Thermodynamic Studies on the Complexation Reactions of copper(II) Macrocyclic Tetramine Complexes with Monodentate Ligands: I. RAC-5, 7, 7, 12, 14, 14-Hexamethyl-l, 4, 8, 11-Tetraazacyclotetradecane-Copper(II) (Blue) with-Halide Ions

The possibility of a trigonal bipyramidal structure for [Cu(tet b)X]⁺ (blue) (where X=Cl, Br, I) is supported by the observation of two distinct d-d bands, which are assigned as and d, d_xy→d and d_xz, d_yz→d transitions respectively. The stability constants for the formation of [Cu(tet b)X]⁺ (blue) from [Cu(tet b)]^z+ (blue) and X^? were determined by spectrophotometric method at 25°, 35° and 45°C. The corresponding δH° and δS° values were obtained from the variations of the stability constants between 25° and 45°C     

Solvation Chemistry of DL‐Nor‐Valine in Aqueous Mixture of Dipolar Aprotic N,N‐Dimethyl Formamide

In this article, we reported the solubilities of the amino acid DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) at five equidistant temeratures i.e. from 15 to 35 °C in aqueous mixtures of N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF). The Standard free energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (ΔS (i)) of transfer of VAL from water to aqueous mixture of cationophilic dipolar aprotic DMF have been evaluated at 25 °C. The transfer of Gibbs energies (ΔG (i)) and entropies (TΔS (i)) due to the chemical effects have been obtained after elimination of cavity effect, estimated by the scaled particle theory and dipole‐dipole interaction effects, computed by the used of Keesom‐orientation expression. The chemical contribution of transfer energetics of DL‐nor‐valine (VAL) are mainly guided by the composite effects of increased dispersion interaction, basicity effect and decreased acidity, hydrogen bonding effects, hydrophilic hydration and hydrophobic hydration of aqueous DMF mixtures as compared to that of reference solvent, water.     

The effect of water content on the ultimate properties of rubbery nanocomposite gels

An investigation was conducted into the effects of water content (R) on the ultimate tensile properties of nanocomposite hydrogels (NC gels) based on poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)/clay networks. Rubbery NC gels with low clay contents (<NC10) exhibited unique changes in their stress–strain curves, depending on the R. At high R, where PNIPA chains are fully hydrated, NC gels retained their rubbery tensile properties, whereas they changed to exhibit plastic‐like deformations with decreasing R. Consequently, for a series of NC gels with different R, a failure envelope was obtained by connecting the rupture points in the stress–strain curves. Here, the counterclockwise movement was observed as either the R decreased or the strain rate increased. This seemed to be analogous to that of a conventional elastomer (e.g., SBR), although the mechanisms are different in the two cases. From the R and C_clay dependences of the ultimate properties, three critical values of R were defined, where R showed a maximum strain at break, a steep increase in initial modulus, and onset of brittle fracture. Compared with NC gels, OR gels (chemically crosslinked hydrogels) showed similar but very small changes in their stress–strain curves on altering R, whereas LR (viscous PNIPA solution) showed a monotonic decrease (increase) in ε_b (E_i) with decreasing R. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2328–2340, 2009     

Peculiar kinetics of the complex formation in the iron(III)–sulfate system

The results of comprehensive equilibrium and kinetic studies of the iron(III)–sulfate system in aqueous solutions at I = 1.0 M (NaClO₄), in the concentration ranges of T = 0.15–0.3 mM, and at pH 0.7–2.5 are presented. The iron(III)–containing species detected are FeOH²⁺ (=FeH_?1), (FeOH) (=Fe₂H_?2), FeSO, and Fe(SO₄) with formation constants of log β = ?2.84, log β = ?2.88, log β = 2.32, and log β = 3.83. The formation rate constants of the stepwise formation of the sulfate complexes are k_1a = 4.4 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm Fe}^{3+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-}\,\stackrel{k_{1a}}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm FeSO}_4^+The results of comprehensive equilibrium and kinetic studies of the iron(III)–sulfate system in aqueous solutions at I = 1.0 M (NaClO₄), in the concentration ranges of T = 0.15–0.3 mM, and at pH 0.7–2.5 are presented. The iron(III)–containing species detected are FeOH²⁺ (=FeH_?1), (FeOH) (=Fe₂H_?2), FeSO, and Fe(SO₄) with formation constants of log β = ?2.84, log β = ?2.88, log β = 2.32, and log β = 3.83. The formation rate constants of the stepwise formation of the sulfate complexes are k_1a = 4.4 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm Fe}^{3+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-}\,\stackrel{k_{1a}}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm FeSO}_4^+$ step and k₂ = 1.1 × 10³ M^?1 s^?1 for the ${\rm FeSO}_4^+ + {\rm SO}_4^{2-} \stackrel{k_2}{\rightleftharpoons}\, {\rm Fe}({\rm SO}_4)_2^-$ step. The mono‐sulfate complex is also formed in the ${\rm Fe}({\rm OH})^{2+} + {\rm SO}_4^{2-} \stackrel{k_{1b}}{\longrightarrow} {\rm FeSO}_4^+$ reaction with the k_1b = 2.7 × 10⁵ M^?1 s^?1 rate constant. The most surprising result is, however, that the 2 FeSO? Fe³⁺ + Fe(SO₄) equilibrium is established well before the system as a whole reaches its equilibrium state, and the main path of the formation of Fe(SO₄) is the above fast (on the stopped flow scale) equilibrium process. The use and advantages of our recently elaborated programs for the evaluation of equilibrium and kinetic experiments are briefly outlined. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 114–124, 2008     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Family of POCOP Pincer Complexes with Nickel: Reactivity Towards CO2 and Phenylacetylene

A cyclohexyl‐based POCOP pincer ligand (POCOP=cis‐1,3‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphinito)cyclohexyl) cyclometalates with nickel to generate a series of new POCOP‐supported Ni^II complexes, including the halide, hydride, methyl, and phenyl species. trans‐[NiCl{cis‐1,3‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphinito)cyclohexane}], [(POCOP)NiCl] ( 1 a ) and the analogous bromide complex ( 1 b ) were synthesized and fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. Cyclic voltammetry measurements of 1 a and 1 b alongside their bis(phosphine) analogues [(PCP)NiCl] ( 2 a ) and [(PCP)NiCl] ( 2 a ) (PCP=cis‐1,3‐bis(di‐tert‐butylphosphino)cyclohexyl) indicate a reduced electron density at the metal center upon introducing electron‐withdrawing oxygen atoms in the pincer arms. The methyl [(POCOP)NiMe] ( 3 ) and phenyl [(POCOP)NiPh] ( 4 ) complexes were formed from 1 a by reaction with the corresponding organolithium reagents. 1 a also reacts with LiAlH₄ to give the hydride complex [(POCOP)NiH] ( 5 ). The methyl complex 3 reacts with phenyl acetylene to give the acetylide complex [(POCOP)NiCCPh] ( 6 ). The reactivity of compounds 3 – 5 towards CO₂ was studied. The hydride complex 5 and the methyl complex 3 both underwent CO₂ insertion to form the formate species [(POCOP)NiOCOH] ( 7 ) and acetate species [(POCOP)NiOCOCH₃] ( 8 ), respectively, although with a higher barrier of insertion in the latter case. Compound 4 was unreactive towards CO₂ even at elevated temperatures. Complexes 3 – 8 were all characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography.     

One‐range Addition Theorems for Complete Sets of Modified Exponential Type Orbitals and Noninteger n Slater Functions in Standard Convention

Using the L ‐generalized Laguerre polynomials L ‐GLPs) and φ ‐generalized exponential type orbitals φ ‐GETOs) introduced by the author in standard convention, the one‐ and two‐center onerange addition theorems are established for the complete sets of Ψ^(α*) ‐modified exponential type orbitals (Ψ^(α*) ‐METOs) and noninteger n χ‐Slater type orbitals (χ‐NISTOs), where p_l* = 2l + 2 ‐ α* and α* is the integer (α* = α, ?∞ < α ≤2) or noninteger (α* ≠ α, ?∞ < α* < 3) self‐frictional quantum number. It should be noted that the origin of the L ‐GLPs, φ ‐GETOs and Ψ^(α*) ‐METOs, therefore, of the one‐range addition theorems presented in this work is the Lorentz damping or self‐frictional field produced by the particle itself.     

First‐principles calculations on the energetics,electronic structures and magnetism of SrFeO2

The electronic and magnetic properties of SrFeO₂ with different magnetic configurations have been calculated via the plane‐wave pseudopotential density functional theory method, using the experimental lattice parameters. The results give an antiferromagnetic ground state for SrFeO₂ with an absolute magnetic moment agreeing very well with the experimental report. In comparison with the counterparts whose magnetic moments are parallel to the c axis, the structures with spin moments parallel to the a (or b) axis exhibit no observable preference in total energy, but show different density distributions of the Fe 3d and Fe 3d states. The square‐planar crystal field splits the Fe 3d orbitals into a high‐level d, a low d, and intermediate d_xy and d_xz or d_yz components. The exchange splitting is larger than the crystal‐field splitting, resulting in the high‐spin Fe 3d states. Referred to the triplet O₂, the O‐vacancy formation energy from SrFeO₃ to SrFeO₂ has been deduced as well, along with its dependence on the temperature and O₂ partial pressure. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2009     

Small Molecule Activation by POCOP‐Nickel Complexes

This contribution describes the reactivities of CO₂, CO, O₂, and ArNC with the pincer‐type complexes [(κ^P,κ^C,κ^P′‐POCOP)NiX] (POCOP=(R₂POCH₂)₂CH; R=iPr; X=OSiMe₃, NArH; Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃). Reaction of the amido derivative with CO₂ and CO leads to a simple insertion into the Ni?N bond to give stable carbamate and carbamoyl derivatives, respectively, the pincer ligand backbone remaining intact in both cases. In contrast, the analogous reactions with the siloxide derivative produced kinetically labile insertion products that either revert to the starting material (in the case of CO₂) or react further to give the mixed‐valent, dinickel species [(POCOP)Ni^II{μ,κ^O,κ^P,κ^P′‐OCOCH(CH₂CH₂OPR₂)₂}Ni⁰(CO)₂]. The zero‐valent center in the latter compound is ligated by a new ligand arising from transformation of the POCOP ligand backbone. The carbonylation and carboxylation of the siloxido derivative also produced minor quantities of a side‐product identified as the trinickel species, [{(η³‐allyl)Ni(μ^O,κ^P‐R₂PO)₂}₂Ni], arising from total dismantling of the POCOP ligand. Similar reactivities were observed with isonitrile, ArNC: reaction with the siloxido derivative resulted in a complex sequence of steps involving initial insertion, a 1,3‐hydrogen shift, and an Arbuzov rearrangement to give [Ni(CNAr)₄] and a methacrylamide based on fragments of the POCOP ligand. Oxygenation of the amido and siloxido derivatives led to the phosphinate derivative, [(POCOP)Ni(OP(O)R₂)], arising from oxidative transformation of the original ligand frame; the reaction with the Ni‐NHAr derivative also gave ArHNP(O)R₂ through a complex N?P bond‐forming reaction.     

Aryl‐Copper(III)‐Acetylides as Key Intermediates in CCsp Model Couplings under Mild Conditions

The mechanism of copper‐mediated Sonogashira couplings (so‐called Stephens–Castro and Miura couplings) is not well understood and lacks clear comprehension. In this work, the reactivity of a well‐defined aryl‐Cu^III species ( 1 ) with p‐R‐phenylacetylenes (R=NO₂, CF₃, H) is reported and it is found that facile reductive elimination from a putative aryl‐Cu^III‐acetylide species occurs at room temperature to afford the C_aryl?C_sp coupling species ( I_R ), which in turn undergo an intramolecular reorganisation to afford final heterocyclic products containing 2H‐isoindole ( P , P , P_Ha ) or 1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline ( P_Hb ) substructures. Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies support the postulated reductive elimination pathway that leads to the formation of C?C_sp bonds and provide the clue to understand the divergent intramolecular reorganisation when p‐H‐phenylacetylene is used. Mechanistic insights and the very mild experimental conditions to effect C_aryl?C_sp coupling in these model systems provide important insights for developing milder copper‐catalysed C_aryl?C_sp coupling reactions with standard substrates in the future.     

Atomic Dopants Involved in the Structural Evolution of Thermally Graphitized Graphene

Thermally doped nitrogen atoms on the sp²‐carbon network of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) enhance its electrical conductivity. Atomic structural information of thermally annealed graphene oxide (GO) provides an understanding on how the heteroatomic doping could affect electronic property of rGO. Herein, the spectroscopic and microscopic variations during thermal graphitization from 573 to 1 373 K are reported in two different rGO sheets, prepared by thermal annealing of GO (rGO_therm) and post‐thermal annealing of chemically nitrogen‐doped rGO (post‐therm‐rGO). The spectroscopic transitions of rGO in thermal annealing ultimately showed new oxygen‐functional groups, such as cyclic edge ethers and new graphitized nitrogen atoms at 1 373 K. During the graphitization process, the microscopic evolution resolved by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) produced more wrinkled surface morphology with graphitized nanocrystalline domains due to atomic doping of nitrogen on a post‐therm‐rGO sheet. As a result, the post‐therm‐rGO‐containing nitrogen showed a less defected sp²‐carbon network, resulting in enhanced conductivity, whereas the rGO_therm sheet containing no nitrogen had large topological defects on the basal plane of the sp²‐carbon network. Thus, our investigation of the structural evolution of original wrinkles on a GO sheet incorporated into the graphitized N‐doped rGO helps to explain how the atomic doping can enhance the electrical conductivity.     

