Synthesis and reactivity of neodymium(III) amido-tethered N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

The reaction of the heteroleptic Nd(III) iodide, [Nd(L′)(N″)(μ-I)] with the potassium salts of primary aryl amides [KN(H)Ar′] or [KN(H)Ar^*] affords heteroleptic, structurally characterised, low-coordinate neodymium amides [Nd(L′)(N″)(N(H)Ar′)] and [Nd(L′)(N″)(N(H)Ar^*)] cleanly (L′ = t-BuNCH₂CH₂[C{NC(SiMe₃)CHNt-Bu}], N″ = N(SiMe₃)₂, Ar′ = 2,6-Dipp₂C₆H₃, Dipp = 2,6-Prⁱ₂C₆H₃, Ar^* = 2,6-(2,4,6-Prⁱ₃C₆H₂)₂C₆H₃). The potassium terphenyl primary amide [KN(H)Ar^*] is readily prepared and isolated, and structurally characterised. Treatment of these primary amide-containing compounds with alkali metal alkyl salts results in ligand exchange to give alkali metal primary amides and intractable heteroleptic Nd(III) alkyl compounds of the form [Nd(L′)(N″)(R)] (R = CH₂SiMe₃, Me). Attempted deprotonation of the Nd-bound primary amide in [Nd(L′)(N″)(N(H)Ar^*)] with the less nucleophilic phosphazene superbase Bu^tNP{NP(NMe₂)₃}₃ resulted in indiscriminate deprotonations of peripheral ligand CH groups.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and magnetic properties of 2,3,6,7-tetrakis(2-cyanoethylthio)tetrathiafulvalene salts

The synthesis of the protected TTF tetrathiolate 2,3,6,7-tetrakis(2-cyanoethylthio)tetrathiafulvalene (TCE-TTF), as well as those of five new radical cation salts [TCE-TTF](X), X⁻ = PF₆⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻, BF₄⁻, obtained by electrocrystallization technique is presented. Five crystal structures of these materials based on their fully oxidized donor molecules are described. The flexibility of the cyanoethylene arm yields two conformations cis and trans to the molecule. Then compounds with PF₆⁻ and BF₄⁻ anions crystallized as two different phases. All these materials are insulators, and the magnetic studies of one phase of [TCE-TTF](PF₆) revealed an antiferromagnetic behavior.     

Half-lanthanidocenes catalysts via the “borohydride/alkyl” route: A simple approach of ligand screening for the controlled polymerization of styrene

The “borohydride/alkyl” (B/A) route initially reported for isoprene has been applied successfully to the polymerization of styrene. This method provides via an in situ approach an interesting tool for the assessment of the influence of a ligand on the performance of half-lanthanidocene catalysts. All systems lead to well-controlled oligomerization/polymerization processes. This method is thus a convenient tool for the controlled polymerization of styrene starting from a common trisborohydride precursor and commercial ligands. The influence of the nature of several ligands on the activity could be established, with trends corresponding to those obtained starting from the isolated precursors: HCpHCp^Ph₃>HCp^*(Cp=C₅H₅,Cp^Ph₃=1,2,4-Ph₃C₅H₂,Cp^*=C₅Me₅). These results suggest an influence of the electron donating ability of the ligand rather than steric requirements.     

Comparison of H3PW12O40 and H4SiW12O40 heteropolyacids supported on silica by H MAS NMR

The H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ and H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀ heteropolyacids supported on silica were studied by ¹H MAS NMR as a function of both the coverage and the dehydroxylation temperature. The signal at ca. 8 ppm attributed to the highly acidic protons of the anhydrous form of the heteropolyacid was never observed in the case of the phosphotungstic polyanion supported on silica while it was clearly present in the case of the silicotungstic species. These results explain the different activities of the two supported heteropolyacids in acid reactions involving strong acid sites. To cite this article: A. Thomas et al., C. R. Chimie 8 (2005).     

Stoichiometry of uranyl hydrolysis reaction in acidic aqueous solutions from the evidence of oxygen exchange kinetics

The kinetics of uranyl oxygen exchange with water molecules in aqueous solutions was studied in the pH range 1–4 and uranium concentration range 10^–4–0.1 M. It was confirmed that the exchange is stimulated by hydrolyzed uranyl species. From the evidence of data on the kinetics of uranyl oxygen exchange the reaction stoichiometry of uranyl hydrolysis was determined. The scheme of uranyl hydrolysis involving formation of (UO₂)₂(OH)₂²⁺, (UO₂)₂(OH)₃⁺, and other hydrolyzed species was proposed. To cite this article: L.G. Mashirov et al., C. R. Chimie 336 (2004).

Résumé

Étude de l'hydrolyse de l'uranium hexavalent en milieu acide par échange isotopique de l'oxygène. L'échange isotopique de l'oxygène de l'ion uranyle avec les molécules d'eau a été étudié dans le domaine de pH de 1 à 4 et de concentration en uranium de 10^–4 à 0,1 M. Cet échange a lieu par l'intermédiaire d'espèces hydrolysées de U(VI). La stoechiométrie des formes hydrolysées de U(VI) est déduite des vitesses d'échange isotopique. En particulier, les espèces (UO₂)₂(OH)₂²⁺ et (UO₂)₂(OH)₃⁺ ont été clairement identifiées. Un schéma d'hydrolyse est proposé. Pour citer cet article : L.G. Mashirov et al., C. R. Chimie 336 (2004).     

Unprecedented μ3-O face-capping ligand in a [Mo6Br6L2Br6] (L = 0.5 O + 0.5 Br) molybdenum cluster unit: crystal structure of the Cs3Mo6Br13O oxybromide

The new Cs₃Mo₆Br₁₃O oxybromide, synthesized by solid-state chemistry, crystallizes in the trigonal system (Rc space group; a = 15.5784(2) Å, c = 19.5103(5) Å, V = 4100.5(1) Å³ and Z = 6). It is based on a [Mo₆L₁₄] unit that contains an unprecedented μ₃ face-capping oxygen. The crystal structure determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction is built up from discrete face-capped [Mo₆Brⁱ₆Lⁱ₂Br^a₆]^3– (L = 0.5 O + 0.5 Br) anionic units in which two inner positions are randomly occupied by one bromine and one oxygen whereas the other ligand positions are fully occupied by bromine. The cesium cations randomly occupy two close crystallographic positions generated by the A-B-C-A′-B′-C′ close-packed stacking of the units. The cesium site occupancy is related to the random distribution of oxygen and bromine on the Lⁱ inner positions. To cite this article: K. Kirakci et al., C. R. Chimie 8 (2005).     

Conventional hydrothermal process versus microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of La1−xAgxMnO3+δ (x = 0, 0.2) perovskites used in methane combustion

A study on the synthesis of La_1−xAg_xMnO_3+δ (x = 0, 0.2) using a microwave process (MWhyd) has been carried out by comparing the heating time and reaction temperature with the same factor under conventional thermal process (CHhyd). Experiments have been conducted using the hydrothermal method at medium pressure (T = 200 °C, P = 20 atm) followed by a thermal treatment of the precursor at 700 °C (10 h).Structural and physico-chemical properties of the catalysts were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET sorption, temperature-programmed reduction or desorption, mass spectrometry (TPR-MS and TPD-MS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). While CHhyd and MWhyd powder catalysts exhibited the same XRD patterns indexed as pure perovskite structure, their surface physico-chemical properties were found to be strongly influenced by the preparation method. The effect of the nature of oxygen species, their amount and mobility, evidenced by temperature programmed experiments, on the catalytic properties in methane combustion in the presence and in the absence of hydrogen sulphide has been studied. MWhyd-La_0.8Ag_0.2MnO_3+δ catalysts were found to exhibit a much better performance in methane combustion together with higher resistance to sulphur poisoning than CHhyd catalysts.     

Synthesis and reactivity of new heterodinuclear iron/rhenium Cx complexes of the formula (η-C5Me5)Re(NO)(PPh3)(CC)n(η-dppe)Fe(η-C5Me5) (n = 3, 4): Redox properties and a dicobalt hexacarbonyl adduct

We report in this communication the synthesis and characterization of two Fe/Re heterodinuclear complexes 3_n of formula (η⁵-C₅Me₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)(CC)_n(η²-dppe)Fe(η⁵-C₅Me₅) (n = 3, 4) as well as the hexacarbonyl dicobalt adduct (4) of the hexatriynediyl complex 3₃. We show by cyclic voltammetry that the “electronic communication” between the organometallic endgroups and thereby the thermodynamic stability of the corresponding mixed-valent (MV) parent 3_n⁺ is strongly influenced by bridge extension or by complexation of the [Co₂(CO)₆] fragment. In the case of the hexatriynediyl complex, the MV complex 3₃⁺ or 4 can be isolated by performing the chemical oxidation of 3₃ at low temperature. Spectroscopic studies of this compound and of other stable oxidized redox congeners should now help us to unravel how bridge extension modifies the electronic communication between the different redox-active endgroups in this family of unsymmetrically-substituted polyynediyl compounds.     

Sodium tetrahydroborate as energy/hydrogen carrier, its history

Sodium tetrahydroborate NaBH₄ is considered as being a promising energy/hydrogen carrier. NaBH₄ is not a new compound. It has been discovered in 1940s by Prof. H.C. Brown, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry in 1979. NaBH₄ has thus a history and this history distinguishes the NaBH₄ utilisation as hydrogen carrier from that as energy carrier. In fact, the history of NaBH₄ (for both utilisations) can be divided into three periods, each period being characterised by specific societal challenges. Whereas during the first period the challenges were military and political, the challenges in the third period (i.e. at present) are energetic, environmental, civilian, social and political. The second period was rather calm for NaBH₄ even if it was intensively used as a reducing agent in organic chemistry.     

‘Chimie douce’ synthesis, crystal and electronic structures of the novel Hg~4.2Mo15X19 (X = S, Se) compounds containing Hg3, Mo6 and Mo9 clusters

The new compounds Hg_~4.2Mo₁₅X₁₉ (X = S, Se) were obtained by inserting mercury into the metastable Mo₁₅X₁₉ compounds at low temperature. Their crystal structures, determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, show that the molybdenum–chalcogenide network is maintained through the synthesis. It consists of an equal mixture of Mo₆X₈X₆ and Mo₉X₁₁X₆ cluster units interconnected through Mo–X bonds as in the parent compounds. In both compounds, the mercury is present either as Hg²⁺ cations or forming linear clusters Hg₃²⁺. It is the first time that the latter cluster is observed in a chalcogen environment. To cite this article: D. Salloum et al., C. R. Chimie 8 (2005).     

Effect of gleysation on remobilization of radionuclides in waterlogged soils

Joint leaching of iron and other macro- and microelements including radionuclides from radioactively contaminated floodplain soil of the Yenisei River is studied on miniecosystems. In developing anaerobic conditions, the redox potential E_h decreased to +140 mV, causing partial reduction of iron and solubilisation of iron hydrous oxide and organomineral films of the soil. Leaching of stable elements and radionuclides with water proceeds parallel to that of iron. To accelerate reductive mobilization of iron, 0.4% aqueous ascorbic acid was used instead of water as the leaching liquid phase. In this case, E_h approached –60 mV, and the leaching of stable and radioactive elements considerably increased, the effect being most pronounced for plutonium. To cite this article: E.K. Legin et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).

Résumé

Effet du passage en milieu anaérobie sur la mobilisation des radionucléides dans les sols humides. La lixiviation simultanée du fer et d’autres éléments de sols contaminés de la vallée de la rivière Yénései a été étudiée. En imposant des conditions anaérobies, le potentiel redox chute à 140 mV, causant une réduction partielle du fer trivalent et la solubilisation de l’hydroxyde de fer et du film organominéral du sol. Les lixiviations du fer, des autres éléments et, par conséquent, des radionucléides contaminant le sol vont de pair. Pour accélérer la mobilisation réductive du fer, une solution d’acide ascorbique à 0,4% a été utilisée à la place de l’eau. Dans ces conditions, la valeur de E_h approche –60 mV et la lixiviation des éléments augmente considérablement, cet effet étant plus prononcé pour le plutonium. Pour citer cet article : E.K. Legin et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).     

Emulsion and dispersion polymerization of styrene in the presence of PEO macromonomers with p-vinylphenylalkyl end groups

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomers with α-p-vinylphenylalkyl (propyl, pentyl, and hexyl) and ω-hydroxy end groups were applied to emulsion and dispersion polymerization of styrene as reactive emulsifiers and dispersants in water and in methanol-water mixture (9:1 v/v), respectively. Nearly monodisperse microspheres of submicron to micron size were obtained. Particle size in the emulsion system was one or half order of magnitude smaller than that in the dispersion system, while in both systems the size decreased approximately according to minus one half power of the macromonomer concentration in weight. The particle size was substantially independent on the PEO chain length and also on the spacer alkyl chain length of the α-polymerizing end group. The total weight of the PEO chains incorporated by copolymerization into the particle surfaces (shells), relative to that of styrene polymerized into the particle cores, appears to be a key factor for controlling the particle size. To cite this article: K. Landfester et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Reversible photomagnetic properties of the molecular compound [{Cu(bipy)2}2{Mo(CN)8}]·9H2O·CH3OH

