Hydrogen-bubble-propelled zinc-based microrockets in strongly acidic media

Tubular polyaniline (PANI)/Zn microrockets are described that display effective autonomous motion in extreme acidic environments, without any additional chemical fuel. These acid-driven hydrogen-bubble-propelled microrockets have been electrosynthesized using the conical polycarbonate template. The effective propulsion in acidic media reflects the continuous thrust of hydrogen bubbles generated by the spontaneous redox reaction occurring at the inner Zn surface. The propulsion characteristics of PANI/Zn microrockets in different acids and in human serum are described. The observed speed-pH dependence holds promise for sensitive pH measurements in extreme acidic environments. The new microrockets display an ultrafast propulsion (as high as 100 body lengths/s) along with attractive capabilities including guided movement and directed cargo transport. Such acid-driven microtubular rockets offer considerable potential for diverse biomedical and industrial applications.     

Reactivity of 3-cyano-1-methylpyridinium iodide in aqueous ammonia or amine solutions

Reaction of 3-cyano-1-methylpyridinium iodide (1) with aqueous methylamine or ethylamine yields 1-alkyl-3-alkyliminomethyl-2-imino-1,2-dihydropyridines 8. The related aldehydes 9 on alkaline treatment give 2-alkylamino-3-pyridinecarbaldehydes 10. Experimental evidence, including the related reactions of 1 with aqueous ammonia and diethylamine as well, suggest a general reaction sequence initiated by the attack of the nucleophile, followed by ring-opening, transamination and ring-closing steps.     

Imidazolinone herbicides in strongly acidic media: Speciation and electroreduction

From UV-visible measurements and potentiometric titrations it follows that the lowest pK values (pK₁) of imidazolinone herbicides correspond to the simultaneous protonation/dissociation equilibria of both the pyridinic (or quinolinic) nitrogen and the carboxyl group, the following pK (pK₂) to the imminium nitrogen and the basic pK (pK₃) to the dissociation of the imido nitrogen. Below pH 6 and down to pH c.a. 2.5, the dominant form of the herbicide is a double ion having both positive and negative charges, this being important in discussing the effect of pH in the natural dynamics of imidazolinone herbicides, especially in their soil sorption. Electrochemical studies of the reduction of the herbicides were made on mercury and carbon electrodes in strongly acidic media (0.1 to 2.7 M H₂SO₄) as well up to pH 7. The reduction signals were all attributed to the reduction of the imidazolinone ring except the second peak/wave that was found to have originated by the reduction of the pyridine/quinoline ring. A signal observed in strongly acidic media and at highly negative overpotentials was attributed to the reduction of the imidazolinone ring of the product of the previous reduction in a process consisting of two reversible electron transfers followed by a protonation reaction.     

Electrochemical reduction of ytterbium in perchloric media

The electrochemical behavior of Yb³⁺ in perchloric media was studied by cyclic voltammetry and current reversal chronopotentiometry at several temperatures. The results show that the reversible electrochemical reduction of Yb³⁺ is followed by homogeneous reactions. The experimentally determined diffusion coefficients of ytterbic ion are 0.41×10^?5, 0.48×10^?5 and 0.53×10^?5 cm² s^?1 at 4.2, 9.2 and 14.7°C, respectively, in 0.5 M NaClO₄ solutions. From these data a value of 16 kJ mol^?1 (3830 cal mol^?1) was obtained for the activation energy for diffusion of ytterbic ion. From the activation energy the diffusion coefficient of ytterbic ion at 25.0°C was estimated. The value of 0.67×10^?5 cm² s^?1 was obtained. In all the experiments the initial pH was maintained at 4.1.     

The stability of polyaniline in strongly alkaline or acidic aqueous media

Polyaniline (PANI) base has been suspended in 9 M potassium hydroxide at 20 °C or 90 °C for various time intervals extending to 4 months. The fraction of acetone-soluble material increased from 1.2 wt.% to 4.5 wt.% after exposure to an alkaline medium for 60 days at 20 °C. Gel-permeation chromatography indicates that the aggregation of PANI is reduced, while the chain degradation itself is negligible. FTIR spectroscopy confirms this trend and the absence of hydrolytic changes in the PANI structure. Polyaniline retains the ability to be reprotonated with a 1 M sulfuric acid to a conducting form. No marked changes in the molecular structure have been found, even after suspension of PANI in 9 M KOH at 90 °C for 60 days.Similar immersion of PANI salt in 5 M sulfuric acid at 20 °C was responsible for changes in the protonation, and the mass increased by 11 wt.%. This was explained by the exchange of the original sulfate or chloride counter-ions for hydrogen sulfate anions or by the protonation of secondary amine sites in PANI in addition to imine ones. The changes in the molecular structure are discussed on the basis of FTIR spectra. The conductivity decreased from 1.2 S cm⁻¹ to ∼10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ but no time-dependence of conductivity was observed. There was no fraction of PANI soluble in acetone. PANI in the protonated state is thus stable also in the strongly acidic medium.The study is supplemented by the assessment of the thermal stability of PANI base, which is of importance for the processing of PANI. Loss of moisture has been observed after exposure to 250 °C for 10 h in both nitrogen atmosphere and in air. Good stability was found at 350 °C only in the nitrogen atmosphere, while a marked mass loss in weight was registered in air.     

