Primary photophysical and photochemical processes upon UV excitation of PtBr<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> and PtCl<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> complexes in water and methanol

Primary photophysical and photochemical processes were studied for Pt^IVBr₆ ^2– and Pt^IVCl₆ ^2– complexes in water and methanol by ultrafast kinetic spectroscopy upon excitation in the band region of charge transfer from the ligand-centered group π-orbitals to the e_g*-orbital of Pt^IV complex anion (LMCT bands). The data obtained earlier upon excitation in the region of d—d bands were compared. Irrespective of the excitation wavelength, the photochemical properties of complexes are caused by the reactions of intermediates proceeding in the picosecond time range. These intermediates were identified as Pt^IVBr₅ ^– upon photolysis of Pt^IVBr₆ ^2– and, presumably, the Adamson radical pair [Pt^IIICl₅ ^2–(C _4v )...Cl?] upon photolysis of Pt^IVCl₆ ^2–. The difference in the exciting light wavelengths has an impact only on the first step of these processes, i.e., transition from the Franck—Condon excited state to intermediates.     

Quantum Chemical Study of Niobium and Tantalum M<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript> Oxide Clusters and M<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Stack><Subscript>10</Subscript><Superscript>–</Superscript></Stack> Anions

Structural parameters and vibrational frequencies of the clusters (T_d)–Nb₄O₁₀, (C_3v)-TaNb₃O₁₀, (D_2d)-Nb₄O ₁₀ ^– , and (C_s)-TaNb₃O ₁₀ ^– were calculated. According to the (U)DFT/SDD calculations with BLYP, B3LYP, and PBE0 functionals magnetization of the anion (D_2d)-Nb₄O ₁₀ ^– is distributed equally among four niobium atoms. In the anion (C_s)-TaNb₃O ₁₀ ^– unpaired electron presumably occupies niobium atoms. The distinction in contributions from Nb atoms in the magnetization of the tantalum-containing cluster grows with the exchange component of the DFT functional in the series of functionals BLYP < B3LYP < PBE0 < UHF.     

Nucleophilic Reactivity of Hydroxide and Hydroperoxide Ions in Aqueous-Alcoholic Media and of HCO<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> Ion in Water

Nucleophilic reactivity of hydroxide and hydroperoxide ions toward ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate, diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate, and 4-nitrophenyl dimethylcarbamate in the system H₂O₂-KOH was studied in aqueous-alcoholic solutions at 25°C. The rate of reactions of both anions with ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate, diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, and 4-nitrophenyl dimethylcarbamate and of hydroxide ion with 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate increases with rise in the fraction of the alcohol in mixtures of water with isopropyl and tert-butyl alcohols, while the reaction rate of hydroperoxide ion with 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate decreases. The rate of reactions of both anions with all the above substrates in mixtures of water with ethylene glycol decreases as the fraction of the latter rises. The apparent rate of the reaction of ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate with anionic nucleophiles in the system H₂O₂-HO^?-HCO ₃ ^? in water at pH 8.5 almost does not depend on the concentration of ammonium hydrogen carbonate up to a value of 1 M, and it increases when the NH₄HCO₃ concentration exceeds 1 M. Mixtures of water with the lower monohydric alcohols were recommended for use as components of H₂O₂-HO^?-HCO ₃ ^? systems for oxidative decomposition of ecotoxicants.     

Mercury complex [(HOCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>CNH<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> [HgI<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Superscript>2−</Superscript>: Synthesis and structure

The complex [(HOCH₂)₃CNH₃] ₂ ⁺ [HgI₄]^2? (I) was synthesized by reacting (trioxymethyl)methylammonium iodide with mercury dioide (2: 1 mol/mol) in acetone. X-ray crystallography shows that the complex consists of two types of crystallographically independent [(HOCH₂)₃CNH₃]⁺ cations and tetrahedral anions [HgI₄]^2? (IHgI, 106.49(2)°–113.99(4)°; Hg-I, 2.7849(8)-2.8105(8) Å. [(HOCH₂)₃CNH₃]⁺ cations are linked via hydrogen bonds O…H-N and O-H…N (O…N, 2.84–2.92 Å) to form polymer chains, which are cross-linked with one another via anions (I…H, 2.81, 2.82 Å).     

