M–M Bond-Stretching Energy Landscapes for M_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (M = Rh, Ir; dimen = 1,8-Diisocyanomenthane) Complexes

Isomers of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (dimen = 1,8-diisocyanomenthane) exhibit different Ir–Ir bond distances in a 2:1 MTHF/EtCN solution (MTHF = 2-methyltetrahydrofuran). Variable-temperature absorption data suggest that the isomer with the shorter Ir–Ir distance is favored at room temperature [K = ~8; ΔH° = −0.8 kcal/mol; ΔS° = 1.44 cal mol^(–1) K^(–1)]. We report calculations that shed light on M_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (M = Rh, Ir) structural differences: (1) metal–metal interaction favors short distances; (2) ligand deformational-strain energy favors long distances; (3) out-of-plane (A_(2u)) distortion promotes twisting of the ligand backbone at short metal–metal separations. Calculated potential-energy surfaces reveal a double minimum for Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (4.1 Å Ir–Ir with 0° twist angle and ~3.6 Å Ir–Ir with ±12° twist angle) but not for the rhodium analogue (4.5 Å Rh–Rh with no twisting). Because both the ligand strain and A_(2u) distortional energy are virtually identical for the two complexes, the strength of the metal–metal interaction is the determining factor. On the basis of the magnitude of this interaction, we obtain the following results: (1) a single-minimum (along the Ir–Ir coordinate), harmonic potential-energy surface for the triplet electronic excited state of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Ir–Ir) = 2.87 Å; F_(Ir–Ir) = 0.99 mdyn Å^(–1)); (2) a single-minimum, anharmonic surface for the ground state of Rh_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Rh–Rh) = 3.23 Å; F_(Rh–Rh) = 0.09 mdyn Å^(–1)); (3) a double-minimum (along the Ir–Ir coordinate) surface for the ground state of Ir_2(dimen)_(4)^(2+) (R_(e,Ir–Ir) = 3.23 Å; F_(Ir–Ir) = 0.16 mdyn Å^(–1))

A State-of-the-Art Contamination Effects Research and Test Facility

In the ongoing effort to better understand various spacecraft contamination phenomena, a new state of the art contamination effects research and test facility was designed, and recently brought on-line at The Aerospace Corporation s Space Materials Laboratory. This high vacuum test chamber employs multiple in-situ analytical techniques, making it possible to study both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of contaminant film formation in the presence or absence of VUV radiation. Adsorption and desorption kinetics, "photo-fixing efficiency", transmission loss of uniform contaminant films, light scatter from non-uniform films, and film morphology have been studied in this facility. This paper describes this new capability in detail and presents data collected from several of the analytical instruments

High-potential states of blue and purple copper proteins

Electrochemical measurements show that there are high-potential states of two copper proteins, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and Thermus thermophilus Cu_A domain; these perturbed states are formed in guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) solution in which the proteins are still blue (azurin) and purple (Cu_A). In each case, the high-potential state forms reversibly. Absorption (azurin, Cu_A), visible circular dichroism (azurin, Cu_A), resonance-Raman (Cu_A), and EPR (Cu_A) spectra indicate that the structure of the oxidized copper site of each high-potential form is very similar to that of the native protein. It is proposed that GuHCl perturbs one or more H-bonds in the blue or purple copper active site, thereby allowing Cu(I) to adopt a more favorable coordination structure than that in the rigid cavity of the native protein

High-potential states of blue and purple copper proteins

Electrochemical measurements show that there are high-potential states of two copper proteins, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin and Thermus thermophilus Cu_A domain; these perturbed states are formed in guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) solution in which the proteins are still blue (azurin) and purple (Cu_A). In each case, the high-potential state forms reversibly. Absorption (azurin, Cu_A), visible circular dichroism (azurin, Cu_A), resonance-Raman (Cu_A), and EPR (Cu_A) spectra indicate that the structure of the oxidized copper site of each high-potential form is very similar to that of the native protein. It is proposed that GuHCl perturbs one or more H-bonds in the blue or purple copper active site, thereby allowing Cu(I) to adopt a more favorable coordination structure than that in the rigid cavity of the native protein

Scope and Mechanism of Double-Agent Halogenation

This research was initially conceived as a kinetic study of a recently reported1 acylmethylation reaction, schematically portrayed in eq 1, and was reported to produce good yields (62-94%) of exclusively para product in dry CHzClp as the solvent. Our preliminary studies suggest this reaction to be fur different than proposed by Lee and 0h.l For example, with 1-nitrocyclohexene, they reported 94% para product with toluene and 90% para product with anisole. With the same nitroalkene, we observed no acyl product with toluene and only modest amounts with anisole. Further, our GC/MS data suggest this to be an unusual reaction involving chlorination of the arene and a combination chlorination/NeF reaction of the nitro olefin resulting in an a-chloro ketone product. When toluene is used as the aryl component, the major products are 2-chlorocyclohexanone and monochlorinated toluenes; smaller amounts of 1-chlorocyclohexene and nitrosotoluenes are also produced. Because we apparently are seeing both electrophilic chlorination of arenes and nucleophilic chlorination of the nitro olefin, we call this reaction “double-agent” chlorination. Since this reaction appeared to be a promising method of producing a-halo ketones which are difficult to synthesize regioselectively,3 we have examined it with a variety of nitro olefins, metal halides, solvents, and arenes. These results are reported along with other mechanistic studies