President Joe Biden's Environmental Protection Agency finalized a new rule Tuesday taxing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, but critics argue the move is "irrelevant" and will serve to boost Big Oil and stifle innovation.

Savard, M M; Jautzy, J J; Lavoie, D; Dhillon, R S; Defliese, W. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta vol. 298, 2021 p. 43-54, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.01.041
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Engineered for truck or bus garages, repair and diesel/LNG conversion shops, and test bays and park ramps, this methane detection system can spot leaks as small as 100 parts per million.

Belle Pulses, in Saskatchewan, Canada, produces pea and legume protein for plant-based products including crackers and baked goods, dairy, soups and meats.

The title compound, [RuCl2(C25H22P2)2] or [RuCl2(dppm)2] (dppm = bis­(di­phenyl­phosphan­yl)methane, C25H22P2) crystallizes as two half-mol­ecules (completed by inversion symmetry) in space group Poverline{1} (Z = 2), with the RuII atoms occupying inversion centers at 0,0,0 and 1/2, 1/2, 1/2, respectively. The bidentate phosphane ligands occupy equatorial positions while the chlorido ligands complete the distorted octa­hedral coordination spheres at axial positions. The bite angles of the phosphane chelates are similar for the two mol­ecules [(P—Ru—P)avg. = 71.1°], while there are significant differences in the twisting of the methyl­ene backbone, with a distance of the methyl­ene C atom from the RuP4 plane of 0.659 (2) and 0.299 (3) Å, respectively, and also for the phenyl substituents for both mol­ecules due to variations in weak C—H⋯Cl inter­actions.

In the title complex, [Ni(C19H13N5)2](CF3SO3)2·(CH3CH2)2O, the central NiII atom is sixfold coordinated by three nitro­gen atoms of each 2,6-bis­(2-benzimidazol­yl)pyridine ligand in a distorted octa­hedral geometry with two tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate ions and a mol­ecule of diethyl ether completing the outer coordination sphere of the complex. Hydrogen bonding contributes to the organization of the asymmetric units in columns along the a axis generating a porous supra­molecular structure. The structure was refined as a two-component twin with a refined BASF value of 0.4104 (13).

In the title complex, [Ru(C10H8N2)2(C6H6N2O)(H2O)](CF3SO3)2, the central RuII atom is sixfold coordinated by two bidentate 2,2'-bi­pyridine, an isonic­otinamide ligand, and a water mol­ecule in a distorted octa­hedral environment with tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate ions completing the outer coordination sphere of the complex. Hydrogen bonding involving the water mol­ecule and weak π–π stacking inter­actions between the pyridyl rings in adjacent mol­ecules contribute to the alignment of the complexes in columns parallel to the c axis.

A new triazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene IrI cationic complex with a tetra­fluorido­borate counter-anion and hemi-solvating di­chloro­methane, [Ir(C8H12)(C8H15N3)(C18H15P)]BF4·0.5CH2Cl2, has been synthesized and structurally characterized. There are two independent ion pairs in the asymmetric unit and one di­chloro­methane solvent mol­ecule per two ion pairs. The cationic complex exhibits a distorted square-planar conformation around the IrI atom, formed by a bidentate cyclo­octa-1,5,diene (COD) ligand, a tri­phenyl­phosphane ligand, and an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC). There are several close non-standard H⋯F hydrogen-bonding inter­actions that orient the tetra­fluorido­borate anions with respect to the IrI complex mol­ecules. The complex shows promising catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation reactions. The structure was refined as a non-merohedral twin, and one of the COD mol­ecules is statistically disordered.

Geminal and vicinal bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) esters are highly reactive alkyl­ene synthons used as potent electrophiles in the macrocyclization of imid­azoles and the transformation of bypyridines to diquat derivatives via nucleophilic substitution reactions. Herein we report the crystal structures of methyl­ene (C3H2F6O6S2) and ethyl­ene bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) (C4H4F6O6S2), the first examples of a geminal and vicinal bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) ester characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SC-XRD). With melting points slightly below ambient temperature, both reported bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate)s are air- and moisture-sensitive oils and were crys­tallized at 277 K to afford two-com­ponent non-merohedrally twinned crystals. The dominant inter­actions present in both com­pounds are non-classical C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and inter­molecular C—F⋯F—C inter­actions between tri­fluoro­methyl groups. Mol­ecular electrostatic potential (MEP) cal­culations by DFT-D3 helped to qu­antify the polarity between O⋯H and F⋯F contacts to rationalize the self-sorting of both bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) esters in polar (non-fluorous) and non-polar (fluorous) domains within the crystal structure.

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of three crystalline borylated ortho-silylaryl tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonates: 5-(4,4,5,5-tetra­methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-2-(tri­methyl­sil­yl)phenyl tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C16H24BF3O5SSi (1a), 4-(4,4,5,5-tetra­methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-2-(tri­methyl­sil­yl)phenyl tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C16H24BF3O5SSi (1b), and 2-methyl-4-(4,4,5,5-tetra­methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-6-(tri­methyl­silyl)phen­yl tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, C17H26BF3O5SSi (2), which are versatile aryne precursors. For all three compounds, the heteroatom substituents are almost coplanar with the central aromatic moiety. C—heteroatom bonding metrics are unexceptional and fall withing the typical range of C—B, C—Si, and C—O single bonds. Despite numerous electronegative sites, only weak inter­molecular inter­actions are observed in the solid state.

