Experimental Determination of the Isotherm at 15°C of the System Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>/Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript>, SO<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2</Superscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Summary.  The diagram of the ternary system Mg²⁺/Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻–H₂O was established at 15°C by means of analytical and conductimetric measurements. Three compounds were found in this diagram, which are MgSO₄·6H₂O, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and MgCl₂·6H₂O. The solubility field of MgSO₄·7H₂O is important whereas those of MgSO₄·6H₂O and MgCl₂·6H₂O are small. The compositions (mass-%) of the two invariant points determined by the two methods are: MgSO₄:MgCl₂=2.73:33.80 and MgSO₄: MgCl₂=3.38:28.91. Both the measured and the calculated isotherm at 15°C have been used for modelling of the diagram Mg²⁺/Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻–H₂O between 0 and 35°C. The polythermal invariant point was approximately located between 15 and 10°C.  Corresponding author. E-mail: ariguib@planet.tn Received October 16, 2002; accepted (revised) December 3, 2002 Published online April 24, 2003 RID="a" ID="a" Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Heinz Gamsj?ger on the occasion of his 70^th birthday     

Photochemical arene exchange in the naphthalene complex [CpRu(η<Superscript>6</Superscript>-C <Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

The cation [CpRu(η⁶-C₁₀H₈)]⁺ was shown to exchange naphthalene for other arenes under visible-light irradiation to form the complexes [CpRu (η⁶-arene)]⁺ (arene = C₆H₆, 1,4-C₆H₄Me₂, 1,3,5-C₆H₃Me₃, or 1,2,4,5-C ₆H₂Me₄) in 70–95% yields. The reaction rate of exchange decreases in the series arene = 1,4-C₆H₄Me₂ > C₆H₆ > 1,3,5-C₆H₃Me₃ > 1,2,4,5-C ₆H₂Me₄ >> C₆Me₆ and increases with the coordinating ability of the solvent in the order CH₂Cl₂ < THF—CH₂Cl₂ mixture (1: 1) < acetone.     

Photochemistry of PtBr<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> in aqueous solution

Photochemistry of the PtBr₆ ²⁻ complex in aqueous solution was studied by steady-state and laser flash photolysis (308 nm). The multistep photoaquation of the complex occurs in the nano-and microsecond time intervals without the formation of intermediate platinum(III) complexes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2277–2283, December, 2007.     

Analysis of the aromaticity in extended systems formed from isoelectronic Al<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> and C<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript> aromatic clusters

Inspired by carbo-benzene and its inorganic analogues, in the current work, the viability of extended systems (called carbomers) formed from aromatic small rings was studied. The aluminum aromatic cluster, Al₄^2?, and its isoelectronic carbon analogue, C₄²⁺, were employed as starting point. The insertion of alkynyl units into the Al–Al and C–C bonds results in the extended molecules named carbomers. These molecules were compared with the global minima structures, which were searched employing the genetic algorithm program, GEGA. The electronic delocalization (aromaticity) of the isomers was studied with the induced magnetic field (B^ind). The results showed that global minimum of C₁₂²⁺ (formed from C₄²⁺) was an unexpected diatropic structure which presented a similar magnetic response to the C₄²⁺ cluster. Also, optical properties of C₁₂²⁺ were computed.     

Influence of ion size on the stability of chloroplumbates containing PbCl<Stack><Subscript>5</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> or PbCl<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack>

The enthalpies of formation of PbCl₄, PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻, originating from quantum mechanics, have enabled the thermodynamic behaviour of these ions with respect to Cl-detachment to be assessed. The stability of salts containing PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻ as a function of the dimensions of these anions and complementary cations was studied using an approach combining the Kapustinskii-Yatsimirskii equation with basic thermochemical relationships. It was found that hexachloroplumbates of monovalent metal cations will not dissociate into metal chlorides and PbCl₄, provided the complementary cations are suitably large in size. Hexachloroplumbates of divalent metal cations have not yet been synthesised since no known metal cations attain the requisite large size. Such salts will not dissociate if the divalent metal cations are able to complex suitably large electron-donating ligands. The pentachloroplumbates of both monovalent and divalent metal cations are unstable, since no known metal cations have appropriately large ionic radii. The approach adopted appears to be useful for the examination of the thermal behaviour, stability and reactivity of chloroplumbates.     