The optical and photomagnetic properties of [{Cu^II(bipy)₂}₂{Mo^IV(CN)₈}]·9H₂O·CH₃OH (1) have been reinvestigated. A comparison between spectra in solution and in the solid state revealed the presence of an intervalence band (or Metal–Metal Charge Transfer, hereafter noted MMCT) at 570 nm. The photomagnetic properties have been performed in a Superconducting QUantum Interference Device at 10 K with irradiation in the range of the MMCT: 488 nm, 520 nm and 647 nm at 10 K. An important increase of the magnetic signal has been measured after 1 h of irradiation at 488 nm, whereas a weaker increase has been obtained for the irradiation at 520 nm in the same conditions. Moreover, after an excitation at 488 nm, an irradiation at 647 nm has induced a decrease of the magnetic moment, which corresponds to a partial deexcitation. The complete characterization of the photoproduct has been realised after an irradiation of 4 h at 488 nm. The photomagnetic properties have shown an increase of the paramagnetism of 1 at low temperature. After a thermal heating at 300 K, the material goes back to its initial state before irradiation. It is the first time that a fully reversible photomagnetic behaviour for the compound [{Cu^II(bipy)₂}₂{Mo^IV(CN)₈}]·9H₂O·CH₃OH has been described. The observed properties have been discussed in terms of an electron transfer mechanism Mo → Cu.     

Dinuclear vanadium and tetranuclear iron complexes obtained with the open Wells–Dawson [Si2W18O66] tungstosilicate

Reaction of two transition metal cations M (M = V^V, Fe^III) on the open Wells–Dawson anion α-[{K(H₂O)₂}Si₂W₁₈O₆₆]^15– leads to dinuclear and tetranuclear complexes, respectively. The molecular anions [{KV₂O₃(H₂O)₂}(Si₂W₁₈O₆₆)]^11– and [{Fe₄(OH)₆}(Si₂W₁₈O₆₆)]^10– have been structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The oxo/hydroxometallic clusters [KV₂O₃(H₂O)₂]⁵⁺ and [Fe₄(OH)₆]⁶⁺ are included in the pocket between the two subunits of [Si₂W₁₈O₆₆]^16–. The Fe^III atoms of the iron complex can be reduced to Fe^II by a single four-electron step. To cite this article: N. Leclerc-Laronze et al., C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Synthèse et caractérisation de fluorbritholites strontiques dopées au néodyme

Strontium fluorbritholites with the general formula Sr_10-xNd_x(PO₄)_6-x(SiO₄)_xF₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 6), were prepared by solid state reaction at temperatures between 1200 and 1400 °C. The XRD analysis showed that a pure apatitic phase was formed only for x ≤ 2.5. Above this value, there was formation of secondary phases. The variation of the lattice parameters as a function of x indicated that the formed solid solution was discontinuous on both sides of x = 3. The analysis by Raman and IR spectroscopies confirmed the incorporation of SiO₄ groups within the apatite lattice, and showed that this incorporation induced in the structure a disorder that increased with increasing content of Nd³⁺ and SiO₄⁴⁻. Optical absorption measurements showed a wide variation in the local environment of Nd³⁺ ions, corresponding to the existence of new spectroscopic sites, evidenced by a luminescence study.     

Dissolution and extraction of actinide oxides in supercritical carbon dioxide containing the complex of tri-n-butylphosphate with nitric acid

Dissolution of individual actinide oxides (Th, U, Pu, Np), or their mechanical mixtures, as well as of solid solutions U–Pu, U–Np, U–Am and U-Pu-Eu oxides in supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO₂) containing the complex of tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) with nitric acid (TBP–HNO₃) has been investigated. The effect of the calcination temperature of solid solutions of dioxides on the separation of actinides during supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been studied as well. It was shown for the first time that milligram amounts of uranium dioxide could be quantitatively dissolved in (SF-CO₂) containing the TBP–HNO₃ complex and efficiently separated from Pu, Np, and Th during SFE of mechanical mixture of these oxides. On the contrary, both U and Pu are quantitatively dissolved in SF-CO₂–TBP–HNO₃ during SFE from solid solutions of U–Pu dioxide. An increase of the calcination temperature of the mixed U(IV)–Pu(IV) dioxide from 850 to 1200 °C has no influence on the relative extraction yield of these actinides during SFE. To cite this article: T. Trofimov et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).

