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In investigating and seeking to mimic the reactivity of trimethylaluminium (TMA) with synthetic, ester-based lubricating oils, the reaction of methyl propionate 1 was explored with 1, 2 and 3 equivalents of the organoaluminium reagent. Spectroscopic analysis points to the formation of the adduct 1(TMA) accompanied only by the low level 1:1 production of Me 2 AlOCEtMe 2 2 and Me 2 AlOMe 3 when an equimolar amount of TMA is applied. The deployment of excess TMA favours reaction to give 2 and 3 over 1(TMA) adduct formation and spectroscopy reveals that in hydrocarbon solution substitution product 2 traps unreacted TMA to yield 2(TMA). The 1 H NMR spectroscopic observation of two Al-Me signals not attributable to free TMA and in the ratio 1:4 suggests the formation of a previously only postulated, symmetrical metallacycle in Me 4 Al 2 (μ 2 -Me)(μ 2 -OCEtMe 2 ). In the presence of 3, 2(TMA) undergoes thermally induced exchange to yield Me 4 Al 2 (μ 2 -OMe)(μ 2 -OCEtMe 2 ) 4 and TMA. The reaction of methyl phenylacetate 5 with TMA allows isolation of the crystalline product Me 2 AlOCBnMe 2 (TMA) 6(TMA), which allows the first observation of the Me 4 Al 2 (μ 2 -Me)(μ 2 -OR) motif in the solid state. Distances of 2.133(3) Å (Al-Me bridging ) and 1.951 Å (mean Al-Me terminal ) are recorded. The abstraction of TMA from 6(TMA) by the introduction of Et 2 O has yielded 6, which exists as a dimer., (© 2016 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.)

The new area of lithio(thiocyanato)cuprates has been developed. Using inexpensive, stable and safe CuSCN for their preparation, these complexes revealed Lipshutz-type dimeric motifs with solvent-dependent point group identities; planar, boat-shaped and chair shaped conformers are seen in the solid state. In solution, both Lipshutz-type and Gilman structures are clearly seen. Since the advent in 2007 of directed ortho cupration, effort has gone into understanding the structure-reactivity effects of amide ligand variation in and alkali metal salt abstraction from Lipshutz-type cuprates such as (TMP)2Cu(CN)Li2(THF) 1 (TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide). The replacement of CN(-) with SCN(-) is investigated presently as a means of improving the safety of lithium cuprates. The synthesis and solid state structural characterization of reference cuprate (TMP)2Cu(CN)Li2(THP) 8 (THP = tetrahydropyran) precedes that of the thiocyanate series (TMP)2Cu(SCN)Li2(L) (L = OEt29, THF 10, THP 11). For each of 9-11, preformed TMPLi was combined with CuSCN (2 : 1) in the presence of sub-stoichiometric Lewis base (0.5 eq. wrt Li). The avoidance of Lewis basic solvents incurs formation of the unsolvated Gilman cuprate (TMP)2CuLi 12, whilst multidimensional NMR spectroscopy has evidenced the abstraction of LiSCN from 9-11 in hydrocarbon solution and the in situ formation of Gilman reagents. The synthetic utility of 10 is established in the selective deprotometalation of chloropyridine substrates, including effecting transition metal-free homocoupling in 51-69% yield.

Recent studies have shown that SnO2-based nanocomposites offer excellent electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties. In this article, we present the facile and cost-effective fabrication, characterization and testing of a new SnO2-PbS nanocomposite photocatalyst designed to overcome low photocatalytic efficiency brought about by electron-hole recombination and narrow photoresponse range. The structure is fully elucidated by X-ray diffraction (XRD)/Reitveld refinement, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) spectrum imaging analysis demonstrates the intermixing of SnO2 and PbS to form nanocomposites. A charge separation mechanism is presented that explains how the two semiconductors in junction function synergistically. The efficacy of this new nanocomposite material in the photocatalytic degradation of the toxic dye Rhodamine B under simulated solar irradiation is demonstrated. An apparent quantum yield of 0.217 mol min(-1) W(-1) is calculated with data revealing good catalyst recyclability and that charge separation in SnO2-PbS leads to significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in comparison to either SnO2 or PbS.

The chemical composition of core-shell nanoparticle clusters have been determined through principal component analysis (PCA) and independent component analysis (ICA) of an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrum image (SI) acquired in a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The method blindly decomposes the SI into three components, which are found to accurately represent the isolated and unmixed X-ray signals originating from the supporting carbon film, the shell, and the bimetallic core. The composition of the latter is verified by and is in excellent agreement with the separate quantification of bare bimetallic seed nanoparticles.

The systematic construction of heterogeneous nanoparticles composed of two distinct metal domains (Au and Pt) and exhibiting a broad range of morphologically defined shapes is reported. It is demonstrated that careful Au overgrowth on Pt nanocrystal seeds with shapes mainly corresponding to cubeoctahedra, octahedra and octapods can lead to heterometallic systems whose intrinsic structures result from specific epitaxial relationships such as {111} + {111}, {200} + {200} and {220} + {220}. Comprehensive analysis shows also that nanoparticles grown from octahedral seeds can be seen as comprising of four Au tetrahedral subunits and one Pt octahedral unit in a cyclic arrangement that is similar to the corresponding one in decahedral gold nanoparticles. However, in the present case, the multi-component system is characterized by a broken five-fold rotational symmetry about the [011] axis. This set of bimetallic dimers could provide new platforms for fuel cell catalysts and plasmonic devices.

TMPLi (TMP=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) reacts with Cu(I) salts in the presence of Et2O to give the dimers [{(TMP)2Cu(X)Li2 (OEt2)}2] (X=CN, halide). In contrast, the use of DMPLi (DMP=cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidide) gives an unprecedented structural motif; [{(DMP)2CuLi(OEt2)}2LiX] (X=halide). This formulation suggests a hitherto unexplored route to the in situ formation of Gilman-type bases that are of proven reactivity in directed ortho cupration., (© 2014 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

The reactions of dilithium 1,2-diamidobenzene, [1,2-(HN)2C6H4]Li2 (L(1)H2)Li2, and dilithium 1,8-diamidonaphthalene, [1,8-(NH)2C10H6]Li2 (L(2)H2)Li2, with Cp2Ni and Cp2V have been used to obtain the new complexes (L(2)H2)2Ni{Li(THF)2}2 (3), (L(2)H2)3V{Li(THF)2}3 (4) and (L(1)H2)6Ni6·{[(L(1)H2)3(L(1)H)3Ni6Li(THF)](2-)·2[Li(THF)4](+)} (5), in which retention or oxidation of the initial metal(ii) centre is observed. Whereas 3 and 4 contain one transition metal ion within ion-paired structures, 5 has a complicated co-crystalline composition which contains octahedral Ni6-cages constructed from six square-planar (16e) Ni(II) centres.

Cobalt nanoparticles were synthesised via the thermal decomposition of Co2(CO)8 and were coated in iron oxide using Fe(CO)5. While previous work focused on the subsequent thermal alloying of these nanoparticles, this study fully elucidates their composition and core@shell structure. State-of-the-art electron microscopy and statistical data processing enabled chemical mapping of individual particles through the acquisition of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) images and detailed electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) has been used to greatly improve the quality of elemental mapping data from core@shell nanoparticles. Results from a combination of spatially resolved microanalysis reveal the shell as Fe3O4 and show that the core is composed of oxidatively stable metallic Co. For the first time, a region of lower atom density between the particle core and shell has been observed and identified as a trapped carbon residue attributable to the organic capping agents present in the initial Co nanoparticle synthesis.

An array of copper and copper-zinc based nanoparticles (NPs) have been fabricated employing a variety of polymeric capping agents. Analysis by TEM, XRPD and XPS suggests that by manipulating reagent, reductant and solvent conditions it is possible to achieve materials that are mono-/narrow disperse with mean particle sizes in the ≤10 nm regime. Oxidative stability in air is achieved for monometallic NPs using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) anti-agglomerant in conjunction with a variety of reducing conditions. In contrast, those encapsulated by either poly(1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one) (PVP) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PVPy) rapidly show Cu(2)O formation, with all data suggesting progressive oxidation from Cu to Cu@Cu(2)O core-shell structure and finally Cu(2)O. Bimetallic copper-zinc systems, reveal metal segregation and the formation of Cu(2)O and ZnO. Catalysts have been screened in the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles through multicomponent azide-alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Whereas PMMA- and PVPy-coating results in reduced catalytic activity, those protected by PVP are highly active, with quantitative triazole syntheses achieved at room temperature and with catalyst loadings of 0.03 mol% metal for Cu and CuZn systems prepared using NaH(2)PO(2), N(2)H(4) or NaBH(4) reductants.

