An FT-IR study of the isomerization of 1-butoxy radicals under atmospheric conditions

Relative rate-studies of the reactions of 1-butoxy radicals have been carried out using a 47 L static reactor with detection of end products by FT-IR spectroscopy. Experiments were performed at 700 torr total pressure and over the temperature range 253–295 K. The chemistry of 1-butoxy is characterized by a competition between reaction with oxygen CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂O + O₂ → n-C₃H₇CHO + HO₂ (R2), which yields butanal and isomerization CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂O → CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂OH (R3), to form a hydroxylated carbonyl-product. A reference spectrum attributed to the product of 1-butoxy isomerization was obtained and used to determine the competition between 1-butoxy isomerization versus reaction with oxygen. The results indicate that isomerization is the dominant fate of 1-butoxy radicals at ambient temperature and pressure and that its importance decreases with decreasing temperature. The rate-coefficient ratio k₃/k₂ (molecule cm⁻³) = 5.5 × 10²³ exp[(−25.1 ± 0.9 kJmol⁻¹)/RT] was obtained. This agrees with other estimates based on methods without monitoring of the isomerization product.     

Vapour pressures,densities, and viscosities of the (water + lithium bromide + potassium acetate) system and (water + lithium bromide + sodium lactate) system

Measurements of thermophysical properties (vapour pressure, density, and viscosity) of the (water + lithium bromide + potassium acetate) system LiBr:CH₃COOK = 2:1 by mass ratio and the (water + lithium bromide + sodium lactate) system LiBr:CH₃CH(OH)COONa = 2:1 by mass ratio were measured. The system, a possible new working fluid for absorption heat pump, consists of absorbent (LiBr + CH₃COOK) or (LiBr + CH₃CH(OH)COONa) and refrigerant H₂O. The vapour pressures were measured in the ranges of temperature and absorbent concentration from T = (293.15 to 333.15) K and from mass fraction 0.20 to 0.50, densities and viscosities were measured from T = (293.15 to 323.15) K and from mass fraction 0.20 to 0.40. The experimental data were correlated with an Antoine-type equation. Densities and viscosities were measured in the same range of temperature and absorbent concentration as that of the vapour pressure. Regression equations for densities and viscosities were obtained with a minimum mean square error criterion.     

Complex formation of HCONH2 in CH3OH environment and investigation of linewidth changes of ν(CO) stretching and NH2 bending modes

The isotropic part of the Raman bands corresponding to NH₂ bending and ν(CO) stretching modes of formamide (HCONH₂) at ∼1593 and 1668 cm⁻¹, respectively, in neat HCONH₂ as well as in binary mixtures with methanol (CH₃OH) were reinvestigated. Variations of their linewidths exclusively with mole fractions of HCONH₂, in the range C = 0.1–0.9 were studied. The linewidth variation of the NH₂ bending mode shows a departure from the trend expected on the basis of concentration fluctuation model and this has been explained using a recently suggested empirical model by invoking the concept of microviscosities of the solute, HCONH₂ and the solvent, CH₃OH. The other peak at ∼1668 cm⁻¹ shows a peculiar variation of the linewidth with concentration having two minima at C = 0.8 and 0.4, which have been explained in terms of formation of hydrogen bonded complexes, NH₂HCO⋯HOCH₃, and NH₂HCO⋯(HOCH₃)₂ and the two phenomena, namely motional narrowing and diffusion dynamics being simultaneously operative. The equilibrium constants have been evaluated from the spectral data and their variation with total molar concentration has been presented.     

(Liquid + liquid) equilibria of the (water + butyric acid + dodecanol) ternary system

(Liquid + liquid) equilibrium (LLE) data for the (water + butyric acid + dodecanol) ternary system have been determined experimentally at T = (298.2, 308.2 and 318.2) K. Complete phase diagrams were obtained by determining binodal curves and tie lines. The reliability of the experimental tie lines was confirmed by using the Othmer–Tobias correlation. The UNIFAC method was used to predict the phase equilibrium in the ternary system using the interaction parameters determined from experimental data of CH₃, CH₂, COOH, OH and H₂O functional groups. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were evaluated for the immiscibility region.     

Enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate

The enthalpy of formation of zinc acetate dihydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O) was measured with respect to crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO), glacial acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and liquid water by room temperature solution calorimetry. The enthalpy of formation was verified by utilizing two independent thermodynamic cycles, using enthalpy of solution measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and in 5 mol · L^?1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) solutions. The enthalpy of the reaction ZnO (cr) + 2CH₃COOH (l) + H₂O (l) to form Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O (cr) is –(65.78 ± 0.36) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 NaOH and –(66.25 ± 0.17) kJ · mol^?1 for measurements in 5 mol · L^?1 HCl. The standard enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O from the elements is –(1669.35 ± 1.30) kJ · mol^?1. This work provides the first calorimetric measurement of the enthalpy of formation of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O.     

Using pendant ferrocenyl group(s) as an intramolecular standard to probe the reduction of diiron hexacarbonyl model complexes for the sub-unit of [FeFe]-hydrogenase

The synthesis and characterisation of two diiron hexacarbonyl complexes [Fe₂(SXS)(CO)₆], 1 (SXS = ((^?SCH₂)₂C(CH₃)CH₂OCOFc, Fc = ferrocenyl group) and 2 (SXS = (^?SCH₂CH₂NHCOFc)₂), were described. By using intramolecularly integrated ferrocenyl group(s) in the complexes as an internal standard, the nature of two stepwise one-electron processes of the complexes coupled with a chemical reaction was clearly demonstrated. Examining how the reduction transformed into sole one-electron process with both increasing scanning rate under Ar/CO atmosphere and lowering temperature indicated conclusively that the reduction of both complexes couples to a chemical reaction which involves CO-loss.     

Experimental and computational thermochemistry of 1,4-benzodioxan and its 2-R derivatives

The standard molar energies of combustion, at T = 298.15 K, of crystalline 1,4-benzodioxan-2-carboxylic acid and 1,4-benzodioxan-2-hydroxymethyl were measured by static bomb calorimetry in an oxygen atmosphere. The standard molar enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained by Calvet microcalorimetry. These values were used to derive the standard molar enthalpies of formation of the compounds in the gas phase at T = 298.15 K: 1,4-benzodioxan-2-carboxylic acid ?(547.7 ± 3.0) kJ · mol^?1 and 1,4-benzodioxan-2-hydroxymethyl ?(374.2 ± 2.3) kJ · mol^?1.In addition, density functional theory calculations using the B3LYP hybrid exchange–correlation energy functional with extended basis sets, 6-311G⁷ and cc-pVTZ, have been performed for the compounds studied. We have also tested two more accurate computational procedures involving multiple levels of electron structure theory in order to get reliable estimates of the thermochemical parameters of the compounds studied. The agreement between experiment and theory gives confidence to estimate the enthalpies of formation of other 2-R derivatives of 1,4-benzodioxan (R = –CH₂COOH, –OH, –COCH₃, –CHO, –CH₃, –CN, and –NO₂).     

Palladium and platinum complexes with planar chiral 1,2-disubstituted ferrocenes containing phosphine and thioether donor groups

Three palladium(II) complexes and four platinum(II) complexes having general formula CpFe{1,2-C₅H₃(PPh₂)(CH₂SR)}MCl₂ (M = Pd, R = Ph, Et and tBu; M = Pt, R = Ph, Et, tBu and Cy) have been synthesized by reaction of the corresponding CpFe{1,2-C₅H₃(PPh₂)(CH₂SR)} ligands with PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂ or PtCl₂(CH₃CN)₂. These complexes have been fully characterized in solution and in solid state. In all cases, monomeric square planar complexes were obtained as pure diastereoisomers.     

A novel class of tetrairon(III) single-molecule magnets with graphene-binding groups

Tripods of general formula R’–O–CH₂C(CH₂OH)₃ are excellent site-specific ligands for the preparation of functionalized Fe₄ single-molecule magnets. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of two novel complexes designed to bind graphene surfaces, in which the R group consists of an alkyl spacer –(CH₂)_n– (n = 6 and 10) and a terminal pyrenyl moiety. The site-specific ligand substitution on [Fe₄(OMe)₆(dpm)₆] (Hdpm = dipivaloylmethane) with the new tripods has been studied with ²H NMR on isotopically-enriched samples, revealing that, once formed, these clusters are stable in solution over long timescales. It was not possible to isolate the new compounds as crystalline solids, nevertheless they were chemically characterized by elemental analysis and ¹H NMR. The presence of the pyrenyl ending groups prompted us to investigate the effect of metal complexation on fluorescence, and a full pyrene-to-iron cluster excitation energy transfer was observed. The analysis of the magnetic behaviour revealed an S = 5 ground spin state with a negative zero-field splitting parameter D = ?0.42 cm^?1.     

