Studies of surface properties of Na- and La-montmorillonites

This paper presents possible applications of thermal analysis, sorptometry and porosimetry to study physico-chemical properties of Na- and La-montmorillonite samples, especially for determination of total surface heterogeneity. The quasi-isothermal thermogravimetric (Q-TG) mass loss and its first derivative (Q-DTG) curves with respect to temperature and time obtained during programmed liquid thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions have been used to study adsorbed layers and heterogeneous properties of the Na- and La-montmorillonites. Calculations of the desorption energy distribution functions by analytical procedure using mass loss Q-TG and differential mass loss Q-DTG curves of thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions of polar and non-polar liquid vapours preadsorbed on a material surface are presented. Parameters relating to porosity of samples were determined by sorptometry, mercury porosimetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From nitrogen sorption isotherms from sorptometry and porosimetry methods, the fractal dimensions of montmorillonites have been calculated. Moreover, a new approach is proposed to calculate fractal dimensions of materials obtained from Q-TG curve; this is compared with values obtained by the above methods. The total heterogeneous properties (energy distribution function and pore-size distribution functions) of samples studied were estimated. The radius and pore volume of the tested samples calculated on the basis of thermogravimetry, sorptometry and porosimetry techniques were compared and good correlations obtained.     

Evaluation of heat capacity measurements by temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry

Temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) is known to have the ability to measure heat capacity of materials more accurately than the conventional differential scanning calorimeter. However, the accuracy of the measured heat capacity displays significant dependence on various experimental parameters such as period of modulation (p), amplitude of modulation (a), geometry of sample (g), heating rate (r), etc. One of the key features of this system is the ability to measure heat capacity under quasi-isothermal conditions. In the present investigation, heat capacity of a well-established system namely sapphire and thoria was measured by TMDSC under dynamic mode and also under quasi-isothermal mode. The experimental parameters, mentioned above p, a, g, and r are varied to establish the conditions for measuring heat capacity accurately.     

Transition-Metal-Free Difunctionalization of Sulfur Nucleophiles**

Efficient protocols for accessing iodo-substituted diaryl and aryl(vinyl) sulfides have been developed using iodonium salts as reactive electrophilic arylation and vinylation reagents. The reactions take place under transition-metal-free conditions, employing odorless and convenient sulfur reagents. A wide variety of functional groups are tolerated in the S-diarylation, enabling the regioselective late-stage application of several heterocycles and drug molecules under mild reaction conditions. A novel S-difunctionalization pathway was discovered using vinyliodonium salts, which proceeds under additive-free reaction conditions and grants excellent stereoselectivity in the synthesis of aryl(vinyl) sulfides. A one-pot strategy combining transition-metal-free diarylation and subsequent reduction provided facile access to electron-rich thioanilines and a direct synthesis of a potential drug candidate derivative. The retained iodo group allows a wide array of further synthetic transformations. Mechanistic insights were elucidated by isolating the key intermediate, and the relevant energy profile was substantiated by DFT calculations.     

Transformation-Governed Heating Techniques in Thermal Analysis II.

The described instrumental method makes it possible that the quasi-static heating technique, well applicable to thermogravimetric measurements, (see Part I of this paper) can be used in the case of DTA and DSC examinations, too. Based on the new type of curves the characteristic transformation temperatures, the whole course of the transformation in dependence of sample temperature, the extent of the enthalpy change caused by the transformation or by its partial processes can accurately be determined. The essentially greater accuracy of the measurements — in comparison to the conventional ones — is due to the quasi-static heating technique which ensures that the transformations should take place under quasi-equilibrium conditions.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Application of programmable liquid thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions to study physicochemical properties of liquid films and solid surfaces

The paper presents possible applications of differential thermal analysis for study of the physicochemical properties of liquid/solid systems, mainly through programmable liquid thermodesorption from the sample under quasi-isothermal conditions. The results prove its applicability in the determination of solid physicochemical properties, and particularly in calculations of adsorption potential distribution, the activation energy of molecules adsorbed on the surface and the surface heterogeneity by means of computer techniques.The authors are indebted to Dr. Ryszard Dobrowolski for very fruitful discussions, and to Prof. Jerzy Choma for the activated carbon samples.     

