Speciation of BCxNy films grown by PECVD with trimethylborazine precursor

Films of BC _x N _y were produced in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process using trimethylborazine as precursor and with H₂, He, N₂, and NH₃, respectively, as auxiliary gas. These films deposited on Si(100) wafers or fused quartz glass substrates were characterized chemically by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by synchrotron radiation-based total-reflection X-ray fluorescence combined with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure. Independent of the auxiliary gas, the B–N bonds are dominating. Furthermore, B–C and N–C bonds were identified. Oxygen, present in the bulk (in contrast to the surface layer of some nanometers, where molecular oxygen and/or water are absorbed) as an impurity, is bonded to boron or to carbon, respectively. The relation of boron and nitrogen changes with the character of the auxiliary gas: c _B/c _N ≈ 4:3 (for H₂ and He) and c _B/c _N ≈ 1 (for N₂ or NH₃). Furthermore, physical properties such as the refractive index and the optical band-gap energy were determined.     

Characterization of Nanocomposite Coatings in the System Ti–B–N by Analytical Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

 Superhard nanocomposite coatings of different composition in the quasi-binary system TiN–TiB₂ were deposited onto stainless steel sheets by means of unbalanced DC magnetron co-sputtering using segmented TiN/TiB₂ targets. The chemistry and microstructure of a TiB_0.6N_0.7 coating was investigated using X-ray and electron diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy-loss spectrometry. High resolution elemental mapping of the elements Ti, B, N, and O with energy-filtering TEM reveals a homogeneous distribution on the nanometer scale. X-Ray and electron diffraction exhibit only TiN crystallites of nanometer size, but no information on the boron-rich phase. The near-edge fine structures of the BK and NK ionization edges in the EELS spectra of the Ti–B–N coatings were used to derive information on the phases by comparing the edges with those of reference compounds. It was found that the TiN nanocrystals occur together with TiO _x particles; the grains are embedded in a strongly disordered or quasi-amorphous matrix consisting mainly of TiB₂ particles and, near the steel substrate, also boron oxide (B₂O₃).     

Characterization of Nanocomposite Coatings in the System Ti–B–N by Analytical Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Summary.  Superhard nanocomposite coatings of different composition in the quasi-binary system TiN–TiB₂ were deposited onto stainless steel sheets by means of unbalanced DC magnetron co-sputtering using segmented TiN/TiB₂ targets. The chemistry and microstructure of a TiB_0.6N_0.7 coating was investigated using X-ray and electron diffraction, photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy-loss spectrometry. High resolution elemental mapping of the elements Ti, B, N, and O with energy-filtering TEM reveals a homogeneous distribution on the nanometer scale. X-Ray and electron diffraction exhibit only TiN crystallites of nanometer size, but no information on the boron-rich phase. The near-edge fine structures of the BK and NK ionization edges in the EELS spectra of the Ti–B–N coatings were used to derive information on the phases by comparing the edges with those of reference compounds. It was found that the TiN nanocrystals occur together with TiO _x particles; the grains are embedded in a strongly disordered or quasi-amorphous matrix consisting mainly of TiB₂ particles and, near the steel substrate, also boron oxide (B₂O₃). Received October 4, 2001. Accepted (revised) January 10, 2002     

Syntheses,spectroscopic study and crystal structures of some new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzoylphosphoric triamides

The reaction of N-benzoylphosphoramidic dichloride with amines afforded some new N-benzoylphos-phoric triamides with formula C₆H₅C(O)NHP(O)(X)₂, X=NH–CH(CH₃)₂ (1), NH–CH₂–CH(CH₃)₂ (2), NH–CH₂–CH(OCH₃)₂ (3), N(CH₃)[CH₂CH(OCH₃)₂] (4) and N(CH₃)(C₆H₁₁) (5) that were characterized by ¹H,¹³C,³¹P NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures have been determined for compounds 4 and 5 by X-ray crystallography. These compounds contain one amidic hydrogen atom and form centrosymmetric dimmers via intermolecular –P–O⋯H–N–hydrogen bonds besides weak C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds that lead to three-dimensional polymeric clusters in the crystalline lattice.     

