Generation of fullerenyl radicals and chemiluminescence in the (C<Subscript>60</Subscript>—R<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al)—O<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

Fullerenyl radicals (FR) RC₆₀ ^· and chemiluminescence (CL) are generated in the presence of O₂ in C₆₀—R₃Al (R = Et, Buⁱ) solutions in toluene (T = 298 K). The FR are formed due to the addition of the R^· radical, which is an intermediate of R₃Al autooxidation, to C₆₀. Mass spectroscopy and HPLC were used to identify Et_nC₆₀H_m (n, m = 1–6), Et_pC₆₀ (p = 2–6), and dimer EtC₆₀C₆₀Et as stable products of FR transformations. As found by ESR, the EtC₆₀ ^· radical (g = 2.0037) is also generated by photolysis of solutions obtained after interaction in the (C₆₀— R₃Al)—O₂ system. In the presence of dioxygen, the FR is not oxidized but yields complexes with O₂, which appear as broadening of the ESR signals. Chemiluminescence arising in the (C₆₀—R₃Al)—O₂ system is much brighter (I _max = 1.86·10⁸ photon s⁻¹ mL⁻¹) than the known background CL (I _max = 6.0·10⁶ photon s⁻¹ mL⁻¹) for the autooxidation of R₃Al and is localized in a longer-wavelength spectral region (λ_max = 617 and 664 nm). This CL is generated as a result of energy transfer from the primary emitter ³CH₃CHO* to the products of FR transformation: R_nC₆₀H_m, R_pC₆₀, and EtC₆₀C₆₀Et. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 205–213, February, 2007.     

C60 fullerene, as ultraefficient quencher of singlet-excited adamantanone generated in photo-and chemiexcitation

Quenching of the fluorescence of Ad=O and its singlet-exited state (¹Ad=O*) generated in chemiluminescent reaction of adamantylideneadamantane-1,2-dioxetane (AdOOAd) termolysis by C₆₀ fullerene was detected and investigated. The “quenching efficiency-C₆₀ concentration” plots obtained from the decrease in the fluorescence and chemiluminescence intensities obey the Stern-Volmer law. The bimolecular rate constants (k _bim) were determined and the overlap integrals of the Ad=O fluorescence spectra with the C₆₀ absorption spectra (∫ _Ov) were calculated. Based on the nonconstant k _bim/∫_Ov ratios for different singlet-exited energy donors obtained for the ¹PAH*-C₆₀ systems (PAH are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and ¹Ad=O*-C₆₀, a conclusion is drawn that quenching of ¹Ad=O* by C₆₀ fullerene is a result of inductive-resonant singlet-singlet (major contribution) and exchange-resonant singlet-triplet (minor contribution) energy transfer. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 1044–1046, May, 2007.     

Thermodynamic properties of some polymeric forms of fullerite C<Subscript>60</Subscript> at temperatures ranging from 0 to 320 K

The temperature dependences of the heat capacityC ⁰ _p of fullerites C₆₀ were studied at temperatures ranging from 5 to 320 K in an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter with an accuracy of 0.4–0.2%. The fullerite C₆₀ samples were prepared by treating the starting fullerite C₆₀ under 8 GPa at 920 and 1270 K and “quenched” by a sharp decrease in pressure to −10⁵ Pa and in temperature to ∼300 K. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 920 K), a crystalline polymer with layered structure formed by polymerized fullerene C₆₀ molecules, was obtained at 920 K and 8 GPa. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 1270 K), a three-dimensional polymer with a graphite-like structure formed by fragments of decomposed C₆₀ molecules and containing many C(sp³)−C(sp³) bonds, was obtained at 1270 K and 8 GPa. Both polymers are metastable polymeric phases. The anomalous character of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity was revealed in the 49–66 K range for the polymer formed at 1270 K. The thermodynamic functions of the substances under study were calculated for the 0–320 K region along with entropies of their formation from graphite. The entropies of transformation of the starting fullerite C₆₀ into metastable phases and that of intertransformation of phases were estimated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 277–281, February, 2000.     

