Nucleophilic Reactivity of Hydroxide and Hydroperoxide Ions in Aqueous-Alcoholic Media and of HCO<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> Ion in Water

Nucleophilic reactivity of hydroxide and hydroperoxide ions toward ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate, diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate, and 4-nitrophenyl dimethylcarbamate in the system H₂O₂-KOH was studied in aqueous-alcoholic solutions at 25°C. The rate of reactions of both anions with ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate, diethyl 4-nitrophenyl phosphate, and 4-nitrophenyl dimethylcarbamate and of hydroxide ion with 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate increases with rise in the fraction of the alcohol in mixtures of water with isopropyl and tert-butyl alcohols, while the reaction rate of hydroperoxide ion with 4-nitrophenyl 4-toluenesulfonate decreases. The rate of reactions of both anions with all the above substrates in mixtures of water with ethylene glycol decreases as the fraction of the latter rises. The apparent rate of the reaction of ethyl 4-nitrophenyl ethylphosphonate with anionic nucleophiles in the system H₂O₂-HO^?-HCO ₃ ^? in water at pH 8.5 almost does not depend on the concentration of ammonium hydrogen carbonate up to a value of 1 M, and it increases when the NH₄HCO₃ concentration exceeds 1 M. Mixtures of water with the lower monohydric alcohols were recommended for use as components of H₂O₂-HO^?-HCO ₃ ^? systems for oxidative decomposition of ecotoxicants.     

Theoretical study of the activation barriers of elementary reactions of hydrogenation of aluminide clusters X@Al<Subscript>12</Subscript> and X@Al<Stack><Subscript>12</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> with dopants X = Al,Si, and Ge

The transition states and activation barriers h of elementary reactions of addition of the H₂ molecule to aluminide clusters Al₁₃, Al ₁₃ ^? , Al₁₃H ₂ ^? , Al₁₃H ₄ ^? , Si@Al₁₂, Ge@Al₁₂, and LiAl₁₃ were calculated within the B3LYP approximation of the density functional theory using 6–31G* and 6–311+G* basis sets. The barriers h for all diamagnetic clusters were found to be high (～30–40 kcal/mol). The outer-sphere cation Li⁺ decreases while the endohedral electronegative dopants Si and Ge increase the barrier by a few kcal/mol. The hydrogenation barrier of the neural paramagnetic cluster Al₁₃, which has free valence, decreases to ～20 kcal/mol. The addition of a hydrogen atom or a Cl₂ molecule to both paramagnetic and diamagnetic aluminum clusters occurs without a barrier. The first stage of the reaction (addition of H₂ to an Al-Al edge) is in all cases the critical stage of aluminide hydrogenation. The barrier h of this reaction is several times higher than the barriers to migration of hydrogen atoms over the metal cage. The migration of H atoms occurs simultaneously with considerable distortions of the Al₁₃ cage even to the extent that it changes its structural motif. The addition of the H₂ molecule to the Al@TiAl₁₁ cluster containing the peripheral titanium atom occurs with a small barrier, whereas the barrier to elimination of H₂ from the dihydride Al@TiAl₁₁H₂ is reduced to ～15 kcal/mol. Based on the calculations, the conclusion was drawn that the elementary reactions of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation for Ti-doped aluminide clusters should occur considerably faster and under milder conditions than for homonuclear aluminides.     

A study of the hydrolysis of ZrF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> and the structure of intermediate hydrolysis products by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F and <Superscript>91</Superscript>Zr NMR in the 9.4 T field

The high-field ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR method is used to study the hydrolysis and polycondensation of hexafluorozirconate ZrF₆²⁻ in aqueous and water-peroxide solutions. During hydrolysis in aqueous solutions only ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ ions were observed by NMR, however, in the water-peroxide medium, an intermediate product of hydrolysis ([F₅Zr-OO-ZrF₅]⁴⁻ dimer) was detected. The dimer structure is confirmed by ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR. In high fields (¹⁹F NMR frequency > 200 MHz), the fluorine exchange between ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ is slow in the ¹⁹F NMR scale and has a multisite character.     