Reactions of the [1,2-(NH)(2)C(6)H(4)](2-) dianion (LH(2)(2-)) with Cp(2)M(II) (M = V, Mn) lead to complete or partial oxidation of the metals (M), giving the V(III) compound [(η(5)-Cp)(LH(2))(2)VV(LH(2))](-)[Li(THF)(4)](+) (1) and Mn(II)(4)Mn(III)(2) oxo cage [Mn(6)(LH(2))(6)(μ(6)-O)(THF)(4)] (2).

Density functional calculations reveal that, whereas the reaction of 2-propyl-N,N-diisopropylbenzamide (6) with tBuLi in the presence of potentially tridentate donor ligands may result in lateral deprotonation of 6, the behavior of the Lewis base is non-trivial. The ability of N and O donor centers in the co-solvent to resist Li(+) coordination is found to be synonymous with interaction of lithium with the formally deprotonated carbanion center. Low-energy structures have been identified whose predicted (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopic shifts are in excellent agreement with experiment. Reaction of 2-isopropyl-N,N-diisopropylbenzamide (5) with tBuLi in the presence of bidentate Lewis base N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) yields material that is suggested by NMR spectroscopy to be laterally deprotonated and to have the formulation 5-Li(l)·TMEDA. In spite of the tertiary aliphatic group at the 2-position in 5, X-ray crystallography reveals that the crystalline material isolated from the treatment of 5/(-)-sparteine with tBuLi is a lateral lithiate in which amide coordination and solvation by bidentate Lewis base results in the Li(+) ion interacting with the deprotonated α-C of the 2-iPr group (2.483(8) Å). The tertiary carbanion center remains essentially flat and the adjacent aromatic system is highly distorted. The use of a chiral co-solvent results in two diastereomeric conformers, and their direct observation in solution suggests that interconversion is slow on the NMR timescale., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Reaction of in situ generated lithium phosphides with 0.5 eq. Cu(I) is employed as a means of targeting lithium phosphidocuprates of either Gilman- or Lipshutz-type formulation--e.g., (R(2)P)(2)CuLi·n(LiX) (n = 0, 1). For R = Ph, X = CN in toluene followed by thf or R = Ph, X = I in thf/toluene an unexpected product results. [(Ph(2)P)(6)Cu(4)][Li·4thf](2)1 reveals an ion-separated structure in the solid state, with solvated lithium cations countering the charge on an adamantyl dianion [(Ph(2)P)(6)Cu(4)](2-). Deployment of R = Ph, X = CN in thf affords a novel network based on the dimer of Ph(2)PCu(CN)Li·2thf 2 with trianions based on 6-membered (PCu)(3) rings acting as nodes in the supramolecular array and solvated alkali metal counter-ions completing the linkers. Cy(2)PLi (Cy = cyclohexyl) has been reacted with CuCN in thf/toluene to yield Gilman-type lithium bis(phosphido)cuprate (Cy(2)P)(2)CuLi·2thf 3 by the exclusion of in situ generated LiCN. A polymer is noted in the solid state.

An equimolar reaction between ZnEt(2) and 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine (hppH) results in the formation of EtZn(hpp) (1) which crystallizes as a trinuclear agglomerate with the guanidinate ligands spanning 4-coordinate Zn centers. Exposure of a pre-formed THF solution of 1 to undried air leads to a ZnO-incorporating derivative 1(4)·ZnO, while an analogous experiment with CH(2)Cl(2) as solvent leads to a novel tetranuclear mixed aggregate formulated as [EtOZn(hpp)](2)[ClZn(hpp)](2) (2). The composition of 2 indicates that its formation proceeds via a complex multi-step reaction route that involves not only the oxygenation of ZnEt moieties, but also the activation of CH(2)Cl(2), causing the transfer of a chloride anion to the Zn center. Compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