Introduction of Primary Amino Groups on Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Surfaces by Ammonia and a Mix of Nitrogen and Hydrogen Plasma

With the aim of introducing primary amino groups on the surface of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), two methods were compared—the use of ammonia or a combination of nitrogen and hydrogen low-pressure microwave plasma. Several plasma parameters were optimized on the reactor to increase the –NH₂ surface density, which was estimated by colorimetric titration and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). These techniques show that whatever the plasma treatment, almost 2 –NH₂/nm2 are incorporated on PET films. Emission spectroscopy highlighted a correlation between the density of primary amino groups and the ratio between an NH peak intensity and an Ar peak intensity (I_NH/I_Ar). Variation in surface hydrophilicity with aging in air after plasma treatment was monitored with contact angle measurements and showed a hydrophobic recovery. This was confirmed by XPS, which suggests also that surfaces treated by NH₃ plasma are more stable than surfaces treated by N₂/H₂.     

Photocatalytic activity of (sulfur,nitrogen)-codoped mesoporous TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin films

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped mesoporous TiO₂ thin films were fabricated using thiourea as a doping resource by the combination of the sol–gel and evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) processes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N₂ adsorption–desorption, and UV–vis spectra were performed to characterize the as-synthesized mesoporous TiO₂ materials. The XPS result shows that O–Ti–N and O–Ti–S bonds in the (S, N)-codoped mesoporous TiO₂ were formed. The resultant mesoporous (S, N)-codoped TiO₂ exhibited anatase framework with a high porosity and a narrow pore distribution. After being illuminated for 3 h, methyl orange (MO) could be degraded completely by the co-doped sample under the ultraviolet irradiation, whereas mesoporous TiO₂ film without doping could only degrade 60% MO. After being illuminated by visible light, the water contact angles of the mesoporous co-doped TiO₂ samples decreased slightly, but the pure TiO₂ mesoporous film exhibited no change in the hydrophilicity.     

Reaktionen von Aminoboranen und Hydrazinoboranen mit Carbonyl- und Thiocarbonylverbindungen

Zusammenfassung Bei der Aminoborierung von Carbonylsulfid erfolgt 1,2-Addition an die Carbonylgruppe, wobei in Tris(dimethylamino)boran zwei der B–N-Bindungen, in Bis(dimethylamino)chlorboran nur eine B–N-Bindung reagieren. In Tris(2,2-dimethylhydrazino)boran reagieren alle drei B–N-Bindungen mit CO₂; mit CS₂ erfolgt unter den gleichen Bedingungen keine Reaktion. Mit Phosgen und Thiophosgen reagiert Tris(dimethylamino)boran unter Bildung von Bis(dimethylamino)chlorboran und substituierter Carbamide.

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Reactions of aminoboranes and hydrazinoboranes with carbonyl and thiocarbonyl compounds

Upon aminoboration of carbonyl sulfide 1,2-addition to the carbonyl group is observed. In tris(dimethylamino)borane insertion into two of the B–N bonds occurs, while in bis(dimethylamino)chloroborane only one B–N bond reacts with OCS. In tris(2,2-dimethylhydrazino)borane all three B–N bonds react with CO₂, while with CS₂ no insertion reaction is observed under comparable conditions. Tris(dimethylamino)borane reacts with phosgene and thiophosgene with formation of bis(dimethylamino)chloroborane and substituted carbamides.

     

Hydrogen bonded complexes of cyanuric acid with pyridine and guanidinium carbonate

Hydrogen bonded complexes of cyanuric acid (CA) with pyridine, [C₃N₃H₃O₃:C₅H₅N], 1, and guanidinium carbonate [C₃H₂N₃][C(NH₂)₃],2, have been prepared at room temperature and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Structure of 1 shows pyridine molecules substituting the inter-tape hydrogen bond in CA by N-H… N and C-H…O hydrogen bonds. The structure reveals CA-pyridine hydrogen-bonded single helices held together by dimeric N-H…O hydrogen bonding between CA molecules. In2, the CA tapes, resembling a sine wave interact with the guanidinium cations through N-H…O and N-H…N hydrogen bonds forming guanidinium cyanurate sheets.     

Co(II) and Cu(II) Schiff base complexes of bis(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl)-3,5-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylsalicylaldimine): Electrochemical and X-ray structural study

Copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of salicylaldimine obtained by the condensation of N,N-diethyl-2-methyl-1,4-phenylenediamine with 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurements, cyclic voltammetry, and FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The molecular structure of the title copper(II) complex was determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. The Cu(II) center is coordinated by four atoms of the donor set in a compressed tetrahedral trans-[N₂O₂] environment, which can be essentially ascribed to the presence of bulky fragments of the ligand. The computed bond valences of the copper verify +2 oxidation state and indicate that the copper bonds, in particular Cu–N bonds, are elongated due to steric effects from bulky substituents in the ligands, N-(4-diethylamino-2-methylphenyl). Intermolecular C–H···π interactions leading to centrosymmetric synthons serve to stabilize periodic organization of the molecules.     