CO2‐promoted Water‐medium Ullmann Reaction over a Pd/Phenyl‐SBA‐15 Mesoporous Catalyst

Water‐medium Ullmann reaction was carried out in CO₂ atmosphere over the mesoporous Pd/Ph‐SBA‐15 catalyst exhibiting high activity and selectivity owing to the uniform dispersion of Pd particles and hydrophobilic mesoporous channels which facilitate the diffusion and adsorption of organic molecules, especially in an aqueous medium. The CO₂ also shows promoting effect on activity and selectivity, which could be understood by considering the role of H⁺ in the mechanism of Ullmann reaction. The optimum Ph‐Ph yield (84.0%) was obtained at p=0.8 MPa and V=6.0 mL and could remain almost unchanged even after the catalyst has been used repetitively for 5 times.     

Tunable Keplerate Type‐Cluster “Mo132” Cavity with Dicarboxylate Anions

The internal functionalization of the Keplerate‐type capsule Mo₁₃₂ has been carried out by ligand exchange leading to the formation of glutarate and succinate containing species isolated as ammonium or dimethylammonium salts. Solution NMR analysis is consistent with asymmetric inner dicarboxylate ions containing one carboxylato group grafted onto the inner side of the spheroidal inorganic shell while the second hangs toward the center of the cavity. Such a disposition has been confirmed by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis of the glutarate containing {Mo₁₃₂} species. A detailed NMR solution study of the ligand‐exchange process allowed determining the binding constant K_L of acetate (AcO^?), succinate (HSucc^?) or glutarate (HGlu^?) ligands at the 30 inner coordinating sites, which vary such as K<K<K‐supported by the associated thermodynamic parameters Δ_rS* and Δ_rH*. Such a variation is mainly explained by a positive entropic gain attenuated by unfavorable steric effect. Furthermore, these results are completed by ¹H DOSY and ¹H EXSY NMR experiments which are in agreement with bulky guests firmly trapped within the cavity. At last, variable temperature ¹H NMR study below 290 K revealed a striking line broadening occurring abruptly within a 5 K range. Such an effect appears closely related to the presence of the ammonium cations suspected to be present within the cavity and then has been interpreted as an inner‐phase transition leading to a frozen state.     

Acceleration of Reductive Elimination of [Ar‐Pd‐C] by a Phosphine/Electron‐Deficient Olefin Ligand: A Kinetic Investigation

Dramatic rate enhancement of reductive elimination of [Ar‐Pd‐C] was observed in the presence of a phosphine/electron‐deficient olefin ligand. Through systematic kinetic investigations of the Negishi coupling of ethyl 2‐iodobenzoate with alkylzinc chlorides (see scheme), the rate constants for reductive elimination of [Ar‐Pd‐C] were determined to be greater than 0.3 s^?1, which is about four or five orders of magnitude greater than values reported previously.

     

The lowest order relativistic corrections for the hydrogen molecule

We have calculated the lowest order relativistic corrections for the X ¹Σ, B¹Σ, a³Σ, b³Σ, I¹Π_g, C¹Π_u, i³Π_g, c³Π_u, J¹Δ_g, and j³Δ_g states of the hydrogen molecule using variational Monte Carlo methods and compact, explicitly correlated trial wavefunctions. Our values are in good agreement with earlier calculations on the X¹Σ and B¹Σ states. For the other states, our work provides the first estimate of these properties. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

A fragmentation study of dihydroquercetin using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and its application for identification of dihydroflavonols in Citrus juices

A mass spectrometric method using electrospray ionization with triple quadrupole and quadrupole time‐of‐flight hybrid (Q‐Tof) mass spectrometry has been applied to the structural characterization of dihydroflavonols. This family of compounds has been studied by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) for the first time in this work. A comprehensive study of the product ion MS spectra of the [M+H]⁺ ion of a commercially available standard has been performed. The most useful fragmentations in terms of structural identification are those that involve cleavage of the C‐ring, resulting in diagnostic ions of dihydroflavonol family: ^1,3A, ^1,2B, ^1,2B‐CO, ^0,2A, ^0,2A‐H₂O, ^0,2A‐CO, and ^0,2A‐H₂O‐CO, that allow the characterization of the substituents in the A‐ and B‐rings. In addition to those ions, other product ions due to losses of H₂O and CO molecules from the Y ion were observed. Their fragmentation mechanisms and ion structures have been proposed. The established fragmentation patterns have been used to successfully identity three dihydroflavonols found in tangerine juices for the first time. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Probing the ultrafast photoelectron spectra of Br2 molecule

