Theoretical study of addition reactions of heavy carbenes to carbon and boron nitride nanotubes

In an effort to gain insight into the activation energies and reaction enthalpies of the chemical functionalization of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes, calculations using density functional theory have been carried out for the cycloaddition of a heavy carbene to a single-walled carbon (SWCNT; C(130)H(20)) and a boron nitride (SWBNNT; B(65)N(65)H(20)) nanotube. The (CH(3))(2)X + SWCNT and (CH(3))(2)X + SWBNNT (X = C, Si, Ge, Sn, and Pb) reactions are the subject of the present study. All the stationary points were determined at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level of theory. The major conclusions that can be drawn from this work are as follows: (i) Considering both the activation barrier and reaction enthalpy based on the model calculations presented here, it is found that the order of (CH(3))(2)X reactivity is X = C > Si > Ge > Sn > Pb, irrespective of whether cycloaddition is to a SWCNT or a SWBNNT sidewall. That is to say, (CH(3))(2)C and (CH(3))(2)Si can readily add to the sidewalls of SWCNT and SWBNNT, whereas (CH(3))(2)Ge, (CH(3))(2)Sn, and (CH(3))(2)Pb are unreactive. (ii) Since the chemical reactivities of SWCNT and SWBNNT sidewalls closely resemble those of the small C(16)H(10) and B(8)N(8)H(10) molecules, at least in a qualitative sense, the use of the above small molecules as models is sufficient to provide qualitatively correct results. (iii) Our theoretical observations indicate that all the (5,5) SWCNT and SWBNNT cycloadducts favor opened rather than closed three-membered ring structures. (iv) The theoretical investigations demonstrate that the singlet-triplet splitting of the carbene species (R(2)X) as well as that of the small model molecules can be used as a diagnostic tool to predict the addition reactivities of carbene analogues and sidewalls of various nanotubes, respectively. Moreover, the results obtained in this work allow a number of predictions to be made.     

Thermal decomposition of Cr(III) dithiocarbamates

The thermal stability of chromium(III) complexes with dithiocarbamate acid derivatives was studied. The general formula of these complexes is (RCS₂)₃Cr where: The thermal stability of these complexes was found to depend on the kind ofR and the decomposition occur in several stages.The final product of the decomposition of the complexes in the 20–600 temperature range investigated is chromium sulphide, Cr₂S₃ or with incomplete combusted sulfur atoms.

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Zusammenfassung Die Thermostabilität von Chrom(III)-Komplexen mit sauren Derivaten von Dithiocarbamat wurde untersucht. Die allgemeine Formel dieser Komplexe ist (RCS₂)₃Cr. Es wurde festgestellt, da\ die Thermostabilität dieser Komplexe von der Art von R abhängt und die Zersetzung in mehreren Stufen verläuft.Das Endprodukt der Zersetzung der Komplexe im untersuchten Temperaturbereich von 20 bis 600 ist Chromsulfid, Cr₂S₃, oder solches mit überschüssigem Schwefel.

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Résumé On a étudié la stabilité thermique des complexes du chrome(III) avec les dérivés de l'acide dithiocarbamique. La formule générale de ces complexes est (RCS₂)₃Cr où: On a trouvé que la stabilité thermique de ces complexes dépendait de la nature du radical et que la décomposition se déroulait en plusieurs étapes.Dans l'intervalle de température étudié, de 20 à 600, le produit final de la décomposition des complexes est le sulfure de chrome, Cr₂S₃, éventuellement accompagné de soufre résultant d'une combustion incomplÊte.

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(III) - . — (RCS₂)₃ Cr, , R . 20–600 Cr₂S₃ .

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The autors would like to thank Doc. dr h. J. F. Biernat for valuable discussions.     

Sensitive spectrophotometric determination of tin with Pyrogallol Red and cetyldimethylbenzylammonium ions

Summary Tin(IV), in the presence of cetyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride (CDBA), forms with Pyrogallol Red (PR) a complex SnPR-CDBA. This complex floates at the interface between hexane and aqueous medium. It dissolves in acetone and can be advantageously used for the determination of tin. The molar absorptivity is 6.5×10⁴ l·mole^–1·cm^–1 at 480 nm. The method is selective when citric acid is used as masking agent. Phosphate, fluoride, EDTA, nitrite and sulphide interfere.

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Zusammenfassung Zinn(IV) bildet mit Pyrogallolrot (PR) in Gegenwart von Cetyldimethylbenzylammoniumchlorid (CDBA) einen Komplex. Dieser wird flotiert, in Aceton gelöst und zur Bestimmung von Zinn verwendet. Der molare Absorptionskoeffizient bei =480 nm beträgt =6,5·10⁴ l·mol^–1 cm^–1. Die Methode ist selektiv, wenn Zitrate zur Maskierung verwendet werden. Es stören Phosphat, Fluorid, ÄDTA, Nitrit und Sulfid.

