Sulfide oxygenation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide with mononuclear (Me3TACN)Mn catalysts

Mononuclear (Me₃TACN)MnX₃ compounds, where X is Cl⁻, Br⁻, or N₃⁻, and Me₃TACN is 1,4,7-N,N′,N″-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane, have been tested for catalyzing both sulfide oxygenation and styrene epoxidation by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and display turnover frequencies (TOF) up to 200 h⁻¹ at room temperature. Sulfoxides or sulfones may be produced selectively by varying reaction conditions. Product distribution from the oxygenation reactions of ethyl phenyl sulfide, 2-chloroethyl phenyl sulfide, and styrene is consistent with a mechanism involving an early single-electron transfer (SET) step.     

Ion-beam irradiation of lanthanum compounds in the systems La2O3-Al2O3 and La2O3-TiO2

Thin crystals of La₂O₃, LaAlO₃, La_2/3TiO₃, La₂TiO₅, and La₂Ti₂O₇ have been irradiated in situ using 1 MeV Kr²⁺ ions at the Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem User Facility (IVEM-Tandem), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). We observed that La₂O₃ remained crystalline to a fluence greater than 3.1×10¹⁶ ions cm⁻² at a temperature of 50 K. The four binary oxide compounds in the two systems were observed through the crystalline-amorphous transition as a function of ion fluence and temperature. Results from the ion irradiations give critical temperatures for amorphisation (T_c) of 647 K for LaAlO₃, 840 K for La₂Ti₂O₇, 865 K for La_2/3TiO₃, and 1027 K for La₂TiO₅. The T_c values observed in this study, together with previous data for Al₂O₃ and TiO₂, are discussed with reference to the melting points for the La₂O₃-Al₂O₃ and La₂O₃-TiO₂ systems and the different local environments within the four crystal structures. Results suggest that there is an observable inverse correlation between T_c and melting temperature (T_m) in the two systems. More complex relationships exist between T_c and crystal structure, with the stoichiometric perovskite LaAlO₃ being the most resistant to amorphisation.     

Copper-catalyzed arylation of phenylurea using KF/Al2O3

A mild and efficient method for the copper-catalyzed arylation of phenylurea is described. The coupling reaction of phenylurea with different functionalized aryl iodides in the presence of air stable CuI, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine as a ligand, and KF/Al₂O₃ as a base gives symmetrical and unsymmetrical diarylureas in relatively high yields.     

Phenoxide-assisted P-C bond cleavage in PdCl2(PPh3)2 under very mild conditions

PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ reacted with NaOAr (Ar = Ph, p-tolyl) at 0 °C to afford PdCl(Ph)(PPh₃)₂, instead of PdCl(OAr)(PPh₃)₂, in 12-16% isolated yields based on Pd. The structure was confirmed by NMR and X-ray crystallography. GC-MS analysis of the reaction solution revealed that OPPh₂(OAr), OPPh(OAr)₂, and OP(OAr)₃ are formed, while NMR studies indicated that PdCl(Ph)(PPh₃)₂ is produced when PdCl(OAr)(PPh₃)₂ decomposes. The reaction of PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ with Bu₃Sn(OC₆H₄-p-OMe) also gave PdCl(Ph)(PPh₃)₂ in 8% isolated yield. These results suggest that PdCl(OAr)(PPh₃)₂ is highly labile and the aryloxy ligand exchanges with the phenyl groups in triphenylphosphine even under very mild conditions.     

Metal-organic chains constructed from pre-organized N2S2 donor ligands

Three new N₂S₂ donor ligands 1,1′-((2-(2-(phenylthio)phenylthio)phenyl)methylene)bis(3,5-R-1H-pyrazole), R = H (L^H), R = Me (L^Me), R = i-Pr (L^i-Pr) have been prepared and characterized. These bifunctional ligands incorporate two distinct chelate donor systems, by virtue of the presence of bispyrazole and bisthioether functions. The preferred conformation of these ligands is such that the N₂ and S₂ donor moieties may be oriented in opposite directions, thus favoring the formation of molecular chains when treated with AgBF₄. The X-ray structures of Ag(I) complexes show that, depending on the steric hindrance present on the pyrazole rings, these ligands behave as κ⁴-SSNN-μ bridging tetradentate (when R = H), or κ³-SNN-μ bridging tridentate (when R = Me, i-Pr). Interestingly, [Ag(L^H)]BF₄ crystallizes in the chiral space group P4₁, with the molecular chain that is folded around the 4₁ screw axis.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, infrared and Raman spectra of Sr4Cu3(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)4·3H2O and Ba2Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)3

