Direct formation of silver nanoparticles in cuttlebone-derived organic matrix for catalytic applications

Development of biologically derived materials for the construction of materials with new functions is a crucial intersection of materials science and biotechnology, which is currently a topic of research interest. In this paper, we report on the use of cuttlebone-derived organic matrix (CDOM) as scaffold and reducer for the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The experiment was carried out by simple immersing of CDOM in tollen’s reagent and incubating at 80 °C. UV–vis spectra and TEM were utilized to characterize the AgNPs and investigate their formation process. Results demonstrate that the size and distribution of AgNPs are influenced by the incubation time and protein component in CDOM. Furthermore, the AgNPs–CDOM composite was applied to catalyze the reduction of 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH₄, and it can be easily separated from the liquid-phase reaction system during the reusing cycles.     

Cross-linking nanostructured spherical capsules as building units by crystal engineering: related chemistry

The compound [Mo₇₂Fe₃₀O₂₅₂(CH₃COO)₁₀{Mo₂O₇(H₂O)}{H₂Mo₂O₈(H₂O)}₃ (H₂O)₉₁]·ca. 140 H₂O 3≡3a·ca. 140 H₂O, an important educt for an unusual solid state reaction, can now be obtained easily by reacting (NH₄)₄₂[{Mo^V₂O₄(CH₃COO)}₃₀{(Mo)Mo₅O₂₁(H₂O)₆}₁₂]·10 CH₃COONH₄·ca. 300 H₂O 1 with FeCl₃·6 H₂O in water. Interestingly, the freshly precipitated crystals of 3 contain discrete spherical clusters of the type {Mo^VI₇₂Fe^III₃₀} with as yet unprecedented 30×5 unpaired electrons (S=150/2 at room temperature). Upon drying 3, its cluster units 3a get covalently linked to form layers in a step by step solid state reaction, according to the scheme described below, resulting finally in the crystalline reaction product [H₄Mo₇₂Fe₃₀O₂₅₄(CH₃COO)₁₀{Mo₂O₇(H₂O)}{H₂Mo₂O₈(H₂O)}₃(H₂O)₈₇]·ca. 80 H₂O 44a·ca. 80 H₂O. The linking process at the Fe sites follows the well known inorganic condensation process leading to Fe^III polycations in aqueous solution according to the scheme Fe(OH₂)+(H₂O)Fe Fe(OH)+(H₂O)Fe Fe–O–Fe and thus is based on a type of crystal engineering with nanostructured spherical building blocks. This process does not allow chaotic characteristics in contrast to the mentioned polycation formation. Careful investigation leads to the identification of an intermediate 5 containing clusters 5a — with the same cluster composition as 3a and 4a — in the closest possible non-covalent contact. The related materials are of tremendous interest for magnetochemistry (nano-magneto-technology).

     

A New Predictive Equation for the Surface Tensions of Aqueous Mixed Ionic Solutions Conforming to the Linear Isopiestic Relation

The linear isopiestic relation has been used, together with the fundamental Butler equations, to establish a new simple predictive equation for the surface tensions of the mixed ionic solutions. This newly proposed equation can provide the surface tensions of multicomponent solutions using only the data of the corresponding binary subsystems of equal water activity. No binary interaction parameters are required. The predictive capability of the equation has been tested by comparing with the experimental data of the surface tensions for the systems HCl–LiCl–H₂O, HCl–NaClO₄–H₂O, HCl–CaCl₂–H₂O, HCl–SrCl₂–H₂O, HCl–BaCl₂–H₂O, LiCl–NaCl–H₂O, LiCl–KCl–H₂O, NaCl–KCl–H₂O, KNO₃–NH₄NO₃–H₂O, and LiCl–NaCl–KCl–H₂O at 298.15 K; KNO₃–NH₄Cl–H₂O, KBr–Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, NaNO₃–Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, NaNO₃ –(NH₄)₂SO₄–H₂O, KNO₃–Sr(NO₃)₂– H₂O, NH₄Cl–Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, NH₄Cl– (NH₄)₂SO₄–H₂O, KBr–KCl–H₂O, KBr–KCl–NH₄Cl–H₂O, KBr–KNO₃– Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, KBr–NH₄Cl–Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, KNO₃–NH₄Cl–Sr(NO₃)₂–H₂O, and NH₄Cl–(NH₄)₂SO₄–NaNO₃–H₂O at 291.15 K; and KBr–NaBr–H₂O at temperatures from 283.15 to 308.15 K. The agreement is generally quite good.     