Enthalpy of solution of VOCl<Subscript>3</Subscript> in dilute sodium hydroxide solutions and the standard enthalpy of formation of the HVO<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> ion

The calorimetric enthalpies of solution of liquid vanadium oxytrichloride in dilute sodium hydroxide solutions were measured at 298.15 K and ionic strengths I = 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 (NaClO₄). The standard enthalpy of formation of the HVO ₄ ^2? ion was calculated from the measured data.     

Composition and structure of hydrates of CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>COOH molecules and CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> anions in aqueous solutions

The optimal configurations, energy parameters, and normal vibrational frequencies of hydrates of the acetic acid molecule and anion (CH₃COOH·(H₂O) _n (n = 1-10) and CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O) _n (n = 1-8, 16)) are calculated by density functional theory (B3LYP/6-31++G(_d,_p)). The comparison of the calculation results with the known experimental data (Raman, NMR, and so on) gives arguments in favor of the existence of two stable heteroassociates (HAs) in СН₃СООН–H₂O solutions: previously found CH₃COOH·(H₂O)₂ heterotrimer and CH₃COOH·(H₂O)₈, and three complexes (CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₂, CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₆, and CH₃CO₂^??(H₂O)₁₆) in NaCH₃CO₂^?–H₂O solutions. Each of them is most stable in a series of isomers, contains unstrained H bonds, and is characterized by the maximum molecular packing density among HAs with similar n values. The structure of the subsequent complex formed in solution uniquely follows the structure of the preceding complex and is based on it.     

Primary photophysical and photochemical processes upon UV excitation of PtBr<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> and PtCl<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> complexes in water and methanol

Primary photophysical and photochemical processes were studied for Pt^IVBr₆ ^2– and Pt^IVCl₆ ^2– complexes in water and methanol by ultrafast kinetic spectroscopy upon excitation in the band region of charge transfer from the ligand-centered group π-orbitals to the e_g*-orbital of Pt^IV complex anion (LMCT bands). The data obtained earlier upon excitation in the region of d—d bands were compared. Irrespective of the excitation wavelength, the photochemical properties of complexes are caused by the reactions of intermediates proceeding in the picosecond time range. These intermediates were identified as Pt^IVBr₅ ^– upon photolysis of Pt^IVBr₆ ^2– and, presumably, the Adamson radical pair [Pt^IIICl₅ ^2–(C _4v )...Cl?] upon photolysis of Pt^IVCl₆ ^2–. The difference in the exciting light wavelengths has an impact only on the first step of these processes, i.e., transition from the Franck—Condon excited state to intermediates.     

High performance liquid chromatographic separation of <Superscript>228,229</Superscript>Th and <Superscript>232,233</Superscript>U and their estimation by α- and γ-ray spectrometry

The activities of ^228,229Th and ^232,233U from an irradiated ThO₂ sample were radiochemicaly separated by using high performance liquid chromatography. Plancheted sources of the separated samples were made and the amount of ^232,233U and ^228,229Th were estimated by using alpha and gamma-ray spectrometric techniques. These estimations are important for the Th–U fuel reprocessing cycle of advanced heavy water reactor and accelerator driven sub-critical system.     

Quantum-chemical simulation of the elementary step of the oxidation reactions of styrene and its derivatives involving <Superscript>1</Superscript>О<Subscript>2</Subscript> (<Superscript>1</Superscript>Δg)

The results of simulation of the oxidation reaction of styrene and its methyl (two isomers) and phenyl derivatives with molecular oxygen in the excited singlet state (¹Δg) have enabled the conclusion that the reaction can proceed through several mechanisms. For styrene and its phenyl derivative, three reaction channels are possible, and for the methyl derivative, there are four possible channels. For the first two substrates, the major channel is 1,2-addition to form dioxetane; for the methyl derivatives, an extra channel to give a hydroperoxide species is possible in addition to the above channel. The multichannel reaction character revealed by calculations makes it possible to qualitatively understand the reason behind the moderate selectivity (no more than 70%) of such reactions in the case of styrene and its derivatives.     

