Comprehensive kinetic studies on isothermal and non-isothermal reactions of some aluminium compounds

Residual differences after model fitting were investigated in both isothermal and non-isothermal kinetics in order to make numerical comparisons between several models and various parameter-estimating methods. Data from two independent experimental series were evaluated. A large data set, collected earlier under isothermal conditions from decompositions and hydrothermal reactions of aluminium hydroxides and oxides, was processed first. It showed that mechanical activation of the starting gibbsite affected reactivity of samples in several subsequent reactions for all model equations tried. The relative residual deviation concept is introduced, and statistics were applied to find a model that fits a certain reaction in most of the cases. In the second study, the sulphate decomposition step of aluminium sulphate octadecahydrate was investigated. TG curves were measured using a constant heating rate. Dynamic models were fitted by three mathematical methods, including a new general purpose one. Fitting ability of the methods with various complexity were compared on the basis of residual deviations obtained after integration of the model equations. As well as evaluating the best fit, this new parameter-estimating method provides a statistical analysis of the reliability of the whole model fitting process.     

Structure of the acetone liquid-vapor interface as seen from Monte Carlo simulations

The orientational order of the molecules at the liquid-vapor interface of acetone has been investigated by computer simulation. To fully describe the orientational preferences of the acetone molecules, the bivariate joint distribution of two independent orientational parameters has been determined at different layers of the interface. The strength of the orientational ordering of the interfacial molecules has been found to be liquid-like rather than crystal-like. The obtained results have revealed that the interfacial acetone molecules have dual orientational preferences. The main symmetry axis of the molecules declines by about 50-70 degrees from the interface normal axis, pointing toward the liquid phase in both of the preferred orientations. However, the plane of the molecules in the orientation preferred on the liquid side of the interface is perpendicular to the interfacial plane, whereas the other preferred orientation, which is present on the vapor side of the interface, corresponds to the alignment obtained from this orientation by an almost 90 degrees rotation around the main symmetry axis. Because the population of the liquid side is higher than that of the vapor side of the interface, the first of the two preferred orientations is the dominant alignment over the entire interface, in good agreement with recent experimental findings (Chen, H.; Gan, W.; Wu, B. H.; Wu, D.; Zhang, Z.; Wang, H. F. Chem. Phys. Lett. 2005, 408, 284).     

Chiral induction in self-assembled helicates: CHIRAGEN type ligands with ferrocene bridging units

The aim of this work was the preparation of enantiomerically pure bis(pinene-bipyridine) ligands containing the ferrocenyl moiety. Several such ligands (1-3) were synthesized and completely characterized. These molecules can be diastereoselectively deprotonated at the acidic methylene group of the pinene moiety using a strong and sterically hindered base such as LDA. Subsequent reaction of the formed anion with alkyl halides yield the family of C(2)-symmetric enantiopure compounds (1a-c). Copper(I), silver(I), or zinc(II) complexes with several ligands (C1-C8) were prepared and structurally characterized in the solid state and in solution. Self-assembled helical species are formed in several cases. It became evident that the chiral groups present in the ligand do not completely determined the helical configuration of the assemblages. Diastereoselectivity is thus not complete with this type of ligands, contrary to other, similar ligands studied before.     

Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes with a particularly bulky phosphine ligand. Unusual synthesis and crystal structure characterizations

Summary The addition of NPm (diphenylaminodiphenylphosphinomethane) to CuI or the addition of KI to (NPm)₂CuNO₃ leads to the same P-bonded Cu^I complex, (NPm)₂CuI, presenting a trigonal geometry around the Cu atom. The reaction of this new complex (or of its chloro analogue) with a Cu^II salt yields dinuclear species of general formula [(NPm)Cu(-X)₂Cu(NPm)] (X = Cl or I). X-ray analysis of these complexes show that they are isostructural and retain the trigonal geometry around the metal atom. The Cu···Cu distances are 2.775(1)Å for X = Cl and 2.642(1) Å for X = I. The Cu-(-X)-Cu angle is more acute for the iodide [61.48(3)°] than for the chloride [74.17(8)°] complex. These values are discussed in terms of Cu···Cu interactions induced by the electron donor ability of X and the bulk of the phosphine L.     

Structural refinement of Nd[Fe(CN)6]·4H2O and study of NdFeO3 obtained by its oxidative thermal decomposition at very low temperatures

The crystal structure of Nd[Fe(CN)₆]·4H₂O has been refined by Rietveld analysis using high resolution synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. It belonged to the orthorhombic crystal system, Cmcm space group, with cell parameters: , and . The change in space group from P6₃/m which is observed in the pentahydrates (LnFe(CN)₆·5H₂O) to Cmcm in the tetrahydrates has been analyzed to be a consequence of the change in 9-fold coordination of Nd³⁺ in the pentahydrates to 8-fold coordination in the tetrahydrates, which changes the Nd³⁺ environment from tricapped trigonal prism to a distorted tricapped trigonal prism or square antiprism. Its decomposition process in air to produce NdFeO₃ has been followed by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy and laboratory powder XRD. We found that it is possible to synthesize crystalline NdFeO₃ at temperatures as low as 380 °C and refine the structure of single phase crystalline NdFeO₃ synthesized by this method at 600 °C.     

Effects of UV-B radiation on the Patagonian Jaborosa magellanica Brisben

Treatment of Jaborosa magellanica with artificial UV-B radiation caused changes in plant growth, plant chemistry and increase DNA polymorphisms. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that UV-B radiation decreases the chlorophylls content, and increases the amount of UV-B absorbing compounds (e.g., phenylpropanoids). Other UV-induced alterations include reduction in leaf area, alterations in plant architecture, and DNA damage. Using random primers and PCR amplification procedure, a high degree of polymorphism was detected when treated plants were compared to non-irradiated plants. These biochemical changes may be interpreted as plant response to UV-B radiation stress and as an indicator of DNA damage.     

Dialkyl formyl-1 methylphosphonates α-fonctionnels—II : Preparation par voie thermique et transformation en heterocycles α-phosphoniques

The thermal condensation of functional phosphonates bearing strongly withdrawing groups (RO)₂P(O)CH₂Z1 with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal gives corresponding β-functional, β-phosphonic enamines (RO)₂P(O)C(Z)=CHNMe₂2. Acid or basic hydrolysis of the enamines frequently gives the free aldehyde (RO)₂P(O)CH(Z)—CHO 3. We show that the enamines can be used with success for the synthesis of heterocycles like, pyrazoles 4, pyrimidines 5, benzodiazepine 6 or indole 7, all of them substituted with a phosphonate group.     

Analysis of green copper pigments in illuminated manuscripts by micro-Raman spectroscopy

In the majority of the literature describing green coloured materials used on ancient painting layers (15th or 16th century), two copper greens are mainly cited: malachite [CuCOr3 x Cu(OH)2] and verdigris [Cu(CH3COO)2 x [Cu(OH)2]3 x 2H2O]. It is shown, by micro-Raman spectroscopy, that the artists were actually employing more than these two copper greens, in particular various copper sulfates, among which the most common pigment found is posnjakite [CuSO4 x 3Cu(OH)2 x H2O]. In contrast to the PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) technique, Raman spectroscopy is a technique of choice, able to distinguish not only a copper sulfate from a carbonate or acetate but also the different sulfates themselves; in this respect, we found that the high wavenumber region (2800-4000 cm(-1)), characteristic of H2O vibrations, is of particular interest. It is also shown that numerous green areas were created with mixtures of a copper sulfate mixed with other pigments, for instance to enhance the colour depth. Finally, in some cases, no green pigment is actually employed but the colour is obtained by intimately mixing yellow and blue pigments. All these results led to a new look at the pigments which were in use on the palettes of the ancient artists.     

Efficient nickel-mediated intramolecular amination of aryl chlorides

The use of an in situ generated Ni(0) catalyst associated with 2,2'-bipyridine or N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIPr) as a ligand and NaO-t-Bu as the base for the intramolecular coupling of aryl chlorides with amines is described. The procedure has been applied to the formation of five-, six-, and seven-membered rings. [reaction: see text]     

Vibrational spectra and infrared dichroism of tetraphenyl-silane,Ph4Si. II.

Vibrational spectra of Ph₄Si have been studied from 600 to 20 cm^?1 in solution, in the melt and in the crystalline state. The assignments proposed for the substituent sensitive benzene ring vibrations, for the skeletal bending modes and ring librations have been supported by polarized IR and Raman measurements. The crystal spectra are interpreted on the basis of the S₄ site symmetry of the molecules in the crystal. Two skeletal bending and four ring librational modes are supposed to appear below 120 cm^?1, in the range of the lattice vibrations.