New routes for the preparation of highly active TiO(2)-supported Cu and CuZn catalysts have been developed for C-O coupling reactions. Slurries of a titania precursor were dip-coated onto glass beads to obtain either structured mesoporous or non-porous titania thin films. The Cu and CuZn nanoparticles, synthesized using a reduction by solvent method, were deposited onto calcined films to obtain a Cu loading of 2 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, temperature-programmed oxidation/reduction (TPO/TPR) techniques, (63)Cu nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM-EDX) and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS). The activity and stability of the catalysts obtained have been studied in the C-O Ullmann coupling of 4-chloropyridine and potassium phenolate. The titania-supported nanoparticles retained catalyst activity for up to 12 h. However, catalyst deactivation was observed for longer operation times due to oxidation of the Cu nanoparticles. The oxidation rate could be significantly reduced over the CuZn/TiO(2) catalytic films due to the presence of Zn. The 4-phenoxypyridine yield was 64% on the Cu/nonporous TiO(2) at 120 °C. The highest product yield of 84% was obtained on the Cu/mesoporous TiO(2) at 140 °C, corresponding to an initial reaction rate of 104 mmol g(cat) (-1) s(-1). The activation energy on the Cu/mesoporous TiO(2) catalyst was found to be (144±5) kJ mol(-1), which is close to the value obtained for the reaction over unsupported CuZn nanoparticles (123±3 kJ mol(-1)) and almost twice the value observed over the catalysts deposited onto the non-porous TiO(2) support (75±2 kJ mol(-1))., (Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

N,N-Diisopropyl-2-propylbenzamide 6-H undergoes lateral deprotonation by t-BuLi in the presence of the Lewis base PMDTA (N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) to give a benzyllithium 6-Li(l)·PMDTA that incorporates a trigonal planar secondary carbanion. In the solid state, the amide directing group and the PMDTA additive work together to abstract the metal ion from the deprotonated α-C of the propyl group (4.107(4) Å). A short distance of 1.376(3) Å is observed between the deprotonated carbon centre and a planar aromatic system that shows a pattern of bond lengths which contrasts with that reported for related tertiary carbanion systems. Analogous benzylic deprotonation is seen if 6-H is treated with t-BuLi in the presence of diglyme to give 6-Li(l)·DGME. X-ray crystallography now shows that the metal ion more closely approaches the tertiary carbanion (2.418(6) Å) but that the planarity of the deprotonated carbon centre and the bonding pattern in the organic anion seen in the PMDTA complex are retained. DFT analysis corroborates both the short distance between aromatic ring and carbanion centre and the unperturbed nature of aromaticity in 6-Li(l)·L (L = Lewis base). The observation of two structure-types for the carbanion in solution is explained theoretically and by NMR spectroscopy in terms of cis and trans isomerism imparted by partial double bond character in the arene-(α-C) bond.

A series of chloro- and bromopyridines have been deprotometalated by using a range of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino-based mixed lithium-metal combinations. Whereas lithium-zinc and lithium-cadmium bases afforded different mono- and diiodides after subsequent interception with iodine, complete regioselectivities were observed with the corresponding lithium-copper combination, as demonstrated by subsequent trapping with benzoyl chlorides. The obtained selectivities have been discussed in light of the CH acidities of the substrates, determined both in the gas phase and as a solution in THF by using the DFT B3LYP method., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Reaction of 2-isopropyl-(N,N-diisopropyl)-benzamide 5 with tBuLi in ether results in ortho deprotonation and the formation of a hemisolvate based on a tetranuclear dimer of (5-Li(o))(2)⋅Et(2)O. The solid-state structure exhibits a dimer core in which the amide oxygen atoms fail to stabilize the metal ions but are instead available for interaction with two metalated monomers that reside peripheral to the core. Reaction of 5 with tBuLi in the presence of the tridentate Lewis base PMDTA (N,N,N',N'',N''-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) takes a different course. In spite of the tertiary aliphatic group at the 2-position in 5, X-ray crystallography revealed that a remarkable benzylic (lateral) deprotonation had occurred, giving the tertiary benzyllithium 5-Li(l)⋅PMDTA. The solid-state structure reveals that amide coordination and solvation by PMDTA combine to distance the Li(+) ion from the deprotonated α-C of the 2-iPr group (3.859(4) Å), thus giving an essentially flat tertiary carbanion and a highly distorted aromatic system. DFT analysis suggests that the metal ion resides closer to the carbanion center in solution. In line with this, the same (benzylic) deprotonation is noted if the reaction is attempted in the presence of tridentate diglyme, with X-ray crystallography revealing that the metal is now closer to the tertiary carbanion (2.497(4) Å). Electrophilic quenches of lithiated 5 have allowed, for the first time, the formation of quaternary benzylic substituents by lateral lithiation., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

