The coupling reaction of 1,2-epoxy-4-cyclohexene with CO2 in the presence of a ZnCl2/nBu4NI catalyst system was shown to provide the naturally occurring cis-cyclohexadiene carbonate. An alternative synthesis of this compound, which was characterized by X-ray structural analysis, was carried out from the cis-diol and triphosgene. Upon utilizing binary or bifunctional (salen)CrX catalysts, this coupling process resulted in the selective formation of completely alternating copolymer of 1,2-epoxy-4-cyclohexene and carbon dioxide. In the case involving the binary chromium(III)/onium salt catalyst, small quantities of both the cis and trans cyclic carbonates were also produced. The (salen)CoDNP/PPNDNP (DNP = 2,4-dinitrophenolate) catalyst system was most effective at producing high molecular weight copolymer with 100% selectivity. The T g of this polymer (M n = 35.9 kDa) was determined to be 123 °C, which is higher than the T g (116 °C) of the corresponding saturated copolymer. Depolymerization of poly(cyclohexadiene carbonate) to trans-cyclohexadiene carbonate occurred slowly and cleanly at 110 °C following deprotonation of the terminal hydroxyl group. The trans-cyclohexadiene carbonate was independently synthesized via the carbonylation of the trans-diol with ethyl chloroformate. The hydrophobic 1,2-epoxy-4-cyclohexene/CO2 derived copolymer was modified by the quantitative addition of thioglycolic acid by way of the thiol–ene click reaction to afford an amphiphilic copolymer. Upon deprotonation of this functionalized polycarbonate with ammonium hydroxide, the production of a water-soluble polymeric material was achieved which displayed a T g of 120 °C.

The manganese tricarbonyl complex fac-Mn(Br)(CO)3((i)Pr2Ph-DAB) (1) [(i)Pr2Ph-DAB = (N,N'-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-1,4-diaza-1,3-butadiene)] was synthesized from the reaction of Mn(CO)5Br with the sterically encumbered DAB ligand. Compound 1 exhibits rapid CO release under low power visible light irradiation (560 nm) suggesting its possible use as a photoCORM. The reaction of compound 1 with TlPF6 in the dark afforded the manganese(I) tetracarbonyl complex, [Mn(CO)4((i)Pr2Ph-DAB)][PF6] (2). While 2 is comparatively more stable than 1 in light, it demonstrates high thermal reactivity such that dissolution in CH3CN or THF at room temperature results in rapid CO loss and formation of the respective solvate complexes. This unusual reactivity is due to the large steric profile of the DAB ligand which results in a weak Mn-CO binding interaction.

Dinitrosyliron complexes (DNICs) are organometallic-like compounds of biological significance in that they appear in vivo as products of NO degradation of iron-sulfur clusters; synthetic analogues have potential as NO storage and releasing agents. Their reactivity is expected to depend on ancillary ligands and the redox level of the distinctive Fe(NO)2 unit: paramagnetic {Fe(NO)2}(9), diamagnetic dimerized forms of {Fe(NO)2}(9) and diamagnetic {Fe(NO)2}(10) DNICs (Enemark-Feltham notation). The typical biological ligands cysteine and glutathione themselves are subject to thiolate-disulfide redox processes, which when coupled to DNICs may lead to intricate redox processes involving iron, NO, and RS(-)/RS•. Making use of an N-heterocyclic carbene-stabilized DNIC, (NHC)(RS)Fe(NO)2, we have explored the DNIC-promoted RS(-)/RS• oxidation in the presence of added CO wherein oxidized {Fe(NO)2}(9) is reduced to {Fe(NO)2}(10) through carbon monoxide (CO)/RS• ligand substitution. Kinetic studies indicate a bimolecular process, rate = k [Fe(NO)2](1)[CO](1), and activation parameters derived from kobs dependence on temperature similarly indicate an associative mechanism. This mechanism is further defined by density functional theory computations. Computational results indicate a unique role for the delocalized frontier molecular orbitals of the Fe(NO)2 unit, permitting ligand exchange of RS• and CO through an initial side-on approach of CO to the electron-rich N-Fe-N site, ultimately resulting in a 5-coordinate, 19-electron intermediate with elongated Fe-SR bond and with the NO ligands accommodating the excess charge.

Surface molecular self-assembly is a fast advancing field with broad applications in sensing, patterning, device assembly, and biochemical applications. A vast number of practical systems utilize alkane thiols supported on gold surfaces. Whereas a strong Au-S bond facilitates robust self-assembly, the interaction is so strong that the surface is reconstructed, leaving etch pits that render the monolayers susceptible to degradation. By using different head group elements to adcust the molecule-surface interaction, a vast array of new systems with novel properties may be formed. In this paper we use a carefully chosen set of molecules to make a direct comparison of the self-assembly of thioether, selenoether, and phosphine species on Au(111). Using the herringbone reconstruction of gold as a sensitive readout of molecule-surface interaction strength, we correlate head-group chemistry with monolayer (ML) properties. It is demonstrated that the hard/soft rules of inorganic chemistry can be used to rationalize the observed trend of molecular interaction strengths with the soft gold surface, that is, P>Se>S. We find that the structure of the monolayers can be explained by the geometry of the molecules in terms of dipolar, quadrupolar, or van der Waals interactions between neighboring species driving the assembly of distinct ordered arrays. As this study directly compares one element with another in simple systems, it may serve as a guide for the design of self-assembled monolayers with novel structures and properties.

Chromium complexes supported by tetradentate dianionic imine-thioether-bridged bis(phenol) ligands were prepared and employed in the synthesis of poly(cyclohexene carbonate) via the copolymerization of CO 2 and cyclohexene oxide. The catalytic activity, product selectivity, and kinetic behaviors of these [ONSO]Cr III complexes have been systematically investigated. Results indicate the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents on the ligands to enhance catalytic activity and polymer selectivity. A turnover frequency of 100 h 21 is observed at a temperature of 110 8C, producing polycarbonate with >60% selectivity. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym.