Formation, structure and magnetism of the metastable defect fluorite phases AVO3.5+x (A=In, Sc)

We report the preparation and stability of ScVO_3.5+x and the novel phase InVO_3.5+x. AVO_3.5+x (A=Sc, In) defect fluorite structures are formed as metastable intermediates during the topotactic oxidation of AVO₃ bixbyites. The oxidation pathway has been studied in detail by means of thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and in-situ powder X-ray diffraction. The oxidation of the bixbyite phase follows a topotactic pathway at temperatures between 300 and 400 °C in air/carbon dioxide. The range of accessible oxygen stoichiometries for the AVO_3.5+x structures following this pathway are 0.00x0.22. Rietveld refinements against powder X-ray and neutron data revealed that InVO_3.54 and ScVO_3.70 crystallize in the defect fluorite structure in space group Fm-3 m (227) with a=4.9863(5) and 4.9697(3)Å, respectively with A³⁺/V⁴⁺ disorder on the (4a) cation site. Powder neutron diffraction experiments indicate clustering of oxide defects in all samples. Bulk magnetic measurements showed the presence of V⁴⁺ and the absence of magnetic ordering at low temperatures. Powder neutron diffraction experiments confirmed the absence of a long range ordered magnetic ground state.     

Topotactic reversible phase transition between room-temperature and a new low-temperature modification in the MCl3(THF)3 system

Both single crystals of VCl₃(THF)₃ as well as isotypic cocrystals of the composition MCl₃(THF)₃, M=Ti/V 1/3, undergo a topotactic reversible phase transition to a hitherto unknown low-temperature modification. The close relationship between this new structure and the room-temperature phase determined by Cottonet al. is discussed from the molecular and the intermolecular point of view: Both modifications are built up by conformationally very similar molecules which change their arrangement during the phase transition. Lattice energy calculations confirm that these two alternative arrangements correspond to minima of almost the same packing energy.Dedicated to Professor Dr. G. E. Herberich on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

A new route to semirigid poly(amide-ester)s with ordered structure

Four novel semirigid poly(amide-ester)s having the same ordered amide-amide-ester-ester (-AAEE-) and the same or the different phenyl structure were synthesized from the various combination of active acylamide of benzotriazole (HBT) such as 1,1′-(isophthaloyl)bisbenzotriazole (IPBBT) and 1,1′-(terephthaloyl)bisbenzotriazole (PBBT) with diols such as N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)isophthamide (HEIPA) and N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthamide (HEPTA) which prepared from the selective N-acylation of IPBBT or PBBT with aminoethanol in excellent yield at room temperature. Before the preparation of diol monomers, a model reaction of selective N-acylation was also completed from active monoacylamide of benzotriazole, 1-benzoylbenzotriazole with aminoethanol. The ordered structure of poly(amideester)s were characterized by infrared (IR) and NMR spectra. On the bases of different reactivity between selective N-acylation and O-acylation of active acylamide of benzotriazole, poly(amide-ester)s having the ordered AAEE and the same phenyl structure were also readily synthesized from the IPBBT or PBBT with aminoethanol under mild conditions by one-bath process.     

The crystal structure of a metastable binary phase related to β-Ga: β′-Ga(In)

A metastable GaIn phase with 9–12 at.% In has been prepared by rapid quenching (splat cooling) to ～ 80°K. The structure of this phase was found to be orthorhombic, α-U type, Cmcm, a₀ = 2.770 ± 1Å, b₀ = 8.183 ± 4Å, c₀ = 3.306 ± 2Å, $\text{V}\text{atom}\text{18.73 ± 2}$ų (at 10 at.% In and ～ 80°K), with disordered Ga_1?xIn_x atoms in position 4(c) with y = 0.127 ± 4. β′-Ga(In) is structurally closely related to monoclinic β-Ga, and it can be considered as a distorted metastable binary extension of β-Ga.     

The route to the structure determination of amorphous solids: a case study of the ceramic Si(3)B(3)N(7)

Si(3)B(3)N(7) is the parent compound of a new class of amorphous ceramics containing silicon, boron, nitrogen, and carbon that display a unique spectrum of properties. It consists of a random network in which the constituent elements are linked by predominantly covalent bonds. Similarly to quartz glass, the composition of amorphous Si(3)B(3)N(7) is virtually stoichiometric. As all three of its constituent elements can serve as the objects of various structural probes, Si(3)B(3)N(7) was selected as the basis of a systematic structural investigation, in which methods for the structure determination of solids without translational symmetry could be validated and improved. However, as the complete amorphous structure cannot be deduced from experimental data, these results must be complemented by computer simulations. Thus, five classes of structure models were generated and compared to experimental results. Only the models generated by following the actual synthesis route as closely as possible agreed well with the experimental data.     

First principles calculation of the stacking fault in (111) low-temperature metastable alumina

Stacking faults along the (111) direction in low-temperature metastable aluminum oxide (η-Al₂O₃ and χ-Al₂O₃) are studied using density functional theory (DFT). The surface energy of Al₂O₃ (111) is calculated; the intermediate layer between crystalline domains is considered; the ²⁷Al nuclear quadrupole coupling constants are determined.     

