An improved polymer electrolyte-based amperometric hydrogen sensor

An improved polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell-based amperometric hydrogen sensor that operates at room temperature has been developed. The electrolyte used in the sensor is a PVA/H₃PO₄ blend, which is a proton-conducting solid polymer electrolyte. A thin film of palladium is used as the anode and platinum supported on carbon as the cathode. The sensor functions as a fuel cell, H₂/Pd//PVA-H₃PO₄//Pt/O₂, and the short-circuit current is found to be linearly related to the hydrogen concentration. The basic principle, details of assembly, response behaviour of the sensor and its application are discussed.     

EPR of Cu(II)-doped seven-coordinate inclusion compounds, M(stpy)3(NO3)2 x 1/2stpy (M = Cd(II) and Zn(II), stpy = trans-4-styrylpyridine): low symmetry effects in admixture of ground states

Single crystal EPR of Cu(II)-doped low symmetry pentagonal bipyramidal Werner-type clathrate inclusion complexes of Cd(stpy)3(NO3)2 x 1/2stpy(1) and Zn(stpy)3(NO3)2 x 1/2stpy(2) (stpy = trans-4-styrylpyridine) is reported. The spin Hamiltonian parameters are found to be orthorhombic with g33 = 2.298, g22 = 2.108, g11 = 2.066, A33 = 107.3, A22 = 54.4 and A11 = 23.1 x 10(-4) cm(-1) for 1 and g33 = 2.292, g22 = 2.111, g11 = 2.067, A33 = 107.5, A22 = 54.7 and A11 = 22.9 x 10(-4) cm(-1) for 2. Angular variation studies for both 1 and 2 suggest that the Cu(II) ions are substitutionally incorporated in the host lattices. The magnitude of Cu(II) hyperfine coupling constant (A33) in both 1 and 2 are found to be low, in comparison to those of the pure Cu(II) complex, indicative of low symmetry for the substitutional sites in accordance with the crystal data. Such large reductions in Cu(II) hyperfine coupling are explicable in terms of a mixed d(x2 - y2)/dz2 ground state and delocalization of unpaired spin density onto the ligands.     

Synthesis of hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridines under solvent‐free condition using zn[(L)proline]2 as lewis acid catalyst

The present short communication describes a Lewis acid (Zn[(L)proline]₂) catalysed one pot synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4‐dihydropyridine (DHP) derivatives under solvent‐free condition by conventional heating and microwave irradiation. The Lewis acid catalyst Zn[(L)proline]₂ used in this reaction afford moderate to good yield. The catalyst is reusable upto five cycles without appreciable loss of its catalytic activity.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic characterization and redox properties of titanium and vanadium substituted Keggin-type heteropolyanions

The Ti-substituted heteropolytungstates K7[TiIVW11–BO40] and K6[VVTiIVW10PO40] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopic techniques. Their redox properties have been studied by cyclic voltammetry, and the compounds were found to be more difficult to reduce than the unsubstituted heteropolyanion. The one- and two-electron reduced heteropoly blues of [VVTiIVW10PO40]6–, namely [VIVTiIVW10PO40]7– and [VIVTiIIIW10PO40]8–, have also been prepared by chemical methods. Their optical spectra show low-energy intervalence charge-transfer bands as well as the expected d–d transitions. The optical and e.s.r. investigations indicate that VIV and TiIII are not vicinal in [VIVTiIIIW10PO40]8–.     

Infrared and laser Raman studies of [Ni(II)(dppe)Cl2] and [Co(III)(dppe)2Cl2]PF6 (dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane)

Infrared and laser Raman spectral investigations of [Ni(II)(dppe)Cl2] and [Co(III)(dppe)2Cl2]PF6 have been made to determine the conformation and nature of bonding in Ni(II) and Co(III) dppe complexes. The stereochemistry of the two forms of these complexes has been confirmed. The role of steric interferences in cis-Planar [Ni(II)(dppe)Cl2] complex is interpreted in terms of reduction in symmetry upon coordination. The strong trans influence of the chelating dppe ligand is observed in the [Co(III)(dppe)2Cl2]PF6 complex. Both complexes exhibit the effect of crystalline field on molecular vibrations. The Fermi resonance overtone is also observed in these complexes.     

