Synthesis,Structure, Magnetic and Photoluminescent Properties of Dysprosium(III) Schiff Base Single‐Molecule Magnets: Investigation of the Relaxation of the Magnetization

We report here the synthesis, structure, magnetic and photoluminescent properties of three new bifunctional Schiff‐base complexes [Dy(L₁)₂(py)₂][B(Ph)₄]?py ( 1 ), [Dy(L₁)₂Cl(DME)] ? 0.5DME ( 2 ) and [Dy(L₂)₂Cl] ? 2.5(C₇H₈) ( 3 ) (HL₁=Phenol, 2,4‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐6‐[[(2‐methoxy‐5‐methylphenyl)imino]methyl]; HL₂=Phenol, 2,4‐bis(1,1‐dimethylethyl)‐6‐[[(2‐methoxyphenyl)imino]methyl]). The coordination environment of the Dy³⁺ ion and the direction of the anisotropic axis may be controlled by the combination of the substituent groups of the Schiff bases, the nature of the counter‐ions (Cl^? vs. BPh₄^?) and the coordinative solvent molecules. A zero‐field slow relaxation of the magnetization is evidenced for all complexes but strong differences in the relaxation dynamics are observed depending on the Dy³⁺ site geometry. In this sense, complex 1 exhibits an anisotropy barrier of 472 cm^?1_, which may be favourably compared to other related examples due to the shortening of the Dy?O bond in the axial direction. Besides, the three complexes exhibit a ligand‐based luminescence making them as bifunctional magneto‐luminescent systems.     

Beyond the corey reaction: one-step diolefination of cyclic ketones

The reactivities of the cyclic ketones cycloheptanone, cyclodecanone, and cycloundecanone with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide generated from trimethylsulfoxonium iodide and base (NaH) were studied in diglyme at 130 degrees C. Oxiranes, which primarily form via the Corey reaction, lead to ring expansions to give oxetanes and oxacyclopentanes when an excess of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide is used. The Corey reaction is suppressed in the presence of excess of base, and 1,3-terminal dienes form instead (we term this reaction the Yurchenko diolefination). Our mechanistic proposal involves the deprotonation of the betaine that forms after the attack of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide on the carbonyl group of the ketone. The key step of the diolefination reaction involves a [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the ylide to a gamma-unsaturated sulfoxide with a barrier of 9.9 kcal/mol (DeltaH298, MP2/cc-pVDZ, for the cycloheptane derivative). The elimination of sulfenic acid from the gamma-unsaturated sulfoxide in the terminal step of the diolefination is associated with a higher barrier (17.3 kcal/mol) but is strongly accelerated in the presence of base. The reactivity of cyclic ketones in the Yurchenko reaction depends on the ring size; medium-sized cyclodecanone is less reactive than either cycloheptanone or cyclododecanone.     

Local structure of Mn4+ and Fe3+ spin probes in layered LiAlO2 oxide by modelling of zero-field splitting parameters

The zero-field splitting parameters (ZFS) of Mn(4+) and Fe(3+) ions in LiAlO(2) with a layered structure are analyzed experimentally and theoretically by using high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, Neuman superposition model (NSM), DFT and multiconfigurational calculations. The interpretation of ZFS is based on the comparison of the experimentally determined values with the calculated ones. This approach allows assessing the performance of different methods for computation of ZFS of Fe(3+) and Mn(4+) in layered oxide matrices. DFT and multiconfigurational calculations are used to analyze the effect of oxygen, aluminium, and lithium neighbours on ZFS of Fe(3+) and Mn(4+). These calculations are based on a cluster comprising Fe(3+) or Mn(4+) ions in a trigonally compressed octahedron with 6 metal ions (Al(3+) or Co(3+)) as first metal neighbours and 6 O(2-) and 2 Li(+) (above and below the layer) as second neighbours. A satisfactory agreement with the experimental data is achieved when the local structure of Mn(4+) and Fe(3+) deviates from the trigonal host-site geometry. The local structure of Fe(3+) comprises an axial distortion, while trigonal environment with reduced extent of distortion appears around Mn(4+).     

Structural and electrocatalytic features of Pt/C catalysts fabricated in supercritical carbon dioxide

Pt/carbon black samples fabricated from dimethyl (1,5-cyclooctadiene) platinum(II) in supercritical CO₂ are characterized in relation to possible applications in methanol fuel cell. The problem of precise material characterization is addressed in frames of X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and electrochemical techniques of the true surface area determination. The catalysts with Pt loading of 20–40 wt.% consist of nm-size particles, with the lattice defectiveness dependent on the fabrication mode. To check the effect of support, various types of carbon blacks (Vulcan XC72R and acetylene black AC-1) are used. In contrast to commercial HiSpec catalysts, no pronounced increase of particle size with Pt loading is found. Specific steady-state activity towards methanol oxidation appears to be essentially higher than for commercial catalysts, mostly because the self-poisoning effects are less pronounced. As for poisoning of Pt with organic species (resulting from the ligand of precursor), its effects are demonstrated to be minor after CO or methanol adsorption accompanied by desorption of contaminating by-product.     