Bacteria-mediated precursor-dependent biosynthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide and iron sulfide nanoparticles

The bacterium Actinobacter sp. has been shown to be capable of extracellularly synthesizing iron based magnetic nanoparticles, namely maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3) and greigite (Fe3S4) under ambient conditions depending on the nature of precursors used. More precisely, the bacterium synthesized maghemite when reacted with ferric chloride and iron sulfide when exposed to the aqueous solution of ferric chloride-ferrous sulfate. Challenging the bacterium with different metal ions resulted in induction of different proteins, which bring about the specific biochemical transformations in each case leading to the observed products. Maghemite and iron sulfide nanoparticles show superparamagnetic characteristics as expected. Compared to the earlier reports of magnetite and greigite synthesis by magnetotactic bacteria and iron reducing bacteria, which take place strictly under anaerobic conditions, the present procedure offers significant advancement since the reaction occurs under aerobic condition. Moreover, reaction end products can be tuned by the choice of precursors used.     

Analysis of decomposition processes of ausferrite in copper–nickel austempered ductile iron

Analysis of thermal decomposition processes of the ausferrite obtained during simulation of austempering heat treatment was performed on austempered ductile iron (ADI). The analysis method consisting in investigation of inverse phase transformations was applied. The material with specified phase composition and well-defined thermophysical properties, both resulting from the conducted heat treatment cycle, was heated under controlled conditions and the thermal effects—enthalpy change and volume change were recorded by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential dilatometry. The process of ausferrite decomposition in the range of 100–800 °C was discussed; the identification scheme and temperature sequence of phase transformations accompanying the ausferrite decomposition were established. The elaborated decomposition scheme allows selection of the ADI heat treatment and its optimization by means of the non-isothermal thermal analysis methods.     

The Studies of the Heterogeneous Properties of Solid Surfaces by Means of the Derivatograph Q-1500 D

A simple method has been adopted to obtain an important information on the heterogeneous properties of materials studied, adsorbed liquid films and liquid-solid interactions. The method utilizes Q-TG mass loss and the first derivative Q-DTG mass loss curves with respect to temperature and time obtained during programmed liquid thermodesorption in quasi-isothermal conditions. The values of the adsorption capacity, total porosity of material, the value of active centers, desorption energy distribution and mesopore-size distribution functions obtained by this method are in good agreement with those estimated on the basis of independent methods. The theoretical and experimental results provided novel and unique data on the heterogeneity of solid surfaces, properties of liquid adsorbed films and thermal stability of the liquid/solid interfaces. This paper presents the more important results obtained so far in the studies the liquid/solid systems by means of the Paulik's classical and quasi-isothermal techniques. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study of Heterogeneous Properties of Solids by Means of a Special Thermal Analysis Technique

Thermogravimetry (TG) was successfully applied in order to study the heterogeneous properties of solid surfaces and adsorbed liquid films. The method utilized the thermogravimetric mass-loss Q-TG and differential Q-DTG curves with respect to temperature and time for the desorption of liquidus from solid surfaces under quasi-isothermal conditions. Evaluation of the experimental data revealed the heterogeneous properties of the tested samples. It appears that this modern special TG technique is very useful for the study of liquid/solid systems and can be competitive with traditional techniques because of the speed and accuracy with which the data are obtained and the simplicity of the experimental operations. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Photochemical C–N bond forming reactions for the synthesis of five-membered fused N-heterocycles

Abstract

Few conversions cannot take place with ground-state reactions even with the help of a catalyst, therefore they are made to occur under photochemical conditions. The transfer of electrons took place even with the photochemical excitement of one molecule where redox reaction cannot occur at the ground state. The ground-state reactions resulted in the formation of side products. The substrates did not require any sort of chemical activation for C–N bond construction in the course of photochemical reactions. The source of energy; light has always been the interest of researchers in order to induce chemical reactions ever since the starting of scientific chemistry. The present review encloses the chemistry of photochemical transformations with a focus on their synthetic uses. The organic photochemical reactions prevent the polluting or harmful reagents thus, provides a possibility for sustainable procedures as well as green chemistry. This review article displays the formation of numerous of five-membered fused nitrogen-heterocyclic compounds.     

