After 20 years, theoretical evidence that "AuF(7)" is actually AuF(5) x F(2)

Quantum-chemical calculations at the DFT (BP86, PBE, TPSS, B3LYP, PBE0), MP2, CCSD, and CCSD(T) levels have been carried out to characterize the putative AuF(7) reported in 1986 by Timakov et al. Our calculations indicate clearly that the species claimed to be AuF(7) had not been synthesized. Instead, a new gold fluoride complex AuF(7) x F2 was prepared. This complex is 205 kJ mol(-1) more stable than the proposed AuF(7) species, and the elimination of F(2) is calculated to be endothermic. This is consistent with the reported stability of the product. A reported experimental vibrational frequency at 734 cm(-1) was verified computationally to be the F-F stretching mode of the end-on coordinated F2 molecule. This result is in line with the recently published trends in the highest attainable oxidation states of the 5d transition metals where Au(V) remains the highest oxidation state of gold.     

Bulk gas-phase acidity

The capability of a gaseous Br?nsted acid HB to deliver protons to a base is usually described by the gas-phase acidity (GA) value of the acid. However, GA values are standard Gibbs energy differences and refer to individual gas pressures of 1?bar for acid HB, base B(-), and proton H(+). We show that the GA value is not suited to describe the bulk acidity of a gaseous acid. Here the pressure dependence of the activities of HB, H(HB)(n)(+), and B(HB)(m)(-) that result from gaseous autoprotolysis have to be considered. In this work, the pressure-dependent absolute chemical potential of the proton in the representative gaseous proton acids CH(4), NH(3), H(2)O, HF, and HCl was worked out and the general theory to describe bulk gas phase acidity--that can directly be compared with solution acidity--was developed.     

Measurement of neutrino oscillations with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI beam

This Letter reports new results from the MINOS experiment based on a two-year exposure to muon neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. Our data are consistent with quantum-mechanical oscillations of neutrino flavor with mass splitting |Deltam2| = (2.43+/-0.13) x 10(-3) eV2 (68% C.L.) and mixing angle sin2(2theta) > 0.90 (90% C.L.). Our data disfavor two alternative explanations for the disappearance of neutrinos in flight: namely, neutrino decays into lighter particles and quantum decoherence of neutrinos, at the 3.7 and 5.7 standard-deviation levels, respectively.     

Search for Lorentz invariance and CPT violation with the MINOS far detector

We searched for a sidereal modulation in the MINOS far detector neutrino rate. Such a signal would be a consequence of Lorentz and CPT violation as described by the standard-model extension framework. It also would be the first detection of a perturbative effect to conventional neutrino mass oscillations. We found no evidence for this sidereal signature, and the upper limits placed on the magnitudes of the Lorentz and CPT violating coefficients describing the theory are an improvement by factors of 20-510 over the current best limits found by using the MINOS near detector.     

Synthesis and structural characterisation of primary amine adducts of gallane, RH2N.GaH3, and of their decomposition products, [RHNGaH2]n(R = Me, n= 3; R =tBu, n= 2)

Primary amine-gallane adducts, RH(2)N.GaH(3)[R = Me (1) and (t)Bu (2)], have been isolated for the first time from the reaction of [RNH(3)]Cl with LiGaH(4) in Et(2)O solution at ca. 273 K and characterised by their vibrational and (1)H NMR spectra. The structures of single crystals, grown at low temperatures and determined by X-ray diffraction, reveal pseudo-polymeric arrays of RH(2)N.GaH(3) molecules with Ga-N distances of 2.0424(18) and 2.058(5)A for 1 and 2, respectively. The adducts decompose at or near ambient temperatures with the elimination of H(2) and formation of the corresponding monoalkylamido derivative [RHNGaH(2)](n). The crystal structures of these at 150 K consist of either [MeHNGaH(2)](3) molecules with a "skew-boat" conformation for the cyclic Ga(3)N(3) skeleton (3) or [(t)BuHNGaH(2)](2) molecules with a four-membered Ga(2)N(2) core (4), with Ga-N distances averaging 1.986(8) and 1.991(3)A for 3 and 4, respectively. The crystalline solids 1, 3 and 4 feature intermolecular N-H...H-Ga interactions with H...H distances estimated to fall in the range 2.1-2.3 A. The significance of these is discussed.     

