Among items appearing in this issue are the following:

Palladium complexes bearing N-heterocyclic nucleophilic carbenes can function as efficient and convenient mediators of C-C and C-N cross-coupling reactions. These phosphine-free systems are highly effective in reactions of aryl bromides and aryl chlorides with a variety of coupling partners. Some applications of these palladium complexes in cross-coupling reactions, such as Suzuki-Miyaura, Stille, Heck and Sonogashira reactions, and aminations, are described, and catalysts, conditions and results are presented by Anna C. Hillier and Professor Steven P. Nolan from the University of New Orleans, U.S.A. N-Heterocyclic nucleophilic carbenes are highly effective supporting ligands, with superior thermal stability and electronic and steric tunability which make them the ancillary ligands of choice in many palladium-catalysed cross-coupling processes.

The 2001 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to William S. Knowles, Professor Ryoji Noyori and Professor K. Barry Sharpless for their industrially-relevant work on rhodium, ruthenium and osmium-catalysed chiral reactions. Thomas J. Colacot from Johnson Matthey, West Deptford, U.S.A., describes their work and some of the background to chirality. This chemistry has had a major effect on the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, flavours and fine chemicals.

A new abstracts journal, Catalysts & Catalysed Reactions, has been published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. This journal aims to keep catalysis researchers aware of current developments by abstracting a variety of published literature. Andrew York, Johnson Matthey Technology Centre, comments on its contents.

In jewellery, the specific physical properties that platinum-based alloys have, compared to gold and silver, enable lasers to be used for welding components and for precision work close to precious stones. For instance, the thermal diffusivity of strong and slender designs and some examples, which could not be made by other techniques, are presented.

The "Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation for Organic Synthesis" by Shigeo Nishimura is reviewed by Martin Hayes, Johnson Matthey, Royston, U.K. The book details methods by which supported and unsupported hydrogenation catalysts are prepared and provides useful recipes for preparing optimised catalysts. Relevant information on the hydrogenation of a given functional group can be found quickly.

Refractory superalloys are a new class of alloys based on the platinum group metals. These superalloys have a coherent two-phase structure and high melting temperatures, and are potential structural materials for use at temperatures up to 1800°C. Iridium has a high melting temperature (2447°C), the highest room temperature elastic modulus (570 GPa) and is highly stable to corrosion, so it could form part of a promising refractory superalloy. Y. Yamabe-Mitarai, Y. F. Gu and Professor H. Harada of the High-Temperature Materials Group, NIMS, Tsukuba, Japan, describe mechanical properties of various iridium-based superalloys with molybdenum, zirconium, nickel, niobium and aluminium and with boron or carbon additions. They show that iridium-based refractory alloys can be regarded as ultra-high temperature materials and depending on the elements added, high creep resistance, increased creep life, and change in fracture mode are possible.

A one-day conference on fuel cells for automotive applications from a U.K. perspective was held in February in London at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. David Jollie of Fuel Cell Today (www.fuelcelltoday.com) reviews material presented. Technical issues, implementation of technology and potential markets were described. Fuel storage, cost reduction, careful use of technology to optimise the platinum and ruthenium content in a fuel cell, and conventional platinum-based proton exchange membrane technology as the sole power in a car, were discussed.

A selection of abstracts of the most recently published literature and patents, and announcements of two forthcoming scientific conferences (Fuel Cells - Science and Technology 2002, 8th International Conference on the Chemistry of the Platinum Group Metals) are included.

Platinum Metals Review is inviting all students attending the forthcoming 8th International Conference on the Chemistry of the Platinum Group Metals, which will be held in Southampton from 7th to 12th July, to contribute a short report on a designated topic relating to the conference. The winning contribution will be published in Platinum Metals Review.

The issue ends with ‘Final Analysis’ which gives some helpful information about working with 5% Pd/C paste catalysts.

Platinum Metals Review is available on the internet from the publications section of the Platinum Today site or from the host site Ingenta Select.

Susan V. Ashton
Editor

Anyone with an active interest in the platinum group metals and their uses who does not have ready access to a copy of Platinum Metals Review and who may benefit from reading it, is invited to request a specimen copy from:

The Editor, Johnson Matthey PLC, Orchard Road, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 5HE, United Kingdom; Fax +44 (0) 1763 256359; Email jmpmr@matthey.com