop on science communication, a warm and sunny day in June. We went to Gothenburg\ua0to give\ua0tips and tricks on recording and editing a podcast. In return we got\ua0eight really interesting short stories within the field of technology.In addition, Raychelle Burks reads the post ”Because she didn’t die” from her blog thirty-seven and Lars 6hrstr\uf6m gives us a taste from his book ”The rhubarb connection – the everyday world of metal ions”\ua0– to be published in December.This episode was a collaboration with teachers and students at the workshop on popular science communication at Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. Producers: Lisa Beste and Natalie von der Lehr,\ua0RadioScience.se, Uppsala.Listen at:\ua0http://www.radioscience.se/forskning/67-chalmers-short-stories

The Rhubarb Connection and Other Revelations: The Everyday World of Metal Ions

Pink warships that vanish at dusk, urinary maladies of an emperor, and a gold test for cocaine – behold the chemistry of metal ions as never before.In this book you will learn about the sarcophagus molecule, the Chen-Kao test, and how murderers can be caught blue-handed with the wonders of glowing luminol. You will also meet the hidden chemistry of metal ions in everyday life, from the clever modern devices that measure blood-sugar levels, to the leather on your shoes and chewing gum stuck to their soles.Expect to encounter a fair share of heroes and villains, real and fictional, scientist and layperson. Such characters include an ex-MI5 employee running a hospital ward in London amid falling German V1 rockets, a notorious racing cyclist, a proud butler and the lady who first proposed nuclear fission (it’s not who you think it is).With engaging, humorous and intelligent prose, the reader will discover the fascinating back-stories of chemical discoveries and inventions where metal ions have played a major role.Featuring a foreword by popular science communicator Dr Raychelle Burks of St. Edward\u27s University, Texas

Octanuclear heterometallic Fe-III-Ce-IV pivalate clusters: From a close {Fe4Ce4(mu(4)-O)(4)} cage to an open {Fe4Ce4(mu(4)-O)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)} core

Ultrasonic irradiation of trinuclear [Fe3O(O2CCMe3)(6)(H2O)(3)]Me(3)CCO(2)2(Me3CCO2H) or hexanuclear [Fe6O2 (OH)(2)(O2CCMe3)(12)] pivalate precursors with Ce(NO3)(6)6H(2)O, NaN3 and triethanolamine (H3tea) in MeOH/ MeCN solution results in the synthesis of two new octanuclear Fe-III-Ce-IV clusters formulated as [Fe4Ce4O4 (O2CCMe3)(4)(tea)(4)(N-3)(4)(MeOH)(4)].MeOH (1) and [Fe4Ce4O4(O2CCMe3)(6)(tea)(4)(N-3)(2)(MeOH)(2)]center dot 3(MeOH) (2). The spectroscopic and thermal properties of these compounds corroborate oxidation states and formula. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the metal atoms in clusters 1 and 2 are organized in unprecedented close {Fe4Ce4(mu(4)-O)(4)} and open {Fe4Ce4(mu(4)-O)(2)(mu(3)-O)(2)} cores, respectively. The topology of these cores has not been observed before in FeIII-CeIV chemistry

Synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of two bis(oxalato)cuprate(ii) salts with pyridinium type counter ions

Mono- and a di-protonated pyridine type cations have been used for the synthesis of two bis(oxalato)cuprate(ii) salts, namely, (C5H7N2O)2[Cu(C2O4)2] (C5H7N2O = 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridinium) 1 and C13H16N2[Cu(C2O4)2] (C13H16N2 = 4,4′-trimethylenedipyridinium) 2. In the crystal structures, C2O42− adopts different coordination modes: the common bidentate chelating oxalate in 1 and the relatively scarce μ-oxalato-κ3O1,O2:O1′ in 2. X-ray diffraction also revealed that [Cu(C2O4)2]2− anions do not polymerize in 1 (a phenomenon hardly observed in such salts), while in 2, the polymerization of [Cu(C2O4)2]2− units occurs via the Cu-Oaxial contact forming a zigzag Cu(ii) chain. In complex 1, the emerging building blocks are linked into 2D supramolecular layers via N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and weaker C-H⋯O interaction to form a 3D net. In contrast to 2, the emerging building blocks are linked into 1D chains via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, which further extend to form a 3D supramolecular framework through Cu-Oaxial and other C-H⋯O interactions. The structural diversities show that iminium counterions play key roles in the construction of various architectures. Thermal analyses showed no weight loss for either system in the temperature range of 20-180 \ub0C, which indicates that none of these complexes possess solvation water molecules. Magnetic studies indicate the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling between the spin centres in 1 and 2

