N-K electron energy-loss near-edge structures for TiN/VN layers: an ab initio and experimental study

We study N-K-edge electron energy-loss near-edge structures for well-defined TiN/VN bilayers grown on a MgO(100) substrate by both calculations and experiments. The structural relaxations and the electronic structure of TiN/VN multilayers are calculated using the Vienna Ab Initio Simulation Package computer code, which uses density functional theory to describe the electronic interaction. The effects of the core hole created in the excitation process are included in the calculations. For VN, off-stoichiometric effects due to nitrogen vacancies are modelled. The partial density of states (PDOS) for the N-K edge of atoms in the vicinity of the TiN/MgO interface revealed that two new peaks appear between 7 and 9 eV instead of a broad shoulder typical for the bulk. For the VN/TiN interface, the PDOS is modified only slightly, owing to similar bonding on both sides of the interface, and is thus very similar to the respective bulk spectra. An experimental spectrum taken at the VN/TiN interface is, however, well described by an average of the simulated spectra for VN and TiN bulk (interface). Such a finding is characteristic of an intermixed interface.      

Functionalized phosphorus analogues of the beta-diketiminato ligand systems: bis(N-arylphosphinimino)acetonitrile-derived complexes of rhodium and iridium

Staudinger reaction of dppm-CN (5) gave the corresponding bis(N-phenylphosphinimino)acetonitrile system (6). Deprotonation with LDA furnished the corresponding anionic ligand 9. Its reaction with [(CO)(2)RhCl](2) gave the corresponding kappa(2)N,N'-chelate complex 11. X-Ray diffraction revealed a non-planar boat-like conformation of the six-membered chelate ring in the crystal. Treatment of 9 with [(nbd)RhCl](2) gave the six-membered chelate complex 12 which features a different twist-like structure in the solid state, as does 13, which was formed by reacting 9 with [(cod)IrCl](2).     

Michael addition of allenoates to electron-deficient olefins: facile synthesis of 2-alkynyl-substituted glutaric acid derivatives

A Michael addition of allenoates to electron-deficient olefins was mediated efficiently by a catalytic amount of commercial tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) under mild conditions. And 2-alkynyl substituted glutaric acid derivatives, which may be potential building blocks in organic synthesis, were obtained in good to excellent yields from these reactions. The mechanism for the Michael addition reaction may involve the formation of an alkynylenolate intermediate.     

Design of acidochromic dyes for facile preparation of pH sensor layers

Eight new acidochromic dyes have been synthesised that can be used for optically monitoring pH in the range from 3 to 12. Their corresponding pK(a) values have been both measured and calculated theoretically by means of density functional theory. The synthesis of these new dyes is facile without the need for chromatographic purification. The dyes can be covalently linked to polymers containing hydroxyl functions such as cellulose, polyurethane hydrogel, and hydroxyalkyl methacrylate. The resulting sensor layers exhibit significant colour changes both in the UV and in the visible spectral range.     

Chiral separation by capillary electromigration techniques

This review gives an overview of chiral separation principles and their applications in capillary electromigration techniques. The basic chiral separation principles are explained and the mechanisms discussed. Recent developments and new techniques in CZE and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) are highlighted. New chiral selectors among cyclodextrins, crown ethers, carbohydrates, macrocyclic antibiotics, proteins, chiral ion-pairing reagents, chiral surfactants and chiral metal ion complexes and their chiral recognition ability are discussed. Recent advances in chip technology for chiral separation and new approaches regarding improvement of detection sensitivity are presented. Due to the tremendous number of publications dealing with applications, in this review only recent applications are summarized.     

Synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted 3-fluorofurans via sequential iodocyclization and cross-coupling of gem-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols

The iodocyclization of gem-difluorohomoallenyl and gem-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols with I2 and ICl, respectively, produced the corresponding fluorinated iodofuran analogues in good yields. The iodo substituent in fluorinated 4-iodofurans was utilized as a synthetic handle to prepare multi-substituted 3-fluorofurans using a Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. The yields of both iodocyclization of gem-difluorohomopropargyl alcohol and subsequent Suzuki coupling were dramatically enhanced by microwave irradiation.     

Autoignition of condensed hydrocarbon fuels in non-premixed flows at elevated pressures

Experimental and computational investigation is carried out to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of autoignition of n-heptane, n-decane, and n-dodecane in non-premixed flows at elevated pressures up to 6 bar. The counterflow configuration is employed. In this configuration, an axisymmetric flow of a gaseous oxidizer stream is directed over the surface of an evaporating pool of liquid fuel. The oxidizer stream is a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The experiments are conducted at a fixed value of mass fraction of oxygen and at a fixed low value of strain rate. The temperature of the oxidizer stream at autoignition, T_ig, is measured as a function of pressure, p. Computations are carried out using skeletal mechanisms constructed from a detailed mechanism and critical conditions of autoignition are predicted. The experimental data and predictions show that, for all fuels tested, T_ig decreases with increasing p. At a fixed value of p, T_ig for n-dodecane is the lowest, followed by n-decane and n-heptane. This indicates that n-dodecane is the most easily ignited, followed by n-decane and n-heptane. This is in agreement with previous experimental and computational studies at 1 atm, where a similar order of reactivities for these fuels was observed at low strain rates. Flame structures at conditions before and at conditions immediately after autoignition are calculated. A noteworthy finding is that low temperature chemistry is found to play a dominant role in promoting autoignition. The influence of low temperature chemistry is found to increase with increasing pressure.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the substitution reactions of some monofunctional Pt(II) complexes with heterocyclic nitrogen donor molecules. Crystal structure of [Pt(bpma)(pzBr)]Cl2·2H2O

Substitution reactions of [Pt(terpy)Cl]⁺ (terpy = 2,2′;6′,2′′-terpyridine), [Pt(bpma)Cl]⁺ (bpma = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine), [Pt(dien)Cl]⁺ (dien = diethylenetriamine or 1,5-diamino-3-azapentane) and [Pt(tpdm)Cl]⁺ (tpdm = tripyridinedimethane) with nitrogen donor heterocyclic molecules, such as 3-amino-4-iodo-pyrazole (pzI), 5-amino-4-bromo-3-methyl-pyrazole (pzBr) and imidazole (Im), were studied in aqueous 0.10 M NaClO₄ in the presence of 10 mM NaCl using variable-temperature UV–vis spectrophotometry. The second-order rate constants k₂ indicate decrease in reactivity in the order [Pt(terpy)Cl]⁺ > [Pt(bpma)Cl]⁺ > [Pt(tpdm)Cl]⁺ > [Pt(dien)Cl]⁺. The most reactive nucleophile among the heterocyclic compounds is imidazole, while pzI shows slightly higher reactivity than pzBr. Activation parameters were also determined and the negative values for entropies of activation, ΔS^≠, support an associative mode of substitution for all substitution processes. Crystal structure of [Pt(bpma)(pzBr)]Cl₂·2H₂O was determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The coordination geometry of the complex is distorted square-planar while the bond distance Pt–N2(pzBr) is longer than the other three Pt–N distances.