The platinum catalyst [bpyrPtCl2] in superacidic solution

The methane oxidation catalyst [bpyrPtCl(2)] (bpyr = bis-pyrimidine) dissolves in superacidic HF/SbF(5) solution under formation of a dinuclear cation [H(2)bpyrPt(mu-Cl)(2)PtbpyrH(2)](6+). Two crystal forms are isolated, [Pt(2)Cl(2)bpyr(2)H(4)](6+)(SbF(6)(-))(4)(Sb(2)F(11)(-))(2).2HF (I) (triclinic, Ponemacr;, a = 814.8(2) pm, b = 1444.8(3) pm, c = 2300.5(5) pm, alpha = 89.627(4) degrees, beta = 84.285(4) degrees, gamma = 84.665(4) degrees, Z = 2) and [Pt(2)Cl(2)bpyrH(4)](6+)(Sb(2)F(11)(-))(6).4HF (II) (triclinic, Ponemacr;, a = 879.4(2) pm, b = 1170.4(3) pm, c = 1789.9(5) pm, alpha = 95.37(2) degrees, beta = 99.97(2) degrees, gamma = 100.41(2) degrees, Z = 1). The cation in I has an angle of 148.4(1) degrees between the two square plane platinum environments, while the cation in II is fully planar. The non-platinum-bound nitrogen atoms are all protonated in the superacidic medium.     

The structure of magnesium alanate

Mg(AlH(4))(2) was produced as a nanocrystalline powder by metathesis of NaAlH(4) and MgCl(2). Starting with a structure estimation which was developed from an evaluation of FTIR data and comparison of structural properties of two solvent adducts, quantum chemical calculations were performed on the density functional theory (DFT) level. The calculated atomic positions were used to simulate an X-ray powder diffraction pattern, based on a trigonal unit cell. The simulated pattern was congruent to experimental data. Thus, magnesium alanate exhibits a CdI(2) layer structure, the layers being formed by Mg atoms occupying the Cd sites and AlH(4) tedrahedra occupying the sites of the iodine atoms in CdI(2).     

A Metallic Room‐Temperature Oxide Ion Conductor

Nanoparticles of Bi₃Ir, obtained from a microwave‐assisted polyol process, activate molecular oxygen from air at room temperature and reversibly intercalate it as oxide ions. The closely related structures of Bi₃Ir and Bi₃IrO_x (x≤2) were investigated by X‐ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and quantum‐chemical modeling. In the topochemically formed metallic suboxide, the intermetallic building units are fully preserved. Time‐ and temperature‐dependent monitoring of the oxygen uptake in an oxygen‐filled chamber shows that the activation energy for oxide diffusion (84 meV) is one order of magnitude smaller than that in any known material. Bi₃IrO_x is the first metallic oxide ion conductor and also the first that operates at room temperature.     

Photonic Patterns Printed in Chiral Nematic Mesoporous Resins

Chiral nematic mesoporous phenol‐formaldehyde resins, which were prepared using cellulose nanocrystals as a template, can be used as a substrate to produce latent photonic images. These resins undergo swelling, which changes their reflected color. By writing on the films with chemical inks, the density of methylol groups in the resin changes, subsequently affecting their degree of swelling and, consequently, their color. Writing on the films gives latent images that are revealed only upon swelling of the films. Using inkjet printing, it is possible to make higher resolution photonic patterns both as text and images that can be visualized by swelling and erased by drying. This novel approach to printing photonic patterns in resin films may be applied to anti‐counterfeit tags, signage, and decorative applications.     

Pertechnetyl Fluorosulfate, [TcO3]+[SO3F]−

A one step synthesis of [TcO₃]⁺[SO₃F]^? is reported. The compound is volatile at room temperature and has according to calculations a tetrahedral coordination around Tc and a monodentate SO₃F group. In the solid state the [SO₃F]^? anion bridges three [TcO₃]⁺ cations, and vice versa. Space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, lattice dimensions at 173 K: a = 695.4(11), b = 808.6(12), c = 893.3(14) pm, β = 97.36(8)°.