The reaction mechanisms of boron amidinate and small molecules: a density function theory study

Density functional theory calculations have been carried out to explore the reaction mechanisms for the reactions of “frustrated Lewis pairs” (FLPs) with small molecules. Four reactions were studied in the present investigation. A new N-heterocyclic carbene borane, boron amidinate compound HC(iPrN)₂B(C₆F₅)₂ (1), classified as FLPs, was chosen as the common reactant of these reactions. It was used to react with CO₂, CO, and two terminal alkynes, methylacetylene and phenylacetylene. The reactions of 1 with CO₂ and CO can both be regarded as the concerted addition mechanisms. In these reactions, the formations of the C2–N2 and B–O1 bonds take place simultaneously. For the reactions of 1 and methylacetylene or phenylacetylene, our calculations indicated that a deprotonation pathway and the connection between B atoms and terminal alkyne C atoms occur by a concerted manner simultaneously, together with the connection between N2 and hydrogen atoms. We also investigated the reaction mechanisms according to the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory and carried out electric charge analyses, finding that the two results were consistent with each other perfectly. Electric charges transfer from HOMO of 1_OPEN to LUMO of CO₂ or CO. In contrast, electric charges transfer from HOMO of methylacetylene or phenylacetylene to LUMO of 1_OPEN.     

Synthesis and structure of the cadmium(II) complex [Cd2(Ph(NH2)2)5(DMFA)4](B10H10)2

A new binuclear cadmium(II) complex with neutral ligands, 1,2-diaminobenzene (DMB) and dimethylformamide (DMF), [Cd₂(Ph(NH₂)₂)₅(DMFA)₄](B₁₀H₁₀)₂, was synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The crystals are monoclinic, a = 26.198(3) ?, b = 12.742(3) ?, c = 21.658(3) ?, β = 119.985(10)°, Z = 8, space group C2/c. The distorted octahedral environment of Cd is formed by four nitrogen atoms of three DAB molecules and two oxygen atoms of DMF molecules. Three independent DAB molecules perform different functions: one chelates the Cd atom, another is linked to cadmium as a monodentate ligand, and the third one bridges two Cd atoms, thus forming the dimer. The amino groups of the DAB molecules are involved in the N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds and in N-H⋯B and N-H⋯H-B specific interactions with the cluster boron anion. Original Russian Text ? E.A. Malinina, V.V. Drozdova, L.V. Goeva, I.N. Polyakova, N.T. Kuznetsov, 2007, published in Zhurnal Neorganicheskoi Khimii, 2007, Vol. 52, No. 6, pp. 922–926.     

Thermokinetic study on the phase evolution of mechanically alloyed Ni–B powders

A combination of differential thermal analysis and detailed X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used for the thermokinetic study of phase evolution during heating–cooling of the mechanically alloyed (MA-ed) Ni–15 wt% B. According to the results obtained, different phase transition sequences led to the formation of nanocrystalline Ni–B alloys comprising of Ni₂B + o-Ni₄B₃ and Ni₂B + m-Ni₄B₃ + B. Using the XRD studies, it was found that the Ni₂B is the most stable intermetallic compound in the Ni–B binary phase diagram, and its nanocrystalline nature retained unchanged even after annealing up to temperatures near the melting point. In addition, average enthalpy as well as activation energy of occurred reactions was calculated; the latter was estimated using two well-known Kissinger and Augis & Bennett methods.     

Cobalt(III) azide dimethylglyoximates with some sulfanilamide derivatives: Synthesis and crystal structures

A number of new Co(III) dimethylglyoximates containing N-pyrimidinylsulfanilamides were obtained. These complexes of the general formula [Co(N₃)(DH)₂L] (I?CV) (where DH is the dimethylglyoxime monoanion and L are N-pyrimidinylsulfanilamides NH₂-C₆H₄-SO₂-NH-R with different substituents R) are expected to have antibacterial properties. Their structures were examined by IR, electronic absorption, and NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. They were classified among cobalt(III) trans dioximates. In all the complexes obtained, the cobalt atom coordinates to four N atoms of two dimethylglyoxime residues. The octahedral environment of the metal atom is completed with the amino N atom of the neutral molecule L and the N atom of the azide anion. In the crystal structures, complexes I?CV are united through intermolecular hydrogen bonds N-H??O, N-H??N, and O-H??O, in which the groups ?NH₂ and =NH of the ligand L and water molecules (for I, IV, and V) serve as proton donors.     

