Boride-based nano-laminates with MAX-phase-like behaviour

MAX-phases being usually composed of transition metals, group A elements and carbon/nitrogen are considered interesting materials for many applications because of their tremendous bulk modulus, “reversible” plasticity, and machinability. This is mainly due to their unique kind of bonding comprising covalent, ionic as well as metallic bonds providing “easy” planes of rupture and deformability due to the layered crystal structures.In transition metal boride systems, similar types of bonding are available. In particular the W₂B₅-structure type and its stacking variations allow the synthesis of strongly layered crystal structures exhibiting unique delamination phenomena.The paper presents ab initio calculations showing the similarities of bonding between the ternary carbides and the corresponding ternary or quaternary borides. Formation of boride-based nano-laminates from auxiliary liquid phases, from the melt as well as during sintering and precipitation from supersaturated solid solutions will be discussed by means of SEM and TEM studies. The role of impurities weakening the interlayer bonding will be addressed in particular. The pronounced cleavage parallel to the basal plane gives rise for crack deflection and pull-out mechanisms if the laminates are dispersed in brittle matrices such as boron carbide, silicon carbide or other transition metal borides.     

Synthesis of functional Δ-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene and 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes via catalytic ring expansion reactions of a 2H-azaphosphirene complex

Catalytically-induced ring expansion of 2H-azaphosphirene complex 1 using ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate and acetone (2), diethylketone (3), cyclohexanone (4), benzaldehyde (5) or para-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (6) furnished selectively the Δ³-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene complexes 7-11, whereas with ortho- and para-hydroxy- or ortho- and para-amino-substituted benzonitriles the 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes 16-19 were obtained. Two further findings are noteworthy: (1) The significant decreased reaction time in the case of the sterically more demanding carbonyl derivatives 2-4 and (2) the formation of diastereomers in the case of 10 and 11 with a ratio of 8:1 and 9:1, respectively. All products were characterized by NMR, MS and elemental analysis and the configuration of complexes 7 and 10a were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis.     

Analysis of Toxic Aluminium Species in Natural Waters

Aluminium is known to be toxic to a wide range of aquatic organisms under certain conditions. Monomeric hydroxy ions have been found to be primarily responsible for aluminium aquatic toxicity.A survey of aluminium toxicity and a brief discussion of speciation schemes are presented. The fast reaction of Al³⁺ with pyrocatechol violet (PCV) followed by spectrophotometric analysis is a frequently used method for aluminium speciation. By using a flow system, one obtains fairly exact and reproducible control of the reaction time, and as a result it provides a direct method of analysis for free aluminium (including inorganic monomeric aluminium).The PCV-method has been adapted for the determination of aluminium in carbonate-rich natural waters using an improved buffering system. Thus it is possible to monitor aluminium concentrations in lake water as well as in pore water of the sediments of eutrophicated hardwater lakes that has been treated with aluminium salts as a restoration measure.     

Structure,Chemical Bonding,and Properties of Sc2Ni2In

Sc₂Ni₂In was prepared by a reaction of the elemental components in an are furnace and subsequent annealing at 1070 K. Sc₂Ni₂In is a Pauli paramagnet and a poor metallic conductor with a specific resistivity of 224 mΩcm at room temperature. Its crystal structure was refined from X-ray powder data: P4/mbm, a = 716.79(1) pm, c = 333.154(8) pm, Z = 2, R_wp = 0.040, and R_B(I) = 0.026. Sc₂Ni₂In crystallizes with a ternary ordered version of the U₃Si₂-type structure. The nickel and indium atoms occupy [NiSc₆] trigonal prisms and [InSc₈] square prisms, respectively. These structural fragments are derived from the AlB₂ and CsCl-type structures. Semi-empirical band structure calculations reveal Sc₂Ni₂In to be a nickelide, and the strongest bonding interactions are found for the Sc? Ni contacts, followed by Sc? In and Ni? In. A rigidband model suggests the existence of the isotypic phase Sc₂Ni₂Sb.     

Reaktionen von Uranpentabromid Die Kristallstrukturen von PPh4[UBr6], PPh4 [UBr6] · 2CCl4, (PPh4)2[UBr6] · 4CH3CN und (PPh4)2[UO2Br4] · 2CH2Cl2

Reactions of Uranium Pentabromide. Crystal Structures of PPh₄[UBr₆], PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄, (PPh₄)₂[UBr₆] · 4CH₃CN, and (PPh₄)₂[UO₂Br₄] · 2CH₂Cl₂ PPh₄[UBr₆] and PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄ were obtained from UBr₅ · CH₃CN and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide in dichloromethane, the latter being precipitated by CCl₄. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. PPh₄[UBr₆]: 2101 observed reflexions, R = 0.090, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 2315.5, b = 695.0, c = 1805.2 pm, β = 96.38°. PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄: 2973 reflexions, R = 0.074, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, a = 1111.5, b = 2114.2, c = 1718.7 pm, β = 95.42°. Hydrogen sulfide reduces uranium pentabromide to uranium tetrabromide. Upon evaporation, bromide is evolved from solutions of UBr₅ with 1 or more then 3 mol equivalents of acetonitrile in dichlormethane yielding UBr₄ · CH₃CN and UBr₄ · 3CH₃CN, respectively. These react with PPh₄Br in acetonitrile affording (PPh₄)₂[UBr₆] · 4CH₃CN, the crystal structure of which was determined: 2663 reflexions, R = 0.050, space group P2₁/c, Z = 2, a = 981.8, b = 2010.1, c = 1549.3 pm, β = 98.79°. By reduction of uranium pentabromide with tetraethylammonium hydrogen sulfide in dichloromethane (NEt₄)₂[U₂Br₁₀] was obtained; (PPh₄)₂[U₂Br₁₀] formed from UBr₄ and PPh₄Br in CH₂Cl₂. Both compounds are extremely sensitive towards moisture and oxygen. The crystal structure of the oxydation product of the latter compound, (PPh₄)₂[U0₂Br₄]· 2 CH₂Cl₂, was determined: 2163 reflexions, R = 0.083, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 2006.3, b = 1320.6, c = 2042,5 pm, β = 98.78°. Mean values for the UBr bond lengths in the octahedral anions are 266.2 pm for UBr₆-, 276.7 pm for UBr₆^2? and 282.5 pm for UO₂Br₄^2?     

Darstellung,Ramanspektren und Kristallstrukturen von V2O3(SO4)2, K[VO(SO4)2] und NH4[VO(SO4)2]

Preparation, Raman Spectra, and Crystal Structures of V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, K[VO(SO₄)₂], and NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] The oxo-sulfato-vanadates(V) V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, K[VO(SO₄)₂], and NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] have been prepared as crystals suitable for X-ray structure determination. In all structures sulfate acts as an unidentate ligand only toward a single vanadium atom. The structure of V₂O₃(SO₄)₂ consists of a threedimensional network of pairs of cornershared VO₆ octahedra with one terminal oxygen atom each, and SO₄ tetrahedra. All oxygen atoms of the sulfate ions are coordinated. NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] and K[VO(SO₄)₂] are isostructural. VO₆ octahedra with one terminal oxygen atom and pairs of sulfate tetrahedra form infinite chains by corner sharing. The chains are weakly interlinked to layers. The sulfate ions are distorted towards planar SO₃ molecules and single oxygen atoms attached to vanadium. This structural detail gives an explanation for the mechanism of the reversible reaction K[VO(SO₄)₂] ? K[VO₂(SO₄)] + SO₃ at 400°C. Raman spectra of the compounds have been recorded and interpreted with respect to their structures. Crystal data: V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, a = 947.2(4), b = 891.3(3), c? 989.1(4) pm, β = 104.56(3)°, Z = 4, 878 unique data, R(R_w) = 0.039(0,033); K[VO(SO₄)₂], orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 495.3(2), b = 869.6(9), c = 1 627(1)pm, Z = 4, 642 unique data, R(R_w) = 0,11(0,10); NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂], orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 495.3(1), b = 870.0(2), c = 1 676.7(4)pm, Z = 4, 768 unique data, R(R_w) = 0.088(0.083).     

Investigation of the Chemo- and Stereoselectivity of the Ketene-Claisen Rearrangement

A novel type of ketene-Claisen rearrangement in which the precursor of the rearrangement is generated in situ by reaction of optically active allyl thioethers with dichloroketene is described. A characteristic feature of this rearrangement is the excellent chemoselectivity in favor of allyl thioethers vs. allyl ethers, i.e., exclusive chirality transfer of the allylic sulfur moiety is observed with 12, 13 , and 25--27 . The cyclic, optically active allyl thioethers (+)-(R)- 4 and (?)-(S)- 4 and the open-chain allyl thioethers 11--13 rearrange with in situ generated dichloroketene to the optically active thioesters (?)-(S)- 28 , (+)-(R)- 28 , and 31-33 , respectively. A chirality-transfer of > 99% in the cyclic cases (+)-(R)- 4 and (?)-(S)- 4 , and 96--98 % in the open-chain cases 11--13 is observed. Furthermore, the dichloroketene-Claisen rearrangement is characterized by a high asymmetric 1,2-induction. The chiral allylic sulfides 25--27 give the optically active thioesters 36--38 with a 1,2-induction > 99% as determined by NMR-shift experiments.     

Surface-functionalized latex particles as controlling agents for the mineralization of zinc oxide in aqueous medium

Polystyrene latex particles modified at the surface with different hydrophilic functional groups were prepared by miniemulsion polymerization and used as controlling agents in the crystallization of zinc oxide from aqueous medium. The effects of the chemical nature of the surface functionalization and the latex concentration on the crystal growth, morphology, and crystalline structure of the resulting zinc oxide were analyzed. Micro- and submicrosized crystals with a broad variety of morphologies depending on the functionalization were obtained. Among the different latexes studied, the acrylic-acid-derived particles were shown to be a convenient system for further quantitative investigations. In this case, as the additive concentration increases, the length-to-width ratio (aspect ratio) of the crystals decreases systematically. Preferential adsorption of the latex particles onto the fast-growing faces {001} of ZnO is assumed to follow a Langmuir-type isotherm, and interaction of the adsorbed particles with the growth centers will reduce the growth rate in [001]. This leads to a quantitative relationship linking the aspect ratio to the latex concentration at constant diameter and surface chemistry of the latex. The dependence of the aspect ratio on charge density of the latex can also be modeled by an algorithm in which attractive forces between the latex particle and the ZnO surface are balanced against repulsive forces of an osmotic nature. The latter are associated with the confined volume between the crystal and latex particle surfaces.     

Transition metal-catalyzed intermolecular [5+2] and [5+2+1] cycloadditions of allenes and vinylcyclopropanes

Initial examples of the intermolecular Rh(I)-catalyzed [5+2] cycloaddition reaction of bifunctional allenes and vinylcyclopropanes are described. The reactions proceed with facility and in yields of up to 99% with a variety of alkyne-, ester-, styrene-, or cyano-substituents on the allene to afford the corresponding cycloadducts. In the presence of CO, the reaction proceeds to an eight-membered ring cycloadduct and its transannularly closed product, providing the first example of a three-component [5+2+1] cycloaddition with allenes.     

Wasserstoffbrücken in 1,1‐Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐benzoylthioharnstoff und seinen Nickel(II)‐ und Kupfer(II)‐Chelat‐Komplexen

Hydrogen Bonds in 1,1‐Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐benzoylthiourea and its Nickel(II)‐ and Copper(II)‐Chelate Complexes The ligand 1,1‐bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐3‐benzoylthiourea HL, ( 1 ), yields with nickel(II) and copper(II) ions neutral complexes [NiL₂], ( 2 ), and [CuL₂], ( 3 ). By X‐ray structure analysis and IR spectroscopy different intramolecular hydrogen bonds (OH…O) and (OH…N) could be identified in both equally coordinated ligands of the [NiL₂] molecule. For comparison X‐ray and IR data were also estimated for 1 and 3 .