The determination of an accepted reference value from proficiency data with stated uncertainties

Proficiency data with stated uncertainties represent a unique opportunity for testing that the reported uncertainties are consistent with the Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM). In most proficiency tests, however, this opportunity is forfeited, because proficiency data are processed without regard to their uncertainties. In this paper we present alternative approaches for determining a reference value as the weighted mean of all mutually consistent results and their stated uncertainties. Using an accepted reference value each reported uncertainty estimate can be expressed as an E _n number, but a value of confirms its validity only if the uncertainty of the reference value is negligible in comparison.Reference values calculated for results from an International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP-9) by “bottom up” as well as “top down” methods were practically identical, although the first strategy yielded the lowest uncertainty. A plot of individual coefficients of variation (CV) versus E _n numbers helps interpretation of the proficiency data, which could be used to validate relative uncertainties down to <1%.     

Synthesis and characterization of three nickel(ii) carborane complexes containing nido- or closo-carborane diphosphine ligand

Three nickel(II) carborane complexes, [Ni₂(μ-Cl)₂{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}₂] (1), [Ni{7-(OPPh₂)-8-(PPh₂)-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}{7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] (2) and [NiBr₂{1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀}] · CH₂Cl₂ (3), have been synthesized by the reactions of 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane with NiCl₂ · 6H₂O or NiBr₂ · 6H₂O in ethanol under different conditions, respectively. For complex 1, it could also be obtained under the solvothermal condition. All the three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. Single crystal analysis shows that the molecular symmetry of complex 1 is centrosymmetric, containing two same structure units - Ni(7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀) linked by two bridged-Cl atoms. The central square plane formed by the [Ni₂Cl₂] unit is almost parallel to the two side NiPP planes. For complex 2, the coordination environment of the Ni atom is a seriously distorted square-planar, in which two positions come from the chelating diphosphine ligand [7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ degraded from the closo species, while the other two are occupied by an unsymmetrical chelating phosphine oxide ligand [7-(OPPh₂)-8-(PPh₂)-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻. As for complex 3, the geometry at the Ni atom is a slightly distorted square-planar. The closo carborane diphosphine ligand 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ was coordinated bidentately to the metal ion through the two phosphorus atoms, and the two Br atoms are at cis position which can fulfill the four coordination mode of the metal.     

Catalytic oxidation of diorganotin(IV) carboxylates to mixed-ligand monoalkyltin(IV) carboxylates by Ag and structure characterization of the mixed-ligand monoalkyltin(IV) 2-pyridinecarboxylate (2-ClPhCH2)Sn(2-ClPhCO2)(O2CC5H4N-2)2

The complexes of the type (ArCH₂)₂SnO were catalytic-oxygenated by Ag⁺ and yielded mixed-ligand organotin(IV) complexes (ArCH₂)(2-C₅H₄NCO₂)₂(ArCOO)tin(IV) (Ar = C₆H₅ (1), 2-ClC₆H₄ (2), 2-CNC₆H₄ (3), 4-ClC₆H₄ (4), 4-CNC₆H₄ (5), 2-FC₆H₄ (6)). The complexes 1-6 are characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) spectroscopies. Single X-ray crystal structure analysis has been determined, which reveals that the center tin atom of complex 2 is seven-coordinated geometry.     

Synthesis of (η-arene)(η-cyclopentadienyl) iron (II) complexes with heteroatom and carbonyl substituents. Part I: Oxygen and carbonyl substituents

A series of reactions have been used to introduce oxygen substituents into (η-arene)(η-cyclopentadienyl) iron (II) complexes. Photochemical ligand exchange led to the formation of the first recorded trioxygenated complex as well as mono- and di-oxygenated species. Using microwave techniques, reaction times for S_NAr displacement reactions of halobenzene complexes by phenols were reduced from several hours to a few minutes. Phenols protected by either t-butylation or trimethylsilylation were found to give modest yields of the corresponding phenol complexes, using conventional thermal ligand exchange reactions. Without such protection, yields were extremely low. The above method led to the synthesis of the first example of a dihydroxybenzene complex. Some miscellaneous syntheses are also reported.The Nef reaction has been adapted to convert (η⁶-α-nitroalkylarene)(η⁵-Cp) iron (II) salts to corresponding aldehyde and ketone complexes. The α-nitroalkyl arene complexes were synthesised in good yields from (η⁶-halobenzene)(η⁵-Cp) iron (II) complexes using NaOtBu in DMSO. H/D exchange reactions with ²[H]₆-DMSO in the presence of K₂CO₃ showed partial D incorporation in the methyl group for the unreacted α-nitroethylbenzene complex and complete exchange for the carbanion generated by deprotonation. Conversion of the α-nitroalkylarene complexes to the corresponding aldehyde and ketone complexes was accomplished in moderate yields using three methods:

(A)

H₂O₂ and NaOtBu in DMSO followed by reaction with CF₃CO₂H.

(B)

SnCl₂/aq. HCl.

