Mössbauer study of nanodimensional nickel ferrite – mechanochemical synthesis and catalytic properties

Iron–nickel spinel oxide NiFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been prepared by the combination of chemical precipitation and subsequent mechanical milling. For comparison, their analogue obtained by thermal synthesis is also studied. Phase composition and structural properties of iron–nickel oxides are investigated by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Their catalytic behavior in methanol decomposition to CO and methane is tested. An influence of the preparation method on the reduction and catalytic properties of iron–nickel samples is established.     

Doping of Zinc Oxide with Selected First Row Transition Metals for Photocatalytic Applications

ZnO doped with Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu was prepared by homogeneous hydrolysis of sulfates with urea. The samples were annealed at various temperatures and characterized by X‐ray powder diffraction, UV/VIS reflectance spectroscopy, BET (Brunauer‐Emmet‐Teller) surface area and porosity measurements. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by measuring the degradation of an organic dye Reactive Black 5. The morphology of the samples was determined by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. For the Cu‐doped ZnO sample, EPR spectra were obtained. All samples annealed at 800°C contained hexagonal ZnO. In the VIS region, the best photocatalytic performance had the ZnO samples doped with Cr, Fe and Cu.     

Variable metric optimization of molecular geometry in electronically excited states

The variable metric (VM) method is used to optimize molecular geometry in electronically excited states. A general expression for the first derivative of energy in the particular excited state is derived, considering configuration interaction of all singly excited configurations. A special expression for the excited states energy derivative is given for calculations with semiempirical methods of CNDO type. The geometry optimizations of a set of molecules in various excited states have been carried out by the CNDO/2 method. The results of computations have been discussed and compared with the available experimental data. A good agreement of the calculated geometries with the experimental ones has been shown in the first excited states and a relatively good agreement in the higher states, with some exceptions. Some special features of the proposed method are discussed.     

Formation of coordination compounds with aniline in the interlayer space of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>- and Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-exchanged montmorillonite

The influence of Ca²⁺-, Cu²⁺- and Fe³⁺-exchanged montmorillonite (MMT) on the type of interaction with aniline in the interlayer space of MMT has been studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectra. Results of X-ray diffraction showed that aniline was successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of MMT. Based on IR spectra evaluation, aniline was indirectly coordinated through a water-bridge in Ca²⁺- and Fe³⁺-MMT and it was indirectly coordinated through a water-bridge as well as protonated in Cu²⁺-MMT (the spectrum of protonated aniline showed deformation and changes in the NH ₃ ⁺ absorption at approximately 1521 cm^?1). It is important to point out that Cu²⁺-MMT indirect coordination and protonation occur simultaneously.     

Determination of dissolved sulphides in waste water samples by flow-through stripping chronopotentiometry with a macroporous mercury-film electrode

Sulphides in water samples were determined by stripping chronopotentiometry in a computer controlled flow system with a flow-through electrochemical cell. The working electrode was a porous glassy carbon electrode coated with Nafion and mercury. The sample was diluted with 0.1 mol L⁻¹ NaOH and analysed. Sulphides in the sample were collected in the porous electrode as mercury sulphide and then stripped by a current of −500 μA. The limit of detection was found to be 1.6 μg L⁻¹ and 0.5 μg L⁻¹ for 1 mL and 5 mL of preconcentrated sample, respectively. The linear range for 1 mL sample was found to be 5-400 μg L⁻¹. The repeatability and reproducibility was found to be 2.6% and 4.8%, respectively. The method was applied to analyses of waste water samples from a tannery.     

New isochromans. 1. Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of 4‐substituted (±)‐1h‐spiro[benzo[c]pyran‐3(4H), 1′‐cyclohexane]‐1‐ones

The reaction between homophthalic anhydride and cyclohexanone was examined both in the presence of DMAP or BF₃·Et₂O complex as a catalyst. The latter yielded (±)‐1‐oxo‐1H‐spiro[benzo[c]pyran‐3(4H), 1′‐cyclohexane]‐4‐carboxylic acid ( 3 ) in a higher yield (82 %). A series of new (±)‐4‐(N,N‐disubstituted‐1‐carbamoyl)‐1H‐spiro[benzo[c]pyran‐3(4H),1′‐cyclohexane]‐1‐ones ( 5a‐h ) were synthesized from the parent acid 3 by a two‐step reaction. Differentiating microbial screening was performed for most of the synthesized compounds against twelve microorganisms belonging to different taxonomic groups. The spiro acid 3 was active against all bacterial strains with MIC ≥ 20 μg/ml against B. subtillis and P. vulgaris. E. coli was the most sensitive strain to the antibacterial effect of the tested compounds.     

Rearrangement of 2-methyl-2,3-epoxypentane: a kinetic study

The kinetics of the rearrangement of 2-methyl-2,3-epoxypentane over ZnCl₂/pumice stone is reported. 2-Methyl-3-pentanone and 2,2-dimethylbutanal are formed in parallel reactions. The reaction scheme and kinetic equations best fitting the experimental data are given. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lipase-catalyzed amidation of carboxylic acid and amines

The amidation reaction is of a very particular interest, especially in the pharmaceutical industry and always requires the activation of the acid with a large excess of reactants. Therefore, a large amount of waste is generated. In order to reduce the environmental impact of such reaction, we have developed enzymatic amidation conditions which are compatible with a wide range of amines and acids, in particular with the biologically relevant lipoic acid. Water is the only by-product generated during this reaction thus a very high atom economy is obtained. In addition, we have shown that the lipase can be recovered and reused several times without a significant loss of activity.