Determination of vitamin B<Subscript>1</Subscript> in seawater and microalgal fermentation media by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection has been developed for determination of vitamin B₁. Vitamin B₁ was converted into a fluorescent compound by treatment with hydrogen peroxide–horseradish peroxidase and the derivative was subsequently analyzed by HPLC on a Waters Spherisorb ODS2 column (250 mm×4.6 mm ID, 5 μm) with 40:60 methanol–pH 8.5 acetate buffer solution as mobile phase and fluorescence detection at 440 nm (with excitation at 375 nm). The calibration graph was linear from 5.00×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ to 5.00×10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ for vitamin B₁ with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991 (n=9). The detection limit was 1.0×10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹. The method was successfully used for determination of vitamin B₁ at pg mL⁻¹ levels in microalgal fermentation media and seawater after solid-phase extraction. Recovery was from 89 to 110% and the relative standard deviation was in the range 1.1 to 4.3%.     

Aqueous sol–gel processing of precursor oxides for ZrW<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> synthesis

This paper describes the synthesis of ZrW₂O₈ by the use of an aqueous citrate-gel method in order to prepare a fine, pure and homogeneous oxide mixture suitable for ceramic processing. The thermal expansion coefficient thus obtained for α-ZrW₂O₈ is −10.6 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (50–125 °C) whereas for the β-ZrW₂O₈ a value of −3.2 × 10⁻⁶ °C⁻¹ (200–300 °C) is obtained. The advantages of the use of a sol–gel method is expressed in the very homogeneous end-products. The paper describes crystallographic data, morphological structure and the thermal expansion properties of the ZrW₂O₈ material. Moreover, photoluminescence and photochromic properties specific to the precursor gel are described and analyzed. These effects support our views that the precursors show homogeneity up to nanometer level.     

Local structure and photoluminescent characteristics of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in ZnO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses

The photoluminescence properties of xZnO–(100−x)SiO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 20) containing 1% Eu₂O₃ prepared by a sol–gel method were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the relative proportion of f–f transitions to charge transfer (CT) absorption decreased with the increase of ZnO concentration. The intensity of ⁵D₀–⁷F_J transitions of Eu³⁺ ions was enhanced with the increase of ZnO content due to local structure changes and decreased quantities of Eu³⁺ ions clusters. The results of fluorescence line narrow (FLN) spectra indicated that Eu³⁺ ions occupied one site in SiO₂ glass and two sites in ZnO–SiO₂ glasses. The second-order crystal field parameters were calculated. B₂₀ and B₂₂ for site 1 increased with excitation energy, while ones hardly changed for site 2.     

Redox-induced hydrogen transfer from hydrofullerene C60H36 to fullerene C60

The possibility of hydrogen transfer from hydrofullerene C₆₀H₃₆ to electrogenerated radical anion C₆₀ ^.− or dianion C₆₀ ²⁻ in propylene carbonate-toluence (3∶2, v/v) was demonstrated by cyclic voltammetry. The process affords C₆₀H₂ as the product. The reaction found is the typical redox-induced process. Translated fromIzvestiya Akodemii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1136–1139, June, 1998.     

Electrochemical study of Meldola's blue,methylene blue and toluidine blue immobilized on a SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O3 binary oxide matrix obtained by the sol-gel processing method

SiO₂/Sb₂O₃ (SiSb), having a specific surface area, S _BET, of 788 m² g⁻¹, an average pore diameter of 1.9 nm and 4.7 wt% of Sb, was prepared by the sol-gel processing method. Meldola's blue (MeB), methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB) were immobilized on SiSb by an ion exchange reaction. The amounts of the dyes bonded to the substrate surface were 12.49, 14.26 and 22.78 μmol g⁻¹ for MeB, MB and TB, respectively. These materials were used to modify carbon paste electrodes. The midpoint potentials (E _m) of the immobilized dyes were −0.059, −0.17 and −0.18 V vs. SCE for SiSb/MeB, SiSb/MB and SiSb/TB modified carbon paste electrodes, respectively. A solution pH between 3 and 7 practically did not affect the midpoint potential of the immobilized dyes. The electrodes presented reproducible responses and were chemically stable under various oxidation-reduction cycles. Among the immobilized dyes, MeB was the most efficient to mediate the electron transfer for NADH oxidation in aqueous solution at pH 7. In this case, amperometric detection of NADH at an applied potential of 0 mV vs. SCE gives linear responses over the concentration range of 0.1–0.6 mmol L⁻¹, with a detection limit of 7 μmol L⁻¹.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation of pyridoxine (vitamin B<Subscript>6</Subscript>) on aluminum electrode modified by metallic palladium particles/iron (III) hexacyanoferrate (II) film