Thermoanalytical Investigation of Formamide Intercalated Kaolinites Under Quasi-isothermal Conditions

The thermal behaviour of fully and partially expanded kaolinites intercalated with formamide has been investigated in nitrogen atmosphere under quasi-isothermal heating conditions at a constant, pre-set decomposition rate of 0.20 mg min^–1 . With this technique it is possible to distinguish between loosely bonded (surface bonded) and strongly bonded (intercalated) formamide. Loosely bonded formamide is liberated in an equilibrium reaction under quasi-isothermal conditions at 118°C, while the strongly bonded (intercalated) portion is lost in an equilibrium, but non-isothermal process between 130 and 200°C. The presence of water in the intercalation solution can influence the amount of adsorbed formamide, but has no effect on the amount of the intercalated reagent. When the kaolinite is fully expanded, the amount of formamide hydrogen bonded to the inner surface of the mineral is 0.25 mol formamide/mol inner surface OH group. While the amount of surface bonded formamide is decreasing with time, no change can be observed in the amount of the intercalated reagent. With this technique the mass loss stages belonging to adsorbed and intercalated formamide can be resolved thereby providing a complex containing only one type of bonded (intercalated) formamide.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermogravimetric studies of non-stoichiometric cerium oxides under isothermal and quasi-isothermal conditions

Quasi-isothermal thermogravimetry is a new technique in which the programmed heating of a furnace automatically ceases when the rate of a reaction taking place in a sample, which is indicated by the DTG-signal, exceeds a preset limit. In this way reactions can be studied under nearly isothermal conditions. In this paper the data obtained using this method during oxidation and reduction experiments on nonstoichiometric cerium oxides are compared with the data obtained by conventional isothermal thermogravimetry. The kinetics of the composition changes during isothermal reduction and oxidation of CeO_2?x are also analyzed. It appears that, with some reservations, the experimental data are best described by the rate equation for a diffusion-controlled reaction. Finally, both the isothermal and the quasi-isothermal data suggest that the CeO_2?x phase region in the phase diagram consists of several subphases, each with a characteristic activation energy for the diffusion-controlled reactions.     

The derivatograph-C

The latest type of derivatograph, operated by a microcomputer, is described. The equipment is suitable for simultaneous TG, DTG, DTA, TD and EGA measurements under dynamic, isothermal, quasi-isothermal and quasi-isobaric heating conditions. As practical examples, the decompositions of bauxite and manganese(II) sulphate pentahydrate are demonstrated.     

Chromatographic methods applied in the monitoring of biodesulfurization processes - State of the art

Analytical methodologies employed in biodesulfurization processes have been reviewed; attention is primarily focused on the use of analytical techniques in the identification of degradation products and on the monitoring of degradation processes in which microbial sulphur-specific transformations take place. This is the first review of analytical techniques applied to biodesulfurization processes. Methodologies based on gas chromatography (GC) are the most frequently employed, in tandem with various detectors, mainly with the mass spectrometry (MS) detector, and the flame ionization detector (FID). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ultra violet (UV) detection has also been widely employed. Different sulphurated compounds are used as model in biodesulphurization processes, naphtothiophene (NTH), benzothiophene (BTH), alkilated BTH, dibenzothiophene (DBT), alkilated DBT and their transformation products has been reviewed. DBT is the most frequently employed.     