Complex antimony(III) oxohalides: Synthesis and physicochemical properties

Complexes of the formula MSb₂BrF₄O (M = K, Rb, and NH₄) were obtained from aqueous solutions of SbF₃ and MBr and examined by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and IR, Raman, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the red reflectance is 74–97% and the UV reflectance is 7–15%. The highest averaged reflectance (93%) was observed for KSb₂BrF₄O. The decomposition temperatures of MSb₂BrF₄O (M = K, Rb, and NH₄) are 230, 197, and 223°C, respectively.     

Synthesis and characterization of zinc(II) and cobalt(III) Schiff base complexes

Two mononuclear complexes with the Schiff base ligand 2-((2-(dimethylamino)ethylimino)methyl)phenol (HL), namely ZnL₂ and CoL₂(N₃), have been synthesized and characterized using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy (IR, ¹H NMR, UV–Vis, MS and EA). Both complexes are mononuclear. The coordination geometry in the Zn(II) complex is distorted square-pyramidal with a weak Zn···N interaction. The Co(III) complex is distorted octahedral, and the neutral molecule unit [Co^IIIL₂(N₃)] is connected by C–H···N hydrogen bonds to form a one-dimensional infinite chain. The luminescence of the zinc compound has been investigated. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Structural studies of spiroarsoranes derived from 2-aminophenols

This paper describes the structural studies of 2-phenyl-9,9′-dimethyl-2,2′-spirobis(1,3,2-λ⁵-benzoxazarsoline) 5, 2-phenyl-8,8′-dimethyl-2,2′-spirobis(1,3,2-λ⁵-benzoxazarsoline) 6 by ¹H,¹³C,¹⁵N NMR in [²H₆]DMSO and CDCl₃. The solid state studies were made by X-ray experiments. Infrared spectroscopy was obtained in CDCl₃ and the vibrational signals were assigned using DFT calculations. The nature of the As–N, As–C and As–O bonds in these compounds was established by NBO studies.     

Chemical characterization of plasma-polymerized films from acetylene and nitrogen-containing mixtures and their ethanol vapor sensitivity

In this study, plasma-polymerized thin films were prepared from plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of acetylene (C₂H₂), acetylene/nitrogen (C₂H₂/N₂), or acetylene/ammonia (C₂H₂/NH₃). When N₂ or NH₃ was mixed with C₂H₂ in the feed, the films were identified to contain all elements of the mixture and the properties of the films were implied by the C–H bonds and nitrogen functionalities. As shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) the [N]/[C] atomic ratio varies by changing the mixture composition and reaches a maximum of 0.12 for mixing C₂H₂ with NH₃. It is found that the resistance of the thin film sensors prepared from C₂H₂, C₂H₂/N₂, and C₂H₂/NH₃ is distinctly decreased by over 2 orders of magnitude by the adsorption of ethanol vapor.     

Crystal structures of [Hg(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-ethylthiourea)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>] and [Hg(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-propylthiourea)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]

Two mercury(II) cyanide complexes of N-ethylthiourea (Ettu) and N-propylthiourea (Prtu) ligands, [Hg(Ettu)₂(CN)₂] (1) and [Hg(Prtu)₂(CN)₂] (2), were prepared and their crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystallography. In both structures, the mercury atom is coordinated to two sulfur atoms of thioureas and two cyanide carbon atoms in a pseudo-tetrahedral mode with the bond angles in the range of 90.52(11)–162.2(3)°. The structures are stabilized by N-H—S, N-H—N, and C-H—N intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Photochromic dihetarylethenes

A series of new photochromic compounds were obtained for the first time from 1,2-bis(2-ethylthio-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene by substituting bromine atoms or carboxy, alkoxycarbonyl, and carbamoyl groups for hydrogen atoms in positions 4 and 4′. Introduction of these substituents causes a slight bathochromic shift (by 20–30 nm) of a long-wavelength absorption band for the cyclic form and significantly increases the quantum yields of photocyclization Ф_A→B and ring opening Ф_B→A. Depending on the nature of a substituent, Ф_A→B decreases in the order COOH>COOMe>CONHAr. The quantum yields are markedly reduced when the ethylthio groups in positions 5 and 5′ are replaced by ethylsulfonyl groups (a tenfold reduction in Ф_A→B and a four- to fivefold reduction in Ф_B→A) The most considerable bathochromic shift of a long-wavelength band and the highest quantum yields of forward and reverse photoreactions were observed for 1,2-bis(4-bromo-2-ethylthio-3-thienyl) perfluorocyclopentene. 1,2- Bis (2-ethyl-5-ethylthio-4-methoxycarbonyl-3-thienyl)perfluorocyclopentene was structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis.