Cp2TiCl-catalyzed radical chemistry: living styrene polymerizations from epoxides, aldehydes, halides, and peroxides

Four different Cp₂TiCl-activated radical sources (1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether, benzaldehyde, (1-bromoethyl)benzene, and benzoyl peroxide) were investigated as initiators in the Cp₂TiCl-catalyzed living radical polymerization of styrene (St). The effect of reaction variables was investigated over a wide range of values ([St]/[I]=50/1-400/1, [I]/[Cp₂TiCl₂]=1/0.5-1/4, [Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn]=1/0.5-1/3 and T=40-130 °C). A linear dependence of molecular weight on conversion was observed for each initiator, but larger initiator efficiencies and lower polydispersities were obtained upon increasing [Cp₂TiCl₂] and [Zn] and decreasing temperature. The optimum conditions are initiator dependent but broadly correspond to [St]/[I]/[Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn]=[50-200]/[1]/[2-3]/[4-6] at 70-90 °C. The most robust initiators are aldehydes followed by peroxides, epoxides, and finally halides.     

Living ring‐opening polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactone with Ti alkoxides derived from the Cp2TiCl‐catalyzed SET reduction of aldehydes

A series of substituted benzaldehydes were investigated as initiators for the living ring‐opening polymerization (LROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) mediated by titanium alkoxides obtained from the Cp₂TiCl‐catalyzed single electron transfer (SET) reduction of the carbonyl group following the in situ reduction of Cp₂TiCl₂ with Zn. The aldehyde initiation was demonstrated (NMR) by the presence of the initiator derived fragment on the polycaprolactone (PCL) chain end. The effect of the nature of the aldehyde functionality (R‐Ph‐CHO, R = H, Cl, PhCH₂O, NMe₂, CH₃O, NO₂, and CHO), reagent ratios ([CL]/[aldehyde] = 50/1 to 400/1, [aldehyde]/[Cp₂TiCl₂] = 1/1 to 1/4, and [Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn] = 1/0.5 to 1/2), and temperature (T = 75–120 °C) was investigated over a wide range of values to reveal a living polymerization in all cases with an optimum observed at 90 °C with typical stoichiometric ratios of [CL]/[aldehyde]/[Cp₂TiCl₂]/[Zn] = 100/1/1/2. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 2869–2877, 2008     

Infrared and Raman studies of the anion ordering transitions in paramagnetic organometallic radical cation salts [Cp2Mo(dmit)]X (X = PF6, SbF6)

Temperature dependence of infrared and Raman spectra of the two isostructural salts [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]PF₆ and [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]SbF₆ is studied. At room temperature the physical properties of both compounds are very similar but at lower temperatures they undergo phase transitions associated with anion ordering, which are surprisingly different. The phase transitions in [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]PF₆ salt at T₁ = 120 K and T₂ = 89 K have no important influence on infrared and Raman spectra, while the phase transition in [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]SbF₆ salt at T₁ = 175 K causes a splitting of Raman bands assigned to the CC stretching at about 1334 cm⁻¹ and the in-plane Mo(dmit) ring deformation at about 353 cm⁻¹, and also an infrared band at about 939 cm⁻¹ related to the C-S stretching. The splitting of vibrational bands demonstrates a clear distortion of [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]⁺ cations in the [Cp₂Mo(dmit)]SbF₆ salt. This molecular distortion is related to a lattice distortion providing thus a good argument for applicability of the compressible model of the anion ordering transition.     

Crystal chemistry of M[PO2(OH)2]2·2H2O compounds (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd): Structural investigation of the Ni, Zn and Cd salts

