Phosphorus modified MoO<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>SiO<Subscript>5</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst for gas-phase epoxidation of propylene by molecular oxygen

The phosphorus (P) modified MoO₃–Bi₂SiO₅/SiO₂ catalyst was prepared by a simple co-impregnation method and investigated in the epoxidation of propylene by molecular oxygen. The catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption–desorption analysis, NH₃-temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD), transmission electron microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that the P-modified MoO₃–Bi₂SiO₅/SiO₂ catalyst with a P/Mo molar ratio of 0.5 exhibits the best catalytic performance for epoxidation of propylene by O₂, the TOFs for propylene oxide (PO) formation was four times higher than that of the unmodified one at 633 K. The modification by P could promote the dispersion of MoO₃ nanoparticles and increase the number of weak and moderate acid sites with respect to the phosphorus-free MoO₃–Bi₂SiO₅/SiO₂ catalyst, which were beneficial to the formation of PO. Moreover, the introduction of P also could protect the mesoporous structure by inhibiting the formation of Bi₂Mo₃O₁₂, which was beneficial to the dispersion of active species. We suppose that the phosphorus, bismuth and molybdenum species of P-modified MoO₃–Bi₂SiO₅/SiO₂ catalyst play important roles for propylene epoxidation by molecular oxygen.     

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%.     

Electrochemical behavior of nickel–polyaniline electrode in 1 M LiClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>–propylene carbonate electrolyte

Doping of emeraldine-base (EB) with lithium salts involves the addition of lithium cations to nitrogen in imine groups and intercalation of counter ions i.e., proceeds similarly to doping with protonic acids. The results of studies show that doping of polyaniline (PANI) with a lithium salt proceeds relatively difficultly as compared with protonic doping. For a polyaniline electrode, to attain faster the stationary mode by repeated cycling (“electrode training”) in an organic lithium electrolyte and to reach the higher capacitance, the method of preliminary lithiation of the NiO surface layer on the nickel substrate with Li⁺ cations through the EB film is proposed. The studies show that preliminary cycling of the Ni/PANI electrode (7 cycles at 10 mV s^–1) in the region of negative potentials (from 0 to–2.99 V vs. Ag/AgCl) leads to substantial increase in the capacitance characteristics of the PANI film in the region of its intrinsic redox activity from–0.4 to +1.1 V at high charge–discharge currents (2–5 A/g).     

Synthesis of diamantane via skeletal isomerization of hydrogenated cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene dimers in ionic liquid [Et<Subscript>3</Subscript>NH]<Superscript>+</Superscript> [Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>Cl<Subscript>7</Subscript>]<Superscript>–</Superscript>

Diamantane was synthesized in 91–97% yield by skeletal isomerization of a mixture of hydrogenated cyclohepta-1,3,5-triene dimers, pentacyclo[8.4.0.0^3,7.0^4,14.0^6,11]tetradecane and pentacyclo-[7.5.0.0^2,8.0^5,14.0^7,11]tetradecane, at a ratio of 3: 2 in the presence of ionic liquid [Et₃NH]⁺ [Al₂Cl₇]^–.     

Preparation of Li<Subscript>9</Subscript>Cr<Subscript>3</Subscript>(P<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(PO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript> as cathode material for lithium ion batteries through sol–gel method

The compound Li₉Cr₃(P₂O₇)₃(PO₄)₂ has been successfully synthesized using sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction Rietveld refinement analysis indicates that single phase Li₉Cr₃(P₂O₇)₃(PO₄)₂ can be obtained under air condition and high purity nitrogen atmosphere. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that nanowires with lengths ranging from several to tens micrometers and diameters varying from 100nm to 500nm can be obtained in the Li₉Cr₃(P₂O₇)₃(PO₄)₂ compound heated under air condition. The electrochemical properties of Li₉Cr₃(P₂O₇)₃(PO₄)₂ sintered under N₂ as cathode material is reported for the first time. The XRD patterns of the electrodes before and after 30 cycles indicate that the Li₉Cr₃(P₂O₇)₃(PO₄)₂ keeps its original monodiphosphate structure.     

Diffusions of β-cyclodextrins in mucus studied by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F diffusion NMR

β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) based materials have been widely used as drug carriers for pharmaceutical applications. To understand the diffusion of β-CDs in mucus is important for selecting β-CD based drug carriers for applications targeting mucosal absorption because the surfaces of many biological membranes are covered with a highly viscous aqueous mucus layer which forms relatively effective diffusion barriers for drugs. In this study, ¹⁹F self-diffusion NMR technique has been applied to study the self-diffusions of β-CDs in mucus. The ¹⁹F NMR signals arose from 1-fluoroadamantane molecules entrapped in the cavities of β-CDs. The diffusive abilities of different β-CDs in mucus were assessed through analyzing the diffusion coefficients using the presented kinetic model, and Ogston’s and Renkin’s diffusion models for hydrogel systems. The kinetic results show that 2-hydroxypropyl-β-CD and 2-Carboxyethyl-β-CD have the smallest binding affinities to bovine submaxillary mucin and human nasal mucin among five tested β-CDs. The mesh sizes of the bovine submaxillary mucus at different concentrations and that of the human nasal mucus were evaluated using the diffusion models. We hope that this ¹⁹F diffusion method will be useful to study the diffusion of β-CD based materials in other biological systems.     

