Impacts of urban real-world labs

Ways of evaluating the societal impact of real-world labs as a transdisciplinary and transformative research format are under discussion. We present an evaluation approach rooted in structuration theory, with a focus on structure-agency dynamics at the science-society interface. We applied the theory with its four modalities (interpretation schemes, norms, allocative and authoritative resources) to the case of the Mirke neighbourhood in Wuppertal, Germany. Six projects promoted the capacity for co-productive city-making. The effects of the projects were jointly analysed in a co-evaluation process. Previously proposed subcategories of the modalities as an empirical operationalisation were tested and confirmed as being applicable. Five new subcategories were generated. The use of the modalities seems appropriate for co-evaluation processes. The tool is practical, focused on real-world effects, and suitable for transdisciplinary interpretation processes. We encourage further empirical testing of the tool, as well as development of the subcategories.</p

From niche to mainstream : the dilemmas of scaling up sustainable alternatives

At the heart of transition research lies the question of how to "scale up" sustainable alternatives from a protected niche to the creation of mainstream practices. While upscaling processes are often seen as an essential element that contributes to societal transformation, upscaling itself remains a fuzzy concept. We argue that some fundamental dilemmas of upscaling can be identified, for example, the different understanding of the concept by researchers and practitioners. The dilemmas should be addressed in a more reflexive way by those from the worlds of science and practice who are involved in collaborative research settings

High-Coordinate Gold(I) Complexes with Dithiocarboxylate Ligands

Ferrocene dithiocarboxylate has been introduced into the chemistry of gold­(I) and copper­(I). First, a modified synthesis of piperidinium ferrocene dithiocarboxylate (<b>1</b>) is reported. Reaction of this reagent with [Au­(tht)­Cl] in the presence of different phosphines resulted in monomeric, dimeric, and polymeric structures. Although gold­(I) is usually two coordinate, mainly three- and four-fold coordinated compounds were obtained by using ferrocene dithiocarboxylate as ligands. The isolated compounds are [(FcCSS)­Au­(PPh₃)₂] (<b>2</b>) (FcCSS = ferrocene dithiocarboxylate), [(FcCSS)­Au₂(dppm)₂] (<b>3</b>) (dppm = bis­(diphenylphosphino)­methane), and [(FcCSS)­Au­(dppf)]_<i>n</i> (<b>4</b>) (dppf = bis­(diphenylphosphino)­ferrocene) [{(FcCSS)­Au}₂(dppp)] (<b>5</b>) (dppp = bis­(diphenylphosphino)­propane). The FcCSS ligand shows a remarkable flexible coordination mode. It coordinates either in a monodentate, a chelating, or in a metal bridging mode. In the four gold­(I) complexes <b>2</b>–<b>5</b> four different coordination modes of the FcCSS ligand are seen. Attempts to extend this rich coordination chemistry to other coinage metals were only partly successful. [(FcCSS)­Cu­(PPh₃)₂] (<b>6</b>) was obtained from the reaction of piperidinium ferrocene dithiocarboxylate with [(Ph₃P)₃CuCl]. ⁵⁷Fe–Mössbauer spectroscopy was performed for compounds <b>2</b>–<b>4</b>. The spectra show isomer shifts and quadrupole splittings that are typical for diamagnetic ferrocenes

Diaryldichalcogenide radical cations

One-electron oxidation of two series of diaryldichalcogenides (CFE) (13a-c) and (2,6-MesCHE) (16a-c) was studied (E = S, Se, Te). The reaction of 13a and 13b with AsF and SbF gave rise to the formation of thermally unstable radical cations [(CFS)] (14a) and [(CFSe)] (14b) that were isolated as [SbF] and [AsF] salts, respectively. The reaction of 13c with AsF afforded only the product of a Te-C bond cleavage, namely the previously known dication [Te] that was isolated as [AsF] salt. The reaction of (2,6-MesCHE) (16a-c) with [NO][SbF] provided the corresponding radical cations [(2,6-MesCHE)] (17a-c; E = S, Se, Te) in the form of thermally stable [SbF] salts in nearly quantitative yields. The electronic and structural properties of these radical cations were probed by X-ray diffraction analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and density functional theory calculations and other methods. This journal i

Intramolecular Phosphorus–Phosphorus Bond Formation within a Co₂P₄ Core

The reduction of [(Cp‴Co)₂(μ,η^2:2-P₂)₂] (Cp‴ = 1,2,4-<i>t</i>Bu₃C₅H₂) with the samarocenes, [(C₅Me₄R)₂Sm­(THF)_<i>n</i>] (R = Me or <i>n</i>-propyl), gives [(Cp‴Co)₂P₄Sm­(C₅Me₄R)₂]. This is the first example of an intramolecular P–P coupling in a polyphosphide complex upon reduction of the transition metal. The formation of the P–P bond is not a result of the direct reduction of the phosphorus atoms but is induced by a rearrangement of the positive charges between the metal atoms

Intramolecular Phosphorus–Phosphorus Bond Formation within a Co₂P₄ Core

The reduction of [(Cp‴Co)₂(μ,η^2:2-P₂)₂] (Cp‴ = 1,2,4-<i>t</i>Bu₃C₅H₂) with the samarocenes, [(C₅Me₄R)₂Sm­(THF)_<i>n</i>] (R = Me or <i>n</i>-propyl), gives [(Cp‴Co)₂P₄Sm­(C₅Me₄R)₂]. This is the first example of an intramolecular P–P coupling in a polyphosphide complex upon reduction of the transition metal. The formation of the P–P bond is not a result of the direct reduction of the phosphorus atoms but is induced by a rearrangement of the positive charges between the metal atoms