Polymerization of methyl methacrylate using the NiX<Subscript>2</Subscript>(PPh<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>/Zn catalytic system

The NiBr₂(PPh₃)₂/Zn catalytic system in combination with the PhI initiator ensures methyl methacrylate polymerization in a wide temperature range. The polymer yield is determined by the ligand environment of the nickel atom, the reaction temperature, and the ratio of the components of the catalytic system. An analysis of the macrokinetic relationships and of the molecular-weight characteristics of the products indicates that polymerization occurs in a controlled regime.     

Samarium and ytterbium complexes based on sterically hindered 1,2-bis(imino)acenaphthene*

Russian Chemical Bulletin - Reactions of the samarium complex [(ArBIG-bian)2?Sm2+] (1) (ArBIG-bian is the 1,2-bis-[(2,6-dibenzhydryl-4-methylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene dianion) with iodine...     

Synthesis of lactide from lactic acid and its esters in the presence of rare-earth compounds

A procedure is described for the synthesis of lactide by dehydration of L-lactic acid and subsequent depolymerization of its oligomer mixture in the presence of yttrium(III) and praseodymium(III) oxides, as well as of cerium(III) chloride heptahydrate. The catalytic activity of yttrium and praseodymium sesquioxides was determined at different temperatures at the oligomerization and deoligomerization stages. Ethyl lactate was prepared in the presence of Purolite C100 MB cation exchange resin and subjected to oligomerization followed by thermal decomposition of oligoester and oligolactic acid mixture in the presence of yttrium(III) and praseodymium(III) oxides and aqueous cerium(III) chloride.     

Ferroelectricity and phase transition from incommensurate phase into commensurate one in (NH4)2ZnCl4

Phase transition has been found in (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ at T = 266 ± 0.5 K by NQR method. There is a ferroelectric phase below T_c with a space group P2₁cn and with the trebling of the elementary lattice parameter along the axis c. Above the phase transition temperature in the crystal (NH₄)₂ZnCl₄ an incommensurate phase is realized.     

The [Ru(CN)5(pyS)](4-) complex, an efficient self-assembled monolayer for the cytochrome c heterogeneous electron transfer studies

The organothiol 4-mercaptopyridine (pyS) has been used extensively as facilitator for the assessment of heterogeneous electron transfer reaction of cytochrome c (cyt c). Its efficiency, however, is strongly affected by the instability of the adlayer due to the C-S bond cleavage. The K(4)[Ru(CN)(5)(pyS)].3H(2)O complex was synthesized and characterized aiming its utilization as an inorganic self-assembled monolayer (SAM) that would enhance the gold adlayer stability. The SAM formed by this complex onto gold (RupySAu) was characterized by spectroscopic (FTIRRAS and SERS) and electrochemical (LSV) techniques. The ex situ vibrational SERS and FTIRRAS spectra data of this SAM formed onto gold suggest a sigma interaction between the gold and sulfur atoms of the complex, inducing a perpendicular arrangement in relation to the surface normal. Additionally, SERS and FTIRRAS spectra performed for freshly prepared RupySAu adlayer and for large immersion times in the precursor solution have not shown any significant change that would reflect the degradation of the adlayer. The LSV desorption curves of this SAM indicate an enhancement in the C-S bond strength of the pyS ligand when coordinated to the [Ru(CN)(5)](3-) moiety. Comparatively to the data obtained for the desorption process of the pyS monolayer, the reductive desorption potential, E(rd), of the RupySAu presents a shift of -17 mV. This bond strength intensification leads to an increase in the stability of the monolayer. The voltammetric curves of cyt c carried out with the RupySAu electrode showed electrochemical parameters consistent with those reported for the native protein, as well as the maintenance of the electrochemical kinetic data after repetitive cycles. The results all together suggest that the pi back-bonding effect from the [Ru(CN)(5)](3-) metal center plays an important role in the stability of the RupySAu adlayer, improving the assessment of the cyt c heterogeneous electron transfer reaction.     

Contribution to the determination of the sensitivity of an ionization transducer

An analytic expression for the coefficient of secondary-electron collection has been obtained for an ionization transducer operating at pressures of 0.5–3 MPa. The coefficient is shown to be limited in the given case by the space charge of the beam being measured. A probability relation has been constructed for the ionization of air by electrons of various energies under normal conditions. A method is described for the calibration of the ionization transducer. The probability of the ionization of the residual gas at the pressures indicated has been determined experimentally.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 3, pp. 18–21, March, 1985.     

Aluminum hydrides with radical-anionic and dianionic acenaphthene-1,2-diimine ligands

The reaction of 1,2-bis[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (dpp-bian) with LiAlH₄ affords two products regardless of the solvent used (tetrahydrofuran or diethyl ether). These products were isolated as green and colorless crystals. Green crystals of the complex [(dpp-bian)Al(H)₂Li(THF)₃] (1) were obtained from tetrahydrofuran; colorless crystals of the complex [{dpp-bian(H₂)}Al(H)₂Li(Et₂O)₂] (2), from diethyl ether. The reactions of compound 1 with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol and benzophenone gave monohydrides [(dpp-bian)Al(H)(OC₆H₂-2,6-Bu₂ ^t-4-Me)][Li(THF)₄] (3) and [(dpp-bian)Al(H)(OCHPh₂)- Li(THF)₂] (4), respectively. The diamagnetic aluminum hydride [(dpp-bian)AlH(THF)] (5) was synthesized by the reaction of dichloroalane HAlCl₂ (in situ) with the disodium salt of dpp-bian in THF; the paramagnetic hydride [(dpp-bian)AlH(Cl)] (6) containing the dpp-bian radical anion was synthesized by the reaction of the monosodium salt (dpp-bian)Na with monochloroalane H₂AlCl (in situ) in diethyl ether. The reaction of compound 6 with tert-butyllithium gives the complex [(dpp-bian)AlBu^t(Et₂O)] (7). Diamagnetic derivatives 1—5 and 7 were characterized by ¹Н NMR spectroscopy; paramagnetic compound 6, by ESR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of compounds 1—7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.