Thermodynamic properties and phase diagrams of fluoride salts for nuclear applications

This work is a critical review of the chemical-physical properties of the fluoride salts of interest in the Molten Salt Reactor project. In total five salt compositions are discussed. Two of them are choices for coolant applications (based on LiF-BeF₂ and NaF-NaBF₄ systems) one is considered as a heat transfer salt (LiF-NaF-KF system) whereas the other two are the main candidates for the fuels in non-moderated breeder and thermal breeder reactors, respectively (LiF-ThF₄ and LiF-BeF₂-ThF₄ systems). For all the systems the phase diagrams are presented with the emphasis on the melting behaviour and the vapour pressure. Heat capacity, density, viscosity and thermal conductivity, as well as the solubility for actinides in case of the fuels are presented also.     

Tetrabutylammonium bromide: an efficient media for dimethoxytritylation of the 5′-hydroxyl function of nucleosides

An efficient procedure for selective dimethoxytritylation of the 5′-hydroxyl function of nucleosides in the presence of DABCO in molten tetrabutylammonium bromide is described. The methodology is very practical, environmentally benign and produced the desired product in less than 5 min by grinding in a hot mortar. In addition, the effects of the room temperature ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) and microwave irradiation on this system were also studied and the results showed that depurination of the nucleosides occurred under microwave irradiation.     

Greener fluorous chemistry: Convenient preparation of new types of ‘CF3-rich’ secondary alkyl mesylates and their use for the synthesis of azides, amines, imidazoles and imidazolium salts

2,2,2-Trifluoroethanol, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol, and nonafluoro-tert-butyl alcohol were used as precursors for the preparation of the appropriate bis(polyfluoroalkoxymethyl)carbinols [(R_FHOCH₂)₂CHOH, 1a-c, R_FH = (a) CF₃CH₂, (b) (CF₃)₂CH, and (c) (CF₃)₃C] and the corresponding mesylates [(R_FHOCH₂)₂CHOSO₂CH₃, 2a-c]. This novel design paradigm is introduced to eliminate the persistence and bioaccumulation problems of fluorous chemistry, which are associated with the use of longer linear perfluoroalkyl groups (e.g. R_fn ≥ n-C₈F₁₇, n-C₇F₁₅). Secondary mesylates 2a,b and the primary tosylate [(CF₃)₃COCH₂CH₂OTs, 2d] displayed acceptable reactivity towards azide and imidazole nucleophiles to allow the syntheses of novel fluorous azides, which on hydrogenolysis with H₂/Pd-C offered fluorous amines [(R_FHOCH₂)₂CHNH₂, 8a,b], and 1-(polyfluoroalkyl)imidazoles (5a,b,d), respectively, while 2c showed no reactivity due to steric hindrance. The reaction of 8a,b with formaline, glyoxal and hydrochloric acid gave symmetrical 1,3-dialkylated imidazolium chlorides (9a,b), while 5a,b,d were effectively alkylated using n-C₈F₁₇(CH₂)₃I, methyl iodide, 2-bromoethanol, and 2d to yield the corresponding 1,3-dialkylimidazolium iodides, bromides, and tosylates (7aa-ec). Some physical properties of new compounds including mp, bp and solubility patterns were also analyzed; and the fluorophilicity values of 1a-c, and 2a-c were experimentally determined by GC and/or ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy.