Structural studies of some body-centered cubic phases of mixed oxides involving Bi2O3: The structures of Bi25FeO40 and Bi38ZnO60

The structures of the compounds initially reported to be 7·Bi₂O₃·ZnO and 96·Bi₂O₃·4Fe₂O₃, have been determined by X ray methods. Three dimensional, absorption corrected diffractometer data were used and atomic parameters were refined by least-squares procedures. The structures are isomorphous, cubic witha = 10.194(3)and10.179(3)A?, respectively, and space group I23. Each Bi³⁺ ion is surrounded by five oxygen atoms that form an incomplete octahedral arrangement with BiO distances ranging from 2.07–2.60A?. The6s²inert electron pair completes the octahedron. The Bi³⁺ ions are vibrating anisotropically. Tetrahedral sites in the structures contain 61 and 46 electrons, respectively. These values are consistent with a statistical distribution of Zn²⁺ and Bi⁵⁺ ions or Fe³⁺ and Bi⁵⁺ ions on these sites. Molar ratios are derived that agree with the observed distributions of electron density and give rise to perfectly stoichiometric systems, devoid of cationic or anionic vacancies. The compositions studied correspond to Bi³⁺₂₄Bi⁵⁺Fe³⁺O₄₀ and Bi³⁺₃₆Bi⁵⁺₂ZnO₆₀ and they are optical enantiomorphs.It is proposed that a reduction in the percentage composition of Bi₂O₅ leads to metastable phases, in which all atomic positions remain fully occupied but some tetrahedral sites contain Bi³⁺ ions. The end product of the series is γ-Bi₂O₃ in which 50% of these sites contain Bi³⁺ and the remainder Bi⁵⁺ ions. We believe that γ-Bi₂O₃ is Bi³⁺₂₅Bi⁵⁺O₄₀.     

The Mitsunobu Reaction: Origin,Mechanism, Improvements,and Applications

The Mitsunobu reaction is a widely used and versatile method for the dehydrative oxidation–reduction condensation of an acid/pronucleophile usually with a primary or secondary alcohol that requires the combination of a reducing phosphine reagent together with an oxidizing azo reagent. The utility of this reaction stems from the fact that it is generally highly stereoselective and occurs with inversion of the stereochemical configuration of the alcohol starting material. Furthermore, as carboxylic acids, phenols, imides, sulfonamides, and other compounds can be used as the acid/pronucleophile, this reaction is useful for the preparation of a wide variety of functional groups. This Focus Review of the Mitsunobu reaction summarizes its origins, the current understanding of its mechanism, and recent improvements and applications.     

Characterization of plutonium contamination at the former nuclear weapons testing range,at Maralinga in South Australia

Re-suspension studies on soils contaminated with plutonium during nuclear weapons tests were performed by use of a mechanical dust-raising apparatus. Airborne dust was analyzed in terms of mass and²⁴¹Am activities for particle sizes less than 7 m. The AMAD was determined as 4.8 to 6 m, for re-suspended soil. Also, surface soil was characterized in the laboratory by means of sieving and microparticle classification, yielding mass and²⁴¹Am activity distributions with respect to size. Data indicate the granularity of plutonium contamination at both major and minor trial sites. Depth profile analyses for undisturbed, areas demonstrate that most (74% on average) of the americium and plutonium activity is found in the top 10 mm of soil. Plutonium and americium activities were found to be enhanced in the inhalable fraction over their values, in the total soil, and the enhancement factors were similar in re-suspended dust and surface soil. Observed enhancement factors ranged from 3.7 to 32.5.     