Non-empirical investigation of the geometrical structure and energy stability of dimers of yttrium β-diketonates Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>(MDA)<Subscript>6</Subscript> and Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>(HFA)<Subscript>6</Subscript>

The structure of tris-complexes Y(MDA)₃, Y(HFA)₃ and their dimeric forms of Y₂(MDA)₆ and Y₂(HFA)₆ (MDA = C₃O₂H₃; HFA = C₅O₂F₆H) are investigated by the non-empirical Hartree-Fock method and also taking into account the correlation of electrons in the context of density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) using effective pseudopotentials to describe the atomic core and double-exponential valence basis sets supplemented with polarization functions. For the first time the structure of Y(HFA)₃, Y₂(MDA)₆, and Y₂(HFA)₆ molecules has been studied in this work. The equilibrium configuration of Y(HFA)₃ monomer is a structure with a coordination polyhedron of [YO₆] that has the form of a distorted octahedron with planar chelate fragments and CF₃ substituents in which the C-F bond screens the C-C bond in the chelate fragment. The barrier of the internal rotation of one CF₃ group is ～3.0 kJ/mole (DFT/B3LYP). It is shown that rotations of CF₃ groups in Y(HFA)₃ molecule could be considered as mutually independent. The structures of C ₁ and C ₂ symmetry are the equilibrium configurations of Y₂(MDA)₆ and Y₂(HFA)₆ dimers respectively (DFT/B3LYP). The structure of the coordination polyhedron of [Y₂O₁₂] in C ₁ and C ₂ symmetry configurations can be represented as a combination of eight-and seven-coordinated polyhedra or two seven-coordinated polyhedra respectively. The energy stability of dimeric complexes is studied. According to DFT/B3LYP data, the dimerization energy equals ?80.8 kJ/mole and ?62.3 kJ/mole for Y₂(MDA)₆ and Y₂(HFA)₆ respectively. The force fields and frequencies of normal vibrations are calculated for the equilibrium configurations. The trends of changes in the vibrational spectra in Y(MDA)₃→Y(HFA)₃ and monomer→dimer transitions are discussed. The comparison with available experimental data is made.     

The Hydrolysis of AuCl<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> and the Stability of Aquachlorohydroxocomplexes of Gold(III) in Aqueous Solution

The equilibria AuCl₄⁻+jOH⁻+kH₂O⇌AuCl_4−j−k (OH) _j (H₂O) _k ^k−1+(j+k)Cl⁻, β _jk (0≤j,k≤4) have been studied spectrophotometrically at 20 °C in aqueous solution. For I=2 mol⋅dm⁻³(HClO₄) the conventional constants, β _i ^*, of the equilibria, Au^*+iCl⁻ ⇌AuCl _i ^*, are equal to log ₁₀ β ₁^*=(6.98±0.08); log ₁₀ β ₂^*=(13.42±0.05); log ₁₀ β ₃^*=(19.19±0.09); and log ₁₀ β ₄^*=(24.49±0.07), where [AuCl _i ^*]=∑[AuCl _i (OH) _j (H₂O)_4−i−j ] at i=const. The hydrolysis and other transformations of AuCl₄⁻ in aqueous solution are discussed. On the basis of new and known data, a full set of equilibrium constants, β _jk , or their estimates has been obtained.     

Measuring <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra and <Superscript>232</Superscript>Th activity in soil and vegetation samples using a method of double γ-coincidences

A coincidence method for measuring radium and thorium activity has been developed using the PRIPYAT-2M gamma-ray coincidence spectrometer, with six NaI(Tl) detectors and registration geometry close to 4π. It was tested by measuring soil samples from the Northern region of Montenegro, as well as vegetation samples from the same region. The results showed a good agreement with ones obtained by the HPGe spectrometer.     

