Generation of fullerenyl radicals and chemiluminescence in the (C<Subscript>60</Subscript>—R<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al)—O<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

Fullerenyl radicals (FR) RC₆₀ ^· and chemiluminescence (CL) are generated in the presence of O₂ in C₆₀—R₃Al (R = Et, Buⁱ) solutions in toluene (T = 298 K). The FR are formed due to the addition of the R^· radical, which is an intermediate of R₃Al autooxidation, to C₆₀. Mass spectroscopy and HPLC were used to identify Et_nC₆₀H_m (n, m = 1–6), Et_pC₆₀ (p = 2–6), and dimer EtC₆₀C₆₀Et as stable products of FR transformations. As found by ESR, the EtC₆₀ ^· radical (g = 2.0037) is also generated by photolysis of solutions obtained after interaction in the (C₆₀— R₃Al)—O₂ system. In the presence of dioxygen, the FR is not oxidized but yields complexes with O₂, which appear as broadening of the ESR signals. Chemiluminescence arising in the (C₆₀—R₃Al)—O₂ system is much brighter (I _max = 1.86·10⁸ photon s⁻¹ mL⁻¹) than the known background CL (I _max = 6.0·10⁶ photon s⁻¹ mL⁻¹) for the autooxidation of R₃Al and is localized in a longer-wavelength spectral region (λ_max = 617 and 664 nm). This CL is generated as a result of energy transfer from the primary emitter ³CH₃CHO* to the products of FR transformation: R_nC₆₀H_m, R_pC₆₀, and EtC₆₀C₆₀Et. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 205–213, February, 2007.     

Inertness of C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerene toward RO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>·</Superscript> peroxy radicals

The reactivity of fullerene C₆₀ toward peroxy radicals RO₂ ^· was tested by the chemiluminescence method. A comparison of the influence of C₆₀ and known inhibitors on the kinetics of liquid-phase chemiluminescence (CL) during oxidation of a series of hydrocarbons (ethyl-benzene, cyclohexane, n-dodecane, and oleic acid) shows that the fullerene does not react with the RO₂ ^· radicals. A sharp decrease in the CL intensity observed upon C₆₀ addition is caused by the quenching of CL emitters with fullerene but not by inhibition of hydrocarbon oxidation. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1808–1811, August, 2005.     

Novel fluorene-containing fullerenes C<Subscript>60</Subscript>: synthesis and structures

Reactions of fullerene C₆₀ with fluorene-2-carbaldehyde or 2,7-diacetylfluorene in toluene gave novel spiromethanofullerenes containing a reactive free formyl group. A novel fluorene-containing fullerenopyrrolidine was obtained by the Prato reaction. The purity and compositions of the compounds obtained were confirmed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry and HPLC. Their structures were confirmed by 2D homo-and heterocorrelation NMR techniques. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1780–1785, September, 2007.     

Oligomers of C<Subscript>20</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript> polyhedral molecule: a computer simulation

DFT-PBE/DZ calculations of oligomers of C₂₀H₈ polyhedral molecule (derivative of C₂₀ fullerene) were carried out. From the results obtained it follows that quasi-one-dimensional, quasi-two-dimensional, and three-dimensional polymers with compositions [C₂₀H₈]_n can exist. The geometric parameters of the repeating units of these polymers were estimated.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1813–1817, September, 2004.     

Electron interactions in the (η<Superscript>2</Superscript>-C<Subscript>60</Subscript>)Pd[P(Ph<Subscript>2</Subscript>)C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>]<Subscript>2</Subscript>Fe complex

The electronic structure of the (η²-C₆₀)Pd[P(Ph₂)C₅H₄]₂Fe complex was calculated by the “hybrid” B3LYP method. Comparison of the experimental X-ray emission C-Kα spectrum and theoretical spectrum of the compound demonstrated that the electron interactions between the C₆₀ core, palladium atom, and organometallic fragment are described correctly in the framework of the quantum chemical method used. The electronic structure of the organometallic fullerene complex can be presented as a set of blocks of orbitals corresponding to different types of chemical bond. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2640–2644, December, 2005.     

