Photochemical thallimetric oxidations-estimation of formic acid

A simple, rapid and convenient redox method has been developed for the estimation of formic acid. Formic acid is photochemically oxidized with thallium(III) in the presence of bromide as catalyst, and the thallium(I) formed is determined by titration with potassium bromate. The procedure can also be used for the estimation of thallium(III) with formic acid as reductant.     

Kinetics of the 2,2′-bipyridyl catalyzed Cr(VI)?I? reaction

The kinetics of 2,2-bipyridyl catalyzed Cr(VI)–I^– reaction has been studied. The order with respect to Cr(VI) is one and fractional with respect to bipyridyl. The order in [I^–] changes from unity to zero. Plots of 1/k_obs vs. 1/[bipy] and 1/k_obs vs. 1/[I^–] are straight lines with positive slopes and intercepts.

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2,2-, Cr(VI)–I^–. Cr(VI) , -. [I^–] 1 0. 1/k_obs 1/[bipy] 1/k_obs 1/[I^–] .

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IICT Publication NO. 2586     

On [Fe4S4]2+ -(mu2-SR)-M II bridge formation in the synthesis of an A-cluster analogue of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetylcoenzyme A synthase

The construction of a synthetic analogue of the A-cluster of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetylcoenzyme synthase, the site of acetylcoenzyme A formation, requires as a final step the formation of an unsupported [Fe(4)S(4)]-(mu(2)-SR)-Ni(II) bridge to a preformed cluster. Our previous results (Rao, P. V.; Bhaduri, S.; Jiang, J.; Holm, R. H. Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 5833) and the work of others have addressed synthesis of dinuclear complexes relevant to the A-cluster. This investigation concentrates on reactions pertinent to bridge formation by examining systems containing dinuclear and mononuclear Ni(II) complexes and the 3:1 site-differentiated clusters [Fe(4)S(4)(LS(3))L'](2-) (L' = TfO(-) (14), SEt (15)). The system 14/[{Ni(L(O)-S(2)N(2))}M(SCH(2)CH(2)PPh(2))](+) results in cleavage of the dinuclear complex and formation of [{Ni(L(O)-S(2)N(2))}Fe(4)S(4)(LS(3))]- (18), in which the Ni(II) complex binds at the unique cluster site with formation of a Ni(mu(2)-SR)(2)Fe bridge rhomb. Cluster 18 and the related species [{Ni(phma)}Fe(4)S(4)(LS(3))](3)- (19) are obtainable by direct reaction of the corresponding cis-planar Ni(II)-S(2)N(2) complexes with 14. The mononuclear complexes [M(pdmt)(SEt)]- (M = Ni(II), Pd(II)) with 14 in acetonitrile or Me(2)SO solution react by thiolate transfer to give 15 and [M(2)(pdmt)(2)]. However, in dichloromethane the Ni(II) reaction product is interpreted as [{Ni(pdmt)(mu(2)-SEt)}Fe(4)S(4)(LS(3))](2-) (20). Reaction of Et(3)NH(+) and 15 affords the double cubane [{Fe(4)S(4)(LS(3))}(2)(mu(2)-SEt)](3-) (21). Cluster 18 contains two mutually supportive Fe-(mu(2)-SR)-Ni(II) bridges, 19 exhibits one strong and one weaker bridge, 20 has one unsupported bridge (inferred from the (1)H NMR spectrum), and 21 has one unsupported Fe-(mu(2)-SR)-Fe bridge. Bridges in 18, 19, and 21 were established by X-ray structures. This work demonstrates that a bridge of the type found in the enzyme A-clusters is achievable by synthesis and implies that more stable, unsupported single thiolate bridges may require reinforcement by an additional covalent linkage between the Fe(4)S(4) and nickel-containing components. (LS(3) = 1,3,5-tris((4,6-dimethyl-3-mercaptophenyl)thio)-2,4,6-tris(p-tolylthio)benzene(3-); L(O)-S(2)N(2) = N,N'-diethyl-3,7-diazanonane-1,9-dithiolate(2-); pdmt = pyridine-2,6-methanedithiolate(2-); phma = N,N'-1,2-phenylenebis(2-acetylthio)acetamidate(4-); TfO = triflate.).     

Thermal decomposition of titanyl oxalates IV. Strontium and calcium titanyl oxalates

Thermal decomposition of strontium titanyl oxalate tetrahydrate and calcium titanyl oxalate hexahydrate have been studied employing TG, DTA, gas and chemical analysis. The decompositions proceed through three major steps: dehydration, decomposition of the oxalate to a carbonate and the decomposition of the carbonate to yield the final products, the metatitanates. The intermediates of the oxalate decomposition are found to be Sr₂Ti₂O_4+x(CO₃)₂-x(CO₂)_x and Ca₂Ti₂O₄(CO₃)₂, respectively. The entrapment of carbon dioxide in the former and the presence of non-equivalent carbonate groups in the latter are substantiated by their i.r. spectra. The penultimate solid residues are poorly crystalline Sr₂Ti₂O₅CO₃ and amorphous Ca₂Ti₂O₅CO₃. Decompositions of these carbonates are accompanied by growth in particle size of the products, SrTiO₃ and CaTiO₃, respectively.     

Complexation of plutonium(IV) with sulfate at variable temperatures

The complexation of plutonium(IV) with sulfate at variable temperatures has been investigated by solvent extraction method. A NaBrO₃ solution was used as holding oxidant to maintain the plutonium(IV) oxidation state throughout the experiments. The distribution ratio of Pu(IV) between the organic and aqueous phases was found to decrease as the concentrations of sulfate were increased. Stability constants of the 1:1 and 1:2 Pu(IV)-HSO₄ ⁻ complexes, dominant in the aqueous phase, were calculated from the effect of [HSO₄ ⁻] on the distribution ratio. The enthalpy and entropy of complexation were calculated from the stability constants at different temperatures using the Van’t Hoff equation.     

A new interpretation of an event attributed to a magnetic monopole

An alternate and a new interpretation is given for the event attributed to a magnetic monopole by Price and coworkers found in an emulsion plastic sandwich stack flown from Sioux City, Iowa, USA on 18 September 1973. The electron pick-up and stripping cross-sections of nuclei ofZ∼70–80 andv∼0.6–0.7c in Lexan polycarbonate are calculated using the formulae given by Nikolaev. It is shown that the corresponding mean free paths are of the order of thickness (∼250μ) of Lexan plastic sheets used by them. In such a case asnapshot of these processes is believed to have been observed in plastic sheets. Monte-Carlo simulations of the event have been made for three values of charges at the top of the main Lexan stack, namelyZ=83, 78 and 70 respectively. The event is thus interpreted as a cosmic ray nucleus ofZ=70–83 andv=0.6–0.7c losing and capturing electrons (mainly the latter) as it passes through the stack. The probability of the occurrence of such an event is estimated by several methods.     

Radiation chemistry of tris(acetylacetonato) cobalt(iii) in aqueous solutions

Abstract

On radiolysis tris(acetylacetonato) cobalt(III) in aqueous solutions is found to get reduced by reaction with (1) hydrated electrons, (2) H atoms, (3) OH radicals and (4) C₂H₂OH radicals. The bimolecular rate constants for the first three reactions, determined by competition kinetics are: 4 × 10¹⁰, 2.3 × 10⁹ and 4.7 × 10⁹ M^?1sec^?1 respectively. Absorption spectra of the irradiated solutions indicate the formation of bis(acetylacetonato) cobalt(II) from reaction (1), but not from (3). The total cobaltous yield in air-free solutions is given byG(Co⁺⁺) = 5.6 and 6.5 at pH 6.5 and 1 respectively. It appears that G_eaq- ∽ _H ⁺ G_oH ∽ 2.8 in neutral solutions. Considerations of material balance for the primary yields of radiolysis of water suggest the possibility that the so-called independent H-atoms in neutral solutions are probably excited water molecules or ion-pairs.     

Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular optically active bisamides derived from amino acids

The synthesis and phase transitional behaviour of three pairs of enantiomeric supramolecular hexacatenar liquid crystals (LCs) derived from natural α-amino acids such as l/d-alanine, l/d-leucine and l/d-valine are described. Their preparation with high enantiomeric purity was accomplished by condensing optically active (amino acid residue containing) trialkoxy amines with a 3,4,5-trialkoxy cinnamic acid core using a peptide coupling reagent namely, 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-uronium hexafluorophosphate (HBTU). The mesomorphic behaviour of these self-complementing mesogens was ascertained by polarising optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. The compounds exhibit columnar (Col) phase over a wide thermal range. Particularly, a pair of enantiomers derived from l/d-leucine residues notably stabilize hexagonal Col (Col_h) phase over a wide temperature range of ?5 °C to 180 °C. Circular dichroism (CD) and FTIR studies suggest the chiral (helical) organization of mesogens within the columns through intermolecular hydrogen bonding; thus, these enantiomers represent one of the rarely reported examples of LCs exhibiting supramolecular Col_h phase at room temperature. The gelation studies reveal the ability of these bisamides to form stable supramolecular gels in ethanol caused through H-bonding interactions.