Weak Pnictogen Bond with Bismuth: Experimental Evidence Based on Bi−P Through-Space Coupling

To study pnictogen bonding involving bismuth, flexible accordion-like molecular complexes of the composition [P(C₆H₄-o-CH₂SCH₃)₃BiX₃], (X=Cl, Br, I) have been synthesised and characterised. The strength of the weak and mainly electrostatic interaction between the Bi and P centres strongly depends on the character of the halogen substituent on bismuth, which is confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses, DFT and ab initio computations. Significantly, ²⁰⁹Bi–³¹P through-space coupling (J=2560 Hz) is observed in solid-state ³¹P NMR spectra, which is so far unprecedented in the literature, delivering direct information on the magnitude of this pnictogen interaction.     

Framework Effects on Activation and Functionalisation of Methane in Zinc-Exchanged Zeolites

The first selective oxidation of methane to methanol is reported herein for zinc-exchanged MOR (Zn/MOR). Under identical conditions, Zn/FER and Zn/ZSM-5 both form zinc formate and methanol. Selective methane activation to form [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species was confirmed by ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy for all three frameworks. The percentage of active zinc sites, measured through quantitative NMR spectroscopy studies, varied with the zeolite framework and was found to be ZSM-5 (5.7 %), MOR (1.2 %) and FER (0.5 %). For Zn/MOR, two signals were observed in the ¹³C MAS NMR spectrum, resulting from two distinct [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species present in the 12 MR and 8 MR side pockets, as supported by additional NMR experiments. The observed products of oxidation of the [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species are shown to depend on the zeolite framework type and the oxidative conditions used. These results lay the foundation for developing structure–function correlations for methane conversion over zinc-exchanged zeolites.     

The influence of a transverse magnetic field on a subnormal glow discharge in air

In subnormal glow discharge under d.c. excitation at different pressure in a varying transverse magnetic field (0 to 30 G) some measurements have been carried out for various initial average tube currents. The voltage across the discharge increases and average tube current and residual current decreases in the magnetic field. With the help of Beckman’s expression [4] for the axial field and the electron density distribution in a transverse magnetic field the observed variation of current and voltage can be satisfactorily explained. The variation of axial electric field with transverse magnetic field can be represented to a fair degree of accuracy by the derived equation. The behaviour of residual current with magnetic field has been observed in these oscillations.     

Modification of magnetic anisotropy in metallic glasses using high-energy ion beam irradiation

Heavy ion irradiation in the electronic stopping power region induces macroscopic dimensional change in metallic glasses and introduces magnetic anisotropy in some magnetic materials. The present work is on the irradiation study of ferromagnetic metallic glasses, where both dimensional change and modification of magnetic anisotropy are expected. Magnetic anisotropy was measured using Mössbauer spectroscopy of virgin and irradiated Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₃₈Mo₄B₁₈ metallic glass ribbons. 90 MeV ¹²⁷I beam was used for the irradiations. Irradiation doses were 5×10¹³ and 7.5×10¹³ ions/cm². The relative intensity ratios D ₂₃ of the second and third lines of the Mössbauer spectra were measured to determine the magnetic anisotropy. The virgin samples of both the materials display in-plane magnetic anisotropy, i.e., the spins are oriented parallel to the ribbon plane. Irradiation is found to cause reduction in magnetic anisotropy. Near-complete randomization of magnetic moments is observed at high irradiation doses. Correlation is found between the residual stresses introduced by ion irradiation and the change in magnetic anisotropy.     

Polymer-bound osmium oxide catalysts

Polymer-supported oxidic osmium catalysts based on cross-linked poly(4-vinyl pyridine) were synthesized by various routes and characterized by a number of physical techniques (Raman, IR, XPS, ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR spectroscopy). Model compounds of type Os₂O₆L₄ (L = pyridine, 4-iso-propyl pyridine, and 4-tert-butyl pyridine) were obtained under the conditions of the catalyst synthesis. The catalytic systems were successful in the dihydroxylation of alkenes.     

Group 14 Metal Terminal Phosphides: Correlating Structure with |J(MP)|

A series of heavier group 14 element, terminal phosphide complexes, M(BDI)(PR(2)) (M = Ge, Sn, Pb; BDI = CH{(CH(3))CN-2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)}(2); R = Ph, Cy, SiMe(3)) have been synthesized. Two different conformations (endo and exo) are observed in the solid-state; the complexes with an endo conformation have a planar coordination geometry at phosphorus (M = Ge, Sn; R = SiMe(3)) whereas the complexes possessing an exo conformation have a pyramidal geometry at phosphorus. Solution-state NMR studies reveal through-space scalar coupling between the tin and the isopropyl groups on the N-aryl moiety of the BDI ligand, with endo and exo exhibiting different J(SnC) values. The magnitudes of the tin-phosphorus and lead-phosphorus coupling constants, |J(SnP)| and |J(PbP)|, differ significantly depending upon the hybridization of the phosphorus atom. For Sn(BDI)(P{SiMe(3)}(2)), |J(SnP)| is the largest reported in the literature, surpassing values attributed to compounds with tin-phosphorus multiple-bonds. Low temperature NMR studies of Pb(BDI)(P{SiMe(3)}(2)) show two species with vastly different |J(PbP)| values, interpreted as belonging to the endo and exo conformations, with sp(2)- and sp(3)-hybridized phosphorus, respectively.     

Effect of oxygen content on the 29Si NMR, Raman spectra and oxide ion conductivity of the apatite series, La8+xSr2-x(SiO4)6O2+x/2

29Si NMR data have been recorded for the apatite series La8+xSr2-x(SiO4)6O2+x/2 (0 < or = x < or = 1.0). For x = 0, a single NMR peak is observed at a chemical shift of approximately -77 ppm, while as the La : Sr ratio and hence interstitial oxygen content is increased, a second peak at a chemical shift of approximately -80 ppm is observed, which has been attributed to silicate groups neighbouring interstitial oxide ions. An increase in the intensity of this second peak is observed with increasing x, consistent with an increase in interstitial oxide ion content, and the data are used to estimate the level of interstitial oxide ions, and hence Frenkel-type disorder in these materials. The increase in second 29Si NMR peak intensity/interstitial oxide ion content is also shown to correlate with an increase in conductivity. The effect of interstitial oxygen content can also be studied by means of Raman spectroscopy, with a new mode at 360 cm(-1) appearing for samples with x > 0 in the symmetric bending mode energy region of the SiO4 group. The intensity of this mode increases with increasing oxygen content, yielding results comparable to those from the NMR studies, showing the complementarities of the two techniques.     

Oxygen/nitrogen ordering in lanthanum new phase (La3Si8N11O4)

High-resolution ¹⁷O NMR spectra have been collected for crystalline samples of lanthanum new phase, La₃Si₈N₁₁O₄. In conjunction with previously published ²⁹Si and ¹⁵N spectra obtained for this phase, and in the light of the high-quality crystal structure data reported recently, a more detailed interpretation of the NMR spectra is presented than was possible in previous studies. The non-bridging oxygens in the structure are responsible for the single sharp peak seen in the ¹⁷O spectrum at 188 ppm; the remaining oxygens, occupying bridging sites shared with nitrogen, show up only weakly on the ¹⁷O spectrum as a broad diffuse band centered around zero ppm. The peak at −57.3 ppm on the ²⁹Si spectrum is believed to correspond to an overlap of [SiN₄] and [SiON₃] environments, with the −68.2 ppm peak corresponding to an [SiO₂N₂] environment.