Diiodotetrasupersilylcyclotetrasilene (tBu3Si)4Si4I2—A Molecule Containing an Unsaturated Si4 Ring

The red-orange tetrasilacyclobutene 1 (R*=SitBu₃) is formed quantitatively by the reaction of tetrasilatetrahedrane 2 and iodine. Surprisingly, water and methanol do not react with 1 with addition to the Si−Si double bond, but instead with replacement of the silicon-bound iodine atoms with oxygen or the methoxy group, respectively. The substitutions possibly proceed by dissociative activation via intermediate 3 .     

Synthesis of high performance,conductive PEDOT‐coated polyester yarns by OCVD technique

Production of high performance conductive textile yarn fibers for different electronic applications has become a prominent area of many research groups throughout the world. We have used oxidative chemical vapor deposition (OCVD) technique to coat flexible and high strength polyester yarns with conjugated polymer, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in presence of ferric (III) chloride (FeCl₃) oxidant. OCVD is an efficient solvent free technique used to get uniform, thin, and highly conductive polymer layers on different substrates. In this paper, PEDOT‐coated polyester (PET) yarns were prepared under specific reaction conditions, and the electrical, mechanical and thermal properties were compared to previously studied PEDOT‐coated viscose yarns. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and FT‐IR analysis revealed that polymerization of PEDOT on the surface of the polyester yarns has been taken place successfully and structural analysis showed that PEDOT has strong interactions with viscose yarns as compared to PET yarns. The voltage–current (V–I) characteristics showed that PET yarns are more conductive than PEDOT‐coated viscose yarns. The variation in the conductivity of PEDOT‐coated yarns and the heat generation properties during the flow of current through coated yarns for longer period of time, was studied by time–current (t–I) characteristics. Thermogravimeteric analysis (TGA) was employed to investigate the thermal properties and the amount of PEDOT in PEDOT‐coated PET yarns compared to PEDOT‐coated viscose. The effect of PEDOT coating and ferric (III) chloride concentration on the mechanical properties of coated yarns was evaluated by tensile testing. The obtained PEDOT‐coated conductive polyester yarns could be used in smart clothing for medical and military applications. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mid-infrared spectroscopy of molecular ions in helium nanodroplets

High resolution IR spectra of aniline, styrene, and 1,1-diphenylethylene cations embedded in superfluid helium nanodroplets have been recorded in the 300-1700 cm(-1) range using a free-electron laser as radiation source. Comparison of the spectra with available gas phase data reveals that the helium environment induces no significant matrix shift nor leads to an observable line broadening of the resonances. In addition, the IR spectra have provided new and improved vibrational transition frequencies for the cations investigated, as well as for neutral aniline and styrene. Indications have been found that the ions desolvate from the droplets after excitation by a non-evaporative process in which they are ejected from the helium droplets. The kinetic energy of the ejected ions is found to be ion specific and to depend only weakly on the excitation energy.     

Cyclometalated Iridium(III) and Rhodium(III) Complexes Containing Naphthyridine Ligands: Synthesis,Characterization and Biological Studies

The synthesis, crystal structure, and biological activity of new bis‐cyclometalated compounds [M(ptpy)₂(4‐chloro‐2‐methyl‐1,8‐naphthyridine)]PF₆ [M = Rh ( 1 ); M = Ir ( 2 ); ptpy = 2‐(p‐tolyl)pyridinato] and [M(ptpy)₂(2‐methyl‐1,8‐naphthyridine)]PF₆ [M = Rh ( 3 ); M = Ir ( 4 )] are described. The new compounds were prepared by the reaction of [{M(μ‐Cl)(ptpy)₂}₂] (M = Rh, Ir) with the corresponding naphthyridine ligands. The molecular structures of compounds 1 , 3 , and 4 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.     

The spectrum of theP-wave baryons and hadronic loops

In current QCD inspired analyses of the hadron spectrum nonperturbative quark loops are generally neglected. We study the validity of this assumption by estimating mass splittings and mixings induced by hadronic mass renormalization to the (70,1^?) baryon multiplet. All intermediate states in the loop composed of a ground state meson (0^?+, 1^??) and a ground state baryon (1/2⁺, 3/2⁺) are included. We use a³ P ₀ type model for the partial decay widths and spectral functions. Using unitarity and analyticity one finds a definite prediction for the masses and mixings, in good agreement with experiment, even when the perturbative one-gluon exchange is completely ignored. Our result thus allows for a smaller one-gluon exchange overall contribution, which would resolve the difficulty of the apparent smallness of the observed spin-orbit coupling. In particular if one adds the (nonperturbative) unitarity corrections to the one-gluon exchange contribution the gluon coupling constant can be reduced by a factor of 3 giving a reasonable value α_s≈0.3.     

Future teachers’ professional knowledge on argumentation and proof: a case study from universities in three countries

In this paper, qualitative results of a case study about the professional knowledge in the area of argumentation and proof of future teachers from universities in three countries are described. Based on results of open questionnaires, data about the competencies these future teachers have in the areas of mathematical knowledge and knowledge of mathematics pedagogy are presented. The study shows that the majority of the future teachers at the participating universities situated in Germany, Hong Kong and Australia, were not able to execute formal proofs, requiring only lower secondary mathematical content, in an adequate and mathematically correct way. In contrast, in all samples there was evidence of at least average competencies of pedagogical content reflection about formal and pre-formal proving in mathematics teaching. However, it appears that possessing a mathematical background as mandated for teaching and having a high affinity with proving in mathematics teaching at the lower secondary level are not a sufficient preparation for teaching proof.     

Synthesis of two new thioesters bearing ferrocene: Vibrational characterization and ab initio calculations. X-ray crystal structure of S-(2-methoxyphenyl)ferrocenecarbothioate

Structural and conformational properties of S-benzyl ferrocenecarbothioate (I) and S-(2-methoxyphenyl) ferrocenecarbothioate (II) are analyzed using data obtained from X-ray diffraction, vibrational data and theoretical calculations. According to chemical quantum calculations, the synperiplanar and antiperiplanar forms are found as the first and second more stable conformations, respectively, for the title compounds. The geometric parameters and normal modes of vibration were calculated using a density functional theory method (B3LYP) and the 6-31+G∗∗ basis set for all atoms except for iron. For this atom the calculations were carried out with the Lanl2dz basis set. The calculated parameters are in good agreement with the corresponding X-ray diffraction values. The combined experimental and theoretical approach allows a consistent assignment for most of the fundamental modes.     

Preparation, IR spectroscopy, and time-of-flight mass spectrometry of halogenated and methylated Si(111)

The preparation of chlorine-, bromine-, and iodine-terminated silicon surfaces (Si(111):Cl, Br, and I) using atomically flat Si(111)-(1×1):H is described. The halogenated surfaces were obtained by photochemically induced radical substitution reactions with the corresponding dihalogen in a Schlenk tube by conventional inert gas chemistry. The nucleophilic substitution of the Si-Cl functionality with the Grignard reagent (CH₃MgCl) resulted in the unreconstructed methylated Si(111)-(1×1):CH₃ surface. The halogenated and methylated silicon surfaces were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and laser-induced desorption of monolayers (LIDOM). Calibration of the desorption temperature via analysis of time-of-flight (TOF) distributions as a function of laser fluence allowed the determination of the originally emitted neutral fragments by TOF mass spectrometry using electron-impact ionization. The halogens were desorbed atomically and as SiX _n (X = Cl, Br) clusters. The methyl groups mainly desorbed as methyl and ethyl fragments and a small amount of ⁺SiCH₃.