Quantum chemical modeling of possible reactions of mononuclear iron nitrosyl complex [Fe(SC(NH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>(NO)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]Cl•H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O in an aqueous solution

Possible reactions of the mononuclear iron nitrosyl complex [Fe(SC(NH₂)₂)₂(NO)₂]Сl?H₂O in an aqueous solution were studied using quantum chemical modeling. The electronic structures of the possible intermediates were examined by the NBO and AIM methods. The substitution of the thio ligand in the iron—sulfur nitrosyl complex by a water molecule and the formation of dimeric intermediate complexes were found to facilitate the NO-donation process.     

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.     

Crystal structure and quantum chemical investigation of [Cd(NTO)<Subscript>4</Subscript>Cd(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript>6</Subscript>] · 4H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

[Cd(NTO)₄Cd(H₂O)₆] •4H₂O was synthesized by mixing the aqueous solution of 3-nitro-1, 2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and cadmium carbonate. The single crystal structure was determined by a four-circle X-ray diffractometer. The crystal is monoclinic, space group C2/c with crystal parameters of a = 2.1229(3) nm, b = 0.6261(8) nm, = 2.1165(3) nm, β= 90.602 (3)°, V= 2.977(6) nm₃, Z = 4, D_c = 2.055 g • cm_-3, μ = 15.45 cm_-1 and F(000) = 1824. 2523 observable independent reflections with F₀4σ(F₀) were used for the determination and refinement of the crystal structure. Lorentz-polarization and absorption correction were applied. The final R is 0.0282 and wR = 0.0792. The analytical results show that the Cd⁺² has two kinds of coordinate bonds in one crystal. One Cd⁺² coordinates with 4 NTO anions and another coordinates with 6 water molecules to form a binucleate complex with a structure of tetrahedron and tetragonal bipyramid, respectively. By using SCF-PM3-MO method, the electron structure of cadmium complex of NTO has been calculated. The analysis of the calculated results shows that when [Cd(NTO)₄Cd(H₂O)₆] • 4H₂O is heated, the crystallization waters will be dissociated first and the ligand waters second and NO₂ group has priority of leaving when NTO⁻ is decomposed. Analysis of the energy level and composition of localized molecular orbitals indicates that both the two Cd²⁺ bond to the coordinating atom with 5s     

Stable cyclopentadienyl-type fullerenyl radical Me<Subscript>5</Subscript>C<Stack><Subscript>60</Subscript><Superscript>•</Superscript></Stack>: experimental detection by EPR spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations

A paramagnetic compound was detected in the synthesis of a hydride (Me)₅C₆₀H with an isolated cyclopentadienyl ring. The EPR spectrum of this compound corresponds to free radical (Me)₅C₆₀• with nonequivalent Me-group protons. The structure of the radical was confirmed by quantum chemical calculations. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1597–1599, August, 2008.     

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.     

Reactivity of the oxides in the ternary V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>-CuO-α-Sb<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> system in air

In this work it has been established which compounds finally are formed in air in the two-component CuO-V₂O₅ and CuO-α-Sb₂O₄ systems. Unknown thermal properties of CuV₂O₆, Cu₂V₂O₇ and Cu₁₁V₆O₂₆ have been established. Reactivity of the oxides and phase relations in the ternary V₂O₅-CuO-α-Sb₂O₄ system in air have been studied by using XRD and DTA methods. The results have showed the reaction of V₂O₅, CuO with α-Sb₂O₄ does not produce any compound where all the three oxides would be involved. It has been established that the α-Sb₂O₄ reacts and forms binary phases independently with CuO or V₂O₅. On the base of these results the investigated system was divided into subsidiary subsystem in which CuSb₂O₆ remains at equilibrium in the solid state with other phases formed in corresponding binary systems.     

Effect of Fe-zeolite on formation of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O in selective reduction of NO by NH<Subscript>3</Subscript> over V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>–WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst

An approach for significantly suppressing N₂O formation in reduction of NO by NH₃ over V₂O₅–WO₃/TiO₂ (VWT) catalyst has been studied by coating different amounts of a Fe-exchanged zeolite (FeZ) onto the catalyst. FeZ-promoted VWT samples were characterized using N₂ sorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and NH₃ adsorption/desorption techniques to understand the primary role of FeZ in lowering N₂O production levels. At high temperatures (≥450 °C), VWT gave N₂O production with high concentrations, while N₂O formation was noticeably reduced when using FeZ-promoted catalysts, which also showed somewhat lower NO removal activities (<5 %) at all temperatures. N₂ sorption and XRD measurements revealed no perceptible physical or chemical alterations of each constituent, even in VWT catalysts after FeZ coating following high-temperature calcination. Adsorption of NH₃ on unpromoted and FeZ-promoted catalysts and subsequent desorption yielded very complicated spectra for N₂O that might primarily come from NH₃ oxidation, and the interaction between V–NO species at temperatures >580 °C. NO on neighboring sites seems to be produced via decomposition of N₂O generated at lower temperatures. The FeZ in the promoted VWT catalysts could be responsible for N₂O decomposition and N₂O reduction with unreacted NH₃ at temperatures >400 °C, thereby significantly lowering N₂O emission levels. This promotional effect bodes well for use in many industrial deNO _x applications.     

