Transition metal bisdithiolene complexes based on extended ligands with fused tetrathiafulvalene and thiophene moieties: new single-component molecular metals

The gold and nickel bisdithiolene complexes based on new highly extended ligands incorporating fused tetrathiafulvalene and thiophene moieties (alpha-tdt=thiophenetetrathiafulvalenedithiolate and dtdt=dihydro- thiophenetetrathiafulvalenedithiolate), were prepared and characterised by using cyclic voltammetry, single crystal X-ray diffraction, EPR, magnetic susceptibility and electrical transport measurements. These complexes, initially obtained under anaerobic conditions as diamagnetic gold monoanic [nBu(4)N][Au(alpha-tdt)(2)] (4), [nBu(4)N][Au(dtdt)(2)] (3) and nickel dianionic species [(nBu(4)N)(2)][Ni(alpha-tdt)(2)] (8), [(nBu(4)N)(2)][Ni(dtdt)(2)] (7), can be easily oxidised to the stable neutral state just by air or iodine exposure. The monoanionic complexes crystallise in at least two polymorphs, all of which have good cation and anion segregation in alternated layers, the anion layers making a dense 2D network of short SS contacts. All of the neutral complexes, obtained as microcrystalline or quasi amorphous fine powder, present relatively large magnetic susceptibilities that correspond to effective magnetic moments in the range 1-3 mu(B) indicative of high spin states and very high electrical conductivity that in case of the Ni compound can reach sigma(RT) approximately 250 S cm(-1) with a clear metallic behaviour. These compounds are new examples of the still rare single-component molecular metals.     

Cyclic tetranuclear and hexanuclear palladium(II) complexes and their host-guest chemistry

Cyclic tetrameric complexes have been prepared by the reaction of Pd(en)Cl2 or Pd(dapol)Cl2, or their nitrato analogues, with Na2(5'GMP) in aqueous solution, where en=1,2-diaminoethane, dapol=1,3-diamino-2-propanol, and 5'GMP=guanosine 5'-monophosphate. Addition of certain small molecules containing hydrophobic groups resulted in the expansion of the tetramer to a cyclic hexamer with strong bonding of one guest per hexameric host. At pH 5-6, the guest molecule can be a cation, anion, or neutral, and those species containing trimetylsilyl and t-butyl groups bonded the most strongly. The size of the central cavity of the [Pd(en)(5'GMP)]6 host has been estimated to be 5.2 A. Formation of the host-guest complex caused a large upfield shift (Deltadelta) of 2.5-2.9 ppm in the 1H NMR spectrum of the most highly affected guest protons, which were those in closest proximity to the guanine nucleobases. NOESY spectra were used to determine the interaction sites between the host and the guest. Apparent association constants determined at 26 degrees C and pD 5.4 for the [Pd(en)(5'GMP)]6-DSS and [Pd(en)(5'GMP)]6-t-butanol systems, where DSS is 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanesulfonate anion, were 1.36+/-0.11x10(4) and 2.74+/-0.95x10(4) M(-3/2), respectively. The Pd(dapol)-5'GMP system forms hexameric host-guest complexes, similar in nature to those of the Pd(en)-5'GMP system. The molecular and crystal structures of Pd(dapol)Cl2 are also reported.     

Synthesis, crystal-structure determination and magnetic properties of two new transition-metal carbodiimides: CoNCN and NiNCN

Synthesis, structure determination, and magnetic properties are reported for the metastable and crystal-chemically isotypic phases cobalt carbodiimide, CoNCN, and nickel carbodiimide, NiNCN, adopting the hexagonal system and space group P63/mmc (NiAs type) with interatomic distances of Co-N = 2.17 Angstrom and Ni-N = 2.12 Angstrom and an octahedral coordination of the transition-metal ions; the NCN(2-) units reveal the carbodiimide shape with two C=N double bonds. The low-susceptibility data go back to strong antiferromagnetic spin-spin coupling, similar to the behavior of the electronically related oxides CoO and NiO.     

A Bayesian approach to assess data from radionuclide activity analyses in environmental samples

A Bayesian statistical approach is introduced to assess experimental data from the analyses of radionuclide activity concentration in environmental samples (low activities). A theoretical model has been developed that allows the use of known prior information about the value of the measurand (activity), together with the experimental value determined through the measurement. The model has been applied to data of the Inter-laboratory Proficiency Test organised periodically among Spanish environmental radioactivity laboratories that are producing the radiochemical results for the Spanish radioactive monitoring network. A global improvement of laboratories performance is produced when this prior information is taken into account. The prior information used in this methodology is an interval within which the activity is known to be contained, but it could be extended to any other experimental quantity with a different type of prior information available.     