The compounds M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O (M=Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd) were prepared from super-saturated aqueous solutions at room temperature. Single-crystal X-ray structure investigations of members with M=Ni, Zn, Cd were performed at 295 and 120 K. The space-group symmetry is P2₁/n, Z=2. The unit-cell parameters are at 295/120 K for M=Ni: a=7.240(2)/7.202(2), b=9.794(2)/9.799(2), c=5.313(1)/5.285(1) Å, β=94.81(1)/94.38(1)°, V=375.4/371.9 Å³; M=Zn: a=7.263(2)/7.221(2), b=9.893(2)/9.899(3), c=5.328(1)/5.296(2) Å, β=94.79(1)/94.31(2)°, V=381.5/377.5 Å³; M=Cd: a=7.356(2)/7.319(2), b=10.416(2)/10.423(3), c=5.407(1)/5.371(2) Å, β=93.85(1)/93.30(2)°, V=413.4/409.1 Å³. Layers of corner-shared MO₆ octahedra and phosphate tetrahedra are linked by three of the four crystallographically different hydrogen bonds. The fourth hydrogen bond (located within the layer) is worth mentioning because of the short O_h?O bond distance of 2.57-2.61 Å at room temperature (2.56-2.57 Å at 120 K); only for M=Mg it is increased to 2.65 Å. Any marked temperature-dependent variation of the unit-cell dimension is observed only vertical to the layers. The analysis of the infrared (IR) spectroscopy data evidences that the internal PO₄ vibrations are insensitive to the size and the electronic configuration of the M²⁺ ions. The slight strengthening of the intra-molecular P-O bonds in the Mg salt is caused by the more ionic character of the Mg-O bonds. All IR spectra exhibit the characteristic “ABC trio” for acidic salts: 2900-3180 cm⁻¹ (A band), 2000-2450 cm⁻¹ (B band) and 1550-1750 cm⁻¹ (C band). Both the frequency and the intensity of the A band provide an evidence that the PO₂(OH)₂ groups in M[PO₂(OH)₂]₂·2H₂O compounds form weaker hydrogen bonds as compared with other acidic salts with comparable O?O bond distances of about 2.60 Å. The observed shift of the O-H stretching vibrations of the water molecule in the order M=Mg>Mn≈Fe≈Co>Ni>Zn≈Cd has been discussed with respect to the influence of both the character and the strength of M↔H₂O interactions.     

The crystal chemistry of Bi6TP2O15+x, T=Fe, Ni, Zn: Isomorphism and polymorphism, structural relationship to Bi6TiP2O16

The crystal structures of compounds with nominal compositions Bi₆FeP₂O_15+x (I), Bi₆NiP₂O_15+x (II) and Bi₆ZnP₂O_15+x (III) were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. They are monoclinic, space group I2, Z=2. The lattice parameters for (I) are a=11.2644(7), b=5.4380(3), c=11.1440(5) Å, β=96.154(4)°; for (II) a=11.259(7), b=5.461(4), c=11.109(7) Å, β=96.65(1)°; for (III) a=19.7271(5), b=5.4376(2), c=16.9730(6) Å, β=131.932(1)°. Least squares refinements on F² converged for (I) to R1=0.0554, wR₂=0.1408; for (II) R₁=0.0647, wR₂=0.1697; for (III) R₁=0.0385, wR₂=0.1023. The crystals are complexly twinned by 2-fold rotation about , by inversion and by mirror reflection. The structures consist of edge-sharing articulations of OBi₄ tetrahedra forming layers in the a-c plane that then continue by edge-sharing parallel to the b-axis. The three-dimensional networks are bridged by Fe and Ni octahedra in (I) and (II) and by Zn trigonal bipyramids in (III) as well as by oxygen atoms of the PO₄ moieties. Bi also randomly occupies the octahedral sites. Oxygen vacancies exist in the structures of the three compounds due to required charge balances and they occur in the octahedral coordination polyhedron of the transition metal. In compound (III), no positional disorder in atomic sites is present. The Bi-O coordination polyhedra are trigonal prisms with one, two or three faces capped. Magnetic susceptibility data for compound (I) were obtained between 4.2 and 350 K. Between 4.2 and 250 K it is paramagnetic, μ_eff=6.1 μ_B; a magnetic transition occurs above 250 K.     

