Blue alkali dinitrosomethanides: synthesis, structure, and bonding

Explosive alkali dinitrosomethanides (M[HC(NO)2]; M = Li, Na, K, Cs) were prepared in a new, simple, high-yielding synthetic procedure, fully characterized, and shown to be stable at ambient temperature. Alkali dinitrosomethanides are of widespread interest to pharmaceutical and materials scientists alike.     

Thermal stability of alkali metal bifluorides

The thermal stability and non-isothermal kinetics of the decomposition of alkali metal bifluorides were studied using a derivatograph. The removal of hydrogen fluoride from LiF · HF and NaF · HF takes place before melting and their decomposition occurs in a single stage; however, potassium, rubidium and cesium bifluorides at first undergo polymorphous transformation and melting on heating, and their decomposition proceeds stepwise. The thermal stability of alkali metal bifluorides has been found to increase with increasing ionic radius of the cation, reflecting its correlation with the hydrogen bond strength in these compounds.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die thermische Stabilität und die nichtisotherme Kinetik der Zersetzung der Alkalibifluoride thermogravimetrisch untersucht. HF entweicht aus LiF · HF und NaF · HF vor dem Schmelzen in einer Stufe. Bei den entsprechenden Salzen des Kaliums, Rubidiums und Cäsiums erfolgt zuerst eine polymorphe Umwandlung, danach das Schmelzen, wobei die Zersetzung in mehreren Stufen vor sich geht. Die thermische Stabilität der Verbindungen wächst mit zunehmenden Ionenradien, was auf die entsprechende Stärke der Wasserstoffbindung zurückgeführt werden kann.

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Résumé Etude thermogravimétrique de la stabilité thermique de fluorhydrates de métaux alcalins et de la cinétique de leur décomposition en conditions non isothermes. Dans le cas de LiF · HF et de NaF · HF, le départ de l'acide fluorhydrique se produit avant la fusion et la décomposition s'effectue en une seule étape. Par contre, les fluorhydrates de potassium, rubidium et césium subissent une transition cristalline et une fusion avant de se décomposer. On observe que la stabilité thermique des fluorhydrates de métaux alcalins augmente avec le rayon ionique du cation et l'on montre qu'elle peut être reliée à la force de la liaison hydrogène dans ces composés.

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. LiF · HF NaF · HF , , , . , , .

     

Polyaryl anion radicals via alkali metal reduction of arylurea oligomers

A series of N-methylated polyarylurea oligomers have been reduced with potassium metal in HMPA. These reductions result in the transient formation of arylurea anion radicals, which undergo reductive elimination of the urea linkages. The aryl moieties appear in the products as the anion radicals of oligoaryl systems. The reaction is intramolecular, and the sequencing in the polyaryl anion radical remains the same as in the polyarylureas due to the urea-enforced pi-pi stacking interactions.     

LiNaSe,the first inter alkali metal selenide: Synthesis and structure

LiNaSe was synthesized from lithium carbonate and sodium carbonate at 750 °C in a stream of hydrogen loaded with selenium vapour. The crystal structure was determined from single-crystal diffractometer data. The atomic arrangement corresponds to the lead chloride-type structure. The selenium ions are slightly distorted hexagonal close packed. Lithium and sodium ions occupy tetrahedral and octahedral positions respectively. The cations' displacement from the centre of the surrounding chalcogene polyhedra is believed to be caused by cation-cation repulsion.     

Structure,mechanical stability,and chemical bond in alkali metal oxides

Crystal structure parameters, elastic constants, atomic charges, and deformation density distributions of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium oxides, peroxides, superoxides, and ozonides are calculated with the use of the CRYSTAL06 program package in the LCAO basis in the LDA and GGA approximation of density functional theory. The obtained characteristics are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data and calculations of the other authors. All crystals, except sodium, potassium, and rubidium superoxides, are shown to correspond to mechanical stability conditions. The chemical bond between the cation and anion has the ionic character and π-type covalent in the anion. A distinctive feature of its formation is the charge flow from the bond to the toroidal region oriented perpendicularly to the O-O line with the center on the oxygen atom nucleus.     

