Zinc-zinc bonded zincocene structures. Synthesis and characterization of Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 and Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2

While, in general, decamethylzincocene, Zn(C5Me5)2, and other zincocenes, Zn(C5Me4R)2 (R = H, But, SiMe3), react with dialkyl and diaryl derivatives, ZnR'2, to give the half-sandwich compounds (eta5-C5Me4R)ZnR', under certain conditions the reactions of Zn(C5Me5)2 with ZnEt2 or ZnPh2 produce unexpectedly the dizincocene Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 (1) in low yields, most likely as a result of the coupling of two (eta5-C5Me5)Zn* radicals. An improved, large scale (ca. 2 g) synthesis of 1 has been achieved by reduction of equimolar mixtures of Zn(C5Me5)2 and ZnCl2 with KH in tetrahydrofuran. The analogous reduction of Zn(C5Me4R)2 (R = H, SiMe3, But) yields only decomposition products, but the isotopically labeled dimetallocene 68Zn2(eta5-C5Me5)2 and the related compound Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2 (2) have been obtained by this procedure. Compound 2 has lower thermal stability than 1, but it has been unequivocally characterized by low-temperature X-ray diffraction studies. As for 1 a combination of structural characterization techniques has provided unambiguous evidence for its formulation as the Zn-Zn bonded dimer Zn2(eta5-C5Me4Et)2, with a short Zn-Zn bond of 2.295(3) A indicative of a strong Zn-Zn bonding interaction. The electronic structure and the bonding properties of 1 and those of related dizincocenes Zn2(eta5-Cp')2 have been studied by DFT methods (B3LYP level), with computed bond distances and angles for dizincocene 1 very similar to the experimental values. The Zn-Zn bond is strong (ca. 62 kcal.mol-1 for 1) and resides in the HOMO-4, that has a contribution of Zn orbitals close to 60%, consisting mostly of the Zn 4s orbitals (more than 96%).     

Vibrational spectra of cyclopentadienylphosphine: infrared and theoretical studies from DFT anharmonic potentials

Both experimental and theoretical infrared investigations of cyclopentadienylphosphine (CpP) are reported. The infrared spectra (3500-500 cm(-1)) in the gas phase have been recorded at 0.5 cm(-1) resolution. Infrared absorptions bands of the two lowest stable conformers were observed and assigned. Average integrated intensities of isolated and overlapping vibrational bands were also determined experimentally. The vibrational frequencies of the CpP system and its P-dideuterated isotopologue have been calculated by means of density functional theory. The Becke exchange functional and Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional method with a combination of the two basis sets, namely 6-31+G(d,p) and the correlation-consistent triple-zeta cc-pVTZ set of Dunning, were used. Hybrid B3LYP/B3LYP//cc-pVTZ/6-31+G(d,p) anharmonic frequencies of the fundamental, overtone, and combination transitions were calculated in the 3500-200 cm(-1) area with the use of a variational approach, implemented in the P_Anhar_v1.1 code, to assign the experimental data for each conformer.     

Monte Carlo simulation of thermal neutron flux of americium–beryllium source used in neutron activation analysis

The neutron activation analysis is a method of exclusively elemental analysis. Its implementation of irradiates the sample which can be analyzed by a high neutron flux, this method is widely used in developed countries with nuclear reactors or accelerators of particle. The purpose of this study is to develop a prototype to increase the neutron flux such as americium–beryllium and have the opportunity to produce radioisotopes. Americium–beryllium is a mobile source of neutron activity of 20 curie, and gives a thermal neutron flux of (1.8 ± 0.0007) × 10⁶ n/cm² s when using water as moderator, when using the paraffin, the thermal neutron flux increases to (2.2 ± 0.0008) × 10⁶ n/cm² s, in the case of adding two solid beryllium barriers, the distance between them is 24 cm, parallel and symmetrical about the source, the thermal flux is increased to (2.5 ± 0.0008) × 10⁶ n/cm² s and in the case of multi-source (6 sources), with-out barriers, increases to (1.17 ± 0.0008) × 10⁷ n/cm² s with a rate of increase equal to 4.3 and with the both barriers flux increased to (1.37 ± 0.0008) × 10⁷ n/cm² s.     

Modelisation and distribution of neutron flux in radium–beryllium source (<Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra–Be)

Using the Monte Carlo N-Particle code (MCNP-6), to analyze the thermal, epithermal and fast neutron fluxes, of 3 millicuries of radium–beryllium, for determine the qualitative and quantitative of many materials, using method of neutron activation analysis. Radium–beryllium source of neutron is established to practical work and research in nuclear field. The main objective of this work was to enable us harness the profile flux of radium–beryllium irradiation, this theoretical study permits to discuss the design of the optimal irradiation and performance for increased the facility research and education of nuclear physics.     

