Crystal structure and electrical properties of the mixed valent titanium oxysulfide Sm2Ti2S2O4.5

A new phase Sm₂Ti₂S₂O_4.5 was synthesized and its crystal structure was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. This compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system (C2/m) with lattice constants a=17.9987(11) Å, b=3.71607(14) Å, c=12.6172(8) Å and β=133.645(4)°. The structure is built up from double chains of Ti-centered octahedra between which Sm-polyhedra develop. In spite of very close formulations, the structure of Sm₂Ti₂S₂O_4.5 differs completely from that of the defect Ruddelsden-Popper phase Sm₂Ti₂S₂O₅ previously reported. The title compound presents a mixed valence for titanium with Ti(III) (d¹) and Ti(IV) (d⁰) located in different crystallographic sites. However, conductivity measurements show that this compound is non-metallic.     

A novel route to nanosized molybdenum boride and carbide and/or metallic molybdenum by thermo-synthesis method from MoO3, KBH4, and CCl4

Nanosized molybdenum boride and carbide were synthesized from MoO₃, KBH₄, and CCl₄ by thermo-synthesis method at lower temperature. The relative content of Mo, Mo₂C, and molybdenum boride in the product was decided by the molar ratio between MoO₃, KBH₄, and CCl₄. Increasing the molar ratio of CCl₄ to MoO₃ was favorable to the production of Mo₂C. Increasing the molar ratio of KBH₄ to MoO₃ was favorable to the production of molybdenum boride. By carefully adjusting the reaction conditions and annealing in Ar at 900°C, a single phase of MoB could be obtained.     

Investigations of molybdenum redox phenomenon in Li2O-MoO3-P2O5 phosphate glasses

Two series of glasses have been prepared and characterized. One with varying Li₂O/P₂O₅ ratio and the other with varying Mo/P ratio. The relationship between the formation of the reduced state of molybdenum in phosphate glasses and the type of gases released in heating batch materials has been investigated. Effect of temperature on the valence state of molybdenum is also studied. Oxidation-reduction (redox) equilibrium of Mo⁵⁺/Mo⁶⁺ and environment of molybdenum (V) in these series of lithium-molybdenum-phosphate glasses are related to the glass composition and the possible structural units formation in the glasses.     

Molybdenum pentachloride (MoCl5) or molybdenum dichloride dioxide (MoO2Cl2): advanced catalysts for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds

A new, convenient and mild method for thioacetalization of heterocyclic, aromatic and aliphatic compounds catalyzed by MoCl₅ or MoO₂Cl₂ is described. This novel method is important for the synthesis of the difficult to prepare heterocyclic thioacetals such as the pterin thioacetals and it offers significant advantages such as high conversion, short reaction times and simplicity in operation.     

Formation of an η-allyl and a cyclic γ-hydroxyalkyl complex of molybdenum from reaction of MoH2(η-cyclopentadienyl)2 with homoallyl alcohol

The reaction of Cp₂MoH₂ (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅) with homoallyl alcohol in the presence of a protonic acid afforded a cationic η³-crotyl molybdenum complex and a cyclic α-methyl-γ-hydroxypropyl molybdenum complex. This reaction proceeds via the stepwise formation of the cyclic complex, followed by formation of the η³-crotyl complex.     

Determination of phosphate/arsenate by a modified molybdenum blue method and reduction of arsenate by S2O4

A modified molybdenum blue method for fast and accurate measurement of arsenate and phosphate in aqueous solution at concentrations below 10 μmol l⁻¹ is reported. The modification consists of optimizing the composition of the molybdenum-containing solution (potassium antimony tartrate, ammonium molybdate, sulfuric acid).Selective reduction of arsenate by sodium dithionite is used to determine phosphate concentrations, and for the speciation of arsenate and arsenite, in an aqueous mixture according to the scheme developed by Johnston and Pilson. Sodium dithionite is used for the first time to achieve complete, fast (<10 min), and selective reduction of arsenate in neutral solution.These two significant improvements afforded a colorimetric limit for As detection near 1 ppb, which easily meets the requirements imposed by the revised EPA threshold levels for As in drinking water.     

