Oxidation of Iodo- and Bromo-Substituted Polymethylbenzenes in the System PbO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–CF<Subscript>3</Subscript>COOH–CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The oxidation of mono- and diiodo- and -bromo-substituted polymethylbenzenes (mesitylene and durene) in the system PbO₂–CF₃COOH–CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature (2–70 h) leads mainly to the formation of iodo- and bromobenzyl alcohols as result of oxidation of methyl group. The reaction involves intermediate formation of haloarene radical cations. ESR study of these radical cations made it possible to determine the structure of their singly occupied molecular orbitals a₂ or b₁ and interpret their reactivity.     

Physicochemical properties of (CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> composites

Composite solid electrolytes were synthesized from the organic salt dimethylammonium chloride (1–x)C₂H₈NCl–xAl₂O₃. Their physicochemical properties were studied. In the starting C₂H₈NCl salt, there is a phase transition at 39°C accompanied by an increase in conductivity by two orders of magnitude. The conductivity of the high-temperature phase is 9.3 × 10^–6 S/cm at 160°C. A differential scanning calorimetry study showed that the salt in the composites spreads over the oxide surface and at x > 0.6 the salt melting enthalpy decreases to zero. The conductivity of the resulting composites was studied by impedance spectroscopy. It was shown that heterogeneous doping leads to a sharp increase in ion conductivity to 7.0 × 10^–3 S/cm at 160°C and a decrease in the activation energy to 0.55 eV.     

Glass Formation in the Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>–(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>SO–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O System

The glass formation in the Al₂(SO₄)₃–(CH₃)₂SO–H₂O system was found for the first time. The competitive ability of ligands, dimethyl sulfoxide and water (which are strong donors), for entering the first coordination sphere of aluminum is considered. The possibility of mixed coordination of (CH₃)₂SO (via sulfur and oxygen atoms) in the first coordination sphere of aluminum with retention of the glass-forming ability of the sample was suggested on the basis of IR spectral study.     

Formation of solid solutions of multiferroics in the Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Nd<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The sequence of phases appearance during the formation of Bi_1–xNd_xFeO₃ solid solutions in powder oxides mixtures of bismuth, neodymium, and iron has been determined. It has been shown that the closeness of the reaction mixture composition to that of the individual compound (BiFeO₃ or NdFeO₃) is essential for the realization of the series of phase transformations yielding solid solutions of multiferroics Bi_1–xNd_xFeO₃ as the final product, due to the prevalence of various interphase contacts in the starting reaction zone.     

Formation of nanocrystals in the ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

Formation of zirconia nanocrystals in the course of thermal treatment of an X-ray amorphous zirconium oxyhydroxide was studied. It was shown that the formation of tetragonal and monoclinic polymorphs of ZrO₂ in the temperature range from 500 to 700°C occurs owing to dehydration and crystallization of amorphous hydroxide. An increase of the temperature up to 800°C and higher activates mass transfer processes and, as a result, activates the nanoparticle growth and increases the fraction of the phase based on monoclinic modification of ZrO₂ due to mass transfer from the nanoparticles with the non-equilibrium tetragonal structure. Herewith, formed ZrO₂ nanocrystals with monoclinic structure have a broad size distribution of crystallites, and the average crystallite size after thermal treatment at 1200°C for 20 min is about 42 nm.     

Glass Formation in the Ternary System La<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–As<Subscript>2</Subscript>S<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Er<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The boundaries of the glass formation region in the ternary system La₂O₃–As₂S₃–Er₂O₃ were found. Transparent glass of composition (La₂O₃)_0.03(As₂S₃)0.90(Er₂O₃)0.07 was studied by X-ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy. The intensities of the bands characterizing As–S, La–O, and Er–O bonds increased, and these bands were shifted toward higher energies. This was due to an increase in the covalence of these bonds and probably due to the formation of new bonds in the glasses. Samples in the glass formation region are resistant at 300 K to air, water, and organic solvents.     

