Incomplete idempotent Schröder quasigroups and related packing designs

Summary In this paper it is proved that, for any positive integern 2, 3 (mod 4),n 7, there exists an incomplete idempotent Schröder quasigroup with one hole of size two IISQ(n, 2) except forn = 10. It is also proved that for any positive integern 0, 1 (mod 4), there exists an idempotent Schröder quasigroup ISQ(n) except forn = 5 and 9. These results completely determine the spectrum of ISQ(n) and provide an application to the packing of a class of edge-coloured block designs.Research supported by NSERC grant A-5320.Research supported by NSFC grant 19231060-2.     

Novel Rearrangements of 2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanol Derivatives: Formation of Dialkyl Sulfide, Dialkyl Disulfide, and 1,2,3-Tris(alkylthio)propane

The base alkylation of 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol with alkyl halides leads in good yield to 2,3-bis(alkylthio)-1-propanol and dialkyl sulfide. The reaction of 2,3-bis(alkylthio)-1-propanol with catalytic concentrated sulfuric acid proceeds with rearrangement to give 1,2,3-tris(alkylthio)propane and dialkyl disulfide. The rearrangement reaction takes place through a common intermediate thiaranium intermediate 8.     

A solvothermal synthesis and the structure of K4Ag2Sn3S9 x 2KOH

A novel layered K(4)Ag(2)Sn(3)S(9) x 2KOH was synthesized solvothermally. A mixture of ethanol and HSCH(2)CH(SH)CH(2)OH was used for the synthesis. The HSCH(2)CH(SH)CH(2)OH plays an important role and appears to serve as a mineralizer for the solvothermal reaction. A layer comprises Sn(3)S(9)(6)(-) clusters linked by Ag(+) ions and possesses two types of 1D channels in which potassium ions are located. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1)/m space group [a = 7.8071(2) A, b = 27.3508(1) A, c = 10.5008(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 103.874(1) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, Z = 4]. Its crystal structure, composition analysis, and IR are presented.     

Sol-gel derived carbon ceramic electrode containing methylene blue-intercalated α-zirconium phosphate micro particles

Methylene blue-intercalated alpha-zirconium phosphate (MBZrP) micro particles in deionized water were deposited onto the surface of graphite powder to prepare graphite powder-supported MBZrP, which was subsequently dispersed into methyltrimethoxysilane-derived gels to yield a conductive composite. The composite was used as electrode material to fabricate a surface-renewable, rigid, leak-free carbon ceramic composite electrode, bulk-modified with methylene blue (MB). In the configuration, alpha-zirconium phosphate was employed as a solid host for MB, which acted as a catalyst. Graphite powder ensured conductivity by percolation, the silicate provided a rigid porous backbone and the methyl groups endowed hydrophobicity and thus limited the wetting section of the modified electrode. Peak currents of the MBZrP-modified electrode were surface-confined at low scan rates but diffusion-controlled at high scan rates. Square-wave voltammetric study revealed that MBZrP immobilized in carbon ceramic matrix presented a two-electron, three-proton redox process in acidic aqueous solution with pH ranged from 0.44 to 2.94. In addition, the chemically modified electrode showed an electrocatalytic activity toward nitrite reduction at +0.15 V ( vs. Ag/AgCl) in acidic aqueous solution (pH=0.44). The linear range and detection limit are 1x10(-6)-4x10(-3) mol x L(-1) and 1.5x10(-7) mol x L(-1), respectively.