Hydrothermal synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of Ca2[B2O4(OH)2]·0.5H2O

A pure calcium borate Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O has been synthesized under hydrothermal condition and characterized by XRD, FT-IR and TG as well as by chemical analysis. The molar enthalpy of solution of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O in HC1·54.582H₂O was determined. From a combination of this result with measured enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in HC1·54.561H₂O and of CaO in (HCl + H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of CaO(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(3172.5 ± 2.5) kJ mol⁻¹ of Ca₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·0.5H₂O was obtained.     

Thermochemistry of dicesium calcium tetraborate octahydrate

The enthalpies of solution of Cs₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O(s) in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ aqueous hydrochloric acid and of CsCl(s) in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid + calcium oxide) were determined. From these results and the enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃(s) in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl(aq) and of CaO(s) in aqueous (hydrochloric acid + boric acid), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(10328 ± 6) kJ mol⁻¹ for Cs₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O(s) was obtained from the standard molar enthalpy of formation of CaO(s), CsCl(s), H₃BO₃(s) and H₂O(l). The standard molar entropy of formation of Cs₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O(s) was calculated from the thermodynamic relation with the standard molar Gibbs free energy of formation of Cs₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O(s) computed from a group contribution method.     

Synthesis and thermochemistry of MgO·3B2O3·3.5H2O

A new magnesium borate MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O has been synthesized by the method of phase transformation of double salt and characterized by XRD, IR and Raman spectroscopy as well as by TG. The structural formula of this compound was Mg[B₆O₉(OH)₂]·2.5H₂O. The enthalpy of solution of MgO·3B₂O₃·3.5H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl was determined. With the incorporation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(5595.02±4.85) kJ mol⁻¹ of MgO·3B₂O₃3.5H₂O was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound was also calculated by group contribution method.     

Synthesis and thermochemistry of SrB2O4·4H2O and SrB2O4

Two pure strontium borates SrB₂O₄·4H₂O and SrB₂O₄ have been synthesized and characterized by means of chemical analysis and XRD, FT-IR, DTA-TG techniques. The molar enthalpies of solution of SrB₂O₄·4H₂O and SrB₂O₄ in 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl(aq) were measured to be −(9.92 ± 0.20) kJ mol⁻¹ and −(81.27 ± 0.30) kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The molar enthalpy of solution of Sr(OH)₂·8H₂O in (HCl + H₃BO₃)(aq) were determined to be −(51.69 ± 0.15) kJ mol⁻¹. With the use of the enthalpy of solution of H₃BO₃ in 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl(aq), and the standard molar enthalpies of formation for Sr(OH)₂·8H₂O(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpies of formation of −(3253.1 ± 1.7) kJ mol⁻¹ for SrB₂O₄·4H₂O, and of −(2038.4 ± 1.7) kJ mol⁻¹ for SrB₂O₄ were obtained.     

Synthesis, characterization, and thermochemistry of a new form of 2MgO·3B2O3·17H2O

A new magnesium borate, β-2MgO·3B₂O₃·17H₂O, has been synthesized by the method of phase transformation of double salt and characterized by XRD, IR, and Raman spectroscopy as well as by TG. The structural formula of this compound was Mg[B₃O₃(OH)₅]·6H₂O. The enthalpy of solution of β-2MgO·3B₂O₃·17H₂O in approximately 1 mol dm⁻³ HCl was determined. With the incorporation of the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(10256.39±4.93) kJ mol⁻¹ of β-2MgO·3B₂O₃·17H₂O was obtained. Thermodynamic properties of this compound was also calculated by group contribution method.     

Crystal structure and characterization of Rb2Ca[B4O5(OH)4]2·8H2O

Dirubidium calcium tetraborate octahydrate, Rb₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O, was prepared by reaction of Rb-borate aqueous solution with CaCl₂ and it's structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell parameters, Z=4, The structure contains alternate layers of [B₄O₅(OH)₄]²⁻ polyanions separated by water molecules and Rb, Ca cations. The isolated [B₄O₅(OH)₄]²⁻ is constructed from two BO₃(OH) tetrahedron groups and two BO₂(OH) triangular groups joined at common oxygen atoms. The two BO₃(OH) tetrahedron groups are further linked by means of an oxygen bridge across the ring. The Ca²⁺ ion displays seven coordination, while the two non-equivalent Rb⁺ ions display nine and seven coordination, respectively. Infrared and Raman (4000-400 cm⁻¹) spectra of Rb₂Ca[B₄O₅(OH)₄]₂·8H₂O were recorded at room temperature and analyzed. Fundamental vibrational modes were identified and band assignments were made. The dehydration of this hydrated mixed borate occurs in one step and leads to an amorphous phase which undergoes a crystallization.     