A versatile synthesis of poly(lauryl acrylate) using N-(n-octyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine in copper mediated living radical polymerization

A facile synthesis of poly(lauryl acrylate) has been achieved by atom transfer radical polymerization using benzyl-2-bromoisobutyrate, copper (I) bromide, and N-(n-octyl)-2-pyridylmethanimine (OPMI). The latter was of great interest as its synthesis was very easy to carry out and as it allowed the reaction mixture to be homogeneous, which was essential for the control of the reaction. The polymerization was controlled under these conditions and was optimized with the addition of copper (II) bromide as deactivator. We proved that the synthesis of poly(lauryl acrylates) with well defined molecular weights and narrow polydispersities was possible using a ligand which does not require difficult synthesis and purification. We also showed the ability of pyridylmethanimine ligands to control ATRP of an acrylate derivative. Best results were obtained at 130 °C in xylene for [Initiator]₀/[Cu(I)Br]₀/[Cu(II)Br₂]₀/[OPMI]/[lauryl acrylate] equal to 1/1/0.05/2.2/181, respectively (M_n = 19,942, DPI = 1.28).     

Gallium and indium dithiocarboxylates: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and structure of [MeGa(S2Ctol)2]

Several gallium and indium dithiocarboxylate complexes of the type [Me_nM(S₂CR)_3−n] (M = Ga, In; n = 0, 1, 2; R = phenyl (Ph), p-tolyl (tol), mesityl (Mes)) have been synthesized. These complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-vis and NMR (¹H,¹³C{¹H}) spectroscopy. Structure of [MeGa(S₂Ctol)₂] was established by X-ray crystallography. The gallium atom adopts a distorted five coordinate geometry which is intermediate between trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal configurations. The complex [Me₂InS₂Ctol] underwent a two-step thermal decomposition leading to the formation of tetragonal β-In₂S₃.     

Metal-organic chains constructed from pre-organized N2S2 donor ligands

Three new N₂S₂ donor ligands 1,1′-((2-(2-(phenylthio)phenylthio)phenyl)methylene)bis(3,5-R-1H-pyrazole), R = H (L^H), R = Me (L^Me), R = i-Pr (L^i-Pr) have been prepared and characterized. These bifunctional ligands incorporate two distinct chelate donor systems, by virtue of the presence of bispyrazole and bisthioether functions. The preferred conformation of these ligands is such that the N₂ and S₂ donor moieties may be oriented in opposite directions, thus favoring the formation of molecular chains when treated with AgBF₄. The X-ray structures of Ag(I) complexes show that, depending on the steric hindrance present on the pyrazole rings, these ligands behave as κ⁴-SSNN-μ bridging tetradentate (when R = H), or κ³-SNN-μ bridging tridentate (when R = Me, i-Pr). Interestingly, [Ag(L^H)]BF₄ crystallizes in the chiral space group P4₁, with the molecular chain that is folded around the 4₁ screw axis.     

Contrasting oxide crystal chemistry of Nb and Ta:: The structures of the hexagonal bronzes BaTa2O6 and Ba0.93Nb2.03O6

The high-temperature hexagonal forms of BaTa₂O₆ and Ba_0.93Nb_2.03O₆ have P6/mmm symmetry with unit-cell parameters a=21.116(1) Å, c=3.9157(2) Å and a=21.0174(3) Å, c=3.9732(1) Å, respectively. Single crystal X-ray structure refinements for both phases are generally consistent with a previously proposed model, except for displacements of some Ba atoms from high-symmetry positions. The structures are based on a framework of corner- and edge-connected Nb/Ta-centred octahedra, with barium atoms occupying sites in four different types of [0 0 1] channels with hexagonal, triangular, rectangular and pentagonal cross-sections. The refinements showed that the non-stoichiometry in the niobate phase is due to barium atom vacancies in the pentagonal channels and to extra niobium atoms occupying interstitial sites with tri-capped trigonal prismatic coordination. The origin of the non-stoichiometry is attributed to minimisation of non-bonded Ba-Ba repulsions. The hexagonal structure is related to the structures of the low-temperature forms of BaNb₂O₆ and BaTa₂O₆, through a 30° rotation of the hexagonal rings of octahedra centred at the origin.     

Aminotroponiminate alkyl and alkoxide complexes of zinc

Reaction of {(iPr)₂ATI} H((iPr)₂ATI = N-isopropyl-2-(isopropylamino)troponiminate) with dimethyl zinc in toluene afforded the methyl complex [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-Me]. Subsequent reaction of [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-Me] with different alcohols gave the alkoxide complexes [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-OR]₂ (R = iPr, tBu, Ph). These compounds, which were investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, are dimeric in the solid-state. In the solid-state the metal centers are bridged symmetrically by two μ-oxygen atoms, thus a flat Zn-O-Zn′-O′ plane is observed. [{(iPr)₂ATI}Zn-OR]₂ were used as catalysts for the copolymerization experiments of epoxides and CO₂.     

