Synthesis, characterisation and chemical reactivity of some new dioxouranium(VI) complexes of 2-aminobenzoylhydrazone of butane-2,3-dione

A new series of dioxouranium(VI) complexes of a potential ONNO tetradentate donor 2-aminobenzoylhydrazone of butane-2,3-dione (L₁H₂) have been synthesized. At pH 2·5–4·0, the donor (L₁H₂) reacts in the keto form and complexes of the type [UO₂(L₁H₂)(X)₂] (X⁻=Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO ₃ ⁻ , NCS⁻, ClO ₄ ⁻ , CH₃COO⁻, 1/2SO ₄ ²⁻ ) are obtained. At higher pH (6·5–7), the complex of the enol form having the formula [UO₂(L₁)(H₂O)] has been isolated. On reaction with a monodentate lewis base (B), both types of complexes yield adducts of the type [UO₂(L₁)(B)]. All these complexes have been characterised adequately by elemental analyses and other standard physicochemical techniques. Location of the bonding sites of the donor molecule around the uranyl ion, status of the uranium-oxygen bond and the probable structure of the complexes have also been discussed.     

Stereoselective hydrogenation of (−)-menthone and (+)-isomenthone mixture using nickel catalysts

The catalytic hydrogenation of an optically active mixture of (−)-menthone and (+)-isomenthone was studied. The catalysts Raney nickel and Ni/SiO₂ were used for these hydrogenations. Catalysts modified with (2R,3R)-(+)-tartaric acid were tested as well. Various non-equilibrium mixtures of isomers were produced by means of these reactions, especially mixtures containing the less stable menthol isomers, (+)-neomenthol and (+)-neoisomenthol. (−)-Menthol was produced during these reactions to a limited extent, the production of (−)-isomenthol was barcly existent. Isomerization of (−)-menthone and (+)-isomenthone occurred during these reactions. Isomerizations among individual isomers were barely detectable. The catalysts used showed a very low activity under the given reaction conditions.     

Intramolecular MLOH/π and MLNH/π interactions in crystal structures of metal complexes

Intramolecular metal-ligand OH/π (MLOH/π) and metal-ligand NH/π (MLNH/π) interactions in transition metal complexes between aqua or ammine ligand and ligand containing a C6-aromatic ring were investigated in crystal structures deposited in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). These intramolecular interactions appear in 38 structures with aqua ligand as the hydrogen atom donor and in 10 structures with ammine ligand as the hydrogen atom donor. Among all these complexes only one is negatively charged, 14 are positively charged and 33 are neutral indicating that the overall charge of the molecule has an influence on the XH/π (X = O or N) interactions. Energy estimated by DFT calculations is approximately 19 kJ mol⁻¹ for the MLOH/π interactions and approximately 15 kJ mol⁻¹ for the MLNH/π interactions. Dedicated to Professor Milan Melník on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

S1←S0 vibronic spectrum and structure of fluoral in the S1 state

The vibronic absorption spectrum of fluoral vapor was studied in the region of the S₁←S₀ electronic transition (313–360 nm). The origin O₀ ⁰⁺) of the transition (29419 cm⁻¹) and a number of fundamental frequencies in the S₀ and S₁ states were determined. The character of intensity distribution in the spectral bands indicates that the electronic excitation leads to significant change of the CF₃ group orientation relative to the molecular frame. Moreover, it was found that the carbonyl fragment of the molecule in the S₁ state has pyramidal structure (in contrast, the carbonyl fragment of the fluoral molecule in the S₀ state is planar). The experimental torsion and inversion energy levels were used for the calculation of internal rotation and inversion potential functions of fluoral molecule in the S₁ state. The potential barriers to internal rotation and inversion were found to be 1270 cm⁻¹ (15.2 kJ mol⁻¹) and 550 cm⁻¹ (6.6 kJ mol⁻¹), respectively. The conformational changes caused by S₁←S₀ electronic excitation in the fluoral molecule are similar to those observed in acetaldehyde and biacetyl molecules and differ from the conformational behavior of hexafluorobiacetyl molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 294–299, February, 1998.     