The two new compounds, Sr₄Cu₃(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₄·3H₂O (1) and Ba₂Cu₄(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₃(2), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. They represent previously unknown structure types and are the first compounds synthesized in the systems SrO/BaO-CuO-As₂O₅-H₂O. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction [space group C2/c, a=18.536(4) Å, b=5.179(1) Å, c=24.898(5) Å, β=93.67(3)°, V=2344.0(8) Å³, Z=4 for 1; space group P4₂/n, a=7.775(1) Å, c=13.698(3) Å, V=828.1(2) Å³, Z=2 for 2]. The crystal structure of 1 is related to a group of compounds formed by Cu²⁺-(XO₄)³⁻ layers (X=P⁵⁺, As⁵⁺) linked by M cations (M=alkali, alkaline earth, Pb²⁺, or Ag⁺) and partly by hydrogen bonds. In 1, worth mentioning is the very short hydrogen bond length, D···A=2.477(3) Å. It is one of the examples of extremely short hydrogen bonds, where the donor and acceptor are crystallographically different. Compound 2 represents a layered structure consisting of Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers crosslinked by As1φ₄ tetrahedra, where φ is O or OH, which are interconnected by Ba, As2 and hydrogen bonds to form a three-dimensional network. The layers are formed by Cu₂O₈ centrosymmetric dimers of CuO₅ edge-sharing polyhedra, crosslinked by As1O₄ tetrahedra. Vibrational spectra (FTIR and Raman) of both compounds are described. The spectroscopic manifestation of the very short hydrogen bond in 1, and ABC-like spectra in 2 were discussed.     

Ag3PO4/Ag2S/g-C3N4复合光催化剂的制备与性能

通过沉积法和离子交换法成功地制备了Ag_3PO_4/Ag_2S/g-C_3N_4复合型光催化剂。利用X射线多晶粉末衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、N_2吸附-脱附等温线、紫外-可见漫反射光谱、荧光光谱等手段对样品进行了表征。通过降解罗丹明B考察其可见光催化活性及稳定性,研究了硫化钠与磷酸银物质的量的比值(n_(Na_2S)/n_(Ag_3PO_4))、g-C_3N_4添加量对所制备复合光催化材料性能的影响,同时对光催化机理进行了探讨。结果表明,随着n_(Na2S)/n_(Ag3PO4)的增加,所得复合催化材料活性先增加后降低;当n_(Na2S)/n_(Ag_3PO_4)为1.5%、g-C_3N_4与Ag_3PO_4的质量比为3∶7时制备的催化剂ASC1.5的光催化活性最好,在可见光照射下,40 min内可将罗丹明B完全降解,且5次循环使用后仍保持较高的催化活性。和Ag_3PO_4相比,Ag_3PO_4/Ag_2S/g-C_3N_4复合型光催化材料的活性与稳定性都得到明显提高,这主要归因于复合催化剂比表面积和孔结构的增加,载流子分离效率的提高。光催化机理研究表明,空穴(h~+)、超氧阴离子自由基(·O~(2-))和羟基自由基(·OH)都是光催化过程中的主要活性物种。三者作用大小依次为:h~+·O~(2-)·OH。     

Synthesis, structural characterization and optical properties of a new cesium aluminum borate, Cs2Al2B2O7

A new borate, Cs₂Al₂B₂O₇, was synthesized by solid-state reaction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=6.719(1) Å, b=7.121(1) Å, c=9.626(3) Å, β=115.3(1)°, and Z=2. In the structure, two AlO₄ tetrahedra and two BO₃ planar triangles are connected alternately by corner-sharing to from nearly planar [Al₂B₂O₁₀] rings, which are further linked via common O1 atom to generate layers in the bc plane. These layers then share the O3 atoms lying on a center of inversion to form a three-dimensional framework with Cs atoms residing in the channels. The IR spectrum confirms the presence of both BO₃ and AlO₄ groups and the UV-vis-IR diffuse reflectance spectrum indicates a band gap of about 4.13(2) eV.     

A novel germanate, Cu2Fe2Ge4O13, with a four tetrahedra oligomer

The structure of Cu₂Fe₂Ge₄O₁₃, previously thought to be CuFeGe₂O₆, has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to be monoclinic, P2₁/m, a=12.1050(6), b=8.5073(4), c=4.8736(2) Å, β=96.145(1)°, Z=2, with R1=0.0231 and wR2=0.0605. The unique structure has an oligomer of four germanate tetrahedra, cross-linked laterally by square-planar copper ions, joined end-to-end by a zigzag chain of edge-sharing iron oxide octahedra. Running along the a-direction the metal oxide chain consists of alternating Cu-Cu and Fe-Fe dimers. A hypothetical series of homologous structures (Cu_n−2Fe₂Ge_nO_3n+1 with n=3,4,…,∞) with different length germanate oligomers is proposed, where as n increases, the infinite chain of the CuGeO₃ is approached. In this context, Cu₂Fe₂Ge₄O₁₃ is viewed as being built from blocks of CuGeO₃ and the Fe oxide chains. This material has significance to the study of low-dimensional mixed-spin systems.     