Thermodynamic properties of some polymeric forms of fullerite C<Subscript>60</Subscript> at temperatures ranging from 0 to 320 K

The temperature dependences of the heat capacityC ⁰ _p of fullerites C₆₀ were studied at temperatures ranging from 5 to 320 K in an adiabatic vacuum calorimeter with an accuracy of 0.4–0.2%. The fullerite C₆₀ samples were prepared by treating the starting fullerite C₆₀ under 8 GPa at 920 and 1270 K and “quenched” by a sharp decrease in pressure to −10⁵ Pa and in temperature to ∼300 K. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 920 K), a crystalline polymer with layered structure formed by polymerized fullerene C₆₀ molecules, was obtained at 920 K and 8 GPa. Fullerite C₆₀(8 GPa, 1270 K), a three-dimensional polymer with a graphite-like structure formed by fragments of decomposed C₆₀ molecules and containing many C(sp³)−C(sp³) bonds, was obtained at 1270 K and 8 GPa. Both polymers are metastable polymeric phases. The anomalous character of the temperature dependence of the heat capacity was revealed in the 49–66 K range for the polymer formed at 1270 K. The thermodynamic functions of the substances under study were calculated for the 0–320 K region along with entropies of their formation from graphite. The entropies of transformation of the starting fullerite C₆₀ into metastable phases and that of intertransformation of phases were estimated. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 277–281, February, 2000.     

Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> as a superefficient quencher of singlet exited states of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Quenching of fluorescence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), namely, naphthalene, anthracene, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, 9,10-dibromoanthracene by C₆₀ fullerene in ethylbenzene at 293 K was found and investigated. The phenomenon is characterized by abnormally high values of bimolecular rate constants for quenching (k _bim = (0.18–6.78)·10¹² L mol⁻¹ s⁻¹) determined from the Stern—Volmer dependence of the PAH fluorescence intensity on the C₆₀ concentration and occurs through the inductive-resonance (dominant channel) and exchange-resonance (minor channel) energy transfer from ¹PAH* to C₆₀. The overlap integrals of the PAH fluorescence spectra with the C₆₀ absorption spectrum and the critical energy transfer distances were calculated. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 432–436, March, 2007.     

Facilitated Transport of C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript> in a SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone)-Ag<Superscript>+</Superscript> Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Membrane

Inorganic-organic hybrid membranes containing silica as the structure matrix, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) as the organic mediating agent and silver ions as olefinic carriers were prepared using sol–gel method and dip-coating process. The structure and permeances of the membranes for N₂, He, C₂H₄, C₂H₆ at different temperatures indicated that defect-free membranes were obtained and the transportation of the C₂H₄ through the membranes followed the dissolution and diffusion mechanism. Ideal separation factors of C₂H₄/C₂H₆ through the membranes were evaluated at the temperature of 298, 373 and 423 K respectively using mixture gas of 50% C₂H₄-50% C₂H₆. The results showed that the ideal separation factors of C₂H₄/C₂H₆ through the membranes were obviously greater than the ratio of PC₂H₄/PC₂H₆ obtained from the single gas measurement due to the hindering effect by the adsorbed C₂H₄. The ideal separation factors of C₂H₄/C₂H₆ increased with temperature and reached 10 at 423 K, which suggested that C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ could be separated at lower humidity compared to the reported organic polymer/silver salt membranes in which humidified gases and higher silver loading were usually used. The transport of C₂H₄ in the inorganic-organic hybrid membrane was proposed to follow the hopping mechanism, that is, olefins moved across the fixed silver sites.     

Molecular structure of NiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>16</Subscript>H<Subscript>14</Subscript> from gas-phase electron diffraction and quantum chemical data

Gas-phase electron diffractometry was used to study the molecular structure of N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylaldiminato)nickel(II), NiO₂N₂C₁₆H₁₄, [hereinafter Ni(salen)] at 583(5) K. The molecule has C ₂ symmetry with a practically planar structure of the NiN₂O₂ coordination unit and with internuclear distances r _α (Ni-O) = 1.882(21) Å and r _α (Ni-N) = 1.889(22) Å. The results of B3LYP/CEP-31G molecular structure calculations are in good agreement with experimental data, whereas the RHF/CEP-31G method significantly overestimates the Ni-N internuclear distance and gives worse results for other structural parameters. According to 3LYP/CEP-31G calculations, the ¹ A low-spin state is 28 kJ/mole lower in energy than the ³ B high-spin state.     

Geometry,electronic structure and energy barriers of all possible isomers of Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticle

The search for stable structures of neutral Fe₂C₃ particle was based on the geometry optimization of the known FeC₃ and Fe₂C₂ isomers with the Fe and C atoms approaching from various directions. The geometry optimization of more than 2,000 initial structures was carried out using the DFT based DMol³ method and converged to 41 stable configurations. The structures containing C₃ triangle and the cyclic planar isomer with transannular bonds are found to have the lowest binding energies. The effective charges and total spin densities on the atoms were calculated using integral scheme incorporated in DVM and Hirshfeld procedure of DMol³. The relations between geometrical structures and spin moments ordering are discussed. For the evaluation of potential barriers the geometry optimization of all Fe₂C₃ configurations was performed with a thermal occupation, corresponding to the various values of the excitation energy.     