Experimental and theoretical investigations of adsorption of fexofenadine at mild steel/hydrochloric acid interface as corrosion inhibitor

The present study examines the effect of fexofenadine, an antihistamine drug, on corrosion inhibition of mild steel in molar hydrochloric acid solution using different techniques under the influence of various experimental conditions. Results revealed that fexofenadine is an effective inhibitor and percent inhibition efficiency increased with its concentration; reaching a maximum value of 97% at a concentration of 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ M. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) observations of steel surface confirmed the protective role of the studied drug. Polarization studies showed that fexofenadine is a mixed-type inhibitor. The adsorption of the inhibitor on mild steel surface obeyed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm with free energy of adsorption (∆G°_ads) of −40 kJ mol⁻¹. Energy gaps for the interactions between mild steel surface and fexofenadine molecule were found to be close to each other showing that fexofenadine has the capacity to behave as both electron donor and electron acceptor. The results obtained from the different corrosion evaluation techniques are in good agreement.     

MoS<Subscript>2</Subscript> single slab as a model for active component of hydrodesulfuration catalyst: a quantum chemical study 1. Molecular and electronic structure of Mo<Subscript>12</Subscript>S<Subscript>24</Subscript> macromolecule and its adsorption complex with H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S

The molecular and electronic structure of Mo₁₂S₂₄ macromolecule as the MoS₂ single slab structure was calculated by the density functional theory (DFT) method with the B3P86 hybrid exchange-correlation functional. The results of calculations point to slight relaxation of coordinatively unsaturated Mo and S atoms, which is consistent with the published data. The calculated width of the forbidden band (0.85–0.98 eV) is comparable with the experimental value (1.30 eV) and similar to that obtained from DFT calculations with periodic boundary conditions (0.89 eV). The surface Mo centers in the Mo₁₂S₂₄ macromolecule are more reduced than the internal (Mo^IV) atoms. In order to characterize the adsorption capacity of coordinatively unsaturated Mo centers, a Mo₁₂S₂₄·6H₂S adsorption complex was calculated. The structure and energy characteristics of the adsorption complex point to a weak donor-acceptor interaction of the π-lone pair of H₂S molecule with the surface (reduced) Mo centers. The active center of thiophene hydrodesulfuration catalysts is formed as a result of the oxidative addition of hydrogen followed by occlusion of hydrogen into the MoS₂ matrix. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2189–2193, October, 2005.     

Hydrogenation of nitrate in water over bimetallic Pd-Ag/Al2O3 catalysts

Hydrogenation of nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) in water was studied with 0.8 ×10⁻³–3.2 ×10⁻³ mol/dm³ of reactant in the temperature range of 293–313 K over palladium promoted Ag catalysts. Pd-Ag catalysts with a low ratio of Ag/Pd were characterized by high efficiency in the reduction of nitrates. The degradation of nitrates followed approximately first order decay and the estimated apparent activation energy was about 4 kJ/mol.     

Effect of tungsten oxide loading on metathesis activity of ethene and 2-butene over WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The metathesis of ethene and 2-butene to propene was studied over WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts with various WO₃ loadings (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 wt%). The 2-butene conversion and propene selectivity increased greatly with WO₃ loading increasing from 2 to 8 wt%, reached maximum at 8–12 wt% WO₃ loading, and then decreased when the WO₃ loading was higher than 12 wt%. From the above results and taking the economics into account, the optimal amount of WO₃ loading was ~8 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic techniques to elucidate the effect of different tungsten oxide loadings on the metathesis reactivity of ethene and 2-butene. The characterization data indicated that three types of tungsten species (i.e., surface tetrahedral tungsten species, surface octahedral polytungstate species, and WO₃ crystallites) were present in the catalysts. It was found that WO₃ was not the active centers, and surface tetrahedral tungsten species might be more active than octahedral polytungstate species in metathesis reaction. The reduced form of tungsten species [W⁺⁴, W⁺⁵, and W^+(6−y) (0 < y < 1)] may be the suitable state of W species acting as metathesis active centers.     

Sequential coordination of orthosemiquinone radical ligands by surface centers on γ-Al2O3

The kinetics of sequential generation of mono-, bi-, and triradical centers in heterogeneous reactions of toluene solutions of orthoquinones, catechols, and their mixtures with γ-Al₂O₃ was studied. The localization of mono- and biradical centers on the solid oxide surface and the transfer of triradical Al³⁺ (Q⁻)₃ complexes (Q⁻ is the corresponding 3,6-di-tert-butylsemiquinone radical) to a solution (extraction of Al from the solid phase) were proved. The number of the triradical complexes extracted is considerably higher than that of active surface centers accessible for coordination with radical ligands. The conditions favoring the formation of the radical complexes on the Al ions were established. Possible mechanisms of these processes were proposed. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2223–2227, November, 1998.     