Towards large-scale, fully ab initio calculations of ionic liquids

Ionic liquids have attracted a substantial amount of interest as replacement of traditional electrolytes in high efficiency electrochemical devices for generation and storage of energy due to their superior physical and chemical properties, especially low volatility and high electrochemical stability. For enhanced performance of the electrochemical devices ionic liquids are required to be highly conductive and low viscous. Long-range Coulomb and short-range dispersion interactions between ions affect physical and chemical properties of ionic liquids in a very complex way, thus preventing direct correlations to the chemical structure. Considering a vast combination of available cations and anions that can be used to synthesize ionic liquids, development of predictive theoretical approaches that allow for accurate tailoring of their physical properties has become crucial to further enhance the performance of electrochemical devices such as lithium batteries, fuel and solar cells. This perspective article gives a thorough overview of current theoretical approaches applied for studying thermodynamic (melting point and enthalpy of vapourisation) and transport (conductivity and viscosity) properties of ionic liquids, emphasizing their reliability and limitations. Strategies for improving predictive power and versatility of existing theoretical approaches are also outlined.     

Dynamical mechanisms of direct three-body recombination

Despite the ubiquity of recombination processes in nature and various technologies, presently little is known about the dynamics of these processes. This article reports on a quasi-classical trajectory study of the dynamics of the direct three-body recombination of Cs(+) and Br(-) ions in the presence of a Xe atom at energies of the ion encounter and that of the third body ranging from 0.2 to 10 eV. Several dynamical mechanisms of stabilization of the recombining ion pair have been found. Head-on ion encounters are characterized by two mechanisms of removing the energy from the recombining pair. In the case of nonzero impact parameters of ion encounters, the dynamics leading to the stabilization of the nascent CsBr molecule becomes much more complicated and three new mechanisms appear. They depend mainly on the energy of the ion encounter, on the energy of the collision of the ion pair with the third body, and on the impact parameter of the ion encounter and the impact parameter of the third body. The common feature of all the three mechanisms is the transfer of a fraction of the rotational energy of the recombining pair to the third body. This transfer plays a key role in the stabilization of the molecule. The dynamical peculiarities observed are expected to be common for the recombination of the charged and neutral particles.     

Urban Elementary STEM Initiative

The new standards for K–12 science education suggest that student learning should be more integrated and should focus on crosscutting concepts and core ideas from the areas of physical science, life science, Earth/space science, and engineering/technology. This paper describes large‐scale, urban elementary‐focused science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) collaboration between a large urban school district, various STEM‐focused community stakeholders, and a research‐focused private university. The collaboration includes the development of an integrated STEM curriculum for grade K–5 with accompanying teacher professional development. This mixed‐methodology study describes findings from focus group interviews and a survey of teachers from Title I elementary schools. Findings suggest the importance of the following critical features of professional development: (a) coherence, (b) content focus, (c) active learning, (d) collective participation, and (e) duration to the success of large‐scale STEM urban elementary school reform     

Selective Reduction of ortho-Acylated β-Enaminones of Homoveratryamine and Their Cyclization to 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinolines with β-Enaminone Moiety

Enaminones are very stable compounds and can be prepared from cheap and easily available starting materials. Therefore they are excellent starting materials in organic synthesis. The selective reduction of ortho-acylated β-enaminones under mild conditions, keeping the enaminone moiety intact, is reported. The appropriated conditions for cyclization of newly obtained hydroxienamides were found. Novel 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines with potential anticonvulsic activity were synthesized.     

Thermochemical characterization of chicken litter and peat as a source for energy recovery

The shortage of raw materials and the environmental problems due to pollution require development of new green technologies utilizing some wastes and transforming them to secondary raw materials. The aim of this work is to study the properties of poultry waste to propose possibilities to minimizing the released emissions and avoiding the risk for human health and the environment. At the same time, two types of low grade peats with different origin are studied as components for the production of soil conditioners. During the studies, we applied the inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy for determining the composition, crystal phase, the shape and size of particles, and thermal stability of the investigated samples. The chemical and the phase compositions of the studied samples confirmed that the content of nutrient compounds and of the carbon substances is suitable as an effective secondary raw material for soil conditioners. It is found that the poultry wastes and peat samples have a similar phase and chemical composition and contain an organic mass in the form of carbon components with amorphous, fibrous, and skeleton-like structure, suitable to be combined with other nutrient-containing compounds. During the thermal treatment, the carbon compounds are oxidized releasing heat. Based on that the materials under study are considered as environmentally friendly fuels, releasing relatively low emissions.