Chemical vapor transport and solid-state exchange synthesis of new copper selenite bromides

A new dimorphic copper selenite bromide, Cu₅(SeO₃)₄Br₂ was obtained via chemical transport reactions. α-Cu₅(SeO₃)₄Br₂, monoclinic (1m) and β-Cu₅(SeO₃)₄Br₂, triclinic (1a) polymorphs were produced simultaneously upon reaction of amorphous, partially dehydrated copper selenite and copper bromide. 1m is similar to Cu₅(SeO₃)₄Cl₂, whereas 1a is distantly related to Ni₅(SeO₃)₄Br₂ and Co₅(SeO₃)₄Br₂. Attempts to reproduce synthesis of 1a via exchange reaction between Na₂SeO₃ and CuBr₂ resulted in a new Na₂[Cu₇O₂](SeO₃)₄Br₄ (2). Current study demonstrates for the first time, that both chemical vapor and exchange reactions can be employed in preparation of new selenite halides.     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of new tetradentate N2S2 donor Schiff-base ligand ca2-dapte: Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes [Cu(ca2dapte)]ClO4 and [{Cu(PPh3)(X)}2(ca2dapte)] (X = I and Br)

A mononuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu(ca₂dapte)]ClO₄ (1), and two dinuclear copper(I) complexes, [{Cu(PPh₃)(X)}₂(ca₂dapte)] (X = I (2) and Br (3)), of a new tetradentate N₂S₂ donor Schiff-base ligand ca₂dapte have been prepared (ca₂dapte = N,N′-bis(trans-cinnamaldehyde)-1,2-di(o-iminophenylthio)ethane). These compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses (CHN), FT-IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of these copper(I) complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry around Cu(I) centers in these complexes is a distorted tetrahedron. The ca₂dapte is coordinated to Cu(I) as a tetradentate ligand in 1, while it acts as a bis-bidentate bridging ligand in 2 and 3.     

Single-crystal growth, crystal and electronic structure of NaCoO2

Single crystals of NaCoO₂ have been successfully synthesized for the first time by a flux method at 1323 K. A single-crystal X-ray diffraction study confirmed the trigonal space group and the lattice parameters , . The crystal structure has been refined to the conventional values R=1.9% and wR=2.1% for 309 independent observed reflections. The electron density distribution of NaCoO₂ has been studied by the maximum entropy method (MEM) using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data obtained at 298 K. From the results of the MEM analysis, the strong covalent bonding was clearly observed between Co and O atoms, while no bonding was observed around Na atoms. We also calculated the electron density of NaCoO₂ by first principles calculations. The electron density obtained experimentally is in good agreement with the theoretical one.     

Exploring interfacial electrocatalytic reactions by shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

The investigation of interfacial processes at the molecular level is an essential research area in electrocatalysis. To more clearly understand the electrocatalytic interfacial reaction mechanism, an in situ and highly sensitive surface investigation technique is required. Shell-isolated nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) is a highly sensitive surface analysis approach that can gather spectral evidence of interfacial intermediates, which commonly have a short lifetime and trace amount that are difficult to be detected. In this review, we first cover the basics of the SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite strategies, including their principle, fabrication method, and features. We then summarized the applications of SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite strategies for the studies of interfacial electrocatalytic process in fuel cells, water electrolysis, and CO oxidation and reduction. Last but not least are the summary and outlook, in which the potential research prospects of SHINERS and SHINERS-satellite are proposed.     

Silver(I) thiosemicarbazone complex [Ag(catsc)(PPh3)2]NO3: Synthesis,characterization, crystal structure,and antibacterial study

We report the synthesis, characterization and crystal structure of a new mononuclear silver(I) complex, [Ag(catsc)(PPh₃)₂]NO₃ (catsc = 3-phenylpropenalthiosemicarbazone). The complex was prepared by the reaction of catsc and AgNO₃ in the presence of PPh₃ and characterized by elemental analysis (CHN), FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the complex, catsc acts as a bidentate NS ligand while the nitrate is a counter ion. The silver ion is coordinated by a bidentate ligand and two PPh₃ in the form of a distorted tetrahedron. In addition, the antibacterial effect of the complex was studied against the standard strains of two gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis) and two gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria.     