Asymmetric transformations of acyloxyphenyl ketones by enzyme-metal multicatalysis

A multipathway process comprising several enzyme- and metal-catalyzed reactions has been explored for the asymmetric transformations of acyloxyphenyl ketones to optically active hydroxyphenyl alcohols in the ester forms. The process comprises nine component reactions in three pathways, all of which take place by the catalytic actions of only two catalysts, a lipase and a ruthenium complex. The synthetic reactions were carried out on 0.2-0.6 mmol scales for eight different substrates under an atmosphere of hydrogen (1 atm) in toluene at 70 degrees C for 3 days. In most cases, the yields were high (92-96%) and the optical purities were excellent (96-98% ee), This work thus has demonstrated that enzyme-metal multicatalysis has great potential as a new methodology for asymmetric transformations.     

Studies of Benzene Adsorption Layers on Silica Gels by Thermal Analysis and McBain Balance Methods

The Q-TG mass loss and first derivative Q-DTG mass loss accompanying benzene thermodesorption from silica gel samples under quasi-isothermal conditions were studied with a Derivatograph Q-1500 D (MOM, Hungary). The isotherms of adsorption-desorption of benzene vapour on different porous silica gels were measured gravimetrically by using a McBain balance. The benzene mass loss in the adsorption region, obtained from the Q-TG curves, and the adsorption capacity, established gravimetrically, exhibited a satisfactory correlation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Simultaneous thermogravimetric and thermo-gastitrimetric investigations under quasi-isothermal and quasi-isobaric conditions

The derivatograph has been modified to provide a new technique with the help of which the weight change of a sample and the amount of the evolving gases can be determined as a function of the temperature of the sample under quasi-isothermal and quasi-isobaric conditions. The thermal decompositions of potassium and sodium hydrogencarbonate were investigated; it was established that under special conditions the otherwise one-step thermal decomposition of the two materials becomes a two-step process. The phenomenon involves a change only from the point of view of kinetics, for the decomposition itself does not split into two consecutive processes.     

Oxoketene-oxoketene, imidoylketene-imidoylketene and oxoketenimine-imidoylketene rearrangements. 1,3-Shifts of phenyl groups

Dibenzoylketene 5 undergoes degenerate 1,3-shifts of the phenyl group between acyl and ketene carbon atoms, thus interconverting it with 6 and 7. This 1,3-shift takes place in the gas phase under flash vacuum thermolysis (FVT) conditions, but not in solution at 110-145 degrees C. Imidoyl(benzoyl)ketene 13 undergoes degenerate 1,3-shift of the phenyl group on FVT, thus interconverting it with 14, but the ketenimine isomer 15 is not formed, and none of these shifts take place in the solid state at 250 degrees C. Imidoyl(p-toluoyl)ketene 21 undergoes a 1,3-p-tolyl shift, interconverting it with ketene 22 but not with ketenimine 23. The imidoyl(p-toluoyl)ketene rotamer 25 cyclizes to 4-toluoyloxyquinoline 28 and 4-quinolone 29. The cyclization of imidoyl(benzoyl)ketene 13 to 4-benzoyloxyquinoline 18, and of 25 to 28 involves 1,3-C-to-O shifts of benzoyl (toluoyl) groups. Calculations of the transition states for the transformations at the B3LYP/6-31G** level of theory are in agreement with the observed reaction preferences.     

The mechanism of the formation of quinonic acids in the oxidation of the bark of the Siberian larch. II

Summary 1. It has been shown by chemical and physicochemical methods of analysis that the oxidation of bark lignin by atmospheric oxygen in nitric acid is accompanied by oxidative-condensation and oxidative-hydrolytic processes.2. Oxidative condensation leads to the formation of a stable intermediate product with a quinoid system of bonds. This complex fragments under the oxidative-hydrolytic action of the medium. The oligomers obtained undergo oxidative-condensation transformations more readily. Such reactions probably take place successively as far as the formation of relatively simple compounds.Siberian Technological Institute, Kransoyarsk. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 409–412, May–June, 1977.