Studies on synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of Mg2[B2O4(OH)2]·H2O

A new magnesium borate Mg₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·H₂O has been synthesized by the method of phase transformation of double salt at hydrothermal condition and characterized by XRD, IR, TG and DSC. The enthalpy of solution of Mg₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·H₂O in 0.9764 mol L^–1 HCl was determined. With the incorporation of the enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in HCl (aq), of MgO in (HCl+H₃BO₃) (aq), and the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO(s), H₃BO₃(s), and H₂O(l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of –(3185.78±1.91) kJ mol^–1 of Mg₂[B₂O₄(OH)₂]·H₂O was obtained.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O and [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O (Gly: glycin)

Two solid-state coordination compounds of rare earth metals with glycin, [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O and [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O were synthesized. The low-temperature heat capacities of the two coordination compounds were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 376 K. [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 342.90 K, while [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 328.79 K. The molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion for the two coordination compounds were determined to be 18.48 kJ mol⁻¹ and 53.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, 1.82 kJ mol⁻¹ and 5.5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, respectively. Thermal decompositions of the two coordination compounds were studied through the thermogravimetry (TG). Possible mechanisms of the decompositions are discussed.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of two new hydrated borates, Zn8[(BO3)3O2(OH)3] and Pb[B5O8(OH)]·1.5H2O

Two new hydrated borates, Zn₈[(BO₃)₃O₂(OH)₃] and Pb[B₅O₈(OH)]·1.5H₂O, have been prepared by hydrothermal reactions at 170 °C. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses showed that Zn₈[(BO₃)₃O₂(OH)₃] crystallizes in a non-centrosymmetric space group R32 with a=8.006(2) Å, c=17.751(2) Å, Z=3 and Pb[B₅O₈(OH)]·1.5H₂O in a triclinic space group P1¯ with a=6.656(2) Å, b=6.714(2) Å, c=10.701(2) Å, α=99.07(2)°, β=93.67(2)°, γ=118.87(1)°, Z=2. Zn₈[(BO₃)₃O₂(OH)₃] represents a new structure type in which Zn-centered tetrahedra are connected via common vertices leading to helical ribbons _∞¹[Zn₈O₁₅(OH)₃]¹⁷⁻ that pack side by side and are further condensed through sharing oxygen atoms to form a three-dimensional _∞³[Zn₈O₁₁(OH)₃]⁹⁻ framework. The boron atoms are incorporated into the channels in the framework to complete the final structure. Pb[B₅O₈(OH)]·1.5H₂O is a layered compound containing double ring [B₅O₈(OH)]²⁻ building units that share exocyclic oxygen atoms to form a two-dimensional layer. Symmetry-center-related layers are stacked along the c-axis and held together by interlayer Pb²⁺ ions and water molecules via electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The IR spectra further confirmed the existence of both triangular BO₃ and OH groups in Zn₈[(BO₃)₃O₂(OH)₃], and BO₃, BO₄, OH groups as well as guest water molecules in Pb[B₅O₈(OH)]·1.5H₂O.     

New synthetic method and thermochemistry of szaibelyite

A new synthetic method of szaibelyite (2MgO·B₂O₃·H₂O) has been reported. The enthalpy of solution of 2MgO·B₂O₃·H₂O in 2.9842 mol dm⁻³ HCl (aq) was determined. From a combination of this result with measured enthalpies of solution of H₃BO₃ in 2.9842 mol dm⁻³ HCl (aq) and of MgO in (HCl+H₃BO₃) solution, together with the standard molar enthalpies of formation of MgO (s), H₃BO₃ (s), and H₂O (l), the standard molar enthalpy of formation of −(2884.36±1.82) kJ mol⁻¹ of 2MgO·B₂O₃·H₂O was obtained.     

Synthesis, heat capacity and enthalpy of formation of [Ho2(l-Glu)2(H2O)8](ClO4)4·H2O

A complex of holmium perchlorate coordinated with l-glutamic acid, [Ho₂(l-Glu)₂(H₂O)₈](ClO₄)₄·H₂O, was prepared with a purity of 98.96%. The compound was characterized by chemical, elemental and thermal analysis. Heat capacities of the compound were determined by automated adiabatic calorimetry from 78 to 370 K. The dehydration temperature is 350 K. The dehydration enthalpy and entropy are 16.34 kJ mol⁻¹ and 16.67 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The standard enthalpy of formation is −6474.6 kJ mol⁻¹ from reaction calorimetry at 298.15 K.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, infrared and Raman spectra of Sr4Cu3(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)4·3H2O and Ba2Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)3