A new structure type of phosphate: Crystal structure of Na2Zn5(PO4)4

A new compound, Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄, was identified in the system ZnONa₂OP₂O₅ and high-quality crystal was obtained by the melt method. The crystal structure of this compound was solved by direct method from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure was then refined anisotropically using a full-matrix least square refinement on F² and the refinement converged to R₁=0.0233 and wR₂=0.0544. This compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with space group Pbcn, lattice parameters a=10.381(2) Å, b=8.507(1) Å, c=16.568(3) Å and Z=4. The structure is made up of 3D [Zn₅P₄O₁₆]_n²ⁿ⁻ covalent framework consisting of [Zn₄P₄O₁₆]_n⁴ⁿ⁻ layers. The powder diffraction pattern of Na₉Zn₂₁(PO₄)₁₇ is explained by simulating a theoretical pattern with NaZnPO₄ and Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ in the molar ratio of 1:4 and then by Rietveld refinement of experimental pattern. Na₂Zn₅(PO₄)₄ melts congruently at 855 °C and its conductivity is 5.63×10⁻⁹ S/cm.     

Polynuclear 3d complexes based on potentially tetra-anionic heptadentate ligands including amido,amino and phenoxo donors: Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties

The synthesis and characterization of new dinuclear Mn^III and tetranuclear Cu^II complexes, [HL¹Mn(DMSO)]₂ (1) and [H₂L²Cu₂(MeO)₂]₂ (2), are reported (H₄L¹ = 2-hydroxy-N-[2-({2-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]ethyl}amino)ethyl]benzamide and H₄L² = 2-hydroxy-N-[3-({3-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]propyl}(methyl)amino)propyl]benzamide). Single crystal X-ray structures have been determined for 1 and 2. In 1 only one of the two amide functions of H₄L¹ is deprotonated in addition to the phenol ones, while in 2 all the amide functions of H₄L² are protonated and none of the potential nitrogen donors (amide and amine) is involved in the coordination to copper. HL¹ and H₂L² do not play the role of compartmental ligands and do not wrap around one Mn and one Cu ion, respectively, but embrace two metal centers yielding, with the respective assistance of auxiliary DMSO and methoxo ligands, dinuclear manganese and tetranuclear copper complexes, respectively. 1 includes two well isolated Mn^III ions (Mn?Mn′ = 7.33 Å) that do not interact magnetically. The intermolecular Mn?Mn″ distance along the 1D chains (10.17 Å) is also too large to allow extended magnetic interactions. The pairwise magnetic interactions between the copper(II) ions in the tetranuclear complex 2 are so large that the χ_MT product is already equal to zero at room temperature, implying that the antiferromagnetic interaction is around −1000 cm⁻¹, as observed previously for di-μ-hydroxo–dicopper complexes.     

Fe Spin crossover materials based on dissymmetrical N4 Schiff bases including 2-pyridyl and 2R-imidazol-4-yl rings: Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic and Mössbauer properties

The synthesis and characterization of new symmetrical Fe^II complexes, [FeL^A(NCS)₂] (1), and [FeL^Bx(NCS)₂] (2–4), are reported (L^A is the tetradentate Schiff base N,N′-bis(1-pyridin-2-ylethylidene)-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine, and L^Bx stands for the family of tetradentate Schiff bases N,N′-bis[(2-R-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methylene]-2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diamine, with: R = H for L^B1 in 2, R = Me for L^B2 in 3, and R = Ph for L^B3 in 4). Single-crystal X-ray structures have been determined for 1 (low-spin state at 293 K), 2 (high-spin (HS) state at 200 K), and 3 (HS state at 180 K). These complexes remain in the same spin-state over the whole temperature range [80–400 K]. The dissymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base ligands L^Cx, N-[(2-R₂-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methylene]-N′-(1-pyridin-2-ylethylidene)-2,2-R₁-propane-1,3-diamine (R₁ = H, Me; R₂ = H, Me, Ph), containing both pyridine and imidazole rings were obtained as their [FeL^Cx(NCS)₂] complexes, 5–10, through reaction of the isolated aminal type ligands 2-methyl-2-pyridin-2-ylhexahydropyrimidine (R₁ = H, 5–7) or 2,5,5-trimethyl-2-pyridin-2-ylhexahydropyrimidine (R₁ = Me, 8–10) with imidazole-4-carboxaldehyde (R₂ = H: 5, 8), 2-methylimidazole-4-carboxaldehyde (R₂ = Me: 6, 9), and 2-phenyl-imidazole-4-carboxaldehyde (R₂ = Ph: 7, 10) in the presence of iron(II) thiocyanate. Together with the single-crystal X-ray structures of 7 and 9, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility and Mössbauer studies of 5–10 showed that it is possible to tune the spin crossover properties in the [FeL^Cx(NCS)₂] series by changing the 2-imidazole and/or C2-propylene susbtituent of L^Cx.