Résumé

Dissolution d’oxides d'actinides et extraction d’éléments dans le dioxide de carbone supercritique contenant le complexe tri-n-butylphosphate–acide nitrique. La dissolution d’oxydes de Th, U, Pu et Np, de leurs mélanges et de solutions solides U–Pu, U–Np, U–Am et U–Pu–Eu dans le dioxyde de carbone supercritique (CO₂-SC) contenant le complexe tri-n-butyl phosphate–acide nitrique (TBP–HNO₃) a été étudiée, et notamment l’effet de la température de calcination des solutions solides. On montre que quelques milligrammes de UO₂ peuvent être dissous dans le système CO₂-SC–TBP–HNO₃ et être séparés de Pu, Np et Th en traitant un mélange d’oxydes. En revanche, U et Pu sont dissous dans la phase CO₂-SC–TBP–HNO₃ durant le traitement des solutions solides U(IV)–Pu(IV). Une augmentation de la température de calcination de 850 à 1200 °C de ces solutions solides n’a pas d’effet sur le rendement d’extraction des actinides. Pour citer cet article : T. Trofimov et al., C. R. Chimie 7 (2004).     

Particle size distribution in mini-emulsion polymerization

The particle size distribution polydispersities of a number of macro- and mini-emulsion latexes are reported. In cases where the macro-emulsion and mini-emulsions were produced under very nearly identical conditions, the mini-emulsion will have a polydispersity equal to, or only very slightly greater than, the equivalent macro-emulsion. To cite this article: K. Landfester et al., C. R. Chimie 6 (2003).     

Silylating Agents Grafted onto Silica Derived from Leached Chrysotile

Silica from leached chrysotile fibers (SILO) was silanized with trialkoxyaminosilanes to yield inorganic–organic hybrids designated SILx (x=1–3). The greatest amounts of the immobilized agents were quantified as 2.14, 1.90, and 2.18 mmol g⁻¹ on SIL1, SIL2, and SIL3 for –(CH₂)₃NH₂,–(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH₂, and –(CH₂)₃NH(CH₂)₂NH(CH₂)₂NH₂ groups attached to the inorganic support. The infrared spectra for all modified silicas showed the absence of the Si–OH deformation mode, originally found at 950 cm⁻¹, and the appearance of asymmetric and symmetric C–H stretching bands at 2950 and 2840 cm⁻¹. Other important bands associated with the organic moieties were assigned to ν_as(NH) at 3478 and ν_sym(NH) at 3418 cm⁻¹. The NMR spectrum of the solid precursor material suggested two different kinds of silicon atoms: silanol and siloxane groups, between −90 and 110 ppm; however, additional species of silicon that contain the organic moieties bonded to silicon at −58 and −66 ppm appeared after chemical modification. These modified silicas showed a high adsorption capacity for cobalt and copper cations in aqueous solution, in contrast to the original SILO matrix, confirming the unequivocal anchoring of silylating agents on the silica surface.     

Aggregation and Polymerization of PEG-Based Macromonomers with Methacryloyl Group as the Only Hydrophobic Segment

Aggregation behavior in aqueous solution of a series of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG)-based macromonomers with methacryloyl group as the only hydrophobic segment has been investigated using surface tension, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene as a probe, and small-angle neutron scattering techniques. The general formula of these macromonomers is CH₂=C(CH₃)–CO–O–E_m–CH₃, where E is the ethylene glycol unit and m=8 (ME₈), 18 (ME₁₈), 49 (ME₄₉), and 120 (ME₁₂₀). The results indicate that a macromonomer with 8 ethylene glycol units forms as an aggregate above a certain critical concentration, which can be defined as critical aggregation concentration. The observed high value of I₁/I₃ in pyrene emission spectra at the interface of these aggregates and the inability to scatter a neutron beam by these aggregates indicate that the hydrophobic cluster formed by this macromonomer is remarkably solvated. ME₁₈ has a tendency to aggregate but others do not form any hydrophobic cluster. The homopolymerization behaviors of these macromonomers in an aqueous medium at 70°C are consistent with these possibi- lities.     

Effects of Nonionic and Mixed Cationic-Nonionic Micelles on the Rate of Alkaline Hydrolysis of 4-Nitrophthalimide

Pseudo-first-order rate constants (k_obs) for alkaline hydrolysis of 4-nitrophthalimide show a monotonic decrease with increase in [C₁₂E₂₃]_T (total concentration of Brij 35) at constant [CH₃CN] and [NaOH]. This micellar effect is explained in terms of a pseudophase micelle model. The rate of hydrolysis becomes too slow to monitor at [C₁₂E₂₃]_T≥0.03 M in the absence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTABr) and at [C₁₂E₂₃]_T≥0.04 M in the presence of 0.006–0.02 M CTABr at 0.01 M NaOH. The plots of k_obs versus [C₁₂E₂₃]_T show minima at 0.006 and 0.01 M CTABr, while such a minimum is not visible at 0.02 M CTABr.