Elaboration of ZnO Thin Films with Preferential Orientation by a Soft Chemistry Route

Microcrystalline ZnO films presenting well-defined and tunable orientation were obtained by spin coating of alcoholic sols by two different approaches, based on controlled hydrolysis-condensation of Zn-ethanolamine complexes. As-deposited films are formed by amorphous zinc oxide-acetate submicronic particles, which are transformed into oriented ZnO after thermal treatment. The orientation of ZnO depends on the synthesis method, and the solvent. While in ethanol and [Zn] = 0.05 mol·L^–1, films consist of rectangular platelets oriented with the (100) planes parallel to the substrate (a//n), the orientation of the particles changes to (c//n) for systems in 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME) and [Zn] = 0.75 mol·L^–1. A study of chemical factors that influence the orientation (precursor, solvent, MEA/Zn ratio, concentration, coating parameters, heat treatment) is presented.     

Colorimetric Solvent Indicators Based on Nafion Membranes Incorporating Nickel(II)‐Chelate Complexes

To develop solvent‐recognition films, Nafion membranes incorporating cationic nickel‐chelate complexes, that is, [Ni(L¹)(L²)]⁺ (HL¹=acetylacetone, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐3,5‐heptanedione; L²=N,N‐diethylethylenediamine, N‐butyl‐N,N′,N′‐trimethylethylenediamine), were prepared. Immersion of the films in various solvents effected the color changes varying from red to pale blue green depending on the donor number of the solvents. The color change is based on an equilibrium shift between square‐planar and solvent‐coordinated octahedral geometries of the cations. The degree of the color change depended on the affinity of the incorporated complex to the solvent molecules. The films were robust and exhibited a reversible solvent response. The films exhibited thermochromism when a small amount of appropriate solvents were incorporated and changed from pale blue green at low temperatures to red at high temperatures.     

Kinetics of aquation of Co(III) complex in binary aqueous mixtures and effect of multiparameters of the solvent on the reaction rate

Kinetics and solvent effects of the aquation of trans[Co(4‐(Etpy)₄Cl₂]⁺ have been studied in ethanol + water ranging from 0 to 60% (v/v) and urea + water of various solvent compositions up to 40% (w/w) of organic solvent. Thermodynamic activation parameters were computed and discussed in terms of the solvation effect. Isokinetic temperature within the experimental range revealed that the existence of the compensation effect arising from the solute–solvent interaction. Nonlinear plots of log k with D^?1 suggest that changes in the solvent structure are an important factor that influences these rates. The influence of the added cosolvent on reactivity was analyzed in light of various simple and multiple regression equations using Kirkwood, E_T(30), and Kamlet–Taft parameters. The obtained results showed that the solvation phenomenon plays a dominant role in the aquation. © 2011 Wiley Peiodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 230–237, 2011     

Polymerization of diallyl phthalate in solution by γ-radiation

The polymerization of diallyl phthalate has been studied in two solvents, benzene (G_Radical = 0.7) and chloroform (G_R = 11.2), γ-radiation being used to investigate the effect of the solvent on the rates of polymerization and also chain transfer to the solvent. Kinetic analysis shows that in benzene solution the initiating species come almost exclusively from the monomer, but in chloroform they arise only from the solvent. The latter was further confirmed from the chlorine analysis of the polymer wherein chloroform appears to have telomerized with diallyl phthalate. In neither of the solvents was high molecular weight polymer obtained. The k_p/k_t^1/2 for the polymerization of DAP was found to be 3.3 × 10^?4 and 1.17 × 10^?3 in benzene and chloroform solutions, respectively. The chain-transfer constant C_S was 11.25 × 10^?3 and 9.75 × 10^?3 for benzene and chloroform, respectively.     

Effect of solvent on the free energy of activation of S_N2 reaction between phenacyl bromide and amines

The kinetics of SN2 reaction between phenacyl bromide and various amines in 12 different solvents were studied. Solvent effects on the rate of this reaction and free energy of activation, ΔG# , were interpreted by applying the Abraham-Kam-let-Taft (AKT) equation. UK solvent polarity (π1*), solvent hydrogen-bond basicity (β1) and Hildebrand cohesive density energy (δH2) are those parameters which increase the rate constant and decrease ΔG# , while solvent hydrogen-bond acidity (α1) will have the compensatory effect. A comparison among obtained values of second rate constants, k2, for different amines in a given solvent indicates that the amine reactivities are highly dependent on their structures. The consequent decrease of the rate constant for different amines in any given solvent was found to be: primary > secondary> tertiary. This order results from steric effects of amines.     

Cationic Exciplexes: Role of Hydrogen Bonding in Deactivation and Electronic Coupling

Emissive properties for the cationic exciplex (A⁺*/D→A^.D^.+) of an isoquinolinium cation tethered to a substituted arene ( 1⁺ ) are strongly affected by hydrogen bonding solvents. At equal dielectric constant (ϵ), the ground-to-excited state energy gaps (ΔG) and solvent reorganization energies (λ_s) decrease from nitriles to aliphatic alcohols. The corresponding decrease from aliphatic alcohols to high hydrogen bond acidity solvents is ∼3 times larger. The exciplex decay (k_Ex), largely determined by unfolding of the exciplex to a stretched conformer, changes in a complex way depending on the strength of the hydrogen bond ability of these solvents. In contrast, the electronic couplings between the exciplex ground, excited, and charge transfer states do not show a solvent functionality dependence.     

An inflection point in the solvation number around Sm3+ in the mixed system of methanol and water

The stability constants (β₁) of the monofluoro complex of Sm(III) have been determined in mixed solvents of methanol and water at a 0.10 mol·dm⁻³ ionic strength using the solvent extraction technique. The values of lnβ₁ increase as the mole fraction of methanol (X _s) in the mixed solvent system increases. The variation in the stability constants can be correlated with both the large effect due to the solvation of F⁻ and the small effect due to both (1) the solvation of cations in connection with the complexation of SmF²⁺ and (2) the electrostatic attraction of Sm³⁺−F⁻. Based on the variation in the sum of (1) and (2) in H₂O and the mixed solvent solutions, it was determined that the coordination number (CN) of Sm(III) varied from a mixture of CN=9 and 8 to CN=8 for about a 0.06 mole fraction of methanol (X _s) in the mixed solvent. TheX _s value of the inflection point of the CN for Sm(III) is slightly higher thanX _s=0.03 for Eu(III) previously determined by us.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the aminolysis of O‐phenyl 4‐nitrophenyl dithiocarbonate in aqueous ethanol

The reactions of the title substrate (1) with a series of secondary alicyclic amines are subjected to a kinetic investigation in 44 wt% ethanol‐water, at 25.0°C, ionic strength 0.2 M (KCl). Under amine excess over the substrate, pseudo‐first‐order rate coefficients (k_obs) are obtained. Plots of k_obs against [NH], where NH is the free amine, are nonlinear upwards, except the reactions of piperidine, which show linear plots. According to the kinetic results and the analysis of products, a reaction scheme is proposed with two tetrahedral intermediates, one zwitterionic (T^±) and another anionic (T⁻), with a kinetically significant proton transfer from T^± to an amine to yield T⁻ (k₃ step). By nonlinear least‐squares fitting of an equation derived from the scheme to the experimental points, the rate microcoefficients involved in the reactions are determined. Comparison of the kinetics of the title reactions with the linear k_obs vs. [NH] plots found in the same aminolysis of O‐ethyl 4‐nitrophenyl dithiocarbonate (2) in the same solvent shows that the rate coefficient for leaving group expulsion from T^± (k₂) is larger for 2 due to a stronger push by EtO than PhO. The k₃ value is the same for both reactions since both proton transfers are diffusion controlled. Comparison of the title reactions with the same aminolysis of phenyl 4‐nitrophenyl thionocarbonate (3) in water indicates that (i) the k₂ value is larger for the aminolysis of 1 due to the less basic nucleofuge involved and the small solvent effect on k₂, (ii) the k₃ value is smaller for the reactions of 1 due to the more viscous solvent, (iii) the rate coefficient for amine expulsion from T^± (k₋₁) is larger for the aminolysis of 1 than that of 3 due to a solvent effect, and (iv) the value of the rate coefficient for amine attack (k₁) is smaller for the aminolysis of 1 in aqueous ethanol, which can be explained by a predominant solvent effect relative to the electron‐withdrawing effect from the nucleofuge. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 839–845, 1999     

Catalyst‐ and Solvent‐Dependent Stereodivergence in the Intramolecular Et2Zn/Pd0‐Promoted Carbonyl Propargylation: Mechanistic Implications

