Metallacumulenes and carbide complexes. Final performance report

We investigated many aspects of transition metal complexes of carbon-rich ligands, including cumulated transition metal carbene complexes of the types vinylidene (M=C=CR{sub 2})(M = Fe, Ru, Os, Mo, W), allenylidene (M=C=C=CR{sub 2}), and butatrienylidene (M=C=C=CR{sub 2}), as well as ``naked`` carbon ligands C{sub 1}, C{sub 2}, and C{sub 3}. In the last 3 years, we began to put some effort into studying the fullerenes. Finally, we investigated initial aspects of the coordination chemistry of thiophenes, from the perspectives of (1) modeling the transition- metal-catalyzed hydrodesulfurization of fossil fuels and (2) development of metal-doped, polythiophene-based polymers

Catalytic Transformations of Alkynes via Ruthenium Vinylidene and Allenylidene Intermediates

NOTICE: This is the peer reviewed version of the following book chapter: Varela J. A., González-Rodríguez C., Saá C. (2014). Catalytic Transformations of Alkynes via Ruthenium Vinylidene and Allenylidene Intermediates. In: Dixneuf P., Bruneau C. (eds) Ruthenium in Catalysis. Topics in Organometallic Chemistry, vol 48, pp. 237-287. Springer, Cham. [doi: 10.1007/3418_2014_81]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Springer Verlag Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.Vinylidenes are high-energy tautomers of terminal alkynes and they can be stabilized by coordination with transition metals. The resulting metal-vinylidene species have interesting chemical properties that make their reactivity different to that of the free and metal π-coordinated alkynes: the carbon α to the metal is electrophilic whereas the β carbon is nucleophilic. Ruthenium is one of the most commonly used transition metals to stabilize vinylidenes and the resulting species can undergo a range of useful transformations. The most remarkable transformations are the regioselective anti-Markovnikov addition of different nucleophiles to catalytic ruthenium vinylidenes and the participation of the π system of catalytic ruthenium vinylidenes in pericyclic reactions. Ruthenium vinylidenes have also been employed as precatalysts in ring closing metathesis (RCM) or ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Allenylidenes could be considered as divalent radicals derived from allenes. In a similar way to vinylidenes, allenylidenes can be stabilized by coordination with transition metals and again ruthenium is one of the most widely used metals. Metalallenylidene complexes can be easily obtained from terminal propargylic alcohols by dehydration of the initially formed metal-hydroxyvinylidenes, in which the reactivity of these metal complexes is based on the electrophilic nature of Cα and Cγ, while Cβ is nucleophilic. Catalytic processes based on nucleophilic additions and pericyclic reactions involving the π system of ruthenium allenylidenes afford interesting new structures with high selectivity and atom economy

Drosophila pigmentation evolution: Divergent genotypes underlying convergent phenotypes

Similar phenotypic changes have evolved independently in many animal taxa. It is unknown whether independent changes involve the same or different developmental and genetic mechanisms. Myriad pigment patterns in the genus Drosophila offer numerous opportunities to address this question. Previous studies identified regulatory and structural genes involved in the development and diversification of pigmentation in selected species. Here, we examine Drosophila americana and Drosophila novamexicana, interfertile species that have evolved dramatic pigmentation differences during the few million years since their divergence. Interspecific genetic analysis was used to investigate the contribution of five specific candidate genes and other genomic regions to phenotypic divergence by testing for associations between molecular markers and pigmentation. At least four distinct genomic regions contributed to pigmentation differences, one of which included the ebony gene. Ebony protein was expressed at higher levels in the more yellow D. novamexicana than the heavily melanized D. americana. Because Ebony promotes yellow pigment formation and suppresses melanization, the expression difference and genetic association suggest that evolution at the ebony locus contributed to pigmentation divergence between D. americana and D. novamexicana. Surprisingly, no genetic association with the yellow locus was detected in this study, and Yellow expression was identical in the two species. Evolution at the yellow locus underlies pigmentation divergence among other Drosophila species; thus, similar pigment patterns have evolved through regulatory changes in different genes in different lineages. These findings bear upon understanding classic models of melanism and mimicry

Espectro Vibracional no Infravermelho Próximo dos Polímeros Poliestireno, Poli(Metacrilato de Metila) e Policarbonato Near-Infrared Spectra of Polystyrene, Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) and Polycarbonate

Os espectros no infravermelho próximo (NIR) dos polímeros amorfos poliestireno (PS), poli(metacrilato de metila) (PMMA) e policarbonato (PC) foram estudados. A tentativa de atribuição das bandas harmônicas e de combinação dos modos vibracionais do PS, PMMA e PC foi realizada baseando-se na teoria de modos locais e pelo uso do método matemático de ajuste de curvas. A correção de anarmonicidade e freqüência mecânica foi determinada em um gráfico de Birge-Sponer. Uma correção de anarmonicidade de 57 e 58 cm-1 foi obtida para os modos de estiramento dos grupos CH2 e CH do PS; 59 e 9 cm-1 para os modos de estiramento dos grupos CH3 e CO do PMMA e 53, 59 e 10 cm-1 para os modos de estiramento dos grupos CH, CH3 e CO do PC, respectivamente.<br>The near-infrared (NIR) spectra of the amorphous polymers polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polycarbonate (PC) have been studied. The tentative assignment of the overtone and combination frequencies is made using the curve fitting calculations and the local mode theory. Anharmonicity correction and mechanical frequency were determined from a Birge-Sponer plot. A tentative assignment of stretch overtone frequency of CH2 and CH functional groups of PS; CH3 and CO functional groups of PMMA and CH, CH3 and CO functional groups of PC has been made. An anharmonicity correction of 57 and 58 cm-1 was obtained for CH2 and CH stretch modes of PS; 59 and 9 cm-1 for CH3 and CO stretch modes of PMMA and 53, 59 and 10 cm-1 for CH, CH3 and CO stretch modes of PC, respectively