A new method of synthesis of the B<Subscript>3</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>8</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> anion

A new method of synthesis of the B₃H₈⁻ anion has been suggested. The method uses the reaction of some metal halides (CuCl, SnCl₂, CrCl₃, PbF₂, PbCl₂, PbBr₂, and BiCl₃) with sodium tetrahydroborate. It is characterized by high (up to quantitative) yields and simplicity of isolation of the target products ((n-C₄H₉)₄N)[B₃H₈] and Cs[B₃H₈].     

Invar<Superscript>®</Superscript> oxidation in CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

In this article, corrosion of Invar^® in a static carbon dioxide atmosphere \( 2\times 1 0^{4} \le P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }} \le 10^{5} \,{\text{Pa}} \) has been studied between 1163 and 1263 K. At the beginning, after a short initial deceleration for weight gains Δm/S <0.5 mg cm^?2, oxidation kinetics were linear up to weight gains of about 4.0 mg cm^?2, and only wüstite Fe_1?x O was formed with a constant rate r (mg cm^?2 s^?1) \( r = \frac{{{\text{d}}\left( {\frac{\Updelta m}{S}} \right)}}{{{\text{d}}t}} = 0.41 \times P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }} \exp \left( {\frac{ - 198000}{RT}} \right) \) where R is the gas constant and t the time (s). Reaction mechanism is similar to that of the pure iron in analogous conditions, with the same rate limiting step i.e. external reaction of CO₂ with wüstite and outward diffusion of ions Fe²⁺ (not limiting). For weight gains Δm/S higher than 4 mg cm^?2, the limiting step changes, with an increase of the reaction rate and an internal oxidation. The origin of this mechanism change lies in the microcracks appearing in the oxide during its growth. Then, wüstite is no longer bound to the substrate; outward diffusion of ions Fe²⁺ stops and a topotactic transformation converts wüstite into magnetite.     

Influence of the temperature and cation nature on the EPR spectra of salts with the [Ni<Superscript>III</Superscript>(η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-1,2-B<Subscript>9</Subscript>C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]- anion

The influence of specific features of the structure and nature of the cations (Ph₄P⁺, H(Phen)⁺, Cs⁺, and (CH₃)₄N⁺) on the ERP spectra of the nickel ions in salts with the dicarbollylnickelate anion [Ni(B₉C₂H₁₁)₂]⁻ is studied. It is shown that the change in the cation type in these compounds results in the electron density redistribution, which affects the change in the main and average values of the g factor. The g _av value increases over that observed in frozen solutions upon the localization of the positive charge of the cation on one atom and in the absence of the screening effect of the solvent and large functional groups of the cation. The exception is the compound (Ph₄P⁺)NiCb₂⁻ (Cb is B₉C₂H₁₁) with solvated CCl₄ molecules. For all compounds studied, the temperature dependence of the linewidths in the EPR spectra is described by the equation ΔH = αT + βT⁷ with different α and β values and is defined by the temperature dependence of the relaxation process caused by the Raman interaction.     

A theoretical study on the dynamics of the gas phase reaction of NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>(<Superscript>2</Superscript>B<Subscript>1</Subscript>) with HO<Subscript>2</Subscript>(<Superscript>2</Superscript>A″)

Quasi-classical trajectory calculations and stochastic one-dimensional chemical master equation simulation methods are used to study the dynamics of the reaction of amidogen radical [NH₂(²B₁)] with hydroperoxyl radical [HO₂(²A″)] on the lowest singlet electronic state. The title complex reaction takes place on a multi-well multichannel potential energy surface consisting of three deep potential wells and one van der Waals complex. In quasi-classical trajectory calculations a new analytical potential energy surface based on CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//MPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) ab initio method was driven and used to study the dynamics of the title reaction. In quasi-classical trajectory calculations, the reactive cross sections and reaction probabilities are determined for 200–2000 K relative translational energies to calculate the rate constants. The same ab initio method was used to have the necessary data for solving the one-dimensional chemical master equation to calculate the rate constants of different channels. In solving the master equation, the Lennard-Jones potential model was used to form the collision between the collider gases. The fractional populations of different intermediates and products in the early stages of the reaction were examined to determine the role of the energized intermediates and the van der Waals complex on the dynamics of the title reaction. Although the calculated total rate constants from both methods are in good agreement with the reported experimental values in the literature, the quasi-classical trajectory simulation predicts the formation of NH₂O + OH as the major channel in the title reaction in accordance with the previous studies (Sumathi and Peyerimhoff, Chem. Phys. Lett., 263:742–748, 1996), while the stochastic master equation simulation predicts the formation of HNO + H₂O as the major products.     

Research on photosensitivity of benzoquinones and benzoquinoneimines in the sunlight/Fe<Superscript>2+</Superscript>/S<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> system

This paper investigated the photodegradation characteristics of benzoquinones and benzoquinoneimines. The photosensitivity of benzoquinones and benzoquinoneimines were analyzed by measuring the yield of SO ₄ ^?· in a light/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? system and the degradation mechanism of benzoquinones, then discussed benzoquinoneimines in light/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? and light/S₂O₈ ^2? system. The results revealed that a more aggressive oxidation of benzoquinones and benzoquinoneimines by the sunlight/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? method showed a more rapid and more complete removal of chromaticity than that of the UV/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? method. It was showed that they were photosensitizers, and they could generate ¹O₂ and O ₂ ^?· which could promote the formation of SO ₄ ^?· and ^·OH in the sunlight system. Nevertheless, for benzoquinones, the sunlight/S₂O₈ ^2? method was superior to the UV/S₂O₈ ^2? method. For benzoquinoneimines, the sunlight/S₂O₈ ^2? method was inferior to the UV/S₂O₈ ^2? method. In addition, the yield of SO ₄ ^?· in the sunlight/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? system was more than that of the UV/Fe²⁺/S₂O₈ ^2? system. Therefore, the photosensitivity of benzoquinones is superior to benzoquinoneimines in water treatment.     

Synthesis and Structure of the bismuth complex [Ph<Subscript>3</Subscript>PrP]<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>[Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>I<Subscript>16</Subscript>]<Superscript>4−</Superscript>

The complex [Ph₃P] ₄ ⁺ [Bi₄I₁₆]^4? · 2 Me₂C=O (I) was synthesized by the reaction of triphenyl(propyl)phosphonium iodide with bismuth iodide in acetone. The crystal structure of complex I was determined by X-ray crystallography. It contains, in addition to solvent molecules, two types of crystallographically independent tetrahedral tetraphenyl(propyl)phosphonium cations and tetranuclear anions [Bi₄I₁₆]^4? in a chair conformation with the bismuth atoms being in an octahedral coordination. The Bi-I distances in the anion vary within 2.8768(4)–3.2524(4) Å.     

Thermal arene exchange in the naphthalene complex [CpRu(η<Superscript>6</Superscript>-C<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>)]<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Naphthalene in the [CpRu(⁶−C₁₀H₈)]⁺ complex (1) is substituted for other arenes under reflux in 1,2-dichloroethane to form the [CpRu(⁶-arene)]⁺ cations (arene = C₆H₆, 1,2-C₆H₄Me₂, 1,2,4,5-C₆H₂Me₄, or C₆Me₆) in 70–80% yields. The reaction is accelerated in the presence of a catalytic amount of acetonitrile. The structure of [1]PF₆ was established by X-ray diffraction.     

Structures of the complex ions [CuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript> and [CuCl<Subscript>5</Subscript>]<Superscript>3−</Superscript>

The electronic structures of the complex ions [CuCl₄]^2? and [CuCl₅]^3? were analyzed in terms of the extended angular overlap model (AOM) with consideration to sd and pd mixing. The total antibonding orbital energies of these ions show no anomalies in the transition from a tetrahedron to a planar square [CuCl₄]^2? and from a trigonal bipyramid to a tetragonal pyramid [CuCl₅]^3?. Presumably, the existence of numerous intermediate forms of these complexes is mainly due to the packing effects rather than the electronic factors.     

The ESCA analysis of the B<Subscript>3</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>8</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> anion

Compounds [Et₄N]₂B₃H₈ and CsB₃H₈ are studied using the ESCA method. The results of analysis of the B1s electron spectra and estimation of the effective charge differences in [Et₄N]₂B₃H₈ are compared to the data of theoretical calculations of the B₃H₈⁻ anion.     

Calorimetric study of the acidic character of V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SO<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> catalysts used in methanol oxidation to dimethoxymethane

The surface acidic properties of sulfated vanadia–titania catalysts prepared by various methods were investigated by adsorption microcalorimetry, using ammonia as probe molecule. The acidic characteristics of the samples were shown to be strongly affected by the preparation method, calcination temperature, and sulfur content. The samples prepared by sol–gel and mechanical grinding exhibited higher acidity than co-precipitated samples. Moreover, increasing the calcination temperature of co-precipitated samples resulted in a decrease in surface area from 402 to 57 m² g⁻¹ and sulfur content from around 4 to 0.2 mass%, but up to a certain point generated a stronger acidity. The optimal calcination temperature appeared to be around 673 K.     

Computational studies of the interactions of I<Superscript>−</Superscript> and I<Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> with TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> clusters: implications for dye-sensitized solar cells

Abstract  

First principle density-functional theory calculations have been carried out on the interaction of I⁻ and I₃ ⁻ with TiO₂ anatase surfaces, modeled by finite clusters that range in size from 48 to 180 atoms. The total energy per TiO₂ unit and the HOMO-LUMO gaps decrease with increasing the size of the clusters. Both redox species (I⁻ and I₃ ⁻) are strongly adsorbed on the TiO₂ surface with the adsorbtion of I⁻ being stronger. Adsorption of triiodide leads to its dissociation. The positions of the HOMO and LUMO of the adsorbed systems shift negatively from their respective cluster values. Solvation effects have been modeled using the CPCM model. Introducing solvent reduces the shifting of HOMO and LUMO. Implications for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) are discussed. Both the HOMO-LUMO shifting and the strong adsorption might affect the performance of the cell.     

Interactions between AuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> and CTA<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in water

The solubility of hexadecyltrimethylammonium tetrachloroaurate (CTA·AuCl₄) in water was measured at different temperatures of 288.2, 293.2, 298.2, 303.2, and 308.2 K. The enthalpy change associated with the formation of the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate was estimated on the basis of the van’t Hoff equation and was found to be −42.5 ± 2.8 kJ mol⁻¹ at 298.2 K. The calorimetric enthalpy change for the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate formation was directly determined by isothermal titration calorimetry performed at 298.2 K and was found to agree well with that estimated from the van’t Hoff equation.     

A study of the hydrolysis of ZrF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> and the structure of intermediate hydrolysis products by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F and <Superscript>91</Superscript>Zr NMR in the 9.4 T field

The high-field ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR method is used to study the hydrolysis and polycondensation of hexafluorozirconate ZrF₆²⁻ in aqueous and water-peroxide solutions. During hydrolysis in aqueous solutions only ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ ions were observed by NMR, however, in the water-peroxide medium, an intermediate product of hydrolysis ([F₅Zr-OO-ZrF₅]⁴⁻ dimer) was detected. The dimer structure is confirmed by ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR. In high fields (¹⁹F NMR frequency > 200 MHz), the fluorine exchange between ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ is slow in the ¹⁹F NMR scale and has a multisite character.     

Role of the HO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>•</Superscript></Stack> radical in hydrogen oxidation at the third self-ignition limit

It is demonstrated by simultaneous analysis of experimental data and the results of numerical simulation that, at 100 kPa, the H₂/O₂ mixture self-ignites only owing to the occurrence of a chain avalanche. Self-heating becomes significant in the course of chain combustion and strengthens the chain avalanche. The accelerating decomposition of H₂O₂, which results from the reaction between HO₂^• and H₂, contributes to chain branching and determines the character of the chain thermal explosion. The role of the HO₂^• radical depends on the chain process conditions, consisting of chain termination as a result of the partial loss of HO₂^• at the initial self-acceleration stage, H atom regeneration, and participation in the second branched cycle under conditions of accelerated H₂O₂ decomposition.