Multiple-magnetic field 139La NMR and density functional theory investigation of the solid lanthanum(III) halides

Results from a solid-state ¹³⁹La NMR spectroscopic investigation of the anhydrous lanthanum(III) halides (LaX₃; X=F, Cl, Br, I) at applied magnetic fields of 7.0, 9.4, 11.7, 14.1, and 17.6 T are presented and highlight the advantages of working at high applied magnetic field strengths. The ¹³⁹La quadrupolar coupling constants are found to range from 15.55 to 24.0 MHz for LaCl₃ and LaI₃, respectively. The lanthanum isotropic chemical shifts exhibit an inverse halogen dependence with values ranging from −135 ppm for LaF₃ to 700 ppm for LaI₃, which represents nearly half of the total lanthanum chemical shift range. The spans of the magnetic shielding tensors also vary widely, from 35 to 650 ppm for the solid LaF₃ through LaI₃. DFT calculations of the ¹³⁹La electric field gradient and magnetic shielding tensors have been performed and provide a qualitative interpretation of the trends observed experimentally.     

Thermoanalytical investigations on kinetics and mechanism of deamination of tris(ethylenediamine)copper(II) sulphate

The thermal decomposition of tris(ethylenediamine)copper(II) sulphate has been studied using TG, DTG and DTA. The different stages of decomposition have been identified by these techniques in conjunction independent pyrolysis and X-ray diffraction. The kinetics and mechanism of the first two stages of deamination of the complex were evaluated. The activation parameters for the deamination reaction were computed from the TG and DTA curves using four integral methods. The two stages of deamination follow the mechanism of random nucleation with the formation of one nucleus on each particle (Mampel equation). The thermodynamic parameter namely heat of reaction (DH) for the two deamination processes was also evaluated.

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Zusammenfassung Mittels TG, DTG und DTA wurde die thermische Zersetzung von Tris(ethylendiamin)-kupfer(II)-sulfat untersucht. Anhand dieser Methoden wurden in Verbindung mit einer gesonderten Pyrolyse und Röntgendiffraktion die einzelnen Schritte dieser Zersetzung identifiziert. Weiterhin wurde die Kinetik und der Mechanismus der beiden ersten Schritte der Desaminierung des Komplexes entwickelt. Unter Anwendung von vier Integralmethoden wurden aus den TG- und DTA-Kurven die Aktivierungsparameter der Desaminierungsreaktion berechnet. Beide Schritte der Desaminierung verlaufen nach dem Mechanismus der Random-Keimbildung mit der Bildung von einem Keim pro Partikel (Mampel-Gleichung). Die Reaktionswärme der zwei Desaminierungsprozesse wurde ebenfalls bestimmt.

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The authors are grateful to the authorities of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre for providing the instrumental facilities. The help of Dr. K. Krishnan and Mr. Viswanathan Asari in the TG/DTA instrumental work is gratefully appreciated. One of the authors (S.M.) acknowledges with gratitude the aid given to him by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (India) in the form of a senior research fellowship for carrying out this work.     

Thermal behaviour of nickel(II) sulphate,nitrate and halide complexes containing ammine and ethylenediamine as ligands

Thermal behaviour of nickel amine complexes containing SO₄ ²⁻, NO₃ ⁻, Cl⁻ and Br⁻ as counter ions and ammonia and ethylenediamine as ligands have been investigated using simultaneous TG/DTA coupled with mass spectroscopy (TG/DTA–MS). Evolved gas analyses detected various transient intermediates during thermal decomposition. The nickel ammonium sulphate complex produces NH, N, S, O and N₂ species. The nickel ammonium nitrate complex generated fragments like N, N₂, NO, O₂, N₂O, NH₂ and NH. The halide complexes produce NH₂, NH, N₂ and H₂ species during decomposition. The ligand ethylenediamine is fragmented as N₂/C₂H₄, NH₃ and H₂. The residue hexaamminenickel(II) sulphate produces NiO with crystallite size 50 nm. Hexaammine and tris(ethylenediamine)nickel(II) nitrate produce NiO in the range 25.5 nm and 23 nm, respectively. The halide complexes produce nano sized metallic nickel (20 nm) as the residue. Among the complexes studied, the nitrate containing complexes undergo simultaneous oxidation and reduction.     

Computation of Dispersion in Microstrip Line with Anisotropic Substrate and Overlay

This paper presents an analysis of frequency dependent propagation characteristics of microstrip lines with anisotropic substrate and overlay. The method involves setting up of the Greens functions corresponding to the structure and formulating a dispersion relation in Fourier transform domain. The dispersion relation is constructed in a Galerkins procedure. Numerical results are also presented.     

Indyllithium and the Indyl Anion [InL]−: Heavy Analogues of N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

Reduction of the indate complex In(NON^Ar)(μ‐Cl)₂Li(OEt₂)₂ (NON^Ar=[O(SiMe₂NAr)₂]^2?; Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) with sodium generates the In^II diindane species [In(NON^Ar)]₂. Further reduction with a mixture of potassium and [2.2.2]crypt affords the In^I N‐heterocyclic indyl anion [In(NON^Ar)]^?, which crystallizes with a non‐contacted [K([2.2.2]crypt)]⁺ cation. The indyl anion can also be isolated as the indyllithium compound In(NON^Ar)(Li{THF}₃), which contains an In?Li bond. Density functional theory calculations show that the HOMO of the indyl anion is a metal‐centred lone pair, and preliminary reactivity studies confirm its nucleophilic behaviour.     

Behavior of pH-sensitive core shell particles at the air-water interface

In this article, the adsorption of latex core-responsive polymer-shell nanoparticles at the air-water interface is investigated using a Langmuir trough. Phase transition isotherms are used to explore their responsive behavior at the interface as a function of changes in the pH of the subphase. By adjusting the pH of the water prior to particle deposition, we probe the effect of the stabilizing polymer wetting by the water subphase on the stability of these particles at the air-water interface. In addition, by initially compressing a stable film of adsorbed particles and then subsequently changing the pH of the subphase we study desorption of these particles into the water phase.     

The Design of 3D-Printed Polylactic Acid–Bioglass Composite Scaffold: A Potential Implant Material for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bio-based and patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds can present next generation strategies for bone tissue engineering (BTE) to treat critical bone size defects. In the present study, a composite filament of poly lactic acid (PLA) and 45S5 bioglass (BG) were used to 3D print scaffolds intended for bone tissue regeneration. The thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) technique was used to produce composite spheres that were extruded into a continuous filament to 3D print a variety of composite scaffolds. These scaffolds were analyzed for their macro- and microstructures, mechanical properties, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biocompatibility. The results show that the BG particles were homogeneously distributed within the PLA matrix and contributed to an 80% increase in the mechanical strength of the scaffolds. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis of PLA-BG scaffolds using L929 mouse fibroblast cells confirmed their biocompatibility. During the in vivo studies, the population of the cells showed an elevated level of macrophages and active fibroblasts that are involved in collagen extracellular matrix synthesis. This study demonstrates successful processing of PLA-BG 3D-printed composite scaffolds and their potential as an implant material with a tunable pore structure and mechanical properties for regenerative bone tissue engineering.