Electron paramagnetic resonance spectral studies on natural sapphire

EPR study of both blue and green sapphire samples confirms the presence of Cr(III) in four different octahedral sites. The g (1.98) value is the same but D values differ for the two the samples. The EPR spectra suggest that the blue sapphire contains more chromium than the green sapphire. No Fe(III) impurity was noted in the EPR spectrum     

Iron-copper cooperative catalysis in the reactions of alkyl Grignard reagents: exchange reaction with alkenes and carbometalation of alkynes

Iron-copper cooperative catalysis is shown to be effective for an alkene-Grignard exchange reaction and alkylmagnesiation of alkynes. The Grignard exchange between terminal alkenes (RCH═CH(2)) and cyclopentylmagnesium bromide was catalyzed by FeCl(3) (2.5 mol %) and CuBr (5 mol %) in combination with PBu(3) (10 mol %) to give RCH(2)CH(2)MgBr in high yields. 1-Alkyl Grignard reagents add to alkynes in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of Fe(acac)(3), CuBr, PBu(3), and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine to give β-alkylvinyl Grignard reagents. The exchange reaction and carbometalation take place on iron, whereas copper assists with the exchange of organic groups between organoiron and organomagnesium species through transmetalation with these species. Sequential reactions consisting of the alkene-Grignard exchange and the alkylmagnesiation of alkynes were successfully conducted by adding an alkyne to a mixture of the first reaction. Isomerization of Grignard reagents from 2-alkyl to 1-alkyl catalyzed by Fe-Cu also is applicable as the first 1-alkyl Grignard formation step.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (triaryl)methylamines by rhodium-catalyzed addition of arylboroxines to cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines

Asymmetric addition of arylboroxines to cyclic N-sulfonyl ketimines proceeded in the presence of a rhodium catalyst coordinated with a chiral diene ligand to give high yields of benzosultams, where a triaryl-substituted stereogenic carbon center was created with high enantioselectivity (93-99% ee). The chiral benzosultams were transformed into the chiral (triaryl)methylamines by breaking the cyclic structure.     

Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of 4-oxaspiro[2.4]heptanes via central attack of oxygen nucleophiles to π-allylpalladium intermediates

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative cyclopropanation of γ-methylidene-δ-valerolactones with aromatic aldehydes has been developed to give 4-oxaspiro[2.4]heptanes with high selectivity. The site of nucleophilic attack to a π-allylpalladium intermediate has been controlled with a sterically demanding phosphine ligand. The course of the reaction is highly dependent on ligands and solvents, and selective formation of methylenetetrahydropyrans has also been realized.     

High-yield synthesis of semiconductive type-II Si clathrates with low Na content

To develop an efficient synthesis of type-II Si clathrates with low Na content (Na_xSi₁₃₆: x = 0–24), various conditions for annealing the Zintl phase NaSi were examined. The addition of a pre-annealing process under vacuum at 250 °C following the preparation of NaSi resulted in a decrease in the Na content of type-II Si clathrates from 4 to 2 when the pre-annealing duration ranged from 0 to 60 h, while the volume fraction of type-II Si clathrate crystals in the synthesized specimens (type-II/(type-I + type-II + d-Si)) deduced by powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis was maintained at approximately 85%. These preparation techniques that enable the high-yield synthesis of semiconductive type-II Si clathrates open opportunities for the application of these substances to semiconductor devices.     

Optical band gap of semiconductive type II Si clathrate purified by centrifugation

The optical properties of Si clathrate, which is believed to have potential as a new Si-based material for optical devices, were investigated in this study. Si clathrates with type II structure (Na_xSi₁₃₆) with low Na content (x = 1.3, 2.0) were synthesized by thermal decomposition of NaSi. The synthesized samples were purified by centrifugation using a solution of CH₂Br₂–C₂Cl₄ to remove impurities. Using the obtained high purity samples (Na_1.3Si₁₃₆, 93 wt.%; Na_2.0Si₁₃₆, 90 wt.%), the optical absorption spectra of Na_xSi₁₃₆ were clarified, for the first time, from diffuse reflection measurements. The inclusion of Na in Si₁₃₆ was found to cause free carrier absorption in the infrared region but had little effect on the fundamental absorption edge found in the visible region.     

First‐Principles Study of Na‐Ion Battery Performance and Reaction Mechanism of Tin Sulfide as Negative Electrode

We study the Na‐ion battery characteristics of SnS as a negative electrode by first‐principles calculations. From energy analyses, we clarify the discharge reaction process of the Na/SnS half‐cell system. We show a phase diagram of Na?Sn?S ternary systems by constructing convex‐hull curves, and show a possible reaction route considering intermediate products in discharge reactions. Voltage‐capacity curves are calculated based on the Na?SnS reaction path that is obtained from the ternary phase diagram. It is found that the conversion reactions and subsequently the alloying reactions proceed in the SnS electrode, contributing to its high capacity compared with the metallic Sn electrode, in which only the alloying reactions progresses stepwise. To verify the calculated reaction process, x‐ray absorption spectra (XAS) are calculated and compared with experimental XAS at S K‐edge, showing meaningful XAS changes associated with Na₂S and SnS in discharged and charged states, respectively.     

Synthesis of Arylacetaldehydes by Iridium‐Catalyzed Arylation of Vinylene Carbonate with Arylboronic Acids

The one‐step synthesis of arylacetaldehydes by carbon–carbon bond formation between formylmethyl and aryl groups has been realized by the reaction of vinylene carbonate with arylboronic acids in the presence of an iridium/bisphosphine catalyst and a catalytic amount of tetrahydroxydiboron.     

Deposition of microcrystalline Ge films using hot-wire technique without toxic gases

To investigate the deposition of Ge films without toxic gas such as germane, we have studied the Ge films prepared by the hot-wire technique, which utilize the reaction between a Ge target and hydrogen atoms generated by the hot-wire decomposition of H₂ gas. The films deposited on Si substrate were microcrystalline Ge films and the mean crystallite size of the films increased from 13.3 to 24.8 nm with increasing the substrate temperature from 300 to 500 °C. Moreover, the deposition rate of Ge films deposited on Si substrate was higher than that of Ge films deposited on Corning 1737 substrate. It was found that the substrate temperature and the kind of substrate are key parameters for the preparation of microcrystalline Ge films by the hot-wire technique.     

Observation of population inversions in a freely expanding helium plasma

Population inversion on He I is experimentally investigated in a recombining helium plasma. Experimental results confirm that population inversions for n = 3–4 and 3–5 levels of the He I singlet system are larger than for the triplet system. The difference between the two systems is discussed by using rate equations.