Phthalocyanine-modulated isomerization behaviour of an azo-based photoswitch

A photoswitchable azobenzene-phthalocyanine-azobenzene triad has been synthesized and its electrochemical properties determined. Energy transfer among the subunits allows for modification of the E-Z ratio by selective excitation of the phthalocyanine moiety.     

Tunable infrared generation in KTA and applications

Noncollinear difference frequency mixing of dye laser and Nd:YAG second harmonic (fundamental) radiation from a commercial laser system is employed for the generation of 2.7–5.3 μm (1.6–1.7 μm) radiations in a flux-grown KTiOAsO₁ crystal. The generated radiation is used to scan the methane absorption in the fundamental (v ₃) and its first overtone (2v ₃) band at pressure 90 torr in a laboratory made single pass gas cell of length 33 cm.     

Ruthenium(II) tris(bipyridyl) ion as a luminescent probe for oxygen uptake on the catalyzed oxidation of HSO(3)(-)

The present work describes an alternative technique for monitoring the rate of oxygen consumption during the oxidation of HSO(3)(-) catalyzed by manganese and iron ions. The method is based on the spectrofluorimetric monitoring of the quenching effect of molecular oxygen on the emission of the photoexcited [Ru(bipy)(3)](2+) ion, added to the reaction mixtures. The effects of Fe(III), at very low concentrations, and of Mn(II) on the oxidation of HSO(3)(-) by dissolved oxygen, have been investigated. The metal ions in the trivalent oxidation state react with HSO(3)(-) to initiate a radical chain reaction in which HSO(3)(-) is oxidized to sulfate and the metal ion is reduced to the divalent state. The synergistic effect of Mn(II) and Fe(III) was clearly evaluated. Possible parallel reactions with the oxygen indicator, [Ru(bipy)(3)](2+), are considered.     

Factorial design analysis of the catalytic activity of di‐imine copper(II) complexes in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

Factorial design analysis was applied to the study of the catalytic activity of di‐imine copper(II) complexes, in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. The studied complexes show a tridentate imine ligand (apip), derived from 2‐acetylpyridine and 2‐(2‐aminoethyl)pyridine, and a hydroxo or an imidazole group at the fourth coordination site of the copper ion. The factorial design models for both [Cu(apip)imH]²⁺ and [Cu(apip)OH]⁺ were similar. Increasing the peroxide concentration from 3.2 × 10^?3 to 8.1 × 10^?3 mol L^?1 resulted in increased oxygen formation. Increasing the pH from 7 to 11 also increased oxygen formation and had an effect about twice as large as the peroxide one. Both complexes also had an important interaction effect between peroxide concentration and pH. However, increasing the catalyst concentration led to a decrease in total oxygen formation. The obtained results were corroborated by further data, achieved by using the usual univariate method, and helped to elucidate equilibrium steps occurring in the studied systems. In very alkaline solutions, the studied [Cu(apip)imH]²⁺ complex can form the corresponding dinuclear species, [Cu₂(apip)₂im]³⁺. While the mononuclear complex proved to be an efficient catalyst in hydrogen peroxide decomposition, the corresponding dinuclear compound seemed to be able to coordinate with the dioxygen molecule, inhibiting its observed release. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 472–479, 2001     

Working group report: Heavy-ion physics and quark-gluon plasma

This is the report of Heavy Ion Physics and Quark-Gluon Plasma at WHEPP-09 which was part of Working Group-4. Discussion and work on some aspects of quark-gluon plasma believed to have created in heavy-ion collisions and in early Universe are reported.     

Resonance Raman spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations of push-pull molecules: 4-hydroxy-4'-nitroazobenzene and its anion

The deprotonation of the push-pull molecule 4-hydroxy-4'-nitroazobenzene leads to a substantial variation in the charge distribution over the donor and acceptor moieties in the D-pi-azo-pi-A system. The extra charge stabilizes the excited state, leading to a drastic red shift of ca. 100 nm in the lambda max of the electronic transition and consequently causes significant changes in the resonance Raman enhancement profiles. In the neutral species the chromophore involves several modes, as nu(CN), nu(NN), and nu s(NO2), while in the anion the selective enhancement of the nu s(NO2) and nu(CO-) modes indicates a greater geometric variation of the NO2 and CO- moieties in the resonant excited electronic state. The interpretation of the electronic transitions and the vibrational assignment are supported by quantum-mechanical calculations, allowing a consistent analysis of the enhancement patterns observed in the resonance Raman spectra.     

The ion-pair association constant of oxalate with fac-tris(2-aminomethylpyridine)cobalt(III)

The equilibrium constant K for the ion-pair formation fac-[Co(pic)₃]³⁺ + C₂O₂₂₋ fac-[Co(pic)₃]³⁺/C₂O₄²⁻¹ where pic = 2-aminomethylpyridine, has been determined spectrophotometrically at 0.35 M (KCl) ionic strength and 25.0°C, using four different calculation approaches. The best results were obtained when the concentration of the minor component (the cobalt complex ion) was not neglected in comparison with the oxalate ion concentration. The value of K (5.3 M⁻¹) increases when the supporting electrolyte is LiCl (K = 8.2 M⁻¹). The effect of the ionic strength variation from 0.35 to 2.0 M (LiCl) was also investigated.