Porous xerogels with a bifunctional surface layer of the composition ≡Si(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>SH/≡Si(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The sol-gel method with ethanol as a solvent and fluoride ion as a catalyst was used to prepare polysiloxane xerogels containing both 3-mercaptopropyl and n-propyl groups in the surface layer. An increase in the relative amount of n-propyltriethoxysilane in the initial reaction solution was found to result in the formation of xerogels with developed porous structures, which was accompanied by an increase in the specific surface area from 370 to 550 m²/g; simultaneously, other porous structure parameters such as sorption volume and pore size exhibited a tendency to increase. Atomic-force microscopy was used to show that the xerogels synthesized comprised aggregates of mean size 30 nm. An analysis of the IR and ¹³C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR data led us to conclude that the surface layer of bifunctional xerogels contained not only 3-mercaptopropyl and n-propyl groups but also silanol groups, part of nonhydrolyzed alkoxy groups, and H-bonded water molecules. The ²⁹Si cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectra revealed the presence of structural units of the compositions T¹ [(≡SiO)Si(OR’)₂(CH₂CH₂CH₃) and/or (≡SiO)Si(OR’)₂(CH₂)₃SH, R’ = H, OCH₃, or OC₂H₅], T² [(≡SiO)₂Si(OR’)(CH₂CH₂CH₃) and (≡SiO)₂Si(OR’)(CH₂)₃SH], and T³ [(≡SiO)₃SiCH₂CH₂CH₃ and (≡SiO)₃Si(CH₂)₃SH] in the xerogels synthesized.     

Theoretical study for the CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>OCF<Subscript>2</Subscript>CF<Subscript>2</Subscript>OCHO + Cl reaction

The reaction of CH₃OCF₂CF₂OCHO with Cl atom has been investigated theoretically by direct dynamics method. The BB1K hybrid functional in conjunction with the 6-31 + G(d,p) basis set has been used to optimize the geometries for the stationary points and explore the potential energy surface of the reaction. Four rotation conformers (RC1-4) of CH₃OCF₂CF₂OCHO are identified, and they are all considered in the kinetic calculation. For each conformer, there are two kinds of H-abstraction channels and one displacement channel, and the latter one should be negligible due to involving much higher energy barrier than the former two. The individual rate constants for each H-abstraction channel are evaluated by the improved canonical variational transition-state theory with a small-curvature tunneling correction. The overall rate constant is evaluated by the Boltzmann distribution function, and a fitted four-parameter rate constant expression is obtained over a wide temperature range of 200–2,000 K. The agreement between the calculated and available experimental value at 296 K is good. The contribution of each conformer to the title reaction is discussed with respect to the temperature. In addition, because of the lack of available experimental data for the species involved in the reactions, the enthalpies of the formation (ΔH _f,298°) for the reactant and its product radicals are predicted via isodesmic reaction at the BB1K/6-31 + G(d,p) level.     

Tensimetric investigation of the CrCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>—Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript> system in the temperature range of 600–1200 K

The sublimation pressure of chromium trichloride was measured by the static method with a quartz membrane-gauge manometer in the temperature range of 875–1230 K. An approximating equation for the sublimation pressure vs. temperature was found. The enthalpy (259.4±4 kJ mol^–1) and the entropy (224.2±3.5 J mol^–1 K^–1) of sublimation at 298 K were calculated. For the process 2 CrCl₃(g) + Cl₂(g) = 2 CrCl₄(g), the following values were obtained: _r H°₂₉₈ = –207.1±11.6 kJ mol^–1 and _r S°₂₉₈ = –173.6±10 5 J mol^–1 K^–1.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1561–1564, August, 2004.     

Methane Decomposition Leading to Deposit Formation in a DC Positive CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>–N<Subscript>2</Subscript> Corona Discharge

We have explored the formation of chemical species produced in a positive coaxial corona discharge fed by a mixture of N₂ and CH₄ at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. Gaseous products were detected by IR spectroscopy whilst solid products, deposited on the electrodes, were examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis. The temporal evolution of gaseous products C₂H₂, HCN and C₂H₆ are also reported. These results may assist in the interpretation of results from the recent Cassini Huygens space mission as they may provide a simulation of the chemical processes occuring in Titan’s atmosphere.     

