ASEAN Synergy to Overcome Challenges in Investment Arbitration

Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, have been sued by foreign investors through International investment arbitrations (IIA). No matter whether the outcome is favorable or not, those countries have spend significant time, energy, and financial resources to arbitrate. ASEAN countries are not in advantageous position in IIA.The first and the most obvious reason is language barrier. Arbitration proceedins are mainly conducted in English. Consequently, the arbitrators and counsels more often than not come from English speaking countries. Not only do they lead to high cost, but also they lack of familiarity with South East Asia\u27s social, politics, economic, culture and customs. This may influence how they treat the cases such as the interpretation of provisions specifically designed to protect foreign investors such as: national treatment; fair and equitable treatment; most favored nation; and also in deciding jurisdictional issues. regional news as a legal basis for foreign investment activities aim to provide protection for foreign investor. On the other hand, it also serves as a mean to facilitate economic development in the host states of investment. Unfortunately, BITs often contain excessive and limitless protection clauses in order to attract foreign investors. This may endanger host states position as it can be used as a weapon by the investors to sue the host states. In responding to this fact, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN members in dealing with foreign investors through BIT. The ideal picture will be that SEA is pro-market and pro-arbitration reform. It is unavoidable that in order to protect themselves from harsh investors as well as intricate arbitration, ASEAN would be better off having its own investment arbitration center run by its experts. Thus, the short-term challenge is to equip legal practitioners, business players and academicians with more knowledge, skills and experiences in dealing with investment disputes. The long-term step will be to negotiate model of investment treaties applicable in the region and to harmonize national investment laws. These efforts are strategic opportunities for ASEAN as single market to keep balance between promoting investment, protecting investors and the host states at the same time

Schiff-base appended polymers for phosphate removal

<p>The remediation of phosphate-contaminated water bodies and the effective treatment of hyperphosphatemia are two big challenges in which phosphate recognition could play a useful role. Here, we summarise briefly the state of the art in phosphate removal. Next, we present findings from synthetic and phosphate extraction studies that involve polymeric materials with pendent Schiff-base macrocycles designed to function as phosphate anion receptors.</p

Cone Calix[4]arene Diethyl Ester Strapped Calix[4]pyrrole: A Selective Receptor for the Fluoride Anion

A calix[4]­pyrrole strapped by a bulky calix[4]­arene diester locked in its cone conformation has been prepared. On the basis of ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses carried out in CDCl₃, it is concluded that this hybrid system, receptor <b>2</b>, binds only the fluoride anion and does so with remarkably high affinity even in the presence of an excess of various potentially competing environmentally and biologically ubiquitous anions (studied as the tetra­butyl­ammonium, cesium, or lithium salts). Solid state structural analyses provide support for the notion that receptor <b>2</b> interacts well with the fluoride anion in the solid state

Fe₅Mo Cluster with Iron-Carbide and Molybdenum-Carbide Bonding Motifs: Structure and Selective Alkyne Reductions

Herein we report the synthesis, X-ray structure, and characterization of the title pentairon (molybdo)­carbido cluster. The reaction of the pentairon (μ₅-carbido) dianion [Fe₅(μ₆-C)­(μ₂-CO)₂(CO)₁₂]^2– (<b>1</b>) with [Mo­(CO)₃(chpt)] (chpt = cycloheptatriene) forms the heterohexanuclear cluster [K­(benzo-18-crown-6)]₂[Fe₅Mo­(μ₆-C)­(μ₂-CO)₃(CO)₁₄] (<b>2</b>). The dianion exhibits a Fe₅Mo­(μ₆-C) core structure supported by three bridging (ν_CO = 1788 cm^–1) and terminal (ν_CO = 1943 cm^–1) CO ligands. Cluster <b>2</b> provides the selective reduction of diphenylacetylene to <i>cis</i>-diphenylethylene via a spectroscopically observed cluster-hydride intermediate (¹H NMR: δ −26)

Antimony-Supported Cu₄I₄ Cuboid with Short Cu–Cu Bonds: Structural Premise for Near-Infrared Thermoluminescence

Herein we report the synthesis, temperature-dependent X-ray structures (100, 150, 200, 250, 273, and 300 K), and solid-state emissive properties of the antimony–copper­(I)–iodo cluster [Cu₄(I)₄(Sb^<i>i</i>Pr₃)₄] (<b>1</b>), supported by the trialkylantimony donor Sb^<i>i</i>Pr₃. Overall, <b>1</b> exhibits a distorted cuboidal structure, wherein a twisting of the “cube” generates an interconnected Cu₄ tetrahedron, as well as long Cu–I and Cu–Sb bonds [e.g., 2.707(2) and 2.571(2) Å]; in the 100 K X-ray structure, the Cu–Cu bonds are quite short [2.761(3) Å]. Solid-state emission spectra of <b>1</b> were obtained over a range of temperatures (163–298 K), wherein <b>1</b> exhibits only a low-energy emission feature centered near 700 nm (λ_Em = 711 nm, fwhm = 150 nm, and λ_Ex = 390 nm). Because <b>1</b> contains no aryl units, the emission spectrum (and absorption) can be unambiguously attributed to the Cu₄I₄ core [no <b>L</b> (pnictogen ligand) component]. The luminescence is sharply attenuated upon warming from 150 to 200 K. An overlaid plot of the emissive properties of <b>1</b> and its Cu–Cu bond distances [2.761(3)–2.836(4) Å] reveal that ∼2.80 Å represents a critical crossing point for low-energy thermoluminescence in Cu₄-based clusters