Carbonyl‐tethered propargylic benzoates undergo intramolecular carbonylpropargylation upon treatment with Et₂Zn in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd⁰ with the formation of 2‐alkynylcyclopentanol products. A ligand/solvent effect on the cis/trans selectivity (referring to the relative positions of alkynyl and OH groups) of ring‐closure has been found. In a non‐coordinating solvent (benzene), increasing the electron‐donating ability of the phosphine ligand (while decreasing its dissociation ability) leads to an increased tendency towards the trans product. On the other hand, the combination of a coordinating solvent (THF) and PPh₃, an easily dissociated phosphine, results in the exclusive formation of cis products. Experimental and computational results are compatible with a divergent behavior of an allenylethylpalladium intermediate that partitions between competitive carbonyl‐addition and transmetalation pathways, each leading to a different diastereoisomer. These results also suggest that the dissociating ability of the phosphine regulates that behavior.     

Kinetics of aquation of cis-aquabromo-bis(ethylenediamine) complexes of cobalt(III) and chromium(III) in binary aqueous mixtures

Summary The kinetics of aquation of cis-[Co(en)₂(H₂O)Br]²⁺ and cis-[Cr(en)₂(H₂O)Br]²⁺ (en = ethylenediamine) were investigated in aqueous mixtures of MeOH, EtOH, i-PrOH and t-BuOH. The values of transfer functions corresponding to the transfer of reactants and activated complex from water to the solvent mixtures were evaluated from kinetic measurements and from solubilities of the complex salt. Analysis of the solvent effect confirmed a common I_d mechanism for the aquation of the Co^III and Cr^III complexes.     

Rapid determination of 226Ra in drinking water samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with liquid scintillation counting

A new radioanalytical method was developed for rapid determination of ²²⁶Ra in drinking water samples. The method is based on extraction and preconcentration of ²²⁶Ra from a water sample to an organic solvent using a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) technique followed by radiometric measurement using liquid scintillation counting. In DLLME for ²²⁶Ra, a mixture of an organic extractant (toluene doped with dibenzo-21-crown-7 and 2-theonyltrifluoroacetone) and a disperser solvent (acetonitrile) is rapidly injected into the water sample resulting in the formation of an emulsion. Within the emulsion, ²²⁶Ra reacts with dibenzo-21-crown-7 and 2-theonyltrifluoroacetone and partitions into the fine droplets of toluene. The water/toluene phases were separated by addition of acetonitrile as a de-emulsifier solvent. The toluene phase containing ²²⁶Ra was then measured by liquid scintillation counting. Several parameters were studied to optimize the extraction efficiency of ²²⁶Ra, including water immiscible organic solvent, disperser and de-emulsifier solvent type and their volume, chelating ligands for ²²⁶Ra and their concentrations, inorganic salt additive and its concentration, and equilibrium pH. With the optimized DLLME conditions, the accuracy (expressed as relative bias, B _r ) and method repeatability (expressed as relative precision, S _B ) were determined by spiking ²²⁶Ra at the maximum acceptable concentration level (0.5 Bq L⁻¹) according to the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Accuracy and repeatability were found to be less than −5% (B _r ) and less than 6% (S _B ), respectively, for both tap water and bottled natural spring water samples. The minimum detectable activity and sample turnaround time for determination of ²²⁶Ra was 33 mBq L⁻¹ and less than 3 h, respectively. The DLLME technique is selective for extraction of ²²⁶Ra from its decay progenies.     

Solvatochromic Probes Absorbance Behavior in Mixtures of 2-Hydroxy Ethylammonium Formate with Methanol,Ethylene Glycol and Glycerol

Solute-solvent and solvent-solvent interactions were investigated for binary mixtures of an ionic liquid (IL) 2-hydroxy ethylammonium formate as with methanol, ethylene glycol and glycerol. The physicochemical properties of the solvent mixtures at 25 °C, over the whole range of mole fractions, were determined using solvatochromic probes. High normal polarity (E_T^NE_{T}^{N}) in the alcohol-rich region confirms solute-solvent interactions in this medium. Dipolarity/polarizability (π ^∗) show a different trend to E_T^NE_{T}^{N} with a positive deviation from ideal behavior in IL-glycerol mixtures. However, these deviations for other solvent mixtures are insignificant. Contrary to what is observed for E_T^NE_{T}^{N} and π ^∗, hydrogen-bond donor (HBD) acidity and hydrogen-bond acceptor (HBA) basicity demonstrate similar trends. The applicability of the combined nearly-ideal binary solvent/Redlich-Kister (CNIBS/R-K) equation for the correlation of various parameters provides a simple computational model to correlate and/or predict various solvatochromic parameters for many binary solvent systems.     