Photolytically Induced Reaction of Monomeric AlCl with Dihydrogen in a Solid Ar Matrix at 12 K: Generation and Characterization of the Previously Unknown Monomeric Aluminium Hydride ClAlH2

Monomeric AlCl is shown to react with H₂ under photoactivation to yield the new monomeric aluminium hydride ClAlH₂. The planar, C_2v symmetric molecule is characterized by its IR spectra, taking in the effects of isotopic substitution (H₂, D₂ and HD), allied with detailed quantum chemical calculations. A normal coordinate analysis is performed to calculate accurate force constants. The properties of this species are compared to the ones of other related compounds featuring either an Al‐H or an Al‐Cl bond. Finally, the dimerization to give the D_2h symmetric H₂Al(μ‐Cl)₂AlH₂ is investigated theoretically. This dimer is of interest as a possible reagent to prepare dialane, Al₂H₆. The enthalpy for the reaction of H₂Al(μ‐Cl)₂AlH₂ in the gas‐phase with solid LiAlH₄ to give gaseous Al₂H₆ and solid LiCl is calculated.     

Horsepower requirements for high-solids anaerobic digestion

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Improved organic loading rates for anaerobic bioconversion of cellulosic feedstocks are possible through high-solids processing. Additionally, the reduction...     

Why Does a Ga2 Dimer React Spontaneously with H2, but a Ga Atom Does Not?—A Detailed Quantum Chemical Investigation of the Differences in Reactivity Between Ga Atoms and Ga2 Dimers,in Combination with Experimental Results

The spontaneous and photoactivated reactions between Ga(2) and H(2) in a matrix of solid Ar at 12 K have been followed by using IR spectroscopy and have been shown to give access to several isomers of the subvalent hydride Ga(2)H(2). We now present Raman spectra for this system, to complete its characterization on the basis of vibrational spectra. In addition, the differences between the reactivity of a Ga atom and a Ga(2) dimer toward H(2) are evaluated. The matrix isolation experiments have shown that Ga(2) reacts spontaneously with H(2,) at 12 K, to give the cyclic subvalent hydride Ga(micro-H)(2)Ga (D(2h) symmetry), which can be transformed into two other isomers of Ga(2)H(2) by selective photoactivation. Interestingly, the spontaneous reaction is subject to a marked isotopic effect. In total, the experimental results provide detailed information about the reaction mechanism. In contrast to Ga(2), Ga atoms do not react spontaneously with H(2); on photoactivation they instead yield the radical species GaH(2). The quantum chemical calculations presented herein start with an analysis of the structures and relative energies of the relevant species at the MP2 level, by using extended basis sets, and lead on to a discussion of the correlation diagrams for both reactions. Finally, CASSCF and MRCI methods, in combination with moderate-sized basis sets, were employed to analyze in detail the mechanisms of the two reactions. It will be shown that the computational results, in concert with the experimental findings, provide a satisfying explanation of the contrasting reactivities of Ga and Ga(2).     

Determination of rf electric field strengths in deuterium from satellite structure of Balmer lines

In a linear magnetoplasma withn _e5×10¹⁸ m^–3 microwaves with frequencyf=34.8 GHz and powerP100 kW were focussed with a quasi-optical horn-lens system. The profiles of the deuterium lines D, D, and D were recorded from the focus. The profiles show a satellite structure which is generated by the rf electric field. Beside the first order satellites which can be resolved from the main line, even second order satellites were detectable. Comparing the satellites' intensities with theory it is possible to determine the electric field strength in the focus. Due to a sensitive dependence of the satellites' intensities upon the polarization direction one can also determine an unknown polarization direction.     

A Radical Tricationic Rhomboid Tetraborane(4) with Four‐Center,Five‐Electron Bonding

The red‐colored tetraborane(4) [B₄(hpp)₄]^3+. ( 3 ; hpp=1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2H‐pyrimido[1,2‐a]pyrimidinate) with a rhomboid B₄ skeleton stabilized by four N donors, was synthesized by the reaction of the strong hydride abstraction reagent [(acridine)BCl₂][AlCl₄] with the electron‐rich diborane(4) [HB(hpp)]₂ ( 1 ). The salt 3 [AlCl₄]₃ was structurally characterized and the presence of unpaired electrons proven by EPR measurements. The unprecedented radical tricationic 3 is distinguished by a high positive charge and boron atoms in a low oxidation state (less than two).