Lewis acids (ZnCl2, CoCl2, NiCl2, TiCl4, and CdCl2) when supported on silica gel can effectively catalyze transesterification of organophosphotriesters. In anhydrous acetonitrile and in the presence of excess alcohol, such reactions follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Progress and efficacy of these reactions were monitored by UV-vis and 31P NMR spectroscopy.

No description available.

No description available.

Ce travail est consacré à l'étude du dopage de la polyaniline et de ses dérivés substitutés (polyanisidine, poly(2-ethylaniline)) avec d'une part le chlorure d'aluminium AlCl3 ou le chlorure ferrique FeCl3, d'autre part avec leurs dérivés contenant les ligands mixtes chlorure-acétylacétonate (AlCl2(acac) ou (FeCl(acac)2). Les polymères dopés avec AlCl3 ou FeCl3 sont conducteurs, et leur conductivité électronique est de l'ordre de 10-3 S/cm. Des études spectroscopiques complémentaires (UV-VIS-Proche IR, IRTF, RPE, RMN du noyau 27Al (dans le cas du dopage avec AlCl3) et spectroscopie Mössbauer sur le noyau 57Fe (dans le cas du dopage avec FeCl3)), combinées avec l'analyse élémentaire, permettent de comprendre et d'identifier un même mécanisme de dopage. Celui-ci correspond en un premier temps à une dissociation de la molécule du dopant. La partie cationique résultant de cette dissociation est complexée sur les sites azote de type imine de la chaîne du polymère, tandis que la partie anionique s'incorpore à la matrice polymère afin de neutraliser la charge positive imposée à la chaîne du polymère. La sphère de coordination du complexe cationique est complétée par solvatation avec une molécule de nitrométhane. Le réarrangement des charges accompagnant le processus de dopage entraîne la création de radicaux cationiques mobiles sur la chaîne du polymère, donnant ainsi au polymère dopé des propriétés de conduction électronique. Ce mécanisme rend parfaitement compte de la présence de porteurs de charge et de la structure cationique des radicaux de la chaîne polymérique dopée mises en évidence par les expériences de spectroscopie RPE et d'absorption UV-VIS-Proche IR. La polyaniline dopée avec FeCl3 présente de faibles propriétés mécaniques, qui peuvent cependant être améliorées par un traitement ultérieur avec l'hexafluoroacetylacetone (HFAA). Ce traitement conduit à la transformation de la polyaniline dopée avec FeCl3 (acide de Lewis) en un polymère dopé avec HFeCl4 (acide de Brönsted), simultanément plastifié par HFAA. Le dopage avec les ligands mixtes (AlCl2(acac) ou (FeCl(acac)2), bien qu'inopérant en ce qui concerne la polyaniline, conduit clairement au dopage de la polyanisidine et de la poly(2-éthylaniline). Les chaînes de ces polymères dopés présentent une structure radicalaire cationique mise en évidence par les expériences d'absorption UV-VIS-Proche IR ; mais le mécanisme de dopage reste plus complexe à définir que dans le cas du dopage avec AlCl3 ou FeCl3. Le dopage avec AlCl2(acac) conduit à un polymère dopé avec AlCl3 avec Al(acac)3 incorporé à la matrice du polymère comme sous-produit. Le dopage avec FeCl(acac)2 donne un composé présentant davantage de sites de fer non équivalents qu'il en est attendu ; leur nature reste difficile à identifier par spectrométrie Mössbauer.

Several workers have reduced acidic polysaccharides for structural studies, for sorption studies, and for studies on chemical reactivity. All these investigators have used reduction procedures which have not been extensively studied and do not completely reduce the acidic groups. In addition, it is not known to what extent the other functional groups such as esters and hemiacetal are reduced. The goal of the present study is to obtain a further understanding of the reduction with both a Lewis acid, diborane, and a Lewis base, lithium borohydride, by comparison of the percent reduction of the functional groups on an acidic polysaccharide. Alginic acid from the stipes of the brown algae Laminaria hyperborea was selected as the acidic polysaccharide for study.

Trimethyltin fluoride (Me3SnF) is a useful fluorinating agent in organometallic chemistry. Its solid-state structure has been investigated by X-ray crystallography showing a polymeric fluorine-bridged structure. Disorder, however, has precluded the accurate refinement of all structural parameters. In order to obtain accurate structural information, trimethyltin fluoride was investigated using high-resolution 13C, 19F, and 119Sn solid-state NMR spectroscopy using a four-channel HFXY capability. The 119Sn{1H} solid-state NMR spectrum agrees with pentacoordination about Sn in this compound. The high-resolution 119Sn{19F, 1H}, 13C{1H,19F} and 19F{1H} NMR spectra offer unambiguous determination of 1J(119Sn-19F) and 1J(119Sn-13C) coupling constants. Furthermore, the analysis of the 119Sn{19F, 1H}, 119Sn{1H}, and 19F{1H} MAS spectra as a function of spinning speed allowed for the determination of the 119Sn CSA and J anisotropy, as well as the 119Sn-19F dipolar couplings. These were determined via SIMPSON simulations of the 13C, 19F, and 119Sn NMR spectra. Finally the 119Sn{19F, 1H} revealed fine structure as the result of 119Sn-117Sn two bond J-coupling, seen here for the first time. Sulfur tetrafluoride can act as a Lewis acid. Claims had been presented for the formation of an adduct between SF4 and pyridine, but no conclusive characterization had been performed. In the present study, adducts of SF4 with pyridine, lutidine, 4-picoline and triethylamine were prepared and characterized by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy. Sulfur tetrafluoride also acts as a fluoride-ion donor towards strong Lewis acids, such as AsF5 and SbF5, forming SF3 + salts. Variable-temperature (VT) solid-state 19F NMR spectroscopy showed that SF3 +SbF6 – exists in three phases with phase transitions at ca. –45 and –85°C, while SF3 +AsF6 – exists only as one phase between +20 and –150 °C. The phases of SF3 +AsF6 – were also characterized by VT Raman spectroscopy. / xvi, 170 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 29 cm

A new method for the efficient synthesis of ferrocenylenones was developed. Acryloyl, methacryloyl, crotonyl, cinnamoyl, and &amp / #946 / -methylcrotonyl chlorides reacted with ferrocene in the presence of a Lewis acid (EtAlCl2 or EtAlCl2-Me3Al) to give the corrosponding ferrocenylenones (acryloyl, methacryloyl, crotonyl, cinnamoyl, and &amp / #946 / -methylcrotonylferrocenes) in good isolated yields. Using the Gabriel-Cromwell reaction, acryloyl and crotonoylferrocenes were converted to the novel ferrocenyl substituted aziridines with benzylamine, isopropylamine and furfurylamine. The aziridines were isolated in good to excellent yields.

The coordination chemistry of compounds featuring P-P and P—Sb bonds has been investigated to define the fundamental features of bonding in these systems. New reaction methodologies to form P—P bonds have been evolved based on careful consideration of bond strengths in the gas and condensed phase. Insights revealed from systematic studies of molecular structures have been used to augment and expand the scope of existing models for structural prediction (e.g. VSEPR theory). Unique classes of catena-antimony compounds have been discovered, illustrating a remarkable structural and electronic diversity for this heavy p-block metal. Detailed mechanistic examinations have revealed a previously unrecognized mode of ligand activation for phosphine complexes of very electrophilic acceptors. Stable sources of the hitherto unisolated and highly reactive tris-triflate reagents, E(OTf)3 (E = P, As, Sb, Bi), have been prepared and their coordination chemistry as Lewis acids and oxidizing agents has been mapped. Collectively, the findings described here span a range of coordination chemistry paradigms for p-block elements that may be broadly applicable across the periodic table. A robust plan has been proposed for applying these insights towards the preparation of fundamentally interesting molecular frameworks and towards new strategies for small molecule activation. / Graduate / 0488 / 0485

M.Sc. / Lewis acids play an important role in catalysis; they are associated with mild conditions, high selectivities and unique reactivities. Traditional Lewis acids such as AlCb and BF3 successfully catalyse such well known reactions as the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction, Aldol condensation reactions and many more. These catalysts, however, must be used in a stoichiometric amount and are destroyed during the aqueous workup procedures. Lately, there has been a lot of interest in the role of metal triflate as Lewis acid catalysts. They were found to be effective in a wide range of reactions when used in catalytic amounts. They were also found to be recyclable and reusable without the loss of activity. Most of this research has been centred around the lanthanide triflates as well as scandium, bismuth and yttrium triflates. Very little research has been done using aluminium triflate and this triflate forms the focus ofthis study. The work contained in this dissertation demonstrates that Al(OTf)3 is an efficient catalyst for the ring opening of a variety of epoxides by alcohols when present in only ppm amounts. These reactions provided products in very high yields and selectivities. Simple acyclic and cyclic epoxides readily underwent ring opening reactions with a range of alcohols, typically providing the monoglycol ethers as single compounds (from the cyclic epoxides) or as mixtures of the two possible glycol monoethers (from the acyclic epoxides). In the case of styrene oxide, essentially a single compound was isolated. In contrast, the glycidyl ethers required slightly higher catalyst loadings before similar rates and conversions to product were observed. Additionally, an interesting selectivity was observed in the orientation of the attack of the alcohol onto the epoxide, which appeared to be chelation controlled. Similarly, the Al(OTf)3 also catalysed the aminolysis of a variety of epoxides. These reactions proceeded smoothly with catalytic amounts of the triflate present, and served to nicely highlight the role that steric and electronic factors played in these reactions. A preliminary study was carried out into the efficacy of Al(OTf)3 as a catalyst for Friedel-Crafts acylation and aromatic nitration reactions. From these studies it is evident that the Al(OTf)3 is indeed an effective catalyst for these reactions when present in substoichiometric levels and further studies will be carried out in this area in the future.

Ph.D. / The research contained in this thesis was aimed at the applications of Lewis acids (metal triflate salts in particular) and Brønsted acids as catalysts for various organic synthesis reactions. The ultimate objective was to prepare combinations of the Lewis and Brønsted acids to form assisted acids. The assisted acids yield to the formation of highly acidic assisted acids which exhibit high activity as compared to the individual Lewis and Brønsted acids. A detailed literature study was undertaken, with emphasis on the applications of metal triflate salts as catalysts for various organic reactions and the applications of assisted acids. The study was motivated by the fact that metal triflate Lewis acids are thermally stable, non corrosive and water tolerant catalysts, hence can be used industrially to replace the corrosive, moisture sensitive acids as catalysts. However, metal triflates have not yet been recognised and utilised in the chemical industry. On the other hand, the active Brønsted acids such as triflic acid, H2SO4 etc. are corrosive, which restricts the type of construction material to hastelloy. However, the assisted acids composed of less corrosive Brønsted acids and metal triflate Lewis acid is desirable to address the corrosion and safety challenges. The metal triflate salts and Brønsted acids were evaluated as catalysts for etherification reactions of alcohols and olefins, Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions phenolic substrates with isobutylene. The study showed that some dependence of the charge density to the activity, i.e. metal triflate salts such as Al(OTf)3, Zr(OTf)4 and Sc(OTf)3 with relatively high charge density were more effective in catalysing the reactions than those with relatively smaller charge density such as lanthanides, which were virtually active. The activity of Brønsted acids showed a clear dependence on the acid strength pKa, with H3PO4 giving the least activity. The assisted acids formed via a combination of metal triflate salts with mineral Brønsted acids showed a significant enhancement of the reaction rates as compared to the individual acids. This set of new combined acids was proven to be excellent catalysts for the etherification reactions, Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions and also for the synthesis of biologically active compounds called chromans. The assisted acids as well as Al(OTf)3, and Zr(OTf)4 could be recycled at least four times without significant loss of activity. The study also showed that assisted acids could be recycled for both etherification and Friedel-Crafts reactions.