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of <Superscript>228,229</Superscript>Th and <Superscript>232,233</Superscript>U and their estimation by α- and γ-ray spectrometry

The activities of ^228,229Th and ^232,233U from an irradiated ThO₂ sample were radiochemicaly separated by using high performance liquid chromatography. Plancheted sources of the separated samples were made and the amount of ^232,233U and ^228,229Th were estimated by using alpha and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques. These estimations are important for the Th–U fuel reprocessing cycle of advanced heavy water reactor and accelerator driven sub-critical system.     

Chemical Bonding in the Complexes XeF<Stack><Subscript>5</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>XF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> (X = P,As, Sb,and Bi)

Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations of the complexes XeF ₅ ⁺ XF ₆ ^? (X = P, As, Sb, and Bi) were performed with the use of relativistic pseudopotentials for heavy atoms and full-electron basis sets. The chemical bonds were characterized by the parameters of critical points (electron density, its Laplacian, total electron energy, and its kinetic and potential components). It was demonstrated that the interaction between the XeF ₅ ⁺ cation and the XF ₆ ^? anion in XeF ₅ ⁺ XF ₆ ^? follows a key-lock scheme involving directed interactions of bridging fluorine atoms F_b → Xe and that the structuring function of the lone electron pair of the Xe atom is to compensate the destabilizing electrostatic interaction between the Xe and X atoms bearing excess positive charges.     

The undecahydrodecaborate anion B<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Stack><Subscript>11</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> as the starting reagent in exopolyhedral substitution and complexation: Theoretical and experimental prerequisites

Using the electron density functional theory (B3LYP approximation) with the 6-31G* basis set, the potential energy surface of the undecahydrodecaborate anion B₁₀H₁₁⁻ was calculated and the activation energies and the activation barriers for the elementary reactions of proton H* migration around the boron polyhedron were estimated. Analysis of the calculation results in comparison with the experimental data accumulated recently implies that the salts of the B₁₀H₁₁⁻ anion represent a new type of starting compounds for exopolyhedral substitution and complexation involving decaborate anions. Of particular interest is the targeted preparation of isomers of metal complexes containing a decaborate anion depending on the use of B₁₀H₁₀²⁻ or B₁₀H₁₁^¨- as the starting reagent. Certain trends in the reactivity of B₁₀H₁₀⁻ and B₁₀H₁₁⁻ anions can be explained in terms of the simple analysis of Mulliken charge distribution on atoms.     

Interaction of [В<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>10</Subscript>]<Superscript>2–</Superscript> and [В<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Subscript>12</Subscript>]<Superscript>2–</Superscript> with nitro compounds

The interaction of the [B₁₀H₁₀]^2– and [B₁₂H₁₂]^2– anions with aliphatic and aromatic nitro compounds (RNO₂, where R = Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, tert-Bu, Ph) has been studied under irradiation with visible and UV light. It has been shown that, depending on the reaction conditions, both mono- and disubstituted nitro-closo-decaborates can be selectively obtained in yields up to 50%.     

A study of the hydrolysis of ZrF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> and the structure of intermediate hydrolysis products by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F and <Superscript>91</Superscript>Zr NMR in the 9.4 T field

The high-field ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR method is used to study the hydrolysis and polycondensation of hexafluorozirconate ZrF₆²⁻ in aqueous and water-peroxide solutions. During hydrolysis in aqueous solutions only ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ ions were observed by NMR, however, in the water-peroxide medium, an intermediate product of hydrolysis ([F₅Zr-OO-ZrF₅]⁴⁻ dimer) was detected. The dimer structure is confirmed by ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR. In high fields (¹⁹F NMR frequency > 200 MHz), the fluorine exchange between ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ is slow in the ¹⁹F NMR scale and has a multisite character.     