Energetics and bonding in aluminosilicate rings with alkali metal and alkaline-Earth metal charge-compensating cations

The stabilizing effect of alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions on the oxygen donors of four- and six-membered faujausite-like rings has been calculated in terms of Kohn-Sham core-level (O1s) energy shifts with respect to these same complexes without cations. The results confirm and complement earlier investigations by Vayssilov and co-workers where Na(+) and K(+) were the only complexing cations. The oxygen donor centers in six-membered rings are stabilized by -3.6 ± 0.4, -3.9 ± 0.5, -7.3 ± 0.1, and -7.6 ± 0.2 eV by K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+) adions, respectively. The energy shifts are even greater for four-membered rings where the stabilization effects attain -3.7 ± 0.1, -4.1 ± 0.1, -8.1 ± 0.1, and -9.0 ± 0.1 eV, respectively. These effects are also observed on the low-lying σ-bonding and antibonding molecular orbitals (MOs) of the oxygen framework, but in a less systematic fashion. Clear relationships with the core-level shifts are found when the effects of alkali metal complexation are evaluated through electron localization/delocalization indices, which are defined in terms of the whole wave function and not just of the individual orbitals. Complexation with cations not only involves a small but significant electron sharing of the cation with the oxygen atoms in the ring but also enhances electron exchange among oxygen atoms while reducing that between the O atoms and the Si or Al atoms bonded to them. Such changes slightly increase from Na to K and from Mg to Ca, whereas they are significantly enhanced for alkaline-earth metals relative to alkali metals. With respect to Al-free complexes, Si/Al substitution and cation charge compensation generally enhance electron delocalization among the O atoms, except between those that are linked through an Al atom, and cause either an increased or a decreased Si-O ionicity (smaller/higher electron exchange) depending on the position of O in the chain relative to the Al atom(s). The generally increased electron delocalization among O atoms in the ring is induced by significant electron transfer from the adsorbed metal to the atoms in the ring. This same transfer establishes an electric field that leads to a noticeable change in the ring-atom core-level energies. The observed shifts are larger for the oxygen atoms because, being negatively charged, they are more easily polarizable than Al and Si. The enhanced electron delocalization among O atoms upon cation complexation is also manifest in Pauling's double-bond nature of the bent σ-bonding MO between nonadjacent oxygen centers in O-based ring structures.     

Thermal stability of alkali metal borates and alkaline earth metal borates

The correlation between the enthalpies of formation of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal borates and the composition of the vapor in equilibrium with their melts is considered. The thermal stabilities of the studied borates have been estimated. A method is suggested for determination of the relative composition of the vapor over borate melts on the basis of their enthalpies of formation.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Beziehung zwischen den Bildungsenthalpien von Alkali- (Erdalkali-)metallboraten und der Zusammensetzung der sich mit der Schmelze im Gleichgewicht befindlichen Gasphase betrachtet. Die thermische Stabilität der untersuchten Borate wurde geschätzt. Es wurde ein Verfahren entwickelt, die relative Zusammensetzung der Gasphase über Boratschmelzen auf Grund ihrer Bildungsenthalpien zu bestimmen.

     

Thermal analysis for generating phase diagrams of systems alkali metal chloride/divalent metal chloride

After a historical survey of the application of differential thermal analysis (DTA) for the generation of phase diagrams, particularly those of pseudobinary halide systems, the authors' research work on the systems ACl/MCl₂ (A = NaCs) is reported. In addition to DTA measurements the thermodynamic properties of the ternary compounds A_nMCl_n+2 are investigated by solution calorimetry and EMF measurements dependent on temperature with a newly developed galvanic cell for solid electrolytes. This method is also a useful tool for elucidating phase diagrams, especially for reactions occurring in the solid state.     