     

1,4-dioxane as a solvent in spectroscopy and photochemistry

Commercially available 1,4-dioxane, even of spectroscopic grade, contains various impurities that arise mostly from reaction of the solvent with oxygen. Aspects relevant to the spectroscopy and photochemistry of the dioxane/oxygen system are discussed. Methods of purification and storage of the solvent are presented.     

Controlled Rate Thermal Analysis of Hydrated Borates

Quasi-isothermal-isobaric analysis was applied as a main method for investigation of thermal decomposition of borates. The structural mechanism of the dehydration and dehydroxylation of selected borates is considered. It has been found that they consist of two independent stages: formation of gaseous water molecules localized into the structural framework and their release. The internal pressure of gaseous water molecules is the factor influencing the course of these processes. The strengths of the chemical bonds of the components and the freedom of their displacement also determine thermal stability of hydrated borates. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Studies of surface properties of Na- and La-montmorillonites

This paper presents possible applications of thermal analysis, sorptometry and porosimetry to study physico-chemical properties of Na- and La-montmorillonite samples, especially for determination of total surface heterogeneity. The quasi-isothermal thermogravimetric (Q-TG) mass loss and its first derivative (Q-DTG) curves with respect to temperature and time obtained during programmed liquid thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions have been used to study adsorbed layers and heterogeneous properties of the Na- and La-montmorillonites. Calculations of the desorption energy distribution functions by analytical procedure using mass loss Q-TG and differential mass loss Q-DTG curves of thermodesorption under quasi-isothermal conditions of polar and non-polar liquid vapours preadsorbed on a material surface are presented. Parameters relating to porosity of samples were determined by sorptometry, mercury porosimetry and atomic force microscopy (AFM). From nitrogen sorption isotherms from sorptometry and porosimetry methods, the fractal dimensions of montmorillonites have been calculated. Moreover, a new approach is proposed to calculate fractal dimensions of materials obtained from Q-TG curve; this is compared with values obtained by the above methods. The total heterogeneous properties (energy distribution function and pore-size distribution functions) of samples studied were estimated. The radius and pore volume of the tested samples calculated on the basis of thermogravimetry, sorptometry and porosimetry techniques were compared and good correlations obtained.     

The compensation effect revisited

It is generally accepted that the compensation effect arises when a linear relation between InA andE is detected for a simple reaction taking place over different catalysts or for different reactions over one catalyst. For a perfect linear relation between InA andE representation of the reaction rate constant in an Arrhenius plot results in a series of straight lines which intersect in a single point. The importance is stressed of defining unambiguously what is meant by the compensation effect, and it is shown how the scatter in the values of InA is translated into Arrhenius plots.     

Exchange interactions in copper(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases: EPR and magnetic studies

The influence of the nature of ligands upon the magnetic and EPR properties was investigated for the series of polynuclear Cu(II) complexes with tridentate Schiff bases. A similar tendency of changes in the |J| and D parameters was found for binuclear Cu(II) complexes with ligands derived from condensation of 3-amino-1-propanol with 2-hydroxyaldehydes and acetylacetone as well as for Cu(II) complexes with condensation products of o-aminophenol and β-diketones. The Cu(II) complex with Schiff base of 1-amino-2-propanol and acetylacetone exhibits ferromagnetic behaviour suggesting tetrameric structure.     

Stereocontrolled synthesis of bicyclic lactone derivatives via tungsten-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of epoxides with a tethered alkynyl group

In the presence of BF3*Et2O, alkynyltungsten complexes underwent [3 + 2] cycloaddition with tethered epoxides to give bicyclic -lactones efficiently. Only one diastereomeric product was formed despite the presence of three stereogenic centers. A mechanism is proposed that involves formation of a tungsten-vinylidenium species via an SN2 attack of the epoxide carbon by an alkynyltungsten group to give a tungsten-enol ether species via counterattack at the central tungsten-vinylidenium carbon by the OBF3- terminus. Most of the tungsten enol ether species were too unstable for isolation and underwent hydrolysis to give only cis-fused -bicyclic lactones. This cyclization works for both cis- and trans-epoxides and tolerates various functional groups. In the case of trans-phenyl epoxide, the reaction led to an addition product via a 6-endo attack of epoxide by the tungsten fragment. This method provides a simple enantiospecific synthesis of complex bicyclic lactones if a chiral epoxide is used in the cyclization. It is also applicable to the one-pot synthesis of bicyclic unsaturated gamma-lactones if a suitable alkynyltungsten functionality is used.