Antimony-Supported Cu₄I₄ Cuboid with Short Cu–Cu Bonds: Structural Premise for Near-Infrared Thermoluminescence

Herein we report the synthesis, temperature-dependent X-ray structures (100, 150, 200, 250, 273, and 300 K), and solid-state emissive properties of the antimony–copper­(I)–iodo cluster [Cu₄(I)₄(Sb^<i>i</i>Pr₃)₄] (<b>1</b>), supported by the trialkylantimony donor Sb^<i>i</i>Pr₃. Overall, <b>1</b> exhibits a distorted cuboidal structure, wherein a twisting of the “cube” generates an interconnected Cu₄ tetrahedron, as well as long Cu–I and Cu–Sb bonds [e.g., 2.707(2) and 2.571(2) Å]; in the 100 K X-ray structure, the Cu–Cu bonds are quite short [2.761(3) Å]. Solid-state emission spectra of <b>1</b> were obtained over a range of temperatures (163–298 K), wherein <b>1</b> exhibits only a low-energy emission feature centered near 700 nm (λ_Em = 711 nm, fwhm = 150 nm, and λ_Ex = 390 nm). Because <b>1</b> contains no aryl units, the emission spectrum (and absorption) can be unambiguously attributed to the Cu₄I₄ core [no <b>L</b> (pnictogen ligand) component]. The luminescence is sharply attenuated upon warming from 150 to 200 K. An overlaid plot of the emissive properties of <b>1</b> and its Cu–Cu bond distances [2.761(3)–2.836(4) Å] reveal that ∼2.80 Å represents a critical crossing point for low-energy thermoluminescence in Cu₄-based clusters

A Bis-calix[4]pyrrole Enzyme Mimic That Constrains Two Oxoanions in Close Proximity

Herein we describe a large capsule-like bis-calix[4]­pyrrole <b>1</b>, which is able to host concurrently two dihydrogen phosphate anions within a relatively large internal cavity. Evidence for the concurrent, dual recognition of the encapsulated anions came from ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies and ITC titrations carried out in CD₂Cl₂/CD₃OD (9/1, v/v) or dichloroethane (DCE), as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Receptor <b>1</b> was also found to bind two dianionic sulfate anions bridged by two water molecules in the solid state. The resulting sulfate dimer was retained in DCE solution, as evidenced by spectroscopic analyses. Finally, receptor <b>1</b> was found capable of accommodating two trianionic pyrophosphate anions in the cavity. The present experimental findings are supported by DFT calculations along with ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, ITC studies, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses

A Bis-calix[4]pyrrole Enzyme Mimic That Constrains Two Oxoanions in Close Proximity

Herein we describe a large capsule-like bis-calix[4]­pyrrole <b>1</b>, which is able to host concurrently two dihydrogen phosphate anions within a relatively large internal cavity. Evidence for the concurrent, dual recognition of the encapsulated anions came from ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies and ITC titrations carried out in CD₂Cl₂/CD₃OD (9/1, v/v) or dichloroethane (DCE), as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Receptor <b>1</b> was also found to bind two dianionic sulfate anions bridged by two water molecules in the solid state. The resulting sulfate dimer was retained in DCE solution, as evidenced by spectroscopic analyses. Finally, receptor <b>1</b> was found capable of accommodating two trianionic pyrophosphate anions in the cavity. The present experimental findings are supported by DFT calculations along with ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, ITC studies, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses

A Bis-calix[4]pyrrole Enzyme Mimic That Constrains Two Oxoanions in Close Proximity

Herein we describe a large capsule-like bis-calix[4]­pyrrole <b>1</b>, which is able to host concurrently two dihydrogen phosphate anions within a relatively large internal cavity. Evidence for the concurrent, dual recognition of the encapsulated anions came from ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies and ITC titrations carried out in CD₂Cl₂/CD₃OD (9/1, v/v) or dichloroethane (DCE), as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Receptor <b>1</b> was also found to bind two dianionic sulfate anions bridged by two water molecules in the solid state. The resulting sulfate dimer was retained in DCE solution, as evidenced by spectroscopic analyses. Finally, receptor <b>1</b> was found capable of accommodating two trianionic pyrophosphate anions in the cavity. The present experimental findings are supported by DFT calculations along with ¹H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies, ITC studies, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses

Copper Selective Polymeric Extractant Synthesized by Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Novel polymers bearing pendant picolinic acid functionalities have been synthesized by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) for applications in separations-based purification protocols. These polymers and their corresponding monomer were shown to be selective for Cu²⁺ over a variety of other divalent metal cations as inferred from pH dependent studies carried out under both liquid–liquid and solid–liquid extraction conditions. The polymer system of this study also showed high selectivity for Cu²⁺ over Ni²⁺ in mock protocols that could be relevant to the purification of Cu radioisotopes. Separation factors as high as 290 were achieved for extractions from solutions containing a 100-fold excess of Ni²⁺ relative to Cu²⁺