Structural and Transport Properties of Mg1−xMnxMn2O4±δ Spinels

The synthesis and structural properties of Mg_1−xMn_2+xO₄, for 0≤x≤1 are described. Complete miscibility in the solid state exists for this system. For the material with the correct stoichiometry, i.e. MgMn₂O₄, the effect of temperature on the cation distribution was investigated= above 600°C the inversion degree (m) starts increasing. The electrical conductivity shows a small dependence on P(O₂) which is consistent with the small oxygen non-stoichiometry determined by means of thermogravimetry. The main contribution to the transport properties arises from the inversion equilibrium. Two distinct conductivity regimes, below and above the inversion threshold, can be assumed to explain the electrical conductivity and thermoelectric power results.     

Synthesis of copper,nickel and cobalt complexes containing a new N2S2 ligand: benzyl-N,N′-alkylbis(2-amino-1-cyclopentencarbodithioate)

The synthesis of [benzyl-N,N-alkylbis(2-amino-1-cyclopentencarbodithioate)]M^II [alkyl = ethene (L₂) and propene, (L₃) and M = Cu, Ni and Co] complexes and their characterization (u.v.–vis., FT-IR, ¹H-n.m.r., mass spectra and cyclic voltametry) are reported.     

Studies on diastereoselective reduction of cyclic β-ketoesters with boron hydrides. Part 4: The reductive profile of functionalized cyclohexanone derivatives

Reduction of 2-allyl-2-carboalkoxycyclohexanones (3d-f), 2-propyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3g) and 2-benzyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3h) with boron hydrides in the presence and absence of several chelating agents were studied. Molecular modeling studies using semiempirical PM3 method were performed in order to find a suitable explanation of the diastereoselection of ketone carbonyl faces during the reductive process, which yielded trans-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (6e) and cis-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (7e) in good diastereomeric excess by using inexpensive sodium and tetrabutylammonium borohydrides.     

Defect and dopant properties of MgTa2O6

Atomistic computer simulation techniques have been used, for the first time, to reproduce the crystal structure of MgTa₂O₆ and to investigate the defect chemistry and dopant properties of this material. The calculated defect energetics suggest that the concentration of intrinsic atomic defects in this phase is insignificant and that the system is probably stable to both oxidation and reduction. Dopant solution energy versus ion size trends are found for both isovalent and aliovalent dopant incorporation at Mg and Ta sites. Divalent dopants (e.g. Ca, Cu) preferentially occupy the Mg site whereas dopants with higher charge (e.g. Sc, Zr, Nb) are more favorable on the Ta site. High migration activation energies (>2 eV) predict limited ionic conductivity in this material.     

Phytochromes with noncovalently bound chromophores: the ability of apophytochromes to direct tetrapyrrole photoisomerization

Chromophore-apoprotein interactions were studied with recombinant apoproteins, oat phytochrome (phyA) and CphB of the cyanobacterium Calothrix PCC7601, which were both incubated with the bilin compounds biliverdin (BV) IXalpha, phycocyanobilin (PCB) and the 3'-methoxy derivative of PCB. Previously it was shown that CphB and its homolog in Calothrix, CphA, show strong sequence similarities with each other and with the phytochromes of higher and lower plants, despite the fact that CphB carries a leucine instead of a cysteine at the chromophore attachment position and thus holds the chromophore only noncovalently. CphA binds tetrapyrrole chromophores in a covalent, phytochrome-like manner. For both eyanobacterial phytochromes, red and far-red light-induced photochemistry has been reported. Thus, the role of the binding site of CphB in directing the photochemistry of noncovalently bound tetrapyrroles was analyzed in comparison with the apoprotein from phyA phytochrome. Both the aforementioned compounds, which were used as chromophores, are not able to form covalent bonds with a phytochrome-type apoprotein because of their chemical structure (vinyl group at position 3 or methoxy group at position 3'). The BV adducts of both apoproteins showed phytochrome-like photochemistry (formation of red and far-red-absorbing forms of phytochrome [P(r) and P(fr) forms]). However, incubation of the oat apophytochrome with BV primarily yields a 700 nm form from which the P(r)-P(fr) photochemistry can be initiated and to which the system relaxes in the dark after illumination. The results for CphB were compared with a CphB mutant where the chromophore-binding cysteine had been introduced, which, upon incubation with PCB, shows spectral properties nearly identical with its (covalently binding) CphA homolog. A comparison of the spectral properties (P(r) and P(fr) forms) of all the PCB- and BV-containing chromoproteins reveals that the binding site of the cyanobacterial apoprotein is better suited than the plant (oat) phytochrome to noncovalently incorporate the chromophore and to regulate its photochemistry. Our findings support the proposal that the recently identified phytochrome-like prokaryotic photoreceptors, which do not contain a covalently bound chromophore, may trigger a light-induced physiological response.     

The catalytic system [(Cp2TiCl)2]:LiAlH4 in aromatic solvents,Part II. Formation of η3-allyltitanocene derivatives in the presence of dienes — their structure and e.s.r. spectra

Summary The addition of dienes to the system [(Cp₂TiCl)₂] LiAlH₄toluene changes the system so that the complex [Cp₂TiAlH₄] is quantitatively formed instead of a titanocene hydride — aluminium hydride cluster. The complex [Cp₂TiAlH₄] is further converted into ³-allyltitanocene derivatives ([Cp₂TiA]) if the diene structure is suitable for formation of stable [Cp₂TiA] compounds and if the equilibrium [Cp₂TiAlH₄]+diene[Cp₂TiA]+A1H₃ is shifted towards the formation of [Cp₂TiA] by the excess of diene. All the compounds [Cp₂TiA] exhibit high-resolution e.s.r. spectra at g=1.993, showing interaction of the unpaired electron with the cyclopentadienyl and ³-allyl protons. The e.s.r. spectra clearly reveal the presence of alkyl substituents atsyn-1,3-positions of ³-allyl ligand, and show a triplet of multiplets for (³-allyl)titanocene, doublets of multiplets for (1-alkyl-³-allyl)titanocenes and single multiplets for (1,3-dialkyl-³-allyl)-titanocenes. thermal isomerization of (1,3-dimethyl-³-allyl)-titanocene and (1-methyl-3-ethyl-³-allyl)titanocene, hitherto considered as the stable Cp₂TiA compounds, into (1-alkyl-³-allyl)titanocenes was confirmed by e.s.r. and electronic absorption spectroscopy as well as by chemical means.     

New Understanding of the Influence of the Pre-Training Phase Transformation Behaviour on the TWSME in NiTi SMA Wires

Changes in the phase transformation behaviour in two-way shape memory NiTi wires were quantified by X-ray diffraction as a function of temperature. The results were compared with those obtained from the electrical resistivity measurements and applied loading method. The weight fraction diagrams enable us to observe that the higher is the level of the R-phase in the pre-training path of the NiTi sample, the lower will be the two-way memory strain obtained. Substantial values of two-way memory strain were found to be associated with pre-training paths characterized by simultaneous transformation of austenite to R-phase plus martensite. Finally, a comparison of these three experimental techniques led to a new interpretation of the electrical resistivity curves for obtaining the transformation temperatures of two-way shape memory NiTi wires. This may help to clarify the relationship between the shape of the electrical resistivity curve and the two-way memory strain that occurs in the NiTi sample.