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric study of salt cluster ions. Part 1--investigations of alkali metal chloride and sodium salt cluster ions

Salt cluster ions of alkali metal chlorides ACl (A = Li(+), Na(+), K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+)) and sodium salts NaB (B = I(-), HCOO(-), CH(3)COO(-), NO(2)(-), and NO(3)(-)), formed by electrospray ionization, were studied systematically by mass spectrometry. The influences on the total positive ion and negative ion currents of variation of solvent, solution concentration, desolvation temperature, solution flow-rate, capillary voltage and cone voltage were investigated. Only cone voltage was found to influence dramatically the distribution of salt cluster ions in the mass spectra observed. Under conditions of normal cone voltage of approximately 70 V, cluster ions having magic numbers of molecules are detected with high relative signal intensity. Under conditions of low cone voltage of approximately 10 V, the distribution of cluster ions detected is characterized by a relatively low average mass/charge ratio due to the presence of multiply charged cluster ions; in addition, there is a marked reduction in cluster ions having a magic number of molecules. Product ion mass spectra obtained by tandem mass spectrometry of cluster ions are characterized by a base peak having a magic number of molecules that is less than and closest to the number of molecules in the precursor ion. Structures have been proposed for some dications and some quadruply charged ions. At pH 3 and 11, the mass spectra of NaCl clusters show the presence of mixed clusters of NaCl with HCl and NaOH, respectively. The effects of ionic radius on 20 distributions of cluster ions for 10 salts were investigated; however, the fine structure of these effects is not readily discerned.     

Preparation and structure of alkali metal intercalation compounds

The preparation methods of intercalation compounds fall into four main groups: use of alkali metal solutions in liquid ammonia, organometallic reagents, electrochemical methods, and solid state processes. Each of these will be briefly described and a general comparison of the advantages and disadvantages will be made. Structural problems concern the positions occupied by the guest ions and their mobility from one site to one another in the host structure. The resulting ionic conductivity of the intercalation compounds depends on factors such as the ratio between available and occupied sites in the van der Waals gap, the ionicity of the bonds in the host structure, the site geometry, and the nature of the alkali metal.     

Complexes of enniatins and other antibiotics with alkali metal ions

Crystalline 1: 1-complexes of enniatins with potassium salts are described. Complex formation constants of different antibiotics with sodium and potassium are given.     

Polymorphism in NaSbO3: structure and bonding in metal oxides

A new polymorph of NaSbO(3) has been synthesized at 10.5 GPa and 1150 degrees C in a uniaxial split sphere anvil type press (USSA-2000) and recovered back to ambient conditions. The high-pressure form of NaSbO(3) adopts an orthorhombically distorted perovskite structure, isostructural with CaTiO(3), GdFeO(3), and NaTaO(3). The space group is Pnma, and the unit cell dimensions are a = 5.43835(6) A, b = 7.66195(8) A, c = 5.38201(5) A. It is a white insulator with an optical band gap of 3.4 eV. This compound represents the first ternary perovskite prepared containing Sb(5+) on the octahedral site. The octahedral tilting distortion in this compound is much larger than expected from ionic radii considerations. The distortion is driven by a second-order Jahn-Teller distortion originating on oxygen that can be traced back to strong Sb-O covalent bonding. A conflict arises between the strong covalent bonding interactions at oxygen that favor a large octahedral tilting distortion and the repulsive Na-O interactions that oppose excessive octahedral tilting. This conflict destabilizes the perovskite topology, thereby stabilizing the ilmenite polymorph under ambient conditions. Analysis of ionic and covalent bonding explains why ASbO(3) and ABiO(3) compositions frequently adopt structures that violate Pauling's rules.     

On the thermal stability of alkali metal alkanoates II

Lithiumn-alkanoats from pentanoate (LiC₅) to dodecanoate (LiC₁₂) have been investigated with regard to their thermal stabilities. None of these salts are stable in the molten state when oxygen is present, but in an inert atmosphere the melt appears to be stable over a quite large temperature interval, on the average from the melting point (T _F to about 1.3T _F).     

Crystal structure transformations in ammonium and alkali metal perchlorates

A comparative study of the polymorphic transformations in ammonium and the alkali metal perchlorates has been made using differential thermal analysis. Certain correlations have been attempted between the observed trends in the transformation temperatures and available crystallographic and thermodynamic data. The transformation in the case of sodium perchlorate shows pronounced second-order effects. Considerable hysteresis is observed in the transformations in ammonium, potassium, rubidium and caesium perchlorates. Doping of ammonium perchlorate with ammonium phosphate is seen to result in an upward shift in the transformation temperature and an increase in the thermal hysteresis. Prior mechanical and thermal treatment is also seen to result in a broadening of the hysteresis loops in the case of ammonium and potassium perchlorates. The results are explained in terms of contrapolarization effects and the production of strain in the material as a result of prior treatment.     

Synthesis and structure of alkali metal zirconium vanadate phosphates

Mixed vanadate phosphates in the systems MZr₂(VO₄) _x (PO₄)_{3 ? x} , where M is an alkali metal, were synthesized and studied by X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis, and IR spectroscopy. Substitutional solid solutions with the structure of the mineral kosnarite (NZP) are formed at the compositions 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for M = Li; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 for M = Na; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 for M = K; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 for M = Rb; and 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2 for M = Cs. Apart from the high-temperature NZP modification, lithium vanadate phosphates LiZr₂(VO₄) _x (PO₄)_{3 ? x} with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8 synthesized at temperatures not exceeding 840°C crystallize in the scandium tungstate type structure. The crystal structures of LiZr₂(VO₄)_0.8(PO₄)_2.2 (space group P2₁/n, a = 8.8447(6) Å, b = 8.9876(7) Å, c = 12.3976(7) Å, β = 90.821(4)○, V = 985.4(1) ų, Z = 4) and NaZr₂(VO₄)_0.4(PO₄)_2.6 (space group $R\bar 3c$ = 8.8182(3) Å, c = 22.7814(6) Å, V = 1534.14(1) ų, Z = 6) were refined by the Rietvield method. The framework of the vanadate phosphate structure is composed of tetrahedra (that are statistically occupied by vanadium and phosphorus atoms) and ZrO₆ octahedra. The alkali metal atoms occupy extra-framework sites.     

Oxide- and zeolite-supported molecular metal complexes and clusters: physical characterization and determination of structure, bonding, and metal oxidation state

This article is a review of the physical characterization of well-defined site-isolated molecular metal complexes and metal clusters supported on metal oxides and zeolites. These surface species are of interest primarily as catalysts; as a consequence of their relatively uniform structures, they can be characterized much more precisely than traditional supported catalysts. The properties discussed in this review include metal nuclearity, oxidation state, and ligand environment, as well as metal-support interactions. These properties are determined by complementary techniques, including transmission electron microscopy; X-ray absorption, infrared, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies; and density functional theory. The strengths and limitations of these techniques are assessed in the context of results characterizing samples that have been investigated thoroughly and with multiple techniques. The depth of understanding of well-defined metal complexes and metal clusters on supports is approaching that attainable for molecular analogues in solution. The results provide a foundation for understanding the more complex materials that are typical of industrial catalysts.     

Theoretical investigation of structure and stability of oligomers of LiH,NaH, LiF,and NaF

The molecules Li_nH_n, Na_nH_n, Li_nF_n, n=1,..., 4, and NaF and Na₂F₂ are investigated by means of extended basis set SCF and CEPA-PNO computations. In analogy to the D _2h structure of dimers, it is found that trimers have a planar cyclic D _3h equilibrium geometry. For the tetramer of LiH and NaH, the D _4h structure has about the same energy as the 3-dimensional T _d structure, whereas the latter is definitely favoured for Li₄F₄. Correlation effects are investigated for the oligomerization of LiH and the dimerization of LiF. The effect of electron correlation on corresponding E turns out to be small (<4 kJ/mol), except for the case that the T _d tetramer is involved which has a rather large correlation energy.