Although palladium-mediated extrusion–insertion (ExIn) operates for decarboxylation of benzoate followed by insertion of phenylmethylketene, low yields in the solution phase arise from side reactions involving dimerisation of the ketene.

Aluminium hydride species have broad significance in fields ranging from organic synthesis to materials science. We present a dataset of highly accurate homolytic Al–H bond dissociation energies calculated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level. We examine the chemistry of aluminium-centred radicals and assess the performance of DFT procedures.

Chiral oxazolidinones can be selectively cleaved from their N-acyl derivatives using LiOOH, LiOBn or LiSBn, but not LiOH, which instead favours opening of the oxazolidinone ring. DFT calculations show that the selectivity depends on the barrier for decomposition of the tetrahedral intermediate, which depends on the electron-donating capacity of the introduced nucleophile. (Image credit: Elizabeth Krenske.)

¹H NMR spectra of the boranes show that the two different group of hydrogens in the H₃BXH₃ (X═B, N and P) compounds have different roles and ¹¹B NMR indicates the boron chemical environments are also different. (Image credit: Feng Wang.)

This paper presents preliminary results of a continuous analysis of metal ions using portable digital voltammeter and specifically designed 3‐D‐printed flow‐cell device. The design of the flow‐cell included Laminar Flow simulations in order to maximise the concentration of ions to the working electrode of the voltammeter. The purpose of the flow‐cell was to eliminate the exposure of the voltammeter operator to hazardous biological or industrial samples such as urine or petroleum respectively. (Image credit: Magdalena Wajrak.)

The analyses of spectra for a wide range of substituted toluenes indicate a large variation in methyl group structures, however, quantum chemistry calculations are shown to predict little variation. This discrepancy is attributed to an interaction between the methyl torsion (internal rotation) and vibrations affecting the experimental analyses. (Image credit: J. R. Gascooke and W. D. Lawrance.)

The Science Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) were developed by Prof. Brian Yates and Prof. Sue Jones, supported by Dr Jo-Anne Kelder, during 2010–2011 as part of the Learning and Teaching Academic Standards (LTAS) project. This manuscript documents their leadership and development of communities of practice, which have transformed tertiary science education in Australia. (Image credit: Daniel Southam.)