Chemically selective polymer substrate based direct isotope dilution alpha spectrometry of Pu

Quantification of actinides in the complex environmental, biological, process and waste streams samples requires multiple steps like selective preconcentration and matrix elimination, solid source preparations generally by evaporation or electrodeposition, and finally alpha spectrometry. To minimize the sample manipulation steps, a membrane based isotope dilution alpha spectrometry method was developed for the determination of plutonium concentrations in the complex aqueous solutions. The advantages of this method are that it is Pu(IV) selective at 3 M HNO₃, high preconcentration factor can be achieved, and obviates the need of solid source preparation. For this, a thin phosphate-sulfate bifunctional polymer layer was anchored on the surface of microporous poly(ethersulfone) membrane by UV induced surface grafting. The thickness of the bifunctional layer on one surface of the poly(ethersulfone) membrane was optimized. The thickness, physical and chemical structures of the bifunctional layer were studied by secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and SEM-EDS (energy-dispersive spectroscopy). The optimized membrane was used for preconcentration of Pu(IV) from aqueous solutions having 3-4 M HNO₃, followed by direct quantification of the preconcentrated Pu(IV) by isotope dilution alpha spectrometry using ²³⁸Pu spike. The chemical recovery efficiency of Pu(IV) was found to be 86 ± 3% below Pu(IV) loading capacity (1.08 μg in 2 × 1 cm²) of the membrane sample. The experiments with single representative actinides indicated that Am(III) did not sorb to significant extent (7%) but U(VI) sorbed with 78 ± 3% efficiency from the solutions having 3 M HNO₃ concentration. However, Pu(IV) chemical recovery in the membrane remained unaffected from the solution containing 1:1000 wt. proportion of Pu(IV) to U(VI). Pu concentrations in the (U, Pu)C samples and in the irradiated fuel dissolver solutions were determined. The results thus obtained were found to be in good agreement with those obtained by conventional alpha spectrometry, biamperometry and thermal ionization mass spectrometry.     

Dielectric relaxation and phonon modes of NdCrO3 nanostructure

The neodymium chromate nanoparticles are synthesized by the sol–gel process. The phase formation with Pnma symmetry of the sample is confirmed by the Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data. The particle size of the sample is determined by transmission electron microscopy. The band gap of the material is found to be 1.78 eV which is obtained by Tauc relation to UV-absorption spectrum. The room temperature Raman spectrum is fitted with the sum of 22 Lorentzian peaks. Dielectric relaxation of the sample has been investigated in the frequency range from 42 Hz to 1.1 MHz and in the temperature range from 303 to 573 K. The Cole–Cole model is used to explain the dielectric relaxation mechanism of the material. The complex impedance plane plot confirms the existence of the grain-boundary contribution to the relaxation of the sample. The frequency-dependent conductivity spectra follow the power law.     

Control of Regioselectivity over Gold Nanocrystals of Different Surfaces for the Synthesis of 1,4‐Disubstituted Triazole through the Click Reaction

Gold nanocubes, octahedra, and rhombic dodecahedra were examined for facet‐dependent catalytic activity in the formation of triazoles. Rhombic dodecahedra gave 100 % regioselective 1,4‐triazoles. The product yield was increased by decreasing the particle size. However, a mixture of 1,4‐ and 1,5‐triazoles was obtained in lower yields when cubes and octahedra of similar sizes were used. The lowest Au‐atom density on the {110} surface and largest unsaturated coordination number of surface Au atoms may explain their best catalytic efficiency and product regioselectivity. Various spectroscopic techniques were employed to verify the formation of the Au–acetylide intermediate and establish the reaction mechanism, in which phenylacetylene binds to the Au {110} surface through the terminal‐binding mode to result in the exclusive formation of 1,4‐triazoles. The smallest rhombic dodecahedra can give diverse 1,4‐disubstituted triazoles in good yields by coupling a wide variety of alkynes and organic halides.     

Attaining control by design over the hydrolytic stability of Fe-TAML oxidation catalysts

The iron(III) complexes of tetra amidato macrocyclic ligands (TAMLs) ([Fe{1-X1-2-X2C6H2-4,5-(NCOCMe2NCO)2CR2}(OH2)]- , 1: X1 = X2 = H, R2 = Me2 (a), R2 = (CH2)2 (b); X1 = X2 = Cl, R2 = F2 (c), etc.), which the proton is known to demetalate at pH < 3, are also subject to catalyzed demetalation by Br?nsted acid buffer components at pH 4-9 such as H2PO4-, HSO3-, and CH3CO2H, HO2CCH2CO2-. Buffers based on pyridine (py) and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) are catalytically inactive. Where reactions proceed, the products are demetalated TAMLs and iron species of variable composition. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for the demetalation (kobs) are linear functions of the acid concentrations, and the effective second-order rate constants k1,eff have a hyperbolic dependence on [H+] (k1,eff = a1[H+]/(b1+[H+]). The rate of demetalation of 1a in H2PO4-/HPO42- buffer is appreciable, but the kobs values for 1b and 1c are immeasurably low, showing that the rates are strongly affected by the CR2 or "tail" fragments, which are known to potently affect the TAML basicity. The reactivities of 1 depend insignificantly on the aromatic ring or "head" group of 1. The proposed mechanism involves precoordination of the acidic buffer species followed by hydrolysis. The demetalating abilities of buffer species depend on their structures and acidities. Thus, although pyridine-2-carboxylic (picolinic) acid catalyzes the demetalation, its 3- and 4-isomers (nicotinic and isonicotininc acids) are inactive. The difference is rationalized to result from the ability that only coordinated picolinic acid has to deliver a proton to an amidato nitrogen in an intramolecular manner. The reaction order in picolinic acid equals one for 1a and two for 1b. For 1b, "inactive" pyridine and nicotinic acid speed up the demetalation in the presence of picolinic acid, suggesting that the second order arises from the axial binding of two pyridine molecules, one of which must be picolinic acid. The binding of pyridine- and imidazole-type ligands was confirmed by UV/vis equilibrium measurements and X-ray crystallography. The implications of these mechanistic findings for designing superior Fe-TAML oxidation catalysts and catalyst formulations are discussed using the results of DFT calculations.     

Binuclear copper(II) complexes with N4O3 coordinating heptadentate ligand: synthesis, structure, magnetic properties, density-functional theory study, and catecholase activity

The N4O3 coordinating heptadentate ligand afforded binuclear complex [Cu 2(H 2L)(mu-OH)](ClO4)2 (1) and [Cu2(L)(H2O)2]PF6 (2). In complex 1, two copper ions are held together by mu-phenoxo and mu-hydroxo bridges, whereas in complex 2, the copper centers are connected only by a mu-phenoxo bridge. In 1, both the Cu(II) centers have square pyramidal geometry (tau=0.01-0.205), whereas in the case of 2, one Cu(II) center has square pyramidal (tau=0.2517) and other one has square based pyramidal distorted trigonal bipyramidal (tau=0.54) geometry. Complexes 1 and 2 show an strong intramolecular and very weak antiferromagnetic interaction, respectively. Density-functional theory calculations were performed to establish the magneto structural correlation between the two paramagnetic copper(II) centers. Both of the complexes display a couple of one-electron reductive responses near -0.80 and -1.10 V. The complexes show significant catalytic activity at pH 8.5 on the oxidation of 3,5-di- tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di- tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ), and the activity measured in terms of kcat=29-37 h(-1).     

Cyclopentadienyl Complexes of the Alkaline Earths in Light of the Periodic Trends

The electron-rich cyclopentadienyl and the analogous indenyl and fluorenyl ligands (collectively denoted here as Cp’) have been impactful in stabilizing electron-deficient metal centers including the highly electropositive alkaline earths. Being in the s-block, the group 2 metals follow a major periodic variation in their atomic and ionic properties which is reflected in those Cp’ compounds. This article presents an overview of this class of compounds for all the five metals from beryllium to barium (radium is excluded for its radioactivity), highlighting their systematic variation.     

Y(OTf)3 catalyzed substitution dependent oxidative C(sp)–C(sp) cleavage and regioselective dehydration of β-allyl-β-hydroxydithioesters: alternate route to α,β-unsaturated ketones and functionalized dienes

β-Allyl-β-hydroxydithioesters have been generated by the regioselective Grignard addition to the β-oxodithioesters. They have been successfully employed in selective C(sp³)–C(sp³) bond cleavage to construct α,β-unsaturated ketone residues by the treatment of an emerging catalyst yttrium(III)triflate for the first time. On the other hand, hetaryl substituted β-allyl-β-hydroxydithioesters led to the useful diene precursors through selective dehydration under the similar conditions.     

Bromenium‐Catalysed Tandem Ring Opening/Cyclisation of Vinylcyclopropanes and Vinylcyclobutanes: A Metal‐Free [3+2+1]/[4+2+1] Cascade for the Synthesis of Chiral Amidines and Computational Investigation

We present a detailed study of a [3+2+1] cascade cyclisation of vinylcyclopropanes (VCP) catalysed by a bromenium species (Br^δ+? X^δ?) generated in situ, which results in the synthesis of chiral bicyclic amidines in a tandem one‐pot operation. The formation of amidines involves the ring‐opening of VCPs with Br? X, followed by a Ritter‐type reaction with chloramine‐T and a tandem cyclisation. The reaction has been further extended to vinylcyclobutane systems and involves a [4+2+1] cascade cyclisation with the same reagents. The versatility of the methodology has been demonstrated by careful choice of VCPs and VCBs to yield bicyclo[4.3.0]‐, ‐[4.3.1]‐ and ‐[4.4.0]amidines in enantiomerically pure form. On the basis of the experimental observations and DFT calculations, a reasonable mechanism has been put forth to account for the formation of the products and the observed stereoselectivity. We propose the existence of a π‐stabilised homoallylic carbocation at the cyclopropane carbon as the reason for high stereoselectivity. DFT studies at B3LYP/6‐311+G** and M06‐2X/6‐31+G* levels of theory in gas‐phase calculations suggest the ring‐opening of VCP is initiated at the π‐complex stage (between the double bond and Br? X). This can be clearly perceived from the solution‐phase (acetonitrile) calculations using the polarisable continuum model (PCM) solvation model, from which the extent of the ring opening of VCP was found to be noticeably high. Studies also show that the formation of zero‐bridge bicyclic amidines is favoured over other bridged bicyclic amidines. The energetics of competing reaction pathways is compared to explain the product selectivity.     

Modeling nonaqueous proton wires built from helical peptides: biased proton transfer driven by helical dipoles

We report gas-phase electronic structure calculations on helical peptides that act as scaffolds for imidazole-based hydrogen-bonding networks (proton wires). We have modeled various 21-residue polyalanine peptides substituted at regular intervals with histidines (imidazole-bearing amino acids), using a hybrid approach with a semiempirical method (AM1) for peptide scaffolds and density functional theory (B3LYP) for proton wires. We have computed energy landscapes including barriers for Grotthuss-shuttling-type proton motions though wires supported on 3(10)-, α- and π-helical structures, showing the 3(10)- and α-helices to be attractive targets in terms of high proton affinities, low Grotthuss shuttling barriers, and high stabilities. Moreover, bias forces provided by the helical dipole moments were found to promote unidirectional proton translocation.