Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) was studied behind reflected shock waves using both a single-pulse method (reaction time between 0.8 and 3.3 ms) and a time-resolved UV-absorption method (230 nm). The studies were done over the temperature range of 1170–1690 K at the total pressure range of 1.3–2.3 atm. The mechanism was used to interpret both the early and late stages of vinylacetylene decomposition at the high temperatures. It was confirmed that C₄H₄ dissociation proceeded through the following three channels. The rate constant expression of reaction (1) was determined as k₁ = 6.3 × 10¹³ exp(?87.1 kcal/RT) s^?1. The rate constants of the succeeding reactions (chain reaction, C₄H₄ + H → i-C₄H₃ + H₂ and C₄H₄ + H → C₂H₂ + C₂H₃ and decomposition reactions of free radicals, i-C₄H₃ + M → C₄H₂ + H + M) were confirmed or estimated. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Three Distinct Redox States of an Oxo‐Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium Complex

A series of [{(terpy)(bpy)Ru}(μ‐O){Ru(bpy)(terpy)}]ⁿ⁺ ( [RuORu]ⁿ⁺ , terpy=2,2′;6′,2′′‐terpyridine, bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine) was systematically synthesized and characterized in three distinct redox states (n=3, 4, and 5 for Ru^II,III₂ , Ru^III,III₂ , and Ru^III,IV₂ , respectively). The crystal structures of [RuORu]ⁿ⁺ (n=3, 4, 5) in all three redox states were successfully determined. X‐ray crystallography showed that the Ru? O distances and the Ru‐O‐Ru angles are mainly regulated by the oxidation states of the ruthenium centers. X‐ray crystallography and ESR spectra clearly revealed the detailed electronic structures of two mixed‐valence complexes, [Ru^IIIORu^IV]⁵⁺ and [Ru^IIORu^III]³⁺ , in which each unpaired electron is completely delocalized across the oxo‐bridged dinuclear core. These findings allow us to understand the systematic changes in structure and electronic state that accompany the changes in the redox state.     

Stability of Pt(II)-based H2-evolving catalysts against H2 in aqueous solution

To answer the question of whether Pt(II)-based H(2)-evolving catalysts are stable upon exposure to H(2), the behaviours of some platinum(II) complexes in the presence of H(2) (5 × 10(-4) - 1 atm) have been followed spectrophotometrically. The results reveal that some catalysts are highly stable upon exposure to H(2).     

Chemical reaction-inspired crystal growth of a coordination polymer toward morphology design and control

This paper reports a novel crystal growth system of a coordination framework {[Cu3(CN)3{hat-(CN)3(OEt)3}]}n (1) (hat-(CN)3(OEt)3 = 2,6,10-tricyano-3,7,11-triethoxy-1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene). The coordination polymer is crystallized through the reaction of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexacyano-1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene (hat-(CN)6), ethanol, and copper(I) complex, involving the breaking and forming of covalent bonds. The crystal morphologies obtained in the present system contain dumbbells, cogwheels, and superlattices. Moreover, in the growth perpendicular to the c-axis, periodic ramification at regular interval is observed, affording superlattice morphologies. Observation of the growth of dumbbell crystals shows that the growth rates parallel and perpendicular to the crystallographic c-axis are quite different: the former shows a drastic change with the reaction duration, while the latter is almost constant. These results are reproduced as a simple reaction-diffusion system, indicating that chemical reactions on crystal surfaces play an important role in determining the macroscopic crystal morphologies.     

High temperature pyrolysis of formaldehyde in shock waves

Thermal decomposition of formaldehyde diluted with Ar was studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range of 1200–2000 K at total pressures between 1.3 and 3.0 atm. The study was carried out for compositions from the concentrated mixture, 4% CH₂O, to the highly dilute mixture, 0.01% CH₂O by using time-resolve IR-laser absorption and IR-emission, and a single-pulse technique. From a computer-simulation study, the mechanism and the rate-constant expressions that could explain all of our data and previously reported ARAS data were discussed. This data obtained over a wide concentration range from 50 ppm CH₂O to 4% CH₂O were satisfactorily modeled by a five-reaction mechanism. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of centrosymmetric multinuclear nickel(II) complexes with neutral tetradentate N6-ligand

A neutral tetradentate ligand L1 [L1?=?3,6-bis(pyrazol-1-yl)-pyridazine] reacts with Ni(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O and undergoes counterion exchange with PF ^?₆ to give di- and tetranuclear complexes [Ni₂(L1)₂(CH₃CN)₄](PF₆)₄·4H₂O (1) and [Ni₄(L1)₄(µ-OH)₄](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (2), respectively. The presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) as base controls the nuclearity of the complex formation. Both complexes were structurally characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Their crystal structures revealed that both complexes are centrosymmetric and adopt slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic space group C2/c as the Ni(II) center is octahedrally bound to L1 in a trans-isomer arrangement. Complex 2 crystallizes in tetragonal space group I4₁/amd with four L1 and four hydroxy bridging ligands linked to Ni(II) center in cis-isomer arrangement. Cyclic voltammograms of complexes 1 and 2 were measured under Ar and CO₂. Under CO₂, the quasireversible peaks of both complexes become irreversible and a current enhancement occurs under reduction.

     

Design of Mononuclear Ruthenium Catalysts for Low‐Overpotential Water Oxidation

Water oxidation is a key reaction in natural photosynthesis and in many schemes for artificial photosynthesis. Inspired by energy challenges and the emerging understanding of photosystem II, the development of artificial molecular catalysts for water oxidation has become a highly active area of research in recent years. In this Focus Review, we describe recent achievements in the development of single‐site ruthenium catalysts for water oxidation with a particular focus on the overpotential of water oxidation. First, we introduce the general scheme to access the high‐valent ruthenium–oxo species, the key species of the water‐oxidation reaction. Next, the mechanisms of the O? O bond formation from the active ruthenium–oxo species are described. We then discuss strategies to decrease the onset potentials of the water‐oxidation reaction. We hope this Focus Review will contribute to the further development of efficient catalysts toward sustainable energy‐conversion systems.     

Acid/base-regulated reversible electron transfer disproportionation of N–N linked bicarbazole and biacridine derivatives

Regulation of electron transfer on organic substances by external stimuli is a fundamental issue in science and technology, which affects organic materials, chemical synthesis, and biological metabolism. Nevertheless, acid/base-responsive organic materials that exhibit reversible electron transfer have not been well studied and developed, owing to the difficulty in inventing a mechanism to associate acid/base stimuli and electron transfer. We discovered a new phenomenon in which N–N linked bicarbazole (BC) and tetramethylbiacridine (TBA) derivatives undergo electron transfer disproportionation by acid stimulus, forming their stable radical cations and reduced species. The reaction occurs through a biradical intermediate generated by the acid-triggered N–N bond cleavage reaction of BC or TBA, which acts as a two electron acceptor to undergo electron transfer reactions with two equivalents of BC or TBA. In addition, in the case of TBA the disproportionation reaction is highly reversible through neutralization with NEt₃, which recovers TBA through back electron transfer and N–N bond formation reactions. This highly reversible electron transfer reaction is possible due to the association between the acid stimulus and electron transfer via the acid-regulated N–N bond cleavage/formation reactions which provide an efficient switching mechanism, the ability of the organic molecules to act as multi-electron donors and acceptors, the extraordinary stability of the radical species, the highly selective reactivity, and the balance of the redox potentials. This discovery provides new design concepts for acid/base-regulated organic electron transfer systems, chemical reagents, or organic materials.     

Martin boundary of unlimited covering surfaces

LetW be an open Riemann surface and ap-sheeted (1<p<∞) unlimited covering surface ofW. Denote by Δ¹ (resp., ) the minimal Martin boundary ofW (resp., ). For ζ ∈ Δ, let ζ be the (cardinal) number of the set of pionts which lie over ζ and the class of open connected subsetsM ofW such thatM∪{ζ} is a minimal fine neighborhood of ζ. Our main result is the following: , where is the number of components of π^-1 M and π is the projection of ontoW. Moreover, some applications of the above results are discussed whenW is the unit disc.