Composition and structure of hydrates of CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COOH molecules and CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> anions in aqueous solutions

The optimal configurations, energy parameters, and normal vibrational frequencies of hydrates of the acetic acid molecule and anion (CH₃COOH·(H₂O) _n (n = 1-10) and CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O) _n (n = 1-8, 16)) are calculated by density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31++G(_d,_p)). The comparison of the calculation results with the known experimental data (Raman, NMR, and so on) gives arguments in favor of the existence of two stable heteroassociates (HAs) in СН₃СООН–H₂O solutions: previously found CH₃COOH·(H₂O)₂ heterotrimer and CH₃COOH·(H₂O)₈, and three complexes (CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₂, CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₆, and CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₁₆) in NaCH₃CO₂^?–H₂O solutions. Each of them is most stable in a series of isomers, contains unstrained H bonds, and is characterized by the maximum molecular packing density among HAs with similar n values. The structure of the subsequent complex formed in solution uniquely follows the structure of the preceding complex and is based on it.     

Possibility of using an UV–nano-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> system for the determination of COD

The results of a study of the optimum oxidation conditions in the system UV?nano-Т?О₂–K₂Cr₂O₇ in a specially designed photoreactor are presented. The basic parameters of the photocatalytic oxidation of glucose and acetic acid were studied and optimized. The oxidation of organic compounds under the optimized conditions was studied. Nano-TiO₂ was shown to be a promising photocatalyst in the design of new oxidation systems for analytical purposes.     

Effect of mechanical activation of reagents’ mixture on the high-temperature synthesis of Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–TiB<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite powder

A powder mixture of Al/TiO₂/H₃BO₃ = 10/3/6 in molar ratio was used in this study to form the Al₂O₃–TiB₂ ceramic composite via thermite reactions (combustion synthesis). As no combustion synthesis occurred for an unmilled sample in a furnace, the mixture was milled in a planetary ball-mill for various milling times, and the as-milled samples were in situ synthesized in the furnace at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements were performed with the same heating rate on the unmilled and the as-milled samples to evaluate the influences of the milling on the mechanisms and efficiencies of reactions. Although no combustion synthesis occurred for the unmilled sample in the furnace, two exothermic peaks were detected in its DSC curve after the melting of the Al. For the as-milled samples, significant changes revealed in the DSC curves, suggest that the milling process before the combustion synthesis changed the mechanisms and efficiencies of reactions. In addition, the intensity and the temperature of the exothermic peaks in the DSC curves changed by increasing the milling time. According to the XRD analyses, by enhancing the milling time, the purity of the final products would increase, confirming that the efficiency of the reactions increased. Finally, the microstructures of the as-milled and as-synthesized samples were examined by a SEM, and it was shown that the morphology of the reactant powders was altered by increasing the milling time.     

Formation of supported intermetallic nanoparticles in the Pd–Zn/α-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst

The structure of the Pd–Zn/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst, which was prepared by a joint impregnation method, was studied. According to XRD analysis data, supported intermetallic Pd–Zn particles were formed in a temperature range of 200–600°C. At 600°C, the crystal lattice of substitutional solid solution based on Pd (FCC) was finally rearranged into the tetragonal lattice of Pd–Zn. A shift of the Pd3d _5/2 line in the XPS spectrum indicated the formation of the Pd–Zn intermetallic compound.     

Solubility in the diagonal sections of the 2KCl + Ca(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> ⇆ 2KNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> + CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system

Solubility data in the diagonal sections of the quaternary reciprocal 2KCl + Ca(NO₃)₂ → 2KNO₃ + CaCl₂–H₂O system at 25 and 15°C are presented. It has been shown that the quaternary system has no stable diagonal at the studied temperatures, but contains a stable pair of salts, namely, potassium nitrate and calcium chloride. The obtained data can be used to optimize the thermal and concentrational parameters of the synthesis of potassium nitrate from calcium nitrate and potassium chloride.     

Theoretical investigation on the kinetics and thermochemisty of H-atom abstraction reactions of 2-chloroethyl methyl ether (CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>OCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl) with OH radical at 298 K

Kinetics and thermochemistry of the H-atom abstraction reaction of CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl with OH radical have been carried out using dual level of methods. Initially, geometry optimization and frequency calculations are performed at M06-2X/6-31+G(d, p) level of theory, and energetic calculations are further refined using CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d, p) level of theory in order to characterized all stationary points on potential energy surface (PES). The result shows that H-atom abstraction from –OCH₂ site of CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl is dominant path. The rate constants are calculated using canonical transition state theory at 298 K, which are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. We have presented the standard enthalpies of formation for CH₃OCH₂CH₂Cl and the radicals generated during the H-atom abstraction using group-balanced isodesmic reactions scheme. The atmospheric lifetime of title molecule is also calculated.     

A Raman Spectroscopic Study of Aqueous La(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> Solutions and La(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>·1.5 H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O(cr)

Aqueous solutions of La(CH₃CO₂)₃, NaCH₃CO₂ and La(ClO₄)₃ were studied using Raman spectroscopy. In dilute NaCH₃CO₂ solution, acetate is fully hydrated and forms only minor amounts of ion pairs. The characteristic Raman bands are discussed and assigned. In fairly dilute La(ClO₄)₃ solutions, the La³⁺(aq) ion occurs as the nonahydrate. The separation of the carboxylate bands, ν_as – ν_s (Δ-value), in NaCH₃CO₂(cr) compared to La(CH₃CO₂)₃·1.5H₂O(cr) correlates with the bonding type of acetate which is “ionic” in the former but bidentate chelating/tridentate chelating in the latter. Other acetate bands such as the deformation mode of the CO₂ moiety, δ CO₂, and the two rocking vibrations (ρ), as well as the C–C stretch show marked differences in their band positions in NaCH₃CO₂(cr) compared to the ones in La(CH₃CO₂)₃·1.5H₂O(aq). In a ternary solution of La(CH₃CO₂)₃/LaCl₃ with a molar ratio La³⁺(aq): \( {\text{CH}}_{3} {\text{CO}}_{2}^{ - } \)(aq) = 3.87: 1.00), the bands of the bound acetate on La³⁺ were characterized and compared to those of fully hydrated acetate, \( {\text{CH}}_{3} {\text{CO}}_{2}^{ - } \left( {\text{aq}} \right) \). In this solution, almost all acetate is ligated to La³⁺ in a bidentate fashion and two complex species could be identified (molar ratios La³⁺: \( {\text{CH}}_{3} {\text{CO}}_{2}^{ - } \)  = 1:1 and 1:2, respectively). In La(CH₃CO₂)₃ solutions in H₂O and D₂O strong acetato complexes are formed and the bands of the bound acetate were characterized and compared with the ones of the fully hydrated acetate modes. A dilution series down to 0.0037 mol·L^?1 in La(CH₃CO₂)₃(aq) and to 0.0150 mol·L^?1 in La(CH₃CO₂)₃(D₂O) showed that two acetate complexes are formed in these solutions. Again, it was shown that in these solutions the bound acetates on La³⁺ exist as bidentate ligands. DFT frequencies of the acetate on clusters {La(OH₂)₇O₂CCH₃)}²⁺ and {La(OH₂)₅(O₂CCH₃)₂}⁺ compared well with the measured values. By determining the ligation number, \( \bar{n} \), it can be established that in dilute solutions, below 0.04 mol·L^?1, a complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry (La³⁺: \( {\text{CH}}_{3} {\text{CO}}_{2}^{ - } \)) exists in equilibrium with “free” acetate while in more concentrated solutions a 1:2 complex also forms. La³⁺(aq) hydrolysis is slight and very small equilibrium concentrations of CH₃COOH were detected (C–C stretch at 893 cm^?1). From quantitative Raman measurements, K ₁ was determined to be 160 ± 10 at 22 °C.     

Hydroethoxycarbonylation of α-olefins at low pressure of carbon(II) oxide in the presence of the PdCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>–PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript>–AlCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

High catalytic activity of the PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂–PPh₃–AlCl₃ system containing AlCl3 as promotor has been demonstrated in the reaction of hydroethoxycarbonylation of hexene-1 and octene-1 at low pressure of carbon(II) oxide (≤25 atm). The reaction yields linear and branched products. The optimal conditions of the process have been elaborated. The target products yield is 84.6–93.8%.     

Effects of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the crystallization and structure of CaO–Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass ceramics

Radiation-induced degradation of the weakly and strongly 4-vinylpyridine basic ion exchange resins by gamma radiolysis was investigated in the presence of air and liquid water. This study is focused on evaluating the radiolytic gases (H₂, CO, CO₂ and CH₄) and liquid products (water-solute TOC and NH₄ ⁺). The weakly basic resin yielded lower amounts of H₂ and CO and higher amounts of CO₂ than those of the strongly basic resin. Moreover, the strong basic resin tended to yield greater amounts of NH₄ ⁺. Resins were characterized by the FTIR spectroscopy technique and the results showed that the resins structures are relatively stable.