Molecular motion and phase transition in perovskite-type (CH3)nNH4−nSnCl3 (n=1–4) studied by proton NMR spin–lattice relaxation

Powder X-ray diffraction, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra, and ¹H NMR spin–lattice relaxation times, T₁, were measured for (CH₃)_nNH_4−nSnCl₃ (n=1–4). From the Rietveld analysis, it is shown that all four compounds crystallize into deformed perovskite-type structures at room temperature. The temperature dependence of ¹H T₁ was analyzed in terms of the CH₃ reorientation and other motions of the whole cation. Except for the phase transition in CH₃NH₃SnCl₃, which is from monoclinic to rhombohedral at 331 K, ¹H T₁ was continuously changed at other phase transitions in this compound as well as in the n=2–4 compounds, suggesting that the transitions are not caused by the change of the motional state of the cation but by an instability of the [SnCl₃]_nⁿ⁻ perovskite lattice.     

H NMR relaxation in urea

Proton NMR spin–lattice relaxation times T₁ were measured for urea as a function of temperature. An activation energy of 46.3 ± 4.7 kJ/mol was extracted and compared with the range of 38–65 kJ/mol previously reported in the literature as measured by different magnetic resonance techniques. In addition, proton NMR spin–lattice relaxation times in the rotating frame T_1ρ were measured as a function of temperature. These measurements provide acquisition conditions for the ¹³C and ¹⁵N CP/MAS spectra of pure urea in the crystalline phase.     

Internal motion in 1-methylnaphthalene. A variable temperature NMR study using C and H spin—lattice relaxation time measurements

¹³C nuclear spin—lattice relaxation times of 1-methylnaphthalene and ²H nuclear spin—lattice relaxation times of the perdeuterated species, both in deuterochloroform solutions, were measured at several different temperatures. The effects of isotopic substitution on the effective correlation times are discussed. The Woessner approach to extracting the internal jump rates of the CH₃ and CD₃ groups from these relaxation times was used. Activation energies for the internal motions were calculated by fitting the temperature dependent jump rates to an Arrhenius type expression. The differences between the activation energies of the two isotopic species are discussed.     

Field-cycling NMR detection of magnetoacoustically manipulated nematic ordered states: Memory effects

The proton spin–lattice relaxation time (T₁) dispersion was studied under simultaneous sonication in the nematic phase of 5CB. It appears that metastable ordered states subject to a memory effect can be induced by the combined action of an amplitude-modulated ultrasonication and a pulsed magnetic field. We argue that the acoustic amplitude modulation adds instability to the nematic phase through director order fluctuation enhancement. Different manipulated states of the director were unambiguously identified by the Larmor frequency dispersion of T₁. The field-cycling NMR technique was used for T₁ measurements.     

H and H NMR studies of cyclohexane nanocrystals in controlled pore glasses

The formation and behaviour of cyclohexane and cyclohexane-d₁₂ nanocrystals in mesoporous solids of well-defined dimensional constraints are studied by ¹H and ²H NMR. The NMR line widths, spin–spin relaxation times (T₂), spin–lattice relaxation times (T₁) and diffusivities (D) were measured as a function of temperature, and the results are discussed with reference to the values obtained for the bulk materials. The confined solids exhibit substantial changes in the phase behaviour and molecular dynamics. Thus, the line-shape measurements reveal a two-phase system consisting of a highly mobile component at the surface of the pore and a plastically crystalline phase in the centre of the pore. The liquid-like surface layer in the mesopores is observable well below the reduced transition temperature of the confined cyclohexane. However, the T₂ and diffusion measurements show that the mobile phase also embraces a minor component attributed to non-frozen liquid in pockets or offshoots.     

Effects of cation siting and spin–spin interactions on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of Cu exchanged X Faujasite zeolite

Copper(II) exchanged Na X Faujasite zeolite was cation exchanged at levels from one Cu(II) in 30 unit cells (0.033 Cu(II)/UC) to 38 Cu(II) per unit cell (38 Cu/UC) and was examined by continuous wave and two-pulse and three-pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at temperatures from 10 K to 300 K. In this work exchange of Cu²⁺ into X Faujasite zeolite is shown by EPR spectral and pulsed EPR relaxation measurements to begin into site I′, where it lies coordinated to a hexagonal prism face with Si:Al ratios of predominantly 4:2 and 5:1. Spin–spin interactions influence EPR g-value averaging, spin–spin relaxation, and spin spectral diffusion in a manner highly dependent on Cu exchange. Spin–lattice relaxation is relatively independent of exchange. The marked increase observed in spin–spin relaxation and g-value averaging at 8 Cu/UC and an effective Cu–Cu distance of 1.2 nm can be understood in terms of filling sodalite cages with an average of 1 Cu²⁺ each.     