K2Mo4O13 phases prepared by hydrothermal synthesis

Hydrothermal synthesis in the K-Mo oxide system was investigated as a function of the pH of the reaction medium. Four compounds were formed, including two K₂Mo₄O₁₃ phases. One is a new low-temperature polymorph, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic, space group Pbca, with Z=8 and unit cell dimensions a=7.544(1) Å, b=15.394(2) Å, c=18.568(3) Å. The other is the known triclinic K₂Mo₄O₁₃, whose structure was re-determined from single crystal data; its cell parameters were determined as a=7.976(2) Å, b=8.345(2) Å, c=10.017(2) Å, α=107.104(3)°, β=102.885(3)°, γ=109.760(3)°, which are the standard settings of the crystal lattice. The orthorhombic phase converts endothermically into triclinic phase at ca. 730 K with a heat of transition of 8.31 kJ/mol.     

Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Materials: Synthesis and X-Ray Structure of N,N′-Dimethylimidazolium Salts [(Me2Im)2][Cd2(SCN)6] and N,N′-Dicyclohexylimidazolium [(Cy2Im)2][Cd2(SCN)6]·C3H6O

Two novel N,N′-dialkylimidazolium thiocyanate-cadmium complexes [(R₂Im)₂][Cd₂(SCN)₆] for R=Me (3), and cyclohexyl (4) have been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic unit cell dimensions of 17.468(3), 7.7273(12), 10.6750(16) Å, 104.833(2)°, and space group C2 with two [(Me₂Im)₂] [Cd₂(SCN)₆] per unit cell. The two cadmium atoms in 3 are octahedrally coordinated in 4N2S and 2N4S coordination environment, and linking into one-dimensional zigzag chains. Compound 4 belongs to the monoclinic space group Cc with unit cell of dimensions 13.3049(12), 17.5550(16), 20.8012(19) Å, 101.494(2)°, and four [(Cy₂Im)₂][Cd₂(SCN)₆]·C₃H₆O per unit cell. The cadmium atoms in 4 are all 3N3S hexa-coordinated with six bridging SCN⁻ ions in an fac configuration and form infinite zigzag polymeric chains. The infinite chains in 3 form an approximate hexagonal array, making triangular channels which are occupied by N,N′-dimethylimidazolium ions, whereas the chains in 4 form layered structure, and the layers are stacked perpendicularly with respect to the orientation of the infinite anionic chains alternatively. N,N′-dicyclohexylimidazolium cations and solvent molecules fill in between layers.     

High-pressure transitions in MgAl2O4 and a new high-pressure phase of Mg2Al2O5

Phase transitions in MgAl₂O₄ were examined at 21-27 GPa and 1400-2500 °C using a multianvil apparatus. A mixture of MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum that are high-pressure dissociation products of MgAl₂O₄ spinel combines into calcium-ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ at 26-27 GPa and 1400-2000 °C. At temperature above 2000 °C at pressure below 25.5 GPa, a mixture of Al₂O₃ corundum and a new phase with Mg₂Al₂O₅ composition is stable. The transition boundary between the two fields has a strongly negative pressure-temperature slope. Structure analysis and Rietveld refinement on the basis of the powder X-ray diffraction profile of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase indicated that the phase represented a new structure type with orthorhombic symmetry (Pbam), and the lattice parameters were determined as a=9.3710(6) Å, b=12.1952(6) Å, c=2.7916(2) Å, V=319.03(3) Å³, Z=4. The structure consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra, and contains chains of edge-sharing octahedra running along the c-axis. A part of Mg atoms are accommodated in six-coordinated trigonal prism sites in tunnels surrounded by the chains of edge-sharing (Mg, Al)O₆ octahedra. The structure is related with that of ludwigite (Mg, Fe²⁺)₂(Fe³⁺, Al)(BO₃)O₂. The molar volume of the Mg₂Al₂O₅ phase is smaller by 0.18% than sum of molar volumes of 2MgO and Al₂O₃ corundum. High-pressure dissociation to the mixture of corundum-type phase and the phase with ludwigite-related structure has been found only in MgAl₂O₄ among various A²⁺B³⁺₂O₄ compounds.     

