Metal-organic frameworks incorporating Cu3(mu3-OH) clusters

Interaction of 4,4-bi(1,2,4-triazole) (btr) with copper(II) chloride (bromide) in aqueous or aqueous alcohol media led to a series of coordination polymers featuring the formation of mu 3-hydroxotricopper(II) clusters and their integration into 3D frameworks. These unprecedented structures originate in the propagation of trigonal hydroxotricopper(II) clusters bridged by tri- or tetradentate organic ligands. Complex [{Cu3(mu3-OH)}{Cu3(mu3-O)}(mu4-btr)3(H2O)4(OH)2Cl6]Cl.0.5H2O adopts a structure of SrSi2 topology, with eight-fold interpenetration of the coordination frameworks. The structure of [{Cu3(mu3-OH)}2(mu3-btr)6(mu4-btr)(mu-X)X4]X5.nH2O (X = Br, n = 6; X = Cl, n = 8) involves 2D coordination layers [{Cu3(mu3-OH)}(mu3-btr)3]n with an exceptional (3,6)-net topology, which are cross-linked by tetradentate btr ligands and bridging chloride (bromide) ions.     

Investigation of the influence of silver and tin on the luminescence of trivalent europium ions in glass

Europium-doped aluminophosphate glasses prepared by the melt-quenching technique have been studied by photoluminescence (PL) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of silver and tin doping, and of further thermal processing on Eu³⁺ ions luminescence have been assessed. For the glass system containing only europium, Eu³⁺ PL observed under UV excitation is suggested to occur through energy transfer from the excited glass host. After silver and tin doping, an enhanced UV excited Eu³⁺ PL has been indicated to occur essentially due to radiative energy transfer from isolated Ag⁺ ions and/or two fold-coordinated Sn centers. Since thermal processing of the material leads to a quenching effect on Eu³⁺ PL and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) formation due to reduction of silver ions by tin, XPS was employed in order to investigate the possibility for Eu³⁺→Eu²⁺ reduction during HT as a potential source of the PL decrease. The data points towards Ag NPs as main responsible for the observed weakening of Eu³⁺ PL.     

Use of cyclopropanols as conformational constraints in RCM

[reaction: see text] Sequential application of the Kulinkovich cyclopropanation of carboxylic esters and RCM of the resulting cis-dialkenyl-tethered cyclopropanols provides an expedient route to functionalized medium-sized carbocycles. Subsequent elaboration of the cyclopropanol functionality, such as one-carbon ring expansion, to afford synthetically useful alpha,beta-enones is also worth noting.     

Modeling microstructure evolution of binary systems subjected to irradiation and mechanical loading

We study a change in mechanical properties of binary systems subjected to irradiation influence described by ballistic flux of atomic mixing having regular and stochastic contributions. By using numerical modeling based on the phase field approach we study dynamics of deformation fields in a previously irradiated system and in the binary system deformed during irradiation. An influence of both deterministic and stochastic components of ballistic flux onto both yield strength and ultimate strength is studied. We have found that degradation of mechanical properties relates to the formation of percolating clusters of shear bands. Considering a hardening coefficient we analyze stages of plastic deformation of both initially irradiated alloy and alloy subjected to sustained irradiation. Stability of binary alloy under mechanical loading in the form of shear strain with a constant rate and cyclic deformation is discussed.     

Thermomagnetometric analysis of lithium ferrites

In this work, the magneto-phase transitions in pure lithium (Li_0.5Fe_2.5O₄), lithium–zinc (Li_0.4Fe_2.4Zn_0.2O₄) and lithium–titanium (Li_0.6Fe_2.2Ti_0.2O₄) ferrites were studied by the thermogravimetric analysis in magnetic field, which is known as the thermomagnetometry method. The ferrites were prepared by the solid-state synthesis from oxides and carbonates. The Curie point of magnetic phase in ferrites and their composite mixtures was determined from the derivative thermogravimetric curve in the region of ferrite mass change associated with the ferrimagnet–paramagnet transition in the magnetic phase. The method based on the analysis of ferrite mass change at Curie temperature was developed to estimate the ferrite phase concentrations in composite magnetic materials.

     

The kinetics of structural relaxation of bulk and ribbon glassy Pd40Cu30N10P20 monitored by resistance and density measurements

Density and in situ high precision electrical resistance measurements on bulk and ribbon glassy Pd₄₀Cu₃₀Ni₁₀P₂₀ in the initial state, after cold rolling and quenching from the supercooled liquid state are performed. Three relaxation stages resulting in different signs of the electrical resistance relaxation are determined. It is shown that the resistance change upon structural relaxation is predominantly controlled by the resistivity relaxation while the volume change has a minor effect on the resistance. Cold rolling has a complex impact on the electrical relaxation similar to the effect of plastic deformation on the dislocation anelasticity in crystals. Quenching of fully relaxed samples from the supercooled liquid state recovers structural relaxation and the amount of the resistance relaxation can be several times bigger than that in the initial state. It is concluded that relaxation of the electrical resistance as dependent on different conditions (bulk/ribbon samples, thermocycling, rolling and the parameters of quenching from the supercooled liquid state) is rather complex but it is unlikely that the degree of the relaxation is governed by the amount of the free volume. This conclusion agrees with the established fact of equal density of initial glassy and crystallized bulk samples and earlier findings of nearly equal shear viscosity of bulk and ribbon samples different by four orders of magnitude in the production quenching rate.     

Microstructure and thermal analysis of lithium ferrite pre-milled in a high-energy ball mill

The synthesis and thermal and spectroscopic studies of a new Co^II–Fe^III heteropolynuclear coordination compound are presented. The in situ oxidation product of ethylene glycol plays the role of ligand. Under specific working conditions, the reaction of ethylene glycol with Fe^III and Co^II nitrates in dilute acid solutions occurs with the oxidation of the former to glyoxylic acid, coordinated to the Co^II and Fe^III cations as glyoxylate anion (C₂H₂O₄ ^2?), with simultaneous isolation of the heteropolynuclear coordination compound. In order to separate and identify the ligand, the synthesized coordination compound, having the composition formula Co₄Fe₁₀(L)₉(OH)₂₀(H₂O)₃₂·14H₂O, where L is the glyoxylate anion, has been treated with R–H cationite (Purolite C-100). After the retention of the metal cations, the resulting glyoxylic acid was confirmed by measuring its physical constants, by specific reactions and through spectroscopic methods. The synthesized coordination compound was characterized by physical–chemical analysis, electronic spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and thermal analysis. Cobalt ferrite impurified with ferric oxide was obtained following the thermal decomposition of Co^II–Fe^III polyhydroxoglyoxylate. The oxides obtained through thermolysis were studied by FTIR, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and elemental analysis.     

A dihydroxidotetracopper(II) framework supported by 4,4′‐(adamantane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1,2,4‐triazole) and benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate bridges

The new bifunctional ligand 4,4′‐(adamantane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1,2,4‐triazole) (tr₂ad) and benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate sustain complementary coordination bridging for the three‐dimensional framework of poly[[bis[μ₃‐4,4′‐(adamantane‐1,3‐diyl)bis(1,2,4‐triazole)‐κ³N¹:N²:N^1′]bis(μ₄‐benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylato‐κ⁴O¹:O^1′:O³:O⁵)di‐μ₃‐hydroxido‐κ⁶O:O:O‐tetracopper(II)] dihydrate], {[Cu₄(C₉H₃O₆)₂(OH)₂(C₁₄H₁₈N₆)₂]·2H₂O}_n. The net node is a centrosymmetric (μ₃‐OH)₂Cu₄ cluster [Cu—O = 1.9525 (14)–2.0770 (15) Å and Cu...Cu = 3.0536 (5) Å] involving two independent copper ions in tetragonal pyramidal CuO₄N and trigonal bipyramidal CuO₃N₂ environments. One carboxylate group of the anion is bridging and the other two are monodentate, leading to the connection of three hydroxide clusters and the generation of neutral coordination layers separated by 9.3583 (5) Å. The interlayer linkage is effected by μ₃‐tr₂ad ligands, with one triazole group N¹:N²‐bridging and the second monodentate [Cu—N = 1.9893 (19), 2.010 (2) and 2.411 (2) Å]. In total, the hydroxide clusters are linked to six close neighbors within the carboxylate layer and to four neighbors via tr₂ad bridges. Hydrogen bonding of solvent water molecules to noncoordinated triazole N atoms and carboxylate groups provides two additional links for the net, which adopts a 12‐connected topology corresponding to hexagonal closest packing. The study also introduces a new type of bis(triazole) ligand, which may find wider applications for supramolecular synthesis.     

Tris-phosphorylated esters of symmetrical and unsymmetrical triols

By reaction of a series of triols and monosaccharides with 5,5-dimethyl-2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane their tris-phosphorylated derivatives were synthesized, and the simplest chemical transformations of the latter were studied. Structures of the obtained P(V) derivatives were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and by the MALDI TOF mass spectrometry and X-ray structural analysis.     

Patterns of electro-convection in planar-periodic nematic cells

Nematic liquid crystals are anisotropic fluids that can undergo electro-convective instabilities. These instabilities have been extensively studied for nematics in unidirectional planar alignment. We investigate the electro-convective instability patterns in planar-periodic cells, wherein, in the quiescent situation the nematic undergoes static twist deformations separated by defect lines. We find two regimes that depend on the sample thickness. For large thickness, electro-convective patterns are not affected by the twist, and the samples behave as they were in planar unidirectional alignment. For small thickness, either the convective motion vertically shifts the defect lines or the twist affects the electro-convective domains and resultant curved patterns are observed.