Preparation and Characterization of Cu2S Nanoparticles Via Ultrasonic Method

This study reports on the synthesis of Cu₂S nanoparticles via an ultrasonic method by employing Na₂SO₃ as a reducing agent. Morphology, structure, and composition of the obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscope and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The effects of time and power of irradiation were studied.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in chemoselective synthesized 2-substituted pyrrole stable phosphorus ylide: GIAO, AIM, and NBO approaches

The chemoselectivity of geometrically ylide compounds is often hard to assign from experimental techniques, particular system with intramolecular hydrogen bonding (IHB) are even more challenging. Herein, theoretical calculations were performed to investigate whether theoretical results would provide consistent evidence for the existence of IHB to confirm experimental data and to evaluate strength of the N–H···O IHB from geometrical synthesized 2-substituted pyrrole stable phosphorus ylide (dimethyl 2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-3-(triphenylphosphoranylidene) butanedioate in a single chemoselective compound. Topological parameters at the bond critical points (BCP) of intramolecular hydrogen bonds from Bader’s atoms in molecules (AIM) theory and Winhold’s natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations were analyzed at the B3LYP/6-311++g** level in details. A series of gage-including atomic orbital chemical shift (GIAO c.s.) calculations at the HF and DFT levels of theory were carried out to assign the ¹H NMR chemical shifts. The best prediction of the experimental ¹H NMR values was obtained at the mPW1PW91 levels using the 6-31G** basis set. Theoretical results, in agreement with the experimental data, were confirmed the N–H···O IHB was caused the deshielding of the proton to lower field. The barriers in double bond and single bond rotation were theoretically estimated in detailed and the AIM and NPA approaches were confirmed the loss of charge of the hydrogen atom involving in intramolecular N–H···O hydrogen bonding. The geometrical and topological parameters from AIM and NBO analyses were indicated the medium N–H···O IHB.     

Theoretical study of molecular interactions of sulfur ylide with HSX (X = F, Cl, and Br) molecules

The molecular interactions between sulfur ylide (SY) and HSX molecules (X = F, Cl and Br) were investigated using the MP2 method with the 6-311++G (2d, 2p) basis set. The SY (CH₂=SH₂) have two reactive sites: CH₂ (denoted as C-interaction) and SH₂ (S-interaction) that both could interact with three atoms of HSX molecules. The results show that S···C, X···C, and H···C interactions (C-interactions) is preference over the X···S, H···S, and H···X interactions. Quantum theories of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbitals methods have been applied to analyze the intermolecular interactions. Good correlations have been found between the interaction energies, the second-order perturbation energies E⁽²⁾, and the charge transfer qCT in the studied systems.     

Efficient oxidation of alcohols with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by Mo(CO)6 supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes

Efficient oxidation of alcohols with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by Mo(CO)₆ supported on multiwall carbon nanotubes modified with 4-aminopyridine is reported. The effect of various parameters such as catalyst amount, solvent and oxidant was studied. The catalyst, [Mo(CO)₅@APy-MWCNT], showed high activity not only in the oxidation of benzylic and linear alcohols but also in the oxidation of secondary alcohols. The catalyst can be reused several times without significant loss of its activity.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and electrochemical properties of CoIII complexes with hexadentate ligand containing thioether-amidopyridyl donor set

Two new cobalt(III) complexes of the hexadentate ligand [1,4-bis[o-(pyridine-2-carboxamidophenyl)]-1,4-dithiobutane] (H₂bpctb) with N₄S₂ donor set atoms have been synthesized. A reaction of Co(CH₃COO)₂·4H₂O with (H₂bpctb) leads to the formation of [Co^III(bpctb)]PF₆ (1) having a CoN₂(pyridine)N′₂(amide)S₂(thioether) coordination by symmetric bpctb^2? ligand. A similar reaction under slightly different conditions, however, gives [Co^III(L ^a )(L ^b )] (2), resulting from a C–S bond cleavage reaction triggered by an acetate ion as a base, having CoN₂(pyridine)N′₂(amide)S(thioether)S′(thiolate) coordination. These two Co(III) complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic methods, and the crystal and molecular structures of [Co^III(bpctb)]PF₆ (1) in the form of the solvate (1·MeOH·H₂O) and of [Co^III(L ^a )(L ^b )] (2) have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The Co atoms of both complexes exhibit distorted octahedral geometry. The electrochemical investigation of [Co(bpctb)]PF₆·MeOH·H₂O (1·MeOH·H₂O) and [Co^III(L ^a )(L ^b )] (2) by cyclic voltammetry reveals a reversible Co^III–Co^II redox process at E _1/2 = ?0.32 V (ΔE _p = 80 mV); for 1, and E _1/2 = ?0. 87 V (ΔE _p = 70 mV) for 2.     