Effects of inorganic components on the structure and thermo-oxidative degradation of PMMA modified metal alkoxide–EAA complex

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) modified titanium and zirconium n-butoxide–ethyl acetoacetate (EAA) complex [M5-Ti(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ and M5-Zr(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂] were obtained from trialkoxysilane-functional PMMA and EAA modified titanium and zirconium alkoxide via the sol–gel method. Infrared (IR), ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to analyze the structures and properties of the hybrids with various proportions of metal oxide species. The effect of the complex of metal oxides and EAA ligands on structure and thermo-oxidative degradation of the M5-Ti(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ and M5-Zr(OBuⁿ)₂(EAA)₂ hybrids were investigated in this study. The ¹H spin–diffusion path length of the hybrids was in a nanometer scale as estimated from the spin–lattice relaxation time in a rotating frame (T_1ρ^H). The apparent activation energies (E_a), evaluated by van Krevelen’s method, for random scission of PMMA segments in hybrids decreased with increasing metal oxide content.     

Dielectric properties of the nematic liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl in porous membranes

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (up to 10₉ H_z) is employed to study the molecular dynamics of the liquid crystal 4-n-pentyl-4'-cyanobiphenyl (5CB) in the free bulk phase and confined in cylindrical channels of Anopore membranes having a diameter of 0.2 μm and length of about 60 μm. The bulk samples of 5CB orient almost homeotropically between the untreated metal electrodes of the measurement set-up, and two relaxation processes are observed: the slower δ-relaxation is assigned to hindered rotation (180° flips) of the molecules around their molecular short axis, and a faster second process is attributed to the tumbling of the molecules about this axis. In the confined 5CB samples, the membrane pores align the nematic director axially or radially depending upon their surface preparation. Planar (axial) alignment is always found in untreated membranes, whereas radial alignment was achieved by treatment with decanoic acid. Consequently the director field is fixed perpendicular or parallel to the electric field and we are able to study each of the two relaxation processes separately by appropriate surface treatment of the pores. The frequencies of both processes are found to be unchanged with respect to the bulk phase. We extract the frequency dependence of the dielectric anisotropy δε from the dispersion curves of ε∥ and ε⊥. Two changes of sign of δε = (ε∥-ε⊥) are detected as predicted in the literature.     

The effect of molecular biaxiality on the bulk properties of some nematic liquid crystals

The nematic substance 5CB is known from N.M.R. studies to be slightly biaxial, not in the sense that any bulk property measured in a direction at right angles to the director is liable to vary with rotation about the director, but in the sense that there are biaxial terms in the ordering matrix that describes the alignment of individual molecules; (S_xx - S_yy) is non-zero as well as S_zz. We show that the biaxial terms should make a significant contribution to the magnetic anisotropy Δχ^(m) of 5CB, and that the magnitude and temperature dependence of this bulk property, which we have measured, can be understood if, and only if, they are taken into account. The contribution which they make to the optical birefringence term ∑ should, however, be relatively trivial. Although ∑ may in principle be affected by local field corrections of a complicated nature, which do not affect Δχ^(m), a new theory presented in an Appendix to the paper suggests that these too are likely to be relatively trivial. Hence we believe that ∑ is more nearly proportional than is Δχ^(m) to the principal order parameter S_zz.

The paper includes unpublished data for the magnetic anisotropy and/or the principal refractive indices, n_e and n_o, in a number of other nematics (6CB, 7CB, 8CB, 9CB, 5OCB, 6OCB, 7OCB, 8OCB, 7CCH, MBBA and PAA). Comparison between the temperature dependence of Δχ^(m) and of ∑ suggests that biaxiality is present in all cyanobiphenyls, on much the same scale as in 5CB, and is not affected by the presence of an oxygen atom between the phenyl core of the molecule and its alkyl tail.     

Preparation and X-ray characterization of two-coordinate Cu(I) complex of aliphatic thiolato ligand: Effect of steric bulk on coordination features

We have synthesized in a single-step procedure from available copper(I) precursor at RT two Cu(I) thiolato clusters of the formula [Cu₄(μ-SCH(CH₃)₂)₆]²⁻ and [Cu₅(μ-SC(CH₃)₃)₆]⁻ as revealed by X-ray crystallography, where increased steric bulk leads to a bigger cage with some two-coordinate metal centers. In addition, we identified a mononuclear two coordinate thiolato complex with the bulkier ligand, of the formula NEt₄[Cu(SC(CH₃)₃)₂]. This is only the second example of such a complex of an aliphatic ligand that is structurally characterized. The X-ray structure reveals an S–Cu–S angle of 176.7–179.5°, with Cu–S distances of 2.14 Å.     