(Nb2W4O19), TMA2, Na4(OH2)14(SO4): a new layered structure with Lindqvist heteropolyanions, XAS characterization of the HPAs

The new (Nb₂W₄O₁₉),TMA₂, Na₄(OH₂)₁₄(SO₄) has been evidenced as a minor phase during the Nb₂W₄O₁₉TMA (tetramethylammonium) salt synthesis. Its crystal structure has been refined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data, system monoclinic, a=10.166(5) Å, b=17.93(1) Å, c=24.81(1) Å, β=93.057(7)°, space group (S.G.) C2/c, Z=4, R₁=3.96%, wR₁=4.50%. It shows the stacking of cationic and anionic bidimensional layers. The anionic layer of formula [(Nb₂W₄O₁₉), TMA₂ ]²⁻ is formed of isolated Lindqvist HPAs surrounded by TMA groups. The isolated layers adopt a trigonal symmetry that is lost in the crystal by the association of the cationic sheets. These later, of formula [Na₄(OH₂)₁₄(SO₄)]²⁺ form porous net-like sheets with nearly circular cavities of diameter 7.5 Å. groups host the available cavities in a disordered manner. The cohesion between the sheets is performed by both electrostatic interactions and a set of hydrogen bonds. In the cationic layers, the highly symmetrical surrounding of HPAs by TMA groups yields a homogeneous electrostatic field at their external surface leading to a statistic Nb/W disorder over the three available independent metallic positions. Then, XAS experiments at the L₁/L₃-W edge complementarily helped to highlight the preferential cis configuration of (Nb₂W₄O₁₉)⁴⁻ anions, help to the strong Nb vs W contrast in their contribution to the backscattering paths. Previously to these experiments, it was of course checked that both the two phases present in the prepared sample contain Nb₂W₄O₁₉ anions with nearly unchanged geometry.     

Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes and deoxygenation of pyridine N-oxides with H2 catalyzed by MoO2Cl2

A chemoselective and highly efficient hydrogenation of nitroarenes and deoxygenation of pyridine N-oxides using a cheap and environmentally friendly H₂/MoO₂Cl₂ system has been developed     

Preparation of dinitrogen complexes Mo(N2)2P4 stabilised by phosphonite PPh(OEt)2 and phosphinite PPh2(OEt) ligands

Dinitrogen complexes Mo(N₂)₂P₄1, 2 [P=PPh(OEt)₂ and PPh₂OEt] were prepared by allowing a MoCl₃(THF)₃ solution containing an excess of phosphine to react with magnesium under nitrogen. Substitution reactions with CO and p-tolylisocyanide were studied, and led to Mo(CO)₂P₄, Mo(CO)₃P₃, and Mo(p-tolylNC)₂P₄ derivatives. Treatment of dinitrogen compound Mo(N₂)₂[PPh(OEt)₂]₄ with an excess of HCl gave the hydrazido(2-) [MoCl(NNH₂){PPh(OEt)₂}₄]Cl derivative. Reduction reactions with zinc amalgam of complexes 1 and 2 in the presence of lutidine·HCl gave ammonia in about 8-10% yield.     

Processing and characterization of new oxysulfide glasses in the Ge-Ga-As-S-O system

New oxysulfide glasses have been prepared in the Ge-Ga-As system employing a two-step melting process which involves the processing of the chalcogenide glass (ChG) and its subsequent melting with amorphous GeO₂ powder. Optical characterization of the synthesized oxysulfide glasses has shown that the cut-off wavelength decreases with increasing oxygen content, and this has been correlated to results of Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopies which show the formation of new oxysulfide structural units. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis to probe the bonding environment of oxygen atoms in the oxysulfide glass network, has revealed the preferred formation of Ga-O and Ge-O bonds in comparison to As-O bonds. This work has demonstrated that melting a ChG glass with GeO₂ leads to the formation of new oxysulfide glassy materials.     

Mo(CO)3(NCMe)(PPh3)2: Synthesis, X-ray structure and evaluation of its catalytic activity for the homogeneous hydrogenation of olefins and their mixtures

The complex Mo(CO)₃(NCMe)(PPh₃)₂, was synthesized by the reaction of Mo(NCMe)₃(CO)₃ with two equivalents of PPh₃ and characterized by UV–Vis, IR, NMR and X-ray diffraction. This complex was used as a catalyst precursor for the hydrogenation of 1-hexene, styrene, cyclohexene and 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene and their mixtures under moderate conditions in homogeneous media. Under mild reaction conditions (T = 373 K, P = 60 atm), the substrates showed the following reactivity order: styrene > 1-hexene > cyclohexene > 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene. A quaternary equimolar mixture showed a different hydrogenation order: 1-hexene > cyclohexene > styrene > 2,3-dimethyl-1-butene; the presence of dibenzothiophene or mercury does not interfere with the activity of the catalyst.     

