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Both enantiomers of the first atropisomeric phosphinine (1) have been isolated by using analytical HPLC on a chiral stationary phase. The enrichment of one enantiomer and a subsequent investigation into its racemization kinetics revealed a barrier for internal rotation of =(109.5±0.5) kJ mol-1, which is in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted value of =116 kJ mol-1. Further analysis with UV and circular dichroism spectroscopies and density functional theory calculations led to the determination and assignment of the absolute configurations of both enantiomers. These results are the basis for future investigations into this new class of axially chiral phosphinine-based ligands and their possible applications in asymmetric homogeneous catalysis.

To decompose VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in an air stream several new technologies arc emerging. We are using a corona reactor for decomposing these VOCs. The advantage of our pulsed corona process is the energy efficiency with which the VOCs decompose. To examine the reactor, a model is developed which can describe the conversion of the VOCs in our industrial proto type high-voltage pulsed corona reactor.