Structure of the Cu(Salen) molecule Cuo<Subscript>2</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>C<Subscript>16</Subscript>H<Subscript>14</Subscript> according to gas-phase electron diffraction data and quantum chemical calculations

In the framework of synchronous gas-phase electron diffraction and mass spectrometry experiment, the saturated vapor of N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylaldiminate) copper(II) CuO₂N₂C₁₆H₁₄ is studied at a temperature T 574(5) K. It is found that evaporation is congruent and the saturated vapor consists of monomeric molecules. Electron diffraction data are proved to correspond to the geometric model for the CuO₂N₂C₁₆H₁₄ molecule of C ₂ symmetry with an almost planar structure of the CuN₂O₂ coordination fragment and internuclear distances \(r_{h_1 } \)(Cu-O) = 1.917(13) Å and \(r_{h_1 } \)(Cu-N) = 1.931(15) Å. The stuctural parameters obtained are compared to those quantum chemically calculated and molecular parameters in crystals.     

An exact expression for the wiener index of a TUC<Subscript>4</Subscript>C<Subscript>8</Subscript>(R) nanotorus

The Wiener index of a graph G is defined as , where V(G) is the set of all vertices of G and for denotes the length of a minimal path between x and y. A C ₄ C ₈ net is a trivalent decoration made by alternating squares C ₄ and octagons C ₈. It can cover either a cylinder or a torus. In this paper, an algorithm for computing the distance matrix of a C ₄ C ₈(R) nanotorus T = T[p,q] is given. Using this matrix, the Wiener index of T is computed.     

Voltammetric studies on microcrystalline C<Subscript>60</Subscript> adhered to an electrode surface by solvent casting and mechanical transfer methods

Voltammetric studies on C₆₀ fullerene particles adhered to an electrode surface by solvent casting or mechanical transfer exhibit evidence of nucleation and growth controlled processes for the C₆₀ ^0/– and C₆₀ ^–/2– solid state when the modified electrode is in contact with acetonitrile solutions containing NBu₄ ⁺ electrolyte. Although peak potentials and peak separations are dependent on scan rate as well as the amount of deposit and temperature, potentials obtained using a zero-current extrapolation method are almost independent of all these parameters. These data enable reversible potentials of –816 and –1168 mV vs. Ag/Ag⁺ to be obtained in acetonitrile (0.1 M NBu₄PF₆) respectively for the processes: and . Images obtained by scanning electron microscopy reveal that both the crystalline and particle size is enhanced by 60 s of reductive electrolysis, with the detected (NBu₄)₂C₆₀ crystals being slightly larger than those of (NBu₄)C₆₀. After a short period of potential cycling or controlled potential electrolysis, it is concluded that the data obtained by either method of surface adherence are almost indistinguishable, as are their morphologies. Electronic Publication     

Synthesis and structures of new C<Subscript>60</Subscript> fullerene derivatives containing carbonyl groups

The reactions of fullerene C₆₀ with substituted haloketones, including organophosphorus haloketones, in the presence of bases afforded new methanofullerenes containing carbonyl or carbonyl and acetal groups. The structures of the resulting compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. Their electrochemical reduction and oxidation were studied by cyclic voltammetry and ESR spectroscopy. The three-dimensional structures were calculated by the PM3 and DFT/PBE/TZ2P methods. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1424–1429, June, 2005.     

Endohedral Complex of Fullerene C<Subscript>60</Subscript> with Tetrahedral N<Subscript>4</Subscript>, N<Subscript>4</Subscript>@C<Subscript>60</Subscript>

B3LYP/6-31G(d) hybrid HF/DFT and BLYP/6-31G(d, p) DFT calculations were carried out to determine the structural and electronic properties of the endohedral complex of C₆₀ with Tetrahedral N₄ (T_d N₄), N₄@C₆₀. It was demonstrated that N₄ was seated in the center of the fullerene cage and the tetrahedral structure of N₄ is remained in the cage. The formation of this complex is endothermic with inclusion energy of 37.92 kcal/mol. N₄ endohedral doping perturbs the molecular orbitals of C₆₀ not so much, the calculated HOMO–LUMO gaps, the electron affinity (EA) and the ionizational potential (IP) of N₄@C₆₀ are similar to that of C₆₀.     