The time‐dependent‐wave‐packet method is applied to study the ionization of Br₂ molecule with four ionization processes. The ground state absorption makes the photoelectron to be left in the three final ionic states: Br (X²∑), Br (A²∏_u), and Br (B²∑), and each population of these ionic states is related with the laser intensities. The information of the dissociation can be got by analyzing the photoelectron features of the transient wave packet, which also suggests that an ionization process occurs during the dissociation, and the Br atoms that mainly resulted from the dissociation of Br₂ (C¹∏_u) are ionized at later time delays as the dissociation is nearly complete. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

Nanometer‐scale surface modification by polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene on polymer substrates in supercritical fluoroform

Surface penetrated polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) was carried out on a polycarbonate (PC) plate in supercritical fluoroform (scCHF₃). Since the high diffusiveness is one of peculiar features of supercritical fluids, TFE monomers and initiators (perfluorinated benzoyl peroxide) could penetrate into the surface of polymer substrates and be photo‐polymerized. After washing physisorbed homopolymers on the surface, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was found to penetrate into 50–800 nm depth from the surface and covered the PC surface in the proportion of 85%. The surface coverage density and the penetration depth could be controlled by adjusting of the pressure of scCHF₃. The TFE‐penetrated polymerization could be applied for various polymer plates such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and polyimide. In addition to polymer plates, this technique could be applied to a cellulose paper, a nylon textile, and a porous PC membrane. The PTFE‐penetrated nylon textile showed a high resistance for washing test with detergents, compared with the commercial fluoropolymer‐sprayed nylon textile. The PTFE‐penetrated porous PC membrane showed high oxygen permeability (P/P = 5.2), compared with that of the untreated PC membrane (P/P = 3.5) in gas permeation experiments of O₂ and N₂. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1577–1585, 2008     

Determination of relative sensitivity factors during secondary ion sputtering of silicate glasses by Au+, Au and Au ions

In recent years, Au‐cluster ions have been successfully used for organic analysis in secondary ion mass spectrometry. Cluster ions, such as Au and Au, can produce secondary ion yield enhancements of up to a factor of 300 for high mass organic molecules with minimal sample damage. In this study, the potential for using Au⁺, Au and Au primary ions for the analysis of inorganic samples is investigated by analyzing a range of silicate glass standards. Practical secondary ion yields for both Au and Au ions are enhanced relative to those for Au⁺, consistent with their increased sputter rates. No elevation in ionization efficiency was found for the cluster primary ions. Relative sensitivity factors for major and trace elements in the standards showed no improvement in quantification with Au and Au ions over the use of Au⁺ ions. Higher achievable primary ion currents for Au⁺ ions than for Au and Au allow for more precise analyses of elemental abundances within inorganic samples, making them the preferred choice, in contrast to the choice of Au and Au for the analysis of organic samples. The use of delayed secondary ion extraction can also boost secondary ion signals, although there is a loss of overall sensitivity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The natural abundance of 15N in plant and soil‐available N indicates a shift of main plant N resources to NO from NH along the N leaching gradient

To investigate which of ammonium (NH) or nitrate (NO) is used by plants at gradient sites with different nitrogen (N) availability, we measured the natural abundance of ¹⁵N in foliage and soil extractable N. Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endlicher) planted broadly in Japan was selected for use in this study. We estimated the source proportion of foliar N (NH vs. NO) quantitatively using mass balance equations. The results showed that C. obtusa used mainly NH in N‐limited forests, although the dependence of C. obtusa on NO was greater in other NO‐rich forests. We regarded dissolved organic N (DON) as a potential N source because a previous study demonstrated that C. obtusa can take up glycine. Thus we added DON to our mass balance equations and calculated the source proportion using an isotope‐mixing model (IsoSource model). The results still showed a positive correlation between the calculated plant N proportion of NO and the NO pool size in the soil, indicating that high NO availability increases the reliance of C. obtusa on NO. Our data suggest the shift of the N source for C. obtusa from NH to NO according to the relative availability of NO. They also show the potential of the foliar δ¹⁵N of C. obtusa as an indicator of the N status in forest ecosystems with the help of the δ¹⁵N values of soil inorganic and organic N. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.