Study of the Pr(NO<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>-H<Subscript>8</Subscript>L-H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O system by Tananaev’s method

Conditions for the formation of praseodymium ethylenediaminetetramethylphosphonates were studied by Tananaev’s method.     

Thermodynamic study of solid solutions in the SnTe–AgSbTe<Subscript>2</Subscript> system by means of EMF with solid electrolyte Ag<Subscript>4</Subscript>RbI<Subscript>5</Subscript>

The results from studying the SnTe–AgSbTe₂ system by means of EMF with the solid electrolyte Ag₄RbI₅ in the temperature range of 300–430 K are presented. The formation of a wide (≥80 mol % of AgSbTe₂) region of solid solutions based on SnTe is confirmed. Partial thermodynamic functions ΔG?, ΔH?, and ΔS? of silver in alloys are calculated from the equations for the EMF temperature dependences. Based on the literature data regarding solid-phase equilibria in the Ag₂Te–SnTe–Sb₂Te₃–Te system, potential-determining reactions are identified that allow us to calculate the standard thermodynamic formation functions and standard entropies of solid solutions (2SnTe) _x (AgSbTe₂)_1?x (х = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 0.9).     

Catalytic properties of the VO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">х</Emphasis></Subscript>/Ce<Subscript>0.46</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>0.54</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> oxide system in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

Ce_0.46Zr_0.54O₂ solid solution prepared using a cellulose template was employed as a carrier for vanadium catalysts of the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The properties of VO _х /Ce_0.46Zr_0.54O₂ catalyst (5 wt % vanadium) are compared with the properties of the neat support. The carrier and catalyst are studied by means of BET, SEM, DTA, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that the CeVO₄ phase responsible for the ODH process is formed upon interaction between vanadate ions and cerium ions on the surface of the solid solution. The catalytic properties of the catalyst and the support are studied in the propane oxidation reaction at temperatures of 450 and 500°C with pulse feeding of the reagent. It is found that the complete oxidation of propane occurs on the support with formation of CO₂ and H₂O. Three products (propene, CO₂, and H₂O) form in the presence of the vanadium catalyst. It is suggested that there are two types of catalytic centers on the catalyst’s surface. It is concluded that the centers responsible for the complete oxidation of propane are concentrated mainly on the carrier, while the centers responsible for propane ODH are on the CeVO₄.     

Regularities of formation of complex oxides with the fluorite structure in the ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> system

The crystal and local structures of the complex oxides (1–x)ZrO₂ ? xY₂O₃ (YSZ) (x = 0.08–0.40) prepared by precipitation from solutions of metal salts followed by heat treatment in air were comprehensively studied by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Despite the same crystal structure type of the YSZ powders (cubic system, space group \(Fm\overline 3 m\) (225)), there are differences in the local structure of the samples. Comparison of the Raman spectra recorded at different laser excitation wavelengths provided the conclusion that the peaks observed in the Raman spectra of the YSZ samples with high yttrium content (x = 0.18–0.40) are likely to be due to luminescence of the powders.     

Influence of A-site deficiencies in the system La<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Sr<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.8</Subscript>Mg<Subscript>0.2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3−δ</Subscript> on structure and electrical conductivity

In this study, the A-site-deficient ABO₃ perovskites La_0.9–x Sr_0.1Ga_0.8Mg_0.2O_3– with x=0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, and 0.2 were prepared by conventional solid state reactions. X-ray investigations were carried out in order to determine the influence of the A-site deficiencies on the structure. The electrical conductivities were measured as a function of both temperature and oxygen partial pressure in ranges 500–1000 °C and 0.2–10^–6 atm, respectively. Only for small x values were single phases obtained. All compositions with A-site deficiencies exhibit a lower conductivity compared to the stoichiometric compound. It is shown by SEM micrographs that the sample morphology is changed by an A-site-deficient preparation as well. For A-site-deficient compositions, a reduction of the grain size is observed, most likely due to impurity inclusions in the grain boundaries.     

A Bloembergen–Purcell–Pound <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR relaxation study of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

The molecular structure and rotational motion of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIM][PF6]) were studied over a wide temperature range using the Bloembergen–Purcell–Pound ¹³C NMR spin–lattice relaxation method and NOE factors. Examination of the spin–lattice relaxation times (T ₁) and the rates (R ₁=1/T ₁) of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium cation reveals the relative motions of each carbon in the imidazolium cation. The rotational characteristics of the [BMIM] cation are supported by ab-initio molecular structures of [BMIM][PF6] using density functional theory (DFT) and Hartree–Fock (HF) methods. The ab-initio gas phase structures of [BMIM][PF6] indicate that the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium C2 hydrogen, the ring methyl group, and the butyl side-chain hydrogen atoms form hydrogen bonds with the hexafluorophosphate anion.