Quantum chemical molecular modeling has become a standard tool in organometallic chemistry. In particular, density functional theory calculations are now indispensable for investigating the mechanism of even complex reactions and deliver precise energies of intermediates and transition states. Because software packages have become user-friendly and are widely available, even nonexperts can now produce highquality computer models. In this tutorial, we highlight nontrivial mistakes, misconceptions, and misinterpretations often encountered when producing models of a chemical reaction that can lead to wrong conclusions. The reasons for these errors are conceptually explained in simple terms, and remedies are offered.

No abstract

The WxTaTiVCr high-entropy alloy with 32at.% of tungsten (W) and its derivative alloys with 42 to 90at.% of W with in-situ TiC were prepared via the mixing of elemental W, Ta, Ti, V and Cr powders followed by spark plasma sintering for the development of reduced-activation alloys for fusion plasma-facing materials. Characterization of the sintered samples revealed a BCC lattice and a multi-phase structure. The selected-area diffraction patterns confirmed the formation of TiC in the high-entropy alloy and its derivative alloys. It revealed the development of C15 (cubic) Laves phases as well in alloys with 71 to 90at.% W. A mechanical examination of the samples revealed a more than twofold improvement in the hardness and strength due to solid-solution strengthening and dispersion strengthening. This study explored the potential of powder metallurgy processing for the fabrication of a high-entropy alloy and other derived compositions with enhanced hardness and strength.

No abstract

Recently, PtM (M = Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, etc.) intermetallic compounds have been highlighted as promising candidates for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts. In general, to form those intermetallic compounds, alloy phase nanoparticles are synthesized and then heat-treated at a high temperature. However, nanoparticles easily agglomerate during the heat treatment, resulting in a decrease in electrochemical surface area (ECSA). In this study, we synthesized Pt-Fe alloy nanoparticles and employed carbon coating to protect the nanoparticles from agglomeration during heat treatment. As a result, PtFe L1 structure was obtained without agglomeration of the nanoparticles; the ECSA of Pt-Fe alloy and intermetallic PtFe/C was 37.6 and 33.3 m g, respectively. PtFe/C exhibited excellent mass activity (0.454 A mg) and stability with superior resistances to nanoparticle agglomeration and iron leaching. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed that, owing to the higher dissolution potential of Fe atoms on the PtFe surface than those on the Pt-Fe alloy, PtFe/C had better stability than Pt-Fe/C. A single cell fabricated with PtFe/C showed higher initial performance and superior durability, compared to that with commercial Pt/C. We suggest that PtM chemically ordered electrocatalysts are excellent candidates that may become the most active and durable ORR catalysts available.

Uranium complexes in the +3 and +4 oxidation states were prepared using the anionic PN (PN = ( N-(2-(diisopropylphosphino)-4-methylphenyl)-2,4,6-trimethylanilide) ligand framework. New complexes include the halide starting materials, (PN)UI (1) and (PN)UCl (2), which both yield (PN)U(N) (3) by reaction with NaN. Compound 3 was reduced with potassium graphite to produce a putative, transient uranium-nitrido moiety that underwent an intramolecular C-H activation to form a rare example of a parent imido complex, [K(THF)][(PN)U(═NH)[ PrP(CHMe)N(CHMeCH)]] (4). Calculated reaction energy profiles strongly suggest that a C-H insertion becomes unfavorable when a reductant is present, offering a distinctively different reaction pathway than previously observed for other uranium nitride complexes.

A palladium(II)-catalyzed 1,1-difunctionalization of unactivated terminal and internal alkenes via addition of two nucleophiles was developed using a cationic palladium(II) complex. The palladacycle generated in situ as a result of a regioselective addition of a nucleophile to the alkene can readily undergo regioselective β-hydride elimination and migratory insertion with a cationic palladium catalyst. The resulting η 3 -π-allyl palladium(II) complex is the key intermediate that reacts with a second nucleophile to furnish the desired 1,1-difunctionalization of the alkene. Under the optimized reaction conditions, a wide range of indoles and anilines add to alkene units of 3-butenoic or 4-pentenoic acid derivatives to afford the synthetically useful γ,γor δ,δ-difunctionalized products with excellent regiocontrol. Furthermore, by employing internal hydroxyl or acid groups and external carbon nucleophiles, this transformation enables unsymmetric 1,1-difunctionalization to forge challenging and important oxo quaternary carbon centers. Combining experiments and DFT calculations on the mechanism of the reaction is investigated in detail.

No abstract