The solid-state X-ray structure of Tp‘PtMe2H has been determined. This platinum(IV) hydride derivative is stable at room temperature and crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell (space group P cmn , Z = 4, a = 8.1292(8) Å, b = 13.3862(9) Å, and c = 17.9670(16) Å). The hydride ligand was not located. The complex was synthesized as one of a series of organometallic platinum(IV) derivatives with Tp‘ (Tp‘ = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) in the coordination sphere. These octahedral platinum(IV) Tp‘PtMe2X and Tp‘PtPh2X complexes were prepared by formal oxidation of platinum(II) intermediates ([K][Tp‘PtMe2] and [K][Tp‘PtPh2]) with electrophiles (HX, MeI, I2). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to determine the solid-state decomposition temperatures for these platinum(IV) organometallic complexes.

No abstract

Undergraduate science educators have reported that students should know how to locate and use chemical information (1). Articles pertaining to the use of online resources for this purpose have appeared in this Journal (2-12). The American Chemical Society guidelines for a certified degree have made it clear that students "must learn how to retrieve specific information from the enormous and rapidly expanding chemical literature" (13). The guidelines also state that "it is essential that students gain experience with online, interactive computer files" (13). One of the goals of Butler University's chemistry program is to provide a comprehensive education and we believe, even though we are a primarily undergraduate institution, that this includes understanding and using all available research tools.Introducing undergraduate students to the chemical literature early and exposing them to it often is a challenge faced at all teaching institutions. Traditional undergraduate curricula that include chemical literature generally do it in one of three ways: as a formal chemical literature course (2-5), by integrating literature searching into an existing course (6-8), or by general undergraduate usage (9-11). The Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) online searching products used in the cited courses were STN Mentor (2); STN through the Academic Plan including CA (bibliographic file), the Registry File (structures), CAOLD (bibliographic file pre-1967), LCA (Learning CA file), LREG (Learning Registry File), and LCASReact (Learning reactions) (3,4,6,8,10); Dialog (5,8,11); and Dialog Classroom Instruction Program (CIP) (7). Until recently, Butler University was an extensive user of STN and Dialog for all our online searching needs. Since January 1, 2001, we have used SciFinder Scholar, a product available to teaching and research institutions since 1997 (14-16 ), in our teaching and research (17 ). This online searching tool has several advantages over other products as outlined in this report.The use of online search resources at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), is even more challenging because resources at these institutions are often limited. There can be a significant cost when large numbers of students perform CAS online searching, or search time through STN and Dialog products may be restricted. In fact, two papers reported that searches were performed during off-peak hours (9,11). With SciFinder Scholar, we have significantly increased students' access to CAS online services and have allowed them to become active partners in their own explorations of the chemical literature database.

Microwave-assisted reaction techniques have been applied to the formation of a variety of organo-iron species. The species synthesized include ferrocene and acetylferrocene, piano stool complexes such as CpFe(CO)2I, CpFe(PPh3)(CO)I, and CpFe(PPh3)(CO)(COMe), and bisphosphine iron complexes. The use of microwave-assisted reactions has decreased reaction times while maintaining or improving yields as compared to traditional methods.

No abstract