Preparation and characterization of the layered borophosphates M(H2O)2[B2P2O8(OH)2]·H2O (M = Fe, Co, Ni)

The isotypic layered transition metal borophosphates M^II(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O (M^II = Fe, Co, Ni) were prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Their crystal structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and revealed an isotypic relationship to Mg(H₂O)₂[B₂P₂O₈(OH)₂]·H₂O, a structure containing wavy 6³ nets formed by tetrahedral phosphate and hydrogenborate groups interconnected in an alternating fashion by sharing common apices. The crystalline compounds were also characterized by chemical analyses, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analyses, thermal analyses, IR-spectroscopy and magnetic susceptibility measurements.     

Rb2[B12(OH)12]·2H2O and Rb2[B12(OH)12]·2H2O2: Hydrate and perhydrolate of rubidium dodecahydroxo-closo-dodecaborate

The orthorhombically crystallizing salts Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O (a = 1576.81(9), b = 813.08(5), c = 1245.32(7) pm) and Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O₂ (a = 1616.54(9), b = 814.29(5), c = 1260.12(7) pm) could be prepared from Rb₂[B₁₂H₁₂] and hydrogen peroxide. Both crystal structures were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction and refined in the space group Cmce. They are not isostructural to the other compounds containing icosahedral dodecahydroxo-closo-dodecaborate dianions [B₁₂(OH)₁₂]²⁻ and potassium, rubidium or cesium cations already known to literature, but both title compounds crystallize quasi-isotypically exhibiting Rb⁺ cations in 10-fold oxygen coordination. The hydrogen peroxide adduct (Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O₂) is explosive on shock and heat, while the hydrate (Rb₂[B₁₂(OH)₁₂]·2H₂O) is not.     

A novel supramolecular compound 2,2′-bipyridyl-phosphotungstic acid: synthesis and catalysis

A new supramolecular compound (C₁₀H₈N₂)_3.2·H₃PW₁₂O₄₀·25.6H₂O (Bipy-PW₁₂) was synthesized by self-assembly design, and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), and ³¹P NMR spectra. Bipy-PW₁₂ can effectively catalyze oxidative degradation of chitosan with H₂O₂ in heterogeneous phase. To obtain water-soluble chitosan with an average molecular weight of 5000, the optimum reaction conditions were determined as follows: reaction temperature, 80 °C; reaction time, 13 min; H₂O₂ concentration, 2.7 mol/L; and mass ratio of Bipy-PW₁₂ to chitosan, 0.01.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of a novel one-dimensional arsenic vanadate decorated with organonitrogen ligand: [H3V3O26(AsO4)4(phen)8(H2O)2] · 2H2O (phen=phenanthroline)

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid vanadium arsenate [H₃V₃O₂₆(AsO₄)₄(phen)₈(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O 1 (phen=phenanthroline) was synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction of V₂O₅, VOSO₄, Na₂HAsO₄ · 7H₂O, phen and water. Its structure was determined by elemental analyses, XPS spectra, EPR spectrum, TG analysis, IR spectrum and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Interactions of tertiary phosphines with p-benzoquinones; X-ray structures of [HO(CH2)3]3PC6H2(O)(OH)(MeO) and Ph3PC6H3(O)(OH)

Phosphonium zwitterions of a known type were obtained in high yield via a 1:1 reaction of p-benzoquinone or methoxy-p-benzoquinone with the tertiary phosphines R₃P [R = (CH₂)₃OH, Ph, Et, Me] and Ph₂MeP, in acetone or benzene at room temperature. In all cases, attack of the P-atom occurs at a C-atom rather than at an O-atom. The products were characterized to various degrees by elemental analysis, ³¹P{¹H}, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and mass spectrometry, and two of the zwitterions, the new [HO(CH₂)₃]₃P⁺C₆H₂(O⁻)(OH)(MeO) and the known Ph₃P⁺C₆H₃(O⁻)(OH), were structurally characterized by X-ray analysis. The PEt₃ reaction also produces small amounts of the ‘dimeric’, μ-oxo co-product Et₃P⁺C₆H₂(O⁻)(OH)-O-C₆H₃(O⁻)P⁺Et₃ that is tentatively characterized by 1D- and 2D-NMR data. 2,5-Di-tert-butyl- and 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-p-benzoquinone do not react with [HO(CH₂)₃]₃P under the conditions noted above. Heating D₂O solutions of the water-soluble zwitterions R₃P⁺C₆H₃(O⁻)(OH) [R = (CH₂)₃OH, Et] at 90 °C for 72 h leads to complete H/D exchange of the H-atom in the position ortho to the phosphonium center.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of a zinc-substituted gallium phosphite, [H3N(CH2)2NH3]1/2 · [GaZn(HPO3)3(H2O)2]

An organically templated zinc-substituted gallium phosphite, [H₃N(CH₂)₂NH₃]_1/2 · [GaZn(HPO₃)₃(H₂O)₂] was synthesized under mild hydrothermal conditions in the presence of ethylenediamine (en) as structure-directing agent and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbcn with unit cell parameters: a = 18.6146(10) Å, b = 11.0454(6) Å, c = 10.9074(4) Å, V = 2242.62(19) Å³ and Z = 8. This compound has a three-dimensional framework built up from secondary building units (SBU) of Ga(III) (or Zn(II)) and HPO₃ pseudopyramid by sharing vertices. The structure displays a two-dimensional channel system running along the [0 0 1] and [0 1 0] direction with 5-, 8- and 10-membered rings. The diprotonated ethylenediamine template molecules are located in the channels. In this structure, some of the Ga(III) sites are occupied by Zn(II) atoms. The compound was also characterized by IR spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses.     

Assembly of three novel 2D frameworks with helical chains based on [H2W12O40] clusters and lanthanide - Organic complexes

Three novel polyoxotungstate-based rare earth compounds, [(C₆H₅NO₂)Ln(H₂O)₅]₂[H₂W₁₂O₄₀] · nH₂O (Ln = Ce³⁺ (1), Pr³⁺(2), n = 7; Nd³⁺ (3), n = 6), have been synthesized in aqueous solution and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectra and TG analysis. The structural feature of compounds 1-3 is that the α-metatungstate cluster [H₂W₁₂O₄₀]⁶⁻ anions are linked by the lanthanide (Ln) cation-organic coordination complexes, resulting in a two-dimensional (2D) structure with helical chains. The magnetic properties of compounds 1 and 2 have been studied by measuring their magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range 2-300 K, indicating the existence of spin-orbital coupling interactions and antiferromagnetic response. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of 1-3 were studied.     

Synthesis, isolation and spectroscopic characterization of Dawson polyoxotungstate-supported, organometallic complex, [{(C6H6)Ru}P2W15V3O62]: The two positional isomers

The Dawson polyoxotungstate (POM)-based, organometallic ruthenium(II) complex, [{(C₆H₆)Ru}P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]⁷⁻, was synthesized as two materials, i.e. 1 · 2Bu₄NCl and 1 · 1Bu₄NCl (1 = (Bu₄N)₇[{(C₆H₆)Ru}P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]), which contained two positional isomers a and b as major or minor species. In isomer a with the overall C_s symmetry, the (C₆H₆)Ru²⁺ group was supported on one vanadium(V) octahedral site (two V-O-V bridging oxygens and one OV terminal oxygen) of the three edge-shared vanadium(V) octahedra (V₃ site, B-site) in the Dawson POM-support [1,2,3-P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂]⁹⁻, whereas in the other isomer b with the overall C_3v symmetry, the (C₆H₆)Ru²⁺ group was supported on the center of the V₃ site in the Dawson POM-support. Material 1 · 2Bu₄NCl was prepared by a stoichiometric reaction in CH₂Cl₂ at ambient temperature of the Dawson POM-support (Bu₄N)₉[1,2,3-P₂W₁₅V₃O₆₂] with the precursor [(C₆H₆)RuCl₂]₂, whereas material 1 · 1Bu₄NCl was prepared by a stoichiometric reaction in CH₃CN under refluxing conditions. The temperature-varied ³¹P NMR spectra revealed that b was thermodynamically more stable thana.     

Optimum conditions for lipase immobilization on chitosan-coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Magnetic Fe₃O₄-chitosan nanoparticles are prepared by the coagulation of an aqueous solution of chitosan with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. The characterization of Fe₃O₄-chitosan is analyzed by FTIR, FESEM, and SQUID magnetometry. The Fe₃O₄-chitosan nanoparticles are used for the covalent immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa using N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) as coupling agents. The response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to search the optimal immobilization conditions and understand the significance of the factors affecting the immobilized lipase activity. Based on the ridge max analysis, the optimum immobilization conditions were immobilization time 2.14 h, pH 6.37, and enzyme/support ratio 0.73 (w/w); the highest activity obtained was 20 U/g Fe₃O₄-chitosan. After twenty repeated uses, the immobilized lipase retains over 83% of its original activity. The immobilized lipase shows better operational stability, including wider thermal and pH ranges, and remains stable after 13 days of storage at 25 °C.     

Sn-S and Ru-Ru bonds cleavage reactions between [Ph3SnS(CH2)3SSnPh3] and Ru3(CO)12: X-ray crystal structures of [Ph3SnS(CH2)3SSnPh3] and trans-[Ru(CO)4(SnPh3)2]

The organotin complex [Ph₃SnS(CH₂)₃SSnPh₃] (1) was synthesized by PdCl₂ catalyzed reaction between Ph₃SnCl and disodium-1,3-propanedithiolate which in turn was prepared from 1,2-propanedithiol and sodium in refluxing THF. Reaction of 1 with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ in refluxing THF affords the mononuclear complex trans-[Ru(CO)₄(SnPh₃)₂] (2) and the dinuclear complex [Ru₂(CO)₆(μ-κ²-SCH₂CH₂CH₂S)] (3) in 20 and 11% yields, respectively, formed by cleavage of Sn-S bond of the ligand and Ru-Ru bonds of the cluster. Treatment of pymSSnPPh₃ (pymS = pyrimidine-2-thiolate) with Ru₃(CO)₁₂ at 55-60 °C also gives 2 in 38% yield. Both 1 and 2 have been characterized by a combination of spectroscopic data and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Evidence for H2O2 as the product of reduction of oxygen by alternative oxidase in mitochondria from potato tubers

Oxygen consumption by alternative oxidase (AOX), present in mitochondria of many angiosperms, is known to be cyanide-resistant in contrast to cytochrome oxidase. Its activity in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum L.) was induced following chilling treatment at 4 °C. About half of the total O₂ consumption of succinate oxidation in such mitochondria was found to be sensitive to SHAM, a known inhibitor of AOX activity. Addition of catalase to the reaction mixture of AOX during the reaction decreased the rate of SHAM-sensitive oxygen consumption by nearly half, and addition at the end of the reaction released nearly half of the consumed oxygen by AOX, both typical of catalase action on H₂O₂. These findings with catalase suggest that the product of reduction of AOX is H₂O₂ and not H₂O, as previously surmised. In potatoes subjected to chill stress (4 °C) for periods of 3, 5 and ?8 days the activity of AOX in mitochondria increased progressively with a corresponding increase in the AOX protein detected by immunoblot of the protein.     

Transesterification of sunflower oil to biodiesel on ZrO2 supported La2O3 catalyst

ZrO₂ supported La₂O₃ catalyst prepared by impregnation method was examined in the transesterification reaction of sunflower oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. It was found that the catalyst with 21 wt% loaded La₂O₃ and calcined at 600 °C showed the optimum activity. The basic property of the catalyst was studied by CO₂-TPD, and the results showed that the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was related to their basicity. The catalyst was also characterized by TG–DTA, XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM, and the mechanism for the formation of basic sites was discussed. It was also found that the crystallite size of support ZrO₂ decreased by loading of La₂O₃, and the model of the solid-state reaction on the surface of La₂O₃/ZrO₂ catalyst was proposed. Besides, the influence of various reaction variables on the conversion was investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of three group 10 complexes containing nido-carborane diphosphine: [MCl(PPh3){7,8-(PPh2)2-7,8-C2B9H10}] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt)

Three group 10 complexes containing nido-carborane diphosphine, [NiCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] (1), [PdCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] · 1.25CH₂Cl₂ (2) and [PtCl(PPh₃){7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀}] · 2.5CH₂Cl₂ (3) have been synthesized by the reactions of [M(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] (M = Ni, Pd, Pt) with closo carborane diphosphine 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ in ethanol. For complex 3, it could also be obtained under solvothermal condition. All three complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and X-ray structure determination. Single crystal structures show that their structures are similar to each other. In each complex, the nido [7,8-(PPh₂)₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻, which resulted from the degradation of the initial closo ligand 1,2-(PPh₂)₂-1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀ during the reaction process, was coordinated bidentately through the P atoms to M(II) ion, and this resulted in a stable five-membered chelating ring between the bis-diphosphine ligand and the metal. The coordination mode of the metal can be described as a slightly distorted square-planar, in which the remaining two positions were occupied by one Cl⁻ and one PPh₃ group.     

[Molybdenum(VI)/aminopyridinium] system as catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclooctene with H2O2

A new inorganic-organic supramolecular polymer, i.e. [MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂]·Hdpa·Cl·H₂O (1) (where Hdpa stands for 2,2′-dipyridylammonium), has been synthesised and characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. 1 is constituted of inorganic [MoO₂Cl₂(H₂O)₂] moieties associated to organic Hdpa units via hydrogen bonds. The combination of hydrogen-bonding and π-π stacking interactions gives rise to a remarkable 3D framework. Compound 1 is an effective catalyst for the H₂O₂-mediated epoxidation of cyclooctene at 50 °C.     

1-D coordination chains of Cu(hfac)2 and Mn(hfac)2 bridged by phenyl-nitronylnitroxide derivatives

Two alternating 1-D metal-radical linear [L:Cu(hfac)₂]_n and zig-zag [L:Mn(hfac)₂]_n chains (where L = 4-trimethylsilylethynyl-1-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-3-oxylimidazoline-1-oxide)benzene) and hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) are described and characterized by X-ray diffraction of their crystals. Bulk magnetic measurements of L:Cu(hfac)₂ indicated a ferromagnetic interaction with J = 6 cm⁻¹ and L:Mn(hfac)₂ yielded ferrimagnetic interactions with J = −95 cm⁻¹. For the latter, a strong increase of their magnetic moment at lowest temperatures was observed only at very low static magnetic field, while for H_dc > 0.05 T saturation effect led to a downward slope after reaching a maximum.     

Kinetic studies of the reduction of hexaaquacobalt(III) perchlorate by a cobaloxime, [Co(dmgBF2)2(H2O)2]

The reaction of with Co(dmgBF₂)₂(H₂O)₂ in 1.0 M HClO₄/LiClO₄ was found to be first-order in both reactants and the [H⁺] dependence of the second-order rate constant is given by k_2obs = b/[H⁺], b at 25 °C is 9.23 ± 0.14 × 10² s⁻¹. The [H⁺] dependence at lower temperatures shows some saturation effect that allowed an estimate of the hydrolysis constant for as K_a = 9.5 × 10⁻³ M at 10 and 15 °C. Marcus theory and the known self-exchange rate constant for Co(OH₂)₅OH^2+/+ were used to estimate an electron self-exchange rate constant of k₂₂ = 1.7 × 10⁻⁴ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ for .     

Selective synthesis of triangular cluster oxido-sulfidocomplexes of Mo and W: High yield preparations of [Mo3O2S2(H2O)9], [W3O2S2(H2O)9], [W2MoO2S2(H2O)9] and their derivatization

Reaction of [Mo₂O₂(μ-S)₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ with Mo(CO)₆ or metallic Mo under hydrothermal conditions (140 °C, 4 M HCl) gives oxido-sulfido cluster aqua complex [Mo₃(μ₃-S)(μ-O)₂(μ-S)(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ (1). Similarly, [W₃(μ₃-S)(μ-O)₂(μ-S)(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ (2) is obtained from [W₂O₂(μ-S)₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ and W(CO)₆. While reaction of [Mo₂O₂(μ-S)₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ with W(CO)₆ mainly proceeds as simple reduction to give 1, [W₂O₂(μ-S)₂(H₂O)₆]²⁺ with Mo(CO)₆ produces new mixed-metal cluster [W₂Mo(μ₃-S)(μ-O)₂(μ-S)(H₂O)₉]⁴⁺ (3) as main product. From solutions of 1 in HCl supramolecular adduct with cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) {[Mo₃O₂S₂(H₂O)₆Cl₃]₂CB[6]}Cl₂⋅18H₂O (4) was isolated and structurally characterized. The aqua complexes were converted into acetylacetonates [M₃O₂S₂(acac)₃(py)₃]PF₆ (M₃ = Mo₃, W₃, W₂Mo; 5a-c), which were characterized by X-ray single crystal analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Crystal structure of (H₅O₂)(Me₄N)₄[W₃(μ₃-S)(μ₂-S)(μ₂-O)₂(NCS)₉] (6), obtained from 2, is also reported.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structure of [Ni(tpyrpyz)2]2[Mo4O12F2][Mo6O19] · 2H2O, a material exhibiting an unusual tetranuclear polyoxofluoromolybdate cluster [Mo4O12F2]

The hydrothermal reaction of a solution of Ni(CH₃CO₂)₂ · 4H₂O, MoO₃, tetra-4-pyridylpyrazine, H₂O₃PCH₃, and HF at 200 °C for 96 h yields orange crystals of [Ni(tpyrpyz)₂]₂[Mo₄O₁₂F₂][Mo₆O₁₇] · 2H₂O (1 · 2H₂O). The structure consists of discrete {Ni(tpyrpyz)₂}²⁺ cations and {Mo₆O₁₉}²⁻ and {Mo₄O₁₂F₂}²⁻ anionic clusters. The hexamolybdate is the well-documented octahedron of octahedra, that is, six {MoO₆} octahedra in a compact edge-sharing arrangement. The novel oxyfluoride cluster {Mo₄O₁₂F₂}²⁻ features two {MoO₄F₂} octahedra, sharing the edge defined by the fluoride ligands; the octahedral Mo sites corner-share to two {MoO₄} tetrahedra in the μ₂-O, O^′ bridging mode.     

Synthesis and characterization of a polyoxotungstate-supported metal compound [{Cu(enMe)2(H2O)}{Cu(enMe)2}3P2W18O62] · nH2O

A new polyoxotungstate formed by Wells-Dawson clusters and copper(II) complexes, [{Cu(enMe)₂(H₂O)}{Cu(enMe)₂}₃P₂W₁₈O₆₂] · nH₂O (enMe = 1,2-diaminopropane, n = 0.81) has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that one terminal and three bridging oxygen atoms of the Wells-Dawson cluster in the title compound are coordinated to copper(II) atoms, and forming a unique tetrasupporting polyoxometalate structure. Its cyclic voltammetric behavior in aqueous electrolyte demonstrated that its modified carbon paste electrode has a good stability. It was exhibited that the compound has catalytic activity in epoxidation of maleic anhydride.     

Hydrothermal syntheses and structures of a novel zincophosphite, [C6N2H18] · [Zn3(HPO3)4]

A novel three-dimensional organically templated zincophosphite, [C₆N₂H₁₈] · [Zn₃(HPO₃)₄], was synthesized under milder hydrothermal conditions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, differential thermal-thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, ³¹P MAS NMR spectrum, and IR spectroscopy. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c with cell parameters: a = 8.7820(4) Å, b = 14.9417(7) Å, c = 15.4943(5) Å, β = 92.940(2)°, and Z = 4. The structure consists of a network of strictly alternating ZnO₄ tetrahedra and pseudo-pyramid, forming 4-membered ring chains. The structure has a 4.8.16-net and 8- and 16-membered ring channels where completely protonated N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylenediamine cations are encapsulated. The structure is stabilized by template-to-framework hydrogen bonding. In phosphites system, this compound possesses extra-large-pores.