Pyrolysis and film growth studies of phosphinoborane compounds

Chemical vapor deposition experiments were conducted using phosphinoborane compounds of the type [R₂BPR′₂]_n, where R = CH₂CH₃ (1) or CH₃ (2), R′= C(CH₃)₃, and R = CH₂CH₃ (3) or CH₃ (4), R′ = Si(CH₃)₃. Thin films were deposited on Si substrates at 300–850°C under vacuum using 1–3, while no film formed using 4. All films contained considerable carbon (C/B = 0.67–7) and were deficient in phosphorus (P/B = 0-0.5) according to Auger electron spectroscopy. For 3, silicon was incorporated in the films (Si/B = 0.9–2). The preferential loss of phosphorus was nearly complete at higher pyrolysis temperatures that favor formation of carbon-rich films. Volatile products of the decompositions were observed by in situ mass spectroscopy and by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the condensate in a liquid nitrogen cooled trap. The products indicate that β-hydrogen elimination of alkene from boron is a preferred reaction pathway, while concerted elimination reactions appear to be inefficient. Although these phosphinoborane compounds do not appear to be suitable precursors for pure boron phosphide, the B-P-C films obtained are chemically inert and may be of interest as protective coatings.     

Comparative characteristics of texture and properties of hybrid organic–inorganic adsorbents functionalized by amine and thiol groups

The structure and texture characteristics of the hybrid organic–inorganic adsorbents, which were obtained by using of two-component systems of “structure-forming agent/trifunctional silane”, are compared as follows: the first component is Si(OC₂H₅)₄ or (C₂H₅O)₃Si–A–Si(OC₂H₅)₃, where A = –(CH₂)₂– or –C₆H₄–; the second one is alkoxysilane with amine (–NH₂, NH, –NH(CH₂)₂NH₂) and thiol (–SH) groups. The adsorbents, derived from TEOS, have more accessible functional groups (2.6–4.2 mmol/g) than xerogels, which are based on bis(triethoxysilanes) (1.0–2.6 mmol/g). On another hand xerogels derived from bis(triethoxysilanes) have a more extended porous structure (S_sp =516–968 m²/g, V_s = 0.418–1.490 cm³/g, d = 2.5–15.0 nm) than those that are based on TEOS (S_sp = 4–631 m²/g, V_s = 0.005–1.382 cm³/g, d = 2.3–17.7 nm). The geometric dimensions of functional groups have a more essential effect on the parameters of porous structure in the case of TEOS-derived xerogels. Using solid-state NMR spectroscopy, it has been shown that in synthesis of xerogels with the use of TEOS, the molecular frame of globules is formed by structural units Qⁿ (n = 2,3,4), and the functional groups exist as structural units of Tⁿ (n = 2,3). The xerogels obtained with using bis(triethoxysilanes) consist only of structural units of Tⁿ-type (n = 1,2,3).     

New temperature effect on tunneling reaction in hydrogen, alkane, and ethanol in the solid phase

Rate constants for the tunneling reaction (HD + D → h + D₂) in solid HD increase steeply with increasing temperature above 5 K, while they are almost constant below 4.2 K. The apparent activation energy for the tunneling reaction above 5 K is 95 K, which is consistent with the energy (91–112 K) for vacancy formation in solid hydrogen. The results above 5 K were explained by the model that the tunneling reaction was accelerated by a local motion of hydrogen molecules and hydrogen atoms. The model of the tunneling reaction assisted by the local motion of the reactans and products was applied to the temperature dependence of the proton-transfer tunneling reaction (C₆H₆⁻ + C₂H₅OH → C₆H₇ + C₂H₅O⁻) in solid ethanol, the tunneling elimination of H₂ molecule of H₂ molecule ((CH₃)₂ CHCH(CH₃)₂⁺ → (CH₃)₂ C = C(CH₃)₂⁺ + H₂) in solid 2,3-dimethylbutane, and the selective tunneling reaction of H atoms in solid neo-C₅H₁₂-alkane mixtures.     

Novel lithocholaphanes: Syntheses, NMR, MS, and molecular modeling studies

Novel head-to-head lithocholaphanes 6 and 11 have been synthesized via precursors 1–5 and 7–10 with overall good yields, and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy, ESI-TOF mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and molecular modeling. In addition, the binding abilities of 6 and 11 towards alkali metal cations have been investigated via competitive complexation studies using equimolar mixtures of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Rb⁺-cations, and cholaphanes 6 and 11. The formation of cation–cholaphane adducts was detected by ESI-TOF mass spectrometry. The trends in these comparative binding studies are nicely reproduced theoretically with PM3 energetically optimized structures of 6 and 11 and their interaction energies with alkali metal cations calculated by molecular mechanics. Cholaphane 11 possessing a peptoid type structural fragment, –(CH₂CONHCH₂CH₂)₂O–, as a coordination sphere, shows binding tendency towards lithium and sodium cations, whereas 6 possessing an ester type, –(CH₂OCOCH₂)₂O–, moiety and a bigger cavity size than 11, shows merely a tendency towards bigger alkali metal cations, potassium and rubidium.     