17O NMR spectroscopy: Proton–oxygen coupling in simple alcohols at natural abundance

¹⁷O NMR data are reported for 3-pentanol ( 1 ), cyclopentanol ( 2 ), cyclohexanol ( 3 ), and cycloheptanol ( 4 ). The ¹⁷O NMR signals for 1–4 appeared as doublets, shown to arise from proton–oxygen coupling (¹J_OH = 76 ± 3 Hz) by proton decoupling experiments. The effect of concentration, temperature, and solvent was examined in detail for 2 . Proton—oxygen coupling was observed at low concentrations, decreased at lower temperatures, and was sensitive to solvent.     

Application of a bisindocarbocyanine reagent for dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of silver with subsequent spectrophotometric determination

A novel, simple and environmentally friendly procedure for silver determination has been developed. The method is based on ion associate formation of AgI₂⁻ and bisindocarbocyanine chloride (BDIC) reagent, followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) of the ion associate formed and subsequent UV–Vis spectrophotometric detection. The structure of BDIC and the reaction mechanism were investigated by MS and NMR measurements and quantum chemical calculations.The optimum experimental conditions were found to be: pH 6; 0.1 mol L^{− 1} KI; 5 × 10^{− 5} mol L^{− 1} BDIC. The DLLME procedure was carried out using an auxiliary solvent for adjustment of solvent density. A 0.5 mL mixture of toluene as extraction solvent, carbon tetrachloride as auxiliary solvent and ethanol as disperser solvent was used. Ultrasonication of the organic phase was applied to decrease the value of the blank test. The absorbance of the coloured extracts obeys Beer's law in the range 0.07–2.1 mg L^{− 1} of Ag at 566 nm wavelength. The limit of detection, calculated from a blank test (n = 10) based on 3 s, is 0.03 mg L^{− 1} of Ag. The developed procedure was applied to the determination of silver in real samples such as Nano Silver and semi-conductor thin films.     

Role of dimethyl sulfoxide as a solvent for vinyl polymerization

Dimethyl sulfoxide has been used as a solvent in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene. The chain-transfer coefficients of the solvent and the values of δ [i.e., (2k_t)^1/2/k_p] in solvent-monomer mixtures of various compositions were determined. δ was observed to be dependent on the solvent concentration in the case of methyl methacrylate but remained constant in case of styrene. The lowering of the values of δ with increasing solvent concentration in case of methyl methacrylate has been attributed to an interaction between the solvent and poly(methyl methacrylate) radical resulting in lower termination rate.     

Simulation of 59Co NMR Chemical Shifts in Aqueous Solution

⁵⁹Co chemical shifts were computed at the GIAO‐B3LYP level for [Co(CN)₆]^3?, [Co(H₂O)₆]³⁺, [Co(NH₃)₆]³⁺, and [Co(CO)₄]^? in water. The aqueous solutions were modeled by Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations, or by propagation on a hybrid quantum‐mechanical/molecular‐mechanical Born–Oppenheimer surface (QM/MM‐BOMD). Mean absolute deviations from experiment obtained with these methods are on the order of 400 and 600 ppm, respectively, over a total δ(⁵⁹Co) range of about 18 000 ppm. The effect of the solvent on δ(⁵⁹Co) is mostly indirect, resulting primarily from substantial metal–ligand bond contractions on going from the gas phase to the bulk. The simulated solvent effects on geometries and δ(⁵⁹Co) values are well reproduced by using a polarizable continuum model (PCM), based on optimization and perturbational evaluation of quantum‐mechanical zero‐point corrections.     