Optimization of the synthesis and characterizations of chemical bath deposited Cu2S thin films

Semiconducting copper sulphide (Cu₂S) thin films have been deposited on various substrates (SnO₂:F/glass, glass) by the simple and economical chemical bath deposition technique. The depositions were carried out during a deposition time of about 32.5 min in the pH range of 9.4 to 11. The synthesized Cu₂S thin films were characterized using various techniques without any annealing treatment. X-ray diffraction study shows that Cu₂S films exhibit the best crystallinity for pH = 10.2. For this pH value, Auger electron spectroscopy investigations show that Cu₂S thin films grown on an SnO₂/glass substrate exhibit stochiometric composition with [Cu]/[S] concentrations ratio equal to 2.02. Using the Kelvin method, the work function difference (Ф_material– Ф_probe) for the Cu₂S films deposited on SnO₂/glass substrates at the optimum pH value was found to be equal to 145 meV. Hall measurements confirm the p-type electrical conductivity of the obtained films. The electrical resistivity was of the order of 3.85 × 10⁻⁴ Ω-cm. The transmission and reflection coefficients vary in the range of [35–60] % and [5–15] % respectively, in the visible range, and the band gap energy is about 2.37 eV.     

Preparation of Nafion/PTFE/Zr(HPO4)2 composite membranes by direct impregnation method

The viscosities of as received 5.1 wt.% Nafion solutions (EW = 1100, Du Pont Co) blended with various concentrations of ZrOCl₂ were studied. We show the solution viscosity decreases as the wt. ratio of [ZrOCl₂]/[Nafion] is increased from 0.0 to 0.03, then the viscosity does not change significantly as the wt. ratio of [ZrOCl₂]/[Nafion] is increased from 0.03 to 0.16, and then the viscosity increases dramatically as the wt. ratio of [ZrOCl₂]/[Nafion] is increased above 0.16. Four Nafion solutions consisting of 5.1 wt.% Nafion and ZrOCl₂ with [ZrOCl₂]/[Nafion] wt. ratios of 0.019–0.24 were used with porous poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) film to prepare zirconium hydrogenphosphate (ZrP) hybridized Nafion/PTFE (NF–ZrP) composite membranes by direct impregnating porous PTFE in Nafion/ZrOCl₂ solutions. The influence of [ZrOCl₂]/[Nafion] wt. ratio of Nafion/ZrOCl₂ solution on the membrane morphology of NF–ZrP and polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) performance at temperatures of 110–130 °C with relative humidity of 51.7–28.8% RH was investigated.     

Facile fabrication of rutile monolayer films consisting of well crystalline nanorods by following an IL-assisted hydrothermal route

In this study, rutile films consisting of rectangular nanorods were facilely deposited on glass substrates from strongly acid solution of TiCl₄. The highly ordered array of nanorods was realized in presence of ionic liquid (IL) of [Bmim]Br by following a hydrothermal process. In this process, Degussa P25 nanoparticles served as seeds that were pre-deposited on the substrates to facilitate the array of rutile nanorods. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectrum were used to characterize the obtained nanorod films. The measurements showed that the nanorods were rectangular with width of 100-200 nm and length of more than 1 μm, and grew up typically along c-axis to form the arrays against the substrate. The presence of IL was found vital for the formation of rutile nanorods, and the suitable molar ratio of [Bmim]Br to TiCl₄ ranged from 500:1 to 1500:1. The excessive [Bmim]Br may hinder the precipitation of rutile particles.     