Cyclic voltammetric and e.s.r. studies of a tetraaza 14-membered macrocyclic copper(II) complex derived from 3-salicylideneacetylacetone ando-phenylenediamine: stabilization and activation of unusual oxidation states

Summary A 14-membered macrocyclic Schiff base derived from 3-salicylideneacetylacetone ando-phenylenediamine acts as a tetradentate and strongly conjugated ligand to form a cationic solid complex with CuCl₂. U.v.-vis. and e.s.r. spectral data reveal a strong ligand to metal -interaction in the square planar complex. C.v. data reveal that the title ligand is able to stabilize the copper(III) oxidation state more effectively than comparable saturated or partially unsaturated macrocyclic ligands and confers a weaker tendency for reduction of copper(II) to copper(I) and copper(0). While the inclusion of a PPh₃ ligand suppresses the Cu⁰ Cu^I Cu^II oxidation, imidazole and pyridine strongly enhance the Cu^II Cu^III oxidation of the complex.     

A functional on-chip pressure generator using solid chemical propellant for disposable lab-on-a-chip

This paper presents a functional on-chip pressure generator that utilizes chemical energy from a solid chemical propellant to perform fluidic delivery in applications of plastic-based disposable biochips or lab-on-a-chip systems. In this functional on-chip pressure generator, azobis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the solid chemical propellant is deposited on a microheater using a screen-printing technique, which can heat the AIBN at 70 degrees C to produce nitrogen gas. The output pressure of nitrogen gas, generated from the solid chemical propellant, is adjustable to a desired pressure by controlling the input power of the heater. Using this chemical energy source, the generated pressure depends on the deposited amount of the solid chemical propellant and the temperature of the microheater. Experimental measurements show that this functional on-chip pressure generator can achieve around 3 000 Pa pressure when 189 mJ of energy is applied to heat the 100 microg of AIBN. This pressure can drive 50 nl of water through a microfluidic channel of 70 mm and cross-sectional area of 100 microm x 50 microm. Due to its compact size, ease of fabrication and integration, high reliability (no moving parts), biologically inert gas output along with functionality of gas generation, this pressure generator will be an excellent pressure source for handling the fluids of disposable lab-on-a-chip, biochemical analysis systems or drug delivery systems.     

Novel tandem reactions of ethyl acetoacetate with aromatic aldehydes: product- and stereo-selective formation of highly functionalised cyclohexanones

The five-component tandem reaction of ethyl acetoacetate with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of pyrrolidine affords t(3),t(5)-diaryl-t(4)-[(E)-3-aryl-2-propenonyl]-r(2)-ethoxycarbonylcyclohexanones stereoselectively in good yields presumably via a tandem Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-condensation via enamine-deethoxycarbonylation-Michael addition sequence. The same reactants in the presence of DBU led to the formation of t(3)-aryl-r(2),c(4)-bisethoxycarbonyl-c(5)-hydroxy-t(5)-methylcyclohexanones in excellent yields via a tandem Knoevenagel condensation-Michael addition-aldol reaction sequence.     

Synthesis, Structure and Spectroscopy of Clathrate Inclusion Compounds of Cobalt(II), Cadmium(II) and Zinc(II) trans-4-styrylpyridine nitrates as Host with trans-4-styrylpyridine as Guest (2 : 1)

New clathrate inclusion compounds with the general formula,MA₃X₂ 1/2G (M = Co(II)(1),Cd(II)(2), and Zn(II)(3), X = NO₃ ^- andA and G = trans-4-styrylpyridine), differing from the usualWerner clathrates, MA₄X₂ 2G, have been prepared and characterized by elemental and thermal analyses,IR and electronic spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Tworepresentative compounds [Co(stpy)₃(NO₃)₂] 1/2stpy (1) and [Cd(stpy)₃(NO₃)₂] 1/2 stpy (2)are investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound (1)crystallizes in the triclinic space group P¯1 with a = 10.966(2),b = 12.802(4), c = 16.063(5) Å = 83.38(3), = 71.30(2), = 76.88(3) °,Z = 2. The structure is made up of discretemolecules of [Co(stpy)₃(NO₃)₂]. The central Co(II) issurrounded by three stpy nitrogen atoms and four oxygen atoms of twoasymmetrically coordinated bidentate nitrate ligands. One of the oxygensis semicoordinated leading to a distorted octahedral geometry for Co(II).Compound (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/nwith a = 15.597(3), b = 18.313(5), c = 16.188(3) Å = 115.998(14)° and Z = 4. The structure consists of neutralmolecules of [Cd(stpy)₃(NO₃)₂]. The geometry aroundCd(II) is best described as pentagonal bipyramid with four oxygen atomsfrom symmetrical bidentate nitrate groups and one stpy nitrogen atom inthe equatorial positions. Two other nitrogen atoms from stpy ligands occupythe axial positions. The guest stpy molecules are trapped in the centrosymmetricalcavities in lattices of both 1 and 2. Compound 3is found to beisomorphous with 2. A large splitting of the symmetric and asymmetricNO₂ stretching vibrations reveals the presence of bidentate nitrate ligands.Thermogravimetric and DTA studies on the Cd(II) compound, show it to be athermally stable inclusion compound.