Système ternaire : H2O–Fe(NO3)3–Co(NO3)2 isotherme : 30 °C

Ternary system: H₂O–Fe(NO₃)₃–Co(NO₃)₂ isotherm: 30 °C. The H₂O–Co(NO₃)₂ binary system has been investigated in the –28 to 50 °C temperature range. The solid–liquid equilibria of the ternary system H₂O–Fe(NO₃)₃–Co(NO₃)₂ were studied by using a synthetic method based on conductivity measurements. One isotherm is established at 30 °C, and the stable solid phases that appear are iron nitrate nonahydrate: Fe(NO₃)₃·9 H₂O, iron nitrate hexahydrate: Fe(NO₃)₃·6 H₂O, cobalt nitrate hexahydrate: Co(NO₃)₂·6 H₂O, and cobalt nitrate trihydrate: Co(NO₃)₂·3 H₂O. To cite this article: B. El Goundali et M. Kaddami, C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).     

Anodic composite deposition of RuO2·xH2O–TiO2 for electrochemical supercapacitors

This communication demonstrates the first work on anodic composite deposition of oxide nanocomposites. Rutile TiO₂ nanoflowers with an average petal size of ca. 10 nm in diameter and 100 nm in length were synthesized from a TiCl₃ solution purged with air at 25 °C for 12 days prior to the composite deposition. Hydrous ruthenium oxide (RuO₂·xH₂O) and TiO₂ nanoflowers were composite-deposited onto Ti substrates for supercapacitors. In comparing with RuO₂·xH₂O deposits, RuO₂·xH₂O–TiO₂ nanocomposites with a highly porous nature exhibit the weakly mass-dependent specific capacitance and high-power capacitive characteristics.     

The O–H···O, O–H···N and C–H···O hydrogen bonds in 1,4-dimethylpiperazine mono-betaine monohydrate

1,4-Dimethylpiperazine mono-betaine (1-carboxymethyl-1,4-dimethylpiperazinium inner salt, MBPZ) crystallizes as monohydrate. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pccn. Two MBPZ molecules and two water molecules form a cyclic oligomer, (MBPZ·H₂O)₂. The O–H···O and O–H···N hydrogen bonds are of 2.769(1) and 2.902(1) Å, respectively. The dimers interact with the neighboring molecules through the C–H···O hydrogen bonds of 3.234(1) Å. The piperazine ring assumes a chair conformation with the N(4)–CH₃ and N⁺(1)–CH₂COO⁻ groups in the equatorial position and the N⁺(1)–CH₃ group in the axial one. The FTIR spectrum is compared with that calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory.     

Photoacoustic spectra of Nd(TFA)3 · 2H2O and Nd(HFA)3 · 2H2O

A new synthesis of trisfluoroacetylactone (TFA) and hexafluoroacetylactone (HFA) Nd complexes: Nd(TFA)₃ · 2H₂O and Hd(HFA)₃ · 2H₂O is reported. The photoacoustic (PA) spectra in the 300–800 nm region of the compounds NdCl₃ · 6H₂O, Nd(TFA)₃ · 2H₂O and Nd(HFA)₃ · 2H₂O are reported. The PA absorption bands are assigned and their relative intensities represented by intensity branching vectors are calculated. The perturbation of the ligand on the energy levels of Nd³⁺ ion is discussed and a model of the relaxation process of Nd(HFA)₃ · 2H₂O is proposed based on its PA and absorption spectra.     

Photocatalytic property of a keggin-type polyoxometalates-containing bilayer system for degradation organic dye model

The photocatalytic activity composite films incorporating the Keggin-type polyoxometalates (POM) K₆CoW₁₂O₄₀·16H₂O and K₃PW₁₂O₄₀·nH₂O (MW₁₂ (M = P, Co)) and [Cu(II)(1,8-dimethyl-1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 13-hexaazacycloteradecane)]²⁺(L) have been prepared by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method. The experimental results show that the deposition process is linear and highly reproducible from layer to layer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of the L/MW₁₂ composite films indicate that the film surface is relatively uniform and smooth. In addition, the films show high photocatalytic activity to the degradation of organic dye model (methyl orange (MO)), attributed to the formation of an O → W charge-transfer excited state at W–O–W bridge bond, resulting in generating highly reactive holes and electrons; The photocatalytic efficiency of the films have little change after several times of photocatalytic cycle, indicating that the composite films are stable, reused and recovered.     

