Syntheses, characterization, X-ray crystal structures and emission properties of five oxovanadium(V) complexes with pyridyl/pyrimidyl-pyrazole derived ditopic ligands

Four oxovanadium(V) complexes of heterocycle based ditopic ligands PyPzOAP (N-[amino(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]-5-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazonic acid), PyPzOAPz (N-[amino(pyrazin-2-yl)methylidene]-5-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazonic acid), PymPzOAP (N-[amino(pyridin-2-yl)methylidene]-1-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazonic acid) and PyPzCAP (5-methyl-1-(pyridin-2-yl)-N′-[1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide) and a binuclear (di-μ-oxo) oxovanadium(V) complex of the ligand PymPzCAP (1-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)-5-methyl-N′-[1-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylidene]-1H-pyrazole-3-carbohydrazide) have been investigated. The ligands act as uninegative NNO tridentates donors for the VO₂⁺ ion exhibiting their monotopicity. The ligands show varying emission properties due to the presence of fluophoric groups like 1-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole or 1-(2-pyrimidyl)pyrazole. The vanadium(V) complexes show fluorescence quenching with respect to the used ligands to a varying extent. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, cyclic voltammetry and X-ray crystallography.     

Electrochemical and oxygen reduction properties of pristine and nitrogen-doped few layered graphene nanoflakes (FLGs)

Vertically aligned few layered graphene (FLGs) nanoflakes were synthesized by microwave plasma deposition for various time durations ranging from 30 to 600 s to yield graphene films of varying morphology, microstructure and areal/edge density. Their intrinsic electrochemical properties were explored using Fe(CN)₆ ^3?/4? and Ru(NH₃)₆ ^3+/2+ redox species. All the FLG electrodes demonstrate fast electron transfer kinetics with near ideal ΔEp values of 60–65 mV. Using a relationship between electron transfer rate and edge plane density, an estimation of the edge plane density was carried out which revealed a moderation of edge plane density with increase in growth time. The pristine FLGs also possess excellent electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline solutions. This ORR activity can be further enhanced by exposing the pristine FLGs to nitrogen electron cyclotron resonance plasma. The metal free N-doped FLGs exhibit much higher electrocatalytic activity towards ORR than pristine FLGs with higher durability and selectivity than Pt-based catalysts. The excellent electrochemical performance of N-doped FLGs is explained in terms of enhanced edge plane exposure, high content of pyridinic nitrogen and an increase in the electronic density of states.     

Chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluororubber in an alkaline environment

The chemical degradation of an uncrosslinked pure fluoroelastomer (FKM; Viton A) in an alkaline environment (10% NaOH and 80 °C) was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that on a microscopic level, significant degradation substantially increased the surface roughness after prolonged exposure (e.g., 12 weeks). The molecular mechanisms of the chemical degradation processes at the surface were evaluated with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that the early degradation proceeded primarily via dehydrofluorination reactions, creating double bonds in the rubber backbone. This further accelerated the degradation after longer exposure times. Furthermore, the resulting double bonds underwent nucleophilic attack by an aqueous NaOH solution to form several oxygenated species. All these species ultimately recombined to form crosslinks, as evidenced by the increase in the gel fraction and surface hardness (Shore A). The pronounced effect of chemical degradation through a reduction in the thermal stability of the pure FKM rubber upon exposure was also evident from thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermogravimetry. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 6216–6229, 2004     

Linear and Hyperbranched Poly(arylene ether)s from a New Semifluorinated AB Monomer

A new trifluoromethyl-activated AB monomer has been successfully synthesized by Pd-initiated coupling of 4-bromo anisole with 4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethylphenylboronic acid followed by demethylation. The monomer leads to a semifluorinated poly(arylene ether) by nucleophilic displacement polymerization reaction. The AB monomer has been further copolymerized with a corresponding AB ₂ monomer to form the corresponding semifluorinated hyperbranched (hb) poly(arylene ether). The resulting linear and hb poly(arylene ether)s exhibited weight average molecular weight of 75700 and 144100 g/mol, respectively. The hb copolymer exhibited better solubility in different organic solvents compared to the linear poly(arylene ether). The polymers showed excellent thermal stability up to 522°C at 10% wt loss in air and glass transition temperatures as high as 187°C. The mechanical properties of the linear poly(arylene ether) film 1a exhibited tensile strength at break of 89 MPa, elongation at break of up to 3% and a Young’s modulus value of 2.66 GPa. The films of the polymers were hydrophobic in nature and showed water contact angle as high as 93.6°.     