Two 2,4,6-tri­methyl­aniline-based trifuloro­methane­sulfonate (tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate) salts were synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. N,2,4,6-Tetra­methyl­anilinium tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate, [C10H14NH2+][CF3O3S−] (1), was synthesized via methyl­ation of 2,4,6-tri­methyl­aniline. N-Iso­propyl­idene-N,2,4,6-tetra­methyl­anilinium tri­fluoro­meth­ane­sulfonate, [C13H20N+][CF3O3S−] (2), was synthesized in a two-step reaction where the imine, N-iso­propyl­idene-2,4,6-tri­methyl­aniline, was first prepared via a dehydration reaction to form the Schiff base, followed by methyl­ation using methyl tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate to form the iminium ion. In compound 1, both hydrogen bonding and π–π inter­actions form the main inter­molecular inter­actions. The primary inter­action is a strong N—H⋯O hydrogen bond with the oxygen atoms of the tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anions bonded to the hydrogen atoms of the ammonium nitro­gen atom to generate a one-dimensional chain. The [C10H14NH2+] cations form dimers where the benzene rings form a π–π inter­action with a parallel-displaced geometry. The separation distance between the calculated centroids of the benzene rings is 3.9129 (8) Å, and the inter­planar spacing and ring slippage between the dimers are 3.5156 (5) and 1.718 Å, respectively. For 2, the [C13H20N+] cations also form dimers as in 1, but with the benzene rings highly slipped. The distance between the calculated centroids of the benzene rings is 4.8937 (8) Å, and inter­planar spacing and ring slippage are 3.3646 (5) and 3.553 Å, respectively. The major inter­molecular inter­actions in 2 are instead a series of weaker C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds [C⋯O distances of 3.1723 (17), 3.3789 (18), and 3.3789 (18) Å], an inter­action virtually absent in the structure of 1. Fluorine atoms are not involved in strong directional inter­actions in either structure.

The synthesis, crystallization and characterization of a tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate salt of 5,10,15,20-tetra­kis­(1-benzyl­pyridin-1-ium-4-yl)-21H,23H-por­phy­rin, C68H54N84+·4CF3SO3−·4H2O, 1·OTf, are reported in this work. The reaction between 5,10,15,20-tetra­kis­(pyridin-4-yl)-21H,23H-porphyrin and benzyl bromide in the presence of 0.1 equiv. of Ca(OH)2 in CH3CN under reflux with an N2 atmosphere and subsequent treatment with silver tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate (AgOTf) salt produced a red–brown solution. This reaction mixture was filtered and the solvent was allowed to evaporate at room temperature for 3 d to give 1·OTf. Crystal structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXD) revealed that 1·OTf crystallizes in the space group P21/c. The asymmetric unit contains half a porphyrin mol­ecule, two tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anions and two water mol­ecules of crystallization. The macrocycle of tetra­pyrrole moieties is planar and unexpectedly it has coordinated CaII ions in occupational disorder. This CaII ion has only 10% occupancy (C72H61.80Ca0.10F12N8O16S4). The pyridinium rings bonded to methyl­ene groups from porphyrin are located in two different arrangements in almost orthogonal positions between the plane formed by the porphyrin and the pyridinium rings. The crystal structure features cation⋯π inter­actions between the CaII atom and the π-system of the phenyl ring of neighboring mol­ecules. Both tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anions are found at the periphery of 1, forming hydrogen bonds with water mol­ecules.

The mol­ecular structure of the tripodal carbamoyl­methyl­phosphine oxide compound diethyl {[(5-[2-(di­eth­oxy­phosphor­yl)acetamido]-3-{2-[2-(di­eth­oxy­phos­phor­yl)acetamido]­eth­yl}pent­yl)carbamo­yl]meth­yl}phospho­nate, C25H52N3O12P3, features six intra­molecular hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. The phospho­nate groups have key bond lengths ranging from 1.4696 (12) to 1.4729 (12) Å (P=O), 1.5681 (11) to 1.5811 (12) Å (P—O) and 1.7881 (16) to 1.7936 (16) Å (P—C). Each amide group adopts a nearly perfect trans geometry, and the geometry around each phophorus atom resembles a slightly distorted tetra­hedron.

The U.S. should take bold steps to improve measurement, monitoring, and inventories of methane emissions caused by human activities, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Archaea are a major branch of life, but we still have a lot to learn about these microbes, which were only discovered in the 1970s.

While many parts of the world are feeling the effects of climate change, air temperatures in the Arctic are warming faster than anywhere else on the planet

The Biden administration issued a new fee on climate-warming methane pollution, but the EPA regulation faces an uncertain future under President-elect Trump

Colorado has led the nation on regulating methane emissions and now companies in the state are major contributors to a new satellite expected to be an important tool in identifying and quantifying the emissions globally.