Photochemical Access to Substituted β-Lactams and β-Lactones via the Zimmerman-O\u27Connell-Griffin Rearrangement

A photomediated protocol giving facile access to substituted β-lactam and β-lactones is presented. The method realizes, for the first time, the use of the Zimmerman-O\u27Connell-Griffin (ZOG) rearrangement in [2 + 2] cycloaddition. Products are obtained in high yield with excellent diastereoselectivity under visible light irradiation and under mild reaction conditions

Hybrid Metal-Organic Framework-Cellulose Materials Retaining High Porosity: ZIF-8@Cellulose Nanofibrils

Metal-organic frameworks have attracted a great deal of attention for future applications in numerous areas, including gas adsorption. However, in order for them to reach their full potential a substrate to provide an anchor may be needed. Ideally, this substrate should be environmentally friendly and renewable. Cellulose nanofibrils show potential in this area. Here we present a hybrid material created from the self-assembly of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8) nanocrystals on cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) in aqueous medium. The CNF/ZIF-8 was freeze dried and formed free standing materials suitable for gas adsorption. A BET area of 1014 m2 g−1 was achieved for the CNF/ZIF-8 hybrid materials ZIF-8@cellulose which is comparable with reported values for free standing ZIF-8 materials, 1600 m2 g−1, considering the dilution with cellulose, and a considerable enhancement compared to CNF on its own, 32 m2 g−1

Global Engagement in Science: The University’s Fourth Mission?

In this article, the authors\ua0- three scientists and a diplomat, working across multiple continents\ua0- intend to impart some of the broad perspective and deep experience they’ve gained over the years as professionals. The diplomat among us, stationed in the Middle East, has played a role in fostering peace in a region long beset by conflict. Drawing from accumulated lessons, we intend to discuss how others can be encouraged to contribute to global science, regardless of their background or national origin. In taking on this challenge, we will share insights from our various tenures as operators of bilateral aid programs, members of international science organizations, and participants in government negotiations and other events featuring the development of global science

Heterometallic {Fe18M6} (M = Y, Gd, Dy) Pivalate Wheels Display Solvent-Induced Polymorphism

A new series of heterometallic wheels, isolated as [Fe18M6(piv)12(Htea)18(tea)6(N3)6]\ub7n(solvent) (MIII = Y (1a, 1b), Gd (2a, 2b), and Dy (3a, 3b); Hpiv = pivalic acid, H3tea = triethanolamine), forms by the reaction of trinuclear μ3-oxo-linked or hexanuclear μ-OH-linked Fe(III) pivalate clusters with rare earth nitrates, H3tea, and azide ligands in MeOH/MeCN or EtOH/MeCN media under ultrasonic irradiation. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction showed that wheels 1a-3a prepared from MeOH/MeCN solutions crystallize in the triclinic space group P1\uaf and have Ci symmetry, whereas wheels 1b-3b received from EtOH/MeCN solution crystallize in the trigonal space group R3\uaf and have C3i symmetry. Magnetic studies reveal medium antiferromagnetic exchange interactions within the Fe3 trimeric unit (with the exchange coupling parameters of JFe3 = -13.1 cm-1 for 1a, JFe3 = -11.6 cm-1 for 1b) and weak intermolecular antiferromagnetic exchange interactions (λmf = -0.366 mol cm-3 and -0.368 mol cm-3 (zJmf = -0.19 cm-1), respectively). This leads to spin ground states of S = 5/2 for each {Fe3} unit. Substitution of diamagnetic Y(III) centers by paramagnetic Ln(III) centers (in 2a/2b by Gd(III) and in 3a/3b by Dy(III) centers) results in ferromagnetic exchange interactions between the Fe(III) and Ln(III) centers in addition to the predominant antiferromagnetic Fe\ub7\ub7\ub7Fe interactions in 1a/1b