The mercury chromates Hg6Cr2O9 and Hg6Cr2O10—Preparation and crystal structures, and thermal behaviour of Hg6Cr2O9

The basic mercury(I) chromate(VI), Hg₆Cr₂O₉ (=2Hg₂CrO₄·Hg₂O), has been obtained under hydrothermal conditions (200 °C, 5 days) in the form of orange needles as a by-product from reacting elemental mercury and K₂Cr₂O₇. Hydrothermal treatment of microcrystalline Hg₆Cr₂O₉ in demineralised water at 200 °C for 3 days led to crystal growth of red crystals of the basic mercury(I, II) chromate(VI), Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀ (=2Hg₂CrO₄·2HgO). The crystal structures were solved and refined from single crystal X-ray data sets. Hg₆Cr₂O₉: space group P2₁2₁2₁, Z=4, a=7.3573(12), b=8.0336(13), , 3492 structure factors, 109 parameters, R[F²>2σ(F²)]=0.0371, wR(F² all)=0.0517; Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀: space group Pca2₁, Z=4, a=11.4745(15), b=9.4359(12), , 3249 structure factors, 114 parameters, R[F²>2σ(F²)]=0.0398, wR(F² all)=0.0625. Both crystal structures are made up of an intricate mercury-oxygen network, subdivided into single building blocks [O-Hg-Hg-O] for the mercurous compound, and [O-Hg-Hg-O] and [O-Hg-O] for the mixed-valent compound. Hg₆Cr₂O₉ contains three different Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells, whereas Hg₆Cr₂O₁₀ contains two different Hg₂²⁺ dumbbells and two Hg²⁺ cations. The Hg^I-Hg^I distances are characteristic and range between 2.5031(15) and 2.5286(9) Å. All Hg₂²⁺ groups exhibit an unsymmetrical oxygen environment. The oxygen coordination of the Hg²⁺ cations is nearly linear with two tightly bonded O atoms at distances around 2.07 Å. For both structures, the chromate(VI) anions reside in the vacancies of the Hg-O network and deviate only slightly from the ideal tetrahedral geometry with average Cr-O distances of ca. 1.66 Å. Upon heating at temperatures above 385 °C, Hg₆Cr₂O₉ decomposes in a four-step mechanism with Cr₂O₃ as the end-product at temperatures above 620 °C.     

Subsolidus phase relations and crystal structures of the mixed-oxide phases in the In2O3-WO3 system

Subsolidus phase relationships in the In₂O₃-WO₃ system at 800-1400°C were investigated using X-ray diffraction. Two binary-oxide phases—In₆WO₁₂ and In₂(WO₄)₃—were found to be stable over the range 800-1200°C. Heating the binary-oxide phases above 1200°C resulted in the preferential volatilization of WO₃. Rietveld refinement was performed on three structures using X-ray diffraction data from nominally phase-pure In₆WO₁₂ at room temperature and from nominally phase-pure In₂(WO₄)₃ at 225°C and 310°C. The indium-rich phase, In₆WO₁₂, is rhombohedral, space group (rhombohedral), with Z=1, a=6.22390(4) Å, α=99.0338(2)° [hexagonal axes: a_H=9.48298(6) Å, c=8.94276(6) Å, a_H/c=0.9430(9)]. In₆WO₁₂ can be viewed as an anion-deficient fluorite structure in which 1/7 of the fluorite anion sites are vacant. Indium tungstate, In₂(WO₄)₃, undergoes a monoclinic-orthorhombic transition around 250°C. The high-temperature polymorph is orthorhombic, space group Pnca, with a=9.7126(5) Å, b=13.3824(7) Å, c=9.6141(5) Å, and Z=4. The low-temperature polymorph is monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, with a=16.406(2) Å, b=9.9663(1) Å, c=19.099(2) Å, β=125.411(2)°, and Z=8. The structures of the two In₂(WO₄)₃ polymorphs are similar, consisting of a network of corner sharing InO₆ octahedra and WO₄ tetrahedra.     

Host-Guest Interactions between Calixarenes and Cp(2)NbCl(2)