Microdynamics of solid anilinium chloride

Intraionic C₃ reorientation of the anilinium NH⁺₃ group was evidenced by measurements of the temperature dependence of the proton spin—lattice relaxation time, by rotating frame experiments and cw NMR data. Analysis of the results yielded a rotor hindering potential E = 33.6 kJ/mole and τ_o = 4 × 10⁻¹³ s.     

Highly stereoselective reduction of methyl ketone complexes of the chiral Lewis acid [(η-C5H5)Re(NO)(PPh3)] by K(s-C4H9)3BH; synthesis of optically active secondary alcohols and derivatives

Reaction of optically active ketone complexes (+)-(R)-[(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)-(PPh₃)(η¹-O=C(R)(CH₃)]⁺ BF₄⁻ (R = CH₂CH₃, CH(CH₃)₂m C(CH₃)₃, C₆H₅) with K(s-C₄H₉)₃BH gives alkoxide complexes (+)-(RS)-(η⁵-C₅H₅)Re(NO)(PPh₃)-(OCH(R)CH₃) (73–90%) in 80–98% de. The alkoxide ligand is then converted to Mosher esters (93–99%) of 79–98% de.     

The hydrogen-bond network in propylene-glycol studied by Raman spectroscopy

In the present work, we report a polarized Raman study versus temperature of the complex O–H stretching vibrational band (3800–3000 cm⁻¹) performed in a glass forming liquid, namely propylene-glycol (PG), with chemical formula given by H[OCH(CH₃)CH₂]OH. The spectra were collected in bulk and confined state within a sol–gel controlled porous glass having highly interconnected 25 Å diameter pores and characterized by a huge number of silanol groups (Si–OH), able to interact with PG molecules via hydrogen bond. The goal was to investigate how the hydrophilic nature of the surface influenced the molecular mobility of this hydrogen-bonded system, by monitoring intra- and inter-molecular host–host and host–guest interactions. The analysed O–H spectral region was decomposed into Gaussian symmetrical profiles, each of them associated to a well-defined aggregate, triggered by the presence of H-bond. Passing from the bulk state to the confined one, a clear change of the dynamical properties has been revealed and related to the interactions with the surface. The observed results were discussed on the basis of current models for associated liquids.     

The excess molar volumes of (an alkanol + a branched chain ether) at the temperature 298.15 K and the application of the ERAS model

The excess molar volumes V_m^E {x(CH₃OH or CH₃CH₂OH or CH₃(CH₂)₂OH or CH₃CH(OH)CH₃ + (1 - x){CH₃(CH₂)₂}₂O or CH₃C(CH₃)₂OCH₃ or CH₃CH₂C(CH₃)₂OCH₃} have been calculated from measured values of density over the whole composition range at the temperature 298.15 K in order to investigate OH … O specific interactions. The results are explained in terms of the strong self-association of the alkanols, the specific interaction between the alkanol, and the ether molecules and packing effects upon mixing. The experimental V_m^h results presented here, together with the previously reported data for the molar excess enthalpy H_m^E, has been used to test the Extended Real Associated Solution (ERAS) model.     

An ab initio study of halogen—olefin molecular complexes

A systematic computational study, using the 3–21G basis set, of the F₂/CH₂H₄ system shows that several molecular complex configurations can exist and that the axial-perpendicular type is not the most stable. Full geometry optimization results for F₂/C₂H₄ and Cl₂/C₂H₄ in axial-perpendicular configurations are reported and shown to be improvements over previous calculations.     

The molecular structure of N-sulfinyl trimethylsilanamine, (CH3)3SiNSO

The geometric structure of (CH₃)₃Si---NSO in the vapour phase has been determined by gas electron diffraction. The molecule possesses a planar Si---N=S=O skeleton with syn conformation. The Si(CH₃)₃ group staggers the N=S double bond. The following skeletal parameters (r_a distances and angles with 3σ errors limits) were obtained: Si---N 1.750(6)Å, N=S 1.508(5)Å, S=O 1.444(4)Å, Si---N=S 133.9(9)°, N=S=O 122.5(10)°. Ab initio calculations (HF/3−21G*) were performed for H₃Si---NSO and confirm the planar syn structure for sulfinyl silanamines.