Structural characterization and ferroelectric ordering in (C3N2H5)5Sb2Br11

A ferroelectric crystal (C₃N₂H₅)₅Sb₂Br₁₁ has been synthesized. The single crystal X-ray diffraction studies (at 300, 155, 138 and 121 K) show that it is built up of discrete corner-sharing bioctahedra and highly disordered imidazolium cations. The room temperature crystal structure has been determined as monoclinic, space group, P2₁/n with: , and and β=96.19^°. The crystal undergoes three solid-solid phase transitions: ) discontinuous, continuous and discontinuous. The dielectric and pyroelectric measurements allow us to characterize the low temperature phases III and IV as ferroelectric with the Curie point at 145 K and the saturated spontaneous polarization value of the order of along the a-axis (135 K). The ferroelectric phase transition mechanism at 145 K is due to the dynamics of imidazolium cations.     

Isolation of C60(CF3)n (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) with high compositional purity

The high temperature reaction of C₆₀ with silver(I) trifluoroacetate followed by 500 °C sublimation and subsequent HPLC purification has led to the isolation of the five trifluoromethyl[60]fullerenes C₆₀(CF₃)_n (n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10). Four of them have >90% compositional purity. Two of the compounds, C₆₀(CF₃)₄ and C₆₀(CF₃)₆, were obtained as C₁-symmetry isomers with >90% isomeric purity, and a sample of C₆₀(CF₃)₂ also contained ca. 15-20% of a C_s-symmetry isomer of C₆₀(CF₃)₄. The new compounds were characterized by IR and EI mass spectrometry (all five compounds), NMR spectroscopy (C₆₀(CF₃)₂, C₆₀(CF₃)₄, and C₆₀(CF₃)₆), and 2D COSY NMR spectroscopy (C₆₀(CF₃)₄ and C₆₀(CF₃)₆). Calculations at the AM1 and DFT levels of theory have led to the prediction of the most likely structures for C₆₀(CF₃)₂, C₁-C₆₀(CF₃)₄, C_s-C₆₀(CF₃)₄, and the two most likely structures of C₁-C₆₀(CF₃)₆.     

Substitution of Co in YBa2Fe3O8

The accommodation of Co in the oxygen-saturated solid-solution phase YBa₂(Fe_1−zCo_z)₃O_8+w has been investigated by powder X-ray and neutron diffraction techniques, as well as by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Of the nominal composition range 0.00?z?1.00 tested, the solid-solution limit under syntheses at 950°C in is z=0.47(5). No symmetry change in the nuclear and magnetic structures is seen as a consequence of the Co substitution, and the Co atoms are distributed evenly over the two sites that are square-pyramidally and octahedrally coordinated for w=0. The oxygen-saturated samples maintain their oxygen content roughly constant throughout the homogeneity range, showing that Co³⁺ replaces Fe³⁺. Despite the nearly constant value of w, Mössbauer spectroscopy shows that the amount of tetravalent Fe slightly increases with increasing z, and this allows Co to adopt valence close to 3.00 to a good approximation. The magnitude of the antiferromagnetic moment (located in the a,b plane) decreases with z in accordance with the high-spin states of the majority Fe³⁺ and Co³⁺ ions. Bond-valence analyses are performed to illustrate how the structural network becomes increasingly frustrated as a result of the substitution of Fe³⁺ by the smaller Co³⁺ ion. A contrast is pointed out with the substitution of cobalt in YBa₂Cu₃O₇ where it is a larger Co²⁺ ion that replaces smaller Cu²⁺.     

Ruthenium(II) complexes with 2-(benzylimino-methyl)-4-R-phenol containing the trans(PPh3),cis(CO,Cl)-{Ru(PPh3)2(CO)Cl} unit

Reactions of [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂] with 2-(benzylimino-methyl)-4-R-phenol (H^RL, R = H, Cl, Br and OMe) in boiling methanol in presence of triethylamine afford ruthenium(II) complexes of general formula [Ru(^RL)(PPh₃)₂(CO)Cl] in 57-64% yield. Microanalysis, spectroscopic (infrared, electronic and NMR) and cyclic voltammetric measurements have been used for the characterization of the complexes. Crystal structures of two representative complexes have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The carbonyl, the chloride, the N,O-donor ^RL⁻ and the two mutually trans PPh₃ molecules assemble a distorted octahedral CClNOP₂ coordination sphere around the metal centre in each complex. The complexes display the Ru(II) → Ru(III) oxidation in the potential range 0.62-1.16 V (vs. Ag/AgCl).     

Mg-doping experiment and electrical transport measurement of boron nanobelts

We measured electrical conductance of single crystalline boron nanobelts having α-tetragonal crystalline structure. The doping experiment of Mg was carried out by vapor diffusion method. The pure boron nanobelt is a p-type semiconductor and its electrical conductivity was estimated to be on the order of 10^-3 (Ω cm)⁻¹ at room temperature. The carrier mobility of pure boron nanobelt was measured to be on the order of 10⁻³ (cm² Vs⁻¹) at room temperature and has an activation energy of ∼0.19 eV. The Mg-doped boron nanobelts have the same α-tetragonal crystalline structure as the pristine nanobelts. After Mg vapor diffusion, the nanobelts were still semiconductor, while the electrical conductance increased by a factor of 100-500. Transition to metal or superconductor by doping was not observed.     

{[K.18-Crown-6]Br3}n: a unique tribromide-type and columnar nanotube-like structure for the oxidative coupling of thiols and bromination of some aromatic compounds

Reaction of 18-crown-6 with KBr and then with bromine (Br₂) afforded a unique tribromide salt with a nanotube-like structure ({[K.18-crown-6]Br₃}_n). Oxidative coupling of thiols and bromination of some aromatic compounds is the first report on the chemistry of this reagent.     

First separation and characterization of cis and trans 1,2-bisaryloxy perfluorocyclobutanes

4-Bromotrifluorovinyloxybenzene (4-Br-TFVE) undergoes cyclodimerization upon heating at 150 °C affording cis and trans isomers of 1,2-bis(4-bromophenoxy)hexafluorocylcobutane. Stereoisomers were separated by selective crystallization, confirmed by single crystal X-ray, and further characterized by NMR. Remarkable difference in the solid state structures include aryl to aryl dihedral angles of 12° for the trans isomer and 88° for the cis isomer. Polymers containing roughly equal amounts of cis and trans fused perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) rings should be expected to have low crystallinity due to the marked difference in the two unit cells as is observed.     

Charge states of Ca atoms in β-dicalcium silicate

In order to study the crystal structure of β‐Ca₂SiO₄, time-of-flight neutron powder diffraction experiments were carried out at temperatures between room temperature (RT) and 600 °C. Rietveld refinement at RT has shown that β‐Ca₂SiO₄ is monoclinic based on P2₁/n symmetry and two different types of Ca sites, Ca(1) and Ca(2). All interatomic distances within 3 Å were calculated, with the valences of Ca(1) with seven CaO bonds and Ca(2) with eight were estimated to be 1.87+ and 2+ by the Zachariasen-Brown-Altermatt formula (bond valence sum). Applying charge neutrality the two charge states of Ca in β‐Ca₂SiO₄ are [Ca(1)SiO₄]²⁻ and Ca(2)²⁺, respectively. Furthermore, the [Ca(1)SiO₄]²⁻ unit has the shortest Ca-O distance, and its length kept constant at 2.23 Å at all temperatures. In the short-range structure analysis at RT, the shortest Ca-O bond was also observed in a radial distribution function. These results imply that the [Ca(1)SiO₄]²⁻ unit has covalency on the shortest Ca-O in addition to Si-O.     

Synthesis and characterisation of bis(pentafluorophenyl)antimony(V) cations, [(C6F5)2SbL3]

Pentacoordinate complex cations of the general formula [(C₆F₅)₂SbL₃]³⁺ stabilized as solid salts in combination with tetraphenylborate (BPh₄), tetrafluorobroate (BF₄) anions, where L=DMSO, Ph₃AsO, PyO, DMF, α-, β- and γ-picoline have been isolated. The newly formed complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, solid-state IR and and NMR. From these results, a five-fold coordination around antimony was required.     

Dilute solution behaviour of progressively hydrolyzed polyacrylamide in water-N, N dimethylformamide mixtures

The intrinsic viscosities [η’s] of anionic (hydrolyzed; low and high carboxyl content) and nonionic polyacrylamide (unhydrolyzed) were measured in water-N, N dimethylformamide mixtures at various temperatures. Non-polyelectrolyte behavior of low carboxyl content polyacrylamide was observed in mixed solvent system. The plots of [η] vs. solvent composition in a mixed solvent system pass through minima for both high as well as low carboxyl content polymers but through a maximum for nonionic polyacrylamide. Observed minimum for charged polymers may be attributed to the loss of polymer sites available to interact with solvent for H-bonding interaction between neighboring amide and the acid groups. The maximum for nonionic polymer at the particular solvent composition arises for the most powerful cosolvent effect. Existence of two antagonistic effects is apparent in [η] values of nonionic polymer at various temperatures. Huggins constant (K_H) also indicates a significant variation of cosolvency as a function of solvent composition. Activation parameters of viscous flow were calculated using Frenkel-Eyring equation. The volume related parameter and the shape factor were also computed. Shape factor data indicate that polymer molecules are more or less rigid spheres and are not affected by temperature and composition of solvent.     

On the diffusion of free carriers in β-rhombohedral boron

To determine the diffusion of untrapped carriers in β-rhombohedral boron, we constructed a feedback pico-ammeter based on pulse integration technique. This enabled measuring deviations from the bias in a 10⁹ Ω sample in the order of 1 nA with 0.7 ms time resolution. For the first time, we obtained the drift velocity of optically generated untrapped electron-hole pairs 106(20) cm s⁻¹ yielding for the band-determined diffusion coefficient and for the carrier mobility . Fitting Fick's second law to the measured trap-determined dispersion of carriers yields the ambipolar diffusion coefficient D^*=0.043(14) and 0.28(10) cm² s⁻¹ at 260 and 340 K, respectively. The thermal activation energy of 0.18 eV agrees with the well-known trapping levels in β-rhombohedral boron.     

Action des hydrazines fluoroalkylées sur les phosphoallènes: synthèse d’hydrazones N-fluoroalkylées β-phosphonatées

Ten phosphorylated β-hydrazones of structure R₂P(O)C(NNHR_F)CHR₂′ were prepared in 54-91% yield by heating the allenes R₂P(O)CHCCR₂′ with fluorinated hydrazines H₂NNHR_F in chloroform or methanol [R=Ph, OCH₂C(Me)₂CH₂O or OCH₂C(Me)(Pr)CH₂O, R′=H or Me and R_F=CH₂CF₃ or C₆F₅]. Two cyclohexyl derivatives were prepared similarly from R₂P(O)CHCCy. The triphenyl derivatives Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(NNHCH₂CF₃)Ph and Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(NNHC₆F₅)Ph were made in 91 and 68% yield by heating the ketones Ph₂P(O)CH₂C(O)Ph with an ethanol solution of the corresponding hydrazines. The stereochemistry of the hydrazones was determined by multinuclear NMR experiments. Compounds with C(NNHR_F)Me groups exist as a mixture of Z and E isomers, with the Z form predominating (fluorinated group syn to phosphorus). Those with C(NNHR_F)CHMe₂, C(NNHR_F)Cy or C(NNHR_F)Ph groups were formed selectively, the Z isomers being the only products. The results are explained by steric hindrance, the bulkier isopropyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl group disfavouring the E configuration. , , , NMR data, coupling constants and IR data are reported.     

A short, simple and general approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidine

A general and efficient stereoselective approach for the synthesis of (3S,4S) and (3S,4R)-3-methoxy-4-methylamino pyrrolidines, a part of the structure of AG-7352, a naphthyridine antitumor agent and quinoline antibacterial compounds has been described.     

Molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer investigated by NMR methods

1H and 13C NMR spectra and 1H spin-lattice relaxation times T₁ and T_1ρ have been employed to study the structure and molecular dynamics in polyethylene and ethylene-1-butene copolymer in the temperature range from 100 to 370 K. Results are interpreted in terms of α, β and γ -relaxation, as well as methyl group rotation. The activation energies for all motions were established. The incorporation of 1-butene into ethylene chain leads to an increase of mobility in amorphous and crystalline phases as well as appearance the 13C resonance characteristic to the monoclinic structure in addition to the orthorhombic observed in both polymers. The crystallinity degree derived from T_1ρ in studied polymers is close to that determined using DSC method.     

Molecular structure and spectral properties of thionaphthalimides

The molecular structure and absorption spectra of monothio- and dithio-naphthalimides were compared to their naphthalimide analogues using AM1, PM3 and ZINDO/S semiempirical quantum chemical methods. The substitution of the 4R-naphthalimide oxygen atoms by sulphur atoms resulted in a red-shift of the absorption spectra by Δλ_max60-65 and 100-140 nm, respectively. The thionated naphthalimide derivatives do not show observable fluorescence due to intersystem crossing to the triplet -states localised at the CS groups. The -absorption bands of monothioimides are located at 525-580 nm (ε=60-80) and those for dithioimides at 535-560 nm (ε=140-390) and 628-686 nm (ε=34-68). None of these transitions are solvent sensitive. The -transitions of N-phenylthioimides have also a small contribution from -states due to a partial conjugation between CS group and π-electronic system of the N-phenyl ring. As a result, the bands of aromatic substituted N-phenylthioimides are red-shifted as compared to those of the aliphatic N-methyl-thioimides.