693 research outputs found

    Fungal entomopathogens: new insights on their ecology

    No full text
    An important mechanism for insect pest control should be the use of fungal entomopathogens. Even though these organisms have been studied for more than 100 y, their effective use in the field remains elusive. Recently, however, it has been discovered that many of these entomopathogenic fungi play additional roles in nature. They are endophytes, antagonists of plant pathogens, associates with the rhizosphere, and possibly even plant growth promoting agents. These findings indicate that the ecological role of these fungi in the environment is not fully understood and limits our ability to employ them successfully for pest management. In this paper, we review the recently discovered roles played by many entomopathogenic fungi and propose new research strategies focused on alternate uses for these fungi. It seems likely that these agents can be used in multiple roles in protecting plants from pests and diseases and at the same time promoting plant growth

    Synthesis and characterization of adducts between SF4 and oxygen bases: examples of O···S(IV) chalcogen bonding

    No full text
    Accepted author manuscriptLewis acid–base adducts between SF4 and the oxygen bases tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentanone, and 1,2-dimethoxyethane were synthesized and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures of (SF4·OC4H8)2, SF4·(OC4H8)2, SF4·CH3OC2H4OCH3, and SF4·(O═C5H8)2 show weak S···O chalcogen bonding interactions ranging from 2.662(2) to 2.8692(9) Å. Caffeine, which has three Lewis basic sites, was reacted with SF4 and one aliquot of HF forming C8H10N4O2·2SF4·HF, which was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculations aided in the assignment of the vibrational spectra of (SF4·OC4H8)2, SF4·(OC4H8)2, SF4·CH3OC2H4OCH3, and SF4·(O═C5H8)2. Bonding was studied by natural bond order and the quantum theory of atoms in molecules analyses.Ye

    The solid-state structure of SF4: the final piece of the puzzle

    No full text
    Accepted author manuscriptSolved at last: The crystal structure of solid SF4, which has a melting point of −121 °C, has been obtained. It exhibits weak intermolecular S⋅⋅⋅F interactions. A similar structural motif was observed within a layer of SF4 in [HNC5H3(CH3)2+]2F−⋅⋅⋅SF4[SF5−]⋅3 SF4. The latter structure contains a range of bonding modes between S and F, namely SF5−, F4S⋅⋅⋅F−, F4S⋅⋅⋅FSF4−, and F4S⋅⋅⋅FSF3.Ye

    A new synthetic route to rhenium and iodine oxide fluoride anions: The reaction between oxoanions and sulfur tetrafluoride

    No full text
    Accepted author manuscriptSulfur tetrafluoride is a reagent for the one-step syntheses of [ReVIIO2F4]−, [IVOF4]−, and [IVIIO2F4]− salts. Pure Ag[ReO2F4] as well as its CH3CN coordination compounds were obtained from CH3CN solvent. The Ag[ReO2F4], [Ag(CH3CN)2][ReO2F4], and [Ag(CH3CN)4][ReO2F4] salts were characterized by Raman spectroscopy. The [Ag(CH3CN)4][ReO2F4]·2CH3CN coordination compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction of SF4 with KIO4 in anhydrous HF gave the known K[IO2F4] salt. The reaction of [N(CH3)4]IO3 with SF4 in CH3CN yielded the new [N(CH3)4][IOF4] salt, which was characterized by Raman spectroscopy.Ye

    Interactions between SF4 and Fluoride: A Crystallographic Study of Solvolysis Products of SF4Nitrogen-Base Adducts by HF

    No full text
    Accepted author manuscriptAdducts between SF4 and a nitrogen base are easily solvolyzed by HF, yielding the protonated nitrogen base and fluoride. Salts resulting from the solvolysis of SF4·NC5H5, SF4·NC5H4(CH3), SF4·NC5H3(CH3)2, and SF4·NC5H4N(CH3)2 have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures were obtained for pyridinium salts [HNC5H5+]F–·SF4 and [HNC5H5+]F–[HF]·2SF4, the 4-methylpyridinium salt [HNC5H4(CH3)+]F–·SF4, the 2,6-methylpyridinium salt [HNC5H3(CH3)2+]2[SF5–]F–·SF4, and 4-(dimethylamino)pyridinium salts [HNC5H4N(CH3)2+]2[SF5–]F–·CH2Cl2 and [NC5H4N(CH3)2+][HF2–]·2SF4. In addition, the structure of [HNC5H4(CH3)+][HF2–] was obtained. 4,4′-Bipyridyl reacts with SF4 and 1 and 2 equiv of HF to give the 4,4′-bipyridinium salts [NH4C5–C5H4NH+]F–·2SF4 and [HNH4C5–C5H4NH2+]2F–·4SF4, respectively. These structures exhibit a surprising range of bonding modalities and provide an extensive view of SF4 and its contacts with Lewis basic groups in the solid state. The interactions range from the strong F4S–F– bond in the previously observed SF5– anion to weak F4S---F–, F4S(---F–)2, and F4S(---FHF–)2 dative bonds.Ye

    Oxide and Oxide Fluoride Chemistry of Xenon(VIII), Xenon(VI), and Iridium

    No full text
    This Thesis extends our fundamental knowledge of high-oxidation-state chemistry and in particular compounds of Xe(VIII), Xe(VI), and Ir(V). The crystal structure of XeVIIIO4 was obtained and provides important information on this fundamentally interesting endothermic and shock-sensitive compound. Macroscopic amounts of XeO3F2 have been prepared for the first time. Although the low-temperature Raman spectrum of solid XeO3F2 exhibits some frequency shifts and band splittings of the bending modes, the spectrum is similar to the Raman spectrum of the previously reported matrix-isolated compound. The crystal structures of decomposition and byproducts resulting from the syntheses of XeO3F2 have been obtained for [XeF5][HF2]∙XeOF4 and XeF2∙XeO2F2. The solid-state structure of xenon trioxide, XeO3, was reinvestigated by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction and shown to exhibit polymorphism that is dependent on crystallization conditions. The previously reported α-phase (orthorhombic, P212121) only forms upon evaporation of aqueous HF solutions of XeO3. In contrast, two new phases, β-XeO3 (rhombohedral, R3) and gamma-XeO3 (rhombohedral, R3c) have been obtained by slow evaporation of aqueous solutions of XeO3. The extended structures of all three phases result from Xe=O----Xe bridge interactions among XeO3 molecules that arise from the amphoteric donor-acceptor nature of XeO3. The Xe atom of the trigonal pyramidal XeO3-unit has three Xe---O secondary bonding interactions. The orthorhombic α-phase displays the greatest degree of variation among the contact distances and has a significantly higher density than the rhombohedral phases. The ambient-temperature Raman spectra of solid α- and gamma-XeO3 have also been obtained and assigned for the first time. Xenon trioxide interacts with CH3CN and CH3CH2CN to form O3XeNCCH3, O3Xe(NCCH3)2, O3XeNCCH2CH3, and O3Xe(NCCH2CH3)2. Their low-temperature single-crystal X-ray structures show that the xenon atoms are consistently coordinated to three electron-donor atoms which result in pseudo-octahedral environments around their xenon atoms. The adduct series provides the first examples of a neutral xenon oxide bound to nitrogen bases. Energy-minimized gas-phase geometries and vibrational frequencies were obtained for the model compounds O3Xe(NCCH3)n (n = 1−3) and O3Xe(NCCH3)n∙[O3Xe(NCCH3)2]2 (n = 1, 2). The natural bond orbital (NBO), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), electron localization function (ELF), and molecular electrostatic potential surface (MEPS) analyses were carried out to further probe the nature of the bonding in these adducts. Xenon trioxide forms adducts with the polytopic nitrogen base ligands: hexamine, DABCO, 2,2’-bipyridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, and 4,4’-bipyridine. The adducts were conveniently synthesized in aqueous or CH3CN solutions and are stable at room temperature. The crystal structures of hexamine∙2XeO3, hexamine∙XeO3∙H2O, 2,2’-bipyridine∙XeO3, 1,10-phenanthroline∙XeO3, and 4,4’-bipyridine∙XeO3 have been determined by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structures consist of XeO3 molecules bridged by the ligands to form extended supramolecular networks with Xe---N bonds which range from 2.634(3) to 2.829(2) Å. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize and probe the room-temperature stabilities of these adducts. The reaction of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) with XeO3 in aqueous solutions yields thin, plate-shaped crystals which are severely twinned whereas the reaction of DABCO with XeO3 in the presence of HF forms [DABCOH]2[F2(XeO3)2]∙H2O and [DABCOH2][F][H2F3] which were also characterized by low-temperature X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. A reversible temperature-dependent phase transition occurred for [DABCOH]2[F2(XeO3)2]∙H2O. The structures of 2,2’-bipy∙XeO3 and 1,10-phen∙XeO3 provide the first examples of noble-gas chelates. The structure of hexamine∙XeO3∙H2O provides the first instance in which a noble-gas centre is coordinated by water. These compounds also represent the first examples of sp2- and sp3-hybridized N---Xe(VI) bonds and are rare examples of noble-gas compounds that are air-stable at ambient temperatures. Adducts between XeO3 and three molar equivalents of the nitrogen bases, pyridine and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP), have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of (C5H5N)3XeO3, {(CH3)2)2NC5H4N}3XeO3∙H2O have been determined by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction of hydrolyzed XeF6 in acetonitrile with pyridine or 4-DMAP afforded [C5H5NH]4[HF2]2[F2(XeO3)2] and [(CH3)2NC5H4NH][HF2]∙XeO3 which were characterized by low-temperature X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. The structures contain pyridinium cations that are hydrogen bonded to the fluoride coordinated to XeO3 and can be viewed as pyridinium fluoroxenates. The structure of (CH3)2NC5H5N∙XeO3∙H2O contains a water molecule that is hydrogen bonded to two oxygen atoms of two adjacent XeO3 molecules. The pyridine adduct, (C5H5N)3XeO3, was found to be relatively insensitive to shock, whereas the 4-DMAP adduct was extremely shock sensitive. The number of isolable compounds which contain different noble-gas−element bonds is limited for xenon and even more so for krypton. Examples of Xe−Cl bonds are rare and prior to this work, no definitive evidence for a Xe−Br bonded compound existed. The syntheses, isolation, and characterization of the first compounds to contain Xe−Br bonds ([N(C2H5)4]3[Br3(XeO3)3] and [N(CH3)4]4[Br4(XeO3)4]) and their chlorine analogues are described. The bromo- and chloroxenate salts are stable in the atmosphere at room temperature and were characterized in the solid state by Raman spectroscopy, low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and in the gas phase by quantum-chemical calculations. They are the only known examples of cage anions that contain a noble-gas element. The Xe−Br and Xe−Cl bonds are weakly covalent and can be viewed as σ-hole interactions, similar to halogen bonds. Xenon trioxide reacts with alkali metal fluorides and chlorides to form a variety of room-temperature stable fluoro- and chloroxenate salts. The reaction of XeO3 with various ratios of KF in water afforded three new compounds. The crystal structures of α-K[F(XeO3)2], β-K[F(XeO3)2], α-K[FXeO3], K2[F2(XeO3)] have been determined. The reaction of XeO3 with aqueous CsF resulted in Cs3[F3(XeO3)2]. The XeVI−F bond lengths range from 2.3520(18) to 2.5927(17) Å. No stable product was isolated when [N(CH3)4]F was the fluoride source, but in the presence of HF, crystals of [N(CH3)4]3[HF2]2[H2F3]∙2XeO3 were obtained. The reaction of KCl with XeO3 in equimolar amounts resulted in the formation of K[ClXeO3] whereas the analogous reaction with CsCl yielded Cs3[Cl3(XeO3)4]. Attempts to synthesize Xe–P and Xe–S bonded compounds were unsuccessful and instead resulted in adducts between XeO3 and O-bases such as the phosphine oxide adduct, {(C6H5)3PO}2XeO3 and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) adduct {(CH3)2SO}3(XeO3)2. Although DMSO was found to be resistant to oxidation by XeO3, no significant Xe---S bonding interactions were observed. Acetone was found to be highly resistant to oxidation by XeO3 and forms {(CH3)2CO}3XeO3 at low temperatures. The reaction of pyridine-N-oxide yielded large crystals of (C5H5NO)3(XeO3)2 in which the structure contains short chains in contrast with ((CH3)2SO)3(XeO3)2 whose structure consists of discrete dimers. The reaction of XeO3 with the oxidatively resistant main-group oxide anion source, [N(CH3)4][OTeF5] in CH3CN solvent afforded [N(CH3)4][F5TeOXeO3(CH3CN)2]. Xenon trioxide reacts with potassium hydroxide to form the previously known K4[XeO6]∙2XeO3 salt which was characterized by Raman spectroscopy and low-temperature X-ray crystallography. The reaction of MgO with XeO3 yielded single crystals of [Mg(OH2)6]4[XeO6(XeO3)12O2]∙12H2O, which also contains perxenate-XeO3 interactions. Alkali metal carbonates also incorporate XeO3 into their crystal lattices. Raman spectra of M2[CO3(XeO3)n]∙xH2O (M = Na, K, Rb) were recorded and contain intense bands assigned to the XeO3 stretching modes and very weak bands assigned to the [CO3]2− modes. The reaction of dilute aqueous solutions of XeO3 with RbOH and atmospheric CO2 afforded single crystals of Rb2[CO3(XeO3)2]∙2H2O which were characterized by low-temperature X-ray crystallography. Attempts to incorporate XeO3 into other polyatomic anion salts such as KMnO4, NaClO3, and NaNO3 were unsuccessful. The reaction of IrO2 with XeF6 in aHF provided [Xe2F11][IrF6], whereas the reaction of IrO2 with KrF2 with ClF3 in anhydrous HF solvent provided [ClO2][Ir2F11] and [ClO2][(μ-OIrF4)3]. The structure of [(μ-OIrF4)3]− consists of a six membered Ir3O3 ring with four terminal fluorine atoms on each Ir atom. It was also found that ClF3 forms an adduct with [Xe2F11][HF2] in which the structural parameters of ClF3 are very similar to that of solid ClF3. The [ClO2][Ir2F11] salt provides the first structural information on the [Ir2F11]− anion and the [(μ-OIrF4)3]− anion represents the first isolated iridium oxide fluoride species.ThesisDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)Xenon is a noble-gas element which is located in the far right-hand column of the periodic table and was previously thought to be chemically unreactive and incapable of forming compounds. In 1962, it was shown that xenon reacts with the most reactive compounds, such as elemental fluorine, but the resulting xenon compounds are themselves highly reactive. This Thesis extends the chemistry of some of the most unstable and chemically reactive xenon compounds that are currently known. One such compound, xenon trioxide, tends to easily detonate unless carefully handled. Methods of stabilizing xenon trioxide were developed and its behaviour with compounds which resulted in formation of new xenon compounds was studied. The molecular structures of these compounds were investigated in the solid with particular emphases on their chemical bonding. Iridium is one of the most chemically resistant metals known. Highly reactive xenon and krypton compounds were used synthesize new iridium compounds

    Structure and chemistry of sulfur tetrafluoride

    No full text
    xviii, 177 leaves : ill. ; 29 cmSulfur tetrafluoride was shown to be a useful reagent in preparing salts of ReVIIO2F4−, IVOF4−, and IVIIO2F4−. Sulfur tetrafluoride reacts with oxo-anions in acetonitrile or anhydrous HF (aHF) via fluoride-oxide exchange reactions to quantitatively form oxide fluoride salts, as observed by Raman and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Pure Ag[ReO2F4] as well as the new CH3CN coordination compounds [Ag(CH3CN)2][ReO2F4] and [Ag(CH3CN)4][ReO2F4]•CH3CN were prepared. The latter was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The reaction of [N(CH3)4]IO3 with SF4 in acetonitrile gave the new [N(CH3)4][IOF4] salt. Sulfur tetrafluoride forms Lewis acid-base adducts with pyridine and its derivatives, i.e., 2,6-dimethylpyridine, 4-methylpyridine and 4-dimethylaminopyridine, which have recently been identified in our lab. In the presence of HF, the nitrogen base in the SF4 base reaction systems is protonated, which can formally be viewed as solvolysis of the SF4•base adducts by HF. The resulting salts have been studied by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Crystal structures were obtained for pyridinium salts: [HNC5H5+]F−•SF4, [HNC5H5+]F−[HF2−]•2SF4; 4-methylpyridinium salt: [HNC5H4(CH3)+]F−•SF4, [HNC5H4(CH3)+][HF2−]; 2,6-dimethylpyridinium salt: [HNC5H3(CH3)2+]2[SF5−]F−•SF4; 4-dimethylaminopyridinium salts: [HNC5H4N(CH3)2+]2[SF5−]F−•CH2Cl2, [NC5H4N(CH3)2+][HF2−]•2SF4; and the 4,4’-bipyridinium salts: [HNH4C5−C5H4N+]F−•2SF4, [HNH4C5−C5H4NH2+]2F−•4SF4. These structures exhibit a surprising range of bonding modalities between SF4 and fluoride and provide an extensive view of SF4 in the solid state. For the first time, the solid-state structure of SF4 was elucidated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure can best be described as a network with weak intermolecular S---F contacts formed exclusively by the axial fluorines that exhibit more ionic character. A similar structural motif was found in the novel [HNC5H3(CH3)2+]2[SF5−]F−•4SF4 salt which contains layers of SF4. Adduct formation of SF4 with oxygen-bases was observed for the first time. These SF4•O-base adducts (SF4•OC4H8, SF4•(OC4H8)2, SF4•(CH3OCH2)2, SF4•(O=C5H8)2) were synthesized, isolated, and characterized at low temperatures. The structures were elucidated by X-ray crystallography and Raman spectroscopy. The characterization of the SF4•ketone adduct (SF4•O=C5H4) is of great significance, since SF4 can serve as a fluorinating agent towards carbonyl groups. These adducts offer the first extensive view of dative O---S(IV) bonds

    Synthesis and characterization of SF4 adducts with polycyclic amines

    No full text
    Accepted author manuscriptChalcogen-bonding interactions of SF4 with the polycyclic amines DABCO (C6H12N2) and HMTA (C6H12N4) were studied by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography, revealing the 2:1 adducts C6H12N2·2SF4 and C6H12N4·2SF4 obtained from SF4 solvent. In C6H12N2·2SF4, the sulfur in each SF4 molecule is pentacoordinate with each SF4 coordinated by a single amine group, whereas C6H12N4·2SF4 forms a one-dimensional coordination polymer with three of the four nitrogen atoms in HMTA exhibiting N---S chalcogen bonds: one terminal N---SF4 and one experimentally unprecedented bridging N---(SF4)---N moiety. Solvolysis of C6H12N2·2SF4 by HF yielded crystals of [C6H12N2H]+2F–[SF5]−·6SF4, in which SF4 acts as a chalcogen-bond donor toward N as well as F. Solvolysis of C6H12N4·2SF4 resulted in the formation of the monoprotonated HMTA salt [C6H12N4H]+[HF2]−·SF4. Excess HF also led to isolation of monoprotonated HTMA, as seen in the crystal structure of the [C6H12N4H]+[H2F3]−·HF salt. The reaction of bicyclic, monobasic quinuclidine with SF4 and HF gave [C7H13NH]+F–·3.5SF4, which contains N–H---F–---SF4 interactions, as well as an interstitial, disordered SF4 molecule.Ye

    Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in T-2 Toxin Studied Using Solution and Solid-State NMR

    No full text
    The structure of T-2 toxin in the solid-state is limited to X-ray crystallographic studies, which lack sufficient resolution to provide direct evidence for hydrogen-bonding interactions. Furthermore, its solution-structure, despite extensive Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) studies, has provided little insight into its hydrogen-bonding behavior, thus far. Hydrogen-bonding interactions are often an important part of biological activity. In order to study these interactions, the structure of T-2 toxin was compared in both the solution- and solid-state using NMR Spectroscopy. It was determined that the solution- and solid-state structure differ dramatically, as indicated by differences in their carbon chemical shifts, these observations are further supported by solution proton spectral parameters and exchange behavior. The slow chemical exchange process and cross-relaxation dynamics with water observed between the hydroxyl hydrogen on C-3 and water supports the existence of a preferential hydrogen bonding interaction on the opposite side of the molecule from the epoxide ring, which is known to be essential for trichothecene toxicity. This result implies that these hydrogen-bonding interactions could play an important role in the biological function of T-2 toxin and posits towards a possible interaction for the trichothecene class of toxins and the ribosome. These findings clearly illustrate the importance of utilizing solid-state NMR for the study of biological compounds, and suggest that a more detailed study of this whole class of toxins, namely trichothecenes, should be pursued using this methodology
    corecore