Novel Nanomaterials Based on Inorganic Molybdenum Octahedral Clusters

In this contribution, we present a review of our recent works about the design of phosphor nanoparticles and materials based on [Mo₆X₁₄]²⁻ cluster units (X = Cl, Br, I) as well as the functionalization of monocrystalline Si(111) surfaces by Mo₆ clusters. Our purpose was to use the specific properties of cluster units found in inorganic solids for the design of new nanomaterials with potential applications in nanotechnologies (e.g. phosphor dyes for bio labelling, light emitting diodes, redox active molecular junctions…) using soft chemistry techniques. Phosphor Cs₂Mo₆X₁₄@SiO₂ nanoparticles emitting in 550–900 nm upon photo-excitation were synthesised using a ‘water in oil’ microemulsion technique. They exhibit a regular shape (~45 nm) and are based on [Mo₆X₁₄]²⁻ cluster units and Cs⁺ counter cations embedded in a silica matrix. ((n–C₄H₉)₄N)₂Mo₆Br₁₄@ZnO colloids and nanopowders are based on the association of ZnO crystalline nano-particles with Mo₆ cluster units adsorbed on their surface. They exhibit a large emission window in the visible region that can be tuned by modulation of the excitation wave length in order to selectively obtain the emission of either clusters units or ZnO nanocrystals or of both entities. Functionalized surfaces were obtained by the attachment of cluster units on a Si(111) surface through pyridine end capped organic chains using a multi-step procedure. Modified surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), IR and electrochemical analysis. The surface coverage can be modulated by the controlled introduction of inert organic chains among pyridine end-capped ones before the cluster anchoring step.     

Stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction of α-haloenals

We have developed a high-yielding and stereoselective vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction (VMAR) of α-haloenals. Contrary to the simple α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, α-haloenals were found to be reactive affording the corresponding VMAR adducts in excellent yields. Some transformations of VMAR adducts by Pd-mediated cross-coupling were also examined in order to demonstrate the synthetic utility of VMAR of α-haloenals.     

Cage-shaped borate esters with tris(2-oxyphenyl)methane or -silane system frameworks bearing multiple tuning factors: geometric and substituent effects on their Lewis acid properties

Boron complexes that contain new tridentate ligands, tris(o‐oxyaryl)methanes and ‐silanes, were prepared. These complexes had a cage‐shaped structure around a boron center and showed higher Lewis acidity and catalytic activity than open‐shaped boron compounds. The cage‐shaped ligands determined the properties of the borates by altering the geometry and were consistently bound to the metal center by chelation. The synthesized compounds were L?B(OC₆H₄)₃CH, L?B(OC₆H₄)₃SiMe, and its derivatives (L=THF or pyridine as an external ligand). Theoretical calculations suggested that the cage‐shaped borates had a large dihedral angle (C_ipso‐O‐B‐O) compared with open‐shaped borates. The geometric effect due to the dihedral angle means that compared with open‐shaped, the cage‐shaped borates have a greater Lewis acidity. The introduction of electron‐withdrawing groups on the aryl moieties in the cage‐shaped framework increased the Lewis acidity. Substitution of a bridgehead Si for a bridgehead C decreased the Lewis acidity of the boron complexes because the large silicon atom reduces the dihedral angle of C_ipso‐O‐B‐O. The ligand‐exchange rates of the para‐fluoro‐substituted compound B(OC₆H₃F)₃CH and the ortho‐phenyl‐substituted compound B(OC₆H₃Ph)₃CH were less than that of the unsubstituted borate B(OC₆H₄)₃CH. The ligand‐exchange rate of B(OC₆H₄)₃SiMe was much faster than that of B(OC₆H₄)₃CH. A hetero Diels–Alder reaction and Mukaiyama‐type aldol reactions were more effectively catalyzed by cage‐shaped borates than by the open‐shaped borate B(OPh)₃ or by the strong Lewis acid BF₃?OEt₂. The cage‐shaped borates with the bulky substituents at the ortho‐positions selectively catalyzed the reaction with less sterically hindered substrates, while the unsubstituted borate showed no selectivity.     

Über die Phosphidierung des Nickels durch Phosphortrichlorid

On the Phosphidation of Nickel by Phosphorus Trichloride The phosphidation of nickel sheets by phosphorus trichloride vapor of 30 and 50 Torr has been studied kinetically by gravimetric means in the temperature range of 400–650°C in hydrogen atmosphere. The phosphidation proceeded generally according to the parabolic rate law. The parabolic rate constant increased with an increase of temperature, and its temperature dependence yielded the activation energies of about 33 and 47 kcal/mole for 400–550 and 550–650°C, respectively. X-ray and electron microprobe analyses showed that surfaces of the specimens phosphidized are made up of mixtures of Ni₂P and Ni₆P₅, and that at the phosphide/metal interface the compound Ni₂P is formed. The experiments using argon as carrier gas resulted in the formation of both the phosphides and the chlorides, and this fact could be explained in terms of thermodynamics.     

Sensitive o-toluidine reagent for glucose assay at moderately elevated temperatures

A reagent is developed for increasing the sensitivity of the direct o-toluidine procedure for glucose so that the reaction may be carried out at temperatures as low as 37 °C.The sensitivity is achieved by eliminating all water from the system, except for a minute percentage introduced with the samples and by using a high boric acid concentration. Under these conditions protein does not precipitate and lipids remain dissolved. At 55 °C, interference from bilirubin at a concentration of 20 mg/100 ml is 3.5%.Blood may be collected with sodium fluoride since it does not interfere in the procedure. The rate of color development is slower for aqueous standards than it is for serum at the lower temperatures. This may be corrected by preparing the standards in a 6% albumin solution.Results obtained by applying the reagent with the continuous flow system of analysis (Technicon), and with the discrete sample analyzers, Beckman DSA, Lars Jungberg Autolab (Sweden), Robot Chemist, and RaBA (Japan) are reported.The reagent is useful as a spray reagent for sugar identification on thin-layer chromatography plates. Heating at different temperatures permits the differentiation between certain sugars with similar R_f values.     

Molecular weight between entanglements for linear d-glucans

Dynamic viscoelasticity measurements were carried out for concentrated solutions of linear d-glucans in BmimCl to examine the effect of the linkage between repeating units of glucose on the rheological properties. The values of molecular weight between entanglements (M _e) were determined for four d-glucans: curdlan, pullulan, cellulose, and amylose. From the concentration dependence of M _e, the value of M _e in the molten state (M _e,melt) for each d-glucan was estimated as a material constant. The order of M _e,melt became cellulose?<?pullulan?<?curdlan?<?amylose, indicating that the linkage is actually influential in M _e,melt for the linear d-glucans. The relationship between M _e,melt and the molecular structure of the d-glucans were discussed assuming that the values of M _e,melt for the d-glucans primarily reflect the chain stiffness such as the characteristic ratio C _∞ on the analogy of synthetic polymers. Although the trend was not so clear, it was shown that N _unit is a decreasing function of C _∞ .     

Rate Coefficient for Self-Association Reaction of CF2 Radicals Determined in the Afterglowof Low-Pressure C4F8 Plasmas

We have analyzed decay kinetics of CF₂ radicals in the afterglow of low-pressure, high-density C₄F₈ plasmas. The decay curve of CF₂ density has been approximated by the combination of first- and second-order kinetics. The surface loss probability evaluated from the frequency of the first-order decay process has been on the order of 10^–4. This small surface loss probability has enabled us to observe the second-order decay process. The mechanism of the second-order decay is self-association reaction between CF₂ radicals (CF₂+CF₂C₂F₄). The rate coefficient for this reaction has been evaluated as (2.6–5.3)×10^–14 cm³/s under gas pressures of 2 to 100 mTorr. The rate coefficient was found to be almost independent of the gas pressure and has been in close agreement with known values, which are determined in high gas pressures above 1 Torr.