This paper reports an in-depth structural investigation of PdZn nanoparticulates prepared over an entire compositional range. By using a combination of HRTEM, ICP-OES, EDX and XPS alongside PXRD, we are able to show how a liquid-type reduction process can be exploited to target different PdZn bimetallic structures while maintaining reproducibly narrow particle size distributions and average particle diameters of approximately 3 nm. Samples have been further analyzed by quantitative phase analysis of the Rietveld refined diffraction data, providing indications as to how variations in specific surface compositions are obtained when Zn is used as the alloying metal. The influence of nanolattice strain is investigated by geometric analysis of TEM data. Results suggest, in conjunction with previously published catalytic data, how different compositions of this specific bimetallic system may be exploited in catalytic processes to control substrate/product affinity. We thus demonstrate a new and simplified approach to PdZn bimetallics, which may offer novel perspectives for applications in industrial catalysis.

The reaction of chromocene, Cp(2)Cr, with dilithiated 2,3-diphenylguanidine [(PhNH)(2)C=NH = L(2)H(3)] gives the novel, quadruply-bonded tetraanion [Cr(2)(L(2)H)(4)](4-).

A modified polyol-based reduction method in ethylene glycol that incorporates poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP, M(av) = 10,000; 40,000; 55,000) as polymeric anti-agglomerant alongside a reducing additive (N(2)H(4) x H(2)O, NaBH(4), NaH(2)PO(2) x H(2)O) has been employed to investigate the influence of synthetic parameters on the purity, morphology and stability of an array of polymer-coated copper nanoparticles. While data point to ethylene glycol being capable of acting as a reductant in this system, the use of NaH(2)PO(2) x H(2)O as co-reductant in tandem with the presence of PVP (M(av) 40,000) has rendered nanoparticles with a mean size distribution of 9.6 +/- 1.0 nm that exhibit stability towards oxidation for several months. These data allow us to probe fundamentally how oxidatively stable nano-copper might be achieved.

A new method for catalyst deposition on the inner walls of capillary microreactors is proposed which allows exact control of the coating thickness, pore size of the support, metal particle size, and metal loading. The wall-coated microreactors have been tested in a selective hydrogenation reaction. Activity and selectivity reach values close to those obtained with a homogeneous Pd catalyst. The catalyst activity was stable for a period of 1000 h time-on-stream.

The mechanisms by which directed ortho metalation (DoM) and postmetalation processes occur when aromatic compounds are treated with mixed alkylamido aluminate i-Bu3Al(TMP)Li (TMP-aluminate 1; TMP = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) have been investigated by computation and X-ray diffraction. Sequential reaction of ArC(=O)N(i-Pr)2 (Ar = phenyl, 1-naphthyl) with t-BuLi and i-Bu3Al in tetrahydrofuran affords [2-(i-Bu3Al)C(m)H(n)C(=O)N(i-Pr)2]Li x 3 THF (m = 6, n = 4, 7; m = 10, n = 6, 8). These data advance the structural evidence for ortho-aluminated functionalized aromatics and represent model intermediates in DoM chemistry. Both 7 and 8 are found to resist reaction with HTMP, suggesting that ortho-aluminated aromatics are incapable of exhibiting stepwise deprotonative reactivity of the type recently shown to pertain to the related field of ortho zincation chemistry. Density functional theory calculations corroborate this view and reveal the existence of substantial kinetic barriers both to one-step alkyl exchange and to amido-alkyl exchange after an initial amido deprotonation reaction by aluminate bases. Rationalization of this dichotomy comes from an evaluation of the inherent Lewis acidities of the Al and Zn centers. As a representative synthetic application of this high kinetic reactivity of the TMP-aluminate, the highly regioselective deprotonative functionalization of unsymmetrical ketones both under mild conditions and at elevated temperatures is also presented.

The S N2' reaction of propragyl mesylates with organozinc reagents was dramatically improved in DMSO solvent, and the stereoselective conversion of chiral substrates was successfully achieved using LiCl-free diorganozinc without the loss of optical purity.