Hydration of CBr<Subscript>3</Subscript>COOH molecules and CBr<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>–</Superscript></Stack> anions in aqueous solutions

The optimal structures and the vibrational frequencies of H-bonded complexes formed from one-two CBr₃COOH molecules or the CBr₃CO ₂ ^– anion with water molecules are calculated by density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p)). The comparison of the obtained results with the known Raman spectra of the CBr₃COOH–H₂O and NaCBr₃CO ₂ ^– ·H₂O solutions (with component molar ratios of ≤1:16) shows that they include stable hydrates: CBr₃COOH·H₂O and CBr₃CO ₂ ^– ·(H₂O)₆. The first one has a cyclic form, and the second has a cubic globular form. The vibrational band frequencies of the CBr₃COOH molecule and the CBr₃CO ₂ ^– anion in the spectra of both solutions are almost completely determined by the mutual arrangement of units in these hydrates.     

Comparison of Magnetic Properties between Spin Singlet and Triplet Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> Clusters

With a second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory and Hartree–Fock nuclear magnetic resonance calculations, we investigated the magnetic properties of spin singlet and triplet Li₃Al ₄ ^? clusters. The obtained gauge-independent atomic orbital magnetic shielding tensors confirm the paramagnetism of singlet Li₃Al ₄ ^? and diamagnetism of the triplet. The planar rings composed of four aluminum atoms make the magnetic properties of Li₃Al ₄ ^? clusters versatile. The localized molecular orbital, low symmetry of geometric conformation and narrow gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are found to correlate with the paramagnetism of singlet Li₃Al ₄ ^? . The origin of the paramagnetism is explained. In triplet Li₃Al ₄ ^? , the two outmost orbitals are degenerate, causing a conversion from the paramagnetism to diamagnetism.     

Synthesis and Structure of the bismuth complex [Ph<Subscript>3</Subscript>PrP]<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack>[Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>I<Subscript>16</Subscript>]<Superscript>4−</Superscript>

The complex [Ph₃P] ₄ ⁺ [Bi₄I₁₆]^4? · 2 Me₂C=O (I) was synthesized by the reaction of triphenyl(propyl)phosphonium iodide with bismuth iodide in acetone. The crystal structure of complex I was determined by X-ray crystallography. It contains, in addition to solvent molecules, two types of crystallographically independent tetrahedral tetraphenyl(propyl)phosphonium cations and tetranuclear anions [Bi₄I₁₆]^4? in a chair conformation with the bismuth atoms being in an octahedral coordination. The Bi-I distances in the anion vary within 2.8768(4)–3.2524(4) Å.     

Synthesis and physicochemical study of the PMo<Subscript>11</Subscript>(TiO)O<Stack><Subscript>39</Subscript><Superscript>5−</Superscript></Stack> heteropolyanion

Procedures were developed for the synthesis of the guanidinium (Gua) and tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts of 11-molybdotitano(IV)phosphate heteropolyanion (MTPH) from solutions with the stoichiometric ratio P: Mo = 1: 11 and in excess of titanium(IV) ions, Ti: P ≥ 1.5, at pH 1.85–1.90. MTPH was isolated as the (Gua)₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉ and (TBA)₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉ salts. The composition and formula of MTPH were established by chemical analysis, electronic absorption spectroscopy in the visible region of the oxidized and reduced MTPH forms, IR spectroscopy, and ³¹P NMR. H₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉, obtained by ion exchange of the Gua salt in an aqueous-organic medium, is a strong pentabasic acid. MTPH reacts with H₂O₂ to form a peroxo complex with limited stability in an aqueous solution. In aqueous-organic media, the peroxo complex is more stable. In acetonitrile, MTPH persists for several days.     

Measuring <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra and <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th activity in soil and vegetation samples using a method of double γ-coincidences

A coincidence method for measuring radium and thorium activity has been developed using the PRIPYAT-2M gamma-ray coincidence spectrometer, with six NaI(Tl) detectors and registration geometry close to 4π. It was tested by measuring soil samples from the Northern region of Montenegro, as well as vegetation samples from the same region. The results showed a good agreement with ones obtained by the HPGe spectrometer.     