Mononuclear hydridocarbonyl ruthenium complexes incorporating N2O2 bis-chelating ligands

The reactions of [RuH(CO)Cl(PPh₃)₃] with N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-hydrazine (H₂bsh) and N,N^′-bis(salicylidine)-p-phenylene diammine (H₂bsp) in presence of KOH in methanol led in the formation of neutral mononuclear complexes with the formulations [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(L)] (LHbsh or Hbsp). These present the first examples where the ligands H₂bsh or H₂bsp provide only two of its available donor sites for interaction with the metal centre. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, FAB-MS, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR and electronic spectral studies. Molecular structure of the representative complex [RuH(CO)(PPh₃)₂(Hbsh)] have been determined by single crystal X-ray analysis.     

Structural study of the NaCdVO4-Cd3V2O8 and CdO-V2O5 sections of the ternary system Na2O-CdO-V2O5

The NaCdVO₄-Cd₃V₂O₈ and CdO-V₂O₅ sections of the ternary system Na₂O-CdO-V₂O₅ have been studied and the crystal structures of Cd₃V₂O₈ and Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ compounds were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Cd₃V₂O₈ crystallizes with the maricite-type structure in space group Pnma, a=9.8133(10) Å, b=6.9882(10) Å, c=5.3251(10) Å and Z=4, whereas Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ crystallizes in space group P1 with a new-type structure, a=8.5761(14), b=8.607(3), c=12.896(2) Å, α=95.64(1), β=102.45(1), γ=108.42(1)° and Z=1. The Cd₃V₂O₈ structure is made up of Cd1O₄ infinite chains of edge-sharing Cd1O₆ octahedra which are parallel to the b direction. The Cd1O₄ chains are linked together by VO₄ tetrahedra and strongly distorted Cd2O₄ tetrahedra. The structure of Cd₁₈V₈O₃₈ is based on an ordered three-dimensional framework of cadmium and vanadium polyhedra that share corners. The distorted CdO₆ octahedra, CdO₅ trigonal bipyramids and CdO₅ square pyramids share corners, edges or faces.     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of CeAu4Si2 and CeAu2Si2

Single crystals of CeAu₄Si₂ and CeAu₂Si₂ have been grown out of ternary fluxes rich in Au, and the former, also by sintering the stoichiometric composition at 750 °C. The single-crystal X-ray refinement result for CeAu₄Si₂ is orthorhombic, Cmmm (No. 65, Z=2), different from a tetragonal result found from an X-ray powder diffraction refinement [H. Nakashima, et al., J. Alloys Compds. 424 (2006) 7]. For CeAu₂Si₂, this is the first report of the stoichiometric crystalline phase, in the known tetragonal I4/mmm structure. The anisotropic field- and temperature-dependent magnetizations, as well as specific heat and resistivity data are compared. Although both compounds have related structural packing, they present unique magnetic features. CeAu₂Si₂ is a typical antiferromagnet with T_N=8.8(1) K and CeAu₄Si₂ features a ferromagnetic component below T_c=3.3(1) K. Both phases have effective moments close in value to that of free Ce³⁺.     

La3Ru8B6 and Y3Os8B6, new members of a homologous series R(A)nM3n−1B2n

Two new compounds, La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆, were synthesized by arc melting the elements. Their structural characterization was carried out at room temperature on as-cast samples by using X-ray diffractometry. According to X-ray single-crystal diffraction results these borides crystallize in Fmmm space group (no. 69), Z=4, a=5.5607(1) Å, b=9.8035(3) Å, c=17.5524(4) Å, ρ=8.956 Mg/m³, μ=25.23 mm⁻¹ for La₃Ru₈B₆ and a=5.4792(2) Å, b=9.5139(4) Å, c=17.6972(8) Å, ρ=13.343 Mg/m³, μ=128.23 mm⁻¹ for Y₃Os₈B₆. The crystal structure of La₃Ru₈B₆ was confirmed from Rietveld refinement of X-ray powder diffraction data. Both La₃Ru₈B₆ and Y₃Os₈B₆ compounds are isotypic with the Ca₃Rh₈B₆ compound and their structures are built up from CeCo₃B₂-type and CeAl₂Ga₂-type structural fragments taken in ratio 2:1. They are the members of structural series R(A)_nM_3n−1B_2n with n=3 (R is the rare earth metal, A the alkaline earth metal, and M the transition metal). Structural and atomic parameters were also obtained for La_0.94Ru₃B₂ compound from Rietveld refinement (CeCo₃B₂-type structure, P6/mmm space group (no. 191), a=5.5835(9) Å, c=3.0278(6) Å).     