Emission spectroscopy from optically thick laboratory acetylene samples at high temperature

Recently, a high temperature source has been used to produce high temperature emission spectra of acetylene in the 3 μm spectral range, under Doppler limited resolution, and the complete spectral assignment has been performed using a global rovibrational Hamiltonian [Amyay B, Robert S, Herman M, Fayt A, Raghavendra B, Moudens A et al. Vibration-rotation pattern in acetylene (II): Introduction to Coriolis coupling in the global model and analysis of emission spectra of hot acetylene around 3 μm. J Chem Phys 2009;131:114301]. The present investigation focuses on the relative emission line intensities which are observed to be affected. The strongest lines intensity may be considerably reduced for high column density acetylene samples, hence affecting the 3:1 ortho:para intensity ratio. A radiative model is developed to take into account the effects generated by the strong opacity of the acetylene samples including self-absorption and absorption of the radiation emitted by the hot environment. The model is used to extract the absolute concentration of the high temperature acetylene samples from the observed relative spectral intensities. The relevance of the procedure for infrared remote sensing in high temperature astrophysical environments, such as circumstellar envelopes of cool carbon rich evolved stars, is discussed.     

Solid-state structures and solution studies of novel cyclopentadienyl mercury compounds

New mercury cyclopentadienyl complexes Hg(eta1-Cp')Cl have been prepared by the reaction of HgCl2 and the appropriate KCp' salts or by the transmetalation of HgCl2 with ZnCp'2 (Cp'=C5Me4H, 1; C5Me4But, 2; C5Me4SiMe3, 3; C5H4SiMe3, 4). By contrast, only the SiMe3-substituted bis(cyclopentadienyl) derivatives, Hg(C5Me4SiMe3)2 (5) and Hg(C5H4SiMe3)2 (6), can be isolated by the above synthetic procedures and the appropriate ratio of reagents or from HgCp'Cl and KCp'. Solution NMR studies reveal nonfluxional behavior of the SiMe3-substituted complexes 3, 5, and 6. X-ray studies of the solid-state structures show that the six compounds contain eta1-Cp' ligands, with linear or almost linear C-Hg-Cl or C-Hg-C coordination environments. The two HgCp'2 compounds, 5 and 6, have the expected insular structures, but the HgCp'Cl derivatives show supramolecular associations by means of weak secondary Hg...Cl interactions. Thus, the HgCp'Cl compounds 1, 3, and 4 form three different polymeric chain structures with typically two Hg...Cl interactions of 3.04-3.46 A per mercury. By contrast, 2 forms a tetramer, [Hg(C5Me4SiMe3)Cl]4, with a cubelike arrangement of four Hg and four Cl atoms. Density functional theory has been used to investigate the electronic structure of the compounds.     

Stereoselective single (copper) or double (platinum) boronation of alkynes catalyzed by magnesia-supported copper oxide or platinum nanoparticles

Copper(II) oxide nanoparticles supported on magnesia have been prepared from Cu(II) supported on magnesia by hydrogen reduction at 400 °C followed by storage under ambient conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the material clearly shows that immediately after the reduction copper(0)-metal nanoparticles are present on the magnesia support, but they undergo fast oxidation to copper oxide upon contact with the ambient for a short time. TEM images show that the catalytically active CuO/MgO material is formed of well-dispersed copper oxide nanoparticles supported on fibrous MgO. CuO/MgO exhibits a remarkable catalytic activity for the monoborylation of aromatic, aliphatic, terminal, and internal alkynes, the products being formed with high regio- (borylation at the less substituted carbon) and stereoselectivity (trans-configured). CuO/MgO exhibits complete chemoselectivity towards the monoborylation of alkynes in the presence of alkenes. Other metal nanoparticles such as gold or palladium are inactive towards borylation, but undergo undesirable oligomerization or partial hydrogenation of the C≡C triple bond. In contrast, platinum, either supported on magnesia or on nanoparticulate ceria, efficiently promotes the stereoselective diborylation of alkynes to yield a cis-configured diboronate alkene. By using platinum as the catalyst we have developed a tandem diborylation/hydrogenation reaction that gives vic-diboronated alkanes from alkynes in one pot.     

Infrared Spectra of Cyanoacetaldehyde (NCCH2CHO): A Potential Prebiotic Compound of Astrochemical Interest

Cyanoacetaldehyde (NC? CH₂CH?O) and its isomer, cyanovinylalcohol (NC? CH?CH? OH), as possible components of the interstellar medium, comets, or planetary atmospheres, exist in equilibrium in the gas phase, although the latter compound is very much in the minority (2 %). The recording and analysis of the gas‐phase infrared spectrum of the former compound within the 4000–500 cm^?1 spectroscopic range and the potential presence of the latter isomer, which could be vital for their detection in these media, are reported. CCSD(T) and G4 high‐level ab initio methods, as well as density functional theory calculations, predict the existence of two stable rotamers of cyanoacetaldehyde. The global minimum has a structure with an unusual O‐C‐C‐C dihedral angle (150°) that falls between the antiperiplanar (180°) and anticlinal forms (120°). The second rotamer, which is about 4.0 kJ mol^?1 less stable in terms of free energy, has a planar structure that corresponds to the synperiplanar form (O‐C‐C‐C dihedral angle: 0°). The absorption vibrational bands of the two aldehyde rotamers that are present in the mixture lead to a spectrum with a very complex structure in the region of deformation movements, in which several low‐intensity bands overlap. A complete and unambiguous assignment of the experimental spectrum has been achieved by using the calculated harmonic and anharmonic vibrational frequencies.