(C)

K₂CO₃ in DMF using microwave-mediated reactions.

In addition, two one-pot syntheses are reported using methods B and C.     

Synthesis, structure, and characterization of a new one-dimensional tellurite phosphate, Ba2TeO(PO4)2

A new one-dimensional tellurite phosphate, Ba₂TeO(PO₄)₂ has been synthesized by standard solid-state reaction techniques using BaCO₃, TeO₂, and (NH₄)H₂PO₄ as reagents. The structure of Ba₂TeO(PO₄)₂ was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Ba₂TeO(PO₄)₂ crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-1 (No. 2), with , , , α=76.843(4)°, β=79.933(4)°, γ=75.688(4)°, , and Z=2. Ba₂TeO(PO₄)₂ has a novel one-dimensional chain structure that is composed of PO₄ tetrahedra and TeO₅ polyhedra. Te⁴⁺ cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to their lone pairs. The lone pairs on the Te⁴⁺ cations point in the [100] and [−100] direction and interact with the Ba²⁺ cations. Infrared, Raman, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dipole moment calculations are also presented.     

Synthesis and structures of silicon-, germanium- and tin-containing tungsten imido alkyl complexes (ArN)2W(CH2EMe3)2 (E = Si, Ge, Sn)

The novel silicon-, germanium- and tin-containing imido alkyl complexes of tungsten of the type (ArN)₂W(CH₂EMe₃)₂ (; E = Si (1), Ge (2), Sn (3)) have been prepared by the reactions of (ArN)₂WCl₂(dme) (dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) with heteroelement-containing alkyllithium or Grignard reagents Me₃ECH₂Li (E = Si, Ge), Me₃ECH₂MgCl (E = Ge, Sn). The title compounds were isolated in high yields as crystalline solids and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. The geometry of the W atoms in the compounds can be described as a distorted tetrahedron.     

Synthesis and structure of the ternary and quaternary strontium nitride halides, Sr2N(X, X′) (X, X′=Cl, Br, I)

A number of new, layered nitride mixed halides have been synthesised in the quaternary phase systems Sr-N-Cl-Br and Sr-N-Br-I. The variation in structure with composition has been investigated by powder X-ray and powder neutron diffraction techniques and the structure of strontium nitride iodide, Sr₂NI, has been determined for the first time (rhombohedral space group R-3m, , , Z=3). A continuous solid solution exists between Sr₂NCl and Sr₂NBr with intermediate compounds adopting the same anti-α-NaFeO₂ structure (rhombohedral space group R-3m) as the ternary end members. A similar smooth and linear relationship between structure and composition is seen from Sr₂NBr to Sr₂NI and hence cubic close packing of metal-nitrogen layers is adopted regardless of halide, X (X′). While nitride and halide anions occupy distinct crystallographic sites, there is no ordering of the halides in the quaternary materials irrespective of stoichiometry or temperature (between 3 and 673 K).     

Mg8Rh4B — A new type of boron stabilized Ti2Ni structure

The new magnesium rhodium boron compound Mg₈Rh₄B has been synthesized by reaction of the metal powders with crystalline or amorphous boron or the RhB precursor. The crystal structure of Mg₈Rh₄B was solved using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (space group , , Z=8, 174 reflections, R_F=0.016). The crystal structure can be described as a filled Ti₂Ni type where the interstitial sites 8b (), located at the center of two nested Mg₄Rh₄ tetrahedra, are occupied by boron atoms. Taking into account the absence of the Ti₂Ni-type phase in the binary Mg-Rh system, the boron atoms can be considered as stabilizing this structural motif. From the bonding analysis with the electron localization function the crystal structure is described as covalently bonded [Rh₄B]³⁻ anions, embedded in a cationic magnesium matrix.     

An EPR study on ancient and newly synthesised Egyptian blue

Two sets of ancient roman Egyptian blue (EB) samples and one set of EB samples synthesised in our lab, were analysed by EPR spectroscopy, a technique not commonly used in this field. The spectroscopic parameters obtained were used to attempt the discrimination of the provenance and of the manufacturing techniques of the investigated samples.The results obtained show that EPR technique could be very useful for this purpose.Furthermore, the similarity of the obtained parameters between the ancient and new samples testify the successful attempt to reproduce the EB according to the chemical knowledge.     

Synthesis of the novel conjugated ω,ω′-diaryl/heteroaryl hexatriene system with the central double bond in a heteroaromatic ring: photochemical transformations of 2,3-divinylfuran derivatives

New β,β′-aryl/heteroaryl 2,3-divinylfuran derivatives (9a-d) in which a hexatriene system is a part of heteroaromatic ring have been synthesized and their photochemical properties were investigated. The primary process observed was the isomerization to trans,trans-isomers 9a-d followed by photochemical rearrangement of the furan ring giving the phototransposition products (I-IV). Stilbenes (20, 21) and phenanthrenes (22, 25, and 26), formed as secondary products from the competitive intermolecular cycloadditions, were also observed.