Separation of 97Ru from niobium target using PEG based aqueous biphasic systems

Separation of no-carrier-added (NCA) ⁹⁷Ru from bulk niobium target has been carried out for the first time using green analytical technique, aqueous biphasic system. 50 % (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG)-4000, against 2 M solutions of various salts such as Na-citrate, Na-tartarate, Na-malonate, Na₂CO₃, NaHSO₃, Na₂SO₄, Na₂S₂O₃ K₂HPO₄, K₃PO₄, K₂CO₃ and 4 M KOH were employed at room temperature for the extraction of NCA ⁹⁷Ru from bulk niobium. Influence of molecular weight of PEG rich phase as well as pH of some salt rich phase (e.g., Na-tartarate) on the extraction behaviour of NCA ⁹⁷Ru into PEG rich phase was also observed. In the presence of sodium-tartarate salt solution, when volume of PEG-4000: Na-tartarate was 3:1, 91 % of NCA ⁹⁷Ru was extracted into the PEG rich phase without any contamination of niobium target. Dialysis of PEG rich phase containing NCA ⁹⁷Ru was carried out against deionised water to obtained pure NCA ⁹⁷Ru.     

Species dependent extraction of 99Mo

The liquid–liquid extraction profile of molybdenum has been studied with di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid from different HCl media. The careful study of extraction profile clearly indicates various species of molybdenum at different acid strengths, which have been interpreted with reference to established data.     

Production and separation of no-carrier-added <Superscript>208,209,210</Superscript>At produced from heavy ion activation on natural thallium target

No-carrier-added (nca) ^208,209,210At was produced for the first time from ⁹Be induced reaction on thallium carbonate target at BARC-TIFR pelletron, Mumbai, India. The target of 4 mg/cm² thickness was prepared by centrifugation technique. Nca At was separated from the thallium target by liquid–liquid extraction using liquid cation exchanger HDEHP dissolved in cyclohexane and liquor ammonia.     

Proton NMR studies of dihalogenated phenyl benzamides: two‐dimensional higher quantum methodologies

The scalar coupled proton NMR spectra of many organic molecules possessing more than one phenyl ring are generally complex due to degeneracy of transitions arising from the closely resonating protons, in addition to several short‐ and long‐range couplings experienced by each proton. Analogous situations are generally encountered in derivatives of halogenated benzanilides. Extraction of information from such spectra is challenging and demands the differentiation of spectrum pertaining to each phenyl ring and the simplification of their spectral complexity. The present study employs the blend of independent spin system filtering and the spin‐state selective detection of single quantum (SQ) transitions by the two‐dimensional multiple quantum (MQ) methodology in achieving this goal. The precise values of the scalar couplings of very small magnitudes have been derived by double quantum resolved experiments. The experiments also provide the relative signs of heteronuclear couplings. Studies on four isomers of dihalogenated benzanilides are reported in this work. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of photoelectrochemical corrosion of lead oxide in alkaline solution by the rotating ring-disk electrode technique

Photoelectrochemical corrosion of n-type α-PbO electrodes in aqueous Fe(CN)₆ ^3−/4− and I⁻/I₃ ⁻ electrolytes using the rotating ring-disk electrode technique has been investigated. The α-PbO thin film is found to be more stable in I⁻/I₃ ⁻ (48%) than in Fe(CN)₆ ^3−/4− electrolyte (10%). Preferential adsorption of iodide ions decreases the photocorrosion reaction of holes with α-PbO. Addition of CsI (0.4 mM) to the I⁻/I₃ ⁻ electrolyte decreases the photocorrosion from 48% to less than 10%. Cs⁺ ions perhaps nullify the effect of negatively charged surface states of α-PbO, thus minimizing the trapping of holes at the surface of α-PbO and hence decrease the possibility of photocorrosion of lead oxide with holes. Received: 30 June 1998 / Accepted: 20 April 1999     

Liquid-liquid extraction of 99Mo and 187W with trioctylamine

Molybdenum and tungsten can be separated from each other by extraction with trioctylamine in hydrochloric acid medium.