Exchange interactions in oxovanadium phosphates: towards the understanding of the magnetic patterns

We report the calculations of exchange magnetic constants in a series of vanadium phosphorus oxides for which structural and magneto-chemical data are available. Four different types of dimers have been extracted from the crystal lattices in all solids studied. On the basis of a combined density functional theory broken symmetry approach, our calculations on molecular models allow us to define schemes of magnetic interactions. The largest absolute magnetic interaction is provided by the double O–P–O and di-μ-oxo bridges, suggestive of an alternating dimer chain model and an isolated dimer one for the VO(HPO₄)·0.5H₂O and α-VO(HPO₄)·2H₂O phases, respectively. Conversely, VO(HPO₄)·4H₂O is consistent with a bi-dimensional magnetic pattern whereas VO(H₂PO₄)₂ and α-VO(PO₃)₂ with three-dimensional magnetic schemes. The use of dimer models has been justified by the analysis of higher-nuclearity clusters.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of [(CH3NH3)1.03K2.97]Sb12S20·1.34H2O

A novel thioantimonate(III) [(CH₃NH₃)_1.03K_2.97]Sb₁₂S₂₀·1.34H₂O was synthesized hydrothermally. It crystallizes in space groupP , witha=11.9939(7) Å,b=12.8790(8) Å,c=14.9695(9) Å,α=100.033(1)°,β=99.691(1)°,γ=108.582(1)°,V=2095.3(2) ų, andZ=2. The structure is determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data collected at room temperature and refined toR(F)=0.037. In the crystal structure, each Sb(III) atoms has short bonds (2.37–2.58 Å) to three S atoms. The pyramidal [SbS₃] groups share common S atoms forming two types of centrosymmetric [Sb₁₂S₂₀] rings with the same topology. These rings are interconnected by weaker Sb–S bonds (2.92–3.29 Å) into 2-dimensional layers. Adjacent layers are parallel with K⁺and CH₃NH⁺₃ions and H₂O molecules located between them. Variation of bond valence sums calculated for the Sb(III) cations is found to be correlated with the coordination geometry. This is interpreted as due to the stereochemical activity of their lone electron pairs.     

Formation of Cr(III) Hydroxides from Chrome Alum Solutions: 1. Precipitation of Active Chromium Hydroxide

The formation of active chromium hydroxide, Cr(OH)₃·3H₂O, was studied through potentiometric titrations and turbidimetric measurements. UV-Vis and IR spectroscopies were also employed to characterize the synthesized solid. The rapid addition of NaOH solution to aqueous chrome alum (KCr(SO₄)₂·12H₂O) solutions caused the immediate precipitation of the active material. Only monomeric Cr(III) species seemed to be participating in the precipitation process; neither chromium polymers nor complexes with anions (SO²⁻₄, Cl⁻, NO⁻₃, ClO⁻₄) influenced the fast formation of Cr(OH)₃·3H₂O. Titration studies allowed the determination of several hydrolysis and precipitation constants for Cr(III). Nevertheless, they cannot be used for the estimate of Cr(OH)⁰₃formation constant.     

Three copper(II) complexes of thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid with dissimilar ligands: Synthesis, IR and UV–Vis spectra, thermal properties and structural characterizations

Three thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₂tdc) complexes of copper(II) with 2-aminomethylpyridine (ampy), {[Cu₂(μ-tdc)₂(ampy)₂]·2DMF}_n (1), ethylenediamine (en), trans-[Cu(H₂O)₂(en)₂](tdc) (2) and 4-methylimidazole (4-meim), trans-[Cu(H₂O)₂(4-meim)₄](tdc)·4H₂O (3) have been synthesized and characterized by spectral (IR, UV–Vis), thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction techniques. In 1, thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylate acts as a bridging bis(bidentate) ligand through four carboxylate oxygen atoms forming a 1-D zigzag polymeric chain, whereas in 2 and 3 the tdc dianion behaves as a counter ion. In all cases, the Cu(II) centers have an octahedral coordination geometry. Three-dimensional frameworks are constructed though hydrogen bonding and/or C–H···π interactions in the three complexes.     

