Bulk and surface electron transport in topological insulator candidate YbB6–δ

We report the study of transport and magnetic properties of the YbB_6–δsingle crystals grown by inductive zone melting. A strong disparity in the low temperature resistivity, Seebeck and Hall coefficients is established for the samples with the different level of boron deficiency. The effective parameters of the charge transport in YbB_6–δ are shown to depend on the concentration of intrinsic defects, which is estimated to range from 0.09% to 0.6%. The pronounced variation of Hall mobility μ_H found for bulk holes is induced by the decrease of transport relaxation time from τ ≈ 7.7 fs for YbB_5.994 to τ ≈ 2.2 fs for YbB_5.96. An extra contribution to conductivity from electrons with μ_H≈ –1000 cm² V^–1 s^–1 and the very low concentration n /n_Yb≈ 10^–6 discovered below 20 K for all the single crystals under investigation is suggested to arise from the surface electron states appeared in the inversion layer due to the band bending. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Polyoxotungstate Archetype {P4W27} and its 3d Derivatives

The propensity of the new, phenylphosphonate-stabilized polyoxotungstate [(C₆H₅P^VO)₂P₄W₂₄O₉₂]¹⁶⁻ to act as a precursor for new 3d metal-functionalized polyanions has been investigated. Reactions with Mn^II and Cu^II induce the formation of the previously unknown polyoxotungstate archetype {P₄W₂₇}, isolated as salts of the polyanions [Na⊂{Mn^II(H₂O)}{WO(H₂O)}P₄W₂₆O₉₈]¹³⁻ ( 1 ) and [K⊂{Cu^II(H₂O)}{W(OH)(H₂O)}P₄W₂₇O₉₉]¹⁴⁻ ( 2 ), which were characterized in the solid state (single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental and TG analyses, IR spectroscopy, SQUID magnetometry) and in aqueous solution (UV/Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry).     

Frustrated Lewis Pairs Comprising Nitrogen Lewis Acids for Si–H Bond Activation

N-heterocyclic nitrogen Lewis acids are a recent addition to the field of organic chemistry. Based on nitrenium cations, these acids where previously shown to generate Lewis adducts when combined with the appropriate Lewis bases. Herein, a triazinium-based Lewis acid was combined with tBu₃P to generate a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) capable of cleaving, for the first time, Si−H bonds in silanes. Whereas low yields were initially encountered owing to insufficient Lewis acidity, a new nitrenium-based Lewis acid was synthesized, and its superior Lewis acidity was experimentally and computationally confirmed. A FLP based on this acid cleaved the Si−H bond in PhSiH₃, generating the triazane product in a quantitative yield. This unprecedented N−H triazane was fully characterized by multinuclear NMR techniques and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. A new class of compounds, N-H triazanes display the potential capacity to participate in hydride transfer reactions.     

Photolysis of 3-(1-acyl-5-aryl-3-pyrazolinyl)coumarins—Effective Fluorescence Decay

Photophysical characteristics of new 3-(1-acyl-5-aryl-3-pyrazolinyl)coumarins have been measured. These coumarin derivatives are found to be effective fluorophores and show high values of quantum yields of fluorescence both in nonpolar and in polar solvents. The 3-(1-acyl-5-aryl-3-pyrazolinyl)coumarins turned to be photosensitive compounds and undergo photolysis under irradiation in the range of 310–465 nm. Photolysis is suggested to include retro-cyclization and retro-condensation steps. The process is accompanied by a sharp drop of fluorescence that can be of interest for the creation of new media in optical recording of information.     

Stabilization of High‐Valence Ruthenium with Silicotungstate Ligands: Preparation,Structural Characterization,and Redox Studies of Ruthenium(III)‐Substituted α‐Keggin‐Type Silicotungstates with Pyridine Ligands, [SiW11O39RuIII(Py)]5−

Ruthenium(III)‐substituted α‐Keggin‐type silicotungstates with pyridine‐based ligands, [SiW₁₁O₃₉Ru^III(Py)]^5?, (Py: pyridine ( 1 ), 4‐pyridine‐carboxylic acid ( 2 ), 4,4′‐bipyridine ( 3 ), 4‐pyridine‐acetamide ( 4 ), and 4‐pyridine‐methanol ( 5 )) were prepared by reacting [SiW₁₁O₃₉Ru^III(H₂O)]^5? with the pyridine derivatives in water at 80 °C and then isolated as their hydrated cesium salts. These compounds were characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV/Vis, IR, and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, titration, and X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) analysis (Ru K‐edge and L₃‐edge). Single‐crystal X‐ray analysis of compounds 2 , 3 , and 4 revealed that Ru^III was incorporated in the α‐Keggin framework and was coordinated by pyridine derivatives through a Ru? N bond. In the solid state, compounds 2 and 3 formed a dimer through π? π interaction of the pyridine moieties, whereas they existed as monomers in solution. CV indicated that the incorporated Ru^III–Py was reversibly oxidized into the Ru^IV–Py derivative and reduced into the Ru^II–Py derivative.     

Acylation of novobiocin by carboxylic acid anhydrides: preparation and characterization of semi-synthetic novenamines

The acylation of novobiocin by carboxylic acid anhydrides leading to preparation of three families of semi-synthetic acylated novenamine analogues is reported. ESI-MS was used to monitor the reaction progress and enabled the isolation of intermediate compounds that provided insights into the sequence of acylation steps during the reaction. The chemoselectivity of the reaction depends on the carboxylic acid anhydride. The potential of the acylated novenamine analogues as leads for the development of antibacterial agents is discussed.