Optimization of parameters of sampling and determination of reduced sulfur compounds using cryogenic capture and gas chromatography in tropical urban atmosphere

Reduced sulfur compounds, RSCs (H₂S, COS, CH₃SH, CH₃SCH₃, CS₂ and CH₃S₂CH₃) play a role in global cycle and acid rain formation. At trace levels RSCs in air are difficult to collect, store and analyze because of their highly adsorptive and reactive properties. This work optimizes parameters of sampling and instrumental determination of RSCs for urban measurements. The method used is based on cryogenic sampling and gas chromatography provided with a cryofocusing trap and flame photometric detection.Greater sampling efficiency was obtained with liquid argon as freezing fluid and air flow rate of 150 mL min^? 1 for two hours. Best results have been obtained with preconcentration for 3 min and injection volume of 3 ml. For H₂S, CH₃SH and CH₃S₂CH₃ the method showed a precision of 89%, limit of detection of 0.10 µg m^? 3 and limit of quantification 0.3 µg m^? 3. For CH₃SCH₃ and CS₂ the corresponding values were 89%, 0.15 µg m^? 3 and 0.5 µg m^? 3 and for COS were 75%, 0.18 µg m^? 3 and 0.8 µg m^? 3 respectively. Sampling efficiency varied between 70–80% for all the RSCs. Accuracy of H₂S from field measurements obtained with parallel measurements using a continuous monitor varied between 88 and 98%. The optimized methodology proved to be suitable for field measurements in urban tropical atmospheres with different characteristics.     

Synthesis and characterization of thiosemicarbazone derivatives of 2-chloro-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde and their rhenium(I) complexes

N-Thioamide thiosemicarbazone derived of 2-chloro-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (R = H, HL¹; R = Me, HL² and R = Ph, HL³) have been prepared and their reaction with fac-[ReX(CO)₃(CH₃CN)₂] (X = Br, Cl) in chloroform gave the adducts [ReX(CO)₃(HL)] (1a X = Cl, R = H; 1a′ X = Br, R = H; 1b X = Cl, R = CH₃; 1b′ X = Br, R = CH₃; 1c X = Cl, R = Ph; 1c′ X = Br, R = Ph) in good yield. Complexes 1a′ and 1b’ were also obtained by the reaction of HL¹ and HL³ with [ReBr(CO)₅] in toluene.All the compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry (FAB), IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic methods. Moreover, the structures of HL², HL³ and 1a·H₂O were also established by X-ray diffraction. In 1a, the rhenium atom is coordinated by the sulphur and the azomethine nitrogen atoms, forming a five-membered chelate ring, as well as three carbonyl carbon and chloride atoms. The resulting coordination polyhedron can be described as a distorted octahedron.The study of the crystals obtained by slow evaporation of methanol and DMSO solutions of the adducts 1a′ and 1b, respectively, showed the formation of dimer structures based on rhenium(I) thiosemicarbazonates [Re₂(L¹)₂(CO)₆]·3H₂O (2a)·3H₂O and [Re₂(L²)₂(CO)₆]·(CH₃)₂SO (2b)·2(CH₃)₂SO. Amounts of these thiosemicarbazonate complexes [Re₂(L)₂(CO)₆] (2) were obtained by reaction of the corresponding free ligands with [ReCl(CO)₅] in dry toluene.In 2a·3H₂O and 2b·2(CH₃)₂SO the dimer structures are established by Re–S–Re bridges, where S is the thiolate sulphur from a N,S-bidentate thiosemicarbazonate ligand. In both structures the rhenium coordination sphere is similar; the dimers are in the same diamond Re₂S₂ face.     