The sequential treatment of group 12 and 13 Lewis acids with alkali-metal organometallics is well established to yield so-called ''ate' complexes, whereby the Lewis-acid metal undergoes nucleophilic attack to give an anion, at least one group 1 metal acting to counter this charge. However, an alternative, less well recognised, reaction pathway involves the Lewis acid abstracting hydride from the organolithium reagent via a beta-elimination mechanism. It has recently been shown that in the presence of N,N'-bidentate ligands this chemistry can be harnessed to yield a new type of molecular main-group metal cluster in which the abstracted LiH is effectively trapped, with the hydride ion occupying an interstitial site in the cluster core. Discussion focuses on the development of this field, detailing advances in our understanding of the roles of Lewis acid, organolithium, and amine substrates in the syntheses of these compounds. Structure-types are discussed, as are efforts to manipulate cluster geometry and composition as well as hydride-coordination. Embryonic mechanistic studies are reported, as well as attempts to generate hydride-encapsulation clusters under catalytic control.

Sequential reaction of HTMP (= 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine) with nBuLi and Et2Zn affords unsolvated polymer chains of EtZn(micro-Et)(micro-TMP)Li 6. The scope of this reagent in directed ortho metalation (DoM) chemistry has been tested by its reaction with N,N-diisopropylnaphthamide in THF to give EtZn(micro-C10H6C(O)NiPr2-2)2Li.2THF 7. Data reveal that 6 has undergone reaction with 2 equiv of aromatic tertiary amide and imply that it exhibits dual alkyl/amido basicity. DFT calculations reveal that direct alkyl basicity is kinetically disfavored and instead point to a stepwise mechanism whereby 6 acts as an amido base, liberating HTMP during the first DoM event. Re-coordination of the amine at lithium then incurs the elimination of EtH. Reaction of the resulting alkyl(amido)(arylamido)zincate with a second equivalent of N,N-diisopropylnaphthamide eliminates HTMP and affords 7. Both DoM steps involve the exhibition of amido basicity and each reveals a low kinetic barrier to reaction. Understanding of this reaction sequence is tested by treating 6 with N,N-diisopropylbenzamide in THF. On the basis of theory and experiment, the presence of THF solvent (in place of stronger Lewis bases) combined with the use of a sterically less congested aromatic amide is expected to encourage threefold, stepwise reaction. Isolation and characterization of the resulting tripodal zincate Zn(micro-C6H4C(O)NiPr2-2)3Li.THF 8 bears this out and suggests a significant new level of control in zincate-induced DoM chemistry through the combination of experiment and DFT studies.

A novel type of deprotonative arylation of nucleophiles was conducted using Et(3)SiH/cat. t-Bu-P4 and the powerful S(N)Ar reactions of aryl fluorides were accomplished using alcohols and malonates as nucleophiles.

While the nucleophilic substitution reaction of manganocene [Cp(2)Mn] with Li(hpp) (1 : 1 equivalents) gives the neutral dimer [CpMn(hpp)]2 (1), further substitution of the Cp ligands leads to the unusual dimeric manganate cage compound [LiMn(hpp)3]2 (2), generated by the dimerisation of a simple tris-organomanganate monomer.

An aluminum ate base, i-Bu(3)Al(TMP)Li, has been designed and developed for regio- and chemoselective direct generation of functionalized aromatic aluminum compounds. Direct alumination followed by electrophilic trapping with I(2), Cu/Pd-catalyzed C-C bond formation, or direct oxidation with molecular O(2) proved to be a powerful tool for the preparation of 1,2- or 1,2,3-multisubstituted aromatic compounds. This deprotonative alumination using i-Bu3Al(TMP)Li was found to be effective in aliphatic chemistry as well, enabling regio- and chemoselective addition of functionalized allylic ethers and carbamates to aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. A combined multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and theoretical study showed that the aluminum ate base is a Li/Al bimetallic complex bridged by the nitrogen atom of TMP and the alpha-carbon of an i-Bu ligand and that the Li exclusively serves as a recognition point for electronegative functional groups or coordinative solvents. The mechanism of directed ortho alumination reaction of functionalized aromatic compounds has been studied by NMR and in situ FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, and DFT calculation. It has been found that the reaction proceeds with facile formation of an initial adduct of the base and aromatic, followed by deprotonative formation of the functionalized aromatic aluminum compound. Deprotonation by the TMP ligand rather than the isobutyl ligand was suggested and reasoned by means of spectroscopic and theoretical study. The remarkable regioselectivity of the ortho alumination reaction was explained by a coordinative approximation effect between the functional groups and the counter Li(+) ion, enabling stable initial complex formation and creation of a less strained transition state structure.

The sequential treatment of Lewis acids with N,N'-bidentate ligands and thereafter with ButLi has afforded a series of hydride-encapsulating alkali metal polyhedra. While the use of Me3Al in conjunction with Ph(2-C5H4N)NH gives Ph(2-C5H4N)NAlMe2 and this reacts with MeLi in thf to yield the simple 'ate complex Ph(2-C5H4N)NAlMe3Li.thf, the employment of an organolithium substrate capable of beta-hydride elimination redirects the reaction significantly. Whereas the use of ButLi has previously yielded a main group interstitial hydride in which H- exhibits micro6-coordination, it is shown here that variability in the coordination sphere of the encapsulated hydride may be induced by manipulation of the organic ligand. Reaction of (c-C6H11)(2-C5H4N)NH with Me3Al/ButLi yields [{(c-C6H11)(2-C5H4N)N}6HLi8]+[(But2AlMe2)2Li]-, which is best viewed as incorporating only linear di-coordination of the hydride ion. The guanidine 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine (hppH) in conjunction with Me2Zn/ButLi yields the micro8-hydride [(hpp)6HLi8]+[But3Zn]-.0.5PhMe. Formation of the micro8-hydride [(hpp)6HLi8]+[ButBEt3]- is revealed by employment of the system Et3B/ButLi. A new and potentially versatile route to interstitial hydrides of this class is revealed by synthesis of the mixed borohydride-lithium hydride species [(hpp)6HLi8]+[Et3BH]- and [(hpp)6HLi8]+[(Et3B)2H]- through the direct combination of hppLi with Et3BHLi.

The activation of Ar-Si bonds in aryltrimethylsilane was investigated using a catalytic amount of t-Bu-P4 base and selective functionalizations of aryltrimethylsilanes in the absence of strong electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic rings were accomplished.

The use of catalytic t-Bu-P4 base dramatically improved the performance of halogen-zinc exchange of aryl iodides, and the arylzinc derivatives were functionalized under copper-free reaction conditions.

Manganocene, Cp(2)Mn, has been employed as a precursor in the synthesis of a range of Mn(II) dimers of the type [CpMn(micro-X)](2)[X = 8-NHC(9)H(6)N (1), N(Ph)(C(5)H(4)N)(2), N(4-EtC(6)H(4))(C(5)H(4)N)(3) and C[triple bond]CPh (4)] as well as the bis-adduct [Cp(2)Mn[HN=C(NMe(2))(2)](2)](5). The solid-state structures of 1-5 are reported. Variable-temperature magnetic measurements have been used to assess the extent of Mn(micro-X)Mn communication within the dimers of 1-4 as a function of the bridging ligands (X).

Dimethylzinc reacts with an excess of N-2-pyridylaniline 6 to give the homoleptic species, Zn[PhN(2-C(5)H(4)N)](2) 8. Single crystal X-ray diffraction reveals a solid-state dimer based on an 8-membered (NCNZn)(2) core motif. Zn[CyN(2-C(5)H(4)N)]Me (Cy =c-C(6)H(11)) 10, prepared by the combination of ZnMe(2) with the corresponding cyclohexyl-substituted pyridylamine, is also dimeric in the solid state but reveals a central (ZnN)(2) metallacycle. Employment of (p-Tol)NH(2-C(5)H(4)N)(p-Tol = 4-MeC(6)H(4)) 11 yielded the tris(zinc) adduct Zn(3)[(p-Tol)N(2-C(5)H(4)N)](4)Me(2) 12, which incorporates a central chiral molecule of 'Zn[(p-Tol)N(2-C(5)H(4)N)](2)' 12a, that bridges two 'Zn[(p-Tol)N(2-C(5)H(4)N)]Me' 12b units. A similar trimetallic structure is noted when the pyridylaniline substrate 11 is replaced with the bicyclic guanidine 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine (hppH), affording Zn(3)(hpp)(4)Me(2) 13. Spectroscopic studies point to retention of the solid-state structure of in hydrocarbon solution. Reaction of 13 with dimesityl borinic acid, Mes(2)BOH (Mes = mesityl), affords Zn(3)(hpp)(4)(OBMes(2))(2) 14 in which the trimetallic core is retained. This reactivity is in contrast to the closely related reaction of dimeric Zn[Me(2)NC[N(i)Pr](2)]Me 15 with Mes(2)BOH, which yielded Zn[Me(2)NC[N(i)Pr](2)][OBMes(2)].Me(2)NC[N(i)Pr][NH(i)Pr] 16 as a result of protonation at the guanidine ligand in addition to the Zn-Me bond.

Tertiary 1-naphthamides racemise much more slowly than their laterally lithiated derivatives, and the relative rates of racemisation and epimerisation of these derivatives indicate that the lithium-bearing stereogenic centre inverts via a "conducted tour" mechanism, in which the lithium cation is delivered from one face to the other by coordination to the rotating amide group.

The sequential reaction of ZnMe2 with a 2-pyridylamine (HN(2-C5H4N)R, R = Ph: 1; 3,5-Xy (=3,5-xylyl): 2; 2,6-Xy: 3; Bz (=benzyl): 4; Me: 5), tBuLi and thereafter with oxygen affords various lithium zincate species, the solid-state structures of which reveal a diversity of oxo-capture modes. Amine 1 reacts to give both dimeric THF [Li(Me)OZn[N(2-C5H4N)Ph]2] (6), wherein oxygen has inserted into the Zn-C bond of a [MeZn[N(2-C5H4N)-Ph]2] ion, and the trigonal Li2Zn complex, bis(OtBu)-capped (THF x Li)2-[[(mu3-O)tBu]2Zn[N(2-C5H4N)Ph]2] (7). The structural analogue of 6 (8) results from the employment of 2, while the use of more sterically congested 3 yields a pseudo-cubane dimer [(THF x [Li(tBu)OZn(OtBu)Me]]2] (9) notable for the retention of labile Zn-C(Me). Amines 4 and 5 afford the oxo-encapsulation products [mu4-O)Zn4[(2-C5H4N)-NBz]6] (10b), and [tBu(mu3-O)-Li3(mu6-O)Zn3[(2-C5H4N)NMe]6] (11), respectively, with concomitant oxo-insertion into a Li-C interaction resulting in capping of the fac-isomeric (mu6-O)M3M'3 distorted octahedral core of the latter complex by a tert-butoxide group.

Lithium cages containing hydride: The reaction of tBuLi with Me(2)AlN(2-Pyr)Ph in toluene gave [Li(8)(H){N(2-Pyr)Ph}(6)](+)[Li(Me(2)AltBu(2))(2)](-), whose cation is the first molecular main group metal species to contain interstitial hydride (the cluster core is shown in the picture). Treatment of the reaction mixture with THF gave the neutral hydride Li(7)(H)[N(2-Pyr)Ph](6), which has a capped octahedral (Li(+))(7) cluster core. 2-Pyr=2-pyridyl.

Thermally unstable crystals of the title compound-the first bismuth phosphide complex to be structurally characterized (see picture)-are obtained by the reaction of [Bi(NMe(2))(3)] with [tBuPHLi] (1:3) in THF/hexane. Berry pseudorotation of the pseudo-trigonal-bipyramidal [{(tBuP)(3)}(2)Bi](-) ion is prevented for steric reasons.

Background: Patients with chronic low back pain present physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic problems. Physical treatments tend to have low success rates and it is postulated that this may be because low back pain can be a manifestation of abnormal illness behaviour., Methods: A structured prospective study determined the prevalence of somatization in a sample of 131 adult patients with chronic low back pain using the Illness Behaviour Questionnaire (IBQ) and the Modified Somatic Perception Questionnaire (MSPQ). The scores on these psychological questionnaires were compared with the blind interpretation of pain distribution drawings and with the results of a mechanical classification of the patient's symptoms and signs., Results: Fifty-four per cent of patients had four or more (out of five) abnormal illness indicators. The MSPQ values for the group were significantly above the control values in the literature. Thirty-two per cent of pain diagrams were thought to be incompatible with an organic cause when assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon and sixty-two per cent when assessed by a psychiatrist., Conclusions: Psychosocial factors are dominant in the presentation of chronic low back pain in adults and the disorder is not primarily a musculoskeletal one.