Solvent‐ and counterion‐specific swelling behavior of poly(acrylic acid) gels

The collapse of alkali metal poly(acrylate) (PAAM) gels was investigated for various water/organic solvent mixture systems: methanol (MeOH), ethanol (EtOH), 2‐propanol (2PrOH), t‐butanol (tBuOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile (AcN), acetone, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dioxane. In order to ascertain the counterion specificity in the swelling behavior, four kinds of alkali metal counterions were used: Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺. Remarkable solvent and counterion specificities were observed for every counterion species and every solvent system, respectively. For example, in aqueous EtOH the dielectric constants (D_cr) at which collapse occurred were in the order PAACs < PAALi < PAAK < PAANa. On the other hand, the D_cr at which PAALi gel collapsed increased in the order tBuOH < dioxane < THF < MeOH < 2PrOH < EtOH < acetone < AcN < DMSO, where the D_cr ranged from about 39 to about 67. This was in contrast to our previous observation for a partially quaternized poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) gel, which collapsed in a much narrower D_cr region in similar mixed solvents. The present solvent‐ and counterion‐specific collapses are discussed on the basis of solvent properties such as the dielectric constant and Gutmann's donor number and acceptor number of a pure solvent. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 2791–2800, 2000     

Thermodynamic Aspects of Metal–Ion Complexation in the Structured Solvent, <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Methylformamide

Chloride complexation of cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) ions has been studied by calorimetry and spectrophotometry in N-methylformamide (NMF) containing 1.0 mol-dm^{− 3} (n-C₄H₉)₄NClO₄ as an ionic medium at 298 K. A series of mononuclear complexes, MCl_n^{(2 -n) +} (M=Co, Ni and Zn) with n = 1, 3 and 4 for cobalt(II), n = 1 for nickel(II), and n = 1–4 for zinc(II), are formed and their formation constants, enthalpies and entropies were obtained. It revealed that complexation is suppressed significantly in NMF relative to that in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in all metal systems examined. The suppressed complexation in NMF is mainly ascribed to the smaller formation entropies in NMF reflecting that the solvent–solvent interaction or solvent structure in the bulk NMF is much stronger than that in the bulk DMF. Formation entropies, Δ S₁^o, of the monochloro complex in DMF, dimethyl sulfoxide and NMF are well correlated with the Marcus’ solvent parameter, Δ Δ_v S^o/R, according to Δ S₁^o/R = aΔ Δ_v S^o/R+b. The a value is negative and similar in all metal systems examined, whereas the b value depends on the metal system. When a gaseous ion is introduced into a solvent, the ionic process of solvation is divided into two stages: the ion destroys the bulk solvent structure to isolate solvent molecules at the first stage and the ion then coordinates a part of isolated solvent molecules around it at the second stage. We propose that the a and b values may reflect the changes in the freedom of motion of solvent molecules at the first and second stages, respectively, of the ionic process of solvation.     

Quasi-thermodynamics of Viscous Flow of Electrolyte Solutions in Aqueous, Non-aqueous and Mixed Aqueous Solvents

Viscosity B-coefficients for cesium chloride and lithium sulfate in methanol + water mixtures at 25 and 35 °C are reported. A general treatment of the quasi-thermodynamics of viscous flow of electrolyte solutions is described. ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′), the contribution made to the Gibbs energy of activation of the solution by the influence of the solute on the solvent, is a function of solute–solvent interactions only; but, ΔH ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) and ΔS ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) also reflect the solvent–solvent interactions. In aqueous solution all alkali-metal ions except Li⁺ are sterically unsaturated, having solvent co-ordination numbers n<n _max, the maximum allowed sterically. Such complexes exchange molecules with the solvent more readily than saturated ones and have energy–reaction co-ordinate diagrams in forms that explain the negative B or ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) values found in aqueous solution. Saturated complexes are the norm in non-aqueous solvents, and the ΔG ₃ ^Θ (1→1′) values are determined mainly by the secondary solvation. Behavior in mixed solvents reflects the transition from aqueous to non-aqueous behavior across the range of solvent composition.     

Water-protein and ligand-protein interactions as determined by selective NMR relaxation studies

Water-macromolecules and ligand-macromolecules interactions were investigated considering the effects induced by the presence of a macromolecule on both the water and the ligand NMR selective (R₁^SE) and non-selective (R₁^NS) spin-lattice relaxation rates. The results obtained from the solvent studies were used to describe the solvent dynamics at the macromolecule-solvent interface. On the other hand, ligand R₁^SE and (R₁^NS) analysis allowed the definition of the “affinity index”, [A]_L^T, an index related to the extent of the macromolecule-ligand recognition process.