Dithizone and its oxidation products: a DFT, spectroscopic, and X-ray structural study

Air oxidation of ortho-fluorodithizone resulted in the first X-ray resolved structure of a disulfide of dithizone, validating the last outstanding X-ray structure in the oxidation of dithizone, H(2)Dz, which proceeds via the disulfide, (HDz)(2), to the deprotonated dehydrodithizone tetrazolium salt, Dz. Density functional theory calculations established the energetically favored tautomers along the entire pathway; in gas phase and in polar as well as nonpolar solvent environments. DFT calculations using the classic pure OLYP and PW91, or the newer B3LYP hybrid functional, as well as MP2 calculations, yielded the lowest energy structures in agreement with corresponding experimental X-ray crystallographic results. Atomic charge distribution patterns confirmed the cyclization reaction pathway and crystal packing of Dz. Time dependent DFT for the first time gave satisfactory explanation for the solvatochromic properties of dithizone, pointing to different tautomers that give rise to the observed orange color in methanol and green in dichloromethane. Concentratochromism of H(2)Dz was observed in methanol. Computed orbitals and oscillators are in close agreement with UV-visible spectroscopic experimental results.     

Structure and dynamics of the fast lithium ion conductor "Li7La3Zr2O12"

The solid lithium-ion electrolyte "Li(7)La(3)Zr(2)O(12)" (LLZO) with a garnet-type structure has been prepared in the cubic and tetragonal modification following conventional ceramic syntheses routes. Without aluminium doping tetragonal LLZO was obtained, which shows a two orders of magnitude lower room temperature conductivity than the cubic modification. Small concentrations of Al in the order of 1 wt% were sufficient to stabilize the cubic phase, which is known as a fast lithium-ion conductor. The structure and ion dynamics of Al-doped cubic LLZO were studied by impedance spectroscopy, dc conductivity measurements, (6)Li and (7)Li NMR, XRD, neutron powder diffraction, and TEM precession electron diffraction. From the results we conclude that aluminium is incorporated in the garnet lattice on the tetrahedral 24d Li site, thus stabilizing the cubic LLZO modification. Simulations based on diffraction data show that even at the low temperature of 4 K the Li ions are blurred over various crystallographic sites. This strong Li ion disorder in cubic Al-stabilized LLZO contributes to the high conductivity observed. The Li jump rates and the activation energy probed by NMR are in very good agreement with the transport parameters obtained from electrical conductivity measurements. The activation energy E(a) characterizing long-range ion transport in the Al-stabilized cubic LLZO amounts to 0.34 eV. Total electric conductivities determined by ac impedance and a four point dc technique also agree very well and range from 1 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) to 4 × 10(-4) Scm(-1) depending on the Al content of the samples. The room temperature conductivity of Al-free tetragonal LLZO is about two orders of magnitude lower (2 × 10(-6) Scm(-1), E(a) = 0.49 eV activation energy). The electronic partial conductivity of cubic LLZO was measured using the Hebb-Wagner polarization technique. The electronic transference number t(e-) is of the order of 10(-7). Thus, cubic LLZO is an almost exclusive lithium ion conductor at ambient temperature.     

Controlling the length and location of in situ formed nanowires by means of microfluidic tools

Progress in microelectronics, sensors and optics is strongly dependent on the miniaturization of components, and the integration of nanoscale structures into applicable systems. In this regard, conventional top-down technologies such as lithography have limits concerning the dimensions and the choice of material. Therefore, several bottom-up approaches have been investigated to satisfy the need for structures with large aspect ratios in the nanometre regime. For further implementation, however, it is crucial to find methods to define position, orientation and length of the nanowires. In this study, we present a microchip to trap in situ formed bundles of nanowires in microsized cages and clamps, thereby enabling immobilisation, positioning and cutting-out of desired lengths. The microchip consists of two layers, one of which enables the formation of metal-organic nanowires at the interface of two co-flowing laminar streams. The other layer, separated by a thin and deflectable PDMS membrane, serves as the pneumatic control layer to impress microsized features ("donuts") onto the nanowires. In this way, a piece of the nanowire bundle with a prescribed length is immobilised inside the donut. Furthermore, partly open ring-shaped structures enabled trapping of hybrid wires and subsequent functionalisation with fluorescent beads. We believe that the method is a versatile approach to form and modify nanoscale structures via microscale tools, thereby enabling the construction of fully functional nanowire-based systems.     

Noise and conductance in one-dimensional systems

Summary We derive an explicit form for the current correlation function of a Fermi gas in a finite sample at arbitrary degree of degeneracy. The expression so found enables a continuous investigation from diffusive to ballistic transport regimes to be carried out. For degenerate one-dimensional conductors under ballistic regime we find that the noise spectral density exhibits characteristic geometrical resonances and its low-frequency value has the universal formS _I (0)=8e ² KT/h, implying a universal conductanceG=2e ²/h.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Phenylimidorhenium(V) Complexes with N‐[(N′,N′‐Dialkylamino)(thiocarbonyl)]benzamidines. Observation of a pH‐Dependent Isomerisation of Related Oxorhenium(V) Compounds

Reactions of [Re(NPh)Cl₃(PPh₃)₂] with N‐[(N′,N′‐dialkylamino)(thiocarbonyl)]benzamidines (H₂R₂tcb) (R₂ = Et₂, (CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂) in methanol give mono‐chelates of the composition [Re(NPh)Cl₂(PPh₃)(HR₂tcb)] as the sole products independent of the amount of the added H₂R₂tcb. Addition of a supporting base such as NEt₃ results in hydrolysis of the Re=NPh bonds and partial hydrolysis of the thiocarbamoylbenzamidines. Orange‐brown, cationic oxorhenium(V) compounds of the formula [ReO(HR₂tcb)₂]Cl were isolated from such reaction mixtures in good yields, and the formation of small amount of the unusual sulfido/persulfido‐bridged Re^V dimer [{ReO(HEt₂tcb)}₂(μ‐S)(μ‐S₂)] give evidence for a considerable degree of ligand decomposition under such conditions. The products have been characterized by spectroscopic methods and X‐ray crystallography. Acidification of orange‐brown solutions of the five‐coordinate Re^V oxo complex [ReO(HEt₂tcb)₂]Cl causes an immediate change of the color and deep blue crystals of the neutral, six‐coordinate [ReOCl(HEt₂tcb)₂] can be isolated from the resulting mixture. Alternatively, the product can be prepared by a ligand‐exchange protocol starting from (NBu₄)[ReOCl₄] and H₂Et₂tcb. The pH‐dependent isomerization between [ReO(HEt₂tcb)₂]Cl and [ReOCl(HEt₂tcb)₂] is reversible.