Coordination properties of a diarylaza crown ether appended with a luminescent [Ru(bipy)3]2+ unit

The [Ru(bipy)(2)(1)](PF(6))(2) (bipy refers to 2,2'-bipyridine) complex, comprising a ruthenium(II) tris(2,2'-bipyridine) luminophore covalently linked to a di[(o-triethyleneglycoxy)phenyl]amine crown ether 1, has been synthesized and fully characterized. The photophysical properties of this metal complex have been examined in solution at ambient temperature. Luminescence from the metal complex is enhanced significantly in the presence of various adventitious cations, including protons. In particular, Li(+) cations bind to the crown ether, as evidenced by (1)H NMR and luminescence spectroscopy. Cation binding serves to decrease the rate of reductive quenching of the triplet state of the metal complex, thereby increasing the extent of luminescence. The solution-phase conformation of [Ru(bipy)(2)(1)](PF(6))(2), with and without encapsulated Li(+), has been examined by 2-D NMR and by molecular dynamics simulations.     

Vibrational spectroscopy of 3,4-difluorocyclobutenes: cis-d0, trans-d0 and trans-d4 species

Infrared and Raman spectra were recorded for cis-3,4-difluorocyclobutene (cDFCB) and trans-3,4-difluorocyclobutene-d4. Unscaled density functional theory (DFT) calculations of frequencies and intensities at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level supported the complete assignment of the vibrational fundamentals. The previous assignment of fundamentals of trans-3,4-difluorocyclobutene was revised. An unusual blue shift occurs for the methylenic CH-stretching frequencies of cis-3,4-difluorocyclobutene in going from the gas phase to the liquid phase. This hydrogen bond effect is related to similar observations recently reported and interpreted. The blue shift does not occur for the vinylic CH bonds of the cis isomer and does not occur for either type of CH bond in the trans isomer.     

Utilization of the hydroxyalkylation reaction to prepare bis(benzocrown ethers)

The hydroxyalkylation reaction has been used to condense benzocrown ethers with various aldehydes and ketones. The condensation reactions are catalyzed by triflic or sulfuric acid. The products from the reactions are bis(benzocrown ethers) and they are formed in good yields (42-98%, 13 examples).     

Enantioselective synthesis of C2-functionalized, N-protected morpholines and orthogonally N,N'-protected piperazines via organocatalysis

In this Letter, we describe a novel three-step, one-pot procedure for the enantioselective synthesis of N-benzyl protected morpholines and orthogonally N,N'-protected piperazines with chiral alkyl groups installed at the C2 position of each heterocyclic core via organocatalysis. This methodology allows for the rapid preparation of functionalized morpholines and piperazines that are not readily accessible through any other chemistry in good to excellent % ee (55-98% ee).     

What is the Rees algebra of a module?

In this paper we show that the Rees algebra can be made into a functor on modules over a ring in a way that extends its classical definition for ideals. The Rees algebra of a module may be computed in terms of a ``maximal' map from to a free module as the image of the map induced by on symmetric algebras. We show that the analytic spread and reductions of can be determined from any embedding of into a free module, and in characteristic 0--but not in positive characteristic!--the Rees algebra itself can be computed from any such embedding.

     

Unitarily Inequivalent Representations in Algebraic Quantum Theory

It has been maintained that the physical content of a model of a system is completely contained in the C∗-algebra of quasi-local observables that is associated with the system. The reason given for this is that the unitarily inequivalent representations of are physically equivalent. But, this view is dubious for at least two reasons. First, it is not clear why the physical content does not extend to the elements of the von Neumann algebras that are generated by representations of . It is shown here that although the unitarily inequivalent representations of are physically equivalent, the extended representations are not. Second, this view detracts from special global features of physical systems such as temperature and chemical potential by effectively relegating them to the status of fixed parameters. It is desirable to characterize such observables theoretically as elements of the algebra that is associated with a system rather than as parameters, and thereby give a uniform treatment to all observables. This can be accomplished by going to larger algebras. One such algebra is the universal enveloping von Neumann algebra, which is generated by the universal representation of ; another is the direct integral of factor representations that are associated with the set of values of the global features. Placing interpretive significance on the von Neumann algebras mentioned earlier sheds light on the significance of unitarily inequivalent representations of , and it serves to show the limitations of the notion of physical equivalence.