The two new compounds, Sr₄Cu₃(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₄·3H₂O (1) and Ba₂Cu₄(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₃(2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. They represent previously unknown structure types and are the first compounds synthesized in the systems SrO/BaO-CuO-As₂O₅-H₂O. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [space group C2/c, a=18.536(4) Å, b=5.179(1) Å, c=24.898(5) Å, β=93.67(3)°, V=2344.0(8) Å³, Z=4 for 1; space group P4₂/n, a=7.775(1) Å, c=13.698(3) Å, V=828.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 2]. The crystal structure of 1 is related to a group of compounds formed by Cu²⁺-(XO₄)³⁻ layers (X=P⁵⁺, As⁵⁺) linked by M cations (M=alkali, alkaline earth, Pb²⁺, or Ag⁺) and partly by hydrogen bonds. In 1, worth mentioning is the very short hydrogen bond length, D···A=2.477(3) Å. It is one of the examples of extremely short hydrogen bonds, where the donor and acceptor are crystallographically different. Compound 2 represents a layered structure consisting of Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers crosslinked by As1φ₄ tetrahedra, where φ is O or OH, which are interconnected by Ba, As2 and hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. The layers are formed by Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers of CuO₅ edge-sharing polyhedra, crosslinked by As1O₄ tetrahedra. Vibrational spectra (FTIR and Raman) of both compounds are described. The spectroscopic manifestation of the very short hydrogen bond in 1, and ABC-like spectra in 2 were discussed.     

Synthesis of MnOOH nanorods by cluster growth route from [Mn12O12(RCOO)16(H2O)n] (R=CH3, C2H5). Rational conversion of MnOOH into Mn3O4 or MnO2 Nanorods

Single-crystalline nanorods of γ-MnOOH (manganite) phase with diameters of 120 nm and lengths of 1100 nm have been prepared using a new cluster growth route under low-temperature hydrothermal conditions starting from [Mn₁₂O₁₂(CH₃COO)₁₆(H₂O)₄]·2CH₃COOH·4H₂O or [Mn₁₂O₁₂(C₂H₅COO)₁₆(H₂O)₃]·4H₂O without any catalyst or template agents. The so-obtained nanorods were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Their thermal conversion opens an access to Mn₃O₄ (hausmannite) and β-MnO₂ (pyrolusite) nanorods, respectively, under argon or air atmosphere. A coercive field of 12.4 kOe was obtained for the Mn₃O₄ nanorods.     

Aqua bridged Cu2 dimer of a heptadentate N4O3 coordinating ligand: Synthesis,structure and magnetic properties

The N₄O₃ coordinating heptadentate imidazolidinyl phenolate ligand, H₃L (2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) forms with Cu(II) a rare aqua bridged complex [{Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-H₂O)}₂](ClO₄)₂ · 4.5H₂O (1 · 4.5H₂O). Complex 1 · 4.5H₂O contains two crystallographically different but chemically equivalent dinuclear [Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-H₂O)]⁺ cationic units in the asymmetric unit. The copper atoms of each dinuclear unit are in a distorted square-pyramidal environment and are held together by phenolate, imidazolidinyl and aqua bridges with a Cu···Cu separation of av. 3.34 Å. The compound exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (J = −0.77 cm⁻¹, ? = −2 J?₁?₂) between the two copper(II) (S = 1/2) ions. The ¹H NMR spectrum of the complex shows a total of 17 hyperfine shifted peaks, as expected from the idealized C_s symmetry of the compound, spread over a very large window of chemical shift, spanning about 250 ppm. The complex, having an appropriate intermetallic separation for catechol binding, shows catecholase like activity in MeCN at 25 °C, with the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ).     

Synthesis, characterization and thermochemistry of K2B5O8(OH)·2H2O

A pure hydrated potassium borate K₂B₅O₈(OH)·2H₂O has been synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, XRD, FT-IR, Raman spectra and DTA-TG. The crystal structure consists of two K-O polyhedra and [B₅O₈(OH)]²⁻ polyborate anion. The enthalpy of formation was determined to be −4772.6 ± 4.0 kJ mol⁻¹ by solution calorimetry.     

Crystal-chemistry of mullite-type aluminoborates Al18B4O33 and Al5BO9: A stoichiometry puzzle