Quantum Chemical Study of Niobium and Tantalum M<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>10</Subscript> Oxide Clusters and M<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Stack><Subscript>10</Subscript><Superscript>–</Superscript></Stack> Anions

Structural parameters and vibrational frequencies of the clusters (T_d)–Nb₄O₁₀, (C_3v)-TaNb₃O₁₀, (D_2d)-Nb₄O ₁₀ ^– , and (C_s)-TaNb₃O ₁₀ ^– were calculated. According to the (U)DFT/SDD calculations with BLYP, B3LYP, and PBE0 functionals magnetization of the anion (D_2d)-Nb₄O ₁₀ ^– is distributed equally among four niobium atoms. In the anion (C_s)-TaNb₃O ₁₀ ^– unpaired electron presumably occupies niobium atoms. The distinction in contributions from Nb atoms in the magnetization of the tantalum-containing cluster grows with the exchange component of the DFT functional in the series of functionals BLYP < B3LYP < PBE0 < UHF.     

Gel decomposition and formation of MgFe<Subscript>1.6</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>О<Subscript>4</Subscript> powders

The thermal behavior of the gels that are formed in the synthesis of MgFe_1.6Ga_0.4О₄ powders was studied by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC–TG). The combustion temperatures of the gels in flowing air and flowing argon were determined from experimental data and thermodynamic calculations. The calculations of combustion temperatures from the heat flow of reaction versus time are shown to be a reliable tool to determine the parameters of gel combustion.     

Influence of ion size on the stability of chloroplumbates containing PbCl<Stack><Subscript>5</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> or PbCl<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack>

The enthalpies of formation of PbCl₄, PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻, originating from quantum mechanics, have enabled the thermodynamic behaviour of these ions with respect to Cl-detachment to be assessed. The stability of salts containing PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻ as a function of the dimensions of these anions and complementary cations was studied using an approach combining the Kapustinskii-Yatsimirskii equation with basic thermochemical relationships. It was found that hexachloroplumbates of monovalent metal cations will not dissociate into metal chlorides and PbCl₄, provided the complementary cations are suitably large in size. Hexachloroplumbates of divalent metal cations have not yet been synthesised since no known metal cations attain the requisite large size. Such salts will not dissociate if the divalent metal cations are able to complex suitably large electron-donating ligands. The pentachloroplumbates of both monovalent and divalent metal cations are unstable, since no known metal cations have appropriately large ionic radii. The approach adopted appears to be useful for the examination of the thermal behaviour, stability and reactivity of chloroplumbates.     

Comparison of Magnetic Properties between Spin Singlet and Triplet Li<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al<Stack><Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> Clusters

With a second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory and Hartree–Fock nuclear magnetic resonance calculations, we investigated the magnetic properties of spin singlet and triplet Li₃Al ₄ ^? clusters. The obtained gauge-independent atomic orbital magnetic shielding tensors confirm the paramagnetism of singlet Li₃Al ₄ ^? and diamagnetism of the triplet. The planar rings composed of four aluminum atoms make the magnetic properties of Li₃Al ₄ ^? clusters versatile. The localized molecular orbital, low symmetry of geometric conformation and narrow gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are found to correlate with the paramagnetism of singlet Li₃Al ₄ ^? . The origin of the paramagnetism is explained. In triplet Li₃Al ₄ ^? , the two outmost orbitals are degenerate, causing a conversion from the paramagnetism to diamagnetism.     