Electrochemical generation of ferrate in acidic media at boron-doped diamond electrodes

An extremely strong oxidant, ferrate (Fe(VI) or FeO4(2-), has been produced electrochemically in an acidic aqueous medium for the first time.     

Electrochemical reduction of substituted cobalticinium cations in aqueous media

Summary In aqueous base, polarography, coulometry and cyclic voltammetry show that the cobalticinium skeleton is reduced in two monoelectronic and reversible steps, leading successively to cobaltocenes and cobaltocene anions. In acid solutions, the second reduction step is only observed for derivatives having electron withdrawing substituents. The height of the second reduction wave is pH dependent. Two different schemes are discussed for the reduction in acid solution.     

Electrochemical reduction of Tc(V) chlorocomplexes in acidic medium

The electroreduction of oxopentachlorocomplex of Tc(V) has been studied in 4 M HCl solution by simultaneous coulometry and spectrophotometry. The nature of the products as well as the kinetics of the reduction process and consequent complex equilibria are discussed.     

Heterocyclization of 2-chloro-1-cyano-1-diethoxyphosphoryl-2-trifluoromethylethylene and 2-chloro-2-chlorodifluoromethyl-1-cyano-1-diethoxyphosphorylethylene

The reactions of 2-chloro-1-cyano-1-diethoxyphosphoryl-2-trifluoromethylethylene (2a) and 2-chloro-2-chlorodifluoromethyl-1-cyano-1-diethoxyphosphorylethylene (2b) with arylamines, arylhydrazines, amidines, 2-aminopyridines, and 5-aminopyrazoles were studied. Alkenes 2a, b can serve as precursors of aminopyrazoles, pyrimidines, pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidines, and pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines modified with the fluoroalkyl and diethoxyphosphoryl groups. Intermediates of some heterocyclization reactions were detected by NMR spectroscopy. The structures of the compounds were confirmed by X ray diffraction analysis.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1977–1986, September, 2004.     

Mechanism of the 2-ethyl-3-hydroxy-6-methylpyridinium 2-nitroxysuccinate reduction in nitrite-generating systems

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Electrochemical formation and reduction of silver oxides in alkaline media

The anodic oxidation of silver electrodes in NaOH solution and the reduction of the silver oxides formed were studied by potential step chronoamperometry. Oxidation of Ag to Ag₂O is a diffusion-controlled reaction, the diffusion control being established in the solid phase. Oxidation of Ag₂O to AgO proceeds via a nucleation and growth-controlled process. The amount of AgO decreased with increasing step height. The current—time curves for this reaction have been analysed with the Kolmogoroff—Avrami equation. Reduction of AgO to Ag₂O occurs initially on the outside of the electrode, and the rate of the reaction is limited by diffusion of ions across the thickening layer of Ag₂O. Reduction of Ag₂O to Ag proceeds via a nucleation and growth reaction.     

Extraction of lanthanide ions from acidic and strongly acidic media by phosphine oxide derivatives using temperature-induced phase separation

A composite for the extraction of lanthanide ions from strongly acidic media by temperature-induced phase separation was designed based on the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 and new phosphine oxide derivatives. The dependence of the efficiency and selectivity of micellar extraction on the length of the hydrophobic substituent at the P=O group is determined by both the influence of hydrophobic substituents on the electron-donor capacity of the P=O group and the solubility of phosphine oxides in aqueous and micellar phases. The nitric acid concentration was found to influence the efficiency of extraction of lanthanide ions by phosphine oxides with different structures. An increase in the concentration of nitric acid in an aqueous medium from 0.1 to 1 mol L⁻¹ leads to a decrease in the degree of extraction by water-soluble derivatives and a substantial increase in the degree of extraction by phosphine oxides, which are soluble only in the micellar phase of Triton X-100.     

Nucleophilic reactions in strongly acidic media. Highly specific homolytic aromatic alkylation and acylation

Under Minisci reaction conditions, nucleophilic carbon free radicals readily substitute ferrocene (as the ferricinium ion) and protonated acetophenone, the latter reaction being highly positionally specific.     

Electrochemical reduction of nano-SiO2 in hard carbon as anode material for lithium ion batteries

A composite of silica (SiO₂) and hard carbon was prepared by hydrothermal reaction. Special attention was paid to the characterization of the possible electrochemical reduction of nano-SiO₂ in the composite. Evidence by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high lithium storage capacity of the composite prove the electrochemical reduction of nano-SiO₂ and the formation of Li₄SiO₄ and Li₂O as well as Si in the first-discharge. The reversible lithium storage capacity of the nano-SiO₂ is as high as 1675 mAh/g.