The electrocatalytic activity of a Prussian blue (PB) film on the aluminum electrode by taking advantage of the metallic palladium characteristic as an electron-transfer bridge (PB/Pd–Al) for electrooxidation of 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4,5-bis (hydroxyl–methyl) pyridine (pyridoxine) is described. The catalytic activity of PB was explored in terms of Fe^III [Fe^III (CN)₆]/Fe^III [Fe^II (CN)₆]¹⁻ system. The best mediated oxidation of pyridoxine (PN) on the PB/Pd–Al-modified electrode was achieved in 0.5 M KNO₃ + 0.2 M potassium acetate of pH 6 at scan rate of 20 mV s⁻¹. The mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic oxidation reaction of PN were monitored by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The results were explained using the theory of electrocatalytic reactions at chemically modified electrodes. The charge transfer-rate limiting reaction step is found to be a one-electron abstraction, whereas a two-electron charge transfer reaction is the overall oxidation reaction of PN by forming pyridoxal. The value of α, k, and D are 0.5, 1.2 × 10² M⁻¹ s⁻¹, and 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. Further examination of the modified electrodes shows that the modifying layers (PB) on the Pd–Al substrate have reproducible behavior and a high level of stability after posing it in the electrolyte or Pyridoxine solutions for a long time.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of inclusion compounds: Trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid with boric acid and tetrabutylammonium salt

Two new inclusion compounds (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺C₁₈-H₁₃O₄ ⁻·B(OH)₃ (1) and (n-C₄H₉)₄N⁺C₁₈H₁₃O₄ ⁻ (2) were prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Crystal data: compound 1, monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 1.569 9(1) nm, b = 0.995 5(6) nm, c = 2.293 3(1) nm, β = 109.962(3)°, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0434, wR = 0.075 9; compound 2, monoclinic C2/c, a = 1.400 5(3) nm, b = 1,282 1(2) nm, c = 1.765 7(3) nm, β = 100.388(1)°, Z = 4, and R ₁ = 0.0584, wR = 0.096 6. In the crystal structure of 1, the tetramers formed by two trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboxylic acid (EADA) anions and two boric acid molecules were connected through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate a channel type host lattice. The tetra-n-butylammonium cations were stacked to give two columns within each channel with cross-sectional size of about 2.30 nm × 0.93 nm. In the crystal structure of 2, similar honeycomb host lattices with big size were also formed along the [101] direction by three-dimensional accumulation of EADA anions. The tetra-n-butylammonium cations were accommodated in a zigzag fashion within each channel. Translated from Acta Chimica Sinica, 2006, 64(18): 1904–1910 [译自: 化学学报]     

Calculations of thermodynamic stability of CpCoC<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>9</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript> cobaltacarborane isomers

Quantum-chemical calculations of the geometry and energies of nine possible isomers of 12-vertex cobaltacarborane CpCoC₂B₉H₁₁ (1) were carried out by the DFT method (PBEPBE/DGDZVP/DGA1). Thermodynamic stability of the isomers increases with increasing distance between the carbon atoms in the cage and is virtually independent of the position of the CpCo vertex. The relative stabilities of the 1,2,3-(17.57 kcal mol⁻¹), 1,2,4-(3.72 kcal mol⁻¹), and 1,2,9-isomers of 1 (0 kcal mol⁻¹) are similar to the corresponding values for the ortho (17.61 kcal mol⁻¹), meta (3.21 kcal mol⁻¹), and para isomers (0 kcal mol⁻¹) of carborane C₂B₁₀H₁₂. The results of the present study confirm a close similarity of the CpCo and BH fragments in metallacarborane chemistry. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1557–1559, July, 2005.     

Synthesis of ammonia from natural gas at atmospheric pressure with doped ceria–Ca<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–K<Subscript>3</Subscript>PO<Subscript>4</Subscript> composite electrolyte and its proton conductivity at intermediate temperature

A new type of oxide–salt composite electrolyte, yttrium doped ceria YDC–Ca₃(PO₄)₂–K₃PO₄, was developed and demonstrated for its promising use for ammonia synthesis. Using this composite electrolyte, ammonia was synthesized from nitrogen and natural gas at atmospheric pressure in the solid-state proton conducting cell reactor, and the optimal condition for ammonia production was determined . The evolved rate of ammonia is up to 6.95×10⁻⁹ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻².     