Synthesis and acid digestion of biomorphic ceramics: determination of alkaline and alkaline earth ions

Ceramic and glass are some of the more recent engineering materials and those that are most resistant to environmental conditions. They belong to advanced materials in that they are being developed for the aerospace and electronics industries. In the last decade, a new class of ceramic materials has been the focus of particular attention. The materials were produced with natural, renewable resources (wood or wood-based products). In this work, we have synthesised a new biomorphic ceramic material from oak wood and Si infiltration. After the material characterization, we have optimized the dissolution of the sample by acid attack in an oven under microwave irradiation. Experimental designs were used as a multivariate strategy for the evaluation of the effects of varying several variables at the same time. The optimization was performed in two steps using factorial design for preliminary evaluation and a Draper-Lin design for determination of the critical experimental conditions. Five variables (time, power, volume of HNO3, volume H2SO4 and volume of HF) were considered as factors and as a response the concentration of different metal ions in the optimization process. Interactions between analytical factors and their optimal levels were investigated using a Draper-Lin design.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, aqueous speciation, and kinetics of substitution reactions in a water-soluble Mo3S4 cluster bearing hydroxymethyl diphosphine ligands

The [Mo3S4Cl3(dhmpe)3]Cl ([1]Cl) cluster has been prepared from [Mo3S7Cl6]2- and the water-soluble 1,2-bis(bis(hydroxymethyl)-phosphino)ethane (dhmpe, L) ligand. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction methods and shows the incomplete cuboidal structure typical of the M3Q4 clusters (M=Mo, W; Q=S, Se), with a capping sulfide ligand to the three metal centers and the other three sulfides acting as bridges between two Mo atoms. The octahedral coordination around each metal center is completed with a chlorine and two phosphorus atoms of one L ligand. The chemistry of aqueous solutions of [1]Cl is dominated by the formation of the [Mo3S4L(L-H)2(H2O)]2+ complex ([2]2+), where the three chlorides have been replaced by one water molecule and two alkoxo groups of two different dhmpe ligands, thus leading to a solution structure where the three metal centers are not equivalent. A detailed study based on stopped-flow, 31P{1H} NMR, and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry techniques has been carried out to understand the behavior of [2]2+ in aqueous solution. In this way, it has been established that the addition of an excess of X- (Cl-, SCN-) leads to [Mo3S4X3(dhmpe)3]+ complexes in three resolved kinetic steps that correspond to the sequential coordination of X- at the three metal centers. However, whereas the first two steps involve the opening of the chelate rings formed with the alkoxo groups of the dhmpe ligands, the third one corresponds to the substitution of the coordinated water molecule. These results demonstrate that the asymmetry introduced by the closure of chelate rings at only two of the three Mo centers makes the kinetics of the reaction deviate significantly from the statistical behavior typically associated with M3Q4 clusters. The results obtained for the reaction of [2]2+ with acid and base are also described, and they complete the picture of the aqueous speciation of this cluster.     

Defects in divided zinc-copper aluminate spinels: structural features and optical absorption properties

Zn1-xCuxAl2O4 (0 < or = x < 0.30) compounds have been synthesized by polyesterification using metallic salts and annealing at low temperatures as well as by conventional solid state. XRD-powder data refinements (Rietveld method) have demonstrated that both compound series crystallize in the spinel structure (Fd3m) and exhibit similar inversion rates. This low-temperature route lead to metastable phases with crystallite sizes around 40 nm whereas particle sizes are larger than 1 moicrom in the case of solid-state route. This preparative method largely described in the literature allows stabilizing reduced copper states thanks to the presence of reductive organic species, which are decomposed below T = 700 degrees C. The absorption spectra of the x = 0.15 composition exhibit strong differences depending on the synthesis route. These differences can be explained by the occurrence of Cu2+/Cu+ mixed valencies in compounds prepared by the low-temperature route; 33% of monovalent copper has been identified in the x = 0.15 composition prepared by low-temperature process, whereas the solid-state compound contains only divalent copper. Reductive properties of polyesterification reaction implying citric acid and low annealing temperature (T = 700 degrees C) are mainly responsible of the occurrence of the Cu2+/Cu+ mixed valencies. Actually, the annealing under air at T = 1000 degrees C of divided zinc-copper aluminates prepared at low temperatures (T = 700 degrees C) leads to the oxidation reaction Cu+ --> Cu2+ + e- confirmed by the evolution of magnetic measurements, ESR spectra, and optical absorption properties. Defects such as oxygen vacancies in the anionic network leading to reduction in the cations coordination number could also explain the strong evolution of optical absorption spectra especially around lambda = 700 nm where intervalencies transfer (Cu+/Cu2+) as well as intra-atomic d-d transitions (Cu2+ in a 5-fold coordination) can occur. Finally the occurrence of monovalent and divalent copper at the surface of such divided oxides, probably in tetrahedral sites, has been demonstrated by FTIR spectroscopy using the co-adsorption of CO and NO as probe molecules.     