The possible inclusion complexes of Cp₂NbCl₂ into calixarenes hosts have been investigated. The existence of a true inclusion complex in the solid state was confirmed by a combination of NMR, ab-initio calculations, thermogravimetric analysis, FTIR, Raman and PXRD. Ab-initio calculations, ¹H NMR solution and solid state ¹³C CP-MAS NMR results demonstrated that p-sulfonic calix[6]arene does form an inclusion complex with Cp₂NbCl₂. Raman spectroscopy showed, for the inclusion compound of p-sulfonic calix[6]arene-Cp₂NbCl₂, a band between 500 and 850 cm⁻¹ characteristic of Nb-O vibration. This result suggests that Nb(V) may engage in coordination with the oxygen of the sulfonate group, as part of the host-guest interaction. However, it is important to mention that the niobocene dichloride (Cp₂NbCl₂) dissolves in water and undergoes oxidation and hydrolysis processes to yield Cp₂NbCl₂(OH) species. For that reason this band does not exclude that the Nb-O band belongs to Cp₂NbCl₂(OH). Solid State ¹³C CP-MAS NMR and solution ¹H NMR spectroscopies together with ab-initio results showed that Cp₂NbCl₂ is included in the p-sulfonic calix[6]arene cavity, with both Cp rings inside the cavity. In contrast, the solution ¹H NMR results demonstrated that calix[6]arene does not form inclusion complex with Cp₂NbCl₂ in CDCl₃ solution. Cp₂NbCl₂ is not included in the calix[6]arene cavity, possibly due to the lack of sulfonate heads which promote Nb-O interactions and assist the inclusion of Cp₂NbCl₂ into the cavity.     

K2B12F12: A rare A2X structure for an ionic compound at ambient conditions

The anhydrous salt K₂B₁₂F₁₂ crystallized from aqueous solution and its structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Ni₂In-type structure it exhibits is rare for an A₂X ionic compound at 25 °C and 1 atm., consisting of an expanded hexagonal close-packed array of B₁₂F₁₂²⁻ centroids (cent?cent distances: 7.204-8.236 Å) with half of the K⁺ ions filling all of the O_h holes and half of the K⁺ ions filling all of the D_3h trigonal holes in the close-packed layers that are midway between two “empty” T_d holes. The structure is also unusual in that the bond-valence sum for the K⁺ ions in O_h holes is less than or equal to 0.73 (the bond-valence sum for the other type of K⁺ ion is 1.16). A variation of the Ni₂In structure is exhibited by the previously published monohydrate Cs₂(H₂O)B₁₂F₁₂, for which an improved structure is also reported here. For K₂B₁₂F₁₂: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 8.2072(8), b = 14.2818(7), c = 11.3441(9) Å, β = 92.832(5)°, Z = 4, T = 120(2) K. For Cs₂(H₂O)B₁₂F₁₂: orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁, a = 9.7475(4), b = 10.2579(4), c = 15.0549(5) Å, Z = 4, T = 110(1) K.     

Structure and magnetic properties of RE2Cu2Cd

The ternary intermetallic compounds RE₂Cu₂Cd (RE=Y, Sm, Gd-Tm, Lu) were synthesized by induction-melting of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The structure of Gd₂Cu₂Cd was refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data: Mo₂FeB₂ type, space group P4/mbm, a=756.2(3), c=380.2(3) pm, wR2=0.0455, 321 F² values, 12 variables. The structures are 1:1 intergrowth variants of slightly distorted CsCl and AlB₂ related slabs of compositions RECd and RECu₂. The copper and cadmium atoms build up two-dimensional [Cu₂Cd] networks (257 pm Cu-Cu and 301 pm Cu-Cd in Gd₂Cu₂Cd) which are bonded to the rare earth atoms via short RE-Cu contacts (290 pm in Gd₂Cu₂Cd). Temperature dependent susceptibility measurements of RE₂Cu₂Cd with RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, and Tm show experimental magnetic moments which are close to the free RE³⁺ ion values. The four compounds show ferromagnetic ordering at T_C=116.7(2), 86.2(3), 48.4(1), and 14.5(1) K, respectively, as confirmed by heat capacity measurements. Dy₂Cu₂Cd shows a spin reorientation at T_N=16.9(1) K.     

Conversion of lactides into ethyl lactates and value-added products

This Letter describes an attractive and efficient method for Mg(OR)₂-mediated lactide alcoholysis. The catalysts were generated in situ from di-n-butylmagnesium and ROH to prevent aggregation of Mg(OR)₂. The reaction of ROH [R = Me, Et, RCO₂(Me)CH] with lactide initially yielded the ring-opened product HO[CH(CH₃)CO]_nOR (n = 2 or 3). The complete consumption of lactide caused the reaction to proceed further, giving environmentally friendly lactic acid esters in excellent yields under ambient conditions.