Fast-rising methane emissions could undermine efforts to limit global warming by mid-century, prompting scientists and policymakers to urge aggressive action to curb output of the potent greenhouse gas.

A fee created to push oil and gas companies to plug methane leaks could be axed by the incoming Trump administration, hampering efforts to curb the potent greenhouse gas

Jul 10, 2023

The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University launched today a major research and outreach initiative to reduce global methane emissions. The initiative seeks meaningful and sustained progress in global methane-emissions reductions through research and effective engagement with government policymakers — and with key stakeholders in business, nongovernmental organizations, and international institutions.

Nov 8, 2023

Economic historian Emma Rothschild, the Jeremy and Jane Knowles Professor of History at Harvard, lauded the efforts of young scholars to discover local solutions to mitigate the impacts of global climate change in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Nov 15, 2023

Efforts around and impacts of global methane-emissions abatement will be the focus at an official side event on December 6 co-sponsored by the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP-28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai. Harvard Project Director Robert Stavins will also participate in a number of other events at COP-28.

Dec 13, 2023

The Harvard Project on Climate Agreements (HPCA) assembled a panel of leading academics and government officials to discuss strategies for achieving significant methane emissions reductions at relatively low costs at an official COP 28 Side Event last Wednesday (Dec. 6). The event, titled “Reducing Global Methane Emissions: Imperatives, Opportunities, and Challenges,” was moderated by HPCA Director Robert Stavins.

Feb 14, 2024

The Harvard Project participates in a major Harvard initiative aimed at reducing emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Participating researchers represent a range of academic disciplines and Harvard schools.

Jul 11, 2024

Efforts to measure and mitigate the impact of methane emissions was the topic of discussion last Monday (June 10, 2024) at a panel convened as part of Climate Action Week in the Northwest Building, sponsored by Harvard’s Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability and moderated by Harvard Environmental Economics Program and Harvard Project Director Robert Stavins.

India’s coal bed methane production is estimated to grow to 1,072 MSCM in FY24 and 1,508 MSCM in FY25

Remediation of landfills and scientific waste management could make a considerable difference in India

The Baku meet is an opportunity for India to fast-track its efforts in reducing methane emissions

Nitrogen sublimation and gentle breezes may form the hills

U.S. natural gas production loses 2.3% of methane to leaks

In the mol­ecule of the title N,N'-disubstituted imidazol-2-yl­idene palladium(II) complex, [PdBr2(C21H24N4O)]·CH2Cl2, the palladium(II) atom adopts a slightly distorted square-planar coordination (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0145 Å), and the five-membered chelate ring is almost planar [maximum displacement = 0.015 (8) Å]. The mol­ecular conformation is enforced by intra­molecular C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds. In the crystal, complex mol­ecules and di­chloro­methane mol­ecules are linked into a three-dimensional network by C—H⋯O and C—H⋯Br hydrogen bonds.

The title com­pound, C34H24O4S·0.5CH2Cl2, crystallizes with two independent mol­ecules and one di­chloro­methane solvent mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The crystal packing is consolidated by C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

The structure of the title compound, H3O+·C2F6NO4S2−·C12H24O6 or [H3O+·C12H24O6][N(SO2CF3)2−], which is an ionic liquid with a melting point of 341–343 K, has been determined at 113 K. The asymmetric unit consists of two crystallographically independent 18-crown-6 mol­ecules, two hydro­nium ions and two bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfon­yl)amide anions; each 18-crown-6 mol­ecule complexes with a hydro­nium ion. In one 18-crown-6 mol­ecule, a part of the ring exhibits conformational disorder over two sets of sites with an occupancy ratio of 0.533 (13):0.467 (13). One hydro­nium ion is complexed with the ordered 18-crown-6 mol­ecule via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with H2OH⋯OC distances of 1.90 (6)–2.19 (7) Å, and the other hydro­nium ion with the disordered crown mol­ecule with distances of 1.85 (6)–2.36 (6) Å. The hydro­nium ions are also linked to the anions via O—H⋯F hydrogen bonds. The crystal studied was found to be a racemic twin with a component ratio of 0.55 (13):0.45 (13).

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Ni(C52H34Cl4N4O4)]·CH2Cl2, consists of two discrete complexes, which show significant differences in the conformation of the side chain. Each NiII cation is coordinated by four nitro­gen atoms of a porphyrin mol­ecule within a square-planar coordination environment. Weak intra­molecular C—H⋯Cl and C—H⋯O inter­actions stabilize the mol­ecular conformation. In the crystal structure, discrete complexes are linked by C—H⋯Cl hydrogen-bonding inter­actions. In addition, the two unique di­chloro­methane solvate mol­ecules (one being disordered) are hydrogen-bonded to the Cl atoms of the chloro­phenyl groups of the porphyrin mol­ecules, thus stabilizing the three-dimensional arrangement. The crystal exhibits pseudo-ortho­rhom­bic metrics, but structure refinements clearly show that the crystal system is monoclinic and that the crystal is twinned by pseudo-merohedry.