Structure and energetics of Li/Na, Li/K, and K/Na bimetallic hexamers

A systematic study of neutral mixed clusters, Li_6?x Na _x , Li_6?x K _x and K_6?x Na _x (x = 0–6), was performed within the framework of density functional theory. The aim of this work is to explore the geometry variation and the energy change of homonuclear hexamers (Li₆ and K₆) induced by impurities. It is found that the geometry of bimetallic hexamers varies with their compositions. The geometries of resulting clusters show evolution from D_4h symmetry for Li₆ to D_3h symmetry for Na₆ and K₆. The stability of bimetallic hexamers has been also explained in terms of binding energy, excess energy, the second difference in energy, and the highest occupied molecular orbital–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO–LUMO) gaps. It is found that replacing each Li–Li bond with Li–Na or Li–K bonds decreases the cluster stability, while replacing each K–K bond by K–Na leads to stability enhancement. Examining the cluster stability, excess energy and second difference in energy reveal that among studied bimetallic hexamers, Li₂Na₄ is the most stable mixed hexamer.     

New 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde S-ethylisothiosemicarbazone and its mixed-ligand Cu(II) complex with imidazole: synthesis, characterization and DFT calculation

A new Schiff base ligand of 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde S-ethyl-isothiosemicarbazone (H₂L) was synthesized and its mixed-ligand Cu(II) complex was also prepared by reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O with H₂L and imidazole. Their structures were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, molar conductivity and UV-Vis methods. The analytical data suggest that the metal, H₂L and imidazole ratios in the Schiff base complex are 1:1:1. Single crystal diffraction was also used to better understand the molecular structure of the Cu(II) complex. The results of physico-chemical analyses of the Schiff base complex reveal the coordination geometry around the central atom is square planar. The H₂L ligand (NNO donor) is coordinated to the metal center as a tridentate bionegatively agent. Another position of the square planar geometry is occupied by the imidazole ligand. Furthermore, computational studies of the new complex were performed by carrying out DFT calculations. Geometry optimization and natural band analysis of the complex is discussed in further detail.      

Optimization of synthesis procedure and structure characterization of manganese tungstate nanoplates

A simple and fast chemical method was used for synthesis of manganese tungstate nanoplates in flower-like clusters; while Taguchi robust design was employed as statistical method for optimization of the experimental parameters for the procedure. Ultrafine manganese tungstate plates in flower-like clusters were synthesized via a direct precipitation method involving addition of manganese ion solution to the aqueous tungstate reagent. Effects of various reaction conditions such as manganese and tungstate concentrations, flow rate of reagent addition and reactor temperature on the thickness of the synthesized manganese tungstate plates were investigated experimentally. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that manganese tungstate nanoplates could be effectively synthesized by tuning significant parameters of precipitation procedure. Meanwhile, optimum conditions for synthesis of MnWO4 nanoplates via this simple, fast, and cost effective method were proposed. The structure and composition of the prepared nanoplates under optimum conditions were characterized by EDX, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR spectroscopy, and photoluminescence techniques.      

SMFs-supported Pd nanocatalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation: Pore structure-dependent deactivation mechanism

In the present study, CNFs, ZnO and Al₂O₃ were deposited on the SMFs panels to investigate the deactivation mechanism of Pd-based catalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation reaction. The examined supports were characterized by SEM, NH₃-TPD and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms to indicate their intrinsic characteristics. Furthermore, in order to understand the mechanism of deactivation, the resulted green oil was characterized using FTIR and SIM DIS. FTIR results confirmed the presence of more unsaturated constituents and then, more branched hydrocarbons formed upon the reaction over alumina-supported catalyst in comparison with the ones supported on CNFs and ZnO, which in turn, could block the pores mouths. Besides the limited hydrogen transfer, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms results supported that the lowest pore diameters of Al₂O₃/SMFs close to the surface led to fast deactivation, compared with the other catalysts, especially at higher temperatures.     

One-step synthesis of agarose coated magnetic nanoparticles and their application in the solid phase extraction of Pd(II) using a new magnetic field agitation device

A magnetic solid phase extraction method based on agarose coated magnetic nanoparticles)ACMNPs(coupled to a new magnetic field agitation (MFA) device was developed and investigated for the separation, preconcentration and determination of Pd(II) in aqueous solutions. For the first time, the formation of the nanoparticles and their encapsulation in agarose micro-flakes was conducted in a single step. For this purpose, preparation of the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles was performed in an alkaline agarose solution. The sizes of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles and agarose micro-flakes were 10–14 nm and 90–130 μm, respectively. The nanomagnetic agarose particles were functionalized by iminodiacetic acid and subjected to magnetic field agitation in the MFA device. The influence of different analytical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, type and volume of desorption solvent and amount of the adsorbent on the preconcentration of Pd(II) were investigated. Eight replicated analysis at the optimized conditions, resulted in a recovery of 94.1% with an RSD of 5.2% for Pd(II). The detection limit of the method (3σ) was 47 ng L⁻¹ for the analyte. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Pd(II) in natural water samples.