Measurement of the rate constants of the reactions of the chlorine atom with C<Subscript>3</Subscript>F<Subscript>7</Subscript>I and CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>I using the resonance fluorescence of chlorine atoms

The rate constants of the reactions of the chlorine atom with C₃F₇I (k ₁) and CF₃I (k ₂) have been measured using the resonance fluorescence of chlorine atoms in a flow reactor at 295 K: k ₁ = (5.2 ± 0.3) × 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k ₂ = (7.4 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. No iodine atoms have been detected in the reaction products.     

On the state of CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> molecule in the octahedral void of C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerite

Methane-intercalated fullerite (CH₄)_0.56C₆₀ was obtained by low-temperature precipitation from solution. Methane transition from the gas phase to the octahedral void of fullerite is accompanied by a bathochromic shift of normal vibrational frequencies (by 19 and 8 cm⁻¹ for ν₃ and ν₄, respectively). The methane ¹³C signal in the proton decoupling ¹³C NMR spectrum is observed as a singlet at δ−0.42. According to quantum chemical calculations using density functional theory, location of methane in the octahedral void of fullerite (C₆₀)₆ leads to a decrease in the total energy of fullerite by 4 kcal mol⁻¹.     

Preparation and study of hydrides of fullerenes C60 and C70

Fullerene hydrides were prepared by hydrogenation of fullerences C₆₀ and C₇₀ using proton transfer from 9,10-dihydroanthracene to fullerene and were studied by mass spectrometry (electron impact, field desorption), IR, UV, and¹H and¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The main product of the hydrogenation of C₆₀ is C₆₀H₃₆, which is sufficiently stable. Hydrogenation of fullerene C₇₀ gives a series of polyhydrides C₇₀H _n (n=36–46), and the main product is C₇₀H₃₆. The dehydrogenation of C₆₀H₃₆ by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone is not quantitative and results in the formation of fullerene derivatives along with C₆₀. The comparison of the IR and¹H and¹³C NMR spectral data for solid C₆₀H₃₆ with the theoretical calculations suggests that the fullerene hydride has aT-symmetric structure and contains four isolated benzenoid rings located at tetrahedral positions on the surface of the closed skeleton of the molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya. No. 4, pp. 671–678, April, 1997.     

Magnetic properties of fullerene salts containing d- and f-metal cations (Co2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Eu2+, Cd2+). Specific features of the interaction between C60·? and the metal cations

The interaction between the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− and divalent d- and f-metal (Co, Fe, Ni, Mn, Eu, Cd) cations in DMF and acetonitrile-benzonitrile (AN-BN) mixture was studied. Black solid polycrystalline salts (C₆₀ ^·−)₂{(M²⁺)(DMF) _x } (x = 2.4–4, 1–6) containing the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− and metal(ii) cations solvated by DMF were prepared for the first time and their optical and magnetic properties were studied. The salts containing Co²⁺, Fe²⁺, and Ni²⁺ are characterized by antiferromagnetic interactions between the radical anions C₆₀ ^·−, which result in unusually large broadening of the EPR signal of C₆₀ ^·− upon lowering the temperature (from 5.55–12.6 mT at room temperature to 35–40 mT at 6 K for Co²⁺ and Ni²⁺). The salts containing Mn²⁺ and Eu²⁺ form diamagnetic dimers (C₆₀ ⁻)₂, which causes a jumpwise decrease in the magnetic moment of the complexes and disappearance of the EPR signal of C₆₀ ^·− in the temperature range 210–130 K. A feature of salt 6 is magnetic isolation of the radical anions C₆₀ ^·− due to the presence of diamagnetic cation Cd²⁺. The salts prepared are unstable in air and decompose in o-dichlorobenzene or AN. Reactions of C₆₀ ^·− with metal(ii) cations in AN-BN mixture result in decomposition products of the salts that contain neutral fullerene dimers and metals solvated by BN. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1909–1919, September, 2008.     

Electrochemical behavior and parameters of hydrofullerene C60H36

Electrochemistry of hydrofullerene C₆₀H₃₆ was studied by cyclic voltammetry in THF and CH₂Cl₂ in the −47–14 °C temperature range. Hydrofullerene undergoes reversible one-electron reduction to form a radical anion in THF (E ⁰=−3.18 V (Fc⁰/Fc⁺), Fc=ferrocene) and irreversible one-electron oxidation in CH₂Cl₂ (E _p ^a =1.22 V (Fc⁰/Fc⁺)). The reduction potential was used to estimate electron affinity of hydrofullerene as EA=−0.33 eV. It was suggested that C₆₀H₃₆ is an isomer withT-symmetry in which 12 double bonds form four isolated benzenoid rings located in vertices of an imaginary inscribed tetrahedron on the molecular surface. For hydrofullerene, the “electrochemical gap” is an analog of the energy gap (HOMO−LUMO), equal to (E ^Ox−E ^Red)=4.4 V, and indicates that C₆₀H₃₆ is a sufficiently “hard” molecule with a low reactivity in redox reactions. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2083–2087, November, 1999.     

Preparation and characterization of ZrWMoO<Subscript>8</Subscript> powders with different morphologies

ZrWMoO₈ powders with different morphologies were obtained using ammonium tungstate, molybdate tungstate and zirconium tungstate as the starting materials by dehydrating the precursor ZrWMoO₇(OH)₂(H₂O)₂. The precursor was studied by thermo-gravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The influence of the gelling agents (HCl, HClO₄, HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and H₃PO₄) on the crystallization process and crystal morphology of the products prepared was investigated by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron micrograph (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). Results showed that the morphology of the ZrWMoO₈ particles can be simply adjusted by changing the gelling agents, and the thermal expansion coefficients of cubic ZrWMoO₈ prepared in HCl solution are −3.84 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ from 100°C to 700°C. __________ Translated from Chemical Journal of Chinese University, 2007, 28(3): 397–401 [译自: 高等学校化学学报]     

Facile preparation and electrochemical properties of large-scale Li<Subscript>1+<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>V<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript> nanobelts

Large-scale Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts were successfully fabricated using filter paper as deposition substrate through a simple surface sol–gel method. The nanobelts were as long as tens of micrometers with widths of 0.4–1.0 μm and thickness of 50–100 nm. The nanobelts were characterized by X-ray diffration (XRD), Fourier infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The formation mechanism of the nanobelts was investigated, showing that the morphology of the nanobelts is mainly determined by the calcination temperature. Electrochemical properties of the Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts were characterized by charge–discharge experiments, and the results demonstrate that the Li_1+x V₃O₈ nanobelts exhibit a high discharge capacity (278 mAh g⁻¹) and excellent cycling stability.     

Isomerism in OBe3F3 + cation: anab initio study

Ab initio MP2/6-31G^*//HF/6-31G^*+ZPE(HF/6-31G^*) calculations of the potential energy surface in the vicinity of stationary points and the pathways of intramolecular rearrangements between low-lying structures of the OBe₃F₃ ⁺ cation detected in the mass spectra of μ₄-Be₄O(CF₃COO)₆ were carried out. Ten stable isomers with di- and tricoordinate oxygen atoms were localized. The relative energies of six structures lie in the range 0–8 kcal mol⁻¹ and those of the remaining four structures lie in the range 20–40 kcal mol⁻¹. Two most favorable isomers, aC _2v isomer with a dicoordinate oxygen atom, planar six-membered cycle, and one terminal fluorine atom and a pyramidalC _3v isomer with a tricoordinate oxygen atom and three bridging fluorine atoms, are almost degenerate in energy. The barriers to rearrangements with the breaking of one fluorine bridge are no higher than 4 kcal mol⁻¹, except for the pyramidalC _3v isomer (∼16 kcal mol⁻¹). On the contrary, rearrangements with the breaking of the O−Be bond occur with overcoming of a high energy barrier (∼24 kcal mol⁻¹). A planarD _3h isomer with a tricoordinate oxygen atom and linear O−Be−H fragments was found to be the most favorable for the OBe₃H₃ ⁺ cation, a hydride analog of the OBe₃F₃ ⁺ ion; the energies of the remaining five isomers are more than 25 kcal mol⁻¹ higher. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 420–430, March, 1999.