Catalytic Reduction of Hydrazine to Ammonia with MoFe(3)S(4)-Polycarboxylate Clusters. Possible Relevance Regarding the Function of the Molybdenum-Coordinated Homocitrate in Nitrogenase

The catalytic function of the previously synthesized and characterized [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](2)(-)(,3)(-) clusters (L = tetrachlorocatecholate, citrate, citramalate, methyliminodiacetate, nitrilotriacetate, thiodiglycolate) and of the [MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)(thiolactate)](2)(4)(-) and [(MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(4))(2)(&mgr;-oxalate)](4)(-) clusters in the reduction of N(2)H(4) to NH(3) is reported. In the catalytic reduction, which is carried out at ambient temperature and pressure, cobaltocene and 2,6-lutidinium chloride are supplied externally as electron and proton sources, respectively. In experiments where the N(2)H(4) to the [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](n)()(-) catalyst ratio is 100:1, and over a period of 30 min, the reduction proceeds to 92% completion for L = citrate, 66% completion for L = citramalate, and 34% completion for L = tetrachlorocatecholate. The [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2)(-) cluster is totally inactive and gives only background ammonia measurements. Inhibition studies with PEt(3) and CO as inhibitors show a dramatic decrease in the catalytic efficiency. These results are consistent with results obtained previously in our laboratory and strongly suggest that N(2)H(4) activation and reduction occur at the Mo site of the [(L)MoFe(3)S(4)Cl(3)](2)(-)(, 3)(-) clusters. A possible pathway for the N(2)H(4) reduction on a single metal site (Mo) and a possible role for the carboxylate ligand are proposed. The possibility that the Mo-bound polycarboxylate ligand acts as a proton delivery "shuttle" during hydrazine reduction is considered.     

Dynamics of joint adsorption of mutually soluble substances by activated carbons

A model for the dynamics of isothermal absorption of a binary mixture of an organic substance, soluble in water, and water vapor in a fixed bed of activated carbon was proposed. It includes the equations of material balance and the Myers—Prausnitz model for equilibrium adsorption. The possibility of formation of the condensed phase during the adsorption of an organic substance on moist activated carbon was shown. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1491–1495, August, 1998.     

Selectivity of Low- and High-Silica Clinoptilolites with Respect to Alkali and Alkaline–Earth Metal Cations

The ion-exchange equilibria involving K⁺ and Ca²⁺ cations were studied using the Na-forms of nine different clinoptilolite samples. The high-silica (in the native state, sodium–potassium form) clinoptilolites were shown to have the increased selectivity with respect to K⁺ ions, whereas the low-silica (in the native state, calcium form) clinoptilolites to Ca²⁺ ions. The phenomenon found is interpreted as a structural memory of clinoptilolites with respect to alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions which had been present during zeolite crystallization under natural conditions.     

Analysis of the state of stress of cylindrically orthotropic rings subjected to concentrated loads

The state of stress of rings of different thickness with high degrees of anisotropy ²=E/E_r, ²=E_gq/G_r is analyzed on the basis of the solution of the plane problem for a cylindrically orthotropic body. The accuracy of the stress determination in accordance with approximate theories of bending of curved bars is estimated. The radial tensile stresses that develop when rings are bent by concentrated loads are calculated.Institute of Polymer Mechanics, Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR, Riga. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 445–452, May–June, 1976.     

Synthesis of tetrazolodiazepines by a five-centered four-component azide Ugi reaction. Scope and limitations

Tetrazolo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepines were obtained by an efficient azide five-centered four-component Ugi reaction, which used ketones, sodium azide, ammonium chloride, and the corresponding isonitrile. Scope and limitations of this multi-component reaction were considered.     

On the Spectral Characteristics of Non-Self-Adjoint Fourth-Order Operators with Matrix Coefficients

Mathematical Notes -     

Understanding the Reshaping of Fluorinated Polyester Vitrimers by Kinetic and DFT Studies of the Transesterification Reaction

Vitrimers are a third class of polymers gathering the mechanical properties and solvent resistance of 3D thermosets and the reprocessability of thermoplastics. This unique behaviour is due to the triggering of certain covalent exchange reactions that allow the network to rearrange upon application of a stimulus. The constitutive feature of vitrimers is the adoption of a glass-like viscosity during the rearrangement of the network, often due to an associative mechanism for the exchange reaction. Transesterification networks are one of the most studied type of vitrimers that usually require the incorporation of a catalyst, implying the associated drawbacks. Following up on a recent report on catalyst-free transesterification vitrimers in which the ester functions are particularly reactive thanks to the presence of fluorine atoms in α- or β-position, parallel DFT calculations and an experimental kinetic study on model molecules are presented in order to quantitatively assess the effect of neighbouring fluorinated groups on the transesterification reaction rate.     

Experimental cathodoluminescence studies of exciton transport in gallium nitride

The use of time-of-flight cathodoluminescence measurements in the studies of semiconductor samples partially covered with a light-absorbing mask of special geometry in order to obtain new quantitative information about the properties of materials is shown. The values of the exciton diffusion coefficient are determined from the results obtained in an experimental study of gallium nitride.     

Application of a conformal-mapping technique to a boundary-value problem of current distribution in plain conductors

Using the conformal-mapping technique, we have found analytical solutions of the current-distribution problem for different configurations of plain conductors.