Thermal oxide synthesis and characterization of Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanorods and Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanowires

Fe₃O₄ nanorods and Fe₂O₃ nanowires have been synthesized through a simple thermal oxide reaction of Fe with C₂H₂O₄ solution at 200–600°C for 1 h in the air. The morphology and structure of Fe₃O₄ nanorods and Fe₂O₃ nanowires were detected with powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The influence of temperature on the morphology development was experimentally investigated. The results show that the polycrystals Fe₃O₄ nanorods with cubic structure and the average diameter of 0.5–0.8 μm grow after reaction at 200–500°C for 1 h in the air. When the temperature was 600°C, the samples completely became Fe₂O₃ nanowires with hexagonal structure. It was found that C₂H₂O₄ molecules had a significant effect on the formation of Fe₃O₄ nanorods. A possible mechanism was also proposed to account for the growth of these Fe₃O₄ nanorods. Supported by the Fund of Weinan Teacher’s University (Grant No. 08YKZ008), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20573072) and the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20060718010)     

Degree of hydration in cement paste and C<Subscript>3</Subscript>A-sodium carbonate-water systems

This research provides a fundamental understanding of the early stage hydration of Portland cement paste, tricalcium aluminate (C₃A) paste at water to cement ratio of 0.5 and C₃A suspension at water to cement ratio of 5.0 modified by 2 or 4 mass% of sodium carbonate. A high conversion of unreacted clinker minerals to gel-like hydration products in the cement-Na₂CO₃ pastes takes place rapidly between 1^st to 24^th h. Contrary the Ca(OH)₂ formation within the same time interval is retarded in the excess of CO₃²⁻ ions due to intensive rise and growth of CaCO₃ crystals in hydrated cement. Later, the conversion of clinker minerals to the hydrate phase is reduced and higher contents of calcite and vaterite relative to that of Ca(OH)₂ in comparison with those found in the Portland cement paste are observed. As a consequence a decrease in strength and an increase in porosity between hardened Portland cement paste without sodium carbonate and those modified by Na₂CO₃ are observed. C₃A hydrates very quickly with sodium carbonate between 1^st and 24^th h forming hydration products rich in bound water and characterized also by complex salts of (x)C₃A·(y)CO₂·(zH₂O type, whereas C₃A-H₂O system offers C₃AH₆ as the main hydration product. Higher content of the formed calcium aluminate hydrates in C₃A-Na₂CO₃-H₂O system also contributes to early strength increase of Portland cement paste.     

Theoretical study of the mechanism for C-H bond activation in spin-forbidden reaction between Ti<Superscript>+</Superscript> and C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The mechanism of the spin-forbidden reaction Ti⁺(⁴F, 3d²4s¹) + C₂H₄→TiC₂H₂ ⁺ (²A₂) + H₂ on both doublet and quartet potential energy surfaces has been investigated at the B3LYP level of theory. Crossing points between the potential energy surfaces and the possible spin inversion process are discussed by means of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) calculations. The strength of the SOC between the low-lying quartet state and the doublet state is 59.3 cm⁻¹ in the intermediate complex IM1-⁴B₂. Thus, the changes of its spin multiplicity may occur from the quartet to the doublet surface to form IM1-²A₁, leading to a sig-nificant decrease in the barrier height on the quartet PES. After the insertion intermediate IM2, two distinct reaction paths on the doublet PES have been found, i.e., a stepwise path and a concerted path. The latter is found to be the lowest energy path on the doublet PES to exothermic TiC₂H₂ ⁺(²A₂) + H₂ products, with the active barrier of 4.52 kcal/mol. In other words, this reaction proceeds in the following way: Ti⁺+C₂H₄→⁴IC→IM1-⁴B₂→^4,2ISC→IM1-²A₁→[²TS_ins]→IM2→[²TS_MCTS]→IM5→TiC₂H₂ ⁺(²A₂)+H₂. Supported by ‘Qinglan’ Talent Engineering Funds by Tianshui Normal University.     

A new C<Subscript>19</Subscript>-diterpenoid alkaloid,habaenine C,from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Aconitum habaense</Emphasis>

A new C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloid, habaenine C (1), together with the two known compounds vilmorrianine C and crassicauline A, were isolated from Aconitum habaense. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis, including 2D NMR spectroscopy. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 265–266, May–June, 2008.     

Shawurensine,a new C<Subscript>19</Subscript>-diterpenoid alkaloid from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinium shawurense</Emphasis>

The new norditerpenoid alkaloid shawurensine in addition to β-sitosterol and the known alkaloids elatin, delbrulin, and methyllycaconitine were isolated from Delphinium shawurense. A structure for shawurensine was proposed based on spectral data. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 248–250, May–June, 2007.