Characterization of nonstoichiometric nickel manganite spinels NixMn3−x□3δ/4O4+δ by temperature programmed reduction

Cation deficient spinels Ni_xMn_3−x□_3δ/4O_4+δ (0≤x≤1) have been prepared by thermal decomposition of mixed oxalates Ni_x/3Mn_(3−x)/3(C₂O₄)·nH₂O in air at 623 K. They have been characterised by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) under H₂, the reaction being followed by gravimetric and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. It has been shown that TPR proceeds in several steps. The first steps correspond to the loss of nonstoichiometric oxygen leading to the formation of a stoichiometric oxide. During the following stages the manganese cations are reduced, causing the spinel structure to be destroyed, and the formation of solid solution of NiO in a cubic MnO. Subsequently, Ni²⁺ cations undergo a reduction to metallic nickel, and, finally, a mixture of nonstoichiometric MnO_1−δ and metallic nickel is formed. These oxides contain a high level of vacancies which vary with the nickel content with a maximum of δ≈1 near x=0.6. This nonstoichiometry is ascribed both to the presence of Ni³⁺ and excess of Mn⁴⁺.     

The localization of energy in gauge field theories and in linear gravitation

It is shown how the energy-positivity criterion enables us to localize the energy in various field theories. For this purpose the role of surface integrals in a canonical formalism is investigated. The same techniques are applied to linearized gravity, where the mixed Cauchy-boundary value problem in a finite volume is analyzed. Unconstrained degrees of freedom and boundary data which have to be controlled are found. This paper is part of a program to analyze the possibility of localization of gravitational energy in complete General Relativity.     

New evidence on the structure of potassium salts of 12-tungstophosphoric acid, KxH3-xPW12O40

Physicochemical properties and compositions of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < or = 3, have been investigated. It has been found that freshly prepared K2HPW12O40 salt (drying at 313 K) contains particles of heteropolyacid and particles of the neutral potassium salt, the sample being in 78.6% amorphous. On aging at room temperature, the heteropolyacid spreads to form a surface layer covering the neutral potassium salt particles K3PW12O40. Heat treatment of KxH(3-x)PW12O40 salts, where 2 < or = x < 3, from 313 K to higher temperatures induces the transformation of the heteropolyacid-covering K(3) core into a well-dispersed, amorphous surface layer. On further heating of the acidic potassium salts, the surface layer decomposes between 855 and 915 K with the formation of a PW8O26-type bronze as a new phase, the K3PW12O40 salt remaining unchanged. The latter starts to decompose at 1093 K, and in the case of all samples, the process is completed at about 1183 K. Rietveld structure refinement, XPS, and 31P NMR measurements of acidic potassium salts indicate that the core of these salts is always formed by the K3PW12O40 salt, which is covered by a heteropolyacid. Comparison of lattice parameters of the K3 salt and HPW leads to the conclusion that the layer is composed of partially or completely dehydrated heteropolyacid molecules. The coverage of the core by HPW in the K2 sample was estimated to be equal to one monolayer.     

New 2+2, 3+3 and 4+4 macrocycles derived from 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine

Two new Schiff base macrocycles - a 4+4 condensation product and a meso-type 2+2 condensation product - were obtained in a reaction of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane and 2,6-diformylpyridine. Reduction of these compounds led to the corresponding 4+4 and 2+2 macrocyclic amines. The macrocycles were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray mass spectrometry. The symmetry and stereochemistry of these macrocycles, as well as of new 3+3 and 4+4 diastereomers identified in solution, has been established. X-Ray structures of the 2+2 and 4+4 Schiff base macrocycles confirm the configurations determined on the basis of spectroscopic investigations. The crystal structures reveal that the centres of the square-shaped 4+4 macrocycles form channels as a result of columnar stacking.     

The synthesis and the solvent and substituent effect on the spectroscopic characteristic of 3-ethyl-2-(p-substitued styryl)benzothiazolium iodides

The photophysical and photochemical properties of p-substitued 2-styryl-ethylbenzothiazolium iodides, possessing different electron-withdrawing or electron-donating groups are described. The dyes were prepared by the condensation of 3-ethyl-2-methylbenzothiazole salts with p-substituted benzaldehydes. The synthesis of suitable substrates is presented as well. We describe here the absorption, emission spectra and the luminescence quantum yield of hemicyanine dyes (SH) measured in 11 different organic solvents of varying polarity. Molecular structure of the synthesized dyes was established by (1)H NMR, electronic absorption and fluorescence spectrometry. The spectral data confirmed that all the compounds exist in E-configuration of their styryl residues. The planar molecular conformation is typical for the compounds with five-membered side aromatic moieties (for example benzothiazole). The compounds possessing N-alkyl substituent in phenyl ring, in contrast to the compounds with other substituents, exhibit low fluorescence quantum yield in THF solution. This indicates that for N-alkyl derivatives the non-radiative processes are much more effective than the radiative ones. The electronic absorption and fluorescence emission spectra of tested dyes demonstrate high sensitivity to the nature of substituent introduced into the aromatic ring.     

Polymerization of acrylonitrile by catalytic systems consisting of triphenylphosphine and a lewis acid

Polymerization of acrylonitrile in the presence of systems that consisted of triphenylphosphine (PPh₃) and a Lewis acid R_mMX_n (ZnCl₂, Me₃Al, Et₃Al, Et₂AlCl, EtAlCl₂, AlCl₃) was studied. The systems that contained Me₃Al and Et₃Al (i.e., Lewis acid of moderate acidity) were the most efficient catalysts. Conductometric measurements carried out in the polymerization systems showed the presence of ions. The presence of phosphonium cation in the polyacrylonitrile chain formed by the PPh₃–R_mMX_n catalytic systems was determined by IR, ¹H-NMR, and ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy. The average molecular weight measurements and kinetic chain lengths of polyacrylonitrile formed within the reaction time in the presence of PPh₃–Et₃Al showed that transfer reactions occur. According to the results obtained, the polymerization reaction of acrylonitrile by PPh₃–R_mMX_n involved a zwitterion formed by the attack of PPh₃ on acrylonitrile complexed by Lewis acid [Ph₃P^⊕? CH₂? C^?H? C?N → MR_mX_n] and the anion [CH₂?C^?? C?N] formed by the proton abstraction from the monomer.     

Ortho effect in the mass spectrometric behaviour of N(pyrimidin-4-yl)aminobenzoic acids and their methyl esters

Ortho-. meta- and para-isomers of N-(pyrimidin-4-yl)aminobenzoic acid and their methyl esters were investigated by electron impact mass Spectrometry. Their fragmentation was found to be strongly dependent on the position of the substituent in the aminobenzoic moiety. Two different kinds of ortho effect were studied and confirmed with the aid of deuterium-labelled derivatives.     

The kinetics of tritium-hydrogen exchange in xanthosine,theobromine and monomethylated derivatives of xanthine

Tritium exchange at C-8 of xanthosine, theobromine, 1-, 3- and 7-methylxanthine in water has been studied. The rates of detritiation of these compounds have been determined over a pH range at constant temperature. Several mechanisms of exchange involving various ionic forms of substrate operating at different pH have been suggested.     

Bicyclic [b]-heteroannulated pyridazine derivatives. 4. Cyclization reactions of 4-aryltetrahydropyridazine-3,6-dione 3-hydrazones with some keto esters

Ethoxycarbonylalkylidene derivatives 2 and 6 of the title hydrazones were obtained in the reaction with ethyl pyruvate or ethyl aroylformate and ethyl acetoacetate, respectively, in methanol. Both compounds were mixtures of geometric isomers with high predominance of one of them. Nmr spectroscopy revealed an unexpected magnetic non-equivalence of the CH₂ protons in the ester ethyl group of the major isomer of 6 . On heating (?200°) in an inert medium or on refluxing in ethanolic sodium ethoxide 2 cyclized to the corresponding pyridazino[6,1-c]-triazines 4 , whereas 6 formed pyrazolylpyridazines 7 . The structure of the latter was unambigously established by X-ray analysis. Alkylation of 4a with benzyl bromide in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide occurred selectively on the pyridazine N atom.