Conversion of NO in NO/N2, NO/O2/N2, NO/C2H4/N2 and NO/C2H4/O2/N2 Systems by Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasmas

An experimental study on the conversion of NO in the NO/N₂, NO/O₂/N₂, NO/C₂H₄/N₂ and NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ systems has been carried out using dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasmas at atmospheric pressure. In the NO/N₂ system, NO decomposition to N₂ and O₂ is the dominating reaction; NO conversion to NO₂ is less significant. O₂ produced from NO decomposition was detected by an on-line mass spectrometer. With the increase of NO initial concentration, the concentration of O₂ produced decreases at 298 K, but slightly increases at 523 K. In the NO/O₂/N₂ system, NO is mainly oxidized to NO₂, but NO conversion becomes very low at 523 K and over 1.6% of O₂. In the NO/C₂H₄/N₂ system, NO is reduced to N₂ with about the same NO conversion as that in the NO/N₂ system but without NO₂ formation. In the NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ system, the oxidation of NO to NO₂ is dramatically promoted. At 523 K, with the increase of the energy density, NO conversion increases rapidly first, and then almost stabilizes at 93–91% of NO conversion with 61–55% of NO₂ selectivity in the energy density range of 317–550 J L⁻¹. It finally decreases gradually at high energy density. A negligible amount of N₂O is formed in the above four systems. Of the four systems studied, NO conversion and NO₂ selectivity of the NO/C₂H₄/O₂/N₂ system are the highest, and NO/O₂/C₂H₄/N₂ system has the lowest electrical energy consumption per NO molecule converted.     

Synthesis and structural investigation of the compounds containing HF2 anions: Ca(HF2)2, Ba4F4(HF2)(PF6)3 and Pb2F2(HF2)(PF6)

Three new compounds Ca(HF₂)₂, Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) were obtained in the system metal(II) fluoride and anhydrous HF (aHF) acidified with excessive PF₅. The obtained polymeric solids are slightly soluble in aHF and they crystallize out of their aHF solutions. Ca(HF₂)₂ was prepared by simply dissolving CaF₂ in a neutral aHF. It represents the second known compound with homoleptic HF environment of the central atom besides Ba(H₃F₄)₂. The compounds Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ and Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) represent two additional examples of the formation of a polymeric zigzag ladder or ribbon composed of metal cation and fluoride anion (MF⁺)_n besides PbF(AsF₆), the first isolated compound with such zigzag ladder. The obtained new compounds were characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction method and partly by Raman spectroscopy. Ba₄F₄(HF₂)(PF₆)₃ crystallizes in a triclinic space group P1¯ with a=4.5870(2) Å, b=8.8327(3) Å, c=11.2489(3) Å, α=67.758(9)°, β=84.722(12), γ=78.283(12)°, V=413.00(3) Å³ at 200 K, Z=1 and R=0.0588. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 200 K: space group P1¯, a=4.5722(19) Å, b=4.763(2) Å, c=8.818(4) Å, α=86.967(10)°, β=76.774(10)°, γ=83.230(12)°, V=185.55(14) ų, Z=1 and R=0.0937. Pb₂F₂(HF₂)(PF₆) at 293 K: space group P1¯, a=4.586(2) Å, b=4.781(3) Å, c=8.831(5) Å, α=87.106(13)°, β=76.830(13)°, γ=83.531(11)°, V=187.27(18) Å³, Z=1 and R=0.072. Ca(HF₂)₂ crystallizes in an orthorhombic Fddd space group with a=5.5709(6) Å, b=10.1111(9) Å, c=10.5945(10) Å, V=596.77(10) Å³ at 200 K, Z=8 and R=0.028.     

Non-centrosymmetric Ba3Ti3O6(BO3)2

The compound previously reported as Ba₂Ti₂B₂O₉ has been reformulated as Ba₃Ti₃B₂O₁₂, or Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂, a new barium titanium oxoborate. Small single crystals have been recovered from a melt with a composition of BaTiO₃:BaTiB₂O₆ (molar ratio) cooled between 1100°C and 850°C. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction: hexagonal system, non-centrosymmetric space group, a=8.7377(11) Å, c=3.9147(8) Å, Z=1, wR(F²)=0.039 for 504 unique reflections. Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is isostructural with K₃Ta₃O₆(BO₃)₂. Preliminary measurements of nonlinear optical properties on microcrystalline samples show that the second harmonic generation efficiency of Ba₃Ti₃O₆(BO₃)₂ is equal to 95% of that of LiNbO₃.