Nongeneral Character of the Resonance Parameters Σ<Stack><Subscript>R</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript></Stack> of Silicon-, Germanium-, and Tin-Containing Substituents in Radical Cations

The resonance parameters σ _R ⁺ of substituents Y in radical cations YD^+· [where D is a π- or n-type center, and Y = MMe₃, CH₂MMe₃ (M = Si, Ge, Sn), C(SiMe₃)₃] depend on the nature of both Y and D. Using radical cations YD^+· (Y = CH₂SiMe₃, SnMe₃) as examples, it was found that the two conjugation parameters, constants σ _R ⁺ of substituents Y and perturbation energy calculated by the modified molecular orbital perturbation method, are linearly related to each other. The energies of donor and acceptor components of the overall resonance effect of CH₂SiMe₃ and SnMe₃ with respect to radical cation centers D^+· were estimated for the first time. The donor energy constituent in YD^+· is considerably greater than in neutral DY molecules.     

Advantages and disadvantages of various kinds of adsorbents used in industrial extraction of [Au(CN)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>–</Superscript> anions from cyanide solutions and pulps

Comparative study of an industrially used activated carbon of WSC-207C-GR brand, strongly basic anion exchanger MINIX, and weakly basic anion exchanger Purogold S992 in recovery of [Au(CN)₂]^– ions from cyanide aqueous solutions and slurries was carried out. It was found that the strongly basic anion exchanger MINIX has the highest adsorption rate of the cyanide complex of gold(I), whereas the activated carbon and the weakly basic ion exchanger possess a substantially higher selectivity toward the complex of gold(I). Use of each of the three sorbents makes it possible to solve the problem of the cyanide leaching of gold from ores containing natural substances that exhibit adsorbent properties with respect to the dicyanoaurate(I) ion. The influence exerted by the amount of kerosene additive and volume fraction of a sorbent on the efficiency of gold recovery by the sorbent in cyanidation of ores in the “carbon-in-pulp” and “resin-in-pulp” modes.     

The energy and geometric characteristics of the transition state in reactions of RO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>•</Superscript></Stack> with carbonyl compound C-H bonds

The energy and geometry of the transition state in reactions of the ethyl peroxyl radical with ethane, ethanol (its α and β C-H bonds), acetone, butanone-2, and acetaldehyde were calculated by the density functional theory method. In all these reactions (except EtO_2/? + ethanol α C-H bond), the C…H…O reaction center has an almost linear configuration (φ = 176° ± 2°); polar interaction only influences the r ^≠ (C…O) interatomic bond. In the reaction of EtO_2/? with the ethanol α C-H bond, it is the O-H…O H-bond formed in the transition state that determines the configuration of the reaction center with the angle φ(C…H…O) = 160°. The results were used to estimate the r ^≠ (C…H) and r ^≠ (O…H) interatomic bonds in the transition state by the method of intersecting parabolas and the contribution of polar interaction to the activation energy of reactions between peroxyl radicals and aldehydes and ketones.     

Synthesis and physicochemical study of the PMo<Subscript>11</Subscript>(TiO)O<Stack><Subscript>39</Subscript><Superscript>5−</Superscript></Stack> heteropolyanion

Procedures were developed for the synthesis of the guanidinium (Gua) and tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts of 11-molybdotitano(IV)phosphate heteropolyanion (MTPH) from solutions with the stoichiometric ratio P: Mo = 1: 11 and in excess of titanium(IV) ions, Ti: P ≥ 1.5, at pH 1.85–1.90. MTPH was isolated as the (Gua)₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉ and (TBA)₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉ salts. The composition and formula of MTPH were established by chemical analysis, electronic absorption spectroscopy in the visible region of the oxidized and reduced MTPH forms, IR spectroscopy, and ³¹P NMR. H₅PMo₁₁(TiO)O₃₉, obtained by ion exchange of the Gua salt in an aqueous-organic medium, is a strong pentabasic acid. MTPH reacts with H₂O₂ to form a peroxo complex with limited stability in an aqueous solution. In aqueous-organic media, the peroxo complex is more stable. In acetonitrile, MTPH persists for several days.