Platinum nanocube catalysts for methanol and ethanol electrooxidation

We prepared Pt nanocube catalyst with about 3.6 nm in size by a polyol process in the presence of PVP as a stabilizer and Fe ion as a kinetic controller. The crystal structure of Pt nanocube with {1 0 0} faces was confirmed by field-emission transmission electron microscopy. In a cyclic voltammogram, we found that the Pt nanocube catalyst showed relatively high ratio of the forward anodic peak current to the reverse anodic peak current resulting in less accumulation of residues on the catalyst. The Pt nanocube catalyst with the edge of stepped {1 0 0} faces was preferable to breakage of CH₃OH and CH₃CH₂OH compared to polycrystalline Pt nanocatalyst. In an electrochemical measurement for methanol and ethanol electrooxidation, the Pt nanocube catalyst showed an excellent catalytic activity, i.e., lower onset potential and higher current density, compared to the polycrystalline Pt nanocatalyst.     

Synthesis of planar chiral ferrocenyl cyclopentadienyl chelate ligand precursors

Two families of planar chiral ferrocenyl cyclopentadienyl chelate ligands for use in ansa-half sandwich metallocene complexes of catalytically active transition metals are described. The first family was derived in 4–5 steps from an enzymatic resolution of 1-iodo-2-(methylalcohol)ferrocene and possesses a cyclopentadiene derivative [Cp(H) = 1-indenyl, 2-indenyl or Ph₄Cp(H)] directly attached to the ferrocene ring with an adjacent vicinal tether CH₂Z donor group (Z = OH, OMe, NHMe, NMe₂ or PPh₂). The second family was derived from a chiral auxiliary approach and has the donor group (Z = PPh₂ or NMe₂) attached directly to the ferrocene ring with an adjacent tether vicinal CH₂Cp(H) group [Cp(H) = Cp(H), fluorenyl, 1-indenyl, Me₄Cp(H) or Ph₄Cp(H)].     

Spin crossover FeII complexes as templates for bimetallic oxalate-based 3D magnets

We present the synthesis and structural characterization of the salt [Fe(bpp)₂][MnCr(ox)₃]₂ · bpp · CH₃OH. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group. This material contains an anionic [MnCr(ox)₃]⁻ 3D 10-gon ferromagnetic network, that orders below 3.0 K. The channels created by this architecture are filled by the spin crossover cations [Fe(bpp)₂]²⁺ (bpp = 2,6(bispyrazol-3-yl)pyridine), free ligand and solvent molecules. No spin transition has been observed at ambient pressure.     

Phase behavior of {carbon dioxide + [bmim][Ac]} mixtures

Carbon dioxide solubility {(vapor + liquid) equilibria: VLE} in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([bmim][Ac]), has been measured with a gravimetric microbalance at four isotherms about (283, 298, 323, and 348) K up to about 2 MPa. (Vapor + liquid + liquid) equilibria (VLLE: or liquid–liquid separations) have also been investigated with a volumetric method used in our previous works, since the present analysis of the VLE data using our equation-of-state model has predicted the VLLE at CO₂-rich side solutions. The prediction for the VLLE has been confirmed experimentally. CO₂ solubilities at the ionic liquid-rich side show extremely unusual behaviors; CO₂ dissolves in the ionic liquid to a great degree, but there is hardly any vapor pressure above these mixtures up to about 20 mol% of CO₂. It indicates that CO₂ may have formed a non-volatile or very low vapor pressure molecular complex with the ionic liquid. The thermodynamic excess properties (enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy) of the present system do support such a complex formation. We have conducted several other experiments to investigate the complex formation (or chemical reactions), and conclude that a minor chemical reaction occurs but the complex formation is reversible without much degradation of the ionic liquid.     

Effect of heating on speciation of copper in Si/Al/Ca-based environmental matrices

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the speciation of sorbed copper in heated fly ash. CuO and Cu(OH)₂ are determined to be the principal copper species in the Cu-sorbing fly ash heated at 500 °C for 2 h. Heating the Cu-sorbing fly ash to 900 °C or 1100 °C can result in the formation of CuSO₄, representing 41% and 32% of the total copper, respectively. Ash sintering and/or co-melting at 900 and 1100 °C occur, thereby triggering chemical reaction between CuO/Cu(OH)₂ and sulfur compounds.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy as an effective tool for monitoring the conformation of alkylammonium surfactants in montmorillonite interlayers

Application of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to probing the arrangement of trimethylalkylammonium cations in montmorillonite interlayers has been demonstrated. Detailed analysis of the mid-IR (MIR) and NIR spectra of montmorillonite from Jelšový Potok (JP, Slovakia) saturated with surfactants with varying alkyl chain length (even numbers of carbon atoms from C6 to C18) was performed to show the advantages of the NIR region in characterizing surfactant conformations. The position of the ν_as(CH₂), (∼2930–2920 cm⁻¹), ν_s(CH₂) (∼2860–2850 cm⁻¹), 2ν_as(CH₂) (∼5810–5785 cm⁻¹), (ν + δ)_as(CH₂) (∼4340–4330 cm⁻¹) and (ν + δ)_s(CH₂) (∼4270–4250 cm⁻¹) signals was used as an indicator of the gauche/trans conformer ratio. For all bands, a shift toward lower wavenumber on increasing the alkyl chain length from 6 to 18 carbons suggests a transition from disordered liquid-like to more ordered solid-like structures of the surfactants. The magnitude of the shift was significantly higher for 2ν_as(CH₂) (28 cm⁻¹) than for ν_as(CH₂) (8 cm⁻¹) or ν_s(CH₂) (10 cm⁻¹), showing the NIR region to be a useful tool for examining this issue. Comparison of the IR spectra of crystalline alkylammonium salts and the corresponding organo-montmorillonites demonstrated a confining effect of montmorillonite layers on surfactant ordering. For each alkyl chain length the CH₂ bands of the organo-montmorillonites appeared at higher wavenumbers than for the unconfined surfactant, thus indicating a higher disorder of the alkyl chains. The wavenumber difference between corresponding samples was always higher in the NIR than in the MIR region. All these findings show NIR spectroscopy to be useful for conformational studies.     

Oxidation of aliphatic alcohols by triethylammonium chlorochromate in non-aqueous medium – A kinetic and mechanistic study

The oxidation of some aliphatic alcohols by triethylammonium chlorochromate (TriEACC) in dimethyl sulfoxide leads to the formation of the corresponding carbonyl compounds. The reaction is first order with respect to TriEACC. The reaction exhibited Michaelis–Menten type kinetics with respect to alcohol. The reaction is catalyzed by hydrogen ions. The hydrogen-ion dependence has the form: k_obs = a + b[H⁺]. The oxidation of [1,1-²H₂] ethanol (MeCD₂OH) exhibits a substantial primary kinetic isotope effect. Oxidation of aliphatic alcohol was studied in 19 different organic solvents. The solvent effect has been analysed using Kamlet’s and Swain’s multi-parametric equation. A suitable mechanism has been proposed.     

Diiron chelate complexes relevant to the active site of the iron-only hydrogenase

A novel unsymmetrically disubstituted propanedithiolate compound [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-dmpe)(μ-pdt)] (1) (pdt = SCH₂CH₂CH₂S, dmpe = Me₂PCH₂CH₂PMe₂) was synthesized by treatment of [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-pdt)] with dmpe in refluxing THF. Compound 1 was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Protonation of 1 with HBF₄·Et₂O in CH₂Cl₂ gave at room temperature the μ-hydrido derivative [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-dmpe)(μ-pdt)(μ-H)](BF₄)] (2). At low temperature, ¹H and ³¹P–{¹H} NMR monitoring revealed the formation of a terminal hydride intermediate 3. Comparison of these results with those of a VT NMR study of the protonation of symmetrical compounds [Fe₂(CO)₄L₂(μ-pdt)] [L = PMe₃, P(OMe)₃] suggests that in disubstituted bimetallic complexes [Fe₂(CO)₄L₂(μ-pdt)], dissymmetry of the complex is required to observe terminal hydride species. Attempts to extend the series of chelate compounds [Fe₂(CO)₄(κ²-L₂)(μ-pdt)] by using arphos (arphos = Ph₂AsCH₂CH₂PPh₂) were unsuccessful. Only mono- and disubstituted derivatives [Fe₂(CO)_6−n(Ph₂AsCH₂CH₂PPh₂)_n(μ-pdt)] (n = 1, 4a; n = 2, 4b), featuring dangling arphos, were isolated under the same reaction conditions of formation of 1. Compound 4b was structurally characterized.