Crystal structures of two new oxysulfides La5Ti2MS5O7 (M=Cu, Ag): evidence of anionic segregation

Two new compounds, La₅Ti₂MS₅O₇ (M=Cu, Ag) were synthesized and their structures solved from single crystal X-ray data. Both compounds are isotypic. They crystallize in the orthorhombic system (space group Pnma, Z=4) with lattice constants a=19.423(1) Å, b=3.9793(2) Å, c=18.1191(9) Å for La₅Ti₂CuS₅O₇, and a=19.593(2) Å, b=3.9963(1) Å, and c=18.2973(15) Å for La₅Ti₂AgS₅O₇. The structure of these compounds is built from fragments of the rock-salt, perovskite and fluorite types and a clear anionic segregation of the anions appears in the structure. La₅Ti₂CuS₅O₇ and La₅Ti₂AgS₅O₇ exhibit an orange-yellow color and measurement of their optical band gap gave 2.02 and 2.17 eV, respectively.     

Thiophene hydrodesulfurization activity of MoS2/Al2O3 catalysts prepared via exfoliation. The effect of cobalt

In contrast to the bulk MoS₂, the structure of the active phase of the catalyst prepared via exfoliation is shown to exhibit a number of distortions, which form a superstructure of the type of the charge density waves with a quasi-period of 30 ?. Due to such distortions, the ions of cobalt firmly chemisorb on the basal plane of MoS₂ occupying, along the perimeter of the MoS₂ clusters, the regions with a lower energy of the Mo-S interaction. A synergetic increase in the catalyst activity due to the introduction of cobalt was observed up to the atomic ratios of Co/(Co+Mo) = 0.33, which is possible for the nanoparticles of MoS₂ with a diameter 200 ?, only if cobalt adsorbs on the basal plane. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sn-promoting mechanism for ketone hydrogenation over Rh/SiO2

Hydrogenation of acetophenone, 2-butanone, styrene and 1-hexene over Rh---Sn/SiO₂ in heterogeneous liquid phase reaction systems was studied by in situ EXAFS, FT-IR, TEM, analytical TEM, CO and H₂ adsorption measurements. The catalytic activity of Rh/SiO₂ for hydrogenation of acetophenone and 2-butanone increased by a factor of 5–500 by Sn addition, showing a maximum activity at surface composition Sn_s/Rh_s = 1.5, whereas hydrogenation of styrene and 1-hexene decreased monotonously and drastically by Sn addition. In situ Sn K-edge EXAFS of the well characterized CVD-Rh---Sn/SiO₂ catalyst prepared by using Sn(CH₃)₄ vapor suggested that oxygen of C=O group makes a bond with Sn atom upon acetophenone adsorption.     

Molybdenum and tungsten complexes of the neutral tripod ligands HC(pz)3 and MeC(CH2PPh2)3

Starting from [M(CO)₆], seven-coordinated complexes of tungsten and molybdenum containing the facially coordinating ligands HC(pz)₃ (1) and MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃ (2) were obtained in a two-step reaction sequence. The complexes have a 4:3 piano stool geometry with almost perfect C_S symmetry in the crystal. In solution, they show the typical fluxional behavior for seven-coordinated complexes even at low temperature. Complete oxidative decarbonylation occurs when [HC(pz)₃Mo(CO)₃] (4) or [MeC(CH₂PPh₂)₃Mo(CO)₃] (6) are treated with an excess of I₂ or Br₂.     

[Me8Pt4ReS4] and related PtMe2-containing clusters derived from tetrathiorhenate

The reactions of Pt₂Me₄(μ-SMe₂)₂ and [ReS₄]⁻ in MeCN solution have been investigated. The resulting polyalkylated clusters: Et₄N[ReS₄PtMe₂] (Et₄N[1]), Et₄N[ReS₄(PtMe₂)₂] (Et₄N[2]), and Et₄N[ReS₄(PtMe₂)₄] (Et₄N[4]), were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. The structure of Et₄N[1] was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction, which demonstrated the expected square planar and tetrahedral coordination spheres bridged by a pair of sulfur atoms.     