Hydrogen bond strength in chromates with kröhnkite-type chains, K2Me(CrO4)2·2H2O (Me = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd)

Infrared spectra of the title compounds with kröhnkite-type infinite octahedral–tetrahedral chains, K₂Me(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O (Me = Mg, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd), are presented in the regions of the uncoupled O–D stretching modes of matrix-isolated HDO molecules (isotopically dilute samples) and water librations. The strengths of the hydrogen bonds are discussed in terms of the respective O_wO bond distances, the Me–water interactions (synergetic effect), the proton acceptor capability of the chromate oxygen atoms as deduced from Brown's bond valence sum of the oxygen atoms. The spectroscopic experiments reveal that hydrogen bonds of medium strength are formed in the chromates. The hydrogen bond strengths decrease in the order Cd > Zn > Ni > Co in agreement with the decreasing covalency of the respective Me–OH₂ bonds in the same order, i.e. decreasing acidity of the water molecules. The infrared band positions corresponding to the water librations confirm the claim that the hydrogen bonds in K₂Cd(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O are stronger than those formed in K₂Mg(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O on one hand, and on the other—the hydrogen bonds in K₂Ni(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O are stronger than those in K₂Co(CrO₄)₂·2H₂O.     

Cobalt-thioalkylazoimidazole complexes: Structures, spectra and redox properties

1-Alkyl-2-{(o-thioalkyl)phenylazo}imidazole (SRaaiNR^/, 1) reacts with Co(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O to form [Co(SRaaiNR^/)₂](ClO₄)₂ (2). The single crystal X-ray structure of one of the complexes of 2 shows a tridentate chelation N(imidazole), N(azo), S(thioether) system. In the structure one of ClO₄⁻ anions shows disorder and forms an (imidazole)C–H···O(ClO₃) interaction leading to a 1-D chain. Co(OAc)₂.4H₂O and SRaaiNR^/ react in the presence of NH₄SCN (1:1:2 mole ratio) in methanol and the complex [Co(SRaaiNR^/)₂(SCN)₂] (3) has been separated. The single crystal X-ray structure determination has established the structure of the complexes in which the ligand SRaaiNR^/ acts in a bidentate N(imidazole), N(azo) chelation mode. A cyclic voltammogram shows a Co(III)/Co(II) oxidative response at 0.6–0.8 V and azo reductions. DFT computation using optimized geometry support the electronic spectral and redox properties of the complexes.     

Preparation, spectroscopic and high field NMR relaxometry studies of gadolinium(III) complexes with the asymmetric tetraamine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane

The reaction of Gd(III) with asymmetric tetramine 1,4,7,11-tetraazaundecane (2,2,3-tet, L¹) ligand has been studied via NMR spectroscopy. The ligand proton longitudinal relaxation rates (R₁) have been used to estimate the distances of these protons from the Gd(III) center, in Gd(III)–L¹ reaction solutions, in H₂O/D₂O 5/1 mixtures.Two Gd(III) complexes [Gd(III)(L¹)(NH₃)(H₂O)₄](CH₃COO)₃·2H₂O (1) and [Gd(III)(L¹)(NH₃)(H₂O)₂]Cl₃·EtOH (2) have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses, TGA, IR, NMR and relaxometry measurements. The NMR relaxation measurements of 2 in aqueous solutions have been performed, under various temperature or concentration conditions, and compared with those of the commercial contrast agents Gd(III)–DTPA and Gd(III)–DTPA-BMA. It has also been studied the influence of (i) the Gd(III) inner-sphere water molecule number (q) alteration and (ii) the steric constraint enhancement on the metal site, over the relaxation rate values of the parent aqueous solution of Gd(III)–2,2,3-tet, and of the aqueous solutions of 2.     

Influence of dicarboxylic acids on self-assembly process: Syntheses and structural characterization of new Ag(I) complexes derived from mixed ligands

