Dispersion of the local parameters of quasilocalized low-frequency vibrational modes in a low-temperature glass: direct observation via single-molecule spectroscopy

Spectra of single tetra-tert-butylterrylene chromophore molecules embedded in an amorphous polyisobutylene matrix as microprobes were recorded. The individual temperature dependences of the spectral linewidths for the same single molecules (SMs) in a broad temperature interval (1.6 < T < 40 K) have been measured. This enabled us to separate the contributions of tunneling two-level systems and quasilocalized low-frequency vibrational modes (LFMs) to the observed linewidths. The analysis of the T dependences yields the values of LFM frequencies and SM-LFM coupling constants for the LFMs in the local environment of a given chromophore. Pronounced distributions of the observed parameters of LFMs were found. This result can be regarded as the first direct experimental proof of the localized nature of LFMs in glasses.     

Transition metal-catalyzed synthesis and reactivity of N-alkenyl aziridines

[reaction: see text] Straightforward methods for palladium-catalyzed alkenylation of aziridines with alkenyl halides and copper-catalyzed alkenylation of aziridines with alkenyl boronic acids have been developed. This methodology offers attractive alternatives to the known methods requiring activated alkenyl halides and acetylenes. A wide variety of N-alkenyl aziridines containing substituents other than electron-withdrawing substituents such as cyano groups and sulfones have been synthesized in good yields. Furthermore, these N-alkenyl aziridines exhibit quite a different reactivity from conventional enamines, as demonstrated by their reactivity.     

Efficient cross-coupling of functionalized arylzinc halides catalyzed by a nickel chloride-diethyl phosphite system

[reaction: see text] The combination of diethyl phosphite and DMAP as ligands for nickel in an 8:1 THF-N-ethylpyrrolidinone (NEP) mixture allows a very efficient cross-coupling reaction to be performed between various functionalized arylzinc halides and aryl bromides, triflates and activated chlorides. The reaction proceeds at 25 degrees C within 1-48 h and requires only 0.05 mol % of the nickel catalyst.     

Thermal analysis and kinetic study of Petro?ani bituminous coal from Romania in comparison with a sample of Ural bituminous coal

Solid fuels represent one of the most used sources of energy in many countries. In terms of ranking for the coal deposits, Romania occupies the 26th place in the world, and the 11th place in Europe, with reserves of 22 million tones of bituminous coal (BC) and 472 million tones of lignite. The National Bituminous Coal Company extracts the most significant amount of BC from the Jiu Valley area, a Subcharpatian basin in the Parang Mountains. In the present article, the BC extracted from the Livezeni depth mine next to Petro?ani city is investigated from the microstructural, thermal, and kinetic point of view, in comparison with a sample from Ural Mountains in Russia. Scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis (TG/DSC/DTA in air and inert atmosphere) measurements were performed. The KAS isoconversional kinetic method was applied for the in-depth understanding of thermal decompositions and burning processes that occur. Even if the thermal behavior of the two samples is generally similar, the non-isothermal kinetic study revealed important differences in the pathways of the oxidative decomposition of volatiles and formation of coke. Also, the kinetics of coke burning depends only on the amount of fix carbon, regardless of the provenience of BC.     

Novel luminescent liquid crystalline polyazomethines. Synthesis and study of thermotropic and photoluminescent properties

Novel semiflexible polyazomethines containing chromophoric units into azomethine mesogenic core have been synthesised by condensation of a flexible dialdehyde with mesogenic diamines containing fluorene, antraquinone, pyrimidine, azobenzene and benzophenone. The thermotropic behaviour of the resulting polyazomethines was assessed by differential scanning calorimetry, polarised light microscopy and investigations of the miscibility relations. While the pure polyazomethines showed a birefringent viscous texture difficult to be ascribed, by mixing with a liquid crystal dimer, clear Schlieren or marbled textures were observed, indicating a nematic mesophase. The polymers exhibited violet, blue or yellow light emission.