Pentagerma[1.1.1]propellane: A Combined Experimental and Quantum Chemical Study on the Nature of the Interactions between the Bridgehead Atoms

Ge, whiz! A detailed study of the synthesis, structure, redox chemistry, and bonding properties of pentagerma[1.1.1]propellane ( 1 , see picture) examines fundamental aspects of the interactions between the bridgehead germanium atoms. DFT and CASSCF calculations unravel the biradicaloid characteristics of 1 , and preliminary reactivity studies indicate that 1 features some radical‐type behavior.

     

Introduction to the CDEX experiment

It is believed that weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are candidates for dark matter (DM) in our universe which come from outer space and might interact with the standard model (SM) matter of our detectors on the earth. Many collaborations in the world are carrying out various experiments to directly detect DM particles. China Jinping underground Laboratory (CJPL) is the deepest underground laboratory in the world and provides a very promising environment for DM search. China Dark matter EXperiment (CDEX) is going to directly detect the WIMP flux with high sensitivity in the low WIMP-mass region. Both CJPL and CDEX have achieved a remarkable progress in recent three years. CDEX employs a point-contact germanium (PCGe) semi-conductor detector whose energy threshold is less than 300 eV. In this report we present the measurement results of muon flux, monitoring of radioactivity and radon concentration carried out in CJPL, as well describing the structure and performance of the 1 kg-PCGe detector in CDEX-1 and 10 kgPCGe detector array in CDEX-10 including the detectors, electronics, shielding and cooling systems. Finally we discuss the physics goals of CDEX-1, CDEX-10 and the future CDEX-1T experiments.     

Construction of a photon drag detector for evaluating the performance of a CO2 laser amplifier

In this article, the construction of P-type germanium (Ge) photon drag detector which is used to characterize the gain and output powers of a 10 W CO₂ laser and a CO₂ laser amplifier is described. Gain and laser amplifier output power versus laser input power measurements collected at 4.7 mbar and 12.0 mbar amplifier tube pressures are discussed. Moreover, measurements relating the CO₂ laser output power to the laser tube discharge current are provided at 6.9 mbar and 7.3 mbar tube pressures.     

Synthesis and Tunable Reactivity of N‐Heterocyclic Germylene

Modifying the β‐diketimine ligand LH 1 (LH=[ArN?C(Me)? CH?C(Me)? NHAr], Ar=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃) through replacement of the proton in 3‐position by a benzyl group (Bz) leads to the new ^BzLH ligand 2, which could be isolated in 77 % yield. According to ¹H NMR spectroscopy, 2 is a mixture of the bis(imino) form [(ArN?C(Me)]₂CH(Bz) 2a and its tautomer [ArN?C(Me)? C(Bz)?C(Me)NHAr] 2b. Nevertheless, lithiation of the mixture of 2a and 2b affords solely the N‐lithiated β‐diketiminate [ArN?C(Me)? C(Bz)?C(Me)? NLiAr], ^BzLLi 3. The latter reacts readily with GeCl_2?dioxane to form the chlorogermylene ^BzLGeCl 4, which serves as a precursor for a new zwitterionic germylene by dehydrochlorination with LiN(SiMe₃)₂. This reaction leads to the zwitterionic germylene ^BzL′Ge: 5 (^BzL′=ArNC(?CH₂)C(Bz)?C(Me)NAr) which could be isolated in 83 % yield. The benzyl group has a distinct influence on the reactivity of zwitterionic 5 in comparison to its benzyl‐free analogue, as shown by the reaction of 5 with phenylacetylene, which yields solely the 1,4‐addition product 6, that is, the alkynyl germylene ^BzLGeCCPh. Compounds 2–8 have been fully characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analyses, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses.     

The facile reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide with an amido-digermyne

Taking the fizz out: A digermyne compound with a Ge?Ge single bond has been shown to quantitatively reduce CO(2) to CO at temperatures as low as -40?°C. The mechanism of this unprecedented reaction has been probed by spectroscopic and computational techniques and involves a metastable intermediate (see picture; Ar*=C(6) H(2) {C(H)Ph(2) }(2) Me-2,6,4).     

Bonding and structure of disilenes and related unsaturated group-14 element compounds

Structure and properties of silicon-silicon doubly bonded compounds (disilenes) are shown to be remarkably different from those of alkenes. X-Ray structural analysis of a series of acyclic tetrakis(trialkylsilyl)disilenes has shown that the geometry of these disilenes is quite flexible, and planar, twist or trans-bent depending on the bulkiness and shape of the trialkylsilyl substituents. Thermal and photochemical interconversion between a cyclotetrasilene and the corresponding bicyclo[1.1.0]tetrasilane occurs via either 1,2-silyl migration or a concerted electrocyclic reaction depending on the ring substituents without intermediacy of the corresponding tetrasila-1,3-diene. Theoretical and spectroscopic studies of a stable spiropentasiladiene have revealed a unique feature of the spiroconjugation in this system. Starting with a stable dialkylsilylene, a number of elaborated disilenes including trisilaallene and its germanium congeners are synthesized. Unlike carbon allenes, the trisilaallene has remarkably bent and fluxional geometry, suggesting the importance of the π-σ* orbital mixing. 14-Electron three-coordinate disilene-palladium complexes are found to have much stronger π-complex character than related 16-electron tetracoordinate complexes.     

Laplace deep level transient spectroscopy: Embodiment and evolution

This paper is to commemorate the work of Leszek Dobaczewski¹ who devoted much of his life to the development and application of high resolution DLTS.