Magnetic structure and thermodynamic properties of TmPtIn

Physical properties of TmPtIn have been investigated by means of magnetic, electrical transport, calorimetric as well as neutron diffraction measurements. The compound crystallizes in the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type crystal structure. It orders antiferromagnetically below T_N = 3.5 K with the Tm magnetic moments confined to the basal hexagonal plane. They form a non-collinear “triangular” magnetic structure that may be described by the propagation vector . At 1.6 K, the Tm magnetic moment is equal to 5.59(9)μ_B. The antiferromagnetic character of the electronic ground state is reflected in the low temperature behaviors of the magnetic susceptibility and the specific heat, which may be described by spin-wave theory of antiferromagnetic magnons with linear dispersion relation. The compound exhibits metallic character of electrical conduction.     

The revision of intermolecular interactions in 1,3‐dinitrobenzene crystal—the role of nitro groups in optical nonlinearity

Polarized Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) reflectance spectra and powder Raman spectra have been measured for 1,3‐dinitrobenzene crystal in order to revise the assignments of bands by means of the oriented gas model reinforced with quantum chemical [density functional theory (DFT)] calculations. Longitudinal optical/transverse optical (LO‐TO) splitting of some bands is observed indicating medium strong, long‐range, dipole–dipole interactions. The analysis of overtones in the polarized FT‐NIR spectra has allowed us to estimate the anharmonicity of vibrations in the crystal. The molecular motions of the nitro groups are analyzed on the basis of temperature‐dependent polycrystalline IR spectra. Based on the values of the energy difference (Δν_el) between the forbidden A_1g→B_2u transition in the benzene molecule in the gas phase and the first electronic transition in 1,3‐dinitrobenzene, it has been concluded that the intermolecular interactions are medium strong. The nitro group interactions are proposed to play the main role in the optical nonlinearity. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nickel-Catalyzed Enantioselective Decarboxylative Acylation: Rapid,Modular Access to α-Amino Ketones**

A new approach to the enantiocontrolled synthesis of α-amino ketone derivatives is disclosed by employing a decarboxylative acylation strategy. Thus, when an acyl chloride and an α-amido-containing redox-active ester are exposed to a nickel catalyst, chiral ligand, and metal reductant, α-amido ketones are produced in good yield and high ee. The reaction exhibits broad substrate scope, can be easily scaled up, and is applied to dramatically simplify the synthesis of several known structures.     

Effect of the Terminal Substituents on the Smectic Layer Spacings in 4-(trans-4′-n-Alkyleyelohexyl) Benzoates

The spacings of the smectic layers are compared with the lengths of molecules of p-substituted phenyl 4-(trans-4′-n-decylcyclohexyl) benzoates. It has been found that if the NO₂, CN or CHO groups are substituted in the p-position of the phenyl, then the smectic layers consist of dimers, whereas in the presence of the NCS, COCH₃, I, Cl, Br, F substituents the smectic layers reveal a monomolecular spacing.     

Intermolecular chain transfer to polymer with chain scission: general treatment and determination of kp/ktr in L,L-lactide polymerization

A general kinetic treatment of the system with intermolecular chain transfer followed by fast reinitiation is given. It leads to the broadening of the molecular weight distribution (MWD), the number of growing chains being invariable. Thus, this system can be considered as a special case of living polymerization. A general method has been elaborated allowing the determination of the ratio of the rate constant of propagation (k_p) to the rate constant of the bimolecular transfer (k⁽²⁾_tr) from the dependence of the MWD on monomer conversion. Numerical values of k_p/k⁽²⁾_tr equal to ≈ 10² and 25 were thus determined for the polymerization of L , L -lactide (L , L -dilactide) initiated with aluminium tris(isopropoxide) trimer ({Al(OⁱPr)₃}₃) and tributyltin ethoxide (ⁿBu₃SnOEt), respectively.     

Scalable Electrochemical Decarboxylative Olefination Driven by Alternating Polarity**

A mild, scalable (kg) metal-free electrochemical decarboxylation of alkyl carboxylic acids to olefins is disclosed. Numerous applications are presented wherein this transformation can simplify alkene synthesis and provide alternative synthetic access to valuable olefins from simple carboxylic acid feedstocks. This robust method relies on alternating polarity to maintain the quality of the electrode surface and local pH, providing a deeper understanding of the Hofer-Moest process with unprecedented chemoselectivity.     

Trissarcosine barium(2 + ) dibromide—a new complex of N‐methylglycine

We obtained a new complex containing sarcosine (CH₃NH₂⁺CH₂COO⁻) and barium(2 + ) dibromide (TSBB) in 3:1 molar ratio, as well as its deuterated analog. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements show that TSBB crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 18.345(4) Å, b = 10.668(2) Å, c = 8.9212(18) Å, β = 91.86(3)°, and Z = 4. The structure was determined with final R₁ = 0.0396 (for I > 2σI). The crystal possesses a pseudohexagonal symmetry down c axis showing the resemblance to the crystal structure of trissarcosine calcium chloride (TSCC). There are N HBr hydrogen bonds (HB) of six types. TSBB crystal undergoes a phase transition at 416 K (heating)–415 K (cooling) of continuous nature. The spectroscopic [Infrared (IR) and Raman] investigation of the crystal was performed at room temperature. The results are discussed with respect to the crystallographic data, as well as the results obtained for TSCC crystal. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.