Application of chitosan/iota-carrageenan polymer electrolytes in electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC)

In this work, a chitosan/iota (ι)-carrageenan blended film doped with orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) as ionic dopant and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as plasticizer has been used as a separator and electrolyte in an electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC). A set of samples were prepared by the solution cast technique to see the effect of the different weight ratios of the proton donor and plasticizer on the conductivity. The highest conducting sample has composition 37.50 wt.% chitosan–37.50 wt.% ι-carrageenan–18.75 wt.% H₃PO₄–6.25 wt.% PEG. The conductivity value is 6.29 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. The conductivity–temperature relationship is Arrhenian, and the activation energy for the highest conducting sample is 0.09 eV. The specific discharge capacitance of the EDLC is 35 F g⁻¹ at 0.11 mA cm⁻² current drain and was constant for 30 cycles.     

Development of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the analysis of glycyrrhizic acid

Glycyrrhizic acid (GL) is a major active compound of licorice. The specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) (designated as 8F₈A₈H₄2H₇) against GL was produced with the immunogen GL–BSA conjugate. The dissociation constant (K _d) value of the MAb was approximately 9.96×10⁻¹⁰ M. The cross reactivity of the MAb with glycyrrhetic acid was approximately 2.6%. The conventional indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) and simplified icELISA adapted with a modified procedure were established using the MAb. The IC₅₀ value and the detect range by the conventional icELISA were 1.1 ng mL⁻¹ and 0.2–5.1 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The IC₅₀ value and the detect range by the simplified icELISA were 5.3 ng mL⁻¹ and 1.2–23.8 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The two icELISA formats were used to analyze GL contents in the roots of wild licorice and different parts of cultivated licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch). The results obtained with the two icELISAs agreed well with those of the HPLC analysis. The correlation coefficient was more than 0.98 between HPLC and the two icELISAs. The two icELISAs were shown to be appropriate, simple, and effective for the quality control of raw licorice root materials.     

Mechanism of the catalytic action of the mechanoactivated salt K2PTCL4 in the gas-phase hydrochlorination of acetylene

A heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrochlorination of acetylene by gaseous HCl is formed as a result of mechanical treatment of the solid salt K₂PtCl₄ in an atmosphere of acetylene, ethylene, or propylene by the formation of π complexes of platinum(II) as active centers in the surface layer under these conditions. The controlling stage of the catalytic reaction is chloroplatination of the π-coordinated acetylene by the HCl molecule. The reaction takes place as a concerted process, in which an intermediate β-chlorovinyl derivative of platinum(II), a complex of platinum with a coordination vacancy[PtCl ₃ ^* ]⁻, and a new molecule of HCl are formed simultaneously with cleavage of the H—Cl and Pt—Cl bonds in the metal complex adjacent to the π-acetylene complex. The catalytic cycle closes with rapid dissociation of the organoplatinum intermediate by the action of HCl, giving the final product and the initial complex [PtCl₄]²⁻. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 42, No. 5, pp. 306–311, September–October, 2006.     

Kinetics of propylene and ethylene polymerization reactions with heterogeneous ziegler-natta catalysts: Recent results

The article discusses recent results of kinetic analysis of propylene and ethylene polymerization reactions with several types of Ti-based catalysts. All these catalysts, after activation with organoaluminum cocatalysts, contain from two to four types of highly isospecific centers (which produce the bulk of the crystalline fraction of polypropylene) as well as several centers of reduced isospecificity. The following subjects are discussed: the distribution of active centers with respect to isospecificity, the effect of hydrogen on polymerization rates of propylene and ethylene, and similarities and differences between active centers in propylene and ethylene polymerization reactions over the same catalysts. Ti-based catalysts contain two families of active centers. The centers of the first family are capable of polymerizing and copolymerizing all α-olefins and ethylene. The centers of the second family efficiently polymerize only ethylene. Differences in the kinetic effects of hydrogen and α-olefins on polymerization reactions of ethylene and propylene can be rationalized using a single assumption that active centers with alkyl groups containing methyl groups in the β-position with respect to the Ti atom, Ti-CH(CH₃)R, are unusually unreactive in olefin insertion reactions. In the case of ethylene polymerization reactions, such an alkyl group is the ethyl group (in the Ti-C₂H₅ moiety) and, in the case of propylene polymerization reactions, it is predominantly the isopropyl group in the Ti-CH(CH₃)₂ moiety. Published in Russian in Vysokomolekulyarnye Soedineniya, Ser. A, 2008, Vol. 50, No. 11, pp. 1911–1934. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

State of various stereoregulating electron-donating compounds in titanium-magnesium catalysts for propylene polymerization: A diffuse reflectance IR spectroscopic study

Propylene polymerization on TiCl₄/donor/MgCl₂ (donor = ethyl benzoate, dibutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, diethyl 2,3-diisopropylsuccinate) supported catalysts is considered. The states of the donors in the catalysts have been investigated by diffuse reflectance IR spectroscopy. Data characterizing the distribution of the donors and the active component (TiCl₄) on the support surface have been obtained. Molecular weight distribution data for polypropylene are presented. The molecular weight distribution of polypropylene depends on the location of the donor and TiCl₄ molecules.     

Catalytic and physicochemical properties of Pt/α-GeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems in reaction of selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in a gas phase

Hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde in a gas phase over Pt/α-GeO₂ catalysts was investigated. The systems were characterized by BET, XRD, TPR, TEM, ToF-SIMS, and FTIR methods. The optimum pretreatment parameters were studied. The best catalytic performance shows the catalyst 5 wt % Pt/α-GeO₂ (69% selectivity to crotyl alcohol at 200 μmol s⁻¹ g _Pt ⁻¹ activity and 10% conversion of crotonaldehyde). Lower loaded catalysts (2 and 1 wt % Pt) show lower, but also promising activity and selectivity. This good catalytic performance was related to the physicochemical properties of the catalyst. GeO₂ in the presence of Pt undergoes a partial surface reduction at temperatures higher than 100°C probably leading to the creation of the active Pt-Ge centers responsible for high selectivity to crotyl alcohol. Reduction at a temperature≥200°C deactivates the catalytic systems due to the formation of inactive PtGe alloys. Published in Russian in Kinetika i Kataliz, 2007, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 600–605. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Calculation of spectral characteristics of water clusters upon interaction with oxygen molecules and bromine ions

Interactions of (Br⁻) _i (H₂O)_50−i clusters (0 ≤ i ≤ 6) with molecular oxygen is studied by the molecular dynamics method using flexible molecule model. Values of real and imaginary parts of permittivity decrease in the 0 ≤ ω ≤ 3500 cm⁻¹ frequency range with increasing number of bromine ions in a cluster. The ability of cluster to absorb IR radiation decreases, whereas the reflectance and Raman light scattering remains nearly unchanged. An increase in the content of Br⁻ ions in the cluster lowers the power of emitted IR radiation and decreases the amount of active electrons participating in the interaction with IR radiation. However, when the concentration of Brions becomes substantially higher (at i = 5 and 6), the values of emitted power and the number of active electrons are restored to the values that are typical for water cluster in the absence of Br⁻ ions. At i ≥ 3, repelling Br⁻ ions acquire kinetic energy, which is sufficient to remove molecular oxygen from the system.     

Molecular Design of Polyoxometalate-Based Compounds for Environmentally-Friendly Functional Group Transformations: From Molecular Catalysts to Heterogeneous Catalysts

This review article summarizes our recent researches for molecular design of polyoxometalates (POMs) and their related compounds for environmentally-friendly functional group transformations. The divacant POM [γ-SiW₁₀O₃₄(H₂O)₂]⁴⁻ exhibits high catalytic performance for mono-oxygenation-type reactions including epoxidation of olefins and allylic alcohols, sulfoxidation, and hydroxylation of organosilanes with H₂O₂. We have successfully synthesized several POM-based molecular catalysts (metal-substituted POMs) with controlled active sites by the introduction of metal species into the divacant POM as a “structural motif”. These molecular catalysts can efficiently activate H₂O₂ (vanadium-substituted POM for epoxidation) and alkynes (copper-substituted POM for click reaction and oxidative homocoupling of alkynes). The aluminum-substituted POM exhibits Lewis acidic catalysis for diastereoselective cyclization of (+)-citronellal to (−)-isopulegol. In addition, we have developed POM-based “molecular heterogeneous catalysts” by the “solidification” and “immobilization” of catalytically active POMs.     

Current challenges in photocatalysis: Improved photocatalysts and appropriate photoreactor engineering

The photocatalytic activity of different commercially available titanium dioxide materials is compared employing dichloroacetate (DCA⁻) as the model pollutant. A mechanism is presented evincing that one photon is sufficient to initiate the complete mineralization of one DCA⁻ molecule. The observed non-linear dependence of the photonic efficiency ζ of the DCA⁻ degradation upon the incident photon rate is explained by a simple mathematical model considering only one-electron charge transfer and recombination reactions on the semiconductor particle. Since photonic efficiencies below 1% are observed when aromatic compounds are used as model pollutants, an electron-shuttle mechanism is proposed involving the benzoquinone/hydroquinone redox couple and resulting in an overall enhancement of the electon/hole recombination. Newly synthesized colloidal Ti/Fe mixed oxide particles exhibit higher activity for the degradation of dichloroacetate than pure TiO₂ colloids, however, they still suffer from cathodic corrosion problems. Finally, a self-contained thin film fixed bed reactor (TFFBR) is presented which can be operated as a stand-alone system gaining the energy for the pump operation from an appropriate photovoltaic module and regulating the water flow as a function of the solar flux.     

Coordination complexes of iron(III) with 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid: preparation and characterization in the solid state

Summary The synthesis and study of a number of new iron(III) complexes of the ligands 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone (3,2-opoH), 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,3-dhbH₃) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-dhbH₃) are described. These complexes have the formulae [Fe(3,2-opo)₂Cl]·PrⁿOH, K[Fe(2,3-dhbH)₂(H₂O)₂], [Fe(2,3-dhb)(H₂O)₂], K[Fe-(3,4-dhbH)₂(H₂O)₂], [Fe(3,4-dhb)(H₂O)₂] and K₆[Fe(3,4-dhb)₃]·3H₂O. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses. X-ray powder patterns, t.g.a./d.t.g. techniques, magnetic susceptibilities and spectroscopic (u.v.-vis., i.r. and variable-temperature ⁵⁷Fe-M?ssbauer) studies. Monomeric octahedral structures are assigned for the 1∶2 2,3-dhbH²⁻ complex and the 1:3 3,4-dhb³⁻ compound. Dinuclear and/or oligonuclear structures are tentatively proposed for the remaining complexes in the solid state. In [FeL(H₂O)₂] (L³⁻ = 2,3-dhb³⁻ or 3,4-dhb³⁻), iron(III) appears to be 5-coordinate. Both oxygens of 3,2-opo⁻ participate in coordination, while the dihydroxybenzoato ligands exhibit various coordination modes, depending mainly on the positions of the hydroxy groups, their anionic charge and the ligand∶metal molar ratio used.     

Kinetic study of reaction of [ReN(H2O)(CN)4]2− with quinoline-2-carboxylate and pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylate anions

The kinetics of the reaction between [ReN(H₂O)-(CN)₄]²⁻ with different κ² N,O-donor ligands (quin⁻ and 2,3-dipic⁻, respectively) have been studied in the pH 4–12 range in aqueous solution. Two consecutive reaction steps with the formation of the [ReN(η¹-quin)(CN)₄]³⁻ and [ReN(μ²-quin) (CN)₃]²⁻ complexes, respectively, were spectrophotometrically observed and kinetically investigated. The same reaction mechanism is proposed for these two ligands. The first fast reaction (for quin⁻) is attributed to the aqua substitution of [ReN(H₂O)(CN)₄]²⁻ with forward and reverse rate constants of 1.96(5) × 10⁻¹ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 5.6(3) × 10⁻² s⁻¹, while a rate of 2.64(3) M⁻¹ s⁻¹ was observed for the reaction between the conjugate base [ReN(OH)(CN)₄]³⁻ and quin⁻ at 40.2 °C. Due to small absorbance changes, it was difficult to obtain any good quality data for the fast reactions for 2,3-dipic⁻. The second, slower reaction is attributed to cyano substitution with rate constants (k ₃ K ₁) of 4.17(4) × 10⁻³ for quin⁻ and 4.68(7) × 10⁻³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for 2,3-dipic⁻, at 80.02 °C, respectively. The acid dissociation constant for the aqua complex was spectrophotometrically determined as 11.58(3) and 11.54(2) and kinetically as 11.51(8) and 11.41(1), at 80.4 °C, respectively. Negative values of −83.5(2) and −144.1(2) J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ as well as the of 71.4(3) and 47.3(3) kJ mol⁻¹, for the slow quin⁻ and 2,3-dipic⁻ reactions, respectively, point to an ordered transition state where bond formation is responsible for the major driving force of the reaction. The and for the fast forward reaction of quin⁻ is indicative of expected associative activation in the transition state. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.