Solubility and stability of (NH<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>·H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> in organic and aqueous-organic media

Solubility and stability of (NH₄)₂SO₄·H₂O₂ in organic solvents (glycerol, ethylene glycol, TOSOL-A40 OM antifreeze), in mixtures of an organic solvent and water, and in pure water was studied. Crystallographic properties of the ammonium sulfate precipitating from aqueous-organic solvents and aqueous solutions in various time intervals and differing from ordinary (NH₄)₂SO₄ in solubility and one of crystallographic parameters were analyzed.     

Nitroanandamide,nitroprostamides E<Subscript>2</Subscript> and F<Subscript>2<Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis></Subscript>, and their analogs

Synthetic methods were developed for nitrates of the natural bioactive lipids anandamide and prostamides E₂ and F_2α in addition to their analogs that contained nitrates of ethanolamine and 3-amino-1,2-propanediol as the NO-generating fragment.     

Interactions between AuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> and CTA<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in water

The solubility of hexadecyltrimethylammonium tetrachloroaurate (CTA·AuCl₄) in water was measured at different temperatures of 288.2, 293.2, 298.2, 303.2, and 308.2 K. The enthalpy change associated with the formation of the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate was estimated on the basis of the van’t Hoff equation and was found to be −42.5 ± 2.8 kJ mol⁻¹ at 298.2 K. The calorimetric enthalpy change for the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate formation was directly determined by isothermal titration calorimetry performed at 298.2 K and was found to agree well with that estimated from the van’t Hoff equation.     

Peroxide derivatives of heteropoly compounds with Keggin anions [PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>]<Superscript>3−</Superscript> and [SiW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>]<Superscript>4−</Superscript>: Synthesis and structure

Peroxide derivatives of heteropoly compounds with Keggin anions [PW₁₂O₄₀]^3? and [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4? are isolated in an individual state from concentrated hydrogen peroxide solutions and characterized by physicochemical methods. The structure of Ba₂[SiW₁₂O₄₀] · 4H₂O₂ · 11H₂O (I) is solved by X-ray crystallography. Crystals of compound I (H₃₀Ba₂O₅₉Si₁W₁₂, FW = 3483.21) are monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 24.981(2) Å, b = 12.2103(11) Å, c = 18.7142(17) Å, β = 122.620(2)^o, V = 4808.0(8) ų, Z = 4. The structure contains Keggin anions [SiW₁₂O₄₀]^4?; all hydrogen peroxide molecules are coordinated to Ba²⁺ cations.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of [K(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)(Piv)]<Subscript>∞</Subscript> and [K<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Phen)(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(Piv)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Subscript>∞</Subscript>

A method for the synthesis of potassium pivalates (trimethylacetates) from potassium tert-butoxide and pivalic acid was proposed. The complexes of the formulas [K(H₂O)(Piv)]_∞(I) and [K₂(Phen)(H₂O)₂(Piv)₂]_∞ (II) (Piv denotes the pivalate anion and Phen denotes 1,10-phenanthroline) were obtained and characterized by elemental analysis and IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of complexes I and II were determined using X-ray diffraction. Crystal structure I has a layered motif with two nonequivalent K atoms (C.N.s 5 + 2 and 6). The coordination of phenanthroline in II gives rise to a ribbon motif, the structure containing three nonequivalent K atoms (C.N.s 6, 6 + 1, and 8).     

Gel decomposition and formation of MgFe<Subscript>1.6</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>О<Subscript>4</Subscript> powders

The thermal behavior of the gels that are formed in the synthesis of MgFe_1.6Ga_0.4О₄ powders was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC–TG). The combustion temperatures of the gels in flowing air and flowing argon were determined from experimental data and thermodynamic calculations. The calculations of combustion temperatures from the heat flow of reaction versus time are shown to be a reliable tool to determine the parameters of gel combustion.