Tuning the sulfur-heterometal interaction in organolead(IV) complexes of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4]

Reactions of [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄] with Ph₃PbCl, Ph₂PbI₂, Ph₂PbBr₂ and Me₃PbOAc result in the formation of bright yellow to orange solutions containing the cations [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbR₃]⁺ (R₃ = Ph₃, Ph₂I, Ph₂Br, Me₃) isolated as PF₆⁻ or BPh₄⁻ salts. In the case of the Me₃Pb and Et₃Pb systems, a prolonged reaction time results in formation of the alkylated species [Pt₂(μ-S)(μ-SR)(PPh₃)₄]⁺ (R = Me, Et). X-ray structure determinations on [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbMe₃]PF₆ and [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbPh₂I]PF₆ have been carried out, revealing different coordination modes. In the Me₃Pb complex, the (four-coordinate) lead atom binds to a single sulfur atom, while in the Ph₂PbI adduct coordination of both sulfurs results in a five-coordinate lead centre. These differences are related to the electron density on the lead centre, and indicate that the interaction of the heterometal centre with the {Pt₂S₂} metalloligand core can be tuned by variation of the heteroatom substituents. The species [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₄PbR₃]⁺ display differing fragmentation pathways in their ESI mass spectra, following initial loss of PPh₃ in all cases; for R = Ph, loss of PbPh₂ occurs, yielding [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₃Ph]⁺, while for R = Me, reductive elimination of ethane gives [Pt₂(μ-S)₂(PPh₃)₃PbMe]⁺, which is followed by loss of CH₄.     

Two mixed valent molybdenophosphates with a tunnel structure closely related to K0.17MoP2O7: Pb2(PbO)2Mo8(P2O7)8 and PbK2Mo8(P2O7)8

Two new mixed valent Mo(III)/Mo(IV) diphosphates containing lead Pb₂(PbO)₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ and PbK₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ have been synthesized. The [Mo₈P₁₆O₅₆]∞ frameworks of these phosphates are closely related to that of K_0.17MoP₂O₇: the MoO₆ octahedra and P₂O₇ groups form two sorts of large eight-sided tunnels. They are occupied in an ordered way by PbO chains and Pb²⁺ cations in Pb₂(PbO)₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈ and by K⁺ and Pb²⁺ cations in PbK₂Mo₈(P₂O₇)₈. It results in different symmetries of these two structures, which are tetragonal and monoclinic, respectively, showing the great flexibility of these mixed frameworks, susceptible to accommodate various species with different sizes.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of a new oxychalcogenide La5Ti∼3.25Zr∼0.25S5O9.25

A new phase in the quinary system La/Ti/Zr/S/O was obtained from a mixture of La₂O₃, La₂S₃, ZrO₂, and TiO₂ by a solid-state reaction at 1273 K in a sealed fused-silica tube. The structure of this new phase, La₅Ti_∼3.25Zr_∼0.25S₅O_9.25, was solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, with R_(obs)=3.37% for 2764 reflections (I>3σ(I)) and 125 variables. This compound crystallizes with four formula units in the monoclinic space group C2/m with lattice constants , , , and β=106.100(8)°. The structure can be viewed as a 2D building constituted from two-atom-thick slabs of rock salt type (=sulfide part) which are interleaved with double-octahedral chains centered on titanium/zirconium atoms (mixed Ti/Zr sites) and drawing a zigzag arrangement (=oxide part). In addition, EDXS analyses show that a solid solution Ti/Zr exists with a general formulation La₅Ti_3.5−xZr_xS₅O_9.25 (where 0.1?x?0.5).     

A new versatile binuclear seven-coordinate complex of molybdenum(II), [(μ-Cl)2{Mo(μ-Cl)(SnCl3)(CO)3}2]

The two new seven-coordinate anionic complexes of molybdenum(II), binuclear [(μ-Cl)₂{Mo(μ-Cl)(SnCl₃)(CO)₃}₂]²⁻ and mononuclear [MoCl₃(GeCl₃)(CO)₃]²⁻, have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The binuclear complex exhibits a unique mode of reactivity towards norbornene. In a strictly anhydrous atmosphere the binuclear complex effectively initiates the ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction of norbornene, but in the presence of water norbornene is efficiently transformed to the binorbornyl ether (C₇H₁₁)₂O.