Orthorhombic Al₂O₃-rich aluminoborate is an important ceramic material for which two slightly different compositions have been assumed: Al₅BO₉ (5Al₂O₃:B₂O₃) and Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (9Al₂O₃:2B₂O₃). The formula Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ (=Al_4.91B_1.09O₉) was derived from results of chemical analyses when crystal structure data were not yet available. Subsequent structural investigations indicated Al₅BO₉ composition. Nevertheless, Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ was still accepted as the correct stoichiometry assuming that additional B replaces 9% Al.Powder samples of both compositions and ones with excess boron were prepared by solid state reactions between α-Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃/H₃BO₃ at temperatures above 1100 °C and single-crystals were grown from flux at 1100 and 1550 °C. Products were investigated by single-crystal and powder XRD, ¹¹B and ²⁷Al solid-state MAS-NMR, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as Laser-ablation ICP-MS. No indication of the predicted 9% B→Al substitution was found. LA ICP-MS indicated 12.36(27) wt% B₂O₃ corresponding to Al_4.97B_1.03O₉. Hence, the suggested Al₁₈B₄O₃₃ stoichiometry can be excluded for all synthesized samples. A very low amount of Al vacancies at a five-fold coordinated site are likely, charge balanced by an additional nearby three-fold coordinated B site. All evidences indicate that the title compound should be reported as Al_5−xB_1+xO₉ with x<0.038(6), which is close to Al₅BO₉.     

Synthesis and structure of a 1,6-hexyldiamine heptaborate, [H3N(CH2)6NH3][B7O10(OH)3]

A new 1,6-hexyldiamine heptaborate, [H₃N(CH₂)₆NH₃][B₇O₁₀(OH)₃] (1), has been solvothermally synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Compound 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2₁/n with a=8.042(2) Å, b=20.004(4) Å, c=10.103(2) Å, and β=90.42(3)°. The anionic [B₇O₁₀(OH)₃]_n²ⁿ⁻ layers are interlinked via hydrogen bonding to form a 3D supramolecular network containing large channels, in which the templated [H₃N(CH₂)₆NH₃]²⁺ cations are located.     

Thermodynamic properties of hydrated sodium l-threonate Na(C4H7O5)·H2O(s)

Low-temperature heat capacities of the compound Na(C₄H₇O₅)·H₂O(s) have been measured with an automated adiabatic calorimeter. A solid-solid phase transition and dehydration occur at 290-318 K and 367-373 K, respectively. The enthalpy and entropy of the solid-solid transition are Δ_transH_m = (5.75 ± 0.01) kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_transS_m = (18.47 ± 0.02) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. The enthalpy and entropy of the dehydration are Δ_dH_m = (15.35 ± 0.03) kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_dS_m = (41.35 ± 0.08) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. Experimental values of heat capacities for the solids (I and II) and the solid-liquid mixture (III) have been fitted to polynomial equations.     

A new structure type of phosphate: Crystal structure of Na2Zn5(PO4)4

A new compound, Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄, was identified in the system ZnONa₂OP₂O₅ and high-quality crystal was obtained by the melt method. The crystal structure of this compound was solved by direct method from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure was then refined anisotropically using a full-matrix least square refinement on F² and the refinement converged to R₁=0.0233 and wR₂=0.0544. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Pbcn, lattice parameters a=10.381(2) Å, b=8.507(1) Å, c=16.568(3) Å and Z=4. The structure is made up of 3D [Zn₅P₄O₁₆]_n²ⁿ⁻ covalent framework consisting of [Zn₄P₄O₁₆]_n⁴ⁿ⁻ layers. The powder diffraction pattern of Na₉Zn₂₁(PO₄)₁₇ is explained by simulating a theoretical pattern with NaZnPO₄ and Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ in the molar ratio of 1:4 and then by Rietveld refinement of experimental pattern. Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ melts congruently at 855 °C and its conductivity is 5.63×10⁻⁹ S/cm.     

Low-temperature heat-capacity and standard molar enthalpy of formation of copper l-threonate hydrate Cu(C4H6O5)·0.5H2O(s)

The solid copper l-threonate hydrate, Cu(C₄H₆O₅)·0.5H₂O, was synthesized by the reaction of l-threonic acid with copper dihydrocarbonate and characterized by means of chemical and elemental analyses, IR and TG-DTG. Low-temperature heat-capacity of the title compound has been precisely measured with a small sample precise automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 77 to 390 K. An obvious process of the dehydration occurred in the temperature range between 353 and 370 K. The peak temperature of the dehydration of the compound has been observed to be 369.304 ± 0.208 K by means of the heat-capacity measurements. The molar enthalpy, Δ_dH_m, of the dehydration of the resulting compound was of 16.490 ± 0.063 kJ mol⁻¹. The experimental molar heat capacities of the solid from 77 to 353 K and the solid from 370 to 390 K have been, respectively, fitted to tow polynomial equations with the reduced temperatures by least square method. The constant-volume energy of combustion of the compound, Δ_cU_m, has been determined as being −1616.15 ± 0.72 kJ mol⁻¹ by an RBC-II precision rotating-bomb combustion calorimeter at 298.15 K. The standard molar enthalpy of formation of the compound, , has been calculated to be −1114.76 ± 0.81 kJ mol⁻¹ from the combination of the data of standard molar enthalpy of combustion of the compound with other auxiliary thermodynamic quantities.