The Phosphorus Bond,or the Phosphorus-Centered Pnictogen Bond: The Covalently Bound Phosphorus Atom in Molecular Entities and Crystals as a Pnictogen Bond Donor

The phosphorus bond in chemical systems, which is an inter- or intramolecular noncovalent interaction, occurs when there is evidence of a net attractive interaction between an electrophilic region associated with a covalently or coordinately bonded phosphorus atom in a molecular entity and a nucleophile in another, or the same, molecular entity. It is the second member of the family of pnictogen bonds, formed by the second member of the pnictogen family of the periodic table. In this overview, we provide the reader with a snapshot of the nature, and possible occurrences, of phosphorus-centered pnictogen bonding in illustrative chemical crystal systems drawn from the ICSD (Inorganic Crystal Structure Database) and CSD (Cambridge Structural Database) databases, some of which date back to the latter part of the last century. The illustrative systems discussed are expected to assist as a guide to researchers in rationalizing phosphorus-centered pnictogen bonding in the rational design of molecular complexes, crystals, and materials and their subsequent characterization.     

Dynamic behaviors of ferroelectric liquid crystal molecules under an applied electric field

The dynamic changes in ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) molecular alignments under an applied electric field are examined by observing the formation of conoscopic figures with a time resolution of 0.1 ms. Close agreements between observed and simulated conoscopic figures under low voltage (30 V) were obtained. Under high voltage (120 V), however, the observed conoscopic figures became blurred between 0.8 ms and 1.1 ms after reversal of the electric field. The light scattering producing the blurriness occurred due to the development of fast transient molecular alignments during the switching transition above the applied voltage 70 V.     

Spin and orbital angular momenta defined for electromagnetic fields in planar anisotropic media

The spin and orbital angular momenta (S and L) of the radiation fields were defined newly to satisfy the duality transformation and to hold for planar anisotropic media, by introducing an entirely new vector potential. Some features of them are discussed in connection with the anisotropy in the permittivity and permeability of a medium.     

Voltammetric studies of antimony ions in soda-lime-silica glass melts up to 1873 K.

The half wave potential of reduction of Sb5+ in 16Na2O x 10CaO x 74SiO2 glass melts was examined by differential pulse voltammetry up to 1873 K. The half wave potential shifted to the positive direction with an increase in temperature. The results indicate that the equilibrium of Sb5+/Sb3+ shifted to negative direction with an increase in temperature. The half wave potential shifted to positive direction (48 mV at 1473 K) when the atmosphere over the melts changed from pure oxygen gas to air, in agreement with the theoretical prediction. The reversibility of Pt:O2 reference electrode is confirmed.     

Scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate catalyzed aromatic nitration with inorganic nitrates and acetic anhydride

The rare earth metal(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (rare earth metal(III) triflate, RE(OTf)3) was found to be an efficient catalyst for aromatic nitration with carboxylic anhydride-inorganic nitrate as the nitrating agent. In the presence of a catalytic amount of RE(OTf)3, the nitration of substituted benzenes proceeded to afford the corresponding nitrobenzenes. Especially, scandium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate (scandium(III) triflate, Sc(OTf)3) is the most active catalyst among our tested Lewis acids. It was also found that acetic anhydride-Al(NO3).9H2O is the most active nitrating agent in this system.