Using the principle of crystal engineering, three new silver metal–organic coordination polymers, [Ag₂(L1)₂(L2)]·2H₂O (1), [Ag₂(L1)₂(L3)]·H₂O (2), [Ag₂(L1)₂(L4)]·2H₂O (3) (L1 = 2-aminopyrimidine, L2 = oxalate anion, L3 = glutarate anion and L4 = 1,4-naphthalenedicarboxylate anion) have been synthesized by solution phase reactions of silver nitrate with various dicarboxylic acids and cooperative heterocyclic 2-aminopyrimidine ligand under the ammoniacal conditions. All the complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and X-ray diffraction. In complex 1, L1 ligands are coordinated to Ag(I) metal centers in rare tridentate fashions, forming one-dimensional (1-D) ladder-like structure, which is interlinked by L2 anions to generate 2-D pleated molecular sheet. Complex 2 displays an interesting two-dimensional (2-D) tongue-and-groove structure containing a new kind of “T-shaped” unit. Meanwhile, each of 2-D bilayers is interlocked by four adjacent identical motifs to form three-dimensional (3-D) 5-fold interpenetrating conformation with weak Ag···Ag interactions. In complex 3, L1 ligands are coordinated to the Ag(I) ions to form 1-D polymeric chain. And L4 anions, acting as bridging linkers through corresponding μ²-carboxylates, link a pair of Ag(I) atoms from adjacent chains to yield 3-D supramolecular network. The structures of complexes 1–3 which span from 2-D to 3-D networks suggest that dicarboxylate anions play important role in the formation of such coordination architectures.     

Hydrothermal syntheses, crystal structures of three new organic–inorganic hybrids constructed from Keggin-type [BW12O40] clusters and transition metal complexes

Three new organic–inorganic hybrid compounds constructed from Keggin-type polyanions and transition metal complexes, [Mn(2,2′-bipy)₃]_1.5[BW₁₂O₄₀Mn(2,2′-bipy)₂(H₂O)]·0.25H₂O (1), [Fe(2,2′-bipy)₃]_1.5[BW₁₂O₄₀Fe(2,2′-bipy)₂(H₂O)]·0.5H₂O (2) and [Cu₂(phen)₂(OH)₂]₂H[Cu(H₂O)₂{BW₁₂O₄₀Cu_0.75(phen)(H₂O)}₂]·1.5H₂O (3), have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and both exhibit monosupporting polyoxometalate cluster structure, each of which contains a [BW₁₂O₄₀]⁵⁻ cluster decorated by one transition metal complex. Compound 3 contains a bisupporting polyoxometalate cluster anion where two {Cu_0.75(phen)(H₂O)}^0.75+ fragments are supported on the polyoxometalate dimer {Cu(H₂O)₂(BW₁₂O₄₀)₂}⁸⁻, this represents the first bisupporting polyoxometalate cluster based on a Keggin-type polyoxometalate dimer, which are further packed together via π–π stacking contacts into an extended 1-D chain.     

The Cl−NH3, Cl−H2O,F−NH3 and F−H2O clusters and their photoelectron spectra

The geometries of the Cl^–NH₃, Cl^–H₂O, F^–NH₃ and F^–H₂O clusters are optimized using the coupled cluster method. The four lowest ionization potentials are then calculated, leading to the ground and low excited states of the neutral species. The first three IPs describe ionization from the externalp state of the halogen atom, whereas the fourth corresponds to ionization from the NH₃ or H₂O moiety, leading to charge transfer complexes. These complexes were recently observed in the photoelectron spectrum of Cl^–NH₃, in full accord with our calculations.Supported in part by the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation     

α-Glycyl cation, radical, and anion (H2NCH+/·/−COOH): Generation and characterization in the gas phase

The title species are synthesized in the gas phase and their unimolecular chemistry is determined by a combination of tandem mass spectrometry methods. Dissociative electron ionization of the α-amino acids valine, leucine, isoleucine, or serine produces the α-glycyl cation, H₂NCH⁺COOH, in high yield and purity. At threshold, this ion dissociates by CO loss to form the proton-bound complex HCNH⁺OH₂ via a tight 1,4-H migration that is associated with a high reverse barrier. After collisional activation, additional channels open, most notably the formation of the complementary and structure-characteristic fragments H₂NCH^+· (ionized aminocarbene) and ⁺COOH and the elimination of OH^·. Charge reversal and neutralization–reionization of H₂NCH⁺COOH conclusively show that α-glycyl anion, H₂NCH⁻COOH, and α-glycyl radical, H₂NCH^·COOH, are stable species residing in deep potential energy wells. In the microsecond time window of the experiments, a small fraction of the α-glycyl radical decomposes by sequential elimination of H₂O and CO. The α-glycyl anions arising by charge reversal of the cation or reionization of the radical partly undergo rearrangement losses of H₂ and H₂O, direct cleavages to ⁻COOH, OH⁻, and H₂N⁻, and consecutive fragmentation of these primary product anions.