Remarkable steric effects and influence of monodentate axial ligands l on the spin-crossover properties of trans-[FeII(N4 ligand)L] complexes

Iron(II) complexes obtained from tetradentate, rigid, linear N4 ligands have been investigated to appraise the influence of steric effects and the impact of trans-coordinated anions on the spin-transition behavior. As expected, the well-designed ligands embrace the metal center, resulting in octahedral iron(II) complexes where the basal plane is fully occupied by the pyridine/pyrazole N4 ligand, while anions or solvent molecules are exclusively axially coordinated. Precursor complexes, namely, [Fe(bpzbpy)(MeOH)2](BF4)2 (where bpzbpy symbolizes the ligand 6,6'-bis(N-pyrazolylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Fe(mbpzbpy)(MeOH)2](BF4)2 (where mbpzbpy symbolizes the ligand 6,6'-bis(3,5-dimethyl-N-pyrazolmethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine), have been used for the in situ preparation of a series of structural analogues via the exchange of the weakly coordinated trans methanol molecules by various anions, such as thiocyanate, selenocyanate, or dicyanamide. The magnetic properties of all seven iron(II) compounds thus obtained have been investigated. Two iron(II) complexes, i.e., [Fe(bpzbpy)(NCS)2] and [Fe(bpzbpy)(NCSe)2], exhibit gradual spin-crossover (SCO) properties typical of isolated mononuclear species with weak cooperative interaction. These two SCO materials have been studied by M?ssbauer spectroscopy, and the light-induced excited spin state trapping effect has been investigated, revealing the possibility to induce the spin-transition both by temperature variation and by light irradiation. A correlation between steric/anion effect and SCO behavior is suggested.     

Time-resolved spectroscopy of silver nanocubes: observation and assignment of coherently excited vibrational modes

The response of single crystal, cubic silver particles to ultrafast laser-induced heating has been examined experimentally and theoretically. The transient absorption traces display clear modulations due to coherently excited vibrational modes. Nanocube samples with edge lengths smaller than 50 nm show a single modulation, whereas samples larger than 50 nm show two vibrational modes. The results are compared to finite element calculations, where the cubes are modeled as having cubic crystal symmetry with the principal axes parallel to the sides of the particle. The action of the laser pulse is treated in two ways, first, as creating a uniform initial strain. In this case the predominant mode excited is the breathing mode. The period of this mode is in reasonable agreement with the vibrational periods measured for the smaller cubes and with the higher frequency modulation observed for the larger cubes. A nonuniform initial strain is also considered, which could arise from nonuniform heating for particles larger than the optical skin depth of the metal. In this case the predominant mode excited is a nontotally symmetric mode. The calculated periods from this analysis are in reasonable agreement with the lower frequency modulations observed for the larger samples. The results from this study show that, to within the accuracy of these measurements, the elastic constants of cubic silver nanoparticles are the same as bulk silver.     

Fast method for routine simultaneous analysis of methylmercury and butyltins in seafood

A simple, fast, and accurate method for the simultaneous determination of methylmercury (MeHg(+)), monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT) in seafood is proposed. The method makes use of relatively cheap instrumentation and allows simultaneous analysis of those four species in a routine basis. The sample is treated with methanolic potassium hydroxide in an ultrasound bath, derivatised with sodium tetraethylborate (NaBEt(4)), preconcentrated into n-hexane and analysed by gas chromatography with atomic emission detection (GC-MIP/AES). The soft extraction conditions provided by ultrasound energy prevent chemical decomposition of the analytes and allow fast and efficient recovery of the species considered. Both the extraction and the derivatisation/preconcentration steps were optimised. Detection limits of 34, 3, 6 and 8 ng g(-1) (dry mass) were obtained for MeHg(+), MBT, DBT and TBT, respectively, using the best experimental conditions found. The uncertainty of the analysis ranged from 11% (MeHg(+)) to 15% (MBT). The accuracy of the method was checked by the analysis of several certified reference materials, e.g., BCR 477 (mussel tissue, MBT, DBT and TBT), DOLT-2 (dogfish liver, MeHg(+)), BCR 463 (tuna fish, MeHg(+)) and NIST 2976 (mussel tissue, MeHg(+)) with satisfactory results. Several oyster samples collected in the estuary of the Oka River (Urdaibai, Unesco Reserve of the Biosphere, Basque Country) during four sampling campaigns in 2003-2004 were processed following the proposed procedure. Concentrations ranging from 65 to 149 ng g(-1) (MeHg(+)), 相似文献