Preparation and reactions of 2-chloro-3,4-epoxy-1-butene: a convenient route to (Z)-3-chloroallylic alcohols

Epoxide 2 was prepared from 3,4-dichloro-1-butene (1) by epoxidation with m-CPBA and subsequent dehydrohalogenation of the intermediate dichloroepoxide with molten KOH, affording 2 in 64% overall yield (2 steps). Catalytic CuBr/SMe(2)-mediated S(N)2' addition of sp(2)- or sp(3)-hybridized Grignard reagents to 2-chloro-3,4-epoxy-1-butene (2) afforded (Z)-3-chloroallylic alcohols such as 3 in good yields and with high regio- and stereoselectivity.     

Anodic oxidation of chiral sulfinylamines: a new route to highly diastereoselective α-alkylation of piperidine

The anodic oxidation of some chiral non-racemic N-arylsulfinyl piperidines was investigated and for the first time α methoxylated sulfinyl piperidines were obtained. The so-formed compounds are equivalent of chiral N-sulfinyliminiums and used as new intermediates for the preparation of chiral α-substituted piperidine derivatives in good yield and diastereoselectivity.     

Ethyl (4-N-acylaminopyridin-3-yl)glyoxylate and 5-azaisatin as new synthons for a route to various new polyheterocycles

From 4-N-protected-aminopyridines which were functionalized at their 3-position, 5-azaisatin and equivalent synthons where obtained. Via the use of the Pfitzinger reaction, these compounds provided an easy route to new and various polyheterocyclic compounds.     

Evidence for single-chain magnet behavior in a Mn(III)-Ni(II) chain designed with high spin magnetic units: a route to high temperature metastable magnets

We herein present the synthesis, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a new heterometallic chain of MnIII and NiII ions, [Mn2(saltmen)2Ni(pao)2(py)2](ClO4)2 (1) (saltmen2- = N,N'-(1,1,2,2-tetramethylethylene) bis(salicylideneiminate) and pao- = pyridine-2-aldoximate). The crystal structure of 1 was investigated by X-ray crystallographic analysis: compound 1 crystallized in monoclinic, space group C2/c (No. 15) with a = 21.140(3) A, b = 15.975(1) A, c = 18.6212(4) A, beta = 98.0586(4) degrees , V = 6226.5(7) A3, and Z = 4. This compound consists of two fragments, the out-of-plane dimer [Mn2(saltmen)2]2+ as a coordination acceptor building block and the neutral mononuclear unit [Ni(pao)2(py)2] as a coordination donor building block, forming an alternating chain having the repeating unit [-Mn-(O)2-Mn-ON-Ni-NO-]n. In the crystal structure, each chain is well separated with a minimum intermetallic distance between Mn and Ni ions of 10.39 A and with the absence of interchain pi overlaps between organic ligands. These features ensure a good magnetic isolation of the chains. The dc and ac magnetic measurements were performed on both the polycrystalline sample and the aligned single crystals of 1. Above 30 K, the magnetic susceptibility of this one-dimensional compound was successfully described in a mean field approximation as an assembly of trimers (Mn...Ni...Mn) with a NiII...MnIII antiferromagnetic interaction (J = -21 K) connected through a ferromagnetic MnIII...MnIII interaction (J'). However, the mean field theory fails to describe the magnetic behavior below 30 K emphasizing the one-dimensional magnetic character of the title compound. Between 5 and 15 K, the susceptibility in the chain direction was fitted to a one-dimensional Ising model leading to the same value of J'. Hysteresis loops are observed below 3.5 K, indicating a magnet-type behavior. In the same range of temperature, combined ac and dc measurements show a slow relaxation of the magnetization. This result indicates the presence of a metastable state without magnetic long-range order. This material is the first experimental design of a heterometallic chain with ST = 3 magnetic units showing a "single-chain magnet" behavior predicted in 1963 by R. J. Glauber for an Ising one-dimensional system. This work opens new perspectives for one-dimensional systems to obtain high temperature metastable magnets by combining high spin magnetic units, strong interunit interactions, and uniaxial anisotropy.     

Synthesis of the new metastable skutterudite compound NiSb(3) from modulated elemental reactants

A new metastable binary compound with the skutterudite crystal structure has been synthesized from modulated elemental reactants, through an amorphous intermediate, using a novel low-temperature synthesis technique. The amorphous reaction intermediate undergoes nucleation at 87 degrees C, an extremely low temperature for solid-state reactions. When heated above 350 degrees C, the metastable phase NiSb(3) disproportionates into the thermodynamically stable phases NiSb(2) and Sb. Also, if the sum of the individual elemental layer thicknesses is greater than 30 A, a mixture of different phases forms. Simulation of the high-angle powder X-ray diffraction spectrum confirms that NiSb(3) is isostructural with CoSb(3).     

Preparation of a 24-nor-1,4-dien-3-one triterpene derivative from betulin: a new route to 24-nortriterpene analogues

A new route to 24-nortriterpene derivatives with 2-hydroxy-Delta(1,4)-cyclohexadien-3-one A-rings from triterpene precursors has been demonstrated beginning with betulin to prepare derivatives of betulinic acid. The key steps in the transformation are a Suárez cleavage of the A-ring with a subsequent SmI(2)-mediated pinacol-type coupling to reclose the A-ring following removal of the C-24 carbon by oxidative cleavage.     

Crystal growth, observation, and characterization of the low-temperature structure of the fluorite-related ruthenates: Sm(3)RuO(7) and Eu(3)RuO(7)

The compounds Sm(3)RuO(7) and Eu(3)RuO(7) were grown as single crystals from molten hydroxide fluxes. They crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm and are part of a well-known family of fluorite-related oxides of stoichiometry Ln(3)MO(7). This structure contains rare earth cations in two different coordination environments, 8-fold pseudocubic and 7-fold pentagonal bipyramidal, and contains Ru(V) cations that are octahedrally coordinated. The RuO(6) octahedra are trans vertex-sharing to yield chains oriented along the c-axis. Upon cooling, single crystals of Sm(3)RuO(7) and Eu(3)RuO(7) undergo a structural transition at 190 and 280 K, respectively, from space group Cmcm to P2(1)nb. The structure transition results in a loss of lattice centering, a doubling of the b-axis, a distortion of the vertex-shared Ru-O chains, and a reduction in the coordination of one of the rare earth cations from 8-fold to 7-fold. Accompanying this structural transition are anomalies in the magnetic susceptibility at about 190 and 280 K for Sm(3)RuO(7) and Eu(3)RuO(7), respectively. The structures of these low-temperature phases of Ln(3)RuO(7) have been determined for the first time and are described.     

A new statistical thermodynamic theory for substoichiometric fluorite structure compounds and its application: II. Spinoidal points in the G-curves of substoichiometric fluorite structure compounds

In a previous paper¹, a theory was proposed to explain the thermodynamic function of substoichiometric fluorite structure compounds, on the basis of a new defect, which was called the tetrahedral defects, constituted by an oxygen vacancy which is bound with two reduced cations in its coordination tetrahedron. In this paper, the free energy surfaces in (G-T-x) space are analysed for critical points of different order (e.g. spinoidal points). These are essentially caused by the part of free energy which is a function of the concentration of tetrahedral defects.This part can be further split in a short range part, where the interaction between tetrahedral defects extendes to a small lattice volume, and a long-range part, where the interaction extends through the crystal. The results of¹ are summarized in Appendix A. The conditions of zeroes in the derivatives with respect to x of the G-curves at fixed temperatures are derived (Appendix B). The function 1 (ξ), where ξ is the total number of tetrahedral defects, and which depends only on short-range parameters, is mathematically analysed in the most general case, i.e. without restriction to the maximum packing L of tetrahedral defects. The treatment is general enough to be able to include various forms of dissociations of the tetrahedral defects and of long-range interactions.     

Magnetic properties of a new cobalt hydrogen vanadate with a dumortierite‐like structure: Co13.5(OH)6(H0.5VO3.5)2(VO4)6

The magnetic properties of a novel cobalt‐based hydrogen vanadate, Co_13.5(OH)₆(H_0.5VO_3.5)₂(VO₄)₆, are reported. This new magnetic material was synthesized in single‐crystal form using a conventional hydrothermal method. Its crystal structure was determined from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data and was also characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Its crystal framework has a dumortierite‐like structure consisting of large hexagonal and trigonal channels; the large hexagonal channels contain one‐dimensional chains of face‐sharing CoO₆ octahedra linked to the framework by rings of VO₄ tetrahedra, while the trigonal channels are occupied by chains of disordered V₂O₄ pyramidal groups. The magnetic properties of this material were investigated by DC magnetic measurements, which indicate the occurrence of antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Thermodynamics and defect structure of intermetallic phases with the B2 (CsCl) structure

Available theoretical models that describe the thermodynamic properties and the defect structures of intermetallic phases with the B2 structure are reviewed. The experimental methods for the determination of the Gibbs energy of alloys are briefly discussed and a summary of experimental data of lattice parameters, densities, activities, and enthalpies for nearly 30 B2 phases is given. It is shown that the data can be expressed in terms of a few simple model parameters. The importance of theoretical models for an understanding of the structural stability of intermetallic phases and for the evaluation and eventual prediction of binary and ternary phase diagrams is discussed.     

Structure and microstructure of the metastable B phase (NiAl10O16): I. Preparation and structural study by X-ray diffraction

The B phase of composition NiAl₁₀O₁₆ is one of the metastable phases found in the Al₂O₃NiO system. Twinned crystals of B were prepared by annealing samples at 1150°C. Indexing the crystal diffraction patterns with 12 twin variants was done. A structural model belonging to the space group $\text{P2}{}_1\text{b}$ is proposed. The B phase has a periodic antiphase boundary (PAPB) structure based on the (100) spinel planes with an antiphase vector R = $\text{1}\text{4}\text{[1}\text{1}\text{0]}$. Moreover this structure is slightly modified by introducing periodic steps on PAPB planes. These steps give rise to a particular order of cation vacancies.