Description: This article discusses reactions of a Ru(II) phenyl complex. The Ru(II) phenyl complex TpRu(CO)(NCMe)(Ph) (1) (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) reacts with carbodiimides to yield amidinate complexes that result from C-C bond formation between the phenyl ligand and the carbodiimide carbon. Complex 1 and N-methylacetamide react to produce benzene and the amidate complex TpRu(CO){N,O-OC(Me)N(Me)} (4). The reaction of complex 1 with C≡N(tBu)}(Ph) (5), and heating a solution of PMe3 and 5 results in the observation of an equilibrium with the product of isonitrile insertion TpRu(CO){C(Ph)=NtBu}(PMe3) (6) (∆H = +9(1) kcal/mol and ∆S = +20(3)eu). The reaction of 1 with aromatic aldehydes at elevated temperatures results in C-H activation and decarbonylation of the aldehyde to produce TpRu(CO)2(Ar) (Ar = phenyl or p-tolyl) and free benzene. DFT calculations have been incorporated to study coordination and insertion reactions of ethylene, methyleneimine, formaldehyde, HC=C=NH, and C=NH into the Ru-Ph bond of the model fragment (Tab)Ru(CO)(Ph) (Tab = tris(azo)borate). In addition, the energetics of Ru-mediated decarbonylation of formaldehyde have been calculated.

Description: This article discusses the reactivity patterns of low-coordinate iron-hydride complexes. The authors report a survey of the reactivity of the first isolable iron-hydride complexes with a coordiination number less than 5. The high-spin iron(II) complexes [(β-diketiminate)Fe(μ-H)]2 react rapidly with representative cyanide, isocyanide, alkyne, N2, alkene, diazene, azide, CO2, carbodilimide, and Brønsted acid containing substrates. The reaction outcomes fall into three categories: (1) addition of Fe-H across a multiple bond of the substrate, (2) reductive elimination of H2 to form iron(I) products, and (3) protonation of the hydride to form iron(II) products. The products include imide, isocyanide, vinyl, alkyl, azide, triazenido, benzo[c]cinnoline, amidinate, formate, and hydroxo complexes. These results expand the range of known bond transformations at iron complexes. Additionally, they give insight into the elementary transformations that may be possible at the iron-molybdenum cofactor of nitrogenases, which may have hydride ligands on high-spin, low-coordinate metal atoms.

Description: This article discusses the reciprocal links between evolutionary-ecological sciences and environmental ethics. Confronted with the current environmental crisis, the academic community faces a conceptual and practical problem of dissociation: Ecologists approach nature with the aim of understanding it, whereas environmental ethicists approach nature asking how we should relate to it, or inhabit it. Ecology looks for the "is" of nature, and environmental ethics seeks an "ought" with respect to nature. How can these still largely disconnected and yet parallel courses be bridged? How can the is of ecologists and the ought of eco-philosophers be interrelat-ed? More basically, how can the links between the cognitive-scientific and the practical-ethical spheres be recovered? In this article, the author illustrates the reciprocal relationships between sciences and environmental ethics by examining the Darwinian theory of evolution and discussing its implications for ecologists and ethicists.

Description: Article describing the career and discoveries of Georgius Agricola. Tourist information regarding locations important to his life are visited and discussed.

Description: Article describing the